Three sets of eyes watched as the Shrieking Shack was engulfed in a cyclone of fire, which undoubtedly incinerated all of those unfortunate enough to still be trapped within. The vampire watched on with horror, Minerva in alarm, and Albus with a calmness that would have unnerved anyone else.
And then, despite how impossible it seemed, a solitary figure emerged from within the blaze without a single iota of worry.
"That can't be...!" The vampire uttered as it recognied the child-like figure of the one approaching them, his expression twisted into a smirk while the damned sword he carried was resting on his shoulder.
"Hey Albus, Minerva. What're you two doing here?" Harry asked as he approached them, before throwing a Paralysis spell at the vampire as it tried to get away.
"Quirinus was quite worried about you Harry. He even came to us while appearing quite desperate." Albus said with a chuckle, before glancing at the vampire. "So, who might your friend here be?"
"THAT-" Harry began while pointing his sword at the vampire. "Is the vampire that Quirrel contacted to come here. Not only did that bastard hire it to get rid of me, he also promised it and it's friends that they could drink as much blood as they wanted from the students afterwards. Apparently, they also have some history in Albania."
The moment Albus heard the word 'Albania', his eyes sharpened dangerously as he focused on the vampire.
"Is that so? I hope you don't mind, but I have some questions for our 'friend' here when we have a moment." Albus said, his gaze never leaving the vampire.
"Knock yourself out. I just figured that we can use it as a witness of Quirrel's actions." Harry said with a shrug, before turning his attention in the direction of the school. "Something's coming." He added, right as a figure of light streaked through the sky to land right in the middle of them.
A mole.
"Quirinus has gone mad, headmaster." The mole stated in professor Sprout's voice. "He's blasted open the door to the third floor corridor, and is trying for the stone!"
Albus nodded slowly as the mole vanished before them.
"He is moving quickly. Quirinus must have realized that we are more dangerous than he originally anticipated. Or rather, YOU are." He said while turning towards Harry.
"Its about damn time." Harry swore as he flexed his fingers in anticipation. All these months of just watching and waiting, he was ready to deal with this once and for all.
Only partially aware of Albus turning the vampire into a gerbil, and storing it in his pocket, Harry considered his options as he turned to face the school. Albus and Minerva only had two brooms with them, one for each, meaning he would need to either take one, or find another way to return to the castle quickly.
"Step back." Harry commanded them, earning him a pair of curious looks as Albus and Minerva hesitantly took a step back.
"Further." Harry told them, and they started walking backwards until he gave them a nod of approval.
"What are you doing?" Minerva asked nervously.
"Calling a ride. And some help in case I need it." Harry answered, before taking in a deep breath.
"DUR NEH VIIR!"
Harry's voice carried across dimensions while both Albus and Minerva flinched in response, before the ground began to rumble.
Bracing themselves, Albus and Minerva watched with differing expressions as a circular hole opened up in the ground, revealing a swirling vortex of sinister energies beneath even as the hole widened. And widened. And WIDENED.
"LAAT!" A voice roared from within, before a massive snout appeared.
Albus and Minerva watched, one in fascination and the other in horror as a massive figure crawled up out of the vortex. It's head was decorated with numerous curved and sinister horns, it's front leg-like appendages had a thin membrane connected to it's body, and last to come out were it's hind legs followed by it's long spiked tail.
Most shocking about this creature was neither it's size, nor the malevolent aura it gave off, but the fact that it's entire body appeared to be in a state of advanced decomposition.
It's scales were rotting and a sickly green, the wings were full of holes, and it's chest seemed empty of the organs necessary for life while the ribs protruded conspicuously.
*Snuff. Huff.*
A huffing sound filled the air as the creature sniffed curiously, before it opened it's massive maw.
"The air here... It is Vomindok(strange)." The creature, undoubtedly a dragon, rumbled as it looked around curiously.
"Drem Yol Lok(peace fire sky), Durnehviir. Its been too long." Harry said with a smile as he looked up at the massive dragon, finally drawing it's attention to him.
"Drem Yol Lok, Dovahkiin. Why do you look so...Mal(small)?" Durnehviir said while looking him up and down in confusion.
"Much has happened since we last saw each other. I will explain, but I need your help right now." Harry told him seriously.
"What is it, Dovahkiin?" Durnehviir asked while bringing his giant head down to Harry's level.
"I intend to do battle with the man who murdered my parents, haste is needed, as well as the wings of a Dovah. On top of that, I would also ask you to make sure he does not escape from me. We don't know what kind of state he is in, but if he is incorpreal then you are best suited for the job." Harry quickly tried to explain.
"Pruzah Grind. Climb aboard, Dovahkiin."
Durnehviir lowered one of his wings as he said that, readily defering to Harry as he allowed the Boy-Who-Lived to climb atop his rotting body.
"Amazing..." Albus uttered in awe, even as he and Minerva mounted their brooms to follow the dragon. His fascination was not just in the dragon itself, but the way it acted in deference towards Harry.
"Are we just going to go along with this, Albus?" Minerva asked him worriedly. Not that one could blame her, given the circumstances.
"At times like these Minerva, I find it best to just go with the flow." Albus told her, before lifting up from the ground as he made to follow Durnehviir.
As they flew Harry explained as much as he could to Durnehviir about everything that had happened, returning to the world of his birth, the prophecy regarding him and Voldemort, the murder of his parents, and how he had been reverted to childhood once again.
"Krosis(sorrow) Dovahkiin. You have experienced much. And that Nikriin(coward) shall pay!" Durnehviir swore as they approached the castle.
"Kogaan(thanks) Durnehviir. Your Ahmik(service) and Fahdon(friendship) is much appreciated." Harry said with genuine warmth, especially now that he knew he would be able to call upon at least one of his companions from Skyrim.
Durnehviir circled the castle once, undoubtedly alerting the many residents inside to his presence as he drifted down to the courtyard to land.
"I will be fighting him inside, Durnehviir. but if he should try to escape..." Harry began.
"Then I shall drag the Hazaal Joor(worthless mortal) back to the Soul Cairn with me, regardless of if he has a body or not." Durnehviir swore, his voice making the entire castle rumble slightly to show how serious he was taking this.
Harry gave a quick nod of affirmation, before hurrying inside as he raced to the third floor, not even looking back as Albus and Minerva landed beside Durnehviir.
Within moments Harry arrived at the door to the third floor corridor, to find it blasted off of it's hinges and a crowd of teachers within.
"WAAAAAAAH!"
Immediately Harry was assaulted by the thunderous wails of Hagrid, as he craddled the middle of the guard dog's three heads, who was covered in numerous deep gashes that were oozing a continuous stream of blood. Worst of all was the slight whimpering the dog was giving off as Hagrid held him, and the teachers tried to treat it.
"Cease your wailing. We can hardly concentrate." Snape sneered at Hagrid as he and the other teachers ran their wands along the wounds, though they did little good due to their severity.
"Take this." Harry immediately said as he approached them, startling some of the teachers as he dug a bottle out of his bag, and hurriedly gave it to Hagrid.
"Wha' is it?" Hagrid managed to get out as he accepted it.
"A healing potion. Strongest one I have with me, but it should do the job." Harry said, the words barely out of his mouth before Hagrid proceeded to pop the cork and dump the entire contents into the dog's mouth. At the same time, Harry pointed his hands at the dog while summoning the golden light of Restoration magic.
With both the potion and magic, the wounds on the dog quickly began to heal at a visible rate that astonished all of the teachers. Especially Madam Pomfrey.
"Potter... How?!" She exclaimed in disbelief, but Harry just ignored her as he turned towards the trapdoor, which was wide open.
"Hun Kaal Voor!" Harry cried out, and space began to distort for the second time as a massive spectral figure began to appear.
"Well-met, Dragonborn." The bare-chested figure stated as they materialized completely, stunning the teachers present even further as they gaped up at him. Even Harry was stunned as he looked at none other than Tsun, shield-thane to Shor himself, and guardian of the bridge that led to the Hall of Valor, where none may pass unless he acknowledges them.
"Lord Tsun!" Harry exclaimed in disbelief, as he had never called HIM before when using that particular Shout, which was taught to him by Tsun to begin with. In fact, Harry hadn't seen Tsun ever since they worked together to defeat Alduin once and for all in Sovngarde.
"Why are you here?" He asked the tall nordic god.
"I could tell that your call did not come from Nirn, so I came to investigate. And here I find you smaller than usual!" Tsun replied with mirth, his voice booming throughout the corridor to make the teachers wince with each word.
"A lot has happened. I will explain later, but for the moment know that this is the land of my birth, and I march to do battle against the man who killed my parents." Harry declared, making Tsun frown.
"A quest for justice? Then you shall have my aid, Dragonborn!" Tsun declared, making the entire chamber shudder from his declaration.
"Thank you, Tsun. Shall we be off?" Harry asked while looking down the hole.
"Lead the way!" Tsun declared, and Harry immediately stepped out into the open air.
"Feim!" Harry Shouted yet again as he fell, turning his body incorpreal right before he hit the ground, only to find himself surrounded by charred vines and tendrils. Apparently Quirrel had just blasted his way through here as well.
When Tsun joined him, Harry led the way down the passage just like he did on the very first day of school. Except this time, instead of completing the challenges, Harry and Tsun found themselves traversing through destruction as Quirrel seemingly blasted his way through them all.
"Well least we don't have to deal with all of the challenges this time." Harry commented to the tall god beside him, as they passed the charred remains of the chessboard.
"Speak for yourself, Dragonborn. I would have relished the opportunity to try my hand at these trials!" Tsun declared, staying true to his nature as the god of trials and adversity.
"Perhaps another time." Harry commented idly as they passed through the ruins of Snape's trial, before arriving to the final chamber where the Mirror of Erised rested. And there, Harry found a single person waiting for him.
"Potter." Quirrely sneered when he saw Harry through the mirror, completely ignoring Tsun in the process.
"Quirrel." Harry replied, glancing around as he did so. "So where's Voldemort?"
"..."
"Petulant child. You think yourself brave by saying His name?!" Quirrel snarled irritably at him, never even turning away from the mirror.
"Please Quirrel. What is there to fear about a man who was scared of a literal baby?" Harry snorted back at him, earning a smirk of amusement from Tsun before he added, "Not only that, but someone so scared, they couldn't even be bothered to show up."
To make his point Harry then glanced around just to see that the chamber was completely empty, save for the three of them. But then Quirrel smirked this time.
"Is that what you think.... Harry?" A voice suddenly hissed that didn't belong to any of the three of them, a voice that made Harry's skin crawl as he recalled the visions from the night his parents died.
As if on cue, Quirrel reached up and started to unwrap his turban. Harry narrowed his eyes as he watched strand after strand of purple cloth fall away, before revealing the monstrosity underneath.
"Harry Potter." Hissed the face that was growing out the back of Quirrel's head, a face that was as white as chalk, had blood-red eyes, and slits for a nose. It was a face that none could consider human.
"See what I've become?" The face hissed slowly. "Merely shadow and vapor, I must share a body with another just to survive. Unless I get the stone that is."
"Sounds pretty pathetic." Harry snorted as a certain feeling welled up within him.
"Indeed. But no matter what, I WILL live again. So I make you this offer boy. Join me."
Harry frowned when he heard that.
"You want ME, to join YOU?" He asked incredulously, the feeling growing even stronger.
"Yes... You have potential, Harry. Join me, and I will help you become powerful. Powerful enough to cheat even deat. Join me, and you can even see your parents again." Voldemort hissed his honeyed words, which would be enough to sway almost anyone who grew up in the same situation Harry did.
"..."
For a moment, the Boy-Who-Lived was silent as he contemplated Voldemort's offer, the same feeling as before growing stronger than ever. Eventually, he turned towards Tsun with a wry smile.
"I apologize Lord Tsun. It appears that I wasted your time by summoning you here." Harry told the god as he shrugged the bag from his shoulders, placing it on the ground before setting Dawnbreaker down beside it.
"I wondered about you, you know." Harry told Voldemort slowly as he slowly walked forward, making his way down the steps that into the chamber proper.
"Is that so?" Voldemort hissed back at him.
"Yeah. I wondered how the man recorded as the most terrifying Dark Lord in several centuries would be. A man so powerful, so feared, that it took a literal child of prophecy to defeat him."
"Yes... Even fate has conspired against my greatness, and failed." Voldemort hissed smugly, even as Harry arrived at the bottom of the stairs. They were on the same level now, even if they stood a ways away from each other, and it was obvious just how small Harry was when compared to the full grown adult that was Quirrel.
"Indeed. And now that we are face-to-face, I must confess..." Harry said slowly, flexing his hand and feeling the leather of his gloves tighten as he did so. "I find myself.....disappointed."
Voldemort's red eyes barely even have time to narrow as Harry Shouted a single word.
"WULD!"
In a clap like thunder, Harry shot forward at Voldemort and Quirrel at blinding speed, giving neither the time to react before he drove his gloved and studded fist right into the Dark Lord's serpentine face.
"AAAAAAAAHHH!" Quirrel wailed in pain as he dropped from the hit, while Voldemort just snarled at Harry even as blood poured from his slitted nose,
"You dare?!"
"Yeah, I dare." Harry replied in an eerily calm voice as he turned around to face them once again.
"Get up and face me like a man, you fucking milk drinker."