Henrick Hanz and the Demon of Durmstrang

Chapter 11

The solution was actually a pretty simple one. It was the professor herself that had given it to him. She had given him the loophole. Still, it was not something he was terribly fond of doing. It was twice as embarrassing as having a dachshund for a patronus. There was just something inherently emasculating about transforming into something so small and cute and defenseless. But that was the solution he had come up with.

He waited until he was certain no one would be around. He didn’t need anyone to witness his transformation. At first, it had been terribly difficult to perform the change. It always felt a little strange to shrink down. Though he didn’t do it very often, it left like he was stepping into a secondary skin. It was strange but comfortable in that small, spiky body.

He was always incredibly surprised at the changes in the world around him. As close to the ground as he was and as small as he was, everything just looked different. Things smelled a great deal stronger. There was a scent that just seemed wrong to Henrick. It made him bristle a little, causing tiny silver quills to jut more. He was also a bit surprised by just how long it took to get anywhere. Tiny little hedgehog legs and tiny little hedgehog paws weren’t always the quickest means of travel. He could only shuffle along at tiny hedgehog pace while the line drew closer.

It was a gamble at best. The loophole he meant to exploit might not even be there. For all he knew, the ward could repel Animagi as well. He’d exposed himself to danger he never had to worry about as a human. He was dinner for thousands of larger predators. Even his beloved eagle might decide his hedgehog body was a good light snack. He had to be most cautious of that more than he was about getting caught changing. Avoiding registration was good for his ego, being chased by cats was not.

It seemed that other creatures were rather absent from the area. He didn’t even see any nice fat juicy bugs. He was sure that scent of wrongness had changed them away. The absence was something he was glad of. He was glad because he didn’t want to make any panicked dashed away from hungry predators. Not when the large gate loomed so close. Not with those wards right in front of him.

He carefully stuck his wet nose past the barrier. Nothing happened. Slowly he ventured further past the ward. He felt nothing repelling him. His small, quill filled hind end passed though. He felt surprised that it had actually worked. He supposed that none of the professors had thought about the idea of any of their students being Animagi.

Still, he was more than happy to return back to his normal body. He wasn’t about to head past the gates still in the form of a tiny, adorable silver hedgehog. He just hoped the gate would remain as he had seen it. Slightly ajar. Even though it had remained open, he still had to touch the gate to open it more. There was no way his considerable body would fit, and there was no way he was going to change back into a hedgehog. Not with what might be waiting on the other side. He touched it. No alarms sounded. The heavy doors didn’t even squeal when he opened it.

Once open, he took out his wand. The overly long magical foci stood at the read, prepared to cast the first spell as needed. Armed, Henrick ventured into the woods beyond the gate. The forest stretched out before him. The large trees shaded the sun, making the well trodden path seem darker. For hundreds of years, Durmstrang fifth years had traveled down this pathway towards some unknown test. All around, he could see the signs of old magic. The trees were scarred with the evidence of deflected spells. The very trail hummed with places where traps might be set. He’d not been far, but to Hanz, the pathway leaning into the challenge seemed more dangerous that the test itself might have been.

So focused upon the path before hi, he was not at all prepared for an attack from behind. A searing blast of fire hit him straight in the back. It hurt like nothing he’d ever felt before. He only managed to stay on his feet due to his size. It’d take more than a fireball from behind to knock him off his feet.

He turned, spell on his lips. It was just in time as a second burst of fire rushed past, singing his clothing. He couldn’t say he was too shocked to see who it was, though he wondered just how Burkov had gotten past the ward. The normally gaunt sixth year seemed even more skeletal than before, as if life was being drained from him slowly. He quickly cast his best shield. “Burkov, vhat is zhe meaning of zhis?” He regretted uttering such cliché words the moment he had said them, but it was something he really wanted to know.

As usual, the sneer upon the other’s face said it all. The Russian wasn’t some cliché villain who spilled his master plan just because the hero asked. It didn’t work that way in the real world. Instead he answer was another blast from Burkov’s wand. The strike was strong enough to shatter even his best shield. The idiot Hanz knew had never been strong enough to accomplish that before.

“Zhis is not a game ju should be playing at. It’s a demon und ju brought it here. For vhat? To beat me? Pathetic! Because of ju, everyone is hurting. Efen Fraulein Fiona is hurt.” As he spoke, he was working in the motions for a spell. His attempt to disarm Burkov did nothing, bouncing off as if the other male was using one of Hanz’s best shields.

“Fiona…” for a moment, he though he saw celerity in the Russians’ eyes. It was gone almost as soon as he’d seen it. “Don’t try fooling me. She’s right here with the. She offered me everything, including the power to beat you. She’ll even help me get in good with the Dark Lord. Isn’t that right, darling?”

What stepped from behind the trees was not Fiona. It appeared that way to Burkov, bit Henrick didn’t see that illusion. For a moment, he actually stumbled back. Though he knew what he’d be facing, he’d not truly been ready to make peace with that face. His eyes did not lie, nor did the dread deep in the pit of his stomach. It wasn’t the least unmanly to admit at least to himself that he felt fear. Only a true idiot wouldn’t when faced with a thing from Hell.

He was actually rather bothered by how human the creature actually looked. It stood like one, had a painfully beautiful face that looked human. It was even the shade of flesh seen in humans from Northern Europeans. In fact, the being was quite possibly more human than Henrick. After all, it was average size, unlike him. There however, the similarities between the thing and a human being ended. Earlier, he had mistaken it for a gargoyle because of the leather wings at it’s. It’s eyes were that blood color he’d seen reflected in the Fake Henrietta’s eyes. It’s forked tail lashed behind it like a whip.

The smell that he’d planned on firing off at Burkov was quickly redirected to the Demon. He didn’t even know if forbidden curses worked on Demons. Obviously, they didn’t as his was deflected effortlessly. Burkov looked perplexes at the sudden change of attack trajectory. He raised his wand again to protect “Fiona.” He supposed it was because it must seem odd for him to be attacking a friend. Still, Hanz could see. Hanz knew.

“Zhat’s not Fiona.” He pronounced. This time, he carefully aimed a petrifaction spell. It bounced off the demon to strike Burkov from behind. The Russian fell, stiff and motionless. Henrick then turned back to the Demon. It seemed intrigued. It’s voice was cold and emotionless. It froze Hanz’s blood.

“Little human boy, how is it that you can see me? How can you see me for what I am? Have you truly no one you desire to see and be with?”

That was a very painful and unfair question. It pointed to the German was being pretty pathetic. He had no one he loved. No one he wanted more than anyone else. He had nothing at all. Yet he did. There was one person he truly wanted to see. The letter that Fiona had nearly read and the book’s inscription proved that he did have someone. More than anything else in the world, he wanted to meet the little girl that he had been supporting secretly for the last four years. He wanted to meet the girl who was his half-sister. However, as he didn’t even know what she looked like, the Demon could not take her form.

It was almost frightening. The Thing cocked it’s head to the side and stared at Hanz. “I see. That is your desire. I can give it to you. His contract with me can be easily transferred. I can give you all the power you’ll ever need. You could help her them. All you need do is take his contract.”

It was tempting. Very tempting. With such otherworldly assistance, he wouldn’t need to fear reprisal from his family. He wouldn’t have to worry about making himself a target for the Death eaters. With such power at his disposal, he alone could turn the entire Wizarding world on it’s ear. The idea of absolute power was indeed a siren’s call to a person like him who had Faust’s blood. But he knew better because of that ancestor. As good as the deal sounded, the cost would probably be far too high to even consider it.

But that cost was part of the contract. It was a very important part. He’d gathered that from that one book he had reluctantly paged through. It certainly couldn’t change things to ask for the cost. Asking was the same as agreeing to it. “Vhat is in it for ju?”

The Demon looked him up and down for a moment before answering. “To think that I would find a Son of Faust here. A contract with you would be very strong indeed. All I would require is what I asked for him. In exchange for all my power, all I ask is that I be supplied with strong magic. The magic that resides in the soul of that mortal was not strong enough to sustain me completely. I could have killed him, but he was an amusing distraction. You however…You seem more than adequate, Son of Faust.”

Henrick knew the game the creature was trying to play. The Thing was stroking his ego now. He knew that, but it still felt terribly nice to think that he was somehow better and stronger in all ways to his older rival. It made him feel somehow vindicated. If he was stronger than Burkov, who had used a forbidden book to summon it, then surely he was more than strong enough to banish it.

He also knew he needed to play a little longer at this game. He was still learning the rules after all. “So, zhe ozher students…Zhey vere because he could not support ju on his own?”

The Demon strode past the massive German and loomed over the frozen Russian. “This weakling could not support me at all and so I must instead support myself. The souls here however aren’t terribly pure. Even your magic is tainted. I do so enjoy pure souls and pure magic the most. But I can already tell that you are far better than the rest of the slag here.”

There it was again. That appeal to his ego. The appeal fell on deaf ears. Henrick already knew that even the darkest of spells would not affect the Thing before him. But at least now he had a plan. It was an even greater risk than the one he took on the ward. It was worse too, because he was not gambling with his own life anymore, if he decided to go through with his plan of attack.

“If I vas to offer ju zhe purest soul I know…vould ju take zhat one, no matter vho it might belong to?”

The Demon seemed to smirk. “How pure?”

“It is a soul untouched by all evil. Joung und pure und untainted even by zhe hands of men.”

“I would indeed. Is that the offer you give to seal out pact?”

“I haf conditions. Before I offer up zhat soul, ju haf to first give back all zhat ju haf taken up to zhis moment. Once ju do zhat, I vill gif to that soul. Zhat is my condition. As a Son of Faust, ju know my vord is gutt. I vill gif ju zhat und seal out deal only vhen zhose at zhe castle are restored.”

There was a pause. Henrick tried to mask his nervousness. He attempted to close his thoughts under a wall of unyielding iron. He locked his facial expression into neutral so as not to betray his plan. It was agonizing, that pause the Demon took. It looked to Henrick and then to Burkov and then back. It might have been a trick of his anxious mind, but he thought the demon seemed a little worried.

“One pure soul, in exchange for all these tainted ones. Plus your soul, should that one not be enough to suffice. I have you word, as a Son of Faust, sworn upon the ancient pact with the greatest of us, Mephistopheles.”

Hanz crossed his arms over his chest in a gesture than showed both his impatience and his concern. His massive arms formed a considerable barrier between himself and the Demon. “I do not enjoy repeating myself. Zhose are zhe parameters. Ju just return vhat ju stole, even to zhat dumbkopft on zhe ground. Only zhen vill ju get vhat ju vant. Agreement?”

Once more, there was a long pause and that searching gaze. Henrick felt as if he was being stripped down to the very core of his being. Ion that moment, he thought he was doomed. It was almost too much of a relief when the Creature smiled and stated “We have a deal, Son of Faust.” he had to fight himself not to totally deflate. This was far from over and he didn’t want the Creature to realize what he was up to.

The sudden release of power almost knocked him off his feet. To him, it appeared to be will o’ the wisp coming from the Creature before him before each little light streaked off towards the castle. As the little elf-lights left, the Creature contorted, becoming less and less human looking. The Thing went from frighteningly beautiful to an equally grotesque abomination that most thought of as tradition hell-spawn. Curving impala horns jutted from a mangled brow, cloven hooves left scorch marks upon the ground. The Thing was all bone and grit and evil. It was an image he was certain would stick in his mind forever.

But for how hideous it was, the demon appeared markedly weaker as well. It seemed to be wasting away, as if it was starving to death. The hunger in those malicious crimson eyes was enough to force Hanz to back up three or four steps. He’s have moved even further, but a tree had blocked his path. The bark was painful against the place where Burkov’s fire had burned him.

The Russian’s body was changing also, ballooning out, filling quickly back to it’s usual shape and size. That was the last of it then. Now, it was time to show his hand and hope that his loophole would work and that he just hadn’t damned both himself as well as a complete innocent. But Hanz, as a man, had to keep his word. As a Son of Hanz…As a Son of Faust…he could not back out.

“The soul.” The Thing’s voice was even more terrifying than before. “Give it to me and seal out pact.”

“I am ready.” Hanz answered. “Zhe name of the owner is a girl names Anya Newnyk. She is zhe most pure person I know. It’s hard not to be pure, vhen one is five…”

The Demon’s laugh was almost painful to hear. “A child? You would sacrifice a child? You truly are a Faust.” Once again, there was a pause. Henrick held his breath. The pause went on for almost too long. Then it started.

It looked like the Demon was in great pain. A small hole had started to form in the middle of it. It looked almost like it was rotting from the middle out. The smell of sulfur filled the air, causing the silver haired lad to gag. In a way, he understood just what was happening. It was what he had hoped would happen. He was almost relieved that it worked.

It was a short lived victory. The Demon was furious. He supposed he would be as well, if his own body had started to destroy itself from the inside out. The angry Creature wheeled upon him in a frightening display of hate.”

“What have you done!? That soul was worth nothing!”

Henrick smirked and pushed himself a little away from the tree. “Zhat’s right. It is, to ju. Ju said it yourself. Ju feed on magical souls. Ju can’t even touch a soul like hers. Because zhat little girl is a Squib.” it was a fact that would ruin Henrick. It would destroy him at school of his secret sibling was discovered. If anyone ever learned he was taking care of a squib they could really ruin his life…or control it though blackmail. He doubted there would be anyone who would never except his responsibility. No one would never embrace that extra burden of his half-sister. Her very existence was part of the Faustian curse…to never know happiness.

The rotting hole kept on growing. The Demon snarled in pain. It ate away more of the Thing’s torso. The Demon was about to vanish, eaten away by itself. “Then I take yours, Son of Faust.” There was a feeling like something was being ripped from him. Henrick staggered backwards to hit the tree again. He sunk to the ground. He felt strangely cold and empty.

Before his blurring eyes, he could see a strange light floating before him. It was small. Very small as if newly formed. The light seemed silver in tone. Yet there was a bit of tarnish around the edges of that glowing ball. But the center and most of that tiny orb was still very pure. He tried to reach out for it. His arm barely moved. It was only out of sheer force of stubbornness that he lifted his arm fully. His fingertips brushed against the brightly glowing orb. It felt warm and alive. Just touching t made him feel better. He got a little more focus to his gaze. His forced his fist closed around it. In his hazy vision, the Demon was crumbling away. Slowly, being destroyed from the inside by a lack of soul, denied a new one by a boy too stupid and stubborn to know when to give up.

He vision swam, the edges glowing black. Even holding that silver ember, he was going numb all over. He felt more than heard the final cried of the vanquished Demon. His quickly failing hearing caught something about “later” and “regret” and “lucky”. He might have withed to not even hear that much, as it sounded almost like the crumbling Monster had placed another curse a lot the genetic one he already had.

Henrick’s last breath carried his own message to the remainder of the Creature before it full into a lifeless pile of festering ashes. “Ju forget…Faust beat Mephistopheles in the end. Und jour mistake…vas telling my…zhe rules…because…I’m also…a Son of Hanz…” his hand fell away, flopped open and unmoving on the ground. Glazed mercury colored eyes slid shut slowly. His breathing halted. The little silver light blinked out of existence.