Harry Potter and the Ancient Secret of War

Also, thanks to Furore, Lady Blazey, Leprechaun, harry31, dreeemer999, Justin 1402, godsownevil, No88Zero, Ani, 1 and a couple of other anonymous reviewers for the reviews to the last chapter. You rock, all of you!

Chapter Sixteen

Hogsmeade Confrontation

The end of October at Hogwarts brought with it a temporary respite from the sense of trepidation. It was time for Halloween and of the first Hogsmeade visit in the school year. The students were all very excited as they looked forward eagerly to visiting the village and enjoying the wonderful feast a while later. The former held truer for the younger students who were eagerly anticipating their first visits to the village.

For Harry, the visit held yet another significance. It marked another date with Hermione. They were to visit The Three Broomsticks and amble around Zonko's, the Shrieking Shack and all the other places of interest, just like the old times. But there were two differences this time:

(a) It would be the first time he and Hermione would go out as a couple to Hogsmeade, and

(b) It would be the first time they were going on a double 'date' with the other couple in fray being Ron and Luna.

Yes, Ronald Weasley and Luna Lovegood were now a couple as well - a most mismatched couple, if ever there was one. At least that was what Harry had thought when Ron broke the news to him and Hermione. But gradually, as Harry had heard Ron talking more and more of Luna, he realized that the mismatch was only a wrong belief, a dogma on his part. Clearly, the Kissing Humpbacks held more significance than his red-headed best friend let on. The spark was visible as Ron talked on, and Harry wished his friend the best of luck.

The Quidditch season was also drawing nearer, what with the Gryffindors' first game against the Slytherins being only about three weeks away. Ron was just as much a Quidditch training fanatic as Oliver Wood was and was working the team harder than ever. For Harry though, it was a blessing in disguise. It really did help him keep his mind focussed on the present rather than on the past which was now daily haunting him.

Harry had been getting the vision of the night his parents had died, every night, even as he closed his eyes hoping to get some rest. The details had not varied one bit from what he had seen the first time around. Occlumency too, did not seem to have any effect whatsoever on the vision. This went contrary to Harry's belief that he was getting better at closing his mind to intrusion. Even the way Snape had stopped snarling and scoffing at him during their sessions elucidated this fact. The only time that Snape had lost his foul temper with him was after he had been in Voldemort's mind. At that time, the Potions' master had told him off for letting down his defences and letting the good work that he had at last managed to get out of him, go to the dogs. Since then, there hadn't been a single flaw in Harry's performance, even though Snape had increased the frequency of Occlumency classes to thrice a week. Yet despite all these facts, the vision of the past did not vanish.

Till now, no one knew of Harry's daily foray into the past and his re-emerging insomnia. No one knew of his discomfiture, no one, i.e. except Hermione. The visions had meant that Harry had again started battling insomnia. Within a few minutes of closing his eyes, the vision began to play in his mind and once it ended, Harry could never bring himself to go back to sleep. His body was fatigued, his mind bogged with questions and top of that, he had to face a very concerned girlfriend and manage her when he was alone with her in the common room a few nights before.

Hermione looked up to Harry and said, "Harry, are you okay?"

Harry was staring out into space, his mind once again dwelling upon the questions that blocked his way at the moment. He didn't respond to Hermione's question.

Hermione came up and took a seat beside Harry. She out his hands into the palms of her own and said, "Harry, are you okay? Is something bothering you?"

This gesture seemed to have brought Harry out of his reverie. He shrugged his shoulders and answered, "Yeah, I'm fine."

"You're lying, aren't you?" Hermione said gently, squeezing his hands.

"No," Harry replied adamantly.

"Then tell me what you're thinking," Hermione said.

"There's a Hogsmeade visit on Halloween," said Harry, blurting out the first thing that came to his mind as he half-heartedly perused the frame of the notice board. "I'd like the both of us to go together, as on a date."

"So you would," Hermione said, "and so do I. but this isn't about Hogsmeade, Harry....no, it isn't...Harry, don't try to fool me...We've already worked out everything for the village visit, so don't give me that. Tell me straight what's bothering you."

"I told you it's nothing," Harry protested.

"It's something and I know it, Harry James Potter, and you'd better tell me before I'm forced to find out myself."

"Don't bother me," Harry said coldly, anger seeping forth.

"There's no need to get angry, Harry," Hermione said soothingly.

"Don't lecture me," Harry said harshly, raising his voice, "I know what to do. It's because of you that I'm angry. And don't try to act like my nanny, who always knows what's best for me." A strange fire leapt up in his eyes and gave vent to his frustration at his questions.

Hermione's eyes welled up with tears on hearing this. She was shocked and considerably saddened. She got up and looked to go back to the solitary confines of her four-poster bed where she could cry her hurt away. But, Harry caught hold of her hand and didn't let her go.

"Harry," Hermione said, "Let me go." Harry shook his head in reply.

"Harry, you're hurting me. Let go of my hand." Hermione said.

Harry eased her back towards himself and held her in her arms. He said, "Hermione, I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Please don't go."

Hermione looked at him and buried her head in his chest, overcome by sobs. Harry continued apologising, "I'm really really sorry, Hermione. I don't know what came over me. I didn't mean any of those words. I didn't even wish to speak them."

"Yet you spoke them. Words spoken cannot be taken back." Hermione said into his chest, even as she maintained a tight embrace over him.

"I'm really sorry, Hermione," Harry said again. "I'm...it's just that...that there's so much going on in my mind lately that I really don't know what to do and what not."

"Harry, tell me truly," Hermione said, "Is something bothering you?"

Harry sighed heavily. He paused for a moment and answered, "Yes, Hermione...something is bothering me."

"That's what exactly I'm talking of, Harry," Hermione said, "You can tell me what the matter is. I could help you."

"No one can help me, Hermione, not even you," Harry said, still locked in her warm embrace, "I have to figure everything by myself. That's the only way."

"Not exactly correct, Harry," Hermione said. "We are all here to help you figure out everything...to assist you in your fight. You don't have to do it all alone. We are here - Ron, Dumbledore, I, Lupin, the Weasleys, all of us are here. Tell me what's bothering you, Harry and we'll find a way to solve the problem."

Harry looked at Hermione. It had torn his heart apart, when he made her cry and he could never chide himself enough for that. At last, he reached a decision and said, "Okay, I guess I owe you an explanation."

"No, Harry, you don't have to do this if you are going to tell me everything just for an explanation's sake." Hermione said. "I want you to tell me only if you really want to."

Harry took a deep breath and said, "No...no, I really want to tell you." He closed his eyes and said, "You know, ever since the night I had my vision of Voldemort...ah, I don't know where to start...I don't know how to say all this."

"Try starting at the beginning," Hermione said, echoing Ron's advice of not so long ago. "Try to do that."

Harry nodded. "Well, I guess then that it all starts from the evening I had the vision of Voldemort again. That night, I had this strange dream...but the thing is it didn't seem like a dream...only it was real...I'm not making any sense, am I?"

"No, you are doing well," Hermione encouraged him.

"You see, I've been having this dream for a while but only in bits and pieces. It was only that night when I saw it at the fullest. That night, I saw my parents. I watched them die."

Harry's throat almost choked as he said the last sentence. Hermione, meanwhile, was stunned into speechlessness. A heavy silence lingered in the air. Finally, she spoke with great trepidation in her voice, "What did you see, Harry?"

Harry told her everything. He didn't leave out even the slightest detail. Hermione was a good listener and he found some relief coming to him, even as he heard and felt the weight of the secret, dropping from his shoulders. By the time, Hermione had tears in her eyes.

"Why does it always have to be you, Harry?" Hermione said finally, blinking back her tears and laying her head on his chest with their hands entwined. "Why do you have to suffer every time? Why does it always have to be you?"

"I guess it has something to do with my scar," Harry replied. "Honestly, I don't even ask why now. Everything's been like this for a long long time. I don't see why it should all change. Anyway, it's better if this happens to me and not anyone else. At least, the other person won't suffer."

"Don't say so, Harry," Hermione told him. "I don't want you to suffer. I want to see you happy, and satisfied. I want to see peace in your life. I want to do that for you, but I don't know how."

Harry couldn't say anything. He just held her closer and watched vaguely as the fire continued flickering in the grate and eventually, died out.

* * * * *

It was Halloween that Saturday and also a Hogsmeade visit at the same time. All students were looking forward to the day and the feast afterwards. Dumbledore had insisted that all the usual celebrations in the castle should continue despite the rumblings of war everywhere around them.

Harry came down to breakfast and sat down at the Gryffindor table. He had spent another sleepless night, being haunted by his vision. His scar was pricking steadily and an ominous feeling clouded his heart. When he entered the Great Hall, it was as if he could feel that the usual gaiety at the breakfast tables was missing. He ignored these misgivings though and turned towards his breakfast.

When Harry, Hermione, Ron and Luna were later standing before Filch waiting for him to let them through along with all the others who had plans to go to the village, Harry noticed that a very substantial part of the Slytherin's population including Malfoy and his goonies were missing. This struck Harry as odd, really odd.

"I don't think we should go to the village today," he muttered to himself.

Hermione heard this and asked, "Why Harry, are you feeling unwell?"

"No, I'm all right," Harry answered. "But I've this feeling that something bad is going to happen when we get to the village."

"Are you having a vision, Harry?" Luna asked. "Trelawney said your eyes glaze over when you are in the Beyond. Your eyes look like that."

"No, he's just gone mad, haven't you, Harry?" Ron said, his voice oozing sarcasm.

"You don't believe me, okay," Harry retorted, "But then tell me why in the name of hell, all the Slytherins that are there at Hogwarts are missing from the trip."

"Let them go to hell, for god's sake!" Ron exclaimed. "Why should we care about them? Why disturb our own enjoyment for the sake of a fear!"

"It's not a fear, Ron," Harry interjected. "It's a feeling of warning."

"Whatever," Ron said. "But be sure that nothing can go wrong today."

Harry sighed and kept quiet in defeat. But he still looked fidgety. Finally, Ron was forced to say, "Harry, could I have a word with you please? Alone?" Harry nodded and both he and Ron went off across the corridor. However, this was not before Ron had proffered his sincere apologies to Hermione and Luna, saying, "Excuse me, ladies, for a moment." Luna looked as if she would swoon already at Ron's gentlemanly conduct. Hermione though, read the remark on its true intent - that of impressing Luna and merely rolled her eyes.

Ron and Harry went aside and Ron began, "Harry, what's happening here? What are you playing at? We've had this planned for days and now at the last moment, you're trying to drop out! This is not done, Harry!"

"Ron, I really have a bad feeling about this," Harry said. "I feel as if something is going to happen down at Hogsmeade, something big."

"Have you seen anything though..." Ron said, pointedly looking at Harry's scar.

"No," Harry replied truthfully. It was only a feeling with no proof to back it up.

"Then tell me, since when have you started believing in Divination?" Ron asked.

"There's no need to be sarcastic, Ron," Harry said.

"Okay, if you don't want to go, don't go then," Ron said. "But I'm going with Luna in any case." The other students had by now gone out on their way and the foursome was the only ones left behind. Filch looked at them suspiciously and said, "Better get going! And don't plan about pulling those pranks your darn brothers did, Weasley!"

Ron heard this and turned to Harry, "Just look at Hermione. She's going on worrying about you. She needs a break from all this, Harry. And today is the perfect occasion."

Harry sighed in defeat. "Okay, let's go." He said unconvincingly.

The four of them went down to the village and had a very good time for it. Harry quickly found out that Luna was quite good company, once you started overlooking her eccentricities. Ron seemed really happy at her presence. Hermione too, seemed far more relaxed than Harry had seen her for quite some time now. She was enjoying this as much as anyone, though in a quiet understated way. As for Harry, he was happy as long as his friends were happy. Although, in reality, his feeling of unease hadn't passed off as yet.

Then suddenly it happened. The foursome was making their way from Zonko's to The Three Broomsticks for lunch, when a violent blast shook the ground and a fire erupted from a building nearby. It was the Hog's Head.

Harry's worst fears had come true. He stopped his friends from running in the direction of the inn, and drew them in the direction of Honeydukes. They entered the store even as its occupants dashed outside to discover the source of the commotion. Harry took them into the cellar and uncovered the trap-door which lay there.

He quickly shouted to Ron, "Ron, take Luna and Hermione. Run to Hogwarts! Send help if you can! Go quickly! Go before the Death Eaters come! Once you get to the other side, step out through the statue opening and send for help."

Ron nodded and took Luna's hand. He helped her climb into the passage, and then followed her inside. "Hermione!" he called out to her, motioning her to follow.

"Go Hermione!" Harry said.

"Where are you going, Harry? You're coming with us," she said.

"This is no time to reason, Hermione. Go with Ron and Luna." Harry told her.

"No, I won't leave without you, Harry," Hermione protested.

"Please, Hermione! Do this for me!" Harry said. "Go to Hogwarts! Alert Dumbledore and everyone else! Go!"

Hermione took one last look at Harry and followed Ron and Luna. Harry watched them with relief as they disappeared into the passage. He knew it wasn't the shortest route to Hogwarts, but he knew that they would at least be safe following it. Now, it was his turn to do his bit.

Harry went back into the actual shop and found it completely deserted. He could see people running around outside. Yet and unearthly silence had fallen on the entire village. Harry knew it could mean only one thing. His heart grew cold; his vision foggy as known and unknown voices started ringing in his ears. "Dementors!" He exclaimed to himself.

He had the sudden urge to run and hide. He took a step back, hoping to follow his friends through the trap-door and escape. He saw in his mind the hollow, gaunt, flesh-less face of Lord Voldemort. He felt as if those red eyes perpetrated into his soul and violated his mind. But something grew inside of him at the same time. He remembered the heavenly music he had heard in his second vision. It gave him courage, and strength to resist. He found hope again inside his heart and stepped outside, wand in hand and at the ready.

What greeted him was a ghastly sight. The village of Hogsmeade had been transformed within a few minutes. Everywhere he looked, Harry saw signs of destruction. And most frightening of all, tall, black-cloaked Dementors were all swarming about terrorising their victims. Their hoods were off, revealing their horrid, featureless and decaying heads. There were about two hundred of them, maybe more and had already robbed many people of their souls. These victims were lying in the dirt, their eyes seeing, their hearts beating, yet being unable to process anything in their soulless minds.

A few people were trying to get rid of the Dementors but were failing miserably. None of them, it seemed, had mastered the Patronus Charm. Harry rushed over and neared a group of what he recognized as fifth-year students huddled together, crying, unable to cope with the effect caused by so many vicious Dementors.

'Expecto Patronum!' Harry shouted and his stag Patronus emerged from his wand to charge and the Dementors, who were advancing upon them. The Dementors fell back while the Patronus circled the students, protecting them.

Harry reached those students all the while keeping his wand ready. The Dementors in his path seemed to sense his presence and power and moved out of the way, fearing his rage. Let him go with these, they thought in their foul minds, enough souls fester in these streets. Harry commanded the fifth-years, "Follow me! And don't break away from the group!"

He led them towards the Hogwarts gates. Once they were inside safe, Harry went back to the scene of battle. He could tell that about fifty or so people had already fallen to the Dementor attacks. But he also knew there were more people here. The Dementors were still attacking the villagers; it seemed that they were under orders to destroy the whole of Hogsmeade.

Harry shot his Patronus once again at a Dementor who was swooping down upon an old man. Harry went to his help, and recognized him at once as the barkeeper at the Hog's Head. He was injured and Harry looked to take him to safety.

"Don't look after me, lad," he said, seeing that Harry was trying to get him to safety, "Just save those poor souls trapped at Rosmerta's place."

Harry was reluctant to go, but the old man would have none of it. So at last, with a heavy heart, he left him and made his way to The Three Broomsticks. He knew even from far that it was the place where most people had taken shelter, for nearly a hundred Dementors were gathered around it, even as the rest scoured the streets for more victims. Harry quickly shot his Patronus causing them to scatter. He reached the door and banged on it. "Let me in," he shouted.

The door opened and a hand drew him inside. The door was shut and barred again.

Harry looked up to see about five hundred people crowded in the room. There was no space even for air to flow. Harry suspected that there might be more survivors upstairs - where the rented rooms upstairs were. He noticed that there were many Hogwarts students in the crowd as well. All of them were terrified due to the presence of so many Dementors outside. Frightened faces looked back at Harry as he studied the situation.

He looked at all the people gathered there again and saw Neville amidst all of them. He looked terrified and cold, but was already shoving and pushing his way towards Harry.

Neville reached Harry. Harry asked him, "How many are here?"

Neville shivered as he spoke, "About a hundred more, I reckon upstairs."

"What are we going to do?" A new frightened voice interrupted them. It was Colin Creevey.

"These people, all of them here," Harry said, "Can't they help?"

"I don't think so, Harry," Neville replied, "All those Dementors out there have benumbed everyone. I don't think anyone can cast a simple spell. I myself tried the Patronus, but in the presence of these Dementors, it just faded away after a few seconds. I think no one here can even lift a wand."

Harry nodded. "Then it's up to me," he thought to himself.

Finally, after a few moments, he reached a decision. "Okay everyone," he shouted for all the people present there to hear, "There are about two hundred Dementors out there. We can't hope to save ourselves by locking up everyone of us in here. Because if we do, we'll be in more trouble. So that means, we've got to look out for ourselves, and for each other. That's the first and foremost way by which we can survive."

Most of the people just wearily heard what Harry was saying. The Dementors had far too much effect on them. But a few others, who were not affected so much, voiced their vociferous opposition. A sandy-haired man asked from across the room, "So what do you propose we should do? Go out there and fight?"

"Exactly," Harry replied. "That's what we are going to do."

The man made a sound conveying his disbelief. Another man spoke up this time, "You are mad, young man. Mark my words, those Dementors outside have driven you mad. Those things aren't natural. We already tried every spell we could on them before we came here and it makes no difference to them at all. How then are we supposed to defend ourselves when we go outside?"

"Just like I defended myself while entering," Harry replied. "All those Dementors beyond those doors will get to us, even if we don't move from here and make no mistake about it. Don't you realize it yet? Don't you realize what's happening? The Dementors are just the prelude. Death Eaters are going to arrive next. What will we do then?"

"Whatever is there on the other side of the door, we can take it on together. We will make groups of fifty and exit the building. I'll take the Dementors out for you, while you get to Hogwarts. Remember, the school is our only hope for survival now. But whatever we do, we have to hurry up. We have to escape before the Death Eaters come."

Such was the earnestness with which Harry spoke that all the people in earshot believed his words. They were instilled with new confidence that they would get out of there. But, there were still a few sceptics. "We don't need to listen to this mad boy," a woman said, "He'll get all of us killed. No, we should stay here till the Ministry arrives."

"Then tell me how the Ministry will know of this," Harry said, his impatience rising with every passing moment. "And when the Ministry wizards do come, they'll have a whole army of Death Eaters to contend with. How then will they rescue us? No, there is no other way. All those who want to survive must try and get to Hogwarts."

Finally, the crowd relented and soon the first group was on its way. The Dementors did not move. They were aware of Harry's presence and that of his Patronus circling the group. Harry led those people to the Hogwarts grounds safely. Many more were thus evacuated, right under the gazes of the vile Dementors. Yet they could do nothing about this people, since Harry's Patronus kept them at bay.

At last, after what seemed like an eternity, they were onto the last group. Harry had selected it such that seemingly the healthiest and the most courageous witches and wizards were in the group. Harry could sense a great feeling of urgency from within as the group made it way towards Hogwarts. The Dementors were following them now, intent on capitalizing upon the slightest stumble or deviation. They knew it was their last chance of claiming these souls.

All of a sudden, the resonating sound of cracks rang out through the air, signalling Apparition. Harry looked behind him. Witches and wizards wearing black cloaks and masks were appearing out of thin air. The Death Eaters had arrived.

Such was the terror that ran through the group at this that quite a few of the group broke away and started running towards the gate. "No, keep with the group," Harry shouted, but they paid no heed. The Dementors captured these stragglers and performed their kiss on them. Their stragglers bodies collapsed to the ground.

Harry closed his eyes for a moment, in sadness. But this was no time to rest in grief. The Death Eaters, upon their arrival, immediately began raining down spells and curses on the escaping group. The Dementors too, took advantage of this development, and began attacking the group as well. Harry stunned a couple of Death Eaters, before turning away to see the Dementors having had joined the fray. Even as he did so, a green light jutted by him and missed him by a fraction of an inch. He realized that they could not find a way to fight the Dementors and the Death Eaters together. At the moment, the Dementors were the greater threat, since the duellers couldn't attack them back. The vile creatures were also preventing some of them from performing their magic, by exercising their terrors.

Harry cast another Patronus Charm that circled the group and once again, kept the Dementors at bay. He shouted to Neville, "Neville, watch my back will you?" Neville nodded and took up his proper position.

Meanwhile, Harry was trying to steer the group as fast as possible towards the gates. He knew that once they were surrounded, it would all be over. The Death Eaters were closing in upon them fast, efficiently shooting spells upon them in the process.

They were now only about ten feet from the gates. But, suddenly to his dismay, Harry found that they were closed now. Even in the meantime, the Death Eaters were less than fifty feet away. Their attempted escape had almost failed, even though they were only a few feet from survival. Since the gates were closed, escape was now futile.

But all of a sudden, the gates opened. Harry's Patronus prevented the Dementors from passing through the entrance. The stag led the way and Harry shouted to the remnant of his group, "Run after it. Run and don't look back till you are out of harm's way."

They did as they were told. Neville, however, stood beside Harry and pointed his wand at the Death Eaters, shooting a couple of Stunners at them.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked, seeing Neville not move with the others. He blocked the curse that a Death Eater was sending towards the escapees.

"Fighting," Neville said, as he dodged a curse.

"You'd be killed if you stay here," Harry told him.

Neville saw a Death Eater sneaking in behind at Harry and took him out with a Total Body-Bind. He said, "You'd be killed if I wasn't here."

Harry looked at the Death Eater's prostrate form behind him. He used the Banishing Spell on his body to fling it across and strike three other Death Eaters. "You've got a point there," he told Neville.

He now watched the last of the group disappear behind the gates, which locked themselves. That way held no escape now.

"At least they are safe," Harry said to Neville as they liked up back to back, in order to face nearly fifty Death Eaters who were now surrounding them on all sides in a closed circle, "Now we have to fend for ourselves."

"Yeah," Neville agreed, his eyes not leaving the masked figures, "Any bright ideas to get us out of here? Or at least to keep us alive?"

"Yeah, I have a fair few," Harry answered, "I guess you do too."

"Don't point at me, mate," Neville said, "Sneaking, conspiring and escaping are all your areas of interest."

"You've got a point," Harry conceded. By now, the Death Eaters had formed a closed circle around them, thus cutting off their means of escape. The Dementors were lurking behind just beyond the inner circle.

"Don't you wish so much in these situations that we ought to have been able to Apparate?" Harry said to Neville. The war had reached a brief calm with no exchange between either side, but both boys kept their wands at the ready.

"Guess we should blame the Ministry for ignoring our wish," Neville replied.

All of a sudden, one of the Death Eaters in front of Harry came forward and removed his mask. It was Lucius Malfoy.

Malfoy looked at Harry and Neville with loathing in his cold, grey eyes. Harry stared back at him defiantly, thought it did seem to him, that Malfoy looked slightly worse for the wear following his stint in Azkaban. His skin was less lustrous and Harry could see pain and fear in the depths of his cold eyes. It satisfied him to no extent that he could see what he did in Malfoy's mind.

Malfoy said, "Surrender before us, and the Dark Lord may show you mercy; try to fight and we will kill you."

Harry laughed a mock laugh. "Has Voldemort sent you?" he asked. He knew the answer, of course, but he wanted to test Malfoy's patience.

"Do not dare to speak rashly, Potter," Malfoy responded. "You think you are brave, daring to speak the Dark Lord's name aloud, but remember that the Dark Lord will ask for a price for every insolent remark you make."

"Then tell Voldemort he'd better come here and face me if he wants to do that," Harry said, trying to appear braver than he actually felt. But he was young, and the madness of battle had filled him. He knew no fear for the moment, no apprehension as he was caught in the rush of adrenaline.

Harry could see that his words had caused great anger among the Death Eaters. Harry decided to take this one step further and incense them even more. He said, "Does your Dark Lord have enough courage to do what I asked?" and turned his back on Lucius.

"Don't think that we have patience for you cheek, Potter," Malfoy said and his wand rose up lightning fast.

Suddenly, a cold voice interrupted the exchange, "Calm down, Lucius. Never get do angry that you shut your mind to reason, that's the first step towards fighting as servants of the Dark. Anyway, Potter asked for the Dark Lord, and he is come."

A black hooded and cloaked figure emerged and stood a little distance within the circle of the Death Eaters. He pulled down his hood and Harry looked at the merciless face of Lord Voldemort. It was the same terrorising face filled with scars which he had seen in his vision. Harry could feel Neville shaking in fear behind him, as beheld the Dark Lord for the first time in his life.

"Are you surprised, Potter?" Lord Voldemort hissed. "I'd have thought you would have expected to see me in my new form; to see what I have now chosen to become. Or you surprised at my arrival? I don't think you should be, or did I not hear correctly when you dared me to come here?" The Death Eaters looked at their master and kneeled before him as one man. The Dementors also seemed a little queasy, if that were possible. Such was the evil radiating from this man that even the devil chose to quail before him.

Voldemort raised his hand, signalling for his followers to rise. "Don't you see again, Potter," Voldemort said, "I am more powerful than anyone can ever imagine. Such is my power that my faithful servants kneel to me even in the midst of battle."

"Your power is evil," Harry said, "Evil does not pay."

Voldemort laughed his hideous laugh. "Still the old fool's pupil, I see," he said, "I'd have told you about all that power can give you, even control over a woman you want, and all the things you can get out of it, but I doubt you will give my words precedence over Dumbledore's. So, I'd say that the time for talk is over. As it is, it takes out too much energy off the system." He raised his wand and pointed it at Harry. Harry laughed. "You know you can't possibly duel with me."

But Voldemort merely laughed his last statement off in a way that suddenly made Harry very nervous indeed. "But I can duel with him," he said and now pointed his wand at a very frightened looking Neville. "Longbottom, isn't it? I remember your parents, and the choice that I made. Did the prophecy hold true for Potter or you? That's something I often wonder."

"Leave him," Harry shouted at Voldemort. "You don't know anything about the prophecy and even if you did, he wouldn't be of any concern to you. I'm the one you want."

"Yes," Voldemort said, and then suddenly shot a jet of purple light at Neville. Harry managed to push Neville away, such that the beam struck him instead. He felt queasy for a moment, but then again felt whole and fit.

He turned to Voldemort, "Your spells don't seem to have the desired effect any more, do they?"

Voldemort merely shrugged the taunt off with a self-satisfied, contorted smile on his face. He said, "My spells don't reveal their true motives till they have the prey in their grasp."

He turned to Neville and said, "Now, let's see how you watch another of your friends die, Potter."

He raised his wand, and was about to say the fatal curse, but Harry shouted, "No! Let him go!"

Voldemort turned once again towards Harry, the renewed source of disturbance for him. "Tell me Potter," he said, "one reason why I should let him go."

Harry was silent. His mind worked frantically, trying to save his friend's life. Voldemort though merely said, "You don't have an answer. So he must die."

"No, wait," Harry said quickly, "If you let him go, I'll tell you all of what you wanted so badly last year."

"The prophecy," Voldemort whispered to himself. He then said to Harry, "Don't try to fool me, Potter. I can see easily beyond your lies. You don't know about the prophecy."

"I didn't when we met last time," Harry said, trying to keep the conversation going and bargain Neville's life out of harm's way. Anyway, Neville was too scared to speak. "But I do now. Dumbledore told me; I daresay you would believe in that, wouldn't you?"

Voldemort fell silent for a while. Harry knew that the Dark Lord was thinking furiously. Finally he said, "What if you are lying?"

"You can kill me nevertheless then," Harry said, "And since I am speaking the truth, you will hear something to your profit once you let Neville go."

Voldemort finally laughed. "Dumbledore has taught you to bargain, Potter," he said, "like all cowards do...Nevertheless, your friend shall go...in any way, he doesn't stand any importance for me, except as a sport....Let him pass." He ordered his Death Eaters and the Dementors.

Harry nodded at Neville, who took fearful steps towards the Hogwarts gates and passed through the enemy circle. The gates opened to accommodate him and closed on his entry again. Harry breathed a sigh of relief.

But his relief was short-lived as he was reminded of the price that he was to pay for his friend's safety.

Lord Voldemort hissed at him and said, "Now Potter, tell me the truth..."

* * * * *

Author's Note:

Ah, yes! That's a wicked cliffie and an equally wicked twist, isn't it? Tell me how you liked this by dropping in a review. Also, thanks to all the portkey users because of whom I've managed to cross 200 reviews and 25000 hits for the story. Cheers to all of you.

Anyway, the next chapter should be out in about two weeks' time. It will be titled 'Isle Amidst the Storm'. The chapter that I promised instead of the present one, i.e., 'The Ancient Secret of War' will be the one after that.

Bye for now. And please do review. They encourage me no end.