Oi, reader, let me tell you a story.
It began across the sea, in a place called the Norselands. These guys were totally insane. They survived harsh winters and loved raiding one another. Imagine Vikings charging across the land, half-naked, armed with shields and spears, roaring as they attacked people.
Yep. Those were the Norselanders.
Unfortunately, one day, they encountered a small clan of witches and wizards. Naturally, magic and Muggle strength clashed.
Then, against all logic and common sense, the battle ended with the two sides forming a pact.
I dunno. Perhaps they saw strength in one another, or maybe they nearly killed each other and decided the only sensible option was to survive the winter together. Whatever the reason, the wizarding and Muggle worlds united.
Yep. Against all common sense, the witches diluted their blood with Muggles and created an entire tribe of Muggle-bloods living alongside Muggles.
Disgusting!
Regardless, over time, a clan of Norselanders rose to power under a Muggle-blood king. A man called Victor Von Zoltz.
Victor had plans for England. He and his raiders terrorised the northern coast before eventually establishing a settlement in the Scottish Highlands. With Von Zoltz leading his barbarians and warlocks, they proved almost unstoppable. They built a kingdom that witches and Muggles alike feared.
Then a group of warlocks pretended they wanted to join Von Zoltz. Somehow, they ingratiated themselves with him before betraying him.
Oddly enough, Von Zoltz proved WAAAY too powerful for them.
I guess he had Voldemort-level power. Well, that's what the book claims. Like, I believe a Muggle-blood can be powerful, but whatever. Desperate, the warlocks gave their lives to create the Harrowing Hollow under the instruction of a certain Rowena Ravenclaw.
Yep. That Ravenclaw.
They bound Von Zoltz, killing him in the process, and thought he was finished. Except the dude came BACK! He returned as a freaking GHOST!
Yep, he wanted revenge and raised an army of ghosts, all bent on destroying Ravenclaw. So they bound his spirit within the mountainside. Ravenclaw locked him away and hoped nobody would be foolish enough to open the door.
Guess who was foolish enough to open the door?
Yep! We totally unleashed an unstoppable force, and I was currently running towards it.
Did I know this story at the time?
Nope.
I would find out soon enough, while cowering in terror for my life.
But you'll witness that shortly.
"Harry!" I screamed.
Green fog swirled around us as we ran. Harry pulled ahead.
"Stupefy!" I unleashed a bolt of magic.
It hit him, and he fell flat on his face. He groaned and turned around.
I jumped on him, straddling him as I grabbed his collar.
"WHY!" I demanded.
"Drac..." He stopped.
"WHYYYY!" I howled.
"If Voldemort figured it out, he'd kill you. I had to pretend to fight you..." He stopped when I slapped him.
"The disk! The plate! The THINGY! Why did you bring the Order here? WHY?"
"Because I have to stop him!"
"I was almost free! I believed in you, and you did this!"
"Voldemort will destroy everything." He gripped my hands.
I tried to hold back my tears, but they wouldn't stop. They dripped onto him.
I slapped him again. Then I held my hand aloft and sniffed.
"I... just... wanted... to... run! You made everything worse! Soooo much worse!" I sniffed.
He sat up and took my hands. I resisted, but he gently stroked them.
"I'm trying to help," he said quietly.
"You're always trying to help. Your self-righteous quest to..." I stopped.
"Voldemort has been trying to kill me my whole FREAKING LIFE! Do you have any idea what it's like to have this mark? A constant reminder that someone out there wants you dead! Not just anyone, either. The MOST powerful person in the whole world wants me dead! ME! Not you! Not them!" He pointed at his chest.
I looked away.
I worked my jaw, but nothing came out.
I stood, dusted myself off, and raised my nose.
"Fine," I said, then walked down the tunnel with a sway in my hips.
Green mist swirled around a pair of doors made of mist. I tried the handle, but a sharp pain lanced across my hands.
I pulled away. Frost spread over my gloves.
Oh yeah, readers, I can totally feel my left hand now. Thanks for your concern! Hah! Like I need it!
Harry tapped the door with the sceptre, and the mist faded in scattered patches. Soon, we could make out a dark chamber beyond.
Braziers burst into life, revealing a throne room.
A giant man sat upon a high-backed throne made from swords and shields. He wore a cloak of white fur, and hundreds of bestial arms curled around his ghostly form. A green glow surrounded him. Upon his head sat a crown of green witch-fire, its sharp spikes resembling daggers.
A shaggy beard obscured his lower face. His nose was twisted, the sort that had been broken one too many times and never properly set again.
"Ahhhhhhh..." Von Zoltz raised his gaze to look at us.
"If I free you, will you kill Voldemort?" Harry held up the sceptre.
"What!" I stared at him.
"Ahhhhhhhh!" Von Zoltz rasped.
"Swear to kill Voldemort, and I'll let you go!" Harry waved the sceptre.
"We can't do that!" I grabbed him.
Harry pushed me back.
He looked at me, and I saw utter desperation in his eyes.
He'd done this out of fear.
I would never forget that look.
Though, soon enough, I would wear the same expression.
"SWEAR TO ME! You're bound by your oaths. That's what they tried to do to you. Bind you. Ravenclaw!" He waved the sceptre.
Von Zoltz's head snapped up.
"You know?" Von Zoltz growled.
"Yes! You're bound to fulfil your oath. So swear to me, and I'll release you!" Harry shook the sceptre.
"Harry, no! This is a bad idea. Unleashing something like that? Who knows how he could twist your words and..." I stopped.
"Shut up! Just shut up! You have no idea what it's like to live your life being hunted! Just... just let me have this!" Harry's jaw trembled.
Von Zoltz looked at him, then at me.
"I swear to kill Voldemort," Von Zoltz said.
I watched the whole thing unravel in slow motion.
Harry's fingers relaxed, and the sceptre flew towards Von Zoltz. The ghost king thrust out his hand, and the rod expanded to its full size.
"I will kill Voldemort..." Von Zoltz paused. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Last!"
The sceptre touched Von Zoltz's palm, and an explosion of compressed air knocked us off our feet.
"A deal is struck. An oath is made." Von Zoltz stood.
"She died first."
Von Zoltz pointed the sceptre at me.
MEEEE!
The weapon transformed into a mace, and Von Zoltz raised it high.
Harry leapt on top of me.
The mace stopped an inch from his back.
Von Zoltz cocked his head and growled.
"GO!" Harry howled.
"Ahhhhhhh!" Von Zoltz roared, shaking the entire cavern.
The ghost king sped down the passage. I heard a clang as the doors burst open.
Harry sat back, panting.
"That was clos—"
Harry stopped when a spell struck his chest.
He flew backwards and slid across the ground.
Daddy ran over, his wand raised.
"Are you all right?" Daddy gripped my shoulder.
"I almost died," I gasped.
"I'd never let Harry hurt you. Come on. We need to leave. Now." Daddy pulled me to my feet.
He uttered a spell, and the world began to swirl.
I glimpsed the snowy ground outside. The veil of mist had parted, and the colossi lumbered towards the battling parties. Death Eaters Disapparated. Order members fled.
I glimpsed Dumbledore entering the tomb.
The snowy forests rushed past us. I caught sight of a frozen lake, and soon we landed at the edge of Hogwarts grounds.
I clung to Daddy.
"You're safe." He removed his mask and hugged me.
"I was sooo scared," I sobbed.
"You're safe."
"Please... I don't want..." I shook my head.
"I swear, I'll never put you through anything like that ever again." He knelt to look me in the eyes.
I sniffed and wiped away my tears.
In truth, I was crying for Harry, too. It felt as though everything I'd kept bottled up for so long had come flooding out.
"Yeah." I embraced him.
I sobbed into his chest, and he patted my head.
"You're all right. There, there..." he said.