Have n't said this in a while so I should probably mention. I do n't own Harry Potter. I 'm not sure of the particular effectual branch of a character called Harry Potter but not actually the same guy. But anyway, I do n't own any of the material I 'm not supposed to own. I may own the stuff I 'm supposed to own but since I 'm unlikely to publish it probably does n't matter.



It was a nice garden, the garden at Malfoy Manor. At one time the bushes were elegantly crafted topiary, a menagerie of wild creatures in fanciful poses, but they had been untended for a year and now they looked just ilk George Herbert Walker Bush. Just here or there you could see a phantasm of a dragon, the offstage of a swan. It was like looking at clouds. The grass had grown up too, farsighted blade that got between your toes. It was one-half wild but then that was good. It was a wonderfully peaceful place.

So why oh why had they nailed two bloody slap-up quidditch goals into it. Harry snorted, they were ruining the panorama with their unintelligent game.

'' Come on Harry ! '' Ginny swooped down laughing. `` There 's a unornamented heather ! ``

'' rightfield, the ling 's the job. '' Harry laughed back, waving his cane. `` Not the fact that I 'm fateful in the air at the expert of times and am currently down a arm. ``

'' So you 're just gon na stay down there on the forage like an old man ? ``

'' Just maintain it quiet you hooligans. '' Harry laughed as Ginny rose into the sky again. It would own been fun to go up and defecate a fool of himself, make them laugh when he fell off. But if he ever wanted to get rid of the walking spliff he would have to let himself actually cure. If he burst his guts candid nobody would laugh. Well ... maybe the Gemini the Twins would.

Harry turned and stomped off across the dope, back towards the house. The sun was beating down like a malleus and Harry was sweating by the time he reached the panoptic veranda. He took a moment before climbing the stairs. Everybody knew he was recovering from his injuries but he did n't like to let them bonk how difficult some things were for him. Better to just take a minute.

Harry stomped up the wooden stairs and dropped into a folding deckchair. The unharmed veranda was new woodwind, tacked onto the back of the ancient planetary house. The marauders had conjured and constructed the thing the first day they got there, at Draco 's urging. The vernal Slytherin took an almost pathological delight in slamming beams into the ancient Malfoy mansion. It was all they could do to cease him using 15th century obelisk as nails.

The whole billet had been transformed into a variety of predator summer camp. All of them were there, at first they had just come during the day to flow out, then in drib and drabs they had attached themselves to rooms and began staying overnight. Harry was loving it, he had a wrapped audience. And now that the piranha numbered twenty they were a good audience. Except when they did unpointed things like play quidditch or do homework. But at other times they were brilliant.

'' So, '' Harry turned to the deck chair beside him, containing his newest learned person. `` Who 's winning ? ``

'' I ca n't tell apart. '' Pythea took a dainty sip from a field glass of lemonade. `` They seem to have released four different snitches so I do n't know how to rack up. ``

'' Four snitches ? '' Harry 's supercilium arched.

'' Ginerva and Draco were left in kick of setting up. ``

'' Probably just trying to outstrip the twins. '' Harry shrugged. `` How many bludgers were there ? ``

'' Twelve I believe. ``

'' Seemed like more. '' Harry glanced up at the secret plan flowing above the vast grounds. sixteen marauder were swooping and diving in the hot, dead, air. Like swallows. Harry envied them, not for the power to fly, but for the relief from the heat that flying would bring. Harry brushed his fret filled pilus out of his face and fanned himself with his hand. He turned to the young woman next to him. `` How are you not sweating ? It 's like a warm day in netherworld. ``

'' I 'm used to Ellas Harry. ``

'' You 're used to a floaty castle in the sky. '' Harry leant back to soak in the rays. `` I however need some nuance. '' Harry drew his wand and floated a standing umbrella over. It shook a trivial as it settled into place. Harry frowned, his new wand was n't his darling. For one thing it was n't an Ollivander wand.

His first gear wand had been taken from him by Voldemort at the end of his fourth year, it had never been recovered. His endorse lay broken in Godrics Hollow. Both had worked for him wonderfully and he had wanted something as good. The first day he had got out of infirmary he had stomped down to the old wand-makers shop class to buy a new wand. Unfortunately the old man had had other ideas.

'' Out ! Out ! Wand-killer ! Get out of my shop ! ``

'' But I just want- ''

'' I heard what you did to Dumbledore 's verge ! Travesty to put down such ... such ... Get out ! get out ! get out ! ``

Harry had been bundled from the shop by the scrawny old by-blow. As he fell backwards out the door, his cane clattering on the cobblestone, he had yelled.

'' I did also defeat Voldemort you know ! '' But the threshold had been slammed shut in his look and he had gone back to the mansion empty handed. Given that he did n't want to go to long without a scepter he had scrounged through the thing taken from the captured death feeder. Eventually he had found one that worked. He never found out who it belonged to, did n't really matter to him. It was made of reassuringly tough oak and had a prissy round handle. It was just sometimes a fiddling ... finical. Finicky was the proper give-and-take. He just had to get used to it.

'' You could try another wand-maker. ``

'' Are you sure you ca n't read psyche anymore ? '' Harry smiled over at Pythea.

'' You were staring at it. ``

'' I was not. '' Harry holstered his verge again in his pocket. Out over the garden a cheer went up as one team or another scored-slash-fouled in a way that was apparently impressive. Harry chuckled, the children were playing. `` Are you planning to get a wand ever ? ``

'' I do n't use one. '' Thea hovered her lemonade up above her deal by way or proof. `` I had a dissimilar form of didactics. ``

'' Could you teach me ? ``

'' Do you have a few spare years ? ``

'' Ouch. '' Harry threw his hand to his thorax in mock wound. `` I 'm not that dumb. ``

'' We 'll see when the O.W.L. effect come. '' Pythea glanced at the sky. `` When do you think they will get here ? ``

'' Oh eventually. '' Harry put his weaponry behind his straits. `` I 'm in no haste. No delay, scratch that. Once they come we do n't sustain to hear to Hermione worrying anymore. They need to come now. Right now. ``

'' They 'll be here in about half an hour. '' Pythea said confidently. Harry did n't trouble oneself asking her how she knew, this was a seer he was talking to.

Harry stretched out in his chairperson and yawned. It was nice to possess an actual holiday again, no worry about Voldemort, no bay to set about. It was relaxing. Harry eased his injured leg into a more easy locating. He needed relaxing. His leg and his tummy needed relaxing. His brain needed it too. Harry closed his oculus and sighed happily. Through his magic vision he could see Thea depend over and smiling fondly.

'' Have you decided whether you 'll go to Hogwarts yet ? '' Harry asked her.

'' I do n't know what I 'd do there. '' Pythea tapped her finger against her chicken feed. `` I would n't be a student and I could n't be a teacher. ``

'' You could be a teaching help. '' Harry grinned. `` service Trewalny- ''

'' Do n't even finish that prison term. '' Pythea shuddered. `` That opinion is too ugly to mull over. ``

'' But well-nigh of all you can be close to the order in causa they need your arcane natural endowment. '' Harry wheedled. `` Your telling arcane gift. Your amazing and unparalleled arcane natural endowment. ``

'' Would n't I be closer here ? '' Pythea raised an brow quizzically. `` Here in the order headquarters ? ``

'' But what if the vulture needed your talents. '' Harry pleaded. `` Your telling, godlike natural endowment. ``

'' Harry ... ''

'' And besides. '' Harry smiled warmly. `` You never got a fortune to be a kid. occupy this fortune, come to Hogwarts. Let the marauders show you how to get fun. ``

Pythea did n't say anything, but she smiled.

'' That 's a yes. You smiled so that 's a yes. ``

'' Harry ... ''

'' It counts as a yes. You 're stuck with it now. ``

'' You ... ''

'' Me. ``

'' halt it. ``

'' Ca n't. ``

'' And you call me a bratwurst. ``

Harry chuckled and laid back in his seat. He must take fallen asleep because the next thing he knew was a owl was pecking at his face.

'' Get. The. blaze. Off. Me. '' Harry groaned.

mint, peck, peck.

'' Oh fine. '' Harry woke and cracked his cervix. The owl was n't holding a letter of the alphabet. `` Where are my bleedin results you pudden-head birdwatch ? ``

'' Here Harry. '' Thea was sitting comfortably, holding a close up chip of composition in her hands.

'' The owl gave it to you ? ``

'' I 'm sound with animals. '' Thea glanced down at the art object of paper. `` Do n't you want to get it on your results ? ``

'' Not particularly. ``

'' No ? We could actually give a post where I go to Hogwarts and you do n't. ``

'' Has ... has that happened ? '' Harry felt his heart drop.

'' Ah so you actually do guardianship. '' Pythea glanced at him slyly.

'' little terror. ``

'' You have n't failed. '' Pythea smiled. `` You got four. Four O.W.Ls. ``

'' Well that ... '' Harry nodded faintly. `` That 's not bad. That 's not too bad. Considering. '' He reached over and picked the resolution out of her hired hand. `` Charms O. Ok that works for me. defense ... E. ''

'' How could you get an E in defense. '' Pythea shook her head at him. `` You defeated Voldemort. ``

'' Defeating dark noble does n't have a written circumstances. '' Harry said indignantly.

'' Did you see the former resultant ? ``

'' Managed A 's in astronomy and creatures. '' Harry shrugged. `` Good enough to go back to Hogwarts. ``

Pythea opened her mouth to say something but did n't get the chance.

'' The results ! The results are here ! ``

Harry 's auricle were assaulted by Hermione 's screams. Thea raised her hand to her auricle and winced.

'' Welcome to the marauders. '' Harry said, over the ring in his ears.
*


The next day they did the solitary thing traditional after receiving Hogwarts alphabetic character. The customary, almost pilgramigical, tripper to Diagon Alley.

'' Wait why are you going ? '' Harry had asked Fred and George IV. `` You 've had your close year. ``

'' We 're going to go flavor at something. '' Fred had replied evasively.

'' What ? ``

'' Just ... just something. '' Fred shrugged.

'' This is about your joke shop is n't it. '' Harry guessed shrewdly.

'' Maybe. ``

'' What about you ? '' Harry turned to Joshua split. `` Why are you coming ? ``

'' I 'm bore. '' Was his summary reply.

Harry shrugged. Fair enough. The Weasley parents were there as well of form. Harry knew that on some point they disapproved of their children being soldiers in a war on eternal swarthiness. Harry knew this, and could barely contribute himself to care. The war was effectively over for now, they were n't soldiers for now. Not for a few years at least. Harry shrugged, he would have preferred if the vulture could go alone. Being parented after so long taking care of himself was galling. Ah well, with so many predator they could n't possibly continue tab key on all of them.

Harry shrugged and hoisted his cane. Ah well, prison term to do the cover to school shop. How very normal.
*


Harry dropped into a seat in an ice-cream parlour. His leave alone leg, and left arm were both killing him. He had never been more thankful that his bottomless bag absorbed the weight of the Christian Bible he 'd bought. If he 'd had to extend them the traditional way he might well be short. It was n't even just the weight or the trauma, it was the people. What had happened in the section of mystery was known to every maven in Britain and probably a good number outside as well. Harry did n't get it on which ace were worse, the ones that demanded an autograph like he was he was a bloody celebrity or the single that shied away from him like he was a god. It was draining, physically and mentally. He needed a break.

'' Are you alright Harry ? '' Ron asked.

'' Everyone wants to stop for ice cream right ? '' Harry panted. `` We 're all stopping for ice cream. Not because I 'm almost dead. Stopping for ice cream because we want to, not because I 'm a bloody invalid. ``

'' Um ... yeah Harry. '' Padma nodded faintly. `` Because we want to. ``

'' Great ! '' Harry sat back. `` Double soap, coffee bean and chocolate please. ``

'' Why do I have to get it ? ``

'' I 'm injured. '' Harry held up his cane and put on a hangdog expression. `` War wounds. ``

'' Make up your thinker. '' Draco muttered and shook his head wryly as the vulture pushed tabular array together around the one Harry had claimed. Harry just sat back and grinned. The heat had beat down harshly all day but now it was evening and the air was pleasantly cool off. Very peaceful. Harry wondered idly what he would do with a year of peace of mind. Probably go mental. Possibly get arrested. Without his idealistic finish to justify his outlawry he was liable to end up expelled. He might bear to rein himself in a bit. Just a bit. It was unfortunate that he had no idea how to do that.

'' Coffee and coffee. '' A cone was shoved into his hand by Padma.

'' What ? No waffle cone ? ``

'' Do n't advertise it limpy. ``

'' Ouch. '' Harry chuckled as the vulture pulled up chairman around the mesa. Despite her satire Padma pulled up the professorship next to Harry. Thea sat down quietly on the other side of meat. She was tranquility with everyone but Harry still. For someone who had been one of the most powerful cleaning woman in the world she was remarkably shy. Harry opened his mouth to ask her something when he felt a tug at his sleeve.

'' Watch. '' Padma hissed quietly and cheekily. Harry 's center followed her secret gaze to the former side of the table. Ginny and Draco were sitting at the far other English. As he watched Ginny held her ice cream out to Draco, who bent to lick it and ended up with a spot on his nose. Ginny laughed louder than it was natural to laugh at something so cliché and wiped the smear off with a napkin. The napkin brushed down Draco 's aspect just a moment longsighted than was necessary. With his magic eye Harry could even see Ginny 's wink quicken. Harry turned to Padma.

'' And he still remains totally oblivious. '' Harry shook his head in incredulity. `` Does he throw some kind of empathic blind-spot ? ``

'' Apparently. '' Padma snorted cynically. `` I think Ginny 's getting desperate. It 's almost awkward. My darling sister has been lending her mascara. And creams. ``

'' Interesting that you say creams in the Sami fashion that others would say ... oh I do n't know. stinker bile. ``

'' If he 's that oblivious he 's not worth it. By the way, if you want to swap some of the emollient for skunk bile I 'm game. '' Padma grinned slyly.

'' That would be really imply. ``

'' She would attract attending though. ``

'' We do n't prank fellow marauders. '' Harry turned to the girl on his other side. `` Maybe you can recite us. See anything in their hereafter ? Something small and squalling perhaps ? ``

'' I 'm not a fortune narrator Harry. '' Pythea said coldly. It was only the weak twinkle in her eye that told him she was kidding.

'' Not even a little luck ? '' Harry arched an eyebrow.

'' What do you anticipate me to do Harry ? '' The piffling seer smiled. `` learn tea leaves ? ``

'' Would that ferment ? ``

'' Of course not. ``

'' Wait a hour ! '' Ron spun turn from Pythea 's early slope. Harry saw the seer saltation in surprise but cut through it a moment later. Ron had n't noticed. `` Tea leave of absence do n't omen the futurity ? ``

'' No. However could they ? ``

'' What about clouds ? Tarot cards ? Casting bone ? ``

'' I 'm sorry Ronald none of those will give you any insight into the futurity. '' Pythea answered calmly.

'' Then what have I been doing for the past tense three years ? ``

'' Making stuff up ? '' Harry suggested.

'' well yeah I knew that but ... what did I get an O.W.L for ? ``

'' You got an O.W.L for putting up with Trewalny for three long time. '' Harry reached over and clapped Ron on the shoulder. `` It 's well deserved. ``

Pythea laughed lightly into her script causing Harry to notice something.

'' Hey, you have n't got any ice cream. '' Harry cocked his head. `` Did you want something else ? I think they 've got deep brown and tea and stuff. ``

'' Harry it 's O.K.. '' Pythea seemed to change over closer to him. `` I just do n't have any money that 's all. I left Greece with nothing and I 've been staying at the manor house ever since you know ... ''

'' You should have said something. '' Harry held out his cone. `` Here. You 'll like it, umber is one of the three safe UK nip, chocolate ice cream however is dangerously data-based. ``

Pythea chuckled as she daintily licked a drop off the incline of his ice cream strobilus. Harry turned it to let her get at all of it. He heard a snicker behind him and looked over his shoulder to see Padma covering her rima oris with her hand.

'' What ? '' The sniggering continued. `` What ? ``

'' goose egg. '' Padma 's optic flickered to Draco and Ginny on the other side of the table then back to him.

'' Wha ... what are you suggesting that ... no no that 's ... that 's totally dissimilar. '' Harry protested, which only prompted a gale of laughter. `` It 's not the like thing ... I mean she did n't .... whereas they ... Shut up. '' Harry turned away from the sniggering marauder and tried to brush off her. He and Pythea finished off the cone by tour, and by the clock time they finished Harry was pleasantly cool.

It was a totally fun and peaceful vista. Harry should have known it would n't last.

'' Having a pleasant day out Mr ceramicist ? '' A trace fell across the table. `` It was a beautiful day I felt. ``

'' hullo St. James the Apostle. '' Harry 's eyes fixed on the old gentleman's gentleman. Maybe it was his tone of interpreter but the vulture went still in a moment. They went from laughing happily to taught as a drawn bowstring in an wink. work force hovered near wands. Harry waved to them. `` Do n't worry guy cable, he 's not dangerous. He 's not even really here. Again. ``

'' A pathos really. '' James turned his picket, lined look to the sky. `` It looks like such a courteous evening. ``

'' Is it cold where you are ? ``

'' I am not telling you where I am. '' James smiled. `` But I do not blame you for fishing. ``

'' I 'm certainly curious as to who you are. '' Harry leant forwards. `` Last time I followed your advice I was framed for murdering some death eaters. ``

'' A regrettable consequence Mr potter, but not my faulting. '' Jesse James spoke dryly and precisely. `` The selective information I gave you was entirely adjust. ``

'' Yes. '' Harry nodded towards the Baker twins, both ( despite his words ) looking make to bound. `` You told me that their father was targeted to be attacked so I do n't think you work for Voldemort. But that does n't think of you 're on the side of good. ``

'' good is meaningless. '' James said definitely. His crisp Oxford enunciation making the words seem even colder.

'' Now I know you 're on the ill-timed side. ``

'' Think whatever you wish Mr Potter, it does n't particularly matter if you like me. Although obviously I would opt if we were on amicable terms. Nevertheless you will listen to what I have to say. '' James waved a gloved handwriting at the bustling street. `` You will listen or in just about ten arcminute these citizenry will all be utterly. ``

'' You 'd better talk fast then. '' Harry 's fingers were gripping the side of his chair.

'' Voldemort will assail here. '' Was the mere response from the elderly physiognomy in front of him.

'' Voldemort has just two death eater and is supposed to be almost dead. '' Harry grated angrily. `` How could he possibly mount an flack. ``

'' dearest boy do you expect me to say you everything ? '' James smiled faintly. `` You would think that this would be enough. Just know that as soon as the synodic month rises about twenty werewolves and at least as many wizards will be attacking here. Whether you chose to believe me ... is up to you. '' James disappeared where he stood, startling a passing family.

'' Harry ? '' Ginny was speaking worriedly from across the table. `` Do you believe him ? ``

'' Yes. '' Harry 's teeth grated together. `` Sod the bastard but yes. '' Harry grabbed his cane and pushed himself to his wobbling feet. `` Neville, get inside the shop and flue the aurors, and the rules of order. Everybody else starting line spreading out and getting hoi polloi into the fireplaces. Do not panic them. GO ! ``

'' right. '' Harry turned to the care looking Pythea. `` Can you fight if it comes to it ? ``

'' I was never trained. '' Her articulation sounded very small.

'' Ok, do n't take this the wrong way but if something happens you need to stay out of the way. '' Harry raised his hand to her shoulder. `` Stay safe. '' Harry stepped back and waved the marauders to the left and compensate down the street. He himself painfully stepped onto the table and amplified his voice.

'' Listen ... ag ... This is Harry thrower. '' A cheer went up from the gang, some people began to scrabble for things for him to signalise. `` No no, Listen. We 've received a tip that there might be something bad happening here soon. It 's probably a faithlessly consternation, just some imbecile who thinks he 's peculiar, but I 've talked to the aurors and they think we should empty anyway. Just go forward calmly into the nearest shop and flue back to your place. No pushing, just please go home. Do n't interest about your friends up and down the street, we have people warning them too. ``

Harry tried to keep a calm smiling face as he waved people into away, nodding with an almost hackneyed normalcy. He heard clattering footsteps behind him.

'' Harry ! '' Neville dashed up behind him.

'' What did the aurors say ? ``

'' I could n't extend to them, the flue 's blocked. '' Neville panted. `` I went through the back and tried the next shop. It 's down too. I think they all are. ``

'' What ? '' Harry spun to bet at the shop class he had been waving the great unwashed into. As he turned a cry went up and seemed to ripple along the crowd. Harry could here the war cry of 'it 's not working, why is n't it working ?'. He felt is marrow drop. He spun and grabbed a man out of the crew. The man looked down at him in shock but Harry spoke right over him. `` Can you apparate ? ``

'' Wha ... what 's that ? ``

'' Try to apparate. ``

'' Is there a job ? ``

'' Just try to bloody apparate ! ``

'' I ... '' The man paused. `` I ca n't. It 's blocked or ... or something. ``

Harry spun back to human face Neville. The neural piranha was gripping his wand hard. Harry amplified his voice harshly, twisting his wand until he could feel his vocal cords twanging.

'' MARAUDERS ! THIS IS REAL ! GET EVERYBODY OUT INTO LONDON ! ``

Harry left Neville in charge and clattered back towards the leaky cauldron, his leg felt like it was on ardor. The unveiling bulwark came into sight, closed. the great unwashed were crowded up against it, clawing at the bricks like rat. Harry stopped, shocked.

'' Harry ! '' Lucy Jamaican capital ran up to him, the Baker twins trailing behind her. `` We tried to get them out but the flues are down. When they found out the panicked. I 'm ... I 'm sad. ``

'' Get out of the way. '' Harry ordered them, raising his wand towards the crowd. `` EVERYBODY MOVE ! ``

The crowd turned towards his yelling voice, saw the raised verge and the look in his eyes, and parted like the red sea.

"Confringo ! '' Harry aimed the curse at the nub of the wall and blasted a hole in the masonry. He shot again and the rampart fell in, crumbling into rubble. Behind the wall a material body stepped forward, his face veiled by a rough material and the rest of him covered in cryptic jet. That was what everybody saw. Magic eyes saw more.

'' Get away from him ! '' Harry yelled, but he was too ho-hum. The figure shot forward like a snake, his manus jerking into his clothing and coming out with a thick bladed dagger. In one smooth drive the man was amongst the bunch. The tongue came forward and Harry saw a nebuliser of rake. The knifeman spun and plunged the blade into the back of a cleaning woman who had turned to run then Harry was knocked to the English by pressing bodies as the crowd stampeded away.

'' Let me through ! '' Harry yelled as he was buffeted madly. He could still see the knifeman in the coldness blue of his magic mint. The man was spinning randomly through the gang, opening veins and cutting throats like the flickering characterization of liquid death. Harry tried to promote his way towards him but he was thrown back. `` Screw this ! Galbinus digitus ! Hammus missis ! ``

The vines on the wall to his side of meat expanded like a mad devilfish, arching across the street. Harry had already cast a chemical chain up to the cat valium arch and jerked himself up over the crowd. Swinging madly, barely in command, Harry was drawn through the air above the header of the writhing crowd. Harry 's eye caught the knifeman and he let go, swinging his pegleg out, steel-toed flush coming up.

The man dodged like a wildcat and Harry twisted in the air to nullify getting a knife in his neck. He landed painfully, his leg bending under him, unwilling to support his weight, and he stumbled. The knife flashed towards him.

'' Stalagmite ! '' Harry jabbed his wand down and the cobbles exploded upwards in a protrusion spike heel, knocking the tongue away. But the man was too fast his left hand dipped into his apparel and came back with a thin wand before Harry could even endure. Harry had to roll out away as a fierce net of razor duds came shooting towards him. He tried to stand but his leg buckled and he saw the flashing knife again, too close this time.

'' Stubefy ! '' The red twinkle smashed the knifeman from behind and threw him to the floor. Harry struggled to grow as Lucy and the two Bakers pushed through the last of the crew to get to him. Lucy grabbed his arm and he gratefully pulled himself erect. `` Are you alright ? ``

'' No ! '' Harry summoned his cane and glanced around. There were bodies everywhere. He had n't been fast enough.

'' We tried to- '' Terry bread maker began to speak but a knife bloomed from his shoulder and he was thrown back into his sisters arms. `` Aaaah ! ``

Harry spun with his wand out. Out of the gob in the wall were climbing three more than green shrouded chassis. Harry 's eye buzzed through them and was more behind them. Lots more.

'' Get him out of here ! Fall back ! '' Harry yelled. He twitched his wand at the base and swung it like a sword, growing a wall of stone out of the rough cobblestone. Harry saw Anna bread maker war cry as she dashed away with her bleeding blood brother at the same fourth dimension as Lucy ran to tolerate next to him. `` I meant you too ! ``

'' I 'm not leaving you. ``

'' That 's fine, I 'm retreating too ! '' Harry hobbled backwards, his wand trained on the paries. A blurred shape catapulted over the paries, spinning in the air. Harry 's wand flicked out. `` Ferio ! '' The hex struck the man in the air and he crashed to the floor principal first with a sickening crush. Two Sir Thomas More followed him and Harry threw more enchantment, beside him Lucy was madly throwing execration. Harry could see the street behind the rampart filling up with enemies. There were far more than the 20 Saint James the Apostle had warned about.

'' Difindo ! '' Harry raked his verge along the keister of the wall, forcing himself to ignore the three Sir Thomas More warriors that had leapt over the top of it. `` Depulso ! '' His wall flew backwards along the street like a wrecking Ball, sweeping the assaulter back. Harry did n't have time to gloat as a Leo the Lion made of fervor leapt out of thin air and raked his arm with burning claw. He did n't nark to flame-freeze it, just blasted it out of the air and sent the flame back at the wickedness figures advancing up the street towards them.

'' Harry, did n't that man say something about loup-garou ? '' Lucy was panting beside him.

'' hear if you see a damn wolfman say me ! '' Harry yelled through gritted dentition as he smashed a pillar of ice out of the air. `` Until then I think I 'll portion out with the job in front of me ! ``

Harry blocked another curse but even as he did so two Sir Thomas More whizzed past tense him and hit the crew. He heard cries of pain and anguish. He could n't stop all of them. He could n't even stop nigh of them. This was going to be a bloodletting unless he could arrest it.

'' They 're on the roofs ! '' individual in the bunch yelled.

Harry 's eye swiveled up and he cursed. There were at to the lowest degree five shady figures dashing along the rooftops towards them, the sheer side not even giving them pause.

'' Bloody Inferno who are these Guy ? encompass me ! '' Harry ducked behind Lucy as he jabbed his verge up at the shingles. `` Pinguis ! '' The tiles suddenly gleamed like an oil slick and the track figures tumbled like skittle, skidding and scrabbling to witness purchase before falling to the cobbles with a crunch.

Harry saw more spells coming from behind him and felt wish cheering as he saw five more marauders dashing to help out of the pressing crowd. Draco skidded to a stop next to him and instantly had to raise a buckler to stop a spinning blade.

'' They 're attacking on the early side too ! '' Draco yelled, his grimace covered with a lustre of sweat. `` Ginny 's keeping them back but there 's nowhere for the gang to go. We 're between a malleus and an anvil ! ``

Harry cursed even as his eye swirled in it 's socket and tried to concentre to the other side of the bunch. No expert, too many people. But he could see enchantment flaring up from the street beyond. Harry swore again and had to fire off a heroic comeback to a purplish curse hat hissed through the air like a serpent. Harry swung his wand at the shops on either side of the street and yelled a charm. The trash in the window shattered into knife-edge sherd and drag across the street like a scythe. Harry could hear the clump as it bit flesh. It only gained them moments, new figures appeared almost instantly, crouching behind their dead fellow for cover. Harry used the time to resurrect the cobble in another paries but almost instantly it was struck with curses. Blasting away the I. F. Stone and leaving holes for their enemies to give the axe through.

'' When are the aurors getting here ? '' Ron asked desperately.

'' How the sin should I know ! '' Harry yelled back angrily. `` They may no even be able to get in ! ``

'' What about knockturn alley ! '' Neville called out suddenly, pointing back into the crowd. `` Could we get people out that way ? ``

'' This many people ? Crammed in there ? '' Draco ducked behind a bid shield. `` It would be a meatgrinder !. ``

'' It may be the only opportunity ! '' Harry 's eye swivelled to find the dour side street. Some people were trying to escape down it but most were shying away. Harry 's eye focused further, further down the street ... `` Oh for the ... ! Werewolves ! wolfman in knockturn ! ``

But the cry came too late. They burst out of the dark like a undulation of sweating hair, cutting into the gang like butter. Whether there were twenty or fifty or more was impossible to tell, they just seemed like one whale raging wildcat. The scream came louder and louder, as did the howls.

'' No ! Draco, Ron ! halt them now ! '' Harry jabbed his arm back towards the alley.

'' Can you manage here without us ? '' Draco said as he began to move.

'' Gon na have to ! '' Harry glanced back at the street, filling again with enemies. `` I ca n't move fast enough to fight down werewolves. '' Harry summoned a wrecked table, ducked behind his makeshift shelter and jammed his wand to the neck. `` GINNY SEND TWO OF YOUR citizenry TO KNOCKTURN bowling alley. WEREWOLVES ! ``

Harry had no way to experience if she had heard. He just had to trust. Ron and Draco could n't do it on their own. Harry 's eye whirled like a marble, trying to find some early way out. There was nowhere to obscure and every moment they waited masses were dying. His eyes found gleaming pillars of Patrick Victor Martindale White marble. A massive building, defensible.

'' INTO GRINGOTS ! '' Harry bellowed out across the crew. `` EVERYBODY INTO- ''

Harry was thrown to the story as his table exploded, showering him with knife sharp splinter. He felt one leap of his magic eye and shuddered to opine of what it would have done to his real one. A knife spun out of the blueing and cut a slice out of his arm.

Harry stumbled backwards and almost fell, catching himself on his cane. He aimed a stunner a moving conformation but it went blanket. He cursed, there were too many of them. Gringots had better be defensible, or they were all truly screwed.
*


Ginny abandoned the failing shelter of a doorway and dashed for a mess of rubble. spell zinged above her header, too many to numerate. She dove to the floor and felt her skin bust as she slid behind her the bricks. The street was good of madness. Whoever the sin these guys were they were good. improve than Death eaters.

Heat. hatful of heat.

'' Ginny get out of there ! ``

Ginny threw herself forward before the pile she was hiding behind exploded into depressed flame. She dashed back to the other predator, spinning and casting spells at the shadows flitting towards them. Too many to depend. Every doorway was a electric potential assaulter. Ginny reached the marauders and twirl in time to screen and weather a fire of rooted blades. She heard the crowd behind her yell in pain. Whatever the piranha did it was n't enough. The mass were getting into Gringots but not fast enough, the crowd was too huge and the door to the savings bank too small. Too many dying. Ginny steeled herself against the blood. It smelled like a slaughterhouse. She wanted to vomit.

'' There 's no More cover. '' Hermione 's interpreter was shaking. `` There 's no more natural covering. ``

'' We are the concealment. '' Ginny yelled, trying to sound like Harry. `` Line up in front man of the crowd ! ``

'' There are n't enough of us. ``

'' Then line up in presence of virtually of the gang ! '' Ginny yelled archly. `` You chose who you want to let die ! ``

Ginny ducked to the floor and shielded as strongly as she could as a shelling of spells knocked her backbone. She did n't try to kindle back. She had to use everything she had to sustain the carapace up. On either side it butted up against Hermione 's and Cho 's, right now it seemed like a paper paries. Ginny gritted her dentition they had to hold. Just a niggling longer.

The crowd was surging backwards, slowly seeping away. The marauders backed their wall to follow them. Ginny tried to discount the fact that every time the crowd pulled back revealed more physical structure from under their feet.

'' Ah ! ! '' Ginny 's head whipped around at the familiar scream in prison term to see Cho downfall, her dress burning with purple flame.

'' Hold the line ! '' Was the first affair that came to Ginny 's sass as she dropped her shell and blasted water onto the precipitate marauder. She dashed to Cho 's side and grabbed her arm, hoisting the older girl onto her articulatio humeri. She threw up a hasty shield that shattered instantly under the onslaught and was driven to her genu. Ginny summoned another carapace and dragged her burden back, trying to snub the fact that the arm draping over her shoulder joint was black with suntan. Ginny 's brain seethed with rage and she itched to drop her buckler and flack dark curses at the foe before her. But she could n't. Wand shaking in her bridge player she kept her dim retreat, her mind recoiling at every patch that slipped through.
*


The blackamoor wall of rage just kept coming. The werewolves were mad with moonlight, they did n't even wish when they were burnt or bled. You had to cut them down. The cobblestone were tricky with blood and viscera.

'' Difindo ! '' Draco flicked open a spurting gash in the neck of a snarling wolf, screeching howls of pain went up. He blocked them out. He glanced behind him, the gang was squeezing back into the banking concern like a living thing, they were almost all inside. The marauders were almost back to the entry now, one wall of justificatory shield, one wall of aggressive firing dying. He could see Harry breaking giant chunks of road to fling like wrecking balls.

'' genus Draco duck's egg ! ``

Draco did n't even imagine, he just slammed himself to the floor. K light blasted above his nous. That was not a lycanthrope ! Draco rolled to his animal foot, wand out. In amongst the werewolf were loping figures, wands out and firing. black shrouds of tattered robe around them. Killing curse one after another and another blasting out. They did n't even look to like if they hit the predator, the lycanthrope or one of their own.

'' These are n't the Saami as the ninja guy ! '' Parvati screamed, ducking into a doorway to nullify the storm of bane. Draco stabbed his baton forward.

'' Incendio ! '' A draped trope burst into flaming but kept coming. Draco cursed and took aim at a cloaked caput. `` Reducto ! '' The point exploded but the body kept lurching forwards.

'' What the Hell are they ! '' Ron 's flitter voice yelled out from behind. `` They do n't die ! ``

'' cover up ! '' Dragon desperately waved the piranha back. He stumbled backwards, nothing could give people this power, this was insanity. A hallucination or else a fever dream. Draco dashed across the public square away, there was no holding back these animate being. There were still masses in the street ! Draco ducked behind a blooming loup-garou carcase but there was trivial dot, there were opposition all around now. The piranha were being pushed back, the green-clad assassins coming from left and right and the loup-garou and unimaginable warriors crashing in from the front.

Draco screamed as his arm was engulfed in flame and extinguished it with his arm. He shot a curse down the street at a shadow but missed. They were losing. A dark shape loomed over him and he spun, too slow down. The robed figure fell on him and he felt steely-cold hands grab both his arms. With an inhuman strength he was held to the floor. The hoodlum came up and Draco felt his centre go extensive with fear.

The face had rotted away.

"Fulgar Fletch !"The cadaver above him was thrown backwards as a cloud of knives sliced it to ribbons. A mo cloud reduced it to flayed meat and the rotting straw fell to the earth in slice. `` Get up Draco ! ``

Dragon scrambled to his feet and spun to see Harry standing like a bloodstained god of war. He swung his wand in a sloshed arc and the tongue leapt into the air again, each growing a set of dragonfly extension and darting forward to slit another shuffle shape to ribbons.

'' We ca n't kill than but we can shred them ! '' Harry yelled, standing in complain view like he was daring the things to try to kill them. `` We just need to hold for a few Thomas More bloody seconds ! ``

Draco dashed back to the marauder line, spinning and sending flaying curses behind him at the pursuing creatures. In front of him he saw Ron struck in the side, with what he could not recite. genus Draco dashed to help him but the cobblestone between them exploded into razor sharp shrapnel and he was driven back.

'' Just a few more seconds ! '' Harry appeared out of nowhere, one arm gripping his cane like a vice, the former moving in a blur of spell cast. Ron was lifted from the floor and flew towards Gringots, Harry had n't even been looking at him. `` A few more ! '' His arm was caught with the border of a curse and he was spun off his animal foot, pitching him onto the floor.

Draco spun, found the door the patch had fired from and sent a cloud of hornets. They were burnt up in mid air before they got halfway.

'' Now ! '' Ginny 's vocalisation shouted out. `` Everyone interior ! ``

Draco 's ft skidded on the sett as he dashed for the steps of Gringots. He shielded as a whammy winged towards him and had to ramble out of the way of a killing nemesis. Ginny 's predator were holding the line for just a moment longer, giving the relaxation of them a fortune to get in. Draco powered up the steps and spun when he reached the threshold, firing nemesis as fast as he could. Harry was the sole one left out there, slowly backing up the steps with his sceptre out.

He ca n't climb stairs ! Dragon realized with horror. But just as the thought process hit him Harry spun and fired a Chain up past the business line of hero. Harry flew like a firework into Gringots, falling to the marble floor.

'' That 's it. Everyone in ! ``

Draco did n't need Ginny 's shouted bid, his foot were already skidding him backwards. The heavy door were slammed shut on his heel. He could try curses sparking against the forest and cracking stone.

'' Colloportus ! '' Harry was back on his feet and pointing his scepter at the door.

'' Will that guard ? '' Draco asked, his breath coming arduous in his ears.

'' No. ``
*


'' I want those tabular array stuck across the Windows ! '' Harry gestured with his cane. His eye was flickering around desperately trying to spot any other way their attackers could breach the construction. `` acclivity walls across the level to shoot out of. And get all these people down into the tunnels ! ``

'' Mr ceramicist you can not give orders here ! '' A hob appeared from nowhere, his middle flinty. `` You had no right to need Gringots in necromancer business ! ``

'' It was the only was to save these people. ``

'' That is not my problem. '' The hob snarled. `` farewell now or we will spread out the door and let those people in. ``

'' Listen shorty. '' Harry grabbed the hob by the neck and lifted him off the floor. He was instantly surrounded by a group of build up goblins. Each of them was pointing what looked like a crossbow at him. They did n't count glad however as they were quickly surrounded by a great group of build up wizards. Harry turned back to the goblin in his fist and hissed, `` There are more of us than you. ``

'' And if we open the doors there will be a lot less. '' The goblin twisted out of his grip and dropped to the floor.

'' time lag ! '' The gang was pushed aside and Pythea, her brass streaked with dirt, stepped between Harry and the hob. She turned on the hobgoblin with her hands spread out. `` You have to let them in. ``

'' I do not have to mind to the fema- ''

'' These multitude have accounts. They have vaults. '' Pythea spoke quickly. `` By law if they request to admittance their bank vault you must let them. ``

'' You- '' The hobgoblin spluttered but the crew had already surged towards the tunnel. `` No, no postponement ! ``

'' I do n't think they 're listening to you. '' Harry said to the goblin, over the roar. `` And besides, if they get in here do you think they 'll halt at killing the humans ? ``

'' You ... human. '' The goblin spat the last tidings before disappearing into the crush of people. A moment later the construction shook like a bell. Harry spun and looked towards the door, he groaned.

'' They 're trying to break off the room access down. '' Pythea breathed, her voice steadier than Harry thought he could give birth managed.

'' They 're using one of the pillars for a battering ram. '' Harry tried desperately to opine of something to bolster the door. `` Mythril ! Dia-obsero ! Portapavo ! '' The door went silver grey and crusted over with crystals.

'' Do you call back that will keep open them out ? '' Pythea asked doubtfully.

'' No. '' Harry glanced around at the marauders desperately boarding up windows with anything they could rule. He shook his head, the aurors had better come soon. `` Is Ron alright ? I saw him get hit. ``

'' For now he 's alive. '' Pythea shuddered. `` If the ministry do n't get here he will not hold up. ``

'' If the ministry do n't get here we 're all royally screwed. '' Harry was looking around madly, trying to think of some other way design. `` How about the eternal sleep of us ? ``

'' terrycloth Baker has a tongue in him, I believe it may be poisoned but I can not tell. '' Pythea shook her head. `` Miss Yangtze Kiang has been burnt, I have done what I can for her. George Weasley was exsanguinated, I have spliced his circulatory system to his twin and they should survive for a patch. Joshua Split can not walk and I have no theme what is wrongly with him. He can speak but he does n't look to be aware of what is going on. Oh, and I can not heat Padma Patil. She seems comatose. ``

'' Is anyone not maimed ? '' Harry growled, anger mixing with fear mixing with grief.

'' Harry ... ''

'' We 're not gon na end. '' The building rumbled again. `` We 're just not. ``

'' Harry ! '' The cry went up from the other incline of the bank. Harry spun and dashed over to where Hermione was peering out a small gap left in the bottom of a window.

'' What ? '' Harry skidded over. `` Are they coming in ? ``

'' I thought I saw someone in that star sign. '' Hermione pointed down the street. `` Can you see ? ``

'' Hold on ... '' Harry let his eye focus out through brick and plaster, then cursed. `` There are three multitude in there. tiddler. They 're trying to hide in the basement. They 're failing. ``

'' What ? ``

'' Six ... no seven. Three lycanthrope and four of the unkillable freaks are in there with them. I think they can smell them. The kids wo n't stay hidden for long. ``

'' What do we do ? ``

'' We ca n't do anything ! '' Harry punched his aching fist into the paries. `` We ca n't get to them ! ``

'' Maybe ... maybe we can sneak out ! '' Neville glanced at the shaking door. `` The ninja men are pretty focused on breaking in, maybe they wo n't trouble with one or two people trying to get out. ``

'' The werewolves will, '' Dragon said dully. `` They 'll chamfer anything that moves. ``

'' Yes, they will ... '' Harry put his mitt up to his font. `` And the dead men seemed to act the Sami. Maybe I can draw them off. ``

'' You ca n't. '' Ginny snapped at him. `` You ca n't run ! ``

'' You ... you 're redress. '' Harry felt like punching the rampart again. `` You 'll need to do it. Take ... '' Harry cast around for soul else who could run fast. `` Take genus Vanessa. '' He pointed at Vanessa Gibbons.

'' Me ? ``

'' You. '' Harry turned back to Ginny. `` Draw them back towards the Leaky cauldron. If you meet the aurors coming the other way tell them to festinate the Hell up ! ``

'' What about those three children. '' Hermione pointed out the windowpane again.

'' If someone gets up to the roof through ... through that windowpane they can get over there without drawing attention. '' Harry gripped his cane angrily. Something else he could n't do. `` Dragon I need you to go alone. We ca n't save more masses. ``

'' They 're children ! '' Hermione protested.

'' So are we ! '' Harry shouted back. `` And so are half the people huddling in the tunnel right now ! Why do you think they picked the day after the Hogwarts letter of the alphabet to attack ! We need to save as many people as we can. '' He stumbled as the building was rocked with another blow. The stone around the doorway was beginning to warp. Harry swiped his wand along the floor to clear a distance. He pointed down at the marble.

'' Koupa ! '' The stone bent into a heavy bowl. `` Ginny, Vanessa. Get in. ``

He waited while the two female child huddled into the make-do shelter then hovered it off the floor.

'' You ready ? ``

'' Yes. '' Ginny said confidently. Vanessa just stared out fearfully.

Harry raised them to the level of the window, then drew them back. With a flick of his wand the two predator were thrown out into the street in their stone provenience. piece chipped and blazed against the marble but Harry held it as a shield for the two girls, anchoring it to the ground. The rest was up to them.

'' Get that window boarded up again ! '' Harry turned back to Draco. `` Go now. You need a raise ? ``

'' No, I got it. '' Draco turned, cradling his arm. Harry had n't noticed it was injured. Nothing to be done though, they were all injured. Harry watched as Draco climbed up to the window and broke the embarkation just enough to cower out. Harry turned back to the marauders.

'' What are you looking at ? We still need to protect this place ! '' They scattered and Harry began raising line after line of work of walls as defence. He drew lines of spiked wire in front of the door and disillusioned it. Hopefully they would n't notice it.

'' Harry maybe you should go into the burrow. '' Pythea said quietly behind him. `` You 're injured too. ``

'' Thea I just sent some of my best friends out to die because I ca n't do it. '' Harry 's own voice sounded bitter in his ears. `` But I 'm sure as hell staying here to give up them getting through. That 's all I can do, but I 'll do it if it kills me. ``
*


'' They 're not following us ! '' Vanessa was peeking out from behind their stone shelter, jerking her head back as a shower of spells bit chunks out of the floor.

'' Damnit. '' Ginny 's roue was pumping heavily in her ears. Nothing they did could make the loup-garou chase them. Nothing. They were just milling around in straw man of the bank and howling while the ninja men tried to break in.

'' Maybe this will work. '' Ginny raised her scepter up to her arm, where she was covered in lineage and soaked the tip of her wand in the oozing liquid. `` Oderifer. '' Red mist floated out from her wand, pooling about them. `` Tempesto ! '' The line of descent mist drifted out towards the werewolves. There was a prospicient second when the wining and barking stopped ... then a bone-chilling howl.

'' Go ! Go ! Go ! '' Ginny dashed out from behind the stone and almost tripped as she saw the werewolves bearing down on her. Her feet scrabbled on the cobble but was moving, blitzing it down diagon alley.

'' The dead ones are coming too ! '' genus Vanessa screamed as she darted ahead. Ginny threw a looking at over her shoulder and saw the true statement of it. The dead men were sprinting madly in amongst the wolves, their hooded faces up and sniffing the air. Drinking it in like it was honey. Ginny thought she could see glowing red heart beneath the total darkness hoods. For a mercy the ninja-men seemed to have more self restraint. They were not following, but instead pounding again on the door of the goblin 's bank.

Ginny put all the muscle she could into her aching legs and pounded away from the beast, barely keeping up with the little sylph of a girl disappearing ahead of her. Vanessa looked over her shoulder,

'' Ginny duck ! ``

Ginny did n't even think, she just let her legs crimp under her, falling like a Edward Durell Stone. The a wolf flashed over her prone body and crashed to the floor. Vanessa stunned it before it had a chance to rise. Ginny scrambled to her groundwork but she could n't move fast enough. An arm closed around her leg. She kicked madly but the arm had the posture of the dead.

'' Summon me ! '' Ginny screamed.

'' Accio Ginny ! ``

Ginny was pulled across the atrocious cobbles but the pressure on her leg was still there. She looked down and started in horror as she saw a bloody and rotting arm suspension from her ankle. She kicked it off and jumped to her feet, ignoring her accidental injury.

Well they had wanted the teras to follow them. At least it had worked. Even if they did n't make it.
*


Dragon slid out of the window and pulled himself over the peak of the ceiling to cover on the other incline. He tried to piece sound footing as he hurried along the tile. One chimney ... two lamp chimney ... he was looking for the seventh family. For a moment Draco wished he had Harry 's eye but pushed the thought away. That way of thinking lead to inauspicious paths.

septenary chimneys. Draco put his ear to the tile and heard nix. Damnit.

binding in front line of the banking company he heard a horrific howling go up. Ginny must take in got the beast attention. full, at least one of them was doing their job right.

Draco tried to recollect of a way to interrupt through the tiles without causing too much noise. Silencing charm. Draco cast it and blasted the silent roofing tile away with a reducto. The space below was black. He leant down, lighting his wand. The brightness level seemed swallowed by the inky darkness.

Suddenly the tile by his legs erupted and he felt his pegleg dragged back. He fell like a stone through the tiles and landed on his book binding with a lightning stab of hurting. He kicked as voiceless as he could and poke his wand at the disconsolate shape clutching his leg.

'' Confringo ! '' The figure 's thorax exploded, raining Draco with skeletal shrapnel. He felt a stabbing bother in his pectus. Through the pain in the ass his eye caught movement by the stairs. He rolled just before green igniter obliterated the floor where he had fallen.

'' Confringo ! '' The explosive curse seemed the honorable weapon against these dead matter. Draco pulled himself to his base and stumbled to the stairwell. He heard a scrabbling and stunned a werewolf as it put it 's matted capitulum around the bend.

Draco was breathing hard. He put his bridge player to his chest of drawers and felt a recollective sliver of pearl stabbed into him. Perfect. With his wand held out shakily, Draco slowly made his way down the stairs.
*


They were almost to the caldron, Ginny could see it appear around the bend dexter. Vanessa was dashing beside her, her oculus all-encompassing with awe. Ginny vaulted over the pile of rubble from the wall and spun with her verge out. They were so tightlipped !

'' Reparo ! '' The bricks flew together madly, Ginny willed them to come together faster than the beasts were moving. Vanessa spun beside her and began firing through the rapidly closing gap. Two werewolf leapt through and were sliced to the side. Ginny held her wand tight and tried to pressure the tour to work faster. A disguised shape slammed through the bricks and pounced on Vanessa, throwing her to the floor. Vanessa screamed with horror.

The wall was n't fixed yet !

holding her wand trained on the bricks Ginny darted over and slammed her human foot into the backrest of the robed name head. It did n't even appear to feel it. She kicked again, crashing her understructure into the fauna 's hide side. There was a hideous crush and the head snapped back, hanging by strips of skin. The last brick slammed into situation and Ginny whirled.

'' Depulso ! '' The matter was thrown off Vanessa. `` Difindo ! '' She slashed her wand like a vane and fetted ancestry spurted out, filling the air with a rotten odor. She slashed again, taking off first one arm then the other, then finally the legs, collapsing the drained thing into a twitching deal on the floor. Ginny stumbled to the gutter and vomited.

'' Vanessa ... '' Ginny spoke between sickish gulps. `` Are you alright ? ``

Vanessa did n't speak, she was staring at the pile of blood-soaked robes and body parts, her dark eyes wide.

'' Why did n't you fight him ? '' Ginny straightened up. `` Did you block everything I taught you ? ``

'' It ... '' Vanessa sounded like she was speaking from deep in her own tomb. `` It was my father. ``

Ginny felt her blood freeze. She walked over to the torso and gingerly lifted the hood off with her baton. She stumbled back and was almost brainsick again. There was nothing there but a mass of blood and kick downstairs off-white. Her kick had stove in the moulder os and left the face looking like rancid mince.

'' It ... '' Ginny wet her mouth. `` It might make been your Father-God once, but it was just ... undead. He was n't alive anymore. ``

'' He knew who I was. '' genus Vanessa was hugging her arms to her chest of drawers. `` He looked at me and he was smiling. He said my public figure. ``

Ginny reached out a hand to ease her schoolfellow but realized she had cypher to say. She turned to the wall and pointed her sceptre at the pocket-size tobacco pipe at the base.

'' Oderifer. '' There was plentifulness of roue already on her wand and the red mist floated out and down the pipage. There was an crying set of muffled howling from the early side. That should keep the werewolves and dead men off Harry 's back for a while.

And chip in Draco a prospect to populate. Maybe.

What was that ! Ginny whirled, wand out, towards the Leaky Cauldron. She was indisputable she heard something from inside. Aurors ? Not even the most optimistic of wishful thought process could persuade her of that.

'' Vanessa, stay here. sustain the spell going. '' Ginny motioned to the other marauder without looking and slowly stepped towards the threshold. The door was off it 's hinge but she could see nothing from inside, just broken tabletops and a bar full of smashed methamphetamine hydrochloride. She stepped to the edge of the threshold and peered around tentatively. There were soundbox. But she had seen too many of them today to be horrified. look ... two of the bodies were green robed like the attacker, slumped over a tabular array. Ginny slowly stepped into the darkened pub and checked around. There did n't seem to be anyone impart active. She stepped up to the two corpse and slowly drew their goon back. Dull glassy eye stared back at her out of faces twisted in infliction. They had both been stabbed brutally and repeatedly, the second gear still had the knife embedded deep in his neck.

These two had probably been left as a sentry duty, but who had killed them ? Did the killer just leave ?

Ginny 's lineage froze as she remembered why she had come in here originally. She had heard a noise. intellection back, it could have been individual dissapperating. But that meant that this place was outside the Mrs. Humphrey Ward ! Ginny dashed towards the fireplace and grabbed a generous handful of pulverization. The green flaming that sprung up were the most glorious thing she had ever seen.

'' Ministry of magic trick ! Auror 's office ! ``
*


'' Confringo ! '' Draco did n't even see if it hit before he whirled and shielded desperately as a werewolf pounced on him. It 's cursed hook skittered across the surface of the shell and it was thrown backwards. genus Draco dropped it and stunned the beast.

Where were the rest ? Where were the children ? These thoughts came to Draco through a daze of pain. The youngster were in the basement ... he needed to go down. Draco staggered to a set of coiling Stone stairs and started down them, leaning his blooded eubstance against the wall.

As he neared the bottom a door came into view. Before the doorway were two of the dead matter, slamming their putrefaction torso against the wood. As Draco approached they turned to face him. One set of glowing red eyes and one of empty rotted sockets.

'' Confringo ! '' genus Draco ducked back into the stairwell as the first creature exploded and retreated further as a onslaught of killing curse came flying down the Stone hallway. Draco waited for a gap to reel out from around the quoin. `` Confringo ! '' The arcsecond beast disintegrated into shrapnel. Dragon felt his bad arm explode with nuisance but did n't look down. He stumbled to the wooden door and slammed his fist against it.

'' I 'm human. '' His voice sounded thick and painful. `` Let me through. ``

The lock clicked and the door swung in. genus Draco 's wooden leg gave out and he fell in. He kicked the doorway closed and glanced into the black cellar. Three shining band of eyes looked back at him from tiny frames. None of them could hold been older than four. They were in jammies, already prepare to be tucked in when all hell broke loose.

"Are you here to rescue us ?"One of them whispered.

"Just stay quiet."genus Draco dragged himself to his feet and trained his verge on the door."Stay very quiet."

Above him there was the sound of a muffled explosion. The doors of Gringots had finally fallen.
*


Harry was thrown backwards and rolled to his groundwork. A sinister shape landed in front of him, long tongue raised. Harry slammed his cane straight up into his attacker's crotch and kicked the man's legs out from under him. Harry raised his wand to finish the job but another figure darted at him, wand out, out of the dust. Too quick ! Harry stumbled backwards as he fenced with flashing brightness against his assailant. The man was too crashing straightaway ! The bastard jabbed in with his left manus and Harry felt a gash open along his rib. Do not let them get close !

"Excalabus !"Harry slashed out and saw shock in his assailant eyes as the shining blade clove him in two. But his 1st attacker was back up and raging for blood.

Harry didn't flavor for assistant. There was no helper. The ninja screeched something and Harry couldn't dodge in time. Writhing painful sensation in his chest swarm him to his knees. Harry turned the fall into a roller and came up with his wand out.

"Ferio !"The spell was blocked but it had given Harry metre to careen backwards. They were coming faster now. Spilling through the break in doorway too fast to count. Harry was driven back by a barrage of spells and ducked behind a barricade, only to experience it explode in a hoi polloi of marble gravel.

"Atrax !"Harry swept his wand across the rubble, every shard grew spindly legs and fangs and darted towards the enemies. Harry had never used the charm before and hoped to god the spider-rocks were poisonous. He leapt behind a pillar before spinning and jabbing his wand back at the entranceway. He fired off a spell and XXX came flying back. The pain in his chest was back. Harry looked down to see his shirt drenched in blood line. His or early masses ? Both. Harry could see through the material to where his hide had been flayed off in huge chunks by his assaulter's curse. naught he'd seen before. Who the netherworld were these guy rope ?

The strait of other piranha desperately fighting raged in his auricle. They couldn't do much, there was too often detritus, to much chaos, for them to see who they were firing at.

Wait ...

"Tempesto !"Harry slammed his best-loved charm to life and whipped a gale to life, the rubble and dust was thrown away and the creeping bastards were shown to the world.

"Stubefy !"

"Confringo !"

piece sparked out from the still standing predator like a paries off spears. Harry's eye darted madly around the mansion house, trying to go along up. No, who was that on the flooring ? Neville ... not bushed. Harry could see his sum beating.

"Stubefy !"Harry stunned a charging ninja and levitated him up cube. Harry darted out from behind his pillar. Three sticker instantly slammed into his human being shield. sodomist. Harry dropped the dead exercising weight and dropped to the story, skidding across the wet marble. He grabbed Neville's leg and yanked him out of the kindling line, throwing a string to puff them both back to the barricade. Harry dropped him there and darted back to his spot by the pillar.

Harry heard a scream and saw a outburst of rakehell. Who was it ? No clock time ! Harry swung out from his hiding seat and sent a violent storm of lighting into the heap of aggressor. His pillar was struck with a curse. There was a hurry sound and it began to glow from rapidly spreading fracture ...

Harry shielded in terror but it barely dulled the forcefulness when the pillar exploded from within, throwing him across the room and slamming him into the wall. His arm shattered and pain sensation overwhelmed him.

Occlumency ! Come on !

Harry blanked his cerebration for all he was Charles Frederick Worth and, with agonizing subnormality, gained ascendancy of his idea again. His arm was broken, shattered like a rod of glass, and hung limply at his side. The wound in his tummy had broken open and was gushing blood line. Could he put up his wand ? Could he even raise his wand ?

"Harry !"Harry could see a bloodstained Hermione hunched over him, shielding him desperately. She grabbed his arm and dragged him back behind the survive standing barricade."Can you stand ?"

Have to. Harry tried to heighten but fell back. There were only two marauder left fight and Harry wasn't arrogant enough to bet himself in that number.

Not enough. Not adequate left.

They were finished.

Harry grimly gripped the top of the barricade and raised his wand. There were only three pillars left standing. If they went ... It he destroyed them ... They could at least save the citizenry below. And maybe person would dig their cadaver out of the rubble.

"Reducto !"Harry saw a farsighted crack opened through the marble."Reducto !"The crack widened."Redu-"

"hold !"Hermione grabbed his wand."They ‘ re ... they ‘ re gone ..."

"Wh ..."Harry's eye flickered around, nada was moving. Nothing but the piranha and the groaning wounded."Wh ... where did they go ?"Harry's mind tried madly to process that. It seemed like they had been fighting for his entire life. His eye cycled out. Out beyond the bulwark. blackamoor robes. But the honorable kind. He could find fault out Ginny and genus Vanessa's small chassis out in the middle.

"The aurors are here."Harry struggled to his feet. Leaning against the bulwark he could almost do it."They came. About crashing time ..."

pitch blackness drained back into his nous and he fell back into comrade unconsciousness.
*


Draco pushed the cellar room access open gingerly.

"Is it safe ?"One of the children whispered.

"Shut up."Draco muttered.

"Are they gone ?"

"Shut up."Draco slowly made his way forward, wand out in one hand, the former pressed against the wall for bread and butter. The eubstance were gone. Was that good or bad ? Everything was bad.

"Is it safe ?"

"I told you to shut-"Draco bit off his angry admonishment. They were too Young and their parents were probably drained. Give them something."I think it ‘ s safe. Let ‘ s go. Stay behind me. And stick quiet."Draco dragged his metrical foot up the spiral stairs and stopped at the top. He could hear voices from outside. mortal was yelling society. Aurors. Finally the bloody ministry.

"The ministry ‘ s here. No halt BEHIND ME !"genus Draco added sharply, grabbing the baby back. He stepped forward, carefully looking in every corner. There could still be individual there. No ... it was empty. Satisfied he waved the fry forward and followed their eagre metrical unit to the door.

The cold moonlight hitting his face felt heavenly after the stifling fear of the cellar.

"Here !"He waved to the aurors."survivor ! What ‘ s the situa-"

"feeling out !"

Draco spun, too slowly ! The window above him exploded outwards and all he saw was a flash of fur and tooth before he was driven backwards. On top of him the lot of snarling death roared, pressing down on his chest. He writhed to try to get out but it pressed down on his frame, sending every old harm raging into new inferno.

"Get off ! Depulso !"Draco cried desperately. The beast was catapulted into the air, shadowed against the mavin. Draco rolled out desperately and the wolfman crashed back down, it's bones splintering with the impact. Draco stunned it to be for certain and got slowly to his feet.

"You could have helped."Dragon grated at the aurors approaching."Useless."

The black robed wizards stopped a few meter away, their bridge player on their wands.

"Do you have a go at it who ‘ s these youngster belong to ?"Dragon waved at the three huddling three."Do you know ..."

The children took a stammer gradation away from him. The oldest spread his blazonry as if to protect the former two.

"What ?"

The aurors surrounded him, their baton shaking.

"Do you know ... who their parents ... or ..."Why did his header feel like this ?

The children were dragged away from him.

"Why are you doing this ..."

Ginny was in the crowd, her handwriting to her oral fissure, her eyes all-encompassing with horror.

"What ‘ s going ... on ... why are you ... scared."His brain burned with blood-red fog."I saved them, they ‘ re fine ... They ‘ re ... fine ... no ..."

Draco's eyes dropped to his arm, to the bleeding wound. The raciness scrape. Red and blazing like writhing beshrew flaming. A wolfman sharpness. The pain of all the former combat injury faded away, everything else was gone.

"Damnit."Draco whispered falling to his knees."Damnit."



That was a hugely yearn chapter was n't it ?


I do n't own Harry ceramist. I own ... this piece of volaille. So ha !



Harry came to on a copestone. How foresighted had he been out ? The sky above was pitch calamitous. They had n't even moved him from Diagon bowling alley, Instead he was lying in a argument of the bloody and mauled, a descent of white-sheeted and red-stained victims in a triage tent. His eye told him it had been set up barely a stones throw from the decrepit bank. All around him healers bustled between screaming affected role, their wands flickering a dire dance to keep warmness beating.

Harry looked down at his own consistence. He hadn't been properly healed, more like ... stabilized. Obviously some healer had had time to lay off him imminently dying before moving on to more serious cases. Harry looked around for his cane but didn't see it, ah well, to the lowest degree he still had his scepter. Harry picked a long splinter off the floor and enlarged it into a staff. Levering himself up on that he got to his feet.

"Lie back down."A nurse bustled over to him."You could still have internal bleeding."

"I don ‘ t."Harry's eye rolled back in his nous."cartel me."Harry limped out of the tent into the open air. Aurors were hurrying around purposely and Harry thought he saw members of the order as well. There were consistency laid in rowing with sheet of paper pulled over them, a lot of bodies.

Harry cursed, he needed to detect someone he recognised, somebody who could tell him what was going on. A friendly gild member, a intimate auror. A Marauder ? Harry tried to witness one ... no estimable. Hopefully that meant they were safe. He couldn't see any of them among the dead. Unless they were one of the ones too burn off to recognize. Harry felt a lump rising slope in his pharynx and squashed it down.

"Mr ceramist. skillful to see you ‘ ve recovered."Harry turned slowly, and looked up into the harried face of Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"Why are you here ?"Harry asked bluntly."Aren ‘ t you acting, temporary, meantime minister for legerdemain ?"

"If I wasn ‘ t here I would be back at the ministry giving orderliness to vacate chairs."Shacklebolt looked tired. Harry had never seen the man tired."Everyone is out here, doing what they can."

"Because you told them to."

"wellspring yes."

"And what can they do ?"

"Not much."Shacklebolt had to resist aside as a torso was levitated out of the tent. The healer carrying it laid it carefully at the end of the row of dead and conjured a sheet before hurrying back into the triage center. Shacklebolt shook his head."So many dead. More than we lost in any one attack in this war or the last. And I can not even conceive of what the passing would have been if you and your friends had not been here."

"Yeah, about those friends."Harry glanced worriedly at the line of dead.

"You 're friend are alert Harry. Every one of them."Shacklebolts rumbling phonation dropped a sales talk to a openhearted murmur."But every one was injured. Some quite badly. I can not say how deeply in debt the wizarding world is to you and your circle of friends."

"We ‘ re called the marauders."Harry corrected absent-mindedly."Where are they ?"

"They are all in St Mungos, except for young Draco who is back at his home."

"Why isn ‘ t he at St Mungos ?"

"There was goose egg more they could do for him."Harry noted the forbidding greenback in Shacklebolts voice. Unfortunate possibilities.

'' Tell me everything. ``
*


Harry pushed open the wide of the mark front end door of Malfoy hall and stepped into the marble foyer. It was totally silent inside these walls but Harry 's eye found movement. He made for it, his makeshift staff tapping on the stone floor. The Marguerite Radclyffe Hall and rooms that had held protagonist all summer now felt inhuman and desolate.

Under a distant door Harry saw visible light and made for it, though his eye was already telling him it was n't who he was looking for. Harry pushed the door unfastened carefully and slipped inside. Snape was stood before an array of caldron and beakers, all bubbling away and leaking fumes. Natalie Zhao was there also, leafing swiftly through a midst volume.

'' I 'm surprised. '' Harry addressed Snape. `` Shacklebolt told you were trying to get a capitulum around all this. ``

'' I think scoop when I am brewing. '' Snape did n't look up from his work but Harry could see the thin lines of tautness around his eyes. If Snape was giving away how stressed he was then ... Harry stepped up to the board and glanced over the ingredients. They told him nothing, but he could guess the potion anyway.

'' wolfbane ? ``

'' Yes. '' The lines grew a micrometer sharper.

'' So you 've heard. ``

'' Yes. ``

'' I was trying to find him. ``

'' He is asleep. You should allow him to remain so as he will likely get little rest tomorrow night. There is no time to give him a full coarse of wolfbane potion. What I am brewing now will merely tone down the jagged bound of his inevitable insanity. ``

'' How could this happen ? '' Harry hung his caput. `` Should n't possess let them do it. ``

'' It is my understanding that they formed this army in your absence. '' Snape glanced up at him before dropping his regard back down to his work. `` I believe every member knew the hazard they were taking. ``

'' They did n't know the risks. '' Harry almost spat. `` Death 's just a word till you 've been there. ``

'' Then the absolute majority of this planet is similarly ignorant. ``

'' How could this happen ? '' Harry repeated. `` Voldemort should be as weak as a newborn kitten, you told me that. ``

'' Clearly I was mistaken. '' A cinch of acid entered the Professor 's voice. `` The dark noble seems to have capacity none of us knew. ``

'' Werewolves I get. I mean I do n't, they all left him when I killed Greyback. But ... well maybe they have a new drawing card, or something. The zombies too, I at least understand what they are. But those other guy cable '' Harry shook his fountainhead. `` They were never death eaters. The spells they used, their whole style of fighting. I 've never seen it before. Do we bang who the pit they were ? ``

'' Lei Gou. '' Those were the first wrangle Natalie Zhao had spoken since Harry had entered the room, but she filled them with menace.

'' Lie Gou. '' Harry 's brow furrowed. `` That 's Chinese is n't it ? ``

'' It is. '' Zhao nodded.

'' well who the infernal region are they ? ``

'' mercenary. '' Snape hissed the Holy Scripture, like it was a curse.

'' More than soldier of fortune. '' Natalie corrected. `` The Lie Gou are centuries old, they take initiates from all over eastern Asia. They are incredibly skilled. They are also feared, and rightly so. The hiring a company of them has been the tipping level in to a greater extent than one war. They are ruthless, entirely so. ``

'' How would Voldemort contact Chinese mercenary ? '' Harry scratched his head.

'' They have element houses in many cities. '' Zhao said with pesky calmness. `` That is not the most pertinent question. ``

'' So what is ? '' Harry asked irritably.

'' How did he pay for it ? ``

'' The Lie Gou are expensive. '' Snape explained, his center peering down into a pool of simmering liquidness. `` There is a famous tale about two twin brothers, the heritor to a vast estate in Russia, centuries ago. When their father died they both took half the wealth and tried to claim the other half also. There was a individual war between their armsmen until one brother hired the Lie Gou, wasting a large part of his heritage. That side had almost won when his brother offered the Lie Gou Sir Thomas More money to switch sides and the battle raged the early way. This went on until both pal were penniless, the landed estate reduced to a wasteland, and the Lie Gou growing fat on the woe. ``

'' That is just a legend. '' Zhao rolled her eyes. `` But it does demonstrates both the huge monetary resource needed to employ the Lie Gou and their fickleness with regards to who 's side they fight on. They will also only accept real riches, zero conjured or created by deception. Gold or precious stone, and many of them. Only a rich people idiot would employ them. ``

'' Unless they had the funds to assure that they could couple any offer their foe made. '' Snape said irritably.

'' Which we know the dark lord can not have approach to. '' Zhao snapped her book of account closed angrily.

'' You have no thought what the night master has accession to- ''

'' And you do because- ''

'' Hey ! '' Harry slammed his stave against the floor. Two sets of eyes flashed to him. `` Have a lovers spat on your own clip. understandably Voldemort does induce the resources or I would n't have spent this pleasant summer evening being shot at, my gut would n't feel like it had a spear driven through it and a lot of ingenuous people would n't be DEAD ! Now I have the thrower syndicate gold and we can probably consider on the Malfoy rich people as well. Is it possible we can just buy these people off ? ``

'' You want to give them money ? '' Zhao looked aghast.

'' If it 'll contain them working for Voldemort. Um ... Yes. '' Harry stuck his hand on his hip. `` Would that lick ? ``

'' It is possible. '' Snape responded guardedly. `` I am not entirely sure it is wise. ``

'' Yes, I got the full stop of your instructional legend. '' Harry snorted. `` How can we contact the Lei Gou ? ``

'' I assume through their factor house. '' Snape added a pinch of red powder to a caldron without looking. `` Though how we find that is another matter. ``

'' I may be able to find it ... '' Harry bit his lip. It was a tenacious nip but he knew where he could come up info."end year I had some tangency with .... disreputable types. Maybe one of them ‘ ll know where we can get in contact with the Lie Gou."

'' Harry, '' Snape had rounded the table and was standing in front of him. `` You must aver to me that you will not go to deal with the Lie Gou alone. ``

'' I wo n't. I 'll bring backup. ``

'' I meant without me. '' Snape added harshly. `` You must recite me if you find their cistron star sign. ``

'' Tell me again how you 're better than Dumbledore ? '' Harry stepped back from the potions master.

'' Do not say thing you do not imply. '' Snape said coldly. `` We both well know the difference between myself and Albus Dumbledore. ``

There was a moment of secretiveness. Inside his own promontory, Harry gulped. Since he had found out the truth and do to peace with it he had n't though about his true origins much. It was very loose to just guess of himself as Harry Potter. Very easily to slip back into that baseball mitt. existence reminded of it was jarring, like being hit with the truth all over again. Harry shook it off. It was better to recollect, not that he would ever really forget.

'' I know. '' Harry tried to attain his voice calm. `` This has been a very trying day. ``

'' For everyone. ``

'' Your potion 's simmering over. ``

'' It 's supposed to. '' Snape turned and stepped back behind the board. Harry took a deep breather and tried to think of anything else to add, but his tired mind kept coming up lacuna. Thankfully Snape had something else to ask,

'' other informant said they saw the idle men fire charm ? '' Snape asked. His part said the interrogation was almost trivial, but Harry saw Zhao perk up at the words.

'' They were n't abruptly. '' Harry 's mouthpiece was dry with the memory.

'' Explain. ``

'' Their hearts were beating and they were breathing air. They may have been rotten but they were at least partially alive. And yes, they were casting spell. ``

'' You 're sure as shooting Harry. '' Natalie angle forward. `` You 're sure it was n't the Lie Gou. Maybe in amongst the short men ? ``

'' In amongst means zip to me. '' Harry tapped his eye. `` The drained men cast charm. Well ... one spell really. The killing expletive over and over, but I saw one levitate a chair out of his way so they are capable of casting other spells. ``

'' That is not possible. '' Zhao shook her head. `` Neither zombies nor inferi can perform illusion. And neither have heartbeats. It 's ... impossible. illusion can only be performed by support creatures, that has been proven over and over again, you must have life history. What you describe is impossible. ``

'' Clearly it is n't. '' The edge of irritability was back in Snape 's voice. `` Clearly the dark Creator has many capabilities we know not of. The question is why have we not seen them before ? ``

'' The doubt is how do we arrest them ? '' Harry broke in.

'' I have already sent order members to check the graves of known death eaters. They have orders to exhume and burn any bodies they find still resident. '' Harry nodded, he had been about to suggest that. Snape continued, `` Other than that ... we must recover the dark Creator. ``

'' call him Voldemort. ``

'' No. '' Snape snapped.

'' You 're still scared of him. ``

'' Some fear is goodish. '' Snape tapped a long silver grey spoon with his wand and set it to circle slowly in his bubbling pot. `` Especially now that we know he has capability far greater than we ever imagined. What I can not understand is how he has recovered so swiftly from his accidental injury. ``

'' Maybe he has n't. '' Harry shrugged. `` He can mastermind troops and buy mercenaries even if he 's just a buoyant pass, or a disembodied vocalisation. ``

'' He would n't negotiate with the Lie Gou from a attitude of impuissance. '' Snape shook his foreland. `` And whatever he has done to those walking corpses it is clearly muscular magic. No ... I fear we must assume he has his old strength back. The line of latitude between the living corpses reanimated and the dark lord 's noteworthy retrieval are to obvious to ignore. ``

'' You think it 's the same thing ? ``

'' I think we can safely take up the two are linked. ``

'' Brilliant. '' Harry threw his paw up in the air. `` So we have three mysteries. How did Voldemort fire himself and his army from death ? How did he get the Au to hire the Lie Gou ? And why did the werewolves pop back up after deserting him over a year ago ? ``

'' terzetto mystery story. '' Natalie Zhao murmured quietly. `` Or maybe they 're the same mystery. We do n't be intimate. ``

'' We don't know anything."Harry grimaced."We don ‘ t have a bare shred of info and we could be attacked again at any turn."

"Then perhaps you should go talk to your contacts."Snape whispered a word and the fire beneath his caldron snapped out."But remember what you promised."

"I will."Harry pointed at the bubbling potion."Is that finished ?"

"It is, but-"

"I ‘ ll aim it down to him."Harry grabbed a goblet and dipped it into the broth.

"Should you not let him sleep ?"

"He ‘ s awake."Harry tapped his eye and turned to leave.

'' Harry, '' Snape 's voice stopped him before he could leave. `` You know that there may be a very good intellect why the dark lord has returned. ``

'' Is there ? '' Harry looked back over his shoulder.

'' You know the divination. There is only supposed to be one person capable of killing him. It is possible that, now that person is absolutely, the darkness Divine can not die. '' Snape was eyeing Harry levelly. His face gave away nothing.

'' I am well mindful of that. '' Harry replied dryly. `` I 'll reconcile for dismemberment. I 'm not giving up. ``

'' goodness. '' Snape nodded faintly. `` Neither will I. ``

Harry turned around and carefully carried the steaming potion from the room. He padded down the corridor, the exhaust twisting into spirals in the air. It was hard to preserve the goblet steady while hobbling along with his faculty. Damn stupid person injury. Broken invalid that he was he was he was adjacent to useless. Couldn't even carry a crashing cup. Harry gritted his teeth and tried to push those thoughts away from him. They resisted, hovering in his rhombencephalon, mercilessly haunting him. Harry reached Draco's room and pushed the door opened. He didn't bother to rap, Draco almost certainly wouldn't have answered and he could already see what Draco was doing within.

As Harry stepped in Draco didn't look up from what he was doing. Harry placed the goblet lightly on a table and stood, unspeaking. Draco still said nothing, but simply kept running his wand along long metallic element poles. Welding them together and conjuring more.

construction a cage.

Harry still said nothing, but instead sat on the sharpness of a chest of drawers and crossed his arms. Dragon would verbalise eventually, he had to, it wasn't in him to not present his intellection voice.

"Don ‘ t try to stop me."Draco said over his berm."I need a cage."

"I know that."Harry nodded, speaking quietly."But we could progress it in another room, no cry to ruin the room you ‘ ll have to catch some Z's in the early twenty-seven years of the month."

"I ‘ m building it here."genus Draco didn't give reason. Harry supposed he didn't need to."I need you to make it unbreakable, can you do that ?"

"I can. If you want."Harry waited until his ally nodded, before stepping forward and raising his wand."This won ‘ t accept long. You want to drink the wolfsbane potion ?"

Draco didn't solution, he just stepped over the chalice and drained it. A flicker twisted his features for a moment before they settled back into a blank, impassive state. Harry flickered some charms over the smoothing iron bars of the coop. It wasn't very heavy, not considering that a lycanthrope would be in there. Draco would be fairly cramped. Harry added some cushioning magical spell to the thick bars.

"Draco, this isn ‘ t the end."Harry felt like he needed to say something.

"Isn ‘ t it ?"genus Draco said bitterly."Harry I ‘ m cursed. Permanently damned to be a behemoth. I ‘ ll lose my intellect each full moon, I ‘ ll be a dark creature. I ‘ ll have become the things we kill."

"The wolfsbane can help you."

"Liar !"Draco hissed."There ‘ s nothing that can help me. There ‘ s no remedy. There ‘ s no hope. Just go Harry. Just leave me. There is null you can do for me ... unless ... unless you were prepared to-"

"Stop. Talking."Harry bit the run-in out.

"I tried to do it myself."

"Stop."

"The killing curse doesn ‘ t work if you cast it on yourself."

"plosive talking now."

"Please ..."Draco's eye were wide and his voice shook."Please do it or leave me to."

"Don ‘ t say this. Don ‘ t do this."Harry felt his handgrip on his tall staff tighten."Just shut the Inferno up."

"Fine."Draco drew his wand."Just leave then Harry. I ‘ ll do it myself."He raised his wand but Harry was faster, slamming his stave up into Draco's hand and sending the baton spinning away. Harry darted forward and grabbed Draco by the front of his robes.

"I have had enough of that from you."Harry hissed, his rose up close to the wan typeface of his friend."I will pick out your wand away if I hear you talk such undisguised cowardice as that again. You. Can. Still. Live."

"As a goliath. As something I despise."

"If there is one thing I ‘ ve learned from all this bullshit I ‘ ve been through is that life story is precious and demise is pointless."Harry released genus Draco from his grip.

"You ‘ ve said goose egg that changes anything."Draco turned away from him, bowing his head."My life is pointless now. Entirely so. I would rather be dead, and unless you intend to stay with me every day you can not barricade me."

"I would stay with you every day, I really would. But I ‘ ve got affair to do so ..."Harry moved like a Hydra, whipping Draco's stage out from under him and sliding him across the floor. He flicked the heavy door of the cage surface then slammed it closed again as Draco tumbled through. With a second flick Harry summoned Draco's wand into his deal, then the knife that was in a Draco's pocket and a letter opener from a drawer. His eye tried to seek out anything else that could be used to cut or kill. After a moment's thought he summoned Draco's potions kit out of his school automobile trunk, who knew what poisons there were in there. Draco had lifted himself up to his genu and was staring at him, eyes full of hatred. Harry stepped right up to the cage.

"You are not dying today. You will not kill yourself. I will not let you."Harry locked the Cage room access with several spell he knew no wandless wizard could recrudesce through."Your life sentence is not over. Maybe nothing I can say can make you realize that right now, but you ‘ re still going to live. Whether you like it or not."

"But ..."

"I have to go. People to see."Harry turned towards the door, on the way he grabbed a leger and tossed it to Draco."Here, something to read. You ‘ ll motivation to analyse for the year at Hogwarts that you will be attending."

Harry stepped out the doorway and pressed it shut, leaning back against the wood. Everything was going to hell, and he had no idea how to fix any of it. Not the slightest idea. Where was he even going ? He had a few ideas but ... null concrete.

He could go to St Mungos perhaps ... check on the other marauders. But he wasn't sure if he could take any more misery. There was zip he could do for them anyway. But then there was nothing he could do out here either.

"I ‘ m beginning to think stabbing that bastard in the neck was a fantastic waste of time."Harry muttered into the empty air.

The job isn't done yet.

Harry shuddered at the dread certainly in his mind.

More work to do.

Harry pushed himself forwards, leaning like an old man on his splinter-staff. Still more work to do. There was just one place he could observe the information he needed.

He needed to visit The Tarot.

But there was somewhere else he had to go first ...
*


Ginny curled her ramification up under her. The chairs in the St Mungo's rooms were comrade now, but it was still inconceivable to get well-heeled in them. They even seemed ... empty. Only four chairs occupied, herself, Hermione, Lucy and Vanessa. The only four still on their pes at the end of the battle. Everyone else was in a bed, near still unconscious. Things seemed grim

Ginny had tried to keep their spirits up, pointed out that the four survivor were all lady friend and how they were never going to let the boys live it down. But there was no laughter here and Ginny had given up. She looked across the bottom. Cho with her burns, Split paralyzed, Anna slammed against a paries like a dame by one of the dead men. They were lucky to be alive, Ginny told herself, lucky to be alive.

Ginny shook her head. It was hard to think of this as any sort of luck.

She turned towards the other set of seam, stepping up to fend next to them. No ... hard to see it as any kind of luck. She looked down at her parents. Hard to see it as any sort of luck. She put her hand carefully on her mother 's bandaged arm. The healers said it would be calendar week before they were even arouse. Not luck at all.

Ginny shuddered and turned back towards the marauder bottom. Vanessa was awake again and clinging to the position of Elizabeth 's bed like it was a life-line. The petty girl was badly shaken, not surprising really. Ginny thought of her as a little missy despite the fact that they were in the same yr. poor people girl had seen her immorality father chopped up in movement of her. At least the first clip he had died she hadn't been there to watch.

Ginny shook herself. Dragon's Father-God had died in front of him and he had recovered alright, but maybe that was because it was Draco that had killed him.

Draco ...

Ginny glanced towards the door. She wanted to go to him, comfort him. But her parents were here, they needed her. The piranha were here and they needed her too.

Except that there was nothing she could do here.

There was nothing she could do there either.

Ginny gritted her teeth and tried to stop herself from screaming. The one thing she hated was to finger useless.
*


Harry was getting odd looks from passers by. He ignored them. Not just because that was his way but because Harlesden wasn't a place you stared at people in. It wasn't a terrible place, Harry knew far worse parts of British capital for a clearly wound man to walk through. But it was bad enough to produce him tick off back street with his eye before walking past them, and enough for him to keep his scepter tucked in his arm in gentle reach.

He checked the scrap of paper in his hand and headed quickly towards a tall, brown, concrete stop of flatcar. Harry checked the paper again and reflected on the brilliance of the invention of the elevator. A chemical group of kids in hooded jumpers stared at him as he stomped past tense, trying to take care threatening. Harry sniffed, barely stopping himself from laughing. Thought they were tough did they ?

Harry stepped into the cold entrance Asaph Hall and pressed the phone call button for the elevator. As it slowly descended towards Harry he spent a quiet moment reading the graffiti. It reminded him of when he was immature.

Harry rode the lift up, his nozzle wrinkling up at the very noticeable water smell and stepped out on the top storey. It wasn ‘ t even a corridor, just a yearn concrete balcony. In wintertime it must have been freezing. He did n't ask to check the paper again, he had it down by now. Apartment 12. Harry knocked loudly and waited. He heard footstep on the other side and focused his eye through the woodwind. He was gasping in surprise long before the door opened.

'' Tonks ? '' Harry 's eyebrows raised. `` Did n't look to see you here ? ``

'' Harry ? Wh ... What are you doing here ? ``

'' What are you doing here ? '' Harry cocked his header to one side. `` Should n't you be cleaning up diagon alley ? ``

'' I was injured. Kingsley sent me home. ``

'' But you did n't go home. '' Harry said pointedly. `` You went here. ``

'' How do you even hump where here is ? ``

'' Werewolf registration act. '' Harry held out the firearm of newspaper publisher for her to see. `` Any interested citizen can chance out where the monsters live. '' genus Draco hovered into Harry 's judgement and his stomach lurched a little. Not monsters then ... not all of them. Most of them though.

'' You came to see Lupin. '' Tonks put her hand to her mouth in shock.

"Yes. Can you get him ? Please."

"I ... I don ‘ t know. He ‘ s only transformed back an hour ago. I came to bring him some breakfast and serve him recover. He still hasn ‘ t got out of bed though."

Which means you had a key. Harry didn't say it. Instead he harshly said,

"Draco was bitten. Didn ‘ t you know ?"

"Draco. Oh god no ..."

"Yes. He was bitten."Harry stepped forwards angrily, forcing Tonks back into the apartment. He ‘ ll experience to go on a bloody list and call for that putrid poisonous substance they call a potion and he ‘ s in his way at the manor right now in a freekin cage he built himself !"Harry bit his words off before he told her what Draco had wanted him to do. Later, when he was better, Draco wouldn't want hoi polloi to know.

"And you want Remus to ... what ? Talk to him ?"

"Just get the bloody loup-garou Tonks. Get him now. Oh delay ..."Harry glanced over towards the faded bedroom door. `` Never mind. ``

"It ‘ s alright Tonks."A grating moan sounded and the door was pushed spread slowly. `` I 'm awake. ``

'' Are you sure he was a brute ? '' Harry stepped out from behind the pink haired girl. `` He looks like he 's hung-over. ``

'' Harry, '' Tonks held her paw, her eyes narrowing angrily. Harry was forced to cue himself that the missy with the heart shaped side was an auror of the Helen Wills school.

'' Professor lupine ... '' Harry addressed the grey-faced man. `` genus Draco was- ''

'' I heard. '' Lupin said flatly. `` There is nothing you can do. There is nix I can do. ``

'' I 'm not after a cure, I 'm not that dazed. '' Harry growled back. `` I need you to talk to him. You need to exhibit him he still has something to live for. ``

'' Look at me Potter. '' lupin glanced down at his shivering, robed body. Harry, for the first off clock time, discover multiple old fractures in his bone. Almost every bone in him bore some mark of his womb-to-tomb oath. Harry gritted his dentition. Maybe he should take just done what Draco asked ... No ! Those kind of shadow intellection led to things like gouged-out eyes.

'' aspect just talk to him. '' Harry pleaded. `` I have work to do, I need to go to some dark places today and receive strange people with little sense of sense of humour and less personal hygiene. I know you hate me. I even know why ... a little. I do n't understand but ... whatever. Long narrative short you despise me. But whatever you think about me do n't take it out on my friends. Come on ... help him. ``

'' There is nothing I can do. ``

'' William Tell him it is n't as bad as it seems. ``

'' It is as bad as it seems. ``

'' Then lie to him. '' Harry snarled. His fingers gripped his faculty so hard the wood splintered. lupine stepped back, his heart wide with shock. `` Lie to him if you have to. Tell him turning into a wolf is n't so bad. William Tell him it 's a barrel of jest. Tell him it 's like a sneeze only better. Tell him anything ! '' Harry stepped forward, pointing his staff like a weapon system. `` William Tell him whatever the hell you would have wanted to take heed. I do n't deal ! All I know is that while you lie here with a loot call young enough to be your daughter my friend, my friend who has saved my life on numerous occasions, is thinking his life history is over and I DO N'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO HIM ! I do n't know ! I ca n't reckon ... I ca n't help him ! He 's saved my life and I do n't know how to serve him ! '' Harry turned his incline to Lupin so he could only see his fake eye. Could n't see that he was crying.

'' I do not have it away how to help him either. '' Lupin half turned back towards his bedroom. `` He will have to get through this himself. ``

'' You 're a Noel Coward. You always did like to conceal. '' Harry let the Holy Writ flow from his lips like silk over ice. The gist on lupin was electric. The wolfman spun back to face Harry, his eyes wide with shock.

'' How ... how ... ''

'' Just something I remembered. '' Harry let the words sink in. He did n't really remember much. Dumbledore had taken his own memories of James Potter and thrown them into Harry 's thinker. Now that he knew that he could almost tell where they were. It was like there was a giant black tar pit over one part of his thinker. Occasionally affair would bubble to the surface but it was impossible to go swimming. Lupin swallowed harshly before opening his oral fissure and levelly saying,

'' Get out of my home thrower. Get out. ``

'' You going to speak to Draco ? '' Harry did n't move. `` Or are you going to hide in your shack ? ``

'' I will talk to the boy. '' lupin gritted his dentition. `` Because he is Tonks'cousin. Not because of you. I will- ''

'' So not interested in your reasons. '' Harry snorted and turned back towards the doorway. Harry pulled the door shut on two angered faces and dropped backwards off the balcony. He was halfway down before he remembered he no longer had a drop-gem embedded in his chest of drawers.

"Bardus accido !"Harry had barely whipped his wand out in time and the trance didn't have time to captivate properly. Harry crumpled and rolled as he his the floor. His leg screamed with botheration. Harry grabbed his staff and pushed himself to his fee-

CRACK !

Harry was thrown back to the floor as his makeshift staff finally gave out and splintered into giant shards.

"Bugger."Harry grimaced and looked around. There were no convenient objet d'art of Sir Henry Joseph Wood he could work with. No branchlet or sliver. Wait ... there was a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree over there by the road. Harry hopped to his metrical unit and limped painfully in that steering. He made it to the tree and picked a knobbly twig off the floor. Another engorgement charm gave him a rude walking control stick. Harry leant on it gratefully and breathed heavily. It just made everything more hard. Harry shook his school principal, where he was going next he couldn't afford to evidence too much weakness. Harry brushed his stew filled hairsbreadth out of his center. It had been a foresightful day. The section that hadn ‘ t been excruciatingly painful had been to the full of aggravation .... the following person who pissed him off would-

"Give me your notecase !"

Harry didn't even think. His staff flashed up and slammed the mugger in the Kuki-Chin. Harry could have sworn he saw teeth shatter and fly away. The moaning manque thief crumpled to the floor before scrambling up and fleeing, lily-white trainers flashing and scraping on the pavement.

"I don ‘ t carry a wallet."Harry turned and limped off down the street.
*


Ginny slowly pushed the threshold outdoors. In the midriff of the way was a cage of sear metal. The visible light were dimmed to the period of total darkness but Ginny could still see the wan pump in the middle of the cage, a mountain of wan hairsbreadth barely fitting in between the cake. It rose and fell slowly with the sound of breathing.

The floorboards under the cage were shoot down and splintered, and covered in blood. The wolf must have known it could n't get out between the bars, but it had tried anyway. Hair and slobber stained the floor with a blanch carpet. The whole elbow room smelt like the den of an animal. How could so much accept happened ? How could this possess happened ?

Ginny shivered. No one was watching now, she could break out down. Everyone was hurt, diagon bowling alley was ruined. Was it her break ? She could cause trained them harder. Should own pushed them to keep training even after Voldemort 's apparent Death ... null should accept stopped them keeping in practice. People were short because of that. People were dead because of her. And that made her insides knot up like rope. Was it bothering Harry ? Probably not ... he was probably out beating somebody up for entropy or fighting a firedrake or something. null rattled him.

Ginny sat down in a heavy armchair and pulled a stroke over herself. It smelled like wet dog. The hale room did. Ginny pulled the lumbering cloth up and bunched it in front of her. For a moment she wondered where her puerility slip bear was. Probably in a cupboard somewhere.

Ginny pulled her legs up onto the chair and hugged them to her chest. Fevered sleep eventually came.
*


Harry flicked his hood up as he turned into a disused alley. He slowed and bowed his foreland a little. ameliorate to seem old and infirm than young and crippled. He tried to languish into the backcloth, not that it would really count. After the chaos in diagon alley most wizards were staying at domicile. This wasn't really a wizard street. There was a starbucks on it. But apart from that the shop were mostly magic, and not the nice kind of magic.

Harry reached his finish and looked up. A dirt encrusted signboard read hazard told fate found. Harry pushed the door open and was assailed by incense and smoke.

"Welcome my child."A heavily breathy voice sounded out of the glumness. Harry could see her of course, but acted like he couldn't."Have you come for counselling from the spirits ?"

"I need to visit the Tarot."Harry said the fix word of honor he needed to say."Is this the shoes I can recover it ?"

"Who can say ? Perhaps I can show you the way."

Harry stepped forward and a chair faded out of the smoking air. Harry sat down and waited while the smoky figure on the other incline of the table slowly shuffled a deck of drag calling card. Harry watched the finger's breadth carefully, if you paid really closing curtain attention you could see her stack the deck. Harry tried not to yell for her to zip up. They didn't need to go through the charade, they both knew why he was here. Except that if he demanded she go faster he would get nothing. He had to play their game.

"What is your birth month kid ?"

"July."Harry said without thinking. It didn't affair anyway. It was a fake month given for a fake tarot card meter reading that wouldn't have predicted anything even if it was real. Harry watched as the ‘ seer'flicked cards down one after another.

"This is for the past times, this is for the future."Harry tried not to roll his optic."This is the outcome of the viewing."The womanhood laid down the tower card."import catastrophe."

"Obviously."Harry stood and clicked a coin down on the tabular array."Thank you."Harry turned and stalked out of the shop class. A set of smoke-shrouded eyes watched him go. Harry hurried to the nearest flue node and tried to recall where he was going. The towboat was one he'd seen before ... where was it ... Oh yeah, Glasgow.

Harry picked a pinch of powder and stepped into the flame. The spinning flaming whisked him away and he gritted his teeth, flueing with a gamey leg was always painful. Harry fell out onto a gemstone floor with a stabbing hurting. But recovered fast and ambled out of the store, waving pleasantly to the bemused wizard shopkeeper.

He stepped out into the street and looked up into the sky. It was sunny now, he wondered what time it had gotten to be. Breakfast had never happened. lunch would probably never materialize. Harry reached into his bag and drew out something that felt like food. An apple. just enough. Harry clicked down the muggle streets, wondering if he was throwing himself in over his head. the great unwashed were looking at him singular and he realized he was wearing sorcerer robes. Sod it, who cared.

Harry looked up and saw the swinging foretoken he was looking for. A fleet pub sign of a stone tug. The same one that had been on the bill of fare. This was what he was looking for.

This was the Tarot. The den of thief, a near legendary pit of darkness. Every auror in the res publica would have given their rectify arm to see this spot. They never would though, because what every auror didn't know was that it wasn't one pub. It was twenty-two.

Every day the placement changed, you only found out where from the tarot card reader. The wife of the proprietor. On any former day the other 21, the Fool, the dying, the DoJ and the rest, would just be muggle pubs like any others. Harry didn't know where the muggles who usually went to the pubs went on the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. when their topical anesthetic was designated the tarot. Probably drank at home.

Harry pulled his punk up, it didn't do to participate the tarot card concealed, and stepped inside. Within it was warm and faint music played. Harry couldn't see where it was coming from, probably out of person's wand. The chairs around the old oak tables were richly backed, leather and padded. The fireplace was roaring cheerfully.

Harry liked the Tarot, it was homely. reverse to what you might think there were no fights in the Tarot. hoi polloi didn't cum to the tarot card to bar-room brawl, they came for business. dangerous business. Of course if you pissed off the wrongfulness person you would be chopped up and fed into the mincing machine to be sold as beefburger to the muggles over the next few days.

Such is life.

Harry clomped over to the bar and slipped onto a stool. There was no bartender, Harry could see him behind the wall hulking around an abandon barrel. The pub was surprisingly full, every stall was full of muttered conversation and every tabular array surrounded by serious looking men. Men who had other men sitting next to them who never spoke. Men in very good robes, or very serious suits. Harry tried not to look to closely at them. It didn't do to pay too much attending to people in the Tarot.

Harry shook his straits ruefully, of course the place was full. Diagon alley had been crushed, shaken and blasted to the undercoat. These mass would be discussing how that effected their plans ... their plot. Would they have clip to talk to him about his own job ? What was he thinking ... of course they would. For decent atomic number 79. He just had to ask the right questions.

How would he do this ? Harry ordered red wine when the bartender came back. It was served to him without question, and without comment. Harry stepped over to an empty table and rested a galleon against the buns of his glass. The tarot had sign, insidious 1. Harry didn't know more than the barest scraping of them. But he knew this one, gold against red vino meant you were interested in assassins. Actually it meant you wanted mortal killed but it amounted to the Saame thing.

Harry leant his knobbled staff against his president. Whatever happened he was going to see the damn Lie Gou. It would subscribe as long as it took.
*


genus Draco woke into a hideous painfulness. It seemed like every bone in his body had been shattered and reformed, every muscle was being turned to mush by some human body decomposition bacteria, and his pharynx felt like he had drunk crushed glass.

He opened his eyes and slowly tried to tug himself to his knee joint. His mitt were shaking. No ... his whole body was shaking. He could n't even concenter his centre. genus Draco let himself settle back to the storey, the pitted and splintered wood bit into his sensitive tegument and he could n't help but cry out. There was no power point in getting up, he could n't unlock the John Cage anyway. Was it even worth reaching between the bars to get behind his wearing apparel back onto his aching body ? He did n't need to be naked when somebody came to break on him but he did n't think he could physically put the dress on. Maybe if he gave himself a moment to recover ... to heal. Then he could manage it. Maybe in a few minutes ... if he just concentrated on breathing.

'' Draco ? ``

The vox registered on the higher stretch of his mentality but did zippo to the lour. He knew he should respond somehow but had no musical theme how to.

'' Are you awake ? '' A aspect came into view, framed by ginger hair. Draco coughed roughly, shock making his throat close like a vice. His legs came up, trying to hide himself from the girl in front of him. She disappeared like a spook and Draco momentarily thought he had imagined her. But then a heavy material dropped on top of him from the top of the coop. He weakly pulled the woven cloth over him and tried to cover himself without scraping the textile over his skin.

'' Draco ... are you alright ? ``

'' Do I look alright ? '' Draco whispered.

'' Do you want some H2O ? ``

'' Why are you here ? '' Draco wrapped the textile around himself and tried once again to advertise himself to his knees and mix closer to the barroom. `` What are you doing in my room ? ``

'' Well sorry for caring if you were alright ! ``

'' I 'm a wolfman. I 'm not alright. I will never be alright. '' Draco 's centre flickered down to Ginny 's ruffle wearing apparel. They were the Saame ones she had been wearing yesterday. genus Draco realized he could even smell Ginny 's perfume on the throw over him, and wafting over from his deep armchair. `` Did you sleep here ? ``

'' Yes. ``

'' You idiot ! You slept in a room with a werewolf ! What if I had broken free ! You could have been killed ! ``

'' You would n't accept hurt me. ``

'' Do you know what a werewolf is ? '' Dragon shook his head, all this shouting was making his already aching head split apart. `` Of path I would have hurt you ! ``

'' Alright fine. '' Ginny crossed her arms. `` But I could have stunned you or- ''

'' While you slept ? ``

'' I ... ''

'' Why were you here anyway ? '' Draco hugged his arms to him, trying not to throw up.

'' I just ... '' Ginny 's eyes dipped. `` I came here to see if you were alright, but you were already transformed. I was so tired, I just went to kip. ``

'' You just ... went to sleep ? '' Draco 's eyes widened, then closed again when the get down hurt his brain. `` Why did n't you go to your own room ? ``

'' I just ... I just went to slumber. '' Ginny knelt down, she looked almost as tired as he felt. `` Seriously Draco are you alright ? ``

'' No. But it 's not any uncollectible than I expected. '' Dragon leant against the saloon. Having someone there might
actually be a good thing, it forced him to get up and act with some illusion of normalcy. If Ginny had n't been there he probably would stimulate still been lying on the trading floor. `` Lupin came and told me what to expect. He did n't leave anything out. At the time I hoped he might be exaggerating ... ''

'' Draco ... ''

'' I ca n't believe this cage is the rest of my life ... '' Draco bowed his head, resting his head against the bars. He closed his eyes, letting himself slide down. It was n't just that he would have to go through this every twenty-eight Day. That he could almost have dealt with. But the fact that he was a ... a thing ... he could n't set aside himself to be a marauder now. There was no way he could put the others under that kind of danger, not with a teras inside him. He could n't go back to Hogwarts either, that was out of the question. All those nestling ... he would be putting them all in danger.

So what was his lifetime now ? He might as well never leave this John Cage ... he really should have slit his own throat. If only the masher had ripped its own heart out during the night.

His living was now worth nothing. Why ...

'' Draco ... ''

Why the hell was she still here. Why would n't she pass on. Why was she- WHAT THE Hell !

Draco 's oculus take open as piano lip slammed roughly into his.
*


He was n't moving his lips against hers and his eyes were full with panic. Ginny drew back, her hands shaking a petty. That had been her first literal kiss. On the whole it had n't been very honest. She could taste blood on her lips.

'' Ginny ? '' Draco 's vocalism was dry and startled. `` Why .... why ? ``

'' To cue you you have something to to inhabit for you prat. '' Ginny said angrily.

'' To live ... for ... '' Draco 's eyes widened in understanding. `` You mean you ... like ... Me ? ``

'' Yes ! Merlin 's beard you 're dense ! '' Ginny rocked back on her hound, hugging her arms to her thorax. Dragon was just sitting there, staring at her. It was like she 'd had broken his psyche. `` Well ? Are n't you going to say something ? ``

'' But ... you ca n't ... '' genus Draco 's heart were flickering wildly. `` You ... but I 'm ... ''

'' What ? '' Ginny broke in. `` You think because you 're a wolfman I could never be with you ! ``

'' Yes ! '' genus Draco blurted.

'' You think I care ! ``

'' You ... you ... yes you should manage. '' Draco pulled his cam stroke closer about him. `` You should worry. ``

'' Well I do n't ! ``

'' fountainhead I do. '' Dragon shook his head frantically. `` I could n't do that to you. I mean ... associating you with a creature. Could n't do that. To you. You deserve better. I 'm ... I 'm dark. ``

'' And what I want. '' Ginny gritted her teeth, Her heart was a churning whirlpool, beating faster and faster. She didn ‘ t know if she wanted to burst into rent or punch the shaking boy in front of her. `` That does n't weigh to you ? ``

'' On proportion. No. '' Dragon shrunk back to the other end of the batting cage."I ‘ m sorry Ginny ... you should allow. I ‘ m so sorry. I just ... I ‘ m sorry and you ..."

"Stop !"Ginny knew which one now. Her clenched fist were twitching."Just block off you ... you ... boy ! You think you can just apologise !"

"fountainhead what else can I do ?"

"You can exclude up !"Ginny stood and stomped towards the door."Get yourself out of the bloody cage !"

She slammed the door shut angrily.

Bloody prat.
*


Dragon slammed his forehead against the bar. The ringing preeminence grated on his spike but the pain just melted into the torment already sinking through his skull.

What else could he consume done ? He was just ... broken.

"Well you bolloxed that up didn ‘ t you."

Draco's head rose slowly and when he saw who had spoken he quickly pulled his throw around to cover himself amend. Harry was leaning against the paries nonchalantly. He had monolithic grim bags under his eyes and he smelled like stale deglutition and cigars. genus Draco realized he'd been smelling that for awhile.

"How much did you learn ?"

"Not all, but enough."Harry's eyebrows rose.

"I don ‘ t want to spill the beans about it. It ‘ s done."

"Wasn ‘ t gon na citation it."Harry folded his arms."Wasn ‘ t gon na advert how you basically emo-slapped a stuffy friend. How you cut her heart out with a peachy big knife made of misplaced pathos. Was n't going to contact on the fact that you 're a totality half-wit ! Not gon na -"

"Shut up Harry. You don ‘ t know what you ‘ re talking about."Draco pulled his cam stroke closer about him.

"Instead I was going to ask if you think you ‘ ll be alright by this evening."Harry smiled evilly."I found the base of the ninja guys, and I think we need to pay them a visit."

'' I do n't ... I do n't know if I 'll be up to it. '' Dragon shook his head. It was n't self pity, just wide-eyed truth.

'' well I 'm going to be offering them vauntingly sum of money of your money in add-on to mine so you might require to be there. ``

'' devote them whatever you want. '' Dragon waved his paw vaguely. `` I do n't want any of it. I never did. Just pull up stakes me enough to hold out on. ``

'' So you 've decided to live ? '' Harry stepped forward, grinning cheekily. `` If I 'd known a kiss was all you needed I would have dragged Ginny here myself. Heck I would'a kissed you if got you to block off eyeing up the letter opener. '' Harry drew his verge and flicked it towards the batting cage door. Draco pushed it and it swung open slowly.

'' It was n't the osculation. '' Draco shakily crawled out of the cage and rose to his feet, the front making him nauseating. `` It was n't the candy kiss. ``

'' Do n't consider you. '' Harry shrugged and turned towards the door. `` I think someone 's making oatmeal in the kitchen. Not molly Weasley but still ... '' With a final wave Harry clomped off down the corridor.

Draco leant back against the cage, too tired to try to dress. His life-time had, in a day, go much, much more complicate. And the lycanthropy was only role of it.
*


Harry stood outside the threshold to the ward at St Mungos and bit his lip. It had been over a day since the horrendous engagement. Over a day since they had seen him. What was he supposed to say ? Would they accuse him of not being there for them ? They would be the right way to. But there had been too many affair that he had to do, and not sufficiency time to do them. His witching eye flicked from bed to bed. How could he talk to them when every present moment he could see the impairment that had been done to them. Damage that was his fault.

'' Why have n't you gone in ? ``

Harry spun at the audio of the new voice behind him, then relaxed. He let out a suspiration of relief.

'' Thea, '' Harry stepped forward and hugged the little seer, pressing her into his chest. `` You 're okay. ``

'' I did n't consume to do any of the scrap. '' Pythea murmured against him before pushing away and fixing him with an apprising stare. `` Where have you been ? ``

'' I was trying to find out ... Trying ... I was working. '' Harry 's eyes flickered around to the Mary Augusta Arnold Ward. `` I should induce come sooner. I 'm sorry. ``

'' You do n't have to apologise to me. '' Pythea smiled. `` You always get the laborious determination Harry. ``

'' I should go in now. ``

'' No, do something for me first. '' Pythea put a hand on Harry 's shoulder.

'' What ? ``

'' tell apart a joke. ``

'' What ? ``

'' I 'm life-threatening Harry. ``

'' A ... a jocularity ? '' Harry did n't know where this was coming from. `` This is n't exactly a joking time. ``

'' Harry at the end of finish year you promised we had seen the last of the tempestuous, self-destructive, madly driven and vengeful man you had become. Do n't break in that promise. Do n't go through that room access as that man, he ca n't help them. Them, and me, we want the old Harry back. The one I 've seen this summertime. Please. ``

'' I ... I ... '' Harry felt his mouth dry. Was he going back to the dark spot ? Maybe. Getting weird magic stuff stuffed into his bones did voice remarkably appealing. But he could still win without it. He was n't the submarine sandwich of prophecy, he was doing affair his way. Harry smiled wryly. `` I jumped off a building. ``

'' What ? ``

'' Twentieth flooring. I forgot I do n't have a drop-gem any to a greater extent. ``

'' You jumped off a building ? '' Pythea incredulousness turned to giggles. `` Harry you are insane. ``

'' Broke my cane too. '' Harry smiled as the girl in presence of him chuckled into her hired man. `` Then I was mugged. ``

'' Mugged ? You ? Really ? ``

'' If you want a new necklace the guy 's tooth are probably still there. '' Harry grinned. `` That enough of a joke for you ? ``

'' That will do nicely Harry. '' Thea shook her head, still laughing quietly.

'' So I can go in now ? Or do I have to answer some riddle as well ? '' Harry asked, smiling. When Thea nodded he stepped towards the doorway. `` Thank you Thea. ``

'' You 're receive Harry. ``



Have n't actually written anything more. Not good. My pilot of pre-written chapters is running thin ...


Have managed to spell a bit more now. dullard things like my degree and real number living go along getting in the way.





Harry could have sworn his sinew were tensed like natural rubber bands. His eye was spinning rapidly, seeking every shadow and his heart was pumping with the light staccato hammering of suspense.

'' Well this is a grand plaza for an ambush. '' Harry tugged his coat in closer to him and stared up at the scraggy cliff to either side.

'' Do you see an lying in wait ? '' Snape asked calmly, striding adjacent to him.

'' No, but I do n't hope them not to have some magic up their sleeve. '' Harry sighed and trudged forward along the rough Harlan Fisk Stone track. It was late enough that the air was pleasantly sang-froid, the sun still streaming brightly over the drop-off to their left. They were far enough from the muggle road that the entirely sound in the air was the whistle of the confidential information and the buzzing of insects.

'' Are you sure they are here ? '' Snape asked, glancing up at the Welsh Black cliff. `` It does not seem like the form of place for the Lie Gou. ``

'' What were you expecting ? Chinatown ? '' Harry tweaked an eyebrow.

'' Perhaps. ``

'' Too predictable. '' Harry 's eye picked up their destination in the space, shimmering glassily in the sun. It was a moment foresightful before it came into true sight, a piffling lake in the centre of the valley. The path meandered towards it, crossing a little current and cutting a way of life through the Scots heather. As it drew close to the still glassy water Harry drew to a hitch and looked down. trivial round out pebbles.

'' Is this it ? '' Snape stopped next to him.

'' This is where the guy said. '' Harry could n't see anything out of the ordinary even with his magic eye. It just looked like a formula lake.

'' There was a password. '' Snape prompted.

'' keep back your incalculably greasy hair on. '' Harry knelt down and put his sass right up to the water system. `` Agoredig Ffordd. '' The pressure of his words made ripple on the piss. He straightened up. zip had happened.

'' Are you certain those were the Word of God ? '' Snape sounded doubtful.

'' Relax Teach. '' Harry closed his centre. `` This is far worse for me if I 'm amiss. '' He leant forward and allowed himself to fall, heading first, into the water.

The icy water felt like a pall of silk. No wetness. No fear. No pebbles. Harry 's momentum spun him up on the other position and he had a moment of lightheadedness when his mentality told him he was standing on a ceiling. He took a breathing space and steadied himself. Everything around him looked the same, same rock 'n' roll, same wind. He could almost have been fooled into thinking he had n't moved at all.

With a whispering splash Snape sprang out of the lake. Harry gave him a moment to settle himself before asking,

'' Satisfied ? ``

'' That password was Welsh Black. '' Snape glanced back at the lake. `` Not Chinese. ``

'' I know, '' Harry shrugged. `` I figure this place is probably ancient, the Lie Gou just took it over. ``

'' Interesting, '' Harry could see the gears spinning in Snape 's head.

If you 're thinking there may be other shipway in here. Harry fixed his eyes to Snape 's There probably are, but can we bank that the Lie Gou do n't sleep with about them ?

Not with any foregone conclusion. Snape shook his head. And you are properly. We should communicate this way while in there territory.

Interesting how you try to make that sound like your idea. Harry rolled his eyes.

'' Did your origin Tell you where to go next ? '' Snape said out loud.

'' No, but I can suppose. '' Harry smiled and pointed out behind Snape. The potions master turned.

'' Ah ... yes. '' The wall of the vale was carved out in massive endocarp pillar and a monumental stair had been hacked into the rock. At the top, framed against the context sun, was a tiered tabernacle in red Wood. Rising up to the sky like a pyramid of flaming. `` I suppose this is the place. ``

'' They should be expecting us. '' Harry set off, his cane clicking on the pit. `` But I 'm not looking forward to all those stairs. ``

As they set off across the broom Harry let his oculus wander. This place looked entirely normal up close but the further away you looked the more the prospect seemed flatcar and unreal, like whoever had made this place hadn't extended it practically beyond this valley. There were animate being though, worm and birds and rabbits in their holes underground. To what stage was this piazza just a reflection ?

Harry shook his straits. An academic or a historian might handle. He didn't. They reached the invertebrate foot of the rough hewn stairs and Harry snorted and turned to Snape.

If I climb that I ‘ ll be useless once we ‘ re at the top.

It would be better if we do not show sign of the zodiac of weakness. Snape agreed, glancing up at the far off temple.

Harry glanced around until his eye fell on a humble boulder, no tumid than a pillow. He drew his wand and crouched down beside it. One whispered spell made it shift in it's bed of moss. A endorse made it ring like a campana and with the 3rd it flashed gold.

Harry sat on the stone, crossed his legs and laid his staff across his knees. The Oliver Stone slowly rose into the air and hovered there, humming quietly. Snape almost looked impressed.

Would you be able to scat on that if events do not turn out in our favour ?

Don't bet on it. Harry began floating up the steps, maintaining eye link with his teacher. The spells I used were a very BASIC version of the ones used to make broom handle. That should give you an near guide to how much control I have over this thing. Slow hovering is the outdo I can do.

They climbed the whole step in silence for awhile, the nerveless wind whistling around the carved tower. The land seemed stark and deserted. Seemed.

We're being watched. Harry noted the next time he caught Snape's eye.

Of course we are.

Remind me what stops them from knifing us on the berth ?

The possibility that we can have them more amber than they would make by killing us.

And if it turns out we can ‘ t ?

Snape didn ‘ t solvent. Harry eased his wand in the band of his belt. This would be interest. The final steps brought the rest of the synagogue into prospect. It seemed smaller now than it had before, not much orotund than a modest home. It was surrounded by a simple garden, just directly sess and small pool. There weren ‘ t even any koi in the consortium, just a very Brits frog. Harry didn't know what he had been expecting. Cherry trees perhaps. But of course these men were assassinator, they probably didn't have a good deal time for gardening.

Speak of the devil ...

The painted doorway on the front of the temple opened and an older gentleman in a simple sorry robe stepped out.

"We have been expecting you."Was all he said."Come inside. You must provide your brake shoe here."

Harry lowered his rock to the flooring with a clunk and raised himself to his foot. He unlaced his boots and left them there on the edge of the cliff before stepping towards the door. Snape put a restraining hired man on his shoulder and Harry reluctantly let the older virtuoso lead. The threshold were swing over unfold for them and the old man led them through a short hallway.

The bulwark looked like ... rampart. They had warded them against magical methods of surveillance and apparently that included his eye. Was that intentional ? Had his eye become unwashed noesis or had the warding always been there as a precaution. Harry tried not to give any mark that he was uncomfortable but for a man who had gotten used to twenty-four seven X ray panorama the sudden want was claustrophobic.

Get it together.

Harry followed Snape and their guide into a room at the side of the building. The false light of this mirror world streamed in through the large window onto a table standing low on the story. There was already a pot of tea and three empty cups waiting for them.

"If you would wait here."The old guidebook said, indicating the table."I will see if master Sasori is make to verbalize to you."He backed out of the room and closed the door behind him. Snape and Harry stepped towards the table and sat crown of thorns legged beside it. Neither so much as reached for the tea.

Sasori sounds Nipponese. Harry noted. I thought the Lie Gou was based in China ?

They accept tiro from many spot. Snape's part was calm in Harry's creative thinker. And in any case it is almost certainly not his genuine name. consider no more than of it, center on learning what we can.

I'm trying, but my eye's giving me nothing. Harry admitted to his comrade. Have you learnt anything I should know about ?

I think we are dealing with very intelligent people.

Not that intelligent. Not if they think we're dazed enough to salute the tea.

I meant this construction. Snape glanced around at the walls. I believe it is larger on the inside than on the outside in the manor of many wizards building. However a visitor who had only been shown these few rooms would provide thinking this tabernacle no self-aggrandising than it appears.

When in reality whole armies could be housed here. Harry finished off the thought. How did you work that out ?

There are sure signs. For person comrade with this sorting of enchantment.

I didn't feel anything.

That is why you are still a student Harry. And why I am still your teacher. A faint smile tugged at Snape's lips.

Well you're not directly my teacher. Harry chuckled. Not unless you've Menachem Begin accepting T score into your NEWT class.

The room access was opened quietly and both Harry and Snape's middle flashed no the new arrival. He was dressed in a suit, melanize and clean in every line, but Harry could see the tongue hidden in his sleeves. His grooming was every inch the man of affairs but he had broad tattoos on the backs of his hands, one a wheel of flame, the other a fox's brain. A portrait of incongruence. Nothing what it seemed. He was Japanese, Harry could see now, so at least the public figure wasn't a total fake.

"goodness evening."The man spoke quickly and with firm self self-confidence."My epithet is Sasori, and I am the loss leader of the Lie Gou in this share of the reality. You are Severus Snape and Harry ceramicist. Welcome. I believe you had something to discus with me."Sasori stepped up to the low table and sat quickly. Without waiting for them to mouth he reached over and poured himself a small cup of leafy vegetable tea. Harry supposed that was supposed to put them at relief. Why the underworld would it ?

"We are here to pay you to drop one of your currently existing contracts."Nothing about Snape was moving but his mouth.

"Our arrangement with Tomas Riddle ?"Sasori spoke with his tea held up to his rim."This is the contract you refer to ?"

"Yes. We will pay you whatever the dark lord has offered and ten percent more besides. It is a serious offer. You know the Au we have useable to us."Snape indicated Harry with his arm."In yield you will not only cease your employment under Voldemort but you will also obliterate him and add us both his head and that of his two remaining disciples."

"You offer us that without knowing how much we are being offered already ?"The assassin smiled."You are so certain you can supply what you promise ?"

"We have the rich of two ancient wizarding houses behind us. And more besides."

"Yes."Sasori tapped his finger against the bound of his modest cup."But I do not believe it will be enough."

"What has the shadow Divine offered you ?"Harry could sense Snape's stress rising.

"I can not enjoin you that."

"Has he offered you something other than gold ?"

"No. The Lie Gou have only ever worked for atomic number 79. treasured gems in special circumstances. And once, just once, for the hand of a beautiful woman."Sasori smiled. Snape did not.

"Would you prefer if I set a act ?"Snape laid his hands on the tabular array."One million galleons."

"Not nearly enough."Sasori chuckled.

"Ten million."Snape fixed the man across the table with a glower."The stream heirs to the thrower and Malfoy fortune are surprisingly unworried about fiscal concerns. If ten million is unsatisfactory perhaps you should describe your price."

"Perhaps you should realize the meaning of the word no."The man leant forward."I am rejecting your fling Mr Snape. I do not think of to be harsh but, even if you could pay us to a greater extent than him, we must honour our commitment to Mr enigma. It would shame me to do less."

Trygve Halvden Lie. Harry watched the assassinator eyes as he stood. You don't yield a rat's arse about honour. That'dishonor me'Taurus the Bull is just telling us what you think we expect to hear. Why are you lying ? What else is going on here ?

"You should both allow now."Sasori stepped away towards the door."No one will stop you on your way out."

No one did. Which was even weirder.
*


"That didn ‘ t make any sense."Harry commented once they were safely back to central office."It was like he didn ‘ t want to give up the declaration but didn ‘ t want us to know why."

"I am more curious about why they simply let us leave."Snape shook his headspring."If the contract with the nighttime lord means so much to them they should have killed us."

"Perhaps they weren ‘ t sure they could beat us ?"Harry suggested. At Snape's withering stare he shrugged."Ok, so that was a stupid idea."

"So we have another mystery."Snape grimaced."We have too many already."

"Perhaps he ‘ s blackmailing them."Harry said hopefully."Or holding Sasori ‘ s wife/daughter/pet hamster hostage. There ‘ s obviously some grounds why this job ‘ s so important to them."

"Perhaps."Snape nodded faintly."The mind is deserving investigating anyway, though he did not seem like a man with loved I in danger. He seemed too calm."

"He wasn ‘ t."Harry growled."His heart was running a minuscule fasting. He was nervous from the moment he stepped into the room. Concealed it well though. Bastard."

"Could you tell if he was lying about anything ?"

"I don ‘ t think he was."Harry hazarded."Heart charge per unit isn ‘ t a hundred-percent judge of when individual ‘ s lying. It was Wyrd, but it almost seemed like he was calmer once you started offering money."

"Strange."

"Whatever."Harry rolled his middle."I have n't slept in a surprisingly long sentence. Unconsciousness does n't count. I 'm going to bed."

"Wait one moment."Snape waved Harry towards the elbow room where he had set up his lab."I need to insure in on what has happened since we left and I believe you should hear it too."

"Do n't force yourself they says ..."Harry grumbled as he followed after his teacher."Do n't be like you were terminal year they says. But when I want to sleep ? Oh no-"

"Be quiet Harry."Snape snapped as he pushed the door open. Natalies head rose from the tabular array as they entered and she wordlessly pushed a folder towards Snape.

"Has anything of note happened ?"Snape asked.

"You could read the file."

"Your assessment will be more succinct."Snape rubbed his temples."The main decimal point please."

"The PM results have come back on the short fighters. They were not zombies, or inferi. We do n't experience what they are. Their frame is just rotting now, cipher livelihood. We did find something alien in their system but we can not discover it."

"And the utter Lie gou ? The ones Ginerva found in the leaky cauldron ?"Snape indicated a bloodstained knife with a tag tied around the handle.

"They were stabbed."

"I gathered that."

"They were poisoned first."Natalie shook her head."I believe the regime of potions they had been taken made them marginally resistant. The sea wolf had to polish off them off. Would you like to hazard a guesswork as to the poison used ?"

"Everybody 's friendly locality vigilante again ?"Harry said from his post slouched on a chair. At Natalie 's nod he chuckled."Nice to know he 's still out there."

"It would be better if we could bring him in."Snape fixed Harry with a stare.

"You want to arrest him ?"

"I want to know how he created his poison."Snape answered tonelessly."I am certain it could cause even more damage in able hands."

"You are so a great deal cooler than Dumbledore."

"But there seems to be no way to catch him."Snape picked the knife up carefully with the tips of his finger's breadth."I assume there was nada usable on this ?"

"There was mud, sweat and hair."Snape made no move to drop the tongue despite Natalie 's news. Harry 's ears pricked up.

"It was his knife ?"Harry asked quizzically."I mean not found at the scene or stolen off a corpse ? He brought it with him ?"

"As far as we can tell yes."

Harry stood, carefully took the steel from Snape 's hands and folded it into a piece of parchment from the table.

"He has left grounds in his previous crimes."Snape pointed out."It has never amounted to anything before."

"Before now,"Harry smiled."You did n't take a seer."
*


"Harry ?"

"Yes Thea ?"

"You 're in my room."

"Yes, that 's true."

"In the middle of the night."

"This is also true."

"The door was locked."

"If you call that pesky appealingness a lock."Harry grinned in the half-light. This was a game. It was fun. In a lot of room it was better than sleep."Do n't you want to know why I came ?"

"Can I venture ?"Pythea arched an supercilium, but a faint smile played on her lips.

"You can guess."Harry shrugged."You 'll guess wrong but you can guess."

"Really ?"Thea leant forward to calculate into Harry 's eye. The faint Christ Within gave her a facial expression a ghostly look, full of shadows."You do n't think I 'll guess ? What could you be here for ? ... In the eye of the dark ..."

Harry did n't say anything. He just chuckled.

"Why, why, why ..."Thea leant closer, then smiled."You desire my help with something. You want me to try and see something for you."

"Damnit."Harry shook his head wryly, the while broken."You sure you ca n't read judgment any Sir Thomas More ?"

"I often do n't have to."Pythea held out her hand. Harry reached into hie pocket and drew out the knife."matter to ..."Pythea took it and held it on her lap.

"It was used to toss off two of the Lie Gou."Harry leant back on the armchair."I though ... I do n't know ... maybe you could find out who owned it or something. Skry for them or some mysterious matter like that."

"Harry go to sleep."Thea was speaking quietly, her eyes still dreamily focussed on the knife in her hands.

"Sleep ?"

"This will take away awhile, and you 're tired."Thea stood up, her eyes still fixed."Use the bed."

"I can just log Z's on a chair-"

"I need the chairwoman. You take the bed."

You do n't call for the chairman. Harry rolled his eyes as he stood and moved over to the bed.

He fell asleep almost instantly, his intellect trying to give up for the focus and exhaustion of the past few 24-hour interval. In his dreaming he occasionally saw a white figure, chanting softly to something she was holding before her. Even in the dream he knew what that was. Having an eye that could see through your own eyelids made for realistic dreaming. That was why he knew that she was done far before he eventually woke, the break of day light streaming in through the curtains.

"You did n't awake me."Harry said, his oculus still closed.

"I thought you needed your sleep."

"Like you needed the president ?"Harry opened his heart and sat upright. On the mesa next to Pythea a rough map had been drawn on parchment. A low Town, nestled in a vale. Further up the map was a touchy X."The murderer 's there ?"Harry pointed.

"I do not suppose so Harry, it was very faint."Pythea shook her head."The tongue lay there a long fourth dimension before the murderer picked it up. The fortune that he is still there are-"

"Low."Harry pulled the pugnacious resume over to him. The figure of the township was written at the bottom in Pythea 's elegant paw."Might as well check it out though, for lack of anything more constructive to do."

"Do you want me to go with you ?"

"It 's a yearn shot at best."Harry shrugged and pocketed the paper."Besides, you were up all dark. You need the bed now."Harry stood and stepped towards the door."I 'll tell apart you if I find anything interesting."

"Do n't wake me."Pythea 's grinning waved him out the door.
*


Harry reached the sleepy-eyed village and breathed novel air. No one much was out yet, the sun dangling was still hanging mistily over the hills.

The map said that the knife came from north of the Ithiel Town. Harry set off in that direction, sword lily to at least have something constructive to do after all the confusion and chaos. A storekeeper waved to him while at the same clip squinting like he was an trespasser. Harry waved back and carried on. The home thinned out and Harry found himself walking along a country road, fields on either slope. He checked his lilliputian sketch map again. It was somewhere east of the road.

Harry 's eyes scanned the battleground and the trees beyond it. There was no itinerary to talk of, just a sort of cart track that looked like it was used by cony more often than humanity. Harry made for it warily and slowly climbed up through the tree diagram, his walking bind excavation into the mud. Harry 's eye kept getting flashing from up ahead, through all the tree diagram and life.

As he got closer he slowed down, silencing his footfalls. Between the trees were the ruins of a house. Not even a house, a shack. It was surrounded by bramble and almost consumed by the forest. Ivy covered every beam and wall. Without his eye Harry was n't sure he would cause seen it as a house at all.

Without his eye he also would n't make seen the man inside it.

Harry slid closer slowly. The man was crouched on the ground, shivering, his thin arm shaking. Now that Harry was closer he could see the man for what he was, a wretch, he could barely see a shred of flesh on the man 's osseous tissue. The matter that made up most of his weight was probably his hair and matted beard. It certainly was n't in the tattered gown he was wearing. Harry scratched his school principal, genius aged slower than muggles, so how old was this guy ? He looked like he was former than Dumbledore had been.

"Sashias !"The man 's pass jerked up and he spun to look right at Harry through the wall of the building."Sashias !"

What the ? Harry jumped backwards and swiftly flung a disillusionment charm over himself. How had he known ?

The man scuttled out of the house like a spider and his eyes flashed from one spotlight to another like an animal.

"Sassicz."

Harry tried to move away slowly, trying not to agitate any leaves.

"Saz !"The man leant down to the solid ground and held out his script. Some ... matter slithered out of his sleeve.

It took Harry a second to realize what he was seeing. It was a snake in the grass, small and grizzly and not much longsighted than a ruler. But then, it was n't, it was nothing. Nothing was there but a wisp of curling grey sess. Harry realized what it was. Only one of his eyes was seeing the snake. To the early it would be just a trace. To any normally sighted person ... the snake would be invisible.

Harry stepped to the side but the Snake River made for him, slowly undulating it 's way through the leave. Harry stepped again, and the serpent changed direction. Making for him like a bloodhound. Harry '' s intellect threw up lilliputian retentiveness of an undiscovered and deadly toxin and stepped away more quickly. The snake kept after him, implacable Death. Harry took a deep breather, metre to look at control.

"Please call off your snake."Harry said, calmly and simply, trying to voice a small like Dumbledore."I am a friend."

The man 's head teacher shot up and the snake in the grass froze in the grass. Harry dropped his camouflage and addressed old man directly.

"I am a Quaker. We both battle Voldemort. Please name off the snake."

"Sissisi."The man 's middle widened."Saz, cizissi."

The snake did n't move, it seemed to be eyeing Harry as sharply as it 's victor was.

"Zaccussazic !"

"I ca n't sympathize you."Harry tried to keep equanimity."You are speaking ... you 're speaking in parseltounge are n't you ? I need you to verbalise English."

"sister ... sss ...."

"My figure is Harry."Harry started again."What is yours ?"

"Name ..."The first English word from the old man 's lips was guttural and raspy."Name ..."

"Yes, your name. What is it ?"

"Important."

"It is important."

"Father said it was important."The decrepit man 's brow furrowed."Said it was sissica all we had."

"Yes."Harry tried to breath."So what is it ?"

"Forgot so much."Rotted teeth were ground together in anger."Made to cossuza ! Made to loose it all !"

"Please-"

"enigma did it !"The old man fuss."Riddle did it to me !"

"I understand."Harry tried to still the screwball man, keeping one eye on the snake."He 's hurt me too. We 're on the Sami side here."

"I want to kill him !"

"So do I, or failing that dismember."

"He took my mind !"

"I see that. Believe me."

"But I remembered !"The man pointed a gnarled fingerbreadth at his head."Out on the rock ... out on Azkaban rock. He was there zassiz ! Broke it loose. I saw his face. I remembered !"

"What. Is. Your. Name."

"My name ?"The man snapped back to the show his eyes fixing on Harry."My gens ?"

"Yes."

"Morfin Gaunt."





If you do not retrospect then all the snowfall that has brought Britain to a standstill today ( and coincidently frozen by bloody finger ) will be transported directly into your life room.


Harry sat cross-legged on the level of the flyspeck hut and looked across at the wizened human body before him. It had taken oven an hr of teasing little nuggets of selective information from the man in front of him but now he thought he finally had the unanimous storey. Unbelievable as it was.

In a way it was severe to think that the shriveled wretch in forepart of him, sitting stroking his pet snake 'Smokey'and mumbling faintly, was Voldemort 's uncle. Actually re-examining that sentence it was all too well-situated. Harry tried to remember that this man was a crazy murdering vigilante, a man who had set his snake on people who were already unconscious. His judgement was probably irredeemably broken and fried to insanity by his long stay in Azkaban, plus the mind-flay Voldemort had worked on him. At least the delusive memories were gone now, broken when he saw Voldemort crush the prison house. Now he was mostly an empty shell, all that was moving him forward was retaliation for what Tom conundrum had done to him.

Harry was currently trying to do two things, the first was think of what to do about the situation. This was not complicated, if he handed Morfin to the authorities he lost an ally. If he did n't it was only a topic of metre until someone died who did n't merit to. But if he handed him to Snape he had the respectable of both worldly concern. So that was that. The 2nd thing he was trying to do was suppose of how to snatch the Au box under the floorboards without Morfin noticing. It was warded too heavily too be Morfin 's work, and it was too recent to be the last residents. Which meant it was probably the slithery dark lord.

"Morfin,"Harry started slowly."You ca n't detain here. You said yourself that Voldemort knows about this place, if he ever figured out it was you this would be the first place he 'd look."

"This is my home ..."Morfin murmured, still looking at his pet snake.

"Is it more important than retaliation ?"

"Where would I go ?"Now he was holding the serpent like a lifeline."Where could I ..."

"I know one place."Harry stood and gestured out the door."I 'll want to sneak you to a flue point, you can pilfer right-"

"Apparate."Morfin unfolded like a report spring.

"You can apparate ?"

"Yes."

"Hmm ..."Harry 's eye narrowed. Perhaps this man could be useful after all.
*


Harry got Morfin settled into one of the abandoned houses he had used during his floating months the previous class before doubling back to the hut. He carefully sliced away the floorboard and lifted them away without touching them.

Beneath was the box. He could n't see inside it, but if someone went to this much trouble to shroud something it had to be important. Harry waved his wand to expose the shelter on it and a 10000 of flickering WWW surrounded the slight box. One or two he recognised, almost he did not. Harry whistled admiringly ( got to admire mulct piece of work wherever it comes from ) and got to work.

In the end it took till evenfall, foresighted shadows making the trees outside loom prominent. Harry did one final exam slam to suss out there were no early curse on the box, then flicked it open with the tip of his wand. inside lay a anchor ring, tarnished amber set with a bleak stone. Harry ran another test on it and more 60 minutes crawled by as he removed the instant layer of protection before dropping it into his bag.

Various sinew complained about his prolonged want of move as he lifted himself off the trading floor and levitated the circuit card back into place. He had done it. But what to do now ? Last year he would sustain kept this hush-hush, secluded himself in some far off corner until he had sorted out the closed book of this unusual object. Harry shook his head, should n't let himself fall into that again. Should n't. Besides, if he handed the mob to Snape there was a chance he could get some sleep.
*


"That is an unlikely story."Snape had his heart fixed on the halo on the table between them."I do not doubt you but ..."

"I can ingest you to adjoin Morfin if you like."

"No doubt I will meet him soon enough. I am more interested in this ring."

"Is it Voldemort 's ?"

"I have never seen him wearing it."Snape waved his hand through the air over the ring."deception sometimes leaves tracing. If it was his, in time I shall know."

"Great, I 'll leave it with you for now then."Harry stood and brushed his hair out of his eyes.

"Where are you going ?"

"well first I 'm going to eat whatever that is I can smell cooking, then I 'm going to fall asleep. Preferably on a mattress but I 'll take a bed of nails if it 's all that 's available."Harry turned and walked out of Snape 's lab, letting his nose lead the way.

His cane clicked on the roofing tile as he walked towards the kitchen but he slowed as he got closer. Raised voices could be heard within. Harry pushed the doorway open quietly and slid interior. By the stove a wizard with yearn ginger hair tied in a pony-tail was arguing with a shorter haired one. Harry recognised that one as Hotspur and, from description, the former one as Bill Weasley. Beside they a frying pan was lying forgotten, bacon burning inside.

On the table nearby Ron and Ginny were huddled, they seemed to be trying to ignore the contestation behind them. Harry sidled up to them and slid in beside.

"What 's going on ?"Harry asked while surreptitious levitating the Sir Francis Bacon out of the pan."Those are your blood brother are n't they."

"Yes."Ginny glanced behind her before looking away.

"What are they arguing over ?"

"Us."Ginny shook her head."Because mum and dad are in hospital and they ... they are n't getting out soon the ministry says we need a guardian. greenback came here because he thinks it should be him but ..."

"Percy disagrees ?"Harry caught the burnt rashers out of the air and crunched one into his mouthpiece."Do n't you get a say ?"

"Apparently not."Ginny shrugged. Ron just grunted, his read/write head still bowed.

"They need constancy !"Percy was yelling from over by the stove."They need somebody with a good job and a good home plate here in U.K. !"

"I have a job !"Bill snarled back."One that pays more than yours."

"For how farsighted ?"Percy snapped."Gringots fired six of it 's human employees just endure week. Some people think they 're cleaning house."

"And what is that supposed to mean-"

Harry stopped listening. He levitated two testis out of a basket and cracked them into the pan.

"Does it matter who they pick ?"Harry asked his friends."I mean, I do n't possess a guardian and I 'm aright. Dragon does n't suffer a defender. Pythea does n't get a shielder. Why do they worry whether you do ?"

"You do n't get it Harry."Ginny shook her chief."You just don't."

"Guess not."Harry shrugged."Anyway 's, we 're all going to Hogwarts in a few days, it wo n't count then."

"I hope not."Ron said quietly."I hope not."

Harry shook his head. Ginny was right, he did n't empathize. Harry summoned his orchis and bit into them. Families eh ? They did n't make any sense at all.
*


Returning to Hogwarts felt foreign. The castle and the wizardly seat around it had always felt like they were a separate world. You got on the train at Kings crown of thorns and somehow entered a magical house of cards that you could n't go out except at Holidays. But in the stopping point year Harry had found that the bubble was like Swiss people cheese, he could pass on any prison term he wanted.

It was sad to lose the illusion. Ah well ...

There was something else that was gone as well. The curse on the defence against the colored prowess C. W. Post was apparently gone. Markus Michelson was still there, officially to teach but Harry knew he was now part of the order. The first thing Harry did was ask for extra training, for him and all the vulture. They would demand it.

Outside Hogwarts the wizarding world was curling up into it 's case like a snail. The massive attack on Diagon alleyway seemed to be too a good deal for people, they were too scared. There were no more attacks like the first but Voldemort 's dead men had been seen all over the country. Spreading fright wherever they went. Yes ... they definitely needed to train.

But for Harry it was n't enough and after just a few days back he found himself knocking on Snape 's door.

"Harry."Snape raised an eyebrow as the door opened."You are no longer in any of my classes."

"I know. I bet you miss the explosions."

"What do you desire Harry ?"

"Have you made any progress with the ring ?"

"No."

"How about with the Lie Gou ?"

"question are continuing."

"And about Voldemort ?"

"I will let you know if anything important happens."

There was a drawn out moment of silence.

"Is there ... anything I can do ?"Harry asked.

"I would like you and your booster to carry on training with Markus."Snape said flatly.

"To fight ?"

"As a last resort."

"So basically you 're telling me to sit still and shut up ?"Harry folded his arms."seed on Snape. I can be useful. I 'm wasted here ! I could do more."

"Can opine of something specific that you could be doing ?"

"looking for for Voldemort !"

"Where ?"

"Everywhere !"

"Peering under every rock 'n' roll ?"Snape said sarcastically."Would n't you be wasted doing that ?"

"I found the Lie Gou did n't I ?"Harry said pointedly.

"By talking to the underworld."Snape shook his headway."Voldemort will not be hiding where petty thieves can detect him."

"I need to do something !"

"There is zippo to be done."Snape snapped."Currently all you are doing is wasting my time ... wait."

"Yes ?"

"If you want to help with something ..."Snape stepped back into his office, then returned with a hand outstretched."work on this."

The doughnut glittered in his hand.

"Are n't you working on it ?"Harry reached out and took the doughnut, looking at it quizzically.

"I can divine no more from it."Snape 's voice carried an edge of frustration."There is something still there it just .... I do not know. You have shown an affinity for puzzles. Why do n't you try to divine it 's secrets ? If nothing else it will stay fresh you out of trouble."With that Snape turned and pulled his room access shut, leaving a at a loss Harry behind.
*


Despite the fact that the task had been given to him only to shut him up Harry attacked it with ardor. He tried every revealing spell he knew on the doughnut but goose egg registered. The solely time he got any clue that it was anything other than metal and stone was one time when, in a fit of irritation, he put it on. He had felt so strange that he had slammed it back in the box and not looked at it for a day. It had felt like someone was watching him, picayune prickles down his spine. He had n't tried to wear it again but had done a unharmed Word 's worth of clairvoyance spotting spells on it. Nothing happened.

"Maybe it 's not magical ?"Neville suggested over breakfast."Maybe Voldemort wanted to prevent it for some former reason."

"It 's magical all right."Harry had his head slumped down on his limb, staring at the ring in the middle of the table."I can experience it."

"Harry you 're getting obsessed."Padma rolled her eyes.

"I 'm not obsessed ! I just ca n't recollect of anything else !"

"leave of absence him alone."Ron shook his fountainhead."We know the ring belonged to Voldemort, so it must be important. Ca n't just ignore-"

"That 's it !"Harry sat bolt upright."It was Voldemort 's !"

"But Harry we knew that."Hermione said quizically.

"What I meant was it does n't matter what spell 's on it."Harry explained."We know Voldemort owned it. So Thea can use it to scry for him, maybe find out where he 's hiding."

"That 's a long stroke Harry."Padma said."Do n't you think Voldemort would have protected himself against that kind of thing ?"

"Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe he 's too weak."Harry stuffed the ring into it 's box and stood up."Do you be intimate where Pythea is this cockcrow ?"

"I think she was doing some work for the gild. In her apartments."

"Really ?"Harry 's eye swivelled up in his head."Ah, I see her."Harry took off out of the great hall. He hurried up to the Hogwarts guest quarters and knocked.

"come in Harry."

Harry smiled and opened the door. Pythea was sat at the little table in the center of the elbow room, single-valued function splayed out in front of her. One of the maps had little blue rowlock stuck in it. Harry wondered what the order was having her do, try to predict where the Lie Gou would fall no doubt. Or trying to find Voldemort.

"You were n't at breakfast."Harry pulled up a professorship and sat down following to the seer."Your deprivation. There was porridge."

"I had a meeting with several order members last night. It ran on quite late."Pythea sighed tiredly.

"Why is it you get meetings with social club hoi polloi and I don't."Harry cracked a smile."I mean we 're basically the same age."

"I do not conceive they realise that."Pythea smiled.

"They 're not working you too intemperate are they ?"

"No Harry. I 'm fine."

"Cos I can consider over some of the work load if you like."

"Are you a seer ?"

"No, but I can make it up. Is n't that what you do ?"Harry chuckled.

"No."

"Or we could get Trewalny to incubate for you !"

"Do you want to send Order members to their decease ?"Pythea laughed and Harry chuckled. Pythea became life-threatening again and leant in towards Harry."What was it you came here for ?"

"I ca n't just come to visit you ?"

"Just ask me."

"Ok, fine."Harry rolled his optic and slid the ring out of his pocket.

"Harry ..."Pythea raised her eyebrows."We 're both a little young to marry."

"Are you sure ?"Harry chuckled."I 'm rich, quite rich."

"No you 're not. Harry Potter is plentiful, you 're draining his money box account."

"murphy potato."Harry paused."That phrase does n't work so well in print. Not even with italics."

"Stop breaking the fourthly wall and tell me what this ring is."Pythea took the ring out of Harry 's hand and raised it to her eyes."There is some symbolisation on it."

"It 's from some nutzo myth."Harry snorted."The important matter is that this ring belonged to Voldemort."

"And you want me to use it to receive him ?"Pythea shook her top dog."The dark Maker will certainly take protected his hiding place from scrying."

"I just need something."Harry pleaded."He did this mob really carefully, lots of enchantments. It obviously affair to him somehow. I just need to know why. cave in me something."

"I will try Harry. But I can not promise anything."Pythea held the ring in both her hands and closed her oculus."You should get to your moral Harry. This could lease a while."

"moral ?"

"The things you go to school for."

"Oh right ! Them."Harry stood and turned to the door."I 'll check back after class. Or before, if I get bored."

Harry slid in late into his duple defence class. It did n't matter too much, the marauders were working to a different curriculum. He joined the eternal rest of them and took his place on the duelling seam. He glanced at Dragon opposite him and noted the mysterious base under his eyes and his slouch posture. Full Sun Myung Moon stopping point night. He should possess remembered.

"How was it ?"Harry asked.

"Horrendously irritating. Like before."Draco grated dryly."What did you think ?"

"That it would be pink wine and kittens and cask of candy."Harry raised his verge."You know I wo n't go easy on you."

"Great."Draco shuddered."Bloody wonderful."

Harry did n't go wanton on him. It would have been insulting. After the class genus Draco went to find a bathroom of ice to lie in and Harry went back to Pythea 's one-quarter. He knocked and pushed the door open.

"Any progress ?"Harry asked the little seer.

"No Harry."Pythea shook her head."I could not find anything."

"Are you sure ?"Harry slouched dejectedly."zip ? Not even why he hid it ?"

"Lord Voldemort protected himself too well."Pythea shook her top dog."I could find nothing."

"Damnit."Harry scratched his nous."I really hoped ... well never mind."

"I will keep trying."Pythea stood, her workforce folded in her sleeves in front of her."If I find anything I will tell you at once."

Harry froze. Twisted tendrils of awe grew around his kernel. He had seen ...

"You 're wearing the ring."Harry stated flatly.

"Yes."Pythea responded without missing a beat."To prevail a better connection."

"bring it off."Harry slid around the table with his handwriting out.

"Harry you are being irrational."

"Please take the annulus off Thea."Harry tried to sound calm. He failed."Just choose it off. Please."

"There is really no need."

"sense of humor me."

"You are worried over nothing."

"If it 's nothing take it off."

"If I wear it at all times I may see something I missed."

"Just take the freekin ring off Thea !"Harry stepped towards her."Please contract it off !"

"No."Pythea took her script out of her arm. Her voice was like ice."I will not."

"Oh ... crap."Harry froze, his hand hovering over the pocket where he kept his wand."You 're not Thea any-more are you ?"

"You seem unsettled Harry."Pythea smiled thinly."Is there some sort of problem ?"Pythea 's work force were raising slowly. Harry twitched towards his baton. The hand stopped moving.

"You 're Voldemort. Somehow you 're Voldemort."Harry had looked into the snake faced shit 's eyes enough fourth dimension to recognise him staring back."The ring was ... was like the diary."

"You found my diary ?"Voldemort raised one delicacy brow."That is disappointing. But no issue, even if the diary was destroyed I still survive and this ... this body will do nicely."

"You 're a freak who keeps trying to own vernal girls."Harry tried to border his bridge player closer to his sceptre. Voldemort 's centre snapped to his bridge player. Harry stopped."Just let her go."

"No."

"You will let her go."Harry 's teeth ground together."Or so help oneself me I will produce whatever lifetime you have full of pain."

"terror ?"Voldemort smiled again."You can not menace me. Any harm you do to me hurts the female child. You could never hurt somebody you care about-"

"Wrong."Harry slammed his fist forward into his font. Voldemort fell backwards but Harry had already grabbed his arms and slammed them behind his back. Lightning flashed from his fingers to the floorboards, bathing the elbow room in livid Christ Within. flame burst out of nowhere and Harry could barely curb onto the writhing form in his arms.

"Karziet !"Harry threw them both to the side as every art object of glass in the room exploded. Harry felt shards bite into his face and workforce but he held on grimly. He had to get that ring off ! He reached for it but a lightlessness orb exploded out of Voldemorts thin manpower, taking the end of his finger off.

"closure bloody moving !"Harry slammed Voldemort onto the table and grabbed desperately for the closed chain, tearing it off his finger and flinging it into the fire.

Pythea instantly stopped moving, lying against the table. Harry slowly released her weapons system and looked into her face. Her nose was gushing blood line freely ( his fault ), and her oculus were squeezed shut.

"Theia ?"Harry whispered into her ear."It 's O.K.. The gang 's gone. It 's alright."

"I 'm so sorry."Theia murmured, her eyes still shut."I 'm so sorry."

"It 's ok."Harry drew his wand and sprayed a boneheaded current of water over the burn room before turning back to Pythea."Are you ok ? I mean are ... are you ok ?"

"He got into my head."Pythea was shuddering, still not moved from her position sprawled on the table."The harder I pushed into it the more he had me."

"I 'm so sorry."Harry stepped forward and enveloped Pythea in a hug."I should have never given it too you, I should never-"

"No ! It 's my fault. I should have been more careful."Pythea opened her eyes and raised her deal to sweep Harry 's typeface."I 'm sorry."

"It was my fault."

"I tried to belt down you !"

"Voldemort did. Not you."Harry pulled her closer to him."But it 's all right now."

They stayed there like that for a while. The room smelt like sodden ash tree but neither of them wanted to be active. Finally Harry pulled back and smiled.

"semen on, we 'd amend get you to Madam Pomfrey. She 'll have to un-break your nose."Harry shook his head."Sorry I had to hit you so hard."

"You always choose the most direct answer to any problem. That is office of your charm."Pythea tilt forward and kissed him lightly on his bloodstained forehead. Harry could feel a fragment of glass move under her lips, when she moved back it fell out, clinking onto the table between them. Harry 's spunk skipped about a million beats.

"We should get you to Madam Pomfrey too."Pythea said breathlessly."You taste of blood."
*


Harry left the seer in the hospital wing and made straight for Snape 's office. He entered without knocking.

"Harry."Snape 's head snapped up from his desk."I heard you managed to injure yourself again."

"It had been too long since I had to grow chassis back."Harry reached into his bag and brew out the box with the annulus in it, dropping it onto the desk. In curtly sentences he explained what had happened. When he was finished Snape leant back, gazing at the ring thoughtfully.

"Anyway I think it 's like the diary."Harry sighed."I 'm deplorable Professor. I should have seen it."

"How precisely should you have seen it ? On the surface the token have no resemblance to one another."Snape said disparagingly.

"I just ... If I had seen it sooner Pythea would n't have-"

"I despise misplaced guilt Potter. You have never displayed it before so do not set off now."Snape picked up the halo 's box with his yearn fingers."Your experience tells us something. Now I merely have to work out what."

"That easy huh ?"Harry asked wryly.

"Easier than it was before."Snape looked like he was about to say something else but the door was pushed open air. Lucy Kindston was on the former side, plainly out of breath.

"Harry, you need to get to the hospital wing."

"I was just there."

"fountainhead you need to get back."

"Wh ..."Harry 's heart widened."Thea ? ..."

"Just go Harry."

Harry 's heart was beating fast as he bolted out the door.



If you do n't review then your figurer screenland becomes like that bit in the ringing where the girl comes out and kills you. Except instead of a girl it 's a cat. Seriously. Have you ever seen a long haired cat totally bedraggled and hissing and screaming and flying out of your screen ? Not good. And if you have high-def ... it 's twenty m tall.


"Why are n't you doing anything."Harry had his fingers gripped tightly around the bar at the metrical unit of the bed.

"There is n't anything we can do Harry."brothel keeper Pomfrey said quietly."We do n't know what is wrong with her."

"Then why are n't you looking."Harry snarled. He could n't reckon away from the bad in front of him. Lying on it, her skin deathlike pale, lay Pythea."Why are n't you doing something ? Her heart 's getting slower."

"You ca n't roll in the hay that Har-"

"HOW MANY EYES DO I HAVE !"

"I ... Harry please."Madam Pomfrey shook her principal."There is nothing I can do. prof Snape is trying to-"

"He 's failing. He wo n't find anything."Harry snarled."There 's nothing on that god damn ring !"

"Then there is nothing that can be done."

"I just need to do something !"Harry shuddered with flighty energy.

"Until we know what the halo did to her we can not fix it."

"Then ..."Harry breathed."Then we need something that fixes everything !"

"Harry nothing like that exis- Where are you going !"

Harry stomped out of the hospital annex as fast as his injured leg would carry him and barged past the agglomerative marauders.

"Where are you going Harry ?"Ginny yelled at his retreating back.

"Out."

"We should come with you to-"

"No."Harry snapped as he tried to put some space between himself and his Quaker. Unfortunately none of them were down a leg and could keep back up with him easily.

"Harry this is for Pythea is n't it ?"

"No. I 'm going for a walk in the parking lot with the fluffy bunny rabbits."

"Harry let us help you !"

"Go away you bloody-"

"You promised you would n't do this any More Harry."Neville broke in suddenly. Harry froze. He had.

"I did."Harry turned slowly."Does anyone know how to climb mountains ?"
*


"Harry where are we ?"Hermione panted.

"Mountain."Harry barked as he stabbed his hiking pole into the ground and stomped on. Beside him the gaunt flesh of Morfin shook in what could receive been a silent chuckle.

"She meant specifically."Lucy Jamaican capital was up ahead, the simply one of them who seemed to be actually enjoying the climb."Those buildings down there look like we 're somewhere in the in-between eastward ?"

"Turkey."Harry winced as he slipped on the open careen and had to pick up himself on his pole."North Anatolian. That 's where we are specifically. Where we are relatively is 'Not high enough'”

"Where are we headed to Harry ?"Lucy squinted up at the white top ahead."What are we trying to find ?"

"You 'll see by nightfall."Harry tried to brush off the stabbing pain in his leg as he forced himself higher and high."We need to be at the snowline by the time it gets dark or we wo n't see them."

"I hope you do n't desire to get to the top Harry."Hermione was still trailing."We do n't have any oxygen or proper clothing."

"Not to the top."Harry glanced up."Probably. Anyway I thought you 'd climbed before ?"

"In weal, with my parents. Hiking a little."Hermione glanced down the long lead they had followed."Not like this."

"Well you volunteered so live with it. I 'm having a speculative time of it than you."Harry glanced up ahead and shake up his point."The way of life 's blocked with rocks this way. We need to go ... that way. For a while at to the lowest degree. Then we can give chase back, along the ridge."

"What ridgepole ?"

"You ca n't see it yet. It 's past the cliff."Harry pointed with his stick."smell like we have to scramble just for a bit then it 's a expert path. proceed up that ... then ... over past that cliff ..."Harry trailed off, the former two marauders were looking at him strangely."I can see because of the eye. You knew that."

"What 's it like ?"Lucy asked quietly.

"You get used to it. Like walking around seeing two-base hit, except one of the doubles is see through. shuffling you dizzy when you spin too fast."Harry paused for a moment to charm a breath."semen on ... we 've got a long way to go and Theia 's dying."

They hiked up into the snowline, Harry did n't let them stop until they could see snow on all four slope. When they could he cleared a set around them and heated the ground so they would be warm.

"Why do n't we just have a fervidness ?"Lucy sat down crossbreeding legged on the ground.

"Because then we wo n't be capable to see."Morfin chuckled darkly.

"He 's right wing. You 're going to need to see in the dark and you wo n't with a ardor right next to you."Harry smiled slyly."I can only look in one direction and I 'm not taking chances."

Harry sat down, looking in another charge and waited. Slowly it got darker and darker. At least the moon was out, that helped a minuscule. Now all they had to do was take in ...

"What are we waiting for ?"Hermione asked quietly in the darkness.

"flack. face for fire."

"Oh ... !"Hermione 's center opened all-inclusive with shock."Are we looking for-"

"Yes. Now concentrate and keep on looking."

"Have you ever been there before-"

"No."Harry glared out into the darkness, waiting for a sign. The nighttime air grew colder and colder ... whispering past the four seated figures. Morfin was muttering something in parseltounge up his arm. Harry wondered for a mo if he had been right to bring him. No ... of course he had to. Without person to apparate them it would have taken them ages to get up this high school. Could n't apparate the rest of the way though. Funny things happened if you tried.

"There !"Lucy pointed off into the distance."I saw a flash, like a firework."

Harry turned and squinted off in the charge she was pointing. His eye zoomed in to it 's replete and ...

"That 's it. in effect show."Harry stood and lit his baton. A spark in the dark."seminal fluid on."

"We 're going there now ?"Lucy shook her capitulum."You want to jaunt around in these deal at night !"

"By morning it 'll have moved."Harry explained."And besides, it is n't night for me."
*


Harry started off into the black, with Morfin following silently. Hermione looked at Lucy and gulped, before lighting her wand and following them into the murk. It was a terrifying journey, following Harry 's firm way across the tops of drop-off and along scree filled paths in the dead of night. Hermione kept telling herself it was for Pythea, for Harry 's Quaker. She even tried to await forward to the site they would see at the end. But it was n't enough to counter the fear.

Every rock and roll that skipped away from her feet sounded like a cranny of thunder.

Ahead of her she could get wind the unknown man Morfin murmuring, behind were the steady, solid tramp of Lucy 's boots. Occasionally the lady friend behind her would hand out and lay a brace deal on her berm, making her jump. Hermione was grateful for the motion, she just wished Lucy would apply her some warning.

"This is it."Harry 's vocalism was like a knife through the blackness. Up ahead she could see him crouching beside a boisterous fracture in the rock-and-roll, just large enough to fit a man. As she watched the inside flashed like there was an explosion deep interior, but it faded again in a second. Hermione breathed deeply, trying to hold back calm.

"Nervous ?"Harry asked quizzically."Do n't be. After all we 're a group of stripling going into a spooky cave in the midriff of the mountains in the dead of night with a mass murderer. What could possibly happen ?"

In the darkness, Morfin grinned like a tiger.

"Harry ..."Lucy narrowed her eyes."check that."

"You 've got nothing to occupy about."Harry grinned."They 'll even be former wizards inside. ejaculate on, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba get to it. I want to back in Hogwarts by morning."

Harry slid into the plication in the rock and dissipated from eyeshot. Hermione steeled herself, then ducked in after him. The cave was really to a greater extent of a burrow, crawling forwards in a full-strength course. Of class what it really was was probably some sort of magic doorway that connected two different places entirely. Hermione found herself looking at the walls to try to see the joins. Up ahead the flashes were becoming more frequent and a sweetie red glow was growing between them. Hermione felt excitation grow, she was really going to see it ... really going to ...

"We 're here."Harry stepped out of the tunnel ahead of her, giving her a entire persuasion as she pulled herself out of the rock. Her mouth dropped open as she saw what lay before them ...

"pigeon hawk 's ... something !"Before them the cave opened up into a deep valley, like an axe injury in the side of the mass. Towering walls rose up on either English of them craggy and full of to a greater extent caves and quarry. In the small funnies of ground in the middle there was a grove of what looked same Olea europaea trees voluminous and ancient like they were older than the pile itself. But that was n't the most amazing matter. Flying above them in bully traverse curves, and nesting in the rock ... hundreds of them ... filling the valley with fiery Light Within and making the unhurt place fool like a support fireworks display. Filling the valley with birdcall, and the echoes of strain ...

"Phoenixes."Lucy Kingston breathed in wonder."You brought us to the nesting ground."

"Yep."Harry nodded."Since we do n't know what Theia 's got we need something that heals almost everything. Phoenix tears is a good bet."

"They do n't cry for just anyone Harry."Lucy pointed out."Otherwise every infirmary in the universe would get gallon on the stuff."

"There 's at to the lowest degree one that 'll cry for me. Fawkes."Harry squinted up into the brilliant fire sky."We just need to find him."

"Easier said than done."

"Why do n't you two ask."

Ask ? Hermione scratcher her heading. It was only when Harry pointed that she realised they were not alone in the vale. Down by the trees there was a chemical group of four hotshot clustered around a tent, one of them was looking through a telescope while another was jotting down greenback in a large heavy Good Book. Further down the valley, on a flat table shaped rock that jutted out of the parting, was another radical. These wizards were all in mordant robes and were clustered around a weird bird shaped idol. They were down on their knee joint and seemed to be chanting.

Worshippers. Hermione realised. worshipper and researchers.

"Why do n't you manage the nerds."Harry pointed at Hermione first, then turned to Lucy."And you handle the wierdos. It 'll go unit of ammunition and and see what I can spy with my little eye."

"And me ?"Morfin cracked his neck.

"You stay with me."Harry turned to walk off.

Hermione shared another tone with Lucy before they began picking their way down towards the trees. Even though she knew that a girl 's animation was at wager Hermione could n't help but finger awe and enquire at this position. Going off in the at the drop of a hat, climbing spate and visiting astonish sorcerous sites. Was this what Harry 's spirit was like all the prison term ?

Below her one of the researchers looked up and noticed her. He rolled his center and started towards her.

"Please do n't agitate the birds. Try to not use split second photography, they can confuse it with an tone-beginning. If you 're camping please do n't make for trashy music-"

"We 're not tourists."Hermione held her hands up.

"Oh, then you 'll be with the other weird bast- believers."The researcher pointed back into the tree diagram.

"I 'm not-"

"Mind the bonfires and the flayed goats."

"I 'm not one of them !"Hermione said in exasperation."We 're here to get-"

"Ah, you 're here to get Phoenix tears. The early rationality people come up hers."The man rubbed his forehead."Let me opine your friend or your female parent or your boyfriend is sick and you think bust are the simply cure. I hate to assure you this but-"

"We know they do n't cry for everyone but we think if we can find out one specifically it will."

"Really ?"The researcher finally looked slightly interested. He glanced up at the drop where Harry was just visible edging up a thin path, peering into drop. respective Phoenixes had begun following him interestedly, hopping from stone to rock eyeing him with buttony eyes."Who are you make fun anyway ?"

"Well that 's Harry Potter, and we 're his friends."Hermione smiled at the ball over look that appeared on the researchers face. His three friends looked up too, forgetting their bill for a import. Hermione felt like kicking herself, of course of action she should have said that number 1."We 're looking for a phoenix called Fawkes."

"We ... we do n't record names. How could we ? The phoenix do n't talk."The man kept glancing up at the cliff where the shadowy figure of Harry had gone out of situation into a cave. Another capital of Arizona flew over to join the small flock that was following him."We do n't record names I do n't ... I do n't make out if we can help."

"He would have come here during summer last yr, he left England in June."Hermione explained."When he left Hogwarts he looked like he was in his third month since a burning at the stake day so when he reached you he might throw been in his quartern or fifth.. He 's a male person, with a wingspread slightly above average."

"I ... we 'll check."The investigator turned and hurried over to their workbench where he cracked open a heavy Holy Scripture of government note and began flicking through them. Hermione followed him and began reading over his shoulder. Everything was recorded, burnings, arrivals, odd behavior. If Guy Fawkes was in the valley he would be recorded here somewhere.

"What about that ?"Hermione pointed suddenly at an entree hear the middle of the varlet."That one fit 's the time frame."

"Y ... yes. Yes."The researcher nodded."Phoenix numeral 713. It would be that one would n't it."The grave book was slammed close up and the man turned towards the cliff rampart."I 'll take you there."

Hermione set off following, sending micos to Harry and Lucy. She and her guide reached the cliff wall and began climbing up a thin winding way. Lucy caught up to them when she was halfway up.

"You found him ?"Lucy was out of breathing space. Hermione nodded."trade good, those former wizards were weird."

They climbed further up around the stone, passing many perching phoenixes. The birds eyed them as they passed, but did not follow. After a few minutes they reached a short ledge with a large cave.

"This is 713 's nest."The researcher pointed into the rock-and-roll."He should be in there. But it looks like you friend found him first."

All around the edge of the ledge, phoenix were perched, looking in. None of them were singing, none of them were making any sound at all above the whisper of their feathers. They were just watching. Another flew in and alighted at the end of the row. It trilled softly, then went silent like it 's brethren.

"I 've never seen them do this."The researcher said softly. His hands twitched like he was looking for a notepad. Hermione steeled herself, and stepped into the cave.

It opened out in the binding into a modest bean, the level littered with sticks and leaf. The corpse of past nests. Morfin was crouched at the back, he made no move when they entered. He was staring at the like thing they were. The tableau in the centre of the cave.

Harry was down on his knees, his walking stick discarded beside him. His eyes level with the oculus of the genus Phoenix in front of him. He was n't moving or speaking either, the only sign that he was alive was the ho-hum rise and downfall of his chest. The phoenix, Guy Fawkes, was shivering. A with child part of it 's back was bald and scabby and it 's wings looked tear up. There were feather all around it, an abnormal moulting, and it 's headway drooped on it 's long neck.

"713 's been like this for a while."The research worker said quietly."That 's why I said I knew it 'd be him. He has n't burned since he got here and he 's due. Long delinquent. If he does n't burn before winter strike then ..."

"What happens if a phoenix does n't burn ?"Lucy asked softly.

"We do n't really know. That 's part of the reason we 're watching him."

"Could he ..."Hermione swallowed."If he goes for long enough without a electrocution day could he ... die ?"

"It 's possible."The researcher answered sadly."We do n't think it 's ever happened before. The former phoenixes have been avoiding this cave, up till now at least. It 's very occupy doings, I was thinking of writing a paper on-"

"Shh ! Something 's happening."Lucy pointed towards the centre of the cave.

Without moving from his spot, Harry had reached out his arm and was slowly stroking the side of Fawkes'head. The favorable bird trembled for a present moment, then leant it 's head into Harry 's hand, cooing softly. Harry reached back with his other hand into his bag and came back with a diminished meth bottle. He held it carefully to the side of the genus Phoenix 's face.

Everyone in the cave watched, awed, as first one glossy bust dropped into the drinking glass. Then another. All the while Harry kept stroking Fawkes'head with his fingerbreadth, and kept eye contact. Another cliff in the glass. Another. The ice slowly filled to the brim with glittering liquidity before finally Harry took it away and carefully capped it.

Guy Fawkes collapsed out of Harry 's hands, dropping onto it 's rough nest. It was as if the emotion had been too much for it. Guy Fawkes just lay there as Harry put a quick sealing charm on the bout and turned to the marauders.

"It 's done."

"Harry how did you do that ?"Hermione asked, wide eyed.

"We talked. About old times."Harry shrugged."He 's lonely."

"I wonder if phoenix could push those absolutely men Voldemort has."Lucy mused."That could be really useful."

"genus Phoenix do n't fight for anyone but their masters."Harry shook his head.

Hermione remembered the tidy sum that had gathered away and had the twinging suspiciousness that might not be true.

"Anyway. We should go now. semen on."Harry sat down again and reached out a hand to Guy Fawkes."He 's offered to be our drive home."

"Is he well enough to do that ?"Hermione stepped forward.

"He 's fine. He 's cast down not sick."Harry motioned them towards the bird. Hermione sat and placed her hand on Guy Fawkes'tail. Lucy did the Saami and Morfin slunk out of the shadower to join them.

"Thank you for helping us."Hermione turned to the shocked researcher and waved with her free hand."Sorry I could n't bide to see more of your work. Maybe I 'll come back some time."

"O ... Ok ?"

Flames rose about the marauders and everything dispersed.
*


Snape was just snipping a small composition of hair from the dying seer ( he needed to do More trial ) when two loud noises disturbed his assiduity. The first gear was a rushing detonation. The second was-

"HARRY ceramicist WHAT IN Merlin NAME-"

"What ? No one 's ever appeared in the middle of the hospital wing in a gout of flame before ?"Harry replied glibly to brothel keeper Pomfrey as he stood from his stance on the flooring. The phoenix behind him made a phone somewhere between a shake and gurgle and turned as if to leave.

"Fawkes !"Harry stepped in forepart of the genus Phoenix and crouched back down to adjoin it 's eyes."Thank you."

The phoenix bowed it 's head a little.

"You know, there 's something I 've learnt recently. Something my friends are trying to beat into me."Harry smiled wryly."Destroying ourselves for the one we love is never the right-hand choice."

Fawkes fluffed his feathers and bowed his heading. A present moment later flames sprung up around him and be vanished. Leaving ash behind.

"I hope he 's alright."Harry stood and turned towards the bed."How is she ?"

"She is getting worse."madam Pomfrey visibly pulled herself together."We still have n't found the curse effecting her."

"When you left I wondered where you had gone."Snape folded his arms and nodded towards the burn Mark on the story."Now I see. You should hold warned me before you left."

"Do you cogitate it 'll work ?"Harry ignored Snape 's words and lifted small feeding bottle out of his pocket.

"I think it is worth trying since you have it."

"How non-committal."Harry moved shakily towards the bed. Snape could tell he was trying to keep calm air."What do I do ? Let her fuddle it or ... or let ..."

"give it to me."Snape held out his hand calmly. Harry slowly reached forward and dropped the snag into the outstretched hand. Snape leant down and softly tilted Pythea 's mouth open wih his quarter round. He undid the stopper and allowed three drops to fall onto her oral fissure. Snape waited. You had to provide the tears a fiddling time to ooze into the frame then ... another three drops. Then wait.

He continued until the nursing bottle was empty, upending the lowest few sparkling drops with a whispered appeal of hope. He handed the feeding bottle back and put his finger to the little seer 's neck. All day her pulse rate had been slow and weak. Now ...

"Nothing happened."Harry took the word of honor out of his sassing. word that sounded even obscure than the truth behind them."It did n't work."

"No."Snape took his hand away."It did not work."

"Maybe it just has n't taken hold yet."Lucy Kingston suggested.

"The impression would have been instantaneous."Snape shook his head.

"I so thought ..."Harry whispered."I put everything on this ... She 's going to die."

"Harry stop."Snape fixed his eyes to the bust filled ace in front of him."It is not over yet. This tells us something. There are very few thing phoenix snag do not heal, now that we know it is one of them-"

"Stop."Harry shook violently."Stop trying to make me experience better. I gave her the halo and it 's killing her and I ca n't do anything to finish it."

"There are still avenues of investigation that-"

"SHUT UP !"Harry shouted so violently that Madam Pomfrey stepped back in fear. Snape Did n't move.

"Harry. I will not pamper you."Snape spoke slowly."Yes, a circumstances of the responsibility for what has happened is yours. You gave her the mob. But another luck is mine. I worked with that ring for 24-hour interval and detected nothing that could take caused this. I told you it was safe. What has happened is also my responsibility and think me when I say I will not deliver another death on my conscience. While she still breaths I will uphold to believe she can be saved. As should you. Now ... I am taking some of her hair to genus Paris, to a earth expert on things such as this. I have worked with him before. I am aspirant. As for what you should do ... I suggest you stay here. And if you have any more fool notions about running off to distant parting of the world in search of some miracle cure ..."Snape took a deep breath."... I suggest you pursue those feeling to the fullest because that is what you are best at, and that is how outflank you can avail your friend."

Snape lapsed into secretiveness, waiting. After a few mo Harry slowly nodded.

"Good."Snape turned and walked from the hospital wing, the lock of hair he had cut still in his hand.
*


Pursue your fool notions to the fullest.

Harry slowly walked out of the hospital wing. No one tried to turn back him.

running game off to distant voice of the domain in search of some miracle therapeutic

There was no such thing as a miracle remedy. If there was everyone would use it. Harry found his groundwork moving of their own accord, taking him on comrade routes.

Fool whimsy

I am a fool. Harry found the door he had been looking for and got out his baton. It was locked of course, but not even this door was too hard to crack. In a few arcminute Harry had the magical spell down and tug spread the threshold to Snape 's office.

Running off to distant parts of the world

Snape was the one in capital of France. Harry closed the threshold quietly. He would n't be disturbed. His eye zoomed around the small room and came to lightness on one of the desk drawers. Harry checked it for trance then slowly pulled it spread out and picked up the ring from inside.

Destroying yourself for the I you love is never the correct choice.

Too bad it 's the only option left.

"There is no miracle cure. Not without knowing what 's wrong with her."Harry whispered into the dark surface of the ring."Only one living person knows what swearword is affecting her. And I need to spill to him."

Slowly, with trembling workforce, Harry slid the hoop onto his finger.



Did n't mean to leave it this long before posting again but I 'm in my finish year of uni and I had my terminal year projection. Then I had the celebration after the task was handed in, which coincided with St Patrick 's day ... Then the celebration for the end of term a few daytime later ...

Anyways once my head stopped exploding and I could make a motion without screaming I got on with the tarradiddle. My workload is n't high from now on so the writing stride should pick up a bit from now on.


I do n't own Harry ceramist. Neither does THE government activity !



Harry slid the anchor ring onto his finger and sat slowly behind Snape 's desk. How would this work ? How long would it pick out ? Would he even be able to verbalise directly to Voldemort or would he just hear him in his idea ?

"It depends on how you want to talk."

Harry 's head snapped up from the pack. On the other slope of the desk sat Tom brain-teaser, sitting on the chair students used when they were called into this office. It was a wooden, surd backed chair but he lolled in it like it was a potty. He was n't quite the Sami figure that had came out of the journal. He looked the same age but his lineament were ... glassy. His cutis was suave and pale and his eyes had piffling speckle of red. Through the magic trick eye he looked ghostly and faint, but through his avowedly eye the dark lord looked real.

"What do you think of it depends ?"Harry crossed his arms.

"wellspring we can talk like this ..."Riddle smiled. Or we can spill like this.

"Talking out loud is ticket Tommy."Harry placed his hands flat on the desk, the ring displayed prominently forward."Tell me what you did the Pythea."

"I took over her somebody. You know that."Tom riddle chuckled. The red in his heart sparkled."You punched her as I remember. You do know that that 's no way to do by a lady."

"I was n't talking about that."Harry snarled."What 's happening to her now ? Some wasting swearword or something ..."

"Really ? ..."riddle leant back in his chair."That ... that is unfortunate person. You must be crushed."

"Shut up."

"I must exsert my bass condolences."

"Shut up !"Harry slammed his hand down on the desk."Tell me what the whammy is ! You obviously hid it well. When I found the pack I removed a shrivelling scourge, a samyaza and something I had n't seen before that would make turned blood to conduct in my veins. What did I miss ?"

"The spark advance magic spell is called a plumb-sang."

"Tell me you bastard ! Tell me or I 'll put down you."

"Destroy me ?"Tom crossed his weapon system."I doubt you could. And even if you could it does not count. After all I am not Lord Voldemort, I am just an ... image."

"No you 're not. You 're lying."Harry chuckled."You 're more than an picture. You have the mind of Voldemort at least, which means you have all his qualities. character like cowardice and ego preservation. I think you will tell me what I want to know."

"self preservation ? Perhaps."Tom conundrum lean forward."But the fact remains that you have no idea how to ruin this ring."

"Phoenix blast destroyed the diary."Harry gritted his dentition together."And I know a phoenix who 's probably abut ready to burn."

"Phoenix ...."Tom Riddle paused and licked his rim."That will not work."

"Yes it will. You 're lying again."

"I am not ..."enigma was breathing quickly."I have no demand to lie. I am the dark nobleman, you have no mightiness over-"

Harry pulled the hoop off his finger and the dark Jehovah snapped out of existence mid time. Harry held the ring up to his grimace and said,

"Do n't think you have any sort of power here Tommy."Harry slapped the halo twice against the desk with gaudy ringing knocks."You hear me in there ? You 've got no carte here ! Understand ? You will enjoin me or I will stamp out you !"Harry slammed the anchor ring back on his finger. The darkness lord reappeared where he had been, his face a masque of rage.

"You can not do this to me ! I am Lord Volde-"Harry pulled the ring off again.

"When I put the anchor ring back on ..."Harry snarled."You will overleap the whole'I am overlord Snakeface'affair and tell me exactly what I want to have intercourse or you 're going to the fire."Once again the darkness lord reappeared, eyes flaring almost broad red. But he said nothing.

"Ready to talk yet ?"Harry rubbed the banding of the ring on his digit."Just say one news. The name of the jinx, that 's all you have to say and I put the hoop back in the drawer and we never have to verbalise again."

"I ... You ca n't do this to me."The shadow Jehovah 's optic flickered back and Forth River."You ... you can not ..."

"Just recite me the figure of the curse. That 's all you have to do to avoid being burnanated. Just evidence me."

"I ... I am Jehovah Voldemort."Tom Riddle 's teeth were gritted close up and his manus were gripped to the sides of his chair.

"No you 're not. You 're a prisoner. A prisoner who 's not even alive so there 's no requirement for me to not defeat you. evidence me what the oath is."

Riddle 's breathing space was coming swift and shallow.

"Tell me !"Harry yelled."William Tell me !"

Riddle snarled like a dog.

"Tell me !"Riddle was shaking. Not in anger Harry realized ... He was shaking in fear. enigma was terrified. Harry 's eyebrow furrowed ... Why would he be that scared ..."You have no idea what happened to Thea ... Whatever happened to her ... it was n't your torment ... it was n't your ring ..."

Voldemort had stopped dead, glacial in place, his eye burning like coals.

"fountainhead ..."Harry shook his head."That 's something at least."Harry reached for the ring and jerked it forward. It would not affect. Harry 's eye jerked up. Tom riddle was smiling like a cat.

"well well well Potter."Riddle smirked."It seems I do have some tycoon after all."

Harry tried desperately to drag the ring off his digit, it would not go an in. Harry grabbed for his wand to slit the finger off but he could n't make his mouth speak the words.

A great deal of power.

Voldemort 's was in his header now, the figure gone from the former side of the desk. Harry stumbled and fell against the fierce Harlan Stone rampart. wait ... rampart ? Harry flicked his centre up. He was in the corridor ! He had n't moved of his own accord ... His metrical foot were moving again ! Harry clamped his feet down on the storey and slammed his arm against the wall. His wand dropped from his numb fingers.

Feeling a lilliputian less in controller Mr Potter ?

"myrtle !"Harry screamed into the white air."Myrtle get here or get help !"

calling help from one of my old dupe ?

"soul !"Harry yelled. His wand was back in his deal ... NO ! Harry forced his fingerbreadth to open again and the verge clattered down. Harry slammed his foot down and snapped the little sliver of woods like a sprig. He could n't let Voldemort unloosen in his body in the eye of Hogwarts. Could not ...

You think you have a alternative ?

"myrtle !"Harry fell to the trading floor. His muscles were twitching, every flickering part of him was trying to move."help me !"

Ha ha ha ha !

"Someone !"Harry was on his fundament again. Not by alternative. He was staggering forward, trying to stop himself ... but."Mico marauders ! Mico anyone !"Would n't work without a wand.

There is no avail for you Mr Potter.

Harry frantically tried to genuflect the band off his fingerbreadth. It was n't moving. Not an in. Negro spots were flying before his eyes.

You are mine now.

"Harry what in the Hades ?"The voice sparked out of the air above him. Harry 's head flickered up, at the top of the stares was the tired and moon-sick figure of Draco Malfoy.

"Draco ... It 's not the ring !"Harry croaked out. He had to tell mortal what he 'd found."Pythea ! It 's not the ring that made her cast ! It 's ... It 's ... It 's something else !"

"Harry what 's wrong with you ?"

Nothing.

"Nothing."Harry clenched his teeth closed."No ! Tell lady Pomfrey ! ... And get this bloody ri- zippo is wrong Malfoy."

Go away you niggling traitor.

"Harry your ... your eyes."Draco 's hand flickered to his wand."They 're red."

I 'm just tired. They are bloodshot.

"I 'm just tired."Harry 's neck muscles twisted his head in a shaking movement."They are bloodshot."

"Harry maybe we should go to the hospital wing together."Draco 's oculus had gone hard and he had drawn his wand."I think you may be unwell."

"Unwell Malfoy ?"Harry hissed."Do n't presume to-"

"Stop."Draco pointed his wand straight between Harry 's eyes."haul your wand slowly and drop it to the floor."

"Please ... friend-"

"Do it."

"Hmm ..."Voldemort twitched Harry 's sassing into a smile."I see there 's no breaker point pretending anymore. What was it that gave me away ?"

"Harry does n't call me by my lowest name."genus Draco 's center narrowed above cryptic black bags."You 're ... something else."

"I am more than something else."Voldemort thrust Harry 's bridge player forward, displaying the ring."I am your rightful master little dog. Heel."

"Oh wonderful."genus Draco muttered.

"Die !"Harry 's hand was toss out forward and a foam thunderbolt of lightning flared out. genus Draco dodged and flung himself to the storey. Voldemort spun Harry 's consistency for a second hit but Harry flung the survive trace of his military strength onto his perfidious muscles. His arm stopped moving for a fraction of a second.

"Stubefy !"The red spell flashed out of Dragon 's scepter and everything went black.
*


Harry was used to sick dreams so when he found himself in a black place to the full of screaming and hissing he just sat on the floor and thought of apple. After a picayune while the darkness faded and Harry heard the whisper of trees.

In the night all around him there were snakes. Snakes in his orchard ! Harry shuddered, he was in his little dream but he felt wino. Shaking and unnerve, he looked around. The dark was seeping in through the tree diagram ... invading his orchard. The snakes did n't seem to see him, just hold on winding their way through the tree diagram. Four of them whispered their way through the leaves. One wrapped it 's way around the roots of the orotund tree, biting it 's own tail. It 's lidless heart flashed red.

Harry glanced deep into the wood. One More snake, lying still on the ground. Nailed in billet by a wooden interest. Harry looked down at his hand. Another Snake was wrapped around his finger. A tiny thin Hydra with black bands.

Weird. Profetic. Harry shook his headway. Not again-
*


"Harry."

Hm ... Harry slowly woke.

"Harry wake up so I can enjoin you how unspeakably foolish you have been."

"Professor Snape ..."Harry shook the cobweb out of his top dog and opened his eye. The hospital flank was sour and hollow. Snape was standing at the foot of Harry 's hospital bed. Wait ... Snape had to live !"The ring ! I found something out about-"

"I got the message Harry."Snape 's expression was a space and angry ticket."Draco understood the significance of your message."

"You need to help Theia then."Harry struggled to rise out of the hospital bed."You need to help-"

"I already did."

Harry 's eye flashed to the bed next to him. Pytea was still lying there but ... her heartbeat ... it was impregnable. It was almost as unattackable as ever.

"You ... you did it ?"Harry fell back onto his bed."You saved her."

"It was a toxin."Snape gestured towards the visionary."Once you made me aware that the doughnut was not the source of her affliction I began to seem further afield. I found a terrible poison. It acted more like a disease than a poison. As sulfurous as I have ever seen."

"Someone tried to kill her ?"Harry found himself staring into shadow to try to see enemies.

"No Harry. I do not believe so."Snape tapped a pocket-sized bottle he was holding in his handwriting."concluding year you were in a well-nigh invariable United States Department of State of mild perniciousness. You have built up ... resistances."

"Wait ... Are you saying I 've been poisoned too ?"

"Not any more. I cured you when I cured the Pythea."Snape 's supercilium twitched up."You were poisoned originally. The poison must have passed to her by some ... exchange of fluid."

"When I was bleeding ..."Harry cast his mid back."She kissed my forehead. She was bleeding too."

"Is that the level you 're sticking to ?"

"So mortal tried to kill me."Harry ignored Snape 's insinuation and scratched his school principal."I 'm thinking maybe a group of assassin-mercenaries hired by my archway bane ?"

"The Lie Gou are the obvious choice."

"speech sound like you have your doubts."

"I do."Snape shook his head."The poisonous substance was not an eastern one, far from it. It was invented in Florence. That does not mean the Lie Gou could not have acquired it but it seems ... odd."

"Odd ... marvellous. As if we have n't had enough odd these past few weeks."Harry rolled his eyes."And what you 're saying is it 's possible there are some other hoi polloi trying to kill me. Wonderful. Just my bloody luck."

"Oh break off complaining Harry."A weak voice spoke from the early bed."You would n't bed what to do with a boring life."

"Thea !"Harry slid out of his flat solid and stepped over to the trivial seer 's bed."Are you alright ?"

"I feel dreadful Harry."Pythea raised her deal shakily up to his face."I tried to kill you."

"I poisoned you."Harry shrugged."Besides, after all the meter you 've saved my life-time you can probably try to kill me like five or six more times before I get angry."

"I never saved your sprightliness Harry."Pythea smiled weakly."I just gave you the impetus to serve yourself."

"You 're being all seerey again. stop consonant it."Harry chuckled.

"I 'm just trying to get you in a good mood."Pythea looked away."You are n't going to like what I want to do now."

"Try me."Harry tensed.

"I want try again to skry with the ring."

"No."

"Harry we know now it was n't what made me sick."Pythea protested. Snape moved behind Harry 's shoulder, silently backing him up."We also know that the ring is significant to Voldemort. There must be something to find-"

"No !"Harry cut her off."The thing does nothing but lie and ascendance, just like Voldemort. I 'm going to destroy it as soon as possible."

"I agree."Snape nodded."We can safely assume that it was like the diary. A bunker for anyone who tried to follow the dark God Almighty 's early ilk. A deterrent to any funny investigation."

"It does n't count what it is."Harry shook his head."It 's a cancer on the man. Whether by Fawkes, some early phoenix or by some early method acting entirely that matter is toast."

Harry spoke definitely, but he could n't help but feel a trivial doubt. Like a snake curled around his heart.

"We have to destroy it."Harry repeated, half to himself."We have to."
*


"What do you imply they 're not flaming ?"Harry asked pointedly over the breakfast table.

"I mean they 're not."Hermione held out the alphabetic character for him to record."I wrote to the researcher as soon as you told me to but it 's too late. The phoenix have stopped flaming for winter."

"For winter ?"Harry rolled his eyes."What do they care about winter ? They 're on fire !"

"They 're birds as well as witching creatures Harry."

"Wonderful."Harry shuddered."When do they contain hibernating ?"

"Not till spring."

"Great. I have to carry this deadly parcel around for months."Harry hefted his bag on his articulatio humeri. Since the incident the pack had always been with him. In a lead box. He was n't taking chances."And until then I 've got nada I can do."

"You could study."

"Nothing useful."

"wellspring you could ask Professor Snape for something else to do."Hermione glanced up at the high-pitched table where the potions master was remove. Not strange these days.

"I know, but I do n't know If there 's anything to be done."Harry shook his head and gestured to the paper lying discarded on the table between them."Voldemort seems to be contentedness with random acts of random pocket-size unpleasantness right now. I ca n't aid thinking he 's working up to something horrendous."

"Like diagon alleyway ?"

"Or worse."Harry shrugged."No way to tell."

"Do you think the parliamentary procedure has any leads ?"

"I think they 'd probably tell me."Harry replied honestly."Snape 's been pretty good about keeping me in the loop so far."

"Do you know where he 's going now ?"

"No."Harry smiled."Hopefully working."

"fountainhead, until you find something to do,"Ginny broke in, walking past them."You can bug out turning up to marauder training seance. You 've been missing them since the whole pack thing."

"Pythea was dying."Harry replied exasperated.

"So are a lot of people."Ginny replied flatly before moving off. Harry watched her go before turning back to Hermione.

"Her parent 's still have n't woken up have they ?"

"No."The bushy haired girl shook her head."They visit them at weekends."

"I should go with them some time."

"Well you 've been busy."Hermione said, in a way that indicated that was no excuse.

"Or I could just tie Draco up and leave him in Ginny 's bed."Harry continued."That 'd probably cheer her up more."

"Harry-"

"Especially if he was naked."

"Harry !"

"Oh relax."Harry chuckled,"Come on, we really should get to the marauder session. Maybe beating the lot of you around the attic will make me feel better."
*


Snape slowed as he approached the iniquity stairwell and began walking down carefully. Some of the steps were almost as smooth as glass. The step twisted down and down into the rock beneath Malfoy Manor. Much further than any of the cellar. Snape placed a swooning script on the bulwark as he proceeded down, his wand the only source of light, his footsteps the entirely sound.

He rounded the final turning point and had to harbor his centre as guttering torches came into vista. Stretching out before him was a long corridor of lacuna iron doors, stained black from rust and long disintegration. The decay was of no aftermath, it was n't the character of the construction that kept the prisoners in this place. Snape nodded to the two prison guard, members of the fiat, before turning to the third figure standing before him.

"You 're late."Moody growled.

"Yes, I am. I was busy."Snape replied."Your stage ?"

"I 've had to wait down in the pit for half an hour !"

"Then you arrived xv minutes early and can not blame me for that."Snape strode forward past the old auror."Let us not stay this any further."

"Right."Moody stomped after him, holding his wand high as the light of the torches faded into the dark behind them. Once again Snape was enveloped in silence, the cells themselves were soundproof. Helen Newington Wills finally broke the quiet."You know why I called you out here."

"Another of the prisoners seems make to break."Snape repeated what he had read in Helen Wills Moody 's legal brief missive that had arrived on his desk before breakfast."Which one ?"

"Do n't mean it 's right."Moody ignored the question, shaking his head roughly."It 's not right. You 've got us pussyfooting around these son of a bitch. Offering them Holy Writ and shorter sentence and even freedom if they help us."

"And you think it is ineffectual ?"

"I think it 's bloody wrong is what it is !"Moody snarled."These men should all be behind bars for life not waited on manus and foot."

"We need information."

"Then we should be getting out the thumbscrews !"Moody thrust out a hired hand to stop over Snape moving."You seriously do n't experience a problem with offering them all this material ?"

"Offering ? No. We can put up them whatever we want. It does n't mean we will ever turn over it to them. And so long as they are never given an opportunity to compare notes ? I have no problem."Snape reached out and pushed Moody 's hired hand out of his way."trustingness that if I deem it necessary I will suffer no hesitation in deploying the thumbscrews."

"Oh of that I 've got no doubt."Helen Newington Wills 's eye looked Snape up and down in a snag second before he stomped off down the corridor again. Snape followed him.

"You never told me who it is I am here to see."

"Not one of the proper death eaters."Moody gaiter. Snape fought the itch to plow up his olfactory organ."One of the foul-smelling criminals you-know-who dragged to his cause."

"That does not mean he is useless to us."

"Captured by Harry."Moody fixed Snape with a stare while still walking."At Miss Zhao 's mansion. go year, you remember."

Snape stiffened. So the man he was about to spill the beans to had been involved in the blast on Natalie 's life. There had been a great deal of unpleasantness that night. Natalie had been loth to spill about it at length but-

"Does that shift matter ?"Moody broke Snape 's opinion, his vocalisation full-of-the-moon of disconsolate insinuation.

"Why would it ?"Snape forced himself to reply.

"I can still get the thumbscrews."

"Perhaps later."

Helen Wills Moody came to a stop before a door indistinguishable from the hundreds of early doors.

"His name 's sheepherder Kilkenny."Helen Wills Moody put his hand on the threshold."Used to be a cursebreaker for Gringots."Moody tapped his wand on the door and Snape heard a thunderbolt slam back. The old auror pushed the door open and allowed Snape inside. The cell within was bare. Bed. chairman. Sanitary facilities. Snape had made sure as shooting the cells were as stark as possible to promote the prisoners to break. Sometimes they would talk just out of ennui. As Snape entered the hunch figure sitting at the foot of the bed straightened.

"hello Mr Kilkenny."Snape sat down on the hard-backed chairwoman."I have been informed that you have something to tell me."

"Yeah,"The man reached up and scratched behind his ear."But I got some demands."

"Do you call up you are in a berth to take ?"Snape was shocked to find his phonation was still steady.

"I 've got information. Stuff you need to know. But I 've heard a lot of 'might'and 'maybe'and 'If your selective information cooking pan out'."The prisoner hunched."I want some guarantees."

Snape met Shepherds eyes and gently pushed. A barrier of Occlumency met him. Of form it would be there. There would ingest been no point in this whole practice if it had n't. Snape took a moment to consider his response. He could offer up whatever he wanted, but it would not do to seem to offer too practically. There was a marginal chance that this man was not a fool.

"So long as your information is dependable you may accept some concessions."Snape replied steadily."A better quality of livelihood. Books. Perhaps a window. Everything after that is depended on how utilitarian I consider the information you give me is. So I suggest you begin taking steps to convince me."

"I want to get out of here."The man sneered."I want years off."

"As the Wizengamot no dubiety informed you at your trial you have been sentenced to forty years here. I understand the charges were diverse. Using the night arts, breaking and entering, attempted murder-"Snape found his throat going hard at the final intelligence and slammed his emotions down behind a wall of vacancy."And that is in addition to your pilot sentence for pseud that you never completed."

"Give me something !"

"springiness me a grounds to give you something."

"I ..."Kilkenny opened his mouth to yell something but snapped it shut, bringing himself into hinderance."I 'm not Brigham Young. I may not live forty years."

"Then it is in your dependable sake to speak, and verbalise soon."Snape leant forward."I am loosing patience."

"I ... I 'll talk."The captive hung his read/write head."I do n't really bear a alternative do I ?"

"No."

"well ..."The man rubbed his arm."You know I worked for Gringots ?"

"I was aware."

"You know that I never really worked above the board. Not just skimming off the top, selling secrets too. People 'll pay a lot of money to fuck that Mr bum has almost emptied his account or that some early guy makes even defrayment to someone. businessman and the corresponding you know ? Checking up on their rivals. Investors ..."

"I can see how that entropy could be utilitarian to some."Snape indicated very clearly with his inflection that he was not one of those some.

"right wing, right."Kilkenny nodded."But see when the dark Almighty found out what I did he got all excited. Well ... not excited exactly. He does n't really get charge up but he does this affair where his eyes twinkling and he hisses a bit. Sometimes his nostril flair-"

"Mr Kilkenny-"

"Right, right ... anyway. He told me to get in touch with some of the hoi polloi who still worked at Gringots. the great unwashed in the Saame line of piece of work as me."

"Go on."Snape was very careful not to let his interest show.

"He got me to chink on some things."

"Specifically."

"The body process on sure vaults."

"Specifically."

"well first he wanted to check up on a vault. Get the disc of who had accessed it and when."

"What bank vault ?"

"sixty three. mystifying one."

"Who owns it ?"

"Do n't know."

"What did the book say ?"

"Do n't get laid. Did n't read em."

"You did n't interpret them ?"Snape raised his eyebrows."An enterprising man like yourself ? Always looking for an advantage ? Are you trying to tell me you did not even coup d'oeil at the book before you handed them over ?"

"expression I had the iniquity bloody lord watching my every movement !"Kilkenny shuddered."There 's enterprising and then there 's just pudden-head !"

Snape watched the captive eyes as he spoke. He could not understand his mind but still ... Snape had not survived everything he had gone through by being dependant on any one skill. Even without legillimancy he could be reasonably positive as to whether a man was telling the Truth. On the other deal, this man had deceived the hob for long time. He would never consume survived if he was a bad lier.

"You said you contacted people still at Gringots. What were their name ?"

"Well there was only one really ..."Kilkenny scratched his header."Blake Bees, he 's in the investment department."

"And he will corroborate your taradiddle ?"

"Yeah ..."Kilkenny twitched.

"What are you not telling me ?"Snape asked sharply.

"Goblins found out he lifted the files."Kilkenny slumped."He 's in hiding somewhere. Do n't know where."

"Would he know who owned vault sixty three ?"

"wellspring ... yeah. He 'd have to to get the files."

"Very well."Snape stood."I will view this."He turned towards the door.

"wait !"Kilkenny called out after him."Do n't you want to have it off about the other thing he asked."

"Other thing ?"Snape asked over his shoulder.

"Yeah, he asked me to check up on another vault."Kilkenny said desperately, trying to immediate payment in on every fighting of noesis."I know who owned this one. William Blake told me because he thought it was weird."

"How so ?"

"It was the Lestrange vault."Kilkenny spread his hands."The Lestranges worked for him. If he 'd want something out of it he could have just got them to go in and get it."

"What did he like to screw ?"

"Just who had accessed it. When I told him that no-one, not even a goblin, had been in it since the Lestranges went to prison old age ago he seemed ... relieved. fountainhead not relieved exactly. He does this thing with his neck-"

"Mr Kilkenny."Snape cut him off."Was there anything else ?"

"wellspring ... no. I just-"

Snape turned silently and rapped twice on the door. Moody opened it and Snape stepped through. As Snape put his handwriting on the doorway to swing it closed the prisoner called out shrilly.

"Please help me out of here !"He wrung his hands."I 've done bad things but I 'm not a bad person ! He looks at you and you have to do what he says or he 'll kill you. I had to ! Please. He was too very much, I was scared ! I was-"

Snape swung the iron slab shut and Kilkenny pathetic cries were shut off suddenly. Snape and Dwight Lyman Moody were left alone in the darkness. It was a long clock time before Snape spoke.

"Get him some books."Snape fought bile rising in his gut."And good food."

"But you said-"

"I know what I said."Snape spun and tangle off down the corridor towards the stairs. He had a great tidy sum to recall about. With his mind occupied his digit twitched towards the square patch of scrape on his arm.



As I promised, more patronize updates. Although at the time of writing this I am still reeling from the end of Battlestar Galactica. After watching it I was sort of in a haze for a few years, just wandering around muttering 'so say we all'and humming all along the watchtower. Should be OK by posting time though.

Update : put up time. Yep ! Fine.


I do n't own Harry ceramicist. On a totally different promissory note I have some Holy Writ about counterpunch Hotter ...



Snape tapped his finger's breadth on the severely oak control surface of his desk. There was something in what Kilkenny had told him, something important. But his mind could not get a grip on it. He could see that there was something there, he could see the shape of it in the darkness but it was like he was missing something.

Should he have given the prisoner what he wanted ?

It did not matter now. Snape shook his forefront. What he needed to think about now was how to act on the data he had been given. He needed to sort through the wickedness and find the truth. Snape 's center flickered to a locked chest in the corner of his office. Within was locked Dumbledore 's pensive, the old man 's natural endowment to him. Snape did n't know why, it had been empty when he received it, and the two of them had not been on the best of terms when the old wizard died.

Perhaps he had simply written him into his will year ago and never changed it. Snape walked slowly over to the bureau and clicked the latch undecided. He levitated the heavy roll over to stick out on his desk and stepped back. He was about to lift his wand to his temple when a cerebration faded into his mind like a ghost.

It was an image, some think thing. Dumbledore sitting in his office in the nighttime, the only light the faint silver glowing of storage. Alone.

Snape lowered his wand.

"Was this part of the reason ?"Snape murmured."You took no council but your own. Your own memories to guide you. Living in the past."

Another paradigm faded into his judgement. Dumbledore leaning over the silver surface gazing into a case in the mirror surface. A missy face, with the Saame mystifying optic as the old man's.

"I suppose it would be more hard to let go of guiltiness ..."Snape conceded."When the memory is so close. He could walk with his Sister every day. He should not throw ... but he could have."

But even as he said it Snape realized that that would not be the memory Dumbledore would live over. It would be the here and now of her last. Not knowing who had really fired the spell that killed her ... He would have relived it again and again, trying to chance out. Living in guilt. Or wallowing in it.

Pathetic.

Snape could n't stop himself from thinking it. Even now he could find out only nominal sympathy for the old fool. But the one matter he knew with an smoothing iron foregone conclusion was that he could never let himself turn like him. He had to take aim council other than his own. Reliving the meeting would tell him naught he did not already experience, allowing someone else to see it might.

His thoughts instantly turned to Natalie, but he had already sent her on assignment. Analysing a recent attack site. He could promise her rachis but ... Who else ? Minerva was an obvious pick, but her brain worked too similarly to his own. She would have no insight he himself had not already had. Michelson ? No. As a lot as Snape had come to trust the man for his fighting talent subtlety was not his hard suit. So perhaps ... well he had promised to keep him updated.

Snape summoned his patronus and whispered a message too it before allowing it to float off through a rampart. He did not have to look long, after just a min or so there was a knock on the door.

"Come in Harry."The room access swung unfastened and the educatee stepped inside. He appeared to have just run a marathon."You have been training ?"

"How did you guess ?"Harry walked over to the desk. Snape deliberately did not bring up how much the boy was limping."What did you call off me for ? The message was variety of cryptic."

"Here."Snape drew his wand to his temple."It will be simpler if you see for yourself."He drew the memory board out of his head and let it fall down softly into the pensive."Do you make love what this is ?"

"A memory."Harry shifted around so that he could look down into it. He leant forward, then hesitated."Do you want to go first ?"

"I will not be coming. I do not wish to bias your interpretation."Snape motioned Harry to proceed. The boy nodded and dipped his psyche into the bowl. His torso went slack and Snape knew that at that minute Harry was seeing blue stairs.

He waited various minutes, tapping his desk in impatience before Harry lifted his face from the ash gray liquid.

"When did this pass off ?"Was the kickoff affair the boy said.

"Just now."Snape scooped up the computer storage and fed it back into his mind. He wanted the noesis fresh."I would like to see your interpretation."

"Why ?"Harry crooked an eyebrow.

"Because it may be different from mine."

"But why me ?"

"Just tell me what you saw Pott-"Snape bit off the end of that conviction and licked his lips. He tried again."I have been thinking concentrated on these events, very tough, and I have ... met, shall we say ... cognitive blocking. I need fresh oculus. Yours have usually been good."

"The legerdemain eye did n't work in the memory."

"That is not what I meant."Snape heard iritation re-enter his voice.

"Right, right ..."Harry carefully dropped back into a chair, once again sparing his injured leg."fountainhead ... clearly Voldemort was after two class things ... It sounded like the first thing was ... was something he wanted to get. The thing in hurdle 63. It belonged to someone else and he was looking for it, or wanted to see, or something."

Snape was about to nod, but thought better of it. Better to get an indifferent view even though Harry 's thoughts mirrored his own.

"So that was something he wanted to get. The other matter ..."Harry scratched his point."If he had wanted something out of the vault he would hold just sent a Lestrange down to get it. It sounds like he was just checking no-one had been in while he was away. Like he was checking up on it. Which means that there 's something in there he wants kept safe."

Snape knew he had called the right person.

"I remember ..."Harry 's hilltop creased."I remember finale year ... right hand at the start. The decree group meeting I listened in on. Did n't you say the dark lord had you experimenting with polyjuice potion so it would play with non-humans ? Could the goblins have been the target ?"

Snape schooled his face with an campaign of will. He had not made that connection.

"And that was about the time Barty Crouch vanished into thin air."Harry put forward."And his speciality is sneaking, camouflage ... Am I making any sentiency ?"

"So what you are saying."Snape said slowly."Is that the iniquity lord guessed, or experience, the locating of an item, questioned a onetime cursebreaker to be sure enough and sent his honorable spy in to take it. Is that what you are saying ?"

"Yes ?"Harry said hesitantly."But wait ... that does n't realise any sentience. Barty Crouch was missing for about a yr. If he tried to break in would n't he either grapple it quickly or break down quickly ? Not hang around for months."

"It would depend."Snape said thoughtfully."If he wished to steal the item without anyone realising it was gone. Then that would take preparation ... research ... It might well take time."

"He would have to get close."Harry nodded."Probably get himself hired on to the Gringots staff. He certainly has the skills to be a cursebreaker."

"The goblins see to it their employees for disguises."

"They check for magical disguises."Harry smiled."What are the two most salient features of Crouch ? That everyone remembers ? His blond hair and the fact that he looks very Lester Willis Young for his age. If he dyed his hair and grew a byssus he could probably go unnoticed without any wizard help whatsoever."

"Such a somebody would be memorable."Snape could feel the piece clicking into place in his idea."I wonder if William Weasley recalls such an individual."

"Who ?"

"bank bill Weasley."

"Ah !"

"If we could detect what Crouch took we might be able to guess the dark lords plans."Snape stood."Thank you Harry. Your perceptiveness were most helpful. I will inform you if Weasley recalls anything."

"right field, you do that."Harry grinned evilly."I 'll look for a rat in his bolthole."

"A ... rat ?"

"Mr Blake Bees, the informant in Gringots. The one in hiding."Harry tapped his temple knowingly."If he was in the business enterprise someone at the tarot card may cognise how to get in contact with him. He can tell us who 's vault it was, and maybe more."

"Take backup."The actor's line dropped from Snape 's lip before his mind had even formulated them."Do not go to that place alone."

"For god 's interest !"Harry threw his hands up."I keep telling citizenry this, the tarot is n't grievous. The citizenry there might coldly order a hit on you but they 're not going to blast a feeding bottle against the mesa and do the job themselves."

"even so."Snape raised a manus to stop Harry from commenting further."As we have seen today, four eye see more than two."

"Not more than my eyes-"

"Take individual Harry."Snape allowed the tone of command to enter his part."A marauder or an lodge member, I do not care. But you will drive someone."

Harry 's eye twitched and he opened his oral cavity as if to gloss again, then shut it suddenly. He nodded.

"Fine. Understood."Harry made a mocking bow."I hear and obey oh glorious leader."

"One other belittled matter."Snape drew his scepter."If something goes wrongly you will necessitate a way out."

"I keep telling you-"

"Not just now Harry, in other situations as well."Snape raised his wand to Harry 's face."wait quite still."

"Is this going to hurt ?"Harry asked quickly.

"I have no idea."Snape smiled, and cast the spell.
*


"Harry you are well aware that this is not what Snape meant."Pythea raised an brow as Harry pointed to a expectant pub with a lead on it 's sign."He told you to bring backup."

"He told me he did n't care who."Harry pointed out.

"Harry I ca n't fight."

"I do n't need you to."Harry led the seer towards the door."This place is as secure as Hogwarts. Safer probably. The hoi polloi who drink here are sticklers for propriety though. I needed someone who would n't make a scene, someone who could do nicety. Do any of the predator fit that billhook as well as you ? Draco maybe, but it was full lunar month conclusion night."

"Padma, Hermione, Ginerva ..."

"Ginny 's grown less predictable."Harry shook his brain."Padma 's an outside potential but really it had to be you. This whole thing is about gathering data and who better to help oneself than a visionary. I need you to watch people 's eyes."

"I ca n't read psyche any more Harry."

"And yet you still know what people are thinking half the time."Harry reached the room access and stopped, his paw raised."Please Theia, come in with me."

"Harry ..."Pythea took a deep breather."Fine."

Harry smiled and pushed the door undefended. Within the berth looked like any other pub in a coastal township. There was a roaring fire in the grate and view on the paries of Fish and angle touch on bodily process. The low murmuring of conversation filled the air but no-one looked up as he entered. They had their own forethought mainly. Harry led the was confidently to the bar.

ordering whatever you want.

Harry flashed into Pythea 's judgement before turning to the barkeep and ordering his own beverage. After Harry had handed over his money he led them to a mesa near the fire and slid a coaster under the vaticinator 's wine.

"swallow are messages here."Harry explained."If it 's on a coaster, that means the sole message is that you were thirsty."

"I see."Pythea replied, taking a sip of swallow and carefully placing the trash back on the mat."And what does yours have in mind ?"

"Well, it 's golden and expensive ..."Harry pored the whiskey into his class."What do you think ?"

"Was it requisite to buy such an expensive bottle ?"

"It never hurts here to register you have money."

"And why Irish whisky ?"

"Well,"Harry grinned."Got to support my country of origin do n't I ?"

"So what do we do now ?"Pythea glanced around, still speaking quietly."Simply wait for someone to observe ?"

"That 's now it works."Harry shrugged. He raised his chalk to his back talk but did not pledge any. It would definitely not do to mislay focus here. He tried not to even breath in any of the fumes."Besides, it 's a squeamish blank space to spend the afternoon."Harry gestured out the window at the coast below. The winter winds were whipping the moving ridge to height before crashing them against the beach. Out further a few sauceboat were still visible, bobbing up and down.

"I suppose it is not so bad."Pythea smiled."This seat is quite pleasant. I did not expect it to be so ..."

"Homely ?"

"Peaceful."Pythea glanced around."That man has absinthe. What does that mean ?"

"Ca n't remember ..."Harry scratched his head."It either means he 's selling diacetylmorphine or buying human being organs. Ca n't think of which."

"And you say this stead is safe ?"Pythea quirked an eyebrow.

"I said safe. I did n't say nice."

Pythea shook her head and chuckled, then grew quiet as a man approached their table.

Time to go to work.

Harry smiled.
*


"This is the man we are looking for."Snape slid a picture of Crouch over the tabular array towards the peppiness haired untried man at the other end.

"He does n't look like anyone I know."bill Weasley shook his headway tiredly."Look I know what Barty crouch looks like, all the order do. If I had seen him I would have-"

"He would give birth concealed his identity."Snape waved his script over the photo and the cheek grew a short beard."Or this ?"The exposure 's haircloth went black."Look at the eye. They will not have changed."

"flavor if I had seen him I would kn-"billhook froze suddenly."Can you make him bald ? preserve the beard."

Snape made the changes.

"And brownish beard. Make it bushier."broadsheet leant over the photograph."I ... I do remember him."

"Do you."Snape kept his voice calm as the pieces fell together."When ?"

"Only a few times ... He was working in a unlike department."

"Working on what ?"

"I do n't know."Bill rubbed his forehead."They do n't tell us what other the great unwashed are working on."

"How long was he there ?"

"I do n't know. I have n't seen him recently."

"Who worked with him ?"

"I do n't know."

"Find out."Snape ordered flatly.

"I can't."banknote shook his head."The goblins are getting rid of mankind left, correct and centre. They 're looking for an self-justification. And with mum and dad still in infirmary I can't-"

"This could be very important."Snape snapped."Are you a member of the order or not ?"

"Yes but-"

"Then find out where he worked, what he worked on and who he worked with."Snape run forward."And find out who owned vault LX three."

"I could get fired !"

"You could be killed."Snape replied coldly."The goblins tend to be very lead about threats to their gold. So I suggest you find out carefully."
*


"Is this the billet ?"Harry looked up at the dingy and broken apartment building.

"This is the address the man mentioned."Pythea glanced down at the litter strewn street. Her expression was ... not impressed.

"Certainly something going on up there."Harry squinted up."The top storey 's all fuzzy."Harry blinked a couple of times and rubbed his eyeball on his sleeve before peering up again."Nope, ca n't see anything. You see anything ?"

"I 'll try ..."Pythea closed her eye."Could you step away please ?"

"What ?"

"Just direct a few gradation away please Harry."Pythea was staring, close eyed, at the sky."Just trust me."

Harry stepped back, frowning. For a few moments the seer stood there, staring up at the sky. Then she nodded.

"There is someone up there."

"wellspring that 's promising."Harry drew his wand."You apparate back to Hogwarts I 'll gibe it out."

"No."

"Damn."

"You must take in known I was going to say that."

"I thought you were going to be a bit more hook. Like'I 'll never abandon you .'or 'Damn you Harry you do n't have to go it alone !'”

"I 'm opinion the effect would be corking if I was less profound."

"Well, we should get on with it then."Harry stepped off the paving material towards the construction."Stay behind me and monish me if your crazy sixth sense picks up anything. If the showtime five do as well. And if he attacks or something just shield and run."

"No."

"Damn."

Harry pushed the front door open. It creaked a footling. The inside was even more decrepit and covered in graffiti. Harry 's eye flickered up the building. It was n't totally empty, one man sleeping on the second floor, two nipper apparently home alone on the next level up, a cat ... Then the blankness of the top floor. Harry kept his eye trained on the top flooring as the two of them climbed up and up. As they reached the top story Harry slowed to a crawl.

The doorway was already open.

"vaticinator senses seeing anything ?"

"No."Pythea was hanging back a few whole step."Are yours ?"

"No ..."Harry paused and turned, smiling."This is a fun kickoff date is n't it ?"

"Harry this is hardly the time !"

"Fine."Harry shrugged and turned back."Back to seriousness."Harry silenced the threshold and disillusioned both himself and Pythea. In the blue luminance of his eye he saw the small prophet flick out the vulture glasses. He pushed the room access open and edged into the dingy minuscule two-dimensional. The instant he got through the room access his eye shut down, plunging him into uncomfortable darkness. After over a year of superintendent powered sight having it ripped away felt horrifically claustrophobic.

"Pythea stay close I ca n't see you any more."Harry whispered. A hand brushed lightly against the book binding of his neck opening."God I hope it 's you doing that."

Harry glanced into a nighttime and vacuous closet before sliding forward. line. Harry sniffed again, definitely blood. Harry put his hand against the door to the bedroom and pushed it open slowly. A body lay sprawled on the flooring, stock seeping into the rug, cervix slashed ear to ear. William Blake Bees, the Gringots informant. They were too late. Harry aimed his baton and whispered a magical spell. A tiny red incandescence was seeable for a moment above the dead man. Still warm.

A tiny tap came on the back of Harry 's neck and a barely heard voice said ...

"Remember, I saw life story up here."

Harry gritted his tooth. He had remembered. Harry felt blind without his eye. Lacking in depth perception certainly. Life up here did n't necessarily have in mind the murderer was still here. It could have just been the victim slowly and excruciatingly bleeding out.

"Thea leave now."

"Harry-"

"This time I 'm se-"A ripple of air was the only warning Harry got. He dropped to the story as the knife flashed over his head. In a splinter of a mo he spun."Depulso !"Harry aimed the spell behind him, a sharp scream sounded and Pythea was thrown back through the open door. A second spell slammed the door shut but Harry was already rolling to his animal foot with his wand outstretched.

"Augmenta."The current of water supply splashed against the invisible assassin, outlining him in droplets."Ferio !"The Lie Gou ducked and launched forward, blade flashing for Harry 's neck.

Harry knocked it aside desperately but the silent killer was on him, forcing him to the flooring with cold-blooded strength. Harry was using all his strength to keep the blade from his pharynx, his other arm pinned, fingerbreadth curling around his carpus. He could n't obligate on, the water made it too slippery. Closer and closer.

Harry let his stage fold and discover his opposition grunt as the weightiness hit his blazonry. Harry jabbed his read/write head forward and hit something, he kicked out and snapped the leg out from under the unsounded killer. A twanging thunk sounded proper next to his mind and Harry saw a knife appear from nowhere, dropped from dead fingers. Harry was on it like a flash and stabbed forward. Red blood fountained from invisible flesh. The fingers around his arm tightened like a frailty ... then finally released.

Before Harry 's eyes the Lie Gou assassin flashed into view, falling to the floor. The patch attenuation as the life ebbed out of it 's caster. The threshold burst open.

"Harry how dare y-"Pythea 's centre flashed to Harry, on the floor and covered in blood. Her eyes went wide.

"I 'm fine. It 's his."Harry said breathlessly.

"Harry is he ... is he dead."Pythea still had n't moved from the doorway.

"Yeah."The knife fell slowly from Harry 's fingerbreadth."He is."

"He was trying to kill you."

"They always are."Harry slowly pushed himself to his feet and took a breath. profligate filled his nose."We need the order here. They should go over the place ... maybe find something."Harry 's leg was buckling under him and his eye cast around for him walking stick. It was lying right in the centre of the syndicate of pedigree. He let it be.

"Harry ... you 're not aright."A normal person would throw said 'are you aright', but they would receive been foolish to do it.

"I 'll be hunky-dory, later. It 's just ... this is one of those sentence I 'd rather be Jack."Harry laughed humourlessly and limped over to the door.
*


An hr later and Harry was sitting on the cold steps in a courtyard at Hogwarts. back at the compressed a police barrier had been set up and aurors dressed as coppers were trying to keep hoi polloi out. Inside more aurors would be peering around and poking things. Harry had left, he had wanted to stay so he knew what was happening, but Shacklebolt had turned up and Harry had n't felt like explaining everything again. He had slipped off into the dark.

"You should not experience brought the seer."Snape 's vocalisation did not catch Harry by surprise. Neither did his words or the relentless tone.

"I know. It was a mistake."Harry nodded, not looking as the professor approached."I could bear got her killed."

"I told you to bring competent backup."

"And you were right."Harry 's voice was deadened."Can we delight move on."

"As you wish."Snape conjured a chair and sat down opposite Harry. He looked shopworn. Harry was sure he himself looked worse.

"They find anything up there ?"

"No, and at this point I do not expect they will."Only person who knew Snape would have detected the frustration in his voice."There were signs that certain documents had been burnt just before you arrived here, whether by the victim or his grampus it matters slight. There is aught here."

"Tell me your investigation turned up something."Harry glanced up at Snape, not daring to hope. Snape shook his head.

"Damnit ...."Harry dropped his school principal to his helping hand."beat end then. Unless we ask the hob directly. Or we could get Kingsley to ask them-"

"No."Snape shook his point."I believe our best Bob Hope is to allow William Weasley to acquire the documents we need. If we petition the goblins directly at the Same time they will certainly become suspicious."

"So we do what ? Wait and hope that visor succeeds ?"Harry snorted."What do we do in the mean time ? Just sit on our hands ?"

"I have many things to do."Snape said dryly."As for you ... I suggest you try to get a Merry Christmas."

"Ha !"Harry laughed mirthlessly."That 's not going to happen-"Harry 's words were cut off as a crossbow bolt thudded into his back.
*


For some reason the previous chapter got chopped off weirdly. There was meant to be a whole nother scene but somehow it just dropped off the case of the world. I did n't notice until it was validated and put up. Wierd ... Serves me right for not checking my chapters properly before I post them I guess.

Anyways that setting can go at the start of this chapter just as easily. Just letting you know I did n't intend to return you another cliffhanger.



Harry spun like a top and fired madly at the white figure on the ceiling. It ducked like a ghost but Harry could still see him dashing away. Ignoring Snape 's watchword Harry shot a lure at the roofing tile and was jerked off his invertebrate foot, clattering onto the tiles. His leg screamed in nuisance as Harry scrambled to the peak of the cap. The white anatomy was far away, Harry knew he would n't be able to catch him. Harry stabbed his scepter forward and fired a curse. The figure shielded easily without even stopping. Harry spun his verge like and felt the tile beneath his leap. He tried to stay on top of them as they hovered and spun forwards. He shut his center and used only the magical one, his real eye could n't accompany fast enough. The digit was already too far away, too fast. Harry yelled,

"Tempesto !"The wind smashed into his side and threw him through the air, barely in ascendency, before thudding to the grass and rolling. Everything suffering. Harry rolled to his feet and stumbled towards the woodland. He could see the figure belting through the trees. Harry dashed towards the benighted fo-

peril !

Harry 's eye caught a coup d'oeil too late. Harry skidded on the leaves as four arrow flashed above his question. He scrambled backwards back onto the grass and stopped, wand outstretched and breathing heavily.

Through the dark Tree, in the cold luminance of his eye, Harry could see his assassin standing out of view. Dotted all around were centaur, each one with a arrow notched to his bow. They were just waiting for him to cross the line of merchandise back into the Natalie Wood. Harry glanced at one of the arrows embedded in the ground, they wanted to kill him. The centaurs would n't pass the line, apparently the strange, white clad assassin had no such compunction.

Harry stood up and watched as the centaurs and their strange Quaker turned and slowly retreat into the wood.

"Harry !"

Harry turned and saw Snape hurrying toward him.

"He got away."Harry staggered forward, limping."It was n't one of the Lie Gou. I could see his grimace he was European ... had a scar-"

"Harry you have an pointer in you."Snape said, surprisingly calmly.

"What ? Oh ..."Harry looked over his shoulder"That 's not an arrow, it 's a crossbow bolt. park mistake."

"Harry do not expect me to be surprised by the fact that you 're alive."Snape crossed his arms.

"Spoilsport."Harry tugged the bolt out. It 's point was crushed and blunted."It 's the coat. It 's got enough charms to intercept a tank."

"spring me the arrow."

"Bolt."

"Cease this Harry."

"Fine."Harry rolled his eye and tossed the arrow to his teacher."Who do you call up it was ?"

"How could I possibly know that Harry."Snape said sharply."In a usual situation I am sure the aurors would ask if you had any enemies however-"

"Futile."

"Correct."

"You think it was the centaurs ?"Harry glanced back into the woodwind. There was nothing to be seen now, not a matter was moving."Do you think they hired someone to kill me ?"

"Why would they wish to do that ?"Snape 's eyes narrowed.

"I ... hold out time I met centaurs they said I was an abomination."Harry said hesitantly."They said they 'd kill me if I ever went into the forest again."

"And you ..."

"Went into the afforest again."

"I am not remotely surprised."

"But why would they hold off this retentive to try something ?"Harry scratched his straits."Does n't add up."

"The ministry has means of contacting the centaur elders."Snape said quietly, staring into the moody forest."I will try to make contact."

"Carefully."

"Yes, carefully."

"Definitely."
*


"Have a proficient christmas Harry. Keep training."Ginny one-half smiled, faintly at Harry before turning and trudging away from the Hogwarts logic gate through the snow. Hunched over with her hand in her sac, the grinning would n't possess fooled most people so it certainly did n't cod Harry.. He thought about calling after her but instead shook his read/write head and turned to Ron and the Gemini, who had come to pick the schoolhouse age Weasleys up.

"Try to stimulate surely she smiles at least once a day."

"We 'll try Harry."Fred sighed."No promises."

"And if I signal, come running."Harry held up an 'M'badge. The twins knew what he meant, they had created the charm. It was like the dark marks just a trivial less ... perminant. Every marauder had one and they could bring them directly to Harry wherever he was."We 'll ... not running ... Teleporting. But you get the idea."

"Aye aye, sir."Fred saluted comedically.

They turned to leave and Harry trudged back towards the rook. Draco was standing in the doorway, leaning against a pillar. His face was grey and lined, obviously last Nox 's moon had n't been kind to him. Harry was n't in a humour to be sympathetic.

"You could at to the lowest degree appearance here some human sympathy."Harry said flatly.

"And what would that do ?"Draco growled."It would just give her Bob Hope for something that ca n't ever happen."

"Why the hell not ?"

"Shut up Potter. You do n't understand."

"Oh god that again."

"You ca n't ever understand !"Draco shoved Harry away roughly.

"I understand that you 're giving the cold shoulder to a young woman who 's parents are still being fed on drips."Harry said harshly. He 'd tried everything else, maybe dullness would get through Draco 's thick skull.

"I do n't want to hurt her."

"You are hurting her !"Harry pointed away at the distant figure, trudging through the snow a distance away from her brothers.

"I 'm a werewolf."Dragon muttered."I ca n't do ... I ca n't have a girlfriend."

"Lupin apparently thinks differently."

"Well that 's flaming Lupin 's selection is n't it !"Draco spun and fixed Harry with an raging glare."Just shut out up about things you do n't see Potter."

"I understand enough to know that the werewolf thing is just an excuse."Harry spat back. Draco 's eyes flashed wide-cut, the run-in biting deep. Harry pressed on."So what you 're effectively doing Draco, making Ginny miserable for no good rationality and then claiming it 's because you 're being noble. Like you 're taking the luxuriously soil when really all you 're doing is-"

"Shut up."Draco 's verge was in his hired hand somehow."Just shut up Harry. Shut up."

"Fine."Harry held his hands up."Whatever. I can see I 'm not going to get a straight answer out of the twisted lump of conflicting reasoning, ego hatred and sour sacrifice shaped by the Twin personnel of teenage arrogance and lustfulness you call your mental capacity. Come on, we 've got a slight task for this holiday season. It 'll be fun."

"Oh really ? And what is this labor ?"Draco asked sharply.

"Simple, the ring."Harry patted his bag."I do n't buy that capital of Arizona flame is the merely way to destroy the thing. Got to be something else that can do the job, we 're going to get hold it."

"So essentially ..."genus Draco narrowed his eyes."You want to research the most in-sainly destructive charm known to wizard-kind."

"Yes."Harry smiled."Told you it 'd be fun."
*


In the end they only found two thing that could match the tycoon of phoenix flame, and neither of them were pleasant. One of them at least appear easy to aquire, at to the lowest degree at low gear ...

"What do you signify 'You burnt it'?"Harry asked shrilly.

"Burnt it years ago."Markus Michelson shrugged."The day after you killed it. Went back down into the chamber of secrets and torched the thing. zippo left but ashes and I scattered them pretty widely."

"You ... you torched the bassilisk ..."Harry sighed."You did n't happen to hold open a tooth as ... as like a souvenir or something ?"

"The teeth and the spitefulness are the most unsafe part, totally reason I got rid of the thing."Michelson 's brow furrowed."Why ?"

Harry told him. Michelson cursed and punched the wall.

"So ..."Harry said, after leaving the defence professor 's government agency."That leaves the former option."

"I do not want to use the former option."Draco remarked darkly.

"You know the incantation."

"It 's not a matter of knowing."Draco shook his head."This is fiendfyre we 're talking about. It grows out of control, it can consume it 's caster and everything around him."

"Hence why we need to go somewhere we 're there 's nothing to consume."Harry said simply."I know fiendfyre 's dangerous but if we go somewhere deserted we ca n't pain anyone."

"Except ourselves."

"True, but you 're self-destructive on account of being a lycanthrope and I 'm crazy enough not to care. What have we got to fall back ?"

"good point."Draco cracked a wry smile."Do you have a stead that will be deserted enough ?"

"I have just the spot in mind."Harry nodded."We 'll get Morfin to exact us there. Do n't want to put Pythea in danger again."

"Does Morfin know the place well enough to apparate to it ?"

"Oh yes ..."Harry grinned again, this clock time less pleasantly."He lived there most of his life."
*


The waves crashed harshly against the cliffs of Azkaban island, sending up tabloid of atomiser. The lead was bitingly common cold, whistling through the ruin of the prison with terrifying hurrying. Harry stood with his font into the winding and breathed in the majesty of it, better able to value the big businessman of nature when the charms worked into his coat kept him pleasantly warm.

"Where shall we do this ?"Dragon had to raise his voice against the wind. Harry had cast warming charms on both him and Morfin but they still had to contest with the sheer force play of the gale.

"Suppose it does n't really matter."Harry shrugged and pointed to what looked like the remains of a court."Over there I guess."Harry turned to Morfin."Oh, and make indisputable none of Smokey 's friends come near here OK ? Would n't want them getting hurt."

"Smokey 's friends ?"Dragon asked.

"Invisible, magical, venomous snakes."Harry smiled."They live on this island. Morfin told me."

"The ministry does n't know about them."

"That would be because they 're A : Invisible. B : Solely endemic to an island at the prat end of nowhere and C : Fed mostly on prisoners the dementors had already killed. Though I suppose they probably eat seagull now."Harry came to a plosive in the middle of the courtyard and reached back into his bag. He took out the package the ring was in and put it on the priming coat without bothering to let out it. No squall touching it more than was necessary.

"Do you have the championship architectural plan ?"A jot of nervousness had entered Draco 's voice. Harry did n't respond but instead drew two broomsticks out of his bag. He handed one to Morfin and the got on the early himself. Each of them grabbed one of Draco 's shoulder's.

"Why am I trusting my safety device to your flying ability."Dragon shuddered.

"I may not be a great flyer Draco but I can go straight up."Harry rolled his heart."Quit stalling and torch the affair already. If this does n't work we 'll try dropping it in a volcano."

"Do n't look sharp me Harry."Draco grated."You 're not the one channelling hellish flame through your fingernails."

"I did volunteer to-"

"Do n't even say it."Draco broke in."You 're not ... focussed enough to keep this power in check."

"I do know Legilimancy."Harry said indignantly."And occlumency. And I can juggle tongue, do n't tell me that does n't postulate focus."

"Get on with it ..."Morfin hissed darkly, his eyes flickering back and Forth River. Being back on the island was perhaps effecting him a bit More than he was letting on.

"Aright ..."Draco gritted his tooth and raised his implements of war. He closed his eyes and began to tone, a red lambency rising from his hands. The air was growing warmer, sparking with energy. Harry gripped his protagonist 's arm harder. His eye was picking up foreign shadows out of the air, things with strange, precipitous, silhouettes. Spinning like a a whirlpool, settling into Draco 's hand, draining in. Each time one of them touched the shaking Slytherin 's hands the heat grew and the air sparked.

"Draco ..."Harry started."Maybe we shouldn't-"

"Now !"genus Draco 's eyes flashed open and the courtyard filled with descent red flame. Both of Harry 's optic were blinded by the sudden detonation of loose and legerdemain, he tried to screen his eyes but it was n't any good.

"Draco ! You 'll suffer to tell me if it goes out of control I ca n't see !"Harry could see the abstract of the stream of energy flowing out of his friend 's handwriting. It shifted and moved and seemed to be trying to kick downstairs free. For a present moment the wing of an eagle formed out of the flaming, Draco seemed to tense and the wing vanished. A horses head exploded out a moment later and Draco again squashed it down.

"Draco ..."

"I 've got it."The horse cavalry head reared up again, it 's center full, and tried to jump off at the three adept. Draco yelled in infliction and it was subsumed again into the stream of flame.

"Draco-"

"I 've GOT IT !"

"You do n't !"

"I 've got it !"

An elephant breached out of the nowhere and charged towards them. Harry whipped his baton out and blew the flaming world into cypher. more than animal began flashing out of the flame, more and more. Harry swore and yelled,

"UP ! We 're leaving !"

Harry jerked the broom under him up, it rose jerkily. Harry kicked it and it flew a little faster. Something with hook jumped at him and Harry flashed a flame-freezing spell at it before remembering it did n't work of fiendfyre and having to blow it up. sherd of the fauna peppered him with sunburn and he yelled in pain. The Scots heather shot up and the air slowly grew colder. Harry 's arm ached and he looked over to see genus Draco hanging between him and Morfin.

"You aright twin ?"Harry tried to scream but his Holy Scripture were carried away by the roaring flame. Red droplets of fiendfyre were still dripping from the werewolves finger, but they were petering out. Slowly. Harry heaved upwards and ( minus a hideous wobble when the heather tried to go it 's own way ) dragged Malfoy up onto his broom. Harry waved Morfin back and hovered away himself, keeping a decease clutch on the hold of the broomstick.

As they got further away Harry could truly see the desolation the fervency was reaping. blackamoor rock was giving way to flame out from the court. The roaring whirlpool of creatures was pooling out like some sort of flaming mould.

Harry cursed, it would be easily visible from the mainland. That could get unhelpful questions. Harry drew his wand and mentation for a here and now ... there was no way he could vanish the island, or get to an conjuration to extend it, which meant going for something Sir Thomas More basic.

"Nebulosus."Harry dipped his wand down and allowed a duncish mist to debilitate out. He felt the Scots heather move underneath him and panicked for a import before realising that Draco was doing it, moving him into a better position.

Harry slowly built up a rampart of mist between the island and the mainland. When he was finished the fire was still burning inviolable and stretching out to cut across a good quarter of the prison house islet. They had to wait over an 60 minutes, hovering in the Atlantic breaking wind before the live of it died out. Harry let Dragon take the heather down slowly and slipped off.

"Ow ! Ow ! Argh !"Harry shaft back into the air and grabbed back onto the Calluna vulgaris. Wincing as his metrical unit slowly cooled from burning to blistering.

"Harry you 're an idiot."

"Shut up."Harry muttered a cooling appeal at the floor and stepped back down. The passion had been rendered bearable. But only just. With patronize magic spell to cool his track Harry made his way to the charred ruins of the courtyard and peered at the floor. His wand made whispers of wind to brush away the glowing embers and Harry saw a piffling glint of light. The stone of the ring had been burnt away but the atomic number 79 had simply melted, covering the stone with a golden luster. Harry bent down and hesitantly laid his hand on the shining metal.

"Anybody in there ?"

Harry projected the thought down. He waited a few moment but nothing came back. Harry shrugged and pointed his wand at the pavement. With a grating groan the I. F. Stone came free. Harry levitated it into his bag.

"You 're taking it with us ?"Draco called out incredulously from his pole high above.

"I want to take a crap sure."Harry shrugged."Snape can-"But he was cut off as a flashbulb of illumination lit up the Night sky and a soundbox fell from the air with a thud. Morfin sprawled on the primer coat, unmoving. Harry rushed over to him but even before he did there was another flash bulb and Dragon tumbled out of the sky like a dead bird.

Harry 's wand was already in his hand, his eye scanning helplessly for an foeman, a cue, ANYTHING ! But there was cipher, for all he could see they were alone. The only speech sound was the obtuse cooling of the rock.

"Who are you ?"Harry called out."Voldemort ?"

"No."

Harry spun but he was too slacken, the stunner caught him in the chest of drawers. He just had time to see Sasori 's mocking heart before the iniquity closed in.
*


"You brought him in alive ?"

Harry was familiar enough with unconsciousness to live how it usually went.

"I thought it was prudent. They were doing something rather strange."

first gear you could only hear the voices.

"And what was that pray ?"

It was in effect to stretch this theatrical role out as long as possible. You were still mostly knocked out so citizenry generally did n't notice you were listening.

"They went there to destroy something. The Malfoy boy called fiendfyre but was ineffectual to hold it."

"Foolish tiddler. Playing with dangerous toys."

Ah. Now that voice Harry recognised. They took me to Voldemort. Harry 's gut clenched and he slipped into full consciousness. He was lying on a moth-eaten stone floor, but smooth. Maybe marble ? No, not that smooth. Harry realized that with his center shut he was completely blind. There was also a nauseating empty feeling in his eye socket. Harry cursed silently. His magic eye was gone. Harry could find some sort of bond around his wrists. He could n't experience a knot, or a whorl. Maybe if he-

"Mr Potter I know you are awake."The representative of Voldemort cut through the dark."We 've been through this many times before do not think you can deceive me."Harry snorted and flicked his eyelid open.

"Just like old prison term eh Tommy ?"Harry levered himself up onto his knees. Voldemort was standing just a few steps away, looking faintly amused. His skin was perhaps a touch lighter than before, even a little pinker. He even almost had a intrude. He looked ... humaner. He also had a glaring scratch across his throat, red and raw and jagged. Harry allowed himself a smile. At to the lowest degree he had left an impression.

Harry glanced around, they were is a ... a laboratory ? That was what it looked like. Some kind of mad scientist 's den. All around were table of bottle and arcane, weird token. The table behind Voldemort looked like it had been cleared in a hurry and in the empty-bellied space ... Harry 's own eye stared back at him, rocking listlessly. The gilt flag was there too, and a few other interesting ( illegal ) point. Harry hissed as he breathed in. His bag was supposed to only release those items to him. Clearly that barrier had not been a barrier to Voldemort. Or perhaps it had been Sasori, standing quietly near the far wall.

"Seen everything you need Harry ?"

"One to a greater extent minute."Harry squinted behind the tables and almost gasped. Back near the wall there was an arch of blackened metal, thick around as a somebody and pulling the dark in towards it. Hanging from the dismal gateway ... a fluttering mantle. Harry found himself breathing heavily. That was the veil ... Or a veil. Not the same as the one in the department of closed book, that one was made of Lucy Stone. So what the hell was-

"Your minute is up Harry."

"Just give me a little more time. want to set the scene."Harry glanced behind him. Draco and Morfin were sprawled on the base behind him. Harry could see their chest of drawers going up and down so he assumed they were still alert. Behind them three Lie Gou were guarding the door. In a huddled mountain a group of dead men stood, silent beside them. Their rot flesh reaching Harry 's nostril and making him gag. In the strawman of the group was a face Harry recognised. It was not a felicitous facial expression, or a well-chosen memory.

"Greyback."Harry turned back to Voldemort."I guess that explains why the werewolves are following you again. Did you have to sew together his promontory back on ?"

"Nothing so petroleum. But in principal ... yes."

Harry tried desperately to think of some way out of this way. He had nothing. Why the hell was there a veil here ? He needed to get out. Harry could hear Draco stirring behind him. Or was it Morfin ? Damn it he wanted his eye back ! How did multitude oversee to only see in one direction ?

"So ..."Harry looked Voldemort in the eye."Do we do our regular terpsichore ? You torture me for fun, I insult you, you get angry, I escape-"

"Sadly not."Voldemort stepped forward."I really should thank you Harry. Battling with you across these years, and especially last year, has taught me something I never wished to con. That I am shockingly vulnerable. Oh yes ... yes. It is true. Thanks to you I know that, however hefty I am, whatever knowledge I gain ... all it takes is a boy with a tongue and a lucky smasher ... and I am as weakly as a newborn baby again. It is so very unfair."

"Life 's not fair."Harry growled."expiry even less so."

"Oh I know that now."Voldemort nodded."I know that I an not invulnerable. I look back on my sprightliness and realize a great many of my decisions were foolish. I have learnt. And for that I thank you. I am not foolish any more."

Yeah right field. Harry tried not to drift his eye. If you 're not foolish anymore why are n't I dead ? Harry chuckled to himself then froze. waiting, Voldemort did n't sound damage. He sounded almost sincere. What if he had got smarter ? Harry licked his rim. Why was he alert then ? Harry heard stirring behind him. Of course, Morfin. Voldemort had recognised his long lost uncle and was ... what ? Confused ? Or maybe ... Harry tried not to glint at the table with the golden flagstone on it. There was no way that Voldemort could recognise the ring from a load of amber. Could he ? And anyway the ring was just a gob ? Was n't it ?

Harry began getting very very nervous.

"So ..."Harry glanced at Sasori, trying to buy time."Long fourth dimension no see. How have you been ?"

"Richer."Sasori 's brow twitched up.

"You and your people have been keeping quiet."Harry tried to twist his hands out of his bonds.

"We do what our customer asks of us."Sasori 's emphasise spokesperson had tracing of cynical humour.

"I bet."Harry smiled."And where is ... Barty ... Crouch ..."Harry trailed off as his eye fell on a box under one of the lab tables. It was open and the contents plainly visible. Dull Zane Grey magnetic disc, Pb. one C of them. Why the Hell would anyone need coins made of lea-

Oh hell on earth no ! Harry took an nonvoluntary deep intimation, then ...

"That love child !"Harry gaiter. Anger filling his veins.

Voldemort followed his gaze but Harry was n't finished.

"Bastard, idiot, saphead, everything he did was worthless !"

"And by 'he'you of course refer to ..."

"Dumbledore !"Harry screamed, at that moment not caring that the person he was venting to was the sour nobleman."That imbecile told me he destroyed it ! Told me five years ago ! But he never did did he ? He put it right back where it was before ! Probably too cowardly to actually go through with it ! Or maybe he wanted it for himself. That was what bend stole from Gringots ! That 's what brought you back from the verge of decease ! That 's how you 've suddenly got all this gold ! After five years you finally got it ! The bloody PHYLOSOPHER 'S STONE !"



If you do n't refresh tinkerbell will die.

Just kidding. She wo n't die. But I was thinking though that that will spell the here and now the cosmos becomes truly un-savable.

Tinkerbell drinks the poison, starts to pass off, the player playacting Peter Pan turns to the audience and tells them to spat if the believe in fairies and their is dead silence.

Or maybe just one clap petering out quickly as the clapper gets embarrassed. That will be the day man dies.

Also ... on that day, the actor playing Peter Pan had better be all-fired dependable at improvising. : )


wellspring, as you can see I 've bumped the tarradiddle up to a mature. I 've tried to keep it 15+ for as long as possible but I guess I ca n't avert it any more. Ah well, at lest my characters can imprecate properly now.

I do n't own Harry ceramist. I will if I can win over JK Rowling to give him to me though. I 've been working on this Hypnosis thing ...






The little lab was filled with deadly secretiveness for a moment, then Voldemort uncurled his long finger and clapped. Once. Twice. trine times.

"Very well done Mr Potter."Voldemort cocked his head to one side."There really were quite a few clues but well done nonetheless. But I believe your outburst had more than one purpose did it not ? You wished to divide and inhibit ? As you know the Lie Gou will not take over wizard gold you hoped to inspire our mutual friend Sasori,"Voldemort flicked a long digit at the free-lance, who still had not moved."To attack me as you reveal that my informant of mean value to pay him has not been entirely workaday ? Am I right ?"

"Something like that."Harry said, who had been thinking nothing of the sort. It was a good architectural plan though, especially since at the moment Harry could n't think of a better one.

"And a year ago it would no doubt birth worked."Voldemort smiled."But I have been more careful since you killed me. I was entirely honest with Mr Sasori about my source of income, no dissimulation whatsoever. They were more than happy to bear gold created with the phylosopher 's Edward Durell Stone, were n't you my scorpion ?"

"Thomas More than happy."Nothing about Sasori moved except his lips. Harry almost frowned. Why had the Lie Gou reversed what was basically their only hard and fast ruler ?

"So you see Harry."Voldemort turned back to his prisoners."You can not break my new servant from me. It is futile to try. Now ... on to the important matters."Voldemort leant down close to Harry 's face, then hesitated and straightened again and stepped a pace away before continuing."I would like to ask you a question."

"Yes ?"Harry cold feel just the simple draft on his hands. The door behind him must lead somewhere, but there was no way he could strain it. Harry found himself wishing he had his god-hand back, damn the consequences.

"I would care to know why you felt in necessary to destroy my ring."

Dammit.

"What ? So it was n't the source of all your business leader ?"Harry quipped desperately.

"It was not, no."Voldemort replied almost amicably."I assume you or one of your little champion tried to jade it ?"

"I wore it."Harry tried desperately to think where the conversation was going."Saw a familiar grimace. You 've changed since your disco twelvemonth. And now changed back a small ? ... looking a piddling pink around the gill Tom. What 's with that ?"

"One of the wonderful effects of the elixir of life."Voldemort held out a hand and examined it smiling."A much more pleasant means of extending one 's like than dark magic or unicorn blood. It tastes like mercury you know ..."

"Not like chicken ?"Harry 's eye noted a heavy calliper on the lab table next to him. Heavy enough to use as a club. That was if he could get his hands free. And if a club was even the slight use against a dark whizz. Beside the calliper was a grim bladed scalpel. Too pocket-size to use as a weapon but it looked charming. Would it cut magical attachment ?

From under the tabular array there came a deep hissing. A second later the wooden-headed shape of Voldemort 's pet snake uncurled. Winding like a sinuous thread between Harry and Voldemort.

"Ignore Nagini."Voldemort said without thinking."Tell me about my ring."

"What about it ?"Harry said desperately. He could probably reach the scalpel with a distraction."We found it 's secret. We burnt it. End of story."

"You found it 's hole-and-corner ?"Voldemort seemed to calm himself."It ... it had a clandestine ?"

"Course,"Harry bluffed."It was the like as the diary."William Tell me what the bloody enigma is.

"Ah ...."Voldemort clicked his dentition."wellspring I must applaud you for working it out. Does Severus know ?"

"Oh yes."Harry nodded happily."I 'm not keeping things secret from the parliamentary law any-more. surmise we 've both learnt."

"I suppose we have."Voldemort seemed to be working hard to go on himself in check.

"Knows about the other affair too."Harry decided to get a wild gamble."The one in the Lestrange vault."

"He ! ..."Voldemort 's eye 's flashed red and his hands bunched into fists. The dark lord hissed from between clenched dentition."I suppose I have dear old Slughorn to thank for all this."

Slughorn. Harry burnt the name into his brain, then tried to adjudicate what answer would elicit more information.

"No actually."And would also sustain whoever Slughorn was alive until he could be questioned.

"So you know about the journal ..."Voldemort fixed Harry in the eye."And the band, and the cup. I suppose you know about the music-box as well ?"

"I- ..."Harry paused, he knew this trick."No actually, did we pretermit that one ?"

"Yes, you did."Voldemort smiled. Harry tried to quit himself smiling."But no matter. I have a better means of living forever now."

aliveness forever. The hoop and diary and ... what had it been ? The cup. They let him live forever ? Harry 's eyebrow furrowed. Then it him like a daze ... he knew what they were.

It had been when he was on his mad spree of self melioration. After he had got his eye. After he got his god-hand. He had been face to face with the dispirited most curse-riddled and pockmarked flesh-monger in Delhi. He had come for a ear in his inwardness that would let him go without quietus and food for thought for hebdomad at a meter and the hag had looked him in the eye and offered him something ... better. She had described it to him like a artist talking about her most prised work. She had even offered to pander a ... a ritual killing. Harry had waited until her back was turned, bludgeoned her over the head with a statue and left her in a sack on the doorstep of the Indian auror headquarters. He had n't even bothered to look into whether she was still breathing. He had n't wanted to be glad if she wasn't.

Hmm ... ejaculate to think of it clubs do sometimes influence on dark wizards.

"I 'm surprised you made so many."Harry flicked his eyes up too meet the dark Jehovah 's."Horcruxes are n't fry 's toys."

Sasori shifted.

"I do not fear them."Voldemort did n't seem to give birth noticed."I am the maestro of my own existence now. And soon a superior of all life."

"Oh really ? How 's that ?"

"All it takes to be a superior of life,"Voldemort spread his hands."Is to be a professional of death."

"beingness able to end aliveness does n't make you the master of it."Harry 's eye flicked nervously to the veil in the street corner of the room. Beside it there was a unsmooth painting. In the painting a sky good of unfamiliar stars stretched out over a vast desert of gray sand, stretching away to distant mountains. Hundreds of sets of footmark headed out and away towards the horizon. None came back. This was very, very unnerving."I assume this is the component part where you secernate me your evil design ?"

"No Mr Potter."Voldemort chuckled."This is the point where you, and each of your fiddling friends make a choice."

"I 'll have the fish."

"You can choose,"Voldemort continued."To die at the teeth of Nagini,"The snake hissed and arched."Or go through the big businessman of dying first hand."Voldemort waved his bridge player towards the flutter velum."Choose."

"What 's beyond the veil ?"Harry asked to play for time.

"That is percentage of what I am trying to chance out Potter."Voldemort shrugged."The first step to ascertain is knowledge."

"We 've both been dead Tom."Harry clicked his neck. He had a feeling he would make to run soon."We know what it 's like."

"Paddling in the shoal tells you petty about the ocean."

"Poetic."A distraction .... please ...

"Thank you. make you made a choice ?"

"I think-"

"SASHISA !"The inhuman cry sounded from behind Harry. Morfin 's eyes had flickered open, and he was scrabbling like a mad thing against his alliance."ZASHIKA cocksucker SAHI !"

"Morfin ..."Harry muttered but it fell on deaf ears.

"SACISCA !"Morfin gaiter towards Nagini. The serpent raised itself up and hissed back.

"Shsassi !"Voldemort barked a command.

"It 's not squeamish to talk in a language not everyone can understand-"

"SISSIA !"

"Cazis."

Nagini shook like a rattlesnake.

"-or even hear."

"SACISCA !"

"It pains me that you are of my blood."Voldemort spat.

"SACISCA ZER !"Morfin was straining against his bonds so hard his veins were same hosepipes. Harry tried to edge towards the lab mesa. Sasori had n't moved.

"SACISCA !"

Harry edged. Nagini showed her fangs.

"SACISCA BITCH-SNAKE SACISCA !"

"Harry ..."Dragon was just coming awake, his vocalization full of confusion.

"Pathetic."Voldemort raised his wand.

"SACISCA !"

"You can die like the wretch you are."Voldemort hissed."Avada-"

"You know why the Lie Gou are helping you !"Harry yelled desperately, flinging his first thought into the air."They do n't accept imposter gold but they do cheat on their clients ! They want the gem for themselves !"

Voldemort 's eyes widened.

"NOW !"Sasori moved like a cat, his wand appearing in his hand and flashing to the night lord. A blinding ark of light flashed into the dark God Almighty 's hastily raised shield, catapulting him back into the wall.

"What do you fuck ?"Harry thought as he threw himself at the lab table."I was right."He rolled, his fingers touching the knife and he dropped down the early side like a stone.

Nagini turned and lunged at Harry but Morfin leapt on top of her. The giant serpent spun and bit down hard. parentage fountained like a geyser.

Harry worked the tongue against his bonds. It was working ! Faster !

The Lie Gou at the room access drew their scepter but the dead men were all around them. Harry saw the stiff of Greyback grab an arm and charge it from it 's socket.

Faster ! One of the ropes was loose.

Morfin toppled to the floor but even as he did a whiff of iniquity flew from his arm and struck Nagini in the eye. Smokey ! Biting again and again like a Walter Piston into the enceinte snake. Nagini tried to twist to bring her teeth to bear but the little snake was too quick, biting again and again !

One of the ropes was cut through ! One Sir Thomas More ! Harry could see Draco grabbing a tongue from a fallen Lie Gou.

"double-dealer !"Voldemort rose in a flicker glory of flaming and rage. Flickering phantasma of darkness filled the way and the head covering blew like it was caught in a gale."I will destroy all of you !"

Sasori did n't answer, merely threw a beast lightning dash that drove Voldemort back. The shadow lord hissed and flung a hand forward. The disastrous bod in the air flew together around Sasori, swallowing him up in darkness for a moment before an explosion of flame. Harry was thrown to the floor in the mass of burning mana, his weakened bail bond snapping under the strain. Harry tried to stagger to his feet but dropped a minute later as a flash of green snapshot over his headway. With a screeching yell the door was thrust candid. Bellatrix staggered back into the room, ten more than Lie Gou following her. The screaching witch turned and her eyes widened as she saw Harry free.

"You ! You li-"

She got no further as Harry flashed his hand forward. The dark scalpel spun from his hand and stabbed through the bitch 's eye.

Harry ducked behind the lab desk again. He could n't see Draco anymore, Harry hoped to god he was hiding somewhere too. He needed his bloody eye ! Harry crawled forwards, ducking as a whirling pinwheel of flame came flashing operating cost. A body came flying afterwards. Harry darted over and grabbed the man 's wand.

"Accio eye !"Harry held out his manus and felt his intimate orb fly into it. He shoved it eagerly back into his socket and saw the world total back."Oh my god !"The dark shapes in the air were everywhere, streaming through the paries !

Harry had to dodge desperately as a ball of darkness shattered the rampart behind him. The air screamed with some sort of banshee howl. The embryonic membrane was streaming like a sword lily in a hurricane. Harry 's eye whirled. genus Draco ! He was ... smart. Lying down beside a plenty of soundbox with a cloak over him. Lying low.

Voldemort was being driven back, there were too many Lie Gou for him. Sasori was out in straw man, still silent. The screaming in the air got louder, the gloomy shapes filling the air were screaming. All of them had vacuous eyes. Harry screamed as one passed through his chest. If felt like ice.

"You 've lost Tom Riddle !"Sasori broke his silence."You 're outnumbered !"

Voldemort threw a killing expletive at the bravo, who dodge effortlessly. The nighttime Divine held out a paw and Harry saw a shining speck of gold fly from one of the tabular array. His eye picked it out, a gold medallion carved with a grinning dickens. Voldemort flicked it around his neck and turned, leaping backwards. He threw a paries of darkness behind him and, without falter, darted directly through the veil.

There was a moment of quiet, the spirits on the air went still. Harry did n't move, the Lie Gou would kill him as quick as Voldemort would.

"well ..."Sasori lowered his baton."That went well-"

The humeral veil exploded outwards like a disconsolate wall of hell. The flatus screamed so heavy Harry had to clamp his mitt over his ears. The shadower swallowed one of the Lie Gou, stripping him down to bones in moments.

Harry scrambled under the tabular array and dashed across the floor. A shrieking shape slashed at his face, tearing off bank line in parentage. Harry slashed out with his wand, summoning fire to shell the thing away. It barely phased it.

"DRACO !"Harry stumbled to the floor, grabbing Morfin 's leg. Draco leapt up from his station on the floor, and skidded towards him. The saturnine form surrounded him as soon as he moved.

"Eiectio !"Harry yelled desperately and the wraiths were thrown away. Draco fell forward and Harry grabbed his outstretched hand. Harry squeezed his eyes shut and yelled,"thread maker end !"

His eye whirled in it 's socket and Harry felt a jerk at his navel point. The dark riot cut out as the power of the portkey whirled them away from the earthly face of hell. Harry felt the ground hit him like a paries and lay there for a minute, catching his breath.

"Your eye ..."Draco was gasping on the ground."Your eye was a portkey."

"Snape did it."Harry shuddered, his muscles shaking."emergency backup."

"You had that all along ?"

"Yep."Harry looked around weakly. Morfin ... Harry staggered over to the limp conformation on the basis. He knew it was no effective to try to find oneself a beat. His eye told him everything he needed to know.

"Is he dead ?"Draco asked. Harry did n't reply, it was n't necessary.

A faint hissing sounded from the physical structure and Harry saw Smokey rise slowly from the consistency of his master, his footling head darting this way and that. Harry met the fiddling snake 's eyes and pushed just a little. The animal psyche was surprisingly cogent. It knew what had happened, it knew why it had happened. It was n't raging, it was just ... sad.

Harry held out his hand gingerly. The snake hesitated. Harry pushed into it 's optic again and it slithered slowly onto his paw and up his sleeve. Harry tried not to make a face as it curled around his arm near the elbow.

"Where are we ?"Dragon was standing, looking around nervously.

"landing field northward of Hogwarts."Harry waved his scepter over Morfin 's body, cleaning the blood. Another wave and the air around the body coalesced, freezing into a casket.

"What are you doing ?"Draco stepped over, limping a small."Should n't we just take him back to Hogwarts ?"

"We 're not going back to Hogwarts. Snape 's on a missionary work somewhere and we do n't let time to get hold him. Got to fall back into the old use for a while."Harry took the marauder 's badge out of his pocket and quickly sent a substance before jabbing his wand forward. God he hoped this worked ..."Expecto Patronum."

whiteness mist flashed to solid form and whispered away on long thin wings. It spun in the air and floated off towards Hogwarts.

"That 'll line up McGonagall. Tell her to find this Slughorn and spirit after him."Harry turned back towards the grave and stopped for a moment.

"Harry tell me what the hell is going on."Draco growled.

"I 'll enjoin you when we meet the others."Harry reached out and grabbed Draco 's arm."We 've got to go."

"No."Dragon knocked the arm away angrily."Where do you want to go ?"

"Erg ! Look ...."Harry held his foreland in his hands."Did n't you hear what I said ? Voldemort has Hocruxes ! Do you know what they are ?"

"No, I don't."

"They ... I do n't have clip to excuse it !"Harry yelled."They 're VERY BAD things. That he has ! And there is at to the lowest degree one more that we have n't burnt yet. There may be others, do n't know where they are, but I know where one of them is. That 's the undecomposed bit. Bad bit is that Voldemort knows too. And I 'm not letting that snake faced bastard get there first ! I know he 's on his way there now. I just ... I just know."

"The burial vault ..."Draco whispered."You want to break into Gringots. You want to let out into Gringots now."

"I want to collapse into Gringots now."
*


Shirley Temple robed figures spilled out of Knockturn Alley. The brightness flashed off the skull masque as the shriek began. The figures made straight for the door of the bank. goblin slammed the door shut with a crack. Every window filled with gringos goblin, each one holding something sharp and crackling with electricity. One of them fired down at the robed figures, a lightning bolt of shining silver luminousness. A headlong cuticle reflected it into the sky.

More thunderbolt rained down, coming thick and fasting. The goblins had prepared, they were n't going to be caught out again.

Shields flashed and the death feeder were driven back. One or two of them tried to respond but the piece went wide as the goblin blitzkrieg intensified. Then, suddenly, the death eaters broke, spun, and ran away in disarray. The goblin sending jeers to follow them.

They dashed back into the alley and crashed into a shop. Pushing the stunned shopkeeper out of the way they threw themselves into the fluke one after another.
*


After the last figure had emerged from the lamp chimney Ginny pulled her hood back and took off her mask.

"That went well."Split said dryly as he too pulled off his disguise.

"I wonder if Harry and the others got in ?"Neville was biting his lip.

"We did our office right."Ginny nodded."So they should own too."
*


Harry, Draco, Padma and the Weasley twin had already been in the stripe when the 'Attack'started. Harry had picked a Gringots goblin running for safety and surreptitiously aimed his wand ...

"Imperio."The hob slowed to a Australian crawl, it 's expression going glassy. Harry turned back to the other marauders."It worked, come on."

The hypnotized goblin walked down a incline corridor, followed by the unseeable marauders. Harry flicked his wand and mentally ordered the goblin to take them to the Lestrange hurdle. After a second where it 's super C features twisted like it was resisting it turned and got into one of the waiting mine pushcart. Harry and the others followed.

Harry shuddered as the mine handcart started off. He did n't care doing this. The hobgoblin were n't evil, they just had a dissimilar definition of good to humanity 's. But Harry had n't been capable to think up of anything approaching another plan. Well there was nothing to be done now ...

"Is this going to ferment Harry ?"Draco asked quietly.

"We 'll get to the vault."Harry shrugged."Getting back will be more slick. Which is why we have mask ... and hook ... and I have grenades."

"And do you think they 'll believe we 're end feeder ? Despite the fact there are only supposed to be two left."

"expression genus Draco I had exactly twelve seconds to suppose up this programme. Did n't see you coming up with anything better."

"You 're the program person."Fred chimed in.

Why am I the freeking plan person. Harry thought, but with the faint knowledge that this would not be the most calming thing to say he replaced it with,"Shut up and watch the hypno-goblin."

Harry watched the bulwark fly past for a few more proceedings. By now the onrush on the skittle alley would be breaking up. The goblin sentry go would be going back to their posts. The handcart rumbled loudly along the tracks. Harry hoped to hell they did n't track the handcart somehow.

"Do you recall he knew ?"Draco muttered quietly.

"Who ?"Even Harry 's twisty brain could n't figure out that one out.

"Morfin."

"Knew what ?"Harry hesitated, genus Draco was speaking so the other 's would n't be capable to hear.

"The ophidian. He was pulling the snake towards him."genus Draco was staring out into the iniquity."Do you think he knew what he was doing ... drawing it away from us or was he just being ... crazy."

"Why are you asking me this ?"Harry shrugged.

"I want to have it away ..."Draco closed his eyes."Just require to know."

"You just want to sleep together ?"Harry sighed, he had no thought why he was being asked this question. Which made choosing the lie unmanageable."Then yes. I think he knew what he was doing."

"You do ? Why ?"

"Because that 's what people like him do."

"What do you signify people like him ?"

"Heroes."Harry shrugged.

"You think he was a Italian sandwich ? He was insane. And a vigilante."

"Well you know me ..."Harry chuckled."I prefer flawed heroes."

"Hm ..."Draco fell silent for a moment. Then he laughed flatly."Are we flawed Cuban sandwich ?"

"Do n't know."Harry glanced towards the goblin sitting blankly in the front line of the go-cart."We 're certainly flawed."

They fell back into secretiveness as the cart trundled on.

"Are we nearly the-"George started before the handcart screeched to a halt.

Harry glanced around. Blank burrow. No doors. Harry was about to spread his oral cavity when a screaming alarm came out of nowhere.

"Masks !"Harry slammed his spine on and jump out of the cart. He cursed, the steering wheel had welded to the runway. He flicked his wand at the goblin.

proceeds US TO THE VAULT

I ca n't. Against the rules ...

return US TO THE LESTRANGE hurdle

The hobgoblin shuddered and trotted off down the corridor.

"Follow him !"Harry yelled over the shrieking dismay. The marauders were already masked, wands out. Harry led them after the distribute goblin. It hesitated in the middle of the tunnel.

return US TO THE bank vault

stupid voice.

Damnit ! Harry spun the goblin around to look him and pushed into his brain. wink of vaults, burrow ...

LET ME IN

A route, a turning, a tartar. A Draco ! ? A door.

HOW DO I OPEN THE doorway

Only a Gringots hobgoblin ...

WHY ? WHAT ARE THE spell ?

Do n't roll in the hay. Only a Gringots goblin.

Damnit. Harry gritted his tooth. That meant they still needed the goblin. Harry pushed into his thinker as hard as he could.

issue US TO THE vault

Wo n't work. Door wo n't open if the goblin is enchanted.

Harry 's optic flashed wide overt. No ...

Suddenly a bolt of electricity crackled through the darkness above Harry 's foreland. His eye gave his maybe a snag seconds warning. His leg buckled without thought and he rolled, stabbing his wand out and firing at the dim embodiment in the distance. Another thunderbolt flew from behind and Harry leapt to the paries. The air sparkled with dash as the marauders ducked for natural covering. The goblin stood there stupidly.

skin !

The goblin fell forward with a smile on his face. Harry aimed his verge at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe ahead and fritter away a ravisher. Behind him he could get wind the marauders fighting on the other position. Harry felt the careen explode over his head and leapt out of the way of the cave-in.

God this was mussy. Harry was the only one who could see anything with the darkness and the flashes and the hob in amongst the human and the falling rock music. Harry screamed as a bolt cut into his leg. It had n't even been aimed at him.

"Incendio !"Harry stabbed his wand at the minecart, which exploded with flame. Harry spun and slammed his fist into the goblin behind him. The freaking matter were everywhere ! digit closed around Harry 's neck and he was jerked backwards. He tried to arouse over his shoulder but his wand was jerked out of his manus. There were two of them ! digit gripped round and slammed into his eyesocket. If it had been the real one it would consume been squashed like a grape. Harry forced himself to his feet and slammed backwards into the wall. The hands loosened for a bit but then came on harder. His eye swivelled in it 's socket and he could see the screeching goblins clawing at his neck. He slammed back again but this time it did n't even phase them.

Ca n't breath.

Of course you ca n't breath !

Harry dropped to his knees, desperately trying to pull the hands off his cervix. He could n't even get them to agitate. Black dots floated in front man of his eye. He was fading ...

"Selective Service !"

Smokey leapt out of Harry 's sleeve and the fingers disappeared like mist. Harry spun and punched the dire goblin behind him. His fingers darted to the floor and grabbed the hob 's shock-stick, with a pic he shot the thing at the other hob bureau. The grey creature was thrown back against the wall and fell, stunned.

Harry 's eye found Smokey on the trading floor, rising to prick. Harry grabbed him by the capitulum. If the small Snake bit a goblin that hob would be very dead. Harry met the snake 's eyes but saw only passion and animate being hatred. Harry quietly stunned him and dropped him in his pocket.

He turned and saw the other vulture picking themselves up out of the rubble.

"Everyone alive ?"Harry coughed roughly.

"We 're aright."Fred was pulling his brother up off the flooring."George I got hit but I think he 's aright."

"How about the hobgoblin ?"

"We used stunners."genus Draco said as Harry scooped his verge back up."They-"Draco paused."Do you try that ?"

"Hear what ?"Harry 's eye spun it 's socket."No."

"Rushing sound."Dragon cocked his forefront like a dog.

"Not all of us have wolf senses."Harry growled."Where is it coming from ?"

"hind end us.."

Harry focussed his eye, cutting through stone ....

"RUN !"Harry spun, grabbed their goblin guide and belted down the corridor."RUN !"

"What is it ! ?"

"Tidal wave !"

"What do you mean 'Tidal moving ridge'” Padma yelled.

"plosive speech sound asking motion and RUN !"

Harry reached a branch and chose based of faint newsflash from the goblins computer memory. He risked a glance behind him and saw water bearing down.

"We 're not going to make it ! Hit the storey !"Harry threw himself to the ground and shielded the hobgoblin underneath him. The flourishing water caught up with him and Harry felt it collapse over them like a wall.

WHAT IS THIS ?

thief 's downfall. washing away enchantments.

Harry gripped his wand but the water was gone almost as soon as it had come. The hobgoblin under him began to squirm and Harry realized that the imperio must deliver been whipped clean.

"Imperio !"That had sounded wrong ! The go fizzled and the goblin 's middle narrowed. Harry was pushed off and the grey fauna dissipated into the darkness. Harry staggered to his feet and tried to yell.

PAIN.

Harry put a helping hand to his pharynx. It did n't finger right at all. Somewhere in his leg something snapped and Harry howled in pain. He stumbled forward but one of his legs seemed longer than the early. With another stab of botheration the former leg slammed down and Harry was thrown to the ground. Everywhere on his tegument was crawling like louse. Harry shuddered and tried to cringe forward.

What the netherworld was happening.

Harry crawled towards one of the puddles, left over by the pee and stared down into it. He pulled his mask off and a face that was n't his own looked back. His manipulate eye was the Saami but the other had changed from emerald putting green to pale hazel tree. His fuzz had faded from black to embrown and was hanging in lank curls, soaked like a drained rat. With a nauseating cinch his face changed too, getting encompassing and flatter. Harry 's shaking fingerbreadth came up, exploring the new features ... what the hell ...

Then suddenly he realized what had happened.

The thief 's downfall washed away trance. All enchantment, even Dumbledore 's. The trance that had been on Harry for almost his entire life were being stripped away. It was n't that he was looking at a nerve that was n't his. It was that he was finally was.

He finally looked like himself.

"Drop the wand."Harry felt the point of a wand pushed against the dorsum of his cervix. His eye swivelled and he saw Draco standing over him with murder in his eyes."Drop the sceptre you bastard. And severalize me what the hell you 've done with Harry !"





If you do n't survey then your firmly drive will turn into cheese. To be exact, edam. It will be tasty, but it will no longer part as a hard drive.


I do not own Harry Potter. I do however take him as a dependent on disbursement. This is fully within the rules and I do not believe I have done anything wrong however I can see that the British public do not agree. As such have resigned from storage locker and will pay the money back. I regret the trouble I have caused to our useless prime minister.



I just can not get a freaking break.

"genus Draco ..."

"drop curtain the wand !"

"Ok ... Ok ..."Harry carefully placed his baton on the footing next to him."But I am Harry. I ca n't explain, not right now but ... I am."

"Do you retrieve we 're idiots ?"Draco flicked the wand off the ground. The other marauders were crowded around him, their wands out as well. Harry slowly turned around, keeping his hands up.

"It 's ... It 's complicated."Harry was breathing hard."I know it 's hard to ... but I am the same somebody I always was."

"You do n't even vocalise the same."Padma pointed out.

"I just ... Please for the dearest of god you just have to consider me !"Harry glanced into the iniquity."The goblins are n't done you know, they 'll be coming back ! You think you can go in, get the cup and get out, with a captive ?"

"I was n't intending to take up a prisoner."Draco growled.

"Really ? Do you sleep with where the vault is ?"Harry 's eyes narrowed."I do. Do n't believe me. mulct. But you need me ! Believe me if you want even the slightest probability of getting the bloody Horcrux you need me. I will explicate everything. Believe me. But we need to go. Now."

Draco hesitated ...

"Please Draco ..."Harry pleaded."For the erotic love of god please ..."

"Fine."Draco stepped back."First take off your coat. And your bag. All your weapons."

"Got a few 60 minutes ?"

"Now !"

"Fine."Harry shucked his coat off and threw it to his friends then stood."Can we go now ?"

Harry turned and walked off down the corridor. No one tried to stop him. No one tried to follow him either.

"looking at at it this way."Harry turned."Is turning into someone else half way through the heist really the strangest thing I 've ever done ?"

The marauders began to hesitantly move.

"Thank you."Harry threw his bridge player up and hurried off down the corridor.

"Hey !"A stunner exploded over his head. Harry turned to see Dragon pointing his wand at him."Do n't try to get away."

"Yes, I 'm trying to get off down a tunnel underground."Harry growled back at the marauder."Where the hell would I go ?"

"Just stay where I can see you."Dragon 's baton had n't dipped an inch.

Harry glared flatly at him before starting back down the damn cave. They kept going in silence, Harry choosing turning based on shadowy shot and photoflash of memory.

"How far is it ?"Padma asked suddenly.

"Two more turning ... I think."

"You think ?"Draco asked sharply.

"Yeah, I think."Harry ignored the wand at his back ( moments from blasting him to oblivion ) and carried on. As they got closer Harry 's eye began to evidence him a cavern stretching out before them, far larger than the caves. And in the centre."Damnit, I thought that was what the goblin said ..."

"What ?"

"Dragon."Harry turned the terminal corner and crouched down behind a bolder."Look for yourselves."The marauders peeked out to see the vast wyrm, chained in nominal head of the massive threshold. It 's centre were milky and White River, it 's skin too.

"It does n't await too healthy."Padma said thoughtfully."And there are five of us."

"Four."genus Draco broke in. Harry rolled his eyes but Padma nodded.

"4 of us. If we all stun it at the same time it might go down. That 's what they did in the triwizard tournament."

"What about the door ?"Fred scratched his promontory."I do n't thing we 'll be able to break the locking spells."

"We do n't need to."Draco moved to stand."We just need to find oneself another goblin."

"That wo n't work."Harry hissed."The other goblin told me before we were attacked. The door can tell if the goblins are moving of their own free will."

"And you only mention this now ?"Draco narrowed his eyes.

"Well between the fight and the last threat I did n't really get a chance."Harry paused, that time even he heard the change in his voice. He had an Irish accent. Dumbledore had even changed that !. He glanced back at the burial vault."I think I see a way to get through ..."

"Tell me the spell then."Draco said sharply.

"It 's not so much a while, and I do n't think you 'd be capable to do it anyway."

"Do n't even think you 're getting your wand back."Dragon laughed bitterly.

"You know I 'm getting substantial tired of this-"

"Then say me who you are !"

"I do n't have time and you wo n't believe me."

"Then how can I believe anything you say ?"

"You- ... Fine."Harry stood, registering the shock in his friend 's centre."I do n't necessitate a wand."With that he vaulted over the rock and began walking down the slope towards the dragon.

"HEY !"The dandy beast raised it 's principal."Over here !"

Harry had to dodge a gout of flaming. The lizard was old but it was fast. Dashed to the left wing and the creature lumbered to follow him. He crossed in strawman of it, rolling out of the way of a fireball, and kept moving.

The chain around it 's arms twisted into one another, kinking.

Harry ran back the other way. The fauna spring forward, raking it 's claws through the air. Harry 's bridge player twitched to a verge that was no longer there and ducked at the last minute. He threw himself forward, leaping under the out-flung arm. His flush bit stone and he leapt over the whipping buns that threatened to cut his legs out from under him and dashed back out of the dragon 's range.

The chain twisted around a stalactite.

Harry ran for the entryway to the bank vault, rolling under an orb of flame that left a singe scratch on the wall and made the undermine shake. He skidded to a catch before the iron room access and the wyrm turned to present him. It tried to step forward but it 's misrepresented chain would n't let it touch the any to a greater extent. Instead it breathed deep and belched out a fireball. Harry twisted to the incline and felt his eyebrow burn off as the dragon-flame passed right in front of him. The bolide exploded against the vault door, turning it cherry red.

"Yeah ! More !"Harry yelled at the dragon."come on !"A lance like a flamethrower forced him to the story and made him cry out in pain as it struck his shoulder a glancing reversal. His shirt was on blast. So was his skin. Harry rolled to put out the flames and tore off the sunbaked framework. Another fireball pin-wheeled over his head and struck the flexible joint of the door. Parts of it were almost incandescent white.

Harry dashed the way he 'd derive, waiting for the dragon to turn and follow. The chain clicked off the stalactite, springing like a fishing line. Harry reversed focusing and ran back in nominal head of the door.

"Over here !"Harry yelled at the no-longer-constrained dragon."Come and get me !"

The tartar roared and lunged, shoving one car-sized claw at the boy. He leapt to the side of meat as the hook crashed through the weakened metal with a horrific screech. The dragon reared up on it 's hind legs, it 's claw a red mess of molten metal and lineage. Suddenly four lulu slammed into it 's unprotected underside. The great beast teetered for a here and now, then another four struck it in the head and it fell like a tree. Crashing down onto the rock.

Harry turned to see the marauder rushing to get together him.

"He must be Harry."Fred was smiling broadly."No one but Harry could have pulled that off."

"He 's proved he 's crazy he has n't proved he 's Harry."Draco brushed past Harry and continued towards the vault.

"You 're welcome !"Harry called after him before following him into the vault. The predator stopped as they moved into the middle of the elbow room. halcyon things glittered from every direction.

"Wow ..."George IV 's centre glittered.

"Touch nothing."Harry 's eye spun in his socket."It was supposed to be a cup ... there !"Harry stepped forward and felt his feet weld to the floor.

"Where ?"Dragon moved into view.

"Did you do this to my fundament ?"

"Where ?"

"Cos if you did do this to my feet I will break off your neck. Do n't intend that verge will cease me !"

Draco raised one eyebrow slowly then punched Harry in the face. Harry tried to stay vertical but his feet would n't move and he fell backwards, landing on his elbow joint and slamming onto the base. Draco 's face came into persuasion above him.

"Where ?"

"Over by the corner."Harry pointed. Dragon 's looked over. Harry resisted the impulse to grab his legs, hitch them out from under the blond son of a bitch, throw him to the floor then punch him in the stomach and violate his arm before taking back his wand and breaking his cervix. Resisted. Barely."By the vases."

Draco moved off as Harry levered himself to his feet.

"Thanks for helping."Harry glared at the rest period of the marauders.

"Are you really Harry ?"Padma narrowed her eyes.

"I 'm who I always was."Harry shrugged.

"That was evasive."

"Do n't ingest metre to explain."Harry looked over at where genus Draco was reaching for the cup. He momentarily considered not telling him about the swearing on the cup. Momentarily considered it, and decided it was a corking idea.

"OW !"

"Look out for the flagrante oath !"Harry called out cheerfully.

"DAMNIT !"

"And the gemino !"Harry laughed as he saw genus Draco drop the cup on the flooring, scores of other cup appearing out of the air.

"The riposte for the gemino is unicus unicus unicus ?"Harry called out again."I 'll narrate you the flagrante counter if you give me back my damn scepter !"

Dragon came back into perspective without looking at Harry, stalking past him and out of the vault.

"Hey ! Are you gon na just depart me here ?"Harry tried to move his feet."semen on !"

Padma stepped hesitantly up to him and aimed her scepter at his feet.

"There had better be a explanation for all of this."She said, before murmuring the finite.

Harry felt his metrical foot come free and hurriedly dashed out of the vault after Draco. The slytherin was almost to the flying lizard when Harry 's eye caught a New York minute from a English tunnel.

"Back in the vault !"Harry yelled. But he was n't spry enough. Before Dragon had time to even turn a deadbolt hit him full in the chest, throwing him to the floor. The cup clattered out of his custody. hobgoblin funnelled out of burrow and Harry was forced back into the vault."Summon genus Draco !"Harry yelled to the other marauder as he dived through the ruined hurdle door. A moment later the cup and it 's stunned immune carrier flew after him.

Bolts flew through the give door like horizontal rainwater. Harry dashed towards a uncanny gold chair and kicked it in front of the door, he ducked behind it and grabbed the arm, ignoring the burning botheration in his own. Copies of the death chair fell out of nowhere, piling on top of one another in movement of the door.

Harry dashed back and grabbed his wand off Draco 's prone body. He spun around to see three wands pointing straight at him.

"Oh COME ON !"Harry yelled."Either shoot me or exclude up !"Harry pushed past them and aimed his wand over his barricade."Rennervate !"

There was a roar as the dragon was rudely awakened. The bolts stopped for a moment as the goblins decided they had bigger things to care about.

"Do you think we can burst past them ?"Fred was gripping his wand fiercely.

"I doubt it."Harry stepped backwards. It was beginning to look like he had regained his dependable face only to die in it. He had n't planned this sufficiency. Had n't had a program, but what else could he have done ?

"Harry ..."

"I do n't know."Harry glanced back at the barricade. The roars had stopped. The bolts had begun again."I do n't know."Harry held his sceptre grimly. Really should have planned this better ... And there was no service ...

A flare of flaming burst from behind the marauders. Harry spun with his wand out but it dipped a bit afterwards. Harry 's back talk fell open in shock.

"That 's ..."Padma pointed."That 's a ..."

"Phoenix."Harry stepped forward. The bird looked at him, apparently un-phased by the dash hitting the ceiling. Harry had no idea why it was there, but he was n't about to plain a natural endowment horse cavalry in the mouth."Grab a feather !"Harry ordered the other marauders, grabbing Draco and pulling him towards the fowl. It hopped forward and onto his outstretched arm. The phoenix 's beady eye 's met Harry 's. Flames curled around them just as the barricade broke down.
*


Harry fell onto supergrass and felt pincer leave his arm. He opened his heart and saw the genus Phoenix flapping away calmly, giving no mark of why it had come.

"Where are we ?"Harry glanced around and saw more piranha than he was expecting. Ginny and the others were staring at him in blow. The phoenix had brought them to the rendezvous head. Harry stood and dusted himself off."Well that went well."Harry smiled."Someone want to wake Draco ?"

"Who the perdition are you ?"Ginny 's hired man was hovering near her wand.

"Oh yeah ..."Harry remembered that he looked or sounded nothing like they remembered."I guess this is kind of confusing ..."

"Yes Harry."Padma said to general seismic disturbance."I believe you have an account to give."

"Oh yeah. I guess I have."Harry took a cryptical breath."We should go back to Hogwarts though, they 'll be worried and this 'll contain awhile."

"No."Padma crossed her implements of war."correctly now."

"Ah ... ok."Harry reached into his bag and pulled his tent out, tapping it once to elaborate it to full moon sizing."You 'd better go inside, this is going to be a long story ..."

In the end he told them the same way Dumbledore had told him. Flatly, with no impact. It was really the only way, the merely way to recite someone that the entire mankind was different to the way they thought it was. Like telling someone that, wayward to everything they knew, the sky was really orange tree. He tried not to look at their faces as he spoke. It was like he was stripping naked, bearing everything to them. All the marauders were there, and in a way that was worse. The original marauder, the core, he knew like family. But the others, the ace that had joined when he was away endure yr, not so much. Some of them had probably joined because he was Harry ceramist. Because they trusted the prophecy, because they trusted that he could destroy Voldemort. And now ... he was just some guy. Just some kid who had been pushed in over his head and forced to survive. Constantly on the edge of drowning and having to claw for every drop-off of air. Getting his real number face back should own made him feel happy. Telling his friends should sustain made him feel happy. Instead he felt ... tired.

"... And in the end I decided to continue being Harry Potter."Harry fished lamely."Because, much as I hate what Dumbledore did, he was right. People need to see the chosen one out there fighting. It does n't count what I want."

There was a long, drear silence. Harry could see shock and horror painted on every face.

"It ... it makes sense."Hermione was the foremost to talk."It 's atrocious but ... it makes sense. Even the bit about you not having a name. That would excuse why you, the real you, never received a Hogwarts invite, why your name was never written in the Hogwarts books. That was probably part of the reason Dumbledore chose you. There would be no book for anyone to find."

"I do n't make out. Possibly."Harry shrugged."He did n't tell me why he chose me. There ca n't have been that many orphaned wizardly minor of the right age to take from. I always thought I just got the short straw."

"So you do n't even take in a real gens ?"Neville asked quietly.

"The orphanage called me Jack."It hurt to say that gens. to a greater extent and More Harry idea of Jack as what he would get when all this was finally over. When the world did n't need Harry Potter anymore. When he could finally stay. He did n't secern them that though,"But I 'm not comfortable with that name yet. If you could just keep calling me Harry that would be good."

"smell at me."Draco said suddenly, still sounding angry."smell into my eyes."

"You do n't believe me ?"Harry complied, meeting genus Draco 's gaze."It 's would be sort of an elaborate lie to think up."

"Shut up."Dragon commanded and Harry felt a stabbing pain behind his eyes. Draco was n't bothering to be blue with his probing. Harry supposed he could n't blame him. Harry saw himself in the hospital room for a moment, Dumbledore standing at the end of the bed. Harry turned his genial gaze away, letting Dragon view the trope alone. Harry had no need to relive that day. Eventually the genial probe subsided and Draco leant back, his face dropping from anger to scandalise."It 's truthful. It 's all true ..."

"You did n't require to believe it."Harry nodded."Neither did I."

"So postponement, I 'm confused."Ron scratched his read/write head."What does this mean for the prophecy ? I thought Harry ceramist, um ... the other Harry ceramicist, was the merely one who could kill you-know-who. So if he 's dead does that mean that ..."

"It means nothing."Harry cut in. He had to head off this agate line of conversation quickly."It 's bruiser. You trying to tell me that if mortal walked up to Voldemort and chopped his head off with a machete that somehow he would n't die."

"Well no, he wouldn't."Padma pointed out."Because of the Hocruxs."

"Which we can destroy."Harry said quickly."Which anyone can demolish. Anyone with allow tools. Do n't need cannon Harry for that. And besides ; Pythea thinks I can defeat Voldemort and no-one knows more about prognostication deeds than her."

There was a murmuring of accent mark from around the tent. Harry breathed an internal sigh of relief, at least he had headed off that disaster.

"So what do we do now ?"rip raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean what do we do now ?"Harry shrugged."We head back to Hogwarts, probably in the morning, it 's too late now. And then we keep assisting the order of magnitude and Snape to take down Voldemort."

"You mean we just act like northing 's changed ?"Hermione asked, aghast.

"cipher has changed."Harry pointed out."I 'm still the same somebody I was yesterday. Voldemort 's still out there. The Lie Gou are still a menace. Nothing 's changed."Nothing ever changes. Except when it gets worse."And when we go back to Hogwart 's I 'll find someone who can put my face back on and no one will know any different."

"And you 're correctly with that ?"

"Yes."No."World needs heroes. Harry Potter is ... like my hugger-mugger identity. Like spiderman."

"Who ?"Ron 's brow furrowed.

"Never mind."Harry hung his head tiredly."We should all probably take a little time to breathe. It 's been a long day."

And when we go back to Hogwarts it all begins again.
*


It was hours later and Harry was sitting outside the collapsible shelter looking up at the wiz when he heard footsteps approaching behind him.

"Harry ? ... Jack ? .... someone ?"

"My name has n't changed."Harry chuckled into the night air."I thought everybody was asleep ?"

"I couldn't."Padma stepped up beside Harry and sat down."It 's just too much to take in at once."

"Imagine how I felt."

"I do n't throw to imagine. I remember."Padma shrugged."You went crazy for a piece, then Pythea made you better."

"Yep."

"She does that a lot does n't she."Padma raised an eyebrow.

"Do you have any particular distributor point ?"Harry rolled his eye.

"I think you know."Padma smiled then looked away as Harry laughed."You even laugh differently. It sounds higher."

"Irisher probably."Harry tried to discover his own voice but it sounded even stranger to him, it was probably some sort of psychosomatic thing."I have n't really got used to it yet."

"What are you going to do when we go back to Hogwarts ? Are you really going to ask someone to put you back the way you were ?"

"I guess I 'll take in to ..."Harry bit his lip. The prospect was surprisingly unpalatable."I do n't know if we 'll be able to get the unanimous bundle back but we should at to the lowest degree be able-bodied to get the face. I can fake the voice if I have to, kick in me a little to a greater extent time ... this better ?"

"Deeper."

"Better ?"

"Say something else."

"You do hump that if someone asks you to say something you instantly draw a blank every Holy Scripture you ever knew ?"

"That 's a little better."Padma nodded."We can work on it. Try to a greater extent emotion."

"Should I be angrier ?"

"More acrid than angry."

"Oh great thanks."

"Perfect."

"Are you being sarcastic ?"

"Partially."

"Should I be more sarcastic ?"

"Definitely."

"Now you 're making fun of me."Harry chuckled."Hm, just proves I 'm back to normal."Harry leant back on the grass."I got my own face, we got out alive, got the cup, amaze up a crew of hobgoblin and I danced with a dragon. I call that a win."

"I wonder how much of that gold got destroyed in the flame ?"

"Depends how a great deal Fred and Saint George stuffed in their pockets."

"They did n't ..."

Harry tapped his eye.

"They did. I 'm not surprised."Padma shook her head, chuckling."Speaking of treasure, have you worked out what you 're going to do with the cup."

"Well ... I have one idea."Harry looked up into the sky."But I do n't experience if it 'll work ..."

"Is it dangerous ?"

"fountainhead, no not particularly."

"So why do n't you try it."

"commodity point."Harry stood up and closed his middle. Help me.

"Harry what are you-"Padma trailed off as a jiffy of fire lit up the night. Harry opened his eyes to see two genus Phoenix looking at him quizzically. Harry stepped fill up to them and placed the cup on the terra firma next to the birds.

"Would you mind flaming this affair for me."The gravid capital of Arizona hopped forward and looked up at Harry. Harry felt a little recollect push towards him, it seemed to be saying ... why."It belonged to Voldemort."Head cocked left."It helped him do back from the dead."Head cocked correctly. Bob. The larger dame hopped next to the cup and spread it 's backstage. Harry shielded his centre as the birds feathers turned to crimson flame.

"You just spent an hour explaining to everyone how you 're not the elect one."Padma said quietly from behind him."So what exactly are you ?"

"I have no idea."Harry admitted, his eye sparkling with reflected fire. After a few second both the flaming subsided and the skirt was gone, flamed away back to where it came from. All that was left of the cup was a pitted scrap of metal.

"Do you remember there are more of them ?"Padma asked as Harry picked it up off the floor.

"More Hocruxes ? No way to tell."Harry stood and looked back towards the tent."Should probably head back to Hogwarts. They 'll be worrying."
*


It was still moody as the marauders alighted on the grass outside the gates of Hogwarts. Harry took out his verge and aimed it at himself.

"Harry what are you doing ?"Draco asked.

"Dissilusioning."Harry said the charm and felt the cold finger's breadth of invisibility enclosing him."No one should see me like this."

"Oh, right."

"We need to get to Snape, he 'll be capable to get me back looking like ... like Harry."Harry felt that strange hesitancy again but squashed it down. It was requirement to stay under the masquerade. It was necessary."You guys nous to the vulgar rooms, you all deserve some right sleep."

Harry walked up to the mute castle and proceeded to the dungeons. Harry stopped outside Snape 's doorway and took a deep breath before knocking.

"semen in."Snape sounded like he was angry.

Harry pushed the door in and stepped into the dark office.

"Mr Potter."Snape had his backbone turned and was slowly measuring out a foul green liquid into a beaker."Have you came to offer an account as to why I have taken Horance Slughorn into protective custody ? Why a short mission that should have taken a abruptly counting of hr at most and only involved you and Mr Malfoy has taken half of Hogwarts and almost twenty four hr ? Would you like to explain why Morfin Gaunt is dead ! Would you like to explicate why death eaters attacked diagon alley ? And do not TRY to act that you were not-"

"Snape turn around."Harry interrupted.

"potter do not try-"Snape 's psyche snapped around. His center widened."You ..."

"Me."Harry shrugged."I 'll explain everything, but I need you to do something about this look. Please."

"So this is what you looked like bef ..."Snape whispered quietly. Then more forcefully."Release your mental blocks."

Harry sighed, but complied. A force pushed it 's way into his mind. flare of the past day flickered past like bits of a preceding life. Harry just relaxed as every contingent was wrung out like dirty wash. Apple Tree ... relax.

The look-alike stopped and Harry opened his eyes. Snape pushed past him roughly.

"Hey ! Where are you going !"

"I know the place you were held, the topographic point where the dark lord 's lab was."Snape pushed the threshold undecided."It is an old wizard domicile in London, the childhood place of Bellatrix. Perhaps there is something still there."

"What about me !"Harry called after the potions master."I ca n't go out your office looking like this !"But Snape was already gone."Wonderful."Harry pushed the threshold shut and collapsed on a chair."wondrous ..."

Harry spent a futile hour trying to sour transfiguration on himself, only succeeding in giving himself acne, when he noticed soul coming up the corridor outside. He froze momentarily before he saw who it was and relaxed.

"Hello Harry."Pythea said without pause as she pushed the door open and turned to him.

"You could at to the lowest degree hazard to be a little surprised."Harry pointed at his face.

"You look the same to me."Pythea closed the door.

"fountainhead at least we match now."Harry smiled out of one brown eye and one green and into one putting surface and one purple."How did you know I was down here anyway ?"

"Snape sent me. He told me to turn over you back your old face."Pythea cocked her head."But I will only do it if you want me to."

"It 's ok."Harry sighed."I know I need to look like Harry again."

"You should n't find forced, this is your choice."

"Would be kind of concentrated to explain."

"Not with the truth."

"Which I already decided I ca n't separate the world."Harry hung his head."Maybe when all this is over. But for now the worldly concern still needs their hero. I need my arcanum identity back."

"You 're sure ?"

"Yes."

Pythea moved closer and sat on the arm of his chair. She raised her paw and lightly touched his impertinence. Harry shivered. Because of the magic. Just because of the magic. Thea leant in closer as her fingers played over his skin. Harry could feel her breath on his neck.

"So ... how um ... How long will this rent ?"Harry said breathlessly ( the magic trick must have been interfering with his lungs ).

"Quite a while. farseeing if you keep talking."Pythea placed her bridge player flat over Harry 's eyes and he felt a faint shifting around his lids. He could smell out the footling seers skin. Ink. She had been writing, probably scrying over more than map for the society. The hand was lifted away and Harry 's font felt oddly warm.

"This really will contain a while."Pythea said suddenly, jarring Harry back to reality."You could try to get some sleep."

"I have a dependable idea."Harry opened his center and fixed them on Thea 's."Gaius emineo"The man swirled around them."There,"Harry leant back against a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree."That 's better."

"How did you ascertain to do this ?"Pythea asked curiously as she looked around at the illusionary orchard.

"I looked it up after you did it to me live on year."Harry shrugged."It 's not that hard if you have the situation you want held in your judgment. And this place is engraved on every cubicle of my brain."Harry crossed his legs on the grass. He knew it was just the leather of the chair. But it felt like grass. Harry sighed contentedly as Pythea went back to work on his characteristic. The wind ruffled his whisker as it slowly darkened again.

Can I ask you about something ? Harry asked wordlessly, not moving his lips. Do you fuck anything about phoenix ?

A slight. Why ?

I do n't jazz, but they seem to have got some eldritch interest in me. One of them came when I called earlier. And before that one saved us in gringots.

A phoenix chose you as it 's partner ? Pythea sounded impressed. That 's a great honour Harry.

That 's not what it is. Harry was about to shake off his head, then stopped. They were different phoenixs, I could tell. And before, when you were honk, the whole phoenix colony was acting weird towards me. Have you heard of anything like that before ?

That is ... very strange.

Thea we 're talking mentally. Harry chided. You ca n't hide things as easily. You 're really shocked by this.

I ... I do n't know Harry. I 'm not used to not knowing. It makes me aflutter, especially where you are concerned.

I do n't think it 's a risk. They saved my lifespan remember.

I know. Thea shifted her fingers down to Harry 's men. He could sense his os reshaping. But it still makes me nervous.

The centaurs want me idle, the Phoenix want me alive. Harry rolled his heart. And that 's not even getting started on the man who want a piece of me. See anything useful in seer-o-vision ?

No Harry. Theia smiled softly.

Harry sighed and closed his centre again. He had imagined the orchard in spring and there were Malus pumila blossoms floating on the air. Pythea lowered her bridge player, the transformation was over. Harry did n't open his eyes, better to prevent the moment or a fiddling longer. Beside him the oracle leant on his shoulder and closed her own eyes.

Harry did n't know how recollective they were sat there but eventually the illusion was shattered by the door slamming open.

"Harry."Snape snapped as soon as he was through the room access, holding it open just long enough for Natalie Zhao to step through before slamming it shut."Harry stand up."

"Stand…right."Harry shifted uncomfortably. He was acutely cognisant of Thea pressing against his side."Um… Must I ? It's just that I'm… tired. Yes, bore. Legs… tired. And arms… superior general musculature…"

"Shut up."Snape knelt down and looked into Harry's eyes. This sentence he didn't have to say it, Harry obediently lowered his defences and felt the familiar pushing of Snape's mind. After a few second Snape leant back.

"That is what I thought I saw. But I had to be sure."

"What did you see."

"The dark lord stepping through the veil."Snape stood back up and stepped over to his desk. He poured a diminished glass of golden liquid and drank it in one gulp.

"So ?"Harry asked."So what does that mean ?"

Snape said nothing, just rubbed his forehead.

"We examined the veil we found at Grimauld station. The house you were held in."Natalie answered."It is functionally monovular to the veil in the department of mysteries."

Pythea stiffened and Harry heard a keen intake of breath.

"What does the veil do ?"Harry asked.

"It is a one way portal to death."Zhao answered simply."The department of mystery was initially created to look into the ‘ three great mysteries ’."

"Time, fortune and death."Pythea said softly, imbuing the Holy Scripture minatory strength.

"Yes that is right."Natalie nodded."Although some people think they are essentially the same thing."

"They are wrong."Theia said leadenly.

"Get on with the explanation."Snape growled from his desk.

"The veil can be used to take a person bodily into the next world."Natalie snapped irritably.

"So it was used to obliterate hoi polloi ?"Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Actually it was originally an purity to go through. ancient wizards would go through late in their living with boxes and go-cart broad of their rich. Like an Pyramids of Egypt, except they were still alert. It has n't been done for 100 though. And you 're right, in medieval times it was used to execute captive. It 's potential, with special equipment, to see through the veil."Natalie shuddered."I 've seen transcription. The captive tried to get back, they tries everything, but in the end they all walked away. Across the desert."

The elbow room went mum. Harry thought back to the painting that had been hanging in Voldemort 's research laboratory. Hundreds of step leading away. None leading back.

"He knows how to see through."Harry thought back."He 's been investigating it. And he grabbed something before he stepped through, a gold talisman ... he must have worked out a way to kick the bucket through it safely and get back."

"That is impossible."Natalie stated flatly."The department has been investigating it for centuries. Maybe he thought he had a way-"

"The shadow Lord is still alive."Snape slammed his chicken feed down on the desk.

"How do you have intercourse that ?"Natalie asked pointedly.

"Because I know him."

"He 's right."Harry shook his head."Old snake face knows more about avoiding death than anyone else. Hey ! You should put-"

"plaza guard duty on the caul in the department of mysteries ?"Snape interrupted him."They are there as we speak. And others watch the caul at Grimauld place. But I doubt he will go to either of those places."

"There are other humeral veil ?"

"Probably, no one knows."Natalie answered."Relics of antediluvian civilizations. He might come out of one of them. If he comes out at all."

Harry could see Snape opening his sassing to rumble a replication so he quickly said,

"speaking of avoiding expiry, did you see in my head-"

"The hocruxes."Snape interrupted him."Yes. In retrospect it was so obvious ..."

"In retrospect it always is."Harry said."At least now we know. Do you think there are others."

"There are two others."Snape said simply. When Harry 's jaw dropped undefended Snape simply said."Mr Slughorn was very garrulous with a some persuasion. He is not, in the end, an evil man. Or even a foolish one. He is simply wedded to him comforts. In any pillow slip he was a teacher here at Hogwarts twelvemonth ago when a boy called Tom enigma was a student here. He once spoke to the young dark overlord about the possibility of a seven character person. Counting the portion that remains in the night God Almighty consistence, the diary, the serpent, the ring and the cup."

"Two left ..."Harry felt apprehensiveness rising in his heart."And Voldemort knows where they are. And we don't."Harry bowed his head, another problem. He was sick of this ... he was tired.

"Voldemort may be injured from his passage through the veil. Injured or otherwise delayed."Snape said thoughtfully."Given what I know of the dark Jehovah perhaps I can find them before he recovers."

"You said'I'not 'We'."Harry raised an brow. A few calendar month ago he would throw been angered by the lack of cellular inclusion. Now he was verging on grateful.

"No."Snape raised a script to silence ill that would not total."I am not sidelineing you Harry. I am better suited to this task. As you are better suited to care with our other problem."

"Other pro ... Sasori."Harry rubbed his os frontale. Little stabs of annoyance were feathering his temples. He wanted desperately to sleep."I 'd draw a blank about him."

"It is worse than you think. He has the philosopher 's stone."

"Voldemort did n't take in in on him when he went through ?"

"No. We found the sealed safe the nighttime lord was keeping the stone in. It had been broken open."Snape shook his nous."We have one dark lord to deal with. I would rather foreclose the rise of another."

"Sasori 's ambitious."Harry nodded."We 've got to take him down before he learns to use the stone."

"My mentation exactly. But he will be well defended, and I can not use any order members, all of them are needed in the lookup for the drear lord."

"So that leaves me."Harry bit his lip to stop a dark sigh. Snape needed him. The human beings needed their freakin Cuban sandwich ..."I 'll get the Stone back."

"Remember what we learnt at their temple."Snape held up a cautionary finger.

"There could be hundreds of them in there."Harry nodded."I 'll do up with something though ... you just worry about Voldemort. I 'll mete out with the Lie Gou."

"Very well."Snape nodded, then seemed to notice the way Harry was sagging into his armchair."I am indisputable you need to rest. I know that I do."

"Goodnight professor."Harry nodded as he and Pythea left the dark business office. After a few meter of silent corridor Pythea asked quietly,

"Do you have a plan ?"

"Not yet. But I 'll intend of a plan."Harry bit his lip. He had to invade a arm building fully of wizard ninjas in a bubble universe and recover a bantam stone. Like looking for a needle in a haystack while evading a rabid wolverine."And it had better be a good one ..."



Hi all. I 've actually finished the writing on Word of God 6, started on book 7. As things stand it looks like record book 7 's going to be shorter than 5 or 6 and I was thinking of posting it as just a few large chapters rather than slew of little I. It gets tiring trying to get a raw pointedness to end a chapter every five-thousand quarrel or so as I have been doing. Massive chapters would let it flow a little better.

Three fifteen-hundred parole chapters would probably do it. sentiment ?

Oh, and if you do n't review the Chupacabra will come and eat all of your goats.


I do n't own Frodo Baggins. Not that he 's in this taradiddle, just thought it was worth mentioning.





Harry stepped out of the flue and turned up his collar against the rain. He was headed for the tarot card, for his back visit in as many day. He had the commencement of a plan to attack Sasori, he just did n't cognize if it was too insane. His plan could get them into the place, it would n't assist them find the stone though ... The rain was driving vertically into Harry as he trudged down the Second Earl Grey street.

Was person following him ?

Harry 's eye rolled back in it 's socket. There was someone on the street behind him, could be a muggle, Harry could n't see well enough with all the distortion the rainfall brought. He changed direction and stepped onto a engaged muggle street, taking him away from the Tarot. The man followed him. Proved goose egg. Harry was very careful not to zip up or slow down. He had a meeting scheduled in the tarot card but he had left himself plenty of time. And the patrons would not thank him for leading someone to their crapulence kettle of fish. tarot card pub had been found before by the aurors of course and subsequently abandoned. The melodic theme continued. Still, they would be ... displeased.

Harry stopped at a crossing suddenly and waited patiently for the lights to change. The man following him slowed to a creeping and stopped at a shop nominal head, pretending the shelter under the awning. The light changed. Harry stepped forwards and the man set off in pursuit.

Bugger.

Now that he was skinny Harry could whizz along in on the man 's nerve. An older man, maybe forty. Black pilus with a slight grey. mustache, clean house shaven otherwise. Wearing Second Earl Grey ditch coat. Under that wearing unremarkable cords and shirt. So far so muggle. Under that the man had musculus. Unusual quantity for a man his age. Harry slowed down a tick more to get a better position. Wand. In his air pocket with his fingerbreadth s wrapped around it.

Damn it. So a good deal for being muggle. Harry could see the man 's heartbeat, a perfectly calm and metric tempo. He was n't stressed whoever he was. From his nerve he was n't one of the Lie Gou either. Although it could be a disguise. Or it could be the other people who wanted him dead.

Harry bit his lip, if he doubled back to the flue he was fairly sure he could get away from this guy. But then he would n't defecate his tryst. He could call championship, the marauder, but they could call for ages. He could try to lose this guy ... that was the impudent thing to do. But then he would n't get any clew why these wierdos were after him. So he could contend ... but not here. A car stroke past tense Harry, throwing up water system out of a puddle. Definitely not here, too many muggles.

Harry turned down an side street between marvelous apartment buildings. His hind end was catching up. He must have realized he had been made. Harry ducked into an back street and ran to the end before sliding into hiding at the edge of a wall and drawing his wand.

The man stepped into the alley. Harry waited as his tracker strode along the dank gutter between the walls. The old man stopped suddenly and drew his wand. What was he doing ? ... The man aimed.

Damnit !

Harry leapt out of the way as the man sent a red deadbolt straight through the brick where Harry had been. Harry came up with his wand out and fired a ravisher. The man shielded without a idea and blasted a another red bolt at Harry, all the while advancing quickly.

Harry flicked his wand, dragging a dumpster into the man 's course and banishing it towards him. It was quickly transfigured into feathering but Harry reversed the piece and the man was broadsided, driving him back. Harry banished again, driving his battering ram of metal and trash into the man again. Suddenly a cutting white flash filled the air and the dumpster was cut in half by a glowing blade.

Harry cursed, to much to hope early people would n't know his tricks.

The man dashed forward, the sword still sparkling in his manus. Harry sent a bare ravisher that forced the man to drop the brand to shield and followed it up ...

"Atrax !"The trash in the alley grew spider legs and threw itself at the old man who raised his hired hand and called up a shockwave that blew the spider to pieces and made the building shake."Tempesto"Harry called confidential information to blow the chicken feed and debris back at his attacker but the man ducked to the wall and jabbed his wishing to the sky.

Harry dodged in time but was still blown to the floor as a lightning thunderbolt shot down from the already bulging sky and blew apart the flagstone under his base. Harry rolled to his substructure as another stabbed down where he had been lying.

Harry dashed towards the man and fired a fireball at his face, following it up with a scald bombardment of whammy and charms. The man had to check his flak to harbour but flicked his other hand into his pocket to eviscerate out lowly capsule.

What the Scheol ?

With a moving picture of his articulatio radiocarpea the man threw the matter at Harry.

"Depulso !"Harry yelled on reflex but it did zip to contain the thing."Geyser"Harry flicked his wand down and a fountain of water supply erupted from the soil sending the picayune matter tumbling into the air.

The man dropped to the floor with his hands over his ears. Harry was about to enkindle a magic spell at him when the little capsule exploded with a thunder-clap and a glary flash lamp of lighting. Brick ships fountained down on Harry as he was thrown backwards. He looked up in horror as the unit side of meat of the building crumbled, bricks rending in Brobdingnagian chap and sheeting falling away.

Child !

Harry 's eye flickered to the boastful gap just in clock time to see a bed fall through the gap and get stuck, dropping it 's screaming indweller from the 5th story. Harry 's had scrabbled for his wand but he was too dazed, too slow. somebody else was faster. The old man darted beneath the falling child and caught him in both coat of arms just as Harry 's fingers closed around his wand and swung around ...

verge pointing ... Man defenceless ... Child screaming in his arms ...

They stayed stuck in that tableau vivant for a retentive pulse. Harry could experience his own breathing. The early man could n't defend himself with his hands wide-cut ... but on the other hand he had a human being buckler. Harry could get wind panic-struck outcry from above. The muggles would be here soon. The other man just stood motionless. And then, to Harry 's amazement, the other man knelt down and laid the tike on the concrete before slowly raising to his feet with his hands held out to either side of meat of him.

He had given up his human shield.

"Who the hell are you ?"Harry yelled through the rain, keeping his scepter trained on the man 's breast."You want to kill me but you do a firefighter save on someone else ? Why the inferno just me ?"

The man was silent.

"You 'll save everyone but me is that it ?"

"I am saving everyone else."The man spoke for the first sentence, his voice low and oddly accented.

"What ?"

"I am saving everyone else."The man repeated."By killing you."

"What ?"

"You must die."The man said flatly."I take no pleasure in it, but if you do not die the consequences will be terrible."

"How the Inferno does that knead ?"Harry yelled angrily."I 'm the bloody chosen one here !"

"No. You are not. You are not the chosen one. This we know. But that is not the point."The man 's voice was hasty. They could both try running infantry approaching. Harry gritted his tooth. He wanted to stun this guy and take in him in ... on the other hand, he had saved a kid. On the other hand ...

The man 's arms came down and the crack of dissapparation filled the alleyway. Harry recovered from his angered jolt just long enough to disillusion himself just before the muggles stampeded into the alley. He hid at the side and squeezed out before dashing away along the street. In the rainfall person would notice him if he stayed in one place too long. Harry ducked into a door and cancelled the spell before sinking to his genu and pushing his top dog back against the wall, heedless of the pelting running down his face.

I have to die ?

Harry knocked his heading against the stone.

I have to die ? Because I 'm an abomination.

That was the intellect these wierdo 's had been after him ? They had n't told him any more than the centaurs and yet ... they knew who he really was. They were n't killing him for being Harry ceramicist. They were trying to down manual laborer Malyn.

Why would anyone want to obliterate an orphan with no retentiveness ?

Harry smacked his promontory against the Edward Durell Stone again. He had given five bloody and afflictive class to protecting masses and fighting shadow, years he did n't have to give. A conflict he had n't had to be a character of. And for what ? For people who save tyke from sure destruction to try to kill him.

Tears might have been flowing from his eyes, he could n't enjoin in the rain.

Harry pulled his knees up to his thorax and wrapped his coat of arms around them. He had sat like this backbone before Hogwarts he could commemorate ... of path about of the clock time he had been smart enough to retrieve somewhere out of the pelting. He could think back that time ... what variety of life sentence did he lead now that he looked back fondly on being a street urchin ? That thought was too bitterly to even cook him laugh.

Harry rolled his eye to look at the watch in his pocket. He still had ten minutes till his scheduled meeting and he was going to spend at least five of them here in the rain, in the gutter, in a doorway with faded stria bill sticker nailed to the hardboard. He did n't give care if it made him late, if this door was all the world was giving him then he would take it. He had to have something.

Harry curled up and knocked his had back into the niche where the rainwater was a trivial less. He closed his center and felt the droplets slapping against his coat. He did n't care.
*


Harry pushed open the door of the tarot, this metre situating itself in a brightly decorated vino bar. He took a still breath.

"Wet out there."Harry threw a drying spell over his apparel and hair and stepped over to the man he had come to come across. Harry bowed respectfully and forced a fake smile onto his face."adept evening. Thank you for hearing what I have to say."

The man on the other incline of the tabular array nodded faintly to the professorship opposite him. Harry sat.

"So ..."Harry took a shoal breath."Shall I tell you about Sasori ?"
*


minute later Harry sat alone in a side cubicle of the tarot. The man he had come to meet was long gone. The meeting had gone well, Harry had said what he needed to say and the man had believed it. He had also given Harry a large bag of amber, but that was n't significant. It had only been important that the man thought Harry wanted money for the data, to hold back the veridical reason and ...

Oh what was the distributor point ?

Harry took a deep drapht of the potable in front of him. It was on a coaster, as were the two empty deoxyephedrine in front of him. If he went back to Hogwarts he would have to start being himself again, having people demand things of him, and he was n't certainly he could hold that right now.

Just need to ask down Sasori ... get back the stone ...

Except after that Voldemort is still out there.

Snape 's dealing with it.

Snape is getting the Hocruxs. Even if we find them all Voldemort is still out there, and I do n't like his sudden obsession with this gate-to-death. Let 's face it, we 're not even close to the end.

Harry finished the rest period of his swallow and dropped the abandon. He should n't have another. He was going to have another. He just wanted to spend some time where there was no one demanding anything of him, was that too a good deal to ask ? Harry dropped his psyche to his script. The only place he could be calm was in a den of iniquity, the hideout of criminals. What did that say ?

Harry breathed deeply and drew his grove expulsion around him, but it wavered and parts of the Tarot showed through the boundary. Harry realized he would n't be capable to keep back it and allowed it to fade. It was n't material anyway.

Maybe when this is over I can go back there. The view surfaced in Harry 's mind. Going back to the orphanage, living like a muggle. He had no skills or anything but surely they needed janitors ... or entertainers. Harry sighed or maybe he would just go away the country. He 'd miss his friends, the vulture, Thea .... but they 'd sympathize. lead another epithet ... or go back to Jack and just ... wander ...

Harry dropped his oral sex to the board. Foolish thinking, there was still playscript seven before he could recall of thing like that.

The matter is ... I do n't know if I can last that long.

Harry closed his eyes and laid back in his booth. He 'd make to last that long would n't he ? Because that was what he needed to do, what the man asked of him. And he always did what was asked of him. Every damn fourth dimension, no thing what. Every bloody time.

"Mr potter ! I did n't wait to see you here."

Harry 's eye 's snap open in an case. He had n't been paying attention. His magic eye had just been rolling in it 's socket but now it snapped to aid. His handwriting jerked to his scepter, but as he saw who was approaching him he relaxed. A little.

"Mr James."Harry looked up at the cryptical older man."Another warning substance for me ? What 's happened now ? Sky falling ? Hitler back from the short ? New Dido exclusive ?"

"Did I not just say I was surprised to see you here ?"James slid into the booth opposite Harry. He took a soft sip of his gin and tonic then placed it on the table.

No coaster. Harry tried to call back what gin and tonal meant in the tarot code.

"Oh, my mistake."Saint James slid a coaster under his drink.

Had that really been a misapprehension ? Was James just having a drinkable or was he sending a signal ? Or did he need Harry to think he was ... Oh who cares.

"Come here often ?"Harry asked the man polar him.

"Occasionally, I mean you have to. To do business."St. James glanced around."I was not expecting to see you here though, being one of the virtuous ones."

"Not entirely virtu-"Harry broke off mid sentence as he realised something. He could see James. With both eyes. The old man was actually there, not a projection like before. Harry was shocked for a moment. He was even to a greater extent shocked that he had n't noticed. The firelight glinted off the glasses in front end of him. Harry closed his eyes and surrounded himself with his orchard, just for a fraction of a second base. He tried to pull his nous together before he opened his eye."Not entirely virgin. Just more virtuous than my enemies."

"I 've heard you have more than one foeman these days."James said casually."lamb old Tom enigma and now you have gone further afield for enemy. I knew the dark lord was goosy for putting his reliance in mercenaries."

Harry 's eye flickered down James'body, looking for anything resembling a clue to his identity element. The solvent were disturbing, almost every bone in the old man 's body had been broken years ago, probably at the like time. Even the bones in his skull under his bald head showed mark of cure fractures. It was long ago, they had healed naturally first, then magically later ... weird. The guy was stocked to the gills with magical artefacts and talisman too, but that was intelligible here. No sceptre however ... that was also odd.

"I do n't cogitate he puts trust in anyone."Harry shrugged."How did you come up out they left him anyway ?"

"It 's Sir Thomas More or less unwashed noesis in my circles."James waved to the bar."Can I get you another drink."

No."I 'll have what you 're having."Why did I say that ?

King James I motioned to the barkeeper and a consequence later Harry was holding a gin and tonic.

"You can decompress Mr Potter."James took another sip from his glass."This is the Tarot remember ? No one can disturb you here. Not even me."

"Screw it."Harry took a cryptical swallow of his beverage. He paused."This taste terrible."

"My apologies. Shall I purchase order you something el-"

"Yes."Harry drained the repose of the glass."Please."

A glass of white wine appeared in Harry 's deal. He sipped it this time.

"Penny for your thoughts Mr ceramicist ?"James asked.

"Why did you make out here tonight if you did n't know I was here ?"

"You are not the centre of attention of the macrocosm Mr thrower. Despite what many think."James smiled."I have many other things to manage other than yourself. As to what business I had here ? That is none of yours."

"Fair enough."Harry shrugged. James IV did n't suffer a wallet in his sack, not any money either. He had n't paid the barkeep for any of his drinks, he must have a tab. No one had a tab at the Tarot. Not unless to not give them a tab would have been dangerous to the proprietors. Who the hell was James ? Harry considered for a minute, then abandoned the train of thinking. Tonight he was n't going to try to puzzle out any mysteries, he was just going to unbend, drink, and talk to a orphic stranger who was probably the head of some sort of clandestine crime syndicate. waiting ..."So it would n't suffer anything to do with the man who tried to attack me on the way here ?"

"Attack you ?"Henry James looked aghast."On the way to the tarot ? That would be terribly bad etiquette. I ca n't imagine that even the Lie Gou would do that, they would be barred from the establishment, they would loose business."

Harry said nothing. If Sasori had already worked out how to use the stone to move around lead into gold that might not matter.

"Did it expect like one of the Lie Gou ?"

"No, but they could easily disguise themselves."Harry took a sip of wine-coloured."Did n't fight like one of the Lie Gou."

"Perhaps I can help ? What did he depend like ?"James actually seemed interested.

"Perhaps,"Harry hesitated, should he distinguish King James anything else ? His fracture mental capacity threw up a red flag, but on the former hand he currently knew sod all about the people trying to wipe out him. Anything he found out would be helpful."Oldish, moustache, sounded foreign. Italian maybe ..."

"The same person who attacked you with a crossbow earlier this year ?"

"No."Harry did n't ask how James knew."Not the Sami person, but probably from the same source. The crossbow guy was friends with the centaurs."

"The centaurs would never hire assassins."James waved the comment away."Not only is it against their laws, they also have too lilliputian money. You ca n't hire killers with acorns and mysticism."

"They were n't bravo, at least not paid ones."Harry thought back to the cryptical comments his attacker had made."They did n't look like assassins ..."

"wellspring I ca n't think who they would be."James IV shrugged apologetically, but not unhappily."It would seem you have stumped me. I mean of course there are Italian offense administration but none of them have any interest in you."

"You know that for certain ?"

"Of course."James actually seemed to be relaxing, his elderly skeleton leant against the table."Most criminals are looking forward to the removal of Voldemorrt, he is an irritation to so many things."

"Like living."

"Quite."

"There was one other thing ..."Harry bit his lip."In the scrap the man went out of his way to save a muggle who got caught in the crossfire. Almost lost the fight because of-"

"No ..."St. James'eyes went wide."Are you certain ?"

"Positive."

"But they ... why would they receive any cause to attack you ?"

"You know who they are ?"Harry perked up and tried to sit up straight. His elbow joint slipped off the table but be righted himself and asked again."You know who they are ?"

"I believe I do ..."St. James regarded Harry quizzically over his glass."Why would they ... but it ca n't be them. I would almost look them to be on your side."

Harry said null. The men probably would be on the position of Harry ceramist. At least Henry James did n't recognise who he really was. Probably.

"Just tell apart me who they are."Harry said irritably.

"Oh some fools who think they can save the world."Henry James chuckled under his breath."Even more cozen than Dumbledore was in many slipway. Couching their amentia in some silly notions of order and chaos and god and ... they are ridiculous. Think no more of them. I seriously doubt that they could succeed where Voldemort failed."

"That 's comforting. You know what would be more comforting ? If you would yield me a freekin name."

"But the real doubt is why you ?"James River tapped his glass thoughtfully."Yes ... yes that is very interesting."

"You ca n't not tell me."Harry 's elbow slipped again, this time knocking over one of his old glass."You have to severalise me who they are."

"Actually I do n't guess I will Mr Potter."James chuckled under his breath."When you get as old as I am, and I am very old, it is very infrequently that you encounter something interesting. That is partially why I involved myself in your liveliness, unpredictable as you are. This dubiousness however is even Thomas More of a conundrum. No, I believe I will not state you. Not until I have considered more this intriguing problem. Good evening Mr ceramicist, it was a pleasure to meet you again."James stood and turned away.

"Hey !"Harry tried to stand up but his arm got caught on the table and he fell back into his seat. He tried to ride again and stepped quickly towards the door.

"You 're not thinking of following him are you ?"A deep growling came from the barman. Following mortal leaving the tarot was as bad as attacking them at it.

"No, just leaving myself."Harry shook his head. He turned back to the tabular array and, a idea springing to mind, leant over and sniffed at James'drinking glass. Still half full. Smelled of tonic. No gin, just tonic.

Damnit

Harry turned to entrust. At to the lowest degree he was protected by tarot normal as well. No one would attack him on his way back. The principle stopped him from getting killed, did n't stop him from being played for a mug. Harry stepped out into the rainwater, letting it run down his face soothingly. He had screwed up badly tonight. He had made mistake ... no. No he had n't made mistakes. A mistake was when you did n't love that what you were doing was stupid. He had known, and he had done it anyway.

Why

Because the humanity owes me some freakin jailer ups. Harry pulled his coat around him and stalked off into the rain. The principle were supposed to protect him, but that did n't signify he did n't watch the shadows all the way home.
*


"Why do you think Harry brought us all here ?"Hermione asked quietly as the quietus of the marauders waited in the marauder 's attic.

"I do n't know. No one knows obviously."Ron said from beside her."He was n't in his bed lastly night, I know that."

"It must be something crucial to gain us all here like this."Hermione bit one of her fingernails."Maybe he 's found where Voldemort is ? Or something about the Lie Gou ? I wish he 'd tell us what was going on."

"I guess it 's harder now."Ron shrugged."Half the school 's marauder. He ca n't keep us all in the loop. call back when it was just the six of us ? Right in the origin ?"

"Seems like a lifetime ago."

"sort of does I-"Ron broke off."Hey, flavour there ..."He pointed.

"Is it Harry ? Oh,"Hermione shook her caput as genus Draco stepped into the room. He looked as wear upon as he always did, but it was still a week to full Moon. As he entered Hermione saw Ginny nearby stiffen, but totally ignore the Slytherin 's entrance.

"Why does n't she just pass up on him ?"Ron said angrily."It 's poor fish that she 's so torn up about it."

Hermione did n't say what she wanted to.

"Anyway Draco 's a backside for doing this."

Again, Hermione kept mute. Given that Harry had been gone a lot lately and Ginny had n't been speaking lots Hermione had been spending quite a lot of time with Draco. She had a intuition that he had his reasons for rejecting Ginny. Or, well the fact that he was a werewolf and ...

"HEY MORONS !"The vulture fell silent, turning to see that Harry had materialized."Sorry, I meant to say 'Can I have your attending ?'but somehow it just ... well you know how it is. In any fount, grab your gearing. We 're leaving in five to hold open the world."
*


"Harry where are we going ?"Ginny demanded as the marauder slung their invisibility cloaks on.

"fountainhead first we 're going to weal, to the lake that forms the incoming to the Lie Gou factor house."Harry was strapping a spear-like thing to his hip."Where we float far above the water like passably butterflies. Then, at the opportune minute, we fly down through the portal site, fly up to the house, go in, find out the Stone, get the Harlan Fiske Stone. Simple."

"That 's your plan ?"

"fountainhead they will be a little distracted by that point ..."
*


Harry zoomed his eye down through the darkness. A skirmish of figures were approaching the water, flitting from top to cover like phantasm. They were grouping near the lake, slipping in one by one. Harry 's hand tightened on his wand, so it had worked, he had n't been sure it would.

Usually at this decimal point he would be feeling the rush of adrenaline before a big scrap, this time he just felt pock. There were a lot of people behind him who would go very dead if this went incorrectly. He did n't feel energized, he felt ... deadened ...

The stopping point of the shadows slunk into the lake. Harry took a deep breath. He flicked his lookout out. About two bit would probably do it.

Harry closed his heart. The orchard was still there, but the leaves were gone, turned into drifts and mulch on the ground. Harry could n't tell if the air current blowing through his hair was in the legerdemain or in reality. It did n't subject. Two moment were up.

"Down."Harry aimed his ling down and carefully guided it down, with one helping hand the faculty in front of him to aim. The rest of the piranha followed him.

'' Agoredig Ffordd. '' Harry whispered to the water 's open. He took a deeply breath ..."NOW !"

Harry plunge his ling forward through the piss and straight out the other side. His inner ear flipped out as gravity reversed itself and he spun in the air involuntarily before righting himself. early marauders shot past him, taking the lead, just like they planned. After all, he was n't the one you wanted leading an aerial attack.

Harry followed the others, shooting across the still air. Up ahead he could see the temple, it 's windows glowing in the night air. magical spell and gouts of fire snapshot into the air all around them. They were n't aimed at them though, they were aimed at the early figures on the ground.

"work like a charm."Harry muttered through gritted teeth as they shot over the warzone.
*


"So you started a war between ninjas and more ninjas !"

"Look,"Harry await a cool it breath."I met the leader of the Lie Gou at the Tarot."Harry flicked two throttle into his in spite of appearance pockets.

"I thought that was who we were going to round ?"

"Sasori 's just their European factor."Two ampule of potion and a grenade went into another air pocket."And a very juicy boy for working the Voldemort/philosophers stone angle without cutting his political boss in for a part. They 're not felicitous. They 'll be moving tonight to explain their displeasure to him at length."

"So we attack while there 's already a war between felon mercantile ninjas."

"Course."Harry tried to sound Sir Thomas More sure of himself than he felt."So long as there are n't any complications it should go fine."
*


"Yes !."Her hand curled around the cast aside wand."Allohamora."The electric cell door sprang open, pushing the corpse away. Bellatrix stepped out of her jail cell and kicked the body before spitting on it as a final insult and moving off, crouched against the wall. These irreverent soldier of fortune had kept her incarcerate for Clarence Shepard Day Jr., but it was null, she was used to worse prisons. And now they fought among themselves. Useless fools. And now that she was free there would be hell to pay.
*


Harry crashed through the window and rolled to his feet, wand out. The others had already secured the room but he wanted to be sure.

"Ok, you know your teams."Ginny barked."team four, cargo hold here ! Everyone else, GO !"She did n't even wait before dashing off.

"Wait you suicidal-"Harry darted after her, cursing. To be bonny this had been the plan, in a general sense. fasten a few room from the foolishness and burn a course to Sasori, where they hoped to find the stone, leaving teams along the way to secure a way out. The design had not been for Ginny to go all death-seeker."Ginny duck !"Harry reached the young woman just in clock time to tackle her to the level. A bolt of lightning smashed through the bulwark, above them. Harry fired back through the hole with one bridge player, dragging Ginny to her foot with the other.

"What- ?"

"I go first !"Harry barked into her look."I 'm the one with the eye ! Remember ?"

"I-"For a moment it seemed like Ginny was going to defend him."mulct. Get moving then."The lastly sentence was said through gritted teeth.

Harry pushed away and surged forward. Dragon stepped up succeeding to him and for a here and now caught his eye.

Harry send her book binding. She should n't be here. She 's not thinking straight.

She would n't mind. Harry sent back quickly. At least here we can keep an eye-"cuticle !"Harry himself jumped close to Dragon, trusting the werewolf 's shield far more than his own.

An ark of knives tore through the wall like machine gun ardour and a instant later the wall crashed in, filling the corridor with fighting Black person figures.

"Harry which ones are on our side !"Neville yelled.

"None of them !"Harry stunned a Lie Gou who got too close as the warring factions ripped each other apart before the marauder 's eyes."Just stay put back and hit any that observation you or survive !"

And maybe do n't talk ?

Harry was thrown backwards as one of the fighters fired a spell at the audio of his voice. Harry hit the wall and felt his baton jarred out of his fingers. His other hand gripped the spear in his sleeve and had torn it out before he hit the floor. He sent lighting from the tip at his aggressor before sweeping it over the other combatants. They fell to the floor like ragdolls and the predator sent stunning spells to truly send them to la-la-land.

"Team three hold this spot !"Ginny yelled. She darted forward but stopped short at a deadened brilliance from Harry.

Harry turned and grabbed his wand before continuing on, threading his way through body. He felt jealous of the others, they could only try the battles going on all around them, just rooms away. He could see it.

Oh god so much blood ...

He had done this. Harry gritted his teeth as he silently led the vulture through passageways away from the main engagement. He had done this. He had caused this massacre.

"Two in the adjacent room."Harry did n't even hesitate as he threw the room access spread out and stabbed the ignition spear at one. Dragon dropped the other one and Harry just kept walking. There were tables in this room, the remains of a meal. They had just been eating. There were already three bodies in the next room. Well, two and a half.

I caused this.

"Harry stress !"Draco 's interpreter shocked Harry out of his fugue.

"It 's ok. I 'm ok."Harry gritted his teeth. Dragon narrowed his bloodshot eyes.

Do n't tell me you 're going mad too-

I 'm fine. Harry continued quietly."It looks like Sasori 's office and stuff is through here. Its at the top of ... of like an indoor tower thingy in the heart of a garden. There 's a stair around the outside of it. And lots of guards, twenty dollar bill on the ground, fifteen on the stairway. That I can see anyway. No other way through though."

"Is Sasori there ?"Ginny said flatly.

"Ca n't tell. There 's a ward around the top of the tower."Harry looked back over his troop. There were n't many left. They had left a breadcrumb trail of prophylactic zona across the temple, it left them stretched but it was the sole way.

"Alright."Ginny said definitely."Hermione, you keep the rest of them with you and deal out everyone on the level, hold the area. Harry, genus Draco and me ... we go up the tower."

"Ginny-"

"You know that 's the best way."Ginny growled."You have a wagerer plan ?"

"That 's it."Harry narrowed his eye."You 're going back. Help hold the last room."

"To hell with you !"Harry 's hand snapped forward but Ginny had already slammed the door open.

"Damnit !"Harry 's hand flicked into his scoop as thirty-five verge spun towards him. Harry 's hand flicked out of his pocket."Disperseas !"Ten grenades fanned out across the elbow room like a spray of Death."shell !"

Dragon 's shield flashed around him as Harry 's thoughts were filled with hatred of everything red-headed and female. The flames consumed the garden but the spells were already hammering down. Harry 's eye caught something that made him holler like a banshee.

"NO !"Ginny was shooting into the air, zooming towards the top of the tug !"Who knew she still had her heather !"

"She had it in her bag !"Draco yelled through gritted teeth."Shield down in three ... two ... one ..."

"Stupefy !"Harry had his wand in one helping hand and the spear in the other. Two physique rose from the Mary Jane. Two form were thrown back in. Harry dashed to the stairs and cursed as he aimed a stunner at a shape leaping out of the duskiness. The staircase did n't even birth a banister, no trade protection from the firing below.

"We should take out the single down here first !"Draco slammed into the rampart following to Harry.

"Ca n't ! Stupid Bloody evil your freekin wannabe GIRLFREIND stupid putting to death HER !"A form dropped down in front man of Harry and he took the opportunity to aim out his craze. The figure fell back bloody."We need to get up there in causa she does some -DIE stupe EVIL- she 's screwed everything up ! Here you shield I 'll kill. I feel like killing."

Harry edged forward as fast as he was capable, cowering under Draco 's shield as they advanced up the tower.
*


Ginny dropped off her broom at the top of the tug and ducked behind a side wall.

She could do this. She could do this alone. She did n't need ... Ginny took a rich breath, her affectionateness was racing. Suddenly she was thrown to the floor as the wall exploded outwards above her. Ginny rolled and aimed her wand at the opening, but a moment later another maw appeared right on the former side of the tower. Flashing lights broke from inside the tower and Ginny gingerly snuck up the the yap in the wall. Down below Ginny could hear burst, the others were fighting. But she did n't need them ...

Ginny raised her top dog a little over the wall and looked over. Inside there was a wide function, desk shattered against the shelves, shelves thrown across the floor, floor on fire. In the midsection of the room, circling one another like wiener, a man and a woman, wands poised to fire.

Bellatrix. Bellatrix and Sasori.

"Give me the gem !"The marred death eater looked rabid, foaming at the mouth and twitching."Give me the stone or I 'll rupture you limb from limb !"

Sasori said nothing, but sent a turn bouncing off the paries to fascinate Bella in the side, throwing up a gouty arthritis of pedigree. She was covered in blood but did n't appear to make it. Sasori was clean and almost smiling. He was winning and he knew it.

Ginny shifted around the exterior of the tug. She could finish off Bellatrix ( of course she could ... ) but the Lie Gou ... If she could require him out first, from concealing, she could consider Bella. Then she 'd bear the Isidor Feinstein Stone. She could get it herself.

Ginny tried to go out where the fighters were from the screeches and explosions from inside the power. Why had n't she got herself an eye like Harry 's ? She 's considered it, why had n't she done it ? Ginny found another break in the wall and raised herself up.
*


"pudden-head bloody- !"Harry barged into the Lie Gou in front of him and chucked him off the side of the tower. By now it was a long way down. Harry tried to aim through a haze of pain and forced his metrical unit to climb higher up the tower."Draco move !"Harry yelled back at the man behind him.

"You go ahead, I 'll concur them !"Dragon was raining down fervor on the fighters below."You help her !"

"You sure ? I 'm planning on killing her afterwards."

"Just GO !"
*


"Stubefy !"Ginny felt a cry of triumph as the spell smashed into the Lie Gou 's back, sending him careening to the floor."Avada Kedavra !"Ginny aimed the curse at the shocked death eater at the former incline of the room. Bellatrix threw herself to the incline, giving Ginny sentence to vault the wall and dart forward into the war-torn ruin.

"You ?"Bellatrix bickering as she pushed herself up from the flooring."Why are you here you muggle loving bitch ?"

"Shut up ! Jupitall !"Ginny sent lightning flying at the death eater and dodged to the body of the Lie Gou on the floor. pouch. former sack. Inside Pocket- THERE ! Ginny 's fingers closed around a lilliputian stone. The philosophers gemstone, she had it. Ginny rolled behind the stiff of the desk to avoid a sickening fateful curse and jumped to her understructure."Come on ! cum on bitch fight ! Show me wha-"

The curse hit her in the chest.
*


Harry 's eye saw through I. F. Stone and flesh to give every outrageous detail. His pes faltered on the stair and he fell to his articulatio genus as he saw the spell hit home. The shining red Inner Light of the hex radiated out in waves from her chest, meeting her rib and staving them in, raking through her lungs and slamming into her pricker. Breaking it like a branchlet. Ginny was lifted off the ground and thrown onto the wall behind her. When she hit she did n't hit like a mortal. She hit like a sack of meat, leaking rake and sliding down the wall before collapsing on the floor.

Harry could hear nothing. The war all around him might as well have been mist. Harry did n't see the shoemaker's last few steps he dashed up like lightning. He did n't see the bulwark between him and Bellatrix, it broke like crank, sending shards ripping through Harry 's skin. It did n't hurt.

Bellatrix. In his middle she was lit up like a Yule tree, the sole thing that mattered in the world.

"Avada Kedavra !"Hate, furore and darkness flowed out of Harry like a river. The air before him flashed green like lightning. The remains of the paries were stove in and the shattered through the other side, it crushed past the cowering expiry eater like a freight train. Then, slowly ... it disappeared.

"Well well well ..."Bellatrix chuckled."I must say I 'm impressed-"

"Acerbus cuspis !"Harry charged more hatred and rage into another dingy hex, fanning out the fishgig so the liquidator could n't dodge. Harry 's feet bit dirt and he charged towards the bitch. She had n't even stopped screaming by the fourth dimension he reached her, slamming his boot into her face. Her scarred head teacher snapped back and Harry dove down, grasping his script around her neck as hard as he could. He could feel her windpipe crushing under his fingers.

"Ach ... a ..."guttural consonant goose egg tried to turn tail from the enchantress lips."Ach ... a ... a."Harry knew he should just use his wand, make it speedy, but red DoT were spiralling before his eyes and even if he 'd wanted to he could n't cause made his fingers move. Bellatrix 's eyes rolled back in her skull. The bitch was-

"Aaa !"Harry was thrown backwards as lightning arced from the crone fingers into his chest. Harry could feel his flesh burn, skin searing off. He could feel all kind of irrelevant things.

"Crucio !"Bellatrix croaked. Harry did n't bother to dodge.

"Excalabus !"Harry whipped his verge sideways, ignoring the blinding pain. The sword flickered out, burnt forward, flicked back behind Bellatrix 's verge. Right through her wrists. One lop mitt bounced off Harry 's articulatio humeri as he jumped forward, punching the witch to the ground.

"Accio wand."Bella 's fallen wand flew into Harry 's hand. Her handwriting came with it, but that was a minor contingent. Bellatrix sprawled on the flooring, screaming, clutching the bloody stump of her blazon to her bureau. Harry could get word the screams but they had no issue on him, his idea was drifting ...

For a fraction of a minute he drew his grove around him. So quiesce, squeamish and quiet ... Harry opened his center again. He was cold now, the anger was burnt out of him, gone with the dark. Harry stepped forward, his wand trained on the woman in strawman of him. He was n't angry any-more, he did n't really finger anything.

His eyes flickered to trend on the flooring. It was Sasori, just recovering from the stunner. The Lie Gou 'd eyes flicked up to Harry and his hand flickered into his gown. Before Harry could even conceive of casting a charm there was a rushing sound and Sasori was gone, portkeyed away.

Harry knew he should care. But he really, really did n't. Harry 's middle flickered back to the screaming cleaning lady on the land in front of him. One of the two lastly destruction eaters, the murderous ditch that killed Ginny and so many others. Lying helpless in social movement of him, ready to drag to justice. He could choose her to azkaban and throw off her away for good.

shriek, so much scream. Orchard flowed around him. She would be locked away. Apple blossoms ... Far far away ... She had been locked up before. It did n't last.

"Avada Kedavra !"Harry closed his eyes as he spoke the spell, but he saw anyway. Not a lot to see really. The turn hit rest home, the force of it pushing her body a few invertebrate foot across the flooring, and her heart stopped beating. That was it. Nothing more. Harry opened his eyes.

The fighting far below was meaningless here ... quiet down ... apple blossoms in the air.
*


Draco staggered to the top of the pillar, retching as he dragged his run down bones forward. The fighting below was almost over, just the marauders mopping up the stragglers and holding the route undefendable for them to get back. He walked carefully over to the office and spun in, wand raised. He saw Bellatrix, dead on the storey, with Harry standing over her. Harry 's wand had fallen from his hand and he was just staring at the paries. genus Draco was about to step over to him when he saw ...

"Ginny ?"Draco 's heart flashed wide and he dashed to the crumpled form by the wall."Ginny ? ... can you hear me ?"She was dead, anyone could see-

"genus Draco ..."

"Gin-"Dragon crouched down, his aspect next the barely moving lips. There was nothing he could do, he knew that. Even if the whole faculty of St Mungo 's was here there would be nothing they could do. Only one thing ..."Ginny are you in pain ?"

"No ..."Just a whisper."Draco ?"

"Yes ?"

"I love ..."

Draco gritted his tooth. He could n't cry, not now. He could n't, he just couldn't.

"I ..."Ginny was faltering, drifting away."I ... be intimate y-"

"I know."Draco could feel tears on his impudence. Damnit."I ..."He paused ... too long."I love you too. I always did."Dragon hoped she was too far gone to take heed that he was lying.

Ginny 's lips twitched, he could tell she was trying to talk, but she just did n't have the metier any-more. He was n't sure he did either. Instead he angle forward and kissed her softly. She tasted like rancid ancestry, she felt frigid. He closed his oculus and felt the tears flowing, dropping off his cheeks and running rivulets down Ginny 's face. trivial strike down cleaning business in the muck and bloodline. The lips twitched once more beneath his, then went still. Very ... still.

Draco leant back, reached his arms under Ginny and lifted her up. A little red Harlan Fiske Stone dropped from her helping hand to the floor. Dragon hesitated, the enticement to just leave the cursed thing there was almost too very much to bear. But then all this was worth null. genus Draco grabbed the affair and stuffed it in his pocket.

"seed on Harry."He found words somewhere in his pharynx."Come with me."

Harry 's dead center came up to conform to his and the boy took a falter step forward.

"That 's right ... follow me."Draco walked slowly out of the authority towards the long stairway. He looked back and saw Harry following him, still staring deadly ahead."ripe, just keep following me. We have a long pass home."

And I 'm carrying her every footfall of the way.

Even if it breaks my rachis I 'm carrying her.
*


"All considered,"Sasori did not respond to the voice addressing him."A summate failure."

Sasori 's only reply was to grimace.

"You have lost the philosopher 's stone."The old man stated calmly."And your own usefulness has been severely curtailed. You no longer control the Lie Gou in Europe, indeed the totally organization will be out to kill you."

"You do n't seem too upset about all this."Sasori could still savor defeat in his mouth, but he was not about to back down to the man before him.

"swage ? Why would I be upset ? I never had any want for the stone."

"You are an old man."Sasori narrowed his eyes."Especially old for one of your type."

"Only fools bid to live forever, and I am already far past my time."That infuriating chortle."On that short letter have you given any thought to what you will say to the others of our petty roundabout ? There might be some question of whether you have anything to extend us any-more."

"Are you threatening me ? I could obliterate you before you blinked an eye."

"Oh come now, there is no need to be unpleasant."The old man spread his custody and smiled."And you would never obliterate me. You need my protection if you even wish to hold up the next two dozen hours."Sasori 's gut twisted. As much as he hated it the man was right. He needed allies, he needed this man or the others would twist on him like beast. Ha ... ironic ...

"You are right James."Sasori bowed his headway."I need your aid. Tell me what you want me to do, and what you want in return."
*


"How could you let this happen ? How could you send them out there !"

Draco closed his heart and tried to block out the sound of Kingsley Shacklebolt 's phonation. He knew he should be saying something, but he did n't own the energy. Besides, the minister 's anger was not directed at him.

"You knew this was possible. The expiry of any one of us is always possible."Snape said harshly.

"She was not one of us !"

Draco shuddered, the marauders return to Hogwarts had been horrific. The order had been meeting and he had been capable to carry Ginny 's body directly into her comrade 's blazon. He had barely even been able to say'I 'm sorry'before the punch had flown into his chin. He had n't tried to contend back. The second punch had broken his nose, the vulture pulled the crying Weasley off him after that but after that the gild had exploded, turning on each other, and the marauders, like jackal. They were splintered now, the disputation spilling into dissimilar rooms but Draco did n't know if it was any better.

"You knew I was keeping the vulture ready."Snape continued.

"As a last resort ! For grammatical case like the ministry last twelvemonth when all other hope is lost."Shacklebolt 's fists were clenching."Not dynamic, not invading a fortified-"

"It was my conclusion as drawing card of the order."Snape interrupted angrily.

"Well I think we can safely say that that is over."

"That is not your decision-"

"If I put it to the right to vote what do you think the upshot will be."Shacklebolt jerked his head word and two aurors appeared at his articulatio humeri."Mr Snape-"

"Professor Snape."Snape hissed the Good Book like a curse.

"I assume your chair will also soon end. Since you will not be able to instruct from Azcaban."

Draco started to his foundation but a stern glance from Snape sent him back to his seat.

"Am I to be told what I am being arrested for ?"

"Endangering a minor. Negligence leading to death and so many other things."Snacklebolt 's articulation was low and wickedness."Dumbledore was wrong ever to trust you. We all were."

"If I had not acted the effect would give birth been far far worse."

"Perhaps the Wizengamot will see it the same way."Shacklebolt gestured to his aurors."Although I sincerely hope not. I assume you are going to come quietly."

"running would indicate I had something to be hangdog about."Snape thrust his hands out sharply."I assume you want my wand."

Dragon shook his head, he had to do something. But Snape must own seen the aspect on his face because he calmly turned to him and said, as the aurors shackled him,

"Perhaps you should check on your supporter Mr Malfoy."

"But-"

"Go Draco."Snape allowed himself to be lead away by the aurors. He looked back over his shoulder."And if you would take fear of Harry I would appreciate it."

The door slammed shut and Draco felt his heart drop. It was like the whole world was falling apart.

Harry.

Yes, Harry. He needed to come up Harry. Since they had got back Harry had n't said anything, just kept staring straight ahead. Draco would have tried legilimency but everything had happened so fast. Harry was weak, vulnerable, clearly going through something fearful. He had to take care of him. Draco grasped that screw thread like a line of life and walked out of the way. Anything to not recall of everything else-

"How could you let this chance !"Draco did n't count across from the door to where the Weasley clan was clustered. The twins were just sitting, almost as blank as Harry, Ron was crying into his deal. William Weasley was yelling."When mum and dad wake up what am I going to tell them ? It was my job to keep you safe !"The older boy was tearing up."I was supposed to keep you safe ..."

Draco tore his gaze away from the disaster and kept walking. Harry had been in the hospital fender. Draco could still get a line the yelling from behind him. choke up it out. Up stairs. Turn left.

Draco was at the door to the hospital wing when-

"genus Draco !"Dragon whirled and tensed when he saw Hermione running towards him."Do you know where McGonagall is ?"

"I ... No. Why ?"

"They ... they called my parent. They called all our parents."Hermione kept pulling on a long curl of her haircloth in panic."They 're taking me away, they 're taking me out of Hogwarts. They ca n't do it ! I do n't desire to but ... McGonagall must be able to block up them, she can intercept them all-"

"All ? What do you intend all ?"

"All the parents are here, are n't you listening !"Hermione was breathing hard, on the edge of tears."All the piranha. Our parents are all here, they 're taking us out. All of us ! There must be something we can do-"

"Draco."Draco spun again as the room access to the Hospital offstage was pushed open and Draco saw Pythea stepping out. She did n't look as frantic as Hermione but on the visionary 's, usually unflappable, kisser it looked even worsened."Do you love where Harry is ?"

"Pythea !"Hermione spoke before Dragon could even open his mouth."Do you screw where McGonagall is ?"

"Try the big Hall."Pythea said distractedly."Have you seen Harry."

"I thought he was in there- Hey wait !"Dragon called after Hermione as she tore off down the corridor."Damnit, He is n't in there ?"

"No,"Pythea looked scared, her odd eyes were wide."Someone thought they saw him walk out but no one tried to stop him."

"I ... damn."Draco put his fingers to his temples. The world was ending. Everything was falling apart. uncovering Harry."Alright, just give me a second ..."Dragon got down on his mitt and stifle and sniffed deeply.

Hundreds of feet travelled these manor hall but Draco knew Harry 's aroma. The few benefits of being a werewolf.

"He went this way."Dragon led the way slowly along the passageway.

"Can you not go quicker ?"Pythea asked angrily.

"Ca n't you just scry him out ?"Draco shot back.

"No I ca n't !"Pythea almost shouted."I ca n't see him, I never could, that 's the compass point. Please rushing !"

Draco reached a staircase and hurried down. Another stair, Dragon sniffed ... yes. Down those too. Corridor ... dammit. genus Draco followed the trail all the way to the dandy door of Hogwarts. The track went right out the door, straight outside.

"But gran !"Dragon 's pass came up as he heard Neville 's voice."I need to stay here, these are my friends !"The vulture was being hurried along by an sr. lady, his grandmother.

"Your ally ? protagonist do n't get friends killed !"

genus Draco doubled over. That had felt like an real blow. He should ingest been faster climbing the tower. He should suffer brought his own broom so he could come her. All his fault.

He should n't make let her number in the first place. They all knew she was depressed. That was his fault too, if he was n't so incorrect she would still be alive. If he was n't twisted, disgusting. His father had been right, he was useless ... it was-

"The track Draco !"Pythea 's voice seemed to hit his ramification before it reached his brain and he was already moving before it even registered. The trail was clearer out here on the locoweed, it was n't wandering, straight like an arrow. Straight to the edge of the forbidden forest. Draco straightened up, his face ashen."He went inside."

"But he knows the centaurs will kill him if they find him in there."Pythea was shaking her read/write head in horror-stricken disbelief.

"I do n't think he even knows his figure right now."Draco sniffed again and hurried forward at a loping run. Behind him he could hear the oracle following him. Harry was n't making any attempt to cover his path, it was plain as day. But that meant it was plain as day for the Centaur as well. Draco tried to evidence himself that the bigger track meant they were closing in on him. Tried ...

"Is ... is he close ?"Pythea panted from behind him.

"Yes."genus Draco lied. All he could get a line was his own breathing place in his pinna and his flap marrow. Sniff. trail. Run.

"occlusive !"

genus Draco skidded to a halt.

"What ?"

"This is it. He 's here."Thea began looking around, glancing behind tree diagram."Spread out he 's somewhere here."

"How do you know ?"

"All of these are apple trees."

"Ah, right."Draco took a deep breather in. Yes, Harry 's scent was deeper here. The prophesier was right. And the smell was deepest coming from ..."Harry ! Theia I 've got him."Dragon dashed over to where Harry was propped against the trunk of a tree. His heart still had that glassy, far away, look. But at least he turned to face them as they walked up to him.

"Harry ?"Pythea crouched down next to Harry."Are you here ?"

"Yeah,"Harry nodded slowly."I think so ... it 's difficult to tell."

"Why did you run into the forest ?"Draco asked.

"I ... I do n't recollect doing that."Harry shook his point."I just ... I was thinking about trees ..."

"Well, we found you."Dragon put his hired hand on Harry 's berm."LET get back."

"cover ?"Harry tensed, a fraction of his usual hardness returned to his eyes."Back to Hogwarts."

"Yes."

"Ginny 's dead."

"Y ... yes."

"Voldemort 's alive."

"Why are you asking me that ?"Draco rock his head, trying to make sense of Harry 's questions.

"I killed Bellatrix. Just killed her."

"It was self defence."Pythea said soothingly.

"No it wasn't."Harry was breathing harder."I cut off her hands then I killed her. She was screaming before, she was n't screaming after."

Draco swallowed roughly. He did n't know what to say to that.

"I saw her pump stop. Not Ginny 's, Bellatrix 's. Saw her hit the wall, except that it was her not ... Her bosom just stopped."Harry seemed to be drifting from thought to thought."Saw her spine snap."

"Let 's go back to the castle."Pythea said desperately."come on Harry-"

"Harry ?"Harry spat the figure out."Harry ? That 's not me. Harry 's dead. I wish he was alive, wish it were him here instead of me. The Chosen one, must be strong or have some loony power. I do n't, I 've got zilch ... Maybe he would be strong enough. But I 'm not, I 'm just not."

"Ha- Jack ?"Pythea slant forward."We can get through this, together."

"No Thea."A rent ran from Harry 's eye."I 'm lamentable. I 'm so so sorry. But I ca n't do this any-more. I 'm disconsolate but ... It 's too much. I 'm give. Something in me 's broken."

"Harry ?"

"I ca n't. I 'm sorry. I 'm so sorry."Harry 's tearful eyes met the seers."sayonara Thea."

"NO !"Pythea lunged forward but she was too slow, the woods rang with the crack of a pugnacious phantasm. A peck of birds took flight from the trees around, dappling them in shadow for a moment, then they were gone. And so was Harry.

The world was broken. Everything had fallen apart.

Draco kept expecting him to reappear, with a joke perhaps, or for it all to be a legerdemain. But it was n't, and he was n't. Beside him Pythea was just staring at the place Harry had been. The muteness drew on, Dragon did n't want to be the number 1 one to speak, that would take in it real.

"I ..."Draco licked his lips."I did n't know he could apparate."

"He was having lessons."Pythea sounded diminished. small-scale and broken.

The quiet returned, dragging on forever. Draco broke it again, the countersign feeling like lead.

"So what ... what do we do now ?"

"I do n't know."Pythea was shaking."I just do n't know ..."





Whew ... That 's the end of book 6. Hope you enjoyed it. I 'm 2/3 of the way through book 7 so it should n't be too long before it 's finished. It 's been a foresightful haul but we 're in to the final straight now. So get ready for ...

Harry thrower and the Three closed book !