Fan Fiction / Crossover Fan Fiction ❯ New Family ❯ Chapter 20

Disclaimer: Unfortunately I still do not own either Harry Potter or Anita Blake.

Finally got around to reading Dance Macabre, wasn't all that impressed with it. Too much sex and not enough plot to balance it. Any one read the next one? Is it the same, better or worse? I've been reading the Dark Hunter books by Sherrilyn Kenyon and they are really good, romance novels true but the storyline is good.

 

Posting this sort of beta'd in that Serpent in Shadows has grammar checked it. Still looking for a title. The other two people I sent it to have yet to respond even though they were eager to check it.

 

Chapter 20 -

 

Harry stared down into the valley through a pair of night vision goggles. He'd been watching the valley all day and wanted nothing more than to get up and stretch, unfortunately that would reveal his position to the rather large army below. He slowly crawled back from the edge and put the goggles in his bag. A few seconds later a cheetah with a bag slung around its neck was running down the mountain at close to full speed.

 

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Lan looked up as Harry walked in, dumping his bag on a nearby chair. After nearly two years in Europe they were nearly ready for the final move.

 

“So?” Harry looked over at him as he spoke.

 

“So what?” The dark haired wizard asked with a small smile. Lan rolled his eyes at the unofficial leader of the Outcasts. At least Harry's mood had improved over the last six months since achieving the animagus transformation. Though no one had expected him to be a cheetah. They'd all been betting on either a wolf or leopard but they hadn't ever thought he'd be a cheetah. They all knew Harry had been hoping on a wolf for his cousin and godfather but a feline wasn't too bad since he spent so much time with the St. Louis pard.

 

“So what are we up against cub?” Remus asked as he walked into the room. Harry smiled at his godfather. He'd missed him a lot when they had been separated, Lan didn't need magic to see that.

 

“Well if anyone wants to back out I won't blame them.” Harry told them as he slumped into a chair.

 

“That bad?” Lan asked and Harry nodded.

 

“I've never seen so many people gathered in one place before. And not just wizards either, he's got were's, trolls, dementors, even vampires from their lack of heat signatures. At least thirty thousand strong. And we have what? Two thousand?”

 

“Strength of numbers doesn't mean everything. Quality is what counts.” Remus countered but it didn't take a genius to realise he didn't really believe what he was saying.

 

“If we can take out Voldemort the rest may scatter.” Lan pointed out but Harry shook his head.

 

“No, we can't let them scatter. The inner circle would simply split the army between them and continue the war. We have to capture or kill them all.” He stated and the other two slowly nodded.

 

“So, war council?” Harry looked at his godfather and nodded.

 

“War council.” He agreed.

 

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“Harry.” He looked up and nodded at Draco as the blonde joined him on the roof.

 

“Draco. How's your wife?” Harry asked in genuine interest. Draco had spent the last two weeks back in Japan with his wife of a year.

 

“Pregnant. It was a bit of a shock.” Draco answered, still sounding a bit shocked.

 

“Congratulations. She'd be what? About six months?” Harry questioned, trying to remember when Draco had last managed to get away from the war to see her.

 

“Yeah. Any chance of this being over before my son is born?” Draco wasn't really serious but he would like to be there for the birth of his first child, the first child born to the new House of Black.

 

“What about three weeks?” Draco stared at him with wide eyes and Harry had to suppress a laugh.

 

“What?” Was all the blonde managed to get out.

 

“You missed the war council. We found them, are outnumbered by a ridiculous amount but are planning to fight in about three weeks.” Harry asked, still amused by Draco's reaction.

 

“How badly outnumbered?” Draco asked nervously.

 

“They have at least thirty thousand.” Harry sighed.

“Go home to your wife Draco. Your son deserves to have a father.”

 

“Yeah, but there is no way he would survive in a world run by that maniac. I'd rather him live even if it is without me there. I'm staying Potter and you can't stop me.” Draco told him firmly, making Harry smile.

 

“I know but I had to try.” He answered. They sat in silence for a while, simply staring up at the stars.

 

“So what about you? Anyone special back wherever you were living before this mess?” Draco finally asked.

 

“Sort of…maybe. It's…complicated. I like him though and I think he likes me.” Harry stammered a bit and Draco smiled.

 

“Him huh? Got to be pretty special to get your attention.” Draco teased making Harry smile.

 

“Yeah, he is.” He answered softly.

 

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“Well it's crazy but technically it should work.” Nicole told them as she finally set her notes aside.

 

“And the risk to Harry?” Shelley asked nervously. The group looked to their leader as Nicole sighed.

 

“Seventy percent chance of death, fifty five of possession, sixty two of insanity, thirty of becoming a squib and nineteen percent chance of this working with absolutely no ill affects.” Nic told them quietly.

 

“That's a lot more than a hundred percent.” Tim pointed out nervously.

 

“I looked at the possibility of each result separately, not in the one grouping.” She told him.

 

“There has to be another way!” Josh almost yelled.

 

“Unfortunately the results become worse with every other idea we have come up with over the last two years. This is Harry's best chance of surviving.” She countered angrily.

 

“Then let's do it.” Everyone turned to Harry in dread. They'd all known he'd agree, the war had dragged on for too long and Harry more than all the rest of them was sick of the deaths.

 

“Harry…”

 

“No Moony. Like Nicole said this has the best odds. We can't let them win. Tell the Minister we move in two days.” With that Harry stood and left the room.

 

“We better get moving then.” Draco said and then left to do as Harry asked.

 

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Kek hissed in agitation as he watched his bonded toss and turn in his bed. He knew what the young one planned to try and was worried for him. Even with his help and the protection runes inked into his very skin the spell was incredibly dangerous. Kek suddenly stilled in thought before giving a happy hiss. If snakes could smile he'd be grinning as he began to weave the magic via his bond to Harry. He could give his bonded this one gift; hopefully it would be enough to help ground him for what was coming.

 

Jason snuggled into the warm body behind him, arms tightening around him because of his movement. He shivered slightly as warm breath whispered across the back of his neck and then his eyes snapped open in shock. He'd definitely gone to bed alone, he hadn't slept with anyone in years, so who was in his bed? He inhaled deeply to catch their scent and froze as he breathed it in. It couldn't be, could it? Carefully rolling over he stared in wonder at the man beside him. Messy dark hair fell half across a familiar yet changed face, showing just a hint of a scar above one closed eye. Jason pushed himself up so that he was leaning over his still sleeping companion. He was older than he remembered and with new scares across his torso but it definitely looked like Harry. His eyes wandered around the room and he frowned, this was not his room beneath the Circus so where were they?

 

“Harry?” He whispered but the effect was immediate. Brilliant green eyes flew open and Jason was suddenly on his back on the bed, Harry restraining him.

“Harry it's me, Jason.” He stayed limp in the younger mans grip, not wanting to push him into violence. Harry blinked down at him in confusion before looking around.

 

“Jason? Where are we?” Harry asked softly as he let go of the werewolf and sat back. Jason sat up and shrugged.

 

“No clue. So which one of us is dreaming?” he asked making Harry look at him oddly.

“Well I know I went to sleep in my room so does that make this my dream?”

 

“Funny because I remember going to bed in my room too.” Harry told him.

 

“So we're both dreaming?”

 

“Or someone kidnapped us both and dumped us here without either of us waking. Considering how fortified our rooms are I doubt that.” Harry answered. Jason nodded not really caring since it was obviously a dream, he was too busy memorising every change Harry had undergone in the last two years. He smiled as Harry blushed slightly from the scrutiny but the wizard was studying him just as closely. Reaching out slowly Jason brushed stray hair back from Harry's face.

 

“It's longer.” He commented and Harry shrugged.

 

“Haven't been bothered to get it cut.” He answered.

“How have you been?”

 

“Okay.” It was Jason's turn to shrug. It was the truth, he was okay, he just missed Harry, everyone did actually.

“There have been a few problems of the usual sort but we've all managed to stay alive.” He was running his fingers through Harry's hair as he spoke which struck him as odd in a distant sort of way. But Harry wasn't complaining, in fact he was leaning into his touch so he kept going. After all it was just a dream which meant this wasn't the real Harry, just what he thought the younger male would be like now. And he'd missed him so much. He found himself moving slowly closer to the dark haired wizard, his eyes closing as their lips touched. After all this was just a dream and it wasn't like dream-Harry was complaining. Actually he was responding rather enthusiastically. He yelped in surprise when Harry pushed him backwards on the bed, pinning him as they continued to kiss. He reached up to brush Harry's hair away from his face as they broke for air, not feeling even a sliver of fear as he noticed the wizards slitted eyes and extended fangs. Even in a dream he knew Harry would never do anything to hurt him.

 

“Jason.” Harry whispered, burying his face in the werewolf's neck. Jason held him tightly in response, breathing in the familiar scent of his friend.

“I want…” Harry trailed off, raising up to stare down at Jason who smiled up at him.

 

“Please.” Was all the werewolf said before their lips met again.

 

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He couldn't stop staring at his reflection, eyes wide with shock. There, in the flesh of his shoulder, a little to the side of his neck, were two holes obviously made by fangs. But these were not the marks he was used to as the Masters pomme de sang, no these marks had not been made by the fangs of a vampire but by those of a large snake. Or more accurately if he made himself accept it, a Serpent Lord. How…It had just been a dream, hadn't it? He gently touched the marks and hissed slightly in discomfort. At least there was no venom or if there had been his werewolf healing had taken care of it while he was sleeping. Digging around he finally unearthed some gauze and tape which he used to cover the wound. He dreaded seeing the reactions the bite would get since the only person in the circus who might have been able to give it was Melanie. If he was lucky it would be healed before anyone noticed. Who was he kidding? Jean-Claude would notice as soon as he showed up to feed the vampire. Maybe…Requiem was tied to Harry so maybe he would know what was going on. He'd never shared dreams with Harry before, as far as he knew only master vampires and their servants did that and neither of them was a vampire. But it was the only way to explain the bite mark, he remembered getting it towards the end when…Jason went red. Well if the dream was real then he had helped Harry loose his virginity. Richard was going to kill him, slowly. Could it get any worse?

 

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“You alright cub?” Harry looked up at Remus' question.

 

“Huh?” Was his intelligent answer.

 

“You seem to be a little out of it today.” Remus explained patiently as he handed his godson a mug of hot chocolate. Harry shrugged, fighting down a blush.

 

“Weird dream last night, sorry.”

 

“Weird how?” The werewolf asked worriedly.

 

“Just…personal weird.” Harry swallowed and fought another blush. Remus gave him an odd look before suddenly smiling.

 

“Oh.” He said in amusement.

 

“Oh what?” Harry asked, shooting him an unamused glare.

 

“Nothing, nothing at all.” Remus held his hands up and retreated from the room. Harry snarled as the sounds of Remus' laughter reached him from the hall. Sure, laugh at his discomfort. Why on earth had he dreamt of having sex with Jason last night? But more importantly, why had there been blood on his lips when he woke up this morning?

 

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Harry finished adjusting his wand holster, watching as his friends finished their last minute preparations. This was it. After years of fighting everything would end with this battle, one way or another. And he could admit if only to himself that he was beyond scared. There were so many things that could go wrong. If this didn't work then he would have led what fighting forces the wizarding world still had to their deaths.

 

“Relax.” Harry jumped as Josh placed a hand on his shoulder.

“We all know the risks and we still choose to fight. No matter what happens we've done the best we can. Got it?” The American gave him a stern look and Harry nodded.

 

“Yeah, I get it. Doesn't make any of this easier though.” He admitted. Josh gave a final squeeze to his shoulder before moving away to finish his own preparations.

 

“Portkeys are set, ten seconds.” Tim called and they all braced themselves, wands and guns drawn. With a tug behind the navel they vanished only to lands in a war zone. Without hesitating they opened fire, surprising the dark forces with the rear attack as planned. The Outcasts formed a protective ring around Harry, something he hated but knew was necessary. He had to make it to Voldemort alive or all this would be for nothing.

 

Draco fought without mercy, he knew better than most exactly what their opponents would do to them if they lost and he had a wife and unborn child to return to. He would not let his child be born into a world ruled by Riddle, no matter the cost. He smiled as Remus moved to cover his back. He had grown close to the remaining Marauder during their time in Japan and had come to see the older man as almost an uncle. He knew the werewolf wanted to be protecting his cub but he simply hadn't fought with them long enough to work seamlessly beside them. Watching the group of Americans fight together was awe inspiring, terror inciting if you were their target. So Remus would fight beside him because pack protected their own and after everything Draco was now a part of Remus' pack, something he liked. If anyone had told him that in third year he would have sneered at them but now the thought was comforting. If he fell his family would be provided for.

 

Harry stopped as he spotted Riddle and quickly knelt on the ground. He took a handful of deep breaths before muttering the necessary spells, preparing the surrounding area for what was to come. He opened his eyes and stood once finished, gaze going from one friend to another. They all flashed him a smile before heading off into the battle, he had to do this alone. He took a deep breath, Kek hissing comfortingly before slipping to the ground and moving to intercept Nagini.

 

“Hey Riddle! Let's end this once and for all!” Harry yelled, making the Dark Lord turn and stare at him. Harry stood firm and proud before the creature that had once been Tom Riddle. He needed the other wizard to come to him for this to work.

 

“Harry Potter.” Voldemort hissed in delight. Harry glared at him but didn't say anything.

“Did you like my gifts during you absence?”

 

“Not particularly.” Harry shrugged, hands in his pockets. He fought a smirk as Voldemort hissed in rage. They both turned to stare as Kek ripped Nagini to shreds, the larger snake hissing in agony as the smaller snakes potent venom went to work.

“Not a nice way to go.” Harry commented blandly as the snake gave one last shudder before dieing.

 

“I will kill you for this boy!” Voldemort raged.

 

“Haven't had much luck with that so far have you?” Harry taunted. This time he let the smirk show on is face and that was enough to push Riddle over the edge. The older man approached quickly and then froze in shock as a visible wall of magic went up behind him. The two were now trapped inside a circle of pure magic, even the top was sealed from outside aide. Harry was taking no chances of Voldemort escaping. A whispered word activated the next spell, binding Riddle's body in place.

 

“What are you doing?” Voldemort's voice held the first traces of fear.

 

“Finishing this once and for all Tom.” Harry stated coldly and then began chanting the spell Nicole and Rita had spent the last six months researching and then altering. He didn't even know what language he was speaking, he'd zoned out on that bit of the explanation. All that he care about was that it would work. He almost lost his concentration as he saw Remus fall from the corner of his eye but forced himself to keep going. He didn't know if his godfather was dead or merely injured but either way he would not let it be in vain. He gasped but kept chanting as the pain began. Locking his gaze on Riddle he could see pain and terror etched on the serpentine features and knew his own eyes had changed while his fangs had extended. He was pulling every bit of magic he had for the spell and a part of him realised it might be too much, that his body might not survive the drain. Then he felt more power flow through him as first Draco and then Requiem poured power down the family link to him. What nearly shocked him into stopping the spell was when another began adding power, this the warm power of a lycanthrope. He knew that power, it was Jason, but how? And then that power multiplied by several hundred and he knew somehow Jason was acting as a conduit for the pack. At the head of it he felt the welcoming strength of his cousin, his second father. He basked in the warmth of his love for a brief second before throwing the extra power into the spell. And Voldemort screamed.

 

Jason clung to his Ulfrics' arms as he felt the power of the pack pouring through him and somehow into Harry. Richard was cradling him in his arms, having caught him as he fell. Requiem staggered to their side and grabbed onto Jason's arm, giving him something else to help ground him. The three men vaguely felt others moving around them and speaking but it was too distant to matter. All that mattered was not losing themselves in the power rushing through them and into the young wizard across the ocean. Richard could feel Jean-Claude and Anita trying to help but this was a link they weren't a part of. He also felt Harry welcoming his power without fear of the beast it contained. He smiled as he felt Harry basking in his feelings for the only son he would probably ever have. None of them tried to control the power they sent, they simply gave it to the wizard and felt him weaving it how he needed. They could feel a dark presence near him but for now it was contained, the power of what Harry was doing holding it helpless. And then the link faded and they were back in the underground rooms of the circus. Jason whimpered, clutching at Richard's arms as he felt Harry drawing away from him. Richard held him tightly, rocking slightly in an effort to comfort him. Requiem gently brushed sweat matted hair from Jason's forehead even while keeping guard over the two men who meant the most to his lord. He would need to feed again and soon but for now he would support them as well as he could.

 

Harry felt the links fade away again as he began the final part of the spell. A distant part of him hoped they were all alright but that was pushed aside by the magic he was wielding. He watched with a detached sort of calm as something began emerging from Riddle's body. It was dark, but also reminiscent of the Hogwarts ghosts, it was Riddle's soul. Voldemort's screams became worse as the darkness was pulled ever so slowly from his body only to cut off abruptly as the last of it emerged. Red eyes glazed over before the body simply crumpled into dust. The dark mass floated briefly before plunging straight through Harry's chest. He screamed.

 

Draco watched through the shield as Harry writhed on the ground, mouth open in a silent scream. The fighting had stopped as soon as Voldemort had begun to scream, both sides too involved in watching their leaders to bother fighting each other. He winced as Harry's head bounced against the ground, hard, but there was nothing anyone could do until the shield was lowered and the only one who could do that was convulsing on the ground. But would they want the shield to drop? What if Harry couldn't do it, what if he was no longer Harry? They wouldn't know until it was too late either way.

 

No one breathed as the convulsions slowly stopped, leaving Harry lying utterly still on the ground. Only those with enhanced senses could detect any breath coming from the young wizard as the battle ground became eerily quiet. And then, ever so slowly he began to push himself upright. They all watched as he staggered to the edge of the shield and with a hoarse whisper collapsed it. Guns, wands and blades of various types were all aimed his way since neither side knew who he was with. And then a Death Eater crumpled to the ground, dead. Stunned looks were shared before another and then another dropped. Soon all those who bore the Dark Mark were dead, leaving only their unmarked creature allies looking distinctly nervous at suddenly being outnumbered.

 

“Surrender.” A hoarse yet powerful voice commanded and all eyes turned back to the dark haired wizard who finally raised his head revealing tired emerald eyes.

“Surrender.” He repeated, slowly raising his wand to aim at a nearby vampire. They could all see his exhaustion but they could also sense the power barely leashed within him and one by one they surrendered or fled.

 

Harry stared at the carnage around him, fighting to stay on his feet. He was more tired than he could ever remember being previously in his life. Then again fighting for ones soul is a rather exhausting thing to do. But Tom Riddle was gone forever, there was no way back for him now. Personally he just wanted to sleep for the next year but he knew he wouldn't be allowed to.

 

“Harry, you okay?” He blinked and struggled to focus on Josh as the other Outcast approached a little warily. He nodded slowly and then collapsed in his friends arms, vaguely hearing someone shout for a medic as the world went black.

 

 

TBC…