Last Mistake

Chapter five - Disperse in Darkness

Shock.

It seems that lately he had been shocked many times by many things. It was as if he entered a whole new world without even being aware of it. He was in the same place, yet he was not. He was himself, yet he knew he hasn't been the same since he woke up in the middle of the street.

And now he knew why.

"There's a reason you're everywhere that I am," said Harry, expectantly.

"Of course there is. I wouldn't be following you on my own accord," she replied, in her usual manner. "I was hoping you'd remember before I have to explain."

"Remember what exactly?"

"How you died."

It wasn't exactly clear to him how it all happened but in an unexpected moment, everything he failed to remember came crashing back into his mind. It didn't feel strange at all. Instead, it felt as if a part of his mind took an unprecedented vacation without his consent.

"Does the truth scare you?"

The question wasn't meant to be teasing, but it did. For some reason, Harry felt angry. He raised his head to look at the only person that currently knows his existence.

"No."

"Then why are you using anger to hide it?" she asked.

"I'm not."

They were silent for a while after that. Harry didn't say anything because he honestly didn't know how he felt about this revelation. If he were to describe his feeling at the moment, it would be neutral.

----------

"Muggles are incredibly interesting."

"Do you mind? I'm working here," replied Dondres, irritably.

"No, I don't mind. Do you want to know who I had the pleasure of meeting today?"

"Can't say I do."

"You're too sarcastic for your own good," Leward said. "But I'll tell you anyway."

"Joy."

"I met a psychologist!" Leward blurted out.

"Uh-huh..."

"A psychologist! I didn't know muggles have jobs like that!"

"..."

"I must say that they're very observant and perceptive."

"..."

"Can't you at least pretend you're listening?" Leward said, noticing his friend's lack of response.

Dondres was hunched over his desk trying to read a paper with miniscule handwriting.

"Don!" Leward called.

"These people are worthless. Crappy handwritings..." Dondres mumbled to himself.

"Dondres!"

"Damn reports..."

"DONDRES!"

Dondres continued to stare at the papers on his desk with a look of disgust and annoyance. He glanced at Leward briefly when the shout pounded in his ears. He then signed deeply, his expression saying something along the lines of, why am I stuck with this idiot? Reluctantly, he turned his attention to his enthusiastic and overjoyed coworker.

"Leward, I'm busy. Stop wasting my time," Dondres said, without raising his voice.

"You know, after what I learned today with the brief psychological and sociological lesson, I conclude that talking to a psychologist might be good for you. Maybe they can figure what's always up your arse."

With that Leward walked out of Dondres' office without a backward glance. When he finally comprehended what Leward said, Dondres was more suspicious than surprised.

----------

Remus arrived half an hour ago at a dingy pub named "Brothers Brood". He had written to Sirius about Harry's will and was beyond surprised when Sirius asked him to deliver it in person. But with every passing minute, Remus was growing doubtful that Sirius would actually come. When a busboy came to pick up his empty glass, he also subtly drops a note on the table. Puzzled, Remus picked it up to read.

Leave the package with the bartender and get on your way. Do not try to find my whereabouts.

S.B.

Two sentences...that was all it said. It gave nothing away and the instructions were clear and precise. Although his first thought is to be suspicious of the note, he was fairly certain that it was from Sirius. He recognized the handwriting and the initials at the bottom of the note. Remus half-expected something like this.

For a majority of the time, he was considered a calm, collected, and controlled person. He has always been the pacifist of the Marauders. But he was -plainly said- sick of Sirius' antics of hiding behind the shadows because he was afraid to face a future without Harry. Remus has tried all that he could to help Sirius, but to no avail. He knew that Sirius would have to figure out his life on his own. He is also the only one that can break the hold that the grasp of death has on him.

One way or another, Remus was going to be there when Sirius decides to seek his assistance. One way or another, he had faith that Sirius would pull through.

Reaching into his pocket, he enlarged the package back to its original size. Remus walked over to the bartender and kept the package in sight. When he saw the recognition in the bartender's expression, he handed it over. It was at that moment that a loud scream erupted from outside the pub. After seeing that the package was in the right hands, Remus quickly dashed to the streets and followed the screams.

----------

"First one in the streets."

"What do you know about this?"

"Nothing more than that bloody mess you see there. You'll want to question that sandy-brown hair guy over there being examined by a healer. He was the first one to check on the victim...he might've seen something."

"Alright, thanks," replied Leward to an auror.

As he made his way over to the sandy-brown hair man, Leward saw Dondres talking with his coworkers near the covered body.

"Give me a full report later," he whispered to Dondres when he passed by.

Dondres continued conversing without showing any signs that he had heard what Leward said.

Leward just kept walking and stopped to wait, while the man was being attended to.

"All done. Are you sure you have no other injuries?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Thank you."

"No problem. Make sure you keep it clean to prevent infection during its healing process."

When the healer moved away, Leward approached the man that was standing against the wall of a nearby apothecary. The middle-aged man looked up at the detective when he felt his presence.

"Are you alright?" asked Leward.

"I'm fine."

"Good, good. I'm Leward Kensin, head investigator," he said, holding out his hand.

"Remus Lupin," the man replied, shaking the outstretched hand.

"Well, Mr. Lupin, I'm sure you have things to do than just standing here all day. So I'll keep this as brief as I can."

"I'm here as long as I'm needed," replied Remus.

"Alright, let's start from the beginning. Tell me everything that you saw."

Remus nodded tiredly.

"I was meeting a friend at the Brothers Brood pub. He couldn't make it. So as I was about to leave, I heard a loud scream from the outside. Then I ran out of the pub and down the street where people were still screaming. I took my wand out for precaution and when I got to the scene, there was a bloodied up carcass lying there motionless. One look at his cut-opened midsection was all the confirmation that I need to know that he can't be saved. I quickly looked around to see if the person responsible was still around and that's when I saw a cloaked figure slipping into an empty alleyway. I tried to chase after him but he got away."

"How could you tell that it was a male?"

"Because only a man is strong enough to be able to do this to me," said Remus, lifting his shirt up a little to show a purple colored bruise on his abdomen. "And this." Remus pushed up the sleeve of his robe to show the healing gash that stretched across his forearm.

"Are you saying that a woman can't be strong enough to do that to a man?" asked Leward, uncertain.

Remus stared back, seriousness written on his face. He leaned in closer to the detective, his voice at the volume of a whisper.

"No. I'm saying that a woman can't be strong enough to do this to a werewolf."

With that, Remus pulled back. Leward stared back with understanding.

"Is that all then? Was there anything else you saw that can possibly help us identify him?"

"No, I don't know anything else."

"Well, thank you for your time, Mr. Lupin. If you happen to remember anything else that you believe is crucial to our investigation, feel free to owl me."

"I will," replied Remus.

Remus watched as the investigator walked away. He felt tired and his body ached. Gently, he moved his bodyweight from the wall he was leaning on. Walking in a slower than usual pace, he tried not to wince at the pain his movements caused his abdominal bruise.

As he exited the designated crime scene, a flash of black caught his eyes. He had a feeling that the shaggy black dog he saw was not a hallucination.

----------

They stayed hidden in the trees for what appeared to be hours instead of minutes. Both of their hearts were pounding with anticipation and anxiousness. No one wants it over more than the jet-black haired young man standing in the shadows.

Beside him, a man in his forties wants it over as much as the young man did. However, he didn't want it over for himself, he want it over for his godson. He detested the fact that his godson never had a moment of peace...never had a chance to be anyone but an adult...never had a chance to feel free...

Harry was watching them intently. They would be the last of his obstacles. After this, he would finally be free of the monster that had been ruling his life.

"You sure about this?" asked a voice beside him.

"...Yeah."

"Leave it to Dramamort to depart with a grand finale by summoning these Dementor-like creatures."

"Respitans," Harry corrected. "And they are not Dementor-like."

"Uh-huh...well, the ghostly figure and their ability to suck the body dry sure fooled me."

Harry gave Sirius a look that clearly said, "I can't believe you're making jokes at a time like this."

"I swear if I hang around you any longer, I will lose all my sense of humor."

"Then don't hang around me," said Harry, neither sarcastic nor amused.

"If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Potter, I believe it is not I that is always hanging around you. It is you who seems to be doing the hanging around."

A small glimpse of a smile appeared on the corner of Harry's lips but it only stayed for seconds. He knew Sirius was only stalling.

"I think it's time," he said.

"Wait! Harry! Sirius!" a voice called out.

They turned around to find Remus and a couple of others heading towards them with their wands in hand.

"How did you guys get here?" asked Sirius.

"We snuck out of the castle with Dumbledore's help. Luckily, the Respitans never caught on."

"Why would Dumbledore let you all out? It's dangerous! You, all of you should've stayed where you're safe!" said Harry, angrily.

"Calm down, Harry. We volunteered to come out here. It's not Dumbledore's fault. Besides, the shields surrounding Hogwarts won't be strong enough to hold them back when they attack. We knew you two were out here and need all the help you can get."

"I can handle them on my own-"

Sirius laid a hand on Harry's shoulder.

"We do need the help Harry."

But Harry wasn't listening; he was staring towards a group dressed in Hogwarts' uniform standing in the back. With lightning speed, he pulled Remus aside and cast a silencing charm around them wandlessly.

"Why did you bring them out here?" Harry asked sibilantly, his voice quite menacing.

"Who?" asked Remus, not sure who Harry was referring to.

"The students. They have no right to be out here!" said Harry through clenched teeth.

"They're seventh years, Harry. They had a choice," Remus replied calmly.

"I don't bloody care. They're not ready for this."

"Harry, be reasonable! You're not as old as you think you are. Compared to the time you fought, they're well beyond the age for this."

"That's different. I've been doing it since first year. They haven't been exposed to it like I have. When they go out there, they'll panic. They'll make mistakes that'll cost them their lives."

"Anyone, young or old can make mistakes like that. Harry, think about it. If you were they, would you have listened? Because you sure never listened the whole time you resided at Hogwarts. How are they any different?"

Harry signed, his eyes drifting towards the teens and nearly young adults. They all held brave faces...all had eagerness shining in their eyes.

"Most of them standing there have lost one or both of their parents," Remus said. "I imagine that you'd understand them better than I do."

"I wish I didn't," Harry whispered, before lowering the charm.

The group of adults moved aside as Harry made his way towards the group of students. When they saw him heading their way, they unconsciously straightened up and tried not to cower at the sheer power they felt as Harry neared them.

Some of the students were awed at actually seeing the legendary Harry Potter that their parents and the wizarding community had talked so much about. His achievements were many...and they couldn't help but feel like they were in the presence of someone incredibly powerful.

When Harry finally stood in front of the small group, images flashed before his mind. They reminded him of Ron, Hermione, and himself when they used to face all types of adversaries when they 'weren't supposed to.' The stubbornness was clear in these students' eyes, as it has once been in his own eyes.

"I can't stop you if your mind is set on going out there to fight. But I will tell you that when you're out there, all of you better watch each other's back. Because if you don't, then you have nothing against your opponents. Don't overreact and worry about making errors. That'll only make you more vulnerable. Sometimes, mistakes are unpreventable...what matters most is your reaction. If you're not quick enough to correct your errors, you could very possibly end up dead. I'm not trying to scare any of you, but you need to know what you're getting yourself into. If any of you changes your mind, you can still stay behind here. But if not, we're moving now."

Harry turned around and headed toward Sirius and Remus at the front. Sirius elbowed Harry lightly.

"Nice speech," he said.

"Yeah...well, I only told them what I said to those that fought Voldemort with me."

"And they were wise words," added Remus.

"So what's the plan?" asked Sirius, knowing full well that Harry had one.

------------

"Leracartis!"

Harry looked over at the students and he was impressed with how they were holding up. With a quick flick of his hand, he banished two Respitans into nothingness. A second later, he ducked from one that came behind him. He kept his body in frequent motion as he avoided the touch of a Respitan for it would paralyze anything that it came in contact with. He also kept a wary watch over everyone else.

"Sirius, keep watch!" Harry yelled, as he ran forward.

They were still outnumbered and some of the Respitans were able to move within striking range of Hogwarts castle.

He couldn't allow penetration.

Ever since the Respitans were summoned, no one was safe. Everyone had to seek shelter at Hogwarts or at St. Mungo where they had put up protective shields. Not many had the power to conjure these shields and that was why there weren't more shelters provided.

Harry moved even quicker, he knew the shields wouldn't hold. There are too many lives at stake. As he charged forward, he banished several more from the grounds.

"HEY!"

Harry looked back at the yell of a student...and that moment of lost concentration allowed for a Respitan to swipe at his right arm. His arm fell limply down and he jumped to avoid a swipe at his legs.

"Damn!"

Great, his right arm was useless now. He couldn't feel it at all. Riskily, he looked back again and saw that the students were doing fine.

Someone had deliberately distracted him.

Harry jumped and slipped right under another Respitan. He could feel the paralyzing effects start to spread to his shoulder. He knew he had to be quick because if it spreads to the rest of his body, it would be dangerous. If it reaches his lungs, it would paralyze it...therefore he wouldn't be able to breath. If worst comes to worst and it reaches his heart, the effects would stop the beating of his heart and he'd die.

"Harry!"

Sirius called after him as he ran towards his godson who had just fallen to the ground.

"Leracartis!"

Sirius ran forward after banishing a Respitan that came disastrously close to Harry. Sirius pulled Harry up.

"I got hit. I lost my right arm and leg," Harry said, trying to hop with one working leg.

Sirius placed Harry's left arm on his shoulder to support him.

"Damn Harry, I know you're not this careless. What happened?"

"Someone called out-" Harry flung a Respitan that was trying to pound against the shield. "-Thought it was one of the students in trouble. Turns out it wasn't."

"Leracartis!" Sirius yelled.

"You don't think someone back there is-" began Sirius.

"Yeah, I think so. We have a backstabber," Harry rasped the last part out.

Harry started coughing loudly, clenching his fist in pain.

"Harry! Hang on!"

"I-it's spreading--fast. One--of my lung," Harry coughed out.

"Sirius, Harry!"

Remus was by their side now. When he saw Harry, he took out a small bottle of vermilion colored potion and handed it to Sirius.

"It'll slow it down," he said.

Sirius opened the topper to pour it into Harry's mouth while Remus fought off the Respitans around them.

Harry drank the bitter-sour liquid begrudgingly. Parts of his body started to feel like it was burning from the lack of oxygen. His other lung hurt from having to overwork. Harry knew he was gasping but he couldn't help it.

"You'll be fine, Harry. You'll be fine," said Sirius.

"We have to start moving," said Remus, as seemingly more and more Respitans surrounded them.

"Where are the others?" Sirius asked.

Remus shook his head despondently. Sirius said no more. Harry witnessed the exchange during his pain and he felt a sudden odious surge of rage.

Everyone dies around him.

No more. No MORE.

He didn't think he could handle more fallen bodies. He tried to detach himself from it all and succeeded at the time he fought and killed Voldemort. But maybe this detachment is what allowed him to make the choice between saving Fred and killing Voldemort. Maybe this detachment is what brought out the inhumane side of him to face the evil.

It won't happen again.

It was time for all of it to come to...

An end.

Sirius lifted Harry with his wand and Remus led them to a more obscure location.

"Harry, Remus and I can't fight the Respitans alone. They're breaking the shields and we can't stop them," said Sirius.

Harry's eyes were closed tightly and his body was trembling roughly.

"What do you think he's doing, Moony?" asked Sirius, looking for reassurance.

"He's fighting it. He's trying to push it away. We'll have to wait," said Remus, also watching Harry's form.

No more...

Harry's eyes snapped open and he gasped in response to the feeling that has returned to his paralyzed parts. He shook his head, trying to clear his blurred vision. Sirius gingerly placed Harry's fallen glasses back on his nose.

"Are you better?" asked Sirius.

"Yeah," replied Harry, his voice hoarse.

"Good. We were waiting for you to come out of it," said Remus. "The castle is under attack."

Harry sat up quickly. He stood to survey the situation while shaking the cobwebs from his head.

The Respitans were everywhere. Some were clawing at the shield that was barely holding out. Some are crawling on the walls, pounding the shields from all sides. Harry walked towards the castle walls. He held a hand to Remus and Sirius who was about to follow.

"I'm not letting you go out there alone!" said Sirius.

"He's right, Harry. There's too many of them," said Remus.

Harry raised his hand and created a bubble around them without another word.

Sirius' yells became muffled by the bubble. He tried shooting spells and punching it, but unsurprisingly, Harry's spell was too strong.

As he stared up at the Respitans, he knew what he had to do to stop them. It would take a lot of magic...possibly all of his magic, but he'd do it. For everyone.

Harry rubbed his hands together and then placed them both flat against the castle wall. In his mind, he began to recite a spell that no wizard of this generation dared to use.

Retsac snomedh sinab sressa psert laripsa snevaeh

Retsac snomedh sinab sressa psert laripsa snevaeh

Retsac snomedh sinab sressa psert laripsa snevaeh!

Harry felt an enormous part of his magic leave from within and drift out of his palm. Then he began to feel a cold rush of wind pass through him. Moisture reached his face. The sky, though dark already, grew even darker to a blackish mass of shadows. The stars and the moon could no longer be seen. A low rumble was heard and all the castle lights burned out. The moonlight disappeared as well, drenching the world in total darkness.

He knew the difference between the darkness of the night and total darkness. Of the many times he roamed the castle at night without light, he could always see after his eyes adjusted to the dark. But now, there was no adjusting to be done. He couldn't see, period. Blind.

Harry's eyes shut in concentration. It was hard to distinguish between the darkness and having his eyes closed because there was no difference amid the two. As magic kept flowing out of him, Harry could hear distant noises of crashing sounds. The Respitans cannot survive in total darkness and he knew the sounds were of the Respitans falling off of the castle and crashing smack against the ground.

Harry's breathing became labored. The lives of the Respitans are not the only ones in jeopardy. Human lives could not withstand oblivion of darkness either. It is the eradicator of life. Harry knew that those inside the shield would survive as long as he drop the shield before a half an hour is up.

The darkness is feared because everyone is afraid of the unknown. Everyone is afraid of things that they have no knowledge of.

His energy was leaving him...the darkness has grown so heavily that sound could no longer penetrate through it. Harry could hear, see, smell, and feel nothing. He began to question his senses. Is his hand still against the wall? Was he anywhere? He couldn't see himself. There was no sound at all. Why is he in this void? Will he ever get out? He couldn't think. He couldn't remember. He tried to look around but he had no idea whether he was looking through closed eyes or opened eyes.

Remember...you cast the spell. You have to end it.

A voice sounded through his mind. Then something in him clicked.

It had been his doing...

Harry focused on the feeling of his own body. He tried to shake away the numbness. He tried to find the trigger to moving his fingers and his hands. The darkness disoriented his senses and he couldn't remember how to move.

You cast the spell. You have to end it.

He concentrated harder...and he felt it! Pulling hard, he yanked his hands off the hard surface. Harry gasped loudly. He felt as if he was wrenched out of a very deep part of the ocean with nothing to keep the pressure from collapsing his lungs. Then he began to see in the moonlight that had returned. The night had never seemed so bright in his life.

Harry couldn't see clearly even though his glassed is still perched on his nose. There wasn't an ounce of energy left in him to sit up or to move. Without a choice, he laid still even as he heard the sound of footsteps. The next thing he knew, someone was bending over him but he couldn't make the person out with his unsettled vision.

"Congrats, you managed to defeat the Respitans by summoning the darkness. That's very noble of you. I'm surprise you made it out without killing everyone else by pulling out too late."

Harry wanted to reply, but speaking proved to be too much strain to the little bit of energy he had left to keep his consciousness.

"They'll come looking for you soon. But I'm afraid it'll be too late then."

Harry began coughing at the effort he needed to exert to breath.

"Don't get me wrong, Mr. Potter. You'll live if I left you now. But unfortunately for you, I'm here to take your life."

Harry could vaguely hear the sound of a blade. He knew he was going to be killed by whoever this person was and there wasn't a single thing he can do to stop it.

"Get away from him!"

"HARRY!"

At that moment, he felt a sharp jab tear through his abdomen and punctured something inside of him. It was hard enough to breath before and it was becoming impossible now. He felt a numbed pain shocking his body. A cold draft spread through him, chilling him to the bone. He thought he felt wet and he soon became colder and colder, like a block of ice. He didn't want to breath anymore...it was too painful. Hazily, he heard a stifled voice whispering softly to him and calling his name. It sounded familiar and warm...and he wanted to drift off listening to that voice...