Harry Potter: Another Chance

Chapter 400: Bound

Disclaimer:

Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I own nothing but the original characters I create.

"Dialogue"

'Thoughts'

-Author Notes-

Chapter 400: Bound

Harry studied the terrified expression of the Vampire Lord before him. For a fleeting moment, he considered ending her life. But was ultimately hesitant to do so...something held him back.

This moment was pivotal for his plans, and killing the vampire could ruin everything.

Voldemort likely had a clear understanding of this Ancient Vampire Lord's power. If she were to die so close to Hogwarts, Voldemort would inevitably grow suspicious. The Dark Lord might alter his carefully laid plans, delaying the very outcome Harry needed to control.

But he couldn't let her leave, either. Once she reported what she had seen, it would create an entirely different set of complications.

'There's only one way to resolve this... and I must act quickly.' Harry had finally decided on the best path to follow.

He raised his staff, its tip glowing with power. The Vampire Lord recoiled, her fear intensifying.

"Please, oh Great Lord!" she begged, her voice trembling. "I did not mean to offend by trespassing into your lands."

Despite her millennia of existence, the instinct to survive was overwhelming so she did not hesitate to surrender while in front of an impossible obstacle.

She was now completely convinced that this was 'Him'!. This had to be the Ancient Wizard Lord from back then. The coincidence was too great for it to be anyone else...could there really be another wizard appearing in the same spot and wielding such magic?.

"What is your name?" Harry asked, his voice calm yet commanding.

The vampire hesitated before answering. "It is Enkara, My Lord."

'A Sumerian name,' Harry thought, carefully hiding his surprise. 'This might be the oldest vampire I've ever encountered.'

He maintained his composure, keeping his tone cold and authoritative. "Enkara, you have allied with an enemy of mine and dared to trespass into my domain. I cannot allow such insolence to go unpunished."

Enkara's eyes widened slightly, hope flickering in her gaze. Punishment meant she might survive...at least for now.

"Of course, My Lord. This one understands." She bowed her head submissively before adding, "If that young lich is your enemy, I could kill him for you. I could bring you his head and the heads of his followers."

Harry shook his head. "No. That task is mine alone."

He couldn't entrust Voldemort's destruction to anyone else. The Dark Lord's mastery of magic and his precautions against death required Harry's direct intervention. He could never rest at ease unless he saw his demise in person.

"I have a different task for you," he continued. "Once it is complete, you and your entire clan will leave the British Isles and never return."

Enkara's eyes widened further, this time in genuine surprise. Leaving the cursed lands was no punishment...it was a blessing. She had already regretted returning to Britain, and now she silently vowed never to make such a mistake again.

"What is the task, My Lord?" she asked eagerly. The sooner she could accomplish it, the sooner this would be all over.

Harry felt the Arkstone's borrowed magic waning, the reservoir nearly depleted.

'I have to act now.'

"There is something I must do before revealing your task," he replied.

"Something more?" Enkara asked, her wariness returning.

Harry pointed his staff at her, the glowing tip intensifying. "Since I cannot trust your word, I will bind you to my will."

"Bind me?" Panic surged through her. Vampires lacked souls, rendering magical oaths and unbreakable vows useless. But as undead beings, they were susceptible to necromantic bindings...spells that made them utterly subservient to their master.

Enkara hesitated, her mind racing. A binding would strip her of freedom, condemning her to eternal servitude.

While trying to learn more about this version of Voldemort, Harry had read a large amount of books about necromancy.

Not enough to call himself an expert by any means, but he could at least be considered knowledgeable, and more than capable of forming a permanent bind with an undead.

The complicated part was the will of the target. A low-rank undead, like a zombie or a reanimated skeleton, would have little will left, making them easy to bind.

But vampires were much different. They had a lot more resistance and an Ancient Vampire Lord like this one would be completely impossible to bind, unless she allowed the magic to take effect out of her own free will.

"If you refuse," Harry said, his voice cold as winter's bite, "I will have no choice but to end you."

His robes seemed to expand, shadows pooling around him like a living void.

"Wait, My Lord!" she cried out, trembling. "I... I'll do it. Perform the binding." She hated this more than anything, but it was still preferable to having her existence erased.

Harry inwardly sighed with relief. He couldn't afford a drawn-out battle, not with time running short.

"Wise choice," he said curtly.

He channeled the remnants of the Arkstone's magic, his staff radiating a purplish beam of light that struck the vampire squarely.

Enkara stood still, submitting to the spell. A thin thread of dark energy connected them, and Harry focused all his magic on forming the bond.

Harry poured everything he had into the spell, the Arkstone's magic draining rapidly. The connection deepened, and with a final surge of power, the binding took hold.

It was done.

Harry could feel the link between them, an unbreakable tether that ensured her loyalty. Enkara, once a terrifying predator, was now bound to his will.

'It seems I've just acquired a very useful tool,' Harry thought, suppressing a smirk.

"Enkara," he called.

"Master," she replied, falling to her knees. Despite her pride, she found herself strangely at ease. Those piercing green eyes held an authority she could not deny.

Harry nodded, the weight of exhaustion momentarily forgotten.

"I will now explain your task."

A.N 1 : In case you are curious about what she looks like, there are some images of her on my P@treon page. Also, the name Enkara means 'Weapon' in the old Sumerian Empire where she was born. And don't worry, we are about to begin with the main event of this arc.

A.N 2: - Remember to comment, vote, and/or leave a review if you have the time. Those things help me a lot and I would really appreciate it.

You can Support me on P@treon if you like and get 15 advanced chapters.

You can also find images of some of the characters from the fic for free. Like Lyra, Holly, among others. I recently also added the main cast of bad guys, that also includes the Dark Lord.