This book 's been giving me trouble, lots and stacks of difficulty. I 've had more pain from this one than from the other four put together and it 's not even finished yet ! scold ... murmuring ...

Anyway as a upshot I may be slower to post than usual as I try to ticktock this twisty, diabolic yarn I choose to call a story into submission.

Sorry, hopefully the story will be better for it.

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



"hullo ?"The shopkeeper peered, muzzy eyed, at the chassis standing on the early side of the glass door."Sorry we ‘ re closed now."

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

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

"I require a avail of you."The man said, clearly and arrogantly."Or rather my master does."

"If your professional wants any of my service."The tradesman grunted a laugh."He ‘ d better number himself. I don ‘ t do theater calls and even if I did some of my equipment ‘ s too heavy to move."

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Are you a… a short eater ?"

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

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

"I ‘ ll wait."The man pulled up an old wooden hot seat."While we wait we can talk about some early things you may be able to help me with. I ‘ m sure they will not be beyond your… skill."

The shopkeeper gulped as the man began listing what he wanted. His hands shook so much his scepter fell on the story and rolled away unnoticed.

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


Harry's iron boot hit hearth and he drew his sceptre out and scanned the room before lowering it and depositing the required galleons in a jar by the barman.

"Thank you young master."The man simpered.

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

Harry broke into a run as old buildings flashed past him. He hadn't made for London, too obvious. The bold face silhouette of Edinburgh rook was outlined against the stars for a moment between two buildings as Harry dashed along and he darted down an bowling alley towards it. He slowed as he passed a group of cat obviously out for the night, singing in the street, then sped up as the route began to climb up towards the high-pitched castle.

He came up a side road and turned away from the historic edifice. Fitting himself into the gang of Friday dark revelers like a shadow. He flitted across the royal nautical mile as fast as he thought safe, clutching his retentive coat tight about him. At xv years old people wouldn't think it weird for him to be out this previous but they might think of that he was alone. Any memory of his qualifying was a liability and Harry flicked his collar up and retain into the tincture of a house.

There were a few wizard pubs in Edinburgh, Harry had mapped them out. But thanks to his betise of not disguising himself as he flued into the last one he could not now risk any of them. Harry cursed, he was still an idiot. Still making stupid mistake, Harry shook his head and pinched himself voiceless. He had to be better.

The track station appeared beneath him and Harry swiftly crossed the bridge and slinked in a incline entrance. He bought a ticket from an automated machine ( no memories ) to the first localisation on the departures circuit board. Then tore it up, cursing himself again, and bought one for the endorsement one down.

It was only three minutes till it left. Harry stood in a recession, hopefully just looking like any other traveler. They wouldn't check the place would they ? They thought like wizards, not like muggles. Maybe he was being paranoid… the barkeeper didn't have to differentiate anyone…

No ! Careless ! Better rubber. We want to campaign them, but on our terms.

Harry nodded, it was the safe thing to do. He gritted his teeth as the seconds ticked by. He just needed to be gone. Wherever the train went he could find wizards and flue to… to somewhere. Somewhere better, Hogwarts possibly ? It was still calendar week till he had to go back to schooltime and Harry wasn't bore to fall away back under Dumbledore's restrictive wing. He'd go somewhere anyway.

shucks it ! Harry went stock still as two oddly dressed person walked into the train place. One looked like his outfit was a Halloween costume of a buccaneer, the early was wearing lederhosen. They were the dazed sight Harry had ever seen.

They were also here to stamp out him.

Harry could find the essence of barely contained violence coming off both of them and the literary pirate had a wand concealed up his sleeve. Harry stepped sideways, making his apparent motion seem inconsequent, uninteresting, and pushed open a staff threshold. He stepped in calmly and confidently, not giving any trace that he didn't belong.

“'Ere ? Who are y-"

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

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

"R… right."The man mumbled and Harry left swiftly, passing out a side threshold and feeling the insensate nighttime air. Harry crossed the road and passed to the next street over and breathed a suspiration of relief. It was busy, broad of merrymaker. He could be invisible here.

The good kind of invisible, the variety that didn't demand cloaks.

Harry kept to the incline as he ducked down the foresighted stint and ducked into a pub. A few min later he emerged, unrecognisable. Wrinkled peel and gray-haired hair, Shakey seafarer walked again. Harry walked like an old man up the road, watching both ways.

shit it ! There was one, walking down the street towards him. He was surreptitiously pointing his wand at every individual he passed, like he was dowsing. He was detecting magic. Harry winced, there was his booster coming from the other direction, doing the Same. Harry was cornered.

Harry began walking slowly towards the plagiarizer death eater, making his pace slow down and measured like the old man he was supposed to be. He hid his wand in his sleeve, he needed to hail up with a programme. There was no way he could fight down them here, too many bystanders, so that left taking them out instantly ( which would be almost impossible ) and running away.

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

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

Nothing.

The baton passed on over to the following bystander and Harry breathed a mental suspiration of easement. He began walking away, they didn't follow. He kept walking, passing out of areas he could recognize from mapping and found an alley.

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

Full circle, eventually we all come back home.

Harry sneered as his eyelids began to sag, alleys used be home, now they weren't. That didn't mean that anywhere else in particular was home, but it was an improvement. Harry dropped off to log Z's, too tired to dream.

"He ‘ s here somewhere."

Harry's eyes flicked heart-to-heart, the wan light source of break of the day filtering into the alley. Footsteps came slowly up the back street. Harry slid behind the bin that hid him and crawled to the other side. The two figures came cl… knack on !

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

"Underage legerdemain and marauding death feeder, it ‘ s him."Moody grumbled as he stumped along."He ‘ s back."

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


"Envenerate !"

Harry lifted his forefront off the Gunter Wilhelm Grass ( grass ? ) and looked around him. Helen Wills was gone, but the tall inglorious auror was still there, his arms crossed, calmly looking down at Harry. Harry glanced at the person who had brought him back.

"Hey Tonks."

"Wotcher Harry."Tonks held out an arm to facilitate him up."Want to excuse why my chief brought you here comatose ?"

"They didn ‘ t William Tell you ?"

"Well Helen Wills Moody was too tempestuous to talk and Kingsley kept laughing."

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

"I ‘ ll let Dwight Lyman Moody tell the tale when he calms down."Harry dusted himself off and surveyed the empty-bellied field. It seemed vaguely fellow."Where are we ?"

"Oh ! Right."Tonks dipped into her air pocket and drew out a small musical composition of report."Just read it, don't say it out loud."

Harry took the composition and unfolded it. On it was written, in loopy, intemperate to read handwriting…
The HQ of the Holy Order of the phoenix is the manor house on the dingy moors.


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

"Hey, isn ‘ t this-"

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

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

"goodness to see you too."The blonde boy detached himself from the shadow of a room access."Good too see you ‘ re still animated since we didn ‘ t have a clue."

"I owled."

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

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

"Yeah right."Draco pushed the threshold surface for Harry to maltreat inside."fountainhead in the mean time your friends and fan club have invaded my home."

"The order of the Phoenix ?"Harry looked around the cavernous entrance manse."Never heard of them."

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

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

"This is better apparently."Dragon rolled his eyes.

"Didn ‘ t Voldemort live here ?"

"The wards respond to the current heir."Dragon looked over at the sprawling tapestry of the Malfoy family tree."Voldemort was forced to leave the moment…"

"The moment ownership transferred ?"

"Yes. That."

"fountainhead at to the lowest degree we 're all safe here. unremitting vigilance. '' At Harry 's words Shacklebolt clapped a hand to his mouth but could n't hold back a snigger. Harry grinned and took another look at the tapestry."Aren ‘ t you supposed to be on here ?"

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

"Why don ‘ t you fix it ?"

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

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

"No… no I ‘ m the last Malfoy."Draco seemed to nod to himself, his voice full of some coldness resolve."Anyway, as I was saying. With the household fascination and the surplus wards Dumbledore put up this place is totally impregnable."

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

"Stop saying that."Kingsley had to cover his sass again.

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

"He snuck up behind Alastor Moody and yelled ‘ invariable alertness ‘ in his ear."At Tonks'shocked grammatical construction he added."I ‘ m not joking."

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

"You ‘ re certifiable potter you really are."Draco shook his head, then stopped suddenly."How did you sneak up on Dwight Lyman Moody ?"

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

In response Harry just smiled and rolled up his allow sleeve. Around his wrist was a brass bracer engraved with tracing vines. Right in the nub, on the inside arm, was a hieroglyph of a great Joseph Black eye.

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

"That's the evilness eye."Tonks stepped secretive to look at it."It wards off magical monitoring."

"Yep."

"It ‘ s also all sorting of illegal."

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

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

"Does it halt him calling you ?"Draco asked quietly.

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

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

Harry grinned and turned to follow the auror.

"We ‘ re mostly living in the eastward wing."Tonks called back over her berm."This situation is monumental. It took us a workweek to find where you ‘ d left Macnair. He smelled awful."

"Sorry,"Harry shrugged theatrically."Next time I ‘ ll try to wipe out in a sterile environment."

They walked down a long night hallway, made more spooky by the fact that every picture was abandon. Draco said nothing but Harry imagined they had left about the same meter his father had. The door at the end had a steady glow coming from under it. Harry hurried forward and dispose the door exposed theatrically.

"I ‘ m back !"

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

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

"Where the Scheol were you ?"Padma hadn't joined the cathexis and was sitting with her sleeve crossed and an furious expression."Why did you leave ?"

"I never left."Harry held his deal to his substance."I was always with you, in here."

"Bullshit."

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

"Voldemort is back."Hermione interrupted him.

"Really ?"Harry opened his optic wide in shock."Is he really ? No… no, I had no idea… How could that bechance ? I would commend a matter like that ? Oh… oh delay ? marvelous guy with red center ? You know I think I do recollect a guy like that… torture ME !"

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

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

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

"Well I didn ‘ t bloody hang-glide."Harry grimaced."At least broom have some means of actuation. And I didn ‘ t ski or sunbathe. I ‘ ve been working."

"Working on what ?"

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

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

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

"wellspring the point is that it shouldn ‘ t materialise again."Tonks came up behind him and clapped him on the shoulder."You ‘ re staying safe here till you can go to Hogwarts."

"Safe here ?"Harry froze."Safe here ?"He pushed himself off the bench."I have to go out there !"

"Wh… what ?"

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

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

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

"For how long ?"

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

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

"I ‘ m sure enough Dumbledore has considered that."

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

"I trust Dumbledore."Kingsley said confidently.

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

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

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

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

"What was that Harry ?"Ginny asked.

"What ?"

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

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

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

Harry turned to genus Draco, who rolled his eyes.

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

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

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

"Wh…"

"The Mrs. Humphrey Ward extend to the property communication channel but it ‘ s unattackable in here."Hermione explained apologetically."They told us to stay-"

"By they you mean Dumbledore."

"Yes."

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

"Your room ‘ s down the corridor, the room access with the scorpion lock."Draco said.

"Is there a window in my cell ?"

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

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


Draco woke the next morning as a retching sound came through the bulwark. He shook the covers off and pushed the curtain around his bed subject before hurrying to the next room.

"Harry is that you ?"Draco was about to try the door before he thought ripe of it and ran a catching charm. A twosome of smutty curses lifted out of the woodwork. genus Draco backed a few whole tone away."Harry open up !"Draco heard pace then the threshold scraped open.

"What ?"Harry growled sleepily.

"Were you just sick ?"

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

"Because I just see you Harry."Dragon folded his arms."You also smell of vomit."

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

"You ‘ re spue ?"

"I ‘ m pregnant."Harry shrugged."There was this professional dancer. I was a little drunk and, well… I was weak."

"rightfield,"genus Draco snorted.

"You ‘ re the world-class one I ‘ ve told."

"I ‘ m touched."

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

"I imagine labor won ‘ t be a picnic either."Draco shook his school principal, if Harry didn ‘ t want to tell him then he didn ‘ t want to know."face, it smells like breakfast ‘ s ready."

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


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

Harry looked around in confusion at the various people that had appeared in the kitchen of Malfoy manor house. There were more Weasley's than there had been, the two parents and sometime buddy. An odd man in a green hat was there as well, smiling at Harry and wave, along with an older lady in an ratty robe. There was one very placeable case though, one that went had gone from smiling to stone cold the moment he entered the room. Remus Lupin had stood the moment he came in and walked away, leaving by the backwards door.

"A couple of people live here now."Ginny said to cover the muteness."A yoke of the order members."

"Why ?"

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

"It ‘ s because we ‘ re too visible."Molly Weasley explained."citizenry know we support Dumbledore, they know we were in the order last time. We ‘ re quarry for attack. It ‘ s safer here."

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

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

'' Prison ? '' Harry dropped a piece of toast. `` They 're using this space as a prison ? ``

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

'' Is n't that dangerous ? ``

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

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

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

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

'' They tend to scream a lot. ``

Harry shrugged, unworried. At least there was a good stead for to house the destruction eater. Of course Harry would prefer if they were all kept in nice safe coffins but this was the next best thing. While they had been talking Draco had turned back to the silent Bromus secalinus game.

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

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

"Who ‘ s winning ?"

"I think Ron ‘ s ahead by two games."

"Well that ‘ s-"

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

"I have over eight C chess display board in this house."Malfoy said idly as he nudged a instrument forward."You ‘ re welcome to try and encounter all of them. Maybe you ‘ ll get lost along the way."

"But not today. Got you."Ron said triumphantly as he slid his dub forward. Harry frowned, even he, with his loose undemanding of the biz, could see that it wasn't a checkmate. But apparently Malfoy could see something he couldn't, the blond boy hunched over the plug-in for a few present moment then,

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

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

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

Harry grinned at the spectacle then pushed his empty plate away and stood to leave.

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

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


"There ‘ s no chance he ‘ s going to unpack."Padma whispered across the marauder table.

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

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

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

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

All their preparation had been done. All the course of action books had been read and so many biz of exploding walkover had been played that they all had little lilliputian burns on the conclusion of their fingers. There was nothing else to do, literally nil. They had looked, tried to come in up with other affair to do. They had failed.

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

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

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

"We could swop and do each others."Parvati pointed out. At the oecumenical shock she just shrugged."I ‘ m that bored."

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

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

"Well… oh."

The marauders lapsed into silence. Defeated again.

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

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

"Let ‘ s go. Quickly."

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

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


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

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

'' My Father. '' Draco lugged the nut case over. `` It 's just junk. '' True to his word he shoved three vase off a display pedestal to put the case in their place. `` Now ... teams. ``

'' I call captain ! '' Ginny yelled.

'' Me too. '' Ron nodded.

'' Right, '' Malfoy was still looking the former way. `` headwaiter are Ginerva and myself. ``

'' But- ''

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

'' Which unity ? ``

'' The quidditch playing ones. '' Malfoy rolled his eyes. Fred and George V reluctantly went over to bear by Malfoy.

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

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

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

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

'' Shut up and release the bludgers. ``
*


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

'' Goal ! '' Ginny spun on the slur, pumping her fist in the air.

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

tinker's dam it he was right, Ginny shot forward after him. If only the canary would seem ! It should n't be so hard to catch it in this put in sphere. Unfortunately the charms on the snitch were never designed to dole out with an second maze of cabinets and as a result it kept moving erratically. They had found and lost it three fourth dimension already. Ginny saw Malfoy trying to seduce and being blocked by Ron. She took the chance to take another flavour for it.

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

Ginny narrowly avoided colliding with the bulwark. A clump behind her told her Malfoy wasn't so lucky. There it was ! Right near the quoin of the room. Ginny sped up, it was so close ! Her fingerbreadth closed around it. And it felt ... wrong.

Ginny drew to a stop, holding the matter in her mitt. It was gold, but it wasn't a canary. It was a cup, a little gold plated teacup, still struggling to escape from her digit. Draco hovered in next to her, looking perplexed.

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

"What is it ?"

"It ‘ s a teacup Weasley how dense are you ?"Draco insulted idily, still staring at the diminutive thing."Or did you always just drink out of a public treasury at your house ?"

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

The other piranha came in closer, staring at it.

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

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

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

"It ‘ s just a preparation snitch. It comes when it ‘ s called."Malfoy held out his hand."Ollyollyoxen !"In a flash of atomic number 79 the snitch darted down from the ceiling and settled in his hand.

"Lets go."He said curtly, jerked his head and floated off towards the door.

"shot we ‘ re not walking."Hermione murmured as the marauder flew after him. The corridor was fairly nail down and the marauders had to fly in single file. The empty portraits were here as well, even the animals in the landscape painting had left.

"Do you hear that ?"Neville whispered and clumsily stopped.

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

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

secretiveness filled the hallway for a moment, then ... a remote noise. It sounded like an explosion underwater, muffled by the bulwark. The marauders looked at each former, they had all heard it.

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

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

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

"My house Weasley."Malfoy cut her off."It ‘ s coming from beneath us. This way."Malfoy gibe forward and turned sharply into a side corridor. Ginny rushed to preserve up with him and she could hear the marauders behind her doing the same. A threshold was toss away capable in figurehead of them and Ginny spun into it, following the blond flash in front of her. Down some steps, along a prospicient shadow hall, next - STOP !

Ginny had to break harshly to avoid hitting Malfoy who was hopping off his Calluna vulgaris in strawman of a large wooden door.

"You ! You ... !"

"What ‘ s the affair Weasley ?"Malfoy shouldered his broom."Had trouble keeping up ?"

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

"We ‘ re here."As Malfoy said it a loud bang issued from the other side of the door. Ginny looked behind her to see the piranha just coming around the box. Hermione looked terrified, Neville looked ill.

"well lets see then."Malfoy drew his wand and pushed at the intemperate door. It slowly crept open. Inside was an vacate hall, looked like it was usually used for computer memory or something. The only things left were a few odd tables and a few loge. In the center of the elbow room stood Harry, bare chested with his scratch pure white against his tanned and sweating peel. On a box next to him was a odd great deal of junk. As they watched he took a plate and held his scepter to it. At a whispered word there were two plates, then three, then four. Harry dropped the archetype back into the slew and tapped the fraud with his baton. They instantly flew off in all way. Harry jabbed his wand and in a fraction of a second-

BANG ! One shattered near the ceiling. Harry whirled. BANG ! Shattering into sherd. bang ! Smashing the side and sending the last shell spinning into the wall.

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

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

"You don ‘ t need to preserve duplicating things you know."Malfoy said dryly."I ‘ ve got tons of this junk."

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

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

Ginny looked where Hermione was pointing and swallowed fearfully. Arranged in a neat row along the table was a incisive and wickedly curved sword, a short spear with a lighting bolt carved into the helve, a round lump that had hole for finger and seemed to be glowing from within and no less than three muggle firearms.

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

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

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

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

Malfoy was the first of all to speak.

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

"I may need spares."Harry shrugged.

"Harry is this stuff dark trick ?"Hermione was shying away from the table.

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

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

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

"Wh ... wh ..."

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

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

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

'' Harry, do you not call up that using a scepter you stole from a utterly death eater is a bit ... '' Malfoy swallowed. `` A bit ... creepy ? ``

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

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

'' And lay on the line it not working as well as this one does ? '' Harry balanced the thick, twisted baton on the edge of his hand before flicking it up into the air and catching it, all the while with the gun held nonchalantly in his other hand. `` This one piece of work for me, maybe as well as my old one did. Besides ... it sorting of fit does n't it ? This verge 's done a lot of violence in it 's lifetime. Lots of hurting, fighting, and that 's exactly what I intend to use it for. ``

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

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

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

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

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

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

"I have to defend Voldemort and you know what ? I ‘ ll lose !"Harry slashed the air angrily."I ‘ ll lose, I mean what else would chance ? I spotty, ignorant 15 yr old against the most severe wizard on the major planet ? I ‘ ll lose, he ‘ ll win, we ‘ ll all be screwed. Don ‘ t you see ? I can ‘ t afford to be an nescient teenager any more. I have to be better. I need to be better. Because I can ‘ t lose, can ‘ t afford to lose. None of us can open for me to suffer. Do you have it off what it feels like to know that the whole world is royally screwed if you fail ? No ? Then shut up ! Don't try to halt me and don ‘ t ask me why ! I know why, and if you took a microsecond to retrieve you ‘ d know why too !"

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

"Harry ... you don ‘ t know when the prophecy will happen."Neville surprisingly spoke up."Maybe you won ‘ t be fifteen. Maybe you ‘ ll be 20, or thirty. Maybe you have fourth dimension ..."

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

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

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

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

"Dumbledore said-"

"Dumbledore has been wrongly before."Malfoy cut her off."It hurts aught to be fix in case he ‘ s wrong this time."

"But Harry could be killed !"

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

"Of course not, but-"

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

"goodness point."Ginny was surprised to pick up her own articulation. Oh no now everyone was looking at her, serious say something."And since we ‘ re all prey maybe we should try learning some stuff too."

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

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

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

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

"Good."Harry hoisted a glass bowl onto his shoulder and discard it out into the room. He aimed his sceptre and muttered under his breath. The pipe bowl melted and splattered into a steaming heap on the floor."There are some things I want to ask him too."
*


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

"Hu ?"Draco turned from his progress towards the doorway."What do you have in mind ‘ Where am I going'? I ‘ m going to the kitchen."

"You come back here unseasoned man !"

"Why ? I ‘ m not your family. Nor am I one of these other waifs you seem to deliver adopted. I don ‘ t care for your persuasion, nor for your misplaced and overworked parental instinct. I ‘ m certainly not going to let you holler at me while you live under my roof."Draco turned back to the doorway ...

"Get back here !"

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

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

"Tonks."Dragon smiled and walked through the now crowded kitchen to where his cousin was sitting. next to the werewolf. Dragon shuddered inwardly and sat on her early position."I couldn ‘ t eat another fried breakfast anyway. Any Thomas More and my Calluna vulgaris won ‘ t be able to oblige me."

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

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

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

"Don ‘ t William Tell him."

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

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

"How ‘ d you get away ?"Draco asked.

"Disillusion."Harry shrugged."That abstruse into a tirade I doubt she ‘ ll reckoning how many people she ‘ s shouting at. So ... when ‘ s Dumbledore getting here ?"

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

"Professor, can I talk to you ab-"

"After the meeting Harry."Dumbledore brushed him off."You have my word. But right now some of the order members have important commission they must get back to quickly."

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

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

"What was that ?"

"What ?"

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

"I ‘ m always nice."

"You ‘ re always up to something."

"Are you suggesting ?"Harry drew himself up haughtily."That I am only skillful when I have an agenda ? That I am manipulative and self serving that way ? That I would only be calm if I, oh say ... wanted to skid a listening gimmick into the pocket of somebody ‘ s robes before they went into an decree meeting ... or something like that ?"
*


Snape stepped into the manor and strode towards the chief dining elbow room. He wasn't late precisely, just ... no longer appropriately immediate. He pushed the door open and walked to the open seat side by side to Natalie.

"Have I missed anything important ?"

"Attacks."The awful was idly scraping her finger's breadth along the edge of a copy of the daily prophesier."Dark marks. wiz and witches we suspect have been turned, or put under the lordly curse.

'' zippo of import then. ``

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

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

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

'' Yes. '' Snape brought himself back to the task at hand. `` The dark God Almighty is moving. ``

'' fountainhead duh. '' The voice near the end of the table was swiftly silenced by a 2-dimensional stare.

'' The dark lord is moving more specifically. Now that Johnny Reb is dead all but a few of the lycanthrope have deserted him. He seeks new troops to sew scare, he has chosen to acquire by strong wealth this time rather than empty promises. He is arranging purchase of magnanimous turn of various exotic specie, lethifolds primarily. Chimaeras if it can find a unforced seller. ``

'' Why ? '' lupine asked from down the table. `` Why mindless beasts ? ``

'' Precisely because they are mindless. '' Snape explained. `` His criminal army from Azkaban has not been as effective as he hoped. ``

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

'' But only in their own content. They have not followed order of magnitude well, they are distracted. The wickedness lord has killed a lot of them, he seems tired of human failing. In a way he does n't want an army, he wants a weapon. Something he can unleash at will. Doubtless he will be employing the prideful curse to see that his will is done. ``

'' It does n't do work on lethifolds. '' Lupin said with certainty. A niggling sniff of sculptural relief slid through Snape 's judgement, swiftly swallowed up with darkness.

'' But it does puzzle out on chimeras. And on manticores. ``

'' mantiger ? '' The former defense teachers eyes grew wide.

'' wellspring, mantichora at demonstrate. But he is looking for others. ``

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

'' Both because that would make them less effective fighters and because long vulnerability to the Dementors seems to have made them surprisingly resistant to genial attacks. '' Snape leant closer over the table to talk to the order as a whole. `` I have the appointment he plans to meet with creature traders. If we arrange a trap we can get ahead of him and- ''

'' No. '' Dumbledore spoke with quiet authority.

'' We can not allow this to happen. ``

'' If we act he will assuredly guess the rootage of our information. '' Dumbledore shook his bearded head. `` You are too valuable at salute to put on the line. You are our merely seed of information. ``

'' info we never act on. '' Snape clenched his fist on the insensate mahogany board. `` What use is my spying ... what use is this fiat if we are too scared to ever act. ``

'' We can not act rashly. ``

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

'' We could instead liaise with the foreign auror section. '' Snape tried to trick himself into thinking this was anything other than a price limiting attempt. `` They could pick up some of the traders before the dark Lord can meet with them. ``

'' Perhaps, '' Dumbledore nodded. `` There are very few people we can trust. I will try to get in middleman with some old friends that may be able to help. ``

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

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

"Is there anything else ?"

"Barty Crouch still has not returned."Snape shook his head, Barty Crouch had become Voldemort's favorite, surpassing even Belatrix. Snape had hoped at one sentence that Barty's loser to gain the ministry would enumerate against him, and it had, but apparently throwing it into upheaval had been enough. That and successfully bringing Harry Potter directly to the darkness lord. All that made it even more mistrustful that Barty was absent from dying eater gathering. The dark lord kept his servants close, if he was letting one off their tether then it had to be for something important.

"Do you recollect he has left the country ?"soul down the board asked.

"It is possible."Snape nodded."But whatever he is doing it has it ‘ s rootage here. The dark God Almighty has always intended to take this country before moving on to the residuum of the populace. That has not changed. It may also demand espionage."

"Why do you say that ?"

"It is Barty Crouch ‘ s specialty is it not ?"Snape shrugged."But the dark noble has ordered me to begin researching polyjuice potion in an effort to make it work for any humanoid species."

"You think it is connected ?"

"I do not know."Snape answered honestly."It could just as easily be involved in his attempts to gain the support of the giants."

"The shadow Almighty plans are like spiderwebs."Natalie said softly."We can assume everything is connected."If anyone other than Snape heard her they said nothing.

"Is that all ?"

"other than hours of listening to the darkness lords darkness pontificating on the subject of the death or subjugation of all muggles ?"snake in the grass crooked an eyebrow."No."

'' trade good. What newsworthiness from the ministry ? '' Dumbledore had turned to Shacklebolt, who sighed and shook his head.

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

A general groan went up from around the room. Snape just closed his eyes and took a tranquillize breath. After the events of last year the ministry had been fractured to its very gist. The near-election of a dying eater had made them dreaded as hare. Fudge had, the moment Dumbledore left the building, ran back to his office and virtually barricaded himself inside. All summer he had been wrangling the ministry around to the idea that his expulsion was not valid because of the dissembling of Barty Crouch Jr.

That was, Snape had to admit, technically true. Although the voting to remove Fudge had been won by a comfortable margin the original motion to move out a minister for deception could only be tabled by a member of the Wizengamot. Crouch Jr was not a appendage, only impersonating one, therefore the gesture and, by propagation, the vote was void. A bit of bureaucratic foolishness that meant they were stuck with that cockeyed man until someone else drummed up enough musical accompaniment to oust him.

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

'' Ours too. '' Shacklebolt rumbled.

'' The whole ministry does. '' King Arthur Weasley added. `` The whole wizarding universe. The trouble is that no one wants to put in a nomination for fear of looking like they 're following Crouch 's exercise. ``

'' So we put someone forward. '' Snape said definitely. `` We field a prospect no one can argue is a death eater. ``

'' And they will be shot down by those who resent Dumbledore interfering in the ministry. Fudge was not the only one. '' Shacklebolt shook his head. `` I realize this opinion may not be the most wanton to listen, but perhaps we should allow him to delay for now. ``

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

'' I realize the situation is not nonsuch. '' Shacklebolt held his paw up. `` But Fudge is scared to touch any cognise decree phallus or anyone else who waves Dumbledore 's standard. As a result he is leaving the aurors bureau and the repose of the department relatively untouched. We can stock out our work without any overbearing oversight for now. And besides, with all the ex-Azkaban residents running around causing trouble we do not have time for a political battle on top of that. If we can not have a sympathetic diplomatic minister of deception, one that stays out of our way is a full second pick. ``

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

Snape grimaced but did n't comment. Once more goose egg would be done.

'' Is guard obligation for the next week set up ? '' Dumbledore asked the assembled gild. There was a ecumenical nodding. It had not been hard to organize, not with a appendage inside the department of mysteries.

'' Then we should all get back to oeuvre. '' Dumbledore stood. `` And we should all set for attacks by magical beings. lupine can, I 'm surely, remind you of the best methods to repel them. ``

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

'' My sentry go duty is scheduled for Tuesday, at eleven. ``

'' I 'll be indisputable to be in the office then. '' Natalie nodded. Snape knew that he would be living for Tuesday at eleven. He reluctantly turned and made for the threshold. Unfortunately there was a blockage, the unharmed order was bunched up at the wide forked door. Snape quickly pushed to the straw man and was almost forced to laugh.

Harry had built a barricade.

The 5th year was sitting casually on an rescind desk, resting his foot on a drawer. The rest of the arching bulwark was mostly death chair and tables, and one suit of armor.

'' Harry this was not requirement. '' Dumbledore stepped forward, his men stretched peacefully. `` I promised we would mouth. ``

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

'' Harry you are not old enough to get together the order. ``

'' You think Voldemort will care ? ``

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

'' right field. '' Harry dropped off his rod and landed, cat like, on the floor. `` 'Cos that tactic 's make for wizard so far. You know I have to fight. I have to oppose him. ``

'' Harry I have made my decision. ``

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

'' Harry ceramist I have had enough of this. '' Dumbledore waved his wand angrily. The roadblock disappeared with a deafening crack. `` You will stay where I put you until it is safe for you to do otherwise. If you will dispense with no thought for your own safety others must do it for you. You will stick around here. You will be rubber here. ``

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

'' How Harry ? '' Dumbledore crooked an eyebrow, but his common good humour was gone.

'' I 'll let you stew over it. '' Harry folded his weapon. `` I want to fight. I want to sit in order group meeting. I want a private instructor to teach me to duel. ``

'' You may have none of those affair. '' Dumbledore was n't moving, just standing like a statue. Radiating menace. `` As for defense breeding you will find it at Hogarts, in your unconstipated denial class. ``

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

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

The order penis began to shuffle out, giving Harry a wide berth. lupin in particular was staring at him with what could only be described as loathing. Snape walked up to the solitary student.

'' Perhaps you should not antagonise him. ``

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

'' Few hoi polloi do. ``

'' You ? ``

'' No. ``

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

I should have expected that question. Snape took a breath to present himself sentence to consider his response.

'' No. ``

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

'' If I teach you then you will fall into the lying in wait of thinking you are ready. '' Snape shook his head. `` I could choke on everything I know to you and you would still suffer to the shadow lord because I would lose to the night noble. ``

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

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

'' I 'm not an idiot. ``

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

'' Have n't been young for weeks. '' Harry drew up his sleeve and unclipped an unexpected bracer. `` Not since I got this. ``

Snape momentarily thought of asking where he had got the evilness eye pick-me-up but thought better of it. The result was of no finicky use. He almost wanted to ask if Harry had a spare.

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

'' mulct. '' Harry seemed defeated, distant. `` Will you at least teach me occlumency ? I ca n't use that to campaign. ``

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


'' mulct. '' Harry muttered to himself. `` I 'll try Dwight Lyman Moody. ``
*


The marauder had to hunt down Harry again that evening. He had disappeared before dinner and was nowhere to be seen. The margin wards had n't been tripped but with Harry that meant succeeding to nothing. They found him in a obsolete staircase, sitting in the rainbow fuzz of a stained glass window. With the lightly mottling his skin like some jungle cat the piranha hesitated to approach him.

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

'' Not hungry. ``

'' What were you doing ? ``

'' Begging. Again. '' Harry let out a rough, sick, laugh. `` Full R-2. ``

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

'' Not money. '' Harry was still looking up into the light source. `` I 've spent the evening beggary guild extremity, aurors ... everyone really, to teach me to push. dissipation of my time ... '' Harry trailed off shaking his head.

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

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

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

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

'' Well ... maybe you could ask whoever they get to teach demurrer this yr. '' Hermione suggested. `` Or maybe they 'll be really skillful any you wo n't have to. ``

'' You do n't get it ! '' Harry covered his fount with his manpower. `` It 's not just chucking around a mates of mantrap. None of you have seen a real magician affaire d'honneur, not proper dueling. Not like what Voldermort 's capable of. Not like what I 'll have to be capable of if I want to stand a chance at winning. None of you have seen it. ``

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

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

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

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

'' Yes your poor over-traveled and long-suffering boo has found my owlery. '' Malfoy rolled his centre. `` If you 're going to globetrot you should really tell your owl to stick around home. ``

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


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

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

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

'' Should practice shell too. '' Harry switched the Orange River to both hired man then quickly back to his right.

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

'' Let 's go then. '' Harry pocketed the yield and led the confused predator, and Malfoy, from the room. As Harry pushed the door open he pulled up brusk. lupin was frozen in front of him, his hired hand raised to reach out for the door. His grinning had frozen and dropped into the scowl he always wore on seeing Harry.

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

Lupin seemed to almost growl but cut himself off and pushed past tense Harry into the kitchen.

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

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

'' Before what ? ``

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

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


This was n't the hold up Harry heard about it though. lupine lived in the house, they bumped into each early all the time. Each prison term Harry was met by the same ichor hatred. It was kind of disconcerting. Eventually Harry learned lupin 's routine and managed to mostly stay out of his way. Of course it helped that he spent at least ten minute a day in the abandon cellar, sometimes with the marauders, sometimes with Draco, sometimes alone. Each day when Harry finally dropped himself into an icy bath to soothe his injure human body he felt a variety of fiery satisfaction.

He was getting better !

He could flap any of the predator one on one, even the Twin. Draco was better, at the start he had beaten Harry a lot. Well, no ... at the very start Harry had won. Then Harry had raged at the blond and forced him to really cut loose and use some of the foul dark magic his Padre had taught him. With those go in his arsenal genus Draco had been winning, but Harry was clawing back. He was getting better, there was no denying that. Every throbbing bruise, every morning waking up aching was a victory because he was getting better. And that was n't even considering his other toys.

Harry shifted his feet to rest on the top of a mahogany desk in the sign subroutine library ( there was some unspoiled stuff here, more spells to play with ) when the door creaked open.

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


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

'' The gentleman's gentleman 's guide to good and efficient application of pain. '' Harry read calmly off the covert of the book.

'' Oh ... '' There was no very reply to that. `` Any unspoiled ? ``

'' Never knew there were so many uses for a riding crop. '' Harry folded the Sir Frederick Handley Page down and looked up at her. `` How are you doing ? rules of order keeping you engaged ? ``

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

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

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

'' I try. '' Harry brightened up. `` Want to duel sometime ? You do n't accept to teach or lecture or anything just a friendly duel ? ``

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

'' Dumbledore does n't experience to roll in the hay. '' Harry urged weedlingly.

'' Sorry Harry. ``

'' tinker's damn. '' Harry sighed and looked like he was going to say something else but just shook his head. `` Never mind. Was there something you wanted or did you just come to chaffer ? ``

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

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

'' Remus Lupin. ``

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

'' Do you know what 's wrong with him ? '' Tonks pulled a pot and sat on the early slope of the desk. From this angle Harry resembled a very appraising interviewer. His beaten and frayed steel-capped kick up on one side of the desk and a huge pile of suspicious rule book on the early. In between he was regarding her piercingly over his wire glasses.

'' What 's unseasonable with him. '' Harry repeated levelly. `` Apart from the unhurt fur and fangs thing ? ``

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

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

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

'' They are in my experience. ``

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

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

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

'' I 'm gloomy Tonks, '' Harry held up his hands. `` I know what you 're trying to say. But I 've only ever met one werewolf who has n't tried to vote out me and even he sometimes acts like he wants to. Pardon me for not having a great belief of the species. When I meet a wolfman who does n't act like the behemoth they are inside maybe I 'll think differently. Until then I think my hatred is apologise. '' Harry voice was flinty and astute, and more than a minuscule scary.

'' I 'm no-good Harry. '' Tonks repeated. `` They 're not all bad, I wish I could make you see that. You just ... I guess I ca n't. You seem to have been forced to see the worst of everything. ``

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

'' Remus ... or professor Lupin. Before you came here he was ... different. ``

'' I 've heard. ``

'' He was really funny. ``

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

'' He had loads of these stories about what he did when he was Danton True Young. ``

'' Chase milkmen ? ``

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

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

'' But why ? ``

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

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

'' expert I can come up with is I remind him too much of what he lost. '' Harry shrugged. Tonks considered this. Harry 's guessing was probably worth an essay from anyone else, the kid could interpret people scarily well. Harry continued, `` I mean I get the belief he did n't talk to much of anyone after my parents died. He may fault me make out to call up of it. You know ... for their decease. ``

'' That does n't sound like Lupin. ``

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

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

'' check safe Tonks. '' Harry flicked his book back open.

'' You too Harry. ``
*


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

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

'' Why would I be angry Ginsters ? '' Harry smiled a slight smugly.

'' We 're going back to Hogwarts, under Dumbledore 's quarter round. '' Ginny shrugged. `` I dunno I just sort of expected you to try and get off or something. ``

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

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

When they walked in the feast had already started. The vulture were forced to detect a bring in subdivision of table with the unit manor hall murmuring and pointing.

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

'' heap of parents decided to maintain their tyke dwelling this class. '' Annapurna said sadly. `` Our parents almost did but well ... ''

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

'' Wonder who the new defense teacher is ? '' Ron gestured with a chicken leg at the empty space on the teacher 's tabular array. Ron looked down the mesa. `` Oy ! Dean ! Did they annunciate anything about the new instructor ? ``

'' Nothing ! '' Came the shouted response. The vulture collectively shrugged, except for Harry who just smiled faintly.

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

'' bookman ! '' Dumbledore stood. The Granville Stanley Hall quieted down. `` I have a few announcements to puddle. Firstly, as you may have realized, some of your schoolfellow have decided not to link us. This is of course of instruction their pick, or that of their parents, and I hope that you treat then no differently if they decide to rejoin us. Secondly as you know, if you do not live on the synodic month, the iniquity lord has returned. I wish to make both that and this side by side fact perfectly clear. He can not hurt you here. Behind the walls of Hogwarts you are safe. Thirdly, and most happily, we have a new defensive structure teacher. One that, I am indisputable you will all enjoy learning from. So I would receive you to join me in saying welcome, or more correctly receive back, to professor M- ''

'' Yes ! Your prayers have been answered ! '' The Brobdingnagian room access to the bully manse boomed open. `` I am, thanks to massive public demand, spinal column ! ``

'' It 's him ! ``

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

'' Yes ! ``

'' Yes ! ``

'' Horray ! ``

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

'' I 'm back in the country ! spinal column in natural action ! Back in print ! The one, the only MARKUS TRIPPLE M Albert Abraham Michelson ! '' The blond giant punched the air and the hall jumped to their feet in sunniness. `` But please ... call me Maximus. No no wait ... call me Professor Maximus. ``
*


Harry dropped out of his window that night after everyone had eventually gone to sleep and made his way down to the rooftops. Finding Michelson 's office was well-to-do, the light was still guttering from the fling under the door. Harry knocked calmly, a here and now later the door opened.

'' Was wondering if I 'd see you tonight Pipsqueak. ``

'' wellspring I had to recognise the new professor. '' Harry stepped into the office, it was already all set out. It looked almost exactly the same as it had three class ago, with one or two add-on. Harry list to attend at a shifting wizard characterisation. It showed a vast crowd of masses, all but one of them looking African, standing in rows like a shoal exposure. Sticking out like a sore thumb was Markus Michelson in the tierce row, grinning and jerking his thumb at the matter behind them. Even lying on it 's side it towered over even Markus, spotted and studded with gig and burn cicatrix it looked like a ...

'' You did it ! '' Harry turned grinning to his teacher. `` Nundu Richard Morris Hunt ! ``

'' hold it down with only if eighty six people. '' Michelson nodded smugly. `` New world disk. I got the tail. ``

'' Nice. '' Harry grinned. `` Have you been in Africa the unanimous clip ? ``

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

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

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

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

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

'' No. '' Harry rolled his eyes. `` He wants to cover me up in bubble wrapper. Want 's to prevent me safe and out of danger. ``

'' Big men like us pull danger. '' Markus said definitely. `` entirely way to be safe is to know how to attend after yourself, and you 're hardly a child. Not after what you 've been through. ``

'' My thought exactly. ``

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

'' Now ? '' Harry flicked his wand out of his sleeve. `` Now 's good. ``



If you do n't exit a revue YOU WILL DIE ! Really .... you will ... eventually ...


I do n't own Harry Potter. No one owns Harry thrower ! He does not experience a numeral ! He is a unfreeze man !



"Mr Potter."

"professor Dumbledore."Harry looked up from the breakfast table."Hi, how are you ? Would you like a pop fancy woman ?"

"No Mr thrower, I would not."

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

"Mr potter where were you last night ?"

"I assume in bed."Harry replied calmly.

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

shucks it. Harry tried not to scratch the pick-me-up on his wrist. He had been so hoping the evil eye could protect him from Dumbledore's map.

"Your map must be faulty."Harry grinned.

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

"I didn ‘ t leave."

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

"Getting a little angry professor ?"Harry asked."Maybe your map ... no, maybe your knowledge isn ‘ t as complete as you think."

"I dislike being kept in the dark."

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


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

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

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

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

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

"The room of demand ?"

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

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

"Wh ... why ?"Ron asked.

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

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

Harry paused for a moment before answering ...

"Yes."

... and walking on out of the Attic. The marauders shared a long look and followed him.
*


Potions passed uneventfully. Harry split his prison term between the Christian Bible on his articulatio genus and the caldron in presence of him meaning that his potion wasn't even near finished. but at least it didn't explode. spell was next and Harry didn't annoyance paying aid there either, though in this case it was because he already knew how to give aim wings. He could feed them swan wings if he wanted, or hulk nigrify leathery I. When the lesson was over Harry didn't even bother to speak, he just gathered his stuff and rushed back to the bean. Ginny met them on the way.

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

"No."

"But I ‘ m hungry !"

"phone call Dobby."Harry shed his robe and stepped into the nub of the with child empty space."Malfoy, you first."

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

"Did I ?"Harry froze.

"well you ‘ re not using it."

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

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

"Ferio ! Stupefy !"Harry shot Malfoy's spell out of the air and threw his own a moment after. The blond boy shielded and Harry was forced to duck under his own stunner."Fulgar Fletch !"Harry flicked his wand and sent a swarm of sparkling blades flickering through the air towards the momentarily shocked Malfoy.

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

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

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

"Bloody Hades !"Harry heard Fred vociferation at the like sentence as his similitude yelled,"Hornets !"

"Arg ! Ouch !"Harry felt stings on every small-arm of open pulp. Burning all across his pelt like a chemical fire. Another superstar would have been overpowered by the bother, but Harry had felt far far worse."Take this ! Tempesto !"

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

"Eat it Blondie."Harry grinned and flicked his wand towards his opponent. The Slytherin's triumphant grin suddenly turned to venerate and pain as the swarm engulfed him.

"Fin-ow ! Fi- bloody things ! Finite Crabro !"The hornets disappeared and Draco was left rumpled and snarling in the midsection of the whirlwind. Harry let it storm for another second before canceling it too. The two combatants stared each former down for a few moments, both pockmarked with stings and sweating.

"Maybe you two should stop."Hermione suggested hesitantly from the sidelines."Before you hurt yourselves. More I mean."

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

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

"Confringo !"

"Protego !"Harry's shield was up in plenty of metre to block the whammy."Ha ! Nice-"Harry's shield shattered and he was lifted off his fundament as his chest exploded in pain. He was thrown backwards and rolled across the pitted and scarred floor. He jerked before he hit the slanted wall and managed to bear on himself to his pes. His sceptre was gone, rolled across the storey away from him.

"Damn it ! Damn it ! Stupid crashing cuticle !"

"Are you spite Harry ?"Malfoy called out.

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

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

"I ‘ ve read the possibility. I ‘ ve read the master composition. I ‘ ve read the unanimous book."Harry grabbed his wand off the level."I don ‘ t get it. It ‘ s a appeal, it ‘ s a staple bloody charm and I can ‘ t do it right."

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

"Well Voldemort won ‘ t use basic spells !"Harry punched the floor violently."He ‘ ll use filthy, evil, powerful spells."

"You ‘ re right."Malfoy said flatly."He ‘ ll be using the killing curse and it won ‘ t matter if you have the best shield in the world. If you don ‘ t dodge you ‘ re dead."

"Simplification."Harry waved the comment away."come on, we ‘ ve got time for another duel before creatures. Unless we skip it ..."

"We can ‘ t."Hermione said automatically.

"Especially since we know Voldemort ‘ s boosting his army with dreary creatures."Padma agreed.

"mulct fine."Harry shook his brain."Ron and Hermione, duel me."

"Both of us ?"

"Like, at the Saame time ?"

"Yes."Harry shucked off his travail soaked tee shirt."Get on with it."

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

"Neither ‘ s this."Harry blasted the floor board by Ron's metrical foot causing him to yap like a puppy."Draw your bloody wands."

In the end they were glad for the outdoor setting of creatures, although they were the only single not wearing coats. Harry eased his aching left manus in a slow down round, it was deserving it. It would be worth it. Harry listened with half an ear to the object lesson, it was about unicorns. The chances of Voldemort sending an army on unicorns was low to laughable so Harry lidded his optic and dozed.
*


As the example ended Parvati turned towards Harry to wake him and found that someone had beaten her to it. someone unexpected.

"Oh no."She whispered under her breath.

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

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

"rich person you met Harry ?"

Parvati's marrow dropped and they watched deaf-mute as the figure tapped Harry on the shoulder.

"Hello Susan."Harry said calmly, then opened his heart."Is the lesson over ?"

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

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

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

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

"You didn ‘ t write. The whole summertime ! You didn ‘ t say good day before you left. You just ... disappeared."

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

"Wh ... what is this Harry ?"Susan swallowed."Am I still your girl ? Are we arguing ? Are we breaking up or did you break up with me at the end of last class and just block to differentiate me ?"

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

Susan just stood there, her hands lightly clenching the material of her robe. Staring into space. As the similitude watched she sobbed wetly and drew a handwriting across her eyes before running off towards the greenhouses, one arm shielding her face from any passer by.

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

"Cruel. Harsh. common cold. Evil."Padma finished for her.

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

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


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

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

"No I ‘ m not."Harry interrupted, and disappeared. Padma saw the shadow of a disillusionment relocation off down a musical passage but lost it a moment later.

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


"Is this it now ?"Padma asked her sister as they got cook for bed."conflict all day ? Let Harry bruise us up, ignore his new mental attitude and get ready for tomorrow so he can do it all over again ?"

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

"He has a suspicious way of showing it."

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

"He ‘ s wrong !"Anapurna insisted emotionally.

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


Snape was awakened in the eye of the Night by glowing silver lightness. One of the welfare of being an occlumens was totality mental control and Snape was awake in an instant. As his eye flickered undecided he groaned inwardly, then thought punter of it and groaned outwardly.

"What is it you old fool ?"Snape said angrily. The phoenix patronus couldn't hear him and wouldn't report back so it was a staring target area to air out at.

"Come to my office immediately Severus. It is about Harry."

Snape was already out the door before the ash gray razz disappeared. He shucked his robe on as he hurried down the corridor. time lag, why was he walking ? Was Harry's safety less important than not looking stupefied. Snape broke into a run. The sound of his flapping base filled the corridor as he hammered towards the master's office.

"Slug ice-cream."The gargoyle slid aside and Snape threw himself into the stairwell. The stairs began to develop, painfully slowly. Snape gasped his breather back as he silently urged them to go faster. Eventually the Headmaster's door came into aspect and Snape pushed it open air quickly and said,"Albus ! I ‘ m here."

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

Snape blinked in confusion for a moment, then noticed the paper on Dumbledore's desk. He stepped unaired and saw that it was an early transcript of the Prophet. This was the emergency ? Perhaps he was missing something ?
execution AFOOT

Dannion LeSang was found absolutely in his home plate this morning. A window of his penthouse flat had been shattered, possibly so that the killer could gain entryway. Once inside pitiable Mr LeSang was beaten horribly, with a blunt instrument, possibly a board leg. The aurors have cordoned off the area and refused to release any detals but this reporter has discovered that his trauma were not what killed him. Oh no he was poisoned ! Poisoned by a toxin that the ministry

HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE !

Is there a psychotic killer at loose ? The aurors gave no comment, perhaps because they as yet, know nil ! Why anyone would want to kill Mr LeSang is unknown, perhaps an old rival from his foresighted and distinguished quidditch career ...


Snape dropped the paper in disgust.

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

"Dannion LeSang was a known death eater."

"I am cognisant that Dannion LeSang was a death eater. Do you perhaps remember who informed you that Dannion LeSang was a death feeder ? Who gave you the shocking tidings that the daring, smiling, star chaser for the Wigtown Wanderers loved to excruciate muggles ? Do you ?"

"It was you."

"It was me."

"You do not think his death is important ?"

"I do not think his expiry involved Harry."

"No rescript member was involved."

"Albus there are people other than the order who despise death eaters."Snape felt like laughing, and did."People other than Harry as well. Perhaps-"Snape was cut off as the door to the part was flung undefendable again.

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

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

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

Harry reached out slowly and took the paper, his eyes scanning from one side to the other. After a moment he looked up.

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

"You were not in history of conjuration yesterday."Dumbledore said pointedly."Did you leave the rook ?"

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

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

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

"I did not think you had the acquirement to brew it Harry. But I know you have the imagination to buy it."

"fountainhead I didn ‘ t."Harry threw the paper on the floor. `` Can I go ? ``

Dumbledore leant back, meeting Harry 's eyes with his own flinty stare. For a hanker bit the old wizard and the young stared each early down across the silent office. Snape could almost feel the sparking magic as the master tried to force Harry 's idea opened. After a moment Harry snorted and said,

'' Whatever. '' Harry turned and pushed the threshold open. `` fire up me if you have any other unsolved murder you want to pin on a scapegoat. ``

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

'' Do you think him Severus ? ``

'' Yes. ``

'' Why pray tell ? ``

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


'' Mr Potter. ``

Hmmm ...

'' Harry Potter ! ``

Hmmm ... sleepy.

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

Dumbledore 's fault. blame Dumbledore. Wanted to sleep ...

'' Alright fine Mr potter. You have driven me to this. '' There was secretiveness for a few import, then ... `` Sonorus. HARRY ceramist GET UP ! ``

Harry was buffeted by audio and slowly, blearily, rubbed his centre. In front of him was a broken vitrified pulpit. Harry reached forward and picked it up.

'' You broke my field glass. '' Harry reached up to his cheek to wee-wee surely his own deoxyephedrine were n't broken then drew his scepter and repaired the Champaign glass. He did n't even know what he was supposed to be turning it into, possibly some sort of squid.

Why a calamary ?

We were dreaming about a squid.

That makes no sense.

Shut up.

I ca n't shut up I 'm function of your brain.

I 'll lobotomize you.

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

She is looking sort of angry.

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

The chicken feed split up along its top, flipped upside down and scuttled along the desk blowing gassy bubbles out of a fleshy hump. Harry smiled,

'' See ! I did Ok. ''

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

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

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

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

'' Would you hazard a guess ? ``

'' Well ... '' Harry tried to gum together an explanation from his shaky noesis of Greek. `` fountainhead Kalamaraki means squid ... and I think Krasi is some variety of vegetable ... ''

'' Harry ... ''

'' Yes ? ``

'' Go back to log Z's. ``

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


Harry slipped into bed that Nox confident in the knowledge that he had got at least two minute sleep over the course of study of the day. He dozed with an alarm clock under pillow until it sounded and prompted him to shuck his cover off and leant out of the window. He looked over towards the schoolmaster 's tower, the light was still on. Harry flicked a pair of binoculars out of his bag and focused in on the faraway windowpane. Dumbledore was staring into a pensive, the atomic number 47 light playing on his trace face. He looked shopworn, very tired.

But at least he was n't looking at the map.

Harry slid out onto the wall and confidently let himself come down. The wind whistled thrillingly in his ears as the tiles rose up to meet him. A moment before he hit Harry felt a rough tugging around his chest and his last cliff slowed to a crawling. His feet touched basis and he flitted off across the tile. Harry reached the windowpane that was his destination and flicked it open with his scepter. He dropped through again, trusting his bought legerdemain, and landed lightly in front of a sink.

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

'' tinker's damn ! Silencio. '' Harry caught it before it made too a great deal noise and watched as the entrance to the chamber of secrets was slowly revealed. Harry lowered himself into the tube and said, `` Cissycis. '' This prison term he got it offset time and the entrance began closing up as Harry slid off down the chute.

Harry landed feet first, expecting to hit mucky H2O, and instead felt dry rock. This place had been cleaned up a bit since last clock time he was here. Harry continued through the cave, passing the heavyweight snake-door. The chamber was coloured, maybe Markus was n't here yet ... Damn it !

Harry dove to the side as the knockout flashed through the air. He threw a bludgeoning hex towards where it had come from but heard nothing. A moment later Michelson appeared, totally unruffled, out of the shadows.

'' Nicely done Pipsqueak. '' The Professor clapped his huge custody. `` But you should hold aimed more, that hex did n't receive a hazard of hitting me. ``

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

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

'' There was n't much prison term. ``

'' shuffling time by moving faster. '' Michelson drew his verge and squared up in the middle of the way. `` ejaculate on lad, fourth dimension to duel. ``

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

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

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

'' Yes, win. ``

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

'' Not for me. Ewwyiky ! ``

Harry had no idea what the hell that was so plunge for cover version, rolling and coming up with his sceptre trained on his teacher. Somewhere behind Harry there was a brassy squelching sound but Harry was already fighting back.

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

"Protego."Markus wasn't fooled. Harry watched, awed, as Michelson angled his carapace to chew over the bludgeoning hex right into the route of the wintry thunderbolt following it, reducing them both to a shower of noisy Dame Muriel Spark."You ‘ ll have to do honorable than that !"The massive man called out calmly. Harry answered with violence.

"Incendio ! Reducto !"Harry aimed the first at Markus and the secondly at the ceiling far above him."Stupefy !"Harry blasted the magic spell into Makrus'boldness and didn't time lag to see if it hit. Instead he aimed at a glob of falling ceiling."Confringo !"And flung himself away as it detonated like a thunderbolt. He rolled on the floor and came to his feet in sentence to fling the first three tour he could reckon off at the digit in the pith of the expanding cloud of junk and fire.

The only warning Harry got was a flash of red before the spell flashed from the cloud and hit him in the venter, throwing him to the floor.

"wagerer even than that."Michelson stepped out of the dust, not a pilus out of topographic point."That was good though, imaginative. Good trick with the rock, might have caught a lesser thaumaturge. Again."

Harry forced himself to his feet and raised his wand. This clip he lasted just a few mo before a beauty blasted through his hastily raised shell and knocked his light out. Familiar unconscious blackness held him in it's comforting embrace for a few minute before Markus brought him back.

"That was not as good."

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

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

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

"feeling kid, you first learnt this enchantment three long time ago."Markus explained."You ‘ ve had to use it tons of times since then. You ‘ ve practiced. You ‘ ve practiced a lot and it hasn ‘ t got any salutary. It ‘ s fair to take for granted you and the shield charm just don ‘ t go well together. It happens."

"To you ?"

"No. But to other people."

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

"Yes. Use other things."Markus turned and walked back to his starting mark."You know plenty of other room to block patch. Play to your effectiveness and use your prodigious imagination."

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

Harry lasted almost a minute of angered scheme and franticly blowing spells out of the air before he was disarmed and slapped himself severely. He had to be better.

"Again."

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

"Again."

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

"Again."

... Floored with a punch ...

"Again !"

... paralysed ...

"Again !"

... stunned ...

"AGAIN !"

... shocked ...

"AGAIN !"

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

"Not with that attitude."

"I ‘ m sorry I brought you here."

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

"I thought I could get better."

"I think you can get better."

"unit world should just give up."Harry held his school principal in his bridge player."I can ‘ t beat him."

"Who ? Voldemort ?"Markus Michelson threw up his workforce."fountainhead no ! I don ‘ t think I could beat him. I don ‘ t think Dumbledore could beat him. He ‘ s one of the most sinewy living wizards and has entree to powers decent the great unwashed don ‘ t speck. But if what you ‘ ve told me is true then you ‘ ve got ... what was it ?"

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

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

"Why ?"

"I ‘ d get thoroughly odds."Markus smiled and winked. Harry didn't laugh."But seriously, you can learn to duel. You already know enough to beat any unconstipated wizard hired hand down."

"Voldemort isn ‘ t a regular wi-"

"I know !"Markus interrupted him angrily."Which is why you need to watch to duel like a master. Which is why you called me. Which is why you should listen to me ! Now ... you need to play to your intensity. secernate me what you ‘ re good at."

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

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

"I ... I don ‘ t know."

"Yes you do !"

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

"Oh for Merlin ‘ s sake ! Who are you ?"Markus leant down, his angrily pointing finger barely an in from Harry's face."Where ‘ s the Harry I met three years ago ? I don ‘ t see him. Where the hell has he gone ? Where ‘ s the kid who walked this school like he owned the position and obeyed instructor on sufferance ? Where is that self-important shit because he ‘ s the one who can beat Voldemort ! Not the whiney terror he apparently became ! well I need him here now ! WHAT ARE YOU commodity AT !"

"I ... appealingness ?"Harry said, staring up at Michelson.

"Right."Albert Michelson nodded."You ‘ re good at charms. You ‘ re excellent at charms. You ‘ re a blinking pundit at charms. If I heard the rumors in the stave room right you built a professional quality broom at thirteen years old. Out flew a Firebolt."

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

"Harry you ..."Markus Michelson held his script to his head and breathed out a yearn, tired breathing space."Let me try this a different way. You ‘ ve seen a lot of duels right ?"

"Yeah."

"You ‘ ve seen a lot of people duel."

"Yeah."

"Seen departure ?"

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

"What differences ? Specifically ?"

"Well ... It's like ... you form of have .... This is hard. Can I explain it how I see in in my own school principal ?"

"Of course."

"You have form of three types."Harry gestured vaguely."There are the standard duellist, they throw beauty and jinx, lots of buckler appealingness too, and they seem to mostly come out of the Hogwarts defense classes. Not that that makes them bad. Some are really ripe, but they all seem to use this one style. This one set of spells."

"Hmm ... and the next character ?"

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

"And the endure type ?"

"The masters."Harry shook his head."I watched some affaire d'honneur on video while I was traveling. Thought I could pick up some tips. nearly of the duellist were group-ones, but some of them ... the best I ... they ‘ re not even in the Lapp league. They move like they ‘ re weapon system. They don ‘ t eats stunner around, most of the time I couldn ‘ t even agnize the trance they were using. It wasn ‘ t dueling like I ‘ d ever seen. Except maybe when I saw you fight Tom enigma, right here. That ‘ s the difference I guess. That ‘ s the difference between duelists."

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

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

"You ‘ ve grasped one of the central concept of dueling. One of the things that make masses mathematical group threes. The encyclopaedism curvature is huge, there ‘ s a item when you just suit beyond everyone else. When you stop dueling with dueling magic spell and start dueling with everything. Do you know what the other conflict is ?"

"No."

"It's that we all have tricks."Michelson winked."All the group threes. Some trick that makes us better, something that separates us from each former and from the ones and twos."

"A ... magic ?"

"look at Dumbledore, he uses Transfiguration. By the end of a fight with Dumbledore you ‘ re not just fighting him, you ‘ re fighting the walls, doors, ceiling and floor. Plus anything else he can wrench into a moving, thinking arm against you. Voldemort ? Well he uses dark trick, champaign and simple. You ‘ ve already realized that that gives a person major power beyond your acquirement. And he already has pot of skill. Me ? I use alien magic spell, magic spell my foe have never heard of. The live words of a surprise identification number of my opponents was ‘ What the Hell is that ?'”

Harry chuckled, but Markus wasn't finished.

"Dee Finsbury, the current humankind champ duelist is also a champion illusionist. Your own prof Flitwick dueled for England, you think he threw around stunners ? And you ? Well you can do charms. Right ?"

"Yeah."Harry nodded."Yes."

"Say it."

"Yes I can do charms."

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

I'm on the floor ? Harry looked around. Oh yeah, he was. Harry pushed himself to his substructure with renewed vigor. He gripped his wand and turned towards his teacher. Use magical spell ? Well he would give it a shot. What should he use ? A. A. Michelson appeared to be just waiting to see what he would do. well, he'd give to do something ...

"Engorgio !"Harry aimed, not at Markus, but at the flagstones and saw his teacher stumble as the rock puffed up like a gem."Reducto !"Harry blew the stone to smithereens.

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

"Ardor-Algidus !"Harry yelled and stood his priming coat as the inferno passed over him. He caught a glimpse of Markus'shocked face as he emerged unscathed on the former side before he aimed and fired."Confringo ! Ferio ! Stubefy !"The surprise attack forced the teacher onto the defensive, shielding desperately. A moment later he brought up a shining silver sphere. Harry's go bounded off like pivot off a sauteing pan, sending replication all over the vast sleeping accommodation. A. A. Michelson looked out appreciatively from the safety of the sphere.

"What was that Pipsqueak ?"

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

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

"Bugger !"Harry dived for cover charge as the shadows erupted with movement. monster leathered motility. Harry dashed behind a mainstay as the chiropteran flung themselves through the air towards him. They were huge, fender at least a meter wide, with immense fang."Incendio !"Harry waved a fiery swath through the chiropteran but more just materialized to replace them.

"Jupitall !"

Harry dived out of the way as a spinning orb of plasm burnt through the air where he'd been. Michelson wasn't going slowly on him just because he was engaged with the cricket bat. He couldn't dodge forever, if he didn't clear the air he was dead.

"Depulso !"Harry yelled desperately, but the bat 's were too solid and Harry had to throw himself against the bulwark to avoid another thrown go from his adversary. He needed a charm ... what appealingness ? Wait ! squash racket were like, sort of elephantine hornets ... really."Tempesto !"

Harry called a wall of wind and threw it against the leathery animate being, swatting them out of the sky and crashing them into the far wall of the chamber. Albert Michelson didn't give him any hiatus though and responded with a punishing falls that appeared out of nowhere above Harry. Harry felt a stab of old terror, but the veneration only made him think faster.

"Arefacio !"The drought spell banished the falls before it even touched him."Accio !"Michelson was forced to take his silver shield back up as a hundred bat army corps funneled preceding him.

"Depulso !"Harry flicked his baton, spinning the orchis of bodies back away from him and bowled it back to let out against the Professors shield sphere. Harry wasn't going to let up now."Diffindo !"The spell scratched against the shell to no effect, screeching like a violin."Reducto !"Michelson wasn't even knocked backwards as shield once again absorbed the spell with a brassy note of hand. Harry gripped his wand angrily, aught he had could let out this sodding atomic number 47 shield.

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

"Motus !"Harry aimed squarely at the center of the silver formal and twisted. It vibrated like a Alexander Bell and filled the bedroom with ringing. Harry twisted further and the sound intensified. Inside his house of cards A. A. Michelson clutched his ears. Harry found the reverberance and twisted harder, the auditory sensation outside the cuticle was deafening, inside it must feature been excruciating. Markus threw his arm out violently and Harry had to fling himself sideways as the screaming shell cannonballed past times him."Ferio !"Harry threw a hex at the staggering Albert Michelson that he just caught with a buffet. Harry kept up the onslaught in a rush of hilarity ! He was winning !

"KhaNDana !"

The deadbolt came from nowhere. Slicing out of the dark too fast for him to oppose. Harry was thrown to the ground, electric sparks raging down every arteria and turning him into a yell battery of pain. Harry felt his wand torn from his unresisting hand and at lowest managed to blank is creative thinker to the pain. He waited in the night for it to recede. When he at final opened his optic Albert Abraham Michelson was staring down at him. The Brobdingnagian wizard put his wand to first one ear then the other, muttering something, then whipped away the rip that had ran from both of them with a sleeve.

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



Review now or you will walk out blind and be let relax into a field of operation full of elephantine purple bear traps. Also wax of bears. The bears will be able to avoid the bear traps, you will not.


I do n't own Harry Potter. Neither have I seen him recently. If you have any entropy as to his whereabouts please phone. He is out in the cold without any food and we think his apprehension may have got come off. He 's nigrify and whitened with black manus and he 's missing a trivial bit of his ear. He also answers to the gens of refuse. He likes tuna.






Severus Snape landed lightly on the scrubland and looked about him. This would bear been a monumentally devastate place if not for the distant lights of a muggle road in the valley far below. Snape walked over to the gathering of black mask figures standing near the edge of the drop. Snape counted faces, Barty Crouch was still scatty. What was the project that man had been set ? It disturbed Snape greatly that he did not have it off. It made him wonder if perhaps others of the dark figures did, if perhaps he was missing something.

One number was apart from the others, right at the edge. The figure stood with his back to them, his long robes streaming out to the side in the harsh night winding. He seemed to be looking down at the road, and at the farther lights of a town.

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

'' Severus. '' The dark Creator turned at last from the drop-off. `` You have come at conclusion. I was forced to hold off. I dislike waiting. ``

'' My excuse Lord. '' Snape bowed deeply. `` I could not bring up suspicion about why I was going. I was forced to sacrifice speed for condom. I am sorry. ``

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

'' No my Lord. '' The very fact that he asked the interrogative sentence meant he knew that Snape had left. Which was very, very bad. What lie could pass ? `` There was an gild coming together. ``

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

'' No my lord. They continue to guard the department of mysteries, Dumbledore still fears to make a motion. cypher has changed. ``

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

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

"I notice Mr Crouch is still absent."Snape tried to voice uninterested."Perhaps he has been captured. We may take to rescue him. Again."

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

"Dear Barty is none of your concern."The dark lord replied, in the conversational tone that was so much spoiled than anger."His task is going well. Is yours Severus ?"

"Alas no master copy. I apologize."Snape hung his head."I am afraid there is simply no way to accommodate polyjuice potion to allow a human to go non-human."

"I dislike failure Severus."

"Master if you asked me to jump out off this drop and try to fly I would do so."Snape tried to sound contrite."But I doubt I would be successful. Some thing are not possible."

"For you perhaps."The dark lord was smiling slyly."But no topic. You may stop your experimentation. The potion is not requirement any more."

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

'' On to the coming together, we began without you Severus. I hope you don ‘ t judgement. '' The nighttime lord turned back towards the cliff and Snape had to strain to find out him over the fart. `` We were discussing an character assassination. ``

'' Who is the target ? Perhaps I could brew a poison or some form of- ''

'' No. '' The shadow nobleman cut him off. `` Not poison. I intend her death to be more computer graphic than that. An illustration. ``

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

'' A prominent shape in the department of mysteries. '' Voldemort half turned back towards Snape. `` A fille Natalie Zhao. Do you get it on her ? ``

'' Yes. '' No god no. `` She is an parliamentary procedure member. ``

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

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

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

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

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

'' Of grade not my lord. She is the child of bad blood, of path she must be killed. '' Snape bowed and stepped backward. `` I will throw sealed that Dumbledore and the other order appendage at Hogwarts are distracted. ``

'' That will not be necessary Severus. We have already cut all communication to Mrs Zhao 's hall. I have also deployed dementors to intercept any messages sent by patronus. No messages can reach her. From anyone. ``

'' Most prudent my Godhead. '' Snape nodded, furiously trying to roil his mastermind and find some root to the problem. He could not think, it was as if ghastly tendrils and stringy inglorious vines were choking his usually utter mental machinery. There must be some way to get a message to her, there had to be !

'' Severus ? '' Voldemort questioned lightly. `` volition you be at Hogwarts this eve ? ``

'' Yes my Godhead. ``

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

'' No my Maker. ``

'' Good. '' Voldemort 's eyes narrowed. `` Because I shall know Severus. I shall acknowledge. ``
*


Snape walked calmly along the tenacious path to the great doors of Hogwarts using all the force of will he had not to break into a run. The watchers were no doubt already in seat, at the border of the forest beyond the wards. As were the attacker probably, in his mind he could already see them apparating into the dark streets around Natalie 's flatbed. He ached to run but could n't. It was suffering, caught in chains that did n't even exist. An backbone in his mind.

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

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

'' Acellelero ! '' Snape clung to the telephone exchange column as the staircase rocketed upwards and came to a whine stop at the top. Snape threw the threshold open, startling the Headmaster.

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

'' I need the ordination ! '' Snape snapped. `` We need to call up now ! ``

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

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

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

'' Not if we move now ! ``

'' To move confirms his intuition of you. And it would do no good. The masses watching you no doubt have lodge to kill you if you try to result. No message can reach her. Yes, yes he had truly outmanoeuvre us. ``

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

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

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

'' Which is exactly what Voldemort expects. '' Dumbledore said angrily. `` Surely you see that this was directed at you ! Bait to force you to uncover your true commitment. It is a test, if you fail we lose our spy. If you pass however you will be his most trust retainer. ``

'' Passing means the Death of Natalie ! ``

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

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

'' Think of how many people your selective information saved in the close war. Countless lives. ``

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

'' Well not to me. '' Dumbledore stood and stared down the potions master. `` The outdo you can do for her is to make sure you are seen here. Go and pick herb from one of the outside plots, go and get some unicorn hair from Hagrid. Anything that lets them see you here. That is all you can do. If you try to go out they will belt down you. Then they will kill her. You can do aught. ``

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


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

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

A floorboard creaking.

Natalie 's eyes flickered open in a import. Was it just her neighbor downstairs ? She reached for her wand and silently checked her Montgomery Ward. She hissed as she realized they were in tatters and rolled off the bed. Her hand moved towards the light up switch then thought better of it, it might let them know they had seen her. She slid towards her chamber door and looked out through the keyhole just as the door at the early end of the corridor was pushed open slowly. Revealing a robed figure.

Natalie slid back silently. She tried to apparate away, not really expecting it to run. No, they had a Ward up. They would have blocked the flue pipe as well. The only way she was getting out was through the nominal head door, which meant through them.

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


Drum Lemon had never pretended to be an intelligent man, just a useful one. He was useful say, when someone had n't paid their debts in meter and action needed to be taken. He had been locked up for being useful in the wrongfulness blank space at the amiss time, set free eventually, become useful again and caught again. This metre for being so utilitarian towards a ministry hit-wizard that the man was no use to anyone anymore.

He had been locked up for honest. Until the darkness lord had given him a bit chance. A chance to return society again, to be useful again. He was only half line of descent but he had just enough brains to never remark that to anyone. When the nighttime Divine had explained what needed to be done to this bint he had stepped forward instantly. It was right up his alley, he might even earn the mark if he succeeded. Then he 'd really be set.

He touched the door whorl with his thumb. Warded, what else ? He turned and pointed into the rabble behind him at a hunched public figure, then pointed back at the door. The man shuffled forward, he had been a damn expert curse circuit breaker until he was caught skimming a cut off the top. He was just lucky the ministry caught him before the hob did.

membranophone waited in quiet as the tiny man clicked and hummed in front of the door. A few minute later the curse breaker pushed the door unfastened. drum stepped into the flat tire and looked around professionally. It was set out fairly regular. Kitchen that way ... empty. Drum waved two guy rope towards the hind elbow room and ignored it. This place was like a catalog, everything was in its lieu except for the books and papers strewn across the burnt umber table. Well, that and the three aquariums near the back. Not broad of water. Some sort of reptile. Some kind of incense in the air, some new age garbage.

Drum shrugged, not an issue. The bedroom would either be at the end of the second door down on the left. That was how these buildings were built. membranophone stepped down the corridor and pushed the door on the left hand subject. corner. Down the hall then. He looked behind him, the other criminals were hanging back. Pathetic. The dark Lord had grabbed everyone who would stand up straight with no regard for experience. Not that he was criticizing, at least he would get fully credit for the kill.

Drum breathed in deeply. Smelled like vanilla extract, it was very strong. Someone had once told him that smell was the strongest initiation for memory. He certainly remembered that muggle lady friend every fourth dimension he smelled cut eatage. Perhaps from now on vanilla extract would echo in his school principal, reminding him of Natalie Zhao. The womanhood who made him the favour assassinator of the dark lord.

He made his way towards the last door. He raised his baton, fumbled it and caught it again. He shook his headspring. Had to detain focused. He reached the door and pushed it open. dark, he stepped up to the bed. He had n't used the killing curse before, but he had no doubt he could take it sour. He raised his wand, aiming at the lump in the concealment. His wand was shaking, he grabbed it with both hands. What was wrong with him ? brake drum shook his head, the sceptre was still shaking.

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

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

'' You did n't close it. '' membranophone looked up, his eyes already drooping. The young woman was standing there, arms crossed.

'' Doped us. '' drum mumbled through dead lips. `` Incense ... vanilla extract ... ``

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

Wo n't tell you you bitch.

'' twenty ? ``

What !

'' Where are there ? ``

Ice cold bitch queen.

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

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

'' I can try. ``
*


Natalie stunned the dusky sensation and pushed his body in social movement of the door. How farsighted before the others checked on him ?

The door handle rattled. That long.

Natalie put herself right in front of the door. If she was prosperous ...

Confringo ! She said the spell silently and angled her sceptre sharply down. The door exploded outwards, the force of the explosion channeled down the hallway. She saw three bodies flying away from her and dashed out after them.

"Cruci-"

Natalie whirled on the caster. No time for spells, she found his eyes, pushed in like a dagger and found the off switching in his brain. He folded like a puppet with the strings cut. She heard a shout behind her and protegoed so harshly that the circle edges of her buckler forced the bulwark out like crumpling paper. She turned and saw the hooded man dodging his own magical spell and threw her own, striking him in the chest.

That was the ace in the flavourless done.

She rushed to the door but it had been torn off its hinges. A dark figure reared from the stairwell. Natalie had her wand up in a instant but before she could cast the man grabbed his bureau and fell to the floor. Natalie crept close, blood on his bureau. Someone had hit him with a puncture curse.

She threw herself to the side. They must bear been shooting from the early buildings outside. Aiming blind through the curtains. Aiming at her. Well that put climbing out the windowpane out of the picture. She crouched and made her way towards the stairwell. She glanced between the slats and pulled her straits back as a green instant obliterated the wooden banister where she had been.

Time to start surprising them.

Natalie aimed at out into the eye of the stairway. A glint of her baton and a Lucille Ball of glowing Christ Within appeared. Another flick and a spiraling spear of sparks shot down the stairs like a rogue firework. She twisted and the orchis dropped slowly, like a balloon, spitting exploding lance in every direction and shrinking as it fell.

That should keep them busy.

She dashed down the stairs and took out another goon as he desperately tried to dodge the multi-fire. Natalie had to jump over a man lying prone on the indorsement floor, a dupe of the fireworks. A piece shattered the tile near her shoulder and she threw up a shield against the next one. Where were they coming from ?

Damnit ! Two above her, one below. They must consume hid in the position corridors. She aimed her wand up at the two firers and vanished the storey under them. One of them dropped like a stone, the former was fast enough to snap up the border of the golf hole. But that just made him an gentle target to get picked off. Natalie spun to take out the guy below her but he was already down. rake on him, and pooling on the story. Another victim of the cackshots outside.

There were still ten men outside. Natalie reached the reason storey and took a rich breath. They would be spread out all around her building to break off her escaping. What was her sound bet to live ? The back incoming ? It led onto an alley, easy for them to block or watch. The front was no doubt a deathtrap, she'd be hit from every incline before she got two steps. There was a ground floor windowpane out into the car park ... virtuoso tended to ignore cars. She didn't have one but surely some combining of while could convince one to get down. It was her C. H. Best shot.

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

"Got you missy."Natalie froze. The voice was twisted and foxy, like oil."Turn round so I can see your pretty face."

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

"Ere what was that ?"

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

"She ‘ s ‘ ere ! She got Poxx !"

Natalie heard more running human foot and tried to slink away along the edge of the wall. She reached the corner, no where to go. If she tried to make for the exit they'd see her for sure. She pushed at the apparation ward again but it was no honorable. They had extended it beyond the building itself. How far would they let pulled it ? To spread over the whole pulley would throw been impossible. Could she just run for the edge ?

They were searching the lot. They were getting closer. Natalie looked up under the nearest car. At least five duo of infantry within easy sight. The incoming was close, she might hold it. With a distraction.

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

"What the fucking ‘ ell is that !"

Natalie stood and ran. They were looking the early way, she could make it. She blazed out of the car Mungo Park and made for the end of the street, all the while pushing against the apparation barrier. A spell out pin-wheeled over her head and she sprinted harder. It had to end soon. She heard shouting and running behind her. please let it end soon. A glob of the road was blown away, throwing her to the floor. No ... She desperately threw herself against the ward as step surrounded her. It wouldn't budge, she knew it wouldn't.

"Now missy bout one shot nice and slow."She rolled over and tried to take on the man standing in social movement of her's eyes."Nah, don ‘ t try any of that."He broke eye contact and started openly staring at her chest.

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

"I assume your Divine will provide that."Natalie said, her oculus desperately flicking around for a way out.

"I was thinking you might."The nominal head man sneered and the others drew in closer. Natalie could see the greed of years in prison flickering bright in their eyes."Actually I was thinking you ‘ re gon na. Seeing as you don ‘ t have a ch ... ch ... aa ... oh."The man raised his hand to his mouthpiece, there was a dribble of blood coming out of the corner. His brow knitted in disarray as he fell to the floor. His fellows stared at him. After a silent moment one of them stepped forward and knelt down succeeding to him. The man reached out and touched the fallen criminals back.

"It ‘ s blood. He ‘ s dead. He- Aaa !"The neck of the kneeling man exploded, showering them with origin. The felon jumped back in jar. Natalie grabbed her wand and threw herself backwards, rolling as she hit the ground. She had stunned one of the wizards while they were still in shock and had turned her wand on another when her mystery savior revealed himself. She had to give it to him, he knew how to induce an entrance.

He dropped from the top of another building, his gown billowing behind him as he fell straight into the center of the wizards. He landed on one of them and rolled, a dark physical body in his hired hand coming up. Another criminal was thrown back and landed wetly on the story. The warrior looked up at her but she couldn't beguile his font in the dark. He nodded to her. She nodded back, and they turned on the rest of the bastards.

It was the strangest scrap Natalie had ever been involved in. Strange for it's silence. Whatever weapon the unusual man was using it made no audio as it fired and she tended to stray non verbally. The criminal yelled their piece but they were in such disarray they were mostly throwing do-or-die stunners at each other. other than those there was only the speech sound of footfall, rapid-fire like a saltation, and the occasional nebulizer of blood. A silent battle at midnight, underneath stuttering streetlamps. Natalie's breathing time was hot in her capitulum by the clock time it was over. She turned to her savior, he was dumping what was now obviously a silenciod handgun in his bag.

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

"Most assuredly not."The build said cheerily and turned towards her."Miss Zhao, I do think we ‘ ve already been introduced."

"Ha ... Harry ?"

"Yep."The Lester Willis Young boy's middle wandered south and he glanced away."Um you ‘ re going to take to have a alteration of wardrobe if you want to have any kind of well-informed conversation."

"Why ?"

"Well, long write up short you ‘ re still wearing a nightdress and the ground you were just rolling around on is quite damp."

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

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


carting bodies up to her flat had been a surreal experience. She had healed the ace that could be healed before stunning them into a comatoseness. In the end they had two piles, sixteen alert and four dead. She did n't doubt that without sorcerous medicine the count would have been a lot higher.

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

"Do you have any biscuit ?"

"What ?"

"I missed dinner."

"Oh ... yes. In that cupboard."Natalie pointed and the smutty robed boy grabbed them before coming back and sitting beside her on the sofa. She looked over at him. He looked sr. than when she had last seen him. Much older."You saved my life."

"Don ‘ t vexation about it."Harry shrugged."The biscuits more than make up for it."

"You shot them."Natalie's thought's were still a slight disunite and she was trying to satiate in the bit."With a gun."

"Spells would ingest warned Voldemort I was there."Harry shrugged."By now I bet they have someone watching the underage magic detector. I tried to shoot down their arms mostly."He added almost to himself.

Natalie decided not to comment, instead she asked.

"How did you even know to come here ?"

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

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

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

"Easy, snuck into the forest."Harry shrugged."The citizenry that got sent to watch Snape were all, big surprisal, watching Snape. meaning I could dislocate by undetected. After that I dashed for the wall, climbed it slow, the Barbara Ward doesn ‘ t keep in human being. Legged it to Hogsmeade and broke into a cottage to use the flue. I didn ‘ t want anyone to know I ‘ d gone through there, that was why I didn ‘ t use one of the pubs."

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

"Dumbledore was right."

"What ?"

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

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

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

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

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

"Voldemort ‘ s good at Legillimancy."

"I know that Harry."Natalie pulled out her address book of account and started flicking through."But my admirer ‘ s good too. He ‘ s a ministry obliviator, the best."

"time lag a instant ..."Harry's hilltop furrowed."You ‘ re phone is working ?"

"Of course."

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

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

"Eew !"Harry cringed back."Mental image ! All unseasonable !"

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

"You sure ?"

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

"Yeah ?"

"Thank you."

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

"And Happy Halloween."

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


Harry didn't try to reenter Hogwarts that night. Too very much risk of being seen by one of the watchers. Instead he dozed on a bench and slipped back in around sunrise. He attended breakfast purely to procure coffee in large amounts and managed to get through his first few object lesson somehow. During lunch break he dragged his sleepy form down to the dungeon and found the right role. He pushed the threshold open without knocking.

"What is the substance of thi ... Potter."Snape deflated, his nerve going soft."Natalie told me. I can not set out to thank you-"

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

"I suppose I am."

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


As soon as Harry's foot touched the flooring he knew it was a dream. Before him the cottage at Godrics holler rose above his pass. Looking so ... normal. null to speak to it's momentous importance. It could birth been any one of thousands of family, there were others that could be its Gemini dotted down the street. naught special, and yet it repelled him.

Harry felt his skin crawl. The home was ... amiss ... somehow. Harry turned and dashed down the street, passing Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and hedge. He dashed with no fear and caught his fundament on a paving material stone, sending him sprawling to the floor. As he got to his feet he felt grass under his metrical foot. He was back on the forepart lawn. The bungalow was right in movement of him.

He could hear the river in his ears, raging in the length. Harry scratched at his skin, it was all awry. Harry felt nausea grow in the pit of his stomach. Oh hold ... that wasn't part of the dream.

Harry slammed his oculus open and dropped out of bed, rushing for the bathroom.
*


'' Harry ? '' Ron knocked on the toilette door. `` Harry are you ok ? ``

'' I 'm fine. '' Came the softened reply.

'' You do n't vocalise fine. You sound- ''

'' I said I 'm hunky-dory. '' Harry jerked the door open, the black bags under his middle even more visible than usual against his green and sickly skin.

'' You do n't look fine. ``

'' Probably something I ate. '' Harry shook his point and pushed past Ron.

'' Harry everyone in Gryffindor eats the same stuff and no one else is- ''

"I SAID I ‘ M fine !"Harry whirled on his Ron."I was sick. For some understanding. Some stranger and unimportant reason. I threw up. I feel better. We should go to breakfast."

"Breakfast is over."Ron shrugged."We let you sleep through it. The girlfriend should be bringing some leftovers when we go to creatures."

"fountainhead then let ‘ s go to creatures. I ‘ m hungry."Harry threw his bag over his articulatio humeri and made for the room access, his headspring drooping.

Ron followed slowly. Harry was slowly getting spoiled, sick. Was it just lack of log Z's doing this to Harry ? He hadn't looked this bad even when he'd been sentence jumping. This time he seemed physically ill. Ron shucked his bag up further on his back. They all needed a little more eternal sleep, Harry had been pushing them hard.

More rest, and more bruise-remover.
*


Ginny looked up as Harry pushed the door to the noodle open.

"spell finished early ?"Harry asked as the vulture trouped in behind him.

"I already knew the lesson."Ginny flicked her Word closed."It was summoning charms."

"You can already mobilise an elephant."Harry dropped his bag on the board."Skip the next few lessons."

"The relief of us can ‘ t get away with skipping object lesson Harry."Hermione said from behind Harry."Some of us aren ‘ t the boy-who-lived. Some of us-"

"Some of us realize the inanity of being taught what we already know."Harry stepped into the midriff of the attic."Alright, this time everyone except Dragon. All of the marauders."

"Harry are you sure ?"Fred asked."You weren ‘ t feeling so hot this morning."

"I'm indisputable, I ‘ m amercement. Nothing a little exercise won ‘ t cure."Harry shed his robe as the marauders drew into a circle around him. Ginny could see Malfoy settling down to watch, like it was a bloody show.

"Ready."Padma called out.

"Don ‘ t ask me if I ‘ m ready. Never ask me if I ‘ m ready. Never warn me just bloody hit me."

"Stubefy !"Ginny threw out her verge but Harry was already moving, sliding under her snap like a snake. His wand came up towards her. She shielded, Harry flicked to the side and Neville went down in a trice of red light.

The Twin jumped forward like mirrors of each other but a radiate beam clicked between them and slammed them together like conker. Harry whirled like a dancer and a veil of smoke surrounded him. The marauder began firing into the cloud, careful not to hit each other as the dish flew out the early English. The marauder slowed and eventually stopped.

"Do you think we got him ?"Ron asked shakily.

"Should have counted the stunners."Padma muttered."Did anyone see if one didn ‘ t come out ?"

Padma's head was answered as her sceptre was jerked out of her hand and flew into the black. An array of peach followed it. All came back out.

"fucking this."Ginny waved her wand."Depulso smoke."The black cloud flew away and dissipated into the dusty air. Revealing nothing. The floor was empty.

"Where the hell is-"Ginny felt a weight strike her shoulders and a stabbing pain. As she collapsed she saw bang flash in front of her brass and red light flashing all around. Her shoulder was like a burning knife.

"clasp !"individual yelled."I said grip !"

The flashing lighting stopped and she felt strong hands rolling her over carefully. Malfoy's nerve came into view, staring at her shoulder.

"It ‘ s dislocated."He said softly."I mean really dislocated, look at it."

Ginny looked over at her shoulder and had to look away, her eyes squeezed shut. Her arm was hanging like a piece of pith, hanging off her shoulder. The marauders began crowding around. Ginny found Harry's eye, he was unreadable. As always. His center didn't emote, didn't give anything away. They just looked like ... eyes.

"Let me."Hermione pushed Draco aside and rolled up Ginny's arm. She shook her drumhead."I can ‘ t fix this. We need to get you to Madam Pomfrey."Hermione reached forward.

"No."Dragon shook his head."Two marauders, one injured, leads back to Harry. I ‘ ll take her. We can pass it off as an inter-house thing."Draco put his arm under her good shoulder and lifted her gently, carrying her away.
*


"What the blaze was that ? !"Padma whirled on Harry."You broke her shoulder."

"Yes."Harry idly woke Neville from his trance induced stupor."And if she was a death eater I ‘ d have broken his shoulder."

"Ginny ‘ s not a destruction eater !"Ron yelled angrily.

"Really ? You sure ? We could check her wrist."Harry rolled his eyes."I don ‘ t know what your female parent would be more than angry about, the hate law-breaking or the tattoo !"

"This isn ‘ t fishy Harry !"George growled.

"No it ‘ s not !"Harry yelled."It ‘ s bloody unplayful ! Bloody, raging, burning SERIOUS ! I KNOW THAT ! Do you ? Do you hump that ?"

"You could have really hurt her."Anapurna said softly.

"I have really hurt her."Harry said harshly."I ‘ ve had broken bones. It hurts. It hurts a lot. It also hurts a lot less than what would happen if a Death eater caught her."

"So it was for her own commodity was it ?"Ron raged."You were, what ? Helping her !"

"Yes ! I was !"Harry kicked a chairman against the wall angrily."I ‘ m helping everyone ! Why doesn ‘ t everyone get that ! Why are the majority of the multitude I ‘ m trying to save doing their full to have intercourse with me !"

The marauders jumped back. The shadows in the garret made Harry's font a capricious mask. He was shaking like a leaf, breathing hard.

"Why are people doing this."He shook his principal, his hands going to his synagogue."Even people who know what we have to do are trying to stop us. Even people who know. Why the hell would they do that ?"

"Harry ..."Hermione reached forward.

"It ‘ s fine."Harry straightened like a rod."I ‘ m fine. We can fit another duel in before the end of lunch."

"You, you want to go right back into a fight ?"Hermione asked, her voice incredulous."No Harry. No, we ‘ re all tired. We can ‘ t."

"I can. You can. Get over here."Harry threw Padma's wand to her. It bounced off her stomach. She made no travail to catch it.

"I ‘ m tired."Padma said flatly."I ‘ m going to lessons."

"Come on !"Harry clapped like some insane sportswoman passenger car."We can do another round."

"I don ‘ t wan na do this with you Harry."Ron said angrily."This isn ‘ t fun anymore."

"THIS WAS NEVER FUN !"

"Harry what do you want !"Hermione yelled."We don ‘ t have to do what you say ! We don ‘ t have to obey guild like you seem to suppose ! Make up your judgement Harry, are we your friend or are we your ... your army !"

"You giving me the choice."Harry stepped up right into Hermione's cheek."You giving me that option. I have a dingy wizard after me that I ‘ m fated to fight. I have the bang-up, no dough that, the two greatest whizz in the humankind hating me. One trying to kill me. One trying to keep me a captive. I have everything against me. So I choose a bloody army.'Cos I need a bloody army. And if you can ‘ t be that then to hell with you."

Harry turned, and disappeared out the door.
*


The nexus of the marauders was gone. Without that, they were hollow.

They went to example, walked, went to meals. But Harry was never with them. He still attended lectures to hold on the teacher off his book binding, but every early instant seemed to be spent in that Ionic dialect. Plus wherever he snuck out to at night.

Dragon was with him sometimes, walking silently behind him along the corridor. seeable bruising made it clear that he hadn't stopped helping Harry. Ginny caught him alone one morning time and confronted him.

"Why are you still helping Harry ?"She asked bluntly.

"Because he ‘ s my friend."Was the curt and dry response.

"He ‘ s killing himself with all this."Ginny pleaded, looking into Dragon's optic. At to the lowest degree there was some emotion there, even if it mostly seemed to be sorrow."You realize that don ‘ t you ? You ‘ re not helping him pull through. You ‘ re helping him self destruct."

"With anyone else I ‘ d agree with you."Draco looked away."But here we know what ‘ s coming. You know. There ‘ s no way we can keep him out of Voldemort ‘ s path. There's no keeping him secure you understand, the divination ensures that. He will face Voldemort. He will fight him. So a piddling ego end now is worth it if he survives that meeting. Wouldn't you say Ginerva ?"

"Don ‘ t turn this on me."Ginny shook her straits."And don ‘ t try to pretend what you ‘ re doing any kind of stately. It ‘ s not."

"Of line I ‘ m noble. I ‘ m a Malfoy."Dragon hung his promontory, then looked up to come across her eyes. ruefulness was back, regret was definitely back."flavour Ginerva I know everything you ‘ re saying is honest. But I don ‘ t have it off how else to assist him. I don ‘ t how to aid him at all. Do you ?"

"I ... no."

"Too bad."Draco shook his head."I guess all we can hope for is that he kills Voldemort before he kills himself."

And outside Hogwarts the wizarding humans slowly fell to pieces. As Christmas crawled penny-pinching and the Night grew retentive there was no joy among the magical mass. It just entail there were more dark minute for the demise feeder to hunt in. One Night a dark score was raised right in the middle of Manchester. The authorities passed it off as a hot air balloon. The single in the country did n't consume to be explained away, the ministry just had to clean up after. When they even bothered to do that.

Contrary to popular opinion the drear 60 minutes is not before dawn. It 's in the middle of the bloody night.
*


Harry closed the prophet with a heavy sigh and dropped it on the ground beside him. thing were only getting speculative out there. The order was n't doing anything, big surprise there. Barty Crouch was still missing from Death eater meetings, apparently with Voldemort's broad support. The night fauna ? No one knew a thing about them.

No one seemed to experience anything.

Harry stretched his legs out and felt the wavelet of the lake against his bare skin, sending back wavelet of goosebumps to match. Not all to do with the coldness. It was in effect though. He should clear for certain he could make do body of water if he had to. might have to fight in it one day.

'' A dark Department of State of social function. ``

Harry tensed as the voice came from behind him and spun, wand outstretched. There was a figure standing there, looking out over the weewee. He looked old, 70 maybe. Bald definitely, and not a haircloth in his little refined mustache was anything early than white. He looked like a retired teacher to a greater extent than anything else, one of the old shoal ones. He even had the patched flannel jacket.

Oh god was that a pipe in his air hole ?

This guy was a walking cliché ? What was he going to do next ? pop the question me tea ?

'' Would you like a spot of tea ? ``

'' Oh come on. '' Harry chuckled and shook his head. `` threesome things : One, I do n't pledge tea. I drink coffee, in declamatory measure. Two : You do n't have any tea. Three : Even if you had a flaskful I would n't be capable to drink it. '' Harry reached out and waved his hand directly through the old humanity leg. It passed through without even a tingle.

'' Very good Mr potter. '' The old man sat down cross legged succeeding to him. `` How could you evidence ? ``

'' There are sure augury. '' And I 'm certainly not telling him them. `` Who the hell are you ? ``

'' My public figure is St. James the Apostle. '' Harry stiffened at those words. The old man laughed. `` No not that St. James the Apostle. Honestly Mr potter there are more people called James in this world than your father. ``

'' Probably not your material name anyway. '' Harry snorted.

'' I 've never seen a need to hold back my first off epithet. One of the benefits of having a decent traditional public figure like St. James the Apostle or John or Harry. '' James smiled and took a slight puff on his pipe. `` Of path if you wish to know my lowest gens we shall have a problem. ``

'' I do n't give a shit what your last name is. '' Harry shrugged. `` How are you doing this ? Some sort of illusion ? ``

'' Astral Projection. '' James said professionally. `` It 's really quite useful. ``

'' I 've read about it. '' Harry crossed his arms and stared calculatingly at the man next to him. `` It requires extensive preparation and a round of at least three wizards. What you came to separate me is worth all that ? ``

'' Very full Mr Pott- ''

'' Stop saying that. '' Harry cut him off. `` Just talk your piece. ``

'' Very well. '' James reached into his jacket. Harry instinctively flinched despite the fact that any weapon this man pulled would go straight through him. `` Do you fuck a man named Conterrando Baker ? ``

'' Is he from the ministry of silly names ? ``

'' How droll. '' James pulled a piece of paper from his jacket and held it out for Harry to see. Harry grabbed a piece of lambskin out of his bag to jot down the address then took a picayune Sir Thomas More sentence reading the eternal rest of the profile.

'' half blood line, respected member of the Wizengamot, respecter writer, married to a muggle, outspoken critic of the electric current curate. Two kid at Hogwarts. His last book was a love story, between a pure profligate and a muggle. '' Harry laughed wryly. `` Redeemer, did somebody just take a big piece of play-doh and mould it into a objective for the death eaters ? ``

'' It is a small miracle he has not been attacked yet. ``

'' But you think he is being targeted now ? ``

'' I know he is. '' King James tapped a date on the paper. `` Tomorrow night. ``

'' Oh come on. ``

'' He has been repeated warned but he refused to accept a protective detail. He says it would impinge on his privacy. Foolish And he will die for it. A love menage man is going to die if you do n't save him. ``

'' Bull. You save him. You obviously have resource. ``

'' I, or more accurately the group I represent. Do have the resources. '' James smiled. Harry did n't like that smiling, it had unearthly profundity. James continued, `` Our organization also dislikes Voldemort. He is troublesome to our work. But unfortunately for Mr baker, Voldemort is only an irritation to us therefore it is not Worth enough to us to bring through him. We do not prompt in the same circles as Voldemort you see, so he does not give us too much worry. We would prefer if he were gone though. It would make things promiscuous. ``

'' So help him. ``

'' We can not. '' James stood. `` But you can. Go help him Harry Potter. If it turns out well, we may meet again. '' With that he disappeared into thin air.

'' Show off. '' Harry murmured.

Of course he realized it could be a trap. In fact it almost certainly was a snare. Harry considered. Except that Conterrando baker was a literal soul. The story, after a piffling checking of back prophet issues, checked out. Harry even found the kids in Ginny 's year. Hufflepuffs, twins, nice in a sort of boring Hufflepuff variety of way. Both members of the gobstones club. Both with significantly less ridiculous names than their father.

goodness nipper. respectable founding father too ...

'' Bugger. '' Harry dropped the seer on the table. `` I 'm going to have to do something heroic are n't I. ``

Looks that way.

'' Do I have to ? ``

well ... no, you could let him die while you sit back and eat popcorn.

'' Do n't like popcorn. ``

well I guess that decides it then. Plus it would be rather a waste of all the training you 've been doing.

'' It could still be a ambuscade you know. ``

I know that. Do n't you think I know that ? I 'm your mentality you moron.

'' We 're a bit crazy are n't we ? ``

Crazy like a fox.

'' Like a fox. ``
*


So it came to pass that Harry slid down into the bedchamber of secrets that night wearing the most singularly un-heroic while of clothing in history.

A pair of waders.

'' Bloody winter. '' Harry shivered as he crawled through the tiny fissure in the bulwark through which he had entered the bedchamber all those geezerhood ago. It was littler than he remembered.

Harry dropped into the icy sewer and made his way quickly along the dark passageway. The urine was bitingly cold on his hands whenever they got splashed but the midst wader kept his leg pleasantly warm. Thank merlin for dragon-skin fishing supplies.

Of grade this would be easier if Dumbledore had n't strengthened the Hogwarts wards to the point where not even insects could kick the bucket through. This was the only way out.

Harry 's passage through the catacombs was unerring. in conclusion time he 'd been here he 'd wandered aimlessly, lost. Little lost boy ... But he was n't the Saame person he 'd been then. Harry sighed and walked on through the iniquity to his destination.
*


Harry flicked his arrest up and walked quickly down the street. This was John Griffith Chaney, but not a part that he had ever frequented. Big houses, big expensive houses. Places that did n't take kindly to vagrants. Probably still would n't take kindly to him if he was found here.

planetary house twenty six. Harry slowed to a full stop a block away from the tall Edward D. White edifice. In the centre of the terraced-row of equally improbable white buildings. Expensive they might be, private they were not.

All the luminousness seemed to be off. Mr Baker was probably asleep. No one outside, no one obvious anyway.

Hello ...

Up on the roof. iniquity made into flatness made into nightmare. Someone was waiting up there, trying to continue invisible against the skyline.

Harry cursed then darted down an alley. Movement in the front yard, it might throw been a discarded newspaper. Then again it might not.

human being material body ! mo story, standing near the bed ! Harry 's custody found a waste pipe and he catapulted himself up. There were two more on the bed, cowering in fear. The standing figure raised his verge. Harry swung with all his strength and crashed through the window.

'' What the hell ! ``

Harry tackled the death eater to the story and stunned him. He rushed to the door and bolted it, pushing a chairperson under the grip. The others would have heard the window break.

'' Who are you ! '' A spokesperson bellowed from the bed. `` Are you with them ? ``

'' Do you know Dumbledore ? '' Harry asked quickly, looking over at the two in the bed.

'' Ye ... yes. Everyone knows- ''

'' Good go to him. Get out through the dorsum. '' Harry pointed at the broken window. The doorway thumped violently and Harry turned back towards it. Three others. Not good. `` GO ! ``

'' What about you ? '' Mrs baker asked as her husband hurried her towards the window.

'' Do n't worry about me. Just go ! '' Harry flicked a ward onto the door, strengthened it. But it would n't contain long. These were n't criminals, these were factual end eaters. Duelist group twos. Bugger. Harry glanced back at the window to see Mr bread maker just disappearing out of it. Well at least that was done. Harry turned back to the door and raised his wand.

The offset really examination. LET see how I do.

I really hope one of them is hunker down ... Harry grinned in vehement glee.
*


The houses windows flashed from where he sat on the rooftops. Whoever that boy was he was fighting them. Fighting them everywhere. There were two multitude fleeing down the backstreet, visible in the gaps between houses. They did n't matter.

His knarrled fingers clenched. It looked like the boy had beat him to these ones. He would n't be able to kill tonight. Would n't be able to hurt them, prepare them pay. pee the other one, the ophidian one, the one who took everything pay.

He licked his lip. Another prison term, there would be other times. He was patient. patient was good, so long as it got there in the end.

The end ... the end ...

Vengeance. That was a goodness word.

The watchman hunkered down on the rooftops. Before him the battle raged on and outcry of annoyance filled the air.

He would wait, and if there were any stragglers ? Maybe he would have some fun after all.
*


'' Wake up ! ``

Urg ... Ron turned over on instinct to get away from the noise.

'' Get the inferno up Weasley ! ``

'' Ow ! '' Ron grabbed his side and spun, his middle wide outdoors. `` Malfoy what the- ''

'' Have you seen Harry ? '' The Slytherin demanded.

'' What ? Of form not. He 's your best friend now. '' Ron replied sneering.

'' He did n't turn up for dueling this break of the day. '' Malfoy sounded like he was actually worried. The snake was obviously acting. `` I thought maybe he would be here. ``

'' wellspring he 's not. '' Ron gestured around. `` count the bed 's not even catch some Z's in. And how 'd you get the password anyway ? ``

'' Something 's wrong. ``

'' Get lost Malfoy. '' Ron looked over at the clock. `` It 's six o clock in the morning time ! ``

'' Right. Two hours past when Harry said he 'd see me. '' Malfoy was gritting his teeth, breathing through them clenched.

'' He 's probably in the attic. ``

'' That was where I was waiting you idiot ! ``

'' Then he 's eating breakfast ! ``

'' Checked there. ``

'' depository library. ``

'' Checked. ``

'' Down by the lake ? ``

'' Checked. ``

'' The forest ? Around the edge- ''

'' Checked. ``

'' Oh. '' Ron bit his lip. `` He 's probably, I do n't know. Probably training tardily and just passed out tired. Even you had to observe he was tired. ``

'' Surprised you did. '' Malfoy turned for the door. `` Get your ally and avail look. ``

'' We 're not your frie- ''

'' But you were Harry's ! '' Malfoy turned angrily. `` And he could be in trouble, or pain, or dying, right now ! I know you do n't like him any more but unless you hate him enough to wish well him utterly get the hell up and help me appear ! ``
*


Ron woke the marauder. The predator roused the students. Myrtle called the ghosts. Hermione ran to McGonagall. McGonagall went to Dumbledore.

The entire palace like an anthill kicked into excitement by the departure of the boy-who-lived.

It was Dumbledore who confirmed, by 'his own method', that Harry was not in the castle. The bang-up lobby was filled with tangible tension as breakfast appeared as if it was any other day. Everyone was whispering.

Why bother, thought Ginny. It 's not like you 're trying to hide what you 're talking about. But she found that when she talked it also came out as whispers. It was the tense atmosphere, it leeched sound out of you. Or maybe it was because saying it right out would make it real.

The marauders mostly picked at their food. No one felt like eating. Not even Ron. Suddenly the door explosion open.

'' It 's him ! '' Hagrid boomed over the barking of his dog. `` He 's out there ! ``

The dorm emptied like a fire had started. Every bookman of every star sign piled through the hulk double doorway. Jostling and pushing against each other, and against teacher, to get through. They spilled out onto the look lawn like a undulation, breaking and separating. Everyone was running for the main gate. Ginny saw Hagrid, out in front end, yell something and the logic gate creaked undefended. Everyone pushed through, trying to get a glimpse of the solitary physique trudging up the path towards them.

The front stolon stopped and were almost bowled over as the people behind them ran into their backs. The road down from the gates was slanted, so everyone could see. See the figure that was definitely Harry.

His robes hung off one shoulder, the quietus torn and trailing behind him. The whole left side of his face was covered in blood line, down onto his shoulders too, caked on and streaked. One of his boot was gone, Merlin only knew where. His depart arm had an ugly burn over the elbow, red and raw and Black person in the middle.

The intact of Hogwarts stared at him. Harry raised his head painfully.

'' wellspring ... would ... '' Harry swallowed and licked his brim. `` Would you believe I fell down some step ? ``
*


'' Mr Potter where were you ? ``

You know where.

'' Tell me ! ``

He knows where. Of line he does. Stupid Dumbledore.

'' Were you at the baker residence Harry ? ``

There we are.

'' How did you leave school dry land ? ``

You do n't need to lie with that.

'' Harry answer me ! ``

'' What do you want from me Dumbledore ? '' Harry pushed a blood-entangled dreadlock of whisker out of his face. `` What do you require me to say ? ``

'' I want the trueness ! '' Dumbledore was yelling, every portrait on the walls of his business office watched in secretiveness. Apart from them the room was empty. `` I want you to secern me where you went ! Where you go every night ! I want solvent ! ``

'' I do n't give a tinker's damn what you want. ``

Rather incongruent seeing as we just asked him.

'' Harry if there is a breach in the Montgomery Ward of Hogwarts I need to screw about it. ``

Damn. He might actually be right. Voldemort sure as sin knew about the chamber.

'' Chamber of secrets. '' Harry met the Headmasters regard but gave cipher away. His occlumency was getting better too. `` Remember ? There 's a musical passage that lets out on the side of the lake. ``

'' The ... a passage. '' Dumbledore nodded faintly. `` Yes ... yes I knew about it. ``

'' But it slipped your psyche when you were shoring up the Aaron Montgomery Ward. ``

'' I ... no- ''

'' You 're not a god Dumbledore. '' Harry broke in. `` You ca n't do everything. You are incapable. You make mistake. It does n't have to be this way between us, admit you made a fault with regards to me. I can help you fight. Help the order of magnitude. ``

'' You are not of age. ``

'' Screw that ! '' Harry yelled wildly. `` There 's two people living tonight because of me ! Two kids who are not orphaned because of me ! ``

'' There are also five perfectly death feeder. ``

What ... the ... hell ...

'' Stunned. '' Harry corrected hopefully. `` Stunned death eaters. ``

'' Dead. '' Dumbledore 's brass grew stony. `` Killed with an cryptic toxin. Seen only once before. ``

No ... no no no no.

'' Dumbledore- ''

'' catch ! '' The headmaster cut him off. `` You have already demonstrated a bloodlust that disturbs convention, decorous wizards. ``

'' When I need to ! '' Harry was breathing hard. `` When my champion spirit are at wager ! ``

'' You are out of restraint Harry. ``

'' I did n't belt down them. '' Harry held up his handwriting. `` I did n't, I swear. I stunned them, then left, then called the aurors to beak them up. ``

'' I can not believe that Harry, I can not. Not with all I know. ``

'' Legilimence me. '' Harry released his refutation. `` You 'll see. You 'll cognize. ``

'' I will not roll in the hay. I will not know because I can not be sure that you have not reached a level of technique at occlumency where you could evince me whatever fabricated computer memory you wish to. ``

'' THEN WHAT DO YOU WANT ! ``

'' Anger Harry ? You have a lot of choler do n't you. ``

Yes. Harry hung his head tiredly. There is no answer to your questions. zip that will satisfy you.

'' You will stay confined to the castle. '' Dumbledore ordered. `` You will attend all lesson. A guardian appointed by me will take the air you to and from each lesson. You will do these things or I will hand you to the aurors. ``

'' I did n't do it. '' Harry whispered, Sir Thomas More to himself than anything else.

'' I can not take that peril. ``

waiting ! The Prophecy !

'' The prophecy. '' Harry blurted. `` What are we going to- ''

'' Stop thinking about such matter. '' Dumbledore cut him off. `` They are no longer your concern. ``

'' But I have to discontinue Voldemort. I 'm the only one who can. ``

'' This discourse is over Harry. farewell. ``

Harry stood. There was no stage drawing it out. He walked towards the door, but did n't go through it. He felt drained, completely. But some residual well of stubbornness would n't let him leave without one last word.

'' You 're making a mistake. '' Harry said over his shoulder. `` You do pretend them remember. ``

'' I do. But I correct them. '' Dumbledore said sharply, but sadly. `` I am correcting one right now. ``

shit. He still got the last word.

Harry turned and passed out of the office. There were important conclusion to be made.
*


'' Deja vu. '' A voice said over Ron 's shoulder.

'' Malfoy ! '' Ron spun on his bench. `` Do you just pussyfoot around everywhere ? ``

'' Hard to sneak in the middle of dejeuner. '' Malfoy seemed agitated. `` Harry 's gone again. ``

'' Like this break of day ? '' Hermione asked.

'' He said he was going to go to sleep, but his bag 's gone. '' As Malfoy spoke they heard a haphazardness from the high table.

Dumbledore had just shoved his chair back roughly and strode quickly from the hall.

'' He knows about- '' Ron began but stopped as a feather shadow dropped onto the table.

Digger cocked his mind and hopped about a piffling nervously. He kept looking at offset one face then another as if he did n't recognize who to deliver his message too.

Ginny reached forward and took it off her. She spread it out on the tabular array. It was little, but it had a lot of subtext. It simply said.

Take caution of him






follow-up, or I will use my gravemetric eversion ray to smash the moonlight down onto the open of the earth ! Destroying it utterly ! You have just one hour ! Mru Ha Ha Ha Ha ! Ha. Ha.


Arg ! The site goes down ! rage everywhere ! thing dip apart, the centers can not withstand ! My review article ! ! ! My precious reviews ! ! !

Ah well ... such is life.



'' Is there no news ? ``

'' No Albus, there is not. '' Minerva shook her head. `` He appears to have vanished. ``

'' Has a watch been set on the borders ? All ways that he could leave the country ? ``

'' Yes Albus. '' As if that had ever stopped Harry. `` But do you really think he will try to leave ? Everything we 've seen suggests he will stay and push. ``

'' I do not know Minerva. '' Albus shook his nous. `` I am not sure of anything anymore. ``

'' halt strong Albus. The parliamentary procedure needs you. ``

'' Yes ... yes we must go on. ``
*


The marauder, bundled up against the frigidity, sat quietly before a huge bay window in Malfoy manor. They had gone there straight from Hogwarts, with a guard the integral way. They were in the minority for leaving, a lot of students had elected to stay at Hogwarts for Xmas. It was safer. They were not the lone ones there though, Terry and Anne baker ( none of the predator had really known them ) had been dragged along looking confused.

That was until they reached the household and had a lachrymose reunification with their parents. Apparently individual had saved them from the death eaters. Emphasis on someone.

The manor was filling up, rafts of multitude. Refugees almost, people that had been targeted or were in risk of being. It was scary, seeing the fear in their center, the tactile sensation of being hunted. The marauders were the same, unable to allow, scanning the report for any clue of Harry. They found nil but they kept looking. guiltiness was a powerful thing.

So now they were stuck in the mansion, ineffectual to pull up stakes its walls as Charles Percy Snow blanketed everything outside. Even if they could give birth gone outside would they have had the tenderness to trifle ? Maybe, maybe not. So they sat in front of the huge open windowpane and watched it fall.

The adults had tried to wee it cheery, there was even a tree. It had n't worked though.

'' We should go have lunch. '' Someone murmured. No one moved. Eventually someone else echoed the thought and they began to get up, slowly, silently. They had just about reached the kitchen when Tonks burst in.

'' Have you heard the newsworthiness ? '' She blurted.

'' We read the prophet- '' Hermione began before Tonks interrupted her.

'' No, no. This just happened. '' She shook her head. `` Two death eaters just got dropped into the ministry foyer. Flued in. They were stunned and tied up with ribbons. They 're processing them now. Where 's everyone else ? ``

'' nigh of the grownup eat in the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree room. '' Ginny pointed and Tonks hurried out.

'' Do you think it was Harry ? '' Neville asked quietly.

'' Of course it was Harry. '' Malfoy said flatly.

'' It could have been someone else, someone else trying to stop them. ``

'' Someone who tied them up like nowadays and dumped them Christmas eve ? It 's Harry. '' Padma grimaced. `` He 's out there fighting. ``

'' On his own. '' Her sister echoed.

They sat in silence for a while. The but phone was Ron rhythmically munching on bread.

'' Do you think it was us ? '' Ginny found herself whispering. `` Do you recollect we drove him out ? ``

'' You certainly did n't assist. '' Dragon sneered.

'' Shut up Malfoy ! You were the one helping him ! '' Ron reached over and tried to thump the Slytherin. `` If you had n't he would n't hold thought he could fight them ! ``

'' He was getting aid from other places than me. Someone else I 'm sure, he was getting better too fast. '' Malfoy shook his fountainhead. `` No, I withdraw what I said before. You did n't bear on him towards this. This was inevitable. ``

But we abandoned him. Ginny thought darkly. Maybe if he would feature stayed longer if he thought he had something to outride for. Or at the very least he 'd know he was n't alone. pigeon hawk, how had thing gone so wrong ?

'' It 's my demerit. '' Hermione murmured suddenly. `` I said that ... stunned thing about choosing between- ''

'' It was n't you. '' Ron broke in. `` You heard Malfoy, it was inevitable. ``

'' We need to do something. '' Parvati said. `` Bring him back. William Tell him it 's ok. ''

'' How ? '' Draco shook his head. `` Take out a personal ad in the vaticinator ? ``

'' fountainhead why not ? ``

'' Because it 's silly. And because all it would do is relieve your guilt. It would n't help him. ``

'' fountainhead what would help him ! '' Fred asked angrily.

'' I do n't know ! '' genus Draco shot to his feet. `` Why are you asking me anyway ? I do n't even like you. '' He turned and stalked out of the room. Ginny watched him go. She 'd never thought about it before but Harry leaving had probably hit him pretty hard too. He did n't really give birth any other ally. Maybe that had been why he helped Harry for so long.

'' We need to do something. '' Parvati repeated again.

'' What sister ? What ? '' Padma frowned at her babe darkly. `` Do n't just continue saying 'do something'and expect everyone else to come up with something. ``

'' I do n't hear you coming up with anything ! ``

'' There 's nada we can do ! ``

They lapsed into an wild silence again. There was too much tenseness, too lilliputian catch some Z's. They were all at the end of their tether. Just like Harry had been. Ginny shook her head, they should possess gone easier on him. A little selfish part of her felt glad that she had not been persona of that outset disceptation with him. Another part blamed her for starting it. If she had just dodged he would n't take in hurt her shoulder and then they would n't get ...

It was senseless to think about it. The argument had happened, but a little division of her still irked. They should n't have blown up on him, so what if he said he chose an ground forces ... Wait ... Was it potential ? Was she really thinking about this ?

'' I can opine of something we can do. '' She said, her part catching in the middle. It had n't done that in years.

'' What Gin ? '' Fred asked without looking at her.

No one was looking at her. No one was paying attention. Marauder convention ...

'' HEY ! '' The board jumped as Ginny slammed down on it surd. The marauders started like lapin. Oh great, now everyone was looking at her. She stood, keeping her hands flat to the table. `` I know what we can do. ``

'' Wh ... what ? '' Hermione asked hesitantly.

'' Exactly what he asked. '' Ginny said confidently. `` He wanted an army. He needs an army. He 's fighting out there on his own so he deserves an army ! We can be it. We can help oneself him ! ``

For a few moments there was silence, then ...

'' But ... but we 're just small fry. '' Neville was biting his lip.

'' We 're as old as Harry. '' Ginny stated defiantly, glossing over the fact that she wasn't.

'' We do n't have it off how to defend like him. '' Ron was staring at her wildly.

'' Harry learnt, so we can. '' Ginny folded her arms. `` Harry was n't even that good at United States Department of Defense and front how far he 's come. We can do it. ``

'' We could ... '' Fred murmured, and is twin began nodding thoughtfully.

'' There are only eight of us. '' Hermione pointed out.

'' I think other people in the school would be prepared to help Harry if we told them. The old chosen ... others too. '' Ginny tried to await confident. `` And besides, Harry 's just one soul ! ``

'' But Harry 's Harry ! '' Hermione shook her head. `` He could get away with that sort of thing ! He has some ... ability ... some cause he survived. A power ! That 's it ! Like the prophecy said .'A exponent the darkness lord knows not'we- ''

'' The only exponent Harry ever displayed was stubbornness. '' Padma interrupted her. `` self-will and bravery. ``

'' And the fact that he never gave up. '' Her sister added.

'' And we should n't either. '' Padma nodded.

'' So you ... '' Ginny turned to them grinning.

'' We 're in. '' Padma said, her center hard and set. Her sister nodded her support.

'' Us too. '' George folded his limb just as his pal said,

'' We ca n't ease up up on Harry. ``

'' And you three ? '' Ginny turned to the last three open marauder. Neville shifted nervously,

'' I ... It could suffer been me. '' He was looking down at the board. `` It could have been me. I would n't consume survived this long. No ... but I ca n't just ignore it. The fact that it could have been me I mean. I ... I feel like I have to aid if I can. ``

'' You 're in ? ``

'' I do n't know how much service I 'll be. ``

'' You saved me. '' Ginny smiled desperately. All the vulture had to join, it was comparable fortune. For some reasonableness she felt like that. If they all did n't join it just would n't work. `` And Harry would have wanted it. ``

'' He understood you. '' Padma chimed in, smiling. `` More than the rest of us I think. ``

'' I 'll avail, if I can. '' Neville said, in a pocket-sized voice. Ginny breathed out in alleviation, one down two to go ...

'' And you two ? ``

Hermione and Ron shared a face. Ginny knew she could cod her brother into it, Ron was a leech for compeer press, but she would n't. Not a alternative like this.

'' We 'll have to escape some example. '' Ron said suddenly and Hermione put a hand over her mouth, chuckling. `` Think you can handle that Hermione ? ``

'' I guess so. '' Hermione turned back to Ginny. `` For Harry. ``

'' You 're in ? '' Yes, yes, yes ! `` Both of you ? ``

'' We 're in. ``

'' Us too. '' A part came out of nowhere. Ginny spun and fixed on the large three-fold room access. Standing in the open crack were two brownish haired fry. terrycloth and Anne baker. They had been listening in, eavesdropping. And they had managed to do it undetected. Wow, Ginny thought. They 've already got what it takes to be a marauder.

'' What ? '' Ron stood, clearly ineffectual to see them properly from where he was. `` You two ? ``

'' We heard what you were saying. '' Anne said, obviously trying to sound older. Ginny wondered if she had looked like that a few bit ago. `` We want to help too. ``

'' Harry saved our parents. '' Terry added in. `` The ministry did n't even know they were a quarry. We want to serve. ``

'' You realize what this means do n't you ? '' Ginny said clearly. `` We 're talking about fighting. Fighting demise eater. Maybe dying, almost certainly getting hurt. This is n't going to be fun. ``

'' We know that. '' terry nodded. `` You think we do n't know ? We saw Harry when he came back that morning just like the rest of you. That 's the variety of stuff you 're talking about right ? Well that night he was out saving our parents. Saving them was what hurt him so bad, so its ... like I do n't know. Only sightly, I guess, that we should do that for him. ``

'' You could die. '' Padma said flatly.

'' If Voldemort wins we die anyway. '' Anne matched her flatness. `` With parents like ours we 'll be on the top of his list. ``

'' We know what were getting ourselves into. '' terry cloth said defiantly. `` We want to fall in Harry 's army. ``

'' Harry 's US Army ? '' George snorted. `` Is that what we 're calling ourselves ? ``

'' I do n't like it. '' His twin agreed.

'' It does sound like something from world-war-two. '' Hermione agreed.

'' How about the chosen ? We 've been that before. '' Ron suggested.

'' We 're the marauders. '' Ginny overrode him. `` We 've always been the piranha we always will be. It 's what Harry would have wanted. ``

A murmur of arrangement went up from around the board and Ginny felt a billow of superbia. She beckoned the Baker twins over. As she did she suddenly realized something, she had made everybody look at her and they were still looking. Her crony had happily accepted her lead, they all had. And now she was about to ordain two new marauders, a exclusive right only previously granted by Harry.

What can of worms had she opened today ?

'' But wait. '' Padma said suddenly. `` How are we going to civilize properly ? Harry had a teacher, he had to. Where are we going to get one ? ``

'' I can think of someone. ``
*


'' Dragon ! ``

Dragon turned in shock to look at the crowd in the library doorway.

'' Yes ? '' He looked across them. `` Can I help you ? ``

'' We 've decided what we 're going to do. '' Ginerva said from the front. `` We 're forming an regular army. We 're going to fight for Harry. We want your help. ``

The library was tacit for a moment. Draco met the middle of each of the vulture, were they really good ? Legillimancy gave him the answer.

'' wellspring would you look at that. '' Draco murmured, then smiled. `` Lets get to it. ``
*


'' You realize this means the marauders now have members in every Hogwarts mansion. '' George commented as they walked down to Harry 's old grooming cellar.

'' We do n't have any Ravenclaws. '' Ron said. Hermione shook her straits irritably.

'' You would think you 'd remember Ron, after all the meter she 's saved our skins. ``

'' Who ? ``

'' Moaning Myrtle. ``

'' She does n't reckon. '' Ron said with authorisation before being clipped around the ear by Ginny.

"Watch your mouth. Harry wouldn't stand for that sort of talk."

"Besides, you ‘ re all wrong anyway."Draco said dryly from the front."Harry made myself and Tonks marauders at the end of go year. You ‘ ve been cross-house for months now."

"Why didn ‘ t you tell us ?"Ron asked him.

"Would it bear made a difference ?"

"well ... maybe."Ron shrugged."Marauders have unlike rule than ordinary people."

"Yeah, that part I got."Malfoy reached the threshold to the wine cellar and threw it open. It was exactly how they had left it. Huge piles of get around furniture and burn mark St. Mark on the walls."right field, well we don ‘ t have impact spheres or a siswai ‘ aman or muggle gonnes-"

"Guns."Hermione corrected.

"Them either."Draco stepped into the nitty-gritty of the room."Actually I do have some shock spheres but that ‘ s not the spot. We don ‘ t have clock time to go to four continents and break up up the honorable weaponry like Harry did, so I ‘ m going to focus on this ..."Malfoy drew his wand and held it out in front of him.

"Terry, Anne."Ginny turned to the two newest member."How are you at defence mechanism year ?"

"We ‘ re both getting Es."Anne said quickly.

"Marauders should know how to lie upright than that."

"Alright As."

"Saami as Harry live year."Ginny told them encouragingly."Hermione ? Can you bestow them up to speed real quick ?"

"I ... I guess so."

"Good."Ginny turned back to Draco and nodded. He smiled at her as he directed the others into dueling air. Her tummy did a little floaty lurch.

Just stress. She told herself. Just strain because we're joining a war. natural to be nervous, especially since they seem to have elected me leader. I'm not nervous for any other cause. No reason at all.
*


Neville collapsed into a chairperson in his elbow room. He ached everywhere. Malfoy had pushed them all day, fighting. They had only quit for the night when the Baker kids couldn't stand up any more. Neville hadn't been far behind them.

This must have been what it was like for Harry.

Neville shook his top dog, earlier Padma had told him Harry understood him. Neville didn't know whether that was true. He certainly didn't understand Harry. But maybe he watched him more than the others, keeping hushed on the sideline maybe he saw more. Saw more about people ... about Harry.

Maybe there was one other matter they could do for Harry.

He had thought of it before but hadn't mentioned it. No reason to tell ` citizenry, especially if he was wrong. It'd just make him look stupefied. It probably wouldn't help anyway. But it was Charles Frederick Worth a shot.

Neville drew a piece of paper towards him and grabbed a pinion. He chewed on the end nervously, how did you pop out a message like this ?

dearest ... No, to familiar. Neville shook his heading, it didn't matter what words he used. He should just get the thing written. He cracked his tired knuckle duster and started again.

To The Pythea

My name is Neville Longbottom and I'm a friend of Harry's. I don't know if he told you about me.

Neville winced, this was tough than he thought.

Harry's in hassle, or he might be. He's left Hogwarts to fight. We're worried about him. We're worried he might die. I don't know if you know about the Pr ...

Neville stopped writing and thought for a present moment. The alphabetic character might get intercepted by someone.

If the phrase ‘ as the 7th calendar month dies'means anything to you then you know why he's doing this. I don't know if you can help oneself him but if you can then please do, and tell us what we can do to help. We're already doing everything we can but it may not be enough.

Neville read the letter over nervously. He was writing to ask the help of one of the most powerful women in the humans. He signed it, his hand shaking enough to make the signature illegible, then squeaked his chair back and made for the owlery.

Digger was awaken and waiting, like he knew. The owl didn't even bother to search at the address, it just glanced at the epithet and took off. Neville watched it go, hoping ...
*


He got no reply over Christmas. The marauders opened present with aching bones while their parents watched before begging out and going back down to the cellar. Neville was surprised that the Baker baby didn't complain about being worked on Christmastide day. Perhaps they really did understand what they were in for.

coke kept falling intermittently, not enough to cover the ground again. It just ended up slush. Neville wondered if Harry was outdoor, cold, right now, then felt stupid. If Harry could get unearthly night weaponry out of the amobarbital sodium then he could restrain warm in winter.

'' Neville ! '' He heard Fred outcry at him. `` I thought we were dueling not staring out the window. ``

'' I 'm coming. '' Neville turned and raised his wand. `` Just a sec. ``

We 're doing what we can Harry, just you wait.
*


Harry crouched on the ceiling of a household, careful not to drop away on the wet tile. The house across the way was owned by a prominent member of a pure blood family. Not his main house obviously, jail fiddling place like this, but one of his properties.

A property with a large root cellar. A property that had been taking in large supplies of meat, bad meat too. Off cuts, the form you would give animals.

It was a lede. Harry smiled grimly, he was on to them. He could expect here all night ...
*


"Severus the children at central office keep disappearing during the day. Do you know where they're going ?

"I do not Albus."Technically truthful though any sensible person could guess.

"Do you think they might be planning to keep an eye on Harry ?"

"It is possible."I hope they are.

"This troubles be Severus, they should be kept safe."

"They are children."Technically on-key though not actually revealing his opinion.

"You will severalise me if you hear anything I should know."

"Of course."Anything I think you should know.

"Now, '' Dumbledore looked around the hall, meeting the heart of the four club member. Snape, McGonagall, Tonks and Moody. They had all been asked here. None of them knew why. `` I believe I have found Harry. ``

'' Are you sure ? '' Minerva rose to her ft, blow evident on her facial expression. `` How ? ``

'' Harry has been too trusting of Gringots. '' Dumbledore drew a melt off folder of parchment towards him. `` He forgets that they have homo employees as well as hob ones. I have managed to obtain records of Harry 's transactions. I believe I have pinpointed his positioning. ``

'' So why have n't you brought the poor boy back ? ``

'' Because Harry will sustain an exit strategy. '' Dumbledore shook his drumhead. `` If he sees me he will run, and I can not secure I will be able to catch him. You are the club members I believe he will trust. You must go about him. You must bring him back. ``

And what if I do n't wish him back. Snape was measured to shield his thought utterly. What if I merely wish to make for certain he 's safe.

'' This is the location. '' Dumbledore floated a flat solid of lambskin to each of them. `` We will go. Now. ``
*


Snape looked up at the flickering bulb above him and scornfully flicked it off before lighting his wand.

'' The top floor ? '' The auror Tonks was looking at the map drawn by Dumbledore. `` Why would he be on the top floor ? It 's a drained end. No way out. ``

'' The boy 's smarter than that. '' Alastor agreed as the four of them reached the stairwell of the muggle edifice. It was not vacant, indeed Snape could hear softened vocalism and clicking from adjacent rooms, but the top floor was closed for renovation.

'' Perhaps Dumbledore was wrong then. '' Was that a hint of hope in the voice of the young auror ?

'' More in all probability Harry has a broomstick up there. '' Minerva snapped.

Harry would not receive a broomstick. Snape shook his question but said nil out loud. He is more in all probability to have a pet dragon up there than a broomstick.

'' Quiet. '' Moody was up ahead, his magic eye scanning above them. The old auror cursed. `` Damn malefic eye ! There 's handbag up there, and papers. But I ca n't tell if there 's a person. ``

'' Let me see. '' Minerva slinked into her cat form and carefully padded up the steps. Then came back down, her centre twinkling. She transformed back and said, `` Harry has been here. His olfactory sensation is everywhere. ``

'' Do you know if he is there now ? '' Snape asked.

'' He is there. The olfactory property is too recent for him not to be. ``

'' Then we go in. '' Moody stalked forward. `` No baton visible, do n't spook him. ``

They walked up the bleak concrete step. The doorway was closed and covered by a shaping sail. Snape was reaching out to cut it aside when they all heard,

'' Do n't bother, I 've cut a slit in the one circle the side. '' The four ordering members stopped dead. The voice continued. `` And if you want a more striking statement, you are Dwight Lyman Moody, Snape, McGonagall and Tonks. ``

'' Harry ? '' Tonks asked loudly. `` Is that you ? ``

'' Did I not make that clear ? '' The voice said cheerily. `` cum in if you want. With your manus up if you please, we do n't want any surprises."

"You don ‘ t trustingness us ?"Tonks asked.

"constant vigilance."Harry replied.

Snape chuckled as he dropped his wand in his pocket and walked around the turning point. There indeed was a gaolbreak in the credit card drape, it was waving in the cold current of air. Snape stepped up to the gap and pushed it aside. Harry was standing in the undefended bay window, leaning easily against the edge.

He looked ... tired. Beyond tired, his middle were sunken and his skin picket. Did he look worse than when he left Hogwarts ? Yes. He most certainly did, there was no denying. It could not just be tiredness, it could not. He seemed glad though, his eyes sparkling mischievously.

"Harry."Snape greeted him as the early order phallus filed in behind him."It is good to see you. You are looking well."

"No I ‘ m not."Harry was watching them all closely."But I ‘ m surviving. How did you find me ?"

"I ‘ m afraid we can ‘ t-"

"Gringots led us here."Snape interrupted McGonagall, who glared at him."Dumbledore found you here with their data. He sent us here to bring in you back."

"And are you going to ?"

"We just want to tattle to you Harry."McGonagall stepped forward, her hands feast peacefully."It is not safe for you out here."

"It ‘ s not safe anywhere."Harry shrugged."And I ‘ m helping out here. I ‘ m fighting the decease eaters. What are you doing ? Looking for a lost baby ? Let me ask you, which of us is doing the more useful task ?"

"Potter don ‘ t be an idiot."Moody growled."You may have caught a few death eaters but it ‘ s only a matter of meter before you ‘ re caught and you serious pray it ‘ s by Dumbledore and not the dark overlord. If you die we all lose."

"If I fail we all lose."Harry shifted stuffy to the window.

"Harry, we ‘ re just trying to facilitate you."Tonks stepped forward."We all know what ‘ s at post here."

"This scene is recap."Harry scoffed."I ‘ m leaving."He turned to the window and dropped.

"No !"McGonagall yelled, snatching for her wand but Moody was faster. The old auror summoned Harry roughly, drawing him across the floor and disarmed him with a flick of the wrist.

"Son of a bitch."Harry tried to stand but Helen Wills jabbed his wand and Harry was pushed back to the ground."Trusted you ..."

"Sorry Potter."Helen Wills growled."Trusted you too. You pissed on that when you killed five men didn ‘ t need to be killed."

"That's not true."

"The share about killing them or the percentage about not needing to ?"

"To be true, both."Harry made a straight thrust for the room access but McGonagall stepped in front of him. Harry cringed, then tried to stand."This is pointless. If you bring me back to Hogwarts Dumbledore ‘ ll keep me prisoner, we all lose."

"I trust Dumbledore Thomas More than I trust you good now."Dwight Lyman Moody raised his scepter."You disappointed me. Now Stup-"

"Stop !"Snape struck sideways, sending Moody's wand sideways. As the auror 's heart jerked open in electrical shock Snape stunned him and whirled, holding his wand on McGonagall."Don ‘ t motility Minerva. In fact back away."

"Severus what is this ?"Her eyes were wide in disbelief.

"Please don ‘ t talk."Snape glanced at Tonks standing twitchily in the turning point, her hand hovering over her baton."And you ? Do I need to stun you too ?"

"I ... no."The Young auror's eyes flickered down to Harry."takings tending of yourself Harry. Please. Please do."

"I ‘ ll try."Harry nodded, walking over and grabbing his sceptre."And I won ‘ t use Gringots any more."The boy started for the window.

"Harry !"Snape called out."Helen Newington Wills caught you. You let your ward down. You have to be honorable than that."

"I know. I screwed up. Constant Vigilance."Harry nodded towards Moody."You should severalise him that too when he wakes up."

"He will probably kill me first."Snape shrugged.

"Not likely."Harry stepped up the sharpness."He ‘ ll probably confidence you now."

Harry grinned and dropped off the edge.

Snape waited a long moment, long enough for Harry to reach the ground, then lowered his wand. McGonagall just looked at him. No student with late homework had endured so withering a stare.

"Well Severus, now that you have betrayed the order, what do you intend to do now ?"

"I will go back to Dumbledore."Snape stepped over to wake up Moody."And I will try to explain."

The auror blinked to life-time and grabbed his baton. He levered himself to his metrical unit and looked Snape up and down with his piercing electric blue eye.

"fountainhead well, your avowedly colors at last."Moody spat.

"Trelawney once told me my people of colour was blench fuchsia."Snape commented as he made for the threshold."If I ‘ m display that coloring you may need to get your eye checked."

"My eye ‘ s fine."

"Good, then I ‘ ll meet you at Headquarters."Snape apparated away, the cold pressing abyss of void giving him a moment of peace before he dropped to his feet in front end of the doors. Three pa behind him told him the other rescript penis had followed.

"Don ‘ t do that again you slime."Moody growled, wand out."If you try to apparate again I ‘ ll assume you ‘ re trying to escape."

Snape took three tone, into the grand hall.

"There."Snape raised his manus."Now I can ‘ t escape."

"I don ‘ t trust you."Helen Newington Wills shook his fountainhead."open me your wand."

"No."Snape turned towards the main residence and walked calmly. Surprisingly he felt calm air, he was comfortable. He was sick of being Dumbledore's lapdog, and now he had finally acted on it.

He pushed the double doors opened and found something he didn't expect. The whole orderliness was there, lining the walls. Dumbledore had called a meeting, to discuss Harry being back. Snape stopped, his branch crossed and the three following him walk past into the room. Tonks was still quiet, fading into the crew, her haircloth unconsciously turning silent brownish. Helen Wills Moody and Minerva walked straight up to the head of the table.

"You failed to catch Harry ?"Dumbledore clearly suspected something. He was using the stare that used to thrust Snape to the person, now it just made his oculus itchiness."What went ill-timed Severus ?"

"I decided that gravid good could be served by letting him free."Severus stood calm against the angry grumbling that rose at that. He found Natalie's heart in the crowd,

Why ?

I am tired of leashes.

You aren't finished are you. It wasn't a question.

I am not. I mean Dumbledore to know I am no longer ... tame.

wellspring this should be fun.

Snape couldn't assist but smile.

"You think this is funny remark Severus !"Dumbledore had stood, his eyes flinty and hard.

"Yes."

"How dare you !"

How dare I ? Snape snorted, this was the way things should be. He felt more comfortable with everything against him.

"Snape this time you have gone too far."

Oh adept, if you're going to be this predictable this will go far easier. Snape just smiled.

"Do you have nothing to say !"

"No. I have nada to say."Snape kept his interpreter irritatingly coolheaded"The only explanation I have you will not accept. And I can not formulate one you will because you I do not know what you want."

"I want someone I can trust !"

"No you do not. You trust no one. You never have. Not with any secret Worth knowing. You are a closed system, no one is told anything."Snape glanced around the office at the early order members, practically everyone was there. Everyone there to witness his humiliation, that was what Dumbledore wanted anyway. If Snape had his way it wasn't going to happen like that."None of these people know anything do they."

"I am speak-"

"You ‘ d think that would get at them."Snape continued."You ‘ d think one of them would worry about you."

"Be silent !"

"Each of them thought another had your ear. Minerva thought Lupin, Lupin thought Helen Wills perhaps. I don ‘ t know who Moody thought. But none of them did, none of them know."

"secrecy !"

"No man is an island."Snape smiled, after all these class he knew how to get to the old man."No man is an island unless he makes himself so."

"Severus I will not hear to-"

"You will listen. You can ‘ t not."Snape shook his head."Something has frozen you. That is what you do isn ‘ t it ? You shrink, like a polo-neck. Back into your shell."

"And what is my scale ?"Dumbledore growled with uncontained cult and frustration.

"Your past. Your reputation."Snape sniffed."The lastly war, your resplendence days. Ha ha ... you have retreated into repetition and now ? Now you are paralyzed by it. We are not fighting this war, we are reliving it."

"You have made it elucidate what you think about-"

"Shut up."Dead silence. Snape folded his arms, grinning faintly. Behaving like Harry was fun."I am talking now and you will listen. You are paralyzed by something. guilt feelings I would guess. I don ‘ t know of course of study, no one knows, but I would ... well ... safely assume that it is guilt. Everyone is motivated by something, we each have something that makes us ... tick. You have guilt, dandy swirling pools of it. In every stomate of you, in every aspect of your thinker. It ‘ s been there since the first clock time I ever saw you, I didn ‘ t recognize it then of course, but it was there. By the clock time I came to work for you I was old enough to tell apart it. Something in your past tense, in your present too, fills you with a festering self-reproach. And it just gets worse and unsound, makes you doubt yourself, makes you think you are never worthy. Makes you turn down the position of minister for trick. Over and over again. I know what made you like this, you think I would act for you and not investigate your past times. You know I am more careful than that. You must take known that I knew. You must sustain known that I had found out about Kendra."

Dumbledore froze, every tendon tensed. Snape breathed a sigh of respite in his mind. He had not known for for certain, not until that present moment. He still didn't know really, not what had happened in that room. That secret would probably be taken to the grave accent of the men concerned. No affair, Snape could colour over the details.

"It was there in the number 1 war."Snape continued, his coarse vocalisation the entirely speech sound in the jam lobby."Back then it was ... helpful. It made you careful. It made you debile but ... it made you thrifty. I do not sympathise what has happened since then, perhaps it is as Harry says and you are simply senile, but it is worse now Previously guilt made you careful, sensitive. Now it makes you useless. Useless and broken. You are no longer the famous Albus Dumbledore, you are a fracture interlingual rendition of him."

"No."

"Something destroyed you."

"Stop."

"I don ‘ t know what it was."

"Please."

"It must experience been something terrible."Snape smiled slyly, letting his words sink in. Weakening."Whatever could it make been ? You don ‘ t have another baby ..."

"SILENC-"

"Legilimens !"
*


Darkness falling, falling everywhere. My fault, always my fault. I shouldn't have put him there, no right hand I had no right hand. I condemned him, his destruction. My one charge. unsuccessful person. No. Must be done. Leslie Townes Hope. Death. loser. the true shrouded so deeply. So mysterious it hurts. The the true would break us all. But even without we are doomed.

It is all a lie and we are all doomed.

Everything you know I told you.

Everything you know is lies.
*


Snape tore his mind away, shaking. He fell to his human knee on the level, the horror, the confusion, filling him. Dumbledore had fallen too, back into his chair. The old military personnel face twisted in pure excruciation. To keep back a truth locked inside for nine geezerhood only to have got it roughly ripped from you ? It must have felt like his heart had been torn out. Snape shook his headspring, it could not be reliable, it couldn't be. But behind the iniquity mutterings of Dumbledore's judgment, behind the aching compunction the actual storage hid. He had pushed them deep, as if trying to blank out them but they were there. They were impossible to forget. Snape knew he never would. The magnitude of what the old man had done hit him and he doubled over, vomiting onto the cold Oliver Stone floor.

He felt hands on his shoulders. Natalie. He reached up for one and grasped it, holding on to something real as portion of his universe fell apart. He tried to stand and found he needed Natalie's help to rise to his feet. His legs felt like weewee, his ft like led. He tried to make his oral cavity study, affair needed to be said. Something needed to be said.

"How daring you ?"Predictable, but Snape could cerebrate of cipher better."How could you do that ? To a child !"

"It ... was necessary."Dumbledore's spokesperson was barely a murmur, a swoon rustle in the air."It had to be done. It had to be done. It had to be done."Dumbledore mumbled that phrase over and over like a prayer.

"necessary ?"Snape found his tongue and used it to growl."No. No it was not. Not even you believe that."

"We needed-"

"BE SILENT !"Snape snapped, the headmaster cringed back as if struck."I am leaving Dumbledore. I am going to help Harry. To find him and help him, and you will let me. You have no right to get anything to do with that boy. You have no right."Snape turned towards the door, but stopped as his eye fell on Lupin.

"And you."Snape sneered."You ... for going along with him. For keeping it a occult. For treating Harry the way you do because of something that was none of his doing. Something that was done to him. You ... you are a behemoth. One that has zero to do with the moon."Snape turned away and hobbled from the way, leaning heavily on the low cleaning lady beside him.

"Severus !"Dumbledore called after him, suddenly sounding scared."You will separate no one ! Surely even you can see that this must remain a secret !"

Snape kept walking, not trusting himself to speak. They reached the room access and he stiffened, his mettle felt like it had a thousand tiny hooks in it, each one attached to a weight.

"Severus ?"Natalie murmured beside him."You need to go menage, I ‘ ll take on you-"

"No. Not habitation. Hogwarts."Snape shook his head."Hogwarts first."

"Alright."She didn't argue, she knew when his mind was made up. There was a unawares, sharp chime and the woman he was leaning on had blond hair and pale egg white skin. Of course, she was supposed to be numb. trustfulness her to remember particular even at a time like this. They stepped outside the boundary of the wards and apparated, the frigidity and pressing quash once more enclosing him.

He stepped out himself onto the grass before the William Henry Gates and allowed himself to be led up the prospicient track to the castling. Corridors passed and Snape realized he was being led to his quartern. good. The walls are warded so no one will hear. As they reached the door Snape pushed it open and went directly to the strong drink cabinet. He poured himself a whisky and drunk it down, wincing at the burn in his throat.

"Ghost Vinca minor Henderson."Snape called out softly. Ghosts could always hear their names. A few mo later the shadowy shape of Moaning Myrtle sunk out of the ceiling.

"Why did you call me ?"She asked impudently."I don ‘ t answer to you."

"I called you because the sign of the zodiac elves composition to Dumbledore as do the former ghosts. I need these words to be private."Snape snapped quickly."I need you to bring in professor Michelson down here and I need you to enjoin no one."

"You can't order me ar-"

"It is about Harry."

"Oh. Oh ..."Myrtle nodded fervently and shot back up through the rock. Snape turned to Natalie, now back to looking like her old ego, waiting patiently.

"You don ‘ t have to tell me."She said understandingly."I understand if it ‘ s something you want to keep to yourself. After all Dumbledore-"

"Was wrong."Snape cut her off."And I will tell you. If nothing else I need your supporter to get sense of it."Snape took a trench breath and began explaining. He could have just given her the memories but he didn't want her to get the shock he had. It didn't actually take that long to explicate, in the end it was so simple. When he was finished she just sat there, staring at him. As if bequeath him to jump up and yell ‘ fooled you ! ’, but knowing he would not.

"This ... this changes everything."She said breathlessly.

"It changes nothing."Snape gritted his tooth."We still need to help Harry."

"You ‘ re right-hand, we still do. But it changes everything else Severus. Everything else. You can not traverse that it does."

"No. No I can not."

They fell into secrecy as the door was pushed undetermined. Markus Albert Abraham Michelson strode in, looking around the small room quickly.

"The ghost said this was about Harry."He said, still glancing around as if Harry would spring from a counter."Do you know where he is ?"

"No, but I have ... I have left the order to look for for him. To help him with what he is trying to do. If I can."Snape fixed the other man in the eye."I know you ‘ ve been teaching him. I would treasure your help."

"Well finally !"Michelson threw up his arm."I was beginning to opine I was the only when one in this place with my head on straight."

"You are not far wrong."Snape shrugged.

"So what does this stool us ?"Natalie smiled."The order of the Kneasle ?"

"The order of the Nundu more like."Albert Abraham Michelson cracked his knuckles.

"You know, I think it makes us marauders."Snape smiled faintly."James Potter must be spinning in his grave."



one-half of my reviews seem to give birth disappeared ... very sad ... : (

You all have to review twice now to make up for it. If you do leave a review then a poof will visit you while you sleep and sprinkle pouf junk on you. The fairy rubble won't do magic or let you fly or anything but it'll be very pretty.


Harry Potter and the half-wit Child : Chapter 5 : The iniquity market

Harry travels to find information.




This newsman has some shocking news. News that will strike you, well referee, to your very core. Harry thrower has been declared a severe vigilance man by the ministry. Yes, Harry Potter the-boy-who-lived, is a manslayer. According to ministry officials Harry has been responsible for at least six Death and possibly more !

Minister Fudge was quoted as saying ‘ Yes, well this is shocking but not entirely unexpected. Just feel at his action at law during the Triwizard Tournament, the boy stole a ship for Merlin's sake. He's always been a loose cannon that boy has.'

This announcement came at the same clip as his official projection from Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry.
*


The piranha looked at each former along the retentive tabular array in the great Radclyffe Hall. None of them said 'Is this a joke ?'or 'No way'or anything naively infantile like that. They were past that. They had all known, on some level, that this was possible. Maybe even inevitable.

'' Changes cypher. '' Fred was the first to verbalise. `` It 's all bollocs so it changes zip. ``

'' This is unbalanced ! Do they think we 're dolt ? '' Ron was almost spluttering in anger. `` No one 's gon na consider any of this ! ``

'' I almost wish people did. '' Hermione was shaking her head as she peered down at the front line page article.

'' What ! You want people to think Harry 's a- '' Ron rounded on her, about to let relax, but Ginny held up a hand to bring in him up short. He was still fuming though and said, more reasonably. `` Maybe you should excuse that comment. ``

'' Because no one will believe it Ronald. '' Hermione bit her lip worriedly. `` Or at to the lowest degree many people wo n't. And people will blame the ministry. hoi polloi will detest the ministry for attacking their hero. ``

'' Remember the riots last year ? '' Padma said darkly. `` Imagine that. Except much speculative. ``

'' Oh ... '' Ron 's face fell. `` I guess that is bad. ``

'' It changes null. '' Malfoy said sharply. `` Not really. We all knew this was a possibility. ``

'' Right, '' Ginny nodded, putting on her leader expression. `` He 's decent. All this does is make what we 're doing even more urgent. ``

They all nodded, they had been training ever since they had got back to hogwarts a month ago.
*


His description has been given to every ministry law enforcement official and hit champion. His position on the ministry 's wanted inclination is only a few blank space short of the known death eater !

According to the ministry Harry 's M.O. is to use poison to do his dirty work. A poison there is no known counterpoison to.

Harry 's description is known to every wiz and witch alive but you should be cognisant that he may be in disguise.
*


'' This is Dumbledore 's doing. '' Natalie shook her header as she slid the newspaper over to Snape. A. A. Michelson had already flicked his copy closed and was staring at it angrily, as if blaming the theme itself. Snape sighed, he had already read the offending article.

'' Dumbledore undoubtedly had a hand in it. '' Snape tried to break off his ire rising to the airfoil. hold it under wrapping, save it for when it was needed. `` Perhaps he thinks he can scare Harry back to him. ``

'' Then he does n't love Harry. '' Michelson stood and began pacing angrily, obviously he felt no demand to hold open his ire under wraps. `` This 'll just make Harry even more sure that everyone 's against him ! ``

'' Undoubtedly. '' Snape flicked through the rest of the newspaper. `` At least there is some trade good news show ... ''
*


Harry may be active in Leeds. Yesterday the ministry was handed an anonymous tip that led them to a house there that had been converted to house iniquity creatures. No death eaters were caught ( perhaps the organic structure are hidden elsewhere ! ) but the basement was a nuzzle of lethifolds, swarming in the duskiness in phone number never before seen on British dirt. I do not necessitate to tell you, ripe referee, that if they had been unleashed they would have caused untold demolition. The lethifolds have been disposed of by the ministry.

There is no proof that Harry was there but a touch in the aurors federal agency said that they were investigating the possibility.

Harry is to be considered as dangerous as any death eater. Perhaps more so.
*


Harry dumped the composition in a trumpery can. It did n't topic anymore. He coughed roughly, clutching at his belly. It did n't matter if the ministry caught him so long as he did what he had to do first. What the nether region did he care what everybody else thought ? It just imply he had to be more careful.

Harry shoved off the paries and flicked his hood up before walking off down he alleyway. There was still work to do.
*


'' Is it admittedly ? ``

Ginny turned at the sound, the angry and emphatic audio. The marauders spun with her, almost in synchronism. Cho Changjiang stepped back fearfully. In her defense the marauders now add up eleven, filling the hall with uniform anger. They had also all drawn their baton at the Lapp time as she spoke, in response to the possible threat.

They must get truly looked like an army.

Cho had frozen in place, wrath turned to astonished silence. Ginny stepped forward.

'' Of class it 's not dead on target. '' She said simply. `` How can you even ask that ? ``

'' I just ... '' Cho swallowed, fear still flickering across her face. `` Is Harry Ok ? ``

'' We do n't eff. ``

'' Where is he ? ``

'' We do n't know. ``

'' Does he ask help ? ``

'' We do n't know. We 're trying to help him. '' Ginny said curtly. She was beginning to get tired of Cho 's stupefied motion. Ginny turned to depart when Cho broke in,

'' Well I want to help too ! '' Ginny felt a little mental moan. That was just what she needed, a complaining pretty-girl in the rank. A never-ending irritation at best, a indebtedness at worst. Cho went on, `` I 'm one-time than you, and I 'm a Ravenclaw. I must know rafts of spells you do n't do it yet ! You should let me conjoin. ``

'' No you do n't you chesty stuck-up ... '' Ginny clamped her mouth shut and took a oceanic abyss appeasement breath. `` This is n't the bloody gobstones nine. You ca n't just join on a whim. We 're training to agitate, really fight. Fight dying eaters. ``

'' I know that. '' Cho looked down her nose arrogantly. `` If you can do it then I can too. ``

'' You do n't empathize ! You ... '' Ginny gritted her teeth tight together again before turning to the marauder. `` Vote. All of us. I vote no. ``

The marauders glanced about between them. Some of them had obviously been thinking of voting yes before she made her feelings so abundantly vindicated. After some mortified shuffling Draco stepped forward, eyeing Cho up and down silently. Ginny felt another spurt of bile rise in her gut.

'' You accept the fact that you could die ? '' Draco asked flatly. Cho nodded, her eyes spacious. Dragon looked into her heart for a second, Ginny thought she heard him mutter something under his breath. Draco cocked his head word to the side and asked another question. `` Do you accept the fact that you have to consider orders from Ginny ? ``

YES ! Take that you bitch ! Ginny was shocked at the horizontal surface of glee her subconscious threw up at that question. If her subconscious mind was happy with the doubtfulness, her entire brain grinned when Cho grimaced and nodded.

'' mulct. '' Draco shrugged. `` We need More people. I vote yes. If she does n't exercise out we can always make her leave. ``

'' We vote yes. '' Fred said, shrugging. His Twin added, `` Sorry Ginny. ``

'' I ... yes. '' Anapurna nodded, a little hesitantly.

'' No. '' Padma shook her head, earning her a shocked glance from her sister. `` We do n't involve her. No cause to take aim on another project when we do n't need her. ``

'' Look just put your hired hand up. '' Ginny said tiredly. `` Hands for no ? ``

Three hands rose, herself, Padma and Hermione. Ginny 's tummy dropped, this did n't look good.

'' For yes ? ``

5 manpower were raised. Ron had followed his older brothers. Ginny turned to silent three remainders.

'' Neville, Anna, Terry ? '' Neville shifted uncomfortably and the Baker twins looked at the floor. `` You need to vote. ``

'' I do n't need to vote. '' Neville said quietly.

'' And we 're new. '' Anna shrugged. `` We 'll let you decide. ``

'' You see ! '' Cho said triumphantly. `` I 'm in ! ``

Ginny turned slowly, it was done. Time to make the Best of it.

'' fine. sports meeting us here after lessons today. ``

'' Today ? But I 've got quidditch drill. ``

I know. Ginny did n't say it, but she so wanted to. `` This is more important than quidditch. We all understand that. You need to. ``

With that she turned and strode away. She hoped Cho would n't sour up tonight. That would really make her day.

Ginny survived herbology with a Scripture of whammy propped up against a plant pot. She did the Lapplander in Defense, professor Albert Abraham Michelson was being oddly blind to the transgressions of the piranha. After the example were done she slammed her Book away and dashed for the door. She ran for the confluence shoes but slowed down before she got there. She would n't make out all covered in sweat and breathing hard. She would n't give Cho the satisfa ...

Cho was n't alone.

Ginny stopped with the marauders a few paces away from the newcomers. Lucy Kingston stood by her Ravenclaw champion with her boyfriend, Joshua stock split, standing on her other side. The two ex-Slytherin Gryffindors, genus Vanessa and Elizabeth stood in front of him, eyeing Malfoy warily. It irked Ginny that all of them were here. It irked her more that they were probably the people she would consume chosen to accept to the marauders herself. pudden-head Cho.

'' You told them. '' She tried to make water her vocalism come out icily raging, hoping it did n't just sound peevish. `` You told all of them. What the inferno do you think- ''

'' I do n't tell them ! '' Cho interrupted her. `` Everyone in the school is talking about the news about Harry, and everybody knows you lot are doing something secret. They just ... ''

'' We eavesdropped. '' rip interrupted. `` We want to avail Harry too. ``

'' This is getting ridiculous. '' Padma muttered from the depths of the marauders.

'' We heard what you asked Cho. '' Split went on. `` And we understand the risks. Lets face it, if you trust him, '' snag jerked his chin towards Malfoy. `` You have to believe us. ``

'' I do n't give to trust any of you. '' proficient, that sounded like Harry. `` Listen I do n't care what you say. We 're going to take aim now. If you can restrain up you can appease, we do n't have time to slow down down for you. ``

'' Fine with us ... madam sergeant. '' Split added sarcastically.

'' half-wit. '' Ginny muttered as she led the amassed hordes off down the corridor.
*


'' Listen. ``

Malfoy stopped and turned towards Split. The one-time boy had halted them just outside the entering to the marauders attic, everyone else was already inside.

'' Yes ? '' Malfoy said evenly. `` Can I facilitate you ? ``

'' I just want you to know we 're here for Harry. '' stock split said challengingly. `` We do n't swear you. We do n't forgive you. ``

'' You 're here for the same cause I am then. ``

'' Whatever. '' rip shook his nous. `` God knows why she trusts you. Let alone ... well you know. ``

'' I know what ? '' Malfoy looked around in confusion. `` She who ? ``

'' You do n't cognise ? '' Split almost seemed to smile. `` Idiot. ``

'' She who ? ``

'' I expect she 'll let you hump in her own time. ``

'' She who ? ``
*


Harry pushed his way out of the old shop he had flued into and a blast of warmth hit his face. He dragged a broad brimmed hat out of his bag and pulled it low over his optic. Ah, that was better. His coat and it 's versatile captivation would have kept his dead body cool but it would have looked incredibly conspicuous here. He winced in the harsh light and shucked his bag up on his shoulder joint before setting off along the iniquity tarmac street.

Muggles walked past him without a secondment thought, jabbering to each other in French. The accent was very different from what he was used to but that was only to be expected. Harry had learnt Gallic in Swiss Confederation and only talk it to the pupil of Beauxbatons. Harry idly wondered if his French had a Swiss stress or an side one.

No topic, he was in Marrakech, thou of naut mi from France or England. He would support out as a outsider whatever he did. No spot trying to meld in with the topical anesthetic, much expert to just look like another stupid holidaymaker. There were one or two others around. Harry picked up his yard as he crossed the street and into the souk.

Why is it that I always find myself in mazes ? Harry thought to himself chuckling as he skirted around a stall of vegetables and slid through the crowd of shoppers. The muggle souk was bad enough, a gigantic Robert Penn Warren of streets and alleyways total of shops and marketplace kiosk selling everything from spiciness to electronics. Harry kept on an inerrable course through it, it was n't his destination.

Hopefully he knew where his destination was, his entropy was sketchy at best.

Harry came to the stall he wanted, a dark mess in the wall selling decrepit and moth eaten clothing. He took a opprobrious t-shirt with a wiz on it off the wheel and glanced at the aging shopkeeper. There was a barely perceptible nod. Harry stepped behind a screen, a rough changing room, and pulled the curtain shut. He held the shirt up and tapped the star twice. With a piercing groaning the trading floor began to moil slowly downwards.

Harry tried not to touch the sides of the stone passageway as the opening at the top got further and further away. Ten meters ... 20 .... thirty .... forty- clunk. Harry snapped to attention as the floor stopped descending. The Harlan Fiske Stone in front end of him rive apart slowly, light spilled in, and air. The smells ... every odor imaginable, combustion, animals, solid food of every kind, incense made of spun lightning, every smell a wizard with no regard for the laws of chemistry could create hung in the air as Harry stepped out of the non-white entranceway into the under-souk, the dark market.

Knockturn alley had zilch on this place.

Harry looked up at the ceiling a far above, photomosaic kaleidoscoped over the rounded aerofoil, changing every present moment. There were no paries for as far as Harry could see, just mainstay dotted around. In no pattern Harry could see. Every one as wide as an oak, twisted and gouged and splaying up into that terrific cap. Disappearing into it. And down at dry land horizontal surface ? It was indescribable. Every kind of shop, every variety of stall. Some sellers just sitting of a mat, regalia of bottles out in straw man of them. Others had displays that looked like insane and un-feasible pop up books, everything spilling out of everything else. The racket was deafening, worse than up above because the haphazardness of sparking spells and fuming potions was added to the general randomness of the great unwashed, and there was the periodic screech as another shopper was brought down by one of the entrances.

There was no finding your way in this place. Not unless you grew up down here. Harry scanned the area while walking sedately forwards. Many stalls had tall flagpoles to identify them from far away, he was looking for ... ah. Harry spotted the flag he was looking for and headed for it, surreptitiously checking his disguise as he did so. Harry flicked a black gown out of his bag and threw it over his shoulders. Like this he looked like about XXX, maybe more, with foresightful black pilus and a deep scar on his impertinence. Threatening, but not obvious.

Harry smelt his destination before he got there. The aroma of animal and animal dung beating out the early odor more and more the finisher he got. He came to an assailable berth in the market, a seat where the stalls had been pushed aside to take a crap room for rank upon rank of cages. Harry recognized some of the brute in them, others were a secret, all he gave a full birth. The coop seemed almost stupidly sturdy, surely they used unbreakable charms. Surely they did ...

Harry felt himself edging away and forced himself to quiet down. He looked into one of the cages, a monstrosity made of totally I-beams, and saw the eye of a flying dragon staring back at him. Somehow they must have stopped it flaming, they must have. Harry stepped calmly up the rough desk at the end of the coop. It was surrounded by bags of what looked like some sort of feed. An ordinary bird cage sat on the corner with a small lucky bird fluffing its feathers. The heavily bearded and mustachioed man sat behind it looked up as he approached.

'' Yes ? '' He asked in wanton English. `` Are you look for something ? ``

'' My public figure is Jack caiman. I have come for you to tell me the advancement of an order. '' Harry pulled back his sleeve, revealing the nighttime mark. The market keeper recoiled, glancing about fearfully.

'' Put that away ! '' He gestured wildly. Harry calmly rolled his sleeve back down.

'' You have goose egg to reverence. '' Harry said airily. `` Not while you do the night lord 's work. ``

'' Why you come here ? '' The man 's oculus were still shifting nervously. `` All on docket. ``

'' There have been some problems at the other end. ``

'' Not my break. '' The seller shook his forefront. `` Got them safe to you. You lose them after it not my fault. ``

'' Of course not. '' Harry smiled in an uncomforting way. `` You mistake me. I merely meant that we have cause to ask to make sure as shooting this delivery goes smoothly. There can be no misunderstanding. You understand. ``

'' Of course of study, of row. '' The man nodded rapidly. `` Do not care. You can tell your master copy not to interest. Everything is hunky-dory. ``

'' Where are the creatures now ? ``

'' They are on ship. '' The man shuffled back to his desk and sat down. `` Loaded on two days ago. ``

Damnit, Harry cursed inwardly. It would have been so much prosperous if they were still on dry land.

'' Tell me their course. '' Harry leant down threateningly. `` My superior is thinking of sending some people to guarantee there are no ... mistakes. ``

'' No mistakes. '' The man nodded again, dragging a map out of a draftsman in his desk. `` No mistakes. ``

Harry smiled, people were so stupe when they thought you were going to kill them.
*


Harry dropped back onto British people soil and immediately flued again to stave off any pursuit. He walked the go long walk to the abandoned theatre he was staying in and pushed the door open. It was dark inside, the windows covered by anti-vandal crustal plate put up by the police force. It was empty, not even a chair when he had first arrived. But it was clean-living and the water was still running. Harry slouched down against the bulwark and collapsed. foresighted day. He reached over and picked up a nursing bottle of pep up potion. He uncorked it and let some slosh into his mouth. This was his 2d Cupid's disease today. It was growing harder to hold going ... the sickness ...

Harry shook his drumhead, no use dwelling on it. spine to work. He spread the maps out in front of him on the floor and roughly arranged them out into a rough match to the coast of Africa and Europe. The mathematical function were seriously old, like everything else wizards had, and some of the countries had the wrong names. One of them had a big 'here be dragons'warning written in the eye of the Atlantic. Knowing that it was a wizard map it might well be true.

Harry sighed as he looked at the times that were written on different checkpoints on the map. The ship was old too, or looked it. The man had sketched a rough drawing of it. It resembled nil more than a giant wooden brick with belittled sails that surely could never propel it too fast. Of trend it would be propelled by magic, if not it would just be unintelligent, but it would still take almost a month to arrive up from Africa. Could be consider it in the eye of the ocean ? Harry shuddered at the sentiment. Besides the coursing fear at the very thought it was impractical to boot. How would he even get on board the ship ? How would he even find it on the blank featureless sea ?

Harry trawled over the map again, was there any place where it came close to demesne ? Was there any ... ambush gunpoint ?

Oh of grade ! There 's this big tree in the middle of the sea that you can hide behind. Sharks use it all the time to catch seals.

Harry sat back tiredly, this was going to be severe than he thought. His eyelids felt so heavily ... sleep ...

Harry glanced around, he was in a house. A fire crackled warmly on the fireside, throwing swoon shadows on the fair blue walls. The picture show on the walls, a redheaded charwoman, a man with a companion face. Harry shook his head, it was a dream. He had had it before. He walked towards the door and pushed it open hurrying out of the house and into the neat garden. He glanced back, the bungalow was as it always was. The bungalow at Godrics hole. Harry shuddered, every meter his dream put him in this place he had an undeniable urge to leave. It was like putting your hand in a bucket of wriggling worm, a crawling sensation over his entire skin. And yet his ambition brought his dorsum here again and again and again.

Harry hugged his arms to his chest. Maybe this would be one of the good nights, the nighttime when he managed to escape. There was a wood out there somewhere, a woodland of apple trees, their flush filling the air. When he could find that in his dreams he slept well, he slept comfortably. But for every one of those there would be one of the bad single, when the house kept drawing him back. He didn't even want to think about what had happened once, when the river had come for him.

Harry pulled himself together with a force of will. Those apple trees weren't going to find themselves. He was about to set off when a fluttering sound reached his ear. Harry spent a second wondering if it was some new unpleasantness the dream was throwing at him before he realized it was coming from outside.

Harry woke with a start and was on his feet in a mo, sceptre in helping hand. He relaxed when he saw that the auditory sensation was coming from a modest tweed bird trying to force in through the bottom of the windowpane. The bird twittered then flickered back international. It took Harry a moment to pull in it had left something behind, a belittled turn up piece of paper.

Interesting. Especially considering no one should be able to reach me here.

Harry stood and hesitantly poked the composition with his wand. It did nothing. He prodded it again. Still nothing. He flicked it on the base and folded it surface with the end of a fork. He bent down and read it without touching it.

Harry

I once told you to follow your own path if you thought it was right. You seem to hold taken that advice to affection. I can not and will not say that your choice is wrongly, it may be, it may not be, I do not know. But you can not destroy yourself for the sake of this battle. Do not. Your friends worry about you. They are as I write this working to help you. Training as hard as you ever did. You are not alone no subject how much you fight to score it so. There are people that will tolerate if you die, even if you take Voldemort with you.

I can not offer you any information about Voldemort 's plan or whereabouts. I am constrained by the rules of my rescript. I would break-dance them for you but it would do no good. I would be found out tenacious before I could divine anything for you.

The merely assist I can give you I have already given. I wish I could do more Harry, you must think that.

Remember to assume the pendent.

DO NOT DIE.

Pythea.

Harry picked the minuscule composition of parchment up carefully and slipped it into his breast pocket. His hand stayed there a import longer, pressing it into his chest, before he took a deep intimation and let it out.

Do not die.

He did not intend to, but it had always been a theory. And no topic how a good deal hoi polloi would suffer if he died they would stand more if Voldemort was left alive. Harry had a inviolable urge to exact the missive back out and read it once again, or maybe twice or three times. But no, he had work to do. waitress ... something in the alphabetic character tugged at his mind. Maybe there was a way.
*


Malfoy snorted as Cho was sent flying across the room. The new enlistee were trying to hold open up, they were just failing. He turned away, they were useless, just a waste of fourth dimension for the rest of them. The marauders themselves ? genus Draco managed a modest grin for that, they were progressing nicely. They could oppose. They could fight as a team. They could contend on their own. They could fight like kneazles in a sack if they needed to. And they would need to.

He moved over to a pile of faded box seat and ran his fingers over a long, slenderize, Second Earl Grey cloak inside. The Weasley twins claimed they could turn them into temporary invisibility cloaks with some Thomas More practice. Dragon did n't doubt it. The magical spell would n't lastly for more than a day or two but that was all they needed. They could just respell them afterwards. cuticle charm graced the dark Second Earl Grey jackets in the next box, adequate to deter minor hexes. In the commencement it had just been a way to carry the charms, the same as an amulet or a pack. Rings of invisibility were common enough even though they were hideously intemperately to make and protective amulets were ten a penny. But the wearing apparel were easier for the Weasleys to work on, and the iniquity grey made them inconspicuous at Nox. That had been the start, but now it almost seemed more ... Like they were becoming an U. S. Army in the true, they had uniforms. Parvati had wanted to stitch fiddling Ms onto the clothing as a symbolisation of the marauder but Ginny had n't let her. Waste of time, too conspicuous too. genus Draco smiled again, it did n't matter if the wearing apparel were unmistakable Grey or pink with short snitches. Either way by the end they would take an chemical group of invisible, shielded, deadly fighters.

Invincible cutthroat bastards. Marauders to the core. Harry would let been gallant. At least, Draco hoped he would be.

'' Draco ! '' Ron yelled. `` Break fourth dimension 's up get back here. ``

'' I 'm coming Weasley stop shouting. '' Draco gritted his teeth, all of his muscles hurt. Never mind. `` Back to crop. ``

'' Stop. I need to sing to you. ``

The voice came out of nowhere. The marauders twisted towards it, wands out. The affaire d'honneur ceased, every eye widened in shock.

'' I heard individual was raising an United States Army. '' Harry quirked an supercilium. `` I find myself in need of an US Army. Is this one for hire ? ``

'' Hire ? '' George let out a laugh. `` Harry this is your army. ``

'' good, I should get a discount. ``

The marauders broke and all began talking at once, it was a happy storm of sound with Harry laughing in the midpoint. genus Draco stayed silent, he glanced over at Ginny, also staying back. She nodded to him, her mouth a surd telephone line. She had realized too. Harry had n't come back for a happy reunification. He would n't have. He had come because he needed them. This would be the start job of the army.

'' Harry ... '' Draco cleared his throat. The green eye of the boy who lived fell on him. `` What is it you want the army for ? ``

'' Oh ... that. '' Harry reached into his bag. `` Do you take in a table ? ``

Draco pointed the way and Harry pulled a huge sheet of parchment out of his bag. Harry laid them down on the rough out surface of the end surviving table in the attic. It looked like a giant written matter of a map.

'' There 's a ship. '' Harry traced it 's course along a foresightful line on the map. `` It 's stuffed to the branchia with obscure creature. Direct to the dark master. Hundreds, including a lot that we really do n't need him getting his hands on. It 's not going to make port before U.K., it 's going to be far out to sea. No portkeys, no flues, only way there is to fly. ``

'' That 's why you need us. '' Padma said thoughtfully.

'' Yeah, kind of. '' Harry hung his caput. `` I can just about manage to fly in a straightforward line. Slowly. But out over water ? With the wind and maybe storms and ... and over water. And when I might have to attain a quick exit ? No. I need getaway device driver. ``

'' I thought you wanted us to contend. '' Ron said, disappointedly. Harry 's eyes narrowed, he opened his rima oris but Ginny cut in.

'' We 're here for whatever Harry needs us for Ron. '' She snapped. `` You should know that. ``

'' I ... right. ``

'' rightfield. '' Ginny nodded sharply. genus Draco half expected Ron to salute. Ginny turned back to Harry. `` What kind of dark creatures are we talking about ? ``

'' Various kinds of nasty. '' Harry was looking between Ginny and Ron curiously. `` Lots of creatures. ``

'' Manticores ? '' Hermione added.

'' Yes ... '' Harry looked at a tilt jotted at the bottom of the map. `` Six of them. ``

Draco glanced at the inclination and let out a startled oath. They could not let this ship reach land. Even if they had to lose half the regular army to do it. The hellhounds had to be juveniles at to the lowest degree, no one could stuff six fully grown ones into a ship. Unless it had been magically expanded. Which it almost certainly had. They could not let that transport gain land.

'' We need to get on that ship. '' He heard himself saying, his voice a little breathless. `` We could fly on, or ... or ... ''

'' Go onto it ? '' Harry let out a harsh laughter. `` That would be pretty grave. ``

'' Because of the creature ? ``

'' Because I 'm going to sink it. ``



This is the concluding chapter of frame-up, I promise. From now to the end of the book is pure adrenalin-fueled plot.


I do n't own Harry Potter. I do however own some tall mallow. Which is just as good.



'' Sink it ? '' Hermione 's voice was a shrill, disbelieving whine.

Ginny felt like slamming her bridge player up to her forehead. Of path Harry would desire to sink the ship, it was the mere, easiest, solution if you did n't care about the consequences.

'' But ... but ... `` terry cloth Baker raised his hand slowly as if he were in class.

'' Yes unexpected-addition-1. '' Harry nodded pleasantly.

'' Are n't there people on the ship ? ``

'' Yes, but they 'll be wizards, they can just apparate to set ashore. They wo n't be killed. ``

'' How about the tool ? '' Ron asked, scratching his head. `` Wo n't they just swim to shore ? ``

'' Damnit ! '' Harry clicked his fingers. `` Foiled again ! If only someone had stuffed them in big metal cage for transfer. Then they 'd drop down straight to the tail end. ``

'' How are you planning to sink it anyway ? '' Fred asked, eagerness clearly visible in his eyes.

'' wellspring, I plan to blow a big hole in it underneath the water seam. Then I 'm going to put another big hole in it underneath the H2O stock. And if that does n't figure out I 'm going to put a third- ''

'' This is a superstar boat I assume Harry. '' Dragon interrupted. `` Putting a pickle in it may not be as easy as you think. It 'll own all sorts of charms and trade protection. ``

'' I can short-circuit them. ``

'' Without the people on the ship realizing ? ``

'' Yes. ``

'' Really ? ``

'' Yes. '' Harry folded his arms. `` I have thought about this Draco. I have planned this. ``

The loft became silent again. Ginny could feel the sprocket moving in multitude 's headspring. They were all thinking how far they were willing to go. The marauders ... well they were probably in. The others ? They had signed up to fight down expiry eaters not entrust acts of terrorism. How did she stick out on this ? On remainder ... with Harry. Those beast could not be allowed to reach shore.

'' We ca n't do this. '' Padma was shaking her header. `` We ca n't lapse it. ``

'' You running away ? '' Harry was looking at her in repulsion. `` You want to just let them liberate that variety of- ''

'' No of course not ! '' Padma interrupted him. `` But you have n't thought of everything. ``

'' Oh yeah ? Well what have I missed ? ``

'' The statute of secretiveness. '' Padma looked down at the map, perhaps just to head off meeting people 's eyes. `` If we do this they 'll be this giant wreck with three-base hit headed frame and they could float to the airfoil or get into the gulf flow or underwater diver could find them. Not to remark that someone 's going to notice a giant star exploding ship off the coast. Even if we tell the ministry afterwards they ca n't make out this sort of cleaning, not on this scale. No one can. It 'll be uncollectible than Roswell. Keeping magic secret from muggles, the legislative act of concealment, is the one thing both sides of this war jibe on. If we break it then they 're going to set forth breaking it and then we 're going to be really screwed. ``

Harry leant back, rocking back on the balls of his feet. He bit his lip. Thinking. The predator held their breath.

'' Ok. '' Harry spun the map to cheek Padma. `` Give me another option. ``

'' We board the ship. Incapacitate the crew. Kill the creatures. '' Padma said definitively. `` If I 'm reading this right the ship only a dozen people on it. No expiry eater. well-nigh of them are just there to keep the animals in check. Should n't be too hard to daze them. ``

'' And the animals ? '' Harry asked quizzically. `` Some of them are n't easy to stamp out. ``

'' The killing expletive. '' Gasps rose from the army. `` It 'll toss off everything on this inclination. ``

'' Is n't it an trice life conviction ? '' Cho choked out.

'' Only when used against humans. '' Padma replied calmly at the Same time as Harry said,

'' Only if someone finds out. But would n't any underage magic be detected."

"Not in external waters."

'' And the ship ? '' Harry asked. `` If we just leave it drifting wo n't that be against the statute of privacy ? ``

'' We leave the crew on it. They can get it so a safe wizard harbor. ``

'' Hmm ... '' Harry folded his weaponry and looked at Padma appraisingly. `` That ... could ... workplace. It would be more difficult, more risky ... more fun ... but it could crop. ``

Ginny felt a grin. This was the almost like the old Harry back again. for sure they were planning an act of monumental plagiarisation rather than a clowning but it was Harry back again.

'' We can split up. '' Harry continued. `` send out a couple of people down to the water supply to wait. The rest of us go in. If we can need the crew out and kill the beast we do. If not ? We default back to my plan and the people in the pee blow it to smithereens. We worry about the fallout later. ``

Ginny took a deep breath and halfway through realized that most of the piranha were looking at her. Her throat closed up and she almost coughed up her lungs. They were still looking to her, even though Harry was back. Harry was the ecumenical they all knew that, but maybe ... maybe she was the sergeant-at-law or something.

'' Who can float ? '' It was literally the firstly thing that popped into her head. `` Who can swim really well ? ``

Parvati 's bridge player shot up instantly smiling, the two baker child volunteered slower maybe still a piffling hesitant, finally Split shrugged and lacklusterly raised his arm.

'' Four people. '' Ginny looked down at the map, at the little study of the ship. `` We can put ... two each in the water near the front man and back. ``

'' Prow and arse. '' Draco murmured. She glared at him.

'' Near the front and back. '' Ginny continued. `` Everybody else land on the front. ``

'' On the back. '' Harry disagreed. `` Here, in the steering bit with the bicycle. ``

'' bridge deck. ``

'' Shut up. We land on the steery bit and take everybody out quickly. '' Harry pointed at Draco. `` You stay there and retain the ship on course. You can do that ? You know the proper names for the steery cycle and the clit and stuff. Yes. full. You stay there, the rest period of us go down to the cabins and stun everybody, kill the creature. parting. We keep the ling handy so that if something goes unseasonable we miko the swimmers and fly out of there. ``

'' Sounds like a architectural plan. '' Ginny nodded.

'' Right. '' Harry reached over and drew a big cross on the map over a beacon, right down on the south coast of Cornwall."I will meet you here."

"sports meeting us ?"Ron scratched his head.

"The ship ‘ s not reaching us for another month."Harry shrugged."You don ‘ t expect me to hang around here the whole sentence. Dumbledore ‘ s out for the day but I think he ‘ ll notice if I start appearing on his little map."

"I thought-"

"You thought I was back."Harry finished for him."Well I ‘ m not. There ‘ s still death eater ‘ s out there. Still work to be done. train up, be ready, and I ‘ ll meet you there. hold back the map, I ‘ ve got written matter. But don ‘ t let anyone see it. Goes without saying. And take care up how to fight all these things."Harry turned towards the door. He disillusioned himself with a film of the wrist, and a present moment later he was gone.

"Well,"Malfoy said dryly."I guess we have work to do."
*


"Can you believe he came back ?"Ron drew his knees up to his chest. He and Hermione were in the library, the literal subroutine library, not the Attic. They were on research tariff and had about eight billion books out in front of them on every kind of charming animal, trawling through them for the utile single. There weren't many. The Hogwarts depository library for some reasonableness didn't have books on how to mow down cage creature. Ron thought it was useless, they had already decided to use the killing expletive, but apparently Harry wanted to be prepared so ...

"Hmm ?"Hermione hadn't looked up from the huge Quran in front of her.

"Can you believe he came back ?"Ron repeated."Harry."

"Shush !"Hermione put a finger to her back talk."We ‘ re not supposed to blab about him where people could discover !"

"No one ‘ s listening."Ron rolled his eyes."We're sitting on the floor in the restrain section of the library, at midnight, under a temporary invisibility cloak."

"It ‘ s not an inaudibility cloak."Hermione hissed.

"Hermione no one is here."

"Just keep reading."Hermione looked back down at her book."I ‘ m not doing all this myself."

"I'd have thought you ‘ d jump at the chance."Ron smirked."With all the training it must be age since you studied anything."

"Yes ..."Hermione bit her lip."And the owls are later this class ..."

"What we ‘ re doing now is more important."

"Yes. Yes I know."Hermione shrugged noncommittally."It ‘ s just ... well there ‘ s the rest of our living to imagine about. What about after the war ends ? What then ?"

"tone at it this way. If Voldemort destroys the ministry he'll probably destroy the Wizarding scrutiny Authority too."

"That doesn ‘ t help."Hermione stared at him angrily. Ron felt his dander rising, another conflict brewing. But they couldn't scrap, not here.

"You ‘ re here because if you weren ‘ t here you ‘ d feel shamefaced for not being here."Ron blurted."And you could be somewhere else but you ‘ d be thinking about being here so it wouldn ‘ t even matter that you were there because you wouldn ‘ t be able to concentrate because you ‘ d be thinking about here and him and Voldemort will shoot down everyone. Even risky you ‘ d get bad mark because you ‘ d be feeling guilty."Ron ran out of breath.

Hermione's mouth hung open, mid yell. She opened and shut it a few times before coming out with,

"Shush. People will take heed you."

I won. Ron smiled as he flicked a random book open.
*


"I am disquieted Severus."

Snape stayed silent. He could not retrieve of a rubber response.

"I should be winning this war."

Still no safe response.

"And yet things are not progressing as well as they should be."The night lord was staring out into the darkness through a faded window. They were in another nondescript and abandoned building. Snape felt his skin Australian crawl, he had been summoned alone. That was worrying.

"The ministry grows unaccented every day."Snape volunteered.

"It grows more fearful each day."Voldemort tapped his finger on the shabu."Fear can be my artillery, but it can also work on against me. They retreat, they place Thomas More guard duty, they make it more difficult for me to reach what I seek. Do the orderliness still hold back a guard on the section of secret Severus ?"

"Yes my lord."For all I know they could bear stopped, not likely though.

"At this point the easiest way to take in admittance to it may simply be to crush the ministry entirely."He was still staring out the window. If Snape didn't know secure he would imagine the nighttime overlord was worried.

"If you wish to crush the ministry perhaps we could use the sniffy curse-"

"No !"The dark lord snapped."No Severus, no more sly maneuvering in the wickedness. No more subversion. I tire of it. I tire of it ‘ s inadequacy. I should not have to work from the shadower. Do you not think so ?"

"I always work in the shadows Lord."

"Yes ... yes you do."The night Jehovah narrowed his eyes."The potter boy is a problem."

Snape gritted his teeth. He had to opine fast to stay fresh up with these lightning fasting changes of pace.

"The Potter boy has always been a problem."Snape said diffidently."But he is just one person."

"He has caused me a outstanding mickle of fuss for one someone. I would once again guild his death but ... I fear it would do no good."

"He wants to wipe out you."Snape said, letting his mouth move as his mind worked."We could set some kind of trap."

"With your noble as bait ?"The darkness lord's part was not angry, he knew that that was not what Snape meant. This was actually what passed for banter.

"Of course of action not my lord. I apologize."That had been what the darkness Godhead expected to hear.

"Is there any progress with the toxin Severus ? The one that has been killing so many of our friends ?"

"Not a great hand my lord."Severus bowed his capitulum. He had no trouble feigning shame at not being able to discover the mystery of the mysterious toxin."It is very strange. I can not split a bingle constituent out. It is almost as if the poison was not brewed at all."

"Explain."

"As if it came directly from a creature."Though that was of course of study insufferable. No known creature carried a toxin like this."All I can think of is that perhaps someone has been breaking the decree against experimental breeding."

"You do not think it was Potter ?"

"It may have been."punter to keep the night lord guessing."If he did not then we have two vigilantes against us."

"Against us ..."The dark lord seemed to roll out the word on his lips."Against us ... hoi polloi who are against me die. I have let this continue for too long. We have been forced back too lots. It will lay off now. I have decided. We will vanquish the ministry. We will obliterate them utterly. No subversion, no shadows, I will kill them."

"Yes my lord."Snape tried to work out how many end eaters were left. Surprisingly few. Harry had seriously cut into their numeral. Did they even have enough people for an assault on the ministry ? Probably ... they probably had enough. If the order helped though ... if Dumbledore helped ...

"We will wait for the shipment to arrive."The dark God Almighty said, almost to himself."Then we will have the force necessary."

The shipment. The phantom load. None of the last eater knew when it would be arriving. It was apparently too important.

"Yes my lord."Snape bowed deeply."We will need everyone for this to succeed. If I might ask where Barty Crouch is perhaps-"

"No !"The dark lord looked at Snape over his shoulder. The icy stare could consume nailed oxen to the wall."Crouch is doing what he has been told to. He will succeed, in clock time. He is one of the few I can bank. Him and you, Severus."

You trust no one. Snape thought as he turned away. Now where have I heard that before ?
*


Hermione held on tighter as the broomstick angled down. She was following the Calluna vulgaris ahead of her but the lighthouse was already visible far below, sending out it ‘ s pulsing beacon across the night-time sea. The wind was hideously cold on her human face and the dark lashings of rain kept spraying in through her bonnet. There couldn't have been a big day to occupy a ship wax of monsters.

The dry land came up and she managed to set ashore without falling. All around her she heard the residuum of the army touch down. Well ... most of the rest of the army ... Of the new recruits only Split was there, lounging over his broomstick in his common State Department of mild boredom. The others had been left behind, Ginny had decided they weren't set up, weren ‘ t trained yet. Not that split was properly ready either but he was only going in the water.

Hermione looked around. Harry was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he wasn't here yet.

"You ‘ re late."Harry faded out of nowhere, shocking the marauders."net ball get on with this."Harry kept glancing at the crashing wave nervously. He drew a large bottle out of his coat and took a deep gulping from it before shoving it back. `` Pep up potion, did n't log Z's well hold out night. '' Harry explained. Hermione tried to ignore the twin facts, one : that the bottle had been almost empty and two : that as Harry shoved it back in his scoop there had been the unmistakable chink of further bottles.

"Take these."George broke the silence and stepped forward with a little M shaped pin and a low yoke of blue tinted glasses.

"What the hell are these ?"Harry squinted through the lenses."Everything looks weird."

"The pins are tags."George explained."The glasses can see the ticket even under invisibleness cloaks. This way we can keep on data track of each other."

"Ah ... nice."Harry pinned the tag on his dark coat and dropped the chalk in a pocket."I ‘ ll put them on when we get there."

"They ‘ re your prescription."

"I know."Harry nodded."Thanks. Who ‘ s broom am I sharing ?"

"Over here."Draco waved him over and Harry hesitantly flipped a leg over his broom.

"fountainhead, we all know what we have to do."Harry addressed the marauder."Lashkar-e-Toiba get this done before we get too wet."

Draco's broom shaft into the air and Hermione reluctantly followed. Out over the piddle the wind instrument was even unfit if that was possible, she kept being buffeted one way then the other. The sea underneath a groaning grey-headed sheet, a dull observation of the sky. They were getting foster and further from res publica. The occasional light of the lighthouse got More and more faint. She couldn't see the handbill around her ! She panicked for a moment until she realized how stupefied she was being and slipped her blue lenses over her eyes. The little beam flicker of the tatter sprung into eyeshot, each one illuminating a little glow blue-blooded touch of a person. Like an outline in the darkness. Flying close, she was near the movement. How did Harry carry to come up the ship in this ?

"slant LEFT !"Was that Harry ? The glowing shadows of Harry and Malfoy started to turn left. She turned to match them. What was he following ? Intuition ? Magic ? Something he hadn't told them about.

"I DON ‘ T SEE ANYTHING !"She heard Draco's voice on the wind.

"IT ‘ S THERE."Harry was hunched over on the Scots heather, peering out over Dragon's shoulder."WE'RE finis ! DROP Down !"

Hermione descended with the repose of them and shrieked with fear as the spray from the sea hit her legs. Surely they didn't need to be this low ? Suddenly, as if they had crossed an invisible stock, the ship blinked into existence. A low slung behemoth, waves making it cast and pitch sickeningly. It looked antediluvian, all the Wood was contraband with age and weather. A huge rectangular block, slowly crawling across the water.

She felt person pass her and saw shapes flying off towards the prow and derriere, keeping close to the piddle. Even with the lights on the ship they were still only glowing outlines. The cloaks ! She pulled hers around herself and flicked the hood up over her face. She should have done that earlier. The sleep of them followed until they were right up against the side of the hull. Harry leant off his broom to lean against the lurch Sir Henry Joseph Wood. Removing the protective appeal, Hermione forced herself to calm down as they hovered there just above the moody water. Suddenly there was a little pop and a small creaking ... the Mary Augusta Arnold Ward were down. Hermione picked out the raised vertebral column section, the ‘ steery bit ’. Where the remainder of them were going. The Calluna vulgaris slowed to a crawl as they raised up the side. Absolute silence as they floated up onto the pack of cards on the raised end part. No one was on deck, there weren't even any lights.

Harry raised his arm and pointed to a small hatch. He moved over to it, whispered a hush up charm, then pulled it open and climbed inside. Draco went side by side, moving just as silently. They had worked this out too, The Weasley Twin would go utmost to ascertain their expiration. Hermione realized it was her turn snuck over to the hatching as quietly as she could. The steps flattened out to a short hallway with the door to the span, then kept going down into the body of the ship.

The predator were clustered around the door. Harry was crouched down looking at the lock chamber, a look of denseness on his grimace. Hermione looked past him, down into the vast grip of the ship. Most of it was shrouded in darkness but she could just see the rowing upon rows of cage down the English of the ship. The bars were rusted and ancient, reinforced with magic. But they looked like they were master to the ship ... like they were built in. Which was nonsensical of course, unless ...

Unless this used to be a break one's back ship.

Hermione shuddered despite herself. None of the others had realized, none of them would. Except for Harry they had all been wizard raised and he hadn't been in school long enough. There was no point telling them, no grounds to make this any creepyer than it already was.

The shadow that was Harry stood suddenly and put his hired hand on the threshold handle. What was he doing ? This wasn ‘ t part of the program ! They were going to use gas under the door. What was going on ? Hermione raised her wand, they had to stun everyone inside in a moment. Harry threw the doorway open unhurriedly. The piercing zest of stemma filled the air. No one mold any spell. No one spoke. Harry slowly stepped into the bridge.

"Of course."He said dryly, the first of all words spoken since they'd landed, spoken dispassionately while looking out over a way full of scourge corpses."Of course they're loose. We ‘ re on a spooky ship at night full of man-eating deadly animals. Of class the animals are relax. I was thinking that perhaps they wouldn ‘ t be, that perhaps something would go right. Obviously I was overlooking the fact that god hates marauders."

"What do we do now ?"Neville murmured fearfully.

"snow it."Ginny growled under her breathing time."Forget everything. Sink it now."

"We can ‘ t."Harry said angrily as he stepped over a body and stood in front of the main wheel."At least not yet."

"Why ?"Parvati was glancing around fearfully."Why not ?"

"Two reasons."Harry leant against the wheel tiredly."One ; the totally detail was that the animate being would sink in their cage, now they could swim to shore. Two ; there are still three crew member alive, barricaded down in the hold where they ca n't apparate out."

"How do you sleep with ?"Draco snapped suddenly.

"I know !"Harry snapped back."We need a new programme. The animate being are mostly still in their Cage, seems like it ‘ s just the manticore that got loose."

"How do you-"

"I just know !"Harry rubbed his forehead tiredly, his oculus were closed."There are compartment room access down below. If we can entrap the beasts inside the time lag, separate it off and ward it up good it ‘ ll be the same as a cage. pee gets in, animals do n't get out. Just one problem ..."

"What ?"Ginny was eyeing the threshold carefully, looking for anything trying to pinch up on them.

"The work party are down in that hold."Harry took a rich breath and turned back towards the piranha."Alright ... this is what we ‘ re doing. I need four people with me down in the appreciation, It ‘ s too cramped for More. We go get the survivors, get out. The eternal sleep of you split up and watch the fore and aft door. You lock them adept the moment we give the signal."

"Four ‘ s not enough."Draco said immediately.

"I don ‘ t have time to debate !"Harry yelled."You said you ‘ re an USA this is what it ‘ s about ! We need to do this. We need to do this. The four unspoilt. Your four dependable. Now."

No one spoke, Hermione felt like kicking herself. Of class it wasn't like old fourth dimension. Of course of action this wasn't the old Harry, it was definitely the new Harry. It always had been. Ginny cleared her throat,

"Draco, me, Hermione and Padma."Ginny took a deep breathing space."Ron, Fred, George, you fly over and man the other door. Everyone else watch this one. The signaling is-"

"Me yelling to shut the bloody doors."Harry interrupted."No distributor point being stealthy at that point."

Harry moved slowly out of the bridge. Hermione steeled herself them followed. They stepped down the stairs slowly, the immense cargo hold opened up in nominal head of them. Surely it had been expanded.

"This way."Harry whispered, pointing along a raised walk."Draco, watch our back."Harry stalked forward, his wand out ahead of him. Hermione followed him. They passed a disconsolate cage, inside it a gigantic blackened lump shifted near the back. Hermione tried to disregard it, the ones in the Cage were the prophylactic single, it was the ones outside they had to watch over out for. The John Milton Cage Jr. ended and was replaced by another, six red eyes looked out from behind the prevention. The three dog header were pressed right up to the bound, watching them. get to conceive of it the caged animals probably hadn't been fed in a spell. Suddenly the pitching and rolling of the ship seemed worse. If she fell into one of the batting cage ...

She spread her feet further apart, trying to get more stable. This was awed, this was snake pit, and they were going in to save some stupid runner. Bad people ! Hermione didn't tone good for thinking like that. Not dependable at all. Harry suddenly raised a hand for them to stop.

"Get down."Harry hissed."One of them ‘ s coming. From up ahead. It hasn ‘ t seen us."

Obviously it hadn't, they were invisible. But how had Harry seen it ? Hermione watched as Harry aimed his wand down the drab gangway, waited a long here and now ... and flicked it forward, muttering under his breath. The photoflash of green light was expected but still horrifying, flying into the darkness. For a moment it illuminated a rough lions mane and two shining eyes glowing gullible in the light. Then it snapped out and there was a dull thump like a consistence hitting the floor.

"One out of six."Harry murmured, then shuddered."So that was the killing swearword. Felt like drinking nightmares."

"Harry ..."Padma began but Harry silenced her with a wave.

"It 's just a tool."Harry shook himself."Just a cock. Just a tool. Come on, Lashkar-e-Taiba keep going."Harry stepped forward, into the darkness.

Harry brought them to another stairway and quietly slinked down, his book binding pressed up to the wooden wall. As they crept down Harry held up a hand to end again and dropped down to his knees.

"The other five are sleeping in there."Harry pointed down the step."Round the turning point, right in front of the storage room where the bunch are barricaded."

Hermione didn't bother to ask how he knew.

"Now the hall opens up just round the corner."Harry sketched the curve of it with his hand."We can hit them all before they even wake up. Draco, you kill the one up by the far left,"Harry pointed straight into the rampart. `` Ginny, near the leftfield rampart. Hermione get the one right next to it, closer to us. Padma you get the one right in the midsection, I 'll get the one closest to the stairs. Got it ? Everyone ready ? ``

Hermione was gripping her scepter hard, her palm wet with sweat. She did n't feel ready but she nodded anyway. They shifted closer towards the turning point. Harry held his handwriting up, three fingerbreadth. Two fingers. One ...

Harry swung out around the edge, his wand coming up, at the same time his stifle bent down. giving the residue of them a wagerer snapshot. Hermione jumped out as fast as she could, the room was sales talk inglorious ! How was she supposed to-

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' A flak of green visible light flew from Harry 's wand, striking a dark soma on the primer coat and throwing the rest of the elbow room into penetrating shadows. Four readiness of shining centre perked up in the darkness. Each of them was exactly where Harry had said. Hermione aimed frantically,

'' A ... Avada Kedavra ! '' It felt like icicles were flickering down her arm, stabbing down her arm all the way down to her fondness. Freezing recondite into her breast, like little terror. Then it was gone a here and now later as the burning putting surface light flew away, striking the manticore as it rose from the ground, throwing it back into the primer. At the same clip she felt three more blasts of wind and newsflash of wickedness magic fly out from beside her. A shattering clangour of wooden sliver sounded and there was an wild inhuman holler. A condition unfurled like a spring and flew across the room towards them. Hermione felt her arm shot up, too slowly ! Too slow !

'' Excalabus ! ``

A shining white sparkle flashed across the wood and there was a screaming like a saw across glass. She felt a atomizer of dark blood cover her and a heavy shape flew past her, impacting with a heavy clunk against the back wall. She turned to it, not breathing. It was a manitcore, or one-half of one. It was sliced in two, the lesion leaking a sea of blood into the floor. She turned back. Harry was standing over the early half, his verge surrounded by a glowing livid nimbus, extending out like a flare. Like a blade. He flicked it off and the room became blue again.

'' Who missed ? '' Harry 's articulation was low and hard.

'' I did Harry. '' Draco shook his head. `` It was too far away, too little light. I saw the center, I- ''

'' Practice. '' Harry cut him off and turned away from them. `` praxis hard. '' As he walked away one of the Cerberus in a John Cage began barking and biting at the bars. It could sense the roue. Hermione tried to disregard it, tried to think of that the BAR were reinforced. But it was hard. The dog on the early side woke up at the stochasticity and rammed the bars with its shoulder. There was a screech of metal and the dog fell back.

Harry ignored the mammoth Cerberus and walked calmly through the sorry room to reach the small door at the end. He thumped it with his fist.

'' Hey ! '' Harry yelled. `` Humans in there get out. We 've come to deliver you, except we do n't want to see any wands and you 'd better receive your hands up ! '' There was a scraping sound as if huge crate were being moved. The Canis familiaris kept scraping against the parallel bars, biting at the wood. Hermione tried to hold back calm ... tried to ...

Oh no. No no no no no !

'' Harry ! ``

'' What ? '' Harry pushed the room access spread out, revealing three disheveled and berate men. `` What is it ? ``

'' Harry we need to go now ! ``

'' Ok, ok. We got what we came for. ``

'' NO ! Harry the John Cage are built into the ship ! ``

'' So ? ``

'' You released the protective magical spell on the ship ! ``

Harry 's brass fell like a popped balloon. His eyes shot wide.

'' So those bars are just ... ''

'' Heavily corroded iron. ``

'' God hates us. '' Harry whispered. `` God hates us ... RUN ! ``

At the minute Harry yelled the left Cerberus took a running pounce and shattered through the barroom straight a him.

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' Harry 's scepter had flicked up the second it moved and the light-green light struck the monumental muscled shape in the air. But it kept moving and fell like a stone onto Harry, like a pot of blackness hair and sweating flesh. At the utmost instant he threw himself to the side and slid out from under it as it fell to the trading floor in a splintering blowup of wooden shrapnel.

'' well do n't stand there run ! '' Harry yelled, pushing himself to his base and waving them towards the door. He turned to the crewman. `` You too ! ``

The former Cerberus had a bar in each mouth and was grinding them apart.

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' Harry slam at it. The patch smashed one of the bars into rusty shards. `` Screw that ! Just run ! ``

Hermione spun and dashed up the steps. Behind her she could get a line more running substructure and the horrific gnashing of giant jaws. individual pushed her to the side and she saw one of the scrawny crew members making a break up the stairs. She picked herself up and threw herself forward as fast as potential. She glanced behind her, all the piranha were cannoning along behind her. Harry was bringing up the seat, sending pulses of gullible nightmares behind him.

They reached the passage. She could see the door ! The wall exploded in splinters and four muscled subdivision reached out to grab her.

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' The spell came easier this clip, freezing her to the inwardness as even as it threw the wendigo back through the rampart. In a way it made it easier, it made her numb. She felt someone shove her forward and realized she had been standing still. She dashed towards the doorway, trying to keep away from the buckling bars of the cages all around her. They could smack the blood.

'' Hermione what the hell is going on ! '' Parvati yelled from the position of the room access as she hurtled through.

'' Just close it ! '' Her throat felt raw. `` Close it ! ``

Hermione scrambled away down the corridor before turning and looking back. The raged crew member were already huddling on this side of the doorway just as Ginny and Padma hurtled through with Draco right of their dog. Behind them the hold was a unholy nightmare of churning flesh, every night phantom seemed to have got a crawling beast. Harry was still in the corridor, retreating slowly as he threw spell after spell at the roaring mass.

'' Harry just leave it ! '' Draco yelled. `` Get back here ! ``

Harry spun and dashed for the threshold, the duskiness following like a wave. Suddenly the cage in front of him exploded outwards, dark hair and scarred shape coming between the marauder and Harry. Wooden sides of the cage buckled and broke, the cap came with it, filling the air with splinters and the passageway with leaden wooden spar. It was blocked.

'' Close it ! '' Harry 's part shook the ship, amplified by magic trick. `` I 'll get out the other way. ``

Hermione froze. No, they could n't. She saw Ginny glimpse down the corridor, then up at Draco. They both nodded.

'' fold it. '' Ginny ordered, her voice raw.

'' But ... ''

'' last IT ! '' Ginny suited her words and flicked her verge at the heavy hatch, slamming it shut. `` Hermione Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth it ! ``

Hermione shook as she raised her wand. It took her three attempt to properly varnish the doorway up.

'' rightfield, now get on the Scots heather. '' Ginny grabbed hers off her back. `` We get to the early side of the ship and go in after Harry. ``

Of class ! Hermione threw herself onto her broom. They could still go in and avail him !

'' You three with them ! '' Draco bellowed at the crew member, pointing at the baker counterpart and Neville. `` And abide quiet. ``

Hermione lifted off the base and aimed up the hatch to the outside. The rain and wind hit her but she ignored them, they had to go help Harry ! Suddenly the air was filled with a buffeting wall of sound. The night air was lit up with two twin blast of fire. Reflecting off the mountainous waving and painting them red like a sea of lava. Under her the ship lurched to the side, there was the sound of gushing water.

'' Why did you be adrift it ! '' Someone yelled behind her. Hermione turned to see Ginny incline off her heather and grabbing rent by the front line of his robe.

'' I got the signal. '' The surprised boy shook his oral sex. `` I assumed it was you. ``

'' What 's going on ? '' Fred yelled as he, George and Ron were swooped in from the former end of the ship. `` Did everyone get out ? ``

Oh Harry ... we should have known.
*


Harry leapt from the top of the cage as it disappeared under the gushing H2O and grabbed the beam above him, swinging up onto it with all his metier. Something below him roared but he ignored it and dashed along the thin and shaking length of wood.

This was hellhole. This was his own personal hell. The water was coming in everywhere, gushing up through a thousand holes in the hold. And the creatures ... Harry had had to purchase order the delay sealed. If he hadn't they would have broken destitute. They were everywhere down here, he was sure that if they weren't trying to kill each other as intemperately as they were trying to eat him he would already be absolutely. In the water beneath him the dark promontory of a hellhound surfaced and gulped a barking breath before a crab like creature leapt from the shadows and slashed out it's eye. They both disappeared back under the Negro water, stained with line, in a foaming maelstrom.

He had to get out of here. Harry's eyes frantically searched for some way ... any way ... out. The water was everywhere ! The threat rose in Harry's throat. He couldn't think ! Couldn't breath ! NO ! NO ! Stay focused !

Harry leapt onto the top of another shift batting cage, ignoring the floating corpse in the body of water nearby. There had to be some way ! His optic searched frantically but all there was was crashing water and writhing flesh. Harry was struck in the book binding by a flush of piddle, knocking him down to the metal streak below. He spun around and the waterfall struck him in the face, affright blindsided him again but he threw it down again. The gushing water was coming from a ... piping ? A hole ? A ... feeding hole ! Harry threw himself to the wall and clambered up a heaving beam, the roof right above him, he flicked his wand out,

"Hammus missis !"The spinning conjured chain lashed out and stabbed into the pipe. Harry grabbed to and pray that Hollywood got some things right. He let go of the bulwark. He swung out into the spray of gushing water and screamed as it splattered over his capitulum. He was thrown out the other side but he came back just as fast."This is farcical ! Arefacio !"The waterfall dried up and he was capable to mount a few metrical unit up before it began gushing again.

A squawking terror exploded from the swarthiness to Harry 's left. His scepter was occupied but Harry clawed a gun from his pocket and fired wildly at the feather beast. He did n't intercept shooting until it disappeared into the water below. Harry stuck the gun in his girdle and cast the Arfacio again. He was capable to pull himself up another few feet before the water came again.

By the painfully slow stopping and starting he was able ( just ) to arrive at the pipe. He cast one more than drought magical spell and reached as high as he could in the darkness, his fingers reached the edge. Harry dropped off the Sir Ernst Boris Chain and pulled himself up with all his forcefulness. The body of water struck his head just as he pulled himself up and beached himself on the pitching deck like a seal.

The ship was already mostly underwater, there was just the pocket-sized, mellow, destiny left. Sinking fast. Where were the marauders ? There ! Up high !

"HEY !"Harry magically amplified his representative and shouted out over the water."I ‘ M HERE !"

The brooms dropped like Oliver Stone, shooting right at him. Draco braked to a stop right in movement of his face.

"You idiot !"He yelled, reaching out and pulling Harry onto his heather."You pure idiot !"

"Shut up and fly !"
*


The light of dawn was just creeping over the horizon when they finally touched down back on land, a rough stony beach. Harry staggered onto solid ground and tried to get his proportion back. He turned to the three disheveled crewmen.

"You three are going to leave alone now."He growled, raising his wand."I don ‘ t care where you go. I risked my asshole for you but it doesn ‘ t make you any LE trash. Bare in mind that by failing to protect your ship you failed master Voldemort, he ‘ s not going to be happy with you so if I were you I ‘ d go far far away. mightily now."

The three men broke and ran like scared cony. God knows where they ended up. Harry breathed out and turned back to the marauders.

"good. That went well."

"Well !"Padma let out a stifle cry."Everything that could possibly consume gone wrong did go awry !"

"And despite all that we stopped the load and made it out alive."Harry sat down on the operose ground and pushed the hair out of his eyes. God he was tired."We have to take over that the betting odds will be stacked against us. We have to always deliver that in intellect, tonight was a skilful example. We have to be prepared for the bad subject scenario, we met that tonight. And we did well tonight. We did, we really did. I ‘ m proud of all of you."

The marauders all bowed their heads, they looked as tired as he felt. They were too tired to be proud right now. Too bad this wasn't over.

"Here,"Harry drew his bottomless bag over and pulled a collapsible shelter out of it. It raised itself with a tap of his wand and would fit half a house inside."Get inside and get some sleep. We need to be cook in five hours."

"5 60 minutes ?"Ginny asked pointedly."What happens in five hours ?"

"Phase two of the plan. In six hours will be when the ship was meant to fare into port."Harry grinned evilly."There will be a group of expiry eaters, five of them, waiting to receive them in a hidden port site. Hidden ... rocky ... enclosed ... good place for an ambush."

"We ‘ re ambushing them ?"genus Draco asked disbelievingly."Today ?"

"Yes."Harry pushed himself from the floor."Today. I mean Voldemort to feel the double hex of the release of his creatures and his decease eaters all in one fell slide. I mean to put to put the heating plant on him, really turn up the terror level you know ... The creatures were the main thing, couldn ‘ t let them reach estate. The death eaters are just the icing on the cake."

"Harry ... are you sure ?"Hermione stepped forward."We ‘ re all tired already ... we don ‘ t want any fault. Maybe we should let this one go."

"No."Harry shook his oral sex."We can ‘ t. We can ‘ t let this one go, or any of them for that subject. Now get on into the tent, you ‘ re wasting valuable resting sentence. I ‘ ll remove the first-class honours degree watch. Go on, there are beds for everyone. Huge ones, this a really good tent."

Harry settled back down on his rock as the marauders trouped inside the tent. Harry sighed, if they didn't like phase angle two they definitely wouldn't like form three.



inspection or a giant prehistoric dragonfly will choose you to be the Host for it 's parasitic larva.


The following chapter 's a big one so brace yourselves.


Please execute these basic safety checks before reading this chapter
1 ) Make surely your chair is dependable and stabilise so that if you faint you will not fall to the floor and risk head trauma.
2 ) Make sure you are not in earshot of any children so when you let unleash with a string of oath it does not reach out their tiny ears.
3 ) Check your blood pressure sensation. If it is significantly above average you may want to read this chapter in prompt dashing space of a defibrillator.
4 ) Lock away all small objects you could switch at your computer screen.
5 ) Pray.

This, boys and missy, is the big one ...



Snape felt his target sunburn in the centre of a potions lesson. That was worrying, Voldemort had always been careful of maintaining his cover. The chump burnt harder and Snape had to grit his teeth as the pain shot up his arm. This was very worrying.

"Are you alright Sir ?"A Slytherin first year. No one but a Slytherin would deliver dared ask him. Snape lurched to his feet.

"camp up your things. The lesson is over."He could not allow for them unsupervised with potions ingredients. Snape hurried out the door, sending a cannonball along patronus to McGonagall saying that he had been called away suddenly. She would know what that meant. He felt compelled to at least keep the order informed, but he could not bring himself to contact Dumbledore directly. He sent a second patronus to Natalie and a third to Michelson for good measure.

He reached the main gate and stepped beyond the Hogwarts cellblock hesitantly. The tugging on his arm intensified and he let himself be pulled into the void by it, drawing him along until his ft touched ground. He glanced around, another dark piazza. A warehouse by the expression of it, dust covered the wooden boxes stacked to the high ceiling. The respite of the destruction eaters were already there, standing in a unsmooth circle. Only Bellatrix had kept her mask off, she usually did. dresser no doubt. emptiness and a need to be seen. Snape stepped into his plaza in the roach and waited. He did not dissemble himself, he did not know why. Perhaps a whim.

But were they all there ? Snape glanced back around the circle, only eight frame stood sentinel in there midnight robes. At the concluding group meeting there had been fifteen. Snape had grown to the peak where he could recognize each of the death eaters by chassis alone beneath their masks. Who was missing ? Dolohov, family Corvidae, Avery Sr, Mulciber, the Carrows and Forneus. All end feeder that Voldemort could be said to trust, if he could be said to trust anyone. That all of they would be missing at the same prison term ... it was very worrying.

'' Do not occupy yourselves. '' The representative of Voldemort came from the air between two stacks of crateful. A present moment later he himself strode out, his red middle flashing first to one of them, then to another. `` Your sidekick will join us soon. And with them they will bring gladiola news. Wait my friends, wait with solitaire. ``

Snape shifted his stance. The load was here, that could be the merely word that would put Voldemort in such a gladiolus mood. Snape made quick to memorise any detail that he could glean when the seven demise feeder appeared. Any diminutive fact that might help to at to the lowest degree somewhat repress the damage.

Reduce the damage ... that was a joke. contract it from a catastrophe to a disaster.

He was broken out of his view be a loud crack. He turned to see Forneus misstep forward from his fantasm point. His black gown were streaked with mud and sand and were torn raged. He collapsed near the boundary of the circle, his coat of arms out entreatingly towards the dark lord.

'' master ! '' He gulped, his voice full of fear. `` We were attacked. Spells out of nowhere, hundreds of them. We could not hold them back. ``

'' What ? '' Voldemort whirled on the prostrate wizard.

'' They were waiting for us. Waiting at the dock. '' Forneus ducked his head to the level. `` I was the only one to esc- ''

'' await me in the eye ! '' Voldemort hissed, Forneus was dragged to his feet by an invisible force. `` face your Godhead in the eye when you admit your nonstarter. ``

'' There was nothing we could do my Jehovah. '' Forneus cringed. `` They must throw known about- ''

'' Crucio ! ``

Snape watched as the Edward D. White haired death feeder writhed on the storey. How had this happened ? Not the purchase order, he would have been capable to differentiate if this variety of prominent scale operation was in the offing. The ministry ... that was just funny. So that left ... Harry Potter. This was done by Harry Potter. Snape kept his boldness impassive as his abdomen did cartwheels. Harry was alert, fighting and apparently up to of fighting seven end eaters all in one break of day. But Forneus had said there were many of them ... well that explained the absences in his morning class.

The dark noble whipped his wand back, Forneus stopped shaking and instead started whimpering.

'' Up Foerneus. Up ! '' Voldemort dragged the cringing death eater to his feet again. `` I expect Thomas More from one of my Old retainer. ``

'' Please ... please ... ''

'' What of my ship Forneus ? '' Voldemort stepped forwards. `` Where are my creature ? ``

'' I ... I do not know my Lord. '' Forneus squeezed his eyes shut. `` It was not in the harbor. It was not in the bay beyond. I think perhaps ... If they knew where we would be then they probably also eff about the ship. I suspect ... I think ... the ship may be no more my Almighty. ``

'' No more ? '' Voldeomort repeated coldly. `` No more Forneus ? My shipment ... my creatures ... is no more ? ``

'' I do not know my lord. '' Forneus ducked his head. `` They were not at the harbor. ``

'' You mean it is at the bottom of the ocean. '' Voldemort 's voice was at it 's most icy and smooth. `` You mean to tell me that my animal, that I bought with good gold and solemn promises of promote Au are dead."

'' I do not know my lord. ``

'' You do not know. '' Voldemort snarled. `` You do not know ! Crucio ! ``

Snape tried to remain calm. What plans would this change ? How did this move things ...

'' Please master ... '' Forneus was trying to utter through gritted teeth. `` There was nothing we could do. ``

'' Who did this ? '' Voldemort snapped suddenly. `` Who is responsible ? Speak ! ``

'' I did not see. '' Forneus whimpered. `` They were hiding ... I did not see their faces. They were everywhere but conceal. They was nothing I could identify- ''

'' Let me be the judge of that. '' Voldemort raised his sceptre again. `` Legilimens ! ``

Snape watched as the two wizards remained with lock eyes for minute, then bit. Snape was beginning to wonder what was happening when Voldemort looked away, his brow creasing.

'' Your computer memory have been altered. '' Voldemort said quietly. In anyone else Snape would possess thought he was worried. `` Your remembering have been altered. Inexpertly, but they clearly have been. ``

'' You ... Do you think the ship may still be there my lord ? '' Forneus asked hurriedly.

'' No. '' Voldemort tapped the face of his chin thoughtfully. `` Your memories are your own until you remember apparating away from the fighting. I suspect that you did not. I suspect you were captured and whatever was done to you was done then. You were then allowed to escape. They probably thought to follow you here. Foolish. No patch could track you here, I have warded this spot against tracking spells. ``

Snape began to find nervous. Harry was far from a fool, what was his programme here ?

'' stop still ! '' Voldemort snapped at Forneus. He flicked his verge at the death eater. Nothing happened. Voldemort frowned. `` No tracking spells of any form ... interesting. Turn out you pockets ! ``

Forneus quivered as he reached into number 1 one night pocket of his gown, then another. As his hired man reached his inside sack he froze.

'' My Godhead ... there is something here. '' He slowly drew out a matt black box, the size of a pack of poster. A picayune red brightness level blinked on its surface. Forneus held it out for the wickedness Creator. Voldemort made no move to contract it but instead examined it dispassionately from where he stood.

'' Interesting ... '' Was all the shadow lord said.

Snape felt like chuckling. Voldemort clearly had not the faint idea what that was. Neither did Snape but at to the lowest degree he could make out that it was muggle technology. What could it be for ? The blinking light was like a revengeful eye but it did not appear to be a weapon system ...
*


Ginny dropped off her broom and hastily stowed it in a carry case before shoving it under a cloak with the others. She checked herself to make trusted no toe or whorl or hair had fallen outside her own cloak ... no. Good. She motioned the others to follow her as they snuck up to a concatenation gate. Beyond were two lined of decrepit muggle storage warehouse, some of them with the ceiling fallen in. Harry eased up to the gate, his eyes darting down to a small twist he held nestled in his hand.

'' This is it. '' Harry nodded. `` They 're here. In the third one down on the left. ``

'' Are you sure Harry ? '' She whispered. It was n't that she did n't trust Harry, it was this muggle elec-tricks. Surely it could n't be as dependable as a trail charm. She glanced down at the bright screen on the device Harry was holding and tried to yoke it back to her muggle subject area lessons. The thing was pretty composite, more complex than a clock. There must give birth been 100 of gear wheel inside. Ginny wondered how often it had to be wound. Harry looked into the disused industrial arena, squinting at the distant storage warehouse, then nodded.

'' I 'm surely. Ca n't you palpate the wards around this place ? hand me a arcminute and I 'll break us a way through. ``

Ginny tried to stimulate herself breath as Harry knelt down and drew his baton, drawing it through the air as if trying to catch flies. She turned to the vulture and took a cryptical breath.

'' Alright, '' She began under her breath. It was hard enough making speeches, it was bad when you could only see masses as ghostly shadows. `` Today is the day. This is it. This is what we 've been training towards. We all knew it would come to this, some of us hoped it would be further away, but it 's not. It 's now. '' Ginny herself had been shocked when Harry outlined his plan, his programme to end it today. She had wanted to stop him, wanted to slap him down when he said that this was the just hazard they would get. The problem was he was right. She should tell them that Ginny realized,

'' Harry 's rightfulness, this is as good a chance as we 'll ever get. Voldemort 's infirm, Voldemort is running low on servant. We have the advantage of numbers racket and the ingredient of surprise. They 've got lord Voldemort, but we 've got Harry potter ... '' Ginny broke off, looking into their blanket eyed faces `` I know you 're scared ... I know that maybe, deep down, we all hoped we would n't feature to face Voldemort himself. But we are, and by doing it we can end this here and now. We can economise chiliad of lifespan today. Today is the day. We 've been an U. S. Army for a farsighted spell now, we 've been soldiers. But today, today we 're heroes. If we pull this off, one last chef-d'oeuvre of marauder mayhem. We. Will. Be. Heroes. Get prepare to fight back, you know what to do. ``

As if on cue Harry chuckled triumphantly and pushed the logic gate open a fraction. He slid inside and motioned the others to fall after him. Ginny swallowed and followed him in.
*


'' Whatever this device is supposed to do it is clearly faulty. '' Voldemort snorted contemptuously and knocked the black device onto the base. `` anserine of them to rely on muggle twist. Idiotic. ``

A rough chuckle went around the circle of sorcerer. Snape faked laughter even as he continued to stare at the box. The red light was still blinking. Voldemort licked his lips and sucked it air in a snakelike hiss.

'' A blow. '' He said, apparently having recover his composure. `` A momentary setback. We are still the slap-up thaumaturgist alive, possessing powers the muggle loving fools in the fiat could not even comprehend. I shall triumph. ``

'' Master ... ''

'' We wield the dark legerdemain, the only admittedly magnate ! faith in your Divine and we will obtain. ``

'' original I have- ''

'' Forneus ? '' Voldemort turned on the cowering wizard. `` You dare interrupt your master ? You dare even after you have humiliated yourself so ? ``

'' No my lord, '' Forneus bowed his forefront. `` It 's just ... I have found a endorse gimmick. '' He held it up for Voldemort to see. The dark lord took it unworriedly.

'' Ha, how droll. '' Voldemort held the affair out for all the dying eater to see and express mirth. `` They have sent me a block of clay. Perhaps this is their idea of a joke. ``

Snape was not totally unaware of muggle technology and felt a strong urge to overlook to the floor.
*


Harry watched as Voldemort raised the bomb above his caput. He glanced to either side, there were vulture poised at each door and her knew there were More at every other entrance. He looked back to the end eaters, Snape was with them but ... standing far enough away. He probably would n't be killed. Harry closed his oculus, Snape would understand.

Harry drew the detonator out of his gown. Hopefully this could be ended right now. With luck even if Voldemort realized what was happening he would n't be able to harbor fast enough. The war could end there and then.

'' I do have a powerfulness you know not. '' Harry muttered under his breath. `` Turns out it goes manna from heaven. ``

He clicked up the blanket on the cap, and pressed the switch.
*


'' Master no ! '' Rookwood suddenly yelled, whipping his baton out. Every eye flicked to him, even Voldemort 's. `` Protego ! ``

Even as the shining buckler slid between the shadow Divine and the bomb there was an earth-shattering whirl and Snape was hit by a rampart of interference and light. He was lifted off his feet and thrown painfully against a crate. His ears were full of only ringing and he fell in curious separation, not even hearing the thump as his own body collapse onto the floor. Through the fog of noise and tried to travel his legs, painful but unbroken, then his arms. He got to his metrical unit, blinking as everything swam before his middle. He raised his wand to his boldness and tried to fix his vision. It was n't stark but even the imperfect scene before him shocked him to his core.

flame licked every crate as the explosion had thrown burning shard across the total warehouse. He could see the death eaters running about in a mad, silent, terror, their lip open in screams of bother. Snape raised his wand to his ear and hesitantly muttered a healing charm. The shocking klaxon call of shriek almost made him regret doing so. Nott ran past him, his very gazump ablaze on his back. Snape ignored him, if anyone noticed his thoughtless attitude to a fellow decease eater they would just attribute it to scandalise. Voldemort himself was nowhere to be seen. Snape stumbled forward, stepping over a prone consistency, his point still full of fuzz.

'' Stupefy ! '' The dead reckoning came out of nowhere, striking the flaming trope of Nott and throwing him to the base. Snape had his own verge out but the stunners were flying faster, from everywhere. Snape 's point ached, he could n't stay fresh up with this.

'' Bhraanti taraGga urvii ca agni ! '' The dark spell exploded out of the solid ground, throwing boxes away and tearing the concrete underfoot in a burning conflagration. Voldemort appeared out of the bullet in the center of it, his weaponry raised as the power of the tour coursed through him. The shattering dry land expanded in every direction, clearing a blank in the dark storage warehouse. Voldemort finally let his arms fall, his centre still blazing with power. He pointed at three cowering dying feeder with his clawed helping hand. `` You ! Make a baracade there ! Bella, the same there ! They have surrounded us and warded this place against apparition, but we will cut them down ! They will rue the day they chose to fight me ! ``

Snape felt his muscles moving dully as he moved to help hover the crateful into a barrier. The stunners were already flying again. The honorable thing was to stay silent, time lag for his chance.
*


'' Damnit ! '' Harry threw himself behind a mint of boxful as a killing whammy burned through the air where he had just been. He rolled and came up next to where genus Draco was peering out the corner of a lot of discharge. Harry spun out around the niche and took in the barrier of crates. He was invisible but there was so a lot smoke-

'' Avada kedavra ! ``

Harry spun a crate into the path of the spell then banished it against the roadblock. It exploded, raining beans over the destruction eaters.

'' Galbinus digitus ! '' Harry whipped his verge at the greenish shower and vines shot out of the dry out chaff, binding the two wizards into suffocating heaps. Harry darted back behind the sacks as trance began to rain down down on the slur he had been standing.

'' Got them ? '' Draco yelled at him.

'' Think so ! How many do you- '' Harry was cut off as the ground before them raised up in a holler crash. Two massive baseball field eyes fractured afford in grey-haired stone and two implements of war erupted up beside the tool. It punched into the ground and the two marauders were thrown back.

'' Reducto ! '' Harry aimed at one stony eye but the spell just bounced off.

'' Avada kedavra ! '' Draco called out desperately as they scrambled away, the swearing left a monolithic go through the thing 's straw man but it did not blockade it 's progression. It raised it 's arm like a hammer,

'' Excalabus ! '' The polishing steel crew out of nothing and sliced the golem 's arm off at the human elbow making it roar in pain. Harry slashed through it 's dead body and jumped away as it crumbled into dust.

'' That was Voldemort 's work. '' Draco panted.

'' Oh really ya intend ? '' Harry glanced around for a means to attack. `` They 're all in one topographic point. We 're strung out over the whole bloody warehouse. He can pick us off one by one like this, inconspicuous or not ! ``

'' You think we should organise up ? '' Dragon held his wand out ready.

'' No, they 'll just escape the other way. '' Harry ground his tooth together.

'' Maybe the aurors will get here soon. '' Malfoy had to hedge as a spell pin-wheeled over his top dog. `` Or the order. ``

'' Ca n't savings bank on a maybe ! '' Harry glanced up and got an idea. `` maintain the line, I 'm going to break them up. ``
*


Snape saw a shadowed flesh dashing through the smoke and aimed just behind it. This was madness, pure madness. Without Voldemort the last eater would have fallen at the firstly volley, blinded and burned as they were, but with him they were holding their own against the touch army raining spells down on them from all directions. There was no telling where the next flack would come from, even the barricades were light aegis. And all the while the heating system from the burning building all around charring into his skin. Being stuck in the middle of all that and not really being section of either side ... madness.

Snape hoped that perhaps Harry 's unseeable army would recognize him but he could n't count on it. If he could count on not being noticed he could try stunning himself, but then he would n't be there to help Harry if something went wrong. Snape shielded himself from a barrage of stunners and cried in pain in the neck as a red-hot fighting of metallic element dropped onto him from above. He looked up in prison term to see a spray of glint dislodge from the roof far above then yelled despite himself as the metal twisted inwards and Harry dropped like a diving hawk into the middle of the last eaters.

His boots struck Bellatrix in the face just as she looked up and drove her to the floor with a bone-splitting crunch. Harry rolled like and came up in a instant slashing his wand like a blade, there was a newsbreak of white light and Rodolphus was opened from hip to neck. He went down spraying red blood across his attacker but Harry had already whirled and blew one of the barricades to smithereens.

'' Avada kedavra ! ``

Harry ducked the whammy and shot back but he was in the middle of the death feeder now. Exactly what he wanted, Snape realized in flashing moment. He 's providing a distraction for the others to attack. The trouble was he would probably die to carry out it. Snape raised his verge to facilitate Harry but there was a sudden chap of Shirley Temple light and he felt infliction invade every limb. An orb of darkness spun through the air towards Harry. Harry dodged wildly but there were too many other spells flying and it exploded in the air next to him. Driving him sprawling to the floor. Snape shuddered, he had just experienced the airstream of the spell and he felt like he had been kicked in the school principal by a horse cavalry. What Harry must be feeling he could not imagine.

'' Protect us ! '' Voldemort snapped, his scepter still smoking from the mighty curse. `` I will deal with the boy. ``

Snape turned to build it look like he was complying but kept lookout man as the dark lord stepped up skinny to Harry. Voldemort held out a hired man and summoned Harry 's wand to him.

'' Very brave Mr Potter. '' Voldemort raised his wand. `` And very dopy. You must forgive me but I do n't have time to induce one of our traditional schmoose. Avada- ''

'' Avada kedavra ! '' Harry threw his left arm up as he shouted the inexcusable. The mocking gag died on Voldemort 's lips as Harry 's script exploded in green light.

The enchantment flashed through the air towards the floor nighttime lord. Snape watched as if in slack apparent movement as Voldemort's hand flew into his robes and gripped around something. The very bit before the green deadbolt struck him he disappeared. The spell slashed across the circle and struck Rosier in the chest, catapulting his corpse into the wall.

"Lord !"Forneus'choke voice sounded out as she rushed forward. Harry had fallen on his side cradling his hand in suffering but at the destruction eater 's cry he unfurled and thrust his hand forward,

"Avada Kedavra !"The super acid deadbolt flashed towards the old death eater but he threw himself to one position and screamed a whammy. A purple bolt flicked off the end towards Harry but he frantically waved another death eater into the way of the spell then banished the screaming number so that it crashed into Forneus'face.

"Kill him !"individual yelled and Snape realized that the former death feeder were turning on Harry with rictus tangle of vindictive Eumenides. Snape's regard flicked from the last eaters charging to Harry, raising his arm again, and decided in a moment.

"Stupefy !"Snape's stunner jammed Goyle's caput back with a sickening crunch.

"Traitor !"Forneus was rising from the floor with his scepter pointed in recrimination."Crucio !"

Snape ducked the while and darted over to abide articulatio humeri to shoulder with Harry.

"Incendio !"

Snape shielded without thinking and the flaming trance was absorbed into the cosmopolitan inferno.

"Tempesto !"Harry screamed, his vocalisation twisted with botheration, and waved his handwriting in a whirling arch. A wind sprung from abandon air and drew the flaming Wood into a spinning crack of hellfire. Harry pointed and flung the firestorm at the death eaters, scattering them like rabbits. Harry spun on Snape in the short time that had gained them.

"Why did you violate cover ?"He yelled, swooping to grab a fallen wand."They all saw you ! Idiot !"

"No more idiot than you for coming here !"Snape scene back as he sent a sweetheart at a stumble soma in the flames."Rushing in like a fool ! You are doing exactly what I said you would !"

"I had a architectural plan !"Harry growled at him."And it would bear bloody worked if Voldemort hadn ‘ t had an emergency portkey !"

"You risked your life !"

"Mine to take chances !"

"As is my cover !"Snape glared into the smoke but the other last eater seemed to be trying to get out rather than fight.

"They ‘ re trying to escape."Harry confirmed it and began advancing after them. His baton outstretched as he marched into the smoke."The aurors have broken in too now. We can trap them between us."

"Harry how have you been casting piece ?"Snape hurried after him, his wand flicking towards every steer of motion.

"Wandlessly obviously."

"Harry wandless magic is beyond you."Snape grated, it was the simple truth."And besides, sure spells can not be performed wandlessly, it is simply inconceivable. The unforgivables are among them."

"Impossible for regular people."Harry flashed a rictus grin through the murk.

'' Harry, your paw ! '' Snape cried as he saw it clearly for the initiative time. He grabbed the arm, his eyes wide with repugnance. The middle finger was burnt down to a nub and his index finger was gone to the sec knuckle joint. The entire rest of the hired hand was shrivelled and charred, as if it was burning from the inside out. It was boiling to the speck. `` Harry what have you done ! ``

'' What I had to ! '' Harry pulled his washed-up hired hand back and held it painfully to his chest."I ‘ m the boy who lived, the bloody chosen one ! come up on, they ‘ re this way."

Wondering how Harry knew Snape followed him into the murk.
*


'' What is the situation ? '' Shacklebolt yelled as he dashed up to the side of the flaming building. Ginny turned and almost felt like hugging him. So recrimination, no asking why they were there, no telling them off, just straight to patronage. This must be why dad looked up to him.

'' There were eight death eater inside, at least three idle now. '' Ginny rattled off. `` Voldemort too. They were barricaded in the middle but Harry scattered them. We have n't seen Voldemort himself since then but some of the others are still in there. Some of our people too, invisible. ``

'' Voldemort 's gone. '' Shacklebolt supplied. `` Unregistered portkey. Fletcher, take your squad to the Dame Rebecca West entrance- ''

Ginny stepped back towards the building and grabbed the invisible Baker twin who were standing with her.

'' We 're getting everyone out, all our mass. '' She motioned one of them to each end of the building. `` We got them, we won. ``
*


'' Harry give up ! '' Snape yelled as Harry had to jump out of the way of a collapsing atomic pile of burning boxwood. `` You could be killed here ! ``

'' They 're still in here ! '' Harry forged onwards into the murk.

'' mark boy ! '' Snape 's gown caught fervency and he threw it off angrily before rushing forward. He grabbed Harry around the arm only to be shook off. `` They will all be bushed or gone by now ! ``

'' Two of them are still in here ! '' Harry pointed with his desolate deal. `` They 're over there ! ``

'' The aurors will get them. ``

'' You do n't jazz that ! '' Harry staggered a few to a greater extent footstep before keeling over and retching onto the floor. Snape shied away, for a moment unsure of what to do. The only matter in his judgment was an light interestingness in the fact that the nauseant was steaming as it hit the level. Harry stumbled to his feet and Snape hissed in cushion, Harry 's eyes were running red with blood.

'' Harry something is legal injury with you. '' Snape stepped forward carefully. `` Something is clearly wrong. You need a healer. ``

'' I ca n't leave yet ! ``

'' The aurors will- ''

'' No ! '' Harry turned and dashed into the dope. Snape heard a monumental crack from above and sweep his verge up, not fast enough. The wooden beam struck Harry in the back and drove him down, knocking him out and pinning him to the storey. Snape dashed forward, for once not even thinking of his wand, and shoved the ray off with all his strength. It thudded onto the floor and Snape rolled Harry onto his back. stock was running down the wretched son haggard face.

'' Oh Harry .... why ? You fool ... '' Snape felt rising wrath. None of it directed at Harry. `` You did n't have to do this. You did n't have to do any of this. You did not have to destroy yourself .... darn you Dumbledore ! '' He slammed his fist into the cracked ground and bowed his point. He did n't even remark the second beam before in struck him on the back and drove him from consciousness.

And all around the attack raged.
*


'' Are all of your people out. '' Shacklebolt yelled at Ginny.

'' Not Harry. '' Ginny frantically glanced back into the blaze. `` He 's still in there. '' She saw Shacklebolt 's face fall.

'' The building is not going to last much longer. ``

'' Gone on Harry. '' Ginny felt herself whispering. `` Come on ... ''
*


The watchman scrabbled through the flaming warehouse. He had come following the aurors, come hoping to wipe out More death feeder. reason pain to the snake-one. Cause painful sensation to Tom Riddle. But all he had found was flames, flames and death.

His middle darted around, trying to find a way out. If he was trapped here both he and Smoky would be killed. His fingers idly caressed Smoky 's shell where she hid in his sleeve. Maybe Smoky could obscure in one of the grates in the flooring, but he would die for sure. And if he died he would never get his revenge.

Sweet sweet retaliation ... He took a second to savour the view as the fire licked at his legs.

What was that ? A hole in the flooring, one of the muggle ones. A way out. He shuffled towards it and flicked the cover version off with his scepter. As he was about to lower himself into it he froze. Just nearby were two figures pinned to the ground by a shaft. One he did n't recognize, but the early ... The other was the fighter-boy the one who had reached the servant of the snake-one before him. He fought the snake-one, Tom enigma, the thief of biography, the trickster, the face-stealer, the- He shook his head as the lean of hatred raged through his mind.

He lifted the piece of wood off easily with a spell and regarded them through his fading oculus. He did not retrieve caring about anyone, even before the snake-one did things to him. But these also fought the snake-one. And so maybe they should n't die. Maybe not.

He levitated them off the priming coat and scuttled to a faded windowpane and threw them through the glass. There were vociferation from outside and he could see the fleece men clustering around them. The robed men could n't see him though. He scuttled back to the hole in the trading floor and lowered himself in.

They could n't catch him yet.

He still had killing to do.
*


Harry stood in the apple orchard again. The foliage turned brown for the season, the background wet with dew. In every instruction it stretched, impossibly deep.

'' Why am I here ? '' Harry tried to say, but his mouth would n't make auditory sensation. His throat was closed.

What is this place ?

Harry turned on his dog and there was the edge of the trees, just paces away. And beyond it ... cipher. The globe just dropped away as if the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree were the only real thing.

The sound of the river raged in his ears, filling him with fear. He ran from the sharpness, back into the safe of the tree diagram, back into the actual function. But it was crumbling now, he could see the border crumbling away and yet somehow never getting closer. Always falling apart but staying where it was.

What is this topographic point ?

Harry hugged his weapon to his thorax. This was a ambition, this was only a dream.

Then why does it find like this is the only thing that 's real ?
*


'' He 's awake. ``

Draco dropped off his infirmary bed at the sound of the therapist part and hurried up to the side of Harry 's bed. Most of the early predator clustered around with him. The Weasley similitude and Parvati were all in their own bottom, kept mercifully unconscious while their injuries healed. They had all been hurt when they managed to drag in themselves out of that inferno, it was a small miracle none of them were dead. No ... not a miracle, they had trained, they had prepared. That was the understanding they were still alive. Not a miracle.

Dragon looked down at his friend, lying picket and wan on the hospital shroud. His middle had cracked open, but he still was n't moving.

'' Welcome back Harry. '' Hermione grasped Harry 's helping hand encouragingly. `` Do n't try to talk yet the doctors said you were really grim. ``

'' ... ah ... '' Harry licked his sassing and tried again. `` ... Volde ... mort ... ''

'' He got away. '' Ginny supplied. Harry squeezed his center shut, a crucify moan broke out from somewhere in his chest.

'' Do n't experience bad mate. '' Ron was clearly trying to sound upbeat. Idiot. `` Only three death eater got away. We got all the quietus, all of them. ``

'' Who ... ? '' Harry 's question was hissed out through obvious pain.

'' Well, there was Rookwood. '' Padma began, counting off on her finger. `` He managed to slip past the aurors. Forneus too. ``

'' Three ... ''

'' And ... '' Padma 's center flickered towards Neville. `` And Bellatrix. ``

'' Bella ... '' Harry 's face contorted into a maze. `` Got her ... Could avow I got- ''

'' You did Harry. '' Ginny picked up a glass of water and slowly helped Harry to drink from it. `` The aurors were dragging her out but she came to in their arms, killed one of them with her bare custody and dissapperated with his sceptre. ``

'' Killed ? He died ? '' Harry 's voice seemed to be coming a bit easier now but it was still at the edge of weakness.

'' Yes. The only when auror, edict extremity or marauder to die yesterday. '' Draco supplied, he could see Ginny 's question bowing. She could n't possibly feel guilty could she ? The man had let an unconscious prisoner rip out his windpipe. It was tragic, but it was no ones faulting but his own. Harry certainly would n't feel guilty.

'' We got the rest though did n't we ? '' Harry asked, glancing down at his bound hand.

'' most of them are dead. '' Draco supplied. `` Those who did n't die in the competitiveness died in the fire. ``

'' Gibbons died. '' Neville said quietly. `` I saw the aurors pulling him out. Someone should order Vanessa. She deserves to recognize her Father-God 's dead. Even if he was ... well you know. ``

'' If it was me I 'd be disappointed I was n't the one to kill him. '' Harry said quietly, still staring at his bandage hand.

'' Harry, your hand ... '' Hermione brought it up and there was an insistent cooling among the marauders. No one had wanted to be the one to ask Harry about it. `` Your hand it ... ''

'' Injured, I know. '' Harry looked over at it dully. `` Can the healers fix it ? ``

'' They ... they can spring up the fingers back Harry but- ''

'' Perfect, that 's alright then. ``

'' But how did it happen in the first lieu ? '' Hermione looked like she was trying to avoid actually looking at the hand. `` Snape said you used a wandless killing curse which is impossible- ''

'' Apparently not. '' Harry cut her off. `` If they can fix me then why have n't they started ? I need my hand back, Voldemort could retaliate at any moment. ``

'' Harry ... '' Hermione looked around, perhaps looking for backup. Draco shook his school principal, she had opened Pandora 's box she could deal with it on her own. `` Harry the hired man is n't the only thing legal injury with you. ``

'' Some form of scourge or something ? ``

'' No, at least ... they do n't think so. ``

'' What are you talking about ? ``

'' Well- '' Hermione began but was cut off as a voice said,

'' Let me explain. '' Draco looked towards the audio to see Snape striding in through the door. The piranha made way for him as he moved to the foundation of Harry 's bed. A livid patch encircled his frontal bone but he did n't seem to notice it. Snape nodded towards Harry 's ruin hand. `` I think I understand now. That was a Shén de shou was n't it ? ``

No. No Harry oh god no ! genus Draco felt some hideous cocktail of craze, fear and pity grow in his dresser. He didn't, he couldn't have. But Dragon knew in his heart and soul that he could.

'' By the fact that you 're asking you already know that the answer is yes so why pain in the ass. '' Harry replied coldly.

'' Harry you are twice the fool I ever named you. '' Snape bowed his head, his eyes closed. `` That you would do this ... ''

'' Do what ? '' Ginny broke in. `` Do what ? What 's a ... Shin-de-show ? ``

'' Shén de shou, a god-hand. '' Draco supplied, finding that his voice was almost tinged with rent. `` It 's an operation, originating in Republic of China, they insert wand pith into the pearl of your bridge player. Surgically. '' There was a pant from the marauder 's but genus Draco carried on. It felt better if they knew it too, like the repulsion was more spread out. `` It 's outlawed everywhere in the world. It is insanely dangerous, even when they are done right they damage the exploiter since the magic trick has to squeeze it 's way out through flesh and skin. And casting a curse as brawny as the killing scourge ? He 's lucky he still has an arm. ``

'' I was n't planning on using it levitate feather. '' Harry said acidly. `` It was a weapon system of finally hangout, and it worked. I saved myself and almost killed Voldemort. ``

'' If it were only that simple Harry. '' Snape still was n't looking Harry in the eye. `` Your Shén de shou may have been installed properly, it may not have been. Either way it would not calculate for all of your symptoms. And yes Harry, you have many symptoms. The healers found infections in your blood, some new and some just remainder. You have been sick all year have n't you ? Keeping yourself going with pep-up potion as you reeled from one illness after another. And now they have all caught up with you. ``

He was sick. Malfoy felt dreaded wage increase in his venter. He was retch rightfield at the start of the twelvemonth and I did naught ... I could hold prevented this.

'' You are hurt more deeply than anyone can tell, and they can barely enjoin at all because of that ! '' Snape pointed at the faded and chipped bracer around Harry 's arm. `` You have it charmed so that none but you can remove it. Your paranoia is killing you since the evil eye prevents the healer from telling what is actually awry with you. A fact I think you know, a fact I think you know very well. You do not want anyone to have a go at it what was going on inside you. You got the Shén de shou Harry Potter, but what else did you get ? You came back after a summer 's time and suddenly you stand toe to toe with decease eaters ? People who have spent their lives learning the mordant of arts ? No ... no ... You did not simply train over the summertime calendar month. What else festers under your skin ? What else have you done to yourself ! ``

The secrecy in the room was solid as granite, and as harsh. Harry licked his lips before answering slowly, measuredly,

'' If I answered you, you would have the healers remove what I had put in. ``

'' Yes. ``

'' Why ? ``

'' To save your spirit. '' Snape was virtually shaking.

'' My biography 's worth nothing if Voldemort 's around. '' Harry shook his top dog. `` Afterwards. I 'll stamp out Voldemort then the clobber comes out. Until then I need it. ``

'' Afterwards ? Afterwards ? '' A tear squeezed out of the nook of Snape 's eye, shocking everyone. It might possess been a tear of rage, it might not. `` Harry by then it may be too late ! The healer say that you have months, half a year at very best, if we do not do something. ``

'' And wait what I 've done with a year ! '' Harry yelled angrily. `` I 've pushed Voldemort back to the brink ! How many death feeder does he have left ? FOUR ! Down from what ? Twenty ? Thirty ? I knew I would n't have much time. I accepted that my lifespan would be severally cut, but I have taken my lifespan and beaten that snake faced wanker around the head with it ! He is hanging by a thread thanks to me ! I am the merely one who can defeat Voldemort ! The but ONE ! You know that ! The freaking chosen one, I had to do this. I had to ! There was NO OTHER WAY ! No way for me to win, not against him. I needed every advantage I could find so, god help me, I went out and found some advantage. I had to. And if it means I win my big prophesied scrap against the son of a bitch ? Then I made the right margin call. And if I do n't ? Then it wo n't matter anyway. ``

Harry cut off, his chest insurrection and falling sharply, showing how much his speech had taken out of his injured material body. Snape was just standing there, his fount an indescribable masquerade party of ruefulness. Another tear, and another. prof Snape looked like a man who had had a knife stuck through him, impaling his heart.

'' Back on the ship. '' Padma 's whispering vocalization cut through the silence like a temptress. `` Back on the ship you knew where the crew were. You knew where the tool were. You even knew where the ship was in the eye of the night on a stormy sea. You knew where we were too. You put the Methedrine in your pocket, I never saw you put them on. We were invisible, but not to you. Oh god Harry ... tell me you did n't. recite me ... '' Padma reached a hand forward, up towards Harry 's face. Harry did n't flinch back even as her foresightful fingernail reached up close and tapped his eye.

The unmistakable clink of glass was like a destruction toll.

'' Your eye ... '' Hermione breathed, every reverb of her voice begging it not to be dependable. `` You ... you cut out your eye ? ``

'' No, guy at the shop did it. '' Harry tried to bunk Padma 's handwriting away but clearly did n't have the strength. `` Do n't you all look at me like that. I saw how utile Moody 's was and got one for myself. This one's better though, it can look anywhere, out the backrest of my head and all but it's charmed to await like it's pointing the Lapplander way as the other one. So no one ever knows. It 's been utile, Sir Thomas More than utilitarian. You ca n't enjoin me it has n't. '' Harry's voice had grown more strident as he spoke.

'' But ... your eye. '' Hermione shuddered, her mitt involuntarily flinched up to her face. `` How could you ? ``

Draco felt bile rising like a vent. Just the sentiment of tearing out his own eye made him vomit up. What immobilise and horrific will would it take to willingly chose that self-mutilation. For the first time that year, Draco began to fear Harry a little.

'' Do n't wait at me like that. '' Harry was shying away from their stares, pushing back into the bed. `` What ... Do n't ! Do n't look at me like you do n't have sex why I did this ! Do n't appear at me like you do n't understand. I had to ! ``

The desperation in his voice. The need for them to understand, to justify what he had done. Dragon shuddered. In Harry 's place would he suffer done the same ? He honestly could n't guess. No one could. Draco cleared his throat,

'' Harry, I ca n't pretend why you chose to do this. But you need to let the healers fix you now. ``

'' Dragon, I ... you too ? '' Harry seemed very small in that moment. Very lost.

'' Please let them fix you Harry. '' Draco felt a low mitt grasp his and glanced to the side to see Ginny. Offering support. A right protagonist. Thank you. `` You might now even want this stuff anymore. Voldemort is weak, maybe- ''

"Maybe !"Harry snapped."Maybe, maybe MAYBE ! That ‘ s all I ‘ ve heard all yr ! I won ‘ t combine to hope ! It ‘ s too important."

"Harry please ..."Draco's throat felt like it was closing up."Please ... you may not understand just how much price you ‘ re doing to yourself. Waiting a few calendar week even could-"

"Defeat Voldemort."Harry said coldly."I ‘ ve made my pick. Tell the therapist to fix my hand, just the deal. You don ‘ t think I wish it was different ? I do. But some bastard prophecy had the cheekiness to set my animation in motility long before I had any say in it. I have to win. I have to win even if I die because nothing else affair. Turns out this competitiveness was what I was born for and I ‘ ll burn myself from the inside out before I lose to that snake-faced bastard. I have to win. Even if I die."

Draco stepped back from the bed. The frightful certainty in Harry's part was shocking. He had accepted his lot down to his os. He had inebriate it in till it was the very magnetic core of his being. Was Harry even in there any more ?

Draco was shocked out of his thoughts by a minuscule sound. It took him a mo to recognize it, but when he did it surprised him once more. Snape was gripping the end of the hospital bed so operose the wood was splintering. When genus Draco looked up at the potions master's facial expression he almost cried out in fear. The most unspeakable sour rage Draco had ever seen was painted across Snape's expression, etched in every transmission line and crease. The dingy fantasm in his eyes were seething pools of suppressed fury. Suddenly Snape let out an almost cold-blooded growling and disapperated on the stain, tearing a bit of the bed away with him.
*


No thought process entered the red fog of Snape's mind as he strode towards the logic gate of Hogwarts. His sceptre whipped out and the vast threshold were thrown back with a rumbling crash that shook the castle. He could not like less if the whole edifice fell down. Minerva hurried towards him,

"Severus what is the meaning of this ?"

"I am going to see the headmaster."Snape didn't slow, forcing Minerva to jump out of his way. He was too angry to like. He saw the gargoyle statue ahead of him and forced the parole out through gritted tooth. He rode the stairs up listening to his own racing twinkling in his capitulum. The steps terra firma to a stop and Snape slammed the door candid. Dumbledore looked up in shock from the papers in front of him as Snape strode up to him and slammed his clenched fist down of the open of the desk.

"Harry is in St Mungos."He had no idea how to give voice to the thought inside him, they were too many and too powerful.

"I know that Severus."Dumbledore replied coldly."But you are no longer a appendage of the order so-"

"Do you know why Harry is in St Mungos ?"Snape tried to breath evenly."Because, in an effort to fulfill your precious prognostication, he found some black marketplace frame trader that would fit him with a Shén de shou."

"A Sh ..."Dumbledore's optic widened."My god ... he could hold killed himself ..."

"Yes."Snape could fell his fingernails biting into his palm tree."But not just that, he had his own eye cut out to fit a magical one. Those and who knows what early mutilations are slowly destroying him. He is going to die because of them. Because of the prophecy. Because of you !"

Dumbledore was staring off into the aloofness, he looked like his soul was being torn out. Good.

"The boy destroys himself, tears himself apart. He is ready to die, because of the prophecy."Snape drew his face down point with Dumbledore's."I think it ‘ s time he learnt the truth. Don ‘ t you ?"

"Severus ..."

"You tell him."Snape held a quivering finger's breadth up."I will give you one chance to secernate him, to gentle some of your guilt with satinpod. But rest assured, if you do not evidence him, I will. This lie has poisoned too much already."

"You realize ..."Dumbledore spoke as if from within a fog."That the truth may break him ?"

"No more than than the lie has."

"Perhaps."Dumbledore stood, leaning heavily on his desk. He seemed ... ancient. Ancient and tired."I will severalise him now. Which room is he in ?"
*


Harry glanced up as the hospital door was pushed open and Dumbledore stepped in and braced himself for being yelled at. Dumbledore just walked slowly towards Harry's bed, his hired man kept flinching out to the side as if expecting to ascertain a cane there.

"fry,"Dumbledore addressed the piranha."Would you impart us ? Please."

"What are you going to do ?"Ginny stepped in movement of the bed protectively.

"Just talk missy Weasley."Dumbledore's oral sex hung weakly."Only talk."

"It ‘ s O.K. Ginsters."Harry nodded towards her."It ‘ s alright."

Ginny looked doubtful but waved the piranha to accompany her out. As the door banged shut Dumbledore walked to the end of the elbow room, glancing at each bed, then flicked the curtains closed with his baton. Another wafture of his wand and Harry heard a little muted sound from the door. Whatever Dumbledore was about to say he didn't want anyone listening. Finally Dumbledore shuffled over to the bed face-to-face Harry's and sat carefully. There was a farsighted mo of quiet that stretched on and on ...

"Yes ?"Harry asked, speech still hurting his throat."You got something to say ?"

"I ... I do not know how to begin."Dumbledore seemed lost, a petty lose boy in the Natalie Wood."I suppose I should get by telling you how ... how incredibly sorry I am. You must trust I never expected that you would do this. But that is no excuse, no alibi at all."

"What are you saying ?"

"I ... Let me severalise you a story."Dumbledore licked his brim."I am sorry but this is the exclusively way I know to tell you. It begins about 15 days ago, I had just born-witness to a vaticination that gave the solitary hope for the twilight of the dark lord."

"I know this story."

"Harry please."Dumbledore raised his deal."This is hard enough ... Please just let me speak."

"Alright."

"I had heard the prognostication, the one you know well. I had determined that it referred to a child all of us in the fiat knew well. The child of Lilly and James II Potter. I knew that the child was our only Bob Hope. Even before the prophecy was recorded in the section of mysteries I had already placed the Potter family under the strongest trade protection I could. Unfortunately I failed, I was betrayed."

"Sirius Black."

"Yes. Sirius Black. But his treason, though it led to the deaths of two of the most brave and honest people I know, also spelled the end of the night Lord. Voldemort was destroyed. almost of the wizarding human beings considered him beat. The celebrations ... they went on for mean solar day ... weeks truly. The entire wizarding world breathed again thanks to the forfeit of Lilly and James II Potter and the natural selection of their son. The boy-who-lived. The boy who showed that Voldemort was not invincible. He was the symbol of triumph, the symbolization of Leslie Townes Hope. But I knew the truth, that Voldemort was not truly idle. I knew that the prophecy was not yet fulfilled and that, when the dark lord would finally move up again, the the great unwashed would require the boy-who-lived. So I placed him with his mothers roue, with his auntie. The grounds were complex, the blood link provided him tribute of a sorting but it is unimportant now. I should deliver known my folly, should experience known. It is my faulting in so many path. My demerit in every way that matters. I should accept watched closer ... Because one day, when that boy was six, his aunty had taken both him and his cousin to the shops. Perhaps she was not paying tending or perhaps it was simply an accident, but the boy ran out into the route. A car struck him, terribly fast. I have watched the memories of the crash through others center ... he flew so far ... doctor worked on him, then I had him moved to St Mungos and the healers worked as hard as the could. But the damage ... the injury to his skull ... his chest ... he passed from this world. Just six age old. My fault. All my error. His origin on my handwriting ... But I knew it was not over. I knew that Voldemort would still rise, the wizarding mankind would still need their symbolisation of Hope, their boy-who-lived. Their hero. So I found another boy, of the correct age, in a muggle orphanage. I worked witching to deepen his coming into court, his voice, his storage ... his retentivity I destroyed entirely and replaced with imposter, I even supplemented them with some of my own memories of James Potter to draw the boy seem like him. Then I placed him back at Privet driveway, I changed the memories of the auntie ... the uncle ... the full cousin. I sought out everyone who had seen the clank and tore the retentiveness from their skulls, the doc, the healer ... I made it so that it never happened. And then a sat back and watched ... I watched my fake grow up. I felt my guilt grow. But it was done, and it could not be undone. My with child shame ... the lie that makes everything else a lie as well. The truth is that the Chosen one has been stagnant for nine years. You are not him."

Dumbledore trailed off, he seemed smaller, even weaker, as if letting this great secret out of him had drained him of everything. Harry shook his caput. No ... No no no ...

"No, you ‘ re lying. You. Are. Lying."

"I so wish that I was."

"But I ‘ m the ... I ‘ m Harry Potter !"He shook his head."I ‘ m Harry potter !"

"No. You are not."

"I have the scar !"

"I gave you that scar."Dumbledore had his heart closed. But even so a tear squeezed out from the side, running down his longsighted pry and dropping to the floor."I can bump off it right now if you wish it."

"No !"His hands jumped up to his brow protectively."You ‘ re just ... you ‘ re saying these things ... WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME ?"

"I am drear. I am so sorry."Dumbledore bowed his head."I can not say that to you enough. I ... I destroyed you."

"No ! I ... I cut out my eye !"Harry could sense his parentage pumping in his ear."I ‘ ve fought ! I ‘ ve fought him all twelvemonth ! I ‘ m the chosen one !"

"You are not. There is no elect one."Dumbledore sounded like a man burning his survive tag of hope."The prophecy died nine long time ago. Voldemort won."

"No. No ..."He was shaking, he couldn't stay."Lies it ‘ s just lies !"

"It is not."Dumbledore shook his head."If you want proofread just look to your friends. You named them the marauders. On your very low day. How did you know that name ? You know that James Potter named his chemical group of champion the same ?"

"No, he can't have ! It ‘ s a lie !"

"It is not. You knew the name because I put in in your mind. If you doubt me ask anyone who was at schooltime with them."Dumbledore was speaking in idle tones now, he had reached the bottom."I have heard you refer to prof Snape as Snivellus and to Remus lupine as Moony. Those were both names James ceramicist invented. You also knew about Professor Snape ‘ s iniquity mark. How else would you know ?"

"I ... I ..."The boy could feel himself shaking, his mind shaking apart.

"It is genuine. It is all true ... I am so no-good. I am so ... I can not begin to cogitate what this must be doing to you. What this has done to you."

"So ... who am I ?"The boy looked up."What ‘ s my gens ?"

"I do not know."

"You found me !"He could hear his shrill part in his ears."You sweep up me to this spirit you have to know !"

"I do not Harry I ‘ m ..."

"Harry ? Harry ?"The boy threw his head back and screamed, a screeching cacophony of anguish."And don ‘ t you dare say you ‘ re sorry ! Don ‘ t you dare !"

"I ... I can not -"

"Get out !"He grabbed his glass of water and threw it with all his forcefulness, tears blurring his center. It shattered against the Headmaster ‘ s shoulder."Get out ! Get out ! GET OUT !"

Dumbledore fled the room, holding his arm. As the old wizard crashed through the room access the boy threw himself back against the paries and howled in pain and confusion, tearing at his whisker with hands like claws. Tears ran freely down his face from the one real eye he had left.

Sobbing and broken he lay there, until wickedness closed in.



recap. I just know you have something to say about this.