Price of the Rider

Chapter Three: Visions of Vengeance

"Ruddy hell!" Tonks muttered, keeping her wand trained on the newcomer. "How'd he just do that?"

Harry stepped forward, gently pulling away from Hermione's protest. "What did you call me?"

"Harry! Step back!"

"Lower your wand, Tonks. I doubt even the Killing Curse would do much good." Tonks made to argue, but Sirius held up a hand to silence her.

"I asked you a question," Harry continued, taking another step closer to the intruder. "What did you call me?"

"I called you a Rider, Harry Potter." The man's eyes softened as he took in the youth before him.

Harry felt as though the room had swallowed them. The only things he could hear were the pounding of his own heart and the stranger's voice. He knew that Hermione, Sirius, and his cousin were speaking. No doubt calling out words of warning, but for some unexplainable reason he didn't care. Unlike the meeting in Little Whinging, Harry felt drawn to this man. As though they shared the same soul.

"Who are you? How do you know my name? What's happening to me?"

The man smiled. "I told you. My name is Johnny Blaze, but please call me Johnny. I know your name because you signed the contract. As for what's happening to you …" The man called Johnny rubbed a hand through his hair. "There's no real delicate way to put it. You've become Hell's bounty hunter. By day, you'll be Harry Potter, teenage wizard and the Boy-Who-Lived. By night, you'll become the Rider, the chosen soul to hunt down and send the vile souls that have evaded their fate for too long to the punishment that awaits them."

"Well, Johnny, I refuse to be a murderer!"

Johnny nodded. "I agree. You're not a murderer. Death is always the last option. Let me ask you this. Is it murder, if the soul is already dead?"

"I … I dunno."

"When you figure out the answer, you can let me know." Johnny sighed, "For now, it's best to come to grips with two things. One, you're a Rider. And two, this won't end until you fulfill the task set before you."

"Why are you here?"

"Well," Johnny rubbed his chin, "I can't make any promises or blood oaths, but I'm here to make sure that in the end you have the best chance at coming out alive and with your soul intact."

Johnny extended his hand in Harry's direction. Though he couldn't hear them, Harry could feel Sirius and Hermione's protest. The moment he shook the man's hand, he felt the power of the Rider within him surge, mixing with his magic. He closed his eyes as he felt the heat spreading though him. When he opened his eyes, he and Johnny were standing in a corridor, outside what looked to be a bedroom door, emblazoned with the name, Regulus Arcturus Black.

"How did you do that?" Johnny muttered, looking around.

"I dunno," Harry whispered. "When I shook your hand, I felt my magic and the fire flow through me."

Harry raised his hand, the door swirled like smoke as his fingers grazed it. "Bloody hell."

"Harry," Johnny whispered. "Look behind you."

Harry turned around to see a long black stone wall with another door, bearing an all too familiar crest. "Gringotts?" He reached out and that door too swirled about his fingers like fog. "What's going on? How are you doing this?"

"I'm not doing anything. I've never seen anything like this." Johnny looked up. "Judging by the ceiling and the floor, we're still in your kitchen. These images around us. It's as if they're made of smoke."

He turned again to see the smoking remains of Tom Riddle's diary, lying on the floor of the Chamber of Secrets. Next, he beheld a small ragged shack, sitting vacant and overgrown with vines. Turning again, he saw the outline of Hogwarts, silhouetted against a moon-lit sky.

Then, Harry heard something. A hissing followed by a cold, high pitched laugh. He turned around slowly to see another image, only this time it was moving. Lord Voldemort stared triumphantly at a figure in front of him, laughing as he pointed his wand in her direction. The woman stood defiant. Her arms spread wide to protect the child behind her. Next second, a burst of green light illuminated the image.

Without warning, the burning erupted inside Harry as he became the Rider. A mighty audible roar escaped his throat as fire rolled off his body, scorching the images before them.

~~~Rider~~~

Tonks covered her face as a wall of flames erupted before them. To her surprise, the flames didn't scorch or consume anything around them. They just stood as a barrier, separating them from Harry and the stranger.

Cries of "Aguamenti!" filled the air as streams of water flew at the wall from Tonks, Hermione, and Sirius's wands. The jets of water beat against the wall, vaporizing into steam. After several more attempts, Hermione fell to her knees in shock.

Tonks rounded on Sirius. "What the bloody hell is going on here, Sirius?"

"I have no idea," Sirius confessed, swallowing as he stared at the wall of fire. "A lot has happened and keeps happening tonight."

"We need to get Dumbledore back here, now!"

"No!" Sirius growled, his eyes finding hers. "Tonks, you swore a vow to me, and you know what will happen if you break it."

Tonks stomped her foot, her eyes bulging. "Harry's life could be in danger this very second! We can't just sit back and wait—"

"Tonks, you have no idea what's transpiring here. None of us do for certain. All we can do is—" Sirius broke off as a feral roar filled the room. Tonks and Sirius instinctively dove for the ground, Sirius pulling Hermione with them, as magic rippled the air about them.

~~~Rider~~~

Umbridge couldn't believe that she was being treated this way, and by the Minister no less! Here, she had news clutched in her hands that could seal the fate of Dumbledore and Potter, but she was being forced to wait outside his office while he spoke with the Head of the DMLE and the Warden of Azkaban.

Done waiting for an invitation or permission from the Minister's secretary, Umbridge rose to her feet and marched over to Fudge's office door, ignoring protests behind her.

"This is most distressing Wat—" Fudge broke off, spinning round at the sound of his door opening. "Dolores!"

"Excuse my interruption, Minister," Umbridge inclined her head "but I believe that I have information that will be most useful."

"Actually, Dolores, I'm glad that you're here," Fudge countered, motioning for Umbridge to take a seat. "You know Brian Watkins, Warden of Azkaban." The tall dark-complected man inclined his head to her. "Well, he has been giving us details about what has happened tonight at the prison. As I was saying, most distressful news indeed. Amelia has dispatched forty Aurors to the island to assist the guards in keeping order, now that the Dementors have … eh, disappeared."

"Minister, news has reached me that just before the Dementors vacated Azkaban, a creature, of sorts, was seen engaging with a Dementor over London." Umbridge weighed her words carefully in front of Amelia Bones.

"A creature?" Amelia repeated, frowning. "Over London with a Dementor? What kind of creature?"

Umbridge cleared her throat. "Well, a wizard from the Department of Mysteries reported that while on his way home tonight he witnessed a burning man, on a flying motor bike, chasing a Dementor through the skies of London."

"A burning man on a flying motor bike?" Fudge repeated. "What kind of nonsense is this?"

"Not nonsense, Minister." Umbridge brandished her file. "As soon as I heard the report of a flying motor bike, I remembered reading that the notorious Sirius Black once owned an illegal flying motor bike."

"Do you believe that it was Sirius Black in disguise?"

"That I do, Amelia," Umbridge nodded fervently.

"But why in Merlin's name would he be chasing a Dementor?"

Umbridge's eyes moved to the Warden. "To this day, we have no idea how Black managed to escape Azkaban. What if he discovered the secret to the Dementors, and has returned to compromise Azkaban itself?"

"You think that he's trying to free—"

Before the Minister could finish, a tall balding man burst into the office.

"Forgive my intrusion, Minister," the man gasped, holding his side.

Amelia leaped to her feet. "What's happened, Shacklebolt?"

"Reports of a burning man tearing through London on a flaming motor bike are pouring in from the Muggle and the Magical communities." Shacklebolt inhaled several deep breaths, then continued. "Several Aurors are in route to investigate."

Fudge glanced at Umbridge before locking eyes with Amelia. "Whomever this burning man is, I want him brought in by whatever means necessary! Dispatch a team to clean up this mess and obliviate any Muggle that has—"

"No need, Minister." Shacklebolt interjected. "This burning man is already known to Muggles."

Amelia folded her arms. "What do the Muggles call him, Kingsley?"

"According to the Muggle wireless, he's called the Ghost Rider."

~~~Rider~~~

Anger poured through Harry as his rage manifested in rolls of magical pulses. All he could see was the image of Voldemort murdering his mother over and over again. He wanted to find Tom Riddle, to burn his soul from his body. To make him and every one of his followers pay for all the evil that they had done. To avenge his parents!

"Breathe."

Subconsciously, Harry obeyed the voice and breathed. Immediately, his vision cleared, and he looked down to see the man called Johnny holding his wrist and staring into his eyes.

"Breathe, Harry," Johnny repeated, releasing him. "In through your nose. Out through your mouth."

Harry breathed as instructed. Each breath felt like a cold wind, cooling his burning insides. Slowly, the Rider vanished, flame replaced by flesh.

"Better?"

Harry nodded. "How can you touch me while I'm ... like that?"

"Hellfire only burns those that need fear it. Make sense?"

Harry nodded again.

"Good. I think we need to bring your family up to speed before they attack."

At Johnny's words, the room around Harry exploded with sound. He spun round to see Hermione watching him, fear covering her face. Sirius still stood next to his cousin, his wand at his side. Tonks, however, had her wand trained on Johnny.

Harry turned to face the room at large. "He's safe."

"How can you say that?" Tonks retorted. "I just watched him turn you into some bloody burning monster!"

Harry's eyes dropped to the table. "He didn't turn me into a monster."

At his words, Tonks lowered her wand, though her eyes remained trained on Johnny. Refusing to look at anyone, Harry walked over to the table and took a seat. Johnny followed, taking a seat at the end of the table. Hermione eased out the chair next to Harry and sat down, wiping a tear from her cheek with her thumb.

Sirius cleared his throat, taking a seat at the opposite end of the table. "You said that you're here because of what Harry has become. Can you cure him? Is that what you were trying to do just now?"

"You all mental?" Tonks shouted. "The man walks through the most powerful protection spells known to wizards, produces a wall of fire in the kitchen, Harry morphs into some kind of monster, and now we're going to just sit down and have tea or something?"

"Actually," Johnny interjected "I didn't produce that wall of fire. Harry did. And I'd really love a cup of coffee."

Sirius looked up at his cousin. "Tonks, as you have pointed out, this man walked through our most powerful protective spells. If he wished to harm Harry or us, he would have already tried. I know that a lot is happening, but you swore to me an oath. Now, please sit down so that we can sort this out."

Without waiting for Tonks to respond, Sirius called for Kreacher, requesting him to fetch more tea for Harry and Hermione, coffee for the newcomer, and a bottle of fire whiskey.

Kreacher scowled at Tonks, then literally gagged at the sight of Johnny. "A Muggle in the House of Black!"

"On with you, Kreacher!"

The old house-elf drew a massive breath, then stumped away.

"Interesting," Johnny muttered. "I've heard of them, house-elves, but I've never seen them."

"Then you've not been around many wizarding families, Mr. ..."

"Forgive me for my entrance," his eyes roamed up to Tonks "and I mean you no harm. My name is Johnny Blaze, but you can call me Johnny."

"Are you really like Harry?" Hermione blurted out; her voice weak.

Johnny's eyes locked with Hermione's. "In one way, yes. As of tonight, we are both Riders." He turned his gaze to Harry. "I won't lie to you. Tonight, you've been tricked by one of the evilest beings that you may ever meet."

"You-Know-Who did this to Harry?"

"No," Harry choked, staring at Tonks. "Voldemort didn't do this to me."

Tonks squirmed at the sound of the Dark Lord's name, her hair turning a bright red. Harry's eyes widened at the sight.

"Could someone then please explain what the ruddy hell is going on here?"

Sirius ignored his cousin's continued outbursts, staring down the table at Johnny.

"Go ahead," Johnny motioned to Sirius with his hand. "I'd like to hear the details as well. All we've discussed is how it began and the result."

"Tonks. Please." Sirius motioned to the chair next to him.

Reluctantly, Tonks joined them. At that moment, Kreacher returned with their drinks.

Sirius barked. "Never thought I'd say it, but excellent timing, Kreacher."

The house-elf grumbled before disappearing with a crack.

"Mr. Blaze, I would do the honors, if I could," Sirius inclined his head before taking a swig of fire whiskey, "but it is Harry that will have to bring the table up to speed."

Harry returned his gaze to Johnny, inhaled a calming breath, then recounted for the second time that night what had happened. This time, he included what happened while in the circle of fire. Johnny's eyes bored into his as he spoke, and he wondered again if he could see his soul. When he finished, the table sat in silence, Tonks's face pale and her hair a light pink.

Johnny finally broke the silence. "Harry … to my knowledge, you're the first wizard to become a Rider. Because of this, things like what just happened with that whole burning wall of fire and swirling visions are new to me."

"You have yet to answer my question. Can you cure him?"

Johnny breathed deeply before answering. "No, Mr. Black. The cure for a Rider is in the path they must take. I'm here to try and help Harry find the right path."

"If you're a Rider, then why haven't you found the right path yet and cured yourself?"

Johnny observed Hermione for a moment, a smirk covering his face. "I've chosen the path that I'm on. I've lost everything to this curse, and now I'm going to use it to make sure that no one else has to pay the price of the Rider. The only way to do that for Harry, is to teach him how to ride."

Harry began to tremble as he focused on Johnny's words, exhaustion threatening to overtake him as his skull began to burn.

"You need rest." Harry looked up to see Johnny staring at him. "Being a Rider is draining for the most experienced. You need to drink plenty of fluids and get some rest. Your stamina will grow as your body adjusts to the change."

"We all need some rest," Sirius looked over at Tonks "and time to absorb what has happened tonight."

Harry's voice shook. "Answer me one more question, Johnny, then I'll do as you say." Johnny nodded. "The man in the park tonight. The one that did this to me. What's his name?"

"The being that approached you in the park …" Johnny closed his eyes, exhaling a ragged breath. "His name is … Mephisto."

A/N: Hello everyone! Hope that you enjoyed the chapter! Beta'd by my dad, AADixon, so all the mistakes are his! ;) Please leave a review!

Okay, so I didn't get to his first real ride in this chapter, but the Rider took me another way! Lol. However, I did get to reveal one of Harry's unique Rider powers. There will be several twists to Harry's Rider abilities, due to him being a wizard. Next chapter, we're going to see his true Rider personality take shape and answer a few questions that people have been asking. I love the questions, so keep them coming!

What does Mephisto want from Harry? Stay tuned to find out! Next chapter up soon!

JB