Chapter 5: Its Always Safe At Hogwarts

THE BINDING OF FATES

CHAPTER 5

ITS ALWAYS SAFE AT HOGWARTS

Summary: Katie's friends organize to visit her at Hogwarts' medical wing. Jon is put to the test when the party encounters an unexpected attack.

It was pre-dawn Saturday morning, two days after the incident at Obscurus. Harry woke early wanting to prepare himself for his half day at work and then more errands in Diagon. It was only a few days before the mission to France and he needed to finalize certain details. There were quite a number of post left on his window sill, some wet and dirty, as if it was dropped on the roof or on the shrubbery. He must get Hedwig a treat in thanks for her collecting them all and dropping it on the sill.

He decided to open another mail from Hermione first. In it she said she heard something happened to Katie but no one wanted to tell her exactly what, and she would let him know as soon as she can. She also hoped to get a response soon.

Harry wrote back telling her Dumbledore was taking care of things and that he did not know anything other than she was hexed into opening closed boxes and they were trying to find out what caused it. He put it in a muggle envelope that she provided and set it aside.

Another mail was from the twins, Fred and George, saying that they got word from Oliver Wood that Katie was in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts and were trying to get the team and a few friends to visit her. They gave him instructions to book a ticket on the afternoon Hogsmeade train scheduled to leave at three. Their Mom and Dad would meet him at his house to convince their folks to give him permission to leave and return on the Sunday morning return trip. He replied and said he didn't need their folks to visit the Dursley's, he would make it regardless.

Another two were from Gringotts. They were statements of both his hereditary and Trust vaults. The hereditary was fine, but the trust fund was small and only limited to the one thousand monthly limit until he was of 'age'. Four thousand was all that was left in the Trust, so by the time he was of age that might be depleted at this rate. His family vault was a nice healthy Twenty Five thousand galleons and change. Considering that the diamond chest alone was worth over one hundred thousand galleons, he deduced that the Ollivander family was one of the truly wealthy families if he could afford to just leave that in his storeroom with only a simple glass cabinet to secure it. Harry then calculated that if a wand was worth an average of 20 galleons, then most likely that treasure might have been a family heirloom passed down from long time ago and it has increased in value over generations . It didn't seem Mr. Ollivander's style to spend his hard earned sales revenue on something like that.

Another was from Ron. It seemed that his own brothers failed to or more likely, intentionally did not inform him of the trip to Hogwarts because his letter was the usual 'how are things and what he was doing over the summer' type drivel. He shouldn't say drivel, but at his age chores and Ginny being a pest probably wasn't that interesting anymore to read about. He decided to return his letter with an invitation and the same instructions for Ron to join him and his friend Jon to visit Katie. He even said he would get the ticket for him once he sent confirmation owl addressed to Owl's Emporium Owl-box before one that afternoon.

A slightly damp post with a very ornate envelope was addressed to Lord Black and Associates via proxy from Gringotts.

"Snow," Harry called out to Jon, who was sleeping with his face in the pillow.

"Harry," he grumbled. "Is it time already?" he called out without moving his head.

"You have a letter from Gringotts addressed to Lord Black."

Jon pushed himself up and rubbed his face. Harry gave him the letter and the opener. Jon scanned it, and his smile grew wide.

"Yes," he proclaimed in victory, eyes wide awake now."It has been accepted." He handed Harry the letter to read.

"Pavel Potage has accepted your offer to purchase the property!" Harry said in congratulations. "That was quick!"

"I asked Miss Tonks what she believed to be a fair price for the property and bid a little more than that. He wasn't that hard to persuade but said he would consult his associates and send official word soon."

"Wait," Harry said as he turned over the first page and read the back. "It says here 'Our client has accepted your offer of sixteen thousand galleons. We counter offer that this sum be paid four thousand galleons up front and another twelve over the course of two years to be directly deposited into a Trust Vault set up for his heiress Miss Alexandria Potage. It also says 'Miss Potage will be involved in the Official Signing off of the Deed' meeting Sunday at noon on the second floor of Gringotts Bank."

"Yes, that seems to be correct."

"Interesting."

"Why do you say that?"

"Did you actually meet Alexandria when you talked to Mr. Potage?"

"No, I have not."

"Hm."

"Speak your mind, Harry of House Hollow."

"I noticed that they worded the term 'direct deposit' and not 'transfer'. A bit of a difference."

"Explain the difference between the terms to me," Jon said, his interest piqued.

"If I were to take a wild guess," Harry touched his lip, thinking. "I believe that Mr. Potage wants you to be in regular contact with his Heiress over the course of two years. Direct deposit means that you must be physically present at Gringotts to witness the transfer of gold coin, or even do it yourself, I am not sure. I could be wrong. It also means that young Miss Alexandria Potage might also be there, either overseeing or just being courteous to you, seeing as you are from an Ancient house and all that."

"Understood, continue," Jon nodded.

"Transfer means the goblins would do their own internal thing without anyone having to be there. You would see the balances of transferred amounts every three months in your post. Like this one," Harry gave him his Gringotts records and showed him where the interest from his hereditary vault was transferred into the Trust. "No Potter had to physically do this process," Harry explained. "Since both accounts were pretty much stagnant since my parents passed, the interest transferred from the principal amount in the heritage vault to the trust was consistent in value."

"You believe he wants me to get involved over time with his daughter," Jon summarized.

"Could be. Maybe he sees an opportunity and is laying the groundwork for his daughter to get to know you. I don't know what properties go for in Magical Britain but sixteen thousand for a place on Diagon seems quite reasonable."

"Yes, Mistress Tonks was teaching me the basics and a bit of history. When they put up the muggle repelling wall surrounding the alley; that side of Diagon has now become the back. Before, that side was open to the world. Businesses do not want that side anymore so the properties became storage type facilities. Remember the grand double doors? She was telling me that was the main entrance to the armory, generations before. This aspect I recognized as soon as I laid eyes on the place. It is purposefully designed like that to allow horse carts to roll in with raw material. It is similar to how we did it at Castle Black."

"So you were once Lord of The Black of Castle Black. If you rename that place you could be Lord Black of Castle Black again," Harry joked. Jon hit him one of those grim stares. But eventually he broke out into a wide grin.

"Funny thing is, Harry of House Hollow, I was thinking the same thing. It is not a castle by any means, but they do say every man's home is his castle."

"Oh, you do have an ancestral home in London," Harry remembered. "Grim Old Place it was," he said sadly, remembering Sirius. It pained him each time he thought of how he was locked up, escaped, then locked up again, only to be killed on a rescue mission.

"I will see it in time. However, I wish to be close to Ollivander's workshop. It would be best for now," Jon said.

"Oh, I need you to come with me this afternoon on a train ride to my school. Some of Katie's friends want to visit her. We will return tomorrow morning."

Jon nodded, distracted. "Once we would be back in time to reach Gringotts." He got up and peeked out the door. "I'll be back, using the loo room."

"Just loo."

"Apologies, the just loo room," he nodded and snuck across the hall.

Harry shook his head and began making a list of things he needed to do today. He also decided to write a letter to Tonks.

"You are quite the slave driver, for twelve. Or is it thirteen? How old are you anyway?" Tonks said, bearing down on them with powerful strides at the sidewalk table outside of the Cafe. It was midday and a beautiful day in Diagon Alley.

"Milady," Jon immediately got to his feet and pulled out the heavy metallic chair closest to her with a slight bow of his head. Harry saw this and awkwardly tried to get to his feet.

"Hey. Um Twelve. Nice that you could make it, you got through?" Harry smiled in hope. Jon expertly maneuvered her chair back in and she took her seat comfortably.

For a second Tonks looked around in bewilderment that she was seated, then remembered her manners. "Thank you," she said in a soft voice, then back to her regular irritated tone. The two young men took their seats.

"Yes Harry. Or, should I say, tentatively we got through. You still need to get the robes to test it first." She took out a tin full of dried chamomile. Harry's bewildered expression asked an unspoken question. "Yes, it is Chamomile tea, of all things. Make a bit of the tea, just bring a bit to boil, and pour over the back of the robes. Then use this," she held up a small vial of potion. "This is to test if it was truly neutralized. The area would change colour if it worked. If the robes remain as they were, the tea did not work. If it works, just let her drink it over a few days. The real problem is how are you going to get her robes, and they are going to believe you are a potions prodigy if you do cure Katie." She paused. "Wait. Are you a potions prodigy ?" She asked with suspicion.

"What is the problem," Jon said. "Being a prodigy is a good thing, not so?"

"Sometimes I wonder about you, Jon. He's twelve. Are you really a wizard?" Tonks asked, laughing, fully expecting Harry to join her. Harry kind of smiled awkwardly.

"I have not been armed with a wand until recently," Jon said, embarrassed. Tonks stopped laughing.

"You mean... you never had a wand before?"

"No," he replied. "I- " Harry pressed his shoe on Jon's under the table, trying to get him to stop. "I don't want to talk about it."

"You've got a mean Sleeping curse. Non-verbal," Tonks eyes narrowed at Jon.

"Learned that in the store," Jon said truthfully.

"Really." Tonks leaned back in her chair, studying Jon. "You walk around and talk to grown wizards like if you got a lot of clout, though. Greyback showed you due respect at the Guild."

Jon gave her a stare, then shrugged, lacing his fingers together on the table. "I know my own capabilities. That's all I can say."

"What do you want to eat?" Harry offered her the menu, deflecting the questions. "Barbara is coming this way. I'm hungry. You got the tickets?"

Tonks turned her attention back to Harry and accepted the menu. "Starving. Yeah, two for you guys, one for Ron and guest. Is that guest me?" Tonks asked. "I think I'll just take the Burger and salad. Or should I try the fish n chips..." she dwelled on the menu a bit. "Muggles do that better. Maybe the burger."

Harry reddened a bit. He didn't think Tonks would want to go to Hogwarts to visit Katie. The extra ticket was for Hermione if she responded in time. Knowing Hermione her owl must be busy making trips around the various Arithamncy members looking for recommendations to counter-

"It was him!" Harry said suddenly. Jon immediately was on alert.

"Who?" Jon asked. Harry looked around. The place was currently full with the lunch crowd.

"Privacy spell?" Harry asked Tonks. Tonks shook her head after looking around.

"Too late, it won't work with this crowd."

"Um," Harry stalled. "Later I would explain who the 'him' is, was. The extra ticket was for my friend Hermione Granger, that's if she got the message. Didn't think you'd be interested. We can still make it happen for you, though."

"Granger? Granger...nope doesn't ring a bell," Tonks said aloud. "Can't say I've heard the name. Pretty?"

Not right now at this moment, not really, but in a few years, she's pretty alright, Harry thought.

"She's gorgeous," Harry said proudly. "Inside and out," he added truthfully.

Tonks watched Harry a bit differently, as if measuring what kind of man he would make. She nodded at him, smiling. "I think you two seem to be in the middle of everything. I'm going to be an Auror and believe it or not, I've never had to draw my wand on anyone before. This week alone since meeting you two I have done more practical work and gained real life experience against dark magic... instead of reading stupid books and law texts. I want to be where the action is." She grinned devilishly. "Don't worry about the ticket, I already bought one for myself," she patted her robes indicating where she had her ticket.

Jon laughed aloud. Harry and Tonks looked at him in wonder. Tonks voiced the same thing Harry was thinking.

"You're actually laughing..." Tonks said. "I've never heard him laugh."

"You women are beautiful creatures," Jon said good naturedly. "Inquisitive, beautiful creatures."

Tonks actually blushed at the praise.

"Why pick apart how he is going to help Mistress Katie if you were also coming to the school?" Jon asked. "You can administer the experiment by simply taking her robes off of her without any issue of modesty. You two are women."

Barbara the waitress came and interrupted the conversations. The three of them gave her their orders and as she walked back another waitress brought them a pitcher of water and each a small plate of rolls.

"Thank you," Jon said warmly to her making direct eye contact.

Tonks observed that the second waitress was watching Jon with a smile as she walked off.

"What is up with you two?" Tonks said in exasperation, shaking her head at the both of them.

"Hm?" Jon asked as he buttered his roll.

"What?" Harry said, mouth already full of roll.

Tonks laughed. "Never mind," she said with a smile. "Pass the butter, Jon."

"Look who it is. Our star seeker," Fred greeted, grinning at Harry was he came through the portal to platform 9 3/4. The twins came across and the three boys connected with their fists.

"Sup mates," Harry grinned.

"Had to tell him, didn't ya?" George said, lowering his voice, thumbing at Ron.

"I'm right here and I can hear you!" Ron spat as he walked behind Harry. Both he and Ron had an overnight bag slunk over his shoulder, just like the twins.

"Whoa," George said, seeing Tonks materialize out of the pillar with Hermione in tow. He nudged his brother. "Damn."

"Yeah," Fred said, checking her out.

Jon followed last carrying Ghost in his arm, looking a bit confused to how he manage that impossible feat. Ghost jumped out of his grasp as soon as they crossed. Jon looked back at the pillar, pushing his hand through it in wonder.

"Hey guys!" Hermione said brightly at the twins. "Come and meet Tonks and Jon!" she said.

Tonks narrowed her eyes. "I know these two," she said in warning. "No funny stuff." She crossed her arms.

"Um..." Hermione said. "And this is Jon. Jon, Fred George. And that is Oliver and Angelina over there. Other Quidditch team members." Oliver and Angelina walked over.

"It is my pleasure, Mistress Angelina," Jon greeted her, taking her fingers and giving her a bow. Angelina put her hand to her chest, shocked. Hermione pouted, jealous that Angelina got the same treatment she did.

Jon offered his hand to Oliver and the twins. He shook each of their hands in turn. "Gentlemen," he greeted. The twins looked at each other, eyebrows raised.

"Um, nice to meet you!" George said, swallowing nervously.

"Cheers," Fred said, wary.

"Let's get on," Harry ordered. "It's almost ready to leave."

By the time they were in Hogsmeade station it was late in the afternoon. They made their way through the town and up the sloping path towards Hogwarts proper. They reached the perimeter gates that were closed with thick chains and a heavy lock.

"Hagrid was supposed to be here and open for us," Oliver Wood said. They waited for half an hour. The sun was rapidly setting.

Tonks, being the oldest, decided that they should return to town and contact someone who could help. They all began the trek back into Hogsmeade proper.

Harry lagged back until he was side by side with Jon. "Stay sharp. Usually when things like this happen, be wary of attack," he said in a low whisper.

Jon nodded, increasing his stride until he was in front, then made small talk with Tonks as if that was his intention all along. Harry remained at the back, his wand tucked into the sleeve of his apprentice robes.

"He thinks that we should be on alert," Jon said in a low tone between small talk. Tonks looked around warily.

"What?" Tonks said. "Its only Hogsmeade!" she replied.

"Just, trust in him," Jon said softly. "Couldn't hurt to be careful." Tonks casually opened her travelling cloak so that she would have better access to her wand tucked inside her robes.

Harry looked up at the sky. The moon was almost visible.

"Hermione, when is the full moon. Is it tonight?" She looked up at the sky as well.

"I think so."

"Hagrid's a good one, but he forgets little details sometimes," he said.

"What you mean?" Hermione asked. Hermione watched him with a weird expression. Harry shrugged, watching the shrieking shack on the way back down. Now Harry wanted to kick himself. They knew Hagrid for only one school year, so Harry shouldn't know his personality all that well. He needed to be more careful.

They made it without incident back to Madame Rosmerta's place. Harry was relieved about that, at least. She greeted Tonks and Oliver, who she knew well.

"Gonna use your floo," Tonks said. Rosmerta asked them if they wanted something to drink and Harry agreed to order a round of butterbeer for them. Within minutes Tonks came back.

"It seems Hagrid is busy with some Threstral trouble at the moment. McGonagall is sending Filch down with keys. Give him fifteen minutes to reach the gates."

"Threstral trouble?" Harry said under his breath, thinking. "Why does that ring a bell..." he pondered.

"Yeah," Tonks shrugged, sipping her butterbeer. "Ugh. And to think I used to like this stuff."

"Sorry," Harry said, distracted. He moved next to Jon, who was feeding Ghost some meat he bought earlier under the table. "Jon, you got the Apothecary's list Master Ollivander gave us?"

"Yes, I believe so." He dug in his bag and took it out. Harry scanned the ingredients.

"Thought so. We've got a couple options for animal hide for tanning... and threstral wing is one of them," Harry murmured, head low with Jon. The Elder Wand was also made with threstral tail hair.

Harry also saw that on the rare material list for the stitching.

"What's that you got there?" Hermione asked, curious. "Is that a shopping list?"

"Sorta. Summer project." Harry replied.

"On?"

"Wand bracer, " Jon replied. Harry groaned internally. This was not something Harry wanted to spread. Hermione is one of his two best mates but she could be extremely bossy.

"You could buy those, you know. And from what I've read it's not as fast as the inner robe pocket or as convenient as even a skirt or pants pocket. Depending on the brand, it can even make the wand stick if the conditions are right, or wrong; depending how you look at it. Warlock Wonders Weekly usually has articles on these type of things for the dueling circuit."

"Warlock Wonders weekly," Harry mouthed silently, not believing how ridiculous the whole notion of war mages having a weekly magazine. He stared at Hermione, hoping this was a high level joke.

"Gilderoy Lockhart sometimes writes for that magazine, Granger. Don't take on that crap," Oliver Wood said, joining in. "Hey I heard a rumour that he might be teaching Defense next year. On my NEWTS too," he shook his head. "What do you think, Black?"

"I do not know of this Mister Lockhart. When I meet him, I will know the measure of the man," Jon dismissed the idle gossip, continuing to feed his wolf pup while reviewing the list. The other lads in the crew raised eyebrows. Angelina and Hermione shared a look, a tiny smile on their faces.

"Tonks, you got any info on threstrals?" Harry asked, clearing his throat.

"Other than they are invisible? Nah. And I know they pull the carriages. But that is about it."

"Hm..." Harry said. "And you?" he asked Hermione.

"No," she dipped her head in shame. "I'm so sorry." Harry thought she was going to cry.

"Anyone?" he asked loudly.

Angelina put down her drink. "Yeah. I believe the full moon is their mating night. The alpha male from different packs usually fight a single duel to assert dominance on the night of the full moon. He may lay with three to four females in the rival's pack who are in heat after he has killed the challenger and smeared his warm blood on his wings." The group all looked at her in astonishment. "What?" she shrugged. "I find them fascinating."

"Let's get going," Tonks announced. "Filch would be waiting for us by the time we reach."

On the walk back up to the gates, Harry did notice one or two threstrals flying out and diving aggressively back into the canopy. The closer they got to Hogwarts, the more often he saw it happening over the forbidden forest. The sun had set and it was getting dark rapidly. Tonks lit her wand as she led the younger students up the track. Harry once again made his way over to Jon.

"Jon. The threstrals are winged horse-like creatures invisible to regular wizards..." he explained in a low tone, walking shoulder to shoulder. "We've got mostly tame ones here, but there are wild ones in the forest."

"You sound concerned," Jon remarked, once again on alert.

"I am the last wielder of one of the eternal six," Harry breathed. "Remember what Ollivander said about the elusive master weapons. One is the elder wand, I'm sure of it. I had it in my possession before...you know."

"Right. And?" he replied.

"It was made with Threstral hair. And wizard myth links threstrals with death."

"You are going somewhere with this."

"You ever noticed that you like to call me Harry of House Hollow? And I keep correcting you but it still sticks somehow?" Harry said, noticing more and more aggressive behavior above the forest.

"Yes, what of it."

"The way you pronounce it, it sounds like Hallow."

"Harry-" Jon said, also noticing the peculiar jumping and diving pattern of the winged creatures.

"I had the Three Deathly Hallows and used them as they were meant to be used," Harry was actively watching the threstrals' behavior now. The rest of the party only heard the faint cries, but could not truly see what was happening, how worked up they were behaving.

Harry stopped in his tracks. Tonks halted her advance. "I ...might be the reason that they are acting like this."

"Harry? What's up?" she asked, shining her light along the path.

"They believe me to be the biggest alpha rival there is tonight."

"What?" Jon said in an elevated tone. The others quieted and looked in their direction.

"Yeah..." Harry said looking at a particular spot in the sky. One of them had changed from random jumps to now a particular trajectory. It was steadily coming closer with every dive. When it was about a half a mile away, it took a massive leap, and flapped its wings aggressively in the sky, aiming directly at him. Harry drew his wand, opening his body to a wide stance in front of the party.

"Jon!" Harry shouted. "Winter is fucking coming!"

Harry pointed his wand at the diving creature, running a few steps forward to clear himself from the group. There was a rustle of robes as Jon shot past him, Ghost charging with a growl.

"Lumos maxima!" he shouted. A beam of light burned through the night, blinding the threstral just as it swooped down at them. It crashed at full speed, dragging along the ground a few meters just as it landed. It shrieked and flopped on the ground but was on its feet after some mad flapping of wings and a ear piercing shriek. Ghost pounced with lightning fast speed, but the beast flapped one massive leathery wing and sent the young wolf flying in another direction. Jon flinched as he tucked his head low and rolled on his shoulder underneath the wing of the beast and sprung up in front of it. He tackled the neck, throwing his entire weight at it.

"Jon!" Tonks screamed, watching on in horror as he wrestled with an invisible enemy. Harry was trying to keep his beam of Lumos light focused on the threstral's face, but it was thrashing wildly as Jon locked his arms around the thin, bony neck.

Jon cursed in pain as the talon on the tip of the left wing had caught him at least three times on his back and leg in the ensuing fracas. The fear of stabbing he inherited was sending paralyzing fear into him. Something inside was awakening from the fear of meeting that end again, strengthening his resolve. The stabbing pain became nothing. Jon was desperately trying to manipulate the birdlike beak from attacking his face. In the mad scramble he noticed that one of the front legs was not working, which was probably the reason why the beast could not simply overpower his small body.

With a scream he kicked out at the broken foreleg and the beast went down face first under its own weight. In a smooth motion, Jon threw his legs over the long neck and mounted the beast like a horse. Holding the loose skin under the jaw in his left hand, he drew his butter knife with his right and sunk it in the throat. With a grunt of magically powered rage, he yanked it around the neck in a long, swift strike.

There was another piercing shriek as a long splatter of dark red blood fell in front of Harry. Now that its blood had been spilled, the creature came into full view of the entire party.

Jon got to work on the flailing beast, stabbing it in the wound five, six, seven times, his arm swinging in smooth, controlled arcs as he pinned the head to the ground with his left arm. The wings stopped flapping, and the beast stopped its frantic thrashing.

"Rah!" Jon said, stabbing it again, again, and again, non-stop. "Die, damn you!"

The shtick shtick shtick sound continued in the ensuing silence. Tonks' wand was pointing to the ground, her legs trembling in shock. The older boys who were previously forming a human barricade in front of Hermione, Angelina and Ron were now witnessing Jon plunge his fist into the bloody neck multiple times, each hit resulting in a spurt of blood.

Nobody moved an inch.

Harry walked forward. "Jon!"

Shtick Shtick Shtick

"JON!" Harry shouted in his ear.

Shtick Shtick Shtick

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Harry commanded. "Stop it now, it's done!"

Shtick Shtick Shtick

"Expelliarmus!" Tonks caught herself and intervened.

The butter knife flew out his hand towards Tonks and fell at her feet. Ron and the others followed the arc of the weapon, their jaw dropping when they realized what it was. Jon was about to strike again when he realized his hand was empty. He looked up on bended knee before Harry who was pointing his wand in Jon's general direction, breathing hard. Jon bent his head down, catching his breath for a few seconds as he regained control of himself. Harry aimed his wand away from him. With trembling arms and legs Jon shoved the threstral head to the ground, and pushed himself up in front of Harry.

Both young men nodded.

Jon was catching his breath, covered in blood. He looked around, concerned.

"Ghost," he commanded. "To me!"

There was a faint whine in the darkness. "Ghost? Where are you?" he turned, trying to find the direction of the sound.

Again the whine. Jon limped to the sound and found his familiar in the tall grass, trying his hardest to move. "No," John whispered. "Ghost..." he growled, anger building in him. "Potter, I need your help!" he commanded, looking at his companion whine on the ground.

Harry was at Jon's side in a heartbeat. Ghost's flank was opened, and the meat on his ribs were visible. He was bleeding all over his legs and stomach.

"It is a horizontal wound," Jon whispered, petting his familiar on the head. The dog was trembling, the mouth hanging open. "We can save him, we must," he said solemnly. "If the claw had slashed between the rib, that blow would have ..."

"Tonks!" Harry commanded.

"I'm here I'm here!" Tonks said already at his side. She was shining her wand at the dog. She threw off her cloak, crouched down and used a slicing spell to shred it to ribbons. Then she incanted a freezing spell alongside a pain expulsion charm on the strips. She then transfigured some nearby branches into straight, flat pieces of wood. With a complex piece of wand work she created a miniature stretcher.

"The pain killer charm works better on a cold surface. It will keep him calmer," she said, her voice cracking. She took a deep breath.

"Levitate him, Harry," she said quietly, forcing calm in her voice. "Easy! His back may be in trouble too. Keep him stable. Even. Careful... nice. Smooth, good that's it," she encouraged. Harry gently laid the wolf pup on the stretcher. He twisted his wand while doing the levitation and now both stretcher and animal floated at waist height.

"Fred, George, take Ghost to Hagrid's," Harry ordered, his voice grim. The twins came forward and with a uncharacteristic solemnity, they took hold of the floating stretcher. "Tonks, I need you to escort them, then take everybody straight up to the castle. Blast open the gates if Filch isn't there. Everyone walk with Lumos activated," he said, his hand on Jon's shoulder. "The challenge has been met, and Jon is the victor. They won't strike again. There is something we need to do first. Then we'll clean up and meet you at the Hospital wing. "

Tonks gave Jon and Harry a strange look, and then lit her wand.

"You heard the man," Tonks reinforced, her voice cracking again. "Let's keep moving."

Jon watched mutely as the party made quick time up the path.

"Well done, friend. Hagrid will fix Ghost, he's the best. I have trust in him."

"Ghost is strong. He is the strongest of the litter, I knew it from the first day." He turned on his heel. Crouching he retrieved his fallen butter knife.

"Isn't that the same thing you use to sign the seals?" Harry said, it did look familiar.

"Aye. It's your aunt's table instrument. You didn't even notice I spirited it away the first night." Jon smiled a grim smile. "Do not be a gaoler in your next journey, Harry of House Hollow. Your inherit nature does not permit it."

"Probably," Harry agreed. "I hate being locked up, can't stomach doing it to someone else. Let's find a way to carry this up, before something else takes it. Or eats it." He looked down at the bloody creature. "Fine fucking work. You made sure it wasn't getting back up." Harry moved the head with his shoe. It rolled a few times, only connected by some bloody tendons. The spine was completely severed. Harry kicked it again and the tendons easily slipped out the torso.

Harry's eyebrows went into his hair. "Overkill much?"

Jon shrugged while he looked at the tiny weapon in his hand. "It is faultless, even now," he said in grim satisfaction and awe. His new forge downstairs would definitely be put to use. If this is what he can accomplish with only a sharpening stone with his newfound magic...

"Hmph," Harry looked at the innocent eating instrument. "Figures. The voices didn't call you 'Sword of the Light' for nothing, then." Harry was at work folding the open wings to the torso. He took a few minutes kicking the legs to fold in before they locked in rigor mortis. "I couldn't do shit. Lucky you were here." Harry laughed at himself as he dug in his backpack for his bath towel.

"Engorgio." The towel expanded into a massive piece of material similar to the shape of a snitch. "What the bloody hell?" he complained, cursing at his wand.

Harry levitated the carcass and decapitated head unto the snitch towel. It instantly turned dark with blood. He wrapped it up and tied the wings of the snitch together. "Some 'Lion' I was."

"The voices do not lie, everything that they told me has already begun. They are not mistaken," Jon said. He passed his hand under his robes, feeling where he bled from his puncture wounds. The pain was coming back in waves now.

"Right." With the twist of his wand the bloody package lifted as one. "Come on, let's go clean up and then visit Katie."

After five minutes of walking they reached Hagrid's. His door was wide open, the light spilling out the massive opening. Harry deposited the bloody package outside on the lawn.

Hagrid had the stretcher suspended across two of his massive chairs, allowing the wounded animal to relax on the suspension of the interlaced cloak material. There were green straps holding down Ghost's neck, head, torso and leg. There was a massive ham bone between his teeth. Ghost seemed happy to gnaw on the salty treat as the gentle half giant worked delicately on his injuries. Hagrid glanced at Harry and the blood-covered Lord Black.

"What the," Hagrid exclaimed, his hands rock steady even though he was surprised at the sight. "Yer alright lad? That blood ain't yours from what Fred and George told me," Hagrid enquired.

"No. How is Ghost?" Jon said, grimacing in pain.

"I got this poultice and the Nature's living light bugs already working on the taint of the wingclaw. He's lucky, but not outta danger yet. I sent the twins for the bone and cartilage knitting potion from Poppy. His back needs it, right now, pronto. Once I get this wound covered in this," he pointed to a vat holding a rabbit pelt floating in a potion. Jon looked in the vat, confused. "It'll help his skin and flesh grow back four times as fast. Also fight any infection. Then I got to keep him from moving around too much while the bone potions do their work overnight." He demonstrated the restraining vines wrapped around his neck, legs and rump. The vines were slowly moving, tightening and twining where necessary in a firm, controlling manner. "Don't 'cha worry about Dolly down there, she's a sweetheart." Harry looked under the stretcher where a potted vine plant was slowly moving, the vines reaching up and restraining Ghost with subtle movements. "He would need to stay the week to heal. Within a couple more days after that he should be good as new, won't ya little buddy?" he cooed at Ghost. Ghost kept gnawing on the hambone, drool pooling on the stretcher as he made his soft growls. "Great familiar you have here, Mr. Black. Or can I call you Jon?"

"Master gamekeeper, you may call me friend, or brother. I have no words that I can say or repayment too large to thank you for your expert care for Ghost," Jon bowed deeply. "I am in your debt, Mr. Hagrid," Jon said humbly.

"Ah! Is nothing! Just take care of him and feed him good meat and we will be even," Hagrid smiled, using his pinky finger to dress the open wounds on his side. "There.. there.. that's a good lad," Hagrid said, carefully attending to his small charge. "Go get cleaned up friend, you smell as if there was a dead threstral outside the door," Hagrid joked. "The professors are expecting you."

"In the morning, I shall return, Ghost." Jon bowed to Hagrid, and limped out the hut.

"Yeah Hagrid, thanks again. Will be back tomorrow," added Harry. He closed the door behind him and levitated the carcass towards the main doors of the school. "Jon, you've been limping more with each step."

"Yes. I will live," Jon gritted through his teeth.

"Ok then," Harry said. "Straight to the medic for you."

"Best idea I've heard all night." They reached the front steps.

"Give me a few seconds to stash this somewhere where it won't stink up the place," Harry dashed towards the Whomping Willow. He dumped his bloody carcass and with a few tries of levitating a branch to the knot that calmed the tree down, he managed to put it to sleep. He levitated the threstral into the entrance of the cave below it. It wasn't completely hidden, but he would be back tomorrow morning for it. He dashed back and met Jon leaning heavily on the doors. Harry levitated the heavy wooden beam barring the doors by poking his wand through the tiny seam between them. He got under Jon's arm and supported his weight.

He kicked open the door and released the levitation spell at the same time. The resounding boom echoed through the main open areas of the castle with a satisfactory echo. By the time he half walked, half carried Jon to the steps to the Hospital Wing Tonks was flying down the stairs.

"Was that you, Harry?" she screamed. "You gave us such a fright! Jon! What happened? Bring him, quickly."

"You could at least help, he's not the lightest bloke around," Harry said as they inched up the stairs.

"Levitate him!" Tonks ordered.

"I hate that," Harry said. "I won't suffer him the indign-" he cut off at Tonks weird expression.

"Someone levitated you before then?" She smirked.

"Ah, once. After Quidditch. Bad fall. Felt really embarrassed," he lied quickly. Tonks shook her head and ran down the remainder of steps.

"Oh, ok. Phew!" she scrunched her nose as she approached them. "Forget that. I'll do it. Damn, did you guys bathe in the blood?" she held her nose and levitated Jon up the stairs.

"You will put me down, Miss Tonks," Jon said weakly.

"Nope. We're almost there. Katie is already looking a bit better. The tea worked! She's still a mess though, she fought tooth and nail to keep on the robes, and the constant spell casting did a number on her," Tonks tone grew darker, her face twisting in anger. "Poor girl didn't sleep a wink the entire time. She's still doing the hand motions off and on but we got her to lay down and now she seems more in control of herself..."

"Ridgewall?" Harry asked.

"The bezoar helped. He's still sleeping off the poison."

"Good." He opened the doors and allowed the two of them through.

Madame Pompfrey looked up from Katie when the three of them entered. "Let's get you two cleaned up," she ordered, taking over the levitation charm.

"Goodness, Mr. Potter. Is this Lord Black?" Professor McGonagall asked. "Do you have an address for us to owl his guardians?"

"Um yeah. Hold on." Harry went into the healer's office and wrote down the address for Ollivander's shop on it, McGonagall was right on his heels. She read the parchment and nodded. Thankfully she did not immediately recognize the importance of the address and began scribing a message.

"Name to address?" she asked Harry.

"Mr. Garrick," Harry said simply.

"Thank you, Harry. Please feel free to clean up and change. It seems that Hogwarts is never dull with you around. I will inform his guardian of what has happened."

"Thank you, Professor." Harry went to Katie's bed, where the rest of the gang was standing. They parted to let him pass, with half of his robes covered in dried blood. Katie looked pale as a ghost. Her hair was dull and she had dark circles around her eyes and chapped lips.

"You smell bad," Katie said weakly with a smile.

"It is nice to see you too Katie," Harry returned. "How are you feeling?"

"My arm hurts," she said with a smile. "I look probably as bad as you smell, don't I?"

"You look beautiful Katie. You just need to get some rest. And probably some sun. And maybe some chocolate ice-cream," he teased, taking her hand.

She beckoned him closer. He stepped around Hermione and crouched next to her bed head.

"Thank you," she whispered. "Tonks said you deserved the credit, not her." She smiled, touching his bloody chin in affection. "You look really heroic right now," she said softly, chuckling. She brought his head down lower so she could talk directly in his ear. "You will tell me who did this to me, maybe not now though. When we are alone." Her voice was weak, but Harry knew that she was determined to find out.

"Sure," he replied. "Will do."

"Good. Now go bathe. Get away," she tried to shoo him, but her arm did a figure eight and a swoosh. She cried out in pain, holding her bicep with her next hand. Angelina immediately brought her recovery potion from the bedside table and put it to her lips.

"Get better soon," he said turning. He left the bedside and went to the hospital showers. He watched as Pompfrey used a powerful hosing spell from her wand on Jon. He was sitting on a chair under the running shower wearing only a towel around his waist. He didn't protest, he just allowed the medic to do what she had to do. The water running off from him was light pink. His apprentice robes were stashed in the corner of the stall, darker pink draining off of it into the piping.

"Take the next stall, Harry. I'll take care of Mr. Black. You know what to do," Pompfrey instructed him.

"Yeah, more than you know," he mumbled under his breath so she couldn't hear. How many times did he visit this place in his past life?

Later that night, in the Gryffindor dorms Harry was lying awake in bed. Oliver, Ron and the twins were asleep in the same room.

He was replaying the conversations they had together when he finally came in to sleep.

"Where do you find these guys Potter. Jeez," Oliver laughed. The twins were solemn. Ron was still pale, just listening to the others.

"A freaking butter knife, mate." George stated in disbelief.

"Yeah. What is that all about, huh Harry?" Fred asked him. "At least a real knife I could understand. But who does this?"

"The fucking Lord Black does this, that's who!" Oliver announced. He slashed his finger around his throat with a snarl on his face. "Did you see all that blood!"

There was a rousing cheer. "Hear Hear!" the three Weasley Brothers announced.

"Where's the booze Oliver?" Fred asked, hyped up.

"Nah mates! Change of plans. Since Katie and now Jon are in the wing still, it's not the same. At least we got to wait until Jon comes back in. Can't drink in his honor without him."

They all griped about the trip from Hogsmeade and who was too chicken to help. Most of the arguments lead to "I couldn't see it, why didn't you do something," variations so Harry just remained a bystander to the banter. He didn't really do anything either. He might of blinded it initially, but Jon went to town on that bag of skin and bones.

He deserves to knock back a couple for all his effort.

At the present moment Jon still hasn't come back and it was nearing midnight. Pompfrey must be holding him overnight. Harry fluffed the pillow beneath him in frustration. He made sure his wand was still there underneath it. Or rather, his loaner wand. His mind ran across the Phoenix feathers waiting for him to build his own wand. It's going to take some time practicing though. He really needed to get his magic back up to scratch.

This 'no curses' handicap was leaving him way too vulnerable.

At that same moment on the other side of the school, Jon was resting in the bed next to Katie's. She was already fast asleep.

He knew Harry felt frustrated that he wasn't able to help him as much with his mismatched wand. But Jon always remembered what the voices said about their roles in the mission to destroy the Effigy left behind in that netherworld.

As soon as he saw the beam of light erupt from Harry's wand and pierce the darkness, he knew the voices prophecies rang true.

You are the Sword of the Light, sworn into service of the Lion. Only he holds the key.

He's been using only two spells since he's got a wand back, yet already he has retrieved one of the Horcuxes and cast suspicion on a member of Voldemort's high-ranking inner circle within the week. And they got rid of a pest that troubled Diagon's merchants for years.

And now the both of them have obtained valuable components to tackle their project. Wand cores, plus hard to get ingredients. They were efficient, at least.

Jon groaned in pain. At least he was alive to actually create the damn things. But without this battle he would not have been able to fulfill another aspect of the prophecy .

Bathed in blood, you shall become the Sword that Pierces his foes. He must cast no magic to kill, nor shall he curse another human being.

He will become the Light that Shines through the Darkness.

Kneel, and swear allegiance.

"It has truly begun, just as the voices said..." Jon said aloud. "We shall win Potter, or die trying."

A/N Thank you for reading. Please feel free to IM / review.

Until we meet Again

TDLN