The Dormant

Hooded figures were in a large circle watching. The robes of the main followers in the center of the gigantic room were splotched with blood, dry and fresh; they were currently engaged in the task of hauling the recently killed body of an old man to the growing pile of corpses, all lit aflame in a spectacle of death and debauchery that Harry had never witnessed before, not even on the worst of nightmares.

Needless to say, he emptied his stomach on the spot.

-“Lick the floor clean” a voice boomed in the hall

He stood still and gasped as a winged creature, perched on a giant demon statue, roared and lifted its wings, coming down the floor to open its powerful jaw and feed from the blood spilled in the floor with a hunger that Harry thought no being could posses. The one called the Dark Lord made his appearance to halt the dragon, who was eying the corpses hungrily, lifting his palm to touch a side of the beast’s leg.

The Death Eaters in the room halted their activities as soon as the voice of their master was heard. All of them aligning and making a circle in the main hall of the dungeon. With a pat of the Dark Lord, the dragon breathed the fire of hell, reviving the flame of the sacrifices that burned in the center of it all.

The smell of putridity, blood and burnt flesh were making Harry deeply sick and terrified. Breathing slowly he reached inside his robe for a frog cookie, a healing recipe that should kick in fast enough. The idea of Severus Snape baking cookies was outrageous, but it proved to be right when the wizard had concocted a batch by Dumbledore’s orders, claiming the shape of them had been the headmaster’s doing.

-“Such a tasty treat deserved a fitting appeal, as the spices and honey sweetener where not necessary for the recipe desired effect, how kind of you Severus!”

A small smirk broke on Harry as he remembered the vampiric teacher blushing tomato red as the Headmaster proceeded to flatter the potion master’s culinary skills. A spark caught his attention and Harry saw then that the reason for such thoughts at the moment lay on the pendant on his chest. It definitely eased his fears.

Placing the pendant inside his robes, he examined the situation. The dragon caught his attention.

With eyes as red coals and slender packed built it stood at least with three times Harry’s height. The wings were covered in black feathers while the rest of the body and tail were of midnight black scales. The claws were a soft silver more than a bone white. It was a magnificent creature, one that Harry had never seen before on any book.

Chewing on his lip he noticed that all was quiet and solemn now. Still. Even the Dark Lord stood as if waiting something, all of the eyes watching the fire.

Then, in a heartbeat, all of the eyes trained themselves on his hiding spot, behind a stone pillar cloaked in the shadows. He swallowed and felt himself be pulled to them, by their gazes. He shed off his fear as he got closer to the Dark Lord, so that they stood facing each other within battling range.

- "Leave us"

One by one, each and every Death Eater on the room disappeared, until all that was left was a flaming pile or corpses, the Dark Lord and one and very ready Harry Potter.

Voldemort stood giving nothing away. Harry stood defiant with narrowed eyes.

- "Let the Dance of the Wands begin"

As if pre planned, both adversaries swung their wands in a circle and a sword appeared on each of their hands, the slender sword of Gryffindor and the long cursed dagger of Slytherin. Taking each their sword in the left hand with precise movements they called forth the same spell.

- "Wingardium Sangritas Momentum!"

In cue, each wand took life of its own and floated on the air high above their master's shoulder, aiming readily at their target.

It was Harry who made the first move.

- "Incendio!" He shouted and plunged with the sword. His wand danced above him and when his voice was heard heavy fire sprouted from its end, aiming at Voldemort, who casted in return a wind spell that drove the fire off and almost got to Harry's robes.

The wands danced with each other while both opponents forced their blade against the other.

It was truly a dance, ks fks flying here and there, everywhere, moving to an enchanted urge of release. Both of the enemies circled each other, plunged, casted and fended off. It kept on incessantly, heatedly, furiously... until both were red in the face and the swirl of robes traced lines in the air that disappeared instantly in the haste of light and speed.

It kept on for ages, or so it felt for Harry. He was loosing grip on his sword and in a wrong movement of his feet, the Dark Lord slashed from his shoulder downwards, red blood spurting forwards in a heavy rush. Harry moaned out, his sword falling to the floor.

With a triumphant grin, Voldemort stabbed the Slytherin dagger downwards aiming for Harry's throat. By pure chance, in a moment of brilliance, Harry leaned back, the pendant on his neck swinging forwards as the Slytherin dagger cut its chain.

With shimmering radiance it broke off into fiery dust as soon as the chain dropped off Harry's neck, spreading luminously on the air and catching the dueling men attention powerfully. Suddenly, the Dark Lord howled in pain. Harry looked up and saw small flickers of light burning away the skin on Voldemort's face, neck and hands. The dust of the jewel was harming him greatly!

- "KILL HIM!" The Dark Lord shouted in pain, doubling over himself, wand forgotten in the floor.

Instead of having to face his followers, Harry saw the dragon beast appearing again on scene, murderous and ready to kill for its Lord. Harry stepped back as the dragon poised itself to attack. Harry's wand was still hovering on the air, still set on Voldemort and in that moment he decided that if he was to go down he would finish his task as well. With a dragon claw coming to his throat he bellowed out with all his magic, looking at the eyes of the beast that would deliver his dead.

- "Aveda Kadavra!"

Harry heard long suffering shouts, cries of anguish, but he did not hear his own voice.

Opening his eyes he stared in confusion at the dragon, who was only staring back at him, doing nothing at all.

- "KILL HIM! KILL HIM ALREADY!"

But the dragon did nothing. Instead, while the body of the Dark Lord sprouted blotches of fire and consumed away, the beast howled, its eyes turning from coal red to silver pools, and passed out.

Harry tried to walk, but fell on his knees. All his strength had been used on that final spell. The body of the Dark Lord lay burned and lifeless now, he could tell, as his scar cooled down suddenly giving a soothing feeling of freshness. The finality of it all washed down on him like a soothing bath. He allowed himself a sorrowful smile and to pass out, his task was done. So much for an epic final battle...

He could feel himself falling unconscious but his eyes widened out of their sockets, his mouth leaving out a soundless scream and his hands shot out while he was falling because where the dragon once lay was now a nude figure.

It was Draco Malfoy.