Smaragdus arcanum Lunam

Chapter 14

Hogwarts, Scotland

Edward felt true terror for the first time in his entire life as he saw fire-shaped dragon heads roaring as they came around the corner of the piles of lost things, licking after Ron's heel. He could feel the intense heat on his skin.

"Feindfyre!" Ron explained. "Crabbe set it off! He couldn't stop it!" He looked over his shoulder. "Come on!"

Harry turned and spotted brooms. "Come on." He grabbed them and tossed them to Hermione and Ron. He got on his and turned to Edward, "Get behind me and hold on." Edward did as he said and wrapped his arms around Harry's waist. He bit back a yelp as they shot up in the air and started to fly across the cavernous room toward the doors at one end.

They passed Draco and his henchmen, trying to climb on top of a tall pile of furniture, struggling to get away from the flames that were quickly spreading around them. The entire room was up in hot fire.

"We can't leave them!" Harry shouted over the roar of the fire.

Ron gaped, "He's joking, right?" He turned his broom to follow Harry back to where Draco and Goyle hung from the top of the pile. Crabbe had fallen into the flames below. "If we die for them, Harry, I'm gonna kill you!"

Harry reached out and grabbed Draco by the hand and held him hanging as they flew. Ron had caught Goyle, and Hermione passed close by him.

Hermione looked over her shoulder; the flame has reached the top of the lost things, burning and roaring behind them. She gasped as the sentient fire, taking the shape of a dragon, rushed at them. "Harry!"

They barreled through the air and stumbled down outside the room as the brooms had given up flight; the bristles burned to crisp. They fell and rolled to stop on the ground. Harry dropped the diadem and clutched his head as if something was screaming inside. Edward grasped Harry's shoulder and looked into his eyes, "Harry!" He winced and heard the ominous voice echoing in Harry's mind.

Draco and Goyle stumbled to their feet, looking from Harry to the Room of Requirement with wide eyes. He scrambled backward and turned, running with Goyle at his heel.

Ron grasped the basilisk fang that Hermione fished out of her bag. He grabbed the diadem and stabbed it. Black ooze spilled from it, and it screamed.

Edward turned to the diadem and took it, pitching it into the flame that roared. They watched as the head of the person who created formed in the fire screamed and roared with the fire. Hermione waved her wand in a quick motion, and the doors slammed shut. Cool air kissed their skins, and they sighed in relief.

"Harry?" Edward asked as he turned to Harry, pulling his hands away from his face. "Are you okay now?"

Harry nodded and looked up to Edward. He reached up and wiped the soot from his face. "He knows. The snake is the last one." He inhaled a long breath and exhaled. He knew it was unnecessary, but it was for his comfort, to calm his racing nerves. "It's the last Horcrux."

Ron frowned. "Look inside him, Harry." He didn't like it when Harry connected with Voldemort, but it had to be done. They needed to know where the snake is. "Find out where he is, if you find him, we can find the snake."

Hermione nodded. "And we can end this."

Harry sighed. "Guys... uhm." He sat up and wiped his face. The soot came away, and he looked to his hand. Both Edward and he don't sweat at all, but he knew he looked like a mess. "There's something I have to tell you." Edward helped him to stand up. "The reason why I could hear him in my head, see things he does and all that... was because I was a horcrux too."