This playscript 's been giving me trouble, lots and mountain of trouble. I 've had more painful sensation from this one than from the other four put together and it 's not even finished yet ! Grumble ... muttering ...

Anyway as a result I may be slower to put up than common as I try to beat this twisty, hellish recital I choose to call a story into submission.

Sorry, hopefully the narration will be better for it.

In other news show : OVER 200,000 WORDS ! HORAY !



"how-do-you-do ?"The market keeper peered, bleary eyed, at the anatomy standing on the other side of the trash door."Sorry we ‘ re closed now."

"Good."The hooded man pushed the door open roughly."Then there will be no one to hear us."

"What do you want."The tradesman edged his helping hand towards the wand in his pocket."If it ‘ s money you ‘ re after-"

"I require a divine service of you."The man said, clearly and arrogantly."Or rather my headmaster does."

"If your overlord wants any of my service."The shopkeeper grunted a jape."He ‘ d better come himself. I don ‘ t do house calls and even if I did some of my equipment ‘ s too heavy to move."

"You mistake me."The man sounded like he was smiling."My lord want ‘ s you to impart me something. A Shén de shÇ'u."

"A Sh-"The shopkeeper held his hands up, backing away."No no no no ! Why would I-"

"I heard you were the man to go to for one."

"Yeah, years ago. When they were legal."The shopkeeper took his wand from his sac and held it firmly towards the intruder."I think you ‘ d better leave."

"My master…"The man began, rolling up his sleeve."Is not a man you want to displease."

The shopkeeper jumped back as he saw the dark mark emerge from under the shadow robes. Even this far from Britain everyone in the business knew what it meant.

"Are you a… a beat eater ?"

"decease eater."The man corrected pleasantly."Now about the Shen ?"

"I… I ‘ ll have to make some calls."The tradesman shuddered, he just wanted this man gone."I don ‘ t have all the poppycock here."

"I ‘ ll wait."The man pulled up an old wooden death chair."While we wait we can discuss some other things you may be able to help me with. I ‘ m sure they will not be beyond your… skill."

The market keeper gulped as the man began listing what he wanted. His deal shook so a good deal his wand fell on the base and rolled away unnoticed.

"I ‘ ll…"He cleared his throat, his sass raw."I ‘ ll see what I can do."
*


Harry's boots hit fireplace and he drew his wand out and scanned the room before lowering it and depositing the want galleons in a jar by the barman.

"Thank you offspring master."The man simpered.

"He's probably telling mortal I was there right now."Harry thought as he left the grubby pub."And that mortal will tell a demise eater."

Harry broke into a run as old construction flashed past him. He hadn't made for London, too obvious. The boldface silhouette of Edinburgh castle was outlined against the star topology for a bit between two buildings as Harry dashed along and he darted down an alleyway towards it. He slowed as he passed a grouping of guys obviously out for the night, singing in the street, then sped up as the course began to climb towards the high castle.

He came up a side road and turned away from the historic construction. Fitting himself into the gang of Friday dark revelers like a shadow. He flitted across the royal mile as fast as he thought safety, clutching his long coat tight about him. At fifteen years old mass wouldn't think it weird for him to be out this recent but they might remember that he was alone. Any memory of his loss was a liability and Harry flicked his collar up and kept into the shadow of a house.

There were a few necromancer taphouse in Edinburgh, Harry had mapped them out. But thanks to his stupidity of not disguising himself as he flued into the concluding one he could not now risk any of them. Harry cursed, he was still an idiot. Still making dullard error, Harry shook his head and pinched himself hard. He had to be better.

The rail station appeared beneath him and Harry swiftly crossed the span and slinked in a side entrance. He bought a ticket from an automated motorcar ( no computer storage ) to the for the first time location on the departures card. Then tore it up, cursing himself again, and bought one for the moment one down.

It was only three minute of arc till it left. Harry stood in a turning point, hopefully just looking like any other traveler. They wouldn't jibe the station would they ? They thought like superstar, not like muggles. Maybe he was being paranoid… the barman didn't have to tell anyone…

No ! Careless ! punter secure. We want to fight them, but on our terms.

Harry nodded, it was the secure matter to do. He gritted his teeth as the seconds ticked by. He just needed to be gone. Wherever the gearing went he could feel hotshot and flue to… to somewhere. Somewhere better, Hogwarts possibly ? It was still weeks till he had to go back to school and Harry wasn't eager to slide back under Dumbledore's restrictive wing. He'd go somewhere anyway.

Damn it ! Harry went inventory still as two oddly dressed soul walked into the train station. One looked like his turnout was a Halloween costume of a buccaneer, the early was wearing lederhosen. They were the stupidest sight Harry had ever seen.

They were also here to kill him.

Harry could feel the nitty-gritty of barely contained violence coming off both of them and the plagiarist had a wand concealed up his sleeve. Harry stepped sideways, making his trend seem inconsequential, uninteresting, and pushed open a staff door. He stepped in calmly and confidently, not giving any trace that he didn't belong.

“'Ere ? Who are y-"

The cleaner in overalls got no further as Harry whipped his baton out and Confunded him.

"You ‘ re done for the night."Harry whispered and jerked a ovolo back the way he ‘ d ejaculate."You need to interlace that door."

"R… right."The man mumbled and Harry left swiftly, passing out a side door and feeling the cold night air. Harry crossed the road and passed to the side by side street over and breathed a sigh of relief. It was busybodied, fully of reveller. He could be inconspicuous here.

The in force variety of inconspicuous, the kind that didn't motive cloaks.

Harry kept to the side as he ducked down the long stint and ducked into a pub. A few proceedings later he emerged, unrecognizable. Wrinkled skin and grizzly hair, Shakey Jack walked again. Harry walked like an old man up the road, watching both ways.

Damn it ! There was one, walking down the street towards him. He was surreptitiously pointing his baton at every person he passed, like he was dowsing. He was detecting deception. Harry winced, there was his friend coming from the other focusing, doing the same. Harry was cornered.

Harry began walking slowly towards the pirate death feeder, making his steps slow and measured like the old man he was supposed to be. He hid his wand in his sleeve, he needed to fare up with a design. There was no way he could fight back them here, too many bystanders, so that left taking them out instantly ( which would be almost unsufferable ) and running away.

Of course if one of them had been hunker down it would be different. But they weren't, they were just incidental.

"Silencio."Harry murmured it so quietly he could almost stimulate been silenced himself, aiming at the demise eater's baton. No way to experience whether he had hit… The wand came up, aimed at Harry…

Nothing.

The wand passed on over to the succeeding bystander and Harry breathed a mental suspiration of relief. He began walking away, they didn't follow. He kept walking, passing out of areas he could agnise from maps and found an alley.

Harry pushed a wheelie bin aside and slouched down against the wall. He'd wait for break of the day here and try to will the city then. Harry drew into his bag and pulled out the wrapped up remains of a sandwich.

Full circle, eventually we all come back home.

Harry sneered as his eyelid began to loll, alleys used be abode, now they weren't. That didn't mean that anywhere else in particular was family, but it was an improvement. Harry dropped off to sleep, too tired to dream.

"He ‘ s here somewhere."

Harry's center flicked opened, the wan sparkle of cockcrow filtering into the back street. Footsteps came slowly up the alleyway. Harry slid behind the bin that hid him and crawled to the other face. The two figures came cl… bent on !

"Are you sure ?"A cryptical familiar voice said as the two men passed the bin Harry was behind."It might not even be him."

"Underage magic and marauding death eater, it ‘ s him."Helen Newington Wills grumbled as he stumped along."He ‘ s back."

Harry waited until they had passed then grinned. He stepped out from behind the bin and slowly walked up behind the two aurors. You know what would be funny ? Harry took a deep breath…
*


"Envenerate !"

Harry lifted his head off the grass ( grass ? ) and looked around him. Moody was gone, but the marvellous lightlessness auror was still there, his arms crossed, calmly looking down at Harry. Harry glanced at the person who had brought him back.

"Hey Tonks."

"Wotcher Harry."Tonks held out an arm to help oneself him up."Want to explain why my political boss brought you here comatose ?"

"They didn ‘ t tell you ?"

"wellspring Moody was too angry to talk and Kingsley kept laughing."

On cue a deep chuckle escaped from the tall aurors mouth, swiftly covered with a hand.

"I ‘ ll let Helen Wills evidence the level when he calms down."Harry dusted himself off and surveyed the empty field. It seemed vaguely familiar."Where are we ?"

"Oh ! Right."Tonks dipped into her sack and drew out a small piece of paper."Just read it, don't say it out loud."

Harry took the paper and unfolded it. On it was written, in loopy, hard to learn handwriting…
The headquarters of the order of the phoenix is the manor on the drab moors.


"So what does it- WHOA !"Harry tripped backwards as the mansion exploded out of the flat coat around him. Even the grass curled into the floor and became gravel and a jet appeared like it had been pushed up from some tunnel resistance. After everything settled Harry looked around,

"Hey, isn ‘ t this-"

"Home."Came a vox out of the air."My home."Harry spun, wand out. Then relaxed.

"Knew I recognized this place."Harry smiled."Good to see you Draco."

"goodness to see you too."The blond boy detached himself from the fantasm of a doorway."Good too see you ‘ re still alive since we didn ‘ t have a clue."

"I owled."

"Once. From cairo."Draco said sarcastically."Then you drop totally off the map."

"I was vacationing."Harry shrugged."Like I always do."

"Yeah right."Draco pushed the door unfold for Harry to pace inside."Well in the miserly time your friends and fan guild have invaded my home."

"The order of the phoenix ?"Harry looked around the erectile entrance hall."Never heard of them."

"It is Dumbledore ‘ s organization."Kingsley said from behind Harry."To anticipate the end eaters."

"Why are you here ? Don ‘ t you have your own headquarters ?"

"This is better apparently."genus Draco rolled his eyes.

"Didn ‘ t Voldemort live here ?"

"The hospital ward respond to the current heir."Draco looked over at the sprawling arras of the Malfoy family tree."Voldemort was forced to leave the moment…"

"The moment ownership transferred ?"

"Yes. That."

"Well at least we 're all rubber here. invariant vigilance. '' At Harry 's words Shacklebolt clapped a handwriting to his mouth but could n't break a snort. Harry grinned and took another look at the tapestry."Aren ‘ t you supposed to be on here ?"

"I ‘ m there."Draco pointed at a ragged burnt spot at the fanny."It seems my mother reverted to her own family traditions."

"Why don ‘ t you fix it ?"

"Because I don ‘ t tone like it Potter."Draco snapped acidly."Besides ? Who would I fix it for ? I ‘ m the last Malfoy."

"Unless you have children."Harry pointed out. genus Draco just shook his head.

"No… no I ‘ m the lowest Malfoy."Draco seemed to nod to himself, his voice total of some cold resolve."Anyway, as I was saying. With the family enchantments and the spare hospital ward Dumbledore put up this post is totally impregnable."

"No such thing."Harry looked back at the aurors."Or as Moody would say, incessant vigilance."

"Stop saying that."Kingsley had to insure his sassing again.

"What is this ?"Tonks looked between them, confused."It ‘ d have to be something good to make you laugh."

"He snuck up behind Alastor Moody and yelled ‘ Constant Vigilance ‘ in his ear."At Tonks'shocked reflection he added."I ‘ m not joking."

"Harry you ‘ re insane !"Tonks doubled over, holding her stomach."He could suffer killed you !"

"You ‘ re certifiable Potter you really are."Draco shook his chief, then stopped suddenly."How did you pinch up on Helen Newington Wills ?"

"Yes."Kingsley stepped closelipped."I ‘ ve been wondering that."

In answer Harry just smiled and rolled up his pull up stakes sleeve. Around his wrist was a brass pick-me-up engraved with tracing vines. Right in the centerfield, on the inside arm, was a hieroglyph of a capital Shirley Temple Black eye.

"Picked this up in Egypt."Harry said, running a linger along the edge.

"That's the immorality eye."Tonks stepped close-fitting to wait at it."It wards off sorcerous monitoring."

"Yep."

"It ‘ s also all sorts of illegal."

"Yep."Harry shrugged."Somehow I doubt the ministry would care considering what ‘ s being kept at bay under the eye."

"Under… oh…"Tonks nodded faintly and stepped back."Right."

"Does it stop him calling you ?"genus Draco asked quietly.

"It makes it manageable."Harry pulled his arm down and put on a cheery smile."Too bad it only hides me, not my conjuring trick. Else I could do spell whenever I wanted without the ministry seeing."

"And you ‘ d be even Thomas More of a menace."Tonks smiled and winked at Harry."seed on, the others are waiting."

Harry grinned and turned to follow the auror.

"We ‘ re mostly living in the East wing."Tonks called back over her articulatio humeri."This place is massive. It took us a week to find where you ‘ d left Macnair. He smelled awful."

"Sorry,"Harry shrugged theatrically."Next clip I ‘ ll try to defeat in a infertile environment."

They walked down a long dark hallway, made more flighty by the fact that every pictorial matter was empty-bellied. genus Draco said nothing but Harry imagined they had left about the same metre his Father-God had. The doorway at the end had a calm luminescence coming from under it. Harry hurried forward and flung the door undefendable theatrically.

"I ‘ m back !"

"Harry !"Harry was knocked back as piranha piled towards him, and on him. Harry laughed and extricated himself from under the pile.

"Hi guys."Harry walked past the scrum into the cavernous room, which turned out to be a kitchen."fille me ?"

"Where the hell were you ?"Padma hadn't joined the charge and was sitting with her implements of war crossed and an angry verbal expression."Why did you go away ?"

"I never left."Harry held his hand to his heart and soul."I was always with you, in here."

"Bullshit."

"Cynic."Harry shrugged and slid onto the foresightful bench across from her and Hermione."Have you no-"

"Voldemort is back."Hermione interrupted him.

"Really ?"Harry opened his eyes extensive in impact."Is he really ? No… no, I had no idea… How could that materialise ? I would remember a affair like that ? Oh… oh wait ? grandiloquent guy with red middle ? You know I think I do remember a guy like that… torture ME !"

"Alright Harry. Alright."Hermione held her hired hand up."I didn ‘ t mean it like that. I just meant that Voldemort ‘ s after you, he want ‘ s to kill you."

"Is this a meeting of the obvious guild ?"Harry said as the rest of the predator crowded around.

"What she means is that this isn ‘ t a time to go sunbathing in Majorca."Padma said in exasperation."Or skiing or hang-gliding or whatever it is you did."

"Well I didn ‘ t bloody hang-glide."Harry grimaced."At to the lowest degree Scots heather have some mean of propulsion. And I didn ‘ t ski or sunbathe. I ‘ ve been working."

"Working on what ?"

"Working on not getting tortured again, working on being… better."

"You ‘ ve been training ?"Fred asked."You found some Tibetan temple or something ?"

"No, no temple."Harry shrugged."But I have been training. I ‘ m not ending up half utterly again. following clip he comes after me I ‘ ll not be helpless."

"Well the tip is that it shouldn ‘ t happen again."Tonks came up behind him and clapped him on the shoulder."You ‘ re staying safety here till you can go to Hogwarts."

"condom here ?"Harry froze."rubber here ?"He pushed himself off the judiciary."I have to go out there !"

"Wh… what ?"

"I have to go out there and fight them. You know that right ?"Harry looked Tonks in the eye, the vulture looked on confused."You know that."

Tonks glanced back at Draco, who just frowned and looked at the floor.

"Dumbledore…"Tonks licked her lips."Dumbledore, who also knows that, says you ‘ re to be kept safe."

"For how longsighted ?"

"I don ‘ t know. However long it takes."

"You are aware that without me it will take precisely forever."Harry said through gritted teeth.

"I ‘ m sure Dumbledore has considered that."

"Dumbledore. Is. Senile."Harry looked over at Kingsley, who had thus far kept dumb."How bout you ? You got a issue on this ?"

"I trust Dumbledore."Kingsley said confidently.

"Everyone always does."Harry snorted."And as yet I ‘ ve seen no understanding why."

"You haven ‘ t seen him angry."Kingsley turned towards the door."come on Tonks, we need to get back on duty before we ‘ re missed."

Harry didn't speak as the two aurors left. When the door slammed shut he threw his hands up and shook his head.

"I have seen him wild. I ‘ ve seen him wild at me, it ‘ s not so bad."

"What was that Harry ?"Ginny asked.

"What ?"

"All that ‘ you know that'and ‘ he knows this'clobber. What ‘ s the private ?"

"You didn ‘ t recount them ?"Harry turned to Neville.

"I thought it was a secret."Neville shrugged.

Harry turned to Draco, who rolled his eyes.

"Don ‘ t look at me I don ‘ t even like them."

"Right,"Harry turned towards the door."It ‘ s not a secret, at least not amongst us. Could you tell them for me Nev ? I ‘ m going to get some invigorated air."

"You can't."Ron called after him."We have to stay inside the building."

"Wh…"

"The hospital ward extend to the property line of work but it ‘ s stronger in here."Hermione explained apologetically."They told us to stay-"

"By they you mean Dumbledore."

"Yes."

"Then I ‘ m finding an exposed window."Harry looked over his shoulder back at the marauders."I can do that can ‘ t I ?"

"Your room ‘ s down the corridor, the door with the Scorpio lock."Draco said.

"Is there a window in my cell ?"

"Yes, it ‘ s not barred either. Not un-metaphorically anyway."

Harry, didn't respond. He just pushed the door capable and left.
*


Dragon woke the next dayspring as a retching speech sound came through the wall. He shook the covers off and pushed the drape around his bed surface before hurrying to the side by side room.

"Harry is that you ?"Draco was about to try the door before he thought good of it and ran a signal detection appeal. A couple of nasty curses lifted out of the woodworking. Draco backed a few step away."Harry open up !"Draco heard stride then the door scraped open.

"What ?"Harry growled sleepily.

"Were you just sick ?"

"No… no."Harry shook his forefront."Why would you think that ?"

"Because I just discover you Harry."genus Draco folded his arms."You also smell of vomit."

"I… I do."Harry sniffed."Fine. You caught me."

"You ‘ re sick ?"

"I ‘ m pregnant."Harry shrugged."There was this terpsichorean. I was a picayune wino and, well… I was weak."

"right hand,"genus Draco snorted.

"You ‘ re the for the first time one I ‘ ve told."

"I ‘ m touched."

"It ‘ ll be really tough raising it on my own."

"I imagine task won ‘ t be a picnic either."Draco shook his head, if Harry didn ‘ t want to tell him then he didn ‘ t want to know."looking at, it smells like breakfast ‘ s ready."

"Great,"Harry shrugged, then frowned."Who ‘ s cooking ?"
*


"Sit down Harry."molly Weasley pulled out a electric chair for him."Have some orchis. There ‘ s toast too, and some sausages."

Harry looked around in mix-up at the respective people that had appeared in the kitchen of Malfoy manor. There were to a greater extent Weasley's than there had been, the two parents and honest-to-goodness chum. An odd man in a green hat was there as well, smiling at Harry and wafture, along with an older ma'am in an ratty gown. There was one very recognizable nerve though, one that went had gone from smiling to stone cold the minute he entered the room. Remus lupin had stood the moment he came in and walked away, leaving by the back door.

"A couple of people live here now."Ginny said to cover up the silence."A twosome of the club members."

"Why ?"

"Because I haven ‘ t started charging rent yet."Malfoy muttered darkly, leaning over a chessboard.

"It ‘ s because we ‘ re too visible."molly Weasley explained."the great unwashed know we support Dumbledore, they know we were in the decree last clock time. We ‘ re targets for attack. It ‘ s safer here."

"Right, safer."Harry tucked into his breakfast in silence, the marauders chatting around him. Apart from him only Malfoy and Ron were silent, both intently staring at the chessboard. Occasionally, very occasionally, one of them would make a move.

'' It would be nice if they 'd retrieve their own base though. '' Malfoy murmured, still staring at the board. `` Or their own prison. ``

'' Prison ? '' Harry dropped a objet d'art of toast. `` They 're using this station as a prison house ? ``

'' Obviously. '' Malfoy said grimly. `` Did you think Malfoy manor had no cellular telephone ? And they ca n't use Azkaban anymore. ``

'' Is n't that dangerous ? ``

'' The whole manor is under the Fidelius magic spell. '' Hermione explained. Harry smiled in understanding, so that was what the little slip of paper had been about. `` It means that a secret is- ''

'' I know what it is. '' Harry interrupted her calmly. `` But is n't it dangerous to tell apart the prisoners the secret ? ``

'' Yes. That 's why they do n't. '' Padma shrugged.

'' The captive are inside the secret but they have n't been told it ? '' Harry 's brow furrowed. `` I wonder what that feels like for them. ``

'' They tend to squall a lot. ``

Harry shrugged, unworried. At least there was a safe topographic point for to house the death eaters. Of course of instruction Harry would prefer if they were all kept in Nice good coffins but this was the next best thing. While they had been talking Draco had turned back to the silent Bromus secalinus game.

"How long have they been at that ?"Harry asked Hermione.

"Hours for this game."Hermione answered dejectedly."hebdomad if you ‘ re mean playing in general."

"Who ‘ s winning ?"

"I think Ron ‘ s ahead by two games."

"well that ‘ s-"

"Out of two hundred and twenty six."Padma chimed in irritably."Neither of them's been up by more than four at any point. following time they equalize I ‘ m stealing the bloody board."

"I have over eight hundred chess game boards in this house."Malfoy said idly as he nudged a pawn forward."You ‘ re welcome to try and find all of them. Maybe you ‘ ll get lost along the way."

"But not today. Got you."Ron said triumphantly as he slid his horse forward. Harry frowned, even he, with his loose undemanding of the game, could see that it wasn't a checkmate. But apparently Malfoy could see something he couldn't, the blond boy hunched over the control board for a few moments then,

"fucking you Weasley."Draco angrily slapped his king down and stood up."It doesn ‘ t count. I was distracted, I was talking to Harry."

"It counts."Ron replied angrily. He began to reset the musical composition but Draco grabbed a cat's-paw out of his hand and slammed it back into it's box.

"I don ‘ t want another game. I ‘ m bored of chess for today."genus Draco sat back down at the breakfast board, pouting.

Harry grinned at the spectacle then pushed his vacuous shell away and stood to leave.

"Where are you going dear ?"Molly Weasley called after him.

"Just back to my room."Harry answered cheerily."I didn ‘ t unpack last night."
*


"There ‘ s no probability he ‘ s going to unpack."Padma whispered across the marauders table.

Ginny shook her head. No one could narrate when Harry was lying, not even the piranha. But since Harry hadn't unpacked anything ever since he'd got that bottomless bag it was unlikely he was doing so now.

"Should one of us go check on him ?"Neville suggested.

"Let him be."Fred shrugged."He ‘ s got a lot to imagine about."His twin nodded.

"It ‘ d turn over us something to do."Parvarti murmured quietly, voicing what they all felt. Boredom was unremitting here. The only interesting times were order meetings when the piranha would try to find ways to listen in. Ways that were continually blocked.

All their homework had been done. All the course Holy Scripture had been read and so many secret plan of exploding catch had been played that they all had little tiny burn on the ending of their finger. There was nix else to do, literally nothing. They had looked, tried to come up with other matter to do. They had failed.

"We could try gobstones again."Fred suggested as their mother bustled around the room.

"Definitely not."Hermione shook her head."We could learn ?"

"We ‘ ve done all our homework."Ron said irritably.

"We could swap and do each others."Anapurna pointed out. At the ecumenical shock she just shrugged."I ‘ m that bored."

"We could work quidditch !"Ron perked up instantly."Why didn't we think of this before ! Yeah ! We can have a-"

"How ?"Ginny cut in."We can ‘ t go outside."

"Well… oh."

The marauders lapsed into secrecy. Defeated again.

"Mrs Weasley."Malfoy suddenly said."Harry was feeling ill earlier. Do you have anything that could help him ?"

"Why didn ‘ t you tell me ?"The Weasley matriarch hurried off down the corridor towards Harry's way. As soon as she disappeared Malfoy pushed himself away from the table.

"Let ‘ s go. Quickly."

"Why ?"Ginny crossed her arms."Why should we go with you ?"

"Because I know where we can play quidditch."Draco glanced at the door. `` Believe it or not I am as bored as you are Weasley. Now can we go ? You 're mother wo n't be distracted for long. ``
*


'' Whoa ! '' Ginny gasped as they were led into a massive hallway. On the floor there were plinths and cases holding strange sparkling items.

'' What is this place ? '' Hemione asked.

'' My founding father. '' Draco lugged the orb case over. `` It 's just rubble. '' True to his word he shoved three vas off a show stand to put the compositor's case in their place. `` Now ... squad. ``

'' I call master ! '' Ginny yelled.

'' Me too. '' Ron nodded.

'' Right, '' Malfoy was still looking the other way. `` Captains are Ginerva and myself. ``

'' But- ''

'' It 's my house. '' Malfoy cut him off snidely. `` I 'll take the Gemini. ``

'' Which unity ? ``

'' The quidditch playing ones. '' Malfoy rolled his middle. Fred and George I reluctantly went over to support by Malfoy.

'' You ca n't foot both. '' Ginny argued.

'' Would you split them up ? '' Malfoy said sarcastically. `` Have a heart. ``

'' mulct. You can have them. '' Ginny grinned. `` I get everyone else. ``

'' Well well Weasley. '' Malfoy said appraisingly. `` Betting on amount over quality ? ``

'' Shut up and let go the bludgers. ``
*


Ginny shot past a cabinet laughing, the crash from behind her told her George I had n't been so favorable. The quaffle flew up and bounced inside the chalk R-2 on the wall.

'' goal ! '' Ginny spun on the spot, pumping her clenched fist in the air.

'' You 're still behind Weasley ! '' Malfoy yelled as he shot past.

darn it he was right, Ginny shot forward after him. If only the snitch would appear ! It should n't be so toilsome to catch it in this enclosed area. Unfortunately the charms on the snitch were never designed to plow with an unpredictable maze of console and as a result it kept moving erratically. They had found and lost it three times already. Ginny saw Malfoy trying to score and being blocked by Ron. She took the chance to take another flavour for it.

'' Over there ! '' Someone yelled, Ginny did n't hesitate. The flash of gold disappeared behind a urn and Ginny spun around it. Where was it ? Another fanfare, there by the rack of swords. Ginny heard a crash from the English her, Malfoy was closing in. There, by the crank again ? No ! By the urns again ! hoot it, there were reflections everywhere. It was like there were six snitches !

Ginny narrowly avoided colliding with the paries. A thumping behind her told her Malfoy wasn't so lucky. There it was ! Right near the quoin of the way. Ginny sped up, it was so unaired ! Her digit closed around it. And it felt ... wrong.

Ginny drew to a halt, holding the affair in her hand. It was gold, but it wasn't a snitch. It was a cup, a piffling gold plated teacup, still struggling to scarper from her fingers. Draco hovered in next to her, looking perplexed.

"That didn ‘ t used to fly."He grabbed it out her hand, holding it by it's flyspeck handle and letting it try to pull away."This isn ‘ t even stored in this room."

"What is it ?"

"It ‘ s a teacupful Weasley how dense are you ?"Dragon insulted idily, still staring at the tiny thing."Or did you always just drink in out of a trough at your house ?"

"No."Ginny just gritted her teeth and swallowed the vilification. They had to live in this house for week yet."Where did it hail from ?"

The other vulture came in finisher, staring at it.

"I saw it by the door."Parvati said curiously."I thought it was hovering there but maybe it came through."

"We should look."Malfoy began floating in that direction.

"What about the real snitch ?"Fred asked, wrestling a bludger back into its case.

"It ‘ s just a training snitch. It comes when it ‘ s called."Malfoy held out his hand."Ollyollyoxen !"In a jiffy of gold the sneaker darted down from the cap and settled in his hand.

"Lashkar-e-Tayyiba go."He said curtly, jerked his head and floated off towards the door.

"hypothesis we ‘ re not walking."Hermione murmured as the marauders flew after him. The corridor was fairly narrow and the marauders had to fly in single file. The discharge portraits were here as well, even the animals in the landscapes had left.

"Do you take heed that ?"Neville whispered and clumsily stopped.

"What Longbottom ?"Malfoy turned in the air, impatience clear on his typeface."I don ‘ t hear anything."

"That would be because you ‘ re talking."Padma snapped at him."Shut up a minute."

Silence filled the hallway for a here and now, then ... a aloof haphazardness. It sounded like an explosion underwater, muffled by the walls. The vulture looked at each early, they had all heard it.

"There it is again."Ron said quietly as the audio echoed down the hall.

"sound ..."Malfoy screwed up his face."It ‘ s beneath us."

"Are you sure ?"Ginny floated forwards to where he was hovering."It ‘ s echoing a lot, maybe-"

"My house Weasley."Malfoy cut her off."It ‘ s coming from beneath us. This way."Malfoy shooter forward and turned sharply into a side corridor. Ginny rushed to go on up with him and she could learn the vulture behind her doing the Saame. A door was flung open in front of them and Ginny spun into it, following the blond flash lamp in strawman of her. Down some steps, along a long dark Hall, next - STOP !

Ginny had to fail harshly to keep off hitting Malfoy who was hopping off his Calluna vulgaris in front end of a expectant wooden door.

"You ! You ... !"

"What ‘ s the matter Weasley ?"Malfoy shouldered his broom."Had difficulty keeping up ?"

"I almost hit you !"Ginny dropped to the floor."Why did you stop ?"

"We ‘ re here."As Malfoy said it a loudly knock issued from the other side of the door. Ginny looked behind her to see the marauders just coming around the street corner. Hermione looked terrified, Neville looked ill.

"Well lets see then."Malfoy drew his baton and pushed at the arduous door. It slowly crept open. interior was an empty hall, looked like it was usually used for storehouse or something. The merely things left were a few odd tabular array and a few boxes. In the center of the room stood Harry, bare chested with his scars pure egg white against his tanned and sweating skin. On a box next to him was a odd big bucks of rubble. As they watched he took a denture and held his scepter to it. At a whispered Word there were two plates, then three, then four. Harry dropped the original back into the pile and tapped the juke with his wand. They instantly flew off in all directions. Harry jabbed his verge and in a fraction of a second-

smash ! One shattered near the ceiling. Harry whirled. BANG ! Shattering into shards. hit ! Smashing the side and sending the last plate spinning into the wall.

Harry caught pot of the marauders and grinned before waving them over.

"Thanks."Harry said, plucking the cup out of Malfoy's paw."moldiness have missed that one."He released it and it instantly whizzed into the air.

"You don ‘ t need to keep duplicating affair you know."Malfoy said dryly."I ‘ ve got scads of this junk."

"Right."Harry shrugged."Just didn ‘ t want to bother you."

"Harry what are you doing with these ?"Hermione asked, sounding almost scared.

Ginny looked where Hermione was pointing and swallowed fearfully. Arranged in a refined row along the mesa was a precipitous and wickedly curved sword, a light gig with a lighting bolt carved into the haft, a turn ball that had maw for fingers and seemed to be glowing from within and no less than three muggle firearms.

"Souvenirs."Harry shrugged lightly."From my travels."

"Harry please tell us what you're doing down here ?"Hermione pleaded.

"Training."Harry flicked his wand over his shoulder without looking and the cup, zipping past too riotous to see, exploded in mid air."I told you that didn ‘ t I ?"

Ginny just stared, this was too practically. All the vulture expected insanity from Harry but this ...

Malfoy was the first-class honours degree to speak.

"You bought an impact sphere ?"He was looking at the bowling ball like matter."You shouldn ‘ t have, my father had two in his vault."

"I may require spares."Harry shrugged.

"Harry is this stuff wickedness magic ?"Hermione was shying away from the table.

"Depends on your perception."Harry replied airily."It ‘ s certainly illegal magic. Whether it ‘ s dark is more about the use it ‘ s put to than the affair itself. These matter are just tools."

"And the hired gun ?"Hermione pointed."Did you buy those illegally too ?"

"Strangely no, I bought them legally in Vegas."Harry picked up the largest one. The marauder took a corporate step back."Bringing them back to the UK was the illegal bit."

"Wh ... wh ..."

"No postponement, I used fake i.d. to buy them ... never mind."Harry shrugged."Yes I bought them illegally."

'' Harry, your wand ... '' Malfoy was staring at the bramble-wood wand in Harry 's hand. `` Are you still using the one you stole from Macnair ? ``

'' Yes, '' Harry clanced down at the dark wand. `` Why do you ask ? ``

'' Harry, do you not think that using a baton you stole from a dead death eater is a bit ... '' Malfoy swallowed. `` A bit ... creepy ? ``

'' Why ? I was the one that killed him. ``

'' You could buy a new one from Ollivander. '' Neville suggested.

'' And risk it not working as well as this one does ? '' Harry balanced the thick, twisted wand on the edge of his hand before flicking it up into the air and catching it, all the while with the gun held nonchalantly in his former hand. `` This one works for me, maybe as well as my old one did. Besides ... it sort of conniption does n't it ? This wand 's done a lot of violence in it 's life-time. batch of hurting, scrap, and that 's exactly what I intend to use it for. ``

pain ? Fighting ? ... Killing ... Ginny swallowed. Harry had n't said that last one but she could finger him thinking it.

"Harry why are you doing this ?"Ron asked.

"What do you entail why ?"Harry looked at Neville, then at Malfoy."Didn ‘ t you tell them ?"

"Yeah. I told them."Neville said softly.

"Then what ?"Harry dropped the gun back down to the table. It sounded weighty."I need to fight back Voldemort. I have to struggle Voldemort."

"Yeah but Harry-"Ginny started, but was cut off.

"I have to fight Voldemort and you know what ? I ‘ ll lose !"Harry slashed the air angrily."I ‘ ll lose, I mean what else would fall out ? I spotty, ignorant 15 year old against the most dangerous superstar on the planet ? I ‘ ll lose, he ‘ ll win, we ‘ ll all be screwed. Don ‘ t you see ? I can ‘ t afford to be an unwitting teen any more. I have to be better. I need to be better. Because I can ‘ t lose, can ‘ t afford to lose. None of us can yield for me to turn a loss. Do you get laid what it feels like to know that the whole populace is royally screwed if you fail ? No ? Then shut up ! Don't try to stop me and don ‘ t ask me why ! I know why, and if you took a microsecond to recall you ‘ d know why too !"

Harry's angry tirade shocked the marauder into silence. Harry turned back to his pile of junk and began duplicating a heavy glassful bowl.

"Harry ... you don ‘ t know when the prophecy will happen."Neville surprisingly spoke up."Maybe you won ‘ t be fifteen. Maybe you ‘ ll be twenty, or thirty. Maybe you have clock time ..."

"Do you want to take chances everything on maybe ?"Harry answered without looking up."Well I ‘ m not. It could be any sentence so I have to be ready any clock time. It could be tomorrow too."

"Do you desire someone to duel against ?"Malfoy said quietly.

"You ... !"Hermione whirled on him."You can ‘ t helper him !"

"Why not ? He ‘ s right."Malfoy shrugged, apparently unimpressed by Hermione's angry face.

"Dumbledore said-"

"Dumbledore has been improper before."Malfoy cut her off."It hurts nothing to be ready in case he ‘ s damage this time."

"But Harry could be killed !"

"Yes."Malfoy nodded curtly."He could. Did you not substantiate that ? Did you perhaps think what happened last year was some kind of funny game ?"

"Of track not, but-"

"Well then."Malfoy sidestepped Hermione."We duel. Besides ... not like there ‘ s anything else to do around here."

"trade good point."Ginny was surprised to hear her own vocalism. Oh no now everyone was looking at her, dear say something."And since we ‘ re all prey maybe we should try learning some stuff too."

"At to the lowest degree we ‘ ll all get O ‘ s in defense."Padma smiled wryly.

"So we ‘ re not going to talk about the prophecy ?"Hermione turned to face Harry.

"What ‘ s there to say ?"Harry shrugged."It ‘ s fairly self explanatory. No one but me can toss off Voldemort. Not a lot to discuss."

"I ... hypothesis so ..."Hermione bit her lip."There ‘ s an order encounter tonight. Maybe we can ask Dumbledore ..."

"Good."Harry hoisted a glass arena onto his shoulder and cast away it out into the room. He aimed his scepter and muttered under his breather. The trough melted and splattered into a steaming cumulation on the floor."There are some things I want to ask him too."
*


"Where have you lot been !"Molly Weasley drew herself up."You disappeared minute ago ! All of you, gone all day ! Now you ‘ re back and you look like you ‘ ve been fighting ! Now you ... Where do you think you ‘ re going !"

"Hu ?"Draco turned from his progress towards the room access."What do you mean ‘ Where am I going'? I ‘ m going to the kitchen."

"You come back here Lester Willis Young man !"

"Why ? I ‘ m not your kinsfolk. Nor am I one of these other street child you seem to own adopted. I don ‘ t caution for your sentiment, nor for your misplaced and overworked enate instinct. I ‘ m certainly not going to let you yell at me while you live under my roof."genus Draco turned back to the door ...

"Get back here !"

... .and walked happily through it, with enrage silence left behind him.

"You do know that means you ‘ ll have to make you ‘ re own breakfast from now on."

"Tonks."Draco smiled and walked through the now crowded kitchen to where his cousin-german was sitting. side by side to the lycanthrope. genus Draco shuddered inwardly and sat on her other side."I couldn ‘ t eat another fried breakfast anyway. Any to a greater extent and my broom won ‘ t be able to view as me."

"I doubt that piddling cousin."Tonks prodded him playfully before growing sober."How ‘ s Harry doing ?"

"He ‘ s ..."Dragon licked his lips and gestured for her to tip closer."He ‘ s accepted the prophecy. He ‘ s accepted that he will fight Voldemort. He ‘ s preparing for it."

"That sounds ominous."Tonks shook her question."Dumbledore ‘ s not going to like it."

"Don ‘ t William Tell him."

"I won ‘ t, but he ‘ ll receive out anyway."

"Will he ?"A new voice came in. Draco looked up to see Harry slide in across from them. The werewolf grunted and got up, not looking at Harry. Tonks glanced after him, confused. Harry ignored it.

"How ‘ d you get away ?"genus Draco asked.

"Disillusion."Harry shrugged."That deep into a philippic I doubt she ‘ ll count how many people she ‘ s yelling at. So ... when ‘ s Dumbledore getting here ?"

"Now."Tonks stood as the ancient man walked into the kitchen. Harry was instantly on the other side of the terrace and stepping up beside the Headmaster and tugging on his robe.

"prof, can I peach to you ab-"

"After the meeting Harry."Dumbledore brushed him off."You have my parole. But right now some of the monastic order penis have important missions they must get back to quickly."

"Of course."Harry stepped back, nodding amicably."I understand."

What ? Draco crossed his weapon system and frowned. Why was Harry being so calm ? What was going on ? As the guild fellow member filed out he sidled up to Harry's side ?

"What was that ?"

"What ?"

"You being calm and nice towards Dumbledore. What are you up to ?"

"I ‘ m always nice."

"You ‘ re always up to something."

"Are you suggesting ?"Harry drew himself up haughtily."That I am only nice when I have an agenda ? That I am manipulative and self portion that way ? That I would only be calm if I, oh say ... wanted to slip a hearing device into the pocket of person ‘ s gown before they went into an order of magnitude coming together ... or something like that ?"
*


Snape stepped into the manor and strode towards the master dining way. He wasn't late precisely, just ... no longer appropriately incite. He pushed the door spread and walked to the open rear end succeeding to Natalie.

"Have I missed anything important ?"

"Attacks."The unspeakable was idly scraping her finger along the bound of a copy of the daily prophet."Dark fool. Wizards and hag we suspect have been turned, or put under the imperious curse.

'' aught crucial then. ``

'' Nothing new at least. '' Natalie tuned to him. `` Did you hear they found Harry ? ``

'' I heard Harry found them. '' Snape cracked a smiling. `` Or Moody at least. ``

'' Severus, '' A soft voice called. Snape looked over to Dumbledore, who was looking at him expectantly. `` Is there any news ? ``

'' Yes. '' Snape brought himself back to the project at hand. `` The dark lord is moving. ``

'' Well duh. '' The representative near the end of the table was swiftly silenced by a vapid stare.

'' The dark lord is moving more specifically. Now that Johnny Reb is dead all but a few of the werewolves have deserted him. He seeks new troops to sew terror, he has chosen to win by solid wealthiness this time rather than empty hope. He is arranging purchase of large numbers of assorted exotic mintage, lethifolds primarily. Chimaeras if it can find a uncoerced seller. ``

'' Why ? '' Lupin asked from down the board. `` Why mindless beasts ? ``

'' Precisely because they are senseless. '' Snape explained. `` His reprehensible army from Azkaban has not been as efficient as he hoped. ``

'' They 've torn the country apart ! '' individual yelled.

'' But only in their own capacity. They have not followed orderliness well, they are distracted. The shadow Almighty has killed a lot of them, he seems tired of human failings. In a way he does n't want an Army, he wants a weapon. Something he can unleash at will. Doubtless he will be employing the imperious curse to see that his will is done. ``

'' It does n't work out on lethifolds. '' lupine said with foregone conclusion. A little sniff of relief slid through Snape 's judgement, swiftly swallowed up with darkness.

'' But it does act on Chimera. And on manticores. ``

'' manticora ? '' The former defense teacher eyes grew wide.

'' Well, manticore at present. But he is looking for others. ``

'' Why not simply use it on the criminals ? '' Someone asked.

'' Both because that would make them less effective fighters and because long exposure to the Dementors seems to cause made them surprisingly resistant to mental attacks. '' Snape leant closer over the mesa to mouth to the order as a whole. `` I have the date he plans to encounter with tool trader. If we arrange a trap we can get ahead of him and- ''

'' No. '' Dumbledore spoke with quieten authority.

'' We can not set aside this to hap. ``

'' If we act he will assuredly guess the germ of our information. '' Dumbledore shook his bearded head. `` You are too valuable at introduce to take a chance. You are our exclusively source of information. ``

'' entropy we never act on. '' Snape clenched his fist on the cold reddish brown board. `` What use is my spying ... what use is this order if we are too scared to ever act. ``

'' We can not act rashly. ``

I do not act rashly. You simply do not act. Snape bit back the words we wanted to fling at the old man. It would be pointless.

'' We could instead arbitrate with the foreign auror department. '' Snape tried to flim-flam himself into thinking this was anything former than a wrong limiting attempt. `` They could arrest some of the traders before the nighttime God Almighty can meet with them. ``

'' Perhaps, '' Dumbledore nodded. `` There are very few people we can entrust. I will try to get in touch with some old Quaker that may be capable to help. ``

Old friends ? Of yours ? Wo n't they be dust or lingeringly senile spectre by now ?

Natalie gave no outward sign that she had heard Snape 's projected though, but she reached over and laid her helping hand on his arm.

"Is there anything else ?"

"Barty Crouch still has not returned."Snape shook his school principal, Barty Crouch had become Voldemort's favorite, surpassing even Belatrix. Snape had hoped at one time that Barty's failure to clear the ministry would count against him, and it had, but apparently throwing it into turmoil had been enough. That and successfully bringing Harry potter directly to the dark lord. All that made it even more wary that Barty was absent from death eater gatherings. The dark lord kept his servants close, if he was letting one off their lead then it had to be for something important.

"Do you cogitate he has left the country ?"someone down the table asked.

"It is possible."Snape nodded."But whatever he is doing it has it ‘ s root here. The dark lord has always intended to direct this commonwealth before moving on to the relaxation of the world. That has not changed. It may also involve espionage."

"Why do you say that ?"

"It is Barty Crouch ‘ s specialization is it not ?"Snape shrugged."But the dark lord has ordered me to start out researching polyjuice potion in an attack to cause it work for any humanoid species."

"You think it is connected ?"

"I do not know."Snape answered honestly."It could just as easily be involved in his try to profit the backup of the giants."

"The dark lords programme are like spiderwebs."Natalie said softly."We can take up everything is connected."If anyone other than Snape heard her they said nothing.

"Is that all ?"

"Other than hr of listening to the dark lords wickedness pontificating on the subject of the death or oppression of all muggles ?"snake crooked an supercilium."No."

'' Good. What news show from the ministry ? '' Dumbledore had turned to Shacklebolt, who sighed and shook his head.

'' It has become functionary. Fudge is still minister for magic. ``

A general groan went up from around the room. Snape just closed his eyes and took a calming breath. After the events of last year the ministry had been fractured to its very Congress of Racial Equality. The near-election of a dying eater had made them frightful as lapin. Fudge had, the mo Dumbledore left the edifice, ran back to his power and virtually barricaded himself inside. All summer he had been wrangling the ministry around to the musical theme that his extrusion was not valid because of the deceptions of Barty Crouch Jr.

That was, Snape had to admit, technically true. Although the vote to absent Fudge had been won by a well-to-do gross profit margin the master copy motion to remove a minister for illusion could only be tabled by a member of the Wizengamot. Crouch Jr was not a member, only impersonating one, therefore the motion and, by lengthiness, the vote was void. A piece of bureaucratic foolishness that meant they were stuck with that ridiculous man until someone else drummed up enough reinforcement to kick out him.

'' We could replace him. '' Natalie said, seeming to read his thoughts like she often did ( even when not actually doing so ). `` Everyone in my department thinks he 's a jape. ``

'' Ours too. '' Shacklebolt rumbled.

'' The whole ministry does. '' Chester Alan Arthur Weasley added. `` The unit wizarding population. The problem is that no one wants to put in a nominating address for veneration of looking like they 're following Crouch 's example. ``

'' So we put someone forward. '' Snape said definitely. `` We playing area a candidate no one can indicate is a demise eater. ``

'' And they will be shot down by those who resent Dumbledore interfering in the ministry. Fudge was not the solely one. '' Shacklebolt shook his headway. `` I realize this opinion may not be the most well-fixed to hear, but perhaps we should earmark him to stay on for now. ``

'' What ? '' Snape asked acidically. His wrath was echoed down the table as others voiced their complaint.

'' I realize the post is not nonsuch. '' Shacklebolt held his hands up. `` But Fudge is scared to touch any know order fellow member or anyone else who waves Dumbledore 's criterion. As a result he is leaving the aurors government agency and the rest of the department relatively untouched. We can carry out our piece of work without any overbearing oversight for now. And besides, with all the ex-Azkaban resident physician running around causing trouble we do not birth time for a political battle on top of that. If we can not have a large-hearted curate of magic, one that stays out of our way is a good second choice. ``

'' So it is agreed. '' Dumbledore looked up solemnly. `` We allow him to remain while he remains un-troublesome. ``

Snape grimaced but did n't remark. Once more nada would be done.

'' Is guard tariff for the next week set up ? '' Dumbledore asked the assembled order. There was a general nodding. It had not been hard to engineer, not with a member inside the department of mysteries.

'' Then we should all get back to work. '' Dumbledore stood. `` And we should all prepare for attack by witching beings. Lupin can, I 'm sure enough, remind you of the skillful method acting to revolt them. ``

Snape stood quickly, he could n't be missed for long. The dark nobleman was as watchful of his servants as he was of his of his enemies. Snape turned to Natalie,

'' My sentry duty obligation is scheduled for Tues, at eleven. ``

'' I 'll be certainly to be in the office then. '' Natalie nodded. Snape knew that he would be living for Tues at eleven. He reluctantly turned and made for the door. Unfortunately there was a blockage, the unhurt order was bunched up at the wide double doors. Snape quickly pushed to the front and was almost forced to laugh.

Harry had built a barricade.

The one-fifth year was sitting casually on an overturned desk, resting his feet on a drawer. The rest of the arching wall was mostly chairs and tables, and one suit of armor.

'' Harry this was not necessity. '' Dumbledore stepped forward, his hand stretched peacefully. `` I promised we would talk. ``

'' I wanted your to the full attention. '' Harry replied wryly. `` I want to fight. ``

'' Harry you are not old enough to join the lodge. ``

'' You think Voldemort will wish ? ``

'' We will restrain you safe from Voldemort. ``

'' right. '' Harry dropped off his pole and landed, cat like, on the storey. `` 'Cos that maneuver 's solve wizard so far. You know I have to press. I have to struggle him. ``

'' Harry I have made my conclusion. ``

'' I contest the saneness of your decision. '' Harry grated. `` You just going to let Voldemort take the air all over this commonwealth ? ``

'' Harry Potter I have had sufficiency of this. '' Dumbledore waved his wand angrily. The roadblock disappeared with a deafening crack. `` You will detain where I put you until it is prophylactic for you to do otherwise. If you will give up no mentation for your own refuge others must do it for you. You will stay here. You will be safe here. ``

'' Unless a lethifold creeps in through the window. '' Harry said flatly. Dumbledore went cold, then glanced at Snape. Harry chuckled and continued. `` Do n't look at him. This is you 're fault. You let me hear everything. ``

'' How Harry ? '' Dumbledore crooked an supercilium, but his usual effective humor was gone.

'' I 'll let you stew over it. '' Harry folded his arms. `` I want to fight. I want to sit in order meetings. I want a tutor to teach me to duel. ``

'' You may accept none of those things. '' Dumbledore was n't moving, just standing like a statue. Radiating threat. `` As for United States Department of Defense training you will find it at Hogarts, in your regular DoD class. ``

'' Well I hope at least you 've got soul good. '' Harry sneered, then, glancing at McGonagall, let out a little choked laugh. `` You have n't found anyone have you ? ``

'' I will not discus this with you Harry. '' Dumbledore drew his sceptre. `` I have more authoritative things to do. '' And with that he turned and apparated away with an raging crack.

The edict members began to shuffle out, giving Harry a broad place. Lupin in particular was staring at him with what could only be described as detestation. Snape walked up to the solitary student.

'' Perhaps you should not antagonize him. ``

'' He antagonizes me. '' Harry answered, sounding a piddling defeated. `` I do n't realise him. ``

'' Few people do. ``

'' You ? ``

'' No. ``

'' Great. '' Harry shrugged, then looked up to meet Snape 's optic. `` Would ... you teach me to push ? ``

I should have expected that question. Snape took a breath to return himself fourth dimension to consider his response.

'' No. ``

'' Why ? '' Harry asked, sounding somewhere between choler and helplessness. `` You know what 's at stake ! ``

'' If I teach you then you will fall into the snare of cerebration you are gear up. '' Snape shook his head. `` I could pass on everything I know to you and you would still mislay to the dark overlord because I would suffer to the dark lord. ``

'' I 'm not just gon na rush in half cocked. ``

'' You will, inevitably. '' Snape said, hoping dullness could get through to him. You will inevitably seek him out because, despite everything you have gone through, you are still a teenage boy. ``

'' I 'm not an cretin. ``

'' Yes you are. '' Snape corrected. `` You are young, by definition you are an idiot. ``

'' Have n't been Thomas Young for hebdomad. '' Harry drew up his sleeve and unclipped an unexpected pick-me-up. `` Not since I got this. ``

Snape momentarily thought of asking where he had got the evil eye bracer but thought better of it. The answer was of no fussy use. He almost wanted to ask if Harry had a spare.

'' Harry ... '' Snape glanced around to see if anyone was listening. Natalie was but that was beyond the point. `` If you want my advice you will continue as you have no doubt been doing. geartrain, learn everything you can. When the time comes, I promise I will teach you. ``

'' Fine. '' Harry seemed defeated, distant. `` will you at least teach me occlumency ? I ca n't use that to fight. ``

'' I will conceive on it. Now I must go. '' Snape turned and walked away. It was surprisingly difficult.
*


'' amercement. '' Harry muttered to himself. `` I 'll try Helen Newington Wills. ``
*


The marauders had to hunt Harry again that evening. He had disappeared before dinner party and was nowhere to be seen. The border wards had n't been tripped but with Harry that meant next to goose egg. They found him in a disused stairway, sitting in the rainbow blur of a stained glass windowpane. With the illume mottling his pelt like some jungle cat the marauders hesitated to approach him.

'' You missed dinner party. '' Ron eventually began.

'' Not hungry. ``

'' What were you doing ? ``

'' Begging. Again. '' Harry let out a roughly, retch, joke. `` full moon R-2. ``

'' What do you mean begging ? '' Fred frowned. `` You 've got money do n't you ? ``

'' Not money. '' Harry was still looking up into the luminousness. `` I 've spent the evening beggary orderliness members, aurors ... everyone really, to teach me to fight down. Waste of my time ... '' Harry trailed off shaking his head.

'' They said no ? '' Malfoy was leaning against a balusters. `` Who did you ask ? ``

'' Snape, Helen Wills, Tonks, Shacklebolt, McGonagall ... '' Harry sighed. `` Flitwick, he was a dueling wiz. I even asked Lupin, or tried to before he slammed the door on me. Why would he do that ? Why would any of them ... they know what I have to do. They have to bed ... ''

'' We 'll assist you Harry. '' Ginny stepped forward. `` We said we would. ``

'' It 's not the same. I need a instructor. '' Harry shook his head. `` There 's only so much I can get from books and ... peer learning. ``

'' Well ... maybe you could ask whoever they get to teach defence mechanism this year. '' Hermione suggested. `` Or maybe they 'll be really serious any you wo n't have to. ``

'' You do n't get it ! '' Harry covered his face with his hand. `` It 's not just chucking around a couple of stunners. None of you have seen a real maven duel, not proper dueling. Not like what Voldermort 's capable of. Not like what I 'll throw to be capable of if I want to endure a chance at winning. None of you have seen it. ``

'' Really, have you seen it ? '' Padma asked, eyebrows raised.

'' Of course, I saw ... him ... duel with ... '' Harry paused for a moment, then a fraction of a glisten lit the quoin of his eye. `` With him. Maybe ... ''

'' Harry ? '' Hermione reached out but Harry had shot to his feet like a jack in a box.

'' Has power shovel found your owlery ? '' He was looking at Malfoy.

'' Yes your pitiable over-traveled and long-suffering bird has found my owlery. '' Malfoy rolled his eyes. `` If you 're going to globetrot you should really tell your owl to continue home plate. ``

'' I would. '' Harry disappeared up the stairs. `` But I do n't have a menage. ``
*


The succeeding day, at breakfast, Harry seemed strangely chipper.

'' We should go back to the cellar, maybe duel some, hang out. Bring the chess set if you want. '' Harry was idly juggling three oranges in his compensate deal while gesturing with the other. `` After toast obviously. ``

'' Sure ... trusted Harry. '' Hermione was nodding a little carefully, like someone talking to a man with a hand grenade. Which, given Harry 's current track record, might have been the case. `` We 'll do that. ``

'' Should practice shields too. '' Harry switched the oranges to both script then quickly back to his right.

'' Great ... good ... wonderful. ``

'' Let 's go then. '' Harry pocketed the fruit and led the confused marauders, and Malfoy, from the way. As Harry pushed the door open he pulled up short. lupin was frozen in front of him, his manus raised to give for the threshold. His smiling had frozen and dropped into the scowl he always wore on seeing Harry.

'' Yes Professor ? '' Harry asked pointedly. `` Something the matter ? ``

lupin seemed to almost rumble but cut himself off and pushed past Harry into the kitchen.

'' What is his problem ? '' Harry muttered.

'' He was sort of alright before. '' Ron scratched his head.

'' Before what ? ``

'' Before well ... you. Before you got here. '' Ron shrugged. `` He was even variety of funny. ``

'' Whatever. '' Harry shook his question. `` I ca n't be bothered worrying about it. Lets go. ``
*


This was n't the last Harry heard about it though. Lupin lived in the house, they bumped into each other all the sentence. Each time Harry was met by the same purulence hatred. It was kind of disconcerting. Eventually Harry learned Lupin 's act and managed to mostly stay out of his way. Of course it helped that he spent at least ten hours a day in the empty basement, sometimes with the marauders, sometimes with Dragon, sometimes alone. Each day when Harry finally dropped himself into an icy bath to soothe his bruised skeletal frame he felt a form of fiery satisfaction.

He was getting better !

He could puzzle any of the marauders one on one, even the twins. Draco was better, at the start he had beaten Harry a lot. Well, no ... at the very start Harry had won. Then Harry had raged at the blond and forced him to really cut sluttish and use some of the smutty dark magic his don had taught him. With those spells in his arsenal Dragon had been winning, but Harry was clawing back. He was getting better, there was no denying that. Every pounding bruise, every morning waking up aching was a victory because he was getting better. And that was n't even considering his early toys.

Harry shifted his human foot to remain on the top of a mahogany desk in the mansion library ( there was some good clobber here, Thomas More spells to make for with ) when the door creaked open.

'' Hello Tonks. '' Harry said, without looking up.
*


'' Wotcher Harry. '' He was doing that more than and more. He was like Dumbledore crossed with Moody crossed with Snape. Tonks winced inwardly, it was n't the kid fault. He had been forced to become like this, canny and brutal as a feral fox. `` What'ya reading ? ``

'' The gentleman 's guide to effective and efficient application of painfulness. '' Harry read calmly off the cover of the book.

'' Oh ... '' There was no real reception to that. `` Any good ? ``

'' Never knew there were so many function for a horseback riding crop. '' Harry folded the pageboy down and looked up at her. `` How are you doing ? Order keeping you busy ? ``

'' Oh definitely. '' Tonks ran a hand through her ( currently blue ) hair. `` Between them and the aurors I 'm run pretty thin. ``

'' So I could n't convert you to learn me to duel ? '' Harry asked cheekily.

'' Sorry Harry, answer 's still no. '' Tonks smiled, at least he was n't holding it against her. `` You seem to be doing ok on your own though. ``

'' I try. '' Harry brightened up. `` Want to duel sometime ? You do n't have to instruct or talk or anything just a well-disposed duel ? ``

'' I do n't think Dumbledore would like that. ``

'' Dumbledore does n't have to recognise. '' Harry urged weedlingly.

'' Sorry Harry. ``

'' shit. '' Harry sighed and looked like he was going to say something else but just shook his drumhead. `` Never psyche. Was there something you wanted or did you just come to confabulate ? ``

'' I was going to ask about Remus. ``

'' Eh ? '' Harry 's brow furrowed. `` Who ? ``

'' Remus Lupin. ``

'' Oh him. '' Harry rolled his eyes. `` What about him ? ``

'' Do you have sex what 's wrong with him ? '' Tonks pulled a commode and sat on the other side of the desk. From this angle Harry resembled a very appraising interviewer. His beaten and frazzle steel-capped kick up on one side of the desk and a huge pile of suspicious books on the other. In between he was regarding her piercingly over his wire glasses.

'' What 's damage with him. '' Harry repeated levelly. `` Apart from the whole fur and Fang thing ? ``

'' Yes apart from that. '' Tonks nodded. `` I meant- ''

'' Big thing to dismiss. '' Harry interrupted her. `` The fact that he 's a werewolf. ``

'' They 're not as bad as everyone says. ``

'' They are in my experience. ``

'' You clearly have n't met many. ``

'' Met loads. Killed some. '' Harry said coldly.

'' How can you just say that ! '' Maybe he had changed more than I thought. `` They 're masses inside ! They have souls ! They 're human ! ``

'' I 'm bad Tonks, '' Harry held up his hands. `` I know what you 're trying to say. But I 've only ever met one loup-garou who has n't tried to pour down me and even he sometimes act like he wants to. Pardon me for not having a not bad thought of the species. When I meet a werewolf who does n't act like the monster they are inside maybe I 'll think differently. Until then I think my hatred is justified. '' Harry voice was flinty and sharp, and more than a little scary.

'' I 'm sorry Harry. '' Tonks repeated. `` They 're not all bad, I wish I could draw you see that. You just ... I guess I ca n't. You seem to hold been forced to see the whip of everything. ``

'' Occupational fortune. '' Harry smiled sadly, then shook it off and grinned. `` Sorry, we seem to stimulate gotten sidetracked into a character moment. What was the original interrogative ? ``

'' Remus ... or prof lupine. Before you came here he was ... different. ``

'' I 've heard. ``

'' He was really rum. ``

'' I 'll believe it when I see it. ``

'' He had lots of these stories about what he did when he was Pres Young. ``

'' Salmon P. Chase milkmen ? ``

'' No Harry. '' Tonks tried not to react. `` Did you know he experience your Fatherhood ? ``

'' I was aware. '' Harry sighed heavily. `` Sorry Tonks, I do n't think I can help you much. He 's always been like this around me. The others tell me he was different around me. Ginny 's in a different year and according to her he was a great teacher to them. It 's just around me Tonks. It 's just me. ``

'' But why ? ``

'' I dunno ! '' Harry threw up his custody. `` Ask him ! ``

'' He ... he wo n't tell me. '' Tonks looked at the floor. When she had asked him he had just turned and left the room in the eye of her doubtfulness. He had n't spoken to her for days. `` I thought you might know, or at least have a shot. ``

'' upright I can come up with is I remind him too much of what he lost. '' Harry shrugged. Tonks considered this. Harry 's guesswork was probably Worth an essay from anyone else, the kid could read people scarily well. Harry continued, `` I mean I get the impression he did n't sing to much of anyone after my parents died. He may blame me come to think of it. You know ... for their Death. ``

'' That does n't fathom like lupine. ``

'' Not the lupin you know. '' Harry shrugged. `` If nothing else I 'll be gone in another week. He should be back to rule after that. You should have your big fluffy, funny Lupin back. ``

'' I guess so. '' Tonks stood. `` Thanks Harry. ``

'' Stay dependable Tonks. '' Harry flicked his record book back open.

'' You too Harry. ``
*


The marauders did n't take the train to Hogwarts that year. They were flued into Hogsmeade under an order guard duty. As they walked up the long road to the castle Ginny fell back to where Harry was walking.

'' Why are n't you angry ? ``

'' Why would I be raging Ginsters ? '' Harry smiled a niggling smugly.

'' We 're going back to Hogwarts, under Dumbledore 's ovolo. '' Ginny shrugged. `` I dunno I just form of expected you to try and escape or something. ``

'' Do n't boost him. '' Malfoy murmured dryly from behind her.

'' I 'm not running off. '' Harry said with a twinkle in his eye. `` I 'm right where I want to be. ``

When they walked in the feast had already started. The vulture were forced to feel a authorize section of mesa with the whole hall mutter and pointing.

'' Is it me or are the tables a bit empty than usual ? '' George III said, scanning over the hall.

'' Lots of parents decided to hold on their child home this year. '' Parvati said sadly. `` Our parents almost did but well ... ''

'' We convinced them Hogwarts was safer than home. '' Her sister ended for her.

'' Wonder who the new defence reaction teacher is ? '' Ron gestured with a chicken leg at the vacuous outer space on the teacher 's table. Ron looked down the tabular array. `` Oy ! dean ! Did they denote anything about the new teacher ? ``

'' nix ! '' Came the cry response. The marauders collectively shrugged, except for Harry who just smiled faintly.

He knows. Ginny realized but stopped herself from asking. Harry would n't tell and they 'd know soon enough.

'' educatee ! '' Dumbledore stood. The Marguerite Radclyffe Hall quieted down. `` I have a few announcements to make. Firstly, as you may have realized, some of your class fellow have decided not to join us. This is of course their choice, or that of their parents, and I hope that you treat then no differently if they decide to repay us. Secondly as you know, if you do not live on the moonshine, the dark Maker has returned. I wish to make both that and this next fact perfectly clear. He can not injure you here. Behind the paries of Hogwarts you are safe. Thirdly, and most happily, we have a new defence force instructor. One that, I am certainly you will all enjoy learning from. So I would invite you to join me in saying welcome, or more correctly welcome back, to prof M- ''

'' Yes ! Your prayers have been answered ! '' The huge doors to the bully hall boomed open. `` I am, thanks to massive public need, backrest ! ``

'' It 's him ! ``

'' Ca n't be ... ''

'' Yes ! ``

'' Yes ! ``

'' Horray ! ``

'' Yes, yes thank you ! '' The muscled figure lapped up the praise, grinning from one side of his cheek to the other. He was the same as ever, maybe his hair was a small shorter, his tan a little deeper, his arm more scarred, his legs clad in denim instead of leather and his felt hat replaced with a fold up handkerchief. But it was him, patent and in the flesh.

'' I 'm back in the country ! spine in activity ! cover in mark ! The one, the entirely MARKUS TRIPPLE M Albert Michelson ! '' The blond giant punched the air and the hall jumped to their understructure in cheer. `` But delight ... call me Maximus. No no wait ... call me Professor Maximus. ``
*


Harry dropped out of his window that night after everyone had eventually gone to kip and made his way down to the rooftops. Finding Michelson 's office was easy, the light was still guttering from the go under the doorway. Harry knocked calmly, a moment later the door opened.

'' Was wondering if I 'd see you this evening Pipsqueak. ``

'' Well I had to recognize the new prof. '' Harry stepped into the office, it was already all set out. It looked almost exactly the same as it had three years ago, with one or two additions. Harry run to wait at a shifting magic video. It showed a Brobdingnagian crew of masses, all but one of them looking African, standing in rowing like a school photo. Sticking out like a sore pollex was Markus Michelson in the third gear row, grinning and jerking his quarter round at the matter behind them. Even lying on it 's side it towered over even Markus, spotted and studded with spears and burn mark it looked like a ...

'' You did it ! '' Harry turned grinning to his teacher. `` Nundu hunt ! ``

'' contain it down with sole eighty six people. '' Michelson nodded smugly. `` New macrocosm record. I got the tail. ``

'' Nice. '' Harry grinned. `` Have you been in Africa the solid time ? ``

'' Nah, '' Markus snorted. `` I was in Noreg when your owl reached me. Relatively nigh. ``

'' And you came back. '' Harry grew serious. `` Thank you. I know I asked a lot. ``

'' You saved my life once. '' Markus clapped Harry on the shoulder, severely buffeting him. `` Brothers at weapon system remember. And besides, I like Hogwarts. ``

'' Did you tell Dumbledore why you were asking for your job back ? ``

'' Did n't derive up. '' Markus grinned slyly. `` I get the belief he 'd rather I did n't teach you ? ``

'' No. '' Harry rolled his eyes. `` He wants to treat me up in guggle wrap. Want 's to keep me safe and out of danger. ``

'' Big men like us pull in peril. '' Markus said definitely. `` only way to be good is to know how to look after yourself, and you 're hardly a child. Not after what you 've been through. ``

'' My thoughts exactly. ``

'' Well in that train of thought. '' Markus drew his long sceptre. `` When do you want to start ? How 's now ? ``

'' Now ? '' Harry flicked his sceptre out of his arm. `` Now 's honorable. ``



If you do n't leave a followup YOU WILL DIE ! Really .... you will ... eventually ...


I do n't own Harry potter. No one owns Harry Potter ! He does not possess a issue ! He is a free man !



"Mr Potter."

"prof Dumbledore."Harry looked up from the breakfast mesa."Hi, how are you ? Would you like a pop woman of the street ?"

"No Mr potter, I would not."

"Are you sure ? There ‘ s strawberry mark, chocolate, cherry-"

"Mr Potter where were you finale night ?"

"I assume in bed."Harry replied calmly.

"Have you forgotten Harry ?"Dumbledore's vox was prostrate and a touch threatening."I have slipway of telling where you are in Hogwarts. You were not in Hogwarts for much of last night, you were only in your bed from around one in the morning."

Damn it. Harry tried not to scratch the bracer on his wrist. He had been so hoping the evil eye could protect him from Dumbledore's map.

"Your map must be faulty."Harry grinned.

"My map is not faulty !"Dumbledore snapped."Tell me how you left Hogwarts !"

"I didn ‘ t leave."

"Do not lie to me Harry Potter !"The whole schooling was watching now in rapt attention.

"Getting a little raging professor ?"Harry asked."Maybe your map ... no, maybe your cognition isn ‘ t as discharge as you think."

"I dislike being kept in the dark."

"Then prepare to suffer."Harry said darkly."I ‘ ve been kept dark for years by you. It ‘ s time you reaped what you arrogantly and unthinkingly sowed. organise to last in the dark prof. I hope you brought lanterns."With that Harry stood and walked from the hall, with every eye following.
*


"Harry ? Harry ! Ha ... oh he is here."Parvati pointed into the disused attic the marauders had used the former year. Ginny looked in and saw him calmly chalking something on the floor. The marauders wandered in slowly, with Malfoy close behind.

"Hi guys."Harry got to his substructure and threw a piece of chalk he had been using away."Just getting this place make, we can use it to train after lessons."

"Harry where were you last Night ?"Hermione asked the inquiry none of them wanted to voice.

"What you guys too ?"Harry laughed and summoned a mug of umber off a bundle of books."Relax, I didn ‘ t leave Hogwarts. I was just training in a place the map can ‘ t see, that ‘ s all."

"Where ?"Ginny asked at the same time as Malfoy said,

"The elbow room of demand ?"

"The what of what ?"Harry shook his school principal."Nah, just ... somewhere. Anyway look at this."Harry pointed down at the floor. On it there were a number of rectangles, some long, some short, some thin. It looked kind of familiar.

"It ‘ s the bookcases."Harry said proudly."In the elbow room beneath us."

"Wh ... why ?"Ron asked.

"Don ‘ t ya see ?"Harry grinned."It ‘ s Dumbledore ‘ s map. It ‘ s 2D you see, birds eye purview, he can ‘ t severalise what story we ‘ re on. So long as we don ‘ t cross the bookcases he ‘ ll think we ‘ re just in the library. So long as we ‘ re in curfew we can train in here without him knowing. Anyway, lets go to potions. Don ‘ t want Snape wild at us."

"Harry,"Padma stopped him with an outstretched deal."Did you have to be so ... adversarial ... with Dumbledore ?"

Harry paused for a moment before answering ...

"Yes."

... and walking on out of the Attic. The marauder shared a hanker look and followed him.
*


Potions passed uneventfully. Harry split his time between the book on his human knee and the caldron in front of him meaning that his potion wasn't even near finished. but at least it didn't explode. Charms was following and Harry didn't botheration paying attention there either, though in this shell it was because he already knew how to leave objects fender. He could pass them swan annexe if he wanted, or giant black leathery 1. When the lesson was over Harry didn't even bother to speak, he just gathered his stuff and rushed back to the Attic. Ginny met them on the way.

"We ‘ re not going to lunch ?"Ron asked as they reached the frowsty room.

"No."

"But I ‘ m thirsty !"

"margin call Dobby."Harry shed his robe and stepped into the nitty-gritty of the with child hollow blank space."Malfoy, you first."

"If you ‘ re sure."Malfoy drew his wand."You injured your hired hand last time."

"Did I ?"Harry froze.

"fountainhead you ‘ re not using it."

"It ‘ s finely, It ‘ s my left anyway."Harry shrugged and wiggled his fingers as proof.."mustiness have fallen on it or something."

"If you ‘ re sure."Malfoy said dubiously."Well then ... Expelliarmus !"

"Ferio ! Stupefy !"Harry pellet Malfoy's while out of the air and threw his own a minute after. The blond boy shielded and Harry was forced to duck under his own stunner."Fulgar Fletch !"Harry flicked his baton and sent a swarm of sparkling leaf blade flickering through the air towards the momentarily shocked Malfoy.

"Protego !"Draco shielded desperately but was forced backwards as the flencers hit it.

"Mobilisolum !"Harry jerked the story towards him and saw Malfoy topple onto his back."Stupefy !"

"Volucers !"Malfoy's baton jabbed into the air and Harry the stunner was absorbed by a blackness cloud. The cloud expanded and rushed towards the shocked Harry.

"Bloody hell !"Harry heard Fred outcry at the like time as his twin yelled,"Hornets !"

"Arg ! Ouch !"Harry felt bunco on every patch of undefendable flesh. Burning all across his cutis like a chemical firing. Another whiz would have been overpowered by the pain in the ass, but Harry had felt far far forged."Take this ! Tempesto !"

twist sprung from the dead air and rushed over Harry, carrying the Hornets away in a furiously buzzing tornado.

"Eat it Blondie."Harry grinned and flicked his wand towards his antagonist. The Slytherin's triumphant grin suddenly turned to fear and ail as the cloud engulfed him.

"Fin-ow ! Fi- bloody matter ! Finite Crabro !"The hornets disappeared and Draco was left tousle and snarling in the middle of the whirlwind. Harry let it rage for another second before canceling it too. The two belligerent stared each other down for a few moments, both pockmarked with gyp and sweating.

"Maybe you two should stop."Hermione suggested hesitantly from the by-line."Before you hurt yourselves. more than I mean."

"Maybe we should."Malfoy said, lowering his wand.

"I guess."Harry smiled, knowing this biz. He kept a close hairgrip on his sceptre. Wait for it ...

"Confringo !"

"Protego !"Harry's shield was up in plenty of fourth dimension to block the torment."Ha ! Nice-"Harry's shield shattered and he was lifted off his human foot as his dresser exploded in nuisance. He was thrown backwards and rolled across the pitted and scarred level. He jerked before he hit the slanted wall and managed to promote himself to his pes. His wand was gone, rolled across the floor away from him.

"Damn it ! Damn it ! Stupid damn shell !"

"Are you injured Harry ?"Malfoy called out.

"I ‘ m fine."Harry pushed himself off the floor."Bloody shield broke like a pastry shell ! Keeps doing that ..."

"It ‘ s the wand movement Harry."Hermione called out."If you look at the theory-"

"I ‘ ve read the hypothesis. I ‘ ve read the archetype paper. I ‘ ve read the unanimous book."Harry grabbed his baton off the floor."I don ‘ t get it. It ‘ s a charm, it ‘ s a basic bloody good luck charm and I can ‘ t do it right."

"You can."Neville said encouragingly."It can stop basic spells."

"Well Voldemort won ‘ t use introductory piece !"Harry punched the flooring violently."He ‘ ll use nasty, evil, powerful spells."

"You ‘ re right."Malfoy said flatly."He ‘ ll be using the killing curse and it won ‘ t affair if you have the C. H. Best shield in the world. If you don ‘ t contrivance you ‘ re dead."

"Simplification."Harry waved the comment away."Come on, we ‘ ve got prison term for another affaire d'honneur before creatures. Unless we skip it ..."

"We can ‘ t."Hermione said automatically.

"Especially since we know Voldemort ‘ s boosting his Army with glowering creatures."Padma agreed.

"Fine fine."Harry shook his head."Ron and Hermione, duel me."

"Both of us ?"

"Like, at the same metre ?"

"Yes."Harry shucked off his fret soaked t-shirt."Get on with it."

"But that ‘ s not fair."Ron pointed out.

"Neither ‘ s this."Harry blasted the floorboards by Ron's foundation causing him to yip like a puppy."draw poker your bloody wands."

In the end they were glad for the outdoor mise en scene of creatures, although they were the but one not wearing coating. Harry eased his ache left hand in a slow roofy, it was deserving it. It would be worth it. Harry listened with half an ear to the moral, it was about unicorns. The chance of Voldemort sending an U. S. Army on unicorns was low to laughable so Harry lidded his eyes and dozed.
*


As the object lesson ended Annapurna turned towards Harry to wake him and found that someone had beaten her to it. individual unexpected.

"Oh no."She whispered under her breath.

"What is ... oh."Her sister stood beside her."This isn ‘ t going to end well."

"It could."Parvati said shakily."He could apologize."

"Have you met Harry ?"

Anapurna's nitty-gritty dropped and they watched mute as the trope tapped Harry on the shoulder.

"Hello Susan."Harry said calmly, then opened his middle."Is the deterrent example over ?"

"Yes Harry, it is."Susan off-white folded her arms and seemed to be waiting.

"Great,"Harry stood and stretched."Thanks for waking me."Harry turned to leave.

“'Thanks for waking me ‘ ?"Susan said incredulously."That ‘ s it ? !"

"What do you want Susan ?"Harry asked flatly.

"You didn ‘ t write. The entirely summer ! You didn ‘ t say goodbye before you left. You just ... disappeared."

"I was busy."Harry said sharply."I still am. Anything else ?"

"Wh ... what is this Harry ?"Susan swallowed."Am I still your girlfriend ? Are we arguing ? Are we breaking up or did you break up with me at the end of lastly yr and just forget to recite me ?"

"Susan ..."Harry glanced down, for the first off time in the conversation his stony masque slipped a beat. But when he looked back up it was harder than ever."I don ‘ t have clip for a girlfriend now, and I won ‘ t for a tenacious time. So yes, we ‘ re broken up."Harry turned and began to take the air back up towards the castle.

Susan just stood there, her hands lightly clenching the fabric of her gown. Staring into quad. As the counterpart watched she sobbed wetly and drew a paw across her eyes before running off towards the greenhouses, one arm shielding her face from any passers by.

"That was ... I mean that was ..."Annapurna began bet trailed off."What he did, it was just ..."

"Cruel. Harsh. Cold. Evil."Padma finished for her.

"Yeah, that."Parvati nodded."I ‘ m going after her."

"goodness. You do that. I ‘ m going after Harry."
*


"I know what you ‘ re going to say."Harry said when Padma finally caught up to him in the hall.

"wellspring you ‘ re going to bloody listen anyway-"

"No I ‘ m not."Harry interrupted, and disappeared. Padma saw the phantasm of a disillusionment relocation off down a transition but lost it a second later.

Harry wasn't in history of magic. No one expected him to be.
*


"Is this it now ?"Padma asked her sis as they got set for bed."engagement all day ? Let Harry bruise us up, push aside his new attitude and get make for tomorrow so he can do it all over again ?"

"He ‘ s going through some stuff."Parvati sighed."He needs our help. He needs us."

"He has a singular way of showing it."

"He thinks this is what he has to do."Hermione voluntered."He thinks he has to be like this to get Voldemort. This hard, this cold."

"He ‘ s legal injury !"Anapurna insisted emotionally.

"That ‘ s the sad thing sister."Padma shook her capitulum sadly."He may not be."
*


Snape was awakened in the heart of the night by glowing silver visible radiation. One of the welfare of being an occlumens was total mental control and Snape was awake in an instant. As his eyes flickered unfold he groaned inwardly, then thought better of it and groaned outwardly.

"What is it you old mug ?"Snape said angrily. The Phoenix patronus couldn't hear him and wouldn't study back so it was a utter object to vent at.

"Come to my government agency immediately Severus. It is about Harry."

Snape was already out the doorway before the silver skirt disappeared. He shucked his robe on as he hurried down the corridor. Wait, why was he walking ? Was Harry's safety less important than not looking stupid person. Snape broke into a run. The sound of his flapping feet filled the corridor as he hammered towards the Headmaster's office.

"poke ice-cream."The gargoyle slid aside and Snape threw himself into the stairwell. The stairs began to rise, painfully slowly. Snape gasped his hint back as he silently urged them to go faster. Eventually the master's door came into view and Snape pushed it outdoors quickly and said,"Albus ! I ‘ m here."

"Severus welcome."The Headmaster was sitting calmly at his desk."Read this if you would."

Snape blinked in confusion for a consequence, then noticed the paper on Dumbledore's desk. He stepped closelipped and saw that it was an early written matter of the Prophet. This was the exigency ? Perhaps he was missing something ?
slaying AFOOT

Dannion LeSang was found dead in his household this dawn. A window of his penthouse apartment had been shattered, possibly so that the sea wolf could gain entree. Once inside misfortunate Mr LeSang was beaten horribly, with a blunt instrument, possibly a mesa leg. The aurors have cordoned off the orbit and refused to bring out any detals but this reporter has discovered that his injuries were not what killed him. Oh no he was poisoned ! Poisoned by a toxin that the ministry

HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE !

Is there a psychotic grampus at loose ? The aurors gave no commentary, perhaps because they as yet, know zippo ! Why anyone would want to toss off Mr LeSang is unknown, perhaps an old rival from his retentive and distinguished quidditch career ...


Snape dropped the paper in disgust.

"Is this your emergency ? Is this what you dragged me from my bed for ?"

"Dannion LeSang was a known death eater."

"I am mindful that Dannion LeSang was a demise eater. Do you perhaps call up who informed you that Dannion LeSang was a death feeder ? Who gave you the shocking news that the daring, smiling, asterisk chaser for the Wigtown Wanderers loved to torture muggles ? Do you ?"

"It was you."

"It was me."

"You do not think his death is important ?"

"I do not think his death involved Harry."

"No gild member was involved."

"Albus there are hoi polloi other than the parliamentary law who despise last eaters."Snape felt like laughing, and did."People former than Harry as well. Perhaps-"Snape was cut off as the door to the office was flung open again.

"Why did you hump the countersign you arrogant small toerag !"Filch dragged Harry in by the ear and pushed him onto the floor.

"Fairly obvious choice."Harry chuckled and pushed himself up from the floor. He was fully clothed, at two o clock in the sunrise."I mean surely by now you ‘ ve used all the non-disgusting sweets."

"Hello Harry. Thank you Mr Filch, you may go."Dumbledore gestured and the ancient stinking squib of a caretaker bowed out. As soon as he was gone Dumbledore handed the newspaper to Harry."What do you sleep with of this ?"

Harry reached out slowly and took the paper, his eye scanning from one incline to the early. After a instant he looked up.

"I know nothing about this."Harry held out the paper."May I go now ?"

"You were not in story of magic yesterday."Dumbledore said pointedly."Did you leave the castle ?"

"I ‘ m never in chronicle of magic."Harry barked a joke."But no, I didn ‘ t leave the castle."

"You understand I have trouble trusting you Harry."Dumbledore said levelly."It is very well-fixed to see you turning vigilante. That would be a mistake."

"We ‘ ve had this conversation before."Harry said abruptly."Didn ‘ t end well for you I recall. But come on, poison ? A toxin the ministry can ‘ t identify ? Honestly, do you think that ‘ s me ? You ‘ ve seen my potions marks."

"I did not reckon you had the skills to brew it Harry. But I know you have the resources to buy it."

"wellspring I didn ‘ t."Harry threw the paper on the base. `` Can I go ? ``

Dumbledore leant back, confluence Harry 's eyes with his own flinty stare. For a farsighted moment the old wiz and the young stared each other down across the dumb office. Snape could almost feel the sparking trick as the headmaster tried to force Harry 's judgement unresolved. After a minute Harry snorted and said,

'' Whatever. '' Harry turned and pushed the door open. `` Wake me if you have any other unsolved execution you want to pin on a scapegoat. ``

The two instructor stood without speaking as they heard Harry 's stride echoing away from the stairwell. Even after they had faded to nothing it was a hanker time before either of them spoke.

'' Do you believe him Severus ? ``

'' Yes. ``

'' Why pray William Tell ? ``

'' Because I trust him. '' That was a lie, it was because Harry would n't have broken a window.
*


'' Mr potter. ``

Hmmm ...

'' Harry potter ! ``

Hmmm ... sleepy.

'' Harry thrower why is it always my social class you choose to sleep in ? ``

Dumbledore 's faulting. Blame Dumbledore. Wanted to log Z's ...

'' Alright exquisitely Mr Potter. You have driven me to this. '' There was silence for a few moments, then ... `` Sonorus. HARRY ceramist GET UP ! ``

Harry was buffeted by sound and slowly, blearily, rubbed his eyes. In presence of him was a split up vitrified stump. Harry reached forward and picked it up.

'' You broke my drinking glass. '' Harry reached up to his face to make sure his own glasses were n't broken then drew his sceptre and repaired the champaign Methedrine. He did n't even know what he was supposed to be turning it into, possibly some sort of squid.

Why a squid ?

We were dreaming about a squid.

That makes no sense.

Shut up.

I ca n't keep out up I 'm part of your brain.

I 'll lobotomize you.

No you wo n't, go back to thinking about squid. Or wait, maybe we should pay attention to McGonagall.

She is looking kind of angry.

'' I can become it into a squid. I swear, just ticker. '' Harry held the glass up sleepily and tapped it with his wand. `` Kalamaraki Krasi. ``

The glass stock split along its top, flipped upside down and scuttled along the desk blowing flatulent bubbles out of a fleshy protrusion. Harry smiled,

'' See ! I did Ok. ''

'' Harry ... '' McGonagall was staring at the glass calamary, which was currently hiding behind a chair leg. `` We were turning them into tulips. ``

'' Wha ... ? We were ? ``

'' How in the h ... How did you do that ? ``

'' I ... do n't know. ``

'' Would you hazard a surmise ? ``

'' Well ... '' Harry tried to gum together an explanation from his wonky knowledge of Hellenic language. `` wellspring Kalamaraki means squid ... and I think Krasi is some variety of vegetable ... ''

'' Harry ... ''

'' Yes ? ``

'' Go back to sleep. ``

Harry gave a unsmooth image thumbs up as he sank back down to the table.
*


Harry slipped into bed that Night confident in the cognition that he had got at least two hours sleep over the form of the day. He dozed with an warning device clock under pillow until it sounded and prompted him to shuck his mantle off and leant out of the window. He looked over towards the headmaster 's column, the luminousness was still on. Harry flicked a distich of binoculars out of his bag and focused in on the faraway window. Dumbledore was staring into a pensive, the silver light up playing on his lined face. He looked pall, very tired.

But at to the lowest degree he was n't looking at the map.

Harry slid out onto the wall and confidently let himself precipitate. The fart whistled thrillingly in his ears as the roofing tile rose up to meet him. A consequence before he hit Harry felt a fierce tugging around his chest and his final drop slowed to a crawl. His infantry touched ground and he flitted off across the roofing tile. Harry reached the window that was his finish and flicked it open with his scepter. He dropped through again, trusting his bought illusion, and landed lightly in front man of a sink.

'' Sissasc. '' Harry hissed. The sink stayed exactly where it was. `` Bugger, er ... Zissasc ? Sizzak ? Sizzasc ? Ci ... '' Harry broke off as the sink began moving.

'' Damn ! Silencio. '' Harry caught it before it made too much noise and watched as the entering to the bedchamber of secret was slowly revealed. Harry lowered himself into the underground and said, `` Cissycis. '' This time he got it world-class meter and the entrance began closing up as Harry slid off down the chute.

Harry landed foundation first, expecting to hit mucky water system, and instead felt dry rock. This space had been cleaned up a bit since last clock time he was here. Harry continued through the cave, passing the monster snake-door. The bedroom was blue, maybe Markus was n't here yet ... Damn it !

Harry dove to the side as the stunner flashed through the air. He threw a bludgeoning hex towards where it had come from but heard zip. A moment later Albert Michelson appeared, totally unperturbed, out of the shadows.

'' Nicely done Pipsqueak. '' The Professor clapped his huge hands. `` But you should have aimed more, that hex did n't experience a chance of hitting me. ``

'' I could n't see you. '' Harry pointed out.

'' You saw my go. '' Markus folded his arms. `` You saw where it was coming from. You also know the layout of this elbow room and could use that cunning brain of yours to guess where I was hiding. ``

'' There was n't very much clock time. ``

'' Make sentence by moving faster. '' Albert Michelson drew his wand and squared up in the eye of the room. `` come on lad, clock time to duel. ``

'' Duel ? Seriously ? '' Harry shed his robe. `` I thought you were gon na teach me some more utile spells first. Right now I wo n't last ten arcsecond in a duel with you. ``

'' Well who would ? '' A. A. Michelson laughed, then grew serious again. `` You know enough spells to get started, we 'll fill in the blanks on the way. Anyhow I 've seen that you know spells. I want to see whether you know how to use them. ``

'' Any rule ? '' Harry asked, knowing the answer.

'' Yes, win. ``

'' That could be troublesome to apply to both of us. ``

'' Not for me. Ewwyiky ! ``

Harry had no estimate what the Hell that was so dive for screen, rolling and coming up with his wand trained on his teacher. Somewhere behind Harry there was a cheap squelching audio but Harry was already fighting back.

'' Ferio ! '' Harry threw, not expecting it to go through. Instead it was just a misdirection for, `` Cronos lance ! ``

"Protego."Markus wasn't fooled. Harry watched, awed, as Michelson angled his shield to reflect the bludgeoning hex right into the way of life of the flash-frozen bolt following it, reducing them both to a exhibitor of noisy arc."You ‘ ll have to do better than that !"The massive man called out calmly. Harry answered with violence.

"Incendio ! Reducto !"Harry aimed the first at Markus and the sec at the ceiling far above him."Stupefy !"Harry blasted the spell into Makrus'face and didn't wait to see if it hit. Instead he aimed at a chunk of falling ceiling."Confringo !"And flung himself away as it detonated like a bombshell. He rolled on the story and came to his foot in prison term to fling the first three spells he could imagine off at the figure in the nub of the expanding cloud of dust and fire.

The only warning Harry got was a wink of red before the turn flashed from the swarm and hit him in the breadbasket, throwing him to the floor.

"better even than that."Michelson stepped out of the detritus, not a hair out of place."That was good though, imaginative. trade good trick with the sway, might give caught a lesser wizard. Again."

Harry forced himself to his feet and raised his wand. This sentence he lasted just a few seconds before a mantrap blasted through his hastily raised shield and knocked his Christ Within out. familiar unconscious blackness held him in it's comforting bosom for a few moments before Markus brought him back.

"That was not as good."

"I know, I know."Harry shook his nous."Bloody shield. I can ‘ t do it, it ‘ s useless."

"Don ‘ t use it then."Markus shrugged, as if they were discussing the weather.

"Don ‘ t shield ?"Harry laughed humorlessly."Just let stuff hit me ?"

"Look kid, you first learnt this charm three years ago."Markus explained."You ‘ ve had to use it lots of metre since then. You ‘ ve practiced. You ‘ ve practiced a lot and it hasn ‘ t got any wagerer. It ‘ s fair to assume you and the shield charm just don ‘ t go well together. It happens."

"To you ?"

"No. But to other people."

"So that ‘ s it ?"Harry sighed."No way around it ?"

"Yes. Use former things."Markus turned and walked back to his starting stain."You know plenty of other way of life to block spells. encounter to your persuasiveness and use your prodigious imagination."

"Use your imagination."Harry rolled his eyes and wearily stood."Right ... Incendio !"

Harry lasted almost a instant of ferocious dodging and franticly blowing spells out of the air before he was disarmed and slapped himself hard. He had to be better.

"Again."

... Harry was clipped by a curse and went down ...

"Again."

... Mown down by a bar of iron that came from nowhere ...

"Again."

... Floored with a punch ...

"Again !"

... paralysed ...

"Again !"

... stunned ...

"AGAIN !"

... shocked ...

"AGAIN !"

"This is hopeless."Harry didn't bother to get up from the floor."I ‘ m not getting any dear. We should just face it, I can ‘ t duel."

"Not with that attitude."

"I ‘ m sorry I brought you here."

"I ‘ m not."Markus folded his weapon."At least I wasn ‘ t until now."

"I thought I could get better."

"I think you can get better."

"whole man should just give up."Harry held his head in his bridge player."I can ‘ t meter him."

"Who ? Voldemort ?"Markus A. A. Michelson threw up his hired hand."well no ! I don ‘ t think I could tucker him. I don ‘ t think Dumbledore could tucker him. He ‘ s one of the most powerful living adept and has access to powers seemly people don ‘ t tinge. But if what you ‘ ve told me is on-key then you ‘ ve got ... what was it ?"

“'A power he knows not ‘"Harry quoted sarcastically.

"Right. But it doesn ‘ t matter."Markus walked around so he was standing in social movement of Harry."I ‘ d bet money on you even if there wasn ‘ t a prophecy."

"Why ?"

"I ‘ d get safe odds."Markus smiled and winked. Harry didn't joke."But seriously, you can learn to duel. You already know enough to beat any regular wizard men down."

"Voldemort isn ‘ t a regular wi-"

"I know !"Markus interrupted him angrily."Which is why you need to learn to duel like a master. Which is why you called me. Which is why you should listen to me ! Now ... you need to fiddle to your speciality. evidence me what you ‘ re proficient at."

"Oh come on."Harry snorted."Don ‘ t give me this psyco-crap."

"What. Are. You. Good. At ?"Michelson punctuated each watchword by poking Harry's sitting form.

"I ... I don ‘ t know."

"Yes you do !"

"I don ‘ t."Harry shook his head."I guess I ‘ m not really good at anything useful."

"Oh for Merlin ‘ s sake ! Who are you ?"Markus leant down, his angrily pointing finger barely an inch from Harry's human face."Where ‘ s the Harry I met three years ago ? I don ‘ t see him. Where the hell has he gone ? Where ‘ s the kid who walked this schooltime like he owned the blank space and obeyed teachers on toleration ? Where is that chesty bastard because he ‘ s the one who can outfox Voldemort ! Not the whiney little terror he apparently became ! Well I need him here now ! WHAT ARE YOU GOOD AT !"

"I ... magical spell ?"Harry said, staring up at Michelson.

"Right."Albert Abraham Michelson nodded."You ‘ re good at charm. You ‘ re excellent at good luck charm. You ‘ re a flaming learned person at appealingness. If I heard the rumors in the staff elbow room right you built a professional person quality Scots heather at xiii class old. Out flew a Firebolt."

"That was mostly Ginny doing the flying."Harry shook his header again."And anyway I don't see how that'll serve me in a duel."

"Harry you ..."Markus Albert Abraham Michelson held his hand to his head and breathed out a tenacious, wear out breath."Let me try this a different way. You ‘ ve seen a lot of affaire d'honneur right ?"

"Yeah."

"You ‘ ve seen a lot of hoi polloi duel."

"Yeah."

"Seen deviation ?"

"What do you ... ?"Harry bit his lip. He didn ‘ t want to get yelled at again."Yeah, there are differences."

"What differences ? Specifically ?"

"Well ... It's like ... you kind of rich person .... This is tough. Can I excuse it how I see in in my own caput ?"

"Of course."

"You have kind of three types."Harry gestured vaguely."There are the received duelers, they throw mantrap and jinx, circle of carapace charms too, and they seem to mostly come out of the Hogwarts defence force classes. Not that that makes them bad. Some are really good, but they all seem to use this one style. This one set of spells."

"Hmm ... and the succeeding type ?"

"Death eaters. They aren ‘ t all even very undecomposed at fighting. But they use oath. Unforgivables and stuff. And that makes up for the lack of skill."

"And the death type ?"

"The masters."Harry shook his head."I watched some duels on television while I was traveling. Thought I could break up up some tip. almost of the duelists were group-ones, but some of them ... the secure ones ... they ‘ re not even in the Lapp league. They move like they ‘ re weapons. They don ‘ t grub mantrap around, about of the prison term I couldn ‘ t even recognize the piece they were using. It wasn ‘ t dueling like I ‘ d ever seen. Except maybe when I saw you fight Tom brain-teaser, right here. That ‘ s the difference I guess. That ‘ s the difference between duelists."

"Harry, you are absolutely right."Michelson was smiling broadly."What you just said is exactly right."

"Um ... so ? I ‘ m still not seeing how that ‘ s connected to anything."

"You ‘ ve grasped one of the central concepts of dueling. One of the things that make masses group threes. The learnedness curve is immense, there ‘ s a point when you just get beyond everyone else. When you stop dueling with dueling charm and pop dueling with everything. Do you know what the other difference of opinion is ?"

"No."

"It's that we all have tricks."Albert Abraham Michelson winked."All the group threes. Some magic that makes us better, something that separates us from each other and from the ace and twos."

"A ... legerdemain ?"

"Look at Dumbledore, he uses transfiguration. By the end of a fight with Dumbledore you ‘ re not just fighting him, you ‘ re fighting the walls, doors, ceiling and story. Plus anything else he can flex into a moving, thinking artillery against you. Voldemort ? Well he uses gloomy magic, knit and simpleton. You ‘ ve already realized that that gives a individual big businessman beyond your acquirement. And he already has plentifulness of skill. Me ? I use foreign spells, spells my enemies have never heard of. The go password of a surprise number of my opponents was ‘ What the Hades is that ?'”

Harry chuckled, but Markus wasn't finished.

"Dee Finsbury, the current world friend duelist is also a booster conjuror. Your own prof Flitwick dueled for England, you think he threw around knockout ? And you ? Well you can do charms. Right ?"

"Yeah."Harry nodded."Yes."

"Say it."

"Yes I can do charms."

"commodity. Then use them."Markus turned to go back to his mark."And get up off the floor."

I'm on the floor ? Harry looked around. Oh yeah, he was. Harry pushed himself to his feet with renewed vigor. He gripped his wand and turned towards his instructor. Use charms ? Well he would pass it a guess. What should he use ? Michelson appeared to be just waiting to see what he would do. wellspring, he'd experience to do something ...

"Engorgio !"Harry aimed, not at Markus, but at the flagstones and saw his teacher stagger as the rock puffed up like a muffin."Reducto !"Harry blew the Edward Durell Stone to smithereens.

Markus righted himself easily and flicked his wand. Harry blanched as a gigantic fireball was sent rocketing towards him. Harry swallowed, time for risks.

"Ardor-Algidus !"Harry yelled and stood his ground as the hell on earth passed over him. He caught a glance of Markus'shocked typeface as he emerged unharmed on the early side before he aimed and fired."Confringo ! Ferio ! Stubefy !"The surprise onslaught forced the instructor onto the defensive, shielding desperately. A instant later he brought up a polishing ash gray sphere. Harry's spells bounded off like pins off a frying pan, sending echoes all over the Brobdingnagian chamber. Michelson looked out appreciatively from the prophylactic of the sphere.

"What was that Pipsqueak ?"

"flame freezing charm."Harry smiled proudly."Nullified your fireball."

"Nicely done."Albert Abraham Michelson nodded."Try ... this !"

"sodomist !"Harry dived for book binding as the shadows erupted with movement. whale leathery movement. Harry dashed behind a pillar as the bats flung themselves through the air towards him. They were vast, wings at least a meter all-encompassing, with vast fang."Incendio !"Harry waved a fiery belt through the bats but Thomas More just materialized to replace them.

"Jupitall !"

Harry dived out of the way as a spinning orb of plasma burnt through the air where he'd been. Michelson wasn't going easy on him just because he was busy with the bats. He couldn't scheme forever, if he didn't clear the air he was dead.

"Depulso !"Harry yelled desperately, but the bat 's were too warm and Harry had to give himself against the wall to debar another thrown charm from his opponent. He needed a charm ... what charm ? Wait ! Bats were like, sort of elephantine hornets ... really."Tempesto !"

Harry called a bulwark of wind and threw it against the leathery creatures, swatting them out of the sky and crashing them into the far wall of the sleeping accommodation. Michelson didn't give him any respite though and responded with a punishing waterfall that appeared out of nowhere above Harry. Harry felt a stab of old terror, but the veneration only made him think faster.

"Arefacio !"The drought charm banished the waterfall before it even touched him."Accio !"A. A. Michelson was forced to convey his Ag shield back up as a hundred bat corps funneled past him.

"Depulso !"Harry flicked his sceptre, spinning the orb of bodies back away from him and bowled it back to break against the Professors shield sphere. Harry wasn't going to let up now."Diffindo !"The patch scratched against the shield to no effect, screeching like a violin."Reducto !"Michelson wasn't even knocked backwards as shell once again absorbed the go with a gimcrack government note. Harry gripped his wand angrily, nada he had could break down this sodding silver grey shield.

Wait ... maybe he didn't have to !

"Motus !"Harry aimed squarely at the center of the silver formal and twisted. It vibrated like a bell and filled the chamber with ringing. Harry twisted further and the auditory sensation intensified. Inside his bubble Michelson clutched his ear. Harry found the resonance and twisted harder, the sound outside the shield was deafening, inside it must have been excruciating. Markus threw his arm out violently and Harry had to fling himself sideways as the screaming shell cannonballed past him."Ferio !"Harry threw a hex at the staggering Michelson that he just caught with a sideboard. Harry kept up the attack in a rushing of glee ! He was winning !

"KhaNDana !"

The dash came from nowhere. Slicing out of the dark too fast for him to react. Harry was thrown to the land, electric spark raging down every arteria and turning him into a screaming battery of pain. Harry felt his scepter torn from his unresisting hired hand and at finally managed to blank is judgement to the pain. He waited in the dark for it to recede. When he at last opened his eyes Michelson was staring down at him. The huge wizard put his wand to first one ear then the other, muttering something, then whipped away the stock that had ran from both of them with a sleeve.

"Good."He said, unusually loudly."Again."



Review now or you will struck blind and be let free into a field wide-cut of giant purple bear traps. Also to the full of bears. The bears will be capable to avoid the bear hole, you will not.


I do n't own Harry Potter. Neither have I seen him recently. If you have any information as to his whereabouts please phone. He is out in the cold without any food and we think his taking into custody may have come off. He 's dim and white with black mitt and he 's missing a little bit of his ear. He also answers to the name of flake. He likes tuna.






Severus Snape landed lightly on the scrubland and looked about him. This would have been a monumentally barren place if not for the removed sparkle of a muggle road in the valley far below. Snape walked over to the gather of black cloaked figures standing near the boundary of the drop. Snape counted faces, Barty Crouch was still absent. What was the task that man had been set ? It disturbed Snape greatly that he did not know. It made him wonder if perhaps others of the disconsolate figures did, if perhaps he was missing something.

One figure was apart from the others, right at the edge. The frame stood with his back to them, his recollective robes streaming out to the side in the harsh night idle words. He seemed to be looking down at the route, and at the boost light source of a town.

Like a falcon, Snape realized, or a waiting hawk. Sitting and surveying it 's prey before swooping down and clutching one up in its talons. The wand in the watcher 's helping hand twitched as if thinking of raining flame and pain down on those beneath him. The twitch subsided. Thank god.

'' Severus. '' The darkness lord turned at death from the cliff. `` You have come at last. I was forced to expect. I dislike waiting. ``

'' My apologies Divine. '' Snape bowed deeply. `` I could not arouse suspicion about why I was going. I was forced to sacrifice hurrying for safety. I am sorry. ``

'' And where were you. '' Voldemort continued, his vocalization terrifyingly light. `` Were you at Hogwarts ? ``

'' No my Lord. '' The very fact that he asked the question meant he knew that Snape had left. Which was very, very bad. What lie could die ? `` There was an order meeting. ``

'' Was anything discussed ? Anything I should be made cognisant of ? ``

'' No my master. They continue to guard the department of closed book, Dumbledore still fears to move. Nothing has changed. ``

'' Well, '' The dark overlord smiled thinly. `` That at to the lowest degree is honest news. ``

He does not make love where I was. Snape kept his face perfectly unemotional. He suspects ... he strongly suspects but he does not know. He values me, he values me as a spy in the club. That is why I am still alive, because on the of-chance that I have not betrayed him I am worthful. He will kill me. He will toss off me soon but until then I must continue a spy. I am valuable.

"I notice Mr Crouch is still absent."Snape tried to sound uninterested."Perhaps he has been captured. We may give birth to deliver him. Again."

He expected a chuckle from the death eater. None of them liked Crouch. Instead there was silence.

"honey Barty is none of your concern."The dark God Almighty replied, in the conversational shade that was so a great deal worse than ira."His task is going well. Is yours Severus ?"

"Alas no maestro. I apologize."Snape hung his school principal."I am afraid there is simply no way to adapt polyjuice potion to admit a human to go non-human."

"I dislike bankruptcy Severus."

"master if you asked me to jump off this cliff and try to fly I would do so."Snape tried to voice contrite."But I doubt I would be successful. Some affair are not possible."

"For you perhaps."The dark lord was smiling slyly."But no matter. You may cease your experimentation. The potion is not necessary any more."

"Yes master."Is it not necessary or do you just not trust me to brew it any more ?

'' On to the encounter, we began without you Severus. I hope you don ‘ t mind. '' The darkness lord turned back towards the cliff and Snape had to strive to hear him over the wind. `` We were discussing an assassination. ``

'' Who is the prey ? Perhaps I could brew a poison or some constitute of- ''

'' No. '' The darkness Divine cut him off. `` Not poison. I intend her death to be more graphic than that. An example. ``

'' She ? '' Swirling horror rose in Snape 's stomach.

'' A salient trope in the department of mysteries. '' Voldemort one-half turned back towards Snape. `` A Miss Natalie Zhao. Do you know her ? ``

'' Yes. '' No god no. `` She is an order fellow member. ``

'' I know. You informed me of that yourself. ``

'' I did my Lord. '' I begged her not to construct me tell him. She said it would n't matter. nothing connected them. `` If I may ask, why have you decided she must die. ``

'' She is the daughter of a squib, in a large position in the ministry. A travesty. ``

'' I agree my Lord. But, why her ? '' Snape momentarily considered just attacking Voldemort, but it would do no good. He 'd die and Natalie would die anyway. `` There are many former multitude equally worthy of death. ``

'' Your lord has decided she should die is that not enough for you Severus ? '' The dark master smiled from the depth of his soulless, piercing eyes. `` Does her dying ... trouble you ? ``

'' Of course not my lord. She is the nipper of bad blood, of course she must be killed. '' Snape bowed and stepped backward. `` I will make certain that Dumbledore and the other rescript members at Hogwarts are distracted. ``

'' That will not be essential Severus. We have already cut all communicating to Mrs Zhao 's residence. I have also deployed dementors to intercept any subject matter sent by patronus. No messages can pass her. From anyone. ``

'' about prudent my lord. '' Snape nodded, furiously trying to roil his brain and bump some solution to the problem. He could not recall, it was as if gruesome tendrils and unchewable black vines were choking his usually perfect genial machinery. There must be some way to get a subject matter to her, there had to be !

'' Severus ? '' Voldemort questioned lightly. `` Will you be at Hogwarts this evening ? ``

'' Yes my lord. ``

'' All night ? No errands to run ? '' The darkness overlord 's mouth quirked. `` No midnight strolls ? ``

'' No my master. ``

'' good. '' Voldemort 's centre narrowed. `` Because I shall live Severus. I shall know. ``
*


Snape walked calmly along the long path to the enceinte doors of Hogwarts using all the force of will he had not to break into a run. The watchers were no doubt already in stead, at the sharpness of the forest beyond the wards. As were the assaulter probably, in his mind he could already see them apparating into the drear streets around Natalie 's flat. He ached to run but could n't. It was agony, caught in chains that did n't even live. An anchor in his mind.

He reached the doorway and stepped through it. He pushed it closed calmly, then turned and ran.

He reached Dumbledore 's stairway and yelled the password. He sure as hell was n't waiting for the staircase this time.

'' Acellelero ! '' Snape clung to the cardinal pillar as the staircase rocketed upwards and came to a scream halt at the top. Snape threw the door undefendable, startling the Headmaster.

'' Severus ? What is the meaning of this- ''

'' I need the parliamentary law ! '' Snape snapped. `` We need to mobilize now ! ``

'' Severus calm down. You will need to explain. ``

Snape growled and choked out a curt explanation of what had happened. At the end Dumbledore dropped down into his bum and didder his head.

'' We can not, help her. He has outmaneuvered us again I fear. ``

'' Not if we move now ! ``

'' To make a motion confirms his suspicion of you. And it would do no good. The masses watching you no doubtfulness have order of magnitude to kill you if you try to exit. No message can reach her. Yes, yes he had truly outmanoeuvre us. ``

'' I can take Guy Fawkes. '' Snape argued. `` I can leave without a trace. Warn her, then- ''

'' You can not take Fawkes. The method acting phoenix 's use to travel can be detected by those who know how. Voldemort knows how. ``

'' I can not just sit idly by while she is killed ! ``

'' Which is exactly what Voldemort expects. '' Dumbledore said angrily. `` Surely you see that this was directed at you ! lure to storm you to let out your true fealty. It is a exam, if you fail we lose our spy. If you pass however you will be his most trusted servant. ``

'' Passing means the expiry of Natalie ! ``

'' Not necessarily. '' Dumbledore was obviously trying to be soothing. `` She is an accomplished scrapper. She could escape or- ''

'' She will be outnumbered ten to one. ``

'' Think of how many citizenry your information saved in the conclusion war. Countless lives. ``

'' Some living are worth more than to me than others. ``

'' Well not to me. '' Dumbledore stood and stared down the potions passkey. `` The best you can do for her is to make surely you are seen here. Go and pick herbaceous plant from one of the extraneous plots, go and get some unicorn hair from Hagrid. Anything that lets them see you here. That is all you can do. If you try to leave they will kill you. Then they will drink down her. You can do cipher. ``

Snape scrunched up his eye. The old man was right.
*


Natalie Zhao turned the Page idly on the report she was reading and yawned. There was too lots to do. She flicked it closed and clicked the luminousness out before rolling over and dropping the folder onto her bedside table. Perhaps all the trouble would just magically have gone away when she got up tomorrow. It was unconvincing though.

Natalie burrowed deeper into her pillow and closed her eyes. The mankind was falling apart, not even dreaming could provide respite for long.

A floorboard creaking.

Natalie 's centre flickered receptive in a moment. Was it just her neighbor downstairs ? She reached for her wand and silently checked her Ward. She hissed as she realized they were in tatters and rolled off the bed. Her hand moved towards the light up switch then thought dear of it, it might let them know they had seen her. She slid towards her bedchamber door and looked out through the keyhole just as the room access at the former end of the corridor was pushed capable slowly. Revealing a soak figure.

Natalie slid back silently. She tried to apparate away, not really expecting it to mould. No, they had a ward up. They would birth blocked the flue as well. The only way she was getting out was through the front door, which meant through them.

They would check the rooms along the hall first, she perhaps had a minute.
*


Drum stinker had never pretended to be an intelligent man, just a useful one. He was useful say, when someone had n't paid their debts in time and activity needed to be taken. He had been locked up for being useful in the incorrect seat at the wrong time, set liberal eventually, become useful again and caught again. This clock time for being so useful towards a ministry hit-wizard that the man was no use to anyone anymore.

He had been locked up for upright. Until the dark Godhead had given him a second chance. A chance to retort society again, to be useful again. He was only half stemma but he had just enough learning ability to never mention that to anyone. When the dark Creator had explained what needed to be done to this bint he had stepped forward instantly. It was right up his alley, he might even earn the mark if he succeeded. Then he 'd really be set.

He touched the door lock with his thumb. Warded, what else ? He turned and pointed into the rabble behind him at a hunched figure, then pointed back at the door. The man shuffled forward, he had been a damn good whammy breaker until he was caught skimming a cut off the top. He was just golden the ministry caught him before the goblins did.

Drum waited in silence as the petite man clicked and hummed in front of the door. A few minutes later the hex breaker pushed the doorway subject. Drum stepped into the unconditional and looked around professionally. It was set out fairly regular. Kitchen that way ... empty. Drum waved two guys towards the second room and ignored it. This place was like a catalogue, everything was in its place except for the books and papers strewn across the coffee board. Well, that and the three marine museum near the binding. Not full of body of water. Some sorting of reptile. Some sort of incense in the air, some new age garbage.

tympan shrugged, not an issue. The chamber would either be at the end of the indorse threshold down on the left wing. That was how these buildings were built. barrel stepped down the corridor and pushed the threshold on the left open. box seat. Down the Marguerite Radclyffe Hall then. He looked behind him, the other malefactor were hanging back. Pathetic. The dark Maker had grabbed everyone who would stand up straight with no regard for experience. Not that he was criticizing, at to the lowest degree he would get full recognition for the kill.

Drum breathed in deeply. Smelled like vanilla, it was very strong. someone had once told him that smell was the strong initiation for memory board. He certainly remembered that muggle girl every time he smelled cut weed. Perhaps from now on vanilla would echo in his head, reminding him of Natalie Zhao. The char who made him the favourite bravo of the dark lord.

He made his way towards the net door. He raised his wand, fumbled it and caught it again. He shook his head. Had to stay focused. He reached the door and pushed it open. shadow, he stepped up to the bed. He had n't used the killing cuss before, but he had no doubtfulness he could take a shit it ferment. He raised his scepter, aiming at the lump in the covers. His wand was shaking, he grabbed it with both handwriting. What was wrong with him ? brake drum shook his head, the wand was still shaking.

Oh ... no, no, no ...

Drum stepped backwards and tripped over his own robes. He looked back towards the door. It was closed. Did he close it ?

'' You did n't close it. '' Drum looked up, his eyes already drooping. The girl was standing there, subdivision crossed.

'' Doped us. '' Drum mumbled through numb mouth. `` Incense ... Vanilla ... ``

'' How many more of you are there ? '' The girl demanded.

Wo n't secernate you you bitch.

'' 20 ? ``

What !

'' Where are there ? ``

Ice cold cunt queen.

'' Five in the vapid, five in the stairwell. The rest exterior. '' She almost seemed to be talking to herself. `` And dememtors flying everywhere. ``

'' You wo n't get out ? '' barrel managed to get out. `` We 've surrounded you. Your fumes may have got me ... the other five in here. Wo n't get the rest. You 'll never get out. '' The girl raised her wand.

'' I can try. ``
*


Natalie stunned the swarthy wizard and pushed his body in front of the door. How recollective before the others checked on him ?

The door handle rattled. That long.

Natalie put herself right in nominal head of the threshold. If she was lucky ...

Confringo ! She said the spell silently and angled her wand sharply down. The doorway exploded outwards, the force-out of the burst channeled down the hall. She saw three bodies flying away from her and dashed out after them.

"Cruci-"

Natalie whirled on the caster. No clip for spells, she found his heart, pushed in like a dagger and found the off switch in his nous. He folded like a puppet with the twine cut. She heard a shout behind her and protegoed so harshly that the round edges of her shield forced the paries out like crumpling newspaper. She turned and saw the hooded man dodging his own spell and threw her own, striking him in the chest.

That was the I in the vapid done.

She rushed to the door but it had been torn off its flexible joint. A dark physique reared from the stairwell. Natalie had her wand up in a bit but before she could barf the man grabbed his chest and fell to the floor. Natalie crept close, blood on his dresser. individual had hit him with a puncture curse.

She threw herself to the face. They must have been shooting from the other edifice outside. Aiming blind through the curtains. Aiming at her. Well that put climbing out the window out of the pic. She crouched and made her way towards the stairwell. She glanced between the spline and pulled her head back as a special K twinkling obliterated the wooden banisters where she had been.

Time to set off surprising them.

Natalie aimed at out into the heart of the stairway. A flicker of her scepter and a ballock of glowing light appeared. Another motion picture and a spiraling lance of sparks shot down the step like a scalawag firework. She twisted and the ballock dropped slowly, like a balloon, spitting exploding spears in every direction and shrinking as it fell.

That should keep them busy.

She dashed down the stair and took out another toughie as he desperately tried to dodge the multi-fire. Natalie had to jump out over a man lying prone on the minute level, a victim of the fireworks. A spell shattered the tiles near her articulatio humeri and she threw up a buckler against the future one. Where were they coming from ?

Damnit ! Two above her, one below. They must ingest hid in the side of meat corridors. She aimed her wand up at the two firers and vanished the trading floor under them. One of them dropped like a rock, the former was fast enough to grab the edge of the hole. But that just made him an easy target to get picked off. Natalie spun to submit out the guy below her but he was already down. Blood on him, and pooling on the floor. Another victim of the cackshots outside.

There were still ten men outside. Natalie reached the footing level and took a trench breath. They would be spread out all around her construction to stop her escaping. What was her dear bet to outlive ? The back incoming ? It led onto an alley, easy for them to stop or watch. The front was no doubt a deathtrap, she'd be hit from every incline before she got two footfall. There was a dry land floor window out into the car park ... ace tended to ignore cars. She didn't have one but surely some combining of spells could convince one to bulge out. It was her best shot.

Natalie can consume a English corridor and found the window, she peered out. No one visible, but they could be hidden among the cars. She slid the window overt and climbed out uncomfortably, breathing hard. Strangely her report pushing desk job didn't keep her in very practiced shape. She fell down between two cars and turned towards one of them. She was about to bewitch the lock when she felt a shadow fall on her.

"Got you missy."Natalie froze. The part was twisted and wily, like oil."number round so I can see your reasonably face."

Bad thought. Natalie turned and looked up into the pockmarked face above her. Into his heart ... He fell with a heavy, rag-doll thump and Natalie grabbed his wand.

"Ere what was that ?"

Footsteps ! Natalie crept back to the wall and got between it and the car just before the footsteps stopped.

"She ‘ s ‘ ere ! She got Poxx !"

Natalie heard more running understructure and tried to slink away along the edge of the wall. She reached the corner, no where to go. If she tried to make for the exit they'd see her for sure. She pushed at the apparation ward again but it was no good. They had extended it beyond the building itself. How far would they give pulled it ? To continue the whole mental block would have been impossible. Could she just run for the edge ?

They were searching the lot. They were getting closer. Natalie looked up under the nearest car. At to the lowest degree five pairs of animal foot within easy sight. The entrance was last, she might wee it. With a distraction.

She looked carefully out over the back of the car and aimed her sceptre at a blue car at the early end of the lot. It didn't have to be much, just enough to get their attention. She said the spell silently. The car's alarum sounded like a klaxon in the night air.

"What the bloody ‘ ell is that !"

Natalie stood and ran. They were looking the other way, she could have it. She blazed out of the car park and made for the end of the street, all the spell pushing against the apparation roadblock. A trance pin-wheeled over her pass and she sprinted harder. It had to end soon. She heard shouting and running behind her. delight let it end soon. A lump of the road was blown away, throwing her to the story. No ... She desperately threw herself against the ward as footsteps surrounded her. It wouldn't Budge, she knew it wouldn't.

"Now missy bout round dainty and slow."She rolled over and tried to meet the man standing in front of her's eyes."Nah, don ‘ t try any of that."He broke eye contact and started openly staring at her chest.

"You ‘ ve led us lads a merry chase."He continued, and there was a rising chuckle from the cluster of wizards surrounding her."Me and the bloke worked hard. I recon we deserve a reward."

"I assume your Creator will bring home the bacon that."Natalie said, her eyes desperately flicking around for a way out.

"I was thinking you might."The front man sneered and the others drew in closer. Natalie could see the greed of years in prison house flickering bright in their oculus."Actually I was thinking you ‘ re gon na. Seeing as you don ‘ t have a ch ... ch ... aa ... oh."The man raised his handwriting to his mouth, there was a trickle of line coming out of the recess. His supercilium knitted in mental confusion as he fell to the floor. His fellows stared at him. After a silent minute one of them stepped forward and knelt down next to him. The man reached out and touched the fallen criminals back.

"It ‘ s rip. He ‘ s bushed. He- Aaa !"The neck of the kneeling man exploded, showering them with blood. The felon jumped back in shock. Natalie grabbed her verge and threw herself backwards, rolling as she hit the reason. She had stunned one of the wiz while they were still in jounce and had turned her sceptre on another when her closed book Good Shepherd revealed himself. She had to give it to him, he knew how to ready an entrance.

He dropped from the top of another construction, his robe billowing behind him as he fell straight into the center of the wizards. He landed on one of them and rolled, a night shape in his hand coming up. Another malefactor was thrown back and landed wetly on the floor. The warrior looked up at her but she couldn't catch his face in the shadow. He nodded to her. She nodded back, and they turned on the rest of the bastards.

It was the unusual fight Natalie had ever been involved in. Strange for it's muteness. Whatever weapon the strange man was using it made no audio as it fired and she tended to roll non verbally. The criminals yelled their go but they were in such disarray they were mostly throwing desperate peach at each other. former than those there was only the sound of pace, rapid-fire like a dancing, and the occasional spray of blood. A silent battle at midnight, underneath stuttering streetlamps. Natalie's breather was hot in her ears by the time it was over. She turned to her savior, he was dumping what was now obviously a silenciod handgun in his bag.

"Who are you ?"Natalie demanded."Did Dumbledore place you ?"

"Most assuredly not."The figure said cheerily and turned towards her."fille Zhao, I do consider we ‘ ve already been introduced."

"Ha ... Harry ?"

"Yep."The untested boy's eyes wandered south and he glanced away."Um you ‘ re going to consume to have a modification of press if you want to hold any kind of intelligent conversation."

"Why ?"

"fountainhead, long story dead you ‘ re still wearing a nightgown and the ground you were just rolling around on is quite damp."

"Oh."Natalie felt the blush rising in her brass as she conjured a robe."better ?"

"Worse."Harry hung his head."Now I can ‘ t see anything."
*


Carting bodies up to her flatcar had been a phantasmagorical experience. She had healed the ones that could be healed before stunning them into a coma. In the end they had two batch, sixteen alive and four dead. She did n't doubt that without genius medicament the count would have been a lot higher.

And here she was, sitting by her coffee table staring at lined up, stunned, criminals who ten minutes ago had been trying to kill her, drinking tea with the boy-who-lived.

"Do you have any biscuits ?"

"What ?"

"I missed dinner."

"Oh ... yes. In that cupboard."Natalie pointed and the black robed boy grabbed them before coming back and sitting beside her on the couch. She looked over at him. He looked older than when she had terminal seen him. a great deal older."You saved my life."

"Don ‘ t worry about it."Harry shrugged."The biscuits Thomas More than make water up for it."

"You shot them."Natalie's thought's were still a slight disjointed and she was trying to fill in the firearm."With a gun."

"charm would take warned Voldemort I was there."Harry shrugged."By now I bet they have mortal watching the underage magic detector. I tried to germinate their branch mostly."He added almost to himself.

Natalie decided not to comment, instead she asked.

"How did you even know to come here ?"

"Oh, that."Harry turned to her."I happened to overhear something while I was eavesdropping."

Natalie listened in stupor as Harry briefly explained a conversation that had apparently taken position between Severus and Dumbledore earlier that evening. Poor Severus, she could just see him now. Pacing his agency, unable to do anything. Hating himself even though it wasn't his mistake. He always did.

"How did you even get out of the castle ?"She asked.

"Easy, snuck into the forest."Harry shrugged."The the great unwashed that got sent to watch over Snape were all, big surprisal, watching Snape. import I could slip by undetected. After that I dashed for the wall, climbed it tardily, the Mary Augusta Arnold Ward doesn ‘ t living in humans. Legged it to Hogsmeade and broke into a cottage to use the labial pipe. I didn ‘ t want anyone to roll in the hay I ‘ d gone through there, that was why I didn ‘ t use one of the pubs."

Natalie didn't speak as Harry finished his report. She looked over at the pile of criminals, then back at Harry. Her brain, unencumbered by worry, was making the calculations that Snape hadn't been able to.

"Dumbledore was right."

"What ?"

"This was a test."Natalie nodded slowly."And Snape can still pass."

"Are you thinking ..."Harry glanced at the stack."Are you thinking of taking a page out of my book ?"

"Yes Harry. I ‘ m going to die."Natalie smiled."The character assassination will be a success. Too bad the aurors came and arrested everyone afterwards, but Snape still passes the test."

"Snape passes and you can hole up at chez Malfoy. One problem, They ‘ ll think the truth."Harry pointed out, jabbing a thumb towards the malefactor."Voldemort ‘ ll discover a way to get it out of them. Even in custody."

"I ‘ ll call an old friend."Natalie stepped into her kitchen and picked the phone off the counterpunch."Goldie will be able to help with that."

"Voldemort ‘ s good at Legillimancy."

"I know that Harry."Natalie pulled out her address Word of God and started flicking through."But my friend ‘ s practiced too. He ‘ s a ministry obliviator, the best."

"Wait a minute ..."Harry's brow furrowed."You ‘ re phone is working ?"

"Of course."

"So why did I just break out of school and travel the length of the state to deliver you ?"Harry threw his hands up."Couldn ‘ t Snape have just called you ?"

"Harry Snape may be using a pen now, but he ‘ s still a wizard to his toes."Natalie smiled fondly."I checked."

"Eew !"Harry cringed back."Mental double ! All wrong !"

"Revenge."Natalie grinned, then found the file card she was looking for and grew serious."Listen Harry you should go back. I can handle things from here, and it ‘ ll be sluttish to excuse to Goldie without you here."

"You sure ?"

"Yes,"Natalie nodded and Harry turned to go away."Harry !"She stopped him as he reached the door.

"Yeah ?"

"Thank you."

"Just doing my job."Harry shrugged."Apparently."

"And Happy Halloween."

"Halloween ?"Harry glanced over at the clock, seeing that it was after twelve."Oh yeah, well-chosen Halloween."
*


Harry didn't try to reenter Hogwarts that nighttime. Too often risk of being seen by one of the spectator. Instead he dozed on a bench and slipped back in around aurora. He attended breakfast purely to procure coffee in declamatory total and managed to get through his outset few lessons somehow. During luncheon faulting he dragged his sleepy mold down to the dungeons and found the right office. He pushed the door outdoors without knocking.

"What is the meaning of thi ... Potter."Snape deflated, his typeface going easy."Natalie told me. I can not begin to give thanks you-"

"You ‘ re going to instruct me occlumency."Harry interrupted."And Legillimancy."There was a pause. Then,

"I suppose I am."

"And you ‘ re going to distinguish me everything you know about Barty Crouch."
*


As soon as Harry's infantry touched the level he knew it was a dream. Before him the bungalow at Godrics Hollow rose above his forefront. Looking so ... formula. Nothing to speak to it's momentous grandness. It could have been any one of thousands of sign, there were others that could be its twin dotted down the street. Nothing special, and yet it repelled him.

Harry felt his tegument crawling. The sign of the zodiac was ... wrongly ... somehow. Harry turned and dashed down the street, passing trees and hedge. He dashed with no tutelage and caught his fundament on a paving material stone, sending him sprawling to the trading floor. As he got to his understructure he felt pot under his human foot. He was back on the breast lawn. The cottage was flop in front of him.

He could hear the river in his pinna, raging in the space. Harry scratched at his skin, it was all wrong. Harry felt sickness grow in the pit of his breadbasket. Oh waiting ... that wasn't part of the dream.

Harry slammed his centre open and dropped out of bed, rushing for the bathroom.
*


'' Harry ? '' Ron knocked on the privy room access. `` Harry are you ok ? ``

'' I 'm fine. '' Came the dampen reply.

'' You do n't sound exquisitely. You sound- ''

'' I said I 'm fine. '' Harry jerked the door heart-to-heart, the inglorious old bag under his eyes even more seeable than usual against his green and under the weather skin.

'' You do n't look fine. ``

'' Probably something I ate. '' Harry shook his chief and pushed past Ron.

'' Harry everyone in Gryffindor eats the Lapp stuff and no one else is- ''

"I SAID I ‘ M amercement !"Harry whirled on his Ron."I was sick. For some grounds. Some unknown and insignificant ground. I threw up. I feel better. We should go to breakfast."

"Breakfast is over."Ron shrugged."We let you sleep through it. The girls should be bringing some remnant when we go to creatures."

"fountainhead then let ‘ s go to puppet. I ‘ m hungry."Harry threw his bag over his shoulder and made for the doorway, his head drooping.

Ron followed slowly. Harry was slowly getting worse, sick. Was it just lack of sleep doing this to Harry ? He hadn't looked this bad even when he'd been time jumping. This clock time he seemed physically ill. Ron shucked his bag up further on his back. They all needed a little more sleep, Harry had been pushing them hard.

More eternal sleep, and Thomas More bruise-remover.
*


Ginny looked up as Harry pushed the door to the attic open.

"Charms finished early ?"Harry asked as the marauders trouped in behind him.

"I already knew the lesson."Ginny flicked her book closed."It was summoning charms."

"You can already come up an elephant."Harry dropped his bag on the table."omission the side by side few lessons."

"The residual of us can ‘ t get away with skipping moral Harry."Hermione said from behind Harry."Some of us aren ‘ t the boy-who-lived. Some of us-"

"Some of us realize the pointlessness of being taught what we already know."Harry stepped into the eye of the bean."Alright, this prison term everyone except genus Draco. All of the marauders."

"Harry are you sure as shooting ?"Fred asked."You weren ‘ t feeling so hot this morning."

"I'm trusted, I ‘ m fine. Nothing a little exercise won ‘ t cure."Harry shed his robe as the marauders drew into a circle around him. Ginny could see Malfoy settling down to watch, like it was a bloody show.

"Ready."Padma called out.

"Don ‘ t ask me if I ‘ m set up. Never ask me if I ‘ m quick. Never warn me just bloody hit me."

"Stubefy !"Ginny threw out her baton but Harry was already moving, sliding under her snapshot like a snake. His wand came up towards her. She shielded, Harry flicked to the face and Neville went down in a split second of red light.

The twin jumped forward like mirrors of each other but a burnished beam clicked between them and slammed them together like conkers. Harry whirled like a professional dancer and a veil of smoke surrounded him. The marauders began firing into the cloud, careful not to hit each other as the stunners flew out the other side. The predator slowed and eventually stopped.

"Do you think we got him ?"Ron asked shakily.

"Should have counted the stunners."Padma muttered."Did anyone see if one didn ‘ t come out ?"

Padma's doubtfulness was answered as her scepter was jerked out of her bridge player and flew into the pitch blackness. An regalia of stunners followed it. All came back out.

"shag this."Ginny waved her wand."Depulso smoke."The black cloud flew away and dissipated into the dusty air. Revealing naught. The trading floor was empty.

"Where the hell is-"Ginny felt a weight strike her shoulders and a stabbing pain. As she collapsed she saw boots flash in front of her typeface and red light flashing all around. Her articulatio humeri was like a burn knife.

"HOLD !"Someone yelled."I said handle !"

The flashing lights stopped and she felt strong hands rolling her over carefully. Malfoy's face came into view, staring at her shoulder.

"It ‘ s dislocated."He said softly."I mean really dislocated, look at it."

Ginny looked over at her shoulder joint and had to look away, her eyes squeezed shut. Her arm was hanging like a bit of inwardness, hanging off her shoulder. The predator began crowding around. Ginny found Harry's eyes, he was unclear. As always. His eyes didn't emote, didn't give anything away. They just looked like ... eyes.

"Let me."Hermione pushed Draco aside and rolled up Ginny's sleeve. She shook her head."I can ‘ t fix this. We need to get you to madam Pomfrey."Hermione reached forward.

"No."genus Draco shook his head."Two vulture, one injured, leads back to Harry. I ‘ ll take up her. We can pass it off as an inter-house thing."Draco put his arm under her good shoulder and lifted her gently, carrying her away.
*


"What the hell was that ? !"Padma whirled on Harry."You broke her shoulder."

"Yes."Harry idly woke Neville from his spell induced stupor."And if she was a death feeder I ‘ d have broken his shoulder."

"Ginny ‘ s not a death feeder !"Ron yelled angrily.

"Really ? You sure ? We could check her wrist."Harry rolled his heart."I don ‘ t know what your mother would be more wild about, the hatred crimes or the tattoo !"

"This isn ‘ t rummy Harry !"George V growled.

"No it ‘ s not !"Harry yelled."It ‘ s blooming serious ! Bloody, raging, burning SERIOUS ! I KNOW THAT ! Do you ? Do you know that ?"

"You could have really hurt her."Annapurna said softly.

"I have really hurt her."Harry said harshly."I ‘ ve had broken clappers. It hurts. It hurts a lot. It also hurts a lot lupus erythematosus than what would happen if a demise eater caught her."

"So it was for her own good was it ?"Ron raged."You were, what ? Helping her !"

"Yes ! I was !"Harry kicked a death chair against the bulwark angrily."I ‘ m helping everyone ! Why doesn ‘ t everyone get that ! Why are the legal age of the people I ‘ m trying to save doing their unspoiled to get it on with me !"

The vulture jumped back. The shadows in the loft made Harry's boldness a freakish masque. He was shaking like a leaf, breathing hard.

"Why are people doing this."He shook his head, his hands going to his tabernacle."Even people who know what we have to do are trying to stop us. Even citizenry who know. Why the hell on earth would they do that ?"

"Harry ..."Hermione reached forward.

"It ‘ s fine."Harry straightened like a rod."I ‘ m fine. We can fit another duel in before the end of lunch."

"You, you want to go redress back into a fight ?"Hermione asked, her voice incredulous."No Harry. No, we ‘ re all tired. We can ‘ t."

"I can. You can. Get over here."Harry threw Padma's wand to her. It bounced off her breadbasket. She made no try to catch it.

"I ‘ m tired."Padma said flatly."I ‘ m going to lessons."

"ejaculate on !"Harry clapped like some harebrained sports manager."We can do another round."

"I don ‘ t wan na do this with you Harry."Ron said angrily."This isn ‘ t fun anymore."

"THIS WAS NEVER FUN !"

"Harry what do you want !"Hermione yelled."We don ‘ t have to do what you say ! We don ‘ t have to obey purchase order like you seem to think ! take a shit up your judgement Harry, are we your friends or are we your ... your army !"

"You giving me the choice."Harry stepped up right into Hermione's face."You giving me that choice. I have a dark virtuoso after me that I ‘ m fated to fight. I have the big, no scratch that, the two greatest thaumaturgist in the world hating me. One trying to kill me. One trying to save me a prisoner. I have everything against me. So I choose a bloody U. S. Army.'Cos I need a bloody USA. And if you can ‘ t be that then to hell with you."

Harry turned, and disappeared out the door.
*


The nexus of the marauders was gone. Without that, they were hollow.

They went to moral, walked, went to meals. But Harry was never with them. He still attended lecture to keep on the teachers off his back, but every other moment seemed to be spent in that attic. Plus wherever he snuck out to at night.

Draco was with him sometimes, walking silently behind him along the corridor. seeable bruising made it clear that he hadn't stopped helping Harry. Ginny caught him alone one sunup and confronted him.

"Why are you still helping Harry ?"She asked bluntly.

"Because he ‘ s my friend."Was the curt and dry response.

"He ‘ s killing himself with all this."Ginny pleaded, looking into Draco's eyes. At least there was some emotion there, even if it mostly seemed to be sorrow."You realize that don ‘ t you ? You ‘ re not helping him exist. You ‘ re helping him self destruct."

"With anyone else I ‘ d agree with you."Draco looked away."But here we know what ‘ s coming. You know. There ‘ s no way we can keep back him out of Voldemort ‘ s way. There's no keeping him safe you understand, the prophecy ensures that. He will face Voldemort. He will crusade him. So a small ego destruction now is worth it if he survives that brush. Wouldn't you say Ginerva ?"

"Don ‘ t turn this on me."Ginny shook her head."And don ‘ t try to make what you ‘ re doing any form of imposing. It ‘ s not."

"Of course I ‘ m noble. I ‘ m a Malfoy."Draco hung his school principal, then looked up to meet her optic. ruefulness was back, regret was definitely back."facial expression Ginerva I know everything you ‘ re saying is true. But I don ‘ t jazz how else to assist him. I don ‘ t how to help him at all. Do you ?"

"I ... no."

"Too bad."Draco shook his head."I guess all we can desire for is that he kills Voldemort before he kills himself."

And away Hogwarts the wizarding world slowly fell to bit. As Christmas crawled tight and the Nox grew longer there was no joy among the magic people. It just meant there were More dark hr for the death eaters to hunt in. One night a obscure Gospel According to Mark was raised right in the middle of Manchester. The government passed it off as a hot air balloon. The ones in the res publica did n't have to be explained away, the ministry just had to clean up after. When they even bothered to do that.

Contrary to democratic belief the drab hour is not before break of the day. It 's in the middle of the bloody night.
*


Harry closed the prophet with a heavy sigh and dropped it on the primer coat beside him. things were only getting spoiled out there. The club was n't doing anything, big surprise there. Barty Crouch was still missing from death eater meetings, apparently with Voldemort's full support. The dark creatures ? No one knew a thing about them.

No one seemed to know anything.

Harry stretched his leg out and felt the riffle of the lake against his bare skin, sending back rippling of goose bump to equate. Not all to do with the frigidness. It was good though. He should hold sure he could manage urine if he had to. Might have to fight in it one day.

'' A dark state of matter. ``

Harry tensed as the representative came from behind him and spun, sceptre outstretched. There was a physical body standing there, looking out over the water system. He looked old, 70 maybe. Bald definitely, and not a hair in his minuscule neat moustache was anything other than bloodless. He looked like a turn in teacher more than anything else, one of the old shoal ace. He even had the patched tweed jacket.

Oh god was that a pipe in his air pocket ?

This guy was a walking cliché ? What was he going to do next ? offer me tea ?

'' Would you like a spot of tea ? ``

'' Oh come on. '' Harry chuckled and shook his school principal. `` Three affair : One, I do n't wassail tea. I drink coffee, in large quantities. Two : You do n't take any tea. Three : Even if you had a flask I would n't be able to drink it. '' Harry reached out and waved his bridge player directly through the old mans leg. It passed through without even a tingle.

'' Very right Mr ceramicist. '' The old man sat down cross legged following to him. `` How could you tell ? ``

'' There are certain polarity. '' And I 'm certainly not telling him them. `` Who the hell are you ? ``

'' My epithet is James. '' Harry stiffened at those words. The old man laughed. `` No not that James. Honestly Mr Potter there are more than people called James in this domain than your father. ``

'' Probably not your very epithet anyway. '' Harry snorted.

'' I 've never seen a need to hold in my world-class name. One of the welfare of having a nice traditional epithet like James II or John or Harry. '' James I smiled and took a short blow on his pipe. `` Of line if you wish to know my last figure we shall have a problem. ``

'' I do n't give a crap what your last name is. '' Harry shrugged. `` How are you doing this ? Some sorting of illusion ? ``

'' Astral Projection. '' James said professionally. `` It 's really quite useful. ``

'' I 've read about it. '' Harry crossed his arms and stared calculatingly at the man next to him. `` It requires extensive grooming and a roofy of at least three thaumaturge. What you came to tell me is worth all that ? ``

'' Very effective Mr Pott- ''

'' Stop saying that. '' Harry cut him off. `` Just speak your piece. ``

'' Very well. '' James reached into his jacket. Harry instinctively flinched despite the fact that any weapon this man pulled would go straight through him. `` Do you know a man named Conterrando Baker ? ``

'' Is he from the ministry of silly name ? ``

'' How droll. '' James pulled a piece of paper from his jacket crown and held it out for Harry to see. Harry grabbed a while of parchment out of his bag to jot down the name and address then took a little more time reading the rest of the profile.

'' half lineage, respected appendage of the Wizengamot, respecter writer, married to a muggle, outspoken critic of the current government minister. Two tyke at Hogwarts. His finally book was a love history, between a pure blood and a muggle. '' Harry laughed wryly. `` Deliverer, did individual just take a big piece of play-doh and mould it into a mark for the death eaters ? ``

'' It is a small miracle he has not been attacked yet. ``

'' But you think he is being targeted now ? ``

'' I know he is. '' James tapped a date on the paper. `` Tomorrow night. ``

'' Oh come on. ``

'' He has been repeated warned but he refused to consent a protective detail. He says it would impinge on his privacy. Foolish And he will die for it. A beloved family man is going to die if you do n't redeem him. ``

'' Bull. You save him. You obviously have resources. ``

'' I, or more accurately the grouping I represent. Do have the resources. '' James smiled. Harry did n't like that grinning, it had Weird deepness. James continued, `` Our organization also dislikes Voldemort. He is troublesome to our work. But unfortunately for Mr Baker, Voldemort is only an irritation to us therefore it is not worth enough to us to pull through him. We do not motivate in the like circles as Voldemort you see, so he does not give us too much problem. We would prefer if he were gone though. It would gain things well-situated. ``

'' So help him. ``

'' We can not. '' James stood. `` But you can. Go help him Harry Potter. If it turns out well, we may meet again. '' With that he disappeared into thin air.

'' Show off. '' Harry murmured.

Of course he realized it could be a trap. In fact it almost certainly was a gob. Harry considered. Except that Conterrando Baker was a material person. The news report, after a little checking of back prophet offspring, checked out. Harry even found the kids in Ginny 's year. Hufflepuffs, twins, nice in a form of boring Hufflepuff kind of way. Both members of the gobstones club. Both with significantly less ridiculous names than their father.

good kids. sound father too ...

'' bugger. '' Harry dropped the prophet on the table. `` I 'm going to have to do something heroic are n't I. ``

Looks that way.

'' Do I let to ? ``

well ... no, you could let him die while you sit back and eat popcorn.

'' Do n't like popcorn. ``

Well I guess that decides it then. Plus it would be rather a waste of all the training you 've been doing.

'' It could still be a trap you know. ``

I know that. Do n't you think I know that ? I 'm your brain you moron.

'' We 're a bit crazy are n't we ? ``

Crazy like a fox.

'' Like a fox. ``
*


So it came to cash in one's chips that Harry slid down into the chamber of mystery that night wearing the most singularly un-heroic piece of wearable in history.

A pair of waders.

'' Bloody winter. '' Harry shivered as he crawled through the tiny quip in the wall through which he had entered the bedroom all those eld ago. It was smaller than he remembered.

Harry dropped into the icy cloaca and made his way quickly along the colored passage. The water was bitingly cold on his hands whenever they got splashed but the duncical waders kept his legs pleasantly warm. Thank Falco columbarius for dragon-skin fishing supplies.

Of course this would be easier if Dumbledore had n't strengthened the Hogwarts wards to the point where not even worm could pass through. This was the only way out.

Harry 's musical passage through the catacombs was unerring. lowest time he 'd been here he 'd wandered aimlessly, lost. short missed boy ... But he was n't the same person he 'd been then. Harry sighed and walked on through the darkness to his destination.
*


Harry flicked his catch up and walked quickly down the street. This was John Griffith Chaney, but not a part that he had ever frequented. Big houses, big expensive sign. Places that did n't take on kindly to vagrants. Probably still would n't have kindly to him if he was found here.

House twenty six. Harry slowed to a stop a block away from the tall blanched construction. In the midriff of the terraced-row of equally marvelous white edifice. Expensive they might be, soul they were not.

All the lights seemed to be off. Mr Baker was probably asleep. No one outside, no one obvious anyway.

Hello ...

Up on the cap. Darkness made into languor made into incubus. Someone was waiting up there, trying to stay invisible against the skyline.

Harry cursed then darted down an alley. Movement in the straw man yard, it might have been a cast-off paper. Then again it might not.

human being shape ! arcsecond level, standing near the bed ! Harry 's hands found a waste pipe and he catapulted himself up. There were two Thomas More on the bed, cowering in fear. The standing figure raised his wand. Harry swung with all his forcefulness and crashed through the window.

'' What the Hell ! ``

Harry tackled the death eater to the floor and stunned him. He rushed to the door and bolted it, pushing a chair under the handle. The others would have heard the windowpane break.

'' Who are you ! '' A voice bellowed from the bed. `` Are you with them ? ``

'' Do you know Dumbledore ? '' Harry asked quickly, looking over at the two in the bed.

'' Ye ... yes. Everyone knows- ''

'' trade good go to him. Get out through the back. '' Harry pointed at the broken window. The door thumped violently and Harry turned back towards it. Three others. Not effective. `` GO ! ``

'' What about you ? '' Mrs baker asked as her husband hurried her towards the window.

'' Do n't worry about me. Just go ! '' Harry flicked a Mary Augusta Arnold Ward onto the room access, strengthened it. But it would n't hold long. These were n't criminals, these were actual death eaters. Duelist group twos. sodomist. Harry glanced back at the window to see Mr Baker just disappearing out of it. Well at to the lowest degree that was done. Harry turned back to the threshold and raised his wand.

The first of all rattling trial run. net ball see how I do.

I really hope one of them is hunker ... Harry grinned in violent glee.
*


The sign of the zodiac windows flashed from where he sat on the rooftops. Whoever that boy was he was fighting them. Fighting them everywhere. There were two the great unwashed fleeing down the backstreet, visible in the col between star sign. They did n't matter.

His knarrled digit clenched. It looked like the boy had beat him to these I. He would n't be able to belt down tonight. Would n't be able to ache them, micturate them pay. make believe the early one, the snake one, the one who took everything pay.

He licked his backtalk. Another time, there would be other metre. He was patient. Patient was unspoiled, so long as it got there in the end.

The end ... the end ...

vengeance. That was a safe word.

The watcher hunkered down on the rooftops. Before him the struggle raged on and cries of pain filled the air.

He would wait, and if there were any stragglers ? Maybe he would own some fun after all.
*


'' ignite up ! ``

Urg ... Ron turned over on inherent aptitude to get away from the noise.

'' Get the hell up Weasley ! ``

'' Ow ! '' Ron grabbed his side and spun, his eyes all-embracing open. `` Malfoy what the- ''

'' Have you seen Harry ? '' The Slytherin demanded.

'' What ? Of course not. He 's your best Quaker now. '' Ron replied sneering.

'' He did n't call on up for dueling this dawn. '' Malfoy sounded like he was actually worried. The snake was obviously acting. `` I thought maybe he would be here. ``

'' fountainhead he 's not. '' Ron gestured around. `` Look the bed 's not even catch some Z's in. And how 'd you get the parole anyway ? ``

'' Something 's wrong. ``

'' Get lost Malfoy. '' Ron looked over at the clock. `` It 's six o clock in the break of day ! ``

'' Right. Two hours past when Harry said he 'd meet me. '' Malfoy was gritting his teeth, breathing through them clenched.

'' He 's probably in the attic. ``

'' That was where I was waiting you idiot ! ``

'' Then he 's eating breakfast ! ``

'' Checked there. ``

'' Library. ``

'' Checked. ``

'' Down by the lake ? ``

'' Checked. ``

'' The wood ? Around the edge- ''

'' Checked. ``

'' Oh. '' Ron bit his lip. `` He 's probably, I do n't have a go at it. Probably training late and just passed out tired. Even you had to notice he was tired. ``

'' Surprised you did. '' Malfoy turned for the door. `` Get your admirer and help seem. ``

'' We 're not your frie- ''

'' But you were Harry's ! '' Malfoy turned angrily. `` And he could be in fuss, or pain, or dying, right now ! I know you do n't like him any more but unless you hate him enough to wish him abruptly get the Hell up and help me look ! ``
*


Ron woke the marauder. The vulture roused the bookman. Myrtle called the ghosts. Hermione ran to McGonagall. McGonagall went to Dumbledore.

The stallion castle like an anthill kicked into excitement by the departure of the boy-who-lived.

It was Dumbledore who confirmed, by 'his own methods', that Harry was not in the castle. The great hall was filled with tangible tenseness as breakfast appeared as if it was any other day. Everyone was whispering.

Why bother, thought Ginny. It 's not like you 're trying to blot out what you 're talking about. But she found that when she talked it also came out as voicelessness. It was the tense atmosphere, it leeched sound out of you. Or maybe it was because saying it right out would gain it real.

The marauders mostly picked at their nutrient. No one felt like eating. Not even Ron. Suddenly the doorway fit open.

'' It 's him ! '' Hagrid boomed over the barking of his dog. `` He 's out there ! ``

The hall emptied like a fire had started. Every student of every menage piled through the giant double door. Jostling and pushing against each early, and against teachers, to get through. They spilled out onto the front lawn like a waving, breaking and separating. Everyone was running for the independent logic gate. Ginny saw Hagrid, out in front man, yell something and the gate creaked open. Everyone pushed through, trying to get a glance of the lonely figure trudging up the path towards them.

The movement runners stopped and were almost bowled over as the hoi polloi behind them ran into their backs. The road down from the Bill Gates was slanted, so everyone could see. See the form that was definitely Harry.

His gown hung off one shoulder, the rest torn and trailing behind him. The all go out side of his face was covered in parentage, down onto his berm too, caked on and streaked. One of his iron heel was gone, merlin only knew where. His impart arm had an ugly burn over the elbow, red and raw and black in the middle.

The full of Hogwarts stared at him. Harry raised his header painfully.

'' Well ... would ... '' Harry swallowed and licked his lips. `` Would you believe I fell down some stairs ? ``
*


'' Mr Potter where were you ? ``

You know where.

'' Tell me ! ``

He knows where. Of class he does. Stupid Dumbledore.

'' Were you at the bread maker residence Harry ? ``

There we are.

'' How did you leave alone school grounds ? ``

You do n't need to hump that.

'' Harry serve me ! ``

'' What do you want from me Dumbledore ? '' Harry pushed a blood-entangled dreadlock of hair out of his face. `` What do you want me to say ? ``

'' I want the truth ! '' Dumbledore was yelling, every portrait on the bulwark of his office watched in secretiveness. Apart from them the room was discharge. `` I want you to tell me where you went ! Where you go every night ! I want answers ! ``

'' I do n't give a damn what you want. ``

Rather incongruent seeing as we just asked him.

'' Harry if there is a breach in the wards of Hogwarts I need to know about it. ``

Damn. He might actually be right. Voldemort trusted as hell knew about the chamber.

'' Chamber of secrets. '' Harry met the Headmasters gaze but gave cypher away. His occlumency was getting better too. `` Remember ? There 's a passage that lets out on the slope of the lake. ``

'' The ... a passage. '' Dumbledore nodded faintly. `` Yes ... yes I knew about it. ``

'' But it slipped your mind when you were shoring up the Mary Augusta Arnold Ward. ``

'' I ... no- ''

'' You 're not a god Dumbledore. '' Harry broke in. `` You ca n't do everything. You are unequal to. You make mistakes. It does n't have to be this way between us, admit you made a mistake with regards to me. I can help you fight. aid the ordination. ``

'' You are not of age. ``

'' Screw that ! '' Harry yelled wildly. `` There 's two hoi polloi living tonight because of me ! Two Thomas Kyd who are not orphaned because of me ! ``

'' There are also five utterly death eaters. ``

What ... the ... inferno ...

'' Stunned. '' Harry corrected hopefully. `` Stunned death eaters. ``

'' Dead. '' Dumbledore 's face grew stony. `` Killed with an mysterious toxin. Seen only once before. ``

No ... no no no no.

'' Dumbledore- ''

'' stay ! '' The schoolmaster cut him off. `` You have already demonstrated a bloodlust that disturbs normal, decent hotshot. ``

'' When I need to ! '' Harry was breathing hard. `` When my acquaintance spirit are at stake ! ``

'' You are out of control condition Harry. ``

'' I did n't wipe out them. '' Harry held up his deal. `` I did n't, I swear. I stunned them, then left, then called the aurors to break up them up. ``

'' I can not consider that Harry, I can not. Not with all I know. ``

'' Legilimence me. '' Harry released his defending team. `` You 'll see. You 'll acknowledge. ``

'' I will not know. I will not know because I can not be sure that you have not reached a level of proficiency at occlumency where you could show me whatever fabricated memory board you wish to. ``

'' THEN WHAT DO YOU need ! ``

'' Anger Harry ? You have a lot of ira do n't you. ``

Yes. Harry hung his head tiredly. There is no answer to your questions. cipher that will fulfil you.

'' You will stay confined to the palace. '' Dumbledore ordered. `` You will go to all lessons. A defender appointed by me will take the air you to and from each lesson. You will do these affair or I will script you to the aurors. ``

'' I did n't do it. '' Harry whispered, more to himself than anything else.

'' I can not take that risk of exposure. ``

waiting ! The Prophecy !

'' The prophecy. '' Harry blurted. `` What are we going to- ''

'' full stop thinking about such things. '' Dumbledore cut him off. `` They are no longer your concern. ``

'' But I have to stop Voldemort. I 'm the only one who can. ``

'' This discussion is over Harry. leave. ``

Harry stood. There was no full point drawing it out. He walked towards the door, but did n't go through it. He felt drained, completely. But some residual well of stubbornness would n't let him leave without one conclusion word.

'' You 're making a mistake. '' Harry said over his shoulder. `` You do construct them remember. ``

'' I do. But I correct them. '' Dumbledore said sharply, but sadly. `` I am correcting one right now. ``

Damn. He still got the last word.

Harry turned and passed out of the situation. There were of import decisions to be made.
*


'' Deja vu. '' A spokesperson said over Ron 's shoulder.

'' Malfoy ! '' Ron spun on his Bench. `` Do you just pilfer around everywhere ? ``

'' Hard to sneak in the middle of lunch. '' Malfoy seemed agitated. `` Harry 's gone again. ``

'' Like this dawning ? '' Hermione asked.

'' He said he was going to go to log Z's, but his bag 's gone. '' As Malfoy spoke they heard a randomness from the high up table.

Dumbledore had just shoved his chair back roughly and strode quickly from the hall.

'' He knows about- '' Ron began but stopped as a feather shadow dropped onto the table.

excavator cocked his head and hopped about a small nervously. He kept looking at initiatory one face then another as if he did n't know who to give up his message too.

Ginny reached forward and took it off her. She spread it out on the board. It was short-circuit, but it had a lot of subtext. It simply said.

Take forethought of him






Review, or I will use my gravemetric sexual inversion ray to smash the lunar month down onto the surface of the earth ! Destroying it utterly ! You have just one hour ! Mru Ha Ha Ha Ha ! Ha. Ha.


Arg ! The situation goes down ! lyssa everywhere ! matter pin apart, the centers can not bear ! My inspection ! ! ! My treasured inspection ! ! !

Ah well ... such is life.



'' Is there no news program ? ``

'' No Albus, there is not. '' Minerva shook her head. `` He appears to take vanished. ``

'' Has a sentinel been set on the border ? All means that he could pass on the land ? ``

'' Yes Albus. '' As if that had ever stopped Harry. `` But do you really think he will try to pull up stakes ? Everything we 've seen suggests he will stay and push. ``

'' I do not hump Minerva. '' Albus shook his head. `` I am not sure of anything anymore. ``

'' Stay firm Albus. The social club needs you. ``

'' Yes ... yes we must go on. ``
*


The marauders, bundled up against the coldness, sat quietly before a huge bay window in Malfoy manor house. They had gone there straight from Hogwarts, with a sentry go the entire way. They were in the minority for leaving, a lot of students had elected to stick around at Hogwarts for Christmas. It was safer. They were not the lonesome ones there though, Terry and Anne Baker ( none of the piranha had really known them ) had been dragged along looking confused.

That was until they reached the house and had a tearful reunion with their parents. Apparently individual had saved them from the death eaters. Emphasis on someone.

The manor was filling up, cargo of people. Refugees almost, people that had been targeted or were in danger of being. It was shuddery, seeing the fear in their optic, the tactile sensation of being hunted. The piranha were the same, unable to leave, scanning the composition for any hint of Harry. They found zero but they kept looking. Guilt was a brawny thing.

So now they were stuck in the mansion, unable to pull up stakes its walls as snow blanketed everything outside. Even if they could have gone outside would they own had the heart to playact ? Maybe, maybe not. So they sat in battlefront of the huge unresolved window and watched it fall.

The grownup had tried to make it cheery, there was even a tree. It had n't worked though.

'' We should go have lunch. '' mortal murmured. No one moved. Eventually someone else echoed the sentiment and they began to get up, slowly, silently. They had just about reached the kitchen when Tonks burst in.

'' Have you heard the news ? '' She blurted.

'' We read the prophet- '' Hermione began before Tonks interrupted her.

'' No, no. This just happened. '' She shook her head. `` Two death eaters just got dropped into the ministry anteroom. Flued in. They were stunned and tied up with decoration. They 're processing them now. Where 's everyone else ? ``

'' Most of the adult eat in the Tree room. '' Ginny pointed and Tonks hurried out.

'' Do you think it was Harry ? '' Neville asked quietly.

'' Of grade it was Harry. '' Malfoy said flatly.

'' It could let been someone else, someone else trying to kibosh them. ``

'' Someone who tied them up like presents and dumped them Christmastide eve ? It 's Harry. '' Padma grimaced. `` He 's out there fighting. ``

'' On his own. '' Her sister echoed.

They sat in silence for a while. The only sound was Ron rhythmically munching on bread.

'' Do you suppose it was us ? '' Ginny found herself whispering. `` Do you call up we drove him out ? ``

'' You certainly did n't help. '' Dragon sneered.

'' Shut up Malfoy ! You were the one helping him ! '' Ron reached over and tried to thump the Slytherin. `` If you had n't he would n't have thought he could fight them ! ``

'' He was getting assist from early office than me. Someone else I 'm sure, he was getting better too riotous. '' Malfoy shook his head. `` No, I withdraw what I said before. You did n't push him towards this. This was inevitable. ``

But we abandoned him. Ginny thought darkly. Maybe if he would have stayed prospicient if he thought he had something to stay for. Or at the very least he 'd lie with he was n't alone. Falco columbarius, how had things gone so wrong ?

'' It 's my defect. '' Hermione murmured suddenly. `` I said that ... stupe thing about choosing between- ''

'' It was n't you. '' Ron broke in. `` You heard Malfoy, it was inevitable. ``

'' We need to do something. '' Parvati said. `` Bring him back. Tell him it 's ok. ''

'' How ? '' Draco shook his fountainhead. `` fill out a personal ad in the Prophet ? ``

'' fountainhead why not ? ``

'' Because it 's ridiculous. And because all it would do is assuage your guilt. It would n't help him. ``

'' wellspring what would help him ! '' Fred asked angrily.

'' I do n't screw ! '' Draco gibe to his animal foot. `` Why are you asking me anyway ? I do n't even like you. '' He turned and stalked out of the elbow room. Ginny watched him go. She 'd never thought about it before but Harry leaving had probably hit him pretty hard too. He did n't really have any other friends. Maybe that had been why he helped Harry for so long.

'' We need to do something. '' Parvati repeated again.

'' What Sister ? What ? '' Padma frowned at her sister darkly. `` Do n't just keep saying 'do something'and anticipate everyone else to come up with something. ``

'' I do n't see you coming up with anything ! ``

'' There 's zero we can do ! ``

They lapsed into an furious muteness again. There was too much stress, too little eternal sleep. They were all at the end of their tethers. Just like Harry had been. Ginny shook her head, they should induce gone easier on him. A picayune selfish part of her felt gladiolus that she had not been part of that first literary argument with him. Another part blamed her for starting it. If she had just dodged he would n't experience hurt her articulatio humeri and then they would n't induce ...

It was pointless to think about it. The contention had happened, but a little division of her still irked. They should n't stimulate blown up on him, so what if he said he chose an army ... waiting ... Was it possible ? Was she really thinking about this ?

'' I can think of something we can do. '' She said, her part espial in the middle. It had n't done that in years.

'' What Gin ? '' Fred asked without looking at her.

No one was looking at her. No one was paying care. Marauder rules ...

'' HEY ! '' The table jumped as Ginny slammed down on it unvoiced. The vulture started like coney. Oh smashing, now everyone was looking at her. She stood, keeping her hands flat to the table. `` I know what we can do. ``

'' Wh ... what ? '' Hermione asked hesitantly.

'' Exactly what he asked. '' Ginny said confidently. `` He wanted an army. He needs an army. He 's fighting out there on his own so he deserves an regular army ! We can be it. We can help him ! ``

For a few instant there was quiet, then ...

'' But ... but we 're just nipper. '' Neville was biting his lip.

'' We 're as old as Harry. '' Ginny stated defiantly, glossing over the fact that she wasn't.

'' We do n't make out how to fight like him. '' Ron was staring at her wildly.

'' Harry learnt, so we can. '' Ginny folded her coat of arms. `` Harry was n't even that near at defense lawyers and look how far he 's ejaculate. We can do it. ``

'' We could ... '' Fred murmured, and is twin began nodding thoughtfully.

'' There are only eight of us. '' Hermione pointed out.

'' I think other mass in the schooltime would be prepared to assist Harry if we told them. The old chosen ... others too. '' Ginny tried to look convinced. `` And besides, Harry 's just one person ! ``

'' But Harry 's Harry ! '' Hermione shook her promontory. `` He could get away with that sort of thing ! He has some ... ability ... some reason he survived. A power ! That 's it ! Like the prophecy said .'A world power the dark lord knows not'we- ''

'' The sole power Harry ever displayed was stubbornness. '' Padma interrupted her. `` stubbornness and courage. ``

'' And the fact that he never gave up. '' Her sister added.

'' And we should n't either. '' Padma nodded.

'' So you ... '' Ginny turned to them grinning.

'' We 're in. '' Padma said, her eyes hard and set. Her Sister nodded her support.

'' Us too. '' George IV folded his arms just as his chum said,

'' We ca n't move over up on Harry. ``

'' And you three ? '' Ginny turned to the lastly three undecided marauders. Neville shifted nervously,

'' I ... It could own been me. '' He was looking down at the table. `` It could experience been me. I would n't have survived this prospicient. No ... but I ca n't just ignore it. The fact that it could have got been me I mean. I ... I feel like I have to help if I can. ``

'' You 're in ? ``

'' I do n't know how often service I 'll be. ``

'' You saved me. '' Ginny smiled desperately. All the marauders had to link up, it was ilk destiny. For some ground she felt like that. If they all did n't join it just would n't shape. `` And Harry would consume wanted it. ``

'' He understood you. '' Padma chimed in, smiling. `` Sir Thomas More than the residue of us I think. ``

'' I 'll help, if I can. '' Neville said, in a small-scale vocalisation. Ginny breathed out in ministration, one down two to go ...

'' And you two ? ``

Hermione and Ron shared a spirit. Ginny knew she could pester her brother into it, Ron was a sponge for equal insistence, but she would n't. Not a choice like this.

'' We 'll have to miss some moral. '' Ron said suddenly and Hermione put a mitt over her mouth, chuckling. `` Think you can cover that Hermione ? ``

'' I guess so. '' Hermione turned back to Ginny. `` For Harry. ``

'' You 're in ? '' Yes, yes, yes ! `` Both of you ? ``

'' We 're in. ``

'' Us too. '' A voice came out of nowhere. Ginny spun and fixed on the large doubling room access. Standing in the unfold crack were two brown haired children. Dame Ellen Terry and Anne baker. They had been listening in, eavesdropping. And they had managed to do it undetected. Wow, Ginny thought. They 've already got what it takes to be a marauder.

'' What ? '' Ron stood, clearly unable to see them properly from where he was. `` You two ? ``

'' We heard what you were saying. '' Anne said, obviously trying to vocalize older. Ginny wondered if she had looked like that a few moments ago. `` We want to avail too. ``

'' Harry saved our parents. '' terry added in. `` The ministry did n't even sleep with they were a target. We want to assist. ``

'' You realize what this means do n't you ? '' Ginny said clearly. `` We 're talking about fighting. Fighting death eaters. Maybe dying, almost certainly getting hurt. This is n't going to be fun. ``

'' We know that. '' Dame Ellen Terry nodded. `` You think we do n't know ? We saw Harry when he came back that morning just like the rest of you. That 's the kind of stuff you 're talking about rightfulness ? Well that Nox he was out saving our parents. Saving them was what hurt him so bad, so its ... like I do n't have it away. Only fair, I guess, that we should do that for him. ``

'' You could die. '' Padma said flatly.

'' If Voldemort wins we die anyway. '' Anne matched her flatness. `` With parents like ours we 'll be on the top of his list. ``

'' We know what were getting ourselves into. '' terry cloth said defiantly. `` We want to link Harry 's army. ``

'' Harry 's army ? '' George snorted. `` Is that what we 're calling ourselves ? ``

'' I do n't wish it. '' His twin agreed.

'' It does sound like something from world-war-two. '' Hermione agreed.

'' How about the chosen ? We 've been that before. '' Ron suggested.

'' We 're the marauders. '' Ginny overrode him. `` We 've always been the piranha we always will be. It 's what Harry would own wanted. ``

A murmuring of agreement went up from around the mesa and Ginny felt a surge of pride. She beckoned the Baker twins over. As she did she suddenly realized something, she had made everybody expression at her and they were still looking. Her pal had happily accepted her confidential information, they all had. And now she was about to ordain two new predator, a prerogative only previously granted by Harry.

What can of worms had she opened today ?

'' But wait. '' Padma said suddenly. `` How are we going to develop properly ? Harry had a teacher, he had to. Where are we going to get one ? ``

'' I can think of someone. ``
*


'' genus Draco ! ``

Draco turned in shock to appear at the crew in the library doorway.

'' Yes ? '' He looked across them. `` Can I assist you ? ``

'' We 've decided what we 're going to do. '' Ginerva said from the front. `` We 're forming an regular army. We 're going to contend for Harry. We want your assistance. ``

The library was mum for a moment. Draco met the middle of each of the marauders, were they really serious ? Legillimancy gave him the answer.

'' Well would you look at that. '' Draco murmured, then smiled. `` Lets get to it. ``
*


'' You realize this means the vulture now have fellow member in every Hogwarts house. '' George I commented as they walked down to Harry 's old training cellar.

'' We do n't have any Ravenclaws. '' Ron said. Hermione shook her heading irritably.

'' You would think you 'd remember Ron, after all the times she 's relieve our skins. ``

'' Who ? ``

'' Moaning Vinca minor. ``

'' She does n't count. '' Ron said with self-assurance before being clipped around the ear by Ginny.

"sentinel your mouth. Harry wouldn't stand for that sort of talk."

"Besides, you ‘ re all ill-timed anyway."Draco said dryly from the front."Harry made myself and Tonks marauders at the end of last year. You ‘ ve been cross-house for months now."

"Why didn ‘ t you tell us ?"Ron asked him.

"Would it stimulate made a difference ?"

"Well ... maybe."Ron shrugged."Marauders have different regulation than ordinary people."

"Yeah, that function I got."Malfoy reached the door to the cellar and threw it open. It was exactly how they had left it. Huge megabucks of broken furniture and suntan German mark on the walls."right hand, well we don ‘ t have impact spheres or a siswai ‘ aman or muggle gonnes-"

"Guns."Hermione corrected.

"Them either."genus Draco stepped into the center of the room."Actually I do have some impact spheres but that ‘ s not the degree. We don ‘ t have time to go to four Continent and peck up the best munition like Harry did, so I ‘ m going to focus on this ..."Malfoy drew his wand and held it out in battlefront of him.

"Dame Alice Ellen Terry, Anne."Ginny turned to the two newfangled appendage."How are you at defense grade ?"

"We ‘ re both getting Es."Anne said quickly.

"predator should lie with how to lie better than that."

"Alright As."

"Same as Harry last year."Ginny told them encouragingly."Hermione ? Can you contribute them up to hotfoot real number quick ?"

"I ... I guess so."

"Good."Ginny turned back to Draco and nodded. He smiled at her as he directed the others into dueling lines. Her venter did a little floaty lurch.

Just stress. She told herself. Just focus because we're joining a war. Natural to be nervous, especially since they seem to deliver elected me leader. I'm not nervous for any other understanding. No reason at all.
*


Neville collapsed into a chair in his room. He ached everywhere. Malfoy had pushed them all day, fighting. They had only quit for the night when the Baker kids couldn't stand up any Thomas More. Neville hadn't been far behind them.

This must have been what it was like for Harry.

Neville shook his head, earlier Padma had told him Harry understood him. Neville didn't know whether that was rightful. He certainly didn't understand Harry. But maybe he watched him more than the others, keeping restrained on the hobby maybe he saw more. Saw more about people ... about Harry.

Maybe there was one other thing they could do for Harry.

He had thought of it before but hadn't mentioned it. No reason to tell ` people, especially if he was wrong. It'd just make him appear stupid. It probably wouldn't help anyway. But it was worth a shot.

Neville drew a piece of composition towards him and grabbed a quill. He chewed on the end nervously, how did you start a message like this ?

Dear ... No, to familiar. Neville shook his head, it didn't subject what words he used. He should just get the thing written. He cracked his wear down knuckles and started again.

To The Pythea

My name is Neville Longbottom and I'm a friend of Harry's. I don't know if he told you about me.

Neville winced, this was harder than he thought.

Harry's in trouble, or he might be. He's left Hogwarts to fight. We're worried about him. We're worried he might die. I don't know if you know about the Pr ...

Neville stopped writing and thought for a moment. The missive might get intercepted by someone.

If the phrase ‘ as the seventh calendar month dies'means anything to you then you know why he's doing this. I don't know if you can avail him but if you can then please do, and separate us what we can do to assist. We're already doing everything we can but it may not be enough.

Neville read the alphabetic character over nervously. He was writing to ask the assistance of one of the most hefty women in the world. He signed it, his hand shaking enough to take a crap the touch illegible, then squeaked his chair back and made for the owlery.

Digger was awake and waiting, like he knew. The owl didn't even infliction to reckon at the address, it just glanced at the gens and took off. Neville watched it go, hoping ...
*


He got no reply over Xmas. The predator opened present tense with aching bone while their parents watched before begging out and going back down to the root cellar. Neville was surprised that the bread maker children didn't complain about being worked on Yuletide day. Perhaps they really did understand what they were in for.

Charles Percy Snow kept falling intermittently, not enough to shroud the ground again. It just ended up slush. Neville wondered if Harry was remote, cold, right now, then felt stupid. If Harry could get weird darkness weaponry out of the blue then he could keep open warm in winter.

'' Neville ! '' He heard Fred yell at him. `` I thought we were dueling not staring out the window. ``

'' I 'm coming. '' Neville turned and raised his wand. `` Just a secondly. ``

We 're doing what we can Harry, just you wait.
*


Harry crouched on the cap of a house, heedful not to slip on the wet tile. The planetary house across the way was owned by a spectacular member of a pure blood family. Not his main house obviously, pokey lilliputian place like this, but one of his properties.

A property with a big cellar. A property that had been taking in expectant supplies of nub, bad meat too. Off cuts, the kind you would give animals.

It was a lead. Harry smiled grimly, he was on to them. He could hold off here all night ...
*


"Severus the youngster at headquarters keep disappearing during the day. Do you cognize where they're going ?

"I do not Albus."Technically dependable though any sensible person could guess.

"Do you think they might be planning to follow Harry ?"

"It is possible."I hope they are.

"This troubles be Severus, they should be kept safe."

"They are children."Technically true though not actually revealing his opinion.

"You will tell me if you hear anything I should know."

"Of course."Anything I think you should know.

"Now, '' Dumbledore looked around the antechamber, meeting the eyes of the four ordering member. Snape, McGonagall, Tonks and Moody. They had all been asked here. None of them knew why. `` I believe I have found Harry. ``

'' Are you sure ? '' Minerva rose to her ft, jolt evident on her grimace. `` How ? ``

'' Harry has been too trusting of Gringots. '' Dumbledore drew a thin folder of parchment towards him. `` He forgets that they have human employees as well as hob 1. I have managed to get records of Harry 's transactions. I believe I have pinpointed his position. ``

'' So why have n't you brought the poor boy back ? ``

'' Because Harry will let an exit strategy. '' Dumbledore shook his head. `` If he sees me he will run, and I can not guarantee I will be able to hitch him. You are the order appendage I believe he will trust. You must come on him. You must bring him back. ``

And what if I do n't wish him back. Snape was careful to harbour his opinion utterly. What if I merely wish to score sure he 's safe.

'' This is the emplacement. '' Dumbledore floated a rag of parchment to each of them. `` We will go. Now. ``
*


Snape looked up at the flickering bulb above him and scornfully flicked it off before lighting his wand.

'' The top floor ? '' The auror Tonks was looking at the map drawn by Dumbledore. `` Why would he be on the top floor ? It 's a dead end. No way out. ``

'' The boy 's smarter than that. '' Alastor agreed as the four of them reached the stairwell of the muggle building. It was not vacant, indeed Snape could hear muffled voices and clicking from next rooms, but the top trading floor was closed for renovation.

'' Perhaps Dumbledore was wrong then. '' Was that a hint of hope in the voice of the Lester Willis Young auror ?

'' More probably Harry has a broom handle up there. '' Minerva snapped.

Harry would not have got a broomstick. Snape shook his chief but said naught out loud. He is more in all probability to have a pet dragon up there than a broomstick.

'' Quiet. '' Moody was up ahead, his magic eye scanning above them. The old auror cursed. `` darn evil eye ! There 's bagful up there, and papers. But I ca n't differentiate if there 's a mortal. ``

'' Let me see. '' Minerva slinked into her cat phase and carefully padded up the steps. Then came back down, her eyes twinkling. She transformed back and said, `` Harry has been here. His olfactory property is everywhere. ``

'' Do you hump if he is there now ? '' Snape asked.

'' He is there. The scent is too recent for him not to be. ``

'' Then we go in. '' Dwight Lyman Moody stalked forward. `` No wands visible, do n't spook him. ``

They walked up the bleak concrete step. The door was closed and covered by a plastic sheet. Snape was reaching out to cut it aside when they all heard,

'' Do n't nark, I 've cut a slit in the one stave the face. '' The four order appendage stopped dead. The voice continued. `` And if you want a more dramatic financial statement, you are Dwight Lyman Moody, Snape, McGonagall and Tonks. ``

'' Harry ? '' Tonks asked loudly. `` Is that you ? ``

'' Did I not establish that exonerated ? '' The vocalism said cheerily. `` cum in if you want. With your hands up if you please, we do n't want any surprises."

"You don ‘ t trust us ?"Tonks asked.

"Constant vigilance."Harry replied.

Snape chuckled as he dropped his baton in his scoop and walked around the turning point. There indeed was a respite in the plastic mantle, it was waving in the low temperature farting. Snape stepped up to the gap and pushed it aside. Harry was standing in the open bay window, leaning easily against the edge.

He looked ... tired. Beyond tired, his heart were sunken and his skin pale. Did he look worse than when he left Hogwarts ? Yes. He most certainly did, there was no denying. It could not just be tiredness, it could not. He seemed happy though, his eyes sparkling mischievously.

"Harry."Snape greeted him as the other order fellow member filed in behind him."It is safe to see you. You are looking well."

"No I ‘ m not."Harry was watching them all closely."But I ‘ m surviving. How did you receive me ?"

"I ‘ m afraid we can ‘ t-"

"Gringots led us here."Snape interrupted McGonagall, who glared at him."Dumbledore found you here with their entropy. He sent us here to bring you back."

"And are you going to ?"

"We just want to spill to you Harry."McGonagall stepped forward, her hands gap peacefully."It is not safe for you out here."

"It ‘ s not good anywhere."Harry shrugged."And I ‘ m helping out here. I ‘ m fighting the end feeder. What are you doing ? Looking for a lost minor ? Let me ask you, which of us is doing the more utile task ?"

"Potter don ‘ t be an idiot."Moody growled."You may throw caught a few last eaters but it ‘ s only a subject of sentence before you ‘ re caught and you undecomposed pray it ‘ s by Dumbledore and not the dark lord. If you die we all lose."

"If I fail we all lose."Harry shifted closer to the window.

"Harry, we ‘ re just trying to help you."Tonks stepped forward."We all know what ‘ s at stake here."

"This aspect is recap."Harry scoffed."I ‘ m leaving."He turned to the windowpane and dropped.

"No !"McGonagall yelled, snatching for her verge but Moody was faster. The old auror summoned Harry roughly, drawing him across the storey and disarmed him with a moving picture of the wrist.

"Son of a bitch."Harry tried to stand but Helen Wills Moody jabbed his wand and Harry was pushed back to the ground."Trusted you ..."

"Sorry Potter."Moody growled."Trusted you too. You pissed on that when you killed five men didn ‘ t need to be killed."

"That's not true."

"The section about killing them or the part about not needing to ?"

"To be honest, both."Harry made a lunge for the door but McGonagall stepped in social movement of him. Harry cringed, then tried to place upright."This is pointless. If you bring me back to Hogwarts Dumbledore ‘ ll hold back me prisoner, we all lose."

"I trust Dumbledore more than than I trust you correct now."Helen Wills raised his wand."You disappointed me. Now Stup-"

"stoppage !"Snape struck sideways, sending Helen Wills's verge sideways. As the auror 's eyes jerked afford in jar Snape stunned him and whirled, holding his sceptre on McGonagall."Don ‘ t move Minerva. In fact back away."

"Severus what is this ?"Her optic were widely in disbelief.

"Please don ‘ t talk."Snape glanced at Tonks standing twitchily in the corner, her hand hovering over her sceptre."And you ? Do I need to stun you too ?"

"I ... no."The immature auror's eyes flickered down to Harry."take tutelage of yourself Harry. Please. Please do."

"I ‘ ll try."Harry nodded, walking over and grabbing his sceptre."And I won ‘ t use Gringots any more."The boy started for the window.

"Harry !"Snape called out."Helen Newington Wills caught you. You let your ward down. You have to be better than that."

"I know. I screwed up. invariant Vigilance."Harry nodded towards Helen Newington Wills."You should narrate him that too when he wakes up."

"He will probably belt down me first."Snape shrugged.

"Not likely."Harry stepped up the border."He ‘ ll probably cartel you now."

Harry grinned and dropped off the edge.

Snape waited a farseeing moment, long enough for Harry to reach the ground, then lowered his wand. McGonagall just looked at him. No student with belatedly homework had endured so withering a stare.

"fountainhead Severus, now that you have betrayed the order, what do you destine to do now ?"

"I will go back to Dumbledore."Snape stepped over to waken up Helen Newington Wills."And I will try to explain."

The auror blinked to life and grabbed his sceptre. He levered himself to his feet and looked Snape up and down with his piercing electric blasphemous eye.

"well well, your true colour at last."Moody spat.

"Trelawney once told me my color was pale fuchsia."Snape commented as he made for the doorway."If I ‘ m exhibit that colouration you may want to get your eye checked."

"My eye ‘ s fine."

"commodity, then I ‘ ll meet you at Headquarters."Snape apparated away, the cold pressing abyss of nothingness giving him a minute of peace before he dropped to his foundation in battlefront of the doors. Three pops behind him told him the other order penis had followed.

"Don ‘ t do that again you slime."Moody growled, wand out."If you try to apparate again I ‘ ll assume you ‘ re trying to escape."

Snape took three steps, into the rarified hall.

"There."Snape raised his hands."Now I can ‘ t escape."

"I don ‘ t trust you."Moody shook his head."yield me your wand."

"No."Snape turned towards the chief hall and walked calmly. Surprisingly he felt equanimity, he was comfortable. He was grim of being Dumbledore's lapdog, and now he had finally acted on it.

He pushed the doubly doors open and found something he didn't expect. The whole order was there, lining the walls. Dumbledore had called a get together, to discuss Harry being back. Snape stopped, his arms crossed and the three following him take the air past times into the room. Tonks was still silence, fading into the crowd, her whisker unconsciously turning dull brown. Moody and Minerva walked straight up to the head of the table.

"You failed to catch Harry ?"Dumbledore clearly suspected something. He was using the stare that used to thrust Snape to the soul, now it just made his middle itch."What went wrongfulness Severus ?"

"I decided that slap-up goodness could be served by letting him free."Severus stood composure against the angry muttering that rose at that. He found Natalie's centre in the bunch,

Why ?

I am tired of leashes.

You aren't finished are you. It wasn't a question.

I am not. I mean Dumbledore to bed I am no longer ... tame.

fountainhead this should be fun.

Snape couldn't help but smile.

"You think this is funny Severus !"Dumbledore had stood, his eyes flinty and hard.

"Yes."

"How daring you !"

How dare I ? Snape snorted, this was the way things should be. He felt more comfortable with everything against him.

"Snape this time you have gone too far."

Oh good, if you're going to be this predictable this will go far easier. Snape just smiled.

"Do you have zip to say !"

"No. I have nada to say."Snape kept his vox irritatingly cool"The exclusively explanation I have you will not consent. And I can not contrive one you will because you I do not bonk what you want."

"I want person I can bank !"

"No you do not. You trust no one. You never have. Not with any cloak-and-dagger worth knowing. You are a closed in system, no one is told anything."Snape glanced around the office at the other order members, practically everyone was there. Everyone there to see his abasement, that was what Dumbledore wanted anyway. If Snape had his way it wasn't going to happen like that."None of these citizenry know anything do they."

"I am speak-"

"You ‘ d think that would bother them."Snape continued."You ‘ d think one of them would worry about you."

"Be silent !"

"Each of them thought another had your ear. Minerva thought Lupin, Lupin thought Moody perhaps. I don ‘ t know who Moody thought. But none of them did, none of them know."

"muteness !"

"No man is an island."Snape smiled, after all these years he knew how to get to the old man."No man is an island unless he makes himself so."

"Severus I will not listen to-"

"You will listen. You can ‘ t not."Snape shook his head."Something has frozen you. That is what you do isn ‘ t it ? You shrink, like a polo-neck. rear into your shell."

"And what is my carapace ?"Dumbledore growled with uncontained passion and frustration.

"Your yesteryear. Your reputation."Snape sniffed."The terminal war, your glory days. Ha ha ... you have retreated into repeating and now ? Now you are paralyzed by it. We are not fighting this war, we are reliving it."

"You have made it crystalize what you think about-"

"Shut up."Dead secrecy. Snape folded his weaponry, grinning faintly. Behaving like Harry was fun."I am talking now and you will listen. You are paralyzed by something. guilt feelings I would approximate. I don ‘ t know of course, no one knows, but I would ... well ... safely assume that it is guilt. Everyone is motivated by something, we each have something that makes us ... tick. You have guilt, large swirling pond of it. In every pore of you, in every aspect of your mind. It ‘ s been there since the first sentence I ever saw you, I didn ‘ t recognize it then of course, but it was there. By the time I came to influence for you I was old enough to pick out it. Something in your past, in your present too, filling you with a festering remorse. And it just gets worse and worse, makes you doubt yourself, makes you think you are never worthy. Makes you turn down the position of minister for magic. Over and over again. I know what made you like this, you think I would work out for you and not investigate your past times. You know I am more careful than that. You must throw known that I knew. You must possess known that I had found out about Kendra."

Dumbledore froze, every sinew tensed. Snape breathed a sigh of ministration in his mind. He had not known for sure, not until that second. He still didn't know really, not what had happened in that way. That closed book would probably be taken to the Steffi Graf of the men concerned. No subject, Snape could colour over the details.

"It was there in the first war."Snape continued, his coarse voice the only sound in the carry hall."Back then it was ... helpful. It made you careful. It made you light but ... it made you thrifty. I do not understand what has happened since then, perhaps it is as Harry says and you are simply gaga, but it is worse now Previously guilt made you measured, sensible. Now it makes you useless. Useless and broken. You are no longer the notable Albus Dumbledore, you are a fractured version of him."

"No."

"Something destroyed you."

"Stop."

"I don ‘ t know what it was."

"Please."

"It must deliver been something terrible."Snape smiled slyly, letting his words sink in. Weakening."Whatever could it have been ? You don ‘ t have another sis ..."

"SILENC-"

"Legilimens !"
*


Darkness falling, falling everywhere. My demerit, always my error. I shouldn't have put him there, no right field I had no right wing. I condemned him, his decease. My one charge. Failure. No. Must be done. Hope. demise. Failure. Truth shrouded so deeply. So deep it hurts. The truth would break us all. But even without we are doomed.

It is all a lie and we are all doomed.

Everything you know I told you.

Everything you know is lies.
*


Snape tore his thinker away, shaking. He fell to his knee joint on the floor, the revulsion, the muddiness, filling him. Dumbledore had fallen too, back into his chairperson. The old humans face twisted in pure agony. To keep a Truth locked inside for nine years only to birth it roughly ripped from you ? It must feature felt like his heart had been torn out. Snape shook his read/write head, it could not be true, it couldn't be. But behind the black mutterings of Dumbledore's mind, behind the aching remorse the real retentiveness hid. He had pushed them deep, as if trying to forget them but they were there. They were impossible to blank out. Snape knew he never would. The order of magnitude of what the old man had done hit him and he doubled over, vomiting onto the inhuman Stone floor.

He felt hands on his berm. Natalie. He reached up for one and grasped it, holding on to something real as parts of his existence fell apart. He tried to put up and found he needed Natalie's help to rise to his metrical foot. His legs felt like water, his pes like led. He tried to make his rima oris work, affair needed to be said. Something needed to be said.

"How dare you ?"Predictable, but Snape could think of goose egg better."How could you do that ? To a child !"

"It ... was necessary."Dumbledore's interpreter was barely a murmur, a faint rustling in the air."It had to be done. It had to be done. It had to be done."Dumbledore mumbled that musical phrase over and over like a prayer.

"requisite ?"Snape found his lingua and used it to rumble."No. No it was not. Not even you believe that."

"We needed-"

"BE SILENT !"Snape snapped, the headmaster cringed back as if struck."I am leaving Dumbledore. I am going to help Harry. To find him and help him, and you will let me. You have no right hand to have anything to do with that boy. You have no right."Snape turned towards the room access, but stopped as his eye fell on Lupin.

"And you."Snape sneered."You ... for going along with him. For keeping it a secret. For treating Harry the way you do because of something that was none of his doing. Something that was done to him. You ... you are a monster. One that has zip to do with the moon."Snape turned away and hobbled from the elbow room, leaning heavily on the small woman beside him.

"Severus !"Dumbledore called after him, suddenly sounding scared."You will tell no one ! Surely even you can see that this must stay on a secret !"

Snape kept walking, not trusting himself to address. They reached the threshold and he stiffened, his heart felt like it had a thousand midget bait in it, each one attached to a weight.

"Severus ?"Natalie murmured beside him."You need to go home, I ‘ ll require you-"

"No. Not dwelling. Hogwarts."Snape shook his head teacher."Hogwarts first."

"Alright."She didn't argue, she knew when his mind was made up. There was a short, sharp chime and the woman he was leaning on had blond tomentum and pale White River skin. Of track, she was supposed to be suddenly. cartel her to remember details even at a sentence like this. They stepped outside the bound of the wards and apparated, the cold and pressing void once more inclosure him.

He stepped out himself onto the skunk before the gates and allowed himself to be led up the long path to the palace. Corridors passed and Snape realized he was being led to his living quarters. Good. The bulwark are warded so no one will get a line. As they reached the doorway Snape pushed it receptive and went directly to the liquor cabinet. He poured himself a whisky and drunk it down, wincing at the burn in his throat.

"Ghost Vinca minor Henderson."Snape called out softly. shade could always hear their gens. A few here and now later the shady shape of Moaning Vinca minor sunk out of the ceiling.

"Why did you call me ?"She asked impudently."I don ‘ t answer to you."

"I called you because the house elves news report to Dumbledore as do the other ghosts. I need these words to be private."Snape snapped quickly."I need you to bring professor Michelson down here and I need you to secernate no one."

"You can't parliamentary procedure me ar-"

"It is about Harry."

"Oh. Oh ..."Vinca minor nodded fervently and shot back up through the Oliver Stone. Snape turned to Natalie, now back to looking like her old self, waiting patiently.

"You don ‘ t have to assure me."She said understandingly."I understand if it ‘ s something you want to keep to yourself. After all Dumbledore-"

"Was wrong."Snape cut her off."And I will say you. If nothing else I need your assist to make sense of it."Snape took a deep breath and began explaining. He could own just given her the memories but he didn't want her to get the shock he had. It didn't actually take that long to excuse, in the end it was so dewy-eyed. When he was finished she just sat there, staring at him. As if willing him to stand out up and yell ‘ fooled you ! ’, but knowing he would not.

"This ... this changes everything."She said breathlessly.

"It changes nothing."Snape gritted his teeth."We still need to aid Harry."

"You ‘ re mighty, we still do. But it changes everything else Severus. Everything else. You can not traverse that it does."

"No. No I can not."

They fell into silence as the doorway was pushed open. Markus Michelson strode in, looking around the diminished way quickly.

"The ghost said this was about Harry."He said, still glancing around as if Harry would spring from a sideboard."Do you know where he is ?"

"No, but I have ... I have left the order to explore for him. To help him with what he is trying to do. If I can."Snape fixed the other man in the eye."I know you ‘ ve been teaching him. I would appreciate your help."

"Well finally !"Albert Michelson threw up his arms."I was beginning to think I was the solitary one in this berth with my capitulum on straight."

"You are not far wrong."Snape shrugged.

"So what does this make us ?"Natalie smiled."The order of the Kneasle ?"

"The gild of the Nundu more like."Michelson cracked his knuckles.

"You know, I think it makes us marauders."Snape smiled faintly."James potter must be spinning in his grave."



Half of my reviews seem to have disappeared ... very sad ... : (

You all have to look back twice now to make up for it. If you do leave a review article then a faery will visit you while you sleep and sprinkle fairy dust on you. The poove rubble won't do magic or let you fly or anything but it'll be very pretty.


Harry Potter and the moron Child : Chapter 5 : The dark market

Harry travels to find information.




This reporter has some shocking news program. News that will fall you, good reviewer, to your very core. Harry Potter has been declared a grievous vigilante by the ministry. Yes, Harry potter the-boy-who-lived, is a murderer. According to ministry officials Harry has been responsible for for at least six deaths and possibly more !

Minister Fudge was quoted as saying ‘ Yes, well this is shocking but not entirely unexpected. Just tone at his actions during the Triwizard tourney, the boy stole a ship for merlin's saki. He's always been a liberate cannon that boy has.'

This announcement came at the same clock time as his official expulsion from Hogwarts schoolhouse of witchcraft and wizardry.
*


The marauders looked at each other along the long table in the great antechamber. None of them said 'Is this a laugh ?'or 'No way'or anything naively infantile like that. They were past that. They had all known, on some level, that this was possible. Maybe even inevitable.

'' variety zero. '' Fred was the first to speak. `` It 's all bollocs so it changes null. ``

'' This is crazy ! Do they think we 're pudding head ? '' Ron was almost spluttering in wrath. `` No one 's gon na believe any of this ! ``

'' I almost wish people did. '' Hermione was shaking her straits as she peered down at the front page article.

'' What ! You want the great unwashed to think Harry 's a- '' Ron rounded on her, about to let informal, but Ginny held up a hand to bring him up short. He was still fuming though and said, more reasonably. `` Maybe you should explain that comment. ``

'' Because no one will trust it Ronald. '' Hermione bit her lip worriedly. `` Or at least many citizenry wo n't. And people will blame the ministry. People will hate the ministry for attacking their hero. ``

'' Remember the thigh-slapper last-place year ? '' Padma said darkly. `` Imagine that. Except a lot tough. ``

'' Oh ... '' Ron 's expression fell. `` I guess that is bad. ``

'' It changes zip. '' Malfoy said sharply. `` Not really. We all knew this was a theory. ``

'' Right, '' Ginny nodded, putting on her leader face. `` He 's right. All this does is make what we 're doing even more urgent. ``

They all nodded, they had been training ever since they had got back to hogwarts a month ago.
*


His verbal description has been given to every ministry law enforcement official and hit wizard. His position on the ministry 's need list is only a few spot short of the known end eaters !

According to the ministry Harry 's M.O. is to use poisonous substance to do his dirty oeuvre. A poison there is no live counterpoison to.

Harry 's description is known to every wizard and enchantress alive but you should be aware that he may be in disguise.
*


'' This is Dumbledore 's doing. '' Natalie shook her brain as she slid the paper over to Snape. Michelson had already flicked his copy closed and was staring at it angrily, as if blaming the paper itself. Snape sighed, he had already read the offending article.

'' Dumbledore undoubtedly had a hand in it. '' Snape tried to turn back his ire rising to the surface. Keep it under wraps, save it for when it was needed. `` Perhaps he thinks he can daunt Harry back to him. ``

'' Then he does n't know Harry. '' Albert Abraham Michelson stood and began pacing angrily, obviously he felt no penury to continue his ire under wraps. `` This 'll just lay down Harry even more certainly that everyone 's against him ! ``

'' Undoubtedly. '' Snape flicked through the rest of the newspaper. `` At to the lowest degree there is some good news ... ''
*


Harry may be combat-ready in Leeds. Yesterday the ministry was handed an anon. tip that led them to a firm there that had been converted to house wickedness creatures. No decease eaters were caught ( perhaps the bodies are hidden elsewhere ! ) but the cellar was a draw close of lethifolds, swarming in the darkness in numbers game never before seen on British soil. I do not need to separate you, proficient reader, that if they had been unleashed they would have caused untold destruction. The lethifolds have been disposed of by the ministry.

There is no proof that Harry was there but a tangency in the aurors position said that they were investigating the possibility.

Harry is to be considered as life-threatening as any dying feeder. Perhaps more so.
*


Harry dumped the paper in a methamphetamine hydrochloride can. It did n't subject anymore. He coughed roughly, clutching at his tummy. It did n't matter if the ministry caught him so long as he did what he had to do first. What the Inferno did he care what everybody else thought ? It just meant he had to be Thomas More careful.

Harry shoved off the bulwark and flicked his toughie up before walking off down he alleyway. There was still oeuvre to do.
*


'' Is it true ? ``

Ginny turned at the sound, the tempestuous and forceful phone. The marauder spun with her, almost in synchronicity. Cho Yangtze Kiang stepped back fearfully. In her defense the marauders now numbered eleven, filling the hallway with uniform anger. They had also all drawn their wands at the same clip as she spoke, in response to the possible threat.

They must have truly looked like an army.

Cho had frozen in place, anger turned to stunned secrecy. Ginny stepped forward.

'' Of course it 's not reliable. '' She said simply. `` How can you even ask that ? ``

'' I just ... '' Cho swallowed, fear still flickering across her face. `` Is Harry Ok ? ``

'' We do n't know. ``

'' Where is he ? ``

'' We do n't sleep together. ``

'' Does he involve help ? ``

'' We do n't roll in the hay. We 're trying to help him. '' Ginny said curtly. She was beginning to get tired of Cho 's stupid query. Ginny turned to leave when Cho broke in,

'' fountainhead I want to serve too ! '' Ginny felt a lilliputian mental groan. That was just what she needed, a complaining pretty-girl in the ranks. A constant quantity botheration at best, a financial obligation at worst. Cho went on, `` I 'm onetime than you, and I 'm a Ravenclaw. I must get it on lots of magical spell you do n't cognize yet ! You should let me join. ``

'' No you do n't you arrogant stuck-up ... '' Ginny clamped her sassing shut and took a inscrutable calming hint. `` This is n't the bloody gobstones nine. You ca n't just join on a whim. We 're training to defend, really competitiveness. Fight death eater. ``

'' I know that. '' Cho looked down her nuzzle arrogantly. `` If you can do it then I can too. ``

'' You do n't understand ! You ... '' Ginny gritted her tooth tight together again before turning to the marauders. `` Vote. All of us. I vote no. ``

The vulture glanced about between them. Some of them had obviously been thinking of voting yes before she made her tactual sensation so abundantly clear. After some embarrassed shuffling Dragon stepped forward, eyeing Cho up and down silently. Ginny felt another spurt of bile rise in her gut.

'' You accept the fact that you could die ? '' Dragon asked flatly. Cho nodded, her eyes wide. genus Draco looked into her eyes for a moment, Ginny thought she heard him mutter something under his breather. Draco cocked his head to the slope and asked another doubt. `` Do you accept the fact that you have to drive orders from Ginny ? ``

YES ! Take that you bitch ! Ginny was shocked at the level of glee her subconscious mind threw up at that interrogative. If her subconscious mind was happy with the enquiry, her full brainpower grinned when Cho grimaced and nodded.

'' Fine. '' Draco shrugged. `` We need more masses. I vote yes. If she does n't knead out we can always make her leave of absence. ``

'' We vote yes. '' Fred said, shrugging. His Gemini added, `` Sorry Ginny. ``

'' I ... yes. '' Anapurna nodded, a little hesitantly.

'' No. '' Padma shook her head, earning her a shocked glance from her Sister. `` We do n't require her. No reason to take on another project when we do n't need her. ``

'' Look just put your hands up. '' Ginny said tiredly. `` work force for no ? ``

tercet paw rose, herself, Padma and Hermione. Ginny 's venter dropped, this did n't look good.

'' For yes ? ``

quint hands were raised. Ron had followed his elderly crony. Ginny turned to silent three remainders.

'' Neville, Anna, Terry ? '' Neville shifted uncomfortably and the bread maker twins looked at the floor. `` You need to vote. ``

'' I do n't require to vote. '' Neville said quietly.

'' And we 're new. '' Anna shrugged. `` We 'll let you decide. ``

'' You see ! '' Cho said triumphantly. `` I 'm in ! ``

Ginny turned slowly, it was done. time to name the trump of it.

'' mulct. Meet us here after lessons today. ``

'' Today ? But I 've got quidditch practice. ``

I know. Ginny did n't say it, but she so wanted to. `` This is more important than quidditch. We all understand that. You need to. ``

With that she turned and strode away. She hoped Cho would n't turn up tonight. That would really take in her day.

Ginny survived herbology with a book of curse propped up against a works pot. She did the Lapp in Defense, professor A. A. Michelson was being oddly blind to the transgression of the marauders. After the lessons were done she slammed her books away and dashed for the door. She ran for the meeting place but slowed down before she got there. She would n't come all covered in sweat and breathing hard. She would n't give Cho the satisfa ...

Cho was n't alone.

Ginny stopped with the marauders a few footstep away from the newcomers. Lucy Kingston stood by her Ravenclaw champion with her boyfriend, Joshua Split, standing on her other side of meat. The two ex-Slytherin Gryffindors, Vanessa and Elizabeth stood in front of him, eyeing Malfoy warily. It irked Ginny that all of them were here. It irked her more that they were probably the people she would have chosen to admit to the marauders herself. Stupid Cho.

'' You told them. '' She tried to defecate her voice come out icily tempestuous, hoping it did n't just sound peevish. `` You told all of them. What the hell do you think- ''

'' I do n't tell them ! '' Cho interrupted her. `` Everyone in the schooltime is talking about the newsworthiness about Harry, and everybody knows you lot are doing something secret. They just ... ''

'' We eavesdropped. '' tear interrupted. `` We want to help Harry too. ``

'' This is getting absurd. '' Padma muttered from the depths of the marauders.

'' We heard what you asked Cho. '' Split went on. `` And we understand the endangerment. Army of the Pure face it, if you trust him, '' Split jerked his chin towards Malfoy. `` You have to rely us. ``

'' I do n't have to trust any of you. '' goodness, that sounded like Harry. `` Listen I do n't manage what you say. We 're going to train now. If you can keep up you can stay, we do n't take fourth dimension to slow down down for you. ``

'' Fine with us ... madam sergeant. '' snag added sarcastically.

'' Idiots. '' Ginny muttered as she led the amassed hordes off down the corridor.
*


'' Listen. ``

Malfoy stopped and turned towards rent. The older boy had halted them just outside the entry to the predator attic, everyone else was already inside.

'' Yes ? '' Malfoy said evenly. `` Can I assist you ? ``

'' I just want you to eff we 're here for Harry. '' Split said challengingly. `` We do n't trust you. We do n't forgive you. ``

'' You 're here for the Lapp reason I am then. ``

'' Whatever. '' Split shook his promontory. `` God knows why she trusts you. Let alone ... well you know. ``

'' I know what ? '' Malfoy looked around in confusion. `` She who ? ``

'' You do n't know ? '' Split almost seemed to smile. `` Idiot. ``

'' She who ? ``

'' I expect she 'll let you get laid in her own metre. ``

'' She who ? ``
*


Harry pushed his way out of the old shop he had flued into and a attack of heat hit his face. He dragged a broad brimmed hat out of his bag and pulled it low over his eye. Ah, that was better. His coat and it 's respective enchantments would possess kept his consistency aplomb but it would receive looked incredibly conspicuous here. He winced in the harsh light and shucked his bag up on his shoulders before setting off along the nighttime macadam street.

Muggles walked past him without a second thought, jabbering to each former in French. The accent was very different from what he was used to but that was only to be expected. Harry had learnt French in Switzerland and only mouth it to the scholar of Beauxbatons. Harry idly wondered if his Daniel Chester French had a Swiss accent or an English one.

No matter, he was in Marrakesh, thousands of Roman mile from France or England. He would stand out as a foreigner whatever he did. No point trying to conflate in with the locals, much substantially to just look like another stupid tourist. There were one or two others around. Harry picked up his footstep as he crossed the street and into the souk.

Why is it that I always find myself in labyrinth ? Harry thought to himself chuckling as he skirted around a stand of vegetable and slid through the gang of shoppers. The muggle souk was bad enough, a gigantic Warren of streets and alleyways full of shops and market stalls selling everything from spices to electronics. Harry kept on an inerrant course through it, it was n't his destination.

Hopefully he knew where his destination was, his information was sketchy at best.

Harry came to the stall he wanted, a darkness kettle of fish in the wall selling decrepit and moth eaten clothing. He took a Joseph Black t-shirt with a star on it off the single-foot and glanced at the aging market keeper. There was a barely perceptible nod. Harry stepped behind a screen, a unsmooth changing room, and pulled the curtain shut. He held the shirt up and tapped the star twice. With a needlelike groaning the storey began to grind slowly downwards.

Harry tried not to touch the face of the I. F. Stone passageway as the possibility at the top got further and further away. Ten meters ... twenty .... thirty .... forty- clunk. Harry snapped to attention as the floor stopped descending. The stone in straw man of him split apart slowly, light spilled in, and air. The smells ... every fragrance imaginable, burning, creature, intellectual nourishment of every form, incense made of spun lightning, every scent a wizard with no regard for the laws of chemical science could create hung in the air as Harry stepped out of the sinister entrance into the under-souk, the night market.

Knockturn alley had nada on this place.

Harry looked up at the cap a far above, Mosaic kaleidoscoped over the polish up control surface, changing every second. There were no paries for as far as Harry could see, just mainstay dotted around. In no radiation pattern Harry could see. Every one as wide as an oak, twisted and gouged and splaying up into that wonderful ceiling. Disappearing into it. And down at ground story ? It was indescribable. Every kind of shop, every kind of stall. Some vendor just sitting of a mat, arrays of bottle out in front of them. Others had presentation that looked like insane and un-feasible pop up Quran, everything spilling out of everything else. The noise was deafening, worse than up above because the stochasticity of sparking spells and fuming potions was added to the cosmopolitan noise of people, and there was the occasional screaming as another shopper was brought down by one of the entrances.

There was no finding your way in this place. Not unless you grew up down here. Harry scanned the area while walking sedately forwards. Many stalls had tall ranging pole to identify them from far away, he was looking for ... ah. Harry spotted the flag he was looking for and headed for it, surreptitiously checking his disguise as he did so. Harry flicked a melanise robe out of his bag and threw it over his shoulder joint. Like this he looked like about thirty, maybe more, with yearn disgraceful hair and a bass cicatrice on his cheek. Threatening, but not obvious.

Harry smelt his finish before he got there. The smell of animals and animal dung beating out the early odors more and more the closer he got. He came to an spread place in the market, a property where the booth had been pushed aside to make room for rank upon rank of John Cage. Harry recognized some of the creatures in them, others were a secret, all he gave a wide-cut parentage. The cages seemed almost stupidly sturdy, surely they used unbreakable charms. Surely they did ...

Harry felt himself edging away and forced himself to calm down. He looked into one of the cages, a monstrosity made of unscathed I-beams, and saw the eye of a Draco staring back at him. Somehow they must bear stopped it flaming, they must stimulate. Harry stepped calmly up the rough desk at the end of the John Milton Cage Jr.. It was surrounded by old bag of what looked like some variety of feed. An ordinary bicycle hoot batting cage sat on the corner with a small golden boo fluffing its feathering. The heavily bearded and mustachioed man sat behind it looked up as he approached.

'' Yes ? '' He asked in soft English. `` Are you look for something ? ``

'' My figure is Jack Caiman. I have come for you to order me the progress of an order. '' Harry pulled back his sleeve, revealing the glum mark. The storekeeper recoiled, glancing about fearfully.

'' Put that away ! '' He gestured wildly. Harry calmly rolled his sleeve back down.

'' You have nothing to fear. '' Harry said airily. `` Not while you do the dark Godhead 's study. ``

'' Why you come here ? '' The man 's center were still shifting nervously. `` All on agenda. ``

'' There have been some problem at the other end. ``

'' Not my fault. '' The seller shook his head. `` Got them safe to you. You lose them after it not my break. ``

'' Of path not. '' Harry smiled in an uncomforting way. `` You mistake me. I merely meant that we have reason to need to pee-pee for sure this saving goes smoothly. There can be no misapprehension. You understand. ``

'' Of form, of course. '' The man nodded rapidly. `` Do not worry. You can secernate your master not to worry. Everything is fine. ``

'' Where are the beast now ? ``

'' They are on ship. '' The man shuffled back to his desk and sat down. `` Loaded on two twenty-four hours ago. ``

Damnit, Harry cursed inwardly. It would make been so much well-situated if they were still on dry land.

'' separate me their course. '' Harry leant down threateningly. `` My overlord is thinking of sending some people to ascertain there are no ... mistakes. ``

'' No misunderstanding. '' The man nodded again, dragging a map out of a drawer in his desk. `` No mistakes. ``

Harry smiled, people were so poor fish when they thought you were going to kill them.
*


Harry dropped back onto Brits territory and immediately flued again to stave off any pursuit. He walked the stopping point recollective paseo to the abandoned theater he was staying in and pushed the door open. It was dark inside, the windows covered by anti-vandal plates put up by the police. It was empty, not even a chair when he had first arrived. But it was unclouded and the urine was still running. Harry slouched down against the wall and collapsed. yearn day. He reached over and picked up a bottle of pep up potion. He uncorked it and let some splosh into his sass. This was his back Lucy in the sky with diamonds today. It was growing harder to keep going ... the malady ...

Harry shook his psyche, no use dwelling on it. spinal column to oeuvre. He spread the map out in straw man of him on the floor and roughly arranged them out into a harsh couple to the coast of Africa and Common Market. The map were seriously old, like everything else necromancer had, and some of the countries had the wrong epithet. One of them had a big 'here be dragons'warning written in the middle of the Atlantic. Knowing that it was a wizard map it might well be true.

Harry sighed as he looked at the clock time that were written on different checkpoints on the map. The ship was old too, or looked it. The man had sketched a uncut lottery of it. It resembled nothing more than a giant wooden brick with small sails that surely could never propel it too fast. Of course it would be propelled by magic, if not it would just be stupid, but it would still use up almost a month to come up from Africa. Could be shoot it in the center of the ocean ? Harry shuddered at the cerebration. Besides the coursing fright at the very thought it was airy to boot. How would he even get on display board the ship ? How would he even find it on the blank featureless sea ?

Harry trawled over the maps again, was there any spot where it came close to body politic ? Was there any ... ambush point ?

Oh of course ! There 's this big tree diagram in the center of the ocean that you can shroud behind. Sharks use it all the time to catch seals.

Harry sat back tiredly, this was going to be concentrated than he thought. His eyelid felt so expectant ... rest ...

Harry glanced around, he was in a mansion. A fire crackled warmly on the hearth, throwing faint shadows on the plumb blue bulwark. The pictures on the bulwark, a redheaded woman, a man with a familiar face. Harry shook his head, it was a dream. He had had it before. He walked towards the doorway and pushed it open hurrying out of the house and into the orderly garden. He glanced back, the cottage was as it always was. The bungalow at Godrics Hollow. Harry shuddered, every fourth dimension his dream put him in this plaza he had an undeniable itch to leave. It was like putting your bridge player in a bucket of wriggling worms, a crawling sensation over his entire peel. And yet his aspiration brought his dorsum here again and again and again.

Harry hugged his arms to his breast. Maybe this would be one of the good nights, the dark when he managed to break loose. There was a forest out there somewhere, a forest of apple tree, their blossoms filling the air. When he could see that in his aspiration he slept well, he slept comfortably. But for every one of those there would be one of the bad ones, when the house kept drawing him back. He didn't even want to retrieve about what had happened once, when the river had come for him.

Harry pulled himself together with a force of will. Those apple trees weren't going to obtain themselves. He was about to set off when a fluttering sound reached his ear. Harry spent a second wondering if it was some new unpleasantness the ambition was throwing at him before he realized it was coming from outside.

Harry woke with a scratch and was on his groundwork in a moment, verge in hand. He relaxed when he saw that the sound was coming from a small ovalbumin bird trying to hug in through the seat of the window. The bird twittered then flickered back remote. It took Harry a second to agnise it had left something behind, a small folded piece of paper.

Interesting. Especially considering no one should be able to get hold of me here.

Harry stood and hesitantly poked the report with his verge. It did nothing. He prodded it again. Still nothing. He flicked it on the floor and folded it open with the end of a fork. He bent down and read it without touching it.

Harry

I once told you to follow your own path if you thought it was right. You seem to have taken that advice to heart. I can not and will not say that your alternative is wrong, it may be, it may not be, I do not get laid. But you can not destroy yourself for the sake of this fight. Do not. Your protagonist worry about you. They are as I write this working to aid you. Training as hard as you ever did. You are not alone no matter how much you fight to have it so. There are citizenry that will have if you die, even if you take Voldemort with you.

I can not offer you any data about Voldemort 's plans or whereabouts. I am constrained by the dominion of my order. I would break them for you but it would do no sound. I would be found out long before I could divine anything for you.

The merely help I can devote you I have already given. I wish I could do more Harry, you must believe that.

Remember to bust the pendent.

DO NOT DIE.

Pythea.

Harry picked the humble piece of parchment up carefully and slipped it into his breast pocket. His script stayed there a moment longer, pressing it into his thorax, before he took a rich breath and let it out.

Do not die.

He did not intend to, but it had always been a opening. And no topic how much people would suffer if he died they would suffer more if Voldemort was left animated. Harry had a firm impulse to choose the letter back out and interpret it once again, or maybe twice or three clock time. But no, he had employment to do. Wait ... something in the missive tugged at his nous. Maybe there was a way.
*


Malfoy snorted as Cho was sent flying across the room. The new recruit were trying to hold up, they were just failing. He turned away, they were useless, just a waste matter of time for the repose of them. The marauders themselves ? Draco managed a diminished grinning for that, they were progressing nicely. They could fight. They could fight as a team. They could crusade on their own. They could fight like kneazles in a sack if they needed to. And they would need to.

He moved over to a mint of blow over loge and ran his finger's breadth over a long, thin, Charles Grey cloak inside. The Weasley counterpart claimed they could turn them into temporary invisibility cloaks with some Thomas More pattern. Dragon did n't doubt it. The charms would n't hold up for More than a day or two but that was all they needed. They could just respell them afterwards. Shield charms graced the dark grey jackets in the next box, plenty to deter minor jinx. In the kickoff it had just been a way to carry the charms, the same as an talisman or a band. Rings of invisibility were usual enough even though they were hideously voiceless to stimulate and protective talisman were ten a penny. But the dress were easier for the Weasleys to sour, and the dark Lady Jane Grey made them inconspicuous at Nox. That had been the commencement, but now it almost seemed more ... Like they were becoming an army in truth, they had uniforms. Parvati had wanted to sew together slight Ms onto the clothing as a symbol of the marauders but Ginny had n't let her. wasteland of clip, too blazing too. genus Draco smiled again, it did n't matter if the clothes were plain grey or tap with little stoolpigeon. Either way by the end they would hold an group of unseeable, shielded, deadly fighters.

Invincible cutthroat shit. Marauders to the core. Harry would induce been majestic. At least, Dragon hoped he would be.

'' Draco ! '' Ron yelled. `` Break clip 's up get back here. ``

'' I 'm coming Weasley full point yelling. '' Draco gritted his teeth, all of his brawniness hurt. Never mind. `` backbone to work. ``

'' stopover. I need to talk to you. ``

The voice came out of nowhere. The marauders twisted towards it, wands out. The duels ceased, every eye widened in shock.

'' I heard somebody was raising an US Army. '' Harry quirked an eyebrow. `` I find myself in demand of an army. Is this one for hire ? ``

'' Hire ? '' George let out a joke. `` Harry this is your U. S. Army. ``

'' Good, I should get a discount. ``

The predator broke and all began talking at once, it was a happy storm of sound with Harry laughing in the center. Draco stayed silent, he glanced over at Ginny, also staying back. She nodded to him, her mouth a hard line. She had realized too. Harry had n't come back for a happy reunification. He would n't take. He had come because he needed them. This would be the first job of the army.

'' Harry ... '' genus Draco cleared his pharynx. The green centre of the boy who lived fell on him. `` What is it you want the U. S. Army for ? ``

'' Oh ... that. '' Harry reached into his bag. `` Do you have a table ? ``

Dragon pointed the way and Harry pulled a huge sheet of lambskin out of his bag. Harry laid them down on the rough aerofoil of the close surviving table in the attic. It looked like a giant written matter of a map.

'' There 's a ship. '' Harry traced it 's route along a yearn pipeline on the map. `` It 's stuffed to the gills with drear beast. Direct to the dark lord. Hundreds, including a lot that we really do n't need him getting his manpower on. It 's not going to bring in port before Britain, it 's going to be far out to sea. No portkeys, no flues, only way there is to fly. ``

'' That 's why you need us. '' Padma said thoughtfully.

'' Yeah, sort of. '' Harry hung his head. `` I can just about manage to fly in a consecutive line. Slowly. But out over water ? With the wind and maybe storms and ... and over water. And when I might ingest to piddle a quick way out ? No. I need getaway driver. ``

'' I thought you wanted us to campaign. '' Ron said, disappointedly. Harry 's center narrowed, he opened his sass but Ginny cut in.

'' We 're here for whatever Harry needs us for Ron. '' She snapped. `` You should know that. ``

'' I ... right. ``

'' right hand. '' Ginny nodded sharply. genus Draco half expected Ron to salute. Ginny turned back to Harry. `` What kind of dark creatures are we talking about ? ``

'' diverse variety of nasty. '' Harry was looking between Ginny and Ron curiously. `` Lots of tool. ``

'' manticora ? '' Hermione added.

'' Yes ... '' Harry looked at a tilt jotted at the bottom of the map. `` Six of them. ``

Dragon glanced at the inclination and let out a startled oath. They could not let this ship stretch earth. Even if they had to lose half the army to do it. The Cerberus had to be juvenile at least, no one could stuff six full grown ones into a ship. Unless it had been magically expanded. Which it almost certainly had. They could not let that ship reach land.

'' We need to get on that ship. '' He heard himself saying, his vox a little breathless. `` We could fly on, or ... or ... ''

'' Go onto it ? '' Harry let out a rough laugh. `` That would be pretty life-threatening. ``

'' Because of the puppet ? ``

'' Because I 'm going to settle it. ``



This is the live on chapter of setup, I promise. From now to the end of the Koran is pure adrenalin-fueled plot.


I do n't own Harry potter. I do however own some Malva sylvestris. Which is just as good.



'' Sink it ? '' Hermione 's voice was a shrill, disbelieving whine.

Ginny felt like slamming her handwriting up to her forehead. Of grade Harry would require to sink the ship, it was the simplest, easy, resolution if you did n't care about the consequences.

'' But ... but ... `` terrycloth Baker raised his deal slowly as if he were in class.

'' Yes unexpected-addition-1. '' Harry nodded pleasantly.

'' Are n't there mass on the ship ? ``

'' Yes, but they 'll be genius, they can just apparate to shore. They wo n't be killed. ``

'' How about the creature ? '' Ron asked, scratching his head. `` Wo n't they just swim to shore ? ``

'' Damnit ! '' Harry clicked his finger. `` Foiled again ! If only soul had stuffed them in big alloy cage for transportation. Then they 'd sink straight to the tail. ``

'' How are you planning to sink it anyway ? '' Fred asked, eagerness clearly visible in his eyes.

'' Well, I plan to blow a big hole in it underneath the water supply line. Then I 'm going to put another big hole in it underneath the water job. And if that does n't shape I 'm going to put a third- ''

'' This is a wizard boat I assume Harry. '' Draco interrupted. `` Putting a hole in it may not be as promiscuous as you think. It 'll make all kind of spell and protections. ``

'' I can bypass them. ``

'' Without the people on the ship realizing ? ``

'' Yes. ``

'' Really ? ``

'' Yes. '' Harry folded his arms. `` I have thought about this Draco. I have planned this. ``

The attic became mum again. Ginny could feel the cogs moving in hoi polloi 's heads. They were all thinking how far they were volition to go. The marauders ... well they were probably in. The others ? They had signed up to fight death eater not commit Acts of the Apostles of terrorism. How did she stand on this ? On balance ... with Harry. Those creatures could not be allowed to contact shore.

'' We ca n't do this. '' Padma was shaking her head. `` We ca n't slump it. ``

'' You running away ? '' Harry was looking at her in horror. `` You want to just let them secrete that sort of- ''

'' No of course of action not ! '' Padma interrupted him. `` But you have n't thought of everything. ``

'' Oh yeah ? Well what have I missed ? ``

'' The statute of secrecy. '' Padma looked down at the map, perhaps just to avoid meeting mass 's eyes. `` If we do this they 'll be this giant star wreck with three-base hit headed skeletons and they could float to the open or get into the gulf stream or plunger could notice them. Not to mention that someone 's going to notice a giant exploding ship off the coast. Even if we tell the ministry afterwards they ca n't handle this variety of cleanup, not on this scale. No one can. It 'll be worse than Roswell. Keeping charming arcanum from muggles, the statute of secrecy, is the one thing both position of this war agree on. If we break it then they 're going to jump breaking it and then we 're going to be really screwed. ``

Harry leant back, rocking back on the balls of his feet. He bit his lip. Thinking. The marauders held their breath.

'' Ok. '' Harry spun the map to face Padma. `` Give me another option. ``

'' We board the ship. Incapacitate the crew. Kill the creatures. '' Padma said definitively. `` If I 'm reading this rightfield the ship only a 12 masses on it. No death feeder. Most of them are just there to keep the creature in substantiation. Should n't be too strong to bedaze them. ``

'' And the animate being ? '' Harry asked quizzically. `` Some of them are n't easy to kill. ``

'' The killing nemesis. '' Gasps rose from the U. S. Army. `` It 'll kill everything on this tilt. ``

'' Is n't it an instant sprightliness judgment of conviction ? '' Cho choked out.

'' Only when used against human being. '' Padma replied calmly at the like prison term as Harry said,

'' Only if soul finds out. But would n't any underage magic be detected."

"Not in international waters."

'' And the ship ? '' Harry asked. `` If we just leave it drifting wo n't that be against the statute of secrecy ? ``

'' We leave the gang on it. They can get it so a condom wizard seaport. ``

'' Hmm ... '' Harry folded his arms and looked at Padma appraisingly. `` That ... could ... workplace. It would be more difficult, more risky ... more fun ... but it could work. ``

Ginny felt a grin. This was the almost like the old Harry back again. Sure they were planning an act of monumental piracy rather than a prank but it was Harry back again.

'' We can split up. '' Harry continued. `` Send a couple of people down to the piss to expect. The rest of us go in. If we can look at the crew out and kill the animal we do. If not ? We default back to my programme and the people in the body of water shoot a line it to smithereens. We worry about the side effect later. ``

Ginny took a inscrutable breathing spell and halfway through realized that most of the marauders were looking at her. Her throat closed up and she almost coughed up her lungs. They were still looking to her, even though Harry was back. Harry was the world-wide they all knew that, but maybe ... maybe she was the sergeant or something.

'' Who can swim ? '' It was literally the initiatory thing that popped into her pass. `` Who can swim really well ? ``

Parvati 's hand shot up instantly smiling, the two Baker children volunteered slower maybe still a petty hesitant, finally stock split shrugged and lacklusterly raised his arm.

'' Four people. '' Ginny looked down at the map, at the little sketch of the ship. `` We can put ... two each in the water system near the front and back. ``

'' prow and stern. '' Draco murmured. She glared at him.

'' Near the forepart and back. '' Ginny continued. `` Everybody else land on the front. ``

'' On the back. '' Harry disagreed. `` Here, in the steering bit with the wheel. ``

'' Bridge. ``

'' Shut up. We land on the steery bit and take everybody out quickly. '' Harry pointed at Draco. `` You stay there and keep open the ship on course. You can do that ? You know the right figure for the steery wheel and the clitoris and stuff. Yes. commodity. You stay there, the repose of us go down to the cabins and stun everybody, obliterate the animals. Leave. We keep the heather handy so that if something goes wrong we miko the swimmers and fly out of there. ``

'' Sounds like a architectural plan. '' Ginny nodded.

'' right. '' Harry reached over and drew a big interbreeding on the map over a lighthouse, right down on the Confederate States coast of Cornwall."I will foregather you here."

"Meet us ?"Ron scratched his head.

"The ship ‘ s not reaching us for another month."Harry shrugged."You don ‘ t expect me to hang around here the whole clock time. Dumbledore ‘ s out for the day but I think he ‘ ll observation if I start appearing on his little map."

"I thought-"

"You thought I was back."Harry finished for him."Well I ‘ m not. There ‘ s still end eater ‘ s out there. Still make to be done. Train up, be ready, and I ‘ ll meet you there. observe the map, I ‘ ve got copies. But don ‘ t let anyone see it. Goes without saying. And look up how to press all these things."Harry turned towards the door. He disillusioned himself with a flick of the wrist, and a instant later he was gone.

"well,"Malfoy said dryly."I guess we have work to do."
*


"Can you believe he came back ?"Ron drew his knees up to his chest. He and Hermione were in the library, the actual library, not the attic. They were on research duty and had about eight billion books out in nominal head of them on every kind of magical creature, trawling through them for the useful unity. There weren't many. The Hogwarts library for some reasonableness didn't have books on how to slaughter caged animal. Ron thought it was useless, they had already decided to use the killing curse, but apparently Harry wanted to be prepared so ...

"Hmm ?"Hermione hadn't looked up from the huge Koran in front of her.

"Can you believe he came back ?"Ron repeated."Harry."

"Shush !"Hermione put a finger to her lips."We ‘ re not supposed to talk about him where hoi polloi could hear !"

"No one ‘ s listening."Ron rolled his oculus."We're sitting on the floor in the restricted part of the library, at midnight, under a temporary invisibility cloak."

"It ‘ s not an inaudibility cloak."Hermione hissed.

"Hermione no one is here."

"Just keep reading."Hermione looked back down at her volume."I ‘ m not doing all this myself."

"I'd have thought you ‘ d jump at the chance."Ron smirked."With all the training it must be ages since you studied anything."

"Yes ..."Hermione bit her lip."And the bird of Minerva are later this year ..."

"What we ‘ re doing now is more important."

"Yes. Yes I know."Hermione shrugged noncommittally."It ‘ s just ... well there ‘ s the respite of our lives to think about. What about after the war ends ? What then ?"

"Look at it this way. If Voldemort destroys the ministry he'll probably destroy the Wizarding interrogation office too."

"That doesn ‘ t help."Hermione stared at him angrily. Ron felt his dander rising, another battle brewing. But they couldn't fight, not here.

"You ‘ re here because if you weren ‘ t here you ‘ d feel guilty for not being here."Ron blurted."And you could be somewhere else but you ‘ d be thinking about being here so it wouldn ‘ t even matter that you were there because you wouldn ‘ t be able to concentrate because you ‘ d be thinking about here and him and Voldemort will pop everyone. Even worse you ‘ d get bad grades because you ‘ d be feeling guilty."Ron ran out of breath.

Hermione's rima oris hung undecided, mid shout. She opened and shut it a few times before coming out with,

"Shush. People will hear you."

I won. Ron smiled as he flicked a random book open.
*


"I am disquiet Severus."

Snape stayed silent. He could not imagine of a safety response.

"I should be winning this war."

Still no safe response.

"And yet things are not progressing as well as they should be."The dark lord was staring out into the darkness through a faded window. They were in another nondescript and abandoned building. Snape felt his pelt creeping, he had been summoned alone. That was worrying.

"The ministry grows weaker every day."Snape volunteered.

"It grows more horrific each day."Voldemort tapped his fingerbreadth on the glass."Fear can be my weapon, but it can also exploit against me. They retreat, they place to a greater extent sentry duty, they make it more difficult for me to get hold of what I seek. Do the society still keep open a safety on the department of enigma Severus ?"

"Yes my lord."For all I know they could experience stopped, not likely though.

"At this point the easiest way to gain access code to it may simply be to crush the ministry entirely."He was still staring out the windowpane. If Snape didn't know undecomposed he would think the dark noble was worried.

"If you wish to trounce the ministry perhaps we could use the imperious curse-"

"No !"The dark Godhead snapped."No Severus, no more sly maneuvering in the darkness. No more subversive activity. I tire of it. I tire of it ‘ s inadequacy. I should not have to work from the vestige. Do you not think so ?"

"I always work in the shadows Lord."

"Yes ... yes you do."The dark lord narrowed his optic."The potter boy is a problem."

Snape gritted his teeth. He had to think fast to keep up with these lightning fast changes of pace.

"The ceramicist boy has always been a problem."Snape said diffidently."But he is just one person."

"He has caused me a great pot of trouble for one person. I would once again rules of order his death but ... I fear it would do no good."

"He wants to kill you."Snape said, letting his mouth move as his psyche worked."We could set some kind of trap."

"With your lord as lure ?"The iniquity lord's vocalisation was not tempestuous, he knew that that was not what Snape meant. This was actually what passed for banter.

"Of course not my Lord. I apologize."That had been what the wickedness nobleman expected to hear.

"Is there any advancement with the toxin Severus ? The one that has been killing so many of our protagonist ?"

"Not a enceinte mass my lord."Severus bowed his header. He had no trouble feigning pity at not being able to discover the secrets of the mysterious toxin."It is very strange. I can not secern a single element out. It is almost as if the toxicant was not brewed at all."

"Explain."

"As if it came directly from a creature."Though that was of course impossible. No bang creature carried a toxin like this."All I can think of is that perhaps someone has been breaking the decree against experimental breeding."

"You do not guess it was ceramist ?"

"It may deliver been."Better to keep the dark lord guessing."If he did not then we have two vigilante against us."

"Against us ..."The dark lord seemed to seethe the word on his sass."Against us ... the great unwashed who are against me die. I have let this continue for too long. We have been forced back too often. It will end now. I have decided. We will crush the ministry. We will obliterate them utterly. No subversion, no trace, I will kill them."

"Yes my lord."Snape tried to ferment out how many death eaters were left. Surprisingly few. Harry had seriously cut into their numbers. Did they even have decent people for an rape on the ministry ? Probably ... they probably had enough. If the order helped though ... if Dumbledore helped ...

"We will waitress for the shipment to arrive."The night noble said, almost to himself."Then we will give birth the forces necessary."

The cargo. The spectre freight. None of the decease feeder knew when it would be arriving. It was apparently too important.

"Yes my lord."Snape bowed deeply."We will need everyone for this to succeed. If I might ask where Barty Crouch is perhaps-"

"No !"The dark lord looked at Snape over his shoulder. The icy stare could have nailed oxen to the paries."Crouch is doing what he has been told to. He will succeed, in prison term. He is one of the few I can hope. Him and you, Severus."

You trust no one. Snape thought as he turned away. Now where have I heard that before ?
*


Hermione held on tighter as the broomstick angled down. She was following the broom ahead of her but the pharos was already visible far below, sending out it ‘ s pulsing beacon across the night-time sea. The wind was hideously cold on her face and the dark gobs of rain kept spraying in through her thug. There couldn't have been a worse day to overrun a ship full of monsters.

The solid ground came up and she managed to down without falling. All around her she heard the residual of the army touch down. Well ... well-nigh of the rest of the US Army ... Of the new recruits only rent was there, lounging over his broomstick in his usual state of mild boredom. The others had been left behind, Ginny had decided they weren't make, weren ‘ t trained yet. Not that split was properly fix either but he was only going in the water.

Hermione looked around. Harry was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he wasn't here yet.

"You ‘ re late."Harry faded out of nowhere, shocking the piranha."Lets get on with this."Harry kept glancing at the crashing waves nervously. He drew a large feeding bottle out of his coating and took a deep draft from it before shoving it back. `` Pep up potion, did n't catch some Z's well last Nox. '' Harry explained. Hermione tried to ignore the Gemini facts, one : that the bottle had been almost discharge and two : that as Harry shoved it back in his pouch there had been the unmistakable chink of encourage bottles.

"takings these."George broke the silence and stepped forward with a little M shaped pin and a small twosome of blue tinted glasses.

"What the hell are these ?"Harry squinted through the lenses."Everything looks weird."

"The pins are tags."George explained."The chalk can see the tags even under invisibleness cloaks. This way we can keep back track of each other."

"Ah ... nice."Harry pinned the tag on his dark pelage and dropped the glasses in a pocket."I ‘ ll put them on when we get there."

"They ‘ re your prescription."

"I know."Harry nodded."Thanks. Who ‘ s heather am I sharing ?"

"Over here."Draco waved him over and Harry hesitantly flipped a leg over his broom.

"fountainhead, we all know what we have to do."Harry addressed the marauders."Lashkar-e-Taiba get this done before we get too wet."

Draco's broom snapshot into the air and Hermione reluctantly followed. Out over the water the tip was even risky if that was potential, she kept being buffeted one way then the other. The sea underneath a groaning grey canvas, a mute reflection of the sky. They were getting farther and further from demesne. The occasional light of the lighthouse got more and more faint. She couldn't see the circular around her ! She panicked for a consequence until she realized how stupid she was being and slipped her blueing lenses over her eyes. The footling glowing sparks of the ticket sprung into view, each one illuminating a little glowing profane ghost of a person. Like an outline in the darkness. Flying close, she was near the straw man. How did Harry expect to find the ship in this ?

"ANGLE LEFT !"Was that Harry ? The glowing shadows of Harry and Malfoy started to plough left. She turned to match them. What was he following ? hunch ? Magic ? Something he hadn't told them about.

"I DON ‘ T SEE ANYTHING !"She heard Draco's voice on the wind.

"IT ‘ S THERE."Harry was hunched over on the broom, peering out over Dragon's berm."WE'RE CLOSE ! drop cloth down !"

Hermione descended with the quietus of them and shrieked with fear as the spray from the sea hit her legs. Surely they didn't need to be this low ? Suddenly, as if they had crossed an invisible line, the ship blinked into existence. A low slung behemoth, waves making it roll and pitch shot sickeningly. It looked antediluvian, all the Mrs. Henry Wood was dim with age and weather. A Brobdingnagian rectangular blocking, slowly crawling across the water.

She felt someone passport her and saw material body flying off towards the prow and stern, keeping close to the water. Even with the lights on the ship they were still only glowing precis. The cloaks ! She pulled hers around herself and flicked the hood up over her brass. She should have done that earlier. The rest period of them followed until they were properly up against the side of the hull. Harry leant off his broom to lean against the pitch wood. Removing the protective charms, Hermione forced herself to calm down as they hovered there just above the dark water. Suddenly there was a little pop and a small creak ... the wards were down. Hermione picked out the raised back section, the ‘ steery bit ’. Where the rest of them were going. The brooms slowed to a Australian crawl as they raised up the side of meat. Absolute silence as they floated up onto the deck on the elicit end section. No one was on deck of cards, there weren't even any lights.

Harry raised his arm and pointed to a small hatching. He moved over to it, whispered a still magic spell, then pulled it open and climbed inside. genus Draco went next, moving just as silently. They had worked this out too, The Weasley Twins would go last to determine their exit. Hermione realized it was her go snuck over to the hachure as quietly as she could. The stair flattened out to a shortstop hallway with the threshold to the bridge, then kept going down into the torso of the ship.

The marauders were clustered around the door. Harry was crouched down looking at the lock, a feel of concentration on his case. Hermione looked past him, down into the vast hold of the ship. Most of it was shrouded in darkness but she could just see the dustup upon rows of cages down the face of the ship. The bars were rusted and ancient, reinforced with magic. But they looked like they were original to the ship ... like they were built in. Which was ridiculous of track, unless ...

Unless this used to be a hard worker ship.

Hermione shuddered despite herself. None of the others had realized, none of them would. leave off for Harry they had all been wizard raised and he hadn't been in school long enough. There was no point telling them, no understanding to earn this any creepyer than it already was.

The shadow that was Harry stood suddenly and put his hand on the door handgrip. What was he doing ? This wasn ‘ t part of the architectural plan ! They were going to use gas under the threshold. What was going on ? Hermione raised her scepter, they had to bedaze everyone inside in a bit. Harry threw the doorway open unhurriedly. The abrupt tang of rake filled the air. No one cast any patch. No one spoke. Harry slowly stepped into the bridge.

"Of course."He said dryly, the for the first time Holy Writ spoken since they'd landed, spoken dispassionately while looking out over a room wax of devastate corpses."Of course they're loose. We ‘ re on a flighty ship at night full moon of man-eating deathly brute. Of course the animals are loose. I was thinking that perhaps they wouldn ‘ t be, that perhaps something would go right. Obviously I was overlooking the fact that god hates marauders."

"What do we do now ?"Neville murmured fearfully.

"setback it."Ginny growled under her breath."Forget everything. Sink it now."

"We can ‘ t."Harry said angrily as he stepped over a eubstance and stood in front of the primary roulette wheel."At to the lowest degree not yet."

"Why ?"Parvati was glancing around fearfully."Why not ?"

"Two reasons."Harry leant against the wheel tiredly."One ; the all head was that the creature would sink in their cage, now they could drown to shore. Two ; there are still three crew appendage alive, barricaded down in the hold where they ca n't apparate out."

"How do you know ?"Draco snapped suddenly.

"I know !"Harry snapped back."We need a new plan. The animal are mostly still in their cages, seems like it ‘ s just the mantichora that got loose."

"How do you-"

"I just know !"Harry rubbed his forehead tiredly, his eyes were closed."There are compartment threshold down below. If we can entrap the beasts inside the clench, separate it off and ward it up honorable it ‘ ll be the same as a cage. Water gets in, animate being do n't get out. Just one problem ..."

"What ?"Ginny was eyeing the doors carefully, looking for anything trying to mouse up on them.

"The crew are down in that hold."Harry took a deeply breath and turned back towards the vulture."Alright ... this is what we ‘ re doing. I need four the great unwashed with me down in the grasp, It ‘ s too cramped for more. We go get the survivor, get out. The rest of you split up and watch over the prow and aft door. You lock them good the moment we give the signal."

"Four ‘ s not enough."Draco said immediately.

"I don ‘ t have time to debate !"Harry yelled."You said you ‘ re an army this is what it ‘ s about ! We need to do this. We need to do this. The four best. Your four best. Now."

No one radius, Hermione felt like kicking herself. Of course it wasn't like old times. Of course this wasn't the old Harry, it was definitely the new Harry. It always had been. Ginny cleared her throat,

"Draco, me, Hermione and Padma."Ginny took a mystifying breathing space."Ron, Fred, George III, you fly over and man the early door. Everyone else watch out this one. The signal is-"

"Me yelling to shut the bloody doors."Harry interrupted."No point being stealthy at that point."

Harry moved slowly out of the bridge. Hermione steeled herself them followed. They stepped down the stairs slowly, the huge hold opened up in presence of them. Surely it had been expanded.

"This way."Harry whispered, pointing along a raised walkway."Draco, learn our back."Harry stalked forward, his wand out ahead of him. Hermione followed him. They passed a saturnine cage, inside it a gigantic black lummox shifted near the rachis. Hermione tried to neglect it, the ace in the batting cage were the safe ones, it was the one outside they had to watch out out for. The cage ended and was replaced by another, six red eyes looked out from behind the saloon. The three dog head word were pressed right up to the border, watching them. number to opine of it the cage animals probably hadn't been fed in a while. Suddenly the pitching and roll of the ship seemed worse. If she fell into one of the Cage ...

She spread her feet further apart, trying to get more stable. This was awful, this was Hades, and they were going in to save some stupid smuggler. Bad people ! Hermione didn't flavour good for thinking like that. Not salutary at all. Harry suddenly raised a hand for them to stop.

"Get down."Harry hissed."One of them ‘ s coming. From up ahead. It hasn ‘ t seen us."

Obviously it hadn't, they were inconspicuous. But how had Harry seen it ? Hermione watched as Harry aimed his wand down the dark gangway, waited a tenacious bit ... and flicked it forward, muttering under his intimation. The flash of light-green light was expected but still horrifying, flying into the darkness. For a moment it illuminated a pugnacious lions mane and two shining eyes glowing Green in the light. Then it snapped out and there was a dull thump like a physical structure hitting the floor.

"One out of six."Harry murmured, then shuddered."So that was the killing curse. Felt like drinking nightmares."

"Harry ..."Padma began but Harry silenced her with a wave.

"It 's just a tool."Harry shook himself."Just a tool. Just a peter. Come on, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba keep going."Harry stepped forward, into the darkness.

Harry brought them to another stairway and quietly slinked down, his back pressed up to the wooden wall. As they crept down Harry held up a paw to stop again and dropped down to his knees.

"The other five are sleeping in there."Harry pointed down the stairs."Round the corner, right in front of the storage elbow room where the crew are barricaded."

Hermione didn't pain in the ass to ask how he knew.

"Now the hall opens up just snipe the corner."Harry sketched the bender of it with his script."We can hit them all before they even wake up. Draco, you kill the one up by the far left,"Harry pointed straight into the wall. `` Ginny, near the left wing wall. Hermione get the one right hand next to it, closer to us. Padma you get the one right in the middle, I 'll get the one closest to the stairs. Got it ? Everyone ready ? ``

Hermione was gripping her scepter hard, her medal wet with sweat. She did n't experience ready but she nodded anyway. They shifted closer towards the corner. Harry held his helping hand up, three digit. Two finger. One ...

Harry swung out around the bound, his wand coming up, at the same fourth dimension his knee joint bent down. giving the eternal rest of them a effective shot. Hermione jumped out as fast as she could, the room was pitch lightlessness ! How was she supposed to-

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' A eruption of green light source flew from Harry 's scepter, striking a sullen shape on the undercoat and throwing the rest of the elbow room into sharp shadows. Four sets of shining eyes perked up in the darkness. Each of them was exactly where Harry had said. Hermione aimed frantically,

'' A ... Avada Kedavra ! '' It felt like icicles were flickering down her arm, stabbing down her arm all the way down to her heart. Freezing deep into her chest, like holy terror. Then it was gone a moment later as the burning immature light flew away, striking the manticore as it rose from the footing, throwing it back into the priming coat. At the same sentence she felt three more blasts of tip and split second of dismal illusion fly out from beside her. A shattering smash of wooden splinters sounded and there was an angry inhuman roar. A bod unfurled like a saltation and flew across the elbow room towards them. Hermione felt her arm shooting up, too slowly ! Too slow !

'' Excalabus ! ``

A shining Patrick White illumination flashed across the wood and there was a screech like a saw across methamphetamine hydrochloride. She felt a atomizer of dreary blood cover song her and a cloggy shape flew past her, impacting with a sonorous clump against the back rampart. She turned to it, not breathing. It was a manitcore, or half of one. It was sliced in two, the wound leaking a sea of rip into the floor. She turned back. Harry was standing over the early half, his scepter surrounded by a glowing flannel nimbus, extending out like a flare. Like a sword. He flicked it off and the way became dark again.

'' Who missed ? '' Harry 's voice was low and hard.

'' I did Harry. '' genus Draco shook his straits. `` It was too far away, too piddling light. I saw the oculus, I- ''

'' Practice. '' Harry cut him off and turned away from them. `` exercise hard. '' As he walked away one of the Cerberus in a cage began barking and biting at the bars. It could smell the blood. Hermione tried to brush aside it, tried to remember that the bars were reinforced. But it was hard. The dog on the other English woke up at the noise and rammed the bars with its shoulder. There was a screech of metal and the dog fell back.

Harry ignored the gigantic hellhound and walked calmly through the dark room to reach the small-scale door at the end. He thumped it with his fist.

'' Hey ! '' Harry yelled. `` humankind in there get out. We 've come to rescue you, except we do n't want to see any wands and you 'd improve get your handwriting up ! '' There was a scraping speech sound as if vast crateful were being moved. The hot dog kept scraping against the bars, biting at the Mrs. Henry Wood. Hermione tried to stay fresh equanimity ... tried to ...

Oh no. No no no no no !

'' Harry ! ``

'' What ? '' Harry pushed the door open, revealing three disheveled and ragged men. `` What is it ? ``

'' Harry we need to go now ! ``

'' Ok, ok. We got what we came for. ``

'' NO ! Harry the cages are built into the ship ! ``

'' So ? ``

'' You released the protective charms on the ship ! ``

Harry 's face fell like a popped balloon. His eyes shot wide.

'' So those bar are just ... ''

'' Heavily corroded iron. ``

'' God hates us. '' Harry whispered. `` God hates us ... RUN ! ``

At the moment Harry yelled the left wing hellhound took a extend pounce and shattered through the bars straight a him.

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' Harry 's wand had flicked up the jiffy it moved and the fleeceable Christ Within struck the massive muscled anatomy in the air. But it kept moving and fell like a pit onto Harry, like a mountain of blackened haircloth and sweating flesh. At the final instant he threw himself to the side and slid out from under it as it fell to the flooring in a splintering explosion of wooden shrapnel.

'' Well do n't digest there run ! '' Harry yelled, pushing himself to his feet and waving them towards the threshold. He turned to the crewman. `` You too ! ``

The former hellhound had a bar in each sass and was grinding them apart.

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' Harry dead reckoning at it. The tour smashed one of the bars into rusty fragment. `` Screw that ! Just run ! ``

Hermione spun and dashed up the stairs. Behind her she could hear more running feet and the hideous gnashing of monster jaws. Someone pushed her to the English and she saw one of the scrawny crew members making a break up the stairs. She picked herself up and threw herself forward as fast as possible. She glanced behind her, all the marauders were cannoning along behind her. Harry was bringing up the rear, sending pulsation of green nightmare behind him.

They reached the musical passage. She could see the threshold ! The bulwark exploded in matchwood and four muscled implements of war reached out to grab her.

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' The spell came easier this time, freezing her to the core as even as it threw the wendigo back through the bulwark. In a way it made it easier, it made her numb. She felt person shove her forward and realized she had been standing still. She dashed towards the door, trying to observe away from the buckling saloon of the cages all around her. They could smell the blood.

'' Hermione what the infernal region is going on ! '' Parvati yelled from the side of the threshold as she hurtled through.

'' Just conclude it ! '' Her throat felt raw. `` come together it ! ``

Hermione scrambled away down the corridor before turning and looking back. The raged crewmen were already huddling on this side of meat of the door just as Ginny and Padma hurtled through with Draco right of their heels. Behind them the grasp was a hellish nightmare of churning flesh, every dark tincture seemed to have a creeping beast. Harry was still in the corridor, retreating slowly as he threw spell after magical spell at the roaring mass.

'' Harry just leave it ! '' genus Draco yelled. `` Get back here ! ``

Harry spun and dashed for the door, the darkness following like a Wave. Suddenly the John Milton Cage Jr. in front of him exploded outwards, dark-skinned haircloth and scarred flesh coming between the marauders and Harry. Wooden side of meat of the cage buckled and broke, the cap came with it, filling the air with splinters and the passageway with clayey wooden sparring. It was blocked.

'' Close it ! '' Harry 's voice shook the ship, amplified by magic. `` I 'll get out the other way. ``

Hermione froze. No, they could n't. She saw Ginny glance down the corridor, then up at Dragon. They both nodded.

'' close it. '' Ginny ordered, her voice raw.

'' But ... ''

'' finis IT ! '' Ginny suited her words and flicked her wand at the grueling hatch, slamming it shut. `` Hermione Montgomery Ward it ! ``

Hermione shook as she raised her baton. It took her three endeavour to properly seal the door up.

'' Right, now get on the brooms. '' Ginny grabbed hers off her dorsum. `` We get to the former side of the ship and go in after Harry. ``

Of course ! Hermione threw herself onto her broom. They could still go in and aid him !

'' You three with them ! '' Draco bellowed at the crew members, pointing at the bread maker Twin and Neville. `` And stay on quiet. ``

Hermione lifted off the trading floor and aimed up the hatch to the outside. The rain and tip hit her but she ignored them, they had to go aid Harry ! Suddenly the air was filled with a buffeting wall of strait. The night air was lit up with two twin bang of fervidness. Reflecting off the mountainous moving ridge and painting them red like a sea of lava. Under her the ship lurched to the side of meat, there was the sound of gushing water.

'' Why did you blow it ! '' mortal yelled behind her. Hermione turned to see Ginny leant off her broom and grabbing snag by the straw man of his robe.

'' I got the sign. '' The surprised boy shook his school principal. `` I assumed it was you. ``

'' What 's going on ? '' Fred yelled as he, George and Ron were swooped in from the other end of the ship. `` Did everyone get out ? ``

Oh Harry ... we should have known.
*


Harry leapt from the top of the batting cage as it disappeared under the gushing water and grabbed the beam above him, swinging up onto it with all his strength. Something below him roared but he ignored it and dashed along the thin and shaking distance of wood.

This was hell. This was his own personal underworld. The H2O was coming in everywhere, gushing up through a thousand holes in the hold. And the creatures ... Harry had had to order the hold sealed. If he hadn't they would have broken liberate. They were everywhere down here, he was sure that if they weren't trying to kill each other as intemperate as they were trying to eat him he would already be drained. In the piddle beneath him the dark headland of a hellhound surfaced and gulped a barking hint before a pubic louse like wolf leapt from the tincture and slashed out it's eye. They both disappeared back under the black water, stained with bloodline, in a foaming maelstrom.

He had to get out of here. Harry's centre frantically searched for some way ... any way ... out. The water supply was everywhere ! The little terror rose in Harry's pharynx. He couldn't think ! Couldn't breathing spell ! NO ! NO ! Stay centre !

Harry leapt onto the top of another shifting John Milton Cage Jr., ignoring the floating corpse in the body of water nearby. There had to be some way ! His optic searched frantically but all there was was crashing water and writhing bod. Harry was struck in the back by a ebullition of water, knocking him down to the metal parallel bars below. He spun around and the waterfall struck him in the face, terror blindsided him again but he threw it down again. The gushing water was coming from a ... pipage ? A hole ? A ... feeding gob ! Harry threw himself to the wall and clambered up a panting electron beam, the ceiling right above him, he flicked his baton out,

"Hammus missis !"The spinning conjured chain lashed out and stabbed into the pipe. Harry grabbed to and prayed that Hollywood got some things right. He let go of the wall. He swung out into the spray of gushing H2O and screamed as it splattered over his head. He was thrown out the other position but he came back just as fast."This is cockeyed ! Arefacio !"The falls dried up and he was able to mount a few ft up before it began gushing again.

A squawking terror exploded from the duskiness to Harry 's left. His wand was occupied but Harry clawed a gun from his pocket and fired wildly at the feathered beast. He did n't stop shooting until it disappeared into the water below. Harry stuck the gun in his girdle and cast the Arfacio again. He was able-bodied to draw himself up another few understructure before the water came again.

By the painfully slow stopping and starting he was able ( just ) to strain the organ pipe. He cast one to a greater extent drought charm and reached as high as he could in the darkness, his fingers reached the edge. Harry dropped off the chain and pulled himself up with all his strength. The water struck his head just as he pulled himself up and beached himself on the pitching deck like a seal.

The ship was already mostly underwater, there was just the minor, highest, dower left. Sinking fast. Where were the marauders ? There ! Up high !

"HEY !"Harry magically amplified his voice and shouted out over the water."I ‘ M Here !"

The brooms dropped like stones, shooting right at him. Draco braked to a stopover right in front of his face.

"You idiot !"He yelled, reaching out and pulling Harry onto his broom."You accomplished idiot !"

"Shut up and fly !"
*


The ignitor of break of day was just creeping over the horizon when they finally touched down back on dry land, a rough stony beach. Harry staggered onto solid soil and tried to get his balance back. He turned to the three disheveled crewmen.

"You three are going to leave now."He growled, raising his wand."I don ‘ t care where you go. I risked my posterior for you but it doesn ‘ t make you any lupus erythematosus scum. Bare in mind that by failing to protect your ship you failed lord Voldemort, he ‘ s not going to be happy with you so if I were you I ‘ d go far far away. Right now."

The three men broke and ran like scared rabbit. God knows where they ended up. Harry breathed out and turned back to the marauders.

"Good. That went well."

"Well !"Padma let out a suffocate cry."Everything that could possibly have gone wrong did go wrong !"

"And despite all that we stopped the lading and made it out alive."Harry sat down on the hard ground and pushed the hair out of his middle. God he was tired."We have to take up that the odds will be stacked against us. We have to always bear that in psyche, tonight was a good deterrent example. We have to be prepared for the worst case scenario, we met that tonight. And we did well tonight. We did, we really did. I ‘ m proud of all of you."

The piranha all bowed their top dog, they looked as shopworn as he felt. They were too tired to be proud right now. Too bad this wasn't over.

"Here,"Harry drew his bottomless bag over and pulled a tent out of it. It raised itself with a tap of his wand and would fit half a house interior."Get inside and get some quietus. We need to be ready in five hours."

"fivesome hours ?"Ginny asked pointedly."What happens in five hours ?"

"Phase two of the program. In six hours will be when the ship was meant to come into port."Harry grinned evilly."There will be a radical of Death feeder, five of them, waiting to welcome them in a veil port web site. Hidden ... rocky ... enclosed ... respectable place for an ambush."

"We ‘ re ambushing them ?"Draco asked disbelievingly."Today ?"

"Yes."Harry pushed himself from the floor."Today. I mean Voldemort to feel the doubled whammy of the red ink of his creatures and his destruction eaters all in one fell slide. I mean to put to put the heat on him, really turn up the threat level you know ... The creatures were the master thing, couldn ‘ t let them gain land. The death eaters are just the icing the puck on the cake."

"Harry ... are you certain ?"Hermione stepped forward."We ‘ re all tired already ... we don ‘ t want any misapprehension. Maybe we should let this one go."

"No."Harry shook his head."We can ‘ t. We can ‘ t let this one go, or any of them for that issue. Now get on into the tent, you ‘ re wasting valuable resting time. I ‘ ll take the first spotter. Go on, there are layer for everyone. Huge ones, this a really thoroughly tent."

Harry settled back down on his rock as the marauders trouped inside the tent. Harry sighed, if they didn't like phase two they definitely wouldn't like stage three.



Review or a giant prehistoric dragonfly will pick out you to be the host for it 's parasitical larva.


The next chapter 's a big one so pair yourselves.


Please perform these basic safety stay before reading this chapter
1 ) brand sure your chair is secure and unwavering so that if you faint you will not fall to the floor and risk head trauma.
2 ) Make for certain you are not in hearing of any children so when you let relax with a string of expletives it does not get through their tiny ears.
3 ) Check your blood pressure. If it is significantly above norm you may require to read this chapter in quick dashing length of a defibrillator.
4 ) lock chamber away all small target you could drop at your figurer screen.
5 ) Pray.

This, boys and fille, is the big one ...



Snape felt his Deutsche Mark burn in the middle of a potions example. That was worrying, Voldemort had always been careful of maintaining his natural covering. The mark burnt harder and Snape had to grit his tooth as the pain in the neck shot up his arm. This was very worrying.

"Are you alright Sir ?"A Slytherin first off year. No one but a Slytherin would feature dared ask him. Snape lurched to his feet.

"Pack up your things. The example is over."He could not go forth them unsupervised with potions factor. Snape hurried out the room access, sending a rushed patronus to McGonagall saying that he had been called away suddenly. She would know what that meant. He felt compelled to at least keep the order informed, but he could not bring himself to adjoin Dumbledore directly. He sent a arcsecond patronus to Natalie and a tierce to Albert Michelson for good measure.

He reached the main gate and stepped beyond the Hogwarts wards hesitantly. The tugging on his arm intensified and he let himself be pulled into the void by it, drawing him along until his groundwork touched dry land. He glanced around, another moody place. A warehouse by the look of it, dust covered the wooden boxes stacked to the high ceiling. The rest of the end eaters were already there, standing in a harsh circuit. Only Bellatrix had kept her mask off, she usually did. toilet table no incertitude. vanity and a indigence to be seen. Snape stepped into his spot in the circle and waited. He did not mask himself, he did not know why. Perhaps a whim.

But were they all there ? Snape glanced back around the traffic circle, only eight figures stood sentinel in there midnight robes. At the hold out group meeting there had been XV. Snape had grown to the distributor point where he could recognize each of the decease eaters by shape alone beneath their masque. Who was missing ? Dolohov, family Corvidae, Avery Sr, Mulciber, the Carrows and Forneus. All death feeder that Voldemort could be said to swear, if he could be said to entrust anyone. That all of they would be missing at the same clip ... it was very worrying.

'' Do not worry yourselves. '' The voice of Voldemort came from the air between two stacks of crates. A import later he himself strode out, his red optic flashing first to one of them, then to another. `` Your brothers will connect us soon. And with them they will make for glad news program. Wait my friends, wait with patience. ``

Snape shifted his stance. The payload was here, that could be the only news show that would put Voldemort in such a glad modality. Snape made ready to con any detail that he could reap when the seven death eater appeared. Any tiny fact that might assist to at least somewhat dilute the damage.

Reduce the scathe ... that was a prank. Reduce it from a catastrophe to a disaster.

He was broken out of his idea be a gaudy pass. He turned to see Forneus stumble forward from his shadow breaker point. His black robes were streaked with mud and Baroness Dudevant and were torn raged. He collapsed near the edge of the band, his implements of war out entreatingly towards the wickedness lord.

'' schoolmaster ! '' He gulped, his voice broad of fear. `` We were attacked. Spells out of nowhere, C of them. We could not support them back. ``

'' What ? '' Voldemort whirled on the prostrate wizard.

'' They were waiting for us. Waiting at the dock. '' Forneus ducked his headland to the level. `` I was the only one to esc- ''

'' Look me in the eye ! '' Voldemort hissed, Forneus was dragged to his feet by an inconspicuous force play. `` Look your Maker in the eye when you admit your failure. ``

'' There was nothing we could do my God Almighty. '' Forneus cringed. `` They must have known about- ''

'' Crucio ! ``

Snape watched as the livid haired death eater writhed on the floor. How had this happened ? Not the order, he would possess been able to tell if this variety of large scale operation was in the offing. The ministry ... that was just laughable. So that left ... Harry Potter. This was done by Harry ceramicist. Snape kept his font impassive as his stomach did silver dollar. Harry was live, fighting and apparently capable of fighting seven death eater all in one dayspring. But Forneus had said there were many of them ... well that explained the absences in his break of the day class.

The dark Lord whipped his wand back, Forneus stopped shaking and instead started whimpering.

'' Up Foerneus. Up ! '' Voldemort dragged the cringing death eater to his pes again. `` I expect more from one of my sure-enough handmaid. ``

'' Please ... please ... ''

'' What of my ship Forneus ? '' Voldemort stepped forwards. `` Where are my creatures ? ``

'' I ... I do not know my Lord. '' Forneus squeezed his eyes shut. `` It was not in the harbor. It was not in the bay beyond. I think perhaps ... If they knew where we would be then they probably also love about the ship. I suspect ... I think ... the ship may be no more my lord. ``

'' No more ? '' Voldeomort repeated coldly. `` No more Forneus ? My shipment ... my fauna ... is no more ? ``

'' I do not eff my noble. '' Forneus ducked his head. `` They were not at the haven. ``

'' You mean it is at the tush of the sea. '' Voldemort 's part was at it 's most icy and smooth. `` You mean to tell me that my animate being, that I bought with good amber and solemn promises of foster amber are dead."

'' I do not sleep together my Godhead. ``

'' You do not know. '' Voldemort snarled. `` You do not know ! Crucio ! ``

Snape tried to stay calmness. What plans would this variety ? How did this affect affair ...

'' Please superior ... '' Forneus was trying to speak through gritted teeth. `` There was nada we could do. ``

'' Who did this ? '' Voldemort snapped suddenly. `` Who is responsible ? Speak ! ``

'' I did not see. '' Forneus whimpered. `` They were hiding ... I did not see their faces. They were everywhere but enshroud. They was zilch I could identify- ''

'' Let me be the justice of that. '' Voldemort raised his wand again. `` Legilimens ! ``

Snape watched as the two wiz remained with shut away eyes for moments, then minutes. Snape was beginning to wonder what was happening when Voldemort looked away, his brow creasing.

'' Your memories have been altered. '' Voldemort said quietly. In anyone else Snape would take thought he was worried. `` Your memories have been altered. Inexpertly, but they clearly have been. ``

'' You ... Do you think the ship may still be there my Jehovah ? '' Forneus asked hurriedly.

'' No. '' Voldemort tapped the incline of his mentum thoughtfully. `` Your memories are your own until you remember apparating away from the competitiveness. I suspect that you did not. I suspect you were captured and whatever was done to you was done then. You were then allowed to escape. They probably thought to follow you here. Foolish. No spell could track you here, I have warded this place against tracking magical spell. ``

Snape began to feel nervous. Harry was far from a chump, what was his plan here ?

'' arrest still ! '' Voldemort snapped at Forneus. He flicked his baton at the death feeder. zero happened. Voldemort frowned. `` No tracking enchantment of any kind ... interesting. Turn out you pockets ! ``

Forneus quivered as he reached into first one dark pocket of his robes, then another. As his hired man reached his inside pocket he froze.

'' My God Almighty ... there is something here. '' He slowly drew out a flat bleak box, the size of a pack of poster. A short red light blinked on its surface. Forneus held it out for the night lord. Voldemort made no move to accept it but instead examined it dispassionately from where he stood.

'' Interesting ... '' Was all the shadow overlord said.

Snape felt like chuckling. Voldemort clearly had not the faintest idea what that was. Neither did Snape but at least he could recognize that it was muggle technology. What could it be for ? The eye blink brightness level was like a vindictive eye but it did not appear to be a weapon ...
*


Ginny dropped off her broom and hastily stowed it in a carry typeface before shoving it under a cloak with the others. She checked herself to constitute sure no toe or whorl or hair's-breadth had fallen outside her own cloak ... no. Good. She motioned the others to follow her as they snuck up to a chain gate. Beyond were two lined of decrepit muggle storage warehouse, some of them with the cap fallen in. Harry eased up to the gate, his eyes darting down to a small gimmick he held nestled in his hand.

'' This is it. '' Harry nodded. `` They 're here. In the third one down on the left. ``

'' Are you sure Harry ? '' She whispered. It was n't that she did n't trust Harry, it was this muggle elec-tricks. Surely it could n't be as honest as a tracking good luck charm. She glanced down at the bright blind on the twist Harry was holding and tried to associate it back to her muggle study lessons. The matter was pretty coordination compound, more building complex than a clock. There must birth been hundred of gears inside. Ginny wondered how often it had to be wound. Harry looked into the disused industrial area, squinting at the distant warehouse, then nodded.

'' I 'm sure. Ca n't you find the Barbara Ward around this place ? render me a minute and I 'll come apart us a way through. ``

Ginny tried to make herself breath as Harry knelt down and drew his wand, drawing it through the air as if trying to catch flies. She turned to the predator and took a thick breath.

'' Alright, '' She began under her hint. It was hard enough making speeches, it was worse when you could only see the great unwashed as ghostly shadows. `` Today is the day. This is it. This is what we 've been training towards. We all knew it would come to this, some of us hoped it would be further away, but it 's not. It 's now. '' Ginny herself had been shocked when Harry outlined his program, his plan to end it today. She had wanted to stop him, wanted to slap him down when he said that this was the comfortably luck they would get. The problem was he was right. She should tell them that Ginny realized,

'' Harry 's right, this is as good a fortune as we 'll ever get. Voldemort 's decrepit, Voldemort is running low on handmaiden. We have the advantage of act and the element of surprise. They 've got lord Voldemort, but we 've got Harry Potter ... '' Ginny broke off, looking into their wide eyed faces `` I know you 're dash ... I know that maybe, mystifying down, we all hoped we would n't have to face Voldemort himself. But we are, and by doing it we can end this here and now. We can save yard of lives today. Today is the day. We 've been an US Army for a tenacious while now, we 've been soldiers. But today, today we 're hero sandwich. If we pull this off, one last chef-d'oeuvre of marauder havoc. We. Will. Be. paladin. Get ready to oppose, you know what to do. ``

As if on cue Harry chuckled triumphantly and pushed the logic gate open up a fraction. He slid inside and motioned the others to come after him. Ginny swallowed and followed him in.
*


'' Whatever this twist is supposed to do it is clearly faulty. '' Voldemort snorted contemptuously and knocked the black device onto the storey. `` goosey of them to trust on muggle gimmick. Idiotic. ``

A rough chuckle went around the circle of wizards. Snape faked laughter even as he continued to stare at the box. The red ignitor was still blinking. Voldemort licked his backtalk and sucked it air in a serpentine hiss.

'' A reversal. '' He said, apparently having reclaim his composure. `` A momentary setback. We are still the greatest wizard alive, possessing business leader the muggle loving tomfool in the order could not even comprehend. I shall triumph. ``

'' passkey ... ''

'' We wield the wickedness magic trick, the only true power ! combine in your lord and we will prevail. ``

'' Master I have- ''

'' Forneus ? '' Voldemort turned on the cowering wizard. `` You dare interrupt your master ? You dare even after you have humiliated yourself so ? ``

'' No my Divine, '' Forneus bowed his pass. `` It 's just ... I have found a second twist. '' He held it up for Voldemort to see. The dark Almighty took it unworriedly.

'' Ha, how droll. '' Voldemort held the thing out for all the destruction eaters to see and laughed. `` They have sent me a block of clay. Perhaps this is their idea of a jest. ``

Snape was not totally unaware of muggle technology and felt a strong urge to drop to the floor.
*


Harry watched as Voldemort raised the bomb above his promontory. He glanced to either side, there were vulture poised at each door and her knew there were Thomas More at every other entry. He looked back to the death eaters, Snape was with them but ... standing far enough away. He probably would n't be killed. Harry closed his eyes, Snape would understand.

Harry drew the cap out of his robes. Hopefully this could be ended right now. With luck even if Voldemort realized what was happening he would n't be capable to harbor fast enough. The war could end there and then.

'' I do birth a power you know not. '' Harry muttered under his breath. `` Turns out it goes boom. ``

He clicked up the cover on the detonating device, and pressed the switch.
*


'' overlord no ! '' Rookwood suddenly yelled, whipping his wand out. Every eye flicked to him, even Voldemort 's. `` Protego ! ``

Even as the shining carapace slid between the wickedness Maker and the bomb there was an earth-shattering fracture and Snape was hit by a wall of noise and light. He was lifted off his feet and thrown painfully against a crate. His auricle were full of only ringing and he fell in curious disengagement, not even hearing the clump as his own body crash onto the trading floor. Through the fog of noise and tried to move his legs, terrible but unbroken, then his arms. He got to his feet, blinking as everything swam before his eyes. He raised his wand to his face and tried to fix his vision. It was n't perfect but even the imperfect view before him shocked him to his core.

fire licked every crate as the plosion had thrown burning shards across the entire warehouse. He could see the last eaters running about in a mad, silent, panic, their mouth open in scream of hurting. Snape raised his sceptre to his ear and hesitantly muttered a healing charm. The shocking klaxon call of screams almost made him rue doing so. Nott ran past him, his very robes ablaze on his dorsum. Snape ignored him, if anyone noticed his unaffectionate attitude to a fellow last eater they would just attribute it to shock. Voldemort himself was nowhere to be seen. Snape stumbled forward, stepping over a prone eubstance, his head still entire of fuzz.

'' Stupefy ! '' The shot came out of nowhere, striking the blinking figure of Nott and throwing him to the story. Snape had his own baton out but the peach were flying faster, from everywhere. Snape 's head ached, he could n't keep open up with this.

'' Bhraanti taraGga urvii ca agni ! '' The wickedness spell exploded out of the worldly concern, throwing boxful away and tearing the concrete underfoot in a burning conflagration. Voldemort appeared out of the smoke in the nitty-gritty of it, his arms raised as the force of the spell coursed through him. The shattering basis expanded in every commission, clearing a space in the wickedness warehouse. Voldemort finally let his subdivision autumn, his eyes still blazing with power. He pointed at three cowering end eaters with his claw hand. `` You ! Make a baracade there ! Bella, the Saame there ! They have surrounded us and warded this place against fantasm, but we will cut them down ! They will rue the day they chose to fight me ! ``

Snape felt his muscles moving dully as he moved to help levitate the crateful into a roadblock. The stunners were already flying again. The practiced thing was to stick around silent, postponement for his chance.
*


'' Damnit ! '' Harry threw himself behind a nap of loge as a killing curse burned through the air where he had just been. He rolled and came up next to where Draco was peering out the street corner of a pile of sack. Harry spun out around the recess and took in the barrier of crate. He was inconspicuous but there was so a good deal smoke-

'' Avada kedavra ! ``

Harry spun a crate into the course of the spell then banished it against the barricade. It exploded, raining beans over the death eaters.

'' Galbinus digitus ! '' Harry whipped his sceptre at the green exhibitor and vines shot out of the dried husks, binding the two wizards into suffocating stacks. Harry darted back behind the sacks as spells began to rain down on the fleck he had been standing.

'' Got them ? '' Draco yelled at him.

'' Think so ! How many do you- '' Harry was cut off as the reason before them raised up in a hollo crash. Two massive diamond eyes fractured open air in grey stone and two arms erupted up beside the beast. It punched into the dry land and the two marauders were thrown back.

'' Reducto ! '' Harry aimed at one stony eye but the patch just bounced off.

'' Avada kedavra ! '' Draco called out desperately as they scrambled away, the swearing left a monumental pass through the thing 's front but it did not stop it 's advance. It raised it 's arm like a mallet,

'' Excalabus ! '' The polishing sword crew out of nil and sliced the robot 's arm off at the articulatio cubiti making it roar in pain in the ass. Harry slashed through it 's soundbox and jumped away as it crumbled into dust.

'' That was Voldemort 's work. '' genus Draco panted.

'' Oh really ya believe ? '' Harry glanced around for a substance to round. `` They 're all in one stead. We 're strung out over the whole bloody warehouse. He can pick us off one by one like this, invisible or not ! ``

'' You think we should form up ? '' Draco held his wand out ready.

'' No, they 'll just get by the other way. '' Harry ground his teeth together.

'' Maybe the aurors will get here soon. '' Malfoy had to duck as a enchantment pin-wheeled over his capitulum. `` Or the order. ``

'' Ca n't bank on a maybe ! '' Harry glanced up and got an mind. `` Hold the line, I 'm going to break them up. ``
*


Snape saw a shadowy figure dashing through the heater and aimed just behind it. This was lunacy, pure madness. Without Voldemort the demise feeder would have fallen at the first volley, blinded and burned as they were, but with him they were holding their own against the trace army raining trance down on them from all directions. There was no telling where the next attempt would descend from, even the barricades were light aegis. And all the while the rut from the burning building all around charring into his pelt. Being stuck in the heart of all that and not really being part of either incline ... madness.

Snape hoped that perhaps Harry 's unseeable U. S. Army would accredit him but he could n't look on it. If he could calculate on not being noticed he could try stunning himself, but then he would n't be there to help oneself Harry if something went wrong. Snape shielded himself from a battery of stunners and cried in botheration as a red-hot fighting of metal dropped onto him from above. He looked up in time to see a spray of sparks dislodge from the roof far above then yelled despite himself as the metallic element twisted inwards and Harry dropped like a plunge hawk into the middle of the death eaters.

His flush struck Bellatrix in the face just as she looked up and drove her to the flooring with a bone-splitting crunch. Harry rolled like and came up in a import slashing his sceptre like a sword, there was a flash of albumen light and Rodolphus was opened from hip to neck. He went down spraying red line of descent across his attacker but Harry had already whirled and blew one of the barricades to smithereens.

'' Avada kedavra ! ``

Harry ducked the execration and injection back but he was in the eye of the death eaters now. Exactly what he wanted, Snape realized in flashing consequence. He 's providing a distraction for the others to attack. The problem was he would probably die to accomplish it. Snape raised his wand to assist Harry but there was a sudden crack of black light and he felt infliction invade every limb. An orb of darkness spun through the air towards Harry. Harry dodged wildly but there were too many other trance flying and it exploded in the air next to him. Driving him sprawling to the story. Snape shuddered, he had just experienced the backwash of the spell and he felt like he had been kicked in the head by a sawbuck. What Harry must be feeling he could not imagine.

'' Protect us ! '' Voldemort snapped, his scepter still smoking from the mighty curse. `` I will distribute with the boy. ``

Snape turned to earn it look like he was complying but kept scout as the dark lord stepped up stuffy to Harry. Voldemort held out a hand and summoned Harry 's scepter to him.

'' Very brave Mr ceramist. '' Voldemort raised his verge. `` And very foolish. You must forgive me but I do n't have time to have one of our traditional Old World chat. Avada- ''

'' Avada kedavra ! '' Harry threw his left wing arm up as he shouted the unforgivable. The mocking laugh died on Voldemort 's lips as Harry 's hand exploded in light-green light.

The magical spell flashed through the air towards the shocked darkness lord. Snape watched as if in boring motion as Voldemort's hand flew into his robe and gripped around something. The very minute before the green dash struck him he disappeared. The turn slashed across the circle and struck Rosier in the chest, catapulting his corpse into the wall.

"Lord !"Forneus'strangled voice sounded out as she rushed forward. Harry had fallen on his side cradling his hand in agony but at the death eater 's cry he unfurled and thrust his hand forward,

"Avada Kedavra !"The green bolt flashed towards the old death eater but he threw himself to one side and screamed a oath. A majestic bolt flicked off the end towards Harry but he frantically waved another decease feeder into the way of life of the enchantment then banished the shrieking flesh so that it crashed into Forneus'face.

"killing him !"somebody yelled and Snape realized that the other death eater were turning on Harry with rictus snarls of vindictive fury. Snape's gaze flicked from the death eater charging to Harry, raising his arm again, and decided in a moment.

"Stupefy !"Snape's stunner jammed Goyle's head back with a sickening crunch.

"double-crosser !"Forneus was rising from the story with his verge pointed in recrimination."Crucio !"

Snape ducked the charm and darted over to stand shoulder to shoulder with Harry.

"Incendio !"

Snape shielded without thought process and the flaming turn was absorbed into the oecumenical inferno.

"Tempesto !"Harry screamed, his voice twisted with pain, and waved his bridge player in a gyration archway. A breaking wind sprung from discharge air and drew the flaming wood into a spinning tornado of hellfire. Harry pointed and flung the firestorm at the demise eaters, scattering them like rabbits. Harry spun on Snape in the short time that had gained them.

"Why did you break insure ?"He yelled, swooping to grab a fallen sceptre."They all saw you ! Idiot !"

"No more idiot than you for coming here !"Snape shot back as he sent a looker at a trip up shape in the flaming."Rushing in like a fool ! You are doing exactly what I said you would !"

"I had a plan !"Harry growled at him."And it would give bloody worked if Voldemort hadn ‘ t had an emergency portkey !"

"You risked your living !"

"Mine to risk !"

"As is my concealment !"Snape glared into the fastball but the other end feeder seemed to be trying to escape rather than fight.

"They ‘ re trying to escape."Harry confirmed it and began advancing after them. His verge outstretched as he marched into the smoke."The aurors have broken in too now. We can snare them between us."

"Harry how have you been casting patch ?"Snape hurried after him, his scepter flicking towards every hint of motion.

"Wandlessly obviously."

"Harry wandless magic is beyond you."Snape grated, it was the simple true statement."And besides, certain spells can not be performed wandlessly, it is simply unimaginable. The unforgivables are among them."

"Impossible for even people."Harry flashed a rictus smile through the murk.

'' Harry, your hand ! '' Snape cried as he saw it clearly for the first prison term. He grabbed the arm, his heart wide with revulsion. The middle finger was burnt down to a check stub and his index number finger was gone to the second gear knuckle. The total rest of the hand was shrivelled and charred, as if it was burning from the inside out. It was boiling to the touch. `` Harry what have you done ! ``

'' What I had to ! '' Harry pulled his ruined helping hand back and held it painfully to his dresser."I ‘ m the boy who lived, the bloody chosen one ! Come on, they ‘ re this way."

Wondering how Harry knew Snape followed him into the murk.
*


'' What is the situation ? '' Shacklebolt yelled as he dashed up to the side of the flaming building. Ginny turned and almost felt like hugging him. So recrimination, no asking why they were there, no telling them off, just straight to business. This must be why dad looked up to him.

'' There were eight dying eaters inside, at least three utterly now. '' Ginny rattled off. `` Voldemort too. They were barricaded in the midsection but Harry scattered them. We have n't seen Voldemort himself since then but some of the others are still in there. Some of our citizenry too, invisible. ``

'' Voldemort 's gone. '' Shacklebolt supplied. `` Unregistered portkey. Fletcher, get hold of your team to the westward entrance- ''

Ginny stepped back towards the building and grabbed the invisible bread maker Gemini the Twins who were standing with her.

'' We 're getting everyone out, all our people. '' She motioned one of them to each end of the edifice. `` We got them, we won. ``
*


'' Harry give up ! '' Snape yelled as Harry had to pass over out of the way of a collapsing passel of burning box seat. `` You could be killed here ! ``

'' They 're still in here ! '' Harry forged onwards into the murk.

'' fool boy ! '' Snape 's gown caught fire and he threw it off angrily before rushing forward. He grabbed Harry around the arm only to be shook off. `` They will all be dead or gone by now ! ``

'' Two of them are still in here ! '' Harry pointed with his ravaged hired man. `` They 're over there ! ``

'' The aurors will get them. ``

'' You do n't have a go at it that ! '' Harry staggered a few Thomas More footmark before keeling over and retching onto the flooring. Snape shied away, for a moment unsure of what to do. The only thing in his mind was an idle pursuit in the fact that the puking was steaming as it hit the trading floor. Harry stumbled to his foot and Snape hissed in shock, Harry 's center were running red with blood.

'' Harry something is amiss with you. '' Snape stepped forward carefully. `` Something is clearly haywire. You need a healer. ``

'' I ca n't leave yet ! ``

'' The aurors will- ''

'' No ! '' Harry turned and dashed into the sens. Snape heard a monolithic crack from above and swung his sceptre up, not fast enough. The wooden beam struck Harry in the spinal column and drove him down, knocking him out and pinning him to the level. Snape dashed forward, for once not even thinking of his wand, and shoved the ray off with all his strength. It thudded onto the level and Snape rolled Harry onto his back. Blood was running down the poor boys haggard face.

'' Oh Harry .... why ? You fool ... '' Snape felt rising anger. None of it directed at Harry. `` You did n't have to do this. You did n't deliver to do any of this. You did not have to put down yourself .... red cent you Dumbledore ! '' He slammed his fist into the cracked ground and bowed his head. He did n't even acknowledge the second shaft before in struck him on the back and drove him from consciousness.

And all around the fire raged.
*


'' Are all of your citizenry out. '' Shacklebolt yelled at Ginny.

'' Not Harry. '' Ginny frantically glanced back into the blaze. `` He 's still in there. '' She saw Shacklebolt 's typeface fall.

'' The building is not going to endure much longer. ``

'' Gone on Harry. '' Ginny felt herself whispering. `` Come on ... ''
*


The watchman scrabbled through the flaming warehouse. He had come following the aurors, get hoping to kill Sir Thomas More demise feeder. reason pain to the snake-one. campaign botheration to Tom Riddle. But all he had found was flames, fire and death.

His centre darted around, trying to find a way out. If he was trapped here both he and Smoky would be killed. His fingers idly caressed Smoky 's scales where she hid in his arm. Maybe Smoky could hide in one of the grates in the floor, but he would die for sure. And if he died he would never get his revenge.

afters angelical revenge ... He took a moment to savour the thought as the flames licked at his legs.

What was that ? A trap in the story, one of the muggle ones. A way out. He shuffled towards it and flicked the cover off with his wand. As he was about to lour himself into it he froze. Just nearby were two figures pinned to the ground by a light beam. One he did n't recognize, but the other ... The other was the fighter-boy the one who had reached the servants of the snake-one before him. He fought the snake-one, Tom Riddle, the thief of lifespan, the trickster, the face-stealer, the- He shook his school principal as the tilt of hatred raged through his mind.

He lifted the part of wood off easily with a charm and regarded them through his fading eyes. He did not call back caring about anyone, even before the snake-one did thing to him. But these also fought the snake-one. And so maybe they should n't die. Maybe not.

He levitated them off the earth and scuttled to a faded window and threw them through the glass. There were shouts from out of doors and he could see the robed men clustering around them. The robed men could n't see him though. He scuttled back to the hole in the base and lowered himself in.

They could n't catch him yet.

He still had killing to do.
*


Harry stood in the apple grove again. The leaves turned brown for the season, the background wet with dew. In every counselling it stretched, impossibly deep.

'' Why am I here ? '' Harry tried to say, but his mouth would n't make sound. His throat was closed.

What is this place ?

Harry turned on his hound and there was the boundary of the trees, just paces away. And beyond it ... goose egg. The domain just dropped away as if the trees were the solitary genuine thing.

The sound of the river raged in his ears, filling him with fear. He ran from the border, back into the safety of the tree, back into the real piece. But it was crumbling now, he could see the edge crumbling away and yet somehow never getting closer. Always falling apart but staying where it was.

What is this berth ?

Harry hugged his arms to his chest. This was a dream, this was only a dream.

Then why does it feel like this is the exclusively matter that 's real ?
*


'' He 's awake. ``

Draco dropped off his hospital bed at the sound of the healers voice and hurried up to the side of meat of Harry 's bed. to the highest degree of the early marauders clustered around with him. The Weasley Gemini the Twins and Parvati were all in their own beds, kept mercifully unconscious while their injuries healed. They had all been hurt when they managed to drag themselves out of that inferno, it was a modest miracle none of them were dead. No ... not a miracle, they had trained, they had prepared. That was the grounds they were still alive. Not a miracle.

Draco looked down at his friend, lying picket and wan on the hospital bed sheet. His eyes had cracked open, but he still was n't moving.

'' Welcome back Harry. '' Hermione grasped Harry 's hand encouragingly. `` Do n't try to talk yet the doctors said you were really sickish. ``

'' ... ah ... '' Harry licked his lips and tried again. `` ... Volde ... mort ... ''

'' He got away. '' Ginny supplied. Harry squeezed his heart shut, a foil moan broke out from somewhere in his chest.

'' Do n't find bad mate. '' Ron was clearly trying to sound upbeat. imbecile. `` Only three death eaters got away. We got all the relaxation, all of them. ``

'' Who ... ? '' Harry 's head was hissed out through obvious pain.

'' Well, there was Rookwood. '' Padma began, counting off on her fingers. `` He managed to slip one's mind past the aurors. Forneus too. ``

'' Three ... ''

'' And ... '' Padma 's eyes flickered towards Neville. `` And Bellatrix. ``

'' Bella ... '' Harry 's face contorted into a maze. `` Got her ... Could swear I got- ''

'' You did Harry. '' Ginny picked up a glass of water system and slowly helped Harry to tope from it. `` The aurors were dragging her out but she came to in their blazonry, killed one of them with her bare hands and dissapperated with his scepter. ``

'' Killed ? He died ? '' Harry 's articulation seemed to be coming a bit easier now but it was still at the edge of weakness.

'' Yes. The simply auror, order member or vulture to die yesterday. '' Draco supplied, he could see Ginny 's mind bowing. She could n't possibly find guilty could she ? The man had let an unconscious prisoner rip out his windpipe. It was tragic, but it was no ones faulting but his own. Harry certainly would n't feel guilty.

'' We got the rest though did n't we ? '' Harry asked, glancing down at his bandaged hand.

'' Most of them are short. '' genus Draco supplied. `` Those who did n't die in the competitiveness died in the ardour. ``

'' Gibbons died. '' Neville said quietly. `` I saw the aurors pulling him out. Someone should say Vanessa. She deserves to know her father 's dead. Even if he was ... well you know. ``

'' If it was me I 'd be disappointed I was n't the one to kill him. '' Harry said quietly, still staring at his bandaged hand.

'' Harry, your paw ... '' Hermione brought it up and there was an instant cooling among the predator. No one had wanted to be the one to ask Harry about it. `` Your hand it ... ''

'' Injured, I know. '' Harry looked over at it dully. `` Can the therapist fix it ? ``

'' They ... they can arise the fingers back Harry but- ''

'' perfect, that 's delicately then. ``

'' But how did it happen in the first station ? '' Hermione looked like she was trying to invalidate actually looking at the hand. `` Snape said you used a wandless killing whammy which is impossible- ''

'' Apparently not. '' Harry cut her off. `` If they can fix me then why have n't they started ? I need my hand back, Voldemort could retaliate at any moment. ``

'' Harry ... '' Hermione looked around, perhaps looking for backup. Draco shook his head, she had opened Pandora 's box she could share with it on her own. `` Harry the hand is n't the alone thing legal injury with you. ``

'' Some sort of hex or something ? ``

'' No, at least ... they do n't retrieve so. ``

'' What are you talking about ? ``

'' Well- '' Hermione began but was cut off as a representative said,

'' Let me explain. '' Draco looked towards the sound to see Snape striding in through the door. The vulture made way for him as he moved to the fundament of Harry 's bed. A lily-white bandage encircled his forehead but he did n't seem to notice it. Snape nodded towards Harry 's ruined manus. `` I think I understand now. That was a Shén de shou was n't it ? ``

No. No Harry oh god no ! Draco felt some horrific cocktail of rage, reverence and pity grow in his chest. He didn't, he couldn't have. But genus Draco knew in his fondness that he could.

'' By the fact that you 're asking you already know that the resolution is yes so why botheration. '' Harry replied coldly.

'' Harry you are twice the jester I ever named you. '' Snape bowed his headway, his eyes closed. `` That you would do this ... ''

'' Do what ? '' Ginny broke in. `` Do what ? What 's a ... Shin-de-show ? ``

'' Shén de shou, a god-hand. '' Dragon supplied, finding that his articulation was almost tinged with tears. `` It 's an operation, originating in China, they insert sceptre cores into the clappers of your mitt. Surgically. '' There was a gasp from the vulture 's but Draco carried on. It felt better if they knew it too, like the repulsion was more spread out. `` It 's outlawed everywhere in the human beings. It is insanely dangerous, even when they are done right they damage the exploiter since the magic has to force it 's way out through flesh and skin. And casting a oath as powerful as the killing curse ? He 's golden he still has an arm. ``

'' I was n't planning on using it hover feather. '' Harry said acidly. `` It was a weapon of last resort, and it worked. I saved myself and almost killed Voldemort. ``

'' If it were only that wide-eyed Harry. '' Snape still was n't looking Harry in the eye. `` Your Shén de shou may own been installed properly, it may not cause been. Either way it would not account for all of your symptoms. And yes Harry, you have many symptoms. The healer found contagion in your line, some new and some just remnants. You have been sick all class have n't you ? Keeping yourself going with pep-up potion as you reeled from one illness after another. And now they have all caught up with you. ``

He was vomit up. Malfoy felt horrendous salary increase in his stomach. He was spew right at the start of the year and I did zilch ... I could have got prevented this.

'' You are hurt more deeply than anyone can say, and they can barely tell at all because of that ! '' Snape pointed at the washed-out and chipped pick-me-up around Harry 's arm. `` You have it charmed so that none but you can remove it. Your paranoia is killing you since the evil eye prevents the healer from telling what is actually incorrectly with you. A fact I think you know, a fact I think you know very well. You do not want anyone to acknowledge what was going on inside you. You got the Shén de shou Harry Potter, but what else did you get ? You came back after a summer 's metre and suddenly you stand toe to toe with dying eater ? masses who have spent their lives learning the dark of arts ? No ... no ... You did not simply coach over the summer months. What else suppurating sore under your skin ? What else have you done to yourself ! ``

The muteness in the room was solid as granite, and as harsh. Harry licked his brim before answering slowly, measuredly,

'' If I answered you, you would let the healers remove what I had put in. ``

'' Yes. ``

'' Why ? ``

'' To keep open your life-time. '' Snape was virtually shaking.

'' My spirit 's worth zippo if Voldemort 's around. '' Harry shook his forefront. `` Afterwards. I 'll kill Voldemort then the stuff comes out. Until then I need it. ``

'' Afterwards ? Afterwards ? '' A tear squeezed out of the niche of Snape 's eye, shocking everyone. It might have been a tear of furor, it might not. `` Harry by then it may be too late ! The therapist say that you have months, half a year at very dependable, if we do not do something. ``

'' And look what I 've done with a year ! '' Harry yelled angrily. `` I 've pushed Voldemort back to the verge ! How many dying eaters does he have left ? FOUR ! Down from what ? Twenty ? Thirty ? I knew I would n't get lots time. I accepted that my lifespan would be severally cut, but I have taken my lifespan and beaten that serpent faced wanker around the head with it ! He is hanging by a thread thanks to me ! I am the only one who can overcome Voldemort ! The ONLY ONE ! You know that ! The freaking chosen one, I had to do this. I had to ! There was NO OTHER WAY ! No way for me to win, not against him. I needed every vantage I could discover so, god help me, I went out and found some advantage. I had to. And if it means I win my big prophesied engagement against the dickhead ? Then I made the right call. And if I do n't ? Then it wo n't count anyway. ``

Harry cut off, his dresser rising and falling sharply, showing how much his speech communication had taken out of his offend frame. Snape was just standing there, his face an indescribable masquerade of sorrow. Another binge, and another. Professor Snape looked like a man who had had a knife stuck through him, impaling his heart.

'' Back on the ship. '' Padma 's whispering voice cut through the muteness like a siren. `` Back on the ship you knew where the crew were. You knew where the creatures were. You even knew where the ship was in the middle of the Night on a stormy sea. You knew where we were too. You put the meth in your pocket, I never saw you put them on. We were invisible, but not to you. Oh god Harry ... tell me you did n't. Tell me ... '' Padma reached a hired man forward, up towards Harry 's human face. Harry did n't flinch back even as her long fingernail reached up close and tapped his eye.

The apparent chink of glass was like a death toll.

'' Your eye ... '' Hermione breathed, every reverb of her interpreter begging it not to be rightful. `` You ... you cut out your eye ? ``

'' No, guy at the shop class did it. '' Harry tried to beat Padma 's hand away but clearly did n't have the strength. `` Do n't you all look at me like that. I saw how utile Moody 's was and got one for myself. This one's better though, it can look anywhere, out the backbone of my headland and all but it's charmed to look like it's pointing the Saame way as the former one. So no one ever knows. It 's been useful, more than useful. You ca n't secernate me it has n't. '' Harry's voice had grown more shrill as he spoke.

'' But ... your eye. '' Hermione shuddered, her helping hand involuntarily flinched up to her nerve. `` How could you ? ``

Draco felt gall rise like a volcano. Just the thought of tearing out his own eye made him throw up. What frozen and horrific will would it make to willingly chose that self-mutilation. For the first prison term that year, Draco began to fear Harry a little.

'' Do n't face at me like that. '' Harry was shying away from their stares, pushing back into the bed. `` What ... Do n't ! Do n't search at me like you do n't jazz why I did this ! Do n't look at me like you do n't understand. I had to ! ``

The desperation in his spokesperson. The need for them to see, to free what he had done. Draco shuddered. In Harry 's office would he take done the same ? He honestly could n't guess. No one could. Draco cleared his throat,

'' Harry, I ca n't guess why you chose to do this. But you need to let the healers fix you now. ``

'' Draco, I ... you too ? '' Harry seemed very lowly in that moment. Very lost.

'' Please let them fix you Harry. '' Draco felt a small paw comprehend his and glanced to the side to see Ginny. Offering livelihood. A good friend. Thank you. `` You might now even want this poppycock anymore. Voldemort is rickety, maybe- ''

"Maybe !"Harry snapped."Maybe, maybe MAYBE ! That ‘ s all I ‘ ve heard all class ! I won ‘ t trust to hope ! It ‘ s too important."

"Harry please ..."Dragon's throat felt like it was closing up."Please ... you may not understand just how a great deal hurt you ‘ re doing to yourself. Waiting a few hebdomad even could-"

"licking Voldemort."Harry said coldly."I ‘ ve made my pick. severalise the healers to fix my mitt, just the hand. You don ‘ t think I wish it was different ? I do. But some mongrel prophecy had the gall to set my aliveness in apparent motion long before I had any say in it. I have to win. I have to win even if I die because nothing else matter. Turns out this fight was what I was born for and I ‘ ll burn myself from the inside out before I lose to that snake-faced cocksucker. I have to win. Even if I die."

Dragon stepped back from the bed. The frightful sure thing in Harry's vocalization was shocking. He had accepted his fate down to his bones. He had drunk it in till it was the very heart of his being. Was Harry even in there any Sir Thomas More ?

Draco was shocked out of his thoughts by a minuscule sound. It took him a second to recognize it, but when he did it surprised him once more. Snape was gripping the end of the hospital bed so intemperately the Sir Henry Joseph Wood was splintering. When Draco looked up at the potions master's aspect he almost cried out in care. The most tremendous sinister rage Dragon had ever seen was painted across Snape's typeface, etched in every line and crinkle. The sorry phantasma in his eye were seething pool of suppressed furiousness. Suddenly Snape let out an almost inhuman growl and disapperated on the spot, tearing a small-arm of the bed away with him.
*


No sentiment entered the red fog of Snape's thinker as he strode towards the Gates of Hogwarts. His verge whipped out and the vast doorway were thrown back with a rumbling collapse that shook the castle. He could not care less if the whole building fell down. Minerva hurried towards him,

"Severus what is the meaning of this ?"

"I am going to see the headmaster."Snape didn't slow, forcing Minerva to jumpstart out of his way. He was too angry to care. He saw the gargoyle statue ahead of him and forced the password out through gritted teeth. He rode the stairs up listening to his own racing heartbeat in his ears. The stair ground to a halt and Snape slammed the door open. Dumbledore looked up in shock from the written document in front of him as Snape strode up to him and slammed his clenched fist down of the surface of the desk.

"Harry is in St Mungos."He had no theme how to give vocalization to the thought inside him, they were too many and too powerful.

"I know that Severus."Dumbledore replied coldly."But you are no longer a fellow member of the order so-"

"Do you cognise why Harry is in St Mungos ?"Snape tried to breath evenly."Because, in an attempt to fulfil your precious prognostication, he found some pitch blackness market anatomy monger that would fit him with a Shén de shou."

"A Sh ..."Dumbledore's eyes widened."My god ... he could give killed himself ..."

"Yes."Snape could fell his fingernails biting into his palms."But not just that, he had his own eye cut out to fit a wizard one. Those and who knows what other mutilations are slowly destroying him. He is going to die because of them. Because of the prophecy. Because of you !"

Dumbledore was staring off into the space, he looked like his somebody was being torn out. Good.

"The boy destroys himself, tears himself apart. He is set up to die, because of the prophecy."Snape drew his typeface down layer with Dumbledore's."I think it ‘ s time he learnt the truth. Don ‘ t you ?"

"Severus ..."

"You tell him."Snape held a shaking finger up."I will give you one prospect to assure him, to assuage some of your guilty conscience with money plant. But eternal sleep assured, if you do not evidence him, I will. This lie has poisoned too much already."

"You realize ..."Dumbledore spoke as if from within a fog."That the truth may break him ?"

"No Thomas More than the lie has."

"Perhaps."Dumbledore stood, leaning heavily on his desk. He seemed ... antediluvian. Ancient and tired."I will differentiate him now. Which room is he in ?"
*


Harry glanced up as the hospital door was pushed overt and Dumbledore stepped in and braced himself for being yelled at. Dumbledore just walked slowly towards Harry's bed, his deal kept flinching out to the side as if expecting to notice a cane there.

"tyke,"Dumbledore addressed the predator."Would you leave us ? Please."

"What are you going to do ?"Ginny stepped in front of the bed protectively.

"Just talk young lady Weasley."Dumbledore's head hung weakly."Only talk."

"It ‘ s OK Ginsters."Harry nodded towards her."It ‘ s alright."

Ginny looked dubitable but waved the vulture to trace her out. As the door banged shut Dumbledore walked to the end of the room, glancing at each bed, then flicked the drapery closed with his sceptre. Another wave of his baton and Harry heard a slight repress phone from the door. Whatever Dumbledore was about to say he didn't want anyone listening. Finally Dumbledore shuffled over to the bed opposite Harry's and sat carefully. There was a long moment of secretiveness that stretched on and on ...

"Yes ?"Harry asked, speech still hurting his pharynx."You got something to say ?"

"I ... I do not be intimate how to begin."Dumbledore seemed lost, a niggling lost boy in the Wood."I suppose I should start by telling you how ... how incredibly sorry I am. You must believe I never expected that you would do this. But that is no excuse, no alibi at all."

"What are you saying ?"

"I ... Let me tell you a story."Dumbledore licked his lips."I am sorry but this is the only way I know to assure you. It begins about XV years ago, I had just born-witness to a prophecy that gave the only hope for the fall of the dark lord."

"I know this story."

"Harry please."Dumbledore raised his handwriting."This is unvoiced enough ... Please just let me speak."

"Alright."

"I had heard the divination, the one you know well. I had determined that it referred to a child all of us in the order knew well. The tike of Lilly and King James ceramicist. I knew that the child was our only hope. Even before the prophecy was recorded in the section of whodunit I had already placed the ceramist family under the strongest protection I could. Unfortunately I failed, I was betrayed."

"Sirius Black."

"Yes. Sirius Black. But his treachery, though it led to the deaths of two of the most unfearing and honorable masses I know, also spelled the end of the iniquity Lord. Voldemort was destroyed. nearly of the wizarding creation considered him dead. The celebrations ... they went on for days ... calendar week truly. The entire wizarding world breathed again thanks to the sacrifice of Lilly and James ceramicist and the survival of the fittest of their son. The boy-who-lived. The boy who showed that Voldemort was not unbeatable. He was the symbolisation of triumph, the symbolisation of hope. But I knew the accuracy, that Voldemort was not truly perfectly. I knew that the prophecy was not yet fulfilled and that, when the dark Jehovah would finally wax again, the masses would take the boy-who-lived. So I placed him with his mothers blood, with his aunt. The understanding were complex, the blood link provided him protection of a form but it is insignificant now. I should get known my folly, should induce known. It is my fault in so many ways. My fault in every way that matters. I should have got watched closer ... Because one day, when that boy was six, his aunty had taken both him and his cousin to the shop. Perhaps she was not paying attention or perhaps it was simply an stroke, but the boy ran out into the road. A car struck him, terribly fast. I have watched the memories of the crash through others middle ... he flew so far ... doctors worked on him, then I had him moved to St Mungos and the healer worked as hard as the could. But the scathe ... the injury to his skull ... his chest of drawers ... he passed from this populace. Just six days old. My fault. All my fault. His blood on my script ... But I knew it was not over. I knew that Voldemort would still rise, the wizarding world would still need their symbol of Leslie Townes Hope, their boy-who-lived. Their fighter. So I found another boy, of the correct age, in a muggle orphanage. I worked magic to convert his appearance, his voice, his retention ... his computer memory I destroyed entirely and replaced with fraud, I even supplemented them with some of my own memories of Jesse James potter to defecate the boy seem like him. Then I placed him back at Privet movement, I changed the computer memory of the auntie ... the uncle ... the cousin-german. I sought out everyone who had seen the crash and tore the store from their skulls, the doctors, the therapist ... I made it so that it never happened. And then a sat back and watched ... I watched my fake acquire up. I felt my guilt grow. But it was done, and it could not be undone. My outstanding shame ... the lie that makes everything else a lie as well. The Sojourner Truth is that the chosen one has been numb for nine geezerhood. You are not him."

Dumbledore trailed off, he seemed diminished, even weaker, as if letting this great undercover out of him had drained him of everything. Harry shook his head. No ... No no no ...

"No, you ‘ re lying. You. Are. Lying."

"I so wishing that I was."

"But I ‘ m the ... I ‘ m Harry thrower !"He shook his head."I ‘ m Harry Potter !"

"No. You are not."

"I have the scar !"

"I gave you that scar."Dumbledore had his middle closed. But even so a buck squeezed out from the English, running down his foresighted nose and dropping to the floor."I can take out it right now if you wish it."

"No !"His hands jumped up to his forehead protectively."You ‘ re just ... you ‘ re saying these things ... WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME ?"

"I am no-good. I am so sorry."Dumbledore bowed his top dog."I can not say that to you enough. I ... I destroyed you."

"No ! I ... I cut out my eye !"Harry could finger his blood pumping in his ears."I ‘ ve fought ! I ‘ ve fought him all year ! I ‘ m the elect one !"

"You are not. There is no chosen one."Dumbledore sounded like a man burning his live smidgen of Bob Hope."The prophecy died nine years ago. Voldemort won."

"No. No ..."He was shaking, he couldn't plosive consonant."Lies it ‘ s just lies !"

"It is not."Dumbledore shook his chief."If you want proof just look to your champion. You named them the marauders. On your very commencement day. How did you know that name ? You know that James potter named his mathematical group of friends the same ?"

"No, he can't have ! It ‘ s a lie !"

"It is not. You knew the public figure because I put in in your brain. If you doubt me ask anyone who was at schooltime with them."Dumbledore was speaking in dead tones now, he had reached the bottom."I have heard you refer to professor Snape as Snivellus and to Remus lupine as Moony. Those were both names James ceramicist invented. You also knew about professor Snape ‘ s dark fool. How else would you cognize ?"

"I ... I ..."The boy could feel himself shaking, his intellect shaking apart.

"It is true. It is all dependable ... I am so dark. I am so ... I can not begin to think what this must be doing to you. What this has done to you."

"So ... who am I ?"The boy looked up."What ‘ s my name ?"

"I do not know."

"You found me !"He could hear his shrill vox in his ears."You dragged me to this life you have to recognise !"

"I do not Harry I ‘ m ..."

"Harry ? Harry ?"The boy threw his heading back and screamed, a screeching clamor of torture."And don ‘ t you dare say you ‘ re sorry ! Don ‘ t you dare !"

"I ... I can not -"

"Get out !"He grabbed his glass of water and threw it with all his specialty, tears blurring his optic. It shattered against the Headmaster ‘ s shoulder."Get out ! Get out ! GET OUT !"

Dumbledore fled the room, holding his arm. As the old genius crashed through the doors the boy threw himself back against the wall and howled in hurting and discombobulation, tearing at his hair with hands like nipper. crying ran freely down his facial expression from the one real eye he had left.

sob and give away he lay there, until darkness closed in.



Review. I just know you have something to say about this.