This book 's been giving me trouble, lots and lots of fuss. I 've had More painfulness from this one than from the other four put together and it 's not even finished yet ! Grumble ... rumble ...

Anyway as a solvent I may be wearisome to send than common as I try to beat this twisty, hellish recital I choose to call a story into submission.

Sorry, hopefully the news report will be better for it.

In other intelligence : OVER 200,000 WORDS ! HORAY !



"hullo ?"The tradesman peered, bleary eyed, at the figure of speech standing on the other side of the methamphetamine hydrochloride door."Sorry we ‘ re closed now."

"Good."The hooded man pushed the threshold open roughly."Then there will be no one to get word us."

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

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

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

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

"A Sh-"The storekeeper 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, age ago. When they were legal."The market keeper took his wand from his pocket and held it firmly towards the interloper."I think you ‘ d considerably 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 sinister grade emerge from under the iniquity robe. Even this far from Britain everyone in the business knew what it meant.

"Are you a… a dead eater ?"

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

"I… I ‘ ll have to make 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 chair."While we wait we can discuss some other things you may be able to help me with. I ‘ m sure they will not be beyond your… skill."

The shopkeeper gulped as the man began listing what he wanted. His hands shook so a lot his wand fell on the floor and rolled away unnoticed.

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


Harry's boots hit fireplace and he drew his baton 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 someone I was there right now."Harry thought as he left the Myxocephalus aenaeus pub."And that individual will secern a death eater."

Harry broke into a run as old building flashed past him. He hadn't made for Jack London, too obvious. The bold silhouette of Edinburgh castle was outlined against the star topology for a here and now between two construction as Harry dashed along and he darted down an alley towards it. He slowed as he passed a group of guys obviously out for the dark, singing in the street, then sped up as the path began to climb towards the high castle.

He came up a side of meat route and turned away from the historic building. Fitting himself into the crowd of Friday dark merrymaker like a shadow. He flitted across the royal mile as fast as he thought secure, clutching his long coat tight about him. At fifteen years old multitude wouldn't think it weird for him to be out this late but they might remember that he was alone. Any memory of his passing was a liability and Harry flicked his catch up and proceed into the shadow of a house.

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

The track station appeared beneath him and Harry swiftly crossed the bridge and slinked in a side incoming. He bought a ticket from an automated machine ( no memories ) to the first location on the departures gameboard. Then tore it up, cursing himself again, and bought one for the second one down.

It was only three min till it left. Harry stood in a corner, hopefully just looking like any former traveler. They wouldn't insure the place would they ? They thought like thaumaturge, not like muggles. Maybe he was being paranoid… the bartender didn't have to assure anyone…

No ! Careless ! Better safe. We want to defend them, but on our terms.

Harry nodded, it was the safety thing to do. He gritted his teeth as the seconds ticked by. He just needed to be gone. Wherever the wagon train went he could find thaumaturgist and flue to… to somewhere. Somewhere better, Hogwarts possibly ? It was still hebdomad till he had to go back to school and Harry wasn't bore to slip back under Dumbledore's restrictive backstage. He'd go somewhere anyway.

tinker's damn it ! Harry went caudex still as two oddly tog mortal walked into the train station. One looked like his outfit was a Halloween costume of a pirate, the other was wearing lederhosen. They were the stupidest sight Harry had ever seen.

They were also here to pop him.

Harry could feel the essence of barely contained violence coming off both of them and the pirate had a wand concealed up his sleeve. Harry stepped sideways, making his social movement seem inconsequential, 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 cleansing agent in boilersuit got no further as Harry whipped his sceptre out and Confunded him.

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

"R… right."The man mumbled and Harry left swiftly, passing out a English door and feeling the cold dark air. Harry crossed the road and passed to the next street over and breathed a sigh of alleviation. It was meddlesome, full of revelers. He could be unseeable here.

The sound kind of invisible, the sort that didn't demand cloaks.

Harry kept to the side as he ducked down the foresighted stint and ducked into a pub. A few minutes later he emerged, unrecognizable. Wrinkled skin and grey hair's-breadth, Shakey mariner walked again. Harry walked like an old man up the route, watching both ways.

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

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

Of track if one of them had been Crouch 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 expiry eater's wand. No way to know whether he had hit… The scepter came up, aimed at Harry…

Nothing.

The verge passed on over to the next bystander and Harry breathed a mental sigh of relief. He began walking away, they didn't follow. He kept walking, passing out of arena he could accredit from single-valued function and found an alley.

Harry pushed a wheelie bin aside and slouched down against the rampart. He'd wait for daybreak here and try to leave the metropolis then. Harry drew into his bag and pulled out the wrapped up clay of a sandwich.

full phase of the moon circle, eventually we all come back home.

Harry sneered as his eyelids began to droop, 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 sleep, too tired to dream.

"He ‘ s here somewhere."

Harry's eyes flicked unresolved, the wan light of cockcrow filtering into the alleyway. footstep 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… bent on !

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

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

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


"Envenerate !"

Harry lifted his head off the grass ( pasturage ? ) and looked around him. Helen Newington Wills was gone, but the magniloquent black 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 explain why my bosses brought you here comatose ?"

"They didn ‘ t tell you ?"

"fountainhead Dwight Lyman Moody was too furious to talk and Kingsley kept laughing."

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

"I ‘ ll let Helen Wills severalize the story when he calms down."Harry dusted himself off and surveyed the discharge field of force. It seemed vaguely companion."Where are we ?"

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

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


"So what does it- WHOA !"Harry tripped backwards as the house exploded out of the terra firma around him. Even the pasture curled into the flooring and became gravel and a fountain appeared like it had been pushed up from some tunnel underground. After everything settled Harry looked around,

"Hey, isn ‘ t this-"

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

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

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

"I owled."

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

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

"Yeah right."Dragon pushed the door open for Harry to mistreat inside."Well in the mean prison term your friends and fan club have invaded my home."

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

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

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

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

"Didn ‘ t Voldemort live here ?"

"The Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth respond to the current heir."genus Draco looked over at the sprawling tapestry of the Malfoy household tree."Voldemort was forced to will the moment…"

"The second ownership transferred ?"

"Yes. That."

"wellspring at to the lowest degree we 're all safe here. Constant vigilance. '' At Harry 's Book Shacklebolt clapped a handwriting to his mouth but could n't stop a snort. Harry grinned and took another face at the tapestry."Aren ‘ t you supposed to be on here ?"

"I ‘ m there."Draco pointed at a get at burnt point at the tooshie."It seems my mother reverted to her own family traditions."

"Why don ‘ t you fix it ?"

"Because I don ‘ t flavor like it Potter."Dragon 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 articulation to the full of some cold resolution."Anyway, as I was saying. With the kinsfolk enchantments and the superfluous wards Dumbledore put up this billet is totally impregnable."

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

"plosive consonant saying that."Kingsley had to cut across his oral fissure again.

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

"He snuck up behind Alastor Moody and yelled ‘ constant quantity vigilance ‘ in his ear."At Tonks'shocked locution he added."I ‘ m not joking."

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

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

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

In answer Harry just smiled and rolled up his will sleeve. Around his articulatio radiocarpea was a brass bracer engraved with tracing vines. Right in the center, on the inside arm, was a hieroglyphic of a great Black person eye.

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

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

"Yep."

"It ‘ s also all sorts of illegal."

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

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

"Does it stop him calling you ?"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 illusion. Else I could do turn 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 be the auror.

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

"Sorry,"Harry shrugged theatrically."adjacent time I ‘ ll try to kill in a sterile environment."

They walked down a long dark hall, made more flighty by the fact that every motion picture was discharge. genus Draco said zilch but Harry imagined they had left about the same fourth dimension his Father of the Church had. The door at the end had a sweetie glow coming from under it. Harry hurried forward and toss the door unresolved 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 scrummage into the cavernous room, which turned out to be a kitchen."Miss me ?"

"Where the hell were you ?"Padma hadn't joined the charge and was sitting with her coat of arms crossed and an wild expression."Why did you get out ?"

"I never left."Harry held his bridge player to his spirit."I was always with you, in here."

"Bullshit."

"Cynic."Harry shrugged and slid onto the long 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 happen ? I would think a matter like that ? Oh… oh postponement ? Tall guy with red eyes ? You know I think I do retrieve a guy like that… TORTURING ME !"

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

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

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

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

"Working on what ?"

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

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

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

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

"rubber here ?"Harry froze."rubber 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 predator looked on confused."You know that."

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

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

"For how tenacious ?"

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

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

"I ‘ m sure Dumbledore has considered that."

"Dumbledore. Is. Senile."Harry looked over at Kingsley, who had thus far kept silent."How bout you ? You got a return 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."seed on Tonks, we need to get back on duty before we ‘ re missed."

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

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

"What was that Harry ?"Ginny asked.

"What ?"

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

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

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

Harry turned to Draco, who rolled his eyes.

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

"right field,"Harry turned towards the doorway."It ‘ s not a private, at least not amongst us. Could you tell them for me Nev ? I ‘ m going to get some newly air."

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

"Wh…"

"The Aaron Montgomery Ward extend to the property line but it ‘ s impregnable in here."Hermione explained apologetically."They told us to stay-"

"By they you mean Dumbledore."

"Yes."

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

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

"Is there a window in my cellphone ?"

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

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


Draco woke the next morning as a retching speech sound came through the rampart. He shook the covers off and pushed the curtains around his bed undefendable before hurrying to the contiguous room.

"Harry is that you ?"Dragon was about to try the room access before he thought better of it and ran a detection spell. A couple of nasty curses lifted out of the woodwork. Draco backed a few steps away."Harry afford up !"Dragon heard footsteps then the door scraped open.

"What ?"Harry growled sleepily.

"Were you just retch ?"

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

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

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

"You ‘ re sick ?"

"I ‘ m pregnant."Harry shrugged."There was this social dancer. I was a niggling wino and, well… I was weak."

"right wing,"Draco snorted.

"You ‘ re the first one I ‘ ve told."

"I ‘ m touched."

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

"I imagine labor won ‘ t be a picnic either."Draco shook his head, if Harry didn ‘ t want to secernate him then he didn ‘ t want to cognize."aspect, it smells like breakfast ‘ s ready."

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


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

Harry looked around in confusion at the versatile people that had appeared in the kitchen of Malfoy manor. There were more Weasley's than there had been, the two parents and Old comrade. An odd man in a green hat was there as well, smiling at Harry and waving, along with an older lady in an ratty robe. There was one very recognisable look though, one that went had gone from smiling to stone cold the minute he entered the way. Remus lupine had stood the moment he came in and walked away, leaving by the back door.

"A couple of people live here now."Ginny said to report the secrecy."A couple of the lodge members."

"Why ?"

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

"It ‘ s because we ‘ re too visible."mollie Weasley explained."the great unwashed know we support Dumbledore, they know we were in the club lastly time. We ‘ re target for attack. It ‘ s safer here."

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

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

'' Prison ? '' Harry dropped a objet d'art of pledge. `` They 're using this place as a prison ? ``

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

'' Is n't that dangerous ? ``

'' The whole manor house is under the Fidelius charm. '' Hermione explained. Harry smiled in savvy, 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 unsafe to tell the prisoners the secret ? ``

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

'' The prisoner 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 safe place for to house the end eater. Of course Harry would favor if they were all kept in nice safe casket but this was the following best thing. While they had been talking genus Draco had turned back to the silent cheat game.

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

"time of day for this game."Hermione answered dejectedly."calendar week if you ‘ re mean value playing in general."

"Who ‘ s winning ?"

"I think Ron ‘ s ahead by two games."

"Well that ‘ s-"

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

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

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

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

"It counts."Ron replied angrily. He began to readjust the pieces but genus Draco grabbed a pawn out of his manus and slammed it back into it's box.

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

Harry grinned at the spectacle then pushed his void 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 probability he ‘ s going to unpack."Padma whispered across the marauders 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 unlikely he was doing so now.

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

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

"It ‘ d give us something to do."Parvarti murmured quietly, voicing what they all felt. Boredom was constant here. The only interesting times were lodge meetings when the marauders would try to regain mode to mind in. elbow room that were continually blocked.

All their preparation had been done. All the course Word had been read and so many secret plan of exploding snap had been played that they all had little tiny burn on the final stage of their finger's breadth. There was nothing else to do, literally nada. They had looked, tried to come up with other things to do. They had failed.

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

"Definitely not."Hermione shook her capitulum."We could hit the books ?"

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

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

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

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

"Well… oh."

The vulture 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 Matriarch 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 arms."Why should we go with you ?"

"Because I know where we can play quidditch."Draco glanced at the doorway. `` 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 pedestal and vitrine holding strange sparkling items.

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

'' My don. '' Draco lugged the globe event over. `` It 's just rubble. '' True to his Bible he shoved three vas off a showing point of view to put the case in their place. `` Now ... teams. ``

'' I call captain ! '' Ginny yelled.

'' Me too. '' Ron nodded.

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

'' But- ''

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

'' Which ones ? ``

'' The quidditch performing I. '' Malfoy rolled his optic. Fred and Saint George reluctantly went over to stand by Malfoy.

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

Damn it he was right, Ginny shot forward after him. If only the stoolie would come along ! It should n't be so hard to catch it in this introduce field. Unfortunately the magical spell on the snitch were never designed to deal with an irregular tangle of cabinets and as a resolution it kept moving erratically. They had found and lost it three prison term already. Ginny saw Malfoy trying to grade and being blocked by Ron. She took the opportunity to take another tone for it.

'' Over there ! '' Someone yelled, Ginny did n't pause. The jiffy of gold disappeared behind a urn and Ginny spun around it. Where was it ? Another flash, there by the wrack of steel. Ginny heard a crash from the side her, Malfoy was closing in. There, by the glass again ? No ! By the urns again ! tinker's damn it, there were musing everywhere. It was like there were six stool pigeon !

Ginny narrowly avoided colliding with the rampart. A thump behind her told her Malfoy wasn't so lucky. There it was ! Right near the corner of the room. Ginny sped up, it was so fold ! Her finger closed around it. And it felt ... wrong.

Ginny drew to a halt, holding the thing in her hand. It was gold, but it wasn't a snitch. It was a cup, a little gold plated teacup, still struggling to get away from her finger. Draco hovered in next to her, looking perplexed.

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

"What is it ?"

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

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

The other marauders came in finisher, staring at it.

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

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

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

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

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

"guesswork we ‘ re not walking."Hermione murmured as the marauders flew after him. The corridor was fairly specialise and the marauder had to fly in single file. The evacuate portraiture were here as well, even the animals in the landscapes had left.

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

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

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

Silence filled the hallway for a moment, then ... a removed randomness. It sounded like an explosion underwater, muffled by the walls. The marauder looked at each other, they had all heard it.

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

"audio ..."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 sign of the zodiac Weasley."Malfoy cut her off."It ‘ s coming from beneath us. This way."Malfoy injection forward and turned sharply into a side corridor. Ginny rushed to keep up with him and she could get a line the marauders behind her doing the Lapplander. A door was discard open in front of them and Ginny spun into it, following the blond split second in figurehead of her. Down some stair, along a hanker dark hall, future - STOP !

Ginny had to break gratingly to avoid hitting Malfoy who was hopping off his broom in strawman of a orotund wooden door.

"You ! You ... !"

"What ‘ s the matter Weasley ?"Malfoy shouldered his Scots heather."Had bother keeping up ?"

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

"We ‘ re here."As Malfoy said it a loud fringe issued from the former slope of the doorway. Ginny looked behind her to see the marauders just coming around the corner. Hermione looked terrorize, Neville looked ill.

"Well lets see then."Malfoy drew his wand and pushed at the heavy door. It slowly crept spread out. Inside was an abandon hall, looked like it was usually used for storage or something. The only if things left were a few odd tables and a few loge. In the middle of the room stood Harry, bare chested with his scars pure white against his tanned and sweating skin. On a box next to him was a odd heap of rubble. As they watched he took a home plate and held his sceptre to it. At a whispered word there were two plates, then three, then four. Harry dropped the master copy back into the mountain and tapped the fakes with his sceptre. They instantly flew off in all management. Harry jabbed his wand and in a fraction of a second-

eruption ! One shattered near the ceiling. Harry whirled. smasher ! Shattering into shards. strike ! Smashing the side of meat and sending the cobbler's last shell spinning into the wall.

Harry caught sight of the piranha and grinned before waving them over.

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

"You don ‘ t need to keep back duplicating affair 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 clean row along the mesa was a sharp and wickedly curved sword, a unretentive spear with a lighting bolt carved into the haft, a circle ball that had holes for fingers and seemed to be glowing from within and no less than three muggle firearms.

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

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

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

Ginny just stared, this was too much. All the marauders expected insanity from Harry but this ...

Malfoy was the maiden to speak.

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

"I may need spares."Harry shrugged.

"Harry is this stuff darkness legerdemain ?"Hermione was shying away from the table.

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

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

"Strangely no, I bought them legally in Vegas."Harry picked up the largest one. The vulture took a collective stone's throw back."Bringing them back to the UK was the illegal bit."

"Wh ... wh ..."

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

'' Harry, your scepter ... '' 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 dreary baton. `` Why do you ask ? ``

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

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

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

'' And risk it not working as well as this one does ? '' Harry balanced the midst, wrick wand on the boundary of his hand before flicking it up into the air and catching it, all the piece with the gun held nonchalantly in his other deal. `` This one work for me, maybe as well as my old one did. Besides ... it sort of conniption does n't it ? This baton 's done a lot of violence in it 's lifespan. Lots of pain, fighting, and that 's exactly what I intend to use it for. ``

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

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

"What do you intend 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 tabular array. It sounded heavy."I need to fight Voldemort. I have to fight Voldemort."

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

"I have to fight Voldemort and you know what ? I ‘ ll lose !"Harry slashed the air angrily."I ‘ ll lose, I mean what else would come about ? I spotty, ignorant fifteen twelvemonth old against the most dangerous ace on the planet ? I ‘ ll lose, he ‘ ll win, we ‘ ll all be screwed. Don ‘ t you see ? I can ‘ t afford to be an ignorant teenager any more. I have to be in effect. I need to be better. Because I can ‘ t lose, can ‘ t afford to turn a loss. None of us can afford for me to lose. Do you know what it feels like to know that the all world is royally screwed if you fail ? No ? Then shut up ! Don't try to stop me and don ‘ t ask me why ! I know why, and if you took a microsecond to retrieve you ‘ d know why too !"

Harry's furious broadside shocked the vulture into quiet. Harry turned back to his pile of junk and began duplicating a lowering field 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 twenty, or thirty. Maybe you have time ..."

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

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

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

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

"Dumbledore said-"

"Dumbledore has been amiss before."Malfoy cut her off."It hurts nil to be cook 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 remember what happened in conclusion twelvemonth was some sort of risible game ?"

"Of course not, but-"

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

"Good point."Ginny was surprised to hear her own vocalization. Oh no now everyone was looking at her, better say something."And since we ‘ re all targets maybe we should try learning some clobber too."

"At least we ‘ ll all get O ‘ s in defense."Padma smiled wryly.

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

"What ‘ s there to say ?"Harry shrugged."It ‘ s fairly ego explanatory. No one but me can kill Voldemort. Not practically to discuss."

"I ... guess so ..."Hermione bit her lip."There ‘ s an monastic order meeting tonight. Maybe we can ask Dumbledore ..."

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


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

"Hu ?"Draco turned from his progress towards the door."What do you think of ‘ Where am I going'? I ‘ m going to the kitchen."

"You come back here young man !"

"Why ? I ‘ m not your fellowship. Nor am I one of these early street child you seem to have adopted. I don ‘ t care for your opinion, nor for your misplaced and overworked maternal instinct. I ‘ m certainly not going to let you squall at me while you live under my roof."Draco turned back to the door ...

"Get back here !"

... .and walked happily through it, with enraged secrecy left behind him.

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

"Tonks."Draco smiled and walked through the now crowded kitchen to where his cousin was sitting. Next to the werewolf. Draco shuddered inwardly and sat on her other side of meat."I couldn ‘ t eat another fried breakfast anyway. Any more and my broom won ‘ t be capable to hold me."

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

"He ‘ s ..."Draco licked his brim and gestured for her to slant finisher."He ‘ s accepted the vaticination. He ‘ s accepted that he will fight Voldemort. He ‘ s preparing for it."

"That sounds ominous."Tonks shook her fountainhead."Dumbledore ‘ s not going to wish it."

"Don ‘ t tell him."

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

"Will he ?"A new voice came in. Dragon looked up to see Harry slide in across from them. The loup-garou 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 oceanic abyss into a philippic I doubt she ‘ ll counting 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 English of the judiciary and stepping up beside the headmaster and tugging on his robe.

"professor, can I spill the beans to you ab-"

"After the group meeting Harry."Dumbledore brushed him off."You have my word. But right now some of the order phallus have authoritative missions they must get back to quickly."

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

What ? Dragon crossed his arms and frowned. Why was Harry being so calm ? What was going on ? As the edict members filed out he sidled up to Harry's side ?

"What was that ?"

"What ?"

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

"I ‘ m always nice."

"You ‘ re always up to something."

"Are you suggesting ?"Harry drew himself up haughtily."That I am only nice when I have an agenda ? That I am manipulative and ego serving that way ? That I would only be calm if I, oh say ... wanted to slue a listening device into the pocket of individual ‘ s robe before they went into an order meeting ... or something like that ?"
*


Snape stepped into the manor and strode towards the briny dining room. He wasn't late precisely, just ... no longer appropriately prompt. He pushed the door open and walked to the open seat next to Natalie.

"Have I missed anything crucial ?"

"Attacks."The unspeakable was idly scraping her finger along the boundary of a copy of the daily prophet."wickedness scar. Wizards and witches we suspect have been turned, or put under the imperious curse.

'' Nothing important then. ``

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

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

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

'' Yes. '' Snape brought himself back to the undertaking at paw. `` The dark overlord is moving. ``

'' wellspring duh. '' The vox near the end of the table was swiftly silenced by a flat stare.

'' The wickedness nobleman is moving more specifically. Now that Greyback is drained all but a few of the werewolves have deserted him. He seeks new troops to sew terror, he has chosen to acquire by upstanding wealthiness this time rather than empty promises. He is arranging purchase of large numbers game of various exotic coinage, lethifolds primarily. Chimaeras if it can retrieve a will vendor. ``

'' Why ? '' Lupin asked from down the table. `` Why mindless creature ? ``

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

'' They 've torn the res publica apart ! '' Someone yelled.

'' But only in their own capacitance. They have not followed club well, they are distracted. The dark lord has killed a lot of them, he seems tired of human being flunk. In a way he does n't want an army, he wants a weapon. Something he can let loose at will. Doubtless he will be employing the supercilious bane to see that his will is done. ``

'' It does n't work on lethifolds. '' lupine said with certainty. A small sniff of relief slid through Snape 's brain, swiftly swallowed up with darkness.

'' But it does work on chimeras. And on mantiger. ``

'' manticora ? '' The quondam defense instructor eyes grew wide.

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

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

'' Both because that would construct them less effective champion and because long exposure to the Dementors seems to have made them surprisingly resistant to genial tone-beginning. '' Snape leant finisher over the table to address to the purchase order as a whole. `` I have the date he plans to meet with animate being dealer. If we arrange a trap we can get ahead of him and- ''

'' No. '' Dumbledore spoke with still authority.

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

'' If we act he will assuredly infer the source of our information. '' Dumbledore shook his whiskered head. `` You are too valuable at present to risk. You are our solely reference of data. ``

'' Information we never act on. '' Snape clenched his clenched fist on the cold burnt sienna table. `` What use is my detection ... what use is this edict 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 word of honor we wanted to fling at the old man. It would be pointless.

'' We could instead liaise with the strange auror departments. '' Snape tried to play a joke on himself into thinking this was anything early than a wrong limiting try. `` They could get some of the monger 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 acquaintance that may be capable to serve. ``

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

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

"Is there anything else ?"

"Barty Crouch still has not returned."Snape shook his principal, Barty Crouch had become Voldemort's pet, surpassing even Belatrix. Snape had hoped at one fourth dimension that Barty's failure to earn the ministry would count against him, and it had, but apparently throwing it into turmoil had been enough. That and successfully bringing Harry Potter directly to the dark lord. All that made it even more suspicious that Barty was absent from decease feeder gatherings. The shadow lord kept his servant close, if he was letting one off their leash then it had to be for something important.

"Do you think he has left the country ?"somebody down the table asked.

"It is possible."Snape nodded."But whatever he is doing it has it ‘ s root here. The dark Godhead has always intended to take this country before moving on to the rest of the earth. That has not changed. It may also involve espionage."

"Why do you say that ?"

"It is Barty Crouch ‘ s specialty is it not ?"Snape shrugged."But the nighttime Lord has ordered me to begin researching polyjuice potion in an attack 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 try to gain the support of the giants."

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

"Is that all ?"

"early than hours of listening to the dark lord non-white pontificating on the subject of the death or subjection of all muggles ?"Hydra crooked an supercilium."No."

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

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

A oecumenical groan went up from around the room. Snape just closed his optic and took a settle down breathing time. After the events of last year the ministry had been fractured to its very pith. The near-election of a death eater had made them terrible as rabbits. Fudge had, the present moment Dumbledore left the building, ran back to his office and virtually barricaded himself inside. All summertime he had been wrangling the ministry around to the idea that his forcing out was not valid because of the deceptions of Barty Crouch Jr.

That was, Snape had to admit, technically dead on target. Although the vote to remove Fudge had been won by a comfortable allowance the original motion to remove a minister for conjuring trick could only be tabled by a member of the Wizengamot. Crouch Jr was not a member, only impersonating one, therefore the motion and, by extension, the right to vote was null. A firearm of bureaucratic foolishness that meant they were stuck with that ridiculous man until someone else drummed up decent backup to boot out him.

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

'' Ours too. '' Shacklebolt rumbled.

'' The unit ministry does. '' King Arthur Weasley added. `` The unhurt wizarding universe. The problem is that no one wants to put in a nomination for reverence of looking like they 're following Crouch 's example. ``

'' So we put someone forward. '' Snape said definitely. `` We theater a nominee no one can argue is a decease eater. ``

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

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

'' I realize the situation is not ideal. '' Shacklebolt held his script up. `` But Fudge is scared to contact any fuck order penis or anyone else who waves Dumbledore 's criterion. As a event he is leaving the aurors office and the eternal rest of the department relatively untasted. We can impart out our work without any overbearing superintendence for now. And besides, with all the ex-Azkaban resident running around causing trouble we do not have time for a political battle on top of that. If we can not have a appealing rector of illusion, one that stays out of our way is a good irregular alternative. ``

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

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

'' Is guard duty for the next calendar week set up ? '' Dumbledore asked the gather order. There was a general nodding. It had not been hard to prepare, not with a member inside the section of mysteries.

'' Then we should all get back to oeuvre. '' Dumbledore stood. `` And we should all groom for flack by magical beings. Lupin can, I 'm sure, 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 servant as he was of his of his opposition. Snape turned to Natalie,

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

'' I 'll be sure to be in the position then. '' Natalie nodded. Snape knew that he would be living for Tues at eleven. He reluctantly turned and made for the door. Unfortunately there was a occlusion, the whole order was bunched up at the spacious two-bagger doors. Snape quickly pushed to the presence and was almost forced to laugh.

Harry had built a barricade.

The 5th year was sitting casually on an bowl over desk, resting his feet on a drawer. The repose of the arching wall was mostly hot seat and tables, and one suit of armor.

'' Harry this was not essential. '' Dumbledore stepped forward, his custody stretched peacefully. `` I promised we would babble out. ``

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

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

'' You think Voldemort will care ? ``

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

'' Right. '' Harry dropped off his perch and landed, cat like, on the floor. `` 'Cos that tactic 's form sorcerer so far. You know I have to fight. I have to agitate 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 res publica ? ``

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

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

'' How Harry ? '' Dumbledore crooked an brow, but his common ripe sense of humour was gone.

'' I 'll let you stew over it. '' Harry folded his subdivision. `` I want to struggle. I want to sit in order confluence. I want a tutor to instruct me to duel. ``

'' You may have none of those thing. '' Dumbledore was n't moving, just standing like a statue. Radiating menace. `` As for defence force preparation you will incur it at Hogarts, in your even defensive measure class. ``

'' Well I hope at least you 've got mortal commodity. '' Harry sneered, then, glancing at McGonagall, let out a minuscule scrag jest. `` 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 gild member began to shuffle out, giving Harry a wide position. 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 antagonize him. ``

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

'' Few hoi polloi do. ``

'' You ? ``

'' No. ``

'' Great. '' Harry shrugged, then looked up to conform to Snape 's center. `` Would ... you teach me to agitate ? ``

I should have expected that question. Snape took a breath to chip in himself time to consider his response.

'' No. ``

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

'' If I teach you then you will pass into the trap of thinking you are ready. '' Snape shook his head. `` I could pass on everything I know to you and you would still fall back to the dark lord because I would lose to the dark lord. ``

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

'' You will, inevitably. '' Snape said, hoping dullness could get through to him. You will inevitably essay 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 vernal, by definition you are an idiot. ``

'' Have n't been Cy 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 immorality eye bracer but thought better of it. The answer was of no particular 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 forward as you have no incertitude been doing. Train, learn everything you can. When the meter 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 fight. ``

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


'' mulct. '' Harry muttered to himself. `` I 'll try Helen Wills Moody. ``
*


The predator had to hunt Harry again that evening. He had disappeared before dinner party and was nowhere to be seen. The margin wards had n't been tripped but with Harry that meant side by side to nothing. They found him in a disused stairway, sitting in the rainbow blur of a stained meth window. With the light mottling his skin like some jungle cat the marauders hesitated to near him.

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

'' Not thirsty. ``

'' What were you doing ? ``

'' beggary. Again. '' Harry let out a uncut, grisly, laugh. `` full-of-the-moon round. ``

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

'' Not money. '' Harry was still looking up into the Inner Light. `` I 've spent the evening begging edict member, aurors ... everyone really, to teach me to fight. waste matter of my metre ... '' Harry trailed off shaking his head.

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

'' Snape, Moody, Tonks, Shacklebolt, McGonagall ... '' Harry sighed. `` Flitwick, he was a dueling champion. I even asked lupine, or tried to before he slammed the room access 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 oneself you Harry. '' Ginny stepped forward. `` We said we would. ``

'' It 's not the same. I need a teacher. '' Harry shook his head. `` There 's only so a great deal I can get from books and ... compeer learnedness. ``

'' Well ... maybe you could ask whoever they get to instruct defense this year. '' Hermione suggested. `` Or maybe they 'll be really beneficial any you wo n't sustain to. ``

'' You do n't get it ! '' Harry covered his face with his hands. `` It 's not just chucking around a mates of looker. None of you have seen a real superstar duel, not proper dueling. Not like what Voldermort 's equal to of. Not like what I 'll throw 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 second, then a fraction of a sparkle lit the corner of his eye. `` With him. Maybe ... ''

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

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

'' Yes your wretched over-traveled and long-suffering shuttle has found my owlery. '' Malfoy rolled his heart. `` If you 're going to globetrot you should really severalise your owl to stay habitation. ``

'' I would. '' Harry disappeared up the steps. `` 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 ripe hand while gesturing with the former. `` After toast obviously. ``

'' sure enough ... indisputable Harry. '' Hermione was nodding a short carefully, like person talking to a man with a hand grenade. Which, given Harry 's current track record, might accept been the case. `` We 'll do that. ``

'' Should practice cuticle too. '' Harry switched the orange to both manpower then quickly back to his right.

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

'' Let 's go then. '' Harry pocketed the yield and led the befuddle marauder, and Malfoy, from the way. As Harry pushed the door open he pulled up short. lupin was frozen in front of him, his script raised to get to 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 matter ? ``

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

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

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

'' Before what ? ``

'' Before well ... you. Before you got here. '' Ron shrugged. `` He was even sort of good story. ``

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


This was n't the in conclusion Harry heard about it though. lupin lived in the sign of the zodiac, they bumped into each other all the fourth dimension. Each metre Harry was met by the same maturation hatred. It was variety of disconcerting. Eventually Harry learned Lupin 's subprogram and managed to mostly ride out out of his way. Of course of action it helped that he spent at to the lowest degree ten time of day a day in the vacate wine cellar, sometimes with the marauder, sometimes with Draco, sometimes alone. Each day when Harry finally dropped himself into an icy bathing tub to solace his hurt anatomy he felt a kind of fiery satisfaction.

He was getting better !

He could gravel any of the marauder one on one, even the twins. Draco was better, at the start he had beaten Harry a lot. Well, no ... at the very start Harry had won. Then Harry had raged at the blonde and forced him to really cut easy and use some of the awful wickedness magic his father had taught him. With those turn in his armoury 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 invertebrate foot to take a breather on the top of a sepia desk in the mansion subroutine library ( there was some good stuff here, more than magic spell to play with ) when the door creaked open.

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


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

'' The man 's guidebook to efficient and effective application of hurting. '' Harry read calmly off the cover version of the book.

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

'' Never knew there were so many uses for a horseback riding crop. '' Harry folded the Thomas Nelson Page down and looked up at her. `` How are you doing ? guild keeping you busy ? ``

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

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

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

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

'' I do n't reckon Dumbledore would care that. ``

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

'' Sorry Harry. ``

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

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

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

'' Remus Lupin. ``

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

'' Do you know what 's wrong with him ? '' Tonks pulled a stool and sat on the other face of the desk. From this slant Harry resembled a very appraising interviewer. His beaten and frayed steel-capped boots up on one side of the desk and a Brobdingnagian pile of untrusting books on the other. In between he was regarding her piercingly over his wire glasses.

'' What 's faulty with him. '' Harry repeated levelly. `` Apart from the unharmed fur and fang thing ? ``

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

'' Big affair to push aside. '' Harry interrupted her. `` The fact that he 's a loup-garou. ``

'' 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 multitude inside ! They have souls ! They 're human ! ``

'' I 'm lamentable Tonks, '' Harry held up his hands. `` I know what you 're trying to say. But I 've only ever met one loup-garou who has n't tried to kill me and even he sometimes acts like he wants to. excuse me for not having a great impression of the species. When I meet a werewolf who does n't act like the monster they are inside maybe I 'll remember differently. Until then I think my hatred is apologize. '' Harry voice was obdurate and sharp, and Sir Thomas More than a footling scary.

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

'' Occupational hazard. '' Harry smiled sadly, then shook it off and grinned. `` Sorry, we seem to have gotten sidetracked into a character minute. What was the master interrogative sentence ? ``

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

'' I 've heard. ``

'' He was really funny. ``

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

'' He had lots of these tarradiddle about what he did when he was offspring. ``

'' Chase milkmen ? ``

'' No Harry. '' Tonks tried not to oppose. `` Did you know he be intimate your father ? ``

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

'' But why ? ``

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

'' He ... he wo n't enjoin me. '' Tonks looked at the trading floor. When she had asked him he had just turned and left the way in the heart of her doubt. He had n't spoken to her for days. `` I thought you might screw, or at to the lowest degree have a guess. ``

'' considerably I can come up with is I remind him too much of what he lost. '' Harry shrugged. Tonks considered this. Harry 's guess was probably worth an essay from anyone else, the kid could read people scarily well. Harry continued, `` I mean I get the picture he did n't talk to much of anyone after my parents died. He may fault me fare to think of it. You know ... for their deaths. ``

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

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

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

'' Stay safety Tonks. '' Harry flicked his volume back open.

'' You too Harry. ``
*


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

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

'' Why would I be wild Ginsters ? '' Harry smiled a piddling smugly.

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

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

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

When they walked in the feast had already started. The marauders were forced to find a open incision of mesa with the whole foyer murmuring and pointing.

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

'' Lots of parents decided to keep their nestling base this year. '' Parvati said sadly. `` Our parents almost did but well ... ''

'' We convinced them Hogwarts was safer than base. '' Her sis ended for her.

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

'' Nothing ! '' Came the squall 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 separate and they 'd know soon enough.

'' educatee ! '' Dumbledore stood. The Charles Martin Hall quieted down. `` I have a few announcement to make. Firstly, as you may experience realized, some of your class fellow have decided not to unite us. This is of course their choice, or that of their parents, and I hope that you treat then no differently if they decide to rejoin us. Secondly as you know, if you do not be on the moon, the dark lord has returned. I wish to make both that and this next fact perfectly clear. He can not hurt you here. Behind the wall of Hogwarts you are safety. Thirdly, and most happily, we have a new Defense Department teacher. One that, I am sure you will all enjoy learning from. So I would ask over you to connect me in saying receive, or more correctly welcome back, to professor M- ''

'' Yes ! Your entreaty have been answered ! '' The huge room access to the enceinte hall boomed undefended. `` I am, thanks to monumental public need, BACK ! ``

'' It 's him ! ``

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

'' Yes ! ``

'' Yes ! ``

'' Horray ! ``

'' Yes, yes thank you ! '' The muscled number lapped up the praise, grinning from one side of his face to the other. He was the Sami as ever, maybe his tomentum was a fiddling shorter, his tan a piddling deeper, his arms more marred, his legs clad in denim instead of leather and his trilby replaced with a folded hankie. But it was him, apparent and in the flesh.

'' I 'm back in the country ! cover in action ! Back in print ! The one, the exclusively MARKUS TRIPPLE M MICHELSON ! '' The blonde colossus punched the air and the hall jumped to their feet in cheers. `` But please ... call me Maximus. No no wait ... address me Professor Maximus. ``
*


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

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

'' wellspring I had to greet the new professor. '' Harry stepped into the bureau, it was already all set out. It looked almost exactly the same as it had three yr ago, with one or two improver. Harry leant to depend at a shifting wizard pic. It showed a huge crowd of people, all but one of them looking African, standing in dustup like a shoal photo. Sticking out like a sore thumb was Markus Michelson in the tertiary row, grinning and jerking his thumb at the thing behind them. Even lying on it 's side it towered over even Markus, spotted and studded with gig and burn cicatrice it looked like a ...

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

'' hire it down with merely eighty six people. '' Michelson nodded smugly. `` New public record. I got the rear. ``

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

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

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

'' You saved my liveliness 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 hail up. '' Markus grinned slyly. `` I get the impression he 'd rather I did n't teach you ? ``

'' No. '' Harry rolled his middle. `` He wants to cover me up in bubble wrap. Want 's to sustain me safe and out of danger. ``

'' Big men like us appeal risk. '' Markus said definitely. `` Only way to be safe is to make out how to look after yourself, and you 're hardly a minor. Not after what you 've been through. ``

'' My thoughts exactly. ``

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

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



If you do n't result a critique YOU WILL DIE ! Really .... you will ... eventually ...


I do n't own Harry ceramicist. No one owns Harry Potter ! He does not have a numeral ! He is a free man !



"Mr Potter."

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

"No Mr potter, I would not."

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

"Mr potter where were you final night ?"

"I assume in bed."Harry replied calmly.

"wealthy person 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 survive night, you were only in your bed from around one in the morning."

Damn it. Harry tried not to scratch the armguard on his wrist joint. 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 defective !"Dumbledore snapped."Tell me how you left Hogwarts !"

"I didn ‘ t leave."

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

"Getting a little angry Professor ?"Harry asked."Maybe your map ... no, maybe your noesis isn ‘ t as fill in as you think."

"I dislike being kept in the dark."

"Then prepare to suffer."Harry said darkly."I ‘ ve been kept iniquity for age by you. It ‘ s time 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 G. Stanley Hall, with every eye following.
*


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

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

"Harry where were you finally night ?"Hermione asked the question none of them wanted to voice.

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

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

"The elbow room of prerequisite ?"

"The what of what ?"Harry shook his head."Nah, just ... somewhere. Anyway spirit at this."Harry pointed down at the floor. On it there were a number of rectangles, some prospicient, some short, some fragile. 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, bird eye sentiment, he can ‘ t assure what base we ‘ re on. So long as we don ‘ t cross the bookcases he ‘ ll think we ‘ re just in the library. So long as we ‘ re in curfew we can train in here without him knowing. Anyway, lets go to potions. Don ‘ t want Snape angry at us."

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

Harry paused for a moment before answering ...

"Yes."

... and walking on out of the Ionic. The predator shared a foresighted feeling and followed him.
*


Potions passed uneventfully. Harry split his time between the leger on his knees and the cauldron in strawman of him meaning that his potion wasn't even near finished. but at to the lowest degree it didn't explode. Charms was next and Harry didn't annoyance paying attention there either, though in this vitrine it was because he already knew how to afford target offstage. He could collapse them verify wings if he wanted, or whale black leathery one. When the lesson was over Harry didn't even bother to speak, he just gathered his hooey and rushed back to the attic. 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 !"

"Call Dobby."Harry shed his gown and stepped into the center of the turgid empty space."Malfoy, you first."

"If you ‘ re sure."Malfoy drew his wand."You injured your bridge player net time."

"Did I ?"Harry froze.

"well you ‘ re not using it."

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

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

"Ferio ! Stupefy !"Harry blastoff Malfoy's spell out of the air and threw his own a moment after. The blonde boy shielded and Harry was forced to duck under his own dish."Fulgar Fletch !"Harry flicked his baton and sent a swarm of sparkling sword 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 trading floor towards him and saw Malfoy topple onto his back."Stupefy !"

"Volucers !"Malfoy's scepter jabbed into the air and Harry the looker was absorbed by a black cloud. The cloud expanded and rushed towards the traumatise Harry.

"Bloody netherworld !"Harry heard Fred yell at the same time as his twin yelled,"Hornets !"

"Arg ! Ouch !"Harry felt con on every bit of open chassis. Burning all across his skin like a chemical fire. Another superstar would throw been overpowered by the pain, but Harry had felt far far worse."take in this ! Tempesto !"

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

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

"Fin-ow ! Fi- bloody affair ! Finite Crabro !"The hornets disappeared and genus Draco was left disheveled and snarling in the midriff of the whirlwind. Harry let it rage for another second base before canceling it too. The two battler stared each former down for a few moments, both pockmarked with flimflam 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 plot. He kept a faithful traction on his wand. Wait for it ...

"Confringo !"

"Protego !"Harry's shield was up in plenitude of time to block the bane."Ha ! Nice-"Harry's shield shattered and he was lifted off his foundation 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 bulwark and managed to advertize himself to his infantry. His scepter was gone, rolled across the floor away from him.

"shucks it ! Damn it ! Stupid blinking shield !"

"Are you injured Harry ?"Malfoy called out.

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

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

"I ‘ ve read the theory. I ‘ ve read the original paper. I ‘ ve read the unhurt book."Harry grabbed his scepter off the floor."I don ‘ t get it. It ‘ s a charm, it ‘ s a basic bloody charm and I can ‘ t do it right."

"You can."Neville said encouragingly."It can block off canonical spells."

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

"You ‘ re right."Malfoy said flatly."He ‘ ll be using the killing curse and it won ‘ t thing if you have the in effect carapace in the man. If you don ‘ t contrivance you ‘ re dead."

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

"We can ‘ t."Hermione said automatically.

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

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

"Both of us ?"

"Like, at the same fourth dimension ?"

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

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

"Neither ‘ s this."Harry blasted the floorboards by Ron's infantry causing him to yelp like a puppy."Draw your bloody wands."

In the end they were sword lily for the outdoor setting of creature, although they were the merely ones not wearing coating. Harry eased his aching left hand in a slow band, it was Charles Frederick Worth it. It would be worth it. Harry listened with half an ear to the lesson, it was about unicorns. The chance of Voldemort sending an ground forces on unicorns was low to laughable so Harry lidded his eyes and dozed.
*


As the lesson 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 Sister stood beside her."This isn ‘ t going to end well."

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

"have you met Harry ?"

Annapurna's heart dropped and they watched mute as the image tapped Harry on the shoulder.

"how-do-you-do Susan."Harry said calmly, then opened his heart."Is the lesson over ?"

"Yes Harry, it is."Susan Bones 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 need Susan ?"Harry asked flatly.

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

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

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

"Susan ..."Harry glanced down, for the low gear sentence in the conversation his stony masque 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 yearn clip. So yes, we ‘ re break dance up."Harry turned and began to walk back up towards the castle.

Susan just stood there, her hands lightly clenching the framework of her robes. Staring into space. As the twin watched she sobbed wetly and drew a hand across her eyes before running off towards the greenhouse, 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. Cold. Evil."Padma finished for her.

"Yeah, that."Parvati 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.

"Well you ‘ re going to bloody take heed anyway-"

"No I ‘ m not."Harry interrupted, and disappeared. Padma saw the fantasm of a disenchantment move off down a passage but lost it a present moment later.

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


"Is this it now ?"Padma asked her babe as they got ready for bed."engagement all day ? Let Harry hurt us up, neglect his new mental attitude and get prepare 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 fishy 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 difficult, this cold."

"He ‘ s wrong !"Parvati insisted emotionally.

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


Snape was awakened in the midriff of the night by glowing silver light. One of the welfare of being an occlumens was tot genial ascendency and Snape was awake in an instant. As his centre flickered undecided he groaned inwardly, then thought proficient of it and groaned outwardly.

"What is it you old fool ?"Snape said angrily. The phoenix patronus couldn't hear him and wouldn't study back so it was a perfect fair game to air out at.

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

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

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

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

Snape blinked in disarray for a moment, then noticed the report on Dumbledore's desk. He stepped closer and saw that it was an other transcript of the oracle. This was the emergency ? Perhaps he was missing something ?
execution AFOOT

Dannion LeSang was found dead in his home this morning. A windowpane of his penthouse apartment had been shattered, possibly so that the killer could gain entree. Once inside poor Mr LeSang was beaten horribly, with a blunt official document, possibly a board leg. The aurors have cordoned off the domain and refused to turn any detals but this reporter has discovered that his accidental injury 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 orca at loose ? The aurors gave no comment, perhaps because they as yet, know nothing ! Why anyone would require to stamp out Mr LeSang is unknown region, perhaps an old contender from his tenacious and secernate quidditch vocation ...


Snape dropped the paper in disgust.

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

"Dannion LeSang was a known death eater."

"I am aware that Dannion LeSang was a death feeder. Do you perhaps think who informed you that Dannion LeSang was a dying eater ? Who gave you the shocking news that the daring, smiling, star chaser for the Wigtown Wanderers loved to torture muggles ? Do you ?"

"It was you."

"It was me."

"You do not guess his destruction is important ?"

"I do not think his last involved Harry."

"No fiat extremity was involved."

"Albus there are people former 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 power was flung open again.

"Why did you lie with the parole you arrogant footling 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 newspaper publisher to Harry."What do you eff of this ?"

Harry reached out slowly and took the paper, his centre scanning from one English to the other. After a bit he looked up.

"I know nil about this."Harry held out the newspaper."May I go now ?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dumbledore leant back, meeting Harry 's oculus with his own flinty stare. For a long moment the old thaumaturgist and the unseasoned stared each other down across the silent place. Snape could almost feel the sparking illusion as the headmaster tried to force Harry 's head give. After a moment Harry snorted and said,

'' Whatever. '' Harry turned and pushed the door exposed. `` awake me if you have any early unsolved murders you want to pin on a scapegoat. ``

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

'' Do you believe 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 ceramicist. ``

Hmmm ...

'' Harry potter ! ``

Hmmm ... sleepy.

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

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

'' Alright all right Mr Potter. You have driven me to this. '' There was quiet for a few moments, then ... `` Sonorus. HARRY thrower GET UP ! ``

Harry was buffeted by sound and slowly, blearily, rubbed his eyes. In social movement of him was a burst vitreous rostrum. Harry reached forward and picked it up.

'' You broke my glass. '' Harry reached up to his face to make sure enough his own shabu were n't broken then drew his scepter and repaired the Champaign glass. He did n't even make out what he was supposed to be turning it into, possibly some sort of squid.

Why a squid ?

We were dreaming about a squid.

That makes no sense.

Shut up.

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

I 'll lobotomize you.

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

She is looking kind of angry.

'' I can release it into a squid. I swear, just sentinel. '' Harry held the methamphetamine hydrochloride up sleepily and tapped it with his sceptre. `` Kalamaraki Krasi. ``

The glass split up along its top, flipped upside down and scuttled along the desk blowing gassy bubbles out of a sarcoid extrusion. Harry smiled,

'' See ! I did Ok. ''

'' Harry ... '' McGonagall was staring at the glass squid, which was currently hiding behind a electric 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 shivering noesis of Hellenic language. `` Well Kalamaraki means squid ... and I think Krasi is some sorting of vegetable ... ''

'' Harry ... ''

'' Yes ? ``

'' Go back to catch some Z's. ``

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


Harry slipped into bed that Night confident in the knowledge that he had got at least two hours sleep over the course of the day. He dozed with an alarm clock under pillow until it sounded and prompted him to shuck his cover off and lean out of the window. He looked over towards the Headmaster 's tower, the light was still on. Harry flicked a span of binoculars out of his bag and focused in on the faraway window. Dumbledore was staring into a pensive, the Ag get off playing on his lined side. He looked wear out, very tired.

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

Harry slid out onto the rampart and confidently let himself fall. The wind whistled thrillingly in his auricle as the roofing tile rose up to encounter him. A here and now before he hit Harry felt a rough tugging around his chest and his terminal drop slowed to a front crawl. His feet touched ground and he flitted off across the tile. Harry reached the windowpane that was his destination and flicked it open with his wand. He dropped through again, trusting his bought magic, and landed lightly in forepart of a sink.

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

'' Damn ! Silencio. '' Harry caught it before it made too a lot haphazardness and watched as the entrance to the chamber of enigma was slowly revealed. Harry lowered himself into the subway and said, `` Cissycis. '' This time he got it first sentence and the entrance began closing up as Harry slid off down the chute.

Harry landed feet first, expecting to hit mucky water, and instead felt dry rock. This home had been cleaned up a bit since survive time he was here. Harry continued through the cave, passing the heavyweight snake-door. The sleeping room was drab, maybe Markus was n't here yet ... Damn it !

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

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

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

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

'' There was n't much metre. ``

'' Make time by moving faster. '' A. A. Michelson drew his sceptre and squared up in the eye of the way. `` Come on lad, time to duel. ``

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

'' Well who would ? '' Albert 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 principle ? '' Harry asked, knowing the answer.

'' Yes, win. ``

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

'' Not for me. Ewwyiky ! ``

Harry had no musical theme what the hell that was so dived for book binding, rolling and coming up with his wand trained on his instructor. Somewhere behind Harry there was a loud squelching sound but Harry was already fighting back.

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

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

"Incendio ! Reducto !"Harry aimed the inaugural at Markus and the back at the ceiling far above him."Stupefy !"Harry blasted the magic spell into Makrus'face and didn't time lag to see if it hit. Instead he aimed at a clump of falling roof."Confringo !"And flung himself away as it detonated like a thunderbolt. He rolled on the floor and came to his feet in fourth dimension to fling the beginning three magical spell he could recollect off at the figure in the nerve center of the expanding cloud of dust and fire.

The only word of advice Harry got was a heartbeat of red before the spell flashed from the cloud and hit him in the stomach, throwing him to the floor.

"better even than that."Michelson stepped out of the dust, not a hair out of position."That was unspoiled though, imaginative. Good trick with the rock, might get caught a lesser magician. Again."

Harry forced himself to his groundwork and raised his wand. This time he lasted just a few seconds before a beauty blasted through his hastily raised shell and knocked his lights out. comrade unconscious mind blackness held him in it's comforting embrace for a few instant 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 carapace ?"Harry laughed humorlessly."Just let stuff hit me ?"

"smell kid, you first learnt this spell three class ago."Markus explained."You ‘ ve had to use it draw of clock time since then. You ‘ ve practiced. You ‘ ve practiced a lot and it hasn ‘ t got any better. It ‘ s funfair to assume you and the harbor good luck 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 fool."You know plenty of other mode to close up magic spell. meet to your strengths and use your prodigious imagination."

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

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

"Again."

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

"Again."

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

"Again."

... Floored with a slug ...

"Again !"

... paralysed ...

"Again !"

... stunned ...

"AGAIN !"

... shocked ...

"AGAIN !"

"This is hopeless."Harry didn't bother to get up from the floor."I ‘ m not getting any beneficial. 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 creation should just give up."Harry held his head in his custody."I can ‘ t musical rhythm him."

"Who ? Voldemort ?"Markus A. A. Michelson threw up his work force."fountainhead no ! I don ‘ t think I could beat him. I don ‘ t think Dumbledore could drum him. He ‘ s one of the most powerful living magician and has access to powers decent people don ‘ t signature. But if what you ‘ ve told me is reliable then you ‘ ve got ... what was it ?"

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

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

"Why ?"

"I ‘ d get well odds."Markus smiled and winked. Harry didn't jape."But seriously, you can learn to duel. You already know enough to beat any regular mavin hand down."

"Voldemort isn ‘ t a regular wi-"

"I know !"Markus interrupted him angrily."Which is why you need to learn to duel like a original. Which is why you called me. Which is why you should listen to me ! Now ... you need to act to your speciality. Tell me what you ‘ re goodness at."

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

"What. Are. You. Good. At ?"Albert Michelson punctuated each intelligence 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 rice beer ! Who are you ?"Markus leant down, his angrily pointing finger barely an inch from Harry's human face."Where ‘ s the Harry I met three year ago ? I don ‘ t see him. Where the inferno has he gone ? Where ‘ s the kid who walked this schooling like he owned the place and obeyed teacher on sufferance ? Where is that arrogant son of a bitch because he ‘ s the one who can trounce Voldemort ! Not the whiney brat he apparently became ! wellspring I need him here now ! WHAT ARE YOU GOOD AT !"

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

"Right."Albert Abraham Michelson nodded."You ‘ re honest at charms. You ‘ re excellent at appealingness. You ‘ re a flaming savant at charms. If I heard the rumour in the stave elbow room right you built a professional character broom at 13 age old. Out flew a Firebolt."

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

"Harry you ..."Markus A. A. Michelson held his handwriting to his straits and breathed out a retentive, tired breathing time."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 conflict ?"

"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 wealthy person .... This is hard. Can I explain it how I see in in my own head ?"

"Of course."

"You have kind of three types."Harry gestured vaguely."There are the standard dueller, they throw sweetheart and hexes, lots of cuticle charms too, and they seem to mostly get along out of the Hogwarts vindication year. Not that that makes them bad. Some are really secure, but they all seem to use this one stylus. This one set of spells."

"Hmm ... and the future character ?"

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

"And the last type ?"

"The masters."Harry shook his head."I watched some duels on TV while I was traveling. Thought I could break up up some lead. Most of the duelist were group-ones, but some of them ... the scoop ones ... they ‘ re not even in the same conference. They move like they ‘ re weapon system. They don ‘ t eats looker around, nearly of the metre I couldn ‘ t even recognize the piece they were using. It wasn ‘ t dueling like I ‘ d ever seen. Except maybe when I saw you fight Tom Riddle, right here. That ‘ s the deviation 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 fundamental conception of dueling. One of the things that make hoi polloi group threes. The scholarship bender is Brobdingnagian, there ‘ s a stop when you just become beyond everyone else. When you stop dueling with dueling spells and start dueling with everything. Do you know what the other difference is ?"

"No."

"It's that we all have tricks."Michelson winked."All the radical threes. Some conjuring trick that makes us honorable, something that separates us from each early and from the ones and twos."

"A ... trick ?"

"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, doorway, roof and floor. Plus anything else he can twist into a moving, thinking weapon against you. Voldemort ? Well he uses darkness magic, plain and simple. You ‘ ve already realized that that gives a someone top executive beyond your skill. And he already has plenty of skill. Me ? I use foreign go, spells my enemies have never heard of. The last run-in of a surprise act of my opposer was ‘ What the snake pit is that ?'”

Harry chuckled, but Markus wasn't finished.

"Dee Finsbury, the current cosmos champion dueller is also a genius illusionist. Your own professor Flitwick dueled for England, you think he threw around sweetheart ? And you ? Well you can do magical spell. rightfield ?"

"Yeah."Harry nodded."Yes."

"Say it."

"Yes I can do charms."

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

I'm on the storey ? Harry looked around. Oh yeah, he was. Harry pushed himself to his feet with renewed zip. He gripped his wand and turned towards his teacher. Use magic spell ? Well he would give it a shot. What should he use ? Albert Abraham Michelson appeared to be just waiting to see what he would do. Well, he'd have to do something ...

"Engorgio !"Harry aimed, not at Markus, but at the flagstone and saw his teacher stumble as the sway puffed up like a muffin."Reducto !"Harry blew the Harlan Fisk Stone to smithereens.

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

"Ardor-Algidus !"Harry yelled and stood his ground as the inferno passed over him. He caught a glimpse of Markus'shocked expression as he emerged unscathed on the other side before he aimed and fired."Confringo ! Ferio ! Stubefy !"The surprise blast forced the instructor onto the defensive, shielding desperately. A consequence later he brought up a shining silver sphere. Harry's spells bounded off like pin off a frying pan, sending echoes all over the immense chamber. A. A. Michelson looked out appreciatively from the safety of the sphere.

"What was that Pipsqueak ?"

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

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

"sodomite !"Harry dived for cover as the phantom erupted with movement. monster leathery movement. Harry dashed behind a pillar as the bat flung themselves through the air towards him. They were huge, annexe at least a metre all-encompassing, with huge Fang."Incendio !"Harry waved a fiery belt through the chiropteran but more just materialized to replace them.

"Jupitall !"

Harry dived out of the way as a spinning orb of blood plasma burnt through the air where he'd been. Michelson wasn't going easy on him just because he was busy with the squash racquet. 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 secure and Harry had to have himself against the bulwark to avoid another thrown patch from his opposite. He needed a charm ... what charm ? Wait ! bat were like, sort of giant star hornets ... really."Tempesto !"

Harry called a wall of twist and threw it against the leathery creatures, swatting them out of the sky and crashing them into the far rampart of the chamber. Michelson didn't give him any rest though and responded with a punishing falls that appeared out of nowhere above Harry. Harry felt a knife thrust of old terror, but the fright only made him think faster.

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

"Depulso !"Harry flicked his wand, spinning the clod of trunk back away from him and bowled it back to break against the professor 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 notation. Harry gripped his wand angrily, nothing he had could break this sodding silver grey shield.

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

"Motus !"Harry aimed squarely at the center of the silver ball and twisted. It vibrated like a campana and filled the chamber with ringing. Harry twisted further and the sound intensified. Inside his house of cards Michelson clutched his ears. Harry found the resonance and deform harder, the sound outside the shield was deafening, inside it must experience been excruciating. Markus threw his arm out violently and Harry had to fling himself sideways as the screaming shield cannonballed past him."Ferio !"Harry threw a hex at the staggering Michelson that he just caught with a riposte. Harry kept up the onslaught in a surge of glee ! He was winning !

"KhaNDana !"

The bolt came from nowhere. Slicing out of the wickedness too fast for him to respond. Harry was thrown to the ground, galvanic sparks raging down every artery and turning him into a screaming battery of pain. Harry felt his wand torn from his resistless hand and at last managed to blank is mind to the pain in the neck. He waited in the dark for it to fall back. When he at finis opened his optic Albert Michelson was staring down at him. The Brobdingnagian wizard put his scepter to first one ear then the former, muttering something, then whipped away the blood that had ran from both of them with a sleeve.

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



Review now or you will run into blind and be let on the loose into a field full of jumbo purple bear snare. Also full of bears. The bears will be able to avoid the bear bunker, you will not.


I do n't own Harry Potter. Neither have I seen him recently. If you have any info as to his whereabouts delight earphone. He is out in the frigidness without any food and we think his collar may have come off. He 's black and white with black manus and he 's missing a trivial bit of his ear. He also answers to the gens of Scraps. He likes tuna.






Severus Snape landed lightly on the scrubland and looked about him. This would receive been a monumentally desert plaza if not for the removed ignitor of a muggle road in the valley far below. Snape walked over to the assemblage of black cloaked figures standing near the edge of the drop-off. Snape counted faces, Barty Crouch was still absent. What was the task that man had been set ? It disturbed Snape greatly that he did not know. It made him inquire if perhaps others of the dark flesh did, if perhaps he was missing something.

One figure was apart from the others, right at the sharpness. The pattern stood with his back to them, his long robes streaming out to the incline in the abrasive Nox air current. He seemed to be looking down at the road, and at the further brightness level of a town.

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

'' Severus. '' The iniquity God Almighty turned at last from the cliff. `` You have come at last. I was forced to waitress. I dislike waiting. ``

'' My apology Lord. '' Snape bowed deeply. `` I could not evoke suspicion about why I was going. I was forced to sacrifice pep pill for safety. I am sorry. ``

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

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

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

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

'' Well, '' The iniquity Almighty smiled thinly. `` That at least is good news. ``

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

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

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

"lamb Barty is none of your concern."The wickedness master replied, in the conversational flavour that was so practically worsened than anger."His task is going well. Is yours Severus ?"

"Alas no captain. I apologize."Snape hung his caput."I am afraid there is simply no way to adapt polyjuice potion to allow a man to become non-human."

"I dislike failure Severus."

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

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

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

'' On to the meeting, we began without you Severus. I hope you don ‘ t psyche. '' The dark lord turned back towards the drop and Snape had to strain to find out him over the malarky. `` We were discussing an assassination. ``

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

'' No. '' The night lord cut him off. `` Not poison. I intend her expiry to be to a greater extent graphic than that. An example. ``

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

'' A prominent flesh in the department of mystery. '' Voldemort one-half turned back towards Snape. `` A Miss Natalie Zhao. Do you cognise her ? ``

'' Yes. '' No god no. `` She is an lodge extremity. ``

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

'' I did my lord. '' I begged her not to progress to me evidence him. She said it would n't matter. nada connected them. `` If I may ask, why have you decided she must die. ``

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

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

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

'' Of course not my nobleman. She is the nestling of bad blood, of course of action she must be killed. '' Snape bowed and stepped backward. `` I will cook certain that Dumbledore and the other order extremity at Hogwarts are distracted. ``

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

'' near prudent my lord. '' Snape nodded, furiously trying to churn his brain and witness some solution to the problem. He could not think, it was as if gruesome tendrils and hempen Shirley Temple Black vines were choking his usually perfect mental machinery. There must be some way to get a content to her, there had to be !

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

'' Yes my lord. ``

'' All dark ? No errands to run ? '' The wickedness Divine 's sassing quirked. `` No midnight strolls ? ``

'' No my lord. ``

'' trade good. '' Voldemort 's eyes narrowed. `` Because I shall cognize Severus. I shall lie with. ``
*


Snape walked calmly along the long path to the great door of Hogwarts using all the personnel of will he had not to go against into a run. The watchers were no doubt already in place, at the edge of the woods beyond the hospital ward. As were the attackers probably, in his mind he could already see them apparating into the drear streets around Natalie 's monotonic. He ached to run but could n't. It was torment, caught in chains that did n't even exist. An anchor in his mind.

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

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

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

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

'' I need the social club ! '' Snape snapped. `` We need to mobilize now ! ``

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

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

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

'' Not if we move now ! ``

'' To strike confirms his suspicions of you. And it would do no good. The masses watching you no dubiousness have edict to bolt down you if you try to give. No message can give her. Yes, yes he had truly outsmart us. ``

'' I can ask Fawkes. '' Snape argued. `` I can leave without a suggestion. 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 ! come-on to force you to reveal your dead on target dedication. It is a mental test, if you fail we lose our spy. If you pass however you will be his most hope handmaid. ``

'' Passing means the death of Natalie ! ``

'' Not necessarily. '' Dumbledore was obviously trying to be soothing. `` She is an accomplished fighter. She could hightail it or- ''

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

'' Think of how many people your entropy saved in the last war. Countless lives. ``

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

'' Well not to me. '' Dumbledore stood and stared down the potions master. `` The best you can do for her is to make sure you are seen here. Go and pick herbs from one of the out of doors plots, go and get some unicorn hairsbreadth from Hagrid. Anything that lets them see you here. That is all you can do. If you try to leave they will pop you. Then they will kill her. You can do nothing. ``

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


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

Natalie burrowed deeper into her pillow and closed her oculus. The world was falling apart, not even dreams could supply respite for long.

A floor board creaking.

Natalie 's heart flickered open in a moment. Was it just her neighbour downstairs ? She reached for her wand and silently checked her Mary Augusta Arnold Ward. She hissed as she realized they were in tatters and rolled off the bed. Her hand moved towards the light-colored electric switch then thought intimately of it, it might let them know they had seen her. She slid towards her sleeping room door and looked out through the keyhole just as the door at the early end of the corridor was pushed receptive slowly. Revealing a robed figure.

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

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


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

He had been locked up for good. Until the dark lord had given him a bit opportunity. A opportunity to repay society again, to be useful again. He was only half blood but he had just enough encephalon to never mention that to anyone. When the dark Lord 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 ignition lock with his thumb. Warded, what else ? He turned and pointed into the rabble behind him at a hunched figure, then pointed back at the door. The man shuffled forward, he had been a damn in effect hex circuit breaker until he was caught skimming a cut off the top. He was just lucky the ministry caught him before the hob did.

Drum waited in silence as the tiny man clicked and hummed in figurehead of the door. A few arcminute later the curse breaker pushed the door undecided. Drum stepped into the flat and looked around professionally. It was set out fairly regular. Kitchen that way ... empty. Drum waved two guys towards the back room and ignored it. This shoes was like a catalogue, everything was in its place except for the books and papers strewn across the coffee tree tabular array. Well, that and the three marine museum near the spinal column. Not total of weewee. Some sort of reptile. Some sort of incense in the air, some new age garbage.

Drum shrugged, not an issue. The sleeping accommodation would either be at the end of the second door down on the left wing. That was how these construction were built. drum stepped down the corridor and pushed the door on the left hand spread. Boxes. Down the Charles Francis Hall then. He looked behind him, the former criminals were hanging back. Pathetic. The wickedness lord had grabbed everyone who would stand up straight with no regard for experience. Not that he was criticizing, at to the lowest degree he would get to the full credit rating for the kill.

membranophone breathed in deeply. Smelled like vanilla, it was very substantial. somebody had once told him that smell was the secure induction for memory. He certainly remembered that muggle little girl every time he smelled cut smoke. Perhaps from now on vanilla would repeat in his head, reminding him of Natalie Zhao. The cleaning woman who made him the favored assassin of the dark lord.

He made his way towards the last room access. He raised his scepter, fumbled it and caught it again. He shook his pass. Had to stay focused. He reached the door and pushed it spread. duskiness, he stepped up to the bed. He had n't used the killing hex before, but he had no incertitude he could make it work. He raised his wand, aiming at the lump in the cover. His baton was shaking, he grabbed it with both hands. What was damage with him ? barrel shook his head, the baton was still shaking.

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

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

'' You did n't close it. '' tympan looked up, his optic already drooping. The fille was standing there, weapon crossed.

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

'' How many More of you are there ? '' The missy demanded.

Wo n't tell you you bitch.

'' twenty dollar bill ? ``

What !

'' Where are there ? ``

Ice cold kick queen.

'' Five in the flat, five in the stairwell. The rest outside. '' 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 fume may have got me ... the other five in here. Wo n't get the rest. You 'll never get out. '' The girl raised her wand.

'' I can try. ``
*


Natalie stunned the swarthy wizard and pushed his body in battlefront of the threshold. How retentive before the others checked on him ?

The door handle rattled. That long.

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

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

"Cruci-"

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

That was the single in the matt done.

She rushed to the door but it had been torn off its hinge. A dark figure reared from the stairwell. Natalie had her baton up in a moment but before she could tramp the man grabbed his breast and fell to the trading floor. Natalie crept close, pedigree on his chest. individual had hit him with a puncture curse.

She threw herself to the incline. They must have been shooting from the early buildings outside. Aiming blind through the curtains. Aiming at her. Well that put climbing out the window out of the impression. She crouched and made her way towards the stairwell. She glanced between the slats and pulled her foreland back as a green flash obliterated the wooden balustrade where she had been.

meter to jump surprising them.

Natalie aimed at out into the middle of the stairway. A waver of her wand and a ball of glowing light appeared. Another flick and a gyrate lance of sparks shot down the step like a rogue pyrotechnic. She twisted and the Ball dropped slowly, like a balloon, spitting exploding spears in every direction and shrinking as it fell.

That should proceed them busy.

She dashed down the stair and took out another thug as he desperately tried to dodge the multi-fire. Natalie had to jump over a man lying prone on the second floor, a victim of the pyrotechnic. A go shattered the roofing tile near her shoulder joint and she threw up a shield against the following one. Where were they coming from ?

Damnit ! Two above her, one below. They must have hid in the incline corridors. She aimed her wand up at the two firers and vanished the storey under them. One of them dropped like a Oliver Stone, the other was fast enough to catch the edge of the hole. But that just made him an easy target to get picked off. Natalie spun to take out the guy below her but he was already down. pedigree on him, and pooling on the floor. Another victim of the cackshots outside.

There were still ten men outside. Natalie reached the ground trading floor and took a thick breath. They would be spread out all around her edifice to give up her escaping. What was her best bet to pull through ? The back entrance ? It led onto an bowling alley, loose for them to block or watch. The straw man was no dubiousness a deathtrap, she'd be hit from every side before she got two whole tone. There was a background floor window out into the car park ... thaumaturgist tended to ignore cars. She didn't have one but surely some compounding of spells could win over one to start. It was her best shot.

Natalie can knock down a side corridor and found the window, she peered out. No one visible, but they could be hidden among the cars. She slid the window assailable and climbed out uncomfortably, breathing surd. Strangely her newspaper publisher pushing desk job didn't keep on her in very unspoilt shape. She fell down between two railroad car and turned towards one of them. She was about to charm the ringlet when she felt a shadow crepuscule on her.

"Got you missy."Natalie froze. The voice was twisted and slick, like oil."twist rhythm so I can see your moderately face."

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

"Ere what was that ?"

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

"She ‘ s ‘ ere ! She got Poxx !"

Natalie heard more running substructure and tried to slink away along the edge of the wall. She reached the nook, no where to go. If she tried to induce for the departure they'd see her for sure. She pushed at the apparation ward again but it was no good. They had extended it beyond the building itself. How far would they have pulled it ? To cover the unit block would have been insufferable. Could she just run for the bound ?

They were searching the lot. They were getting closer. Natalie looked up under the nearest car. At least five dyad of feet within well-situated mass. The entry was finish, she might ca-ca it. With a distraction.

She looked carefully out over the backrest of the car and aimed her wand at a blue car at the other end of the lot. It didn't have to be much, just enough to get their care. She said the spell silently. The car's alarm sounded like a claxon in the Night air.

"What the fucking ‘ ell is that !"

Natalie stood and ran. They were looking the other way, she could take a leak it. She blazed out of the car park and made for the end of the street, all the while pushing against the apparation barrier. A spell pin-wheeled over her oral sex and she sprinted harder. It had to end soon. She heard shouting and running behind her. delight let it end soon. A chunk of the road was blown away, throwing her to the floor. No ... She desperately threw herself against the Barbara Ward as footsteps surrounded her. It wouldn't budge, she knew it wouldn't.

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

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

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

"I was thinking you might."The front end man sneered and the others drew in closer. Natalie could see the rapacity 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 helping hand to his rima oris, there was a drip of blood coming out of the corner. His eyebrows knitted in confusion as he fell to the flooring. His fellows stared at him. After a still here and now one of them stepped forward and knelt down adjacent to him. The man reached out and touched the fallen malefactor back.

"It ‘ s profligate. He ‘ s deadened. He- Aaa !"The neck opening of the kneeling man exploded, showering them with rakehell. The criminals jumped back in jounce. Natalie grabbed her wand and threw herself backwards, rolling as she hit the priming. She had stunned one of the adept while they were still in impact and had turned her wand on another when her mystery story savior revealed himself. She had to give it to him, he knew how to make an entrance.

He dropped from the top of another edifice, his robe billowing behind him as he fell straight into the middle of the wizards. He landed on one of them and rolled, a iniquity human body in his hand coming up. Another criminal was thrown back and landed wetly on the story. The warrior looked up at her but she couldn't catch his case in the nighttime. He nodded to her. She nodded back, and they turned on the rest of the bastards.

It was the foreign fight Natalie had ever been involved in. Strange for it's silence. Whatever weapon the strange man was using it made no auditory sensation as it fired and she tended to drift non verbally. The criminals yelled their spells but they were in such mental confusion they were mostly throwing dire stunners at each other. Other than those there was only the strait of step, rapid-fire like a saltation, and the episodic spray of pedigree. A silent struggle at midnight, underneath stuttering streetlamps. Natalie's breath was hot in her capitulum by the meter it was over. She turned to her Jesus, he was dumping what was now obviously a silenciod side arm in his bag.

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

"Most assuredly not."The material body said cheerily and turned towards her."young lady Zhao, I do believe we ‘ ve already been introduced."

"Ha ... Harry ?"

"Yep."The Thomas Young boy's centre wandered south and he glanced away."Um you ‘ re going to sustain to take in a change of wardrobe if you want to have got any kind of intelligent conversation."

"Why ?"

"well, long story poor you ‘ re still wearing a nightgown and the primer coat you were just rolling around on is quite damp."

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

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


Carting bodies up to her apartment had been a dreamlike experience. She had healed the ace that could be healed before stunning them into a comatoseness. In the end they had two mickle, sixteen alert and four dead. She did n't doubt that without maven medical specialty the reckoning would take been a lot higher.

And here she was, sitting by her coffee table staring at lined up, stunned, felon 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 black robed boy grabbed them before coming back and sitting beside her on the couch. She looked over at him. He looked older than when she had last seen him. Much older."You saved my life."

"Don ‘ t concern about it."Harry shrugged."The biscuits More than hit up for it."

"You shot them."Natalie's thought's were still a little disconnected and she was trying to fill in the pieces."With a gun."

"Spells would get warned Voldemort I was there."Harry shrugged."By now I bet they have somebody watching the underage thaumaturgy sensing element. I tried to fritter their arms mostly."He added almost to himself.

Natalie decided not to remark, instead she asked.

"How did you even know to descend here ?"

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

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

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

"Easy, snuck into the forest."Harry shrugged."The people that got sent to observe Snape were all, big surprise, watching Snape. Meaning I could slip by undetected. After that I dashed for the paries, climbed it well-heeled, the Ward doesn ‘ t bread and butter in mankind. Legged it to Hogsmeade and broke into a cottage to use the flue. I didn ‘ t want anyone to make love I ‘ d gone through there, that was why I didn ‘ t use one of the pubs."

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

"Dumbledore was right."

"What ?"

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

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

"Yes Harry. I ‘ m going to die."Natalie smiled."The assassination will be a winner. 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 thumb towards the crook."Voldemort ‘ ll find 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 off the counter."Goldie will be able to help with that."

"Voldemort ‘ s safe at Legillimancy."

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

"waiting a minute ..."Harry's supercilium furrowed."You ‘ re speech sound is working ?"

"Of course."

"So why did I just unwrap out of school and travel the length of the res publica to save up 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 range of a function ! All wrong !"

"Revenge."Natalie grinned, then found the file card she was looking for and grew serious."Listen Harry you should go back. I can plow 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."

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


Harry didn't try to reenter Hogwarts that night. Too a lot 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 pander chocolate in vauntingly amounts and managed to get through his first few lessons somehow. During lunch breach he dragged his sleepy organize down to the keep and found the right office. He pushed the door open without knocking.

"What is the meaning of thi ... Potter."Snape deflated, his face going soft."Natalie told me. I can not get to give thanks 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 evidence me everything you know about Barty Crouch."
*


As soon as Harry's feet touched the flooring he knew it was a aspiration. Before him the bungalow at Godrics hole rose above his head. Looking so ... rule. zippo to speak to it's momentous grandness. It could have been any one of K of houses, there were others that could be its Twin dotted down the street. nix extra, and yet it repelled him.

Harry felt his skin crawl. The planetary house was ... ill-timed ... somehow. Harry turned and dashed down the street, passing trees and hedges. He dashed with no fear and caught his groundwork on a pavement Harlan F. Stone, sending him sprawling to the level. As he got to his feet he felt grass under his feet. He was back on the presence lawn. The cottage was ripe in front of him.

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

Harry slammed his eyes open and dropped out of bed, rushing for the bathroom.
*


'' Harry ? '' Ron knocked on the toilet door. `` Harry are you ok ? ``

'' I 'm fine. '' Came the strangle reply.

'' You do n't sound hunky-dory. You sound- ''

'' I said I 'm amercement. '' Harry jerked the room access open, the black old bag under his heart even more seeable than usual against his green and sickly skin.

'' You do n't look fine. ``

'' Probably something I ate. '' Harry shook his read/write head and pushed past Ron.

'' Harry everyone in Gryffindor eats the Same stuff and no one else is- ''

"I SAID I ‘ M mulct !"Harry whirled on his Ron."I was throw up. For some reason. Some unknown quantity 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 young lady should be bringing some leftovers when we go to creatures."

"well then let ‘ s go to wight. I ‘ m hungry."Harry threw his bag over his berm and made for the room access, his psyche drooping.

Ron followed slowly. Harry was slowly getting sorry, pallid. Was it just deficiency of eternal sleep doing this to Harry ? He hadn't looked this bad even when he'd been time jumping. This time he seemed physically ill. Ron shucked his bag up further on his binding. They all needed a little more sleep, Harry had been pushing them hard.

More sleep, and more bruise-remover.
*


Ginny looked up as Harry pushed the door to the attic open.

"Charms finished early ?"Harry asked as the predator trouped in behind him.

"I already knew the lesson."Ginny flicked her book closed."It was summoning charms."

"You can already summon an elephant."Harry dropped his bag on the table."Skip the next few lessons."

"The rest of us can ‘ t get away with skipping moral Harry."Hermione said from behind Harry."Some of us aren ‘ t the boy-who-lived. Some of us-"

"Some of us realize the mindlessness of being taught what we already know."Harry stepped into the middle of the dome."Alright, this time everyone except Dragon. All of the marauders."

"Harry are you surely ?"Fred asked."You weren ‘ t feeling so hot this morning."

"I'm sure, I ‘ m amercement. Nothing a little exercise won ‘ t cure."Harry shed his robe as the vulture 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 baton but Harry was already moving, sliding under her shot like a snake. His sceptre came up towards her. She shielded, Harry flicked to the side and Neville went down in a blink of an eye of red light.

The Twins jumped forward like mirrors of each other but a shiny electron beam clicked between them and slammed them together like horse chestnut. Harry whirled like a professional dancer and a veil of roll of tobacco surrounded him. The piranha began firing into the cloud, careful not to hit each other as the stunners flew out the other face. The vulture 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 question was answered as her wand was jerked out of her hand and flew into the blackness. An array of stunners followed it. All came back out.

"Screw this."Ginny waved her sceptre."Depulso smoke."The dim 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 articulatio humeri and a stabbing nuisance. As she collapsed she saw iron heel flash in front of her face and red light flashing all around. Her berm was like a electrocution knife.

"handle !"somebody yelled."I said clasp !"

The flashing lights stopped and she felt strong hands rolling her over carefully. Malfoy's face came into persuasion, staring at her shoulder.

"It ‘ s dislocated."He said softly."I mean really dislocated, look at it."

Ginny looked over at her shoulder joint and had to look away, her eyes squeezed shut. Her arm was hanging like a piece of meat, hanging off her shoulder. The marauders began crowding around. Ginny found Harry's eyes, he was unreadable. As always. His eyes didn't emote, didn't give anything away. They just looked like ... eyes.

"Let me."Hermione pushed genus Draco aside and rolled up Ginny's sleeve. She shook her caput."I can ‘ t fix this. We need to get you to lady Pomfrey."Hermione reached forward.

"No."Draco shook his head."Two marauders, one injured, leads back to Harry. I ‘ ll ingest 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 nether region was that ? !"Padma whirled on Harry."You broke her shoulder."

"Yes."Harry idly woke Neville from his while induced stupor."And if she was a death eater I ‘ d have broken his shoulder."

"Ginny ‘ s not a death eater !"Ron yelled angrily.

"Really ? You sure ? We could moderate her wrist."Harry rolled his eyes."I don ‘ t know what your mother would be more than furious about, the hate criminal offense or the tattoo !"

"This isn ‘ t funny Harry !"George growled.

"No it ‘ s not !"Harry yelled."It ‘ s bloody serious ! Bloody, raging, burning SERIOUS ! I KNOW THAT ! Do you ? Do you know that ?"

"You could have really hurt her."Parvati 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 to a lesser extent than what would occur if a Death eater caught her."

"So it was for her own goodness was it ?"Ron raged."You were, what ? Helping her !"

"Yes ! I was !"Harry kicked a chairperson against the wall angrily."I ‘ m helping everyone ! Why doesn ‘ t everyone get that ! Why are the bulk of the people I ‘ m trying to save doing their best to screw with me !"

The marauders jumped back. The shadows in the attic made Harry's face a freakish masquerade party. He was shaking like a leaf, breathing hard.

"Why are people doing this."He shook his head, his hands going to his synagogue."Even citizenry who know what we have to do are trying to stop us. Even the great unwashed who know. Why the the pits would they do that ?"

"Harry ..."Hermione reached forward.

"It ‘ s fine."Harry straightened like a rod."I ‘ m mulct. We can fit another duel in before the end of lunch."

"You, you want to go aright back into a fight ?"Hermione asked, her vox 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 tummy. She made no cause to catch it.

"I ‘ m tired."Padma said flatly."I ‘ m going to lessons."

"cum on !"Harry clapped like some insane athletics coach."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 need !"Hermione yelled."We don ‘ t have to do what you say ! We don ‘ t have to obey orders like you seem to recall ! Make up your head Harry, are we your champion or are we your ... your army !"

"You giving me the choice."Harry stepped up right into Hermione's face."You giving me that pick. I have a dark whiz after me that I ‘ m fated to fight. I have the bang-up, no excoriation that, the two greatest wizards in the world hating me. One trying to toss off me. One trying to keep me a prisoner. I have everything against me. So I choose a bloody U. S. Army.'Cos I need a fucking 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 lessons, walked, went to meals. But Harry was never with them. He still attended lectures to celebrate the teachers off his back, but every early moment seemed to be spent in that bean. Plus wherever he snuck out to at night.

Dragon was with him sometimes, walking silently behind him along the corridor. Visible bruising made it clear that he hadn't stopped helping Harry. Ginny caught him alone one forenoon 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 eyes. At least there was some emotion there, even if it mostly seemed to be ruefulness."You realize that don ‘ t you ? You ‘ re not helping him pull round. 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 hold on him out of Voldemort ‘ s path. There's no keeping him safe you understand, the prophecy ensures that. He will face Voldemort. He will crusade him. So a little self destruction now is worth it if he survives that clash. Wouldn't you say Ginerva ?"

"Don ‘ t good turn this on me."Ginny shook her nous."And don ‘ t try to relieve oneself what you ‘ re doing any variety of noble. It ‘ s not."

"Of track I ‘ m noble. I ‘ m a Malfoy."Draco hung his head, then looked up to touch her middle. rue was back, regret was definitely back."Look Ginerva I know everything you ‘ re saying is true. But I don ‘ t recognize how else to facilitate him. I don ‘ t how to help him at all. Do you ?"

"I ... no."

"Too bad."Dragon shook his principal."I guess all we can go for for is that he kills Voldemort before he kills himself."

And outside Hogwarts the wizarding world slowly fell to part. As Christmas crawled faithful and the night grew longer there was no joy among the magical peoples. It just mean there were more dark-skinned hours for the decease eater to hound in. One dark a dismal gull was raised right in the center of Manchester. The authorities passed it off as a hot air balloon. The ones in the state did n't stimulate to be explained away, the ministry just had to clean up after. When they even bothered to do that.

opposite to popular impression the coloured hour is not before aurora. It 's in the middle of the fucking night.
*


Harry closed the prophet with a heavy sigh and dropped it on the ground beside him. Things were only getting worse out there. The society was n't doing anything, big surprise there. Barty Crouch was still missing from death eater meetings, apparently with Voldemort's to the full support. The wickedness animate being ? No one knew a affair about them.

No one seemed to know anything.

Harry stretched his pegleg out and felt the ripples of the lake against his bare tegument, sending back ripples of goosebumps to equate. Not all to do with the low temperature. It was honorable though. He should cause surely he could manage water if he had to. Might have to defend in it one day.

'' A dark state of social function. ``

Harry tensed as the voice came from behind him and spun, verge outstretched. There was a public figure standing there, looking out over the water. He looked old, seventy maybe. Bald definitely, and not a hair in his small full-strength mustache was anything other than white. He looked like a retired teacher more than than anything else, one of the old school 1. He even had the patched tweed jacket.

Oh god was that a pipe in his pocket ?

This guy was a walking cliché ? What was he going to do next ? Offer me tea ?

'' Would you like a spot of tea ? ``

'' Oh come on. '' Harry chuckled and shook his chief. `` troika things : One, I do n't imbibe tea. I drink coffee, in large measure. Two : You do n't have got any tea. Three : Even if you had a flask I would n't be capable to drink it. '' Harry reached out and waved his hand directly through the old human leg. It passed through without even a tingle.

'' Very good Mr Potter. '' The old man sat down cross legged following to him. `` How could you order ? ``

'' There are certain signs. '' And I 'm certainly not telling him them. `` Who the infernal region are you ? ``

'' My name is Jesse James. '' Harry stiffened at those words. The old man laughed. `` No not that James. Honestly Mr potter there are more masses called James in this earth than your father. ``

'' Probably not your real name anyway. '' Harry snorted.

'' I 've never seen a need to conceal my first name. One of the benefit of having a nice traditional gens like James or John or Harry. '' James smiled and took a piddling puff on his pipe. `` Of course of action if you wish to know my last name we shall have a problem. ``

'' I do n't give a turd what your last name is. '' Harry shrugged. `` How are you doing this ? Some sort of magic trick ? ``

'' Astral protrusion. '' 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 all-inclusive grooming and a circle of at least three wizards. What you came to tell me is worth all that ? ``

'' Very expert Mr Pott- ''

'' Stop saying that. '' Harry cut him off. `` Just address your piece. ``

'' Very well. '' James reached into his crownwork. Harry instinctively flinched despite the fact that any weapon this man pulled would go straight through him. `` Do you know a man named Conterrando baker ? ``

'' Is he from the ministry of silly epithet ? ``

'' How droll. '' James pulled a firearm of paper from his jacket and held it out for Harry to see. Harry grabbed a man of parchment out of his bag to jot down the address then took a little to a greater extent time reading the rest period of the profile.

'' half blood, respected member of the Wizengamot, respecter writer, married to a muggle, outspoken critic of the current government minister. Two kids at Hogwarts. His conclusion book was a love narration, between a pure descent and a muggle. '' Harry laughed wryly. `` Jesus Christ, did soul just postulate a big piece of play-doh and mould it into a quarry for the death eaters ? ``

'' It is a small miracle he has not been attacked yet. ``

'' But you think he is being targeted now ? ``

'' I know he is. '' James I 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 entrench on his privacy. Foolish And he will die for it. A beloved menage man is going to die if you do n't save him. ``

'' copper. You save him. You obviously have resourcefulness. ``

'' I, or more accurately the group I represent. Do have the resources. '' Epistle of James smiled. Harry did n't like that smile, it had Wyrd profoundness. Henry James continued, `` Our constitution 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 save him. We do not move in the same traffic circle as Voldemort you see, so he does not give us too lots trouble. We would opt if he were gone though. It would induce affair well-situated. ``

'' So avail him. ``

'' We can not. '' James stood. `` But you can. Go service him Harry Potter. If it turns out well, we may run across again. '' With that he disappeared into fragile air.

'' Show off. '' Harry murmured.

Of row he realized it could be a trap. In fact it almost certainly was a trap. Harry considered. Except that Conterrando bread maker was a literal individual. The story, after a little checking of hinder prophet issues, checked out. Harry even found the child in Ginny 's year. Hufflepuffs, twins, nice in a kind of boring Hufflepuff kind of way. Both members of the gobstones cabaret. Both with significantly less nonsensical figure than their father.

goodness kids. safe father too ...

'' Bugger. '' Harry dropped the prophet on the table. `` I 'm going to have to do something heroic are n't I. ``

Looks that way.

'' Do I induce to ? ``

fountainhead ... no, you could let him die while you sit back and eat popcorn.

'' Do n't like popcorn. ``

fountainhead I guess that decides it then. Plus it would be rather a waste product of all the training you 've been doing.

'' It could still be a trap you know. ``

I know that. Do n't you think I know that ? I 'm your brainpower you moron.

'' We 're a bit crazy are n't we ? ``

Crazy like a fox.

'' Like a fox. ``
*


So it came to slip away that Harry slid down into the chamber of mystery that nighttime wearing the most singularly un-heroic composition of clothing in history.

A duet of waders.

'' Bloody wintertime. '' Harry shivered as he crawled through the petite crack in the bulwark through which he had entered the bedroom all those eld ago. It was smaller than he remembered.

Harry dropped into the icy cloaca and made his way quickly along the dark passageway. The pee was bitingly cold on his hands whenever they got splashed but the slurred waders kept his legs pleasantly warm. Thank Falco columbarius for dragon-skin fishing supplies.

Of trend this would be well-off if Dumbledore had n't strengthened the Hogwarts Montgomery Ward to the distributor point where not even insects could pass through. This was the only way out.

Harry 's enactment through the catacombs was unerring. final stage clip he 'd been here he 'd wandered aimlessly, lost. Little lost boy ... But he was n't the Lapp somebody he 'd been then. Harry sighed and walked on through the swarthiness to his destination.
*


Harry flicked his neckband up and walked quickly down the street. This was London, but not a office that he had ever frequented. Big houses, big expensive house. Places that did n't need kindly to vagrants. Probably still would n't take kindly to him if he was found here.

House twenty six. Harry slowed to a stop a block away from the tall white building. In the middle of the terraced-row of equally tall white building. Expensive they might be, individual they were not.

All the Inner Light seemed to be off. Mr bread maker was probably asleep. No one outside, no one obvious anyway.

Hello ...

Up on the roof. darkness made into lethargy made into nightmares. Someone was waiting up there, trying to stay invisible against the skyline.

Harry cursed then darted down an alley. social movement in the figurehead yard, it might suffer been a discarded newspaper publisher. Then again it might not.

homo figure ! Second base, standing near the bed ! Harry 's hired man found a drainpipe and he catapulted himself up. There were two Sir Thomas More on the bed, cowering in concern. The standing figure raised his wand. Harry swung with all his strength and crashed through the window.

'' What the hell ! ``

Harry tackled the death feeder to the base and stunned him. He rushed to the door and bolted it, pushing a death chair under the hold. The others would have heard the window break.

'' Who are you ! '' A voice bellowed from the bed. `` Are you with them ? ``

'' Do you do it Dumbledore ? '' Harry asked quickly, looking over at the two in the bed.

'' Ye ... yes. Everyone knows- ''

'' commodity go to him. Get out through the back. '' Harry pointed at the broken windowpane. The door thumped violently and Harry turned back towards it. Three others. Not in force. `` GO ! ``

'' What about you ? '' Mrs Baker asked as her husband hurried her towards the window.

'' Do n't occupy about me. Just go ! '' Harry flicked a ward onto the door, strengthened it. But it would n't hold long. These were n't criminals, these were actual destruction feeder. duelist group twos. sod. Harry glanced back at the window to see Mr Baker just disappearing out of it. Well at least that was done. Harry turned back to the door and raised his wand.

The first actual test. LET see how I do.

I really hope one of them is Crouch ... Harry grinned in violent glee.
*


The star sign windows flashed from where he sat on the rooftops. Whoever that boy was he was fighting them. Fighting them everywhere. There were two people fleeing down the backstreet, seeable in the gaps between theater. 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-bodied to down tonight. Would n't be able to hurt them, produce them pay. Make the early one, the snake one, the one who took everything pay.

He licked his brim. Another clip, there would be other meter. He was patient. affected role was just, so long as it got there in the end.

The end ... the end ...

vengeance. That was a proficient word.

The watcher hunkered down on the rooftops. Before him the engagement raged on and war cry of pain in the neck 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 pit up Weasley ! ``

'' Ow ! '' Ron grabbed his side and spun, his centre full overt. `` Malfoy what the- ''

'' Have you seen Harry ? '' The Slytherin demanded.

'' What ? Of course not. He 's your best friend now. '' Ron replied sneering.

'' He did n't turn up for dueling this dawn. '' Malfoy sounded like he was actually worried. The snake was obviously acting. `` I thought maybe he would be here. ``

'' Well he 's not. '' Ron gestured around. `` Look the bed 's not even slept in. And how 'd you get the word anyway ? ``

'' Something 's wrong. ``

'' Get lost Malfoy. '' Ron looked over at the clock. `` It 's six o clock in the dawn ! ``

'' Right. Two hours past when Harry said he 'd meet me. '' Malfoy was gritting his teeth, breathing through them clenched.

'' He 's probably in the bonce. ``

'' That was where I was waiting you idiot ! ``

'' Then he 's eating breakfast ! ``

'' Checked there. ``

'' 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 do it. Probably training late and just passed out tired. Even you had to find he was tired. ``

'' Surprised you did. '' Malfoy turned for the doorway. `` Get your protagonist and help look. ``

'' We 're not your frie- ''

'' But you were Harry's ! '' Malfoy turned angrily. `` And he could be in difficulty, or pain, or dying, right now ! I know you do n't like him any more but unless you hate him enough to wish him short get the hell up and help me take care ! ``
*


Ron woke the vulture. The marauders roused the scholar. myrtle called the spectre. Hermione ran to McGonagall. McGonagall went to Dumbledore.

The entire castle like an formicary kicked into hullabaloo by the departure of the boy-who-lived.

It was Dumbledore who confirmed, by 'his own method acting', that Harry was not in the palace. The great Hall was filled with palpable stress 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 for thought. No one felt like eating. Not even Ron. Suddenly the doorway burst open.

'' It 's him ! '' Hagrid boomed over the barking of his dog. `` He 's out there ! ``

The Granville Stanley Hall emptied like a flack had started. Every student of every family piled through the hulk double doors. Jostling and pushing against each early, and against teachers, to get through. They spilled out onto the front lawn like a wave, breaking and separating. Everyone was running for the principal gate. Ginny saw Hagrid, out in front, yell something and the gate creaked open. Everyone pushed through, trying to get a glimpse of the solitary shape trudging up the route towards them.

The strawman 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 robe hung off one shoulder, the remainder torn and trailing behind him. The completely left face of his face was covered in blood, down onto his shoulders too, caked on and streaked. One of his boots was gone, Merlin only knew where. His left arm had an ugly suntan over the articulatio cubiti, red and raw and black in the middle.

The entire of Hogwarts stared at him. Harry raised his brain painfully.

'' Well ... would ... '' Harry swallowed and licked his sassing. `` Would you believe I fell down some stairs ? ``
*


'' Mr Potter where were you ? ``

You know where.

'' Tell me ! ``

He knows where. Of course he does. Stupid Dumbledore.

'' Were you at the Baker residence Harry ? ``

There we are.

'' How did you leave school solid ground ? ``

You do n't postulate to have sex that.

'' Harry answer me ! ``

'' What do you need from me Dumbledore ? '' Harry pushed a blood-entangled dreadlock of hair out of his face. `` What do you need me to say ? ``

'' I want the truth ! '' Dumbledore was yelling, every portrait on the walls of his office watched in secrecy. Apart from them the room was evacuate. `` I want you to severalize me where you went ! Where you go every night ! I want result ! ``

'' I do n't gift a damn what you want. ``

Rather incongruent seeing as we just asked him.

'' Harry if there is a breach in the wards of Hogwarts I need to screw about it. ``

Damn. He might actually be right. Voldemort sure as infernal region knew about the chamber.

'' chamber of mystery. '' Harry met the schoolmaster regard but gave cypher away. His occlumency was getting better too. `` Remember ? There 's a enactment 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 mind when you were shoring up the Montgomery Ward. ``

'' I ... no- ''

'' You 're not a god Dumbledore. '' Harry broke in. `` You ca n't do everything. You are incompetent. You make mistake. It does n't have to be this way between us, admit you made a mistake with regards to me. I can help you fight. Help the order. ``

'' 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 suddenly death eaters. ``

What ... the ... sin ...

'' Stunned. '' Harry corrected hopefully. `` Stunned last feeder. ``

'' Dead. '' Dumbledore 's side grew stony. `` Killed with an cryptic toxin. Seen only once before. ``

No ... no no no no.

'' Dumbledore- ''

'' arrest ! '' The Headmaster cut him off. `` You have already demonstrated a bloodlust that disturbs normal, enough genius. ``

'' When I need to ! '' Harry was breathing hard. `` When my friends sprightliness are at stake ! ``

'' You are out of ascendance Harry. ``

'' I did n't drink down them. '' Harry held up his manpower. `` I did n't, I swear. I stunned them, then left, then called the aurors to pick them up. ``

'' I can not believe that Harry, I can not. Not with all I know. ``

'' Legilimence me. '' Harry released his defense lawyers. `` You 'll see. You 'll know. ``

'' I will not know. I will not know because I can not be sure as shooting that you have not reached a level of proficiency at occlumency where you could picture me whatever construct memory you wish to. ``

'' THEN WHAT DO YOU desire ! ``

'' Anger Harry ? You have a lot of anger do n't you. ``

Yes. Harry hung his head tiredly. There is no answer to your questions. aught that will satisfy you.

'' You will stay confined to the castle. '' Dumbledore ordered. `` You will attend to all lessons. A guardian appointed by me will walk you to and from each object lesson. You will do these matter or I will hand you to the aurors. ``

'' I did n't do it. '' Harry whispered, more to himself than anything else.

'' I can not take that jeopardy. ``

time lag ! The Prophecy !

'' The prophecy. '' Harry blurted. `` What are we going to- ''

'' Stop thinking about such things. '' Dumbledore cut him off. `` They are no longer your concern. ``

'' But I have to stop Voldemort. I 'm the only one who can. ``

'' This discussion is over Harry. farewell. ``

Harry stood. There was no point drawing it out. He walked towards the door, but did n't go through it. He felt drained, completely. But some residual fountainhead of bullheadedness would n't let him depart without one go word.

'' You 're making a mistake. '' Harry said over his shoulder. `` You do make them call up. ``

'' I do. But I correct them. '' Dumbledore said sharply, but sadly. `` I am correcting one right wing now. ``

shucks. He still got the net word.

Harry turned and passed out of the federal agency. There were of import decisions to be made.
*


'' Deja vu. '' A voice said over Ron 's shoulder.

'' Malfoy ! '' Ron spun on his terrace. `` Do you just sneak around everywhere ? ``

'' Hard to sneak in the centre of luncheon. '' Malfoy seemed agitated. `` Harry 's gone again. ``

'' Like this break of the day ? '' Hermione asked.

'' He said he was going to go to kip, but his bag 's gone. '' As Malfoy spoke they heard a noise from the high school table.

Dumbledore had just shoved his chair back roughly and strode quickly from the hall.

'' He knows about- '' Ron began but stopped as a feathered dark dropped onto the table.

digger cocked his head and hopped about a slight nervously. He kept looking at start one cheek then another as if he did n't know who to deliver his message too.

Ginny reached forward and took it off her. She spread it out on the mesa. It was brusque, but it had a lot of subtext. It simply said.

Take care of him






review article, or I will use my gravemetric inversion ray to bankrupt the moon down onto the surface of the earth ! Destroying it utterly ! You have just one hour ! Mru Ha Ha Ha Ha ! Ha. Ha.


Arg ! The site goes down ! craziness everywhere ! matter fall apart, the gist can not hold ! My followup ! ! ! My preciously reviews ! ! !

Ah well ... such is life.



'' Is there no tidings ? ``

'' No Albus, there is not. '' Minerva shook her oral sex. `` He appears to deliver vanished. ``

'' Has a lookout man been set on the borders ? All means that he could allow for the rural area ? ``

'' 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 contend. ``

'' I do not know Minerva. '' Albus shook his drumhead. `` I am not trusted of anything anymore. ``

'' Stay strong Albus. The Holy Order needs you. ``

'' Yes ... yes we must go on. ``
*


The marauders, bundled up against the insensate, sat quietly before a huge bay window in Malfoy manor. They had gone there straight from Hogwarts, with a safety the intact way. They were in the nonage for leaving, a lot of students had elected to appease at Hogwarts for Noel. It was safer. They were not the just unity there though, Terry and Anne bread maker ( none of the marauder had really known them ) had been dragged along looking confused.

That was until they reached the planetary house and had a tearful reunification with their parents. Apparently someone had saved them from the end eater. Emphasis on someone.

The manor was filling up, cargo of people. Refugees almost, people that had been targeted or were in peril of being. It was scary, seeing the fearfulness in their eyes, the touch sensation of being hunted. The marauders were the Sami, unable to forget, scanning the theme for any speck of Harry. They found nil but they kept looking. Guilt was a powerful thing.

So now they were stuck in the residence, unable to impart its paries as snow blanketed everything outside. Even if they could have gone outside would they feature had the heart to play ? Maybe, maybe not. So they sat in battlefront of the huge open windowpane and watched it fall.

The adults had tried to make it cheery, there was even a Tree. It had n't worked though.

'' We should go cause lunch. '' somebody murmured. No one moved. Eventually somebody 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 news ? '' She blurted.

'' We read the prophet- '' Hermione began before Tonks interrupted her.

'' No, no. This just happened. '' She shook her question. `` Two death eaters just got dropped into the ministry hall. Flued in. They were stunned and tied up with ribbons. They 're processing them now. Where 's everyone else ? ``

'' Most of the adults eat in the tree elbow room. '' Ginny pointed and Tonks hurried out.

'' Do you retrieve it was Harry ? '' Neville asked quietly.

'' Of course of study it was Harry. '' Malfoy said flatly.

'' It could have been someone else, someone else trying to stop them. ``

'' somebody 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 piece. The lone audio was Ron rhythmically munching on bread.

'' Do you think it was us ? '' Ginny found herself whispering. `` Do you think we drove him out ? ``

'' You certainly did n't serve. '' Draco 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 birth thought he could fight them ! ``

'' He was getting help from other places than me. someone else I 'm sure, he was getting better too profligate. '' Malfoy shook his mind. `` No, I withdraw what I said before. You did n't push him towards this. This was inevitable. ``

But we abandoned him. Ginny thought darkly. Maybe if he would cause stayed longer if he thought he had something to stay for. Or at the very to the lowest degree he 'd know he was n't alone. Falco columbarius, how had things gone so wrong ?

'' It 's my fault. '' Hermione murmured suddenly. `` I said that ... stupid 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. `` make out a personal ad in the Prophet ? ``

'' fountainhead why not ? ``

'' Because it 's cockeyed. And because all it would do is assuage your guilt feelings. It would n't help him. ``

'' Well what would help him ! '' Fred asked angrily.

'' I do n't love ! '' Draco shot to his ft. `` 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 have any former acquaintance. Maybe that had been why he helped Harry for so long.

'' We need to do something. '' Parvati repeated again.

'' What sis ? What ? '' Padma frowned at her sis darkly. `` Do n't just keep saying 'do something'and carry everyone else to issue forth up with something. ``

'' I do n't hear you coming up with anything ! ``

'' There 's naught we can do ! ``

They lapsed into an angry silence again. There was too a good deal stress, too niggling kip. They were all at the end of their lead. Just like Harry had been. Ginny shook her head, they should let gone easy on him. A little selfish percentage of her felt glad that she had not been part of that first tilt with him. Another theatrical role blamed her for starting it. If she had just dodged he would n't have hurt her shoulder and then they would n't have ...

It was otiose to suppose about it. The controversy had happened, but a footling percentage of her still irked. They should n't experience blown up on him, so what if he said he chose an army ... time lag ... Was it possible ? Was she really thinking about this ?

'' I can intend of something we can do. '' She said, her voice catching in the eye. 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 dominion ...

'' HEY ! '' The table jumped as Ginny slammed down on it hard. The piranha started like rabbits. Oh cracking, now everyone was looking at her. She stood, keeping her custody 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 ground forces. He 's fighting out there on his own so he deserves an army ! We can be it. We can aid him ! ``

For a few moments there was silence, then ...

'' But ... but we 're just kids. '' 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 screw how to crusade 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 defense and face how far he 's descend. 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 masses in the school would be prepared to help Harry if we told them. The old chosen ... others too. '' Ginny tried to face positive. `` And besides, Harry 's just one person ! ``

'' But Harry 's Harry ! '' Hermione shook her mind. `` He could get away with that sort of matter ! He has some ... power ... some cause he survived. A power ! That 's it ! Like the divination said .'A power the dark noble knows not'we- ''

'' The only power Harry ever displayed was stubbornness. '' Padma interrupted her. `` Stubbornness and courage. ``

'' And the fact that he never gave up. '' Her sister added.

'' And we should n't either. '' Padma nodded.

'' So you ... '' Ginny turned to them grinning.

'' We 're in. '' Padma said, her eyes heavy and determined. Her sister nodded her support.

'' Us too. '' George II folded his arms just as his buddy said,

'' We ca n't give up on Harry. ``

'' And you three ? '' Ginny turned to the finish three undecided marauder. Neville shifted nervously,

'' I ... It could cause been me. '' He was looking down at the table. `` It could give been me. I would n't possess survived this recollective. 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 serve if I can. ``

'' You 're in ? ``

'' I do n't know how very much help I 'll be. ``

'' You saved me. '' Ginny smiled desperately. All the vulture had to join, it was the like circumstances. For some reason she felt like that. If they all did n't unite it just would n't work. `` And Harry would have wanted it. ``

'' He understood you. '' Padma chimed in, smiling. `` More than the balance of us I think. ``

'' I 'll help, if I can. '' Neville said, in a small voice. Ginny breathed out in relief, one down two to go ...

'' And you two ? ``

Hermione and Ron shared a look. Ginny knew she could tease her brother into it, Ron was a sponge for peer force per unit area, but she would n't. Not a choice like this.

'' We 'll have to miss some object lesson. '' Ron said suddenly and Hermione put a handwriting over her lip, 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 voice came out of nowhere. Ginny spun and fixed on the expectant two-base hit door. Standing in the open crack were two Brown University haired children. Terry and Anne bread maker. 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 ineffective to see them properly from where he was. `` You two ? ``

'' We heard what you were saying. '' Anne said, obviously trying to vocalise sure-enough. Ginny wondered if she had looked like that a few minute ago. `` We want to help oneself too. ``

'' Harry saved our parents. '' Terry added in. `` The ministry did n't even love they were a objective. We want to help. ``

'' You realize what this means do n't you ? '' Ginny said clearly. `` We 're talking about fighting. Fighting end eaters. 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 break of day just like the rest of you. That 's the kind 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 get laid. Only fair, I guess, that we should do that for him. ``

'' You could die. '' Padma said flatly.

'' If Voldemort wins we die anyway. '' Anne matched her flatness. `` With parents like ours we 'll be on the top of his list. ``

'' We know what were getting ourselves into. '' terrycloth said defiantly. `` We want to link up Harry 's army. ``

'' Harry 's army ? '' George snorted. `` Is that what we 're calling ourselves ? ``

'' I do n't like it. '' His counterpart agreed.

'' It does sounds 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 marauder we always will be. It 's what Harry would let wanted. ``

A murmur of agreement went up from around the table and Ginny felt a billow of pridefulness. She beckoned the baker twins over. As she did she suddenly realized something, she had made everybody feel at her and they were still looking. Her blood brother had happily accepted her lead, they all had. And now she was about to ordain two new marauders, a privilege only previously granted by Harry.

What can of worms had she opened today ?

'' But wait. '' Padma said suddenly. `` How are we going to groom properly ? Harry had a teacher, he had to. Where are we going to get one ? ``

'' I can think of mortal. ``
*


'' Dragon ! ``

Draco turned in shock to wait 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 army. We 're going to fight for Harry. We want your assistant. ``

The library was silent for a moment. genus Draco met the centre of each of the predator, were they really serious ? Legillimancy gave him the answer.

'' Well would you look at that. '' Dragon murmured, then smiled. `` Lets get to it. ``
*


'' You realize this means the marauders now have member in every Hogwarts house. '' George commented as they walked down to Harry 's old education cellar.

'' We do n't throw any Ravenclaws. '' Ron said. Hermione shook her chief irritably.

'' You would think you 'd remember Ron, after all the multiplication she 's write our pelt. ``

'' Who ? ``

'' Moaning Vinca minor. ``

'' She does n't bet. '' Ron said with authority before being clipped around the ear by Ginny.

"lookout your mouth. Harry wouldn't stand for that form of talk."

"Besides, you ‘ re all wrongly anyway."Draco said dryly from the front line."Harry made myself and Tonks marauders at the end of last year. You ‘ ve been cross-house for calendar month now."

"Why didn ‘ t you tell us ?"Ron asked him.

"Would it have made a deviation ?"

"well ... maybe."Ron shrugged."predator have unlike rules than ordinary bicycle people."

"Yeah, that section I got."Malfoy reached the door to the cellar and threw it open. It was exactly how they had left it. Huge slews of reveal furniture and suntan marks on the rampart."Right, well we don ‘ t have impact celestial sphere or a siswai ‘ aman or muggle gonnes-"

"Guns."Hermione corrected.

"Them either."Draco stepped into the center of the way."Actually I do have some impact field but that ‘ s not the level. We don ‘ t have clock time to go to four continent and nibble up the best implements of war like Harry did, so I ‘ m going to focus on this ..."Malfoy drew his sceptre and held it out in front line of him.

"Terry, Anne."Ginny turned to the two Modern members."How are you at defense class ?"

"We ‘ re both getting Es."Anne said quickly.

"Marauders should make out how to lie better than that."

"Alright As."

"Saami as Harry last year."Ginny told them encouragingly."Hermione ? Can you bring 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 phone line. Her stomach did a little floaty lurch.

Just stress. She told herself. Just tenseness because we're joining a war. cancel to be nervous, especially since they seem to have elected me leader. I'm not neural for any other reason. No reason at all.
*


Neville collapsed into a death chair in his way. 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 accept been what it was like for Harry.

Neville shook his chief, earlier Padma had told him Harry understood him. Neville didn't know whether that was straight. He certainly didn't understand Harry. But maybe he watched him more than the others, keeping still on the spare-time activity maybe he saw more. Saw more about masses ... about Harry.

Maybe there was one other affair they could do for Harry.

He had thought of it before but hadn't mentioned it. No rationality to tell ` citizenry, especially if he was wrong. It'd just make him appear pudden-head. It probably wouldn't helper anyway. But it was worth a shot.

Neville drew a piece of paper towards him and grabbed a quill. He chewed on the end nervously, how did you startle a message like this ?

lamb ... No, to familiar. Neville shook his head, it didn't subject what words he used. He should just get the matter written. He cracked his tired knuckles and started again.

To The Pythea

My figure is Neville Longbottom and I'm a champion of Harry's. I don't know if he told you about me.

Neville winced, this was harder than he thought.

Harry's in trouble, or he might be. He's left Hogwarts to defend. 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 import. The missive might get intercepted by someone.

If the phrasal idiom ‘ as the 7th month dies'means anything to you then you know why he's doing this. I don't know if you can assist him but if you can then please do, and tell us what we can do to avail. 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 woman in the world. He signed it, his hired man shaking sufficiency to make the signature illegible, then squeaked his president back and made for the owlery.

Digger was wake and waiting, like he knew. The owl didn't even bother to look at the address, it just glanced at the name and took off. Neville watched it go, hoping ...
*


He got no answer over Christmas. The piranha opened presents with aching castanets while their parents watched before begging out and going back down to the cellar. Neville was surprised that the Baker children didn't complain about being worked on Noel day. Perhaps they really did realize what they were in for.

Snow kept falling intermittently, not enough to incubate the footing again. It just ended up slush. Neville wondered if Harry was outside, cold, right now, then felt dazed. If Harry could get Wyrd dark weaponry out of the blue then he could keep warm in winter.

'' Neville ! '' He heard Fred shout at him. `` I thought we were dueling not staring out the windowpane. ``

'' I 'm coming. '' Neville turned and raised his wand. `` Just a moment. ``

We 're doing what we can Harry, just you wait.
*


Harry crouched on the roof of a business firm, heedful not to slip on the wet roofing tile. The house across the way was owned by a big member of a virgin line of descent kin. Not his main planetary house obviously, jerkwater little place like this, but one of his properties.

A attribute with a large cellar. A property that had been taking in large supplies of kernel, bad meat too. Off cuts, the sort you would give animals.

It was a lead. Harry smiled grimly, he was on to them. He could wait here all night ...
*


"Severus the children at main office keep disappearing during the day. Do you know where they're going ?

"I do not Albus."Technically true though any sensible mortal could guess.

"Do you imagine they might be planning to follow Harry ?"

"It is possible."I hope they are.

"This troubles be Severus, they should be kept safe."

"They are children."Technically true though not actually revealing his opinion.

"You will separate me if you hear anything I should know."

"Of course."Anything I think you should know.

"Now, '' Dumbledore looked around the hall, meeting the center of the four orderliness member. Snape, McGonagall, Tonks and Helen Wills 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 substructure, electric shock evident on her face. `` How ? ``

'' Harry has been too trusting of Gringots. '' Dumbledore drew a fragile folder of parchment towards him. `` He forgets that they have human employees as well as hobgoblin I. I have managed to obtain records of Harry 's transactions. I believe I have pinpointed his location. ``

'' So why have n't you brought the miserable boy back ? ``

'' Because Harry will give an exit strategy. '' Dumbledore shook his foreland. `` If he sees me he will run, and I can not warrant I will be able to enchant him. You are the order members I believe he will intrust. You must draw near him. You must bring in him back. ``

And what if I do n't care him back. Snape was deliberate to shield his thought process utterly. What if I merely wish to establish sure he 's safe.

'' This is the emplacement. '' Dumbledore floated a sheet of parchment to each of them. `` We will go. Now. ``
*


Snape looked up at the flickering lightbulb 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 flooring ? It 's a dead end. No way out. ``

'' The boy 's smarter than that. '' Alastor agreed as the four of them reached the stairwell of the muggle building. It was not vacant, indeed Snape could hear dull spokesperson and clicking from adjacent rooms, but the top floor was closed for renovation.

'' Perhaps Dumbledore was wrongfulness then. '' Was that a intimation of hope in the voice of the young auror ?

'' More potential Harry has a broom handle up there. '' Minerva snapped.

Harry would not possess a broomstick. Snape shook his headspring but said nothing out loud. He is more probably to deliver a pet dragon up there than a broomstick.

'' quiet. '' Helen Wills was up ahead, his magic eye scanning above them. The old auror cursed. `` tinker's damn evil eye ! There 's bags up there, and papers. But I ca n't secernate if there 's a person. ``

'' Let me see. '' Minerva slinked into her cat physical body and carefully padded up the steps. Then came back down, her center twinkling. She transformed back and said, `` Harry has been here. His smell is everywhere. ``

'' Do you recognise if he is there now ? '' Snape asked.

'' He is there. The scent is too recent for him not to be. ``

'' Then we go in. '' Dwight Lyman Moody stalked forward. `` No verge visible, do n't spook him. ``

They walked up the bleak concrete stairs. The door was closed and covered by a plastic sheet. Snape was reaching out to cut it aside when they all heard,

'' Do n't bother, I 've cut a scratch in the one round of golf the side. '' The four rules of order penis stopped abruptly. The articulation continued. `` And if you want a more dramatic financial statement, you are Moody, Snape, McGonagall and Tonks. ``

'' Harry ? '' Tonks asked loudly. `` Is that you ? ``

'' Did I not cause that clear ? '' The vocalism said cheerily. `` Come in if you want. With your hands up if you please, we do n't want any surprises."

"You don ‘ t trust us ?"Tonks asked.

"Constant vigilance."Harry replied.

Snape chuckled as he dropped his wand in his pocket and walked around the street corner. There indeed was a faulting in the plastic curtain, it was waving in the inhuman idle words. Snape stepped up to the gap and pushed it aside. Harry was standing in the open bay window, leaning easily against the edge.

He looked ... tired. Beyond tired, his eyes were sunken and his cutis picket. Did he look tough 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 happier though, his eyes sparkling mischievously.

"Harry."Snape greeted him as the other order members 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 incur me ?"

"I ‘ m afraid we can ‘ t-"

"Gringots led us here."Snape interrupted McGonagall, who glared at him."Dumbledore found you here with their information. He sent us here to play you back."

"And are you going to ?"

"We just want to talk to you Harry."McGonagall stepped forward, her hands spread 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 death eaters. What are you doing ? Looking for a lost minor ? Let me ask you, which of us is doing the more utilitarian task ?"

"Potter don ‘ t be an idiot."Dwight Lyman Moody growled."You may feature caught a few last eaters but it ‘ s only a matter of time before you ‘ re caught and you break implore it ‘ s by Dumbledore and not the dark lord. If you die we all lose."

"If I fail we all lose."Harry shifted closer to the window.

"Harry, we ‘ re just trying to assist you."Tonks stepped forward."We all know what ‘ s at stake 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 motion picture of the wrist.

"Son of a bitch."Harry tried to stand but Moody jabbed his sceptre and Harry was pushed back to the priming coat."Trusted you ..."

"Sorry Potter."Helen Wills Moody growled."Trusted you too. You pissed on that when you killed five men didn ‘ t need to be killed."

"That's not true."

"The part about killing them or the part about not needing to ?"

"To be good, both."Harry made a passado for the door 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 more than I trust you rightfield now."Moody raised his wand."You disappointed me. Now Stup-"

"Stop !"Snape struck sideways, sending Moody's verge sideways. As the auror 's middle jerked open in shock absorber Snape stunned him and whirled, holding his sceptre on McGonagall."Don ‘ t motility Minerva. In fact back away."

"Severus what is this ?"Her eye were wide in disbelief.

"Please don ‘ t talk."Snape glanced at Tonks standing twitchily in the corner, her manus hovering over her wand."And you ? Do I need to stun you too ?"

"I ... no."The young auror's eye flickered down to Harry."Take care of yourself Harry. Please. Please do."

"I ‘ ll try."Harry nodded, walking over and grabbing his wand."And I won ‘ t use Gringots any more."The boy started for the window.

"Harry !"Snape called out."Helen Wills Moody caught you. You let your ward down. You have to be good than that."

"I know. I screwed up. changeless Vigilance."Harry nodded towards Moody."You should tell him that too when he wakes up."

"He will probably kill me first."Snape shrugged.

"Not likely."Harry stepped up the edge."He ‘ ll probably corporate trust you now."

Harry grinned and dropped off the edge.

Snape waited a foresightful import, long enough for Harry to reach the ground, then lowered his wand. McGonagall just looked at him. No student with belatedly homework had endured so withering a stare.

"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 Dwight Lyman Moody."And I will try to explain."

The auror blinked to aliveness and grabbed his verge. He levered himself to his feet and looked Snape up and down with his piercing electric dingy eye.

"well well, your lawful colors at last."Helen Newington Wills spat.

"Trelawney once told me my color was pale fuchsia."Snape commented as he made for the door."If I ‘ m exhibit that color you may want to get your eye checked."

"My eye ‘ s fine."

"trade good, then I ‘ ll meet you at Headquarters."Snape apparated away, the low temperature pressing abysm of void giving him a moment of peace of mind before he dropped to his feet in front end of the doorway. Three pops behind him told him the other order members had followed.

"Don ‘ t do that again you slime."Dwight Lyman Moody growled, wand out."If you try to apparate again I ‘ ll assume you ‘ re trying to escape."

Snape took three steps, into the grand hall.

"There."Snape raised his hands."Now I can ‘ t escape."

"I don ‘ t combine you."Moody shook his head."render me your wand."

"No."Snape turned towards the briny Granville Stanley Hall and walked calmly. Surprisingly he felt composure, he was easy. He was sick of being Dumbledore's lapdog, and now he had finally acted on it.

He pushed the dual doors subject and found something he didn't expect. The whole order was there, lining the rampart. Dumbledore had called a encounter, to discourse Harry being back. Snape stopped, his arms crossed and the three following him take the air past times into the room. Tonks was still quiet, fading into the crowd, her whisker unconsciously turning deaf-and-dumb person chocolate-brown. Helen Newington Wills and Minerva walked straight up to the forefront of the table.

"You failed to catch Harry ?"Dumbledore clearly suspected something. He was using the stare that used to pierce Snape to the soulfulness, now it just made his eye itch."What went wrong Severus ?"

"I decided that groovy trade good could be served by letting him free."Severus stood calm against the tempestuous grumble that rose at that. He found Natalie's centre 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 have a go at it I am no longer ... tame.

Well this should be fun.

Snape couldn't avail but smile.

"You think this is funny Severus !"Dumbledore had stood, his eye 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 good, 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 naught to say."Snape kept his interpreter irritatingly coolheaded"The only account I have you will not accept. And I can not phrase one you will because you I do not know what you want."

"I want someone I can commit !"

"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 former order penis, practically everyone was there. Everyone there to see 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 bother them."Snape continued."You ‘ d think one of them would worry about you."

"Be mum !"

"Each of them thought another had your ear. Minerva thought lupine, lupin thought Moody 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 eld he knew how to get to the old man."No man is an island unless he makes himself so."

"Severus I will not listen to-"

"You will listen. You can ‘ t not."Snape shook his head."Something has frozen you. That is what you do isn ‘ t it ? You shrink, like a turtle. Back into your shell."

"And what is my scale ?"Dumbledore growled with uncontained fury and frustration.

"Your past. Your reputation."Snape sniffed."The concluding war, your halo 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 unmortgaged 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 take heed. You are paralyzed by something. Guilt I would guess. I don ‘ t know of row, 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, great swirling consortium of it. In every stoma of you, in every facet of your intellect. It ‘ s been there since the first clock time I ever saw you, I didn ‘ t distinguish it then of trend, but it was there. By the sentence I came to cultivate for you I was old enough to discern it. Something in your past, in your present too, filling you with a suppurate remorse. And it just gets bad and high-risk, makes you doubt yourself, makes you mean you are never worthy. make you turn down the military position of curate for magic. Over and over again. I know what made you like this, you think I would work for you and not investigate your past. You know I am more careful than that. You must sustain known that I knew. You must accept known that I had found out about Kendra."

Dumbledore froze, every tendon tensed. Snape breathed a sigh of backup man in his mind. He had not known for sure, not until that moment. He still didn't know really, not what had happened in that room. That secret would probably be taken to the Steffi Graf of the men concerned. No matter, Snape could gloss over the details.

"It was there in the low war."Snape continued, his coarse voice the merely sound in the packed mansion house."Back then it was ... helpful. It made you thrifty. It made you weak but ... it made you thrifty. I do not sympathise what has happened since then, perhaps it is as Harry says and you are simply doddery, but it is worse now Previously guilt made you careful, reasonable. Now it makes you useless. Useless and broken. You are no longer the renowned Albus Dumbledore, you are a fracture reading of him."

"No."

"Something destroyed you."

"Stop."

"I don ‘ t know what it was."

"Please."

"It must have been something terrible."Snape smiled slyly, letting his words sink in. Weakening."Whatever could it have been ? You don ‘ t have another sister ..."

"SILENC-"

"Legilimens !"
*


wickedness falling, falling everywhere. My fault, always my faulting. I shouldn't have put him there, no right wing I had no right field. I condemned him, his decease. My one charge. Failure. No. Must be done. hope. destruction. bankruptcy. Truth shrouded so deeply. So deep it hurts. The truth would break us all. But even without we are doomed.

It is all a lie and we are all doomed.

Everything you know I told you.

Everything you know is lies.
*


Snape tore his mind away, shaking. He fell to his knee joint on the floor, the repugnance, the muddiness, filling him. Dumbledore had fallen too, back into his chair. The old mans face twisted in pure suffering. To keep a Truth locked inside for nine eld only to take it roughly ripped from you ? It must have felt like his heart had been torn out. Snape shook his point, it could not be true, it couldn't be. But behind the benighted mutterings of Dumbledore's mind, behind the aching remorse the very retention hid. He had pushed them deep, as if trying to forget them but they were there. They were impossible to block. Snape knew he never would. The order of magnitude of what the old man had done hit him and he doubled over, vomiting onto the cold I. F. Stone floor.

He felt hands on his shoulder joint. Natalie. He reached up for one and grasped it, holding on to something veridical as division of his existence fell apart. He tried to stand and found he needed Natalie's avail to rise to his feet. His pegleg felt like water, his pes like led. He tried to pee his mouth work, affair needed to be said. Something needed to be said.

"How dare you ?"Predictable, but Snape could call back of nothing better."How could you do that ? To a tiddler !"

"It ... was necessary."Dumbledore's voice was barely a murmuration, a faint rustling 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 avail him, and you will let me. You have no right wing to have 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 secret. For treating Harry the way you do because of something that was none of his doing. Something that was done to him. You ... you are a demon. One that has nada to do with the moon."Snape turned away and hobbled from the room, leaning heavily on the small woman beside him.

"Severus !"Dumbledore called after him, suddenly sounding scared."You will tell no one ! Surely even you can see that this must rest a orphic !"

Snape kept walking, not trusting himself to address. They reached the threshold and he stiffened, his heart felt like it had a thousand tiny claw in it, each one attached to a weight.

"Severus ?"Natalie murmured beside him."You need to go home, I ‘ ll take you-"

"No. Not home. Hogwarts."Snape shook his head."Hogwarts first."

"Alright."She didn't argue, she knew when his head was made up. There was a scant, sharp chime and the woman he was leaning on had blond haircloth and pale White hide. Of course, she was supposed to be stagnant. Trust her to commemorate item even at a meter like this. They stepped outside the bound of the ward and apparated, the common cold and pressing annul once more enclosing him.

He stepped out himself onto the grass before the gates and allowed himself to be led up the farsighted route to the rook. Corridors passed and Snape realized he was being led to his quarters. Good. The walls are warded so no one will hear. As they reached the door Snape pushed it open and went directly to the hard liquor console. He poured himself a whisky and wassail it down, wincing at the tan in his throat.

"Ghost Myrtle Henderson."Snape called out softly. Ghosts could always hear their names. A few moments later the shadowy configuration of Moaning Vinca minor sunk out of the ceiling.

"Why did you visit me ?"She asked impudently."I don ‘ t answer to you."

"I called you because the theatre elves study to Dumbledore as do the other ghosts. I need these words to be private."Snape snapped quickly."I need you to make for professor Michelson down here and I need you to tell no one."

"You can't guild me ar-"

"It is about Harry."

"Oh. Oh ..."Myrtle nodded fervently and shot back up through the Harlan F. Stone. Snape turned to Natalie, now back to looking like her old ego, waiting patiently.

"You don ‘ t have to state 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 zippo else I need your help to urinate sentience of it."Snape took a deep breathing space and began explaining. He could have just given her the storage but he didn't want her to get the shock he had. It didn't actually take that long to excuse, in the end it was so wide-eyed. When he was finished she just sat there, staring at him. As if willing 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 teeth."We still need to help Harry."

"You ‘ re mightily, we still do. But it changes everything else Severus. Everything else. You can not deny that it does."

"No. No I can not."

They fell into silence as the door was pushed open. Markus Michelson strode in, looking around the pocket-sized way quickly.

"The ghost said this was about Harry."He said, still glancing around as if Harry would spring from a sideboard."Do you know where he is ?"

"No, but I have ... I have left the monastic order to search 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 apprise your help."

"wellspring finally !"Michelson threw up his arms."I was beginning to think I was the lone one in this stead with my head on straight."

"You are not far wrong."Snape shrugged.

"So what does this make us ?"Natalie smiled."The Holy Order of the Kneasle ?"

"The order of the Nundu more like."Michelson cracked his knuckles.

"You know, I think it makes us marauders."Snape smiled faintly."James ceramist must be spinning in his grave."



one-half of my reviews seem to take disappeared ... very sad ... : (

You all have to review twice now to reach up for it. If you do go out a followup then a faerie will visit you while you sleep and sprinkle fairy rubble on you. The queer dust won't do magic or let you fly or anything but it'll be very pretty.


Harry ceramist and the Changeling Child : Chapter 5 : The iniquity grocery

Harry travels to find information.




This reporter has some shocking news. News that will strike you, good reader, to your very core. Harry Potter has been declared a severe vigilante by the ministry. Yes, Harry ceramicist the-boy-who-lived, is a murderer. According to ministry functionary Harry has been creditworthy for at to the lowest degree six last and possibly more !

minister of religion Fudge was quoted as saying ‘ Yes, well this is shocking but not entirely unexpected. Just look at his actions during the Triwizard Tournament, the boy stole a ship for Merlin's rice beer. He's always been a unloosen cannon that boy has.'

This promulgation came at the Saame time as his functionary ejection from Hogwarts schoolhouse of witchery and wizardry.
*


The marauders looked at each other along the long table in the bang-up hallway. None of them said 'Is this a joke ?'or 'No way'or anything naively childish like that. They were past that. They had all known, on some degree, that this was possible. Maybe even inevitable.

'' Changes nothing. '' Fred was the starting time to speak. `` It 's all bollocs so it changes nothing. ``

'' This is crazy ! Do they think we 're stupid ? '' Ron was almost spluttering in angriness. `` No one 's gon na believe any of this ! ``

'' I almost wish people did. '' Hermione was shaking her head as she peered down at the forepart page article.

'' What ! You want people to believe Harry 's a- '' Ron rounded on her, about to let loose, but Ginny held up a bridge player to lend him up short. He was still fuming though and said, more reasonably. `` Maybe you should explain that comment. ``

'' Because no one will conceive it Ronald. '' Hermione bit her lip worriedly. `` Or at to the lowest degree many multitude wo n't. And multitude will blame the ministry. People will hate the ministry for attacking their hero. ``

'' Remember the public violence lastly class ? '' Padma said darkly. `` Imagine that. Except much big. ``

'' Oh ... '' Ron 's side fell. `` I guess that is bad. ``

'' It changes aught. '' Malfoy said sharply. `` Not really. We all knew this was a opening. ``

'' Right, '' Ginny nodded, putting on her leader face. `` He 's right. All this does is make what we 're doing even more urgent. ``

They all nodded, they had been training ever since they had got back to hogwarts a calendar month ago.
*


His description has been given to every ministry law enforcement official and hit magician. His position on the ministry 's wanted list is only a few blank space short of the known death eaters !

According to the ministry Harry 's M.O. is to use poison to do his dirty work. A poison there is no live counterpoison to.

Harry 's description is known to every wizard and hag alive but you should be aware that he may be in disguise.
*


'' This is Dumbledore 's doing. '' Natalie shook her headway as she slid the composition over to Snape. Albert Michelson had already flicked his copy closed and was staring at it angrily, as if blaming the paper itself. Snape sighed, he had already read the offending article.

'' Dumbledore undoubtedly had a bridge player in it. '' Snape tried to blockade his ire rising to the Earth's surface. Keep it under wraps, save it for when it was needed. `` Perhaps he thinks he can scare Harry back to him. ``

'' Then he does n't know Harry. '' Albert Michelson stood and began pacing angrily, obviously he felt no pauperization to keep open his ire under wrapping. `` This 'll just make Harry even more for certain that everyone 's against him ! ``

'' Undoubtedly. '' Snape flicked through the rest of the newspaper. `` At least there is some goodness news ... ''
*


Harry may be participating in Leeds. Yesterday the ministry was handed an anonymous tip that led them to a house there that had been converted to star sign dark brute. No death eaters were caught ( perhaps the bodies are hidden elsewhere ! ) but the basement was a nest of lethifolds, swarming in the duskiness in numbers never before seen on British soil. I do not need to separate you, good reader, that if they had been unleashed they would let caused untold destruction. The lethifolds have been disposed of by the ministry.

There is no proof that Harry was there but a contact in the aurors office said that they were investigating the possibility.

Harry is to be considered as dangerous as any last feeder. Perhaps more so.
*


Harry dumped the paper in a wish-wash can. It did n't matter anymore. He coughed roughly, clutching at his stomach. It did n't matter if the ministry caught him so long as he did what he had to do first. What the hell did he like what everybody else thought ? It just meant he had to be to a greater extent careful.

Harry shoved off the wall and flicked his hoodlum up before walking off down he alleyway. There was still work to do.
*


'' Is it true ? ``

Ginny turned at the sound, the angry and forceful sound. The predator spun with her, almost in synchronizing. Cho Yangtze River stepped back fearfully. In her defense the marauders now numbered eleven, filling the hallway with uniform ire. They had also all drawn their sceptre at the same clock time as she spoke, in response to the potential threat.

They must have truly looked like an army.

Cho had frozen in place, ira turned to out silence. Ginny stepped forward.

'' Of course it 's not true. '' She said simply. `` How can you even ask that ? ``

'' I just ... '' Cho swallowed, fear still flickering across her look. `` Is Harry Ok ? ``

'' We do n't recognise. ``

'' Where is he ? ``

'' We do n't roll in the hay. ``

'' Does he require help ? ``

'' We do n't know. We 're trying to help him. '' Ginny said curtly. She was beginning to get tired of Cho 's pudden-head questions. Ginny turned to go forth when Cho broke in,

'' Well I want to help too ! '' Ginny felt a little mental groan. That was just what she needed, a complaining pretty-girl in the ranks. A changeless irritation at best, a financial obligation at worst. Cho went on, `` I 'm elder than you, and I 'm a Ravenclaw. I must jazz lots of spells you do n't sleep together yet ! You should let me join. ``

'' No you do n't you arrogant stuck-up ... '' Ginny clamped her sassing shut and took a deep calming breathing spell. `` This is n't the bloody gobstones club. You ca n't just join on a impulse. We 're training to fight, really oppose. Fight destruction eater. ``

'' I know that. '' Cho looked down her nose arrogantly. `` If you can do it then I can too. ``

'' You do n't read ! You ... '' Ginny gritted her tooth tight together again before turning to the marauders. `` 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 tone so abundantly cleared. After some embarrassed shuffling Draco stepped forward, eyeing Cho up and down silently. Ginny felt another jet 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 eyes for a moment, Ginny thought she heard him mutter something under his breath. genus Draco cocked his head to the position and asked another question. `` Do you live with the fact that you have to take orders from Ginny ? ``

YES ! occupy that you bitch ! Ginny was shocked at the storey of gloating her subconscious threw up at that query. If her subconscious was glad with the question, her entire brain grinned when Cho grimaced and nodded.

'' Fine. '' genus Draco shrugged. `` We need more people. I vote yes. If she does n't work out we can always get her leave. ``

'' We vote yes. '' Fred said, shrugging. His similitude added, `` Sorry Ginny. ``

'' I ... yes. '' Parvati nodded, a little hesitantly.

'' No. '' Padma shook her head, earning her a shocked coup d'oeil from her sister. `` We do n't need her. No reason to take on another project when we do n't need her. ``

'' Look just put your hands up. '' Ginny said tiredly. `` Hands for no ? ``

tierce work force rose, herself, Padma and Hermione. Ginny 's tum dropped, this did n't reckon good.

'' For yes ? ``

Five hands were raised. Ron had followed his erstwhile comrade. Ginny turned to silent three remainders.

'' Neville, Anna, terry ? '' Neville shifted uncomfortably and the bread maker twins looked at the level. `` You need to vote. ``

'' I do n't want 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. clip to piddle the best of it.

'' mulct. meet us here after moral today. ``

'' Today ? But I 've got quidditch practice. ``

I know. Ginny did n't say it, but she so wanted to. `` This is more significant than quidditch. We all understand that. You need to. ``

With that she turned and strode away. She hoped Cho would n't turn up tonight. That would really make her day.

Ginny survived herbology with a book of curses propped up against a works pot. She did the same in defending team, professor Michelson was being oddly blind to the transgressions of the marauders. After the lessons were done she slammed her books away and dashed for the room access. She ran for the meeting place but slowed down before she got there. She would n't come up all covered in sweat and breathing hard. She would n't give Cho the satisfa ...

Cho was n't alone.

Ginny stopped with the marauder a few tread away from the neophyte. Lucy capital of Jamaica stood by her Ravenclaw champion with her boyfriend, Joshua snag, standing on her early side. The two ex-Slytherin Gryffindors, Vanessa and Elizabeth stood in front of him, eyeing Malfoy warily. It irked Ginny that all of them were here. It irked her more that they were probably the multitude she would have chosen to admit to the predator herself. dolt Cho.

'' You told them. '' She tried to make her spokesperson come out icily raging, hoping it did n't just vocalise pettish. `` You told all of them. What the nether region do you think- ''

'' I do n't secernate them ! '' Cho interrupted her. `` Everyone in the schooling is talking about the news about Harry, and everybody knows you lot are doing something closed book. They just ... ''

'' We eavesdropped. '' Split interrupted. `` We want to help Harry too. ``

'' This is getting ridiculous. '' Padma muttered from the profundity of the marauders.

'' We heard what you asked Cho. '' tear went on. `` And we understand the risks. Lets face it, if you trust him, '' Split jerked his chin towards Malfoy. `` You have to swear us. ``

'' I do n't stimulate to trust any of you. '' good, that sounded like Harry. `` Listen I do n't care what you say. We 're going to direct now. If you can observe up you can stay, we do n't have meter to slack down for you. ``

'' amercement with us ... madam sergeant. '' snag added sarcastically.

'' Idiots. '' Ginny muttered as she led the amassed hordes off down the corridor.
*


'' Listen. ``

Malfoy stopped and turned towards split. The older boy had halted them just outside the entrance to the marauders attic, everyone else was already inside.

'' Yes ? '' Malfoy said evenly. `` Can I assist you ? ``

'' I just want you to have intercourse we 're here for Harry. '' Split said challengingly. `` We do n't trust you. We do n't forgive you. ``

'' You 're here for the same reason I am then. ``

'' Whatever. '' Split shook his forefront. `` God knows why she trusts you. Let alone ... well you know. ``

'' I know what ? '' Malfoy looked around in confusedness. `` She who ? ``

'' You do n't know ? '' Split almost seemed to smile. `` Idiot. ``

'' She who ? ``

'' I expect she 'll let you know in her own sentence. ``

'' She who ? ``
*


Harry pushed his way out of the old shop he had flued into and a clap of heat hit his face. He dragged a broad brimmed hat out of his bag and pulled it low over his middle. Ah, that was better. His coating and it 's several trance would suffer kept his body cool but it would have looked incredibly blazing here. He winced in the harsh lighter and shucked his bag up on his shoulder joint before setting off along the wickedness tarmac street.

Muggles walked past him without a endorsement thought, jabbering to each former in French. The accent was very different from what he was used to but that was only to be expected. Harry had learnt French in Switzerland and only verbalise it to the scholar of Beauxbatons. Harry idly wondered if his French had a Swiss people speech pattern or an English one.

No matter, he was in Marrakesh, K of knot from France or England. He would stand out as a foreigner whatever he did. No point trying to mix in with the locals, much better to just attend like another stupid tourist. There were one or two others around. Harry picked up his stride 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 cubicle of veggie and slid through the crew of shoppers. The muggle souk was bad enough, a gigantic Earl Warren of streets and alleyways full of shop and market stable selling everything from spices to electronics. Harry kept on an unerring course of study through it, it was n't his destination.

Hopefully he knew where his goal was, his selective information was sketchy at best.

Harry came to the stalling he wanted, a dark mess in the wall merchandising decrepit and moth eaten clothing. He took a black tee shirt with a lead on it off the rack and glanced at the aging shopkeeper. There was a barely detectable nod. Harry stepped behind a screen, a rough changing room, and pulled the curtain shut. He held the shirt up and tapped the superstar twice. With a sharp groaning the floor began to grind slowly downwards.

Harry tried not to touch the sides of the gem passageway as the opening at the top got further and further away. Ten meters ... twenty .... thirty .... forty- clunk. Harry snapped to attention as the base stopped descending. The stone in front end of him split apart slowly, light spilled in, and air. The olfactory sensation ... every scent conceivable, burning, animals, food of every form, incense made of spun lightning, every scent a wizard with no paying attention for the laws of chemistry could create hung in the air as Harry stepped out of the dark entranceway into the under-souk, the nighttime market.

Knockturn alley had nothing on this place.

Harry looked up at the roof a far above, mosaics kaleidoscoped over the brush up surface, changing every moment. There were no walls for as far as Harry could see, just pillars dotted around. In no approach pattern Harry could see. Every one as wide as an oak, twisted and gouged and splaying up into that fantastic ceiling. Disappearing into it. And down at ground level ? It was unspeakable. Every kind of shop, every form of carrel. Some sellers just sitting of a mat, arrays of bottles out in straw man of them. Others had displays that looked like insane and un-feasible pop up Scripture, everything spilling out of everything else. The noise was deafening, worse than up above because the randomness of sparking while and fuming potions was added to the worldwide noise of multitude, and there was the periodic scream as another shopper was brought down by one of the entrances.

There was no finding your way in this home. Not unless you grew up down here. Harry scanned the area while walking sedately forwards. Many carrel had marvelous flagpole 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 robe out of his bag and threw it over his articulatio humeri. Like this he looked like about thirty, maybe more, with foresightful melanise hair and a cryptic scar on his buttock. Threatening, but not obvious.

Harry smelt his destination before he got there. The smell of beast and beast droppings beating out the early scent more and more the closer he got. He came to an undetermined position in the market, a situation where the stalling had been pushed aside to score elbow room for social station upon rank of John Cage. Harry recognized some of the creatures in them, others were a mystery, all he gave a all-inclusive birthing. The cage seemed almost stupidly sturdy, surely they used unbreakable good luck charm. Surely they did ...

Harry felt himself edging away and forced himself to lull down. He looked into one of the cage, a monstrosity made of hale I-beams, and saw the eye of a Dragon staring back at him. Somehow they must have stopped it flaming, they must induce. Harry stepped calmly up the boisterous desk at the end of the cages. It was surrounded by bags of what looked like some sort of provender. An ordinary bird batting cage sat on the box with a little golden bird fluffing its feather. The heavily bearded and mustachioed man sat behind it looked up as he approached.

'' Yes ? '' He asked in loose English people. `` Are you look for something ? ``

'' My figure is jak Caiman. I have come for you to state me the progress of an order. '' Harry pulled back his sleeve, revealing the dark mark. The storekeeper recoiled, glancing about fearfully.

'' Put that away ! '' He gestured wildly. Harry calmly rolled his sleeve back down.

'' You have zippo to fear. '' Harry said airily. `` Not while you do the dark Lord 's work. ``

'' Why you come here ? '' The man 's optic were still shifting nervously. `` All on docket. ``

'' There have been some problem at the other end. ``

'' Not my geological fault. '' The marketer shook his head. `` Got them safe to you. You lose them after it not my fault. ``

'' Of course of action not. '' Harry smiled in an uncomforting way. `` You mistake me. I merely meant that we have reason to demand to make sure this manner of speaking goes smoothly. There can be no misunderstanding. You understand. ``

'' Of course, of course. '' The man nodded rapidly. `` Do not concern. You can say your master not to worry. Everything is fine. ``

'' 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 make been so much well-heeled if they were still on dry land.

'' Tell me their course of study. '' Harry leant down threateningly. `` My master is thinking of sending some citizenry to see to it there are no ... misunderstanding. ``

'' No mistakes. '' The man nodded again, dragging a map out of a drawer in his desk. `` No mistakes. ``

Harry smiled, people were so pudden-head when they thought you were going to bolt down them.
*


Harry dropped back onto British soil and immediately flued again to stave off any by-line. He walked the last foresighted walk to the abandoned house he was staying in and pushed the room access opened. It was shadow inside, the windowpane covered by anti-vandal plates put up by the police. It was empty, not even a electric chair when he had first arrived. But it was clean and the water was still running. Harry slouched down against the wall and collapsed. Long day. He reached over and picked up a nursing bottle of pep up potion. He uncorked it and let some splash into his oral cavity. This was his second social disease today. It was growing intemperately to proceed going ... the illness ...

Harry shook his head, no use dwelling on it. Back to work. He spread the mathematical function out in front of him on the floor and roughly arranged them out into a gravelly match to the seacoast of Africa and Europe. The mathematical function were seriously old, like everything else wizards had, and some of the country had the wrong names. One of them had a big 'here be dragons'warning written in the middle of the Atlantic. Knowing that it was a whiz map it might well be true.

Harry sighed as he looked at the times that were written on dissimilar checkpoints on the map. The ship was old too, or looked it. The man had sketched a rough drawing of it. It resembled naught more than a hulk wooden brick with small sails that surely could never incite it too fast. Of course it would be propelled by thaumaturgy, if not it would just be stunned, but it would still take almost a month to fare up from Africa. Could be subscribe it in the midriff of the ocean ? Harry shuddered at the thought. 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 maps again, was there any place where it came close to land ? Was there any ... ambush point ?

Oh of course ! There 's this big tree in the eye of the ocean that you can hide behind. Sharks use it all the time to catch seals.

Harry sat back tiredly, this was going to be harder than he thought. His eyelids felt so gruelling ... sleep ...

Harry glanced around, he was in a house. A fervour crackled warmly on the hearth, throwing faint shadows on the clean-living blue air bulwark. The pictures on the wall, a redheaded woman, a man with a familiar grimace. Harry shook his head word, it was a dreaming. He had had it before. He walked towards the door and pushed it open hurrying out of the house and into the cracking garden. He glanced back, the bungalow was as it always was. The bungalow at Godrics Hollow. Harry shuddered, every time his pipe dream put him in this place he had an undeniable urge to leave. It was like putting your bridge player in a bucket of wriggling dirt ball, a crawling sensation over his entire peel. And yet his dreams brought his spinal column here again and again and again.

Harry hugged his weaponry to his chest. Maybe this would be one of the good nights, the nights when he managed to escape. There was a wood out there somewhere, a forest of orchard apple tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, their efflorescence 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 ones, when the house kept drawing him back. He didn't even want to consider about what had happened once, when the river had come for him.

Harry pulled himself together with a military unit of will. Those apple tree weren't going to find out 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 dreaming was throwing at him before he realized it was coming from outside.

Harry woke with a start and was on his pes in a moment, wand in hand. He relaxed when he saw that the audio was coming from a pocket-size white bird trying to tweet in through the butt of the window. The bird twittered then flickered back out of doors. It took Harry a import to realize it had left something behind, a small pen up piece of paper.

Interesting. Especially considering no one should be able to contact me here.

Harry stood and hesitantly poked the paper with his wand. It did nada. He prodded it again. Still nothing. He flicked it on the trading floor and folded it loose with the end of a crotch. He bent down and read it without touching it.

Harry

I once told you to follow your own route if you thought it was right. You seem to have taken that advice to bosom. I can not and will not say that your selection is wrong, it may be, it may not be, I do not know. But you can not put down yourself for the interest of this battle. Do not. Your admirer worry about you. They are as I write this working to serve you. Training as hard as you ever did. You are not alone no issue how much you fight to make it so. There are people that will suffer if you die, even if you take Voldemort with you.

I can not offer you any information about Voldemort 's plans or whereabouts. I am constrained by the prescript of my order. I would disclose them for you but it would do no good. I would be found out foresighted before I could divine anything for you.

The solely help I can pay you I have already given. I wish I could do more Harry, you must believe that.

Remember to wear thin the pendent.

DO NOT DIE.

Pythea.

Harry picked the small piece of parchment up carefully and slipped it into his breast pocket. His handwriting stayed there a moment longer, pressing it into his bureau, before he took a deep breath and let it out.

Do not die.

He did not intend to, but it had always been a opening. And no topic how a lot people would put up if he died they would suffer more if Voldemort was left alive. Harry had a secure impulse to claim the missive back out and read it once again, or maybe twice or three times. But no, he had work to do. Wait ... something in the letter tugged at his head. Maybe there was a way.
*


Malfoy snorted as Cho was sent flying across the elbow room. The new recruits were trying to hold up, they were just failing. He turned away, they were useless, just a waste of time for the rest of them. The marauder themselves ? genus Draco managed a small smile for that, they were progressing nicely. They could fight. They could fight as a team. They could fight on their own. They could fight like kneazles in a chemise if they needed to. And they would want to.

He moved over to a pile of faded box and ran his fingers over a longsighted, thin, grey cloak inside. The Weasley twins claimed they could plow them into irregular invisibility cloaks with some Sir Thomas More recitation. Draco did n't doubt it. The charms would n't last for more than than a day or two but that was all they needed. They could just respell them afterwards. Shield charms graced the iniquity grey jacket in the next box, enough to deter minor hex. In the beginning it had just been a way to run the appeal, the Saame as an amulet or a ring. halo of invisibleness were rough-cut enough even though they were hideously firmly to stimulate and protective amulets were ten a penny. But the apparel were easier for the Weasleys to work, and the dark grey made them inconspicuous at Nox. That had been the start, but now it almost seemed more ... Like they were becoming an army in truth, they had uniforms. Parvati had wanted to sew together slight Ms onto the clothing as a symbol of the marauders but Ginny had n't let her. thriftlessness of time, too conspicuous too. Dragon smiled again, it did n't matter if the clothes were unmistakable grayness or tap with little snitches. Either way by the end they would have an mathematical group of inconspicuous, shielded, deadly fighters.

Invincible cutthroat bastards. piranha to the core. Harry would accept been proud. At least, Dragon hoped he would be.

'' Draco ! '' Ron yelled. `` Break time 's up get back here. ``

'' I 'm coming Weasley stop yelling. '' Dragon gritted his teeth, all of his muscles hurt. Never creative thinker. `` Back to work. ``

'' Stop. I need to talk to you. ``

The interpreter came out of nowhere. The piranha twisted towards it, wands out. The duel ceased, every eye widened in shock.

'' I heard person was raising an army. '' Harry quirked an brow. `` I find myself in need of an army. Is this one for hire ? ``

'' Hire ? '' Saint George let out a jest. `` Harry this is your army. ``

'' commodity, I should get a discount. ``

The marauders broke and all began talking at once, it was a well-chosen storm of sound with Harry laughing in the gist. Draco stayed silent, he glanced over at Ginny, also staying back. She nodded to him, her mouth a laborious cable. She had realized too. Harry had n't come back for a glad reunion. He would n't have. He had come because he needed them. This would be the first job of the army.

'' Harry ... '' Draco cleared his pharynx. The cat valium eyes 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 have a board ? ``

Dragon pointed the way and Harry pulled a huge sheet of parchment out of his bag. Harry laid them down on the rough airfoil of the last surviving mesa in the attic. It looked like a giant copy of a map.

'' There 's a ship. '' Harry traced it 's way along a long line on the map. `` It 's stuffed to the gills with dingy fauna. Direct to the wickedness lord. hundred, including a lot that we really do n't want him getting his hands on. It 's not going to make port before Britain, it 's going to be far out to sea. No portkeys, no flues, only way there is to fly. ``

'' That 's why you need us. '' Padma said thoughtfully.

'' Yeah, kind of. '' Harry hung his promontory. `` I can just about manage to fly in a consecutive line. Slowly. But out over water supply ? With the wind and maybe violent storm and ... and over urine. And when I might deliver to name a fast departure ? No. I need pickup number one wood. ``

'' I thought you wanted us to struggle. '' Ron said, disappointedly. Harry 's eyes narrowed, he opened his mouth but Ginny cut in.

'' We 're here for whatever Harry needs us for Ron. '' She snapped. `` You should know that. ``

'' I ... right. ``

'' right field. '' Ginny nodded sharply. Dragon half expected Ron to toast. Ginny turned back to Harry. `` What kind of night animal are we talking about ? ``

'' Various kinds of nasty. '' Harry was looking between Ginny and Ron curiously. `` flock of creatures. ``

'' Manticores ? '' Hermione added.

'' Yes ... '' Harry looked at a list jotted at the bottom of the map. `` Six of them. ``

genus Draco glanced at the list and let out a galvanise oath. They could not let this ship reach domain. Even if they had to lose half the U. S. Army to do it. The Cerberus had to be juveniles at least, no one could gourmandize six to the full grown unity into a ship. Unless it had been magically expanded. Which it almost certainly had. They could not let that embark strain land.

'' We need to get on that ship. '' He heard himself saying, his spokesperson a little breathless. `` We could fly on, or ... or ... ''

'' Go onto it ? '' Harry let out a harsh laugh. `` That would be pretty dangerous. ``

'' Because of the brute ? ``

'' Because I 'm going to settle it. ``



This is the shoemaker's last chapter of apparatus, I promise. From now to the end of the record book is pure adrenalin-fueled plot.


I do n't own Harry Potter. I do however own some cheese. Which is just as good.



'' dip it ? '' Hermione 's vocalism was a shrill, disbelieving whine.

Ginny felt like slamming her hand up to her forehead. Of line Harry would want to drop the ship, it was the dim-witted, easiest, solvent if you did n't manage about the consequences.

'' But ... but ... `` Terry 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 ace, they can just apparate to shore. They wo n't be killed. ``

'' How about the creatures ? '' Ron asked, scratching his head. `` Wo n't they just swim to shore ? ``

'' Damnit ! '' Harry clicked his finger. `` Foiled again ! If only mortal had stuffed them in big metal cages for rapture. Then they 'd sink straight to the bottom. ``

'' How are you planning to sink it anyway ? '' Fred asked, eagerness clearly visible in his eyes.

'' Well, I plan to blow a big hole in it underneath the body of water line. Then I 'm going to put another big hole in it underneath the water supply argumentation. And if that does n't make for I 'm going to put a third- ''

'' This is a wizard gravy holder I assume Harry. '' Draco interrupted. `` Putting a muddle in it may not be as easy as you think. It 'll birth all sorts of charms and protections. ``

'' I can short-circuit them. ``

'' Without the mass on the ship realizing ? ``

'' Yes. ``

'' Really ? ``

'' Yes. '' Harry folded his limb. `` I have thought about this Draco. I have planned this. ``

The attic became silent again. Ginny could feel the cogs moving in people 's heads. 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 contend destruction feeder not charge routine of terrorism. How did she stand on this ? On balance ... with Harry. Those brute could not be allowed to reach shore.

'' We ca n't do this. '' Padma was shaking her headspring. `` We ca n't sink it. ``

'' You running away ? '' Harry was looking at her in horror. `` You want to just let them unloose that kind 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 avoid meeting people 's eye. `` If we do this they 'll be this titan wreck with triplet headed skeletons and they could drift to the control surface or get into the gulf stream or diver could line up them. Not to observe that someone 's going to notice a whale exploding ship off the coast. Even if we tell the ministry afterwards they ca n't manage this kind of cleanup, not on this scale of measurement. No one can. It 'll be tough than Roswell. Keeping witching secret from muggles, the statute of secretiveness, is the one thing both English of this war gibe on. If we break it then they 're going to start 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. cerebration. The marauders held their breath.

'' Ok. '' Harry spun the map to face Padma. `` Give me another pick. ``

'' We board the ship. disenable the crowd. toss off the brute. '' Padma said definitively. `` If I 'm reading this right the ship only a 12 hoi polloi on it. No death feeder. Most of them are just there to observe the animals in baulk. Should n't be too difficult to stun them. ``

'' And the fauna ? '' Harry asked quizzically. `` Some of them are n't easy to kill. ``

'' The killing curse. '' gasp rose from the U. S. Army. `` It 'll vote out everything on this lean. ``

'' Is n't it an instant life story sentence ? '' Cho choked out.

'' Only when used against humans. '' Padma replied calmly at the same sentence as Harry said,

'' Only if someone finds out. But would n't any underage magic be detected."

"Not in international waters."

'' And the ship ? '' Harry asked. `` If we just leave it drifting wo n't that be against the statute of secrecy ? ``

'' We leave the crew on it. They can get it so a safe wizard harbor. ``

'' Hmm ... '' Harry folded his arms and looked at Padma appraisingly. `` That ... could ... workplace. It would be more difficult, more risky ... more fun ... but it could work. ``

Ginny felt a grinning. This was the almost like the old Harry back again. Sure they were planning an act of monumental plagiarization rather than a prank but it was Harry back again.

'' We can split up. '' Harry continued. `` beam a twosome of people down to the water to look. The rest of us go in. If we can take the bunch out and stamp out the animals we do. If not ? We default back to my plan and the multitude in the water blow it to smithereens. We worry about the side effect later. ``

Ginny took a trench intimation and halfway through realized that most of the marauder 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 general they all knew that, but maybe ... maybe she was the sergeant or something.

'' Who can drown ? '' It was literally the first matter that popped into her question. `` Who can float really well ? ``

Anapurna 's hired hand shot up instantly smiling, the two Baker kid volunteered tiresome maybe still a picayune hesitant, finally tear shrugged and lacklusterly raised his arm.

'' Four people. '' Ginny looked down at the map, at the slight sketch of the ship. `` We can put ... two each in the urine near the front and back. ``

'' stem and stern. '' Dragon 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 steering wheel. ``

'' Bridge. ``

'' Shut up. We land on the steery bit and take everybody out quickly. '' Harry pointed at Draco. `` You stay there and preserve the ship on course. You can do that ? You know the right names for the steery wheel and the button and stuff. Yes. Good. You stay there, the remainder of us go down to the cabins and stun everybody, kill the animate being. farewell. We keep the brooms handy so that if something goes damage we miko the natator and fly out of there. ``

'' Sounds like a plan. '' Ginny nodded.

'' right. '' Harry reached over and drew a big cross on the map over a beacon light, right down on the south coast of Cornwall."I will meet you here."

"Meet us ?"Ron scratched his head.

"The ship ‘ s not reaching us for another month."Harry shrugged."You don ‘ t expect me to hang around here the completely time. Dumbledore ‘ s out for the day but I think he ‘ ll observation if I start appearing on his small map."

"I thought-"

"You thought I was back."Harry finished for him."fountainhead I ‘ m not. There ‘ s still end eater ‘ s out there. Still work to be done. Train up, be ready, and I ‘ ll meet you there. hold the map, I ‘ ve got copies. But don ‘ t let anyone see it. Goes without saying. And look up how to fight down all these things."Harry turned towards the room access. He disillusioned himself with a moving picture of the wrist, and a bit later he was gone.

"Well,"Malfoy said dryly."I guess we have work to do."
*


"Can you believe he came back ?"Ron drew his stifle up to his chest. He and Hermione were in the program library, the literal library, not the bean. They were on enquiry duty and had about eight billion books out in front line of them on every kind of magical brute, trawling through them for the useful I. There weren't many. The Hogwarts depository library for some rationality didn't have books on how to butcher cage beast. Ron thought it was useless, they had already decided to use the killing curse, but apparently Harry wanted to be prepared so ...

"Hmm ?"Hermione hadn't looked up from the huge book in front of her.

"Can you believe he came back ?"Ron repeated."Harry."

"Shush !"Hermione put a finger to her lips."We ‘ re not supposed to talk about him where people could hear !"

"No one ‘ s listening."Ron rolled his eyes."We're sitting on the floor in the restricted division of the library, at midnight, under a temporary invisibleness cloak."

"It ‘ s not an inaudibleness cloak."Hermione hissed.

"Hermione no one is here."

"Just keep back 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 ages since you studied anything."

"Yes ..."Hermione bit her lip."And the owls are later this year ..."

"What we ‘ re doing now is more important."

"Yes. Yes I know."Hermione shrugged noncommittally."It ‘ s just ... well there ‘ s the sleep of our lives to intend about. What about after the war ends ? What then ?"

"feel at it this way. If Voldemort destroys the ministry he'll probably destroy the Wizarding exam Authority too."

"That doesn ‘ t help."Hermione stared at him angrily. Ron felt his hackles rising, another fight brewing. But they couldn't fighting, not here.

"You ‘ re here because if you weren ‘ t here you ‘ d feel shamed 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 down everyone. Even sorry you ‘ d get bad grades because you ‘ d be feeling guilty."Ron ran out of breath.

Hermione's mouthpiece hung open, mid vociferation. She opened and shut it a few time before coming out with,

"Shush. People will see you."

I won. Ron smiled as he flicked a random book open.
*


"I am disturbed Severus."

Snape stayed silent. He could not think of a safe response.

"I should be winning this war."

Still no safe response.

"And yet things are not progressing as well as they should be."The dark noble was staring out into the darkness through a faded window. They were in another nondescript and abandoned building. Snape felt his pelt crawling, he had been summoned alone. That was worrying.

"The ministry grows light every day."Snape volunteered.

"It grows more fearful each day."Voldemort tapped his fingers on the Methedrine."fear can be my weapon system, but it can also put to work against me. They retreat, they place more guards, they make it more hard for me to reach out what I seek. Do the monastic order still keep a guard on the department of closed book Severus ?"

"Yes my lord."For all I know they could have stopped, not likely though.

"At this point the promiscuous way to make headway admittance to it may simply be to crush the ministry entirely."He was still staring out the windowpane. If Snape didn't know better he would think the dark lord was worried.

"If you wish to suppress the ministry perhaps we could use the lordly curse-"

"No !"The dark master snapped."No Severus, no more sly maneuvering in the iniquity. No More subversion. I tire of it. I tire of it ‘ s inadequateness. I should not hold to mould from the shadow. Do you not think so ?"

"I always work in the phantasma Lord."

"Yes ... yes you do."The darkness lord narrowed his center."The Potter boy is a problem."

Snape gritted his teeth. He had to call up fast to keep up with these lightning fast 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 deal of trouble for one person. I would once again Holy Order his demise but ... I fear it would do no good."

"He wants to kill you."Snape said, letting his mouth move as his creative thinker worked."We could set some form of trap."

"With your lord as bait ?"The dark lord's voice was not angry, he knew that that was not what Snape meant. This was actually what passed for banter.

"Of course not my Lord. I apologize."That had been what the dark lord expected to hear.

"Is there any progress with the toxin Severus ? The one that has been killing so many of our Friend ?"

"Not a enceinte heap my lord."Severus bowed his foreland. He had no trouble feigning shame at not being capable to discover the secret of the mysterious toxin."It is very foreign. I can not split a exclusive ingredient 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 impossible. No bed creature carried a toxin like this."All I can think of is that perhaps person has been breaking the order against observational breeding."

"You do not call up it was ceramicist ?"

"It may have been."punter to observe the dark Almighty shot."If he did not then we have two vigilance man against us."

"Against us ..."The dark lord seemed to roll the word on his rim."Against us ... people who are against me die. I have let this continue for too long. We have been forced back too much. It will quit now. I have decided. We will crush the ministry. We will obliterate them utterly. No subversion, no tail, I will kill them."

"Yes my lord."Snape tried to cultivate out how many death eaters were left. Surprisingly few. Harry had seriously cut into their numbers. Did they even have sufficiency citizenry for an assault on the ministry ? Probably ... they probably had enough. If the order helped though ... if Dumbledore helped ...

"We will hold back for the shipment to arrive."The iniquity lord said, almost to himself."Then we will possess the military unit necessary."

The dispatch. The phantom shipment. None of the death eaters 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 deliver nailed oxen to the wall."Crouch is doing what he has been told to. He will follow, in meter. He is one of the few I can trust. Him and you, Severus."

You trust no one. Snape thought as he turned away. Now where have I heard that before ?
*


Hermione held on tighter as the broomstick angled down. She was following the broom ahead of her but the lighthouse was already seeable far below, sending out it ‘ s pulsing lighthouse across the night-time sea. The tip was hideously cold on her face and the coloured lashings of rain kept spraying in through her hood. There couldn't have been a worsened day to invade a ship total of monsters.

The flat coat came up and she managed to bring down without falling. All around her she heard the rest of the army touch down. Well ... most of the balance of the army ... Of the new recruits only Split was there, lounging over his broom handle in his common body politic of soft tedium. The others had been left behind, Ginny had decided they weren't ready, weren ‘ t trained yet. Not that Split was properly quick 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."LET 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 gulp from it before shoving it back. `` Pep up potion, did n't catch some Z's well utmost Nox. '' Harry explained. Hermione tried to snub the Gemini facts, one : that the feeding bottle had been almost empty and two : that as Harry shoved it back in his pocket there had been the unmistakable chink of further bottles.

"yield these."George III broke the silence and stepped forward with a little M shaped pin and a humble pair of bluing tinted glasses.

"What the the pits are these ?"Harry squinted through the lens of the eye."Everything looks weird."

"The pins are tags."George IV explained."The glass can see the tatter even under invisibility cloaks. This way we can keep track of each other."

"Ah ... nice."Harry pinned the tag on his nighttime coat and dropped the Methedrine in a pocket."I ‘ ll put them on when we get there."

"They ‘ re your prescription."

"I know."Harry nodded."Thanks. Who ‘ s Calluna vulgaris am I sharing ?"

"Over here."Draco waved him over and Harry hesitantly flipped a leg over his broom.

"Well, we all know what we have to do."Harry addressed the marauder."Lets get this done before we get too wet."

genus Draco's broom crack into the air and Hermione reluctantly followed. Out over the body of water the hint was even worse if that was possible, she kept being buffeted one way then the other. The sea underneath a groaning grey sheet, a dull manifestation of the sky. They were getting further and further from land. The occasional lighting of the lighthouse got Thomas More and more faint. She couldn't see the flyers around her ! She panicked for a present moment until she realized how stupid she was being and slipped her wild blue yonder lenses over her center. The short glowing sparks of the tag sprung into view, each one illuminating a little glowing blue spook of a person. Like an outline in the wickedness. Flying close, she was near the figurehead. How did Harry wait to find the ship in this ?

"slant leftfield !"Was that Harry ? The glowing darkness of Harry and Malfoy started to turn left. She turned to match them. What was he following ? hunch ? Magic ? Something he hadn't told them about.

"I DON ‘ T SEE ANYTHING !"She heard Draco's voice on the wind.

"IT ‘ S THERE."Harry was hunched over on the broom, peering out over Draco's shoulder."WE'RE CLOSE ! free fall down feather !"

Hermione descended with the rest of them and shrieked with fear as the spray from the sea hit her ramification. Surely they didn't need to be this low ? Suddenly, as if they had crossed an invisible line, the ship blinked into cosmos. A low slung titan, waves making it roller and sales talk sickeningly. It looked ancient, all the Mrs. Henry Wood was dim with age and atmospheric condition. A immense rectangular stop, slowly crawling across the water.

She felt someone toss her and saw shapes flying off towards the prow and stern, keeping close to the water. Even with the lights on the ship they were still only glowing schema. The cloaks ! She pulled hers around herself and flicked the hood up over her facial expression. She should suffer done that before. The rest of them followed until they were right up against the side of the Hull. Harry leant off his broom to lean against the pitching wood. Removing the protective good luck charm, Hermione forced herself to calm down as they hovered there just above the black water. Suddenly there was a little pop and a small creak ... the Mrs. Humphrey Ward were down. Hermione picked out the raised rear section, the ‘ steery bit ’. Where the sleep of them were going. The brooms slowed to a crawling as they raised up the slope. Absolute silence as they floated up onto the deck on the enkindle end section. No one was on deck of cards, there weren't even any lights.

Harry raised his arm and pointed to a small hatching. He moved over to it, whispered a silencing charm, then pulled it open and climbed inside. Dragon went side by side, moving just as silently. They had worked this out too, The Weasley twins would go final stage to watch their exit. Hermione realized it was her turn snuck over to the hatch as quietly as she could. The steps flattened out to a forgetful hallway with the door to the bridge circuit, then kept going down into the dead body of the ship.

The marauders were clustered around the room access. Harry was crouched down looking at the lock chamber, a smell of concentration on his face. Hermione looked past him, down into the vast hold of the ship. nearly of it was shrouded in darkness but she could just see the rows upon rows of coop down the side of the ship. The bars were rusted and ancient, reinforced with magic. But they looked like they were original to the ship ... like they were built in. Which was ridiculous of course, unless ...

Unless this used to be a slave ship.

Hermione shuddered despite herself. None of the others had realized, none of them would. take out for Harry they had all been wizard raised and he hadn't been in school long enough. There was no tip telling them, no reasonableness to make this any creepyer than it already was.

The shadow that was Harry stood suddenly and put his bridge player on the threshold hold. What was he doing ? This wasn ‘ t theatrical role of the plan ! They were going to use gas under the door. What was going on ? Hermione raised her wand, they had to bedaze everyone inside in a moment. Harry threw the room access open unhurriedly. The precipitous savor of stock filled the air. No one cast any go. No one spoke. Harry slowly stepped into the bridge.

"Of course."He said dryly, the number one words spoken since they'd landed, spoken dispassionately while looking out over a room full of ravaged clay."Of course they're loose. We ‘ re on a spooky ship at night full of man-eating deadly beast. Of course the animate being are loose. I was thinking that perhaps they wouldn ‘ t be, that perhaps something would go right. Obviously I was overlooking the fact that god hates marauders."

"What do we do now ?"Neville murmured fearfully.

"blow it."Ginny growled under her breath."Forget everything. Sink it now."

"We can ‘ t."Harry said angrily as he stepped over a dead body and stood in social movement of the main wheel."At to the lowest degree not yet."

"Why ?"Annapurna was glancing around fearfully."Why not ?"

"Two reasons."Harry leant against the wheel tiredly."One ; the all point was that the animals would sink in their cages, now they could swim to prop up. Two ; there are still three crew phallus animated, barricaded down in the hold where they ca n't apparate out."

"How do you know ?"genus Draco snapped suddenly.

"I know !"Harry snapped back."We need a new program. The brute are mostly still in their cage, seems like it ‘ s just the manticores that got loose."

"How do you-"

"I just know !"Harry rubbed his os frontale tiredly, his center were closed."There are compartment threshold down below. If we can immobilise the animate being inside the hold, separate it off and ward it up good it ‘ ll be the same as a Cage. Water gets in, animals do n't get out. Just one job ..."

"What ?"Ginny was eyeing the doorway carefully, looking for anything trying to purloin up on them.

"The work party are down in that hold."Harry took a deep breath and turned back towards the marauders."Alright ... this is what we ‘ re doing. I need four people with me down in the hold, It ‘ s too cramped for more. We go get the survivors, get out. The rest period of you split up and ascertain the fore and aft doors. You lock them unspoiled the moment we give the signal."

"quaternion ‘ s not enough."Draco said immediately.

"I don ‘ t have time to contend !"Harry yelled."You said you ‘ re an army this is what it ‘ s about ! We need to do this. We need to do this. The four skillful. Your four best. Now."

No one radius, Hermione felt like kicking herself. Of trend it wasn't like old clip. Of form 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 breath."Ron, Fred, George, you fly over and man the other doorway. Everyone else see this one. The signal is-"

"Me yelling to shut the bloody doors."Harry interrupted."No point being stealthy at that point."

Harry moved slowly out of the bridge deck. Hermione steeled herself them followed. They stepped down the stairs slowly, the vast clasp opened up in front of them. Surely it had been expanded.

"This way."Harry whispered, pointing along a raised walkway."Draco, watch our back."Harry stalked forward, his baton out ahead of him. Hermione followed him. They passed a dark coop, inside it a mammoth black lubber shifted near the spinal column. Hermione tried to brush aside it, the ones in the cages were the prophylactic I, it was the unity outside they had to observe out for. The cage ended and was replaced by another, six red optic looked out from behind the bars. The three dog heads were pressed right up to the border, watching them. Come to believe of it the caged animate being probably hadn't been fed in a while. Suddenly the pitching and rolling of the ship seemed unsound. If she fell into one of the cages ...

She spread her feet further apart, trying to get more stable. This was awful, this was hell, and they were going in to save some pudding head runner. Bad the great unwashed ! Hermione didn't tactile property good for thinking like that. Not dear 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 dark aisle, waited a long here and now ... and flicked it forward, muttering under his breathing place. The heartbeat of viridity light was expected but still horrifying, flying into the swarthiness. For a consequence it illuminated a rough lions mane and two shining eyes glowing green in the luminousness. Then it snapped out and there was a irksome thump like a eubstance hitting the floor.

"One out of six."Harry murmured, then shuddered."So that was the killing jinx. Felt like drinking nightmares."

"Harry ..."Padma began but Harry silenced her with a wave.

"It 's just a tool."Harry shook himself."Just a tool. Just a tool. Come on, lets keep going."Harry stepped forward, into the darkness.

Harry brought them to another stairway and quietly slinked down, his backbone pressed up to the wooden wall. As they crept down Harry held up a handwriting to cease again and dropped down to his knees.

"The early five are sleeping in there."Harry pointed down the stairs."Round the quoin, right in front of the storage elbow room where the crew are barricaded."

Hermione didn't bother to ask how he knew.

"Now the hall opens up just round the corner."Harry sketched the breaking ball 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 wall. `` Ginny, near the left wing paries. Hermione get the one right wing next to it, closer to us. Padma you get the one right in the middle, I 'll get the one closest to the step. Got it ? Everyone set ? ``

Hermione was gripping her wand hard, her medal wet with sweat. She did n't feel ready but she nodded anyway. They shifted closer towards the corner. Harry held his bridge player up, three fingers. Two fingers. One ...

Harry swung out around the edge, his wand coming up, at the same time his genu bent down. giving the rest of them a better shot. Hermione jumped out as fast as she could, the room was pitch black ! How was she supposed to-

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' A blast of green visible radiation flew from Harry 's sceptre, striking a gloomy material body on the ground and throwing the rest of the way into incisive shadow. Four hardening of shining eyes perked up in the darkness. Each of them was exactly where Harry had said. Hermione aimed frantically,

'' A ... Avada Kedavra ! '' It felt like icicles were flickering down her arm, stabbing down her arm all the way down to her heart. Freezing deep into her bureau, like scourge. Then it was gone a mo later as the burning green luminance flew away, striking the manticore as it rose from the ground, throwing it back into the ground. At the Same sentence she felt three Sir Thomas More blasts of wind and flashes of moody magic trick fly out from beside her. A shattering crash of wooden splinters sounded and there was an angry inhuman hollering. A anatomy 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 light flashed across the wood and there was a screaming like a saw across shabu. She felt a spraying of dark blood cover her and a fleshy pattern flew past her, impacting with a heavy thumping against the second bulwark. She turned to it, not breathing. It was a manitcore, or half of one. It was sliced in two, the wounding leaking a sea of origin into the level. She turned back. Harry was standing over the early half, his wand surrounded by a glowing white glory, extending out like a flare. Like a blade. He flicked it off and the room became dark again.

'' Who missed ? '' Harry 's voice was low and hard.

'' I did Harry. '' Draco shook his headland. `` It was too far away, too niggling unaccented. I saw the eyes, I- ''

'' praxis. '' Harry cut him off and turned away from them. `` exercise hard. '' As he walked away one of the hellhounds in a John Cage began barking and biting at the barroom. It could reek the blood. Hermione tried to ignore it, tried to call up that the bars were reinforced. But it was hard. The dog on the other incline woke up at the noise and rammed the bars with its shoulder. There was a screaming of metal and the dog fell back.

Harry ignored the gigantic Cerberus and walked calmly through the dark elbow room to reach the little 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 need to see any baton and you 'd better have your hands up ! '' There was a scraping speech sound as if huge crate were being moved. The wienerwurst kept scraping against the BAR, biting at the wood. Hermione tried to keep calm ... tried to ...

Oh no. No no no no no !

'' Harry ! ``

'' What ? '' Harry pushed the doorway opened, revealing three disheveled and rag men. `` What is it ? ``

'' Harry we need to go now ! ``

'' Ok, ok. We got what we came for. ``

'' NO ! Harry the John Milton Cage Jr. are built into the ship ! ``

'' So ? ``

'' You released the protective charms on the ship ! ``

Harry 's face fell like a popped balloon. His center shot wide.

'' So those prevention are just ... ''

'' Heavily corroded iron. ``

'' God hates us. '' Harry whispered. `` God hates us ... RUN ! ``

At the present moment Harry yelled the left wing Cerberus took a running pounce and shattered through the bars straight a him.

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' Harry 's wand had flicked up the instant it moved and the unripe unhorse struck the massive muscled shape in the air. But it kept moving and fell like a I. F. Stone onto Harry, like a mountain of black hair and sweating flesh. At the hold up import he threw himself to the side and slid out from under it as it fell to the floor in a splintering explosion of wooden shrapnel.

'' well do n't stand up there run ! '' Harry yelled, pushing himself to his metrical unit and waving them towards the door. He turned to the crewman. `` You too ! ``

The other hellhound had a bar in each mouth and was grinding them apart.

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' Harry pellet at it. The trance smashed one of the bars into rust-brown shards. `` Screw that ! Just run ! ``

Hermione spun and dashed up the stairs. Behind her she could hear more running feet and the outrageous gnashing of giant jaws. Someone pushed her to the incline and she saw one of the scrawny crew members making a recess up the stairs. She picked herself up and bewilder herself forward as fast as potential. She glanced behind her, all the marauders were cannoning along behind her. Harry was bringing up the rear, sending pulse of green nightmares behind him.

They reached the passage. She could see the door ! The paries exploded in splinters and four muscled weaponry reached out to seize her.

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' The piece came easier this time, freezing her to the nub as even as it threw the wendigo back through the wall. In a way it made it loose, it made her numb. She felt someone shove her forward and realized she had been standing still. She dashed towards the room access, trying to keep away from the buckling Browning automatic rifle of the Cage all around her. They could smell the blood.

'' Hermione what the hell is going on ! '' Anapurna yelled from the side of the room access as she hurtled through.

'' Just come together it ! '' Her pharynx felt raw. `` Close it ! ``

Hermione scrambled away down the corridor before turning and looking back. The raged crewmen were already huddling on this side of the door just as Ginny and Padma hurtled through with Draco right of their heels. Behind them the hold was a beastly nightmare of churning flesh, every dark shadow seemed to have a creeping beast. Harry was still in the corridor, retreating slowly as he threw spell after magical spell at the roaring mass.

'' Harry just leave it ! '' Draco yelled. `` Get back here ! ``

Harry spun and dashed for the door, the darkness following like a wafture. Suddenly the John Milton Cage Jr. in front of him exploded outwards, sour hair and scarred flesh coming between the piranha and Harry. Wooden incline of the cage buckled and broke, the cap came with it, filling the air with splinters and the passageway with heavy wooden spars. It was blocked.

'' Close it ! '' Harry 's voice shook the ship, amplified by magic. `` I 'll get out the other way. ``

Hermione froze. No, they could n't. She saw Ginny glance down the corridor, then up at Draco. They both nodded.

'' Close it. '' Ginny ordered, her voice raw.

'' But ... ''

'' CLOSE IT ! '' Ginny suited her language and flicked her wand at the leaden hatch, slamming it shut. `` Hermione hospital ward it ! ``

Hermione shook as she raised her wand. It took her three tries to properly varnish the door up.

'' rightfield, now get on the brooms. '' Ginny grabbed hers off her back. `` We get to the other side of the ship and go in after Harry. ``

Of course ! Hermione threw herself onto her broom. They could still go in and help him !

'' You three with them ! '' Draco bellowed at the crew members, pointing at the Baker Twin Falls and Neville. `` And stay quieten. ``

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 paries of sound. The night air was lit up with two twin eruptions of flak. Reflecting off the mountainous moving ridge 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 burn out it ! '' Someone yelled behind her. Hermione turned to see Ginny lean off her broom and grabbing Split by the front of his robe.

'' I got the signal. '' The surprise boy shook his header. `` I assumed it was you. ``

'' What 's going on ? '' Fred yelled as he, George IV and Ron were swooped in from the early 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 water and grabbed the beam above him, swinging up onto it with all his strength. Something below him roared but he ignored it and dashed along the thin and shaking distance of wood.

This was underworld. This was his own personal hell. The water was coming in everywhere, gushing up through a M holes in the hold. And the animal ... Harry had had to Holy Order the hold sealed. If he hadn't they would accept broken free. They were everywhere down here, he was sure enough that if they weren't trying to kill each other as voiceless as they were trying to eat him he would already be dead. In the water system beneath him the grim head of a hellhound surfaced and gulped a skin breathing space before a crab like wildcat leapt from the tincture and slashed out it's eye. They both disappeared back under the Negroid urine, stained with rake, 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 affright rose in Harry's throat. He couldn't think ! Couldn't breathing place ! NO ! NO ! Stay focused !

Harry leapt onto the top of another shifting cage, ignoring the floating cadaver in the urine nearby. There had to be some way ! His eyes searched frantically but all there was was crashing urine and writhing human body. Harry was struck in the back by a gush of water, knocking him down to the metal bars below. He spun around and the waterfall struck him in the face, terror blindsided him again but he threw it down again. The gushing H2O was coming from a ... pipework ? A hole ? A ... feeding hole ! Harry threw himself to the bulwark and clambered up a panting shaft, the ceiling right above him, he flicked his wand out,

"Hammus Missus !"The spinning conjured chain lashed out and stabbed into the pipe. Harry grabbed to and prayed that Hollywood got some things right. He let go of the wall. He swung out into the spray of gushing water supply and screamed as it splattered over his head word. He was thrown out the other incline but he came back just as fast."This is farcical ! Arefacio !"The falls dried up and he was able to climb a few feet up before it began gushing again.

A squawking terror exploded from the darkness to Harry 's left wing. His wand was occupied but Harry clawed a gun from his pocket and fired wildly at the feathered animate being. He did n't stop shooting until it disappeared into the piss below. Harry stuck the gun in his waistband and cast the Arfacio again. He was able to take out himself up another few feet before the body of water came again.

By the painfully slow fillet and starting he was capable ( just ) to reach the piping. He cast one more drought appeal and reached as gamey as he could in the shadow, his fingers reached the edge. Harry dropped off the chain and pulled himself up with all his strength. The urine struck his nous 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 smallest, highest, serving left. Sinking fast. Where were the piranha ? There ! Up high !

"HEY !"Harry magically amplified his voice and shouted out over the water supply."I ‘ M Here !"

The brooms dropped like Isidor Feinstein Stone, shooting right at him. Draco braked to a stop rightfulness in front of his face.

"You idiot !"He yelled, reaching out and pulling Harry onto his broom."You stark idiot !"

"Shut up and fly !"
*


The visible light of aurora was just creeping over the celestial horizon when they finally touched down back on realm, a rough stony beach. Harry staggered onto solid flat coat and tried to get his balance back. He turned to the three disheveled crewmen.

"You three are going to leave now."He growled, raising his sceptre."I don ‘ t care where you go. I risked my keister for you but it doesn ‘ t make you any less trash. Bare in mind that by failing to protect your ship you failed God Almighty Voldemort, he ‘ s not going to be happy with you so if I were you I ‘ d go far far away. mighty now."

The three men broke and ran like scared rabbits. God knows where they ended up. Harry breathed out and turned back to the marauders.

"commodity. That went well."

"Well !"Padma let out a suffocate cry."Everything that could possibly have gone wrong did go ill-timed !"

"And despite all that we stopped the load and made it out alive."Harry sat down on the hard ground and pushed the fuzz out of his eyes. God he was tired."We have to wear that the odds will be stacked against us. We have to always stand that in mind, tonight was a unspoilt example. We have to be prepared for the worst case scenario, we met that tonight. And we did well tonight. We did, we really did. I ‘ m proud of all of you."

The vulture all bowed their heads, they looked as shopworn as he felt. They were too tired to be gallant right now. Too bad this wasn't over.

"Here,"Harry drew his bottomless bag over and pulled a tent out of it. It raised itself with a tap of his wand and would fit half a house interior."Get inside and get some eternal rest. We need to be ready in five hours."

"Five hours ?"Ginny asked pointedly."What happens in five hours ?"

"Phase two of the plan. In six hours will be when the ship was meant to come into port."Harry grinned evilly."There will be a group of death eater, five of them, waiting to welcome them in a concealed port site. Hidden ... rocky ... enclosed ... undecomposed plaza for an ambush."

"We ‘ re ambushing them ?"Draco asked disbelievingly."Today ?"

"Yes."Harry pushed himself from the trading floor."Today. I mean Voldemort to feel the double hex of the personnel casualty of his creatures and his death eaters all in one fell swoop. I mean to put to put the heating on him, really flex up the scourge degree you know ... The brute were the main thing, couldn ‘ t let them reach land. The Death feeder are just the icing on the cake."

"Harry ... are you certain ?"Hermione stepped forward."We ‘ re all bore already ... we don ‘ t want any mistakes. Maybe we should let this one go."

"No."Harry shook his brain."We can ‘ t. We can ‘ t let this one go, or any of them for that thing. Now get on into the tent, you ‘ re wasting valuable resting time. I ‘ ll charter the first picket. Go on, there are beds for everyone. Huge 1, this a really good tent."

Harry settled back down on his rock as the predator trouped inside the tent. Harry sighed, if they didn't like phase two they definitely wouldn't like phase three.



reappraisal or a elephantine prehistoric darning needle will prefer you to be the host for it 's parasitic larva.


The following chapter 's a big one so brace yourselves.


Please perform these canonic rubber chit before reading this chapter
1 ) shuffling surely your president is stop up and steady so that if you faint you will not fall to the trading floor and peril head trauma.
2 ) Make sure you are not in hearing of any children so when you let unloose with a string of cuss it does not give their tiny ears.
3 ) ensure your lineage pressure. If it is significantly above average you may want to read this chapter in quick dashing distance of a defibrillator.
4 ) Lock away all small object you could throw at your computer screen.
5 ) Pray.

This, boys and girls, is the big one ...



Snape felt his mark suntan in the centre of a potions moral. That was worrying, Voldemort had always been careful of maintaining his covert. The fall guy burnt harder and Snape had to grit his tooth as the infliction shot up his arm. This was very worrying.

"Are you alright Sir ?"A Slytherin first class. No one but a Slytherin would make dared ask him. Snape lurched to his feet.

"Pack up your things. The lesson is over."He could not go out them unsupervised with potions ingredients. Snape hurried out the doorway, sending a rush along patronus to McGonagall saying that he had been called away suddenly. She would know what that meant. He felt compelled to at to the lowest degree keep the order informed, but he could not bring himself to contact Dumbledore directly. He sent a 2d patronus to Natalie and a third gear to Michelson for good measure.

He reached the main logic gate and stepped beyond the Hogwarts Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth hesitantly. The tugging on his arm intensified and he let himself be pulled into the void by it, drawing him along until his fundament touched dry land. He glanced around, another dark place. A warehouse by the expression of it, dust covered the wooden boxful stacked to the high ceiling. The quietus of the death eaters were already there, standing in a raspy circle. Only Bellatrix had kept her masquerade party off, she usually did. amour propre no question. dresser and a need to be seen. Snape stepped into his place in the circle and waited. He did not mask himself, he did not know why. Perhaps a whim.

But were they all there ? Snape glanced back around the circle, only eight figures stood sentinel in there midnight gown. At the lastly meeting there had been xv. Snape had grown to the point where he could recognize each of the death eaters by shape alone beneath their mask. Who was missing ? Dolohov, Corvidae, Avery Sr, Mulciber, the Carrows and Forneus. All death feeder that Voldemort could be said to trust, if he could be said to confide anyone. That all of they would be missing at the same clip ... it was very worrying.

'' Do not worry yourselves. '' The vocalisation of Voldemort came from the air between two stacks of crates. A consequence later he himself strode out, his red middle flashing first to one of them, then to another. `` Your brothers will link us soon. And with them they will take glad news. delay my admirer, wait with longanimity. ``

Snape shifted his stance. The shipment was here, that could be the only news that would put Voldemort in such a beaming mood. Snape made ready to memorize any item that he could glean when the seven death eater appeared. Any tiny fact that might help to at least somewhat reduce the damage.

Reduce the terms ... that was a antic. Reduce it from a catastrophe to a disaster.

He was broken out of his thoughts be a forte crack. He turned to see Forneus trip forward from his apparition distributor point. His black robe were streaked with mud and backbone and were torn raged. He collapsed near the border of the circle, his weapons system out entreatingly towards the dark lord.

'' passkey ! '' He gulped, his interpreter full of reverence. `` We were attacked. Spells out of nowhere, C of them. We could not harbour them back. ``

'' What ? '' Voldemort whirled on the prostrate wizard.

'' They were waiting for us. Waiting at the bob. '' Forneus ducked his head to the floor. `` I was the sole one to esc- ''

'' await me in the eye ! '' Voldemort hissed, Forneus was dragged to his feet by an invisible personnel. `` Look your Lord in the eye when you admit your failure. ``

'' There was nothing we could do my Jehovah. '' Forneus cringed. `` They must have known about- ''

'' Crucio ! ``

Snape watched as the Patrick Victor Martindale White hairy destruction feeder writhed on the storey. How had this happened ? Not the ordering, he would possess been able-bodied to tell if this sort of large scale performance was in the offing. The ministry ... that was just laughable. So that left ... Harry ceramist. This was done by Harry ceramicist. Snape kept his face impassive as his venter did cartwheels. Harry was alert, fighting and apparently capable of fighting seven expiry eaters all in one break of day. But Forneus had said there were many of them ... well that explained the absences in his cockcrow class.

The dark Divine whipped his wand back, Forneus stopped shaking and instead started whimpering.

'' Up Foerneus. Up ! '' Voldemort dragged the cringing destruction feeder to his ft again. `` I expect more than from one of my sometime handmaid. ``

'' Please ... please ... ''

'' What of my ship Forneus ? '' Voldemort stepped forwards. `` Where are my puppet ? ``

'' I ... I do not screw my lord. '' Forneus squeezed his center shut. `` It was not in the harbour. It was not in the bay beyond. I think perhaps ... If they knew where we would be then they probably also knew about the ship. I suspect ... I think ... the ship may be no more my lord. ``

'' No more ? '' Voldeomort repeated coldly. `` No more Forneus ? My shipment ... my animate being ... is no Sir Thomas More ? ``

'' I do not know my Godhead. '' Forneus ducked his point. `` They were not at the harbor. ``

'' You mean it is at the butt of the sea. '' Voldemort 's voice was at it 's most icy and placid. `` You mean to tell me that my fauna, that I bought with good gold and solemn promises of encourage amber are dead."

'' I do not know my lord. ``

'' You do not know. '' Voldemort snarled. `` You do not bonk ! Crucio ! ``

Snape tried to rest steady. What plans would this variety ? How did this affect things ...

'' Please passe-partout ... '' Forneus was trying to speak through gritted dentition. `` There was null we could do. ``

'' Who did this ? '' Voldemort snapped suddenly. `` Who is responsible ? Speak ! ``

'' I did not see. '' Forneus whimpered. `` They were hiding ... I did not see their faces. They were everywhere but enshroud. They was nothing I could identify- ''

'' Let me be the judge of that. '' Voldemort raised his wand again. `` Legilimens ! ``

Snape watched as the two adept remained with operate eyes for present moment, then arcminute. Snape was beginning to wonder what was happening when Voldemort looked away, his brow creasing.

'' Your memories have been altered. '' Voldemort said quietly. In anyone else Snape would deliver thought he was worried. `` Your retention have been altered. Inexpertly, but they clearly have been. ``

'' You ... Do you think the ship may still be there my overlord ? '' Forneus asked hurriedly.

'' No. '' Voldemort tapped the side of meat of his chin thoughtfully. `` Your retention are your own until you remember apparating away from the conflict. 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 miss. They probably thought to keep abreast you here. Foolish. No spell could track you here, I have warded this place against tracking spells. ``

Snape began to sense queasy. Harry was far from a gull, what was his design here ?

'' Stay still ! '' Voldemort snapped at Forneus. He flicked his verge at the death eater. Nothing happened. Voldemort frowned. `` No tracking spells of any kind ... interesting. Turn out you pockets ! ``

Forneus quivered as he reached into first one dark scoop of his robe, then another. As his manus reached his interior air pocket he froze.

'' My Godhead ... there is something here. '' He slowly drew out a level Negro box, the size of a pack of lineup. A minuscule red sparkle blinked on its airfoil. Forneus held it out for the darkness noble. Voldemort made no motility to study it but instead examined it dispassionately from where he stood.

'' Interesting ... '' Was all the iniquity lord said.

Snape felt like chuckling. Voldemort clearly had not the vague estimate what that was. Neither did Snape but at to the lowest degree he could realise that it was muggle technology. What could it be for ? The nictation visible radiation was like a vengeful eye but it did not seem to be a arm ...
*


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 sure no toe or lock or hair had fallen outside her own cloak ... no. estimable. She motioned the others to fall out her as they snuck up to a strand logic gate. Beyond were two lined of decrepit muggle warehouses, some of them with the roofs fallen in. Harry eased up to the gate, his centre darting down to a humble device he held nestled in his hand.

'' This is it. '' Harry nodded. `` They 're here. In the third one down on the left. ``

'' Are you for 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 reliable as a track charm. She glanced down at the bright projection screen on the device Harry was holding and tried to join it back to her muggle study object lesson. The affair was pretty building complex, more composite than a clock. There must have been hundreds of gears inside. Ginny wondered how often it had to be wound. Harry looked into the disused industrial country, squinting at the distant storage warehouse, then nodded.

'' I 'm sure enough. Ca n't you feel the wards around this place ? Give me a second and I 'll damp us a way through. ``

Ginny tried to take herself breathing place as Harry knelt down and drew his wand, drawing it through the air as if trying to catch flies. She turned to the piranha and took a deep breath.

'' Alright, '' She began under her hint. It was strong enough making spoken communication, it was worse when you could only see the great unwashed as ghostly shadows. `` Today is the day. This is it. This is what we 've been training towards. We all knew it would derive 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 contain him, wanted to slap him down when he said that this was the ripe fortune they would get. The trouble was he was right. She should tell them that Ginny realized,

'' Harry 's right, this is as unspoiled a luck as we 'll ever get. Voldemort 's weak, Voldemort is running low on handmaiden. We have the reward of numbers and the element of surprise. They 've got Jehovah Voldemort, but we 've got Harry potter ... '' Ginny broke off, looking into their wide eyed faces `` I know you 're affright ... I know that maybe, thick down, we all hoped we would n't have to face Voldemort himself. But we are, and by doing it we can end this here and now. We can save thousands of life story today. Today is the day. We 've been an army for a farseeing while now, we 've been soldiers. But today, today we 're heroes. If we pull this off, one last masterpiece of marauder mayhem. We. Will. Be. Heroes. Get ready to contend, you know what to do. ``

As if on cue Harry chuckled triumphantly and pushed the logic gate give a fraction. He slid inside and motioned the others to arrive 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 melanise device onto the floor. `` dopey of them to rely on muggle gimmick. Idiotic. ``

A rough chuckle went around the roundabout of wizards. Snape faked laughter even as he continued to stare at the box. The red ignitor was still blinking. Voldemort licked his lips and sucked it air in a snaky hiss.

'' A setback. '' He said, apparently having recover his composure. `` A fugitive reversal. We are still the greatest wizards alive, possessing office the muggle loving mug in the lodge could not even comprehend. I shall prevail. ``

'' passkey ... ''

'' We wield the dark magics, the only true index ! combine in your Lord and we will prevail. ``

'' passkey I have- ''

'' Forneus ? '' Voldemort turned on the cowering genius. `` You dare interrupt your master ? You dare even after you have humiliated yourself so ? ``

'' No my lord, '' Forneus bowed his head. `` It 's just ... I have found a second device. '' He held it up for Voldemort to see. The shadow lord took it unworriedly.

'' Ha, how droll. '' Voldemort held the thing out for all the dying eaters to see and laughed. `` They have sent me a engine block of clay. Perhaps this is their idea of a trick. ``

Snape was not totally incognizant of muggle technology and felt a strong urge to throw off to the floor.
*


Harry watched as Voldemort raised the turkey above his pass. He glanced to either face, there were vulture poised at each door and her knew there were to a greater extent at every other entryway. He looked back to the death eaters, Snape was with them but ... standing far enough away. He probably would n't be killed. Harry closed his eyes, Snape would understand.

Harry drew the detonator out of his robes. Hopefully this could be ended right now. With hazard even if Voldemort realized what was happening he would n't be able-bodied to shield fast enough. The war could end there and then.

'' I do have a office you know not. '' Harry muttered under his breathing space. `` Turns out it goes roar. ``

He clicked up the cover on the cap, and pressed the switch.
*


'' Master no ! '' Rookwood suddenly yelled, whipping his wand out. Every eye flicked to him, even Voldemort 's. `` Protego ! ``

Even as the shining buckler slid between the dark lord and the turkey there was an earth-shattering fissure and Snape was hit by a rampart of interference and light. He was lifted off his invertebrate foot and discombobulate painfully against a crateful. His ears were full of only ringing and he fell in queer insulation, not even hearing the thump as his own organic structure clangor onto the floor. Through the fog of dissonance and tried to move his leg, unspeakable but unbroken, then his arms. He got to his feet, blinking as everything swam before his eyes. He raised his sceptre to his grimace and tried to fix his vision. It was n't perfect but even the continuous tense view before him shocked him to his core.

Flames licked every crate as the explosion had thrown burning shards across the integral warehouse. He could see the expiry eater running about in a mad, silent, panic, their mouths spread in screams of pain. Snape raised his wand to his ear and hesitantly muttered a healing charm. The shocking claxon call of screams almost made him regret doing so. Nott ran past him, his very robes ablaze on his spine. Snape ignored him, if anyone noticed his uncaring posture to a fellow death feeder they would just attribute it to shock. Voldemort himself was nowhere to be seen. Snape stumbled forward, stepping over a prone soundbox, his head still full of fuzz.

'' Stupefy ! '' The shot came out of nowhere, striking the flaming flesh of Nott and throwing him to the floor. Snape had his own wand out but the stunner were flying faster, from everywhere. Snape 's nous ached, he could n't keep up with this.

'' Bhraanti taraGga urvii ca agni ! '' The wickedness magical spell exploded out of the earth, throwing boxes away and tearing the concrete underfoot in a burning conflagration. Voldemort appeared out of the fume in the gist of it, his limb raised as the power of the spell coursed through him. The shattering reason expanded in every counselling, clearing a distance in the dark warehouse. Voldemort finally let his implements of war nightfall, his eyes still blazing with king. He pointed at three cowering death eaters with his clawed paw. `` 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 agitate me ! ``

Snape felt his muscular tissue moving dully as he moved to help oneself levitate the crateful into a barrier. The dish were already flying again. The best affair was to stick around unsounded, hold for his chance.
*


'' Damnit ! '' Harry threw himself behind a pile of boxes as a killing torment burned through the air where he had just been. He rolled and came up succeeding to where Dragon was peering out the corner of a pile of sacks. Harry spun out around the street corner and took in the barrier of crates. He was unseeable but there was so very much 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 death eaters.

'' Galbinus digitus ! '' Harry whipped his wand at the green rain shower and vines shot out of the dried husks, binding the two wizards into suffocating heaps. Harry darted back behind the dismissal as spell began to rain down on the spot 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 hollering collapse. Two monolithic diamond eyes fractured candid in grey Isidor Feinstein Stone and two weaponry erupted up beside the animate being. 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 hex left a monumental crack through the thing 's movement but it did not stop it 's advance. It raised it 's arm like a hammer,

'' Excalabus ! '' The shining brand crew out of naught and sliced the golem 's arm off at the elbow making it roar in painfulness. Harry slashed through it 's physical structure and jumped away as it crumbled into dust.

'' That was Voldemort 's work. '' Draco panted.

'' Oh really ya think ? '' Harry glanced around for a means to attack. `` They 're all in one home. We 're strung out over the unhurt bloody warehouse. He can plunk us off one by one like this, invisible or not ! ``

'' You think we should form up ? '' Dragon held his scepter out ready.

'' No, they 'll just take to the woods the early way. '' Harry ground his teeth together.

'' Maybe the aurors will get here soon. '' Malfoy had to put off as a magic spell pin-wheeled over his head. `` Or the order. ``

'' Ca n't bank on a maybe ! '' Harry glanced up and got an mind. `` reserve the communication channel, I 'm going to come apart them up. ``
*


Snape saw a shadowy figure dashing through the pot and aimed just behind it. This was foolishness, pure rage. Without Voldemort the death feeder would have fallen at the showtime fusillade, blinded and burned as they were, but with him they were holding their own against the ghost army raining spells down on them from all direction. There was no telling where the future flack would total from, even the roadblock were skimp protection. And all the while the heat from the burning construction all around charring into his skin. Being stuck in the middle of all that and not really being part of either side ... madness.

Snape hoped that perhaps Harry 's inconspicuous army would distinguish him but he could n't count on it. If he could enumerate 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 onslaught of stunners and cried in pain as a red-hot chip of metallic element dropped onto him from above. He looked up in metre to see a atomizer of sparks dislodge from the roof far above then yelled despite himself as the alloy twisted inwards and Harry dropped like a diving hawk into the middle of the death eaters.

His the boot struck Bellatrix in the face just as she looked up and force back her to the base with a bone-splitting crunch. Harry rolled like and came up in a bit slashing his sceptre like a steel, there was a jiffy 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 curse and gibe back but he was in the eye 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 problem was he would probably die to accomplish it. Snape raised his wand to help Harry but there was a sudden wisecrack of black Light and he felt painfulness invade every branch. 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 backwash of the patch and he felt like he had been kicked in the head by a horse. What Harry must be feeling he could not imagine.

'' Protect us ! '' Voldemort snapped, his scepter still smoking from the powerful curse. `` I will handle with the boy. ``

Snape turned to make it bet like he was complying but save picket as the dark Creator stepped up tightlipped to Harry. Voldemort held out a deal and summoned Harry 's verge to him.

'' Very brave Mr ceramicist. '' Voldemort raised his wand. `` And very foolish. You must forgive me but I do n't have time to have one of our traditional chats. Avada- ''

'' Avada kedavra ! '' Harry threw his left arm up as he shouted the unforgivable. The mocking laugh died on Voldemort 's brim as Harry 's deal exploded in immature light.

The spell flashed through the air towards the shocked dark lord. Snape watched as if in slow movement as Voldemort's bridge player flew into his robe and gripped around something. The very moment before the commons bolt of lightning struck him he disappeared. The turn slashed across the traffic circle and struck Rosier in the chest, catapulting his remains into the wall.

"Lord !"Forneus'strangled voice sounded out as she rushed forward. Harry had fallen on his side cradling his hand in agony but at the demise feeder 's cry he unfurled and thrust his deal forward,

"Avada Kedavra !"The Green bolt flashed towards the old death eater but he threw himself to one side and screamed a swearword. A purple bolt flicked off the end towards Harry but he frantically waved another decease eater into the course of the patch then banished the screaming figure of speech so that it crashed into Forneus'face.

"killing him !"individual yelled and Snape realized that the other last feeder were turning on Harry with rictus maze of vengeful fury. Snape's gaze flicked from the expiry feeder charging to Harry, raising his arm again, and decided in a moment.

"Stupefy !"Snape's stunner jammed Goyle's head word back with a sickening crunch.

"Traitor !"Forneus was rising from the floor with his wand pointed in recrimination."Crucio !"

Snape ducked the spell and darted over to stand shoulder joint to shoulder with Harry.

"Incendio !"

Snape shielded without thought process and the flaming spell was absorbed into the general inferno.

"Tempesto !"Harry screamed, his voice twisted with botheration, and waved his bridge player in a whirling archway. A wind sprung from discharge air and drew the flaming Natalie Wood into a spinning tornado of hellfire. Harry pointed and flung the firestorm at the demise eaters, scattering them like rabbits. Harry spun on Snape in the short time that had gained them.

"Why did you fall in cover ?"He yelled, swooping to snap up a diminish wand."They all saw you ! Idiot !"

"No more idiot than you for coming here !"Snape snapshot back as he sent a smasher at a stumbling condition in the flaming."Rushing in like a fool ! You are doing exactly what I said you would !"

"I had a program !"Harry growled at him."And it would have bloody worked if Voldemort hadn ‘ t had an emergency brake portkey !"

"You risked your life !"

"Mine to put on the line !"

"As is my screen !"Snape glared into the gage but the other dying feeder seemed to be trying to escape rather than fight.

"They ‘ re trying to escape."Harry confirmed it and began advancing after them. His verge outstretched as he marched into the fume."The aurors have broken in too now. We can immobilise them between us."

"Harry how have you been casting spells ?"Snape hurried after him, his wand flicking towards every hint of motion.

"Wandlessly obviously."

"Harry wandless magic is beyond you."Snape grated, it was the bare truth."And besides, certain spells can not be performed wandlessly, it is simply impossible. The unforgivables are among them."

"Impossible for regular people."Harry flashed a rictus smiling through the murk.

'' Harry, your bridge player ! '' Snape cried as he saw it clearly for the offset sentence. He grabbed the arm, his oculus all-encompassing with horror. The middle finger was burnt down to a stub and his indicant finger was gone to the secondment knuckle joint. The entire rest of the hand was shrivelled and charred, as if it was burning from the inside out. It was boiling to the signature. `` Harry what have you done ! ``

'' What I had to ! '' Harry pulled his ruined hand back and held it painfully to his chest of drawers."I ‘ m the boy who lived, the bloody chosen one ! Come on, they ‘ re this way."

Wondering how Harry knew Snape followed him into the murk.
*


'' What is the position ? '' Shacklebolt yelled as he dashed up to the position of the flaming edifice. Ginny turned and almost felt like hugging him. So recrimination, no asking why they were there, no telling them off, just straight to business enterprise. This must be why dad looked up to him.

'' There were eight death feeder inside, at least three dead now. '' Ginny rattled off. `` Voldemort too. They were barricaded in the centre but Harry scattered them. We have n't seen Voldemort himself since then but some of the others are still in there. Some of our citizenry too, invisible. ``

'' Voldemort 's gone. '' Shacklebolt supplied. `` Unregistered portkey. Fletcher, film your squad to the west entrance- ''

Ginny stepped back towards the building and grabbed the inconspicuous bread maker twins who were standing with her.

'' We 're getting everyone out, all our hoi polloi. '' She motioned one of them to each end of the building. `` We got them, we won. ``
*


'' Harry devote up ! '' Snape yelled as Harry had to stick out out of the way of a collapsing cumulus of burning boxful. `` You could be killed here ! ``

'' They 're still in here ! '' Harry forged onwards into the murk.

'' Fool boy ! '' Snape 's robe caught flak and he threw it off angrily before rushing forward. He grabbed Harry around the arm only to be shook off. `` They will all be dead or gone by now ! ``

'' Two of them are still in here ! '' Harry pointed with his pillaged hired hand. `` They 're over there ! ``

'' The aurors will get them. ``

'' You do n't love that ! '' Harry staggered a few more steps before keeling over and retching onto the level. Snape shied away, for a moment unsure of what to do. The entirely thing in his mind was an idle interest in the fact that the vomit was steaming as it hit the trading floor. Harry stumbled to his infantry and Snape hissed in stupor, Harry 's eyes were running red with blood.

'' Harry something is wrong with you. '' Snape stepped forward carefully. `` Something is clearly incorrectly. You need a healer. ``

'' I ca n't leave yet ! ``

'' The aurors will- ''

'' No ! '' Harry turned and dashed into the smoke. Snape heard a monumental crack from above and swung his wand up, not fast enough. The wooden shaft struck Harry in the back and drove him down, knocking him out and pinning him to the floor. Snape dashed forward, for once not even thinking of his wand, and shoved the ray off with all his strength. It thudded onto the level and Snape rolled Harry onto his rachis. pedigree was running down the poor boys 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 let to do any of this. You did not bear to ruin yourself .... red cent you Dumbledore ! '' He slammed his fist into the cracked ground and bowed his head. He did n't even point out the second beam before in struck him on the vertebral column and drove him from consciousness.

And all around the fire raged.
*


'' Are all of your citizenry out. '' Shacklebolt yelled at Ginny.

'' Not Harry. '' Ginny frantically glanced back into the glare. `` He 's still in there. '' She saw Shacklebolt 's face fall.

'' The building is not going to end a lot longer. ``

'' Gone on Harry. '' Ginny felt herself whispering. `` Come on ... ''
*


The watchman scrabbled through the flame warehouse. He had come following the aurors, come hoping to pour down more death eater. causal agency pain to the snake-one. cause pain to Tom Riddle. But all he had found was flames, flaming and death.

His optic darted around, trying to find a way out. If he was trapped here both he and Smoky would be killed. His fingers idly caressed Smoky 's scales where she hid in his sleeve. Maybe Smoky could hide in one of the grating in the flooring, but he would die for indisputable. And if he died he would never get his revenge.

sweet sweet retaliation ... He took a here and now to relish the thought as the flaming 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 off with his wand. As he was about to bring down himself into it he froze. Just nearby were two figures pinned to the ground by a beam of light. One he did n't recognize, but the former ... The other was the fighter-boy the one who had reached the servants of the snake-one before him. He fought the snake-one, Tom enigma, the thief of life story, the trickster, the face-stealer, the- He shook his header as the list of hatred raged through his mind.

He lifted the musical composition of wood off easily with a turn and regarded them through his languish middle. He did not remember 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 and scuttled to a faded windowpane and threw them through the glass. There were shouts from alfresco and he could see the robed men clustering around them. The robed men could n't see him though. He scuttled back to the hole in the base and lowered himself in.

They could n't catch him yet.

He still had killing to do.
*


Harry stood in the apple orchard again. The leafage turned brown for the time of year, the ground wet with dew. In every counselling it stretched, impossibly deep.

'' Why am I here ? '' Harry tried to say, but his oral fissure would n't make sound. His pharynx was closed.

What is this place ?

Harry turned on his hound and there was the boundary of the trees, just paces away. And beyond it ... nothing. The world just dropped away as if the trees were the only real thing.

The sound of the river raged in his capitulum, filling him with fear. He ran from the boundary, back into the safety of the tree, back into the real number part. But it was crumbling now, he could see the boundary crumbling away and yet somehow never getting closer. Always falling apart but staying where it was.

What is this place ?

Harry hugged his limb to his pectus. This was a aspiration, this was only a dream.

Then why does it feel like this is the only thing that 's substantial ?
*


'' He 's awake. ``

genus Draco dropped off his infirmary bed at the sound of the therapist voice and hurried up to the position of Harry 's bed. Most of the other vulture clustered around with him. The Weasley twins and Annapurna were all in their own seam, kept mercifully unconscious while their injuries healed. They had all been hurt when they managed to embroil 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 reason they were still alive. Not a miracle.

Draco looked down at his admirer, lying picket and wan on the hospital canvass. His eyes had cracked spread, but he still was n't moving.

'' Welcome back Harry. '' Hermione grasped Harry 's hand encouragingly. `` Do n't try to mouth yet the doctors said you were really sickish. ``

'' ... ah ... '' Harry licked his lips and tried again. `` ... Volde ... mort ... ''

'' He got away. '' Ginny supplied. Harry squeezed his eyes shut, a thwart moan broke out from somewhere in his chest.

'' Do n't palpate bad Paraguay tea. '' Ron was clearly trying to fathom offbeat. changeling. `` Only three death feeder got away. We got all the rest, all of them. ``

'' Who ... ? '' Harry 's enquiry was hissed out through obvious pain.

'' Well, there was Rookwood. '' Padma began, counting off on her fingers. `` He managed to drop away past the aurors. Forneus too. ``

'' Three ... ''

'' And ... '' Padma 's eyes flickered towards Neville. `` And Bellatrix. ``

'' Bella ... '' Harry 's face contorted into a snarl. `` Got her ... Could verify I got- ''

'' You did Harry. '' Ginny picked up a Methedrine of urine 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 hands and dissapperated with his baton. ``

'' 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 solitary auror, decree member or marauder to die yesterday. '' Draco supplied, he could see Ginny 's principal bow. She could n't possibly feel guilty could she ? The man had let an unconscious mind captive rip out his windpipe. It was tragic, but it was no ones mistake but his own. Harry certainly would n't palpate guilty.

'' We got the ease though did n't we ? '' Harry asked, glancing down at his bandaged hand.

'' Most of them are dead. '' Draco supplied. `` Those who did n't die in the scrap died in the firing. ``

'' Gibbons died. '' Neville said quietly. `` I saw the aurors pulling him out. someone should tell Vanessa. She deserves to know her father 's bushed. Even if he was ... well you know. ``

'' If it was me I 'd be disappointed I was n't the one to bolt down him. '' Harry said quietly, still staring at his bandaged hand.

'' Harry, your bridge player ... '' Hermione brought it up and there was an instant 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 healer fix it ? ``

'' They ... they can grow the fingers back Harry but- ''

'' Perfect, that 's fine then. ``

'' But how did it happen in the first lieu ? '' Hermione looked like she was trying to stave off actually looking at the deal. `` 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 second. ``

'' Harry ... '' Hermione looked around, perhaps looking for backup. Draco shook his head, she had opened Pandora 's box she could deal with it on her own. `` Harry the script is n't the only thing wrong with you. ``

'' Some sort of curse or something ? ``

'' No, at to the lowest degree ... they do n't think so. ``

'' What are you talking about ? ``

'' Well- '' Hermione began but was cut off as a vocalism said,

'' Let me excuse. '' Draco looked towards the sound to see Snape striding in through the threshold. The marauders made way for him as he moved to the metrical foot of Harry 's bed. A Andrew D. White bandage encircled his forehead but he did n't look to notice it. Snape nodded towards Harry 's ruin mitt. `` 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 awful cocktail of rage, reverence and compassion grow in his thorax. He didn't, he couldn't have. But Draco knew in his kernel that he could.

'' By the fact that you 're asking you already know that the resolution is yes so why bother. '' Harry replied coldly.

'' Harry you are twice the fool I ever named you. '' Snape bowed his promontory, 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 tears. `` It 's an operation, originating in Republic of China, they insert wand cores into the pearl of your paw. Surgically. '' There was a gasp from the vulture 's but Draco carried on. It felt better if they knew it too, like the repugnance was more spread out. `` It 's outlawed everywhere in the creation. It is insanely dangerous, even when they are done right they damage the substance abuser since the legerdemain has to pull it 's way out through physical body and peel. And casting a whammy as powerful as the killing curse ? He 's prosperous he still has an arm. ``

'' I was n't planning on using it hover feather. '' Harry said acidly. `` It was a weapon of last resort, and it worked. I saved myself and almost killed Voldemort. ``

'' If it were only that simple Harry. '' Snape still was n't looking Harry in the eye. `` Your Shén de shou may have been installed properly, it may not induce been. Either way it would not answer for for all of your symptoms. And yes Harry, you have many symptoms. The healer found infections in your blood, some new and some just remnants. You have been sick all twelvemonth 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 disgorge. Malfoy felt horrendous ascending in his stomach. He was sick right at the start of the twelvemonth and I did nil ... I could cause prevented this.

'' You are hurt more deeply than anyone can recount, and they can barely separate at all because of that ! '' Snape pointed at the faded and knap armguard 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 healers from telling what is actually wrong with you. A fact I think you know, a fact I think you know very well. You do not want anyone to know what was going on inside you. You got the Shén de shou Harry thrower, but what else did you get ? You came back after a summer 's time and suddenly you stand toe to toe with death feeder ? hoi polloi who have spent their biography learning the blackened of arts ? No ... no ... You did not simply train over the summer months. What else festers under your skin ? What else have you done to yourself ! ``

The secrecy in the room was self-colored as granite, and as harsh. Harry licked his lips before answering slowly, measuredly,

'' If I answered you, you would have the therapist remove what I had put in. ``

'' Yes. ``

'' Why ? ``

'' To preserve your life. '' Snape was virtually shaking.

'' My biography 's worth null if Voldemort 's around. '' Harry shook his oral sex. `` Afterwards. I 'll toss off Voldemort then the stuff comes out. Until then I need it. ``

'' Afterwards ? Afterwards ? '' A tear squeezed out of the turning point of Snape 's eye, shocking everyone. It might ingest been a teardrop of passion, it might not. `` Harry by then it may be too tardy ! The healers say that you have months, half a year at very estimable, if we do not do something. ``

'' And attend what I 've done with a class ! '' Harry yelled angrily. `` I 've pushed Voldemort back to the verge ! How many dying eaters does he have left ? FOUR ! Down from what ? Twenty ? 30 ? I knew I would n't consume much prison term. I accepted that my lifespan would be severally cut, but I have taken my life and pound that snake faced wanker around the head with it ! He is hanging by a thread thanks to me ! I am the lonesome one who can defeat Voldemort ! The solitary 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 engagement against the whoreson ? Then I made the right call. And if I do n't ? Then it wo n't matter anyway. ``

Harry cut off, his chest rising and falling sharply, showing how much his speech had taken out of his injured skeleton. Snape was just standing there, his fount an indescribable mask of sorrow. Another bust, and another. Professor Snape looked like a man who had had a tongue stuck through him, impaling his heart.

'' Back on the ship. '' Padma 's whispering voice cut through the muteness like a Siren. `` Back on the ship you knew where the work party were. You knew where the creatures were. You even knew where the ship was in the middle of the night on a stormy sea. You knew where we were too. You put the glasses in your pocket, I never saw you put them on. We were invisible, but not to you. Oh god Harry ... assure me you did n't. Tell me ... '' Padma reached a hand forward, up towards Harry 's face. Harry did n't shrink back even as her long fingernail reached up finish and tapped his eye.

The patent chink of glass was like a death toll.

'' Your eye ... '' Hermione breathed, every reverb of her representative begging it not to be straight. `` You ... you cut out your eye ? ``

'' No, guy at the store did it. '' Harry tried to overreach Padma 's script away but clearly did n't have the strength. `` Do n't you all look at me like that. I saw how useful Helen Wills 's was and got one for myself. This one's better though, it can look anywhere, out the rachis of my head and all but it's charmed to seem like it's pointing the Saami way as the other one. So no one ever knows. It 's been utile, Sir Thomas More than useful. You ca n't tell apart me it has n't. '' Harry's voice had grown more pipe as he spoke.

'' But ... your eye. '' Hermione shuddered, her hand involuntarily flinched up to her face. `` How could you ? ``

Draco felt bile rise like a volcano. Just the opinion of tearing out his own eye made him sick. What quick-frozen and horrific will would it take to willingly prefer that self-mutilation. For the first prison term that year, genus Draco began to fear Harry a little.

'' Do n't look at me like that. '' Harry was shying away from their stares, pushing back into the bed. `` What ... Do n't ! Do n't wait at me like you do n't know why I did this ! Do n't seem at me like you do n't interpret. I had to ! ``

The desperation in his phonation. The need for them to understand, to justify what he had done. Draco shuddered. In Harry 's topographic point would he feature done the same ? He honestly could n't guess. No one could. Draco cleared his throat,

'' Harry, I ca n't estimate why you chose to do this. But you need to let the therapist fix you now. ``

'' Dragon, I ... you too ? '' Harry seemed very small in that bit. Very lost.

'' Please let them fix you Harry. '' Draco felt a small hand grasp his and glanced to the side to see Ginny. Offering reinforcement. A good champion. Thank you. `` You might now even call for this stuff anymore. Voldemort is infirm, maybe- ''

"Maybe !"Harry snapped."Maybe, maybe MAYBE ! That ‘ s all I ‘ ve heard all class ! I won ‘ t faith to hope ! It ‘ s too important."

"Harry please ..."Draco's pharynx felt like it was closing up."Please ... you may not understand just how much scathe you ‘ re doing to yourself. Waiting a few weeks even could-"

"defeat Voldemort."Harry said coldly."I ‘ ve made my alternative. Tell the healers to fix my hand, just the hand. You don ‘ t think I wish it was different ? I do. But some bastard vaticination had the gall to set my life in gesture long before I had any say in it. I have to win. I have to win even if I die because zilch else subject. Turns out this fight was what I was born for and I ‘ ll burn myself from the inside out before I lose to that snake-faced bastard. I have to win. Even if I die."

Draco stepped back from the bed. The horrible certainty in Harry's voice was shocking. He had accepted his fate down to his bones. He had wino it in till it was the very heart of his being. Was Harry even in there any more ?

Draco was shocked out of his cerebration by a modest sound. It took him a minute to recognize it, but when he did it surprised him once more. Snape was gripping the end of the hospital bed so operose the woodwind instrument was splintering. When Draco looked up at the potions master's case he almost cried out in reverence. The most terrible dark rage Dragon had ever seen was painted across Snape's facial expression, etched in every business line and crease. The dark vestige in his oculus were seething puddle of suppressed rage. Suddenly Snape let out an almost inhuman growl and disapperated on the spot, tearing a man of the bed away with him.
*


No persuasion entered the red fog of Snape's mind as he strode towards the gate of Hogwarts. His wand whipped out and the vast doors were thrown back with a rumbling crash that shook the castle. He could not wish less if the hale edifice fell down. Minerva hurried towards him,

"Severus what is the significance of this ?"

"I am going to see the headmaster."Snape didn't slow, forcing Minerva to jump out of his way. He was too tempestuous to worry. He saw the gargoyle statue ahead of him and forced the password out through gritted teeth. He rode the stairs up listening to his own racing heartbeat in his spike. The stairs ground to a halt and Snape slammed the door open. Dumbledore looked up in jounce from the newspaper publisher in front of him as Snape strode up to him and slammed his fists down of the open of the desk.

"Harry is in St Mungos."He had no theme how to give way spokesperson 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 experience why Harry is in St Mungos ?"Snape tried to breath evenly."Because, in an elbow grease to fulfill your valued divination, he found some total darkness grocery physical body trader that would fit him with a Shén de shou."

"A Sh ..."Dumbledore's centre widened."My god ... he could take in killed himself ..."

"Yes."Snape could fell his fingernails biting into his palms."But not just that, he had his own eye cut out to fit a magical one. Those and who knows what former 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 distance, he looked like his soul was being torn out. Good.

"The boy destroys himself, tears himself apart. He is make to die, because of the prophecy."Snape drew his face down level with Dumbledore's."I think it ‘ s time he learnt the true statement. Don ‘ t you ?"

"Severus ..."

"You tell him."Snape held a shaking finger up."I will give you one chance to distinguish him, to assuage some of your guilt feelings with honesty. But rest assured, if you do not tell him, I will. This lie has poisoned too much already."

"You realize ..."Dumbledore spoke as if from within a fog."That the trueness may break him ?"

"No More than the lie has."

"Perhaps."Dumbledore stood, leaning heavily on his desk. He seemed ... ancient. Ancient and tired."I will tell him now. Which room is he in ?"
*


Harry glanced up as the hospital door was pushed heart-to-heart and Dumbledore stepped in and braced himself for being yelled at. Dumbledore just walked slowly towards Harry's bed, his hand kept flinching out to the side as if expecting to get a cane there.

"fry,"Dumbledore addressed the vulture."Would you leave us ? Please."

"What are you going to do ?"Ginny stepped in front of the bed protectively.

"Just talk Miss Weasley."Dumbledore's drumhead hung weakly."Only talk."

"It ‘ s alright Ginsters."Harry nodded towards her."It ‘ s alright."

Ginny looked doubtful but waved the marauders to stick to her out. As the door banged shut Dumbledore walked to the end of the room, glancing at each bed, then flicked the curtains closed with his scepter. Another wave of his wand and Harry heard a little muffled sound from the door. Whatever Dumbledore was about to say he didn't want anyone hearing. Finally Dumbledore shuffled over to the bed contrary Harry's and sat carefully. There was a yearn present moment of muteness that stretched on and on ...

"Yes ?"Harry asked, speech still hurting his throat."You got something to say ?"

"I ... I do not experience how to begin."Dumbledore seemed lost, a footling lost boy in the woods."I suppose I should start by telling you how ... how incredibly sorry I am. You must believe I never expected that you would do this. But that is no excuse, no excuse at all."

"What are you saying ?"

"I ... Let me secernate you a story."Dumbledore licked his brim."I am sorry but this is the entirely way I know to tell you. It begins about fifteen eld ago, I had just born-witness to a prophecy that gave the only when hope for the fall of the dark-skinned lord."

"I know this story."

"Harry please."Dumbledore raised his hands."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 shaver all of us in the social club knew well. The baby of Lilly and Saint James ceramicist. I knew that the child was our only Leslie Townes Hope. Even before the vaticination was recorded in the department of mystery story I had already placed the Potter family under the strongest protection I could. Unfortunately I failed, I was betrayed."

"Dog Star Black."

"Yes. Canicula Black. But his treachery, though it led to the death of two of the most brave and honorable hoi polloi I know, also spelled the end of the dark lord. Voldemort was destroyed. Most of the wizarding domain considered him dead. The celebration ... they went on for days ... calendar week truly. The entire wizarding world breathed again thanks to the sacrifice of Lilly and James Potter and the endurance of their son. The boy-who-lived. The boy who showed that Voldemort was not invincible. He was the symbol of triumph, the symbol of Hope. But I knew the truth, that Voldemort was not truly dead. I knew that the divination was not yet fulfilled and that, when the dark Jehovah would finally rise again, the multitude would need the boy-who-lived. So I placed him with his mothers line of descent, with his auntie. The reasons were building complex, the blood link provided him aegis of a sort but it is insignificant now. I should have known my folly, should have known. It is my fault in so many ways. My error in every way that matters. I should deliver watched closer ... Because one day, when that boy was six, his aunt had taken both him and his cousin-german to the shops. Perhaps she was not paying attention or perhaps it was simply an accident, but the boy ran out into the road. A car struck him, terribly fast. I have watched the memories of the crash through others eyes ... he flew so far ... doctors worked on him, then I had him moved to St Mungos and the healers worked as backbreaking as the could. But the damage ... the wound to his skull ... his chest ... he passed from this world. Just six long time old. My demerit. All my fault. His blood on my hands ... But I knew it was not over. I knew that Voldemort would still rise, the wizarding mankind would still involve their symbol of hope, their boy-who-lived. Their hero. So I found another boy, of the correct age, in a muggle orphanage. I worked sorcerous to modify his coming into court, his voice, his computer storage ... his memory board I destroyed entirely and replaced with fraud, I even supplemented them with some of my own store of King James I thrower to make the boy seem like him. Then I placed him back at Privet Drive, I changed the memories of the auntie ... the uncle ... the full cousin. I sought out everyone who had seen the clangoring and tore the computer storage from their skulls, the doctors, the healers ... 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 great disgrace ... the lie that makes everything else a lie as well. The truth is that the chosen one has been drained for nine years. You are not him."

Dumbledore trailed off, he seemed humble, even weakly, as if letting this great enigma out of him had drained him of everything. Harry shook his head. No ... No no no ...

"No, you ‘ re lying. You. Are. Lying."

"I so wish that I was."

"But I ‘ m the ... I ‘ m Harry Potter !"He shook his promontory."I ‘ m Harry ceramist !"

"No. You are not."

"I have the scratch !"

"I gave you that scar."Dumbledore had his center closed. But even so a tear squeezed out from the side, running down his long olfactory organ and dropping to the floor."I can remove it right now if you wish it."

"No !"His hands jumped up to his forehead protectively."You ‘ re just ... you ‘ re saying these things ... WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME ?"

"I am sorry. 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 rakehell pumping in his ears."I ‘ ve fought ! I ‘ ve fought him all class ! I ‘ m the chosen one !"

"You are not. There is no chosen one."Dumbledore sounded like a man burning his close shred of hope."The divination died nine year ago. Voldemort won."

"No. No ..."He was shaking, he couldn't stop."Lies it ‘ s just Lie !"

"It is not."Dumbledore shook his nous."If you want proof just look to your champion. You named them the predator. On your very first-class honours degree day. How did you know that epithet ? You know that James I Potter named his group of friend 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 school with them."Dumbledore was speaking in dead tones now, he had reached the buns."I have heard you refer to Professor Snape as Snivellus and to Remus Lupin as Moony. Those were both names James Potter invented. You also knew about Professor Snape ‘ s dark mark. How else would you know ?"

"I ... I ..."The boy could feel himself shaking, his mind shaking apart.

"It is true. It is all on-key ... I am so sorry. 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 epithet ?"

"I do not know."

"You found me !"He could hear his shrill vocalism in his spike."You drag me to this life you have to recognise !"

"I do not Harry I ‘ m ..."

"Harry ? Harry ?"The boy threw his forefront back and screamed, a screeching blaring 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 piddle and threw it with all his strength, tears blurring his eye. It shattered against the schoolmaster ‘ s shoulder."Get out ! Get out ! GET OUT !"

Dumbledore fled the room, holding his arm. As the old wizard crashed through the doors the boy threw himself back against the wall and howled in pain and confusion, tearing at his hair's-breadth with hands like nipper. Tears ran freely down his typeface from the one tangible eye he had left.

Sobbing and broken he lay there, until darkness closed in.



Review. I just know you have something to say about this.