Harry Potter and the Veil of Souls (fanfiction)

By Bardess/Bardvahalla 2004 ( )

Based on the characters of J.K. Rowling (PG-13)

Chapter Ten

Orbourus

"You see, Potter." Voldemort said, his horrible, red eyes glowering at him from Percy's face, "I had to abandon my body until the veil could be removed. Luck would have it that a pure blooded wizard was handy, so I'm using him. Do give the Weasley's their son's regrets," Voldemort laughed callously.

Harry didn't recognize his own grating voice. "Let him go."

Voldemort smirked. "If I did it wouldn't make any difference. Percy Weasley's been under my influence since the Tri-wizard Tournament. Came looking for Crouch about some silly report of his. For all his ambition he's astonishingly weak minded. Obviously, Hogwart's standards in Head boys have fallen since my day."

There was a whisper of wings as Fawkes flew straight at Voldemort. The bird pecked at Voldemort's raised left hand and managed to snatch the wand from him in its claws. Phoenix song filled the echoing caverns.

"KILL THE BIRD!" screamed Voldemort. Lucius raised his wand and scrambled to stop the phoenix.

"Fawkes! Here!" Harry tossed the red-gold bird the Portkey as it flew by. Fawkes caught the Portkey in its beak, and promptly disappeared with Voldemort's wand.

Percy's face contorted with Voldemort's rage. "That was unfortunate for YOU, Mr. Potter." His scarlet eyes darkened in rage. "Get Harry's wand for me, Lucius," he commanded.

Lucius smiled. "Accio wand!"

Just in time, Harry gripped his wand tightly with both hands. He went flying towards Malfoy as the wand was pulled across the room. Harry heard Dumbledore's belated, whispered instructions in his ear. "Use the horn on Percy, Harry. Free him from Voldemort if he is possessed."

Harry let go of the wand and just managed to hit the ground running. He pulled the Unicorn horn from his pocket and threw himself at Percy. The horn took on a life of its own and before Harry realized what was going to happen, the Unicorn horn was thrust deep into Percy's chest.

Black blood spurted out and splashed hotly on Harry's face. Harry released the horn in horror as Voldemort screamed in agony. Dark blood continued to pour from the wound turning from black to red, and Harry nearly slipped in it.

The screaming voice changed to a moist gurgle as Voldemort's spirit released Percy Weasley's dying body. Freed, Percy gasped in agony and staggered away. He finally fell at Petunia's stony feet and lay in a gasping heap.

Still holding both wands, Lucius spun around seeking Voldemort's spirit. Draco remained motionless, uncertain how to react.

For a moment the only sound was that of the three of them breathing? Suddenly, an enormous red-eyed snake, Nagini, reared out of the shadows and hissed at Harry. The huge snake moved fast as lighting. Harry leapt aside but tripped over something in the shadows. It smelled very bad. It was Bellatrix's rotting body. Revolted, Harry turned and attempted to get away from it. A sharp hiss came from behind and he suddenly found himself within the coils of the enormous snake body Voldemort's spirit now possessed.

The snake opened its wide fanged mouth and hissed, "Luciussss!"

"Master!" Lucius cried out. He seemed both relieved and afraid at Voldemort's presence.

"I will need you!"

"Draco!" Lucius tossed Harry's wand to his son. Draco fumbled the catch and nearly dropped it.

Voldemort hissed, "I ssshall need pure wizard flesh. Weasssley's is ussslesss. Nagini is weak to sssustain me for long!" Voldemort squeezed hard until Harry began to feel faint.

"Master?" Lucius prompted, uncertain what Voldemort wanted.

"Draco!" Voldemort hissed impatiently, "Give him to me. I need hisss body. Then I ssshall ussse Potter'sss wand and finisssh thisss game."

"Draco will die if you possess him!" Harry managed to gasp. His lungs hurt. He could not breathe.

"Sssmall sssacrifice," hissed Voldemort coldly. "Luciusss. Command the boy to come to me."

At this, Harry violently fought for air and cried out. "Run Draco! RUN! Get to Hec - aah!" Harry swooned as Voldemort greatly increased the pressure on his ribs.

Draco, now paler than before, began to slowly back away from Voldemort. Harry was suddenly released and fell half-senseless to the floor. He heard rather than saw what happened next.

"Draco!" Voldemort slithered towards Lucius's son. "Fear not. Show me the depth of your allegiance. Give me the ussse of your pure blood flesssh."

"Father?" Draco's voice quavered in fear.

Gasping, Harry somehow found the strength to stand up. He leaned against the petrified form of his aunt Petunia as he gulped dank air into his lungs.

Lucius, pale and shaking, stood between the red-eyed snake and his son. All the usual arrogance in his tone was missing as he groveled, "My Lord, take me instead. Use me for your will. Draco is not strong enough to help you in this."

Voldemort hissed furiously. "Malfoy, I need your experience and sssskills. Thisss boy hasss not your power."

Harry caught Lucius's eye, took a deep breath and yelled. "Get free of him, Malfoy! Leave - while he's helpless!"

There was a pause, no longer than a single heartbeat, but to Harry it seemed an age. Draco was staring wide-eyed at his father. Fear was plain on his pale, pointed face. Hecatean's warnings to Draco flashed into Harry's mind. Would Lucius choose obedience to Voldemort over the very life of his only son?

Suddenly, Lucius strode over to Draco and grasped his son. "Do exactly as I command you, Draco. Do not be afraid."

Harry closed his eyes in revulsion. He heard Voldemort hiss in pleasure.

Lucius suddenly pushed Draco towards Harry. "Go with Harry, Draco! Quickly - QUICKLY!"

Voldemort reared up and hissed in rage. He lashed his tail at Lucius who only just dodged it. Voldemort then lunged at Draco, who instinctually leapt out of the way. Draco landed in a puddle of Percy's blood, slipped and fell hard. The wand skittered out of Draco's hand and across the floor. Harry dizzily dove for it. He stumbled, still reeling from lack of air. He weakly grasped his wand, then staggered to his feet.

Draco screamed as the giant snake grasped him by the leg and began to pull. His eyes started to turn red as he whimpered in fear.

Harry steadied himself, aimed his wand at the snake and cried,

"Crucio!"

The snake hissed and twisted as the spell hit him just below the head. Draco's red eyes reverted back to their normal colour..

Lucius screamed at Harry. "Get Draco out of here. NOW!" Lucius raised his wand and cried "Inversusium!" The body of the giant snake flipped over and was held down firmly. Harry ran and grabbed Draco, who was disoriented and sobbing. He pulled him over to Percy's now still form. He let Draco go, then, with a grunt, Harry lifted Percy and set him on the stony lap of his cousin. With an effort, he grasped the petrified bodies with both arms.

Harry glanced up and saw Lucius in a deadly embrace with a writhing, hissing, furious Voldemort. Lucius stabbed at the snake's belly with his sparking wand. For a moment Harry thought Lucius Malfoy had actually killed his master. The snake went limp and toppled back onto the floor with a meaty thud. Yet as the dead snake fell he saw Lucius's eyes suddenly glow bright red and a horrible expression of murderous lust pass over Malfoy's features.

"Potter!" Lucius's possessed mouth shrieked in rage.

"Father!" Draco screamed terrified.

Lucius raised his wand and Harry shouted, "Draco, hang on to Percy!"

Terrified, Draco grasped both Percy and Harry. With an effort, Harry concentrated and with a sharp crack, they disapparated just as a red flame descended upon them.

The scent of the Mrs Weasley's cooking abruptly filled Harry's nostrils while Draco's frantic screams filled his ears. A dozen things seemed to happen at once. Tonks and Moody took hold of Draco and pulled him off Harry. Draco went limp and cried out repeatedly for his father.

With a huge sob, Arthur and Molly Weasley grasped Percy and disapparated with him, presumably to St. Mungo's.

Fred and George clasped Harry on the shoulder's shouting "Well done, Harry!" and "I knew you'd get him back!" and then they too disapparated.

Lupin and Snape placed Harry in a chair to check him for wounds. His ribs ached horribly. It still hurt to breathe. He looked round for Dumbledore. The headmaster put a sleep charm on the now raving Draco with Hecatean's aid. Silence descended upon the kitchen as a subdued Winky brought Harry a goblet.

Harry ignored the butterbeer and started blathering. "Draconian caverns. Voldemort possessed Percy. I used the horn. You Know Who became a snake. Tried to take over Draco. Mr Malfoy wanted save him. We got away but Voldemort's got Lucius's body now. Is Percy alive?"

"Drink. Calm yourself." Dumbledore said heavily to Harry. He held Voldemort's wand in his hand. He tucked Voldemort's wand away in his robes and met Harry's eyes. "There is nothing to be do now but wait."

Harry gazed at the statues of his aunt and Dudley in shock.

"Oh yes, well there is that." Dumbledore nodded at the petrified figures of Dudley and Petunia, and whispered to Snape. Snape's nostrils flared, and without a reply, he disapparated.

"IS Percy going to die?" Harry demanded.

This time Dumbledore did not meet Harry's eyes. "I can't say, Harry. The Unicorn's horn may purify him fully or it may not."

"Purify?" Tonks asked, curious.

"Did Voldemort say how long he'd been controlling Percy?" Hecatean asked.

Harry tried to sort out all the thoughts in his head. "Since the Tri-Wizard tournament. He'd gone to see Crouch about something."

Dumbledore sighed. "We can only hope for the best, Harry.

Moody tapped at his temple and chimed in, "But if he dies, bear in mind it will be far better for him to die with a free will, than remain the puppet of Lord Voldemort."

Tonks cleared her throat, clearly displeased with Moody's comment. Harry could only stare at Mad Eye in dismay.

Snape apparated and immediately bent over Petunia's petrified form. He administered a potion into her frozen mouth and Harry's aunt slowly began to move and regain colour. Snape did the same to Dudley and within a few minutes both of the Dursley's were blinking stiffly in confusion at all the commotion.

"What going on? What is this place?" Petunia finally said nervously, protectively pulling Dudley closer to her.

Dumbledore whispered something to Moody. Satisfied that Harry was not seriously injured, Moody picked up the unconscious Draco and handed him to Snape. "We'll put Malfoy in one of the rooms upstairs. Perhaps a memory charm when he awakes, headmaster?"

"Sleep is best for him right now, Severus." Dumbledore advised, "and perhaps later, a potion to calm him while awake. Draco will need time to think about what happened tonight. He still must go on trial, but we'll deal with that later."

A deeply worried look on her face, Hecatean accompanied Snape as he carried Draco upstairs. Moody followed them, grumbling, "I'm going to keep an eye on young Malfoy, if ye don't mind. I promised Fudge I'd have him back to Azkaban by morning."

Dumbledore turned his attention to the now whimpering Petunia. She was clinging to Dudley, who in turn was staring raptly at a bemused Tonks.

"Petunia, I have to inform you that circumstances have changed. It is no longer you who can protect Harry, but Harry who must protect you."

Mrs Dursley's lips grew pale and thin as she snapped at Dumbledore, "This is your doing! I wanted nothing to do with your kind. Now this happens! Why can't you just leave me and my family alone!"

"Like it or not, Harry is your family, Petunia," Dumbledore said decisively. "My previous offer still stands. You can accept my assistance, or not. But if you choose to go it alone I can not wholly protect you."

Petunia closed her eyes. "It's too late, Dumbledore. I threw away my letter years ago. I didn't want it then and I don't now. I cannot change my spots."

Dumbledore laid a wrinkled hand gently on her bony shoulder. "You must, if you want to be able to protect your son."

Dudley tore his eyes from Tonks and asked, "What's he talking about, Mum?"

Petunia flushed, and stared at the floor ashamed. Then she sniffed deeply and raised her head. Her eyes darted from Dudley to Harry and back again.

Harry looked his aunt with new understanding. "She's a witch, Dudders. She just never went to Hogwart's to study, that's all."

Dumbledore persisted, "It's never too late to learn, Petunia. I can help you with that. You can remain here, safe with Harry. I can find you teachers."

Petunia looked earnestly at Harry, who smiled at his aunt in encouragement. Dudley resumed gazing at Tonks as if he'd never seen a girl before.

"Vernon is not going to take this well," Petunia finally said.

The funeral of Percy Weasley was held at a small cemetery at Hogwart's. Harry stared at the ground, unable to meet the eyes of any of the Weasley's. The horrific memory of foul black blood spattering him as the unicorn horn plunged into Percy's chest was a new nightmare that haunted his sleep.

He tried to put the memory aside as he glanced at the dozen's of Hogwart's students, alumni and professors who stood beside the many Ministry of Magic employees. Penelope Clearwater, Percy's ex-girlfriend, stood by George and Fred, pale and shaking.

After Dumbledore finished the eulogy, the Weasley's used their wands to levitate Percy's coffin, emblazoned with the Hogwart's crest, into the earth. Ginny, and all her brothers, tossed handfuls of white flowers into the grave. Mr and Mrs Weasley tossed in armfuls of red blossoms. Ginny bawled as she did this but Mrs Weasley's eyes were dry. Mrs Weasley stooped and picked up a handful of earth from Percy's grave. She held on to it tightly, turned and made a beeline for Harry, who blanched at her approach.

Mrs Weasley took his hand and placed the earth in it. She said in a small steady voice, "You freed Percy from a fate worse than any I could imagine, Harry. Thank you for that."

Harry's throat tightened. He could not speak. He had the presence of mind to accept the lump of dirt and squeeze her hand back, but that was all he could manage.

Harry hadn't really spoken to the Weasley's since Percy had died. It was second such funeral in as many months, Harry realized. Percy was another person he felt he had indirectly killed, and added him to the list that included his parents, Cedric, Sirius and Lockhart.

After the funeral Ron and Ginny took him aside. "Mum and Dad said to tell you that you are not to feel guilty about any of it, Harry." Ron told him firmly. "Because of Voldemort- well, Percy was done for anyway. The Unicorn horn purified his blood long enough that he was able to make his peace with everyone, even Fred and George. Mum's so grateful you freed him from You Know Who. The idea of Voldemort walking around in Percy's skin was way worse than him just being- y'know - gone. Percy said to say as much to you. He told me he was sorry about the letter." Ron rubbed at his eyes.

"You were right, Harry." Ginny continued as they walked to Hagrid's hut. "There are things worse than death. It was Dad who gave the horn to Dumbledore to give to you, so don't go blaming yourself about Percy, alright?"

"Yeah," Harry said thickly, 'alright." He still could not shake the feeling he was responsible for Percy's death. How could he ever make amends for that?

Ginny stared at Harry hard. "Look, I know what it's like to be possessed by You Know Who. So do you. Given a choice, if you can't fight, death is better. Percy was grateful to be freed. So let it go, Harry."

Harry took a shuddering breath. "I'll try. That's all I can promise."

Weeks later, Harry lay in bed in his new home pondering how fast one's life could change. The Dursley's now lived under his protection in his house. Vernon mostly kept to the guest room down the hall, being subdued with repeated memory charms and the occasional brandy until he got used to the idea.

Petunia was doggedly studying with Hecatean and Lupin, courtesy of a wand and book Harry was pleased to buy for her. Dudley was set up in a room next to his parents. He often whined about the lack of television, but he found Winky's baking was plentiful enough to make up for it. Mostly he pestered Harry for information about Tonks.

Molly admitted to Dumbledore one meeting that she didn't like an elf underfoot at the Burrows. Fred and George were put out but eventually agreed Harry needed Winky's services far more than they did. "Besides,' Fred commented to Harry, "Mum needs to keep busy. If an elf does everything she's got too much time to think about … everything."

So, it was arranged that Winky was to take care of Harry, the Dursley's and Grimmauld Place on behalf of the Weasley's. Winky happily complied, spoiling Harry with constant baking and tending to the Dursley's domestic needs with a merry heart. Harry was pleased to see the elf actually happy for a change.

Harry, unlike Mrs Weasley, had far too much time to think. Even with the portrait of Sirius to talk to it was difficult to sort out his true feelings about the past year.

Voldemort had influenced his very thoughts, and Harry was very disturbed by this idea. It would be easy to blame Voldemort for his frequent loss of temper and bad judgments but Harry could not truly believe that he wasn't, to some degree at least, responsible for Lockhart's and Percy's deaths. Voldemort was still at large, and despite his success with the Veil of Souls, it had not really made any difference.

Harry often bitterly wished Tom Riddle had never been born. Then he would have his parents and Sirius alive. He would never have had his scar or fame as the Boy Who Lived. Percy, Cedric, and even Lockhart would still be alive. He'd have had a normal life, for a wizard anyway. If only he could turn back time.

He dropped massive cookie Winky had just given him and ran up to his room. "Sirius!"

Black stood apprehensive in the portrait. "What is it, Harry?"

"Where could I get my hands on a Time Turner?"

He explained his idea to Siruis who grew both excited and apprehensive at Harry's plan.

"It would be very tricky, Harry." Sirius warned. "A lot of wizards have made similar attempts and only made things worse."

"But-"

Sirius raised his hands. "It's all about timing. You would need to go back to the most critical moment. Before Riddle becomes Voldemort, but while he's still amendable to reason … if he ever was."

"So… you think I should try?"

Sirius looked pained. "Not haphazardly and not alone, Harry. If you use the Time Turner, then Hermione should go with you. You'll need to find out EVERYTHING you can about Riddle, and without Voldemort figuring out what you are up to."

Later, as Harry lay in bed, he thought hard about the best way to steal a Time Turner, and how to convince Tom Riddle not to become Voldemort. He wondered about memory charms. Maybe he could just make Tom forget about Voldemort.

For the first night in a long time, Harry did not suffer from nightmares.

Ron apparated to Grimmauld Place one morning with an invitation from Mrs Weasley. "Mum wants to take you clothes shopping in Diagon alley. You can't keep wearing just school robes or Dudley's old cast-offs. I need new stuff too."

Harry shrugged. He shot a look at Sirius' portrait, but Sirius was out somewhere. His godfather's portrait had been nagging him about the very same thing. "Yeah, alright. I suppose I ought to look my best at the trial. It's coming up fast." Ron smiled in relief and Harry realized that was exactly why Ron's mom thought he ought to go buy clothes.

"Whaff's haffening with ratfa- er, Draco, anyway?" Ron asked him, his mouth stuffed full of Winky's excellent baking.

"It's a mess." Harry confided sadly. "Lucius' body is still being used by Vo- er … a certain wizard at last report. Mrs Malfoy blames Draco for what happened to his father and refuses to visit him in Azkaban. It's awful really. Narcissa won't help him because Draco didn't sacrifice himself to you know who."

Ron shook his head in disbelief. "What a horrible family! Makes me appreciate my own a whole lot more."

"At least Hecatean and Snape are helping him," Harry picked listlessly at a pumpkin tart. "Draco still has to stand trial for Lockhart's murder in a few days, but under the circumstances, the Ministry might be lenient since he agrees to help us. No memory destruction, anyway." Harry hesitated. "I tried to visit him, but it's hopeless. Draco still hates me with a passion."

Ron shrugged. "Well, at least he's on our side now. The situation kind of reminds me of Snape and Sirius. Hey! Maybe they'll erase Draco's memory anyway and he'll forget he hates you." Ron grinned suddenly. "That reminds me! Lockhart!"

Harry's stomach clenched. "What about him."

"That's who the other trial witness is, Harry! Lockhart saw Draco kill you - I mean, him."

Harry was completely astonished. "Lockhart's alive?"

"Nah. Dead as a doornail," Ron said amused, "but he hasn't changed a bit. His ghost showed up in the waiting room at St. Mungo's offering to sign autographs. He was all ready to tell the gruesome story of how he selflessly died to save you." Ron rolled his eyes. "Funny, eh? And here I thought we'd were finally rid of him."

Harry leaned back into the chair. Despite his dislike for Lockhart, he felt vaguely relieved. "Why am I not surprised?"

Hermione suddenly apparated into Harry's room with a loud CRACK! She had a foul expression of disappointment and anger on her face as she glared at Harry. "Harry? Why do you have a house elf slaving away in your kitchen?" she asked rather shrilly.

"Winky's not mine, Hermione, she's- er …" Harry faltered as he caught the terrified expression on Ron's face. Ron obviously had not told Hermione that the Weasley family now possessed their very own house elf. Harry forced what he hoped looked like a smile, "Winky's being paid twice what Dobby gets."

"Ohh!" Hermione relaxed and said brightly, 'Well, that's alright then."

Ron and Harry exchanged a guilty look.

It was going to be a long summer.

FIN

Author's note:

If you are interested in reading my other work, try

I have a few speculations of the identity of the 'Half Blood Prince'.

My thoughts on the matter are at my LJ. Please feel free to visit