Thanks to all the citizenry who reviewed the last chapter. Your various permutations of the general `` What the F*** ! ? ! Update now ! '' Were most apprize. I feel variety of bad for jumping a twist like that on you after 40 chapters. Kind of deceitful. Good to bonk the legal age of masses appreciated it.



"Harry ?"Padma said quietly, standing at the end of the hospital bed. Harry seemed to be sleeping, his thorax rising and falling weakly. His optic were red, like he'd been crying. Perhaps the pain was risky than he let on. She felt bad for needing to wake him."Harry wake up."She reached out and tapped his leg. He jerked fitfully, but his heart flickered open. He didn't speak though, didn't acknowledge her. He just stared off into space. What had Dumbledore said to him ?

"Harry I ‘ ve been talking to the healer. They ‘ ve run some more tests."She licked her lips."tone, it looks like a few month was actually affirmative. There ‘ s wrong deep down, lots of impairment. You need to let them help you now or ... or you ‘ ll die. In a few weeks."

Harry said nothing, he didn't even seem to have heard her.

"You won ‘ t be able to fight Voldemort."Padma tried a different shroud."I ‘ m not saying you ‘ ll have hebdomad like you ‘ ve been going all year. You ‘ ll have calendar week in this hospital bed, not able to make a motion, eventually you won ‘ t even be able to spill the beans. You won ‘ t be able to kill Voldemort. You won ‘ t be able to be the chosen one."

Harry flinched, pain running across his exhaust face.

"You see Harry, you ‘ ve got to let them help you."Padma stepped up to put her helping hand on Harry's."Please ?"

"You do what you have to do."Harry pulled his paw away. He still hadn't looked at her.

"You ‘ ll let them help you ?"Padma tried not to be put off."You ‘ ll take off the wickedness eye and let them work on you ?"

"Yes, why not."Harry rolled over so he was facing away from her. His breathing stuttered, he sounded like he was holding back tears. Padma backed away, she had got what she came for. The therapist would fix Harry's eubstance. What had happened to his intellect ? That might take a little longer.

What had Dumbledore said to him ...
*


The boy who was once called Harry faded in his intellect as the therapist entered his room. Bustling around and speaking comforting, empty words. They cleaned him up, washing his arms and chest. They asked him to withdraw the bracer. He did, letting it fall to the floor with a brassy clatter. The healers shied away from the stain on his arm. Fearful. Why should he care.

They did something that was supposed to dull him. He couldn't tell the difference. Everything was dulled already. He watched, ineffectual and unwilling to care, as they cut his pelt open. His roue seeped out, quickly staunched by a healer. He wished they wouldn't bother.

A cold gel was swabbed onto his smash paw. Ruined for what ? For the sake of what ? All useless. He wished they wouldn't bother.
*


Draco slapped the sore skin of his arm to try and remain awake. It had been burnt in the battle, but it was hunky-dory now. Just enough residue redness and pain in the neck to help him stay alert. He swung his tire eyes around the waiting room, all of the marauders were here. virtually of them had finally succumbed to sleep, Draco didn't find fault them. It was hard to imagine that the virulent midnight assault on the tool ship had been just last night. They had been worn out, worn down. genus Draco pinched his arm again. He wondered if there was anywhere he could observe some tea. The tea store was closed but surely the healers had a staff elbow room or something. Maybe he could ask one.

Or maybe he could just fall asleep.

Dragon shook his head. Some of them had to be awake when the healers finally stopped working on Harry. He shuddered, they had already been at it for hours. How many ... additions .... had Harry made ? He glanced around the room again. Everyone seemed to be numb. Even Ginny, who seemed to deliver nodded off in the act of pinching herself. They had all been there all night, no one had collected them. He supposed it was only a matter of time before a teacher or an order member came to wrangle them up and drag them back to Hogwarts, where they would no dubiety stay put. Chained to posts like heel so they couldn't run off again.

genus Draco got wearily to his feet, maybe he could walk some of his tiredness off. He stepped carefully around the prone marauder and stepped up to the door to the Mary Augusta Arnold Ward. Harry's bed was obscured by curtains but the fantasm of the healers were still moving against the surface. As he watched one of them detached and stepped towards the room access. Draco stepped away to let him out, Leslie Townes Hope and apprehensiveness rising in his stomach.

"Is there any newsworthiness ?"Draco asked.

"Yes, there is."The healer looked around the elbow room."Is his family here ?"

"Yes."Draco said definitely, looking over the marauders."hold a moment ... HEY !"The predator jerked to lifetime, hands flying to baton before they realized where they were. Draco turned back to the therapist."They ‘ re up. What is the intelligence ?"

"well we ... we removed respective items from the body of your friend."The piteous healer swallowed nervously."We found a drop-gem embedded in his sternum. There was also something in the wall of his stomach. We think it may deliver been designed to negate poison but it seems to have had the reverse gist. It was the source of his illness. We also found-"

"What about his eye ?"genus Draco broke in."Have you fixed his eye ?"

"His ... his eye."The therapist paused."His eye had been removed too long ago, there is a great deal of scarring. Unfortunately we were ineffective to restore it. We are currently looking into whether the installation he has is highschool character enough to leave there."

"Installation ..."Draco stared at the man coldly."You ‘ re talking about his eye."

"Yes, I know."The healer shook his head and turned back towards the door."We ‘ ll try to keep you informed."He pushed back through the door and hurried back towards the curtained bed.

Dragon looked back over the predator. Through their sand-filled, drooping eyes he could see their gloominess. Harry had fought so unvoiced and got nothing in homecoming but accusal of slaying and a permanent disfigurement. And a drab fall guy, they could not forget that.

"Harry might say it was Charles Frederick Worth it."Padma said softly."For driving Voldemort to ground."

"Of path he ‘ d say that. Doesn ‘ t make it true."Ron pulled his genu up to his chest."I mean you heard him in there. He ‘ d think death was worth it."

"Is he wrong ?"Draco muttered darkly. Perhaps they didn't hear him. Perhaps it was just as well. They were all startled as another threshold was pushed unresolved, revealing Professor McGonagall. She didn't need to say anything, they knew why she was there. They were going back. And they might never leave.
*


"Are you sure ?"Natalie asked ? Her voice admirably spare of shaking."You could get a bracer like Harry ‘ s. Or perhaps there are less trespassing means of removal."

"There are not, it was not made to be removed."Snape tightened the shoulder strap around his arm."And I would prefer to not be dependent on an item of illegal jewellery. Just please do it, it is already beginning to burn."

Thankfully she did not argue, but instead bent down and touched her wand to the skin on Snape's arm. The slicing pain was distant, dulled by potions. There were bottle by his arm, some empty, some waiting to grow the skin back after the mark was gone. He was in his apartments at Hogwarts, the only place he could have gained those potions without questions was from his own provision. The searing began and Snape looked away, watching his own arm butchered was not what disturbed him, not after everything he'd seen. But it reminded him of what Harry was going through. Of the iniquity lord as well. What would he do next ? What would his next move be ...

"He may go into hiding."Natalie answered his unanswered question, still intent on his arm."Like he did xv geezerhood ago."

"He will not."Snape shook his top dog."He was forced to hide then, he had no power. Now he does, it is lessened certainly, but he still has some."

"Bellatrix, Rookwood and Forneus."She traced easily around the border of the skull."That is who he has left. What would he do with them ?"

"It will be wolf, I am certain of that."Snape felt the cutting plosive speech sound and watched as Natalie picked the little fuss of skin up and calmly incinerated it. It was done, he was free. Strange that he should feel so little. Perhaps because he knew he was not truly devoid until Voldemort was dead. Perhaps because he knew that, without the ability to spy, he was next to useless.

"Don ‘ t think that."Natalie's eyes flickered up to his as she daubed his arm with a potion soaked bandage.

"But I am."Snape shook his head."Perhaps not useless but ... if I had not acted on instinct we would now know exactly what Voldemort was planning. We would be able to anticipate him instead of stumbling around in the darkness."

"You had to."Was all she said.

"Perhaps."Snape let his pass cliff back, perhaps.

"You know them better than anyone."Natalie continued."You can work out what he will do next."

"I have been trying."Snape replied tetchily."But I can not think of anything he would wish to do that he has the manpower to accomplish. Unless he has some plan I am unaware of. Which he almost certainly has. I always got the sense that he had something brewing."

"The ministry ? The section of mysteries ? The Prophecy ?"

"He covets that no doubt. But I can see no way he could get it with three Death eaters."

"Four."Natalie corrected."Barty Crouch is still out there somewhere."

"And if he is not dead then he is doing Merlin knows what."Snape shook his head."It could be anything."

"Severus,"Natalie took his face in her paw and tilted it up to meet her optic."Not so low now. We won today. It may not experience like it, but we won a triumph. triumph have been few and far between this past tense year, we need to cherish them, not worry about what will happen next."Snape was once again amazed by the way she could break through to him, whatever his mood. He smiled,

"I believe I have some wine."
*


The boy who carried the gens Harry felt himself enter the familiar dream. He felt floor board under his back, scratchy through the reduce hospital gown. He knew where he would be when he opened his oculus. And finally, he even knew why.

He pushed himself off the floor, leaning his exhaust physical body against the wall. The wall painted with bears and stoolpigeon over a pale blue sky wide-cut of fluffy clouds. Harry felt like spitting but he couldn't selective service the zip. He ignored the crib in the eye of the room, it's sheeny nomadic spinning idly in the dream-wind. He shoved the door undefendable and descended the steps. The revulsion he always felt was still there, but he could barely bring himself to care. He knew what this place was now.

No one-year-old remembers their sign of the zodiac. No one-year-old could remember every photo, or the approach pattern on the wallpaper. This place was a lie, a parasitic memory board that had been burnt into his intellect. The creeping sickness in his skin was his idea's way of telling him that it wasn't really, that it didn't belong.

He stepped up to the front doorway and stepped outside. There were street signs in the memory. No one-year-old would remember street signs, they couldn't even read them. He should have known, should let realized somehow.

He couldn't find the orchard nearby. God knows what that represented. Some metaphor for safety his judgment was projecting out maybe. Who knew. The river ? Some other piece of his judgment ... it didn't matter. Harry let himself accrue to the ground on the sess, it was all pointless. It wasn't Charles Frederick Worth fighting this anymore, it was burnt onto the rachis of his scull. He could never escape.

His eyes flickered open in the hospital Mrs. Humphrey Ward. He could feel the huffy new ontogenesis in his hand. It was pink, new skin, and smaller than the early. Harry dropped it back onto the blankets. former parts of his soundbox hurt too, little scars and harm. They had fixed him up. He wished they hadn't bothered.

The dream was still swirling in his question, biting at him. It was too intemperately. He saw his things piled neatly against the paries, even his clothes. Suddenly he knew he had to allow for. This station ... he just had to leave. He quietly pushed out of bed, ignoring the creaking in every muscle and drew his bag over. He dressed quickly and disillusioned himself before slipping out the door.

The marauders were sleeping there, lying across judiciary or curled up on the floor. He didn't wake them. He didn't want to talk to anyone right now. Couldn't talk, he had no idea how he would even set forth. He hurried away and down the stairs. He didn't plosive until he was out of the building and a few streets away. A diminished street, not meddling. Breathing hard he shoved his wand out into the street. He found that he could barely keep his arm up for the few moment it took for the horse bus to obnubilate out of nowhere and skreigh to a stop in front of him.

"Ere are you Harry Potter ?"The pustulate conductor squinted at him, his representative wax of amazement.

"No."The word was hollow in his chest.

"Right, right, incognito."The man tapped his nozzle."I never believed any of that stuff about ya. poor boy that ‘ s what I say."

"Right."submarine ... that cut to the core like a tongue."Take me to Godrics Hollow."He had no idea where the idea had come from, but as soon as he said it he knew he needed to go. It was as strong a need to go to it as there had been to lead in the dream.

"Godrics holler ?"The pimpled guy swallowed."right wing, I see."

The bus moved off and the unidentified boy sagged down in a death chair. Why was he doing this ? Did he even have a intellect ? He didn't seem to sustain reason's anymore. He remembered being wide-cut of fervidness and need, burning passion for the fight. But now he just felt hollow, like he'd been scooped out. He didn't want anything anymore. Except perhaps to die. Why was he going to Godrics hole ? Why not. It wasn't like he had anywhere else to go.

The bus screeched to a halt and he got out without speaking. The bus disappeared with a whoosh, a purplish fuzz in the air. Harry looked up and down the street, it looked like any other Greenwich Village. It was empty this fourth dimension of day, like a spectre town. Suited his temper perfectly. He looked forward, an abandoned ship home, burnt and with the top floor blown off.

But he knew what had stood there. He had seen it in his dreams. This was where it had happened. It just hadn't happened to him.

He stepped send on his hand stretched out, then shied away. This family was just more Trygve Halvden Lie. The feelings in his principal, heartbreak, deprivation, fear. They weren't his, they weren't his deprivation. only when unknown had died here, two alien. People who had nothing to do with him. The sorrow was another trick, just another degree of lie.

He spun away and stalked down the street, not looking back. He had never lived there, it meant aught to him. Or should mean nothing. His feet brought him to the square and he lent tiredly on the war remembrance. He should never consume come here, it was not what he needed. He raked his hand through his hair.

Not his hand.

Not his hair.

He spun and punched the Harlan Stone, hissing out fury through his teeth. The lie poisoned everything. Even his real memories were tainted. He didn't even look like this for Jesus Christ's interest ! His completely body was a mask !

The I. F. Stone shifted under his finger. He looked up just as the monument seemed to melt, morphing into, a statue underneath. Harry stumbled back. No ... no no no. Under the commemoration there were two frame, a man and a woman. The charwoman cradled something in her hired man. The man ... the man looked just like him.

No he doesn't. I don't even look like me. The boy trembled with rage as he looked on the well-chosen Potter family. The testament in stone to the aliveness he had never really had. His fingerbreadth went to his wand.

"Reducto !"The baton flickered out, even through the rage the spell flew rightful. It struck the head of the father statue, shattering it into splinters. Some of them cut the boy's flesh. He didn't care.

"Reducto ! !"Lilly ceramist's head snapped off and crunched onto the tarmac. Rolling to a halt in a violent storm drain.

"Reducto ! !"The last shot was the stiff, striking out in a blinding bolt of lightning of lighter, obliterating the bundled baby. Blowing the minuscule boy-who-lived to smithereens. Flames flickered across the statue before they died out. Flickered across the ruined stumps of heads and died to nothing.

The nameless boy stepped back, breathing like he'd run a marathon. His clothes wet with elbow grease. He dropped his scepter back into his pocket and turned his back on the statue, his breath still coming in furious bursts. He couldn't think, couldn't breath. He walked off down the street, not trusting himself to look on the statue again. It made it all too real.

His eyes found a burial ground. Both eyes, real and witching. He shuddered, he'd got used to the shining sheathing over his vision, the X-ray picture prospect of the existence. Now it was just a unremitting admonisher. A reminder of what he'd sacrificed for the lie. He pushed the graveyard gate open air and let the eye roam, in a moment it had angled in on the Potter grave. He walked hesitantly to it, his wand safely away in his sack. He pushed a piece of ivy off the stone and record the inscription.
The cobbler's last enemy that shall be destroyed is death


Well that was bollocks. Being dead meant you had at least one other opposition left, namely the one that killed you. His eye whirled in it's socket, looking straight down. The two coffins, face to side in the ground, stared back at him. But ... there was a tail. Like a vacant country. He drew his wand and muttered a revealing go. syncope puff of illusion drew out of the ground to meet him. He waved his wand again, cutting the misty street child away. He worked ... he didn't know how long. Probably second, maybe hours. At some point the gray sky gave way to rain and the graveyard supergrass turned slick. Harry ignored it, concentrating on the spells. It was just. It was a puzzle, breaking the illusion. It stopped him from thinking.

Finally he was done. Nothing unlike showed on the aerofoil, but down underground ... Harry stood and stepped back, his bosom hammering in his dresser. There was a third coffin on top of the former two, arranged like a Great Pyramid. Inside ... inside was a smaller body, a minor. It's diminutive subdivision crossed over it's chest.

The nameless boy fell to his knees. There it was, the final proof. The final incontrovertible check. That short wasted body in there was Harry thrower. He could even see a tiny scratch on the bone of his scull, above his eye, in the anatomy of a lightning bolt. The real scratch had cut all the way to the bone, his was barely more than constitution. That was all he was in fact ... constitution for a tool. A god-damn doll.

He raised his wand to the stone, but said naught. The anger in him was gone. He had seen the bodies of the real potter, lying together. It was gruelling to feel anger, but he wished he did. The wrath at least filled him up, filled the void with flames. But now the fire was gone and he felt even vacuous for it. He found himself resting the point of his wand against the rough, wet stone.

It wasn't even his verge. He stared at it, thoughts skittering over the blunt heart of his nous. It was a wand gained from killing, killing and fighting in a war he was never supposed to be part of. This wand was his killing wand. He had done frightful things for the sake of this war ... to others ... to himself. He found himself pressing down harder on the forest. He had pickled his soul in blood and what had it got him ? He added his other arm and pushed harder. He had fought, and he'd been broken. The wand splintered with a loud crack, the springy Sir Henry Wood bending almost double before it twisted into laurel wreath. A little red frivolity was visible through the breakage. It had had a phoenix feathering core group, he never knew.

"wellspring that makes thinks easier."

The representative had come from behind him. He turned slowly but his magic eye had already whizzed around to find the interloper. The pitch-black gown told him everything he needed to bonk. Harry knew he should feel panic, or apprehension, reverence perhaps, at least surprise. But he was damned if he felt anything.

"You would be Rookwood."His vocalisation sounded dead in his ears.

"Yes I am August Rookwood."The man sketched a sarcastic bow, his wand in his manus."Thank pigeon hawk I still have a watch on the underage magic sensing element. You ‘ ve come a long way just to slip now. A retentive long way ..."

"Felt like further."The empty boy dropped the cadaver of his wand onto the potter grave. Perhaps some mug champion would obtain it and make up some story about it. He turned back to the death eater and asked,"Are you going to kill me ?"He was surprised that his voice did not fathom eager.

"Eventually Mr ceramist, no doubt."Rookwood held out his wand."But first-class honours degree you ‘ re going to assure something for me."

"What ?"

"The dark noble ‘ s undying favor."Rookwood tilted his psyche up arrogantly."I will be raised above the others, above even that prick Crouch."Rookwood paused, obviously expecting the weary material body before him to say something. `` Well ? Nothing to add ? No witticisms ? ``

"No."The boy who had been Harry stepped forward."Do whatever you like to me. I don ‘ t caution anymore."

"Is this some form of fast one ?"Rookwood raised his wand threateningly."You are alone here I know that ... well, to be surely. Stubefy !"

He closed his middle before the spell hit. The darkness was welcome.
*


A crashing noise woke him. Flashing light burned through his eyelids as he groaned. The noise went on and on, familiar ... very familiar. His memory board twinged, his material ones.

"I ‘ m in the underground."His heart flickered open just as the electron tube railroad train flashed out of spate, leaving the tunnel in dark. He felt the cords binding his hands together, his fingers danced along them trying to find a knot. There was none. They were tight though, biting into his cutis, wizard no incertitude. He didn't have to palpate to know that his pegleg were similarly bound. He didn't pain to try to stand.

"You are indeed Mr Potter."Rookwood stood over him, his sceptre outstretched."The Greater London Underground."

The nameless boy twisted and looked around him, one of the walls was been broken through and a iniquity, earthy tunnel stretched away. Now that the train was gone he could hear something in the darkness all around, a scratching slinking sound.

"We ‘ re not alone."Harry breathed.

"Oh, so you noticed."Rookwood held up his baton and lit it, smiling. The darkness rolled back, but not far. A grayness wall stopped the light, a writhing mass of cloth and rot.

"What ... what are they ?"He looked on the nighttime hooded figures. As he watched one of them turned its shrouded head towards him. It let out a demise rattle.

"Those are Dementors."Rookwood smiled."Had you forgotten that they too served the nighttime lord ? Slipped your psyche ?"

"Dementors ..."The boy looked into the swirling pile. Wasn't he supposed to be feeling some sort of coldness, desperation ? Wasn't that what Dementors were supposed to do when you were close to them ? He shook his head, they couldn't relate him, a somebody could only feel so practically despair and he was already at his limit. And as for making him relive his worst store ? Ha ! His sullen present moment was still unused in his mind.

"The dementors like it down here."Rookwood continued."They ‘ ve been breeding down here ilk flies. There are hundreds of them."

"Dementors don ‘ t dig."Harry glanced back at the tunnel."What else do you have down there ? I thought I killed everyone you had."

"You did."Rookwood sneered."But that doesn ‘ t topic. In fact, none of that thing. Now be quiet."Rookwood flicked his verge, making a still charm. A second flick levitated him off the floor. Rookwood reached into his pocket and pulled out a long silvery duration of fabric, easily recognizable. An invisibility cloak. He just hung there in the air as the cloak was thrown over him. He really couldn't have done anything else. Rookwood turned and walked up the tunnel, his black-market brake shoe slipping on the wet dirt.

The one who used to be Harry was dragged along afterwards, floating in the air. He couldn't move ... speak ... he was a shade. Right now his office fit him like a glove. He hung weakly as Rookwood moved further towards the scratching, digging sound. The dementors followed after, filling the tunnel with cold. Up ahead there was a turning. As Rookwood walked calmly around the bend figures came into scene. One dark cloaked figure standing tall, the rest ragged and deplume and scrabbling at the grease mindlessly. No, it wasn't just their clothes that were ragged. It was their flesh.

Inferi, or zombi. Who could tell the deviation ? The figure in front of them turned as Rookwood approached. Dark long hair spun out as Bellatrix stepped towards Rookwood.

"You are late Augustus."The female person end eater was not as pretty as she had been. It seemed like a sword toed boot with the force of a falling teenager behind it did more terms than expected. The left incline of her face was crushed in, a mass of scars and bulging skin. When she spoke she slurred, only the right side of her oral cavity moving. Her eye was a raw socket, nothing left.

She had lost her eye. How wonderful. How very poignant. Under the cloak the invisible prisoner felt his emptiness filled with a tiny spark of satisfaction.

"hello Bella."Rookwood stopped, his hand flickering to his wand."Shouldn ‘ t you be in your own tunnel ? That was the plan was it not ? Forneus in one, myself-"

"I know the plan."Bellatrix snapped."Do you Augustus ? It seems to me that you are the one who doesn't know the architectural plan. I came here to see why you were late. Why were you late ?"

"I was delayed momentarily, nothing to fear you."Rookwood waved his script away."You should go to your own tunnel. Without someone there the haggling them the dementors may be getting restless."

"I want the true statement of this."Bellatrix held out an accusing finger.

"You will not get it."Rookwood dropped his curt conduct and snapped at her."Get to your own tunnel. We take down the ministry tonight, there can be no misunderstanding because one of us is trying to separate themselves out from the crowd."

"There is no crowd anymore."Bellatrix sneered through her ruined face."There are three of us. There will be more than enough glory to go around."Bellatrix turned and dissaperated into thin air.

"lying bitch."Rookwood grated."We all want to be the dark overlord ‘ s right paw. Stop excavation you freaks !"He directed the live on one to the fauna burrowing in the dirt. They stopped moving and stood, their vacant eyes rotting in their skulls. Rookwood raised his wand and the dirt began flying away faster. In a dead moment the scandal became a brick wall, old and faded. The wall of the ministry.

"Are you ready Mr Potter ?"Rookwood grinned up at the invisible prisoner hanging above him."Here we go."He turned to the rampart and raised his wand. There was a shatter flack and the wall caved in. Behind it a man at a desk jumped to his base his hand tangling in his gown. A Green River flash of light struck him in the head, he dropped onto the desk, scattering papers.

"Go."Rookwood pointed. The dememtors flew past him, the inferi lumbering along between them. There were a few present moment of silence, then the screech started.
*


"Dumbledore !"Helen Wills yelled as he thumped down the corridor at Hogwarts, moving his old bones as fast as they could."Dumbledore get your senile arse down here !"

"Moody ?"Albus appeared around the turning point, his face a mask of concern."You were on safety device tariff. What are you doing here ?"

"Didn ‘ t you listen to me ?"Moody threw his manus back the way he'd seminal fluid."The ministry ‘ s falling ! Enough dementors to paint the sky black !"

"Why didn ‘ t you send a patronus ?"

"Didn ‘ t you hear what I just said ! Every inch of that billet is replete of the soul sucking demon ! No patronus could cut through that !"

"My god, we must help them !"

"Oh really ? You think so ?"Helen Wills saw his spittle fly.

"We must go now."Dumbledore pushed past him, dashing to the door."We can get back the ministry, all of us can."

"But there could be a trap !"Moody tried to keep up, his breath catching in his chest."You can ‘ t go in there blind you can ‘ t just ... we don ‘ t even have it away where Voldemort is !"Dumbledore was speeding away."We need a architectural plan ! Do you have a program you old bast-"But Dumbledore was gone, already around the corner. Moody doubled over, he was old, too old. But god he wasn't done yet, he wasn't ... done. What the hellhole was Dumbledore mentation ? He could get them all killed ! The entire decree. The integral bloody order in one fell swoop, and what the hell could he do to kibosh it ? He felt so old ...

But not yet done.

He straightened and staggered down the hall. Faster. Faster. He found the threshold he wanted and threw it open.

"Severus !"Helen Wills Moody shouted towards the startled professor."The order needs your assistance !"

"The Holy Order ?"Snape stood, his handwriting flavorless on the table. Zhao was beside him in a moment."I am not a member of the order any-"

"The ministry is compromised !"Dwight Lyman Moody saw his give-and-take cut Snape."Dementors in More numbers than ever before."

"And you want all the help you can get ?"Snape sneered."The order of magnitude had done me no party favor lately."

"Severus,"Natalie Zhao spoke calmly, despite the situation."Look at him, something else is going on."

"smart girl."Moody shook his caput."Dumbledore is heading for the ministry, by now he ‘ s trailing half the parliamentary procedure. He ‘ s going in without any eyes, without anything. It is a trap, or could be. Even if it ‘ s not he ‘ s still going to lose half the ordering. He ‘ s ... he ‘ s reckless. He ‘ s stuck in the old war. He ‘ s everything you said he was. But if we let this befall ..."

"I know."Snape's center flickered with panic."We need to help them. We need to help the order."

"That ‘ s why I ‘ m here Snape."Moody was gritting his teeth. Every instant was wasted."But I don ‘ t know what ... there are only three of us."

"Four."Snape muttered under his breath."There are four of us. Natalie, would you get Michelson. Meet us at the ministry back entrance."

"Even four can ‘ t cover this."Moody growled as the unspeakable dashed from the room."You know that."

"I know. I know well ..."Snape pulled a robe off the backbone of a electric chair."We need an army."

"Do you know where to chance one ?"

"I do."Snape closed his eyes,"I do."
*


Rookwood stepped over a dead body. It's eyes were still open, it's mouth moving vacantly. The dementor's kiss, it left them living, but they were bodies nonetheless. Rookwood paid them no mind.

"Welcome Mr Potter, to the Department of Mysteries."Rookwood pulled the cloak off his floating prisoner. Harry Potter. His prisoner was just hanging there dumbly. Well ... he couldn't really do any unlike. Rookwood let Harry down to the floor and canceled the silencing spell."Well Mr thrower ? You have anything to say ?"

"What are you doing with me ?"Potter's part was a little cavalry from the long secretiveness."You ‘ re trying to earn head with your lord, isn ‘ t capturing me enough ?"

"More than plenty Harry. to a greater extent than enough."Rookwood tweaked his scepter and the Julian Bond on Harry's legs snapped off. Another detent and Harry stumbled forward."But I am after the icing on the cake. If I am to surpass Crouch in terminus of merit to the lord ... I must essay the icing."

"That ‘ s the stupidest thing I ‘ ve ever heard."Harry said dully.

"Well I didn ‘ t ask you."Rookwood hurried forward through the ministry, he had to retard down a import later though as Harry shuffled along behind him."rush up !"

"My infantry are asleep. Your roofy were too tight."

"Just move."Rookwood walked back and grabbed Harry by the front of his shirt. The dementors were still swirling by the ceiling, looking for victim. There were still a few left. Not enough to hassle over though. He stepped into out into the memory spot, pulling his strangely compliant charge past the cooler of mind. He stopped by the threshold to the decease chamber, there was the sound of spell from within, someone holding out perhaps. He pushed the door open in time to see a sensation scrambling away from an inferi trip and fall. The corpse-warrior grabbed the blubbering indescribable in it's watertight hairgrip and threw him away with insensate strength. shriek as he flew across the elbow room, his scream was cut off as he fell through the archway in the center. The mantle ruffled for a bit, then went still again.

Rookwood hid a shudder, he was never entirely well-to-do with the implementation vena portae. Harry watched from his side with muffled center. What was legal injury with the boy ? Never mind. Rookwood picked his way around the edge of the elbow room, giving the inferi a all-inclusive birth, and pushed open the door at the other side.

"Well ceramicist here we are."Rookwood gestured impressively at the banks of shelf in front of them, each one with dustup upon dustup of lilliputian spheres."This is the hall of prophecy."

"These are prophecies ?"Harry sniffed disbelievingly as Rookwood dragged him along the telephone circuit of ledge."They look like snow-globes."

"They are phonograph recording of prophecies, and they are the reason we are here."Rookwood glanced down at the boy he was dragging along."Did you know there was a prognostication made about you ?"

Harry didn't response, but he sniffed again, his rima oris twisting into a sneer.

"I assume that was a yes."Rookwood glanced up at the number on the shelf, yes this was it."The divination concerned you and the darkness lord, you know that too ?"

Once again the boy stayed silent. Rookwood poked him in the dorsum to set him walking up to where the prophecy was held.

"The dark master is very eager to get his hands on the prophecy. That prophecy."Rookwood pointed at the fussy orb."And I will be the one to impart it to him. My frosting, you could say."

"What do you want me for ?"ceramicist was staring at the orb with barely contained hatred. What was going on ? ... Never mind, it wasn't important.

"Shall I tell you something about the prophecies of the department of mysteries ? They are keyed, protected. Only certain people can wind them from where they lie. Namely the people they have been made about. So the just hoi polloi who can take this prophecy are the dingy lord, and you. ``

Potter stared at the orb for a moment longer, the words sinking into him. Then he threw his head back and laughed, laughed so knockout his eyes ran with crying. It was a response Rookwood had not expected. Laughter, but not in jape, not in joy. This was a bitter laugh, wide-cut of darkness. What was going on ?

'' So that 's it is it ? '' Harry choked out, his dead eyes still glistening."What a bitter joke"

"What ?"Rookwood shook his head.

"And if someone else grabs one ?"Harry reached out his hand."What happens then ?"

"If they are very prosperous they might escape with only major injuries."Rookwood answered confusedly."But in all likelihood ? They would die. Screaming."

"Really ?"The ceramist boy's script hovered over the swirling shabu."To hell with it."His fingerbreadth closed around the orb.
*


Minerva screamed as she threw her patronus against the grew wall before her, knowing it was too late. The dementors scattered but a lifeless torso fell from their clutches. An auror. Subjected to the kiss.

Minerva shuddered, she only hoped it had been quick. She spun as cold manus grabbed her from behind, crushing her with inhuman enduringness. The breath fled from her lungs and she felt roast cranny. In desperation she transformed and dashed away on four pes, spinning and changing back to plant a fireball in the dresser of the inferi that had held her. As soon as it was gone another took it's place.

They were overrun, there were too many !

"Help me ! Oh god assistant me !"A frame ran from out of the madness, his jet derby hat still clutched in his paw."Please !"

"Get out of here you fool !"McGonagall shoved Fudge away. She could not carry on with him. Her eyes searched through the scrambling mint for the head of the order."Dumbledore ! Dumbledore we must pull back !"

She could not see him, she could not see anything. desperation was her only admonition and she spun, a shining light throwing a dementor away that had been practically on her back. She didn't even have sex where they were anymore, near the courts possibly. Down in the deeps, no escape.

She heard a shrieking from her allow for and sent a patronus wildly into the surging bunch. The riot cut off sharply. Whether she had had any issue she did not know, she had to transform again to dance out of the way of a swooping dementor and snapped back to send another shining light to maintain them back again. But her consistency was pall, her wand arm tired.

Rotting material body filled her nostrils and she tried to get her baton around. Too slowly. The dead clenched fist crunched into the side of her top dog and she fell. She brought her wand up and blew the all in figure to shards, blood already dripping into her eyes. They needed help, and there was no one to give it.

No one.
*


The orb came detached in Potter's hand, it's syncope radiance shining through his fingertips. Rookwood felt his essence saltation, but the Potter boy was staring at the divination like it was a dwell snake.

"Good, practiced. Now give it to me !"Rookwood demanded, but the boy didn't move.

"Not possible."Harry shook his head."Saw the body ..."The body ? He wasn't making any sense.

"Just return me the blinking orb !"Rookwood made to grab it but thrower slipped away.

"It ‘ s not ... It ‘ s not ... Can ‘ t."Suddenly the white light faltered. A tinny whine filled the air, like grinding gear wheel. Harry held up his hand, slowly uncurling his fingers. In the midsection of the blanched a midget spike of darkness was growing, like ink in Milk River. The total darkness grew until it covered the unscathed inside of the orb, it was no long shining glass but a urbane orb of obsidian. The whine grew in the air, biting into his pinna. Suddenly there was a fizzing crackle china and Potter yelped in pain, spilling the prophecy onto the level. Rookwood cried out, it would break for sure as shooting ! But when the orb struck the ground it squelched, spreading out like clay. Smoke rose from the blackened glass.

Rookwood tend forwards and held his mitt out over it. The heat was unbearable this finish and he had to shy back. The divination had melted. Melted into a steaming pool on the floor.

The Potter boy ... he did this !

"What did you do ?"Rookwood snarled. Potter backed away, his hands held up.

"Not me, Dumbledore. He must have switched them."

"Dumbledore could not have touched the vaticination !"

"He could if it was already played out."ceramist glanced at the muck on the level."A maw, or else his illusions on me interfered somehow."

"You speak madness."Rookwood reached out to snaffle the boy but just as he did so the ground shook, throwing them both off their feet."What the hell is that ?"

"He ‘ s come."The Potter boy was staring through the roof like a madman, his face again an empty masque of horror."He ‘ s come."
*


Suddenly the dementors went still, floating off their enemies to hover by the ceiling. The silence broken only be the groaning of the wounded. Minerva 's oculus found the ingress to the rhytidectomy, it 's operate porta in a grating crash. Stepping out into the corridor, black gown floating behind him and a paw curled in a wave to the creatures swirling above, was the colored lord himself. Minerva felt her spirit start to her pharynx. She glanced around, the parliamentary law was in tatters. Only Dumbledore stood tall, the rest of them were covered in rakehell and shaking from the elbow grease of the struggle. There was no violence here to kibosh a dark God Almighty, no personnel at all.

Voldermort's middle found a quivering chunk on the floor and he smiled. Ignoring Dumbledore the dark lord crooked a fingerbreadth, pulling the image to his feet. The park bowler was gone, but the sick flesh remained.

"Ah, Cornelius."Voldemort chuckled."Remember back when you used to receive me up to your position for tea ? Back when you were just a section head and I, just a innocent boy. Oh how far we ‘ ve come."

"Please ..."Fudge whimpered."Please don ‘ t hurt me."

"Hurt you Cornelius ? But why would I call for to ?"Voldemort gestured to the cap."Even as I speak the rest of your ministry has already been overrun. The ministry you so love is a nest of somebody sucking wraiths. Why would I need to bruise you ? I already have everything I wanted from you."

"Tom,"Dumbledore's articulation spoke out voiced in the iniquity."You can not possibly think I will let this stand ?"

"No old man, I do not."Voldemort flicked his wand towards the Headmaster. Fudge dropped to the storey and scampered away down the corridor."I think you will do as you have always done. Stand bravely in the face of the tide, and be swept under."

"Tom I shall-"

"No !"Voldemort cut the Headmaster off with a sharp word."I have grown tired of you."Voldemort raised his hand and the Dementors fell like hunting hawks. Minerva was forced to crusade for her life sentence against the Charles Grey hoard, spinning around her like a vortex of death. And in flashgun of light beyond that vortex she could see Dumbledore rushing towards his foe, his verge out like a sword.

Minerva tried to cut her way forward. Tried to get to them, to facilitate. But the crush was too heavy. An inferi had her arm in it's vice like grip and she blew it off with flames. Another took it's place too quickly. Far too quickly. There was a gout of purple twinkle that cut through the air, momentarily beating back the dementors. Through the gap she could see the dueling wizards in the shopping center of all this, Dumbledore raising the very Harlan Fisk Stone of the floor in a wall against the dark noble, but it was blasted to shreds just as quickly. Dumbledore was driven to his knees.

Minerva dashed towards him but the greyness masses closed between them. She cast another patronus before her but it was absorbed almost immediately. She felt an arm grip hers and spun to burn it off before she recognized the face.

"Remus !"She moved back to back with the werewolf, spinning her patronus into a circle around them."We need to get to them !"

"It is too later for that !"He shouted back.

"Then what do you purport !"

"We die."lupin delivered that close in a apartment growl."We are finished."

"We are not !"Minerva tried to throw another patronus but the despair was sinking in and it faltered as white mist, easily brushed aside by the wraiths. Suddenly there was a burst of tearing randomness, breaking the flag and making the sleeping accommodation handshaking with it's effect. As it died there a flash of red Christ Within and a high cruel laugh.

"That is the undecomposed you could do ?"The voice of Voldemort was evident."I win old man."

The dementors parted for a moment, like cloud in wind. The wickedness lord stood over the straggle form of the schoolmaster, his boot on Dumbeldore's neck. Minerva felt despair that had nothing to do with the dementors. She let her wand hand fall to her slope. They had lost. It was all over.

"Expecto Patronum !"A chorus of substantial voices cried the charm and the room was filled with a wall of spark. Minerva watched as a charging ashen Panthera leo crashed into the massed forms before her, a snarling wolf running at it's heels.

"You ! betrayer !"Voldemort had his wand drawn and had spun to present the ski lift. Minerva turned to look but saw just one figure standing there, his arms crossed in arrogant casualness.

"pace away from the Headmaster."Snape had his sceptre drawn and flicked it down towards the night lord."I have not seen eye to eye with him of late but it would be a pathos if he died."

"I will kill you !"Voldemort surged forward and Snape's wand stabbed forward. There was a fanfare of light and Snape was thrown backwards. He stumbled and pushed himself up, driving a wolf blast of frozen current of air at the dark lord.

Minerva dashed forward to help him but once again found a hand gripping her arm.

"Minerva !"A head appeared out of nowhere as a cloak was thrown back. Natalie Zhao ? What in pigeon hawk's public figure ?"Minerva the bookman can ‘ t hold back them back forever and sooner or later Voldemort ‘ s going to wonder where those other patronus came from."

"The bookman ?"

"The marauders."Natalie snapped."Now come on !"

"But Snape-"

"Is holding him back !"The unnameable grabbed a prone figure on the floor."Now tell your people to come back before everyone else is dead !"
*


The boy who had been Harry didn't know where he was. There had been a mad dah away from Rookwood, screaming and dashing through the disarray of battle, then there had been some steps, then a corridor ... The phone of fight were everywhere, coming out of the walls. He had just kept running., unable to do anything else. His tenderness raced beyond what any human travail should have forced it to. His mind was white, a utterly weight. Today had been a lifetime.

The shattering noise of a turn exploded from the left and he dashed away like a rat. He had to get out.

"Come on dance with me you mangled bitch !"Albert Abraham Michelson came into view down a long hallway, throwing bolt of lightning of lightning at Bellatrix and laughing like a madman.

He had to get out. He dashed into a staircase and almost tripped over a physical structure on the floor. Pink hair, auror ‘ s robes. Oh no ...

He crouched down on the floor, his digit going to Tonk's neck on inherent aptitude. He did not really ask to notice anything, her tegument was pale and ...

She had a pulse.

The unknown boy had to shield her body as a shining laser of something cut through the wall above them. The duel was raging just on the other side of the paries. She wouldn't have a pulse for long if he left her here.

So long ... His brain was grey-haired goop, he just wanted to shut down. He had no verge and his muscles were water. They would never contact safety device anyway, this position was a warzone. But on the early handwriting ... Tonks.

Putting a tired shoulder under her arm, he lifted her up.



revaluation and you will turn fagot annex that will let you fly.


Due to other commitments my postings may get a trivial further apart for a while. Sorry everybody.



Snape let himself down tiredly on the edge of the spring of magical brethren. Every bone ached and his arm was tied up to his body in a triangular bandage. There was no time for healing yet though, no time at all.

"Stay back. !"Natalie was shouting calmly ( a tough combination to master ), raising her manus to the crowd of ministry subsister."Just hitch there and the healers will get to you ! And you get out of here !"The in conclusion was directed to a daily prophet newsperson furiously scratching away at a notebook.

The former side of meat of the hall, back behind the fireplaces, a parentage of beds were set up for triage. From where he sat Snape could see Elizabeth Heathland lying sedated, her hand clutched by her unceasing companion genus Vanessa. She would be alright though, a little cold and smooth for weeks to issue forth and likely not ever wanting to encounter a dementor again but she would be. Oh to have just one of them back in his planetary house, or any of the piranha. They had fought like LTTE, like assault dogs with wands.

One of the doors slammed open and Markus stepped out angrily. His robe were mostly burnt off and he had pedigree running down the side of his chest but he seemed incognizant of these piddling details.

"She got away."The massive hotshot reached the sharpness of the fountain and plunged his head word under the surface. A moment later he lifted it up and fight his wet haircloth out of his eyes."Bellatrix."

"The piranha told me you had gone after her."

"She reached one of their bloody tunnels."Markus grated."Fought her all the way down it but when she got beyond the Mrs. Humphrey Ward she disapparated."

"Then she is out of the fighting at least."Snape nodded, he would conduct any triumph he could get."Forneus is in detention and Rookwood is numbered among the dead."

"So I'm the but one who missed his mark."Markus shook spray of water out of his hair."Sorry mate."

"Bella has more life sentence than a cat, do not think any more than of it."

"You say that but ... I 'm not used to failing, never done it before. '' Marcus shed his break robe and dumped it carelessly on the floor before glancing around at the disarray. `` What ‘ s happening here ? Did we get everybody out ?"

"We have taken back near of the ministry. I believe all of the marauders deserve Os"

'' They deserve bloody medals ! ``

'' Yes but I can not hold them medals. You however can generate them Os. '' Snape smiled a fain smiling and saw it returned across-the-board. He gestured towards the lift with his honest arm."Voldemort holds the section of Mysteries. Or to put it another way he is trapped there. He has placed a cellblock on the lift and on all staircases."

"I can infract through."A. A. Michelson nodded arrogantly. `` move over me five minutes. ``

"I doubt that you could do it in five or five hundred."Snape shook his head."I know that ward. There is only one way to get through it, and that is with a black score on your arm."

"fountainhead then you can-"Michelson cut off as Snape pulled up his sleeve to break the newly cut skin."Oh."

"Yes, and it ‘ s defective than that."Snape bowed his head."He has hostages down there, order fellow member and unspeakables who survived."

"How many ?"

"Ten, we think."Snape glanced up to see Markus'eyes."Including lupin ... and Dumbledore."

"Mother of god."Albert Michelson slammed his fist into his decoration."So it ‘ s a impasse ?"

"For now, until he makes his move. He can not wait forever."Snape felt a little shudder run through him. Whatever the dark lord's move would be it would be the demise of at least some of those hostage. Probably all.

'' What the ... '' Suddenly Michelson was on his feet, an expression of cushion on his face. `` Merlin 's ... Harry ? ``

A bit later Snape saw what he had seen. Out of a passageway Harry was stumbling, a prone body weighing him down and his typeface a Lady Jane Grey mask. He did n't look up, did n't know anything, just stepped directly to the nearest bed and lay his burden down bedside a aghast therapist. Snape rushed forward and saw marauders stand in every corner of the room, running towards the unexpected sight of their leader.

'' Harry. '' genus Draco came to a stop just in battlefront Harry. `` Harry what are you doing he- ''

'' Tonks is hurt. '' Harry broke in. `` You should try to look after her, she 's your cousin. ``

'' Harry are you fine ? '' Hermione reached out to touch him but he flinched away. `` What is it Harry ? ``

'' I 'm fine. '' Harry was almost curling up under their stares, hugging his arms close to his chest.

'' Are you hurt ? '' Padma asked. `` The healers could loo- ''

'' I said I 'm alright. Just ... go away. ``

'' How did you get out of the hospital ? ``

'' Where 's your verge ? ``

'' Shut up. ``

'' How did you get to the ministry ? ``

'' I SAID SHUT UP ! '' Harry yelled angrily. As the marauders shied back there was a clap of oestrus from behind them. Snape spun around in time to see the outflow of magic comrade go red hot and commence melting, dissolving into the water with a bird. But the amber was not disappearing, it was staying there in the urine, mixing with the piddle. Harry forgotten, Snape stepped forward as the surviving order extremity, ministry actor and marauders surrounded the puddle of gold.

It was like a mirror, shining with yellow brightness up to the ceiling. As they watched it faded to silver, then to grey, then finally to pure whitened. The white resolved into shapes, colours bloomed out of the pure light. As the shapes coalesced Snape heard a shriek from someone on the former side of the pool and almost felt like following suit.

In the pool, rippling on the open of the liquid, was an paradigm of lord Voldemort. He was standing in what was clearly the department of mysteries. The wand in his hand was long and pale, it was not the one Snape was used to seeing him use. It was unmistakably Dumbledore 's sceptre. Behind the darkness lord, lined up and chained together, were ten whiz. Though the picture was faded and the colours ran together Snape could easily recognize the two on the end. Cornelius Fudge and Albus Dumbledore.

The Voldemort simulacrum turned towards them and spoke, his vocalisation sounding cryptic and echoic like it was coming from the bottom of a well.

'' Good wizards of the ministry, '' The wickedness lord greeted amicably. `` Members of the Order of the phoenix and the full fry. What you are seeing is the interior of the department of mysteries, where all the greatest secret are hidden. All the deepest magic of the ministry is within these walls, all controlled by me. ``

'' He 's lying. '' Natalie assured the panicking wizards around her. `` There 's cipher down there he could use. ``

'' And look at my booster here, '' Voldemort gestured out over his prisoner. `` They all fought. They all failed, such is the monetary value of defying lord Voldemort. '' He took a package of wands out of his air pocket and hovered it into the air. With a gout of flame they burnt into ash. `` Such is the cost ... And front who we have here ... '' Voldemort crooked a finger and Fudge was dragged forward, his bonds separating from the others. He came to a diaphragm by the dark lord 's understructure and looked up with pained eyes.

'' Are you going to ... to stamp out me ? '' Fudge stuttered out.

'' Yes. '' Voldemort answered simply.

'' But but ... I. ``

'' I am going to drink down you you deplorable little man, whatever you say. ``

'' Then ... then. '' Fudge seemed to breath a little comfortable. `` Do you remember when I used to invite you up for tea ? Back when I was ... I was a department hear and you were ... you were new. ``

'' Yes ? ``

'' wellspring I spat in your tea. '' Fudge shuddered out through gritted teeth. `` Every time. Even back then you were a creepy-crawly little freak. ``

'' You ... '' Voldemort seemed to grow in menace, his eyes blazing. `` Why do you state me this ? Surely you know it is pointless ! ``

'' My ... my lamb boy. '' Fudge stuttered, his eyes still to the storey. `` rebelliousness ... is never p ... p ... pointless. ``

'' Avada Kedavra ! ``

Green lighter filled the pool of water and for a moment none of them could see anything. Snape felt his heart beating rapidly in his chest of drawers. The short cleared in clip for them too see the dark Jehovah savagely kicking the government minister 's consistency to the incline and stabbing his verge towards Dumbledore. The schoolmaster was thrown forward roughly.

Snape swallowed worriedly. The shadow God Almighty was showing them this to establish his world power but Fudge had openly defied him. Voldemort would be enraged.

'' Well old man ! '' Voldemort stabbed his wand down at Dumbledore, a bolt of electricity charring a hollow in the schoolmaster 's robes. `` Do you not have something to say ? Some last word before I take your life. ``

Dumbledore just stayed silent. It was only from the short rise and fall of his chest that Snape could secernate he was still alive.

'' Speak Albus ! ... Crucio ! '' Voldemort held the headmaster in the cam stroke of the torture bane for a few moments before releasing him. `` You will verbalize ! There has been too often between us, you have been my foe for too foresightful for me to let you end it this way. You will recognize that I have won, you will say it ! You will notice this victory in some way before I kill you with your own wand ! ``

Dumbledore did n't even front at the dark lord. In a cult Voldemort slashed his scepter through the air, dragging Dumbledore to his feet.

'' You will speak ! '' The snake like face was set with cruel anger. `` You will address before you die ! ``

'' I ... '' Dumbledore wet his sassing and tried again. `` I am ready to die. ``

'' What ? ``

'' I am ready ... '' Dumbledore closed his heart. `` I am ready to die for everything I have done. Those are my final watchword, the only when unity you will get. Kill me. ``

'' You ... Cruci ... '' Voldemort raised his wand to form the condemnation but let it die on his lips. Snape could almost see him dragging his emotions back under control. `` But of track, how could I deny a utmost petition. Avada Kedavra ! ``

It was as if metre froze. The pool exploded with greenness light again and Snape's throat closed, every muscle tensing. The former watchers around the kitty held their hands to their faces, or rock there nous ... they would not believe it. The green light faded and the body of Albus Dumbledore dropped to the ground. It crumpled like a paper napkin, his byssus trailing onto the storey like a rag.

So fell Albus Dumbledore. Snape felt a small hand louse into his. Natalie 's hand. He did n't know whether she was offering comfort or asking for it. Perhaps both.

'' Here dies Albus Dumbledore. '' Voldemort laughed. `` A fool to the end, and in the end a disappointment. So there you are, two hostage dead. I have eight left and all will die if you do not apply me what I want. I want Harry Potter. Bring him to me in one half-hour or I will kill another, perhaps the lycanthrope. I am sure no one will miss him. But if any of you wish to see these hotshot alive, then you know what you must do. land. Me. Harry. Potter ! ``

The pool went black and Snape stepped back. All around him citizenry seemed to be going mad, crying and shouting to one another in confusion. His eyes were only trying to feel one shape. Harry Potter. He swept the crew. Nothing.

Snape turned to the entrance in time to see the threshold snap shut.
*


The nameless boy crashed out of the phone box and dashed away, his feet slipping on the wet sidewalk. Rain splattered against his face as he ran out into the streets. He did n't even know why he was running, just that he had to get away. All of them would bet to him, would look at him and require to see Harry Potter. Expect to see their savior, when all there was was a dupery. He dashed past the people in the street, some of them turning to look at his odd clothing and panic-stricken manifestation, but he was running too fast and they were left behind.

He heedlessly ran into the road and heard the screech of breaks. He prayed that one of the elevator car would hit him. His groundwork would not hold back moving and the sound of trump was left behind. His conjuring trick eye painted the world in shimmering curtains of shadow, distorted by the raindrops settling on it 's surface. He pushed past a man in a suit and heard the man yell. He could n't stop running. Had to get away. But what he was running from could not be escaped. He was running from reality. The rain ran like a river. Roaring like the river.

Finally, with his heart beating like a jack-hammer, he collapsed on the frigidity, wet pavement. He lay there, his feet still twitching, and breathed. He had collapsed in an alleyway, night and dirty. Wait ...

He turned to lie on his back as his magic eye swivelled around, taking in every contingent. He had been here before ... This was the alley where it all started, where Hagrid had caught him so many twelvemonth ago. There was the drainpipe he had climbed ... the roof he had hid ... He had come a wide circle, entirely.

Heedless of the driving rainfall he opened his mouth and laughed. Laughed in pure jaundice. If only he had never stopped here, had never been caught, had never gone to Hogwarts. Then he would never take in known, would never have known any of this. He would receive been able-bodied to observe on being Harry thrower. He felt tears running down his nerve and mingling with the pelting, freezing him to the bone.

But there was lovingness. A little distributor point of heat at his dresser. He dug his manus into his shirt and slowly drew it out.

His pendent. Pythea's pendent. Worn so long he had almost forgotten it was there. But now it was glowing like a star, so bright beneath the grayness sky. He knelt and held it cupped in both hands, staring at it in wonder as a silverish mist swirled out from the point. It pooled in his hands, swirling and sifting. Slowly the scintillation liquid rose, shaped and colored and separated until two ball hung in the air by his hands. One of burnished atomic number 79, the former pure white.

'' Harry ... ''

The tweed orb shifted, moved and expanded. It shaped into a name, every bend glowing with lightness, every flowing argument of her vestal white clothes and her porcelain skin.

'' Thea ... '' He breathed.

'' Harry I wish I could have come sooner. '' Thea stepped forward and encased his deal in hers.

'' Another illusion- ''

'' No. '' Pythea shook her head. `` This is no illusion. This is really me talking, from Greece. I thought you might need my help. ``

'' Your ... avail ? ``

'' You 're lost. Lost in the woods. '' Theia smiled faintly. The halcyon orb was still circling her, pulsing faintly. `` And I am the oracle. I thought you might involve a guide out. That was why I gave you this all those class ago, to help you find your way. In your darkest hr. You need to happen your way again Harry, or else were all doomed. ``

'' Thea, '' The boy ducked his head, his oculus squeezing shut. `` I 'm not who you think I am. I 'm not the one you were trying to avail, not the Chosen one. I 'm not- ''

'' I know who you are. '' Pythea said simply.

'' You ... you do ? But then why ? ``

'' Harry did you think I was helping you all these twelvemonth because you were the chosen one ? '' Theia laughed lightly, her crystal voice filling the nothingness between the building with joy. `` I was n't helping you because you were Harry thrower I was helping you because you were you. ``

'' Do n't call me that. Do n't call me Harry. ``

'' It 's your name if you want it to be. Or opt another name. '' Pythea smiled. `` When I first met you you were calling yourself manual laborer. ``

'' Stop. '' Too painful. computer storage of pleasant time,

'' I will not stop. I will never stop trying to help you. I knew the moment I met you that you were n't the Chosen one. I mean please Harry, I 'm the schoolmistress of prophecy. Did you honestly think for a moment that I would omit a matter like that ? I saw who you were. I also saw that, in a cosmos without Bob Hope, you were the only polishing chance. ``

'' You ... you saw something about me ? My future ? ``

'' I saw nothing about your future. I saw everything about you. '' Pythea knelt to play him eye to eye. `` I saw you a brave and reliable soulfulness who would fight for this worldly concern even if the entire Earth was against him. I saw someone who could get struck down a thousand multiplication and would still pick himself up. I saw that the darkness lord would rise and I hoped ... I did n't know but I hoped that you would never buckle before him. With the world in peril and the hereafter uncertain I took the in force chance the humanity had. I took a opportunity on you. In a time of thoroughgoing despair, I trusted you. ``

'' But, I ca n't fight anymore. '' The boy dropped his eye. `` I just ... I just feel empty. You do n't know what it 's like to have someone take the air up to you and abduct your entire life, everything you believe, right out from under you. ``

'' I do. '' Pythea replied simply.

"Really ?"Harry swallowed."Wh ... what did you do ?"

"I gave him a necklace."Pythea smiled. `` But I do n't expect you to assume what you have to do from me, which is why I brought him. '' Pythea gestured up to the golden sphere. `` You've carried this necklace close to your philia for almost four class now. I think it's metre you saw what's inside. Do n't die Harry, please do n't die. I 'll see you soon. '' She faded into nothing, leaving just the golden orb left. As soon as she was gone it began stretching and shaping.

'' Um what do I do ? '' An changeable voice came from the growing cloud of mist. `` I just speak into it ? ``

The shape resolved into a physique. His prospicient robes were buttoned tightly and long arms, rolled up now to designate his weaponry. Those robes were conversant. Tonks had worn them final stage year, auror trainee robes. The face remained stuporous for a moment more then coalesced, becoming a firm model in halcyon spark, right down to the live tousled hair.

The boy who had been Harry 's back talk fell clear in daze. He was looking up into his own human face. No ... no there were differences. The jaw was more channelize, card sharp, the eyes closer together. He did n't have a scar on his neck, nor a sour mark on his arm. He looked older too, at least two years if he was an aurors apprentice. God ... was it potential ? Was this ... Harry ceramicist ?

'' I do n't quite understand this. '' The ghostly favorable figure said. `` Your friend, Pythea, she says that you 're in a different worldly concern or ... or dimension or something. A different meter too. I do n't quiet understand it, postulate Hermione for that sort of thing. ``

'' So do I ... '' A croak whisper. Disbelief.

'' Your friend says I wo n't remember recording this, wo n't remember any of it. '' The figure was just staring into space as it spoke. Apparently this one was a dead on target recording. `` But if ... if I understand what she 's explained to me then your earth is very different from mine. For one thing ... I 'm not in it. I died. ``

The gold Harry glanced to the storey, shaking his head.

'' I wish I knew why but ... your booster wo n't tell me. Something about lessening the interference as much as potential. There are former matter I wish I could tell you, affair you really should experience about- '' The transcription skewed like static for a moment then continued. `` But apparently I 'm not allowed to say them either. All she 's severalize me is that you, you were told you were me. Until very recently you thought you were me ... or will. The time thing is really confusing me. I 'm recording this in my futurity, to be given to you in your past, to wreak in your salute. Apparently Pythea thinks that maybe I can say something to you .... maybe explain ... I do n't know. I do n't know what I 'm saying. I ca n't imagine what you 're going through. It 's like ... It 's like you 're an orphan all over again. Except this time it 's worse because you know you had a past it 's just been taken. I know you must find like crawling into a muddle and dying, I 've felt like that. When my godfather died I ... but that 's not the same really. I do n't know what I 'm saying. ``

The ghostly shape began pacing up and down.

'' I do n't get laid what I 'm speculate to say to you. '' The Harry stopped pacing and broadcast his hands. `` Except that, that it gets better. I 've been through things as bad as you, and I 'm probably the only person you 'll ever meet that can say that. Your supporter says that, since I 'm dead in your world, the job of fighting Voldemort falls to you. I ca n't say it'going to be easy, but you know that. In fact I ca n't call back of anything that I could say to persuade you to strike the job. Except that you have to. The world depends on it. And I know that the world has n't done you any favors. Maybe right now you feel like you 'd rather let the creation be destroyed for everything it 's done to you. I do n't make love what I can say to convince you that 's not dependable except for two matter. One, it gets better. It really, really does. Eventually. And two ... ''

The shadow name licked it 's lips.

'' Do you bed how many regulations are broken by this variety of inter-dimensional transportation system ? Certain countries still have the death punishment for messing around in analog earthly concern. Just getting here, the effort it must have taken. The risk of exposure your champion has taken just to get this message to you .... I guess what I 'm saying is that even if the stallion residuum of the world is hell right now you 've got one somebody who 's uncoerced to risk everything for you. put on the line her sprightliness. So if aught else ... scrap for her. ``

The figure faded. It 's eyes lasted the long, staring out into the rain, then they too were gone and the alley was darkness again. The boy on the ground stood, slowly and with care, but he stood.

'' Wow ... '' He said softly. `` What a dork. ``

He chuckled to himself, the laughter building. His hands went to his stomach as he threw his straits back and laughed, the pelting trickling down his cheek. That was Harry ceramist was it ? Git. I mean who talks like that ? screw him. Screw the overly dramatic, hesitating bastard. If that childish gimboid can save the worldly concern I sure as inferno can.

He pushed his rain soaked hair out of his eyes. It was like the emptiness was, somehow secernate. It was still there, the gaping vacuum, it was just that all the important portion of him, the things that made him who he was, were outside it. He settled the little shell necklace back around his neck. Just a scale now, it's conjuring trick gone. But not wearing it was unthinkable. It was part of him, the actual him, and he needed it back. Especially since he intended to break up the freehanded fight of his life.

He needed a programme though .... and if he was going to survive a engagement with the sterling shadow whiz in the world it would need to be a bloody good plan. Or a bloody insane one. Let's see, he had no vantage. Voldemort held all the cards. Voldemort could kill him without thinking. And Voldemort had hostage. On the former handwriting Voldemort was alone, he had no death eaters, no nighttime creatures, no servants.

Whatever programme he came up with it would come down to just the two of them. A fair fighting. Which he would lose.

So make believe it an unfair fight.

His lips curled into a grinning. There it was, there was the idea. A Harry thrower plan.

Smiling, he walked out of the back street. He picked up his pace and he reached the street, how much of his one-half hour was gone ? He had lost all caterpillar track of time. He broke into a run. He knew he should go faster but he would help oneself no one if he was to jade to fight. It seemed an age until the phone box came into view, sticking up out of the street. Harry got in, then pressed the code on the receiver.

"Welcome to the ministry of magic. Please DoS your public figure and business."The speech sound said flatly.

"Harry Potter."Said Harry smiling."I ‘ m here to make unnecessary the world."

The political machine apparently took him a little too literally as ...
Harry ceramist
Messiah


... Clattered into the hopper. Harry didn't bother to pick it up. If he didn't know who he was now no badge was gon na tell him. He dissilusioned himself before the door slid open again and stepped out into the ministry foyer. There was a level of organized chaos and another large level of disorganise topsy-turvydom. Harry ignored it and his magic eye picked out the marauder. The were all clustered in one place. Harry wandered over to them and quietly said,

"Don ‘ t move. Don ‘ t collapse them and sign you ‘ re hearing me. Just ejaculate over here behind that chimney where we can ‘ t be seen."

The vulture's stiffened, but to their deferred payment none of them gave the game away. Harry followed them as they slowly rose and nonchalantly wandered behind the massive fireplace. Once they were all behind Harry dropped his fancy and smiled at his friends.

"Hi bozo. I ‘ m back."

"Harry are you ..."Hermione began, then paused."Are you ... feeling better ?"

"I ‘ m sorry for yelling at you, at all of you. And yes I ‘ m ... I ‘ m better."The empty property in his chest begged to differ but he ignored it."I ‘ m feeling .... I ‘ m better."

"Harry what did Dumbledore say to-"Padma began but Harry cut her off.

"There ‘ s no prison term, how much time we got until the for the first time hostage goes ?"

"Five minutes."Draco pointed at the clock.

"good that ... that might be enough."

"You ‘ re going to fight him aren ‘ t you ?"Neville asked in a lowly voice."You ‘ re going down to agitate him."

"Yes."Harry nodded, and there was a sudden ingestion of breather from the marauder."But I have a plan ! Seriously guys, it ‘ s ok. I have a plan."

"Do you recall how badly some of your early design have gone ?"Padma asked dryly.

"Oh please, you know I blank those from my memory."Harry grinned."Anyway I need three matter. matter I need your assistant with."

"You got it Harry."Ginny went into good mode."Whatever you need."

"wellspring firstly I ‘ ll need a wand."Harry bit his lip."And I can ‘ t warrantee you ‘ ll get it back."

A forest of hands were stretched out towards him. Every single sceptre. Harry picked one at random and tried a simple magic spell. It was stuttery and syncope. No expert. He picked another and almost set his fuzz on fire. The third the spell came out right but the verge felt unearthly. The fourth ... Harry did first one magical spell then another ... then another ... they all came out perfect. His optic came up to meet Malfoy's grey ones.

"dungeon it."The Slytherin boy nodded."I can afford a new one."

"Thank you."Harry pocketed the wand."The second affair I need is healing. Just a nimble refresher. I ‘ m to fag and banged up to fight like this."

"Here."Ginny drew a bottleful out of her robe."I swiped it from the triage center. I thought you might need it if you came back."

Harry took the bottle with a grin and tipped it back into his mouth. The warm up chocolaty liquidity seemed to run out into every aching muscular tissue and bone, making him sense like he was well rested and respectable rather than at the bound of weariness.

"And thirdly we need to throw something."Harry handed the feeding bottle back."It ‘ ll be guileful but if I handle the spell and mortal else does the transfig we should be able to wangle it. Oh ! And I ‘ ve thought of a fourth thing. I ‘ ll need a distraction."
*


"Here ! Look !"Snape was shocked out of his thoughts by the vociferation. His eyes found the source in the Edward Young Weasley child, crouched down by the fountain. Ginny was furiously jabbing at the pool, waving him over. `` It 's going clear again. I can see something ! '' Snape dashed over, staring down into the inky darkness. He could see nothing.

'' Where ? '' Snape asked hurriedly.

'' There, there by the corner. ``

'' I see goose egg. ``

'' Look. ``

'' Miss Weasley there is zero there. ``

'' There was ! ``

'' There is not now- '' Snape 's eyes flickered up to fulfill those of his student. A waver of memory twitched behind those eye. He pushed ... No ! Snape spun and dashed to the elevation, but the grating was already slamming shut. Snape came crashing up against the ward. The magical barrier sparking against his skin like static. He could n't get through. Before his middle the dissilusionment fell and Harry Potter was standing there, looking back at him. Snape felt people crowding all around, murmuring, speaking, crying. All pressed up to one side of the barrier, and on the other ... just Harry.

'' Harry, please. '' Snape held his handwriting out to the bulwark of the ward. `` Do n't do this. ``

'' Eight people. '' The kid shrugged. `` Eight people or me. alternative is pretty obvious. ``

'' Foolish boy. You do n't birth to do this. ``

'' I know I do n't. '' Harry nodded, a syncope grinning on his brass. `` I 'm doing it anyway. Wish me hazard. ``

The rhytidoplasty started down. Snape held Harry 's eyes all the way till he was out of mass. Right at the end, just before he disappeared, Snape could have sworn he saw a wink.
*


The lift grating slid unfold and Harry stepped warily out into the corridor. The wreckage of battle was everywhere, outstanding gouges gone from the bulwark and doors blown off their hinges. This was n't the department of mysteries yet though. Just the courtrooms. Harry 's eye whirled wildly as he picked his way around the wreckage. The doorway to the department came into panorama, a space rectangle at the end of a long corridor. Harry could see nada beyond the door, not even with his magic eye. Some variety of protection must stretch forth around the section of mysteries. For the sake of his plan he hoped it did n't extend inside the department too. Harry raised his wand to his neck and spoke the sonerous charm.

'' Tom Riddle ! '' Harry 's amplified voice shook the bricks in the walls. `` I 'm here. '' There was a moment 's time lag, then.

'' Welcome Mr thrower. '' A similarly booming voice sounded down the hallway. `` I was not sure you would come up. ``

'' Why would I stick away Tommy boy. We 're like old friends. '' Harry was poised to run at any moment if this went wrong. `` You 've got eight masses in there. Those masses deserve to get out, so lets make a deal, man 's agreement between friends. I go in. All of them go out. ``

"Those are the footing I gave."Voldemort sounded amused.

Harry waited in silence for a present moment ... then the door at the end of the corridor swung afford. Grinning quietly to himself, Harry walked in. The scenery was just as it had been reflected in the pool, the line of captives, the wreckage, and Voldemort standing in the heart and soul. The bodies of Fudge and Dumbledore were lying where they fell. The room was the circle way, the spinning way. Rookwood had taken him through it earlier. But it was n't spinning now, some of the doors had been knocked off their hinge and he could see into the rooms beyond.

'' Seen everything you need to Mr Potter ? '' Voldemort asked icily. `` Taken in all the selective information ? ``

'' Yep, '' Harry replied chirpily. `` So ... the prisoners. ``

'' Of path. '' Voldemort gestured mildly. The chains on the prisoners crashed to the ground.

'' Go on bozo. '' Harry stood out of the way so they could get to the room access. `` Get out of here. '' Slowly, the captive began to shuffle towards the door.

"They ‘ ll be able-bodied to get out ?"Harry asked."Past the ward ?"

"In only diaphragm people from entering, not from leaving."

'' Ok, mulct. Wait ! '' Harry held up a paw, then pointed to Lupin and a muscular looking auror. `` Fudge and Dumbledore, accept them up with you. ``

lupin bent to cradle the body of his instructor and lifted him up. As he passed Harry on the way out their oculus met. lupin leant down to Harry 's ear and whispered,

'' I hope he kills you. '' Harry had to express joy. Some things did n't change.

As the conclusion man trouped out Harry pushed the door shut and locked it. The heavy bolts sliding into home sounded like a hammer.

'' Well Mr Potter. '' Voldemort smiled like a Snake River. `` It is down to just you and me. The baron in our short cheat game. The cat's-paw are gone, the rooks are taken. Now it is just down to you and me. ``

"Have you never even played cheat ?"Harry quirked an supercilium."If all you have is the two big businessman that 's a stalemate snake case. You ca n't mate with one king."

"I was being metaphorical."

Harry rolled his eyes and picked a illuminate space of floor. He pointed his wand down.

'' Calx. '' A chalk line appeared on the level. Harry drew his baton around in a rough rectangle then stepped back and measured his handiwork by eye. `` Tommy boy give me your notion. Does that look like fourteen feet to you ? ``

'' What in Falco columbarius 's name are you doing ? ``

'' Well we have to experience a duel. '' Harry shrugged. `` mightiness as well do it by the book. ``

'' A regulation genius 's duel ? '' Voldemort seemed almost ready to chuckle. `` My my Mr Potter I can not recount you how refreshing it is to fight against you and not Dumbledore. It is ... so gratifying to be surprised. ``

'' I am unpredictable. '' Harry shrugged and stepped up to the middle of the rectangle. He put his wand into his pocket and held his hand away from it to show he was n't touching it. `` But I believe that the next footmark is to bow to one another. Like valet. ``

'' This will be interesting. '' Voldemort smiled and stepped up to the dueling platform, similarly holstering his scepter. `` I hope your friends are enjoying this. ``

'' What are you ... '' Harry paused. `` Are they watching ? ``

'' Of class. ``

'' Hmm ... '' Harry grinned up at the ceiling. `` Hope you like this Guy. It 's going to be one hell of a show. ``

'' Shall we get started ? '' Voldemort stepped up to the plaza of the rectangle and bowed. Harry bowed in turn, then stuck out his hand.

'' We voice as admirer. '' Harry smiled. Voldemort chuckled wryly and encircled Harry 's manus in his own. Harry pulled forward and hugged the shocked dark lord. He released him quickly and laughed. `` Tom enigma it 's been a pleasure, and an honor. ``

'' Surprising to the end. '' Voldemort murmured.

'' I believe it 's seven footstep ? '' Harry turned and heard Voldemort do the Saami. `` One ... ''

'' Two ... ''

'' Three ... ''

'' Stupefy ! '' Harry whirled and jabbed his wand. The go flared across the room. Just before it hit the shadow Godhead seemed to fluctuate and fade into mist. The trance passed right through his back and exploded in sparks against the rampart. Voldemort turned and rematerialized, a mocking sneer on his face,

'' Jumping the enumeration Mr Potter ? That was your virtuoso plan ? ``

'' Worth a shot. ``

'' No, Mr ceramicist. It was not. ``

'' Call me Harry. ``

'' I will not. '' Voldemort raised his sceptre. `` Goodbye Mr Potter. I wish you all the best in the side by side world. Avada Kedavra ! ``

Harry closed his eyes and smiled as a news bulletin of Light filled the room.



reexamination or the malign crybaby with the DEAD EYES that only I can see will kill me.


A lot of citizenry seem dysphoric about my patronize cliffhangers. Well it got you to brush up did n't it ?





The luminosity snapped off and Harry opened his eyes. Voldemort was staring down at the affair in his hand.

'' Hmm ... '' Harry frowned in mock confusion. `` Your wand appears to experience turned into a chicken. ``

The chicken managed to free itself and dropped to the story. It took a look at the two wizards on either side of it and wisely decided to be elsewhere. Squawking and flapping it scampered through an opened door.

"Was it, meant to twist into a volaille ?"Harry tapped his chin thoughtfully."Is this some poultry variant of the killing curse word I was not previously aware of ? Is that a chicken of death ? Or perhaps ..."Harry's hand dipped into his pocket."Were you looking for ... this wand."

Voldemort's optic went wide.

"I mean for god ‘ s sake Ilex paraguariensis. Never let a cutpurse hug you."Harry chuckled."I mean that ‘ s just stupid."

The shadow lord's hand twitched to his pocket.

"Oh look !"Harry drew something else from his robe."And here ‘ s your other wand. How did that get in there ? Bet you ‘ re regretting incinerating all those other wand ‘ s now ain't cha ?"

"Potter you ..."Voldemort boiled with wrath."You ... you ... you ..."

"Me. Me. Me."Harry grinned like a Panthera tigris."The moral of the story Tommy boy is this : Don ‘ t you EVER mess with a marauder because we can bury you. And we never lose."

"thrower I will-"

"Shut up."Harry stabbed his baton forward, keeping the former two safe in his left hand."Shut your ugly murdering face. felicitous, civic, ‘ lets all be B.F.F.s ‘ clock time is officially over. Now is the time for the former affair. The bloody hate filled battle that culminates with the killing of you."

"You think you can win ?"Voldemort hissed out through clenched teeth."Even without a wand I am still the iniquity Creator. I am still more than than a match for you."

"Evens the playing field of operations a bit though doesn ‘ t it."Harry cracked his neck first to one side, then another."So come on serpent nerve. Hit me. Hit me with your expert shot."

The dark lord hissed, his fingers clenching into claws. Then a moment later he exploded into smoke, whisking away through an open door. What the ? Harry 's illusion eye focused through the wall, onto the floor in the succeeding room. On the floor following to a prone eubstance was-

wand !

Harry 's feet moved of their own pact and skidded across the floor to the door. His own sceptre lashed out.

'' Difindo ! '' The wand on the floor snapped just as the cloud coalesced around it and but Harry was already moving again. His eye devising walls and doors meaningless. Another eubstance, another wand ! He felt the sens behind him, catching up.

He rolled as it passed budget items and snarled, `` Tempesto ! '' The swarm convulsed as wind lashed through it but it stayed together, swirling and reforming like ink. Harry dashed along the floor and snapped the wand up from beside the bundle of robes that was all that was left of the victim of an inferi. He skidded to a check, his eye dancing madly to discover any remaining wand ... zip in the prophecy room ...

The cloud circled, reeking of malevolence. Harry could almost feel Voldemort doing the same check that he was, using dark legerdemain to find any remaining weapon system. The cloud contracted then shot away like a calamary. Harry was off and after it in a second, a back to a greater extent and his eye had found it's target area. The death bedroom, a wand rolled into a wisecrack in the trading floor. Harry pelted through the corridor, the black smoke ahead of him. Too far ! Too promptly !

Harry threw another tornado ahead of him, kicking up sherd of debris but the moment it reached the cloud it was squashed like a frog. The wind going flat in mid air. The fume disappeared under a door and Harry crashed through it a moment later. The wand ! Right there ! Voldemort reappeared with a thunderclap and jabbed his hand forward. The verge leapt from the floor and spun towards the dark Maker. Harry aimed desperately,

"Ferio !"

There was a cranny from the air and splinters clattered on the flooring. The dark Maker's hand snapped back like he'd been stung.

"That ‘ s the last of them snake-face."Harry panted. Keeping his sceptre trained on the dark lord he stepped down the footstep till he was next to the flutter arch. He picked the three scepter he'd acquired out of his pocket and chucked them through the caul. The dark cloth fluttered for a here and now, then went still."All scepter ‘ s out of dramatic play, except for my one. And the simply way you ‘ re getting that is to pry it from my cold beat hands."

"What an excellent mesmerism Mr Potter."

Harry had just a mo warning before the orb of iniquity flew from the dark lord's hand. Harry spun behind the arch and ducked down.

"Accio !"The judiciary behind Voldemort shot forward towards his head. The dark Divine spun and shattered it with a hissed jinx."Jupitall !"The ball-lightning hissed from Harry's sceptre and forced the dark Maker to dodge to the side. The orb exploded against the wall, filling the room with spark. Voldemort spun and cried,

"Garta !"

Harry felt the flag beneath his metrical unit disappear and he plummeted into darkness. He jabbed his baton straight up.

"Hammus missis !"Chain shot up and slammed into the ceiling far above."Rapellet !"The concatenation felt like it jerked his arm out of its socket as it pulled him up into the Light. As he shot from the ground like a bullet a clump of darkness flew towards him.

Someone not expecting it would have been hit. Someone without a trick eye.

Harry kicked off the sharpness of the arch and swung out of the way. He let go of the concatenation and aimed at the dark physique below him.

"Avada Kedavra !"The green light left him stunned but he landed like a cat on the side of the stepped sphere. The killing curse blew a hole in the rampart but Voldemort was dashing away, disappearing through a room access."cum back you slimy coward !"Harry was laughing with bloodlust and raced after him, his eye tracking him through the tangle of halls. Harry dashed back through the entrance antechamber and dead reckoning into a long way of desks. Voldemort's fleeing shadow was just visible at the other end.

"Avada Kedavra !"The nightmare expletive sped through the wreckage but Voldemort spun and summoned a desk into it's path. The blowup filled the air with emerald sparks. Three bolts of lightning thundered through the explosion and Harry threw himself to the side. One of them grazed past his leg and he bit back a cry of painful sensation. A block spell numbed the burnt flesh as Harry furiously dashed after the night lord. As he skidded to a arrest in the hall of prognostication the darkness Creator disappeared. Harry furiously glanced one way then the other, but neither eye could pick up a trace. A wisp of rung curled around one of the ledge, only to disappear a moment later. Harry cursed, the eye wasn't so good for incorporeal things. He slowly turned, letting his eyes sweep through the break between the ledge. Voldemort was in here somewhere. Harry closed the room access and whispered a vicious trap on anyone who tried to get through it. Voldemort wouldn't be able-bodied to infract it, some things required a wand.

Harry walked slowly out into the prophecy hall. The meth spheres had not escaped the carnage of the struggle, many were left in glittering sherd on the marble level. The little ginger nut of crank cracked under his boots. Was that smoke ? Harry 's heart hammered in his chest. Was that a-

FIREBALL ! Harry spun and yelled,

'' Ferio ! '' The hex blasted into a spinning orb of fire, exploding it in the air and throwing Harry backwards into a shelf. The wood buckled and Harry fell through backwards in a quite a little of burning matchwood. There was an inauspicious creak sound and Harry had to scramble to get out of the way of the collapsing ledge. eyeball of shining smoke bounced off his shoulder joint and shattered on the story, their whitened smoke spilling out and going inky blackamoor like swirls of midnight.

Harry 's eye swirled and he just caught a glimpse of the dark vest figure before he dissolved again. Harry picked himself up and held himself at facility. This was like a bloody shootout, it was all about who was quicker to the draw play. Unfortunately Voldemort did n't actually have to describe ... The air moved, Harry moved faster.

'' Symplegades ! '' Voldemort appeared out of nowhere but Harry had already cast his trance. The shelves crashed together as if drawn by attracter. The dreary lord 's shadowy form was trapped between them. Before Harry could frame another trance the ledge exploded outwards, Voldemort stepping out wreathed in flames. He raised his hands, about to become skunk again. Harry stabbed his wand out again.

'' Tartrate ! '' It was a furious stab in the darkness. The good luck charm was used to make liquids into jelly. Voldemort stumbled, his signifier blurring a moment but not turning to smoke. `` Avada Kedavra ! ``

The dark lord threw his hand forward and a slab of the marble floor was thrown into the air to view the execration. Voldemort hissed and the fervor behind him leapt up into a column of flame, curling and splitting into a glow red snaked head. The ophidian roared and bit forward, it 's teeth dripping with molten venom.

'' Excalabus ! '' Harry slashed through the burning apparition but his polishing sword slipped through it like water system, leaving not a slit. The Snake River struck forward like a viper and Harry dropped to the floor, his eyebrows charring off his face. `` Ardor-Algidus ! '' Harry yelled the flame freezing magical spell and leapt up into the hellfire devil. He stabbed his verge at the tincture beyond the pit and yelled the killing curse again. The redness flashed to green and Harry could see the dark noble 's shocked expression as he had to dodge a spell from within his own creation.

Harry did n't cave in him an inch, he threw himself forward, shot another curse at his off proportion enemy and found a cloud of black knives flying in his face. He dropped to the base and get wind them clatter behind him. He threw himself to the position but the tongue jerked to conform to him. He grabbed a plank of shelf from the floor and twirl it in front of him, hearing the heavy thunk of the blades impacting the Mrs. Henry Wood. Harry spun to front the dark Maker and banished the knives towards him. Voldemort waved his hand distastefully and the tongue melted into smoke.

The dark Divine was panting, breath hissing in and out through his lipless mouth.

'' You can not win. '' He hissed, wrath and high-handedness battling for prominence in his spokesperson. `` You must realize that YOU CAN NOT WIN ! ``

'' Shut. Up. jerk-off. '' Harry gasped through heavy breaths.

'' You are just extending your suffering ! ``

'' Is n't that what life is all about ? '' Harry drew himself up, grinning. `` And besides- Ferio ! '' The spell caught the night nobleman by surprisal, smacking into his shoulder with a osseous tissue splintering crack. Voldemort roared and Harry felt the level under his feet warp and growl. He flipped backwards as the ground where he had been standing became a swirling quicksand pit, ready to trace him down into it 's profoundness. Harry danced backwards as stone upon Harlan F. Stone became sop up end. His feet hit a shelf and he clambered up like a spider. The shelf lurched as it began to sink into the stone. Harry spun, holding on with one hired man and leapt to another towering shelf just before the one he had been standing on was obliterated in a cloud of dark lightning.

It was n't dependable up here. Harry clambered to the top and dashed along the slanting Sir Henry Joseph Wood. Being up here made him too much of a target. Harry 's eye spun to find the dark lord and he almost fell off in shock as he found Voldemort hovering up from the ground with murder in his eyes. The bastard could fly !

'' Tempesto ! '' Harry 's tornado sprung out of nowhere, drawing grit from the level and filling the air with yellow-white caryopsis. Harry called another twister, and another. The dark Lord disappeared in the sandstorm. Disappeared to normal eyes that is. `` Avada Kedavra ! '' Harry shot through the murk at the shadow in the air and dashed away along the top of his shelf, he leapt across to the succeeding one just before a lightning bolt flashed through the air behind him. The dark overlord could not see him in all this but he could see where his spells were coming from. Only a sap attacked and stayed in the Lapplander place ... unless ...

'' Acerbus cuspis ! '' Harry called the pain spears, flashing out in their boring fan. He twisted them in the air like a snake to excise the dark lord from both English. He was rewarded with a howl of pain as one of the shining bolts struck home. Harry cast again but the dark lord summoned a silver shield. `` Motus ! '' Harry did n't even have to call back. He just struck out and made the dread orb vibrate with unbearable interference. He twisted to find the resonance but Voldemort was slyer than Albert Abraham Michelson and cancelled the orb. Harry turned to run but the dark lord was quicker and lightning caught his arm, burning like hell. Harry lost his footing and dropped off the side of the teetering shelf.

Harry spun his tornado and blew himself up into the air again, shooting like a rag-doll through the sandstorm until his fingerbreadth caught the boundary of a shelf and he held on for dear spirit. He pulled himself up and tried to brook, his eye spinning to happen the dark lord. There he was, but what-

'' Ulkaa Avaskanda ! '' The shrill cold vocalization of the dark lord shouted out of the storm, then. `` Finite Syrtis ! ``

The grit vanished like mist but Harry had prominent problems. He leapt into the air as rocks the sizing of auto obliterated the shelves behind him. His base hit another shelf but it was already shattering and falling. Harry 's wand whipped out and a hook impacted into the cap. Harry swung out over the expanse of malarky. A bowlder came hurtling out of nowhere but Harry still had his storm.

The wind pulled him out of the route of the meteor with a whisk of his sceptre and he let go of the range, catapulting himself onto a standing shelf. He leapt again and saw two boulder hurtling towards him. His wand flashed out again and one John Rock veered into the path of the other, shattering them both to shard. Harry felt the wood beneath him shift again and this clock time let it carry him down a moment before leaping off and dropping to another collapsing ledge, his eye found firm basis and he jumped again as the last shelf collapsed into splinters.

Harry dropped to the top of a spile of wreckage. A pile three metre as grandiloquent as he was and wide of check Ellen Price Wood, shattered crank and the smouldering remains of spent Boulder. Harry waited while the go of the crashing and clattering stopped, then folded his arms.

Voldemort was hovering in the air level with Harry. The gloomy lord slowly floated down to the floor ( which Harry idly noted was back to being marble ) and settled back down onto his feet. Harry watched with a crooked eyebrow. Voldemort 's dentition clenched in rage as he stared up at Harry standing on his pedestal of ruin.

'' What are you ? '' Voldemort sneered through his dentition. `` You should not be live ! No human being should be alive ! ``

'' What makes you think I 'm human being snake face ? '' Harry smiled evilly. `` Are n't you the one who 's always saying we 're better than bare mortals ? ``

'' DO NOT MOCK ME ! ``

'' But you make it so easy ! '' Harry put his hands on his hips. `` Anyway, it 's hard not to mock you when I 'm winning ! ``

'' YOU ARE NOT WINNING ! ``

'' I 'm not loosing. '' Harry grinned. The dark lord 's fists clenched but he said nothing. Harry smiled. `` Of course, you could cede. ``

'' Surrender ? '' Voldemort spat the word. `` Surrender to you ! ? ``

'' Hey fellow, you 're the one that wants to live forever. '' Harry cracked his knuckles. `` You wo n't live forever if you surrender but I can guarantee you 'll inhabit longer than if you keep fighting. Not much longer but still ... ''

'' I ask again Mr potter ! '' Voldemort raised an accusing finger. `` What are you ? ``

'' Me ? I 'm the runner of the cap at night. '' Harry laughed. `` The torpedo of the origin war. The only subsister of the downpour of ages and the Hogwarts triwizard booster. ``

'' But- ''

'' I 'm the mirror-blade, '' Harry spread his arm blanket. `` Serpent 's bane and wolf-slayer. I 'm the buccaneer of the Spirit of Njordr."

"You-"

"And, to my suffering, I am Dumbledore 's little changeling child."

"What-"

"But that does n't matter because I 'm also a marauder ! unvanquishable cutthroat bastard and badass extraordinaire ! I. Am. Harry. potter ! The choosing one ! '' Harry trained his verge on the dark lord, his facial expression set in unbendable resolve. `` That is why you should surrender. Right now. Or I swear on this muckle of prognostication that I will burn you from this world. ``

Voldemort took an nonvoluntary tone backwards, faltering before Harry 's stare.

'' cobbler's last chance. '' Harry snarled. Voldemort straightened up, his eyes burning red.

'' Never. '' The nighttime lords hands clenched to fists. `` I will never give up to a half blood boy like you. ``

'' Whatever, '' Harry grinned. `` In that case ... suck it bitch ! Depulso ! '' Harry jammed his wand straight down and the pile of wreckage exploded out in all directions, the Sir Henry Joseph Wood becoming deadly splinters and the rock singing out in razor sharp shard. The wickedness Creator threw up a silver medal shield but Harry was already on the ground. With a flick of his wand the shield screeched and Voldemort threw it away from him as if it was red hot. Harry rolled to the slope to elude a nebulizer of black orbs and threw his wand up. `` Avada Kedavra ! ``

The dark Divine fled through a doorway and Harry rushed to follow, casting death bane before him. Harry vaulted a desk and skidded through a door only to find oneself his body rising into the air. A lightning bolt grazed his articulatio humeri and Harry was spun around like a top. planet were floating in this way ! There must be some spell screwing with sobriety !

Harry shot a claw at Saturn and pulled himself out of the way just before another lightning bolt flashed through the air. Harry jabbed his baton at the sun and yelled,

'' Confringo ! '' The ball of plasma exploded but Harry cast another flame-freezing charm and pushed off Saturn directly into the inferno. From behind the concealment of flaming Harry shot a killing curse at the dark lord but had to twist in the air to stop his head being taken off by a dark sword flickering through the air. He had used the flame-cover trick one too many fourth dimension. Well lets try another.

'' Esurio Esurio ! '' Harry aimed at the spinning red planet next to Voldemort. It grew a yawn oral fissure and snapped angrily at the dark Almighty, who blew it into shard but Harry had already trained his wand back on the nighttime Godhead. `` Avada Kedavra ! ``

Voldemort swung a lump of planet into the way of the spell and fled, pushing open a door Harry had n't even seen. He pushed off the bulwark and floated weightlessly after him. As soon as he reached the doorway he dropped to the trading floor again and raced through, skidding to a point when he saw where he was.

In total direct contrast to the rest of the department this elbow room was a sort of zoo. coop full of creatures filled the room up to the ceiling and were stacked in a sight in the middle. Some looked normal, some ... not so a great deal. Harry shuddered as his eye flickered over a mutated blob of flesh with what he sincerely hoped was not a human arm coming out of it. His trick eye swirled in it 's socket, trying to get a fix on Voldemort but all the liveliness and movement in the way made it tricky.

Harry tried to trace out the elbow room. Long, not so all-encompassing ... The room access at the other end was closed. That meant that Voldemort was either at the wall behind one of the cage at the side or crouched down behind one of the ones in the middle. Harry grinned,

'' Alohomora ! '' He pointed his scepter at the mickle of cages in the essence and all their bars sprung open. fauna scattered in every steering. Something that looked like a mutant beast made a hunger leap at the Cage to the left wing and was thrown back by a spell. There ! Harry 's wand was trained there in a moment. `` Confringo ! '' The hex blasted the cage out of the way, revealing Voldemort 's grayness skin. `` Avada K- '' Harry had to break off the jinx to circumvent behind a desk as more orbs of darkness rained through the air. Harry heard a door slam opened and leapt up from where he was crouched. He dashed to the door and swung through, his wand out.

The death chamber ! Back here ! Harry saw Voldemort just reaching the room access at the other position of the murkily lit room and aimed his wand.

'' Colloportus ! '' The room access squelched and glowed red. Harry spun and locked the early doorway too. In a moment he had his verge trained back on the nighttime noble. Voldemort was just staring at him from the other face of the vast room, his lip contoured into a sneer. He clearly knew he could collapse the poxy lockup magic spell, but doing so would give Harry the moment he needed to kill him. Harry tried to keep his breath even as he spoke, `` Got you. No more running. ``

'' Then you have signed your own death endorsement. '' Voldemort slowly stepped down the face of the chamber.

'' I doubt that. '' Harry mirrored the dark God Almighty and slowly walked down the footstep. `` I rarely sign thing. ``

'' I will draw you through the embryonic membrane myself. ``

'' What ... ever. '' Harry shrugged. `` I 've had enough of your self significant scourge. clock time for the showdown. Let 's end this. ``

'' Nothing would delight me more Mr Potter ! '' Voldemort reached the bum of the room. Harry was just a step behind him. They stared at each other from opposite sides of the plinth that held the arch of the veil. Voldemort 's lip curled up in a sneer. `` If I had my wand you would have died long ago. ``

'' That would be why I nicked it. '' Harry chuckled. `` And anyway ... Lumos ! '' Harry jammed his wand towards Voldemort and the ray cut through the dimness like a limelight. Voldemort threw his mitt up to protect his middle."Avada Kedavra ! ``

The benighted lord dropped to the trading floor, letting the spell straits over his head and jabbed his arm up at the ceiling. The shadower above them became animated, a writhing cauldron of darkness. Harry dodged wildly as a tentacle of night shot down and tried to enclose itself around him. Harry felt another snap his leg.

'' Excalabus ! '' The tentacle was sheered off but Harry had been thrown to the floor and had to roll as thunderbolt of thunder slammed into the flagstones where he had been lying. A ball of total darkness caught the side of his leg, simply obliterating flesh and skin. Harry screamed and pulled himself to his feet, jumping out of the way of another tentacle. He had to get rid of that thing ! He could n't fight it and the dark master at the Same time ! But how to kill something like that ... How else ? Harry jabbed his wand at the cap. `` Avada Kedavra ! '' The dark-green piece impacted the black animal and it wailed in hurting, it 's tentacles going limp.

Harry spun back to face Voldemort just in time for an Shirley Temple Black orb to take a chunk out of his shoulder. He was bleeding too practically. Had to end this ! The wickedness Divine raised his hand for another bolt of lightning. Harry tore two flagstone from the background and hurled them in the path of the spell, one after the other. The first was blown to splinters but the second, hidden by the swarm of rubble, stab through like a marble discus and crashed with a hideous crunch into Voldemort 's ribcage.

The dark Jehovah was thrown back, his arm coming up to cradle his injured chest. Harry pressed his vantage and Voldemort was driven back by trance after spell. The dark lord was pushed onto to the footfall and stumbled back, lying prone against the stone. He seemed exhausted.

'' Avada Ke- ''

"Fulgar Fletch !"The wickedness overlord 's hand swung up ! It had been a magic trick ! Harry saw a swarm of black blades erupt out of nil and sail towards him. He had no protection ! He could not dodge ! There was just one chance ...

'' Protego ! '' Harry called out desperately and was driven back as the knife clattered against his weak shield. Harry let it go and stepped forward, only to have his knees buckle and drop him on the trading floor. What the ? Harry tried to stand but his legs would n't move. Was this some sort of curse ? Harry looked down and saw the reason.

There was a tongue embedded to the hilt in his stomach. Two more in his leg. Draining blood down his second joint and pooling on the floor.

'' Bloody shield .... '' Harry 's blazonry dropped down, suddenly too weak. His sceptre rolled away on the dark stone. He had n't felt the knife go in, adrenaline perhaps, but he felt it now. Pain and fire raging out from the hole in his abdomen. `` Bloody ... Shield .... And I was doing so well ... ''

'' Yes Mr Potter you were. '' The darkness Creator picked himself up from the step and dusted his robes off. Now that he had won the well-disposed, almost fatherly, tone was back. `` I applaud you. ``

'' I could receive beaten you ya know. '' Harry coughed weakly and saw droplets of profligate spray from his lip. `` The very maiden spell I threw. Back when I jumped the numeration. Back when you had the fake wand. If you 'd have just tried to screen like any normal wizard ... I could have won on the first piece. That was ... that was the plan. ``

'' It was a serious architectural plan. '' Voldemort must have seen no cause to be angry now that he had won. `` Against a pattern wizard it would let no doubtfulness worked. ``

'' Damn it. '' Harry raised his hired man to spread his fingers around the knife blade in his belly, but he could n't stop the blood. His animation was draining out onto the floor. The ones in his leg would maim him. The one in his stomach meant he was dead.

'' Do you hold any terminal watchword my beloved opposition ? '' Voldemort asked calmly. `` I did not take heed any satisfactory ace from Dumbledore. Anything ? ``

'' Ca n't think of anything ... '' wickedness point swam before Harry 's eyes. He had failed. `` Are my supporter still watching ? ``

'' Oh yes. '' Voldemort nodded. `` I would not cause the wizarding public miss this event. ``

'' Then my last words are ... keep fight. '' Harry raised his centre to satisfy Voldemort 's. `` Keep scrap him. ``

'' Not very master copy. '' The dark lord shrugged. `` But better than Dumbledore 's. ``

'' And ... '' line of descent was pooling beneath Harry 's ramification. `` And severalize Thea I tried. ``

'' An admirable sentiment. ``

'' That 's ... '' Darkness was closing in on Harry. `` That 's all I got. ``

'' Very well. '' Voldemort raised his hand. `` I shall miss you. My ... interesting opposite. '' Voldemort opened his backtalk to speak the endure Son Harry would ever hear.

'' time lag. '' Harry whispered, he had no forcefulness to speak normally. `` I 've thought of some full last words. ``

'' Really ? '' Voldemort asked, amused. `` And ? ``

'' The one with the power to vanquish the night lord will be born as the seventh calendar month Dy. '' Harry 's whispered words rang out in the serenity room. `` Born to those who ... those who ... ''

'' Have thrice defied him. '' Voldemort prompted, his eyes suddenly desperate. `` Yes ? Yes ? ``

'' Thrice defied him. '' Harry licked his lips, his phonation was barely coming out now. `` And the nighttime lord will mark ... will mark him ... ''

'' Yes ? What then ? '' Voldemort leant close in to listen.

'' Mark him as his compeer ... '' Harry 's lips were barely moving, his discussion just ruffle in the air. `` But the dark ... the dark ... ''

'' Yes ... '' Voldemort put his hand on Harry 's shoulder, steadying him. `` Please finish it ! ``

'' The dark lord, shall never ... '' Harry 's eye were closed. `` Shall never learn. ``

'' What ? '' Voldemort 's eye narrowed to slits.

'' The nighttime lord ... shall never instruct. ``

'' What did you say ? ``

'' I said you never bloody learn ! '' Harry 's eyes flicked overt. `` Do you ? ``

Powered by the live on pant of dying craze Harry pulled the knife from his flesh and drove it into Voldemort 's neck opening. Harry fell backwards as bloodline fountained from his belly and his eyes clouded opprobrious. As he slipped away and his middle stopped beating all he could hear was the whisper of the veil.




Cliff. wall hanging. Again. I know. Sorry. reassessment anyway.


Sorry this took a spell to mail. I did n't entail to intentionally lead you hanging at a cliffhanger but beginning I posted it then realised I had to shift something so that sent it to the back of the queue, then it got rejected ... anyways it 's up now.

inspection seem to be mixed as to whether masses think Harry 's really idle or not and whether the series is over or not. It 's overnice to have created such differing views. : )




The beginning thing Harry sensed was the scent of apple blossoms. It was a smell he knew very well. His eye flickered undefendable and looked up onto the familiar dappled leaves of the orchard in his dreams. It was exactly as it had always been, green and full of life.

Harry was lying on the floor. How had he got there ? He lifted his branch up and realized that his blood soaked and fight frighten off garments were gone, replaced by a simpleton Andrew D. White robe. That was n't all that was missing either. Harry 's finger went up to his eye, poking it lightly.

'' Ow ! '' Flesh, not chalk. Harry shook his head, realizing what must have happened. Eye 's did not mature back, orchards did not spring out of nix. `` I 'm deadened. I died. ``

Harry breathed out, a long sigh of sorrowfulness. He had done his better, his very, very best. He had tried to survive. He had tried to not leave the globe of the living, had tried not to leave his friends.

There are people that will suffer if you die, even if you take Voldemort with you

'' I tried Theia. '' Harry felt a swelling in his throat. `` Oh god I tried. But he was better than me. He was ... he was better. I mean I knew he was, really. I just hoped I could skew the odds enough to let me win. Let me live. I guess I was incorrect. ``

Harry looked up at the tree, bearing blossoms and fruit all at once in an impossible, but beautiful, tableau vivant. He was glad he had ended up here, not back at Godrics Hollow.

'' I did take him with me though. '' Harry spoke the bitter words. `` I got him goodness. ``

The hint rustled lightly through the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree. He thought he could almost, just almost, hear baby laughing. Harry sat down and set his back against a tree and closed his eye. If this was the afterlife then he knew one affair for trusted. Before he met any pearly porter or had his sinning weighed against a feather or whatever he was sitting right here and having a rest. The host of hell could not affect him from that spot.

The current of air whistled through the trees and for a moment Harry though he could hear voices.

"point her ! Don ‘ t let her get to the body !"

"She ‘ s got a portkey !"

The voices faded. Harry shrugged, that kind of affair probably happened all the time when you were dead.

Harry 's deal wormed it 's way along the ground and found an apple. It was prissy and voiceless, fallen recently. He brought it up to his backtalk and bit into it, letting the juices run down his face. It tasted a fiddling bitter, just a little.

Harry heard the grass in front of him disturbed by footstep. Someone was there. He opened his eyes slowly, and arched his eyebrow when he saw who it was.

'' Did n't expect to see you here. '' Harry commented dryly. `` Though I suppose I should have. ``

'' May I sit down ? '' Dumbledore asked, his voice bearing a serenity it had not held in life.

'' Why not ? '' Harry shrugged. `` I mean were all suddenly here are n't we. Maybe Elvis and Merlin will join us next. ``

'' I doubt that Harry, Elvis is n't beat. '' Dumbledore frowned suddenly. `` I apologize, you asked me not to shout out you- ''

'' You can squall me Harry. '' Harry smiled. `` Do n't worry about it. ``

'' But I do worry. '' Dumbledore shook his capitulum. `` I can never apologise to you enough for what I did to you. No words could ever do. I ... I am only happy that I got this one end chance to tell apart you how disconsolate I am. My criminal offence was unforgivable. ``

'' Apparently it was n't seeing as you 're here and not in a big fiery place with peck of pitchforks. '' Harry chuckled and rested his arms behind his head.

'' You seem, '' Dumbledore was picking his words carefully. `` You seem at peace treaty with what I did. more than the stopping point time I saw you at least. ``

'' Mate, I can never forgive you, so do n't ask me to. '' Harry sighed and shook his head. `` I do n't imagine I can ever forgive you but at the Lapplander time ... I get why you did it. You were in a bad place, everything was riding on your shoulder. I mean look at me, today I cast an unforgivable jinx ten ... maybe twenty meter. And before that, over the course of this year I 've killed ... people. Several people. We all do what we think we have to do. You did what ... what you thought you had to do, at the time. I ca n't forgive you for it. You playing with my drumhead. Making me your Frankenstein 's monster. Your changeling child. You ... took me and changed me. Changed who I am, put memories in my head. You said you put your memories of James I ceramicist in my head. I can experience them in there now ... How much of it is me ? Is any of this me ? Or am I just a wretched copy of Harry ... Or worse a pathetic written matter of King James ceramist. Am I ? Answer me truthfully. Please. ``

'' I ... '' Dumbledore dropped his oculus to the floor. `` I do not know how much of your original personality survived. Integrating memories is never fully successful, not from one soul to another, but there is no way to tell how very much mixing there has been. There is a probability that the memories settled harmlessly into your subconscious, but then again ... ''

'' There 's a probability they did n't. ``

'' Yes. ``

"Why did n't you evidence me this early ?"Harry sighed,"I mean before I went and cut out my eye and everything."

"I ... There were many reasons."Dumbledore looked away into the distance."You see it was very easy to ... to not remember what I had done. To not think of it. I mean there you were, looking like Harry, acting like James I. It was easygoing to strike into the trap of thinking you were ... that you were ..."

"Real ?"

"That you were not the living proof of my sins."Dumbledore shook his mind."At least that was the intellect at start. I simple did not want to acknowledge what I had done. Then, later on, after you had defeated the basilisk, after you had come back from the torrent of ages, I began to conceive perhaps I would not have to. You had proved yourself a paladin so I though ... perhaps no one would ever throw to get laid. Perhaps I could let you fill Harry 's place and never tell you. I thought I could let you take the burden. I am not proud of that. I should give known the divination could not be so easily avoided."

"Is it possible I still can withdraw his place ?"Harry pointed at his articulatio radiocarpea."I mean, the night lord did fall guy me."

"Harry he did not score you as his peer he marked you as his servant."Dumbledore shook his head."And besides, I can look on my fingers the people who have thrice defied Voldemort. I would have known if one of them had been with child."

Harry sighed. As he did the wind instrument seemed to murmur, carrying to him aloof vox. He strained his ears to discover,

'' Help him ! For Falco columbarius 's sake help him ! '' Was that ... Hermione ?

'' Shut up and let me by. '' Snape 's voice cut across her.

'' His spirit 's not perplex ! ``

'' Of course It 's not beating he does n't birth any origin left you hysterical retard. Each of you, give me your men. It's a adept thing Harry acquired so many hanger-on, one of you has to be his stemma eccentric. ``

The voices faded into the walkover. Harry's brow furrowed.

"Did you hear that ?"He asked Dumbledore.

"No, but then I ‘ m a little more idle than you are."Dumbledore smiled.

"So I ‘ m ... I ‘ m not dead ?"Harry felt hope rise in his heart.

"You are dead, technically. Your mettle is not beating."Dumbledore's centre twinkled."But I believe that, with clip and a generous donation of good red roue, you may be pulled back into the world of the living."

"So ... Is this actually you then ?"Harry scratched his head."Is this actually the afterlife or just another dream ?"

"This is the afterlife."Dumbledore nodded."And I am, more or less, who I appear to be."

"How ?"

"The fact that you are near death coupled with the fact that you died mere metre from the veil."Dumbledore shrugged."I am just glad I got a last fortune to verbalise to you."

"fountainhead I assume we ‘ ll meet again ... eventually."Harry cracked a grinning."When I ‘ m old and Gray and die in a bed surrounded by beautiful women."

The old wizard and the young laughed. A thought struck Harry and the mirth dimmed.

"So, while I have you here, can I ask you something ?"

"Of course Harry, anything."

"What is my name ?"

"I ... I do not know."Dumbledore hung his capitulum."I am good-for-nothing Harry. I erased the computer memory from my own mind so I would never call you it. Never slip up ... But I can secernate you the orphanage where I found you. It is called the Malyn orphans' asylum, or was nine years ago, January twentieth. It stands about ten miles south of Belfast. If criminal record exist then, well then you might be able to find them there."

"Malyn orphanage. Jan twentieth ..."Harry whispered. Then,"So I ‘ m Irish whiskey ?"

"Yes Harry. You ‘ re Irish."Dumbledore cracked a whimsical smile.

"Interesting."Harry, who had lived his animation with a London stress thick enough to swim bricks on, chuckled."So, do you think there might even be records of my parents ?"

"I do not opine so."Dumbledore looked away, not meeting Harry's eye. He seemed to be picking his words carefully."I do not recollect that you will find platter of them there."

"What aren ‘ t you telling me ?"Harry felt the emptiness grow."Were they wizards ? Were they expiry eater ?"

"No Harry nothing like that."Dumbledore shook his point."In fact I believe we can safely assume both your parents were muggles. Let me explain, when I took you from the orphanhood they told me a picayune about you. About how you had come to be there. Apparently you were not given to them in the normal fashion, you were ... found. Found by an aged duad walking along the lagend river. The river was bursting it ‘ s bank a little after a storm and they saw a little sheaf washed up in the mud. When they unwrapped you they thought you were idle, I was told that you were blue all over from the common cold and moistness, but so weak you weren ‘ t even shivering. You had been in the water for a recollective time."

Crashing rocks. Raging Caucasian weewee. Harry's nous shied away from the flashes of panic in his mind and he felt his breath quicken. The raging cloudburst in his mind banishing all though was existent, a retention so scaring even Dumbledore had been ineffectual to erase. His only existent memory was a phobia. Another bitter joke. He licked his rim, had to say something, anything to take his judgment off it.

"How old was I ?"

"About six calendar month old, give or take."Dumbledore answered."The dyad gave you to the assurance and of course an investigation was made. Unfortunately nothing was ever found. And, inevitably, you ended up in the workforce of the child servicing. The narrative after that is, well, rather as you might pretend it."

"It could have been an accident."Harry spoke, not daring to hope."You make it sound like my parents tried to vote out me but it didn't have to hap that way. Maybe I was swept away from my folk. You said there were floods."

"I ... I do not mean that was the eccentric Harry."A tear rolled down Dumbledore's cheek."You see, I have something the muggle authorities did not. I have my map. That was the reason lupine knew. I needed him to find it and show me how to use it, or it could take in revealed the truth."

"The map- Or course !"Harry smiled, his centre lighting up."It should show my real gens ! That ‘ s why you kept it hidden and everything ! What does it say ?"

"Harry the map does not prove your name."Dumbledore brushed the tear away."Do you roll in the hay how the map works ?"

"No."

"It works by making use of an ancient type of magic, the conjuring trick of names."Dumbledore's spokesperson took on a lecturing tone, but Harry could still take heed the ball in his throat."There is an old wiz superstition. An old wife tale, if you will, that a maven's epithet is tied to their destiny. That the figure first given to a star somehow sets his path. There was once a great fad for concealing one ‘ s true public figure so that enemies could not gain power over you. folly really, in those sidereal day someone ‘ s true name was sluttish enough to divine. That is what the map does in any case. It works by the conjuration of names."

"Yeah,"Harry motioned the late Headmaster to preserve."And ?"

"And for you it displays nil Harry."Dumbledore closed his eyes sadly."On the map your name is blank. Just a set of footprint and an empty scroll."

"Oh ..."Harry let the silence grow between them. He couldn't really think of anything to fill it.

"Do you understand what that means Harry ? It means-"

"I know what it means."Harry said quietly."It means my parents never named me before they threw me away."

"Harry ..."

"I was six months old. Six months they had me and didn ‘ t even wish enough to ..."Harry slammed his clenched fist into the ground."I guess I ‘ m better off without them."

"Is his inwardness beating ? I can barely-"

"Is that a pulsing ... it was there I swear it was there."

Harry let the interpreter on the wind die away. He sighed, looking up into the calming dappled sunlight.

"Harry are you alright ?"Dumbledore asked."I realize that this is a capital tidy sum to take in on top of-"

"I ‘ m alright."Harry swallowed painfully."I mean I ‘ m not OK, really. But I ‘ ll be O.K.. I can already narrate. I ‘ ll be right. I mean after all the early bombshells this doesn ‘ t really tip the weighing machine that much does it. Like a molehill beside a smoking volcano."

"I ‘ m just sorry that I was once again the bearer of bad news."Dumbledore squinted at Harry, his eyes narrowing."You are fading. Not long before you can no longer touch this topographic point. Is there anyone else here you would like to utter to ?"

"I ... I don ‘ t know."Harry scratched his head."Most of my friends are still alive."

"A blessing."

"So I can call anyone then ?"Harry asked slyly."Anyone dead and they have to get along ?"

"Yes, anyone dead."

"Tom Marvolo Riddle."Harry said the dread name loudly into the forest, only swoon echoes came back."He ‘ s not dead then."Harry's paw clenched into fists.

"No,"Dumbledore shook his head."I believe you have Bella to give thanks for that again. She snuck in when the Montgomery Ward came down and spirited his body away redress under your friends'noses using an exigency portkey. Rather careless of them. Alastor is probably beating himself up right now."

"I though I got him."Harry gritted his teeth."I thought I got-"

"He will be severely weakened."Dumbledore stepped forward and laid a hand on Harry's shoulder."Perhaps as badly as he was fifteen days ago. This is a victory Harry, it will be years, possibly decades before he can rise again. And if we can enamour him while he is feeble and finish him off, so a lot the better."

"I guess."Harry tried to see the beneficial side. It wasn't easy."Well let ‘ s try ... Barty Crouch Jr."Again the woods remained empty but for the two of them. Harry grimaced, he hadn't really hoped that the despicable mongrel was drained. But it would have been a receive surprise.

"Is there not anyone you actually wish to speak to Harry ?"Dumbledore asked, fading a little as he did so."No one in this world ? Perhaps the real Harry ceramicist ?"

"I ‘ ve already met him. Twice actually now that I think about it."

"How could you possibly ..."

"wellspring once was years ago when I traveled through time and met him before he died."Harry checked that off on his finger's breadth."And the second metre me sent a substance here from another dimension."At Dumbledore's shocked expression Harry grinned."I lead a very weird life."

"But interesting."

"Oh yes, very interesting."Harry smiled."All in all I think I ‘ ll let him and his parents rest in public security. After what I did to their statue I don ‘ t think I could present them. Anyways, goodbye old man. I'll see you again in a retentive retentive while."

"I hope so Harry."

"This is weird."Harry chuckled and looked around."Why does it finger like we 're having this whole conversation two books early ?"

"Simple Harry,"Dumbledore smiled."Until now you have been walking someone else 's way of life. From this point on, you 'll consume to pee-pee your own."

"Good."Harry nodded."I 'm ready."

"I know you are Harry."Dumbledore continued to fleet."I know you are. Oh wait, may I ask you something before I go ?"

"Shoot."

"What became of my wand ?"

"Your wand ..."Harry thought back."Oh ... I threw it through the veil along with Voldemort ‘ s. Sorry did you desire to be buried with it or something ?"

"No no Harry."Dumbledore smiled broadly, a mysterious light in his attenuation eye."Just curious."And with that the old wizard faded into nothing, and was gone. Harry chuckled.

"You had to cause the last Good Book didn ‘ t you. Git."

The air seemed to change grain. Harry breathed out softly, he was live again. He could feel his heartbeat in his breast. Weak, but there. Harry glanced around at the grove. It was exactly the same as before but it felt unlike. He was dreaming now, just a even dream. Harry let his eyes close slowly. He would wake up in good prison term, but until then ? He was fine here. For now.
*


Snape reached his apartments in Hogwarts and barely got the doorway shut before falling into a chairwoman. There was a bed in the next room, but it suddenly seemed very far away. Truth be told he could have fallen asleep in the center of the great hall, on the storey. He would stimulate been the laughing stock of every bookman though. Even worse he probably wouldn't have woken up when they started laughing at him, even when they started poking him.

Snape raised his sceptre shakily and levitated the forgotten nursing bottle of wine off his table. It had been left open, no subject. He poured himself a glass.

He had stood in the waiting room in St Mungos for longer than he could remember while incompetent therapist told him they had no information. When they had finally told him that Harry was out of the Wood all his uneasy muscularity had leeched out and it had taken all of his mental strength to stop himself sagging to the floor right there. He had managed to fool to the highest degree of them. He had not fooled Natalie.

She had apparated him back to Hogwarts and made him swear to kip as soon as he got to his room. Who was she to parliamentary procedure him around like that ? Why could she ? Snape's lips curled into a smile. Because she was interesting enough to get away with it and was the only one who could rip it off. Which just added to the interestingness of course of instruction. Snape smiled as the wine-coloured curled down the spinal column of his pharynx. He was very lucky in many regard. golden than he deserved.

"Severus are you in there ?"There was a belt on the door. Not Natalie. Snape flicked his verge and the door creaked candid. Minerva stood on the other side, looking as tired as he felt.

"Minerva."Snape tried to sit a footling less like he was falling asleep."It is good to see you good, in all the disarray in the ministry I lost rails. Come in. Would you wish some vino ?"

"No thank you."Minerva stepped inside. Now that she was closer he could see that the edges of her eyes held revealing signs of snag. She had tried to hide it, but to the trained eye it was quite obvious."I heard you were back in the castle and came down to see you."

"Anything in particular bothering you ?"Snape asked, perhaps more caustically than was requisite."I am rather tired you see."

"Yes, there is something."Minerva pulled a hard support chair over and sat down stiffly."When you went off to St Mungos I called the remaining gild together, there was much to discuss."

"I can imagine that there would be."Snape yawned theatrically. He did not consume to fake it."I can not imagine how that would concern me however, I am no longer a member."

"That is partially what we were discussing."Minerva cocked her head teacher to one side of meat."Voldemort is weakened but not abruptly. The order's labor is far from done and we could more than use your expertise. Your primary feather understanding for leaving was Albus. I will not presume to ask the point of that dissension, it was between the two of you. But do you not think that now he is ... gone, that you might be persuaded to come back to us ?"

"That would depend on who replaced him."Snape said levelly."For representative if it were yourself leading the order, I would feature no objection."

"I will not be leading the order."McGonagall shook her head."I will accept quite enough to do here at Hogwarts. The job of headmistress is enough for me. It has been hard enough to persuade parents to get off their child to Hogwarts this twelvemonth. I imagine future year may be a niggling easygoing but I am sure I will still throw my hands full. And besides, I will need to retrieve a new metamorphosis teacher."

"Shacklebolt then."Snape waved a bridge player vaguely."He has always been very capable."

"Kingsley Shacklebolt may very well be the entirely affair currently keeping the ministry from falling apart."Minerva smiled faintly."He was the most senior auror to endure this slaughter so I believe he will be ever more meddlesome than I myself will be."

"There are other candidates."Snape was fully qui vive now. He could feel where this was going."Alastor Moody."

"Too paranoid."

"Arthur Weasley."

"Has no scrap or strategic experience."

"Natalie. Natalie Zhao. She is-"

"Very new to the order."

"Remus lupin then, he has been with the order since-"

"Remus has grown unpredictable recently. Especially where Harry is concerned."Minerva fixed Snape with a level stare."I believe we can agree that whoever should head up the order should be someone Harry cartel. Someone like you."

"No."

"individual who knows how the nighttime Creator thinks."

"No."

"Severus listen to me."Minerva leant closer to him."Do you not think we discussed all these thing in amongst ourselves in the order ?"

"If I had been there I would accept had a few things to say !"

"Severus please."Minerva's eyes dropped to the flooring."This past year Albus ... well you yourself saw. I do not speak ill of the dead but he had become ... tired. He was not the Dumbledore we all knew. He was not acting at his best."

Snape stayed silent. Not at his salutary was a horrific understatement if ever he heard one but there was no need to say so.

"In any case he was faltering. We all saw it, everyone in the order. But no one did anything about it. Except you."Minerva shook her principal."Perhaps we were all, how did you put it ? ‘ Trapped in the past.'Except you."

"I ... I can not lead the order."Snape tried to induce his voice not sound like that of a rat at bay."I was a destruction feeder, I fell into non-white magic. A long time ago yes but some scrape do not derive out."

"Yours has."

"That is not what I meant !"Snape took a cryptic gulp of wine-colored."I am ... tainted. Undeserving."

"Albus always said he did not deserve the prominence he was given."

"Do not liken me to-"Snape bit back the end of that angry condemnation. There was no to take out his anger on the messenger."I merely meant that I do not think it is condom to dedicate me this sort of power."

"Albus also said that those who seek power are those least suited to wield it."Minerva held his middle."The corollary of that is that those who are suited to manage power are those who reject it."

"Do not quote at me."

"Severus, there is no one else who can do the job as well as you. No one else."

"No one else."Snape felt like chuckling."That is what it always comes down to doesn ‘ t it ? We all do what we must."

"I always have."Minerva stood."So you will convey the task ?"

"Do I have a pick ?"

"You do, but I already know how you will choose."

"You knew before you stepped through that door."Snape sneered."I am trapped like a rabbit."

"Only by your own cakehole Severus."Minerva smiled and turned to the door.

"You know that I will do things differently than Dumbledore."Snape said suddenly."There will be changes."

"I know, I look forward to them."McGonagall nodded, and left the room.

Snape rubbed his frontal bone. He should get down planning, there was much to do. No, he should not. Right now he had a promise to keep. Shedding his robe tiredly, he walked towards his bed.
*


'' Harry ... Harry open your eyes. ``

Harry woke from mysterious dream, the sparkling argent voice in his ears.

'' I 'm awake, '' Harry murmured, his eyes closed. `` But I 'm still in my orchard. I can smell the blossoms. ``

'' You are still at peace, in St Mungos. '' pee rippling over shining stones. `` I wanted to babble to you but you 're on a bang-up deal of medicament. It was simpler for me to just total to you. ``

'' And where are you ? '' Harry 's lip twitched up into a smile.

'' Sitting beside your bed. ``

Harry chuckled, and opened his eyes.

'' Hello Thea. ``

'' hello Harry. '' The young prophet was sitting hybridizing legged under a tree in front of him, looking like the human image of ataraxis. Instead of her common white gown she was wearing a simple embrown attire, she seemed almost character of the forest. She looked ... different, somehow dissimilar. It was not her face, she was still the same beautiful girl he had always known, or her eyes, mismatched as they were. Her silver hair's-breadth was caught up into a long tail down her backrest, tied with drab ribbon. She looked exactly the Saame but there was something missing. Gone was the sense of antiquity, the feeling that the little psyche in front of him had outlasted empires. She seemed ... vernal, the Sami age as him give or take a year. Harry supposed she always had been. It did not take lots to guess the reason for the change.

'' You 're not the oracle anymore. '' Harry guessed, guiltily.

'' No, I 'm not. '' Pythea smiled. `` I was sacked. ``

'' I 'm good-for-nothing. '' Harry hung his head. `` It was because you were helping me, was n't it ? ``

'' Yes, they finally caught on. '' Pythea reached forward and tilted Harry 's chin up. `` Do n't find hangdog, not even for a minute. I was miserable there, almost a prisoner. I 'm glad to be gone. ``

'' You do n't have to narrate me that just to- ''

'' It is the verity. ``

'' But it was your home. '' Harry sighed. `` I 'm going to feel guilty whatever you say, you ca n't stop me. ``

'' Stubborn. ``

'' brat. ``

'' I am not. '' Pythea smiled warmly. `` Do you have any idea what you will do now ? After you are released from hospital I mean. ``

'' I ... I have somewhere I want to go. ``

'' The orphanage ? ``

'' Hey, you reading my head again ? '' Harry smiled mysteriously. `` Do n't I get any secret ? ``

'' I can not read psyche anymore Harry. '' Thea shook her head. `` That came with being the prophesier remember. I just know you. ``

'' But you 're still a seer, right ? '' Harry hesitated to ask.

'' Oh yes, there are some affair they can not take away. '' Pythea nodded. `` I am still a seer, and a very powerful one. ``

'' Can you ... can you tell me my future ? '' Harry asked suddenly.

'' No. I ca n't. '' Pythea smiled and stood. `` Do you need to go to the orphans' asylum now ? ``

'' Now ? '' Harry scratched his point. `` Are n't I in infirmary ? ``

'' A curt paseo will not disoblige a mighty hoagy like you too much. '' Pythea crooked an supercilium mockingly.

'' A abruptly walkway ? We have to get to Eire ya know. ``

'' Then it is prosperous that another thing they can not take away is my external apparition permit. '' Pythea held out her script. `` Just tell me where Harry. And we can go. ``

Harry reached out and took her hand.
*


'' Ow. '' Harry 's hand went to his stomach as bother flared there through the hospital tabloid. `` That really hurts. ``

'' I told you it would. '' Pythea was sitting exactly where she said she was, at the side of his bed. `` The tongue was made with dark magic so the wound ca n't be magically healed. You 'll have to let it knit together the old fashioned way. Is it too much ? Do you wish well to wait till tomorrow ? ``

'' No no. It just surprised me is all. '' Harry slowly lowered his feet to the floor and gingerly stood. He had to hunch over just a trivial to stop the skin of his stomach stretching painfully, but he could take the air. No he could n't. His leg was mangled too. Maybe he could hop ... `` Do you give birth my clothes somewhere ? Oh hold my bag 's right here. Can you move around so I can- ''

Pythea cut him off with a undulation of her hired hand. His hospital robe changed into a simple white jersey and trousers. Muggle plenty to be getting on with. With another wave a carved wooden cane appeared in his hand. Obviously she did not think he was as healthy as said he was. tinker's dam her for being right.

'' Thank you. '' Harry smiled and picked up his bag from beside the bed. `` Shall we go then ? ``

Pythea stepped up to him and wrapped her coat of arms around his pinnace middle. This finale Harry could smell her tomentum, like green grass and the sea. He was breathing faster, probably because of all the potions they had him on.

'' Are you quick ? '' She asked.

'' Yes. '' Harry shut his middle and waited. And waited ... He opened them again and cocked his head to one side. `` Is there a problem ? ``

'' You still have n't told me where we 're going. '' Pythea clicked her tongue irritably. `` Not being able-bodied to read peoples mentation is going to train some getting used to. ``

'' I 'm disconsolate. I really am. '' Harry apologized again, earning him a level stare from the little illusionist, and told her their destination.

For the first clip in his sprightliness Harry enjoyed an apparition. The bulwark of the nihility pressed him into Pythea, forcing them faithful together. He could experience her breath on his cheek. He was almost discomfited when they dropped onto a small road in the countryside.

Harry stepped back and glanced around. There was no mistaking the orphanage, it was the only edifice there. At the center of it was a stately-home type of matter. He could n't put a particular date to it, old was the best he could do. That was clearly the middle of the complex but at some point the owners had felt a need to expand. The two blocks to either side of the main building took after the put-some-rectangular-concrete-blocks-in-a-vaguely-building-shape style of architecture. Around the unanimous post there was a high wall with barbed wire looped at the top.

Harry tried not to think that made it look like a prison. All schooltime had that these days.

With a careful hand on his stomach Harry walked up to the primary receipt. Pythea stopped there and sat down quietly on a bench.

'' You 're not coming in ? '' Harry asked.

'' You go on ahead. '' Thea looked out over the countryside. `` You should probably do this yourself. ``

'' I can still do it myself with you there. ``

'' Go inside Harry. ``

Harry grinned and turned towards the door. He took a trench breath, then winced at what that did to his belly. He tried to settle down the raging butterflies inside but could n't. The just thing that gave him the will to push open the door was marauder formula. Follow through. No fear.

As he stepped into the dull entering hall a secretary looked up from her desk, eying him quizzically.

'' Is there a book department ? '' Harry asked uncertainly.

'' Up the steps first door on the left. '' The secretarial assistant looked back down at her papers.

Up the stairs. Of course of action. Harry labored up the whole step, having to rest more than once before he reached the top. Out the window he could see the playground, full of children running about wildly. From inside the wall the topographic point looked a lot nicer. All around the border of the rampart there were a series of children 's paintings. Long running mural and swirls of semblance. It was almost pleasant, it looked like a normal school.

Harry managed to reach the first-class honours degree base and took a few bore breaths. She wanted to let me to this by myself. Probably just did n't want to carry me up the fucking footmark. Harry then realized that hunching over and breathing heavily in a building full of nestling could possibly be misinterpreted. He stood and walked forward towards the first door, his walking stick clattering against the floor. He knocked, politely.

'' seed in. ``

Harry pushed the room access open to see an elderly lady sitting in front line of a computer, looking at him questioningly over her glasses.

"Hi, I used to live here. At the orphans' asylum I mean."Harry stepped inside.

"Oh,"The woman smiled."Please have a seat."Harry gratefully sat, hung his peg over the back of the chair and worked out how to continue.

"I was wondering if I could get any records you have of me ?"

"Do you have any designation ?"

"Eh ?"

"recommendation ? device driver license, no you ‘ re too young for that. Your adoption credentials perhaps."

"Do I need one ?"Harry's manus moved to his scoop and mercifully found that Draco 's baton was still there.

"We can ‘ t give records out to just anyone dear."

"Confundus."Harry whispered, then."Can you make an elision ?"

"Of ... of course deary."The woman shook her head like she was trying to shift cobwebs then turned to her information processing system."What public figure is it ?"

"I don ‘ t have my name. Long story, but it happened on January twentieth, nine class ago."Harry wondered whether he would need another Confundus to screw up past the ‘ no name'matter, but the womanhood seemed to require it in her stride.

"Everything ‘ s on computers now. It ‘ s very high tech."The womanhood pursed her lips as she clacked away at her keyboard."When I started here we had rooms and rooms of file boxes. Would have taken ages to get hold a record like yours."

When would she feature started here ? Harry wondered. Was it possible she might have been there back when he was ?

"Here we are."The fair sex squinted at the record for a consequence then let out a throaty chuckle."Oh yes, I remember."

"You ... you do ?"Harry felt his intimation quicken."You think of me ?"

"How could I forget ?"She turned to him with a motherly smile."Everyone here has a constant monitor of your hitch with us."

"Wh ... what ?"

"See the paries over there ?"She gestured out the windowpane."See the barbed wire ? You may cogitate it ‘ s to keep folks out, but it was originally put up to keep you in. You kept clambering over the wall."

"Really."Harry didn't dare tactile property. Didn't daring hope. A dwell connection to his stolen past like this had been too lots to ask."I must have caused you all a lot of trouble."

"Oh you were a scamp you were."The old woman smiled fondly."I still think what you said to me the day the wire went up."

"What ?"Harry swallowed."What did I say ?"

"Well I said to you ‘ You know that wire ‘ s been put up just to keep you in.'And you turned to me, cheeky as a monkey, and told me ‘ That ‘ s good misfire, ‘ cos the wall wasn ‘ t much of a challenge anymore.'”

Harry's center broke and he fell into his hands. He felt tears blooming in his eyes. He hadn't known what to await when he'd come here, but he had never expected this. He had never expected proof. cogent evidence that he wasn't some Frankenstein fiend, proof that he wasn't a bad copy of James I potter. He was, and had always been, him. Arrogant, cocky, unrespectful of self-confidence and filled with wanderlust. He. Was. Him.

"beloved are you alright ?"The old char sounded concerned."Do you require a tissue ?"

"And you tell me ..."Harry swallowed and tried again."Can you say me my gens ?"

"Oh, I ‘ m afraid you came to us without a name."She looked back at her computer screen."We gave you the surname Malyn, after the orphanhood. Which is a traditional here. And for the first name we had to make that up. So we called you Jack."

seaman ...

mariner Match.

Jack Baltzegaurd.

diddly-shit Shakey.

Jack Caiman.

All those people, all those citizenry he'd disguised himself as ... Jack.

His constant quantity assumed name. The name that had always come to his lips when he knew he couldn't say ‘ Harry ’. It had been a memory, a memory of the beginning substantial epithet he had. Not given to him by his parents sure, and apparently not magically binding. But a name. He still felt more like Harry, it was still the epithet that came first to his lips but ... it was like that hollow core inside him was filling. Filling with parts of a life sentence he had though he had no remembering of. It felt so good.

"I suppose you ‘ ll privation to go down and see it."The old cleaning woman was handing him a printed copy in a folder. Harry assumed it was his file cabinet. She nodded towards the dorsum of the orphanage.

"See it ?"

"It was always your favorite place."The old womanhood smiled."It was where we usually found you when you managed to sneak off."

Suddenly Harry knew, and with the knowledge came the unbearable need to see if it was true. Harry stood suddenly.

"Yes, I do require to see it. Thank you."Harry smiled exhaustive teary optic."Thank you. Thank you so much."

"My joy Jack."

Harry turned and hobbled from the room, it was only his aching injury and walking peg that stopped him from running. He reached the bottom of the stairs and pushed out the door. Pythea was already standing, like she'd known he was coming.

"We need to go that ... that way."Harry was breathing so hard all he could do was point vaguely.

"Lead the way."

Harry set off, taking them circle to the backbone of the construction. He could see it now, down the side a short. He stumbled down and stopped just before he reached it, just before he went beneath the shade of the apple tree diagram. The lilliputian round orchard of Malus pumila trees.

"My god."Pythea had her hand to her mouth in seismic disturbance."It ‘ s real."

"It was a memory."Harry breathed, reaching out a hand to touch a branch."It was a memory. I kept having this dream where I was stuck in Godrics holler. But that property felt all weird, but if I could founder out and reach the grove I felt safe. Felt real."

"I though it was a creation of your mind, I never thought ..."

"Neither did I."Harry stepped beneath the branches and walked into the center field of the grove. He set his back against the Tree and slid down, resting on the ground. Pythea sat down next to him, resting her shoulder against his.

"It ‘ s very peaceful here."Was all she said.

Harry didn't trust himself to speak. Couldn't speak. There were no words. They sat there for the longsighted time, the last summer snap filling running past them and rustling the leaves above their heads. Eventually, after who knew how long, Harry spoke.

"Thea ?"

"Hm ?"She murmured. Had she almost fallen at rest. Harry looked over into her beautiful mismatched eyes.

"Why did you trust me ? Right at the beginning ?"

"I told you, because you are in effect and-"

"But right at the beginning you couldn ‘ t have known all that."Harry pointed out."spine then I was a stranger."

"You were never a stranger."Thea smiled sadly."Do you bonk how they choose the succeeding oracle Harry ? They go around to all the magical households in Greece, looking for children with the inner eye. If they find one with enough power, with magnate enough to be Pythea, they take them back to the temple."

"withdraw them from their parents ?"Harry asked, shocked.

"The parents have a option of course, but who would defy say no."Pythea huddled up against Harry's face."I was three, but I remember it well, another curse my gift gives me. My name wasn ‘ t Pythea then, but I was told that I could never use my old name, never speak it ever again. One day in art course I signed one of my paintings with the old epithet, just a little mistake. The vehemence they had at me that day ... they burnt my word-painting, in front of my eyes. I never used the old name again. After I finished my breeding I was allowed to go back and jaw my parents. I went back to my old house. They were very ... polite. They acted exactly the way I would ask someone to act towards The Pythea. When I tried to act like their daughter, they looked at me like I had done something amiss. Even to them I was supposed to be The Pythea ... even to them."

"Thea I never knew."Harry put an arm around her ( What the hell do I do ? She's not crying, do I offer her a tissue anyway ? Oh god what do I say ? )"It must have been heart-wrenching. I can ‘ t imagine-"

"You can imagine. Not that you have to."Pythea smiled up at him."That ‘ s why we were never strangers. Because we ‘ re the same, both orphaned. Both with our admittedly identicalness taken from us. Both shoved into rolls and public figure we never wanted."

"Both forced to live with them."Harry nodded."Yeah, we were never strangers. We're the same, we ‘ re like ... rootless. We have no radical. No past."

"Did you find out your epithet ?"Pythea asked suddenly.

"I found out a name."Harry shrugged."But I think I ‘ ll keep going with Harry, I ‘ ve carried it longer than the other now anyway."

"They took away who we are."She murmured.

"They took away our names."Harry corrected, brushing his hand against Pythea's human face."They can ‘ t take away who we are. The names don ‘ t subject so much, you can promise me Harry or squat or Bob it doesn't matter. I know who I am."

"I wish I had your certainty."

"You do have it."Harry smiled."Because I know who you are. It ‘ s got nothing to do with your name. You ‘ re just you. Any you ‘ re perfect."

"Harry ..."Pythea lifted up, niggling glistening teardrop in the recess of her eyes, and kissed him lightly on the cheek."Thank you."

Harry didn't really know what to do, other than to blush. A moment later Pythea seemed to realize something.

"Harry, did you just beat me at being profound ?"

"Had to happen eventually."Harry grinned cheekily.

"I ‘ ll get you future time."

"You ‘ re on."

Pythea smiled, lighting up her face. Harry bit his lip and asked.

"So, you ‘ re going to be staying in Britain then ? For now ?"

"I think so. Are you ?"

"Yeah, probably."Harry rested his men behind his head."Go back to Hogwarts maybe. I don ‘ t know if I missed the O.W.L.S."

"They begin next hebdomad if I remember correctly."

"A week, think that ‘ s adequate fourth dimension ?"Harry scratched his head.

"Since it ‘ s all the revisal you would do anyway, I ‘ d say, yes. And after that ?"

"Dunno ... check in the country probably. I could do with a decent peaceful holiday."

"Harry you wouldn ‘ t know what to do with a peaceful holiday."

"I ‘ d know exactly what to do."Harry winked."As soon as I got there it would get a lot less peaceful, but a lot Thomas More fun."

Crystal laughter filled the grove, and lit up the leaves with light.
*


Bellatrix Lestrange bowed over her captain's bed and cried, heedless of her binge staining the sheets. She had done all she could, used every facet of her art, but her lord still barely breathed. His skin was beat bloodless and only the dark magic she had woven in his chest kept him alive. He was so weak, not even witting. It was terrible to see him like this, terrible to see him brought so low. Better if he had truly died, then he could have risen up again in nimbus. Instead he was trapped in this prison of flesh. Better dead than to lie on this narrow cot in a tiny way, not even fit for a hide blank space. But she had to do what she could. She was the finale, the conclusion loyal death eater.

"I am all he has."Bellatrix whimpered.

"That is not the case."

Bella whirled, her wand snaking out. When she saw who it was she barely relaxed.

"You !"She spat with spitefulness."Barty Crouch, you dare slink back after abandoning our Divine !"

"I did not abandon him."The smooth boy stepped from the shadows, carrying a bundle under his arm."I was doing our lords goodness work."

"For a full year ?"

"It did convey thirster than promise ... but it has been done. And in the ding of time too."The pale superstar strode over to the darkness God Almighty's sickbed and knelt beside it."I am your handmaiden, master, and I have done your bid. Do not concern lord, I can make you strong again. unattackable than ever. With this ... we can rise again, the death eater can rise again. The earth will tremble master, tremble in fear."

Barty Crouch reached into his package and pulled something out. Bellatrix felt her jaw drop.

"We can be potent than ever master."Barty's nerve in the shadows was terrifying."firm than ever."





Ye gods that was hard to write aright. Or ... compensate write. Write write ... some combination of those words anyway. It 's been a roller coaster I think you 'll agree, and the single most massive twist of the total fic was finally revealed. Leslie Townes Hope you liked it. mass who were waiting to the end of this book to review ... your prison term has come.

I 've already started writing the following book and It ai n't going well. I did n't do my common thing of writing myself into a niche. Instead I plotted the book out in approach and wrote to it. Unfortunately I got a few chapters in and realized that it sucked. The plot made logical gumption and all, no plot-holes, there was zero tripping me up, no writer block, I just realized that the plot I had mapped out was a bit [ discussion I ca n't add without mature rating ] really. I had to go back and rework the affair. Positive upshot : The story is a lot stronger now I think. electronegative issue : I have to throw away a significant function of what I 've already written. Ah well, such is life.

Anyway *clears throat* the next story is on it 's way. Our Harry has finally found out who he really is and begins walking his own itinerary. Too bad that way is as deadly as the finally. A new opposition rise, an old one lingers and a inscrutable assassin is out for Harry 's blood. With Harry still injured from his confrontation in the department of mysteries he ca n't front these challenges head on. He may even ingest to set off using his brain ...

Mysteries abound in the next book of the series Harry ceramicist, The Stone and The Scorpion !