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Shadow of the Serpent By KEDme
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Category: Post-OotP
Characters:Harry/Ginny
Genres: Action/Adventure
Warnings: Death, Extreme Language, Violence
Story is Complete
Rating: PG-13
Reviews: 537
Summary: **June Dumbledore Silver Trinket Award Winner for Best Angst, and May winner for Best Author**
Harry is whisked away to an ancient island to be trained in Occlumency. What he finds is another complication to add to his already complicated life. Will friendship, love, loyalty, bravery, and honor be enough to save him from the Shadow of the Serpent that haunts his life? H/G angst/action adventure.
Hitcount: Story Total: 152101; Chapter Total: 5421
Awards: View Trophy Room
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Disclaimer:
The characters and situations of Harry Potter depicted in this story are the legal property of J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury, and AOL Time Warner, and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended.
No profit is being made off this story. It is for entertainment purposes only.
Chapter Fourteen
“Another Prophecy”
The sound Harry woke up to was silence. The wind, so fierce and unforgiving hours before, had died down to a gentle breeze and the sun was peeking out from the doorway of the Temple. He lay on a cot inside the top building and as far as he could tell there had been many people here too, but there was no one in sight at the moment. Various belongings and makeshift sleeping mats littered the floor. It looked as if the crowd had not been gone long and had left in a great hurry.
He tried to sit up, but his body was too weak and wouldn’t respond. Every fibre of his being hurt and moving only exasperated the pain. Involuntarily he moaned softly and shut his eyes tight, his face screwed up in a grimace.
“That bad, huh?” a voice above him said, nearly causing him to jump out of his skin in fright. He opened his eyes to see the shadowy figure of Stephen Hunter standing over him blocking the sunlight.
Harry groaned again. “You have no idea.”
Stephen chuckled and pulled up a small stool to sit on. “Oh, I have a pretty good idea. Here,” he said, handing him a steaming mug of liquid. “Drink this, it’ll help.”
Harry managed to pull himself up somehow, with Stephen’s help, and sniff the mug which, to his surprise, didn’t smell too terribly bad. He was used to Madame Pomphrey’s nasty potions and draughts. This smelled almost good.
“What is it?”
“A restorative potion,” Stephen said. “My own recipe.”
Harry took a drink and was surprised that it went down smoothly and pleasantly. It reminded him a bit of hot cocoa, actually. Immediately his muscles stopped aching and his head cleared.
“Thanks,” he said. “I needed that.”
“It’s no wonder, Quetzal,” Stephen said with a wry, teasing grin. “You had a busy day yesterday.”
“What happened after I passed out?” Harry asked, suddenly feeling anxious. He remembered the fight to move the Lethifolds out to sea and the impending move of the Darkness over the island that followed, but after that his mind was a blank.
“A hurricane blew in and we had to take cover.” Stephen pulled his eyes away. “We, uh… brought the whole village here for shelter. Luckily it didn’t last long. As soon as we got you here the storm blew over. Still, it caused a fair bit of damage and everyone’s been trying to sort it out. Many families are also making burial arrangements.”
“That’s strange about the storm,” Harry said, perplexed. “I’m sure I felt….” He shook his head. “Never mind. Let’s get out of here, all right? I’m sure you want to check on your house.”
Stephen brought his eyes back to rest on Harry. They bore into him with such intensity that Harry couldn’t pull his gaze away. Instantly he knew there was more.
“You can’t leave.”
“What! Why not?” Harry cried.
“Tecuhtl has ordered the warriors to keep you here where it is safe,” Stephen said. “He thinks that an ancient prophecy has come true and that, as long as you take shelter in the temple, you are safe.” His demeanour showed Harry everything he needed to know.
“You agree with him, don’t you?” It wasn’t really a question because Harry already knew the answer.
“I don’t know what I believe. I watched you do the impossible last night, Harry. You rode your own Patronus, for God’s sake Harry, and you eliminated a group of one of the most deadly enemies this island has ever known, practically single-handedly.”
Hunter held up his hand to silence Harry’s protests. “I know, I know… you had help. But ultimately it was you that cast the spell that finished them. When the storm broke, it was fiercer than any I have ever seen in my life. It was like something dark and black was coming for you. I was powerless to stop it.” He looked Harry in the eye. “You know it, too, don’t you?”
Harry nodded mutely. He had felt it coming all night and couldn’t deny it.
“The moment Masaya and I made it to the temple with you,” Stephen continued, “the winds seemed to howl in anger and protest and then, magically, it was over. The people who had made it here already were afraid. Others began to arrive and you didn’t wake up, but the storm had passed, so we prepared to leave. That’s when Tecuhtl appeared with a scroll in his hand written in the old script. I only know a bit of it, but I knew enough to determine he was speaking the truth.”
“What did this one say?” Harry asked quietly.
Stephen rubbed his temples tiredly. “The child of thunder and lightning will come. He will destroy the enemy with his light, but the Dark will see. To escape the Darkness the child will seek shelter in the Temple of the Gods, and for a time there will be peace. But soon enough the Storm will return, and Darkness will reign until the end. At the midnight hour the Prince will battle the Serpent. The Prince will fall into the Shadow, and his choice will decide the fate of the world.”
Harry stared, stunned. “What exactly does that mean?”
“It means,” Stephen answered wearily, “that this is far from over.”
Harry shivered. “So I’ve got to make a choice, and my answer will determine how this all ends,” he said, summing up what Hunter had said.
Stephen sighed softly. “Remember, Harry. This is just an old prophecy. It doesn’t mean anything unless you want it to.”
“I don’t understand,” Harry said, frustrated. “You just said…”
“Prophecies are tricky things, Quetzal. They only come true if people make them.”
“So I can quit then?” Harry said, surprised. “Are you joking?” He had never thought he had the option of quitting.
“Certainly you can quit,” Stephen told him. “But the question really is do you want to?” He sighed again, heavily. “Listen Harry, as much as I don’t want to say this, I feel I must give you the facts straight. People can choose to run away from their destiny… history is full of cowards who just packed up and left or committed suicide rather than face their problems. But is that what you really want to do? Do you want Voldemort to win because you decided to quit?”
Rage and shame flooded Harry’s senses. There was no way in hell he wanted Voldemort to win, but he had to ask….
“Stephen, if I refuse to fight, won’t there just be someone else who will? Why does it have to be me who’s got to face him?”
“There will always be people out there who choose to fight,” Stephen told him honestly. “But are they capable of winning, Harry? It’s true that others may be able to thwart him from time to time, but are they able to defeat him once and for all or are you the only person with the unique tools and abilities who is able to do that?”
Stephen shook his head. “Harry, you and I both know your life has been heading for this moment from the beginning. Surely you see that by now. Everything points to the fact that you are the Chosen One. For whatever reason, the burden has fallen to you, and now you must decide what to do. No one can make this decision for you, Harry. No one.”
Stephen got up and wandered away, leaving Harry to his thoughts. So it came to this, he mused. He had a choice… but did he really? Somehow Harry knew didn’t. He couldn’t be true to himself and not fight. Voldemort had already hurt so many people, and many more had the potential of becoming victims. People he cared about… even loved. He couldn’t let Voldemort win and so, his decision was already made.
He would fight, even if it meant he was doomed to fail. “I’ll fight for you, Ginny,” he whispered softly, lying back on the cot and closing his eyes. He’d fight for Ron and Hermione, the Weasleys, Remus and Tonks… everyone he loved and cared about. That was his choice.
***
Noises from the entrance of the temple roused him from his meditation. Harry picked himself up off the cot and went to investigate, hoping it was Tecuhtl making an appearance. He had loads of questions for the old man, starting with why he had set him up in that unfair match and then dumped him in the jungle so he couldn’t compete.
It wasn’t Tecuhtl, however, but Chac and Tlaloc. Chac raced forward and caught Harry up in a large bear hug.
“My brother!” he exclaimed happily. “It is good to see you well. My people are indebted to you for ridding us of the Imacaci. We can not thank you enough!”
Harry stepped back, embarrassed but pleased with Chac’s enthusiasm. “You’re welcome, but I didn’t do it alone.” He nodded towards Stephen and Tlaloc; the young warrior was standing close by with a contemplative scowl on his face. “Stephen helped, too. And without Tlaloc and his men, we wouldn’t have succeeded. They chased the Lethifolds down to the ocean. Without them, we couldn’t have done it.”
“You speak with humility and modesty, young warrior,” Tlaloc said approvingly, if a bit stiffly.
Stephen laughed and slapped Tlaloc on his back, causing the warrior to glare at him menacingly but with a hint of humour behind his serious expression. “I wished you could have said that two weeks ago, mate. We could have avoided all that nasty ballgame business.”
“That is why I am here, Xolotl,” Chac said. “The Imacaci interrupted the closing ceremony of last night’s competition and our laws demand that the winner and loser be given counsel with the chief. My father would like to meet with you here in the Temple at midday when the sun is at its highest.” He turned to Harry. “I am to bring him your answer, my Prince, as soon as possible.”
Harry’s face reddened at the title. He certainly didn’t feel like a Prince in his tattered, dirty robes, his body battered from his ordeal, but he knew playing along would guarantee him an audience with the chief whom he desperately wanted to talk to.
“Tell your father that I am anxious to meet with him,” he said tightly, ignoring Stephen’s raised eyebrow. Clearly he was surprised that Harry had agreed so readily.
Harry turned to go but Tlaloc stopped him. The large warrior surprised everyone by awkwardly bending down on one knee and bowing his head humbly. “My Prince,” he said shakily. “I have come to the Temple of the Gods to ask your forgiveness and mercy. I have no excuse for my behaviour except that I was blinded by love and jealousy. I know now that you are the One our ancestors predicted would return, and I gladly accept any punishment you deem appropriate.”
“You don’t owe me anything, Tlaloc,” Harry assured him. “I’m just happy that my time on this island is over so that I can return home to my friends and family, well and whole again. I think I understand why you did what you did and, although I’m not thrilled with the events that have taken place over the past several weeks, I can forgive you and move on. I don’t want to be engaged, much less married. Masaya is a beautiful person, but she’s not for me. Please believe me.”
But Tlaloc did not get up. He stayed on his knees and looked up at Harry, practically begging him. “Please, my Prince. For Masaya’s sake, do not reject her. It is a fate worse than death for a Mixtec woman to be rejected by her intended. I lost the battle for her hand in marriage and now that honour is yours. I know you will treat her kindly…”
“But I don’t want to get married!” Harry said, panicking. A wife, especially one he did not love, was not something he needed or wanted at this juncture of his life. Besides, Ginny would murder him.
“Perhaps” Hunter said quietly from behind Tlaloc, “I could suggest a solution.”
***
Harry paced the Temple entrance feeling like a prisoner. So far he had heeded Stephen’s advice to stay put until told he could leave, but it was difficult. He needed to get out of here and see for himself the damage the storm had caused, and find Macoa. He was worried about the snake and her egg. Had they survived the storm and, if they did, where were they now?
He paused to shield his eyes from the climbing sun. Chac and Tlaloc had left hours before, promising to deliver the message to Tecuhtl and accompany him back to the temple. Harry was nervous; the plan had to work or he’d be forced to make a terrible choice — one that could potentially ruin a young girl’s life.
Several ‘pops’ from just outside the doorway drew his attention and it wasn’t long before Tecuhtl entered followed by Chac, Masaya, Tlaloc, and several others Harry recognized as the referees from the night before and some important people in the Mixtec government.
“Harry Potter,” Tecuhtl said stiffly, stopping before him. “On behalf of my people, I thank you for your services in ridding us of the Imacaci.”
“Er,” Harry said hesitantly, “thanks.”
The chief then paused and seemed to struggle with himself before going on. “I… regret my actions of late and have come to ask your… forgiveness.” To Harry he sounded as if he practically choked on his last word. Clearly he didn’t think he needed forgiveness for anything, despite everything he had done.
Harry’s anger surfaced. “Do you mean getting me involved in an unfair match in order to further your own agenda, or dumping me in the jungle to try and discredit me?” he asked coldly.
Harry’s comment sparked the chief’s own anger, but he controlled it tightly. “I did what I felt I must to protect my people.”
“Why do they always use that tired excuse?” Harry muttered sarcastically, thinking Tecuhtl and Fudge could be best mates.
“Harry,” Stephen said with a warning tone, “this isn’t getting us anywhere.”
Harry acknowledged his teacher respectfully and brought his anger in check. “You’re right, Stephen, I’m sorry.” He turned back to Tecuhtl and asked, “So, is this why you wanted to meet with me? To ask forgiveness and give me excuses for your actions?”
“In part,” Tecuhtl answered calmly, ignoring Harry’s disrespectful tone. “There is also the matter of finishing the closing ceremony from last night’s match. Our laws demand that this is done,” Tecuhtl told him.
Harry nodded. “Let’s get on with it, then.”
Tecuhtl turned to Tlaloc. “Last night, my son, you played a very cunning and difficult game that showed your skills as a warrior and leader of men. The level of competition was very high but you handled yourself in such a way that your people can look upon you with pride. Even though you did not win you should not despair — there was honour in your loss.”
Next, he turned to Harry. “Your skills as a magician both on and off the ball field are remarkable. I unfairly judged you, my son, and I was wrong to believe that you were not worthy to hold the legacy of Quetzalcoatl. You are an honourable man and a great warrior. Surely you have the favour of the Heavens shining down upon your head. Your brother’s fate now lies in your hands.”
Remembering what he had to say, Harry replied earnestly, “May Tlaloc live a long and prosperous life.” He bowed first to Tecuhtl and then to Tlaloc, who returned his bow graciously.
Tecuhtl frowned slightly, probably confused at the cordiality between the two former enemies, but continued. “So be it, my son,” he said haltingly. “You are blessed among warriors for your mercy. Choose your reward, Honoured One.”
"I only ask one thing," Harry said firmly. "I ask that Masaya be allowed to choose whomever she wishes to be her husband."
Masaya gasped. She looked hopefully between Harry and Tlaloc, a large smile forming on her face. "You would do this for me?" she asked, sounding astounded.
Harry walked over to her, mindful of Tecuhtl's frown, and grasped her hand tenderly. He looked deeply into her eyes and said as kindly as he could, "Masaya, you are a human being and have the right to choose the person you will spend the rest of your life with. You and I both know that person isn’t me. We are from two different worlds and our hearts belong elsewhere. It would be wrong on many different levels, don't you agree?"
She nodded her head emotionally, fighting to hold in the tears of gratitude. "Thank you, my Prince," she whispered.
"No," he said honestly, "thank you. This situation could have been much harder if you had decided to fancy me instead of Tlaloc. I'm in no position to provide any girl with a stable life right now. You are beautiful and intelligent, a true princess, and you deserve to be with someone who loves you." He looked up at Tlaloc and grinned. "I'm not certain what you see in the bloke, but he's a lucky man and a great warrior. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness."
He started to move away but Masaya caught his hand. "And I, too, wish you happiness, my Prince. I understand what you said about not having time for love, but I see the light of love in your eyes, Harry Potter, and I know there is someone you care for a great deal waiting for your safe return. Do not turn your back on love, my Prince. If anyone in this world deserves love, it is you."
Harry swallowed hard because her words had struck a chord. He missed Ginny so much yet, as much as he had missed her and wanted to be with her, he knew what had to be done. He wouldn't be able to continue on if something happened to him and the life bond activated. He could never allow her to give up her own life to save him, no matter what the circumstances. It would be like cutting off his right arm. Somehow he had to undo this spell that connected them. Only then could he feel free to face Voldemort and end it once and for all. Where did love fit in that?
Instead he said quietly, "I will consider your words. Thank you, Masaya."
Tecuhtl raised his voice definitively, although he sounded pained to do it. "It shall be done as you ask, Honoured One."
Stephen cleared his throat noisily. "I think that concludes the ceremony, then. My student and I will be preparing to leave at morning's light. We will need transportation to the outside of the enchantments that surround Tlilli Tlapalla so that we can Portkey to the nearest city."
Tecuhtl turned to Stephen respectfully. "It shall be done, Xolotl. So," he said tentatively, "you will be leaving with the boy?" He seemed almost relieved by this news, and Harry suspected he couldn't wait to be rid of them. For the first time the man broke out in a genuine smile that only faded when he caught sight of Masaya and Tlaloc talking together quietly in the corner of the room.
"That's right," Stephen said cordially, apparently not noticing Tecuhtl's change in disposition. "I've decided to return to England. I have some… unfinished business there."
Harry turned to Stephen, bewildered. "You're coming back to England? For good?"
Stephen shook his head from side to side slowly. "I can't say it'll be for good, Quetzal, but I will guarantee I'll be around long enough to watch your back through this thing. I have my own reasons for returning to England and they have everything to do with revenge. I promised myself a long time ago that I would see Voldemort damned to hell for what he has done, and I intend to be there when he gets what’s coming to him. Besides, I also want to make sure that your Occlumency shield is strong enough to repel his attacks, and I can't very well do that from here, now can I?" he said flippantly.
Harry laughed. "You don't trust me, eh? Don't think I've learned my lessons well enough?"
Stephen stung his arm around Harry's shoulders. "There's one way to find out. Besides, I want to meet this mystery girl you've neglected to mention to me."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Harry said, playing dumb.
Stephen wagged his finger at Harry playfully. "Don't try and hide it from me, Quetzal. You know I have ways of making you talk."
Stopping and crossing his arms defiantly, Harry said teasingly, "I'd like to see you try, old man."
"Old man!" Stephen repeated incredulously. "Old man!" His eyes narrowed and for a moment Harry thought maybe he'd taken the joke too far. Then an evil glint came into Stephen's blue eyes and he knew he'd gone too far. "We'll see about that, kid. We'll see who has the last laugh." He turned his back on Harry, still muttering about pompous kids who thought they knew everything and how he'd get his comeuppance soon enough.
"Hunter," Harry exclaimed worriedly, racing to catch up with him as the older man exited the temple. "You know I was only joking, right? I didn't mean it…"
They continued to bicker with each other for a good long while as they prepared to leave, but it was all in good fun. Deep down Harry suspected that Stephen was just as relieved as he was to finally be going home.
[AN: I may have mentioned to some that this chapter was called "Leaving" but at the last minute I decided to change it to the current title. I think it fits better with the overall plot and gets the point of this chapter across much better, don't you think? The next chapter has us finally catching up with "present" day time at the Dursleys. Thanks to Arnel as always for her fast beta work and to Melinda for all her good advice.]
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