slowfox | HP MetaFic: The Trail of the Dying, The Trail of the Dead

The Trail of the Dying, The Trail of the Dead

Being a chapter summary of Harry Potter and the Third Key: Reloaded

Prologue

The Founders feel that their genocidal campaign against the Magi has reached a satisfactory conlcusion, and the schools of witchcraft and wizardry are established to ensure that the Magi can never again pose a threat:

Angstometer: low

Fluff Index: zero

Bodycount: moderate (for off-screen genocide)

Chapter 1

Privet Drive, and Harry gets to enjoy his summer... by doing Dudley's homework. His life is brightened a little by a message from Cho:

Angstometer: lowish

Fluff Index: low

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 2

Hogwarts Express, Welcoming Feast, staff appointments, including the unanticipated revelation that Filch will be standing in for Hagrid in Care of Magical Creatures:

Angstometer: zero

Fluff Index: low

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 3

Lessons: Trelawney predicts that Harry will be vanquished by a Dark Witch, Filch gets the Gryffindors and Slytherins to construct holding pens for their domestication projects in Care of Magical Creatures:

Angstometer: zero

Fluff Index: pretty low

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 4

Quidditch trials: Ron makes Keeper, Ginny is Reserve Seeker. Cho passes on the Ravenclaws' suspicions about the new DADA teacher, Professor Vellum:

Angstometer: lowish

Fluff Index: lowish

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 5

More lessons, and the Gryffindors finally get their first DADA session: Vellum attempts to explain that magic in itself is not Dark or Light; the distinction is drawn from how the magic is put to use:

Angstometer: lowish

Fluff Index: zero

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 6

The Twins test their latest Wheeze on the Gryffindors, Neville demonstrates skill in Herbology, Madam Pince impresses upon her class the idea that knowledge is power, and Vellum announces a Muggle Fencing class:

Angstometer: zero

Fluff Index: zero

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 7

We get re-introduced to the Hogwarts Soakstone of the Prologue: the DADA classes combined efforts on trying to effect any kind of change on the stone prove unsuccessful. Harry wonders what happens to all the energy the Soakstone has absorbed to date:

Angstometer: zero

Fluff Index: low

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 8

Harry protests, rather inefectually, that there's 'nothing happening' betwixt his good self and Cho to his (somewhat sceptical) fellow Gryffindors, whilst the Trio try to get to the bottom of who the Magi were, and why they were eliminated by the Founders:

Angstometer: zero

Fluff Index: medium

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 9

Harry gets paired up with Parvati in the Fencing Club, and they end up going to Hogsmeade together the following weekend, establishing themselves as a couple:

Angstometer: lowish

Fluff Index: waaaaaaaaay high

Bodycount: still zero: when do we get to the good part?

Chapter 10

Harry does his MLK impression: I had a dream! Lucius Malfoy demonstrates the power of ~~the Force~~ the Subsumatum curse on a convenient, expendable OC. Voldemort is teh impressed, Dumebldore seems fallible, Snape mixes up partners in Potions.

Angstometer: medium

Fluff Index: low

Bodycount: one OC (Jonas Renguard)

Chapter 11

Gryffindor vs Ravenclaw is the opening match of the Quidditch season.

Angstometer: lowish

Fluff Index: moderate

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 12

Harry is volunteered for a very special demonstration in DADA, and comes off somewhat the worse for wear.

Angstometer: lowish

Fluff Index: pretty low

Bodycount: just about zero, depending upon your perspective

Chapter 13

Hermione PoV: we rewind time a bit to the beginning of the Fateful Day that closes Chapter 11, and have her musing on boys in general (mainly Slytherin ferrets). We see Harry's duel against Vellum, and the repercussions.

Angstometer: medium

Fluff Index: low

Bodycount: since this is a replay of Ch 11 from a different viewpoint, zero

Chapter 14

Harry's in the hospital wing, and when he learns that not only have Ron, Hermione and Parvati been keeping watch in shifts, but that Dumbledore summoned Sirius and Lupin too, he realises that things are bad. His wizarding abilities drained, Dumbledore informs Harry that his mind's magical structure has reorganised itself into that of a Mage. This is not all Good News.

Angstometer: medium

Fluff Index: almost zero, but there's some token fluff

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 15

His decision made to pursue a secret life as a Mage, Harry travels with Dumbledore by Portkey to Azkaban to meet Lucas, last of the Magi, who tutors Harry in the basic elements of his powers, and gives us readers a few more clues as to what the Magi can do, exactly.

Angstometer: not too bad, all things considered

Fluff Index: zero

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 16

A weary Harry and a seemingly distracted Dumbledore return to Hogwarts. Dumbledore gives Harry a two way Portkey that alternates between Azkaban and Hogwarts. Harry starts to develop his Mage abilities and learns a bit about when to tell your girlfriend that you're looking for other women.

Angstometer: lowish-medium

Fluff Index: low

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 17

Harry twigs that Voldemort is after the Magi's Keys to drain their powers for himself using the Subsumatum curse, as introduced to him by Malfoy. The Trio set off to determine the other two Keys' locations, but come up empty-handed. As a Mage, he discovers that the Marauders' Map is useless to him, Slytherin play Hufflepuff

Angstometer: moderate

Fluff Index: not bad, all things considered

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 18

The Twins spike what was supposed to be Dumbledore's goblet with Exploding Hair, but the jape backfires a tad, and their victim turns out to be Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic, who's sacked the Headmaster, and taken the position himself. Which wouldn't have mattered so much, Wheeze-wise if the same bloke hadn't also been Arthur Weasley's boss...

Angstometer: lowish

Fluff Index: low

Bodycount: zero (but wait until Molly Weasley hears about this one...)

Chapter 19

Aftermath of the Exploding Hair Incident, and although Hermione's cheered up a bit, Harry's life takes a turn for the worse, when he discovers that he can't fly his Firebolt anymore, being a Mage 'n all that (hey, you've got to take the rough with the smooth in this life, and it can't all be good news all the time for Harry...). Oh yeah, the invisibility cloak is also useless, and he starts to realise just how excommunicated he's about to become (he thinks)

Angstometer: medium

Fluff Index: some token fluff, but pretty miserable

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 20

Pansy indicates that she knows that Harry's now a squib, Snape also seems to be in on the expected consequences of Vellum's attack. He meets the Order of the Phoenix, tells Ron and Hermione that he's a Mage, and starts to drain the Hogwarts Key.

Angstometer: lowish

Fluff Index: very low

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 21

Draco PoV, in which we start to see some of the motivation behind the Slytherin's actions to date, and we learn that Narcissa Malfoy was subjected to Subsumatum by her husband over the summer. He's expecting to receive his summons to the Dark Lord's service within the year.

Angstometer: low (c'mon, it's Malfoy, he doesn't do angst!)

Fluff Index: low (c'mon, it's Malfoy, he doesnt' do fluff!)

Bodycount: zero (c'mon it's Malfoy, he doesn't do... oh, wait...)

Chapter 22

Lessons, where Dean shows some skill in Transfiguration, and everyone sits silently through the reinstated Vellum's DADA lessons. Harry and Cho have a tender chat, interrupted by a suspicious Parvati.

Angstometer: medium

Fluff Index: lowish

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 23

Hermione's Party! Yay! Also, Harry and Parvati get to have some *cough* alone-time *cough* in the girls' dorm. Unfortunately, and due to just plain rotten luck, Harry then connects to Voldemort's first stab (no pun intended. Much) at Key Draining at Beauxbatons, and tumbles out of Parvati's bed to be discovered by Hermione and Lavender. And then he gets a subsequent grilling from Pomfrey that traumatises him all over again (because your author cares, and wants to make sure that if The Boy Who Lived is going to engage in... well... then, he's at least going to engage in it safely).

Angstometer: moderate (we have a dream vision, after all)

Fluff Index: Up and down somewhat

Bodycount: One (another token expendable, this one French)

Chapter 24

What went on between Harry and Parvati the night before is a complete secret. So, naturally, the whole school knows. Harry meets with the Order of the Phoenix, Moody continues to get under his skin, and he, Hermione and Ron make the deduction that if there's a Key at Hogwarts and another Key at Beauxbatons, then The Third Key is at Durmstrang! And yay, verily doth this fic reflect its title...

Angstometer: low

Fluff Index: bubbling along

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 25

Worn out from nightly Key-draining, a dazed and weary Harry skips lessons, meets Dobby, learns that Winky is now working at Beauxbatons, at Fleur's request. In a bid to get some proper sleep without being assaulted by Voldemort's nightly Key-draining ceremonies, Harry goes to see Pomfrey to try and get some Dreamless Sleep Potion. Somehow, the Daily Prophet gets wind of this, and runs a nice article for him

Angstometer: moderate

Fluff Index: Low

Bodycount: sort of implied daily sacrifice of Beauxbatons' captives

Chapter 26

Hagrid returns with the Beauxbatons survivors, and the Threshers hatch in Care of Magical Creatures. Parvati suspects that Harry's been timing his secret night-time escapades to spend quality time with Cho, and summarily dumps him. The Hawks of Tempus arrive with their summons.

Angstometer: moderate

Fluff Index: we're in negative fluff for this one

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 27

The school, the Order of the Phoenix and the Ministry are all clueless as to who The Order of Tempus are. Hagrid plys the trio with rock cakes and tales of his summer.

Angstometer: lowish

Fluff Index: low

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 28

Voldemort kills (Lucius) Malfoy, and Snape serves the Death Eater's still-beating heart to Draco in Potions. Draco leaves class, Hermione rushes after him. All this and Harry's attempts to urge everyone to hold off signing up to Tempus' summons.

Angstometer: low

Fluff Index: Fluff-free

Bodycount: One Lucius Malfoy: rest in pieces (body in France, heart in Scotland)

Chapter 29

Alternating Hermione and Draco PoV: Draco ruminates on his father's folly, and resents Granger's presumptious intrusion. Hermione believes that she can save Draco from himself. This isn't going to end nicely

Angstometer: lowish

Fluff Index: low (from Malfoy's perspective), moderate (from Hermione's)

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 30

Harry breaks the news of Lucius Malfoy's death to Ron in delicate fashion. The latter takes the devastating news quite well, all things considered. Unfortunately, Ron's tact in 'discussing' Hermione's new friendship with her is less evident, and they sort of have a minor falling out. Meanwhile, Harry rescues Cho from certain detection when she's trapped outside Ravenclaw past curfew, and they spend a chaste night in Gryffindor sharing Harry's bed, much to Ron's surprise the following morning.

Angstometer: pretty low level

Fluff Index: much with the fluff

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 31

Harry and Cho try to work out what the previous night meant, and Harry touches base with Lucas at Azkaban, to gain further instruction on how best to use his powers.

Angstometer: moderate (Cedric! Woe!)

Fluff Index: middling

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 32

Neville signs up to the Order of Tempus, Harry tries to avoid talking about himself and Cho to Ron and Hermione, and finds himself in a tight spot in Potions.

Angstometer: moderate (Cedric! Woe!)

Fluff Index: dipping slightly

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 33

Extricating himself from the Potions situation with Hermione's help, Harry later attends a meeting with the Order of the Phoenix, where Sirius and Lupin bring the group up to speed with Tempus. A little later still, Harry's concerned that neither Hermione nor Parvati appear to be in Hogwarts, and convinces his fellow fifth years, plus Ginny, plus Cho, to conduct a search in case their presence is escaping his Mage-sense.

Angstometer: lowish

Fluff Index: low

Bodycount: Hermione and Parvati are missing

Chapter 34

By the light of the silvery (full) moon (pay attention, that's important), Harry, Ron, Seamus, Dean and Cho step through a portal in the Greenhouse, following Pettigrew, Hermione and Parvati's dots as they appeared on the Marauders' Map. They land in Beauxbatons, and tool themselves up with swords - Harry unwittingly choosing The Song Blade. Unfortunately, due to some rotten luck, Seamus gets bitten by a wolf-like creature (and on a full moon, too? I mean, c'mon, what're the chances...). Dean transforms into a wolf, but wrecks himself on the reversion back to human form. Ron takes Seamus and Dean back to Hogwarts and safety as Harry and Cho continue on to the dungeons, where he can sense that Hermione and Parvati are being held. At the Burrow, Molly Weasley screams.

Angstometer: lowish

Fluff Index: near zero

Bodycount: Dean incapacitated, Seamus mauled, Molly clearly distressed about someone

Chapter 35

Buckle, swash and dark magic. Harry fights his way through to Hermione and Parvati's petrified forms in the dungeon, Cho tagging along, but not being a whole heap of use. Unfortunately, Harry has to bring down the corridor behind them to prevent reinformcements joining the fray. So the only way out of Beauxbatons is with the Portkey, which will, eventually get them to Hogwarts, but via Azkaban. Bad news awaits when they finally make it to Madam Pomfrey's domain, where they learn that Ron's dead.

Angstometer: middling high

Fluff Index: pretty darned low

Bodycount: Ron! Dean still incapacitated, Seamus locked up in the dungeons

Chapter 36

Trying to get to grips with the repercussions of the previous evening. The Twins inform Harry that Snape and Vellum have both disappeared from Hogwarts. McGonagall warns them that the Ministry are launching an investigation:

Angstometer: way high

Fluff Index: way low

Bodycount: people adjusting to a Brave New World sans Ron

Chapter 37

The Ministry's representative questions Harry under Veritaserum:

Angstometer: low

Fluff Index: zero

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 38

Still recovering from the shock of Ron's death, the gang swap post-interrogation notes, and accompany Seamus to the dungeons, where he may, or may not, transform into a werewolf

Angstometer: moderately high

Fluff Index: flatlining

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 39

McGonagall announces the revised staffing plan for the remainder of term, and then brings the Gryffindors (and Cho) up to speed on events. She holds Harry back for further questioning:

Angstometer: Medium

Fluff Index: zero

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 40

With the prospect of McGonagall telling the rest of the school that he's a Mage in the morning, Harry wants to make sure that his friends hear the news from his lips first. Lupin confirms that Seamus is a werewolf, but at least Dean is back in the land of the living:

Angstometer: Medium, falling

Fluff Index: Low

Bodycount: Seamus' lycanthropy is confirmed.

Chapter 41

Hermione PoV: we relive breakfast from Hermione's Point of View, as she vows to take revenge on Pansy when the moment is right. Draco attempts to empathise with her loss.

Angstometer: medium, rising

Fluff Index: bobs around a bit on this one

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 42

Things are looking up for Harry (from, admittedly, a rather low base), as Flitwick proves his worth and then some. The gang (plus Padma) reconvene in the dungeons for Seamus' final transformation, and are brought up to speed on some further key issues:

Angstometer: lowish middling

Fluff Index: moderate, rising

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 43

Harry has a couple of run-ins with Pansy, he and Hermione catch up with Hagrid, and a welcome presence makes its return:

Angstometer: all over the place

Fluff Index: low

Bodycount: zero (but Pansy should count herself lucky)

Chapter 44

Harry has a chat with the freshly reinstated Dumbledore, and then the Away Team is forged as the gang meet at the top of the South West Tower. With regard to warning his fellow students of the perils of the Tempus summons, Harry concocts a plan enlisting Neville's help.

Angstometer: low

Fluff Index: middling low

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 45

At Harry's instigation, Neville ends up facing Roger Davies, former Head Boy, in a wizards' duel in the Great Hall over lunch.

Angstometer: low

Fluff Index: low

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 46

Ron's Funeral. 'nuff said

Angstometer: pretty high

Fluff Index: miserably low

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 47

Back at Hogwarts, the Away Team start to form a plan for getting Harry to the Third Key. Dumbledore has a surprise announcement, the Daily Prophet has a dig at Harry, and then an unexpected visitor turns up to cap an... eventful breakfast in the Great Hall:

Angstometer: moderate

Fluff Index: high

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 48

Percy and his hitwizards march Harry off to the Ministry for processing and stuff, before he's to be sent on to Blackrock, the wizard prison that's taken over incarceration duties now that Azkaban is defunct.

Angstometer: moderate

Fluff Index: zero

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 49

Harry is passed on to the guards at Blackrock for processing, which unfortunately includes a blindness charm.

Angstometer: moderate

Fluff Index: very low

Bodycount: well, Harry gets blinded

Chapter 50

Hermione PoV: As an indirect byproduct of Hermione's... varied reading of late, the Away Team consider a new approach to ensuring that the Third Key doesn't fall into the wrong hands.

Angstometer: lowish

Fluff Index: moderate

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 51

Harry starts to adjust to blinded life in prison. Unfortunately, neither blindness nor prison are any protection from connecting to Voldemort.

Angstometer: moderate

Fluff Index: near zero

Bodycount: Voldemort having (more) psychological issues

Chapter 52

Hermione PoV: meanwhile, back at the ranch, the Away Team get on with Hogwarts Life as best they can. Hermione, concentrating on the bigger picture, accepts an invitation from Neville.

Angstometer: medium

Fluff Index: lowish medium

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 53

Harry gets his first visitor, which is perhaps welcome distraction from his self-imposed mission to mentally map Blackrock as part of his escape plan. Assuming that Bill was right with the whole 'eight weeks' thing.

Angstometer: medium

Fluff Index: near zero

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 54

Hermione PoV: meanwhile, it's a Hogsmeade weekend back at the ranch, and whilst collecting supplies for the Twins, Hermione realises that it's the perfect opportunity to stock up on things for her own project. Also, there's a Yule Ball.

Angstometer: low

Fluff Index: waaaaaaaaaaaay high (Yule Ball)

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 55

Harry locates his mentor's pattern within Blackrock, and engages in a spot of chess. A couple of familiar faces would make their appearance, if he could see (*sniff*), but he's still continuing to be plagued by the nightly visions, so it's not all good news.

Angstometer: lowish

Fluff Index: surprisingly close to medium, given the situation

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 56

Neville PoV: Returning back to school on the Hogwarts Express, Neville shares a compartment with Hermione, but is disappointed when the wolves join them. Collecting Hermione's ingredients for what he thinks is the Portkey, late in the Greenhouse, he's seriously spooked by the darkness, and the silence. He finally makes it safely up to Gryffindor Tower, only to find himself run through by a sword. A sword held by what looks like one Ronald Weasley...

Angstometer: moderate

Fluff Index: near zero

Bodycount: Neville losing consciousness as Ron Weasley steps through the portrait hole, bloodied sword in hand

Chapter 57

Dean PoV: lack of BBC2 aside, Dean was happy to be back in the Common Room discussing the Curse of Gryffindor Captainship, until Ron Weasley's freshly reanimated decomposing corpse entered, and started laying waste to all and sundry with a sodding great sword. He and Padma team up, and eventually the Ravenclaw hacks the zombie to pieces in front of Ginny's eyes. Hermione manages to find a silver lining to this particular cloud, nonetheless.

Angstometer: moderate

Fluff Index: not happening, mate

Bodycount: Seamus, Padma both injured. OC (Matty, Quidditch Captain) killed, Neville found unconscious due to a sword wound

Chapter 58

Harry's surprised by a visit from Parvati, where she relays the news of the zombie attack in Gryffindor, but the two of them more or less make up for their break-up waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in Chapter 26.

Angstometer: moderate

Fluff Index: platonically fluffy

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 59

Hermione PoV: the Away Team still aren't letting up about Viktor's carving, which has been christened The Thing by Dean (who else?). However, she's set her sights on bigger goals, and on the Wednesday sets about summoning Ron back from the dead. Despite realising, too late, that she's hopelessly out of her depth, it's actually all going rather well until, with rotten luck, Ginny and Parvati burst into the scene, breaking the summoning field, at which point everything goes horribly wrong.

Angstometer: moderate, rising

Fluff Index: low, falling

Bodycount: Dead!Ron being brought back, almost, from the dead. It counts as a death.

Chapter 60

Hermione PoV: perhaps unwisely, she seeks solace in Draco. Unfortunately (there's that rotten luck again), she lets slip that Padma's working on a Portkey. She's summoned to Dumbledore's office, has her wand confiscated, and ends up spending the night in the hospital wing rather distraught.

Angstometer: Pretty darned high

Fluff Index: Flat zero

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 61

Draco PoV: Just at the point where things are looking up for Draco (Granger, raising the bloody dead in Gryffindor Tower), Pansy comes along to bring him crashing back down to Earth. He's being summoned within the month, and is desperate to postpone his recruitment for as long as it will take. He therefore cuts a deal with Pansy that he can hand Potter to the Dark Lord, as long as he remains a free agent for a little while longer.

Angstometer: No angst, no qualms, no nothing.

Fluff Index: zero

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 62

Hermione PoV: a rather overwrought Hermione attempts to apologise to... well, the world, for what she's done. Nonetheless, she eventually makes her way back to Gryffindor Tower, sans wand, where she sort of makes peace with a rather fragile Away Team, and gets to meet up with Ron, who's now stranded between Life and Death in the form of a Cold Wraith.

Angstometer: moderately high

Fluff Index: middling low

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 63

Cho relays news of Hermione's transgression to Harry, and they talk about death, Cedric, death, Harry's parents and death some more. It's all very uplifting. Through his dream-connections to Voldemort, Harry learns that Snape still remains missing, and that the Dark Lord's mind is starting to struggle with assimilating all the wizarding minds that he's been subsuming through the Key draining sessions.

Angstometer: not quite a bowl of cherries

Fluff Index: lowish

Bodycount: continued implied nightly sacrifice for Key draining

Chapter 64

Hermione PoV: still trying to come to terms with her new place in the scheme of things following the unmasking of her somewhat scheming betrayal of her friends, Hermione nonetheless is getting back into something like routine. Hufflepuff vs Gryffindor is a match of near farcical ineptitude on both sides, and all parties are grateful when the match is brought to its merciful conclusion. The Away Team discover that making Portkeys from animated carvings can have unexpected consequences...

Angstometer: medium

Fluff Index: low

Bodycount: Ginny bangs herself up a little catching the Snitch, but hey, rough game, Quidditch.

Chapter 65

Harry's incarceration is drawing to a close as we edge ever closer to the eight week mark. Unfortunately, as Harry blasts the cell door open, the entire rock moves to a war footing...

Angstometer: moderate

Fluff Index: zero

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 66

Hermione PoV: Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the Away Team bid farewell to Dean and Padma, who are setting off with the Portkey in a bid to place the Durmstrang Key beyond reach through the construction of a Portal. Parvati has a vision immediately after they'd left (which is such bad luck: had they been forewarned, certain decisions later on might have taken a different hue)

Angstometer: lowish

Fluff Index: moderate

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 67

Harry attempts to blast and hack and slay his way out of Blackrock, contending with the goblins' diverse and creative wards, snares and traps. Thanks to assistance from Lucas (who he's leaving behind), he manages to make it out, eventually, to the rock's exterior, but then the Blood Trackers start to come for him, and he realises that there's nowhere left to run.

Angstometer: low

Fluff Index: low

Bodycount: innumerable magical beasties and the like, but nothing you might call a sentient carbon-based lifeform.

Chapter 68

Harry eventually makes good his escape from Blackrock on the back of a dragon, ridden by Charlie Weasley. He then has acupuncture (because after all the metaphorical sticking the knife in, the author thought he might as well go all literal, too) courtesy of some nuns in Spain before Charlie Apparates into the convent to whisk him onward.

Angstometer: low

Fluff Index: low

Bodycount: well, Harry's in pretty bad shape post breakout, but on the mend

Chapter 69

Charlie drags Harry across Europe: the former taking care to ensure that they're not leaving too much of a trail, the latter trying not to obsess about the Third Key.

Angstometer: low

Fluff Index: low

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 70

Hermione PoV: Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the Away Team, who's spirits were briefly raised by reports of Harry's typically legendary escape from Blackrock on the back of a dragon, are brought crashing back to Earth by the Prophet's report of his near immediate recapture.

Angstometer: medium

Fluff Index: ends on a warm fuzzy

Bodycount: Harry recaptured? Does that count?

Chapter 71

Harry, Dean and Padma get the guided tour of Charlie's dragon camp and muse over the Prophet's story of Harry's supposed capture.

Angstometer: lowish

Fluff Index: low

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 72

Still recuperating at Charlie's house, a new Trio of Harry, Dean and Padma decide to attempt to drain the Third Key.

Angstometer: medium

Fluff Index: some cute moments

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 73

The new Trio make it to a secluded cave within sense range of the Third Key, but as Harry's draining it, the goblins' Blood Trackers locate their quarry. Getting out of the fix calls for desperate measures.

Angstometer: low

Fluff Index: moderate

Bodycount: heaps of Blood Trackers

Chapter 74

Out of the frying pan and into the fire, Harry, Dean and Padma Portkey into Durmstrang. Unfortunately, their presence is soon detected, and they have to work hard to stay out of harm's way. And then Harry picks up the pattern of possibly the last person he would have expected to be residing within the castle's walls...

Angstometer: low

Fluff Index: low

Bodycount: Dean's wand's broken. Many injuries to foe and friend, and one very dead goblin

Chapter 75

The crew track down Vellum, and a fight ensues. Answers aren't as immediately forthcoming as Harry would have hoped, and the Blood Trackers prove that they were only temporarily thrown off the scent.

Angstometer: medium

Fluff Index: very, very low and falling

Bodycount: Vellum, unnamed crony. Harry's supersatured with energy after his battle, Padma's cut up from her duel with the former DADA professor

Chapter 76

Harry's mind is continuing to be distracted by the Third Key's call, but he does manage to locate Snape's presence in a cell block nearby. The Trio agree to take Snape back with them, unaware of Parvati's vision that only three will return. As Harry and Dean wait by the fireplace to follow Snape and Padma out, the entire Keep is plunged into darkness.

Angstometer: moderate

Fluff Index: zero

Bodycount: Snape's in a very bad way

Chapter 77

The Order of the Phoenix launch their attack on Durmstrang. Harry finds the Song Blade to be a not overly wholesome influence, and things get worse.

Angstometer: high

Fluff Index: zero

Bodycount: Huge bodycount, but the one death that Harry truly cares about is Dean's.

Chapter 78

Trapped in sleep, Harry watches Dumbledore's death through Voldemort's eyes.

Angstometer: pretty up there

Fluff Index: not a chance

Bodycount: Great man, Dumbledore. Great, but dead.

Chapter 79

Hermione PoV: Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the Away Team are worrying about Dean and Padma's fate whilst trying to come to terms with Harry's recapture. Still, there's always Quidditch to take people's minds off things...

Angstometer: moderate

Fluff Index: low

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 80

Draco PoV: Fortune smiles on Draco Malfoy in Quidditch, at least, but Pansy's on hand in the Slytherin dungeons to try and make his triumph short-lived. Perhaps this time, however, she's bitten off more than she can chew...

Angstometer: zero

Fluff Index: zero

Bodycount: Ah, Pansy...

Chapter 81

Trying to come to terms with a world without Dean and a world without Dumbledore, Harry is given back the Portkey Dumbledore made for him, and takes this as a sign that the Headmaster wanted him back at Hogwarts.

Angstometer: Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay high

Fluff Index: are you kidding?

Bodycount: Charlie's missing.

Chapter 82

Hermione PoV: Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Draco catches the Snitch and thus takes the match for Slytherin. The Away Team reunite with Padma, who's returned to Hogwarts with Snape, and are anxious to hear about Harry and Dean. Until they're summoned to an almost murderously furious McGonagall's office to explain where at least the latter might be.

Angstometer: Staying high

Fluff Index: Fluff-free zone

Bodycount: Cho's Quidditch injuries, the Away Team's processing of first Dumbledore's and then Dean's deaths

Chapter 83

Harry makes his way to the first true friend he had in his life, Hagrid, and subsequently makes contact with Lupin.

Angstometer: Very high

Fluff Index: zero

Bodycount: By this point in the fic, Harry is pretty much wrecked

Chapter 84

Harry makes contact with the Away Team, and everyone settles in to wait for Voldemort's attack, which Parvati has prophesised as coming 'with the moon'.

Angstometer: medium

Fluff Index: lowish

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 85

Pettigrew PoV: The evil, dark and twisted chapter of d00m.

Angstometer: lowish

Fluff Index: zero

Bodycount: Lupin. Lavender. Bad news being stored up for Seamus

Chapter 86

Voldemort's forces make their attack on Hogwarts. Harry and Sirius move in from the Shrieking Shack to do their bit.

Angstometer: lowish

Fluff Index: fluff-free™

Bodycount: confirmation that Charlie received the Dementor's Kiss, dark allusion to Ginny being absent for the rest of the tale

Chapter 87

Hermione PoV: on the night of Voldemort's attack, Hermione's on detention in the Greenhouse, pondering over Malfoy, when the Slytherin himself arrives to 'rescue' her from the oncoming forces of Darkness. Should she trust him?

Angstometer: moderate

Fluff Index: actually, there's fluff

Bodycount: MacNair meets his match in Ron. Wormtail loses his silver hand. Hermione gets put through the mill.

Chapter 88

Alternating Harry and Hermione PoVs: Harry, Sirius and Hagrid make their way to the Soakstone Quadrangle, as do Ron and Hermione until eventually the Trio are standing side by side by the Hogwarts Soakstone, preparing to meet Voldemort head on. Strangely, however, they don't have a wand between them

Angstometer: moderate

Fluff Index: lowish

Bodycount: zero

Chapter 89

Alternating Harry and Hermione PoVs: The battle final, and Harry, Ron, Hermione, Hagrid and Sirius take on Voldemort and his cronies in the Hogwarts quadrangle about the Soakstone. Bellatrix blinds Hagrid, kills Ron (again). Hermione assists in attacking Voldemort, Harry burns the Dark Lord up, and then annihilates Bellatrix as revenge for her killing Ron.

Angstometer: way up there

Fluff Index: kinda low

Bodycount: Ron (again), Voldemort, Bellatrix Lestrange, unnamed Death Eater. Hagrid gets blinded, Fang gets stunned.

Chapter 90

Leaving Feast, and Harry's entitlement to maintain a continued presence at Hogwarts is put to the Sorting Hat for a decision. Guest starring Percy, and catching up on off-camera deaths (there were some) from the previous chapter: