The next day everyone was taking about Colin Creevy, a Gryffindor first year who took pictures of everything. After having his picture taken many times, Harry had realized the firstie was addicted to his camera, and short of destroying it, there was no good way to stop him from taking pictures. So instead of stopping him, Harry hired Colin…with rules.
All pictures taken of Harry, Hermione, or any of his family had to be given to Harry with originals. Only those pictures approved by Harry, were allowed to be kept by Colin and provided to others. Colin agreed. Harry was already up to 136 pictures. Some were very good, especially of Hermione. One of the main reasons Colin liked this plan was Harry paid for the pictures, if he liked them. Colin was able to buy a magical camera just from Harry's patronage.
Anyway, Colin was petrified last night, and just like the previous occurrence, no one had an idea who did it or why. The professors and Aurors weren't sharing.
Harry had asked family if a potion or spell could cause petrification. They knew of the petrification cure, but cause it, no, at least not easily. There were rumors, but nobody knew how to do it easily. The only sure way was a gorgon or cockatrice...and those were very dangerous.
In response to the petrification of a student, Harry heard the school was reopening the Dueling club. There was a signup sheet, and the club would start early December. Harry thought he would check it out, if only to see to the training of people like Nev and Draco who weren't allowed to take his class. He knew Flitwick was a world ICW dueling champion, and would be an excellent instructor.
Harry came to the great room with most of the other students. All the tables were gone and there were dozens of small dueling fields set up. There was also a regulation sized one set up in front...likely for an exhibition bout. Harry was standing talking to Nev and Draco, waiting for Flitwick to show. He didn't. Lockhart in the most outlandish plum robes, and a gold cape was standing on the main platform…with Master Snape.
Lockhart climbed up to the platform, "Gather round. Gather round! Can everybody hear me? Can everybody see me? I have been asked by Headmaster Dumbledore to teach you how to fight, as I have done countless times. To see my experiences, read my collected works. As this is a large group, as I knew it would be, I have requested an assistant. Master Snape is known to have some ability with a wand. We will start with a simple demonstration of a duel, but don't worry, I won't injure such a reputed potioner. Where would we be if we needed vanishing cream!"
Snape was just looking at him with glittering eyes. Harry had seen those eyes. Usually before being introduced to something especially painful. The two professors separated to their starting lines. Both bowed. Lockhart's was a flowery thing which lasted a few seconds. Snape just nodded, never letting his enemy leave his eyesight. They both took start position Sixth with their wands covering outside, but most able to attack forward quickest. It was the easiest start position to learn. Harry actually preferred eighth which was outside and down. It looked less threatening, but was nearly as fast…and excellent to start with terrain modifier spells.
They were started 1,2,3! Before Lockhart could even point his wand, Snape fired off a silent disarmament which blazed red down the field. It blasted Lockhart off the field, slamming him into the wall behind. He crumpled to the ground while his wand slapped into Snapes left hand. He was still covering Lockhart with his wand in his right.
Lockhart got unsteadily to his feet, put his hat back on, and smoothed down his curls. As he got up, "Where's my wand, where's my wand." Miss Brown pointed to Snape who was standing exactly where he started. Snape held up Lockhart's wand, waving it slightly, while looking at Lockhart with those same glittering eyes. "Oh yes! Of course!" and walked back to Snape, "The standard disarmament spell. Rather easy to cast, and rather easy to defend against too. I wanted students to see how a successfully cast one looks." Snape just dropped Lockhart's wand and got off the stage. Lockhart was forced to continue over and pick up his wand, grimacing because that was a very rude thing to do to a competitor, usually reserved for honor violations.
Lockhart after he picked up his wand, was smiling again. He then said, jovially "Anyway why don't we start with some students and see what they can do. Let's start with the younger crowd. Say 2nd years. Any second years want to go?" He saw a few hands. "You, the Gryffindor, Ron, is it? Yes Mr. Weasley get up here! Now we need a competitor, for him. Yes Mr. Potter! Let's get you up here!"
Ron looked white faced, but had a hard look to his eyes. Nobody was calling him a coward again! He would show them! Harry may talk tough, but no one has actually seen him fight. The troll had to be a professor. No student could take a troll!
Harry just looked at Lockhart. So that was his game, he wanted to pretend to train me so needed me in this club. But, fight a second year, was he kidding? Harry just waved Lockhart off.
"SCARED POTTER?" Ron called out with a contemptuous lilt to his voice. Harry could not believe his ears. He stopped in his tracks and turned his head, yup it was Ronny boy who said that to him.
Harry very sarcastically replied, "Why yes, Mr. Weasley. You are waaay more frightening than a Forest Troll. Much too much, for me. You smell fairly identical, however." That last comment drew some snickering.
Ron not liking that last comment, challengingly replied, "Well get up here and show everybody what the boy-who-lived can do." Ron knew just how much Harry hated that moniker. There were a few gasps, as others knew it too.
Harry went cold, and made to go up, but Hermione held him back. She looked in his eyes and said, "He's not worth it, love."
Harry just kissed her palm saying, "OK Mine." Then waved Ron away. Ron at this point, got seriously pissed. He sent a stinging hex at Harry…but it was going between them and could have hit Hermione. Quicker than anyone could see, Harry stepped forward directly into its path, had his wand out, and actually parried it into the ceiling. The entire room gasped. A parry was NEWT level...high NEWT level.
Harry then jumped up to the platform, and took Snape's place. Harry looked at Ron with eyes glittering much like Snape's were, "You want to dance. Let's dance!" Harry said coldly. The combat platform was 5 meters wide and 10 meters long. Ridiculous for a student duel, but regulation.
Lockhart grinned, and with a flamboyant flip of his cape, said exuberantly, "All right then. Bow to me. Bow to each other." Both gave a head nod keeping their eyes on their opponent. "Start on three. One, Two, Three!"
Harry just stood there while Ron cast spells at him. Maybe one of three or four spells could have hit him, so he just parried those into the ceiling or floor. Harry then started walking toward Ron still deflecting spells at the ceiling, his eyes now glowing green.
Ron was getting nervous. Nothing was working! Plus, his wand was getting hot! He had it taped, but the tape couldn't take this abuse. Ron cast a cutting charm, right when the spell-o-tape failed. The cutting spell went sideways into the crowd, and there was a cry. "Harry!" exclaimed Hermione in pain.
Harry heard Hermione cry out. Ron had hurt her again! Harrys eyes turned black, and he instinctively cast a Black Fire bolt of such power, it screamed down the field right at Ron.
Snape could not believe what he was seeing. He was standing at Weasley's end of the field, and saw the cutting spell slice into Hermione's arm, causing her to cry out. He also saw Harry release his restraints and send an explosive blasting Hex at Weasley. Merlin! That will liquify him if it hits! Snape acting quickly, summoned Weasley to him, yanking Ron off the field. At the same time, he yelled, "Dueling Wards level 4 Emergency!"
The wards go up with a loud hum. Level 4 is Magus level. Harry's spell hits the end of the field just as the wards settle…and explodes. There is a huge thunderclap as the wards take the hit, and are sizzling as they are being eaten by the Black Fire. Some of the students were thrown to the ground it was so loud. Cracks formed in the dueling wards where the spell impacted…slowly healing back up once the fire burns out. Too slowly, Snape realizes. Snape said to himself, 'Harry cannot have access to this much power before his 2nd maturation!' Then he saw the Heir ring glowing like a black star…SHITE.
Once the explosion cleared, Harry noticed Ron was not on the field. He ran down to where Ron was, looking for him. Harry's face is now set in a rictus of fury with glowing black eyes. Snape noted Harry's hands and wand were now immolated in the black fire too, and his Heir ring was glowing even brighter. As Harry neared the end, he started scanning each side, and finally noticed Ron at Snape's feet. Harry immediately cast another black bolt at Ron. The bolt burned through the air, and hit the wards only 10 feet away. The wards cracked with the explosion and the black fire started burning them away. Meanwhile, the backblast caught Harry and threw him backwards into the other side of the wards. Harry slammed against the wards, and fell to the ground.
Snape was yelling to himself, 'Shit shit SHIT! If I go full power, I might kill Harry, but with all these children nearby, some of them with certainly die!' "SWEETY!" He yelled.
Sweety, Snape's Hogwarts elf, appeared, "Master calls Sweety?"
Snape yelled, "Gather all elves! Get the children out NOW! Then get help!" The Hogwarts elves immediately started elf-popping the children out.
Harry stood back up shaking his head. He started hissing and drew his wand down his left hand cutting his palm and causing his palm to bleed profusely. He then pulled a metal ball covered in glowing runes from somewhere, and dropped it into his left hand. While Harry's left had was coating the ball in his blood, burning with the black fire, Harry used his wand to weave intricate runes over it. There was a flash of black light from the ring and the ball was now a black star, similar to the ring but much larger. It was shining brightly and dripping black ichor. Harry released the star, and it floated up. Slowly the Black Star started orbiting around Harry's head. He then pulls out another silver ball…
Snape quickly glanced around the room and realized many of the children were gone. At this time Severus saw Flitwick and McGonagall run up. He yelled, "Where's Albus?"
Minerva glanced at him, "He was in meetings at the ministry. It will be a time before he returns."
Flitwick shook his head, "We don't have much time. Those are Black Combat Stars he's activating. Depending on how many he can power, we may have a problem." At this point, they can see Harry is powering up his 6th Black Star. Once Harry has the six stars orbiting him in an isometric pattern, he hissed loudly, and a siege chain of destructive energy slammed it into the wards. The wards handled the first five spells, but the sixth and final spell shattered them. This time the backblast was stopped by a reddish-black shield formed between the stars.
Harry walked out with the star shield surrounding him. At the same time Ron and Hermione were being grabbed by the elves. Harry saw this, and yelled "NO!" He immediately cast a black spell to shut down all elf-popping. Snape saw this, and stepped in the way. Snape then cast a counter curse blocking Harry's spell. Ron and Hermione were popped away...gone.
Seeing his witch taken away while injured was too much for Harry. Harry SCREAMED! as the Black madness overcame him, while tears were pouring down his eyes. Where before Harry looked furious and desperate, now he looked completely unhinged. Harry had an insane and feral look to his face, while his eyes were unfocused, and tears still dripped down his face. Harry growled with hate, and attacked Snape with his deadliest spell chain. Harry has never used his military-grade assault curses on Snape before. Snape realized Harry was completely unhinged, and trying to kill him! With that ring feeding him prodigious amounts of magic, he doesn't even have to be efficient. Snape was hard pressed to defend himself. Some of these spells were Black family magic of the most lethal sort, and now with Harry in the throughs of the Black Madness, Severus was unsure how to end this without killing Harry.
Flitwick tried to cast suppression and submission spells at Harry, but Harry has the stars set on total defense and Filius was unable to penetrate through. Harry just ignored Flitwick, and while continuing to directly attack Snape, he also started blasting the floor to limit Snape's mobility. Snape realized Harry was corralling him, and if he didn't counter it, will soon be killed. Snape realized he doesn't have a choice, and unleashes his magic. There was a wave of magic and Snape's eyes were now glowing. Snape was a burgeoning Magus, too.
Before Harry could adjust to the new level of threat, Snape screamed, "Atlas, Promethius' curse." The sky literally fell on Harry pinning him to the ground. Harry was unable to move, despite continuously struggling to do so. Unfortunately, the Black stars were unaffected, and still a very effective defense. Despite Harry being immobile, no one could stun Harry.
Without being able to stun Harry, Master Snape was continuously fighting to hold Harry down. Snape thought to himself, 'This is so unfair! Harry has a huge magic battery allowing him to waste so much power. Boy am I going to work Harry on his efficiency...if we live through this!' After 15 minutes it was obvious how much magic Snape was expending to keep Harry down. Even Lockhart was in awe of a near Magus, casting at his limit. Dumbledore popped in, saw the situation, and was about to say something when Happy appeared, Dumbledore's elf. "Albie, the scary Black is outside demanding being let in!"
Albus yelled, "Get Lord Black in Here! He may be able to stop this!"
Soon Lord Black in full Battle armor strolled in, "Well Albus what cock up did you get yourself into now?" He strolled over to Harry and noticed the ATLAS spell holding Harry. Arcturus raised an eyebrow at Snape nodding in respect. He then raised his ring, "Since I can't let you destroy the castle, just yet."
Lord Black held his fist in the air, and his ring started glowing red. Just as Harry started powering up another bolt, having freed his wand arm, Abraxas twisted and pulled his arm down. Harry's ring winked out, the fire vanished, his eyes returned to green, and he collapsed to the ground unconscious.
Dumbledore then motioned to the others, "We need to get Harry-"
Lord Black interrupted, "You, need do nothing. I will take him home and lock the ring down until his 2nd maturation. Should take about a week."
At this point Lockhart, noticed everything was safe, and came over. He said pompously, "Wow! I'm glad I was here to deal with this." And he put his hand on Lord Black's arm like they were best friends. "Can you imagine the disaster, if I wasn't here to help you?"
Lord Black looked down at the arm and up at this fop who was daring to act like a comrade in arms. He said very coldly, "Who is this person who speaks to me as though I needed his advice."
Dumbledore was about to say something about taking Harry, but realized Lockhart was about 30 seconds away from being obliterated. He grabbed Lockhart, and dragged him from the room. Lord Black ignored this, summoned the Black stars, and touched Harry. They immediately vanished.
Hermione was being treated in the infirmary for the Cutting charm, which sliced her shoulder. Neville, Susan and Hanna were with her. As she was being treated, she saw dozens of students being brought to the infirmary, not apparently injured, but all needing Calming potions. She realized she doesn't know where Harry is.
"Neville" Hermione asked timidly, "where's Harry?"
Neville looked down, then up into Hermione's eyes. "I don't know. After you were injured, Harry tried to kill Ron. Snape pulled Ron out of the way or he would have been obliterated. Snape then raised the dueling wards, magus strength…It was needed."
Neville then grabbed her hand, "After that, Harry went mad…and attacked Master Snape. It was awe inspiring. Harry and Master Snape were throwing high level magic around like it was nothing. Harry had some prismatic defense going which Master Snape and Flitwick together were unable to penetrate. Then Master Snape went Magus level and used a higher mystery to pin Harry to the floor. I was popped away at that point."
Hermione looked lost and was getting scared, "Where is Harry, Neville?"
Neville continued, "I don't know, I heard Dumbledore and Lord Black showed up. Lord Black turned off the Heir ring and took Harry away. We assume back to his manor, but nobody knows. I don't know what set him off, he was raging."
Hanna was looking at Neville slightly hurt and disappointed. "Don't you, Neville? Harry first tried to kill Ron because he hurt Hermione. Then, Harry surrendered to the Black madness, when the elves popped Hermione away while injured. I saw the look in Harry's eyes. When Hermione vanished, he was lost and broken. Then, he oriented on Snape because he protected the elf popping Hermione away. Harry thought Snape had taken his injured witch."
Hermione with tears rolling down her cheeks, said brokenly "Oh, Harry." and just cried.
The next morning, Master Snape came up to Hermione during breakfast. She was just pushing her food around on her plate not hungry. He quietly said, "Come with me now." Hermione immediately stopped eating, got up, and went with Master Snape. Once in the hallway, Snape quietly said, "Harry needs your help. He is with Lord Black and still raging because he thinks you are critically injured." Glancing at Hermione, "Evidently, Harry last saw his witch seriously injured and removed from his presence. He is still gripped by the Black madness. We hope convincing him you are fine will free him."
Hermione with tears appearing again in her eyes said quietly, "Oh, my Harry." and followed Master Snape to the floo. She was immediately floo'd to Black Manor. Once at the manor, she was met with an elf who immediately escorted her to Lord Black. Lord black was standing outside Harry's bedroom. Harry was walking back and forth like a caged animal on the other side of the open door. Harry was Harry, but something was off. Harry had a wild, unhinged look to his eyes. He looked feral.
Arcturus went to block Hermione from entering, and Harry GROWLED while coming over to the door. Harry was bounced back by a ward at the doorway. Seeing Harry's response, Hermione gently motioned Lord Black aside, showing absolutely no fear to this mad feral Harry, on the other side of the doorway.
Hermione went into the room and walked right up, pressing her body against Harry, trying to look in his eyes. Harry tracked Hermione right up to him without blinking. As soon as she was in range, he quickly grabbed her and spun her around so he was between her and everyone else. In a deep voice that made her bones vibrate, he commanded "MINE! REMOVE!" while knotting his hand in her robe. Realizing Harry wished to examine her, Hermione stepped back and started taking off her clothes.
Lord Black completely stunned by this nonsensical behavior, asked "Lass, what are you doing? Now is not the time for a dalliance!"
Hermione looked at Arcturus over Harry's shoulder with some irritation, "He wishes to verify his mate is unharmed. I expect he will be thorough about it. I would appreciate it if you went…elsewhere for a while." Hermione had finished stripping her chest bare by this time, and stood calmly in front of Harry. Harry closely examined her. He started at her injured shoulder, and growled at the healing scar on it. He then grabbed the arm gently and put her shoulder through its range of motion checking each muscle group for injury. Once he was sure the shoulder was fine, Harry examined the arm for nerve or vascular damage. After that he went to the chest examining all muscles there. Finally, he thoroughly inspected her breast for damage.
Once Harry had finished checking her injury, he seemed to be less the apprentice healer, he took so much pride in becoming, and turned into a feral caveman. Harry roughly inspected her face, head, and breasts, roughly licking and sucking on them. Harry then walked around Hermione and inspected her neck and back down to her skirt. Harry then swatted Hermione hard on her bottom, commanding "REMOVE!"
Hermione 'Squeaked' at the swat and blushed to her roots when she realized how 'complete' Harry wished to inspect her. Harry was going to check her below…and it looked to be a thorough exam. Not wanting to find out if he would force her, Hermione quickly divested herself of the rest of her clothes. She then went over to Harry's bed and lay back, spreading herself, and giving Harry complete access. Harry, holding her thighs open took a big sniff, and then licked her from her anus up to her clit. Hermione 'squeaked' when he came back and stuck his tongue deeply into the vagina, and moved his tongue all around, trying to find any evidence another male had been there. He was gentle, but not to be denied.
Once Harry was satisfied her vagina was untouched, Harry then licked around her anus before gently forcing his tongue through that orifice and tasting around. Hermione squeaked, groaned, and yelled "Harry!" when he gently penetrated her anus with his tongue. Hermione groaned at being rimmed for the first time, but couldn't complain as he wasn't hurting her, and it actually felt interesting. She hadn't decided if she liked it, but it was interesting. She was also trying to decide if she liked him 'forcing' her to do something without asking her, she needed to think about that too.
After what amounted to some forceful, but still gentle oral sex, Harry stood up, and the madness cleared from his eyes. He just looked at her slightly confused, then lunged into her arms, tightly holding her and cried. "I was sure I had lost you." he cried.
Hermione just held him and cried as well, "Oh Harry, I will always return to you."
At this point Lord Black returned, "OK, your witch is fine and whole. We have much to do, to return you back to school next week. Say goodbye to your witch, now." Harry gave Hermione one last hug and pushed her away. Hermione lunged back in, and kissed him fiercely. "You come back to me Harry. I will be waiting." She then grabbed her clothes off the floor and just walked out holding them…Harry watching her until she was gone.