Thursday, June 29, 2006
Chapter 21
Salazar's Secret Sirrush
It was time for the duel. The Dark Lord would have felt the pain on his arm as well, seeing that the Dark Lord felt it even when Lodina gently carressed Draco's arm back in Lover's Doom. Lodina was still weeping on his chest as he tried to comfort her by softly rubbing her shoulders. "Lodina... luv... " Lodina lifted her head up so that he could see her watery-eyes. "It's no use... What's done is done... and it's hardly your fault... neither of us knew of the side effects... but I have to go now... the Dark Lord is expecting me to duel Potter and goodness knows, he probably felt your prescence too my luv... Lodina... I want you to get out of here as quickly as you got in... we have no time to lose!" Draco said as he tried to steady her onto her own two feet. Draco hushed her feeble protests and grabbed her cloak which was lying on the floor. Draco hastened to get Lodina out of the house as fast as he could, but it was to no avail. "I hear footsteps Draco... you don't suppose..." Lodina whispered just before Draco cut her short. 'Damn! He's here for me...' Draco thought to himself as he quickly muttered a Disillusionment charm at Lodina so that none but only he could see her. Lodina froze as she felt herself being wrapped around by a wave of magic.
"Well, I don't suppose you can wiggle your way out of this... All of us felt the Dark Mark sting in the Duelling Arena Draco... The Dark Lord gave me a mission to find out who came into contact with a Drakon... I've always known Draco... Ever since you laid your eyes on her in the Halloween Ball... did you think I was that daft? That's why I informed the Dark Lord that night... I've always known your secret Draco... Just think... how He would reward me when I uncover the truth about you... where is that lil' Gryffindor whore?" Draco spun around to see Iman at the foot of the doorway. "What do you mean Iman? I have to get ready for the Duel now.... so if you don't mind, you're infringing on my karma..." Draco said as he tried to push Iman aside with his wand arm; he had no time to deal with this now. Just as he had expected though, Iman resisted to move away and stood in front of Draco once more with his wand out stretched and pointing straight at Draco's chest. "What do you want Iman? The Dark Lord is expecting my prescence in the arena anytime now... I think it's unwise trying to stop me seeing that he would effortlessly break your neck, instead of mine, for wasting his time... The Dark Lord would be most displeased if ..." but before Draco could finish what he had to say to Iman, Lodina had stepped forward and whacked Iman on the head with a huge club which she had summoned from one of the walls in the room. "I always knew that the Malfoy's taste in weapons was impeccable..." Draco grinned at Lodina as Iman passed out and fell to the ground with a thud. "Just go... I'll cover for you here... he can't see me anyway... you've got that covered..." Lodina smiled as she planted a soft kiss on Draco's lips. Draco broke away from her kiss, "Promise me luv, that you won't come into the arena no matter what happens... promise me, quick!" Draco was now looking deep into Lodina's eyes. But before she could answer, he heard another pair of footsteps closing in on where he and Lodina stood atop of Iman. Without hearing her answer, Draco turned on his heels and hurried to cut whoever it was approaching.
"Where's your father boy? Anyway it doesn't matter now... we've got more pressing issues to handle... you're late... and I don't tolerate tardiness... surely Dumbledore must have taught you Hogwarts students on the importance of being punctual?" Draco stood face to face with the Dark Lord. He put one hand in his cloak pocket and clutched the Dragon's Seal of Trust. He knew the end was drawing near, but he feared for Lodina for he knew what the Dark Lord could do if he had even an inkling of a clue that she was the one who had caused the Dark Mark to sting that night...
~-~
Harry stood in the arena with nothing but his wand... He wondered whom he had to duel with... there were Deatheaters all around him. Avery, Knott, Crabbe, Goyle, Lestrange. But wait, where was Malfoy? Harry had a sinking feeling in his stomach yet again. Somehow he knew that he had to duel Malfoy. Just then, he remembered the Dragon's Seal of Trust that Agathos had passed down to him before. Trying not to draw anyone's attention, Harry slid his right hand into his pocket. 'Where is it? They must have taken it when they put me in that cell!' Harry's mind raced as he now thought of the possibilities that awaited him. At that moment, Lord Voldermort strode into the arena with Draco behind him. Voldermort was clad in a hooded cloak and as he walked into the arena, the rest of the Deatheaters pulled up their cloak and adorned their Deatheater masks. It was just as he had expected. Harry was to duel with Malfoy. But why?"Potter, take your place. Malfoy, you too. I trust Dumbledore has taught you both how to Duel, did he not? You will both battle it out till I command you to stop. Why so shocked Potter?" Voldermort was now wearing what was unmistakeably, a thin smile on his face. Harry didn't like the idea of battling Malfoy. He had battled Malfoy once in their second year and he knew Malfoy had dark arts training as well. On a regular day, if given the opportunity to duel Malfoy, Harry would be more than happy to accept the offer. But today was different; something was holding Harry back. He could see that Malfoy didn't have the usual haughty look in his eyes. He didn't even smirk for that matter. That of course could be because of the Dark Lord's prescence, but still, Harry knew that Malfoy was hiding something. In fact, Harry was sure that he thought Malfoy looked worried. Just then, Voldermort entered the ring where both the boys stood rooted to the ground.
"Do you not consider Malfoy a worthy opponent Harry Potter? Rest assured, once he's done with you, we shall both get our long awaited battle... as for you Draco Malfoy... you will do well to remember what we've discussed... we wouldn't like to keep our fiery friend waiting now do we?" With a triumphant gleam in his eyes, Voldermort signalled the start of the duel. "Expelliarmus!" both Draco and Harry cried out immediately. Draco managed to duck Harry's spell, and took his stance for the next hex. Harry on the other hand, had stumbled backwards as Draco's spell hit him squarely in the chest. Harry's wand was now lying beside Draco. Before Draco could make his next move, Harry quickly summoned his wand to his side. 'I've got to do it now...' Draco thought as he slid one hand into his cloak pocket and gripped the Dragon's Seal tightly.
"Drakonus Sonorum!" Draco muttered. 'Potter, you can hear me in your thoughts now can you? If you can, send a Bat Bogey Hex at me right now!' Harry was stunned for a moment. Was that Malfoy's voice in his head? How did he do that? 'Do it NOW Potter! Before the Dark Lord suspects anything!' Harry did as instructed wearing a dazed expression on his face. 'Look here Pothead, I have your seal of trust with me. It's how I'm able to talk to you. Listen to me. You can communicate with me like how you do with the Dragons. Yes I know you're a Drakon. Can you stop gaping at me and concentrate on the battle as well? We wouldn't want Voldermort to think something's going on now do we?' Just as Draco had said that, Harry dodged another hex Draco had fired at him. "Stupefy!" Harry bellowed as he retaliated. 'What is it you want Malfoy? What will it take for you to get out of my head?' Harry had gotten over the initial shock but was still irritated at Malfoy's new 'talent'. 'Just hear me out Potter. I have your medallion. I'm going to give it to you soon. Stop gaping at me! Cast a spell! Anything! The Dark Lord doesn't know about this... anyway... He is planning to use Salazar's Secret weapon to come back into full power. But you can stop him... for a short while at least... You need to touch him with your Dragon's Seal Potter... Touch his dark mark... That will give us sufficient time to escape before he can use that weapon against us. Oh for goodness sake! I know I'm good looking but this is really too much... Petrificus Partialus!' The spell only just hit Harry, but was enough to immobilise him from the waist down. 'Give me one good reason to trust you Malfoy...' Harry thought back to Draco as he gritted his teeth and fought to break free from Draco's last hex. 'Because Potter... you have no choice... well technically you do have a choice... you can be pig-headed and let Voldermort get the better of you... or you could work with me to try and escape from this fiasco... the choice is yours really... I'm fine with cursing you and drawing your blood for the ritual all the same... but I doubt Lodina would like that very much...' Draco said without thinking as he fired another hex straight at Harry who managed a narrow escape. 'Lodina's here? WHY? What did you do to her you slithering, pompous, ol'...' but Harry was cut short but Draco once more. 'Look... she's here... and I wouldn't do anything rash if I were you... the Dark Lord doesn't know she's here and frankly, I'd like to keep it that way... she's safe for now... but she won't be for much longer... just remember what I've told you Potter. That's the only way for all of us to get out of this alive... This spell won't last for much longer... and thank god for that too... you can't seem to multi-task at all Potter... I'm gonna hex you now... make sure you only just miss it so that it'll look like you got hit... I'll come by your side and slide the medallion into your cloak... remember Potter...' with that Draco cast his last hex on Harry.
'Alright Malfoy... I trust you...' Harry said as he faked a pass-out. Draco strode over to Harry's side and slid the medallion into Harry's cloak just like he had set out to do while checking for his pulse. "He's still alive my Lord... Is it time to do the summoning now?" Draco asked the Dark Lord with his head bent low. "You have done well Draco.... Summon Salazar's Sirrush now and the world will see the rise of the Dark Lord once again!" Voldermort bellowed as he triumphantly reached out a vial and slit Harry's wrist to draw his blood. Harry felt a searing pain once more but struggled to resist flinching for fear of blowing his cover. 'Malfoy conveniently left out the part about Voldermort slitting my wrist...' Harry thought bitterly as he tried with all his might to remain as still as he could possibly be. "Now Draco! Do it now!" Voldermort's thunderous voice filled the entire arena as all the Deatheaters started circling the arena in their devillish masks and hooded cloaks.Draco clutched the Malfoy medallion and summoned a huge green Dragon by his side. The Dragon's magnificent scaly green skin was glistening in the light of the arena. The Deatheaters were now standing in awe as most of them had not come into close contact with a real live dragon before this, in their entire despicable lives. Draco whispered a spell to untie Harry's hands and went to his side to pull Harry out of the Dragon's way. "Now Harry. Touch his arm before he gets Sirrush's blood!" Harry didn't need to be told twice. He rushed forward but Voldermort was too fast for him. Lord Voldermort hexed Harry and turned to face Draco. "You... You disobeyed me? You of all people know very well what happens to those who deliberately betray me... and yet you do it tonight of all nights... no matter... once the ritual is complete... there will be no stopping what's to come..." Voldermort sneered as he now wore a huge grin on his face. Voldermort made a move to Sirrush but stopped in his tracks as Sirrush was now ruffling his big scaly wings and seemed to be getting ready to strike. Sirrush had been awaken from his deep slumber and none but the direct Drakon descendants of Salazar Slytherin could command him. "But you forgot one thing my Lord, neither you nor I can command Sirrush... You asked me to summon him... and that I could, as I have Salazar Slytherin's medallion... but you failed to consider that summoning and commanding the Dragon itself are two very different things... " It was now Draco's turn to snigger. But unknown to Draco, Avery was now drawing his wand and was about to fire a hex at him. Harry saw this and quickly got up as he yelled "Stupefy!" and blocked Avery's curse from hitting Draco. Harry was now standing back to back with Draco and they were both facing a very angry Voldermort. "I'd never thought I'd see the day when you'd be covering my back for me Potter..." Draco smirked. "Neither did I Malfoy... neither did I..." Harry said as he drew his wand out ready for battle.
Just then, Lodina entered the arena. Draco spotted her and was half relieved to see her alive but was also half worried for her safety. 'What is she doing here? Does she want to get killed? No... it can't be...' Draco thought to himself as he witnessed something he'd never dreamt possible. Lodina had a dreamy look in her eyes. That could only mean one thing; she was now communicating with Sirrush! There was only one thing left for him to do. "Potter, I'm going to distract Voldermort. You get to his hand quickly, savvy?" "Yea ok... but one question Malfoy... how are we going to get out of this place?" Harry asked still feeling apprehensive of Draco's escape plan. "Leave that to me Potter... Just don't miss my que..." Draco said as he fired a hex at Voldermort. "I don't have time for you boy. Get out of my way. Crucio!" Voldermort managed to hit Draco with the Cruciatus Curse. Harry was now fighting off the Deatheaters who came charging at him. He managed to stupefy Crabbe and Goyle, but the Lestranges and Avery were more difficult to elude. Harry whipped round to see Malfoy struggling with the curse. In one fluid motion, Harry dodged one of Avery's hexes and pelted towards Voldermort from behind. Bellatrix Lestrange saw Harry's attempt at getting to the Dark Lord and tried to warn him, but alas. It was too late. Harry had already reached out for Voldermort's Dark Mark and pressed his bloody hands and the Dragon's Seal of Trust onto his skin bearing the Dark Mark. Voldermort let out a shrilly scream as he keeled backward clutching his profusely bleeding arm. "You... " Voldermort managed to cry out in his stifled voice beforehis body got engulfed in a burst of whirlwind. "Harry, help me up... we have to go now!" Draco said as he painfully reached out to grab Harry's hand.~-~
She couldn't do it. She couldn't leave Draco alone to face the Dark Lord. Did he really think she'll leave him here while she waited for him back in Hogwarts? Lodina quickly magically roped Iman to a chair and took his wand from him before he came around. "You can't dream of escaping now... not like you could anyway... you have no means of escape Iman..." Lodina said as she kicked him in his groin. Iman let out a huge groan and writhed in pain. "And that... was for calling me a whore..." Lodina spat at him as she turned towards the arena. She heard a loud crackling sound as she entered the arena. "Oh this can't be good..." Lodina whispered as she saw a huge scaly green Dragon materialise out of thin air! As if on impulse, the dragon sensed her prescence and turned to face her. It's golden eyes were looking deep into Lodina. "Er... hello? erm... can you hear me? oh forget it..." Lodina said as she tried to back away from the Dragon. She had communicated with Agathos before. But why didn't it work this time? "For what do I owe the pleasure of your summons my mistress?" The green Dragon's voice resonated within Lodina's mind. 'Y-you can hear me then?' Lodina asked timidly afraid that she might anger the dragon. "Yes I can... and i also know that you seek out vengeance... for that's my purpose... to appease vengeance for my master or mistress... I only adhere to the Drakon heir of Salazar Slytherin... and you my child are both a Drakon and a heir... ah... but i see there's another of your kind in this room... but he's busy in battle i see... so what is it you want me to take care of my mistress? But I daresay you better hurry... for I can only be summoned for a brief period of time..." Lodina couldn't digest what she had just heard. This dragon was now willing to do her bidding? 'Now this could be interesting...' Lodina thought as she let out a tiny smirk.~-~
Harry steadied Draco and let him lean on him for support. But before they could move any further, Sirrush flew across the room and stood majestically in front of the now extremely terrified Deatheaters who were about to throw curses and hexes at Harry and Draco. Harry and Draco paused to see the Dragon spread it's wings and exhale fire out of it's flaring nostrils. The Deatheaters were now screaming in the scorching heat. Both Harry and Draco saw no more as they turned to flee from the house itself. Draco muttered the counter Disillusionment charm he put on Lodina and beckoned her to join them in their escape. "Harry! Draco! Oh thank god! You're both ok..." Lodina reached out to hug both of them and she kissed Draco thoroughly on the lips. Draco broke free from her kiss once more as he guided them through the once Majestic Malfoy Manor in Romania. Harry's mouth was wide open as he couldn't believe what had just taken place. 'Lodina and Malfoy?' Harry thought as he gave Draco an incredulous look. "Oh please Potter.... you look as if you could swallow an entire fullgrown hippogriff!" Draco rolled his eyes at Harry as he continued to guide them through the Malfoy Manor. 'There isn't going to be much left of this place once Sirrush is done...' Draco thought. His mind was now set on getting to his mother's bedroom. Quickly, he ushered Harry and Lodina into his mother's bedroom. "Why are we here Malfoy? In this bedroom? I mean... I am tired and all... but I think I'd like a rest AFTER we escape from this!" Harry said as he wandered into the room. "Quit yakking Potter and come over here... you too Lodina... good... now on the count of three... touch this pen alright? It's a portkey... Mother always kept a portkey in her room for safety reasons... it'll take us to wherever we want to go... so on the count of three... touch this pen and concentrate on getting back to Hogwarts alright? One, two, three!" Draco said as the three of them concentrated hard on getting back to the familiar Hogwarts grounds.~-~
A few seconds later, the three of them landed in Professor Dumbledore's office with a loud thud. "Ouch!" Lodina yelped as she tried to rub her behind. "That was quite a ride... " Lodina beamed at Draco. She was soo glad that he was safe. She turned to Harry and smiled warmly at him too. "Malfoy... I ..." "Oh put a sock in it Potter... save it for the house-elves... I know you want to know what really happened... so hear me out before Dumbledore comes through those jumping Gargoyles... as we all know, the Dark Lord wanted to get back to full power... and my Father offered him the Malfoy secret... you both met the Dragon Sirrush earlier.... He was actually Salazar Slytherin's very own personal dragon... he was held by Slytherin's spell to serve all the Drakon Descendants of Slytherin himself... he could only be summoned by this Slytherin medallion... which has been safe guarded by the Malfoy family for ages... all The Dark Lord needed was a bit of your blood... the blood of his enemy... and the blood of Sirrush to completely return him to power... he'd be back better than before of course, and he'd be almost, if not as powerful as Salazar Slytherin himself... coz' rumor has it that before Salazar Slytherin had passed on... he had transfered most of his powers to Sirrush..." Draco said as he dusted off some rubble from his Armani shirt. "But why duel with me? Why did Voldermort want you to duel with me? He could have simply duelled with me himself and obtained the blood at that... Why you?" Harry asked, perplexed. "That Potter... was my initiation into the Deatheater community... I had to fully surrender my mind, body and soul to the Dark Lord... and this was the test he set out for me to accomplish... " Draco said. His silvery blonde hair was now covering his face and Harry couldn't read his expression at all. Sensing that he had probably extracted too much information from Draco, Harry appologised. But was cut off abruptly. "You don't have to appolgise Potter. It's not like we're friends or anything like that... I saved your life... and you saved mine... we're even... but I must admit... it is going to be difficult for me... " At this, Draco smiled at Lodina and pulled her closer to him. "I'm in love with a Gryffindor, and now, I've just come out of a battle, working side by side with the famous Harry Potter to escape the Dark Lord... I have to write to Mother to tell her what happened though... we'd probably have to go underground... lie low for awhile... till we can find a safe place where the Dark Lord can't find us... seeing that we are now traitors in his eyes... " Draco sneered at this. "It's ok luv, you'll still have me.... " Lodina whispered into Draco's ears and planted a kiss on his forehead. Draco pulled her closer and lunged into a deep kiss. He was soo relieved that both of them had gotten out of this alive. He didn't know what he would do if he had lost her in that madhouse! He looked into the eyes of the girl who had made him, a Malfoy, soft. He never thought it would have ever been possible. A Malfoy going soft because of a pretty lass? Lodina Black had him wrapped under her spell for sure, and she would have to pay for that. Malfoy let out a small smirk as he thought of the 'punishment' he would have to mete out when both of them were alone. Draco pulled out from the kiss and surveyed his girl. "Ahem... I'm sorry to interrupt this little reunion party of yours Malfoy... but there's one more thing I'd like to know... At the start of term feast... what were in those packages? Oh yes... I know about the packages... so spill... out with it Malfoy... what were you passing Iman?" Harry pressed on for the answer he had been soo curiously longing to find out since the beginning of the school year. Draco chuckled. It was the first time Harry had ever seen Draco so light-hearted and he was at first, taken aback at Draco's reaction to his question. "Those packages Potter, contained bottles of Mai Tai... yes you heard me right... I sort of have a soft spot for Mai Tais ... it's my signature drink you see... and the Eanderthals specialise in these drinks... so you see Potter... I was making a simple trade with Iman... that's all... which reminds me... What did you do to Iman luv?" Draco now turned to look at Lodina as she started to smile in a most queer fashion. "Well... lets just say he's a lil' tied up right now..." Lodina winked at Draco. "Oh you didn't? You left him in that house tied up? I underestimated you luv... but that scoundrel deserved what he got..." Draco beamed down at her. "Ok... just one more thing Malfoy... you dating Lodina's not gonna change our enmity is it? Coz' I do think I'd miss those unfriendly banterings we usually have... " Harry sniggered. "Oho... I'd never dream of calling Weasel by his real name... no... i should think not... rest assured Pothead... things will be back to normal tomorrow... in fact... things will be back to normal the moment we get out of this room..." Draco smirked. "Oh Harry... what about the Dragon's Seal of Trust? Did you manage to salvage it from that fiasco we were caught up in?" Lodina queried. "Well yes... I still have it... and I think you need this more than I do Malfoy... I'm not trying to be noble or anything... but take it..." Harry said as he pressed the medallion in Draco's hands and said nothing else. Draco understood what it meant. As much as Harry would love to continue to hurl insults at him, he wanted him to have this Seal of Trust as a mark that he, Harry Potter, trusted him. However, Draco couldn't help but secretly think that he could now bother Harry as much as he liked with the Seal of Trust, seeing that with the Medallion, he could connect with Harry's mind anytime he wished for a session of private tormenting. Draco grinned at that prospect and quietly pocketed the medallion. He would have to come to terms with the fact that things with Pothead would never be the same again, no matter how much they show their hatred for each other outwardly. Just then, the door creaked open and the Gargoyles jumped aside to reveal a weathered looking Dumbledore. The three of them said no more to one another as they dusted themselves clean and prepared themselves for Dumbeldore's visit.
~THE END~
**This post is dedicated to all the loyal Felix Felicis fans who have endured the long wait ...I thank you for your tremendous patience. =)
[Tonks was grooving to Sheryl Crow's Real Gone | 
~ euphoric]
~Nymphadora~
