Chapter Text
“What are those things?!” Malfoy shouted, wand raised defensively.
The creatures swooped about them, occasionally crashing into some sort of barrier surrounding them. Harry found himself taking a fighting stance instinctively as his wand leapt to his hand. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Alius’ illusion lady chanting, hands extended. It seemed Alius won’t be of much help. He was slumped on the ground behind the table. Harry couldn’t make out much of his figure, but a slender arm ending in a bony wrist could be seen extending from behind the oaken leg. He turned back toward the creatures and hesitated.
“Dray.” he said slowly. “What?!” Draco yelled over the shrieking. He raised his voice. “Dray, L is knocked out!” Draco gave a short nod. “Let’s see if we can make our way over there, then.” Harry caught his wrist as he began to move. “No, wait! Alius is unconscious.” Draco raised an eyebrow. “And that lady is still here.” He could see when it began to sink in. “No. She showed up at Hogwarts randomly all the time, and you can’t apparate into Hogwarts. It must be a charm.” Harry thought about this, chewing his lip. “Maybe. I guess that’s possible. Nevermind, I just… she seems so powerful. For an illusion. And the way he talks to her…” Draco nodded. “I know.” He glanced back at the commotion. “Let’s go before this gets any uglier.”
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Death looked at the approaching boys, her face impassive.
This was not something she would have chosen for her young master. He deserved rest. All he had desired was more time getting to know his friends and family. It seemed he would be robbed of that once again.
She looked down upon him. His still form lay crumpled at her feet, blood pooling about his head in a dark coronet.
Yet again he would sacrifice himself to save another.
The boys came closer. The promise of further pain and sadness lingered in the air. Her young master didn’t need this. Didn’t need their questions and accusations to weigh him down further as he faced the end.
Death let her chanting subside.
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“No!” Harry screamed in unison with Draco as the dark creatures came in a rush, grabbing at Alius.
The spell came out in a roar. “Relashio!”
A rush of power filled Harry and he finally noticed that the wand in his hand was not his trusty holly and phoenix feather one. Before him, the creatures were forced back as their hands sprung free. They fluttered about, confused, before rushing back in. “Relashio in aeternum!” he cried desperately. The creatures let out an earth shattering shriek that resounded in the space. It felt as though the very stars were ringing and Harry found himself opening his eyes, staring at the ceiling.
He leapt to his feet. Draco was already running toward the crumpled form and Harry followed, hoping against hope that they’d acted in time.
He came skidding to a stop and stared down at the unfamiliar sight.
Alius had warned them and yet this was not at all what Harry had expected. This hadn’t even been within the realm of possibility.
It was like looking into a warped mirror. The boy was bony in a way Harry hadn’t been in years. His rumpled clothes were covered in soot and grass stains. He looked exhausted, face sallow with bags deep enough to swim in. The bird’s nest hair was the same, and the lightning scar peeked out from under his hair. But it was the other scars that made him different.
Out from under one grey shirt sleeve peeked a nasty looking scar that was as large as his palm. And across the back of one hand were pink scratches that looked disturbingly like letters.
Harry had had many moments of great confusion in his life. This was one of those.
“Incarcerous,” he heard from beside him. Ropes sprang to life around the unnatural thing. “We’ll question him when he wakes.” Draco muttered.
The lady spoke beside them, making them both jump. “You saved him.” She was staring at Harry. He scratched the back of his head uncomfortably. “Yeah, I guess I did.” Her still face broke into a smile. “It will be an honor serving you.”
Harry felt supremely creeped out.
“Serving me?”
The lady let her gaze drop to Alius. Harry stepped forward, trying to catch her attention. “Excuse me? Ma’am? Do you know what’s going on here?” She lifted her eyes to meet his once more. “Alius will explain. Do call me if you require help.” And just like that, she vanished, leaving Draco and Harry standing in Alius’ ruined shop with an uncanny doppelganger tied up at their feet.