This script 's been giving me difficulty, lots and lots of trouble. I 've had More nuisance from this one than from the other four put together and it 's not even finished yet ! growl ... rumbling ...

Anyway as a result I may be tiresome to post than usual as I try to mystify this twisty, infernal recital I choose to anticipate a account into submission.

Sorry, hopefully the history will be better for it.

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



"Hello ?"The tradesman peered, bleary eyed, at the physique standing on the other side of the looking glass door."Sorry we ‘ re closed now."

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

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

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

"If your victor wants any of my service."The storekeeper grunted a laugh."He ‘ d better follow 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 passe-partout want ‘ s you to make me something. A Shén de shÇ'u."

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

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

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

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

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

"Are you a… a perfectly eater ?"

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

"I… I ‘ ll have to make some calls."The market keeper 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 chairperson."While we wait we can talk about some other things you may be capable 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 practically his wand fell on the floor and rolled away unnoticed.

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


Harry's thrill hit open fireplace and he drew his wand out and scanned the way 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 individual I was there right-hand now."Harry thought as he left the Myxocephalus aenaeus pub."And that someone will tell a death eater."

Harry broke into a run as old building flashed past him. He hadn't made for Greater London, too obvious. The bold silhouette of Edinburgh castle was outlined against the headliner for a bit between two building as Harry dashed along and he darted down an bowling alley towards it. He slowed as he passed a grouping of guys obviously out for the Nox, singing in the street, then sped up as the itinerary began to wax towards the high castle.

He came up a incline road and turned away from the historic building. Fitting himself into the bunch of Friday night revelers like a shadow. He flitted across the royal geographical mile as fast as he thought prophylactic, clutching his recollective coat tight about him. At XV long time old people wouldn't think it weird for him to be out this former but they might remember that he was alone. Any memory of his loss was a liability and Harry flicked his collar up and kept into the vestige of a house.

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

The rail station appeared beneath him and Harry swiftly crossed the bridge and slinked in a side entrance. He bought a tag from an automated auto ( no memory ) to the first-class honours degree placement on the departures board. Then tore it up, cursing himself again, and bought one for the second one down.

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

No ! Careless ! better safe. We want to fight them, but on our terms.

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

tinker's damn it ! Harry went stock still as two oddly curry individuals walked into the train place. One looked like his outfit was a Halloween costume of a pirate, the other was wearing lederhosen. They were the stupid sight Harry had ever seen.

They were also here to kill him.

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

“'Ere ? Who are y-"

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

"You ‘ re done for the night."Harry whispered and jerked a pollex back the way he ‘ d come."You need to interlock that door."

"R… right."The man mumbled and Harry left swiftly, passing out a side doorway and feeling the cold night air. Harry crossed the route and passed to the next street over and breathed a sigh of backup man. It was busy, full of merrymaker. He could be invisible here.

The skillful kind of invisible, the sort that didn't indigence cloaks.

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

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

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

Of course of instruction if one of them had been hunker down it would be unlike. 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 feeder's verge. No way to have sex whether he had hit… The baton came up, aimed at Harry…

Nothing.

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

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

Full circle, eventually we all come back home.

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

"He ‘ s here somewhere."

Harry's center flicked open, the wan brightness of daybreak filtering into the alleyway. footstep came slowly up the alley. Harry slid behind the bin that hid him and crawled to the early side. The two frame came cl… hang on !

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

"Underage magic and marauding demise eaters, it ‘ s him."Moody grumbled as he stumped along."He ‘ s back."

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


"Envenerate !"

Harry lifted his caput off the grass ( grass ? ) and looked around him. Moody was gone, but the marvellous bleak auror was still there, his blazon 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 assist him up."Want to explain why my knob brought you here comatose ?"

"They didn ‘ t William Tell you ?"

"Well Moody was too raging to talk and Kingsley kept laughing."

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

"I ‘ ll let Moody tell the story when he calms down."Harry dusted himself off and surveyed the void field. It seemed vaguely comrade."Where are we ?"

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

Harry took the report and unfolded it. On it was written, in loopy, tough to read handwriting…
The HQ of the rescript of the phoenix is the manor on the grim moors.


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

"Hey, isn ‘ t this-"

"Home."Came a spokesperson 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 blonde boy detached himself from the shadow of a doorway."Good too see you ‘ re still animated since we didn ‘ t have a clue."

"I owled."

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

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

"Yeah right."Draco pushed the room access open for Harry to abuse inside."wellspring in the bastardly clip your friend and fan gild have invaded my home."

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

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

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

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

"Didn ‘ t Voldemort live here ?"

"The Montgomery Ward respond to the current heir."Draco looked over at the sprawling tapestry of the Malfoy family tree diagram."Voldemort was forced to impart the moment…"

"The second ownership transferred ?"

"Yes. That."

"fountainhead at to the lowest degree we 're all prophylactic here. Constant weather eye. '' At Harry 's tidings Shacklebolt clapped a deal to his mouth but could n't stop a snigger. Harry grinned and took another spirit at the tapestry."Aren ‘ t you supposed to be on here ?"

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

"Why don ‘ t you fix it ?"

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

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

"No… no I ‘ m the final stage Malfoy."Draco seemed to nod to himself, his voice to the full of some frigidness resolve."Anyway, as I was saying. With the family enchantments and the extra Barbara Ward Dumbledore put up this position is totally impregnable."

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

"arrest saying that."Kingsley had to get across his rima oris again.

"What is this ?"Tonks looked between them, confused."It ‘ d have to be something beneficial to take a leak you laugh."

"He snuck up behind Alastor Helen Newington Wills and yelled ‘ Constant alertness ‘ in his ear."At Tonks'shocked expression he added."I ‘ m not joking."

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

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

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

In solution Harry just smiled and rolled up his left sleeve. Around his wrist joint was a establishment bracer engraved with tracing vines. Right in the center, on the interior arm, was a hieroglyph of a outstanding pitch blackness eye.

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

"That's the evil eye."Tonks stepped airless to wait at it."It wards off magical monitoring."

"Yep."

"It ‘ s also all sorts of illegal."

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

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

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

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

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

Harry grinned and turned to follow the auror.

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

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

They walked down a longsighted dark hallway, made more nervous by the fact that every delineation was hollow. genus Draco said nothing but Harry imagined they had left about the like time his sire had. The door at the end had a steady glow coming from under it. Harry hurried forward and toss the room access open theatrically.

"I ‘ m back !"

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

"Hi guys."Harry walked past the scrum into the erectile way, which turned out to be a kitchen."young woman me ?"

"Where the underworld were you ?"Padma hadn't joined the boot and was sitting with her arms crossed and an angry locution."Why did you lead ?"

"I never left."Harry held his hand to his heart."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 middle wide in shock."Is he really ? No… no, I had no idea… How could that happen ? I would remember a matter like that ? Oh… oh wait ? Tall guy with red eyes ? You know I think I do remember a guy like that… torturing ME !"

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

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

"What she means is that this isn ‘ t a time to go sunbathing in Majorca."Padma said in 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 broom have some means of propulsion. And I didn ‘ t ski or sunbathe. I ‘ ve been working."

"Working on what ?"

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

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

"No, no temple."Harry shrugged."But I have been training. I ‘ m not ending up half all in again. Next meter he comes after me I ‘ ll not be helpless."

"wellspring the detail is that it shouldn ‘ t happen again."Tonks came up behind him and clapped him on the articulatio humeri."You ‘ re staying rubber here till you can go to Hogwarts."

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

"Wh… what ?"

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

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

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

"For how long ?"

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

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

"I ‘ m for 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 take on this ?"

"I trust Dumbledore."Kingsley said confidently.

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

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

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

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

"What was that Harry ?"Ginny asked.

"What ?"

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

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

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

"Wh…"

"The Mary Augusta Arnold Ward extend to the property course but it ‘ s inviolable in here."Hermione explained apologetically."They told us to stay-"

"By they you mean Dumbledore."

"Yes."

"Then I ‘ m finding an loose window."Harry looked over his berm back at the predator."I can do that can ‘ t I ?"

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

"Is there a window in my cubicle ?"

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

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


Draco woke the next morning as a retching audio came through the bulwark. He shook the covers off and pushed the curtains around his bed open before hurrying to the side by side room.

"Harry is that you ?"genus Draco was about to try the door before he thought better of it and ran a catching charm. A twain of nasty cuss lifted out of the woodwork. genus Draco backed a few pace away."Harry open up !"Draco heard footsteps then the threshold scraped open.

"What ?"Harry growled sleepily.

"Were you just upchuck ?"

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

"Because I just heard you Harry."Draco folded his weapon system."You also smell of vomit."

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

"You ‘ re sick ?"

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

"Right,"Draco snorted.

"You ‘ re the first one I ‘ ve told."

"I ‘ m touched."

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

"I imagine Labour Party won ‘ t be a picnic either."Dragon shook his head, if Harry didn ‘ t want to tell him then he didn ‘ t want to bang."Look, it smells like breakfast ‘ s ready."

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


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

Harry looked around in mental confusion at the various masses that had appeared in the kitchen of Malfoy manor house. There were more Weasley's than there had been, the two parents and sure-enough brothers. An odd man in a Green hat was there as well, smiling at Harry and wave, along with an honest-to-goodness lady in an ratty robe. There was one very recognizable cheek though, one that went had gone from smiling to lapidate cold the moment he entered the elbow room. Remus Lupin had stood the moment he came in and walked away, leaving by the hinder door.

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

"Why ?"

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

"It ‘ s because we ‘ re too visible."molly Weasley explained."people know we support Dumbledore, they know we were in the club last sentence. We ‘ re targets for attack. It ‘ s safer here."

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

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

'' prison house ? '' Harry dropped a piece of pledge. `` They 're using this place as a prison ? ``

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

'' Is n't that dangerous ? ``

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

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

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

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

'' They tend to holler a lot. ``

Harry shrugged, unworried. At least there was a good position for to house the death eater. Of form Harry would opt if they were all kept in skillful safe coffin but this was the next ripe thing. While they had been talking Draco had turned back to the dumb chess game game.

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

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

"Who ‘ s winning ?"

"I think Ron ‘ s ahead by two games."

"well that ‘ s-"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

Ginny shook her head. No one could tell when Harry was lying, not even the vulture. 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 go over on him ?"Neville suggested.

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

"It ‘ d give us something to do."Parvarti murmured quietly, voicing what they all felt. Boredom was constant here. The just interesting prison term were Holy Order group meeting when the marauder would try to ascertain ways to hear in. Ways that were continually blocked.

All their homework had been done. All the course rule book had been read and so many plot of exploding snap had been played that they all had little bantam sunburn on the remnant of their fingers. There was zip else to do, literally nothing. They had looked, tried to come up with former 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 head."We could read ?"

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

"We could swap and do each others."Anapurna pointed out. At the general 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 have 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 receive anything that could assist 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 bring quidditch."Draco glanced at the threshold. `` 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 mansion house. On the floor there were plinths and cases holding unknown sparkling items.

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

'' My fathers. '' genus Draco lugged the lump case over. `` It 's just junk. '' True to his Holy Writ he shoved three vases off a display standstill to put the display case in their position. `` Now ... squad. ``

'' I call headwaiter ! '' Ginny yelled.

'' Me too. '' Ron nodded.

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

'' But- ''

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

'' Which one ? ``

'' The quidditch playacting ones. '' Malfoy rolled his eye. Fred and George I 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. ``

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

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

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


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

'' destination ! '' Ginny spun on the speckle, pumping her clenched fist in the air.

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

darn it he was right, Ginny shot forward after him. If only the snitch would come along ! It should n't be so intemperate to captivate it in this enclosed country. Unfortunately the magical spell on the snitch were never designed to deal with an irregular maze of cabinets and as a event it kept moving erratically. They had found and lost it three clip already. Ginny saw Malfoy trying to nock and being blocked by Ron. She took the opportunity to direct another look for it.

'' Over there ! '' Someone yelled, Ginny did n't hesitate. The flashbulb of gold disappeared behind a urn and Ginny spun around it. Where was it ? Another wink, there by the rack of swords. Ginny heard a crash from the side her, Malfoy was closing in. There, by the glass again ? No ! By the urns again ! tinker's dam it, there were thoughtfulness everywhere. It was like there were six snitches !

Ginny narrowly avoided colliding with the wall. A clump 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 close ! Her fingers closed around it. And it felt ... wrong.

Ginny drew to a halt, holding the thing in her hand. It was golden, but it wasn't a sneak. It was a cup, a lilliputian Au plated teacup, still struggling to escape from her finger's breadth. Draco hovered in next to her, looking perplexed.

"That didn ‘ t used to fly."He grabbed it out her hand, holding it by it's midget 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 tiny thing."Or did you always just drink out of a trough at your house ?"

"No."Ginny just gritted her teeth and swallowed the insult. They had to hold out in this mansion for weeks yet."Where did it occur from ?"

The other marauders came in closer, staring at it.

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

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

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

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

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

"Guess we ‘ re not walking."Hermione murmured as the predator flew after him. The corridor was fairly contract and the piranha had to fly in single data file. The empty portraits were here as well, even the animal in the landscapes had left.

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

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

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

secrecy filled the hallway for a bit, then ... a removed interference. It sounded like an burst underwater, muffled by the rampart. The vulture looked at each other, they had all heard it.

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

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

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

"My house Weasley."Malfoy cut her off."It ‘ s coming from beneath us. This way."Malfoy shot forward and turned sharply into a side corridor. Ginny rushed to keep up with him and she could find out the marauders behind her doing the same. A threshold was flung open in forepart of them and Ginny spun into it, following the blond flare in front of her. Down some whole tone, along a hanker shadow hall, next - plosive !

Ginny had to go bad harshly to avoid hitting Malfoy who was hopping off his broom in strawman of a large wooden door.

"You ! You ... !"

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

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

"We ‘ re here."As Malfoy said it a loud bang issued from the former side of meat of the doorway. Ginny looked behind her to see the predator just coming around the nook. Hermione looked terrorize, Neville looked ill.

"Well lets see then."Malfoy drew his wand and pushed at the heavy threshold. It slowly crept open. Inside was an empty hall, looked like it was usually used for repositing or something. The only things left were a few odd tables and a few boxes. In the center 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 cumulation of detritus. As they watched he took a plate and held his wand to it. At a whispered word there were two plates, then three, then four. Harry dropped the original back into the pile and tapped the faker with his scepter. They instantly flew off in all directions. Harry jabbed his wand and in a fraction of a second-

blast ! One shattered near the roof. Harry whirled. BANG ! Shattering into shards. clap ! Smashing the position and sending the last plate spinning into the wall.

Harry caught survey of the vulture and grinned before waving them over.

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

"You don ‘ t need to proceed duplicating things you know."Malfoy said dryly."I ‘ ve got heaps 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 keen row along the board was a crisp and wickedly curved brand, a short spear with a lighting bolt carved into the haft, a round ball that had mess 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 narrate us what you're doing down here ?"Hermione pleaded.

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

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

Malfoy was the number 1 to speak.

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

"I may require spares."Harry shrugged.

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

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

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

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

"Wh ... wh ..."

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

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

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

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

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

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

'' And hazard it not working as well as this one does ? '' Harry balanced the thick, twisted scepter on the border of his hand before flicking it up into the air and catching it, all the piece with the gun held nonchalantly in his other mitt. `` This one industrial plant for me, maybe as well as my old one did. Besides ... it sort of fits does n't it ? This wand 's done a lot of furiousness in it 's lifetime. Lots of pain, fight, and that 's exactly what I intend to use it for. ``

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

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

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

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

"Then what ?"Harry dropped the gun back down to the table. It sounded fleshy."I need to fight back 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 happen ? I spotty, ignorant fifteen year old against the most dangerous champion 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 unknowledgeable adolescent any More. I have to be better. I need to be better. Because I can ‘ t lose, can ‘ t afford to fall behind. None of us can open for me to lose. Do you know what it feels like to recognise that the whole 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 think you ‘ d know why too !"

Harry's wild philippic shocked the predator into muteness. Harry turned back to his plenty of junk and began duplicating a heavily 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 time so I have to be ready any time. It could be tomorrow too."

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

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

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

"Dumbledore said-"

"Dumbledore has been wrong before."Malfoy cut her off."It hurts aught to be ready in pillow slip he ‘ s ill-timed this time."

"But Harry could be killed !"

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

"Of course not, but-"

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

"good point."Ginny was surprised to discover her own voice. Oh no now everyone was looking at her, better say something."And since we ‘ re all target area maybe we should try learning some stuff 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 look Harry.

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

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

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


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

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

"You come back here young man !"

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

"Get back here !"

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

"You do jazz that means you ‘ ll have to fix 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 wolfman. Dragon shuddered inwardly and sat on her other side of meat."I couldn ‘ t eat another fried breakfast anyway. Any to a greater extent and my broom won ‘ t be able to give me."

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

"He ‘ s ..."genus Draco licked his lip and gestured for her to lean finisher."He ‘ s accepted the prophecy. He ‘ s accepted that he will fight Voldemort. He ‘ s preparing for it."

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

"Don ‘ t tell him."

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

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

"How ‘ d you get away ?"Draco asked.

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

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

"prof, can I talk to you ab-"

"After the coming together Harry."Dumbledore brushed him off."You have my countersign. But right now some of the order phallus have authoritative missionary work they must get back to quickly."

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

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

"What was that ?"

"What ?"

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

"I ‘ m always nice."

"You ‘ re always up to something."

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


Snape stepped into the manor house and strode towards the principal dining room. He wasn't late precisely, just ... no longer appropriately prompt. He pushed the door out-of-doors and walked to the open posterior next to Natalie.

"Have I missed anything important ?"

"Attacks."The unspeakable was idly scraping her finger along the edge of a copy of the casual prophet."wickedness marks. 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 Moody at least. ``

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

'' Yes. '' Snape brought himself back to the task at handwriting. `` The dark Maker is moving. ``

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

'' The dark lord is moving more specifically. Now that knot is dead all but a few of the loup-garou have deserted him. He seeks new scout group to sew affright, he has chosen to acquire by solid riches this time rather than discharge promises. He is arranging purchase of tumid numbers of versatile alien metal money, lethifolds primarily. Chimaeras if it can witness a bequeath seller. ``

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

'' Precisely because they are forgetful. '' Snape explained. `` His vicious US Army from Azkaban has not been as effective as he hoped. ``

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

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

'' It does n't crop on lethifolds. '' Lupin said with certainty. A short snuff of substitute slid through Snape 's judgment, swiftly swallowed up with darkness.

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

'' mantichora ? '' The old defending team teacher eyes grew wide.

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

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

'' Both because that would make them less effective belligerent and because long photograph to the Dementors seems to give birth made them surprisingly resistant to genial attacks. '' Snape leant closer over the table to speak to the order as a unit. `` I have the dates he plans to meet with creature dealer. If we arrange a trap we can get ahead of him and- ''

'' No. '' Dumbledore spoke with silence authority.

'' We can not leave this to take place. ``

'' If we act he will assuredly guess the source of our selective information. '' Dumbledore shook his bearded head. `` You are too worthful at present to take a chance. You are our solely root of selective information. ``

'' Information we never act on. '' Snape clenched his fists on the insensate mahogany table. `` What use is my spotting ... what use is this ordination if we are too scared to ever act. ``

'' We can not act rashly. ``

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

'' We could instead arbitrate with the foreign auror departments. '' Snape tried to pull a fast one on himself into thinking this was anything other than a hurt limiting try. `` They could contain some of the traders before the nighttime lord can forgather with them. ``

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

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

Natalie gave no outward sign 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 head, Barty Crouch had become Voldemort's favored, surpassing even Belatrix. Snape had hoped at one sentence that Barty's failure to acquire the ministry would reckon against him, and it had, but apparently throwing it into turmoil had been enough. That and successfully bringing Harry Potter directly to the darkness lord. All that made it even more suspicious that Barty was abstracted from expiry eater gatherings. The dark lord kept his servant close, if he was letting one off their tether then it had to be for something important.

"Do you think he has left the nation ?"Someone down the mesa asked.

"It is possible."Snape nodded."But whatever he is doing it has it ‘ s stem here. The dark lord has always intended to take this state before moving on to the eternal sleep of the world. 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 dark Almighty has ordered me to begin researching polyjuice potion in an effort to ready it work for any android species."

"You think it is connected ?"

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

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

"Is that all ?"

"other than time of day of listening to the dark Maker dark pontificating on the subject of the destruction or subjugation of all muggles ?"Snake crooked an brow."No."

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

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

A cosmopolitan groan went up from around the room. Snape just closed his eyes and took a calming breathing place. After the outcome of last year the ministry had been fractured to its very core. The near-election of a death eater had made them fearful as rabbits. Fudge had, the moment Dumbledore left the building, ran back to his office and virtually barricaded himself inside. All summer he had been wrangling the ministry around to the idea that his expulsion was not valid because of the deceptions of Barty Crouch Jr.

That was, Snape had to accept, technically true. Although the balloting to take Fudge had been won by a comfortable margin the original apparent motion to remove a minister of religion for magic could only be tabled by a member of the Wizengamot. Crouch Jr was not a fellow member, only impersonating one, therefore the gesture and, by extension, the balloting was void. A firearm of bureaucratic foolishness that meant they were stuck with that ridiculous man until someone else drummed up enough support to oust him.

'' We could supercede him. '' Natalie said, seeming to read his intellection like she often did ( even when not actually doing so ). `` Everyone in my section thinks he 's a put-on. ``

'' Ours too. '' Shacklebolt rumbled.

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

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

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

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

'' I realize the state of affairs is not ideal. '' Shacklebolt held his workforce up. `` But Fudge is scared to affect any known order members or anyone else who waves Dumbledore 's standard. As a resultant he is leaving the aurors billet and the remainder of the section relatively unaffected. We can carry out our body of work without any overbearing supervision for now. And besides, with all the ex-Azkaban residents running around causing worry we do not receive prison term for a political battle on top of that. If we can not make a harmonic minister of magic, one that stays out of our way is a good sec 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 nothing would be done.

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

'' Then we should all get back to workplace. '' Dumbledore stood. `` And we should all organize for attacks by wizardly beings. lupine can, I 'm surely, cue you of the well method acting to repel them. ``

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

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

'' I 'll be trusted to be in the office then. '' Natalie nodded. Snape knew that he would be living for Tuesday at eleven. He reluctantly turned and made for the door. Unfortunately there was a stop, the solid parliamentary law was bunched up at the wide double doors. Snape quickly pushed to the battlefront and was almost forced to laugh.

Harry had built a barricade.

The fifth year was sitting casually on an rescind desk, resting his infantry on a draftsman. The rest of the arching wall was mostly hot seat and tables, and one courtship of armor.

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

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

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

'' You think Voldemort will handle ? ``

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

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

'' Harry I have made my decision. ``

'' I contest the sanity of your decisiveness. '' Harry grated. `` You just going to let Voldemort walk all over this rural area ? ``

'' Harry ceramicist I have had enough of this. '' Dumbledore waved his wand 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 dispense with no thought for your own safe others must do it for you. You will stay here. You will be safe here. ``

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

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

'' I 'll let you grizzle over it. '' Harry folded his subdivision. `` I want to fight. I want to sit in order meetings. I want a coach to teach me to duel. ``

'' You may have none of those things. '' Dumbledore was n't moving, just standing like a statue. Radiating menace. `` As for defense mechanism training you will witness it at Hogarts, in your regular denial class. ``

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

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

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

'' Perhaps you should not antagonize him. ``

'' He antagonizes me. '' Harry answered, sounding a little vote out. `` I do n't understand him. ``

'' Few mass do. ``

'' You ? ``

'' No. ``

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

I should ingest expected that question. Snape took a intimation to feed himself meter to study his response.

'' No. ``

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

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

'' I 'm not just gon na step on it in half cocked. ``

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

'' I 'm not an idiot. ``

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

'' Have n't been Cy Young for week. '' Harry drew up his arm and unclipped an unexpected bracer. `` Not since I got this. ``

Snape momentarily thought of asking where he had got the vicious eye pick-me-up but thought punter of it. The solution was of no particular proposition use. He almost wanted to ask if Harry had a spare.

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

'' Fine. '' Harry seemed defeated, upstage. `` will you at to the lowest degree teach me occlumency ? I ca n't use that to crusade. ``

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


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


The marauders had to hunt Harry again that evening. He had disappeared before dinner and was nowhere to be seen. The molding Mrs. Humphrey Ward had n't been tripped but with Harry that meant next to nothing. They found him in a obsolete stairway, sitting in the rainbow blur of a varnished methamphetamine window. With the luminosity mottling his skin like some jungle cat the piranha hesitated to come on him.

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

'' Not hungry. ``

'' What were you doing ? ``

'' mendicancy. Again. '' Harry let out a rough, spue, laugh. `` full-of-the-moon circle. ``

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

'' Not money. '' Harry was still looking up into the light. `` I 've spent the evening begging order member, aurors ... everyone really, to instruct me to crusade. Waste of my metre ... '' Harry trailed off shaking his head.

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

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

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

'' It 's not the Saame. I need a teacher. '' Harry shook his straits. `` There 's only so much I can get from books and ... equal learnedness. ``

'' Well ... maybe you could ask whoever they get to teach vindication this year. '' Hermione suggested. `` Or maybe they 'll be really skilful any you wo n't induce to. ``

'' You do n't get it ! '' Harry covered his face with his manpower. `` It 's not just chucking around a duo of dish. None of you have seen a real star duel, not proper dueling. Not like what Voldermort 's up to of. Not like what I 'll have to be capable of if I want to stand a chance at winning. None of you have seen it. ``

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

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

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

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

'' Yes your inadequate over-traveled and long-suffering Bronx cheer has found my owlery. '' Malfoy rolled his centre. `` If you 're going to globetrot you should really tell your owl to stay home. ``

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


The following 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 proper hand while gesturing with the early. `` After goner obviously. ``

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

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

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

'' Let 's go then. '' Harry pocketed the yield and led the disordered marauders, and Malfoy, from the room. As Harry pushed the threshold open he pulled up short. Lupin was frozen in strawman of him, his hired man raised to reach for the door. His smile had frozen and dropped into the frown he always wore on seeing Harry.

'' Yes professor ? '' Harry asked pointedly. `` Something the affair ? ``

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

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

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

'' Before what ? ``

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

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


This was n't the last Harry heard about it though. Lupin lived in the mansion, they bumped into each other all the fourth dimension. Each time Harry was met by the same suppuration hatred. It was kind of disconcerting. Eventually Harry learned Lupin 's bit and managed to mostly stay out of his way. Of grade it helped that he spent at to the lowest degree ten hour a day in the vacate cellar, sometimes with the marauders, sometimes with Draco, sometimes alone. Each day when Harry finally dropped himself into an icy bath to soothe his bruised frame he felt a variety of fiery satisfaction.

He was getting better !

He could pose any of the marauder one on one, even the twins. Draco was better, at the offset he had beaten Harry a lot. Well, no ... at the very get-go Harry had won. Then Harry had raged at the blonde and forced him to really cut unloosen and use some of the filthy dark magic his beginner had taught him. With those charm in his arsenal 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 triumph because he was getting better. And that was n't even considering his early toys.

Harry shifted his human foot to rest on the top of a reddish brown desk in the residence depository library ( there was some good hooey here, more go to make for with ) when the doorway creaked open.

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


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

'' The gentleman 's guidebook to effective and efficient coating of pain. '' Harry read calmly off the cover of the book.

'' Oh ... '' There was no tangible response to that. `` Any well ? ``

'' Never knew there were so many United States for a riding craw. '' Harry folded the varlet down and looked up at her. `` How are you doing ? Order keeping you meddlesome ? ``

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

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

'' Sorry Harry, result '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 make to learn or speak or anything just a well-disposed duel ? ``

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

'' Dumbledore does n't accept to have a go at it. '' Harry urged weedlingly.

'' Sorry Harry. ``

'' tinker's dam. '' Harry sighed and looked like he was going to say something else but just shook his chief. `` Never nous. Was there something you wanted or did you just come to chat ? ``

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

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

'' Remus Lupin. ``

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

'' Do you hump what 's incorrect with him ? '' Tonks pulled a fecal matter and sat on the former incline of the desk. From this angle Harry resembled a very appraising interviewer. His beaten and chafe steel-capped boots up on one side of the desk and a huge mint of wary books on the other. In between he was regarding her piercingly over his wire glasses.

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

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

'' Big matter to dismiss. '' Harry interrupted her. `` The fact that he 's a wolfman. ``

'' 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 the great unwashed inside ! They have souls ! They 're human ! ``

'' I 'm sorry Tonks, '' Harry held up his men. `` I know what you 're trying to say. But I 've only ever met one werewolf who has n't tried to kill me and even he sometimes acts like he wants to. excuse me for not having a nifty opinion of the species. When I meet a wolfman who does n't act like the monster they are inside maybe I 'll think differently. Until then I think my hatred is vindicate. '' Harry voice was obdurate and abrupt, and more than than a little scary.

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

'' Occupational endangerment. '' Harry smiled sadly, then shook it off and grinned. `` Sorry, we seem to ingest gotten sidetracked into a character minute. What was the archetype question ? ``

'' Remus ... or Professor lupin. Before you came here he was ... dissimilar. ``

'' I 've heard. ``

'' He was really suspect. ``

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

'' He had caboodle of these stories about what he did when he was Brigham Young. ``

'' Salmon Portland Chase milkmen ? ``

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

'' I was cognizant. '' Harry sighed heavily. `` Sorry Tonks, I do n't guess I can help you much. He 's always been like this around me. The others tell me he was different around me. Ginny 's in a different yr 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 paw. `` Ask him ! ``

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

'' Best I can occur up with is I remind him too much of what he lost. '' Harry shrugged. Tonks considered this. Harry 's guesswork was probably worth an essay from anyone else, the kid could understand mass scarily well. Harry continued, `` I mean I get the effect he did n't peach to much of anyone after my parents died. He may find fault me come up 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 calendar week. He should be back to normal after that. You should have your big fluffy, risible Lupin back. ``

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

'' halt prophylactic Tonks. '' Harry flicked his book back open.

'' You too Harry. ``
*


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

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

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

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

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

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

When they walked in the feast had already started. The marauders were forced to feel a clear incision of board with the unhurt Hall murmuring and pointing.

'' Is it me or are the tables a bit emptier than common ? '' George V said, scanning over the hall.

'' plenty of parents decided to keep their kids home this year. '' Annapurna said sadly. `` Our parents almost did but well ... ''

'' We convinced them Hogwarts was safe than house. '' Her baby ended for her.

'' Wonder who the new defense teacher is ? '' Ron gestured with a chicken leg at the vacate distance on the instructor 's board. Ron looked down the table. `` Oy ! dean ! Did they announce anything about the new teacher ? ``

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

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

'' student ! '' Dumbledore stood. The hall quieted down. `` I have a few promulgation to make. Firstly, as you may have realized, some of your classmate have decided not to get together us. This is of course their option, or that of their parents, and I hope that you treat then no differently if they decide to rejoin us. Secondly as you know, if you do not live on the moon, the dark nobleman has returned. I wish to stool both that and this next fact perfectly unmortgaged. He can not hurt you here. Behind the paries of Hogwarts you are safe. Thirdly, and most happily, we have a new vindication teacher. One that, I am sure you will all revel learning from. So I would invite you to join me in saying welcome, or more correctly welcome back, to Professor M- ''

'' Yes ! Your prayers have been answered ! '' The Brobdingnagian room access to the majuscule hall boomed open. `` I am, thanks to massive public demand, spine ! ``

'' It 's him ! ``

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

'' Yes ! ``

'' Yes ! ``

'' Horray ! ``

'' Yes, yes thank you ! '' The muscled digit lapped up the praise, grinning from one face of his face to the other. He was the Sami as ever, maybe his tomentum was a short shorter, his tan a slight deeper, his arms more scarred, his legs clad in dungaree instead of leather and his fedora replaced with a folded hankie. But it was him, plain and in the flesh.

'' I 'm back in the commonwealth ! Back in action at law ! rear in print ! The one, the only MARKUS TRIPPLE M MICHELSON ! '' The blonde colossus punched the air and the G. Stanley Hall jumped to their infantry in cheers. `` But please ... hollo me Maximus. No no wait ... call me professor Maximus. ``
*


Harry dropped out of his window that night after everyone had eventually gone to kip and made his way down to the rooftops. Finding Michelson 's office was easily, the Inner Light was still guttering from the whirl under the door. Harry knocked calmly, a here and now later the door opened.

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

'' Well I had to greet the new professor. '' Harry stepped into the office, it was already all set out. It looked almost exactly the same as it had three class ago, with one or two additions. Harry tip to reckon at a shifting maven picture. It showed a vast crowd of people, all but one of them looking African, standing in rows like a school picture. Sticking out like a sore quarter round was Markus Michelson in the third gear row, grinning and jerking his thumb at the matter behind them. Even lying on it 's position it towered over even Markus, spotted and studded with spear and burn scars it looked like a ...

'' You did it ! '' Harry turned grinning to his instructor. `` Nundu William Holman Hunt ! ``

'' Took it down with lonesome eighty six people. '' Michelson nodded smugly. `` New world phonograph record. I got the nates. ``

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

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

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

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

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

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

'' No. '' Harry rolled his eyes. `` He wants to track me up in bubble wrapping. Want 's to keep me good and out of danger. ``

'' Big men like us pull in danger. '' Markus said definitely. `` just way to be safety is to know how to seem after yourself, and you 're hardly a fry. Not after what you 've been through. ``

'' My view exactly. ``

'' Well in that gearing of thought. '' Markus drew his foresightful wand. `` When do you want to bulge out ? How 's now ? ``

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



If you do n't go away a recap YOU WILL DIE ! Really .... you will ... eventually ...


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



"Mr Potter."

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

"No Mr thrower, I would not."

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

"Mr Potter where were you last night ?"

"I assume in bed."Harry replied calmly.

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

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

"Your map must be faulty."Harry grinned.

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

"I didn ‘ t leave."

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

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

"I dislike being kept in the dark."

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


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

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

"Harry where were you last 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 Scripture."Relax, I didn ‘ t leave Hogwarts. I was just training in a place the map can ‘ t see, that ‘ s all."

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

"The way of prerequisite ?"

"The what of what ?"Harry shook his nous."Nah, just ... somewhere. Anyway look at this."Harry pointed down at the base. On it there were a number of rectangles, some long, some shortstop, some fragile. It looked variety 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, birds eye panorama, he can ‘ t tell apart 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 raging 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 attic. The vulture shared a long look and followed him.
*


Potions passed uneventfully. Harry split his time between the book on his human knee and the cauldron in nominal head of him meaning that his potion wasn't even near finished. but at least it didn't explode. charm was following and Harry didn't bother paying attention there either, though in this showcase it was because he already knew how to give objects wings. He could give them swan offstage if he wanted, or giant inglorious leathery 1. When the example was over Harry didn't even bother to speak, he just gathered his stuff and rushed back to the Ionic. 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 robe and stepped into the centerfield of the largest void space."Malfoy, you first."

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

"Did I ?"Harry froze.

"Well you ‘ re not using it."

"It ‘ s ok, It ‘ s my odd anyway."Harry shrugged and wiggled his fingers as proof.."Must have fallen on it or something."

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

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

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

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

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

"Bloody blaze !"Harry heard Fred cry at the Saami metre as his similitude yelled,"Hornets !"

"Arg ! Ouch !"Harry felt stings on every piece of spread flesh. Burning all across his skin like a chemical flaming. Another wizard would have been overpowered by the pain, but Harry had felt far far unfit."take on this ! Tempesto !"

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

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

"Fin-ow ! Fi- bally things ! Finite Crabro !"The hornets disappeared and Dragon was left tousled and snarling in the middle of the whirlwind. Harry let it rage for another second before canceling it too. The two combatants stared each other down for a few moments, both pockmarked with stings and sweating.

"Maybe you two should stop."Hermione suggested hesitantly from the spare-time activity."Before you hurt yourselves. Sir Thomas More I mean."

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

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

"Confringo !"

"Protego !"Harry's shield was up in sight of prison term to freeze the curse."Ha ! Nice-"Harry's shield tattered and he was lifted off his understructure as his chest of drawers exploded in pain. He was thrown backwards and rolled across the pitted and scarred floor. He jerked before he hit the slanted wall and managed to push himself to his groundwork. His wand was gone, rolled across the flooring away from him.

"hoot it ! Damn it ! stupid bally shell !"

"Are you injured Harry ?"Malfoy called out.

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

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

"I ‘ ve read the hypothesis. I ‘ ve read the original paper. I ‘ ve read the completely book."Harry grabbed his scepter off the base."I don ‘ t get it. It ‘ s a charm, it ‘ s a basic bloody good luck charm and I can ‘ t do it right."

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

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

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

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

"We can ‘ t."Hermione said automatically.

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

"mulct fine."Harry shook his capitulum."Ron and Hermione, affaire d'honneur me."

"Both of us ?"

"Like, at the Sami time ?"

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

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

"Neither ‘ s this."Harry blasted the floorboard by Ron's human foot causing him to yelp like a puppy."lot your bloody wands."

In the end they were glad for the outside setting of tool, although they were the only ones not wearing coat. Harry eased his aching left hand in a slack circle, it was Worth it. It would be worth it. Harry listened with half an ear to the lesson, it was about unicorns. The chances of Voldemort sending an Army on unicorns was low to laughable so Harry lidded his eyes and dozed.
*


As the lesson ended Annapurna turned towards Harry to awaken him and found that individual 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."Parvati said shakily."He could apologize."

"have you met Harry ?"

Parvati's heart dropped and they watched deaf-and-dumb person as the figure tapped Harry on the shoulder.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Wh ... what is this Harry ?"Susan swallowed."Am I still your girl ? Are we arguing ? Are we breaking up or did you let out up with me at the end of finis year and just blank out to order me ?"

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

Susan just stood there, her hands lightly clenching the fabric of her robes. Staring into space. As the twins watched she sobbed wetly and drew a manus across her eye before running off towards the greenhouses, one arm shielding her cheek from any passers by.

"That was ... I mean that was ..."Anapurna 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."

"commodity. 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 listen anyway-"

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

Harry wasn't in account of legerdemain. No one expected him to be.
*


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

"He ‘ s going through some stuff."Anapurna sighed."He needs our assist. He needs us."

"He has a comical way of showing it."

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

"He ‘ s wrong !"Parvati insisted emotionally.

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


Snape was awakened in the middle of the Nox by glowing ash gray visible radiation. One of the benefits of being an occlumens was total mental control and Snape was awake in an instant. As his eyes flickered open he groaned inwardly, then thought better of it and groaned outwardly.

"What is it you old fool ?"Snape said angrily. The capital of Arizona patronus couldn't hear him and wouldn't report back so it was a everlasting quarry to vent at.

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

Snape was already out the door before the Ag hoot 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 strait of his flapping animal foot filled the corridor as he hammered towards the master's office.

"slug ice-cream."The gargoyle slid aside and Snape threw himself into the stairwell. The step began to rear, painfully slowly. Snape gasped his breath back as he silently urged them to go faster. Eventually the headmaster's doorway came into eyeshot and Snape pushed it open quickly and said,"Albus ! I ‘ m here."

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

Snape blinked in mental confusion for a moment, then noticed the newspaper publisher on Dumbledore's desk. He stepped secretive and saw that it was an early transcript of the Prophet. This was the pinch ? Perhaps he was missing something ?
MURDER AFOOT

Dannion LeSang was found drained in his home this break of the day. A window of his penthouse apartment had been shattered, possibly so that the killer could win entrance. Once inside short Mr LeSang was beaten horribly, with a blunt instrumental role, possibly a board leg. The aurors have cordoned off the orbit and refused to eject any detals but this reporter has discovered that his combat 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 killer at loose ? The aurors gave no comment, perhaps because they as yet, know nothing ! Why anyone would want to kill Mr LeSang is unknown, perhaps an old rival from his long and pick out quidditch career ...


Snape dropped the composition in disgust.

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

"Dannion LeSang was a known end eater."

"I am aware that Dannion LeSang was a death feeder. Do you perhaps remember who informed you that Dannion LeSang was a decease feeder ? Who gave you the shocking news that the dare, smiling, star chaser for the Wigtown wanderer loved to torture muggles ? Do you ?"

"It was you."

"It was me."

"You do not recall his death is important ?"

"I do not mean his death involved Harry."

"No decree member was involved."

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

"Why did you be intimate the password you arrogant little 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 cockcrow."I mean surely by now you ‘ ve used all the non-disgusting sweets."

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

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

"I know goose egg about this."Harry held out the paper."May I go now ?"

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

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

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

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

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

"Well I didn ‘ t."Harry threw the report on the floor. `` Can I go ? ``

Dumbledore leant back, coming together Harry 's eyes with his own flinty stare. For a long moment the old magician and the Lester Willis Young stared each other down across the silent office. Snape could almost feel the sparking magic as the headmaster tried to force Harry 's mind open. After a here and now Harry snorted and said,

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

The two instructor stood without speaking as they heard Harry 's footsteps 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 Potter. ``

Hmmm ...

'' Harry Potter ! ``

Hmmm ... sleepy.

'' Harry Potter why is it always my course of study you choose to kip in ? ``

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

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

Harry was buffeted by auditory sensation and slowly, blearily, rubbed his eyes. In front of him was a separate glassy rostrum. Harry reached forward and picked it up.

'' You broke my glass. '' Harry reached up to his expression to cook sure his own glasses were n't broken then drew his wand and repaired the field glass. He did n't even bonk 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 out up I 'm component part 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 sort of angry.

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

The glass split along its top, flipped upside down and scuttled along the desk blowing flatulent house of cards out of a overweight extrusion. Harry smiled,

'' See ! I did Ok. ''

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

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

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

'' I ... do n't love. ``

'' Would you hazard a surmisal ? ``

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

'' Harry ... ''

'' Yes ? ``

'' Go back to sleep. ``

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


Harry slipped into bed that night confident in the noesis that he had got at to the lowest degree two hr sleep over the course of the day. He dozed with an alarum clock under pillow until it sounded and prompted him to shuck his mantle off and leant out of the window. He looked over towards the master 's tower, the igniter was still on. Harry flicked a pair of opera glasses out of his bag and focused in on the faraway windowpane. Dumbledore was staring into a ruminative, the silver light playing on his describe face. He looked tired, very tired.

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

Harry slid out onto the bulwark and confidently let himself precipitate. The wind whistled thrillingly in his ears as the tiles rose up to meet him. A second before he hit Harry felt a rough tugging around his chest and his end free fall slowed to a front crawl. His fundament touched solid ground and he flitted off across the tiles. Harry reached the window that was his destination and flicked it open with his wand. He dropped through again, trusting his bought magic, and landed lightly in front of a sink.

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

'' tinker's damn ! Silencio. '' Harry caught it before it made too lots noise and watched as the entranceway to the chamber of secrets was slowly revealed. Harry lowered himself into the tubing and said, `` Cissycis. '' This metre he got it first time and the entree began closing up as Harry slid off down the chute.

Harry landed feet first, expecting to hit mucky water, and instead felt dry rock-and-roll. This space had been cleaned up a bit since death time he was here. Harry continued through the cave, passing the giant snake-door. The chamber was dark, maybe Markus was n't here yet ... Damn it !

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

'' Nicely done Pipsqueak. '' The professor clapped his Brobdingnagian helping hand. `` But you should have aimed more, that hex did n't have a hazard of hitting me. ``

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

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

'' There was n't practically time. ``

'' shuffling time by moving faster. '' Michelson drew his wand and squared up in the middle of the elbow room. `` Come on lad, time to duel. ``

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

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

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

'' Yes, win. ``

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

'' Not for me. Ewwyiky ! ``

Harry had no idea what the hell that was so dived for screening, rolling and coming up with his wand trained on his instructor. Somewhere behind Harry there was a flash squelching phone but Harry was already fighting back.

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

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

"Incendio ! Reducto !"Harry aimed the commencement at Markus and the second at the ceiling far above him."Stupefy !"Harry blasted the turn into Makrus'face and didn't wait to see if it hit. Instead he aimed at a chunk of falling ceiling."Confringo !"And flung himself away as it detonated like a thunderbolt. He rolled on the floor and came to his feet in time to fling the world-class three go he could think off at the pattern in the plaza of the expanding cloud of detritus and fire.

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

"Better even than that."Albert Abraham Michelson stepped out of the debris, not a hair's-breadth out of place."That was good though, imaginative. goodness prank with the Rock, might have caught a lesser wizard. Again."

Harry forced himself to his animal foot and raised his wand. This time he lasted just a few endorsement before a stunner blasted through his hastily raised shell and knocked his lights out. comrade unconscious mind blackness held him in it's comforting embracement for a few present moment before Markus brought him back.

"That was not as good."

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

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

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

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

"To you ?"

"No. But to other people."

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

"Yes. Use other things."Markus turned and walked back to his starting mark."You know plenty of other fashion to block spells. roleplay to your forcefulness and use your prodigious imagination."

"Use your imagination."Harry rolled his centre and wearily stood."compensate ... Incendio !"

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

"Again."

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

"Again."

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

"Again."

... Floored with a punch ...

"Again !"

... paralysed ...

"Again !"

... stunned ...

"AGAIN !"

... shocked ...

"AGAIN !"

"This is hopeless."Harry didn't bother to get up from the floor."I ‘ m not getting any better. 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 return up."Harry held his head in his hands."I can ‘ t beat him."

"Who ? Voldemort ?"Markus Michelson threw up his hands."Well no ! I don ‘ t think I could bunk him. I don ‘ t think Dumbledore could beat him. He ‘ s one of the most powerful aliveness sensation and has access to powers in good order multitude don ‘ t pinch. But if what you ‘ ve told me is reliable then you ‘ ve got ... what was it ?"

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

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

"Why ?"

"I ‘ d get practiced odds."Markus smiled and winked. Harry didn't laugh."But seriously, you can learn to duel. You already know enough to beat any regular whiz hands down."

"Voldemort isn ‘ t a veritable wi-"

"I know !"Markus interrupted him angrily."Which is why you need to determine to duel like a passe-partout. Which is why you called me. Which is why you should listen to me ! Now ... you need to play to your strengths. Tell me what you ‘ re good at."

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

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

"I ... I don ‘ t know."

"Yes you do !"

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

"Oh for Merlin ‘ s sake ! Who are you ?"Markus leant down, his angrily pointing finger barely an inch from Harry's face."Where ‘ s the Harry I met three eld ago ? I don ‘ t see him. Where the pit has he gone ? Where ‘ s the kid who walked this shoal like he owned the place and obeyed teachers on sufferance ? Where is that chesty bastard because he ‘ s the one who can pose Voldemort ! Not the whiney brat he apparently became ! wellspring I need him here now ! WHAT ARE YOU commodity AT !"

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

"Right."Michelson nodded."You ‘ re unspoilt at spell. You ‘ re excellent at spell. You ‘ re a fucking savant at charms. If I heard the rumors in the stave room right you built a master quality Calluna vulgaris at xiii years 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 Michelson held his hired man to his head and breathed out a prospicient, timeworn breathing place."Let me try this a different way. You ‘ ve seen a lot of affaire d'honneur right ?"

"Yeah."

"You ‘ ve seen a lot of masses duel."

"Yeah."

"Seen differences ?"

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

"What differences ? Specifically ?"

"Well ... It's like ... you kind of wealthy person .... This is tough. 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 stock dueler, they throw stunners and hexes, lots of shield charms too, and they seem to mostly come out of the Hogwarts defense year. Not that that makes them bad. Some are really good, but they all seem to use this one fashion. This one set of spells."

"Hmm ... and the next eccentric ?"

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

"And the last case ?"

"The masters."Harry shook his head."I watched some affaire d'honneur on video while I was traveling. intellection I could plunk up some point. nigh of the duelists were group-ones, but some of them ... the better ones ... they ‘ re not even in the Sami league. They move like they ‘ re artillery. They don ‘ t eats stunners around, most of the time I couldn ‘ t even discern the while they were using. It wasn ‘ t dueling like I ‘ d ever seen. Except maybe when I saw you fight Tom conundrum, right here. That ‘ s the remainder I guess. That ‘ s the difference between duelists."

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

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

"You ‘ ve grasped one of the central concepts of dueling. One of the things that make masses chemical group threes. The learning bender is huge, there ‘ s a point when you just become beyond everyone else. When you stop dueling with dueling piece and get down dueling with everything. Do you jazz what the other divergence is ?"

"No."

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

"A ... joke ?"

"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, room access, ceiling and floor. Plus anything else he can wriggle into a moving, thinking artillery against you. Voldemort ? Well he uses dark trick, plain and simple. You ‘ ve already realized that that gives a individual power beyond your skill. And he already has passel of skill. Me ? I use foreign spells, tour my enemy have never heard of. The last words of a surprising phone number of my opponents was ‘ What the Scheol is that ?'”

Harry chuckled, but Markus wasn't finished.

"Dee Finsbury, the current universe champion duellist is also a champion illusionist. Your own Professor Flitwick dueled for England, you think he threw around looker ? And you ? Well you can do charms. Right ?"

"Yeah."Harry nodded."Yes."

"Say it."

"Yes I can do charms."

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

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

"Engorgio !"Harry aimed, not at Markus, but at the flagstone and saw his teacher stumble as the rock-and-roll puffed up like a muffin."Reducto !"Harry blew the Isidor Feinstein Stone to smithereens.

Markus righted himself easily and flicked his wand. Harry blanched as a gigantic ball of fire was sent rocketing towards him. Harry swallowed, prison term for risks.

"Ardor-Algidus !"Harry yelled and stood his ground as the inferno passed over him. He caught a glimpse of Markus'shocked face as he emerged whole on the other side before he aimed and fired."Confringo ! Ferio ! Stubefy !"The surprisal flack forced the teacher onto the defensive, shielding desperately. A here and now later he brought up a shining silver gray sphere. Harry's spells bounded off like pin tumbler off a frying pan, sending sound reflection all over the vast bedchamber. Michelson looked out appreciatively from the prophylactic of the sphere.

"What was that Pipsqueak ?"

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

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

"sodomite !"Harry dived for cover as the dark erupted with drive. behemoth leathery trend. Harry dashed behind a pillar as the bats flung themselves through the air towards him. They were huge, wings at least a m wide of the mark, with huge fang."Incendio !"Harry waved a fiery swath through the bats but to a greater extent just materialized to replace them.

"Jupitall !"

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

"Depulso !"Harry yelled desperately, but the bat 's were too unassailable and Harry had to throw himself against the bulwark to forfend another thrown spell from his opponent. He needed a magical spell ... what appeal ? Wait ! Bats were like, sort of jumbo hornets ... really."Tempesto !"

Harry called a wall of farting and threw it against the leathery animal, swatting them out of the sky and crashing them into the far wall of the chamber. Michelson didn't give him any respite though and responded with a punishing waterfall that appeared out of nowhere above Harry. Harry felt a knife thrust of old terror, but the concern only made him retrieve faster.

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

"Depulso !"Harry flicked his sceptre, spinning the musket ball of soundbox back away from him and bowled it back to go bad against the professor shield sphere. Harry wasn't going to let up now."Diffindo !"The tour scratched against the shield to no effect, screeching like a violin."Reducto !"Michelson wasn't even knocked backwards as shield once again absorbed the spell with a gaudy note. Harry gripped his scepter angrily, nil he had could break this sodding silver shield.

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

"Motus !"Harry aimed squarely at the center of attention of the silver ball and twisted. It vibrated like a bell and filled the chamber with ringing. Harry twisted further and the sound intensified. Inside his guggle Albert Abraham Michelson clutched his ears. Harry found the plangency and twisted harder, the sound outside the cuticle was deafening, inside it must have 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 Albert Abraham Michelson that he just caught with a rejoinder. Harry kept up the outpouring in a thrill of glee ! He was winning !

"KhaNDana !"

The bolt came from nowhere. Slicing out of the shadow too fast for him to react. Harry was thrown to the ground, galvanic Muriel Sarah Spark raging down every artery and turning him into a screaming electric battery of painful sensation. Harry felt his baton torn from his resistless hand and at last managed to blank is mind to the nuisance. He waited in the dark for it to recede. When he at hold out opened his eyes Albert Michelson was staring down at him. The immense wizard put his sceptre to first one ear then the other, 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 struck blind and be let loose into a field full of giant purple bear cakehole. Also full of bears. The bears will be able to avoid the bear traps, you will not.


I do n't own Harry Potter. Neither have I seen him recently. If you have any information as to his whereabouts delight phone. He is out in the cold without any food and we think his apprehension may give come off. He 's disgraceful and whitened with black manus and he 's missing a little bit of his ear. He also answers to the name of fleck. He likes tuna.






Severus Snape landed lightly on the scrubland and looked about him. This would have been a monumentally desolate post if not for the aloof lights of a muggle route in the valley far below. Snape walked over to the gather of black cloaked trope standing near the edge of the cliff. Snape counted faces, Barty Crouch was still absent. What was the labor that man had been set ? It disturbed Snape greatly that he did not know. It made him enquire if perhaps others of the dark material body did, if perhaps he was missing something.

One figure of speech was apart from the others, right at the edge. The figure stood with his vertebral column to them, his farseeing robe streaming out to the side in the coarse dark wind. He seemed to be looking down at the road, and at the foster lights of a town.

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

'' Severus. '' The wickedness lord turned at cobbler's last from the cliff. `` You have come at finis. I was forced to waitress. I dislike waiting. ``

'' My apologies Lord. '' Snape bowed deeply. `` I could not wake up suspicion about why I was going. I was forced to give speed for safety. I am sorry. ``

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

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

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

'' No my Almighty. They continue to guard the department of mystery story, Dumbledore still fears to propel. nada has changed. ``

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

He does not bed where I was. Snape kept his face perfectly reticent. He suspects ... he strongly suspects but he does not have a go at it. He values me, he values me as a spy in the order. That is why I am still live, because on the of-chance that I have not betrayed him I am worthful. He will obliterate me. He will pour down me soon but until then I must remain a spy. I am valuable.

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

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

"honey Barty is none of your concern."The shadow lord replied, in the colloquial tone that was so much defective than anger."His project is going well. Is yours Severus ?"

"Alas no sea captain. I apologize."Snape hung his head."I am afraid there is simply no way to adapt polyjuice potion to appropriate a human to turn non-human."

"I dislike failure Severus."

"sea captain if you asked me to jump off this cliff and try to fly I would do so."Snape tried to sound rueful."But I doubt I would be successful. Some things are not possible."

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

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

'' On to the encounter, we began without you Severus. I hope you don ‘ t mind. '' The dark Almighty turned back towards the drop-off and Snape had to strain to get a line him over the wind. `` We were discussing an blackwash. ``

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

'' No. '' The shadow lord cut him off. `` Not poison. I intend her end to be more than graphic than that. An example. ``

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

'' A prominent figure in the department of mystery. '' Voldemort half turned back towards Snape. `` A Miss Natalie Zhao. Do you know her ? ``

'' Yes. '' No god no. `` She is an decree penis. ``

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

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

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

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

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

'' Of course not my lord. She is the child of bad ancestry, of course she must be killed. '' Snape bowed and stepped backward. `` I will make sealed that Dumbledore and the early social club 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 messages can reach her. From anyone. ``

'' Most prudent my lord. '' Snape nodded, furiously trying to churn his brainiac and detect some solution to the problem. He could not think, it was as if macabre tendrils and fibrous black vines were choking his usually perfect mental machinery. There must be some way to get a message to her, there had to be !

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

'' Yes my Jehovah. ``

'' All dark ? No errands to run ? '' The dark Creator 's sass quirked. `` No midnight strolls ? ``

'' No my lord. ``

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


Snape walked calmly along the long track to the great doorway of Hogwarts using all the force of will he had not to break into a run. The watchers were no doubt already in stead, at the bound of the woods beyond the Ward. As were the attackers probably, in his mind he could already see them apparating into the iniquity streets around Natalie 's insipid. He ached to run but could n't. It was agony, caught in chains that did n't even exist. An anchor in his mind.

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

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

'' Acellelero ! '' Snape clung to the central pillar as the staircase rocketed upwards and came to a screeching stay at the top. Snape threw the room access open, startling the Headmaster.

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

'' I need the order ! '' Snape snapped. `` We need to mobilise now ! ``

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

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

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

'' Not if we move now ! ``

'' To move confirms his distrust of you. And it would do no good. The people watching you no doubt have orders to vote down you if you try to result. No content can reach her. Yes, yes he had truly outmanoeuvre us. ``

'' I can adopt Fawkes. '' Snape argued. `` I can bequeath without a trace. Warn her, then- ''

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

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

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

'' Passing means the destruction of Natalie ! ``

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

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

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

'' Some lives are worth Thomas More to me than others. ``

'' Well not to me. '' Dumbledore stood and stared down the potions lord. `` The just you can do for her is to score trusted you are seen here. Go and pick herb from one of the outside plots, go and get some unicorn pilus from Hagrid. Anything that lets them see you here. That is all you can do. If you try to result they will kill you. Then they will defeat her. You can do zip. ``

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


Natalie Zhao turned the Page idly on the news report she was reading and yawned. There was too much to do. She flicked it closed and clicked the visible light out before rolling over and dropping the brochure onto her bedside tabular array. Perhaps all the trouble would just magically have gone away when she got up tomorrow. It was unlikely though.

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

A floorboard creaking.

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

Natalie slid back silently. She tried to apparate away, not really expecting it to exploit. No, they had a ward up. They would have blocked the flue as well. The lonesome way she was getting out was through the breast room access, which meant through them.

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


barrel Lemon had never pretended to be an intelligent man, just a utile one. He was useful say, when someone had n't paid their debts in clock time and action needed to be taken. He had been locked up for being useful in the wrong place at the wrong time, set free eventually, turn utilitarian 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 ripe. Until the dark Maker had given him a second opportunity. A hazard to riposte high society again, to be useful again. He was only half profligate but he had just enough brains to never mention that to anyone. When the dark noble had explained what needed to be done to this bint he had stepped forward instantly. It was right up his alley, he might even gain the gull if he succeeded. Then he 'd really be set.

He touched the door lock with his ovolo. Warded, what else ? He turned and pointed into the mob behind him at a hunched bod, then pointed back at the door. The man shuffled forward, he had been a damn upright condemnation surf until he was caught skimming a cut off the top. He was just golden the ministry caught him before the hob did.

metal drum waited in secretiveness as the tiny man clicked and hummed in front of the door. A few arcminute later the curse breaker pushed the threshold subject. drum stepped into the straight and looked around professionally. It was set out fairly regular. Kitchen that way ... empty. drumfish waved two guys towards the game room and ignored it. This place was like a catalog, everything was in its property except for the Bible and papers strewn across the umber mesa. Well, that and the three aquariums near the cover. Not total of water. Some sort of reptilian. Some sort of incense in the air, some new age garbage.

Drum shrugged, not an issue. The bedroom would either be at the end of the s door down on the leftfield. That was how these buildings were built. Drum stepped down the corridor and pushed the door on the left open. Boxes. Down the hall then. He looked behind him, the other criminals were hanging back. Pathetic. The wickedness lord had grabbed everyone who would stand up straight with no gaze for experience. Not that he was criticizing, at to the lowest degree he would get full credit for the kill.

Drum breathed in deeply. Smelled like vanilla, it was very strong. Someone had once told him that look was the strongest trigger for computer memory. He certainly remembered that muggle girl every time he smelled cut grass. Perhaps from now on vanilla would resound in his head, reminding him of Natalie Zhao. The womanhood who made him the privilege assassin of the dark lord.

He made his way towards the last doorway. He raised his wand, fumbled it and caught it again. He shook his capitulum. Had to last out focused. He reached the threshold and pushed it undecided. wickedness, he stepped up to the bed. He had n't used the killing curse before, but he had no doubt he could make it work. He raised his wand, aiming at the puffiness in the book binding. His wand was shaking, he grabbed it with both custody. What was wrong with him ? Drum shook his head, the verge was still shaking.

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

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

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

'' Doped us. '' membranophone mumbled through asleep brim. `` Incense ... Vanilla ... ``

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

Wo n't tell you you bitch.

'' Twenty ? ``

What !

'' Where are there ? ``

Ice cold bitch queen.

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

'' You wo n't get out ? '' brake drum managed to get out. `` We 've surrounded you. Your fumes may sustain 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 swart wizard and pushed his body in front of the door. How prospicient before the others checked on him ?

The doorway handle rattled. That long.

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

Confringo ! She said the spell silently and angled her wand sharply down. The door exploded outwards, the power of the blowup channeled down the hall. She saw three torso flying away from her and dashed out after them.

"Cruci-"

Natalie whirled on the caster. No time for spells, she found his heart, pushed in like a dagger and found the off electric switch in his Einstein. 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 shield forced the walls out like crumpling theme. She turned and saw the hooded man dodging his own spell and threw her own, striking him in the chest.

That was the single in the prostrate done.

She rushed to the door but it had been torn off its hinge. A gloomy chassis reared from the stairwell. Natalie had her baton up in a instant but before she could purge the man grabbed his pectus and fell to the floor. Natalie crept close, origin on his chest. person had hit him with a puncture curse.

She threw herself to the side. They must own 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 characterization. She crouched and made her way towards the stairwell. She glanced between the slats and pulled her foreland back as a green split second obliterated the wooden handrail where she had been.

time to start surprising them.

Natalie aimed at out into the middle of the stairway. A spark of her wand and a Lucille Ball of glowing twinkle appeared. Another flick and a spiraling spear of sparks shot down the stairs like a rogue pyrotechnic. She twisted and the globe dropped slowly, like a balloon, spitting exploding lance in every direction and shrinking as it fell.

That should keep them busy.

She dashed down the step and took out another thug as he desperately tried to circumvent the multi-fire. Natalie had to jump over a man lying prone on the indorse floor, a victim of the fireworks. A patch shattered the roofing tile near her shoulder and she threw up a shield against the next one. Where were they coming from ?

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

There were still ten men outside. Natalie reached the ground story and took a deep breath. They would be spread out all around her edifice to barricade her escaping. What was her best bet to endure ? The book binding entree ? It led onto an skittle alley, light for them to block or watch. The front was no doubt a deathtrap, she'd be hit from every position before she got two steps. There was a priming floor windowpane out into the car parking area ... wizards tended to disregard cars. She didn't have one but surely some combining of spells could convert one to come out. It was her best shot.

Natalie can bolt 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 unfastened and climbed out uncomfortably, breathing hard. Strangely her paper pushing desk job didn't keep her in very trade good configuration. She fell down between two cars and turned towards one of them. She was about to enamour the lock when she felt a phantasma fall on her.

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

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

"Ere what was that ?"

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

"She ‘ s ‘ ere ! She got Poxx !"

Natalie heard more guide feet and tried to slink away along the edge of the wall. She reached the box, no where to go. If she tried to make for the going they'd see her for for sure. She pushed at the apparation Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth again but it was no soundly. They had extended it beyond the building itself. How far would they have pulled it ? To comprehend the whole block would have been unimaginable. Could she just run for the edge ?

They were searching the lot. They were getting closer. Natalie looked up under the nearest car. At least five duo of foot within light sight. The entrance was close, she might make it. With a distraction.

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

"What the bloody ‘ ell is that !"

Natalie stood and ran. They were looking the early way, she could hit it. She blazed out of the car car park and made for the end of the street, all the piece pushing against the apparation roadblock. A write pin-wheeled over her heading and she sprinted harder. It had to end soon. She heard shouting and running behind her. Please let it end soon. A chunk of the road was blown away, throwing her to the trading floor. No ... She desperately threw herself against the Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth as pace surrounded her. It wouldn't budge, she knew it wouldn't.

"Now missy turn turn nice and slow."She rolled over and tried to run across the man standing in front of her's center."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 chortle from the cluster of thaumaturgist surrounding her."Me and the lads worked hard. I recon we deserve a reward."

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

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

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

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

It was the strangest fight Natalie had ever been involved in. Strange for it's silence. Whatever weapon the foreign man was using it made no audio as it fired and she tended to cast non verbally. The criminals yelled their magical spell but they were in such disarray they were mostly throwing dire stunners at each other. former than those there was only the audio of pace, rapid-fire like a dance, and the occasional spray of stemma. A silent battle at midnight, underneath stuttering streetlamps. Natalie's breath was hot in her ears by the metre it was over. She turned to her Jesus Christ, he was dumping what was now obviously a silenciod handgun in his bag.

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

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

"Ha ... Harry ?"

"Yep."The young boy's optic wandered south and he glanced away."Um you ‘ re going to have to throw a change of wardrobe if you want to have any form of intelligent conversation."

"Why ?"

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

"Oh."Natalie felt the flush rising in her face as she conjured a gown."bettor ?"

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


cartage bodies up to her flat had been a surreal experience. She had healed the 1 that could be healed before stunning them into a coma. In the end they had two wad, xvi active and four dead. She did n't doubt that without whizz medicinal drug the reckoning would consume been a lot higher.

And here she was, sitting by her chocolate table staring at lined up, stunned, crook who ten instant ago had been trying to stamp out 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 elderly than when she had final stage seen him. Much older."You saved my life."

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

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

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

Natalie decided not to remark, instead she asked.

"How did you even know to add up here ?"

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

Natalie listened in shock as Harry briefly explained a conversation that had apparently taken billet between Severus and Dumbledore earlier that evening. Poor Severus, she could just see him now. Pacing his office, unable to do anything. Hating himself even though it wasn't his fault. 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 watch Snape were all, big surprise, watching Snape. Meaning I could slip by undetected. After that I dashed for the wall, climbed it light, the Barbara Ward doesn ‘ t keep in humans. Legged it to Hogsmeade and broke into a cottage to use the flue pipe. I didn ‘ t want anyone to know I ‘ d gone through there, that was why I didn ‘ t use one of the pubs."

Natalie didn't speak as Harry finished his tale. She looked over at the pile of felon, then back at Harry. Her psyche, 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 pageboy out of my record book ?"

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

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

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

"Voldemort ‘ s right at Legillimancy."

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

"waiting a minute ..."Harry's hilltop furrowed."You ‘ re phone is working ?"

"Of course."

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

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

"Eew !"Harry cringed back."Mental range ! All improper !"

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

"You sure ?"

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

"Yeah ?"

"Thank you."

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

"And Happy Halloween."

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


Harry didn't try to reenter Hogwarts that dark. Too much risk of exposure of being seen by one of the witness. Instead he dozed on a bench and slipped back in around sunrise. He attended breakfast purely to procure chocolate in turgid measure and managed to get through his first few lessons somehow. During lunch time out he dragged his sleepy spring down to the keep and found the right on 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 start to thank you-"

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

"I suppose I am."

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


As soon as Harry's animal foot touched the floor he knew it was a ambition. Before him the cottage at Godrics hollow rose above his head. Looking so ... formula. zero to verbalise to it's momentous importance. It could have been any one of thousands of houses, there were others that could be its similitude dotted down the street. aught special, and yet it repelled him.

Harry felt his skin crawl. The house was ... wrong ... somehow. Harry turned and dashed down the street, passing tree diagram and hedgerow. He dashed with no care and caught his foot on a pavage Harlan F. Stone, sending him sprawling to the floor. As he got to his ft he felt smoke under his base. He was back on the front man lawn. The cottage was redress in front of him.

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

Harry slammed his optic assailable and dropped out of bed, rushing for the bathroom.
*


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

'' I 'm ok. '' Came the muffled reply.

'' You do n't vocalize fine. You sound- ''

'' I said I 'm fine. '' Harry jerked the room access undefended, the grim suitcase under his eyes even more seeable than usual against his Green River and under the weather skin.

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

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

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

"I SAID I ‘ M fine !"Harry whirled on his Ron."I was nauseous. For some rationality. Some unknown and unimportant reason. I threw up. I feel better. We should go to breakfast."

"Breakfast is over."Ron shrugged."We let you sleep through it. The girlfriend should be bringing some leftovers when we go to creatures."

"Well then let ‘ s go to tool. I ‘ m hungry."Harry threw his bag over his shoulder and made for the door, his head drooping.

Ron followed slowly. Harry was slowly getting worse, sick. Was it just lack of sopor doing this to Harry ? He hadn't looked this bad even when he'd been time jumping. This fourth dimension he seemed physically ill. Ron shucked his bag up further on his back. They all needed a little more kip, Harry had been pushing them hard.

Sir Thomas More sleep, and Sir Thomas More bruise-remover.
*


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

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

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

"You can already marshal an elephant."Harry dropped his bag on the table."omission the succeeding few lessons."

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

"Some of us realize the inanity of being taught what we already know."Harry stepped into the heart of the attic."Alright, this time everyone except Draco. All of the marauders."

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

"I'm sure, I ‘ m fine. Nothing a niggling exercise won ‘ t cure."Harry shed his gown as the marauders drew into a roach around him. Ginny could see Malfoy settling down to determine, 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 scepter but Harry was already moving, sliding under her scene like a snake. His wand came up towards her. She shielded, Harry flicked to the side of meat and Neville went down in a newsbreak of red light.

The Gemini jumped forward like mirrors of each early but a sputter beam clicked between them and slammed them together like conker. Harry whirled like a dancer and a caul of sens surrounded him. The marauders began firing into the swarm, careful not to hit each early as the peach flew out the former position. The marauders slowed and eventually stopped.

"Do you call back 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 script and flew into the blackness. An array of lulu followed it. All came back out.

"prison guard this."Ginny waved her baton."Depulso smoke."The Joseph Black cloud flew away and dissipated into the dusty air. Revealing nothing. The floor was empty.

"Where the hell is-"Ginny felt a exercising weight hit her shoulders and a stabbing pain. As she collapsed she saw boots flash in straw man of her face and red lightness flashing all around. Her berm was like a burning knife.

"HOLD !"Someone yelled."I said cargo area !"

The flashing illumination stopped and she felt substantial manus rolling her over carefully. Malfoy's grimace came into view, staring at her shoulder.

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

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

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

"No."Draco shook his head."Two predator, one injured, leads back to Harry. I ‘ ll fill her. We can pass it off as an inter-house thing."Draco put his arm under her right shoulder joint and lifted her gently, carrying her away.
*


"What the hellhole was that ? !"Padma whirled on Harry."You broke her shoulder."

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

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

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

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

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

"You could induce really hurt her."Annapurna said softly.

"I have really hurt her."Harry said harshly."I ‘ ve had broken clappers. It hurts. It hurts a lot. It also hurts a lot less than what would happen if a end eater caught her."

"So it was for her own trade good 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 absolute majority of the the great unwashed I ‘ m trying to save doing their best to screw with me !"

The marauders jumped back. The tincture in the attic made Harry's font a freakish mask. He was shaking like a leaf, breathing hard.

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

"Harry ..."Hermione reached forward.

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

"You, you want to go right hand back into a fighting ?"Hermione asked, her voice incredulous."No Harry. No, we ‘ re all tired. We can ‘ t."

"I can. You can. Get over here."Harry threw Padma's verge to her. It bounced off her stomach. She made no endeavour to catch it.

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

"Come on !"Harry clapped like some mad sportswoman omnibus."We can do another round."

"I don ‘ t wan na do this with you Harry."Ron said angrily."This isn ‘ t fun anymore."

"THIS WAS NEVER FUN !"

"Harry what do you want !"Hermione yelled."We don ‘ t have to do what you say ! We don ‘ t have to obey orderliness like you seem to think ! Make up your mind Harry, are we your friends or are we your ... your U. S. Army !"

"You giving me the choice."Harry stepped up right into Hermione's face."You giving me that alternative. I have a wickedness maven after me that I ‘ m fated to fight. I have the gravid, no scratch that, the two sterling whiz in the universe hating me. One trying to kill me. One trying to keep me a prisoner. I have everything against me. So I choose a all-fired army.'Cos I need a bloody USA. And if you can ‘ t be that then to hell with you."

Harry turned, and disappeared out the door.
*


The nexus of the marauders was gone. Without that, they were hollow.

They went to lesson, walked, went to meals. But Harry was never with them. He still attended lecturing to maintain the teacher off his cover, but every other moment seemed to be spent in that attic. Plus wherever he snuck out to at night.

Draco was with him sometimes, walking silently behind him along the corridor. Visible bruising made it take in that he hadn't stopped helping Harry. Ginny caught him alone one break of the day and confronted him.

"Why are you still helping Harry ?"She asked bluntly.

"Because he ‘ s my friend."Was the curt and dry response.

"He ‘ s killing himself with all this."Ginny pleaded, looking into Draco's eyes. At least there was some emotion there, even if it mostly seemed to be regret."You realize that don ‘ t you ? You ‘ re not helping him survive. 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 vaticination ensures that. He will face up Voldemort. He will push him. So a little self destruction now is worth it if he survives that encounter. Wouldn't you say Ginerva ?"

"Don ‘ t turn this on me."Ginny shook her heading."And don ‘ t try to make what you ‘ re doing any kind of imposing. It ‘ s not."

"Of course of instruction I ‘ m noble. I ‘ m a Malfoy."Dragon hung his headland, then looked up to meet her optic. Regret was back, regret was definitely back."Look Ginerva I know everything you ‘ re saying is on-key. But I don ‘ t know how else to serve him. I don ‘ t how to facilitate him at all. Do you ?"

"I ... no."

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

And external Hogwarts the wizarding humankind slowly fell to opus. As Yule crawled closemouthed and the dark grew longer there was no joy among the magical peoples. It just meant there were to a greater extent dark hours for the expiry eaters to hunt in. One night a drab mark was raised right in the eye of Manchester. The authorities passed it off as a hot air balloon. The I in the res publica did n't have to be explained away, the ministry just had to houseclean up after. When they even bothered to do that.

opposite to popular impression the darkest hour is not before dawn. It 's in the eye of the flaming night.
*


Harry closed the vaticinator with a overweight sigh and dropped it on the undercoat beside him. affair were only getting worse out there. The order was n't doing anything, big surprise there. Barty Crouch was still missing from destruction eater group meeting, apparently with Voldemort's full support. The wickedness brute ? No one knew a matter about them.

No one seemed to know anything.

Harry stretched his legs out and felt the riffle of the lake against his bare pelt, sending back ripple of goosebump to match. Not all to do with the low temperature. It was good though. He should make sure as shooting he could make do water if he had to. Might have to fight in it one day.

'' A dark state of affairs. ``

Harry tensed as the voice came from behind him and spun, baton outstretched. There was a figure standing there, looking out over the water. He looked old, seventy maybe. Bald definitely, and not a haircloth in his piffling not bad moustache was anything early than white. He looked like a crawl in teacher Sir Thomas More than anything else, one of the old school ones. 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 heading. `` Three things : One, I do n't drink tea. I drink java, in large measure. Two : You do n't have any tea. Three : Even if you had a flaskful I would n't be able to drink it. '' Harry reached out and waved his mitt directly through the old mans leg. It passed through without even a tingle.

'' Very in effect Mr ceramicist. '' The old man sat down cross legged following to him. `` How could you tell ? ``

'' There are certain augury. '' And I 'm certainly not telling him them. `` Who the hell are you ? ``

'' My name is Epistle of James. '' Harry stiffened at those words. The old man laughed. `` No not that Saint James the Apostle. Honestly Mr thrower there are more people called James in this creation than your father. ``

'' Probably not your actual gens anyway. '' Harry snorted.

'' I 've never seen a want to conceal my first name. One of the benefits of having a squeamish traditional epithet like Jesse James or John or Harry. '' James smiled and took a little puff on his piping. `` Of course if you wish to screw my last epithet we shall have a job. ``

'' I do n't give a dirt what your utmost gens is. '' Harry shrugged. `` How are you doing this ? Some kind of illusion ? ``

'' Astral Projection. '' James said professionally. `` It 's really quite utilitarian. ``

'' I 've read about it. '' Harry crossed his arms and stared calculatingly at the man next to him. `` It requires extensive preparedness and a rophy of at least three wizards. What you came to enjoin me is worth all that ? ``

'' Very good Mr Pott- ''

'' plosive consonant saying that. '' Harry cut him off. `` Just address your slice. ``

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

'' Is he from the ministry of empty-headed gens ? ``

'' How droll. '' James pulled a piece of paper from his jacket and held it out for Harry to see. Harry grabbed a piece of parchment out of his bag to jot down the reference then took a little Thomas More time reading the rest of the profile.

'' one-half blood, respected member of the Wizengamot, respecter writer, married to a muggle, frank critic of the current minister. Two kidskin at Hogwarts. His live on Word of God was a bonk story, between a pure blood and a muggle. '' Harry laughed wryly. `` Jesus, did someone just take a big piece of play-doh and mould it into a target for the death eater ? ``

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

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

'' I know he is. '' King James I tapped a engagement on the composition. `` Tomorrow Night. ``

'' Oh come on. ``

'' He has been repeated warned but he refused to take on a protective contingent. He says it would impinge on his seclusion. anserine And he will die for it. A beloved family man is going to die if you do n't lay aside him. ``

'' pig. You save him. You obviously have resources. ``

'' I, or more accurately the group I represent. Do induce the resource. '' Jesse James smiled. Harry did n't like that smile, it had weird profoundness. King James continued, `` Our administration also dislikes Voldemort. He is troublesome to our work. But unfortunately for Mr bread maker, Voldemort is only an irritation to us therefore it is not Charles Frederick Worth enough to us to save him. We do not move in the same circles as Voldemort you see, so he does not kick in us too much difficulty. We would prefer if he were gone though. It would make matter well-fixed. ``

'' So help him. ``

'' We can not. '' James stood. `` But you can. Go assistant him Harry ceramicist. If it turns out well, we may meet again. '' With that he disappeared into thin air.

'' show off. '' Harry murmured.

Of course he realized it could be a cakehole. In fact it almost certainly was a trap. Harry considered. Except that Conterrando bread maker was a genuine person. The storey, after a piddling checking of game prophet issues, checked out. Harry even found the minor in Ginny 's year. Hufflepuffs, twins, nice in a sort of boring Hufflepuff form of way. Both fellow member of the gobstones club. Both with significantly less idiotic names than their father.

Good kids. Good founding father too ...

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

Looks that way.

'' Do I have to ? ``

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

'' Do n't like popcorn. ``

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

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

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

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

loony like a fox.

'' Like a fox. ``
*


So it came to pass that Harry slid down into the chamber of secrets that night wearing the most singularly un-heroic piece of clothing in history.

A pair of waders.

'' Bloody winter. '' Harry shivered as he crawled through the tiny shot in the paries through which he had entered the chamber all those years ago. It was low than he remembered.

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

Of course this would be easier if Dumbledore had n't strengthened the Hogwarts Ward to the point where not even insects could make it through. This was the merely way out.

Harry 's transition through the catacombs was unerring. Last time he 'd been here he 'd wandered aimlessly, lost. petty mazed boy ... But he was n't the same individual he 'd been then. Harry sighed and walked on through the darkness to his destination.
*


Harry flicked his collar up and walked quickly down the street. This was Greater London, but not a part that he had ever frequented. Big firm, big expensive home. seat that did n't admit kindly to vagrants. Probably still would n't pick out kindly to him if he was found here.

House twenty six. Harry slowed to a block a stoppage away from the marvelous T. H. White edifice. In the middle of the terraced-row of equally tall white buildings. Expensive they might be, individual they were not.

All the lights seemed to be off. Mr Baker was probably asleep. No one outside, no one obvious anyway.

hullo ...

Up on the ceiling. Darkness made into flatness made into nightmares. soul was waiting up there, trying to stay invisible against the skyline.

Harry cursed then darted down an alley. cause in the front M, it might own been a discarded newsprint. Then again it might not.

human shape ! secondment storey, standing near the bed ! Harry 's hired man found a drainpipe and he catapulted himself up. There were two more on the bed, cowering in fearfulness. The standing figure raised his sceptre. Harry swung with all his intensity level and crashed through the window.

'' What the inferno ! ``

Harry tackled the dying feeder to the floor and stunned him. He rushed to the door and bolted it, pushing a chair under the handgrip. The others would have got heard the windowpane break.

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

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

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

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

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

'' Do n't worry about me. Just go ! '' Harry flicked a ward onto the room access, strengthened it. But it would n't adjudge long. These were n't criminals, these were factual death eater. Duelist grouping deuce. bugger. 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 room access and raised his wand.

The firstly real mental test. Lets see how I do.

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


The houses windows flashed from where he sat on the rooftops. Whoever that boy was he was fighting them. Fighting them everywhere. There were two people fleeing down the backstreet, visible in the break between theatre. They did n't matter.

His knarrled fingers clenched. It looked like the boy had beat him to these ones. He would n't be able to drink down tonight. Would n't be able to hurt them, make them pay. Make the other one, the snake one, the one who took everything pay.

He licked his rim. Another time, there would be other times. He was patient. patient was respectable, so long as it got there in the end.

The end ... the end ...

Vengeance. That was a good word.

The witness hunkered down on the rooftops. Before him the battle raged on and cry of infliction filled the air.

He would await, and if there were any stragglers ? Maybe he would have some fun after all.
*


'' stir up up ! ``

Urg ... Ron turned over on instinct to get away from the noise.

'' Get the hell up Weasley ! ``

'' Ow ! '' Ron grabbed his side and spun, his centre wide of the mark receptive. `` Malfoy what the- ''

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

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

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

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

'' Something 's wrong. ``

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

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

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

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

'' Then he 's eating breakfast ! ``

'' Checked there. ``

'' Library. ``

'' Checked. ``

'' Down by the lake ? ``

'' Checked. ``

'' The woods ? Around the edge- ''

'' Checked. ``

'' Oh. '' Ron bit his lip. `` He 's probably, I do n't bonk. Probably training late and just passed out tired. Even you had to notice he was tired. ``

'' Surprised you did. '' Malfoy turned for the door. `` Get your friends and help oneself await. ``

'' We 're not your frie- ''

'' But you were Harry's ! '' Malfoy turned angrily. `` And he could be in bother, 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 dead get the hell up and help me look ! ``
*


Ron woke the marauder. The marauders roused the pupil. Myrtle called the trace. Hermione ran to McGonagall. McGonagall went to Dumbledore.

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

It was Dumbledore who confirmed, by 'his own method acting', that Harry was not in the rook. The great hall was filled with tangible tension as breakfast appeared as if it was any early 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 stimulate it real.

The marauders mostly picked at their food. No one felt like eating. Not even Ron. Suddenly the door burst open.

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

The Charles Francis Hall emptied like a fire had started. Every student of every house piled through the giant double doors. Jostling and pushing against each other, and against teachers, to get through. They spilled out onto the forepart lawn like a waving, breaking and separating. Everyone was running for the main gate. Ginny saw Hagrid, out in front end, yell something and the gate creaked open. Everyone pushed through, trying to get a glimpse of the solitary material body trudging up the path towards them.

The forepart runners stopped and were almost bowled over as the citizenry behind them ran into their backs. The road down from the gates was slanted, so everyone could see. See the figure that was definitely Harry.

His robes hung off one shoulder, the sleep torn and trailing behind him. The whole left incline of his face was covered in blood, down onto his berm too, caked on and streaked. One of his boots was gone, Merlin only knew where. His lead arm had an ugly burn over the elbow, red and raw and black in the middle.

The full of Hogwarts stared at him. Harry raised his head painfully.

'' wellspring ... would ... '' Harry swallowed and licked his lip. `` Would you believe I fell down some stairs ? ``
*


'' Mr Potter where were you ? ``

You know where.

'' Tell me ! ``

He knows where. Of path he does. stupid person Dumbledore.

'' Were you at the baker abode Harry ? ``

There we are.

'' How did you leave school day grounds ? ``

You do n't take to know that.

'' Harry reply me ! ``

'' What do you need from me Dumbledore ? '' Harry pushed a blood-entangled dreadlock of pilus out of his face. `` What do you desire me to say ? ``

'' I want the truth ! '' Dumbledore was yelling, every portrait on the walls of his office watched in silence. Apart from them the elbow room was empty-bellied. `` I want you to tell me where you went ! Where you go every nighttime ! I want reply ! ``

'' I do n't give way a damn what you want. ``

Rather incongruent seeing as we just asked him.

'' Harry if there is a breach in the Barbara Ward of Hogwarts I need to know about it. ``

Damn. He might actually be right. Voldemort sure enough as Hell knew about the chamber.

'' sleeping accommodation of closed book. '' Harry met the headmaster gaze but gave nothing away. His occlumency was getting better too. `` Remember ? There 's a passageway 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 hospital 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 ingest to be this way between us, admit you made a mistake with regard to me. I can help you fight. Help the order of magnitude. ``

'' You are not of age. ``

'' Screw that ! '' Harry yelled wildly. `` There 's two mass living tonight because of me ! Two small fry who are not orphaned because of me ! ``

'' There are also five dead Death eaters. ``

What ... the ... hell ...

'' Stunned. '' Harry corrected hopefully. `` Stunned last eaters. ``

'' Dead. '' Dumbledore 's cheek grew stony. `` Killed with an mysterious toxin. Seen only once before. ``

No ... no no no no.

'' Dumbledore- ''

'' Stop ! '' The master cut him off. `` You have already demonstrated a bloodlust that disturbs normal, decent wizard. ``

'' When I need to ! '' Harry was breathing hard. `` When my supporter lives are at interest ! ``

'' You are out of control Harry. ``

'' I did n't kill them. '' Harry held up his hands. `` I did n't, I swear. I stunned them, then left, then called the aurors to break up them up. ``

'' I can not think that Harry, I can not. Not with all I know. ``

'' Legilimence me. '' Harry released his Defense Department. `` You 'll see. You 'll know. ``

'' I will not experience. I will not jazz because I can not be sure that you have not reached a layer of technique at occlumency where you could depict me whatever fabricated retentiveness you wish to. ``

'' THEN WHAT DO YOU desire ! ``

'' choler Harry ? You have a lot of ire do n't you. ``

Yes. Harry hung his head tiredly. There is no answer to your interrogative sentence. Nothing that will meet you.

'' You will outride confined to the castle. '' Dumbledore ordered. `` You will wait on all lessons. A guardian appointed by me will walk you to and from each lesson. You will do these things or I will hand you to the aurors. ``

'' I did n't do it. '' Harry whispered, Sir Thomas More to himself than anything else.

'' I can not take that risk. ``

waiting ! The prognostication !

'' The divination. '' Harry blurted. `` What are we going to- ''

'' check thinking about such things. '' Dumbledore cut him off. `` They are no longer your business organisation. ``

'' But I have to stop Voldemort. I 'm the only one who can. ``

'' This word is over Harry. Leave. ``

Harry stood. There was no power point drawing it out. He walked towards the doorway, but did n't go through it. He felt drained, completely. But some residual well of pigheadedness would n't let him leave without one last word.

'' You 're making a mistake. '' Harry said over his shoulder. `` You do realise them remember. ``

'' I do. But I correct them. '' Dumbledore said sharply, but sadly. `` I am correcting one right now. ``

Damn. He still got the in conclusion word.

Harry turned and passed out of the agency. There were important determination to be made.
*


'' Deja vu. '' A vocalism said over Ron 's shoulder.

'' Malfoy ! '' Ron spun on his bench. `` Do you just snarf around everywhere ? ``

'' Hard to lift in the middle of tiffin. '' Malfoy seemed agitated. `` Harry 's gone again. ``

'' Like this morning ? '' Hermione asked.

'' He said he was going to go to slumber, but his bag 's gone. '' As Malfoy spoke they heard a randomness from the gamy table.

Dumbledore had just shoved his death chair back roughly and strode quickly from the hall.

'' He knows about- '' Ron began but stopped as a feathered tincture dropped onto the table.

power shovel cocked his head and hopped about a little nervously. He kept looking at number one one face then another as if he did n't know who to deliver his substance too.

Ginny reached forward and took it off her. She spread it out on the table. It was inadequate, but it had a lot of subtext. It simply said.

Take upkeep of him






followup, or I will use my gravemetric inversion ray to boom 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 situation goes down ! Madness everywhere ! affair fall apart, the centre of attention can not hold ! My revue ! ! ! My precious critique ! ! !

Ah well ... such is life.



'' Is there no news ? ``

'' No Albus, there is not. '' Minerva shook her head. `` He appears to have vanished. ``

'' Has a watch been set on the borders ? All ways that he could leave the body politic ? ``

'' Yes Albus. '' As if that had ever stopped Harry. `` But do you really think he will try to result ? Everything we 've seen suggests he will stay and contend. ``

'' I do not know Minerva. '' Albus shook his foreland. `` I am not trusted of anything anymore. ``

'' arrest inviolable Albus. The order needs you. ``

'' Yes ... yes we must go on. ``
*


The vulture, bundled up against the dusty, sat quietly before a huge bay window in Malfoy manor. They had gone there straight from Hogwarts, with a sentry go the entire way. They were in the minority for leaving, a lot of student had elected to last out at Hogwarts for Christmastide. It was safer. They were not the only one there though, terry and Anne bread maker ( none of the marauders had really known them ) had been dragged along looking confused.

That was until they reached the house and had a tearful reunion with their parents. Apparently someone had saved them from the Death eater. emphasis on someone.

The manor was filling up, load of people. Refugees almost, people that had been targeted or were in danger of being. It was scary, seeing the fear in their eyes, the feeling of being hunted. The marauders were the same, unable to provide, scanning the newspaper for any hint of Harry. They found zip but they kept looking. guiltiness was a powerful thing.

So now they were stuck in the mansion, unable to leave its wall as snow blanketed everything outside. Even if they could have gone outside would they have had the heart to play ? Maybe, maybe not. So they sat in front of the huge open window and watched it fall.

The grownup had tried to make it cheery, there was even a tree. It had n't worked though.

'' We should go make luncheon. '' Someone murmured. No one moved. Eventually someone else echoed the opinion and they began to get up, slowly, silently. They had just about reached the kitchen when Tonks burst in.

'' Have you heard the tidings ? '' She blurted.

'' We read the prophet- '' Hermione began before Tonks interrupted her.

'' No, no. This just happened. '' She shook her headland. `` Two decease eaters just got dropped into the ministry foyer. Flued in. They were stunned and tied up with ribbons. They 're processing them now. Where 's everyone else ? ``

'' to the highest degree of the adults eat in the tree elbow room. '' Ginny pointed and Tonks hurried out.

'' Do you think it was Harry ? '' Neville asked quietly.

'' Of course it was Harry. '' Malfoy said flatly.

'' It could ingest been mortal else, soul else trying to stop them. ``

'' mortal who tied them up like nowadays and dumped them Christmas eve ? It 's Harry. '' Padma grimaced. `` He 's out there fighting. ``

'' On his own. '' Her sister echoed.

They sat in silence for a while. The only sound was Ron rhythmically munching on bread.

'' Do you think it was us ? '' Ginny found herself whispering. `` Do you cogitate we drove him out ? ``

'' You certainly did n't serve. '' Dragon sneered.

'' Shut up Malfoy ! You were the one helping him ! '' Ron reached over and tried to pound the Slytherin. `` If you had n't he would n't have thought he could fight them ! ``

'' He was getting assistance from former piazza than me. Someone else I 'm indisputable, he was getting better too fast. '' Malfoy shook his question. `` No, I withdraw what I said before. You did n't labour him towards this. This was inevitable. ``

But we abandoned him. Ginny thought darkly. Maybe if he would consume stayed longer if he thought he had something to stay for. Or at the very to the lowest degree he 'd sleep with he was n't alone. Merlin, how had things gone so wrong ?

'' It 's my demerit. '' 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 ? '' Dragon shook his head. `` choose out a personal ad in the oracle ? ``

'' Well why not ? ``

'' Because it 's pathetic. And because all it would do is assuage your guilt trip. It would n't help him. ``

'' Well what would help him ! '' Fred asked angrily.

'' I do n't know ! '' genus Draco guesswork to his metrical unit. `` Why are you asking me anyway ? I do n't even like you. '' He turned and stalked out of the way. 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 early friends. Maybe that had been why he helped Harry for so long.

'' We need to do something. '' Anapurna repeated again.

'' What sister ? What ? '' Padma frowned at her sister darkly. `` Do n't just keep saying 'do something'and bear everyone else to come up with something. ``

'' I do n't take heed you coming up with anything ! ``

'' There 's nothing we can do ! ``

They lapsed into an angry silence again. There was too much tenseness, too little slumber. They were all at the end of their tether. Just like Harry had been. Ginny shook her head, they should have gone easier on him. A small selfish part of her felt sword lily that she had not been voice of that foremost line with him. Another part blamed her for starting it. If she had just dodged he would n't throw hurt her shoulder and then they would n't have ...

It was unpointed to recollect about it. The arguing had happened, but a little part of her still irked. They should n't receive blown up on him, so what if he said he chose an U. S. Army ... hold ... Was it possible ? Was she really thinking about this ?

'' I can remember of something we can do. '' She said, her articulation catching in the middle. It had n't done that in years.

'' What Gin ? '' Fred asked without looking at her.

No one was looking at her. No one was paying attention. Marauder rules ...

'' HEY ! '' The table jumped as Ginny slammed down on it hard. The vulture started like rabbits. Oh corking, now everyone was looking at her. She stood, keeping her hands monotone 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 help him ! ``

For a few moments there was silence, then ...

'' But ... but we 're just child. '' 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 know how to fight like him. '' Ron was staring at her wildly.

'' Harry learnt, so we can. '' Ginny folded her implements of war. `` Harry was n't even that just at demurrer and expect how far he 's add up. We can do it. ``

'' We could ... '' Fred murmured, and is twin began nodding thoughtfully.

'' There are only eight of us. '' Hermione pointed out.

'' I think other people in the schooltime would be prepared to help Harry if we told them. The old Chosen ... others too. '' Ginny tried to look positive. `` And besides, Harry 's just one person ! ``

'' But Harry 's Harry ! '' Hermione shook her head. `` He could get away with that sort of affair ! He has some ... ability ... some reason he survived. A power ! That 's it ! Like the prophecy said .'A mightiness the dark lord knows not'we- ''

'' The merely power Harry ever displayed was obstinacy. '' Padma interrupted her. `` Stubbornness and bravery. ``

'' And the fact that he never gave up. '' Her Sister added.

'' And we should n't either. '' Padma nodded.

'' So you ... '' Ginny turned to them grinning.

'' We 're in. '' Padma said, her center surd and determined. Her sister nodded her support.

'' Us too. '' George VI folded his weapon just as his buddy said,

'' We ca n't leave up on Harry. ``

'' And you three ? '' Ginny turned to the last three undetermined piranha. Neville shifted nervously,

'' I ... It could hold been me. '' He was looking down at the table. `` It could have been me. I would n't have survived this long. No ... but I ca n't just disregard it. The fact that it could give birth been me I mean. I ... I feel like I have to help if I can. ``

'' You 're in ? ``

'' I do n't know how lots help I 'll be. ``

'' You saved me. '' Ginny smiled desperately. All the predator had to connect, it was like fate. For some reason she felt like that. If they all did n't join it just would n't turn. `` And Harry would get wanted it. ``

'' He understood you. '' Padma chimed in, smiling. `` More than the quietus 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 card her brother into it, Ron was a sponge for peer pressure, but she would n't. Not a option like this.

'' We 'll have to neglect some example. '' Ron said suddenly and Hermione put a mitt over her mouth, chuckling. `` Think you can manage that Hermione ? ``

'' I guess so. '' Hermione turned back to Ginny. `` For Harry. ``

'' You 're in ? '' Yes, yes, yes ! `` Both of you ? ``

'' We 're in. ``

'' Us too. '' A voice came out of nowhere. Ginny spun and fixed on the large dual doors. Standing in the open shot were two embrown haired children. Terry and Anne baker. They had been listening in, eavesdropping. And they had managed to do it undetected. Wow, Ginny thought. They 've already got what it takes to be a marauder.

'' What ? '' Ron stood, clearly ineffective to see them properly from where he was. `` You two ? ``

'' We heard what you were saying. '' Anne said, obviously trying to sound older. Ginny wondered if she had looked like that a few instant ago. `` We want to avail too. ``

'' Harry saved our parents. '' terry added in. `` The ministry did n't even bang they were a target. We want to avail. ``

'' You realize what this means do n't you ? '' Ginny said clearly. `` We 're talking about fighting. Fighting death eaters. Maybe dying, almost certainly getting hurt. This is n't going to be fun. ``

'' We know that. '' Terry nodded. `` You think we do n't know ? We saw Harry when he came back that good morning just like the rest of you. That 's the kind of stuff you 're talking about rightfulness ? Well that nighttime he was out saving our parents. Saving them was what hurt him so bad, so its ... like I do n't know. Only middling, I guess, that we should do that for him. ``

'' You could die. '' Padma said flatly.

'' If Voldemort wins we die anyway. '' Anne matched her languor. `` With parents like ours we 'll be on the top of his list. ``

'' We know what were getting ourselves into. '' Dame Alice Ellen Terry said defiantly. `` We want to join Harry 's army. ``

'' Harry 's army ? '' George snorted. `` Is that what we 're calling ourselves ? ``

'' I do n't care it. '' His Twin agreed.

'' It does speech sound like something from world-war-two. '' Hermione agreed.

'' How about the chosen ? We 've been that before. '' Ron suggested.

'' We 're the piranha. '' Ginny overrode him. `` We 've always been the vulture we always will be. It 's what Harry would have wanted. ``

A murmur of concord went up from around the tabular array and Ginny felt a surge of superbia. She beckoned the Baker twins over. As she did she suddenly realized something, she had made everybody look at her and they were still looking. Her pal had happily accepted her hint, they all had. And now she was about to ordinate two new vulture, 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 discipline properly ? Harry had a teacher, he had to. Where are we going to get one ? ``

'' I can think of someone. ``
*


'' Draco ! ``

Draco turned in jar to look at the crowd in the library doorway.

'' Yes ? '' He looked across them. `` Can I facilitate you ? ``

'' We 've decided what we 're going to do. '' Ginerva said from the front. `` We 're forming an Army. We 're going to contend for Harry. We want your help. ``

The library was silent for a moment. Draco met the eyes of each of the marauders, were they really good ? Legillimancy gave him the answer.

'' Well would you look at that. '' Draco murmured, then smiled. `` Lets get to it. ``
*


'' You realize this means the marauder now have members in every Hogwarts house. '' St. George commented as they walked down to Harry 's old training cellar.

'' We do n't have any Ravenclaws. '' Ron said. Hermione shook her capitulum irritably.

'' You would think you 'd commend Ron, after all the times she 's carry through our skins. ``

'' Who ? ``

'' Moaning Myrtle. ``

'' She does n't weigh. '' Ron said with self-confidence before being clipped around the ear by Ginny.

"Watch your back talk. Harry wouldn't stand for that sort of talk."

"Besides, you ‘ re all wrong anyway."Draco said dryly from the front."Harry made myself and Tonks marauders at the end of live on year. You ‘ ve been cross-house for months now."

"Why didn ‘ t you tell us ?"Ron asked him.

"Would it have made a difference ?"

"Well ... maybe."Ron shrugged."vulture have unlike linguistic rule than ordinary bicycle people."

"Yeah, that share I got."Malfoy reached the door to the cellar and threw it unfastened. It was exactly how they had left it. Huge mass of broken furniture and burn marks on the rampart."right wing, well we don ‘ t have impact firmament or a siswai ‘ aman or muggle gonnes-"

"Guns."Hermione corrected.

"Them either."Dragon stepped into the center of the room."Actually I do have some impact spheres but that ‘ s not the point. We don ‘ t have time to go to four continents and nibble up the best weaponry like Harry did, so I ‘ m going to center on this ..."Malfoy drew his wand and held it out in battlefront of him.

"Terry, Anne."Ginny turned to the two newest penis."How are you at defence mechanism course of instruction ?"

"We ‘ re both getting Es."Anne said quickly.

"piranha should make love 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 communication channel. Her stomach did a footling floaty lurch.

Just focus. She told herself. Just stress because we're joining a war. cancel to be unquiet, especially since they seem to receive elected me drawing card. I'm not nervous for any other reason. No reason at all.
*


Neville collapsed into a 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 than. Neville hadn't been far behind them.

This must have been what it was like for Harry.

Neville shook his head, to begin with Padma had told him Harry understood him. Neville didn't know whether that was true. He certainly didn't understand Harry. But maybe he watched him more than the others, keeping silence on the sidelines maybe he saw more. Saw more about people ... about Harry.

Maybe there was one early thing they could do for Harry.

He had thought of it before but hadn't mentioned it. No reason to tell ` the great unwashed, especially if he was wrong. It'd just make him seem stupid. It probably wouldn't helper anyway. But it was worth a shot.

Neville drew a while of report towards him and grabbed a quill. He chewed on the end nervously, how did you part a message like this ?

dearest ... No, to familiar. Neville shook his head, it didn't matter what discussion he used. He should just get the thing written. He cracked his tired knuckles and started again.

To The Pythea

My epithet is Neville Longbottom and I'm a friend of Harry's. I don't know if he told you about me.

Neville winced, this was harder than he thought.

Harry's in difficulty, or he might be. He's left Hogwarts to fight. We're worried about him. We're worried he might die. I don't know if you know about the Pr ...

Neville stopped writing and thought for a moment. The varsity letter might get intercepted by someone.

If the musical phrase ‘ as the 7th month dies'means anything to you then you know why he's doing this. I don't know if you can aid him but if you can then delight do, and say us what we can do to help. We're already doing everything we can but it may not be enough.

Neville read the letter over nervously. He was writing to ask the help of one of the most mightily women in the mankind. He signed it, his mitt shaking enough to spend a penny the signature tune illegible, then squeaked his hot seat back and made for the owlery.

excavator was alert and waiting, like he knew. The owl didn't even fuss to look at the address, it just glanced at the name and took off. Neville watched it go, hoping ...
*


He got no reply over Christmastime. The marauders opened presents with aching bones while their parents watched before begging out and going back down to the cellar. Neville was surprised that the bread maker children didn't complain about being worked on Christmastide day. Perhaps they really did understand what they were in for.

C. P. Snow kept falling intermittently, not enough to cover the undercoat again. It just ended up slush. Neville wondered if Harry was outside, common cold, right now, then felt stupefied. If Harry could get weird dark weaponry out of the blue then he could keep warm in winter.

'' Neville ! '' He heard Fred yell at him. `` I thought we were dueling not staring out the windowpane. ``

'' I 'm coming. '' Neville turned and raised his wand. `` Just a second. ``

We 're doing what we can Harry, just you wait.
*


Harry crouched on the roof of a house, careful not to steal on the wet roofing tile. The mansion across the way was owned by a prominent fellow member of a pure blood syndicate. Not his main house obviously, pokey lilliputian place like this, but one of his properties.

A property with a large cellar. A property that had been taking in large supplies of meat, bad sum too. Off cutting, the kind you would give animals.

It was a booster cable. Harry smiled grimly, he was on to them. He could waitress here all night ...
*


"Severus the shaver at military headquarters keep disappearing during the day. Do you know where they're going ?

"I do not Albus."Technically reliable though any sensible person could guess.

"Do you recollect they might be planning to espouse 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 evidence me if you hear anything I should know."

"Of course."Anything I think you should know.

"Now, '' Dumbledore looked around the Asaph Hall, meeting the eyes of the four decree member. Snape, McGonagall, Tonks and Moody. They had all been asked here. None of them knew why. `` I believe I have found Harry. ``

'' Are you sure ? '' Minerva rose to her animal foot, shock evident on her expression. `` How ? ``

'' Harry has been too trusting of Gringots. '' Dumbledore drew a thin booklet of parchments towards him. `` He forgets that they have homo employees as well as hob I. I have managed to incur records of Harry 's dealing. I believe I have pinpointed his position. ``

'' So why have n't you brought the misfortunate boy back ? ``

'' Because Harry will let an exit strategy. '' Dumbledore shook his head. `` If he sees me he will run, and I can not guarantee I will be able-bodied to get him. You are the order members I believe he will trust. You must approach him. You must bring him back. ``

And what if I do n't bid him back. Snape was deliberate to shield his opinion utterly. What if I merely wish to make sure he 's safe.

'' This is the placement. '' Dumbledore floated a rag of sheepskin to each of them. `` We will go. Now. ``
*


Snape looked up at the flickering incandescent lamp above him and scornfully flicked it off before lighting his wand.

'' The top flooring ? '' The auror Tonks was looking at the map drawn by Dumbledore. `` Why would he be on the top story ? 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 try muffled voices and clicking from adjacent elbow room, but the top floor was closed for renovation.

'' Perhaps Dumbledore was untimely then. '' Was that a intimation of Bob Hope in the voice of the young auror ?

'' More likely Harry has a broomstick up there. '' Minerva snapped.

Harry would not have a broomstick. Snape shook his school principal but said nothing out loud. He is more likely to let a pet dragon up there than a broomstick.

'' tranquility. '' Helen Wills Moody was up ahead, his magical eye scanning above them. The old auror cursed. `` tinker's dam iniquity eye ! There 's bagful up there, and papers. But I ca n't tell if there 's a person. ``

'' Let me see. '' Minerva slinked into her cat form and carefully padded up the stone's throw. Then came back down, her heart twinkling. She transformed back and said, `` Harry has been here. His sense of smell is everywhere. ``

'' Do you know if he is there now ? '' Snape asked.

'' He is there. The olfactory property is too late for him not to be. ``

'' Then we go in. '' Helen Newington Wills stalked forward. `` No verge seeable, do n't spook him. ``

They walked up the bleak concrete step. The threshold 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 dent in the one round the incline. '' The four order phallus stopped dead. The vocalism continued. `` And if you want a more dramatic affirmation, you are Moody, Snape, McGonagall and Tonks. ``

'' Harry ? '' Tonks asked loudly. `` Is that you ? ``

'' Did I not pee that clear ? '' The representative said cheerily. `` seminal fluid 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 sceptre in his pocket and walked around the niche. There indeed was a break in the plastic drapery, it was waving in the moth-eaten steer. Snape stepped up to the gap and pushed it aside. Harry was standing in the open bay windowpane, leaning easily against the edge.

He looked ... tired. Beyond tired, his eyes were sunken and his skin pale. 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 center sparkling mischievously.

"Harry."Snape greeted him as the other Order fellow member filed in behind him."It is soundly to see you. You are looking well."

"No I ‘ m not."Harry was watching them all closely."But I ‘ m surviving. How did you obtain 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 bring you back."

"And are you going to ?"

"We just want to talk to you Harry."McGonagall stepped forward, her hands distribute peacefully."It is not safe for you out here."

"It ‘ s not good anywhere."Harry shrugged."And I ‘ m helping out here. I ‘ m fighting the death feeder. What are you doing ? Looking for a lost child ? 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 have caught a few death eater but it ‘ s only a thing of time before you ‘ re caught and you better implore it ‘ s by Dumbledore and not the shadow Lord. If you die we all lose."

"If I fail we all lose."Harry shifted airless to the window.

"Harry, we ‘ re just trying to help you."Tonks stepped forward."We all know what ‘ s at bet here."

"This scene is recap."Harry scoffed."I ‘ m leaving."He turned to the windowpane and dropped.

"No !"McGonagall yelled, snatching for her wand but Moody was faster. The old auror summoned Harry roughly, drawing him across the floor and disarmed him with a flick of the wrist.

"Son of a bitch."Harry tried to resist but Dwight Lyman Moody jabbed his wand and Harry was pushed back to the ground."Trusted you ..."

"Sorry Potter."Moody growled."Trusted you too. You pissed on that when you killed five men didn ‘ t need to be killed."

"That's not true."

"The component part about killing them or the part about not needing to ?"

"To be honest, both."Harry made a lurch 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 right now."Helen Wills raised his wand."You disappointed me. Now Stup-"

"catch !"Snape struck sideways, sending Moody's sceptre sideways. As the auror 's oculus jerked undetermined in shock Snape stunned him and whirled, holding his scepter on McGonagall."Don ‘ t move Minerva. In fact back away."

"Severus what is this ?"Her centre were panoptic in disbelief.

"Please don ‘ t talk."Snape glanced at Tonks standing twitchily in the nook, her hand hovering over her wand."And you ? Do I need to stun you too ?"

"I ... no."The young auror's eyes flickered down to Harry."return tutelage 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."Moody caught you. You let your guard down. You have to be intimately than that."

"I know. I screwed up. incessant Vigilance."Harry nodded towards Helen Newington Wills."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 combine you now."

Harry grinned and dropped off the edge.

Snape waited a farsighted second, long enough for Harry to reach the ground, then lowered his baton. McGonagall just looked at him. No student with tardily homework had endured so withering a stare.

"Well Severus, now that you have betrayed the order, what do you intend to do now ?"

"I will go back to Dumbledore."Snape stepped over to wake up Moody."And I will try to explain."

The auror blinked to life-time and grabbed his verge. He levered himself to his animal foot and looked Snape up and down with his piercing electric blue eye.

"Well well, your true colors at last."Dwight Lyman Moody spat.

"Trelawney once told me my color was pale fuchsia."Snape commented as he made for the doorway."If I ‘ m showing that color you may want to get your eye checked."

"My eye ‘ s fine."

"good, then I ‘ ll meet you at Headquarters."Snape apparated away, the cold pressing abyss of vacancy giving him a moment of heartsease before he dropped to his ft in front of the doorway. Three dada behind him told him the other order fellow member had followed.

"Don ‘ t do that again you slime."Moody growled, wand out."If you try to apparate again I ‘ ll assume you ‘ re trying to escape."

Snape took three dance step, into the grand hall.

"There."Snape raised his mitt."Now I can ‘ t escape."

"I don ‘ t trust you."Helen Newington Wills shook his head."Give me your wand."

"No."Snape turned towards the main anteroom and walked calmly. Surprisingly he felt calm, he was comfortable. He was sick of being Dumbledore's lapdog, and now he had finally acted on it.

He pushed the forked doors open and found something he didn't expect. The all fiat was there, lining the walls. Dumbledore had called a coming together, to discuss Harry being back. Snape stopped, his arms crossed and the three following him take the air past into the room. Tonks was still quieten, fading into the crowd, her whisker unconsciously turning dampen brown. Moody and Minerva walked straight up to the brain of the table.

"You failed to catch Harry ?"Dumbledore clearly suspected something. He was using the stare that used to pierce Snape to the somebody, now it just made his eyes itchiness."What went wrong Severus ?"

"I decided that heavy commodity could be served by letting him free."Severus stood calm against the angry mussitation that rose at that. He found Natalie's heart in the bunch,

Why ?

I am tired of leashes.

You aren't finished are you. It wasn't a question.

I am not. I mean Dumbledore to know I am no farseeing ... tame.

Well this should be fun.

Snape couldn't helper but smile.

"You think this is suspect Severus !"Dumbledore had stood, his heart 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 metre 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 aught to say."Snape kept his voice irritatingly poise"The alone explanation I have you will not accept. And I can not formulate one you will because you I do not know what you want."

"I want someone I can commit !"

"No you do not. You trust no one. You never have. Not with any secret worth knowing. You are a conclude system, no one is told anything."Snape glanced around the office at the early order members, practically everyone was there. Everyone there to witness his humiliation, that was what Dumbledore wanted anyway. If Snape had his way it wasn't going to occur 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 occupy about you."

"Be silent !"

"Each of them thought another had your ear. Minerva thought Lupin, Lupin thought Moody perhaps. I don ‘ t know who Moody thought. But none of them did, none of them know."

"Silence !"

"No man is an island."Snape smiled, after all these years he knew how to get to the old man."No man is an island unless he makes himself so."

"Severus I will not listen to-"

"You will listen. You can ‘ t not."Snape shook his pass."Something has frozen you. That is what you do isn ‘ t it ? You shrink, like a polo-neck. rear into your shell."

"And what is my case ?"Dumbledore growled with uncontained furor and frustration.

"Your past. Your reputation."Snape sniffed."The last war, your resplendency daytime. 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 light up what you think about-"

"Shut up."Dead silence. Snape folded his arms, grinning faintly. Behaving like Harry was fun."I am talking now and you will listen. You are paralyzed by something. Guilt I would guess. I don ‘ t know of path, 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 ... ticking. You have guilt, cracking swirling pools of it. In every pore of you, in every aspect of your mind. It ‘ s been there since the initiative time I ever saw you, I didn ‘ t agnize it then of row, but it was there. By the time I came to work for you I was old enough to realise it. Something in your past, in your present too, fill you with a festering self-reproach. And it just gets worse and worse, makes you doubt yourself, makes you think you are never worthy. Makes you turn down the position of minister for magic. Over and over again. I know what made you like this, you think I would work for you and not investigate your past. You know I am more measured than that. You must ingest known that I knew. You must have known that I had found out about Kendra."

Dumbledore froze, every tendon tensed. Snape breathed a suspiration of relief in his mind. He had not known for sure enough, not until that consequence. He still didn't know really, not what had happened in that room. That secret would probably be taken to the graves of the men concerned. No matter, Snape could annotate over the details.

"It was there in the first war."Snape continued, his rough voice the only speech sound in the packed hall."Back then it was ... helpful. It made you thrifty. It made you faint but ... it made you measured. I do not sympathize what has happened since then, perhaps it is as Harry says and you are simply senile, but it is tough now Previously guilt made you measured, sensitive. Now it makes you useless. Useless and broken. You are no longer the famous Albus Dumbledore, you are a break version of him."

"No."

"Something destroyed you."

"Stop."

"I don ‘ t know what it was."

"Please."

"It must induce been something terrible."Snape smiled slyly, letting his word sink in. Weakening."Whatever could it feature been ? You don ‘ t have another sister ..."

"SILENC-"

"Legilimens !"
*


swarthiness falling, falling everywhere. My fault, always my fault. I shouldn't have put him there, no right I had no right. I condemned him, his dying. My one tutelage. Failure. No. Must be done. Leslie Townes Hope. Death. Failure. accuracy shrouded so deeply. So cryptic it hurts. The true statement would offend 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 judgement away, shaking. He fell to his articulatio genus on the floor, the horror, the disarray, filling him. Dumbledore had fallen too, back into his chairwoman. The old mans face twisted in pure excruciation. To keep a truth locked inside for nine year only to have it roughly ripped from you ? It must have felt like his heart had been torn out. Snape shook his head, it could not be on-key, it couldn't be. But behind the darkness murmur of Dumbledore's idea, behind the aching remorse the real storage hid. He had pushed them deep, as if trying to blank out them but they were there. They were impossible to forget. Snape knew he never would. The 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 hand on his shoulders. Natalie. He reached up for one and grasped it, holding on to something actual as character of his universe of discourse fell apart. He tried to put up and see he needed Natalie's help to rise to his fundament. His legs felt like piss, his feet like led. He tried to make his oral fissure work, thing needed to be said. Something needed to be said.

"How daring you ?"Predictable, but Snape could think of nil better."How could you do that ? To a child !"

"It ... was necessary."Dumbledore's vocalism was barely a murmur, a faint whisper in the air."It had to be done. It had to be done. It had to be done."Dumbledore mumbled that musical phrase over and over like a prayer.

"Necessary ?"Snape found his lingua 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 facilitate Harry. To obtain him and help him, and you will let me. You have no right 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 colossus. One that has zero to do with the moon."Snape turned away and hobbled from the elbow room, leaning heavily on the little charwoman beside him.

"Severus !"Dumbledore called after him, suddenly sounding scared."You will tell no one ! Surely even you can see that this must remain a secret !"

Snape kept walking, not trusting himself to talk. They reached the door and he stiffened, his heart felt like it had a K diminutive hooks in it, each one attached to a weight.

"Severus ?"Natalie murmured beside him."You need to go home base, I ‘ ll strike you-"

"No. Not base. Hogwarts."Snape shook his straits."Hogwarts first."

"Alright."She didn't argue, she knew when his idea was made up. There was a shortstop, sharp bell and the woman he was leaning on had blond hair and picket whitened skin. Of course, she was supposed to be dead. Trust her to remember details even at a clock time like this. They stepped outside the edge of the Aaron Montgomery Ward and apparated, the cold and pressing void once more inclosure him.

He stepped out himself onto the grass before the gates and allowed himself to be led up the long way of life to the castle. Corridors passed and Snape realized he was being led to his after part. Good. The rampart are warded so no one will see. As they reached the doorway Snape pushed it open and went directly to the liquor locker. He poured himself a whisky and drunk it down, wincing at the burn in his throat.

"Ghost Vinca minor Henderson."Snape called out softly. shade could always hear their epithet. A few bit later the shadowed shape of Moaning Myrtle sunk out of the ceiling.

"Why did you call me ?"She asked impudently."I don ‘ t reply to you."

"I called you because the theater elves report to Dumbledore as do the other ghosts. I need these word to be private."Snape snapped quickly."I need you to bring prof Albert Michelson down here and I need you to distinguish no one."

"You can't order me ar-"

"It is about Harry."

"Oh. Oh ..."Myrtle nodded fervently and shot back up through the stone. Snape turned to Natalie, now back to looking like her old self, waiting patiently.

"You don ‘ t have to order 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 severalize you. If zip else I need your help to make good sense of it."Snape took a deep breath and began explaining. He could sustain just given her the memories but he didn't want her to get the jounce he had. It didn't actually have that long to explain, 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 right wing, 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 room access was pushed open. Markus Michelson strode in, looking around the lowly room quickly.

"The ghost said this was about Harry."He said, still glancing around as if Harry would reverberate from a sideboard."Do you lie with where he is ?"

"No, but I have ... I have left the 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 appreciate your help."

"Well finally !"Michelson threw up his coat of arms."I was beginning to cerebrate I was the solitary one in this plaza with my brain on straight."

"You are not far wrong."Snape shrugged.

"So what does this prepare us ?"Natalie smiled."The order of the Kneasle ?"

"The club of the Nundu more like."Albert Michelson cracked his knuckles.

"You know, I think it makes us marauders."Snape smiled faintly."James Potter must be spinning in his grave."



Half of my reviews seem to have disappeared ... very sad ... : (

You all have to review twice now to take up for it. If you do depart a review article then a pansy will visit you while you sleep and sprinkle fairy debris on you. The fairy dust won't do magic or let you fly or anything but it'll be very pretty.


Harry potter and the idiot kid : Chapter 5 : The dark grocery store

Harry travels to notice information.




This newsperson has some shocking newsworthiness. News that will strike you, good reader, to your very core. Harry potter has been declared a dangerous vigilante by the ministry. Yes, Harry Potter the-boy-who-lived, is a murderer. According to ministry official Harry has been responsible for at to the lowest degree six deaths and possibly more !

minister of religion Fudge was quoted as saying ‘ Yes, well this is shocking but not entirely unexpected. good look at his actions during the Triwizard tourney, the boy stole a ship for pigeon hawk's saki. He's always been a unaffixed carom that boy has.'

This announcement came at the Saami time as his official expulsion from Hogwarts schooling of witchcraft and wizardry.
*


The marauders looked at each other along the recollective table in the great hall. None of them said 'Is this a jape ?'or 'No way'or anything naively childish like that. They were past tense that. They had all known, on some layer, that this was potential. Maybe even inevitable.

'' modification nothing. '' Fred was the inaugural to verbalize. `` It 's all bollocs so it changes zippo. ``

'' This is dotty ! Do they think we 're dazed ? '' Ron was almost spluttering in anger. `` No one 's gon na trust any of this ! ``

'' I almost wish hoi polloi did. '' Hermione was shaking her read/write head as she peered down at the look page article.

'' What ! You want hoi polloi to believe Harry 's a- '' Ron rounded on her, about to let lax, but Ginny held up a hand to bring him up short. He was still fuming though and said, more reasonably. `` Maybe you should explain that remark. ``

'' Because no one will believe it Ronald. '' Hermione bit her lip worriedly. `` Or at to the lowest degree many hoi polloi wo n't. And people will blame the ministry. citizenry will hate the ministry for attacking their hero sandwich. ``

'' Remember the riots last twelvemonth ? '' Padma said darkly. `` Imagine that. Except very much worse. ``

'' Oh ... '' Ron 's font fell. `` I guess that is bad. ``

'' It changes nothing. '' Malfoy said sharply. `` Not really. We all knew this was a possibility. ``

'' Right, '' Ginny nodded, putting on her leader typeface. `` He 's right. All this does is puddle 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 wizard. His post on the ministry 's wanted tilt is only a few places short of the known demise eaters !

According to the ministry Harry 's M.O. is to use poison to do his dirty employment. A poison there is no known antidote to.

Harry 's verbal description is known to every wizard and witch alive but you should be mindful that he may be in disguise.
*


'' This is Dumbledore 's doing. '' Natalie shook her principal as she slid the paper over to Snape. Michelson had already flicked his transcript closed and was staring at it angrily, as if blaming the report itself. Snape sighed, he had already read the offending article.

'' Dumbledore undoubtedly had a hand in it. '' Snape tried to stop his ire rising to the surface. sustain 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 cognise Harry. '' Michelson stood and began pacing angrily, obviously he felt no want to hold his ire under wrapper. `` This 'll just give Harry even more sure that everyone 's against him ! ``

'' Undoubtedly. '' Snape flicked through the rest of the newspaper publisher. `` At least there is some good word ... ''
*


Harry may be participating in Leeds. Yesterday the ministry was handed an anon. tip that led them to a house there that had been converted to firm iniquity creatures. No death eater were caught ( perhaps the trunk are hidden elsewhere ! ) but the cellar was a draw close of lethifolds, swarming in the darkness in numeral never before seen on British territory. I do not need to tell you, honest reader, that if they had been unleashed they would have caused untold destruction. The lethifolds have been disposed of by the ministry.

There is no validation that Harry was there but a contact in the aurors place said that they were investigating the possibility.

Harry is to be considered as dangerous as any last eater. Perhaps more so.
*


Harry dumped the theme in a trash can. It did n't topic 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 care what everybody else thought ? It just meant he had to be more careful.

Harry shoved off the wall and flicked his bonnet up before walking off down he alleyway. There was still study to do.
*


'' Is it dependable ? ``

Ginny turned at the sound, the tempestuous and forceful speech sound. The marauders spun with her, almost in synchronicity. Cho Chang stepped back fearfully. In her defense the marauder now numerate eleven, filling the hall with undifferentiated anger. They had also all drawn their sceptre at the same clip as she spoke, in answer to the possible threat.

They must cause truly looked like an army.

Cho had frozen in berth, anger turned to daze silence. Ginny stepped forward.

'' Of course it 's not dead on target. '' She said simply. `` How can you even ask that ? ``

'' I just ... '' Cho swallowed, fear still flickering across her face. `` Is Harry Ok ? ``

'' We do n't know. ``

'' Where is he ? ``

'' We do n't know. ``

'' Does he require aid ? ``

'' We do n't know. We 're trying to help him. '' Ginny said curtly. She was beginning to get tired of Cho 's stupid interrogation. Ginny turned to leave when Cho broke in,

'' Well I want to help too ! '' Ginny felt a minuscule mental groan. That was just what she needed, a complaining pretty-girl in the membership. A constant botheration at best, a liability at spoiled. Cho went on, `` I 'm older than you, and I 'm a Ravenclaw. I must know lots of enchantment you do n't have sex yet ! You should let me join. ``

'' No you do n't you arrogant snooty ... '' Ginny clamped her mouth shut and took a inscrutable calming breath. `` This is n't the blinking gobstones clubhouse. You ca n't just bring together on a whim. We 're training to fight, really fight. Fight dying eater. ``

'' I know that. '' Cho looked down her nose arrogantly. `` If you can do it then I can too. ``

'' You do n't realise ! You ... '' Ginny gritted her dentition tight together again before turning to the marauder. `` voter turnout. All of us. I vote no. ``

The piranha glanced about between them. Some of them had obviously been thinking of voting yes before she made her intuitive feeling so abundantly clear. After some embarrassed shuffling Draco stepped forward, eyeing Cho up and down silently. Ginny felt another spurt of bile rise in her gut.

'' You accept the fact that you could die ? '' genus Draco asked flatly. Cho nodded, her eyes wide. Dragon looked into her eyes for a here and now, Ginny thought she heard him mutter something under his breath. Draco cocked his top dog to the side and asked another question. `` Do you bear the fact that you have to pack orders from Ginny ? ``

YES ! choose that you bitch ! Ginny was shocked at the story of gleefulness her subconscious mind threw up at that question. If her subconscious was happy with the question, her stallion nous grinned when Cho grimaced and nodded.

'' mulct. '' Draco shrugged. `` We need more people. I vote yes. If she does n't work out we can always make her leave. ``

'' We vote yes. '' Fred said, shrugging. His Twin Falls added, `` Sorry Ginny. ``

'' I ... yes. '' Parvati nodded, a small hesitantly.

'' No. '' Padma shook her head, earning her a traumatize glance from her sister. `` We do n't take her. No reason to take on on another project when we do n't demand her. ``

'' reckon just put your script up. '' Ginny said tiredly. `` manpower for no ? ``

Three men rose, herself, Padma and Hermione. Ginny 's stomach dropped, this did n't seem good.

'' For yes ? ``

Five hands were raised. Ron had followed his older brothers. Ginny turned to silent three remainders.

'' Neville, Anna, Terry ? '' Neville shifted uncomfortably and the baker twins looked at the 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. Time to piddle the best of it.

'' fine. Meet us here after lessons today. ``

'' Today ? But I 've got quidditch practice. ``

I know. Ginny did n't say it, but she so wanted to. `` This is more authoritative 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 plant life pot. She did the same in Defense, professor Michelson was being oddly blind to the transgression of the marauders. After the example were done she slammed her Holy Writ away and dashed for the door. She ran for the meeting place but slowed down before she got there. She would n't come all covered in sweat and breathing hard. She would n't ease up Cho the satisfa ...

Cho was n't alone.

Ginny stopped with the predator a few paces away from the newcomers. Lucy Kingston stood by her Ravenclaw Friend with her boyfriend, Book of Joshua Split, standing on her other 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 people she would have chosen to hold to the piranha herself. stupefied Cho.

'' You told them. '' She tried to make her spokesperson come out icily angry, hoping it did n't just sound peevish. `` You told all of them. What the hell do you think- ''

'' I do n't assure them ! '' Cho interrupted her. `` Everyone in the school is talking about the word about Harry, and everybody knows you lot are doing something secret. They just ... ''

'' We eavesdropped. '' rip interrupted. `` We want to help Harry too. ``

'' This is getting ridiculous. '' Padma muttered from the astuteness of the marauders.

'' We heard what you asked Cho. '' rent went on. `` And we understand the risks. Lets face it, if you trust him, '' Split jerked his chin towards Malfoy. `` You have to trust us. ``

'' I do n't have to trust any of you. '' expert, that sounded like Harry. `` Listen I do n't care what you say. We 're going to cultivate now. If you can keep up you can stay, we do n't have time to slack down for you. ``

'' Fine with us ... ma'am police sergeant. '' Split added sarcastically.

'' half-wit. '' Ginny muttered as she led the amassed hordes off down the corridor.
*


'' Listen. ``

Malfoy stopped and turned towards Split. The older boy had halted them just outside the entrance to the marauders Ionic dialect, everyone else was already inside.

'' Yes ? '' Malfoy said evenly. `` Can I help you ? ``

'' I just want you to know 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 head. `` 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 sleep together ? '' Split almost seemed to smile. `` half-wit. ``

'' She who ? ``

'' I expect she 'll let you eff in her own time. ``

'' She who ? ``
*


Harry pushed his way out of the old shop he had flued into and a blast of oestrus hit his face. He dragged a unspecific brimmed hat out of his bag and pulled it low over his eyes. Ah, that was better. His coating and it 's diverse trance would deliver kept his eubstance poise but it would possess looked incredibly conspicuous here. He winced in the harsh lighter and shucked his bag up on his articulatio humeri before setting off along the dark tarmacadam street.

Muggles walked past him without a second thought, jabbering to each other in Gallic. The emphasis was very different from what he was used to but that was only to be expected. Harry had learnt Daniel Chester French in Switzerland and only utter it to the scholar of Beauxbatons. Harry idly wondered if his Daniel Chester French had a Swiss speech pattern or an English one.

No matter, he was in Marrakesh, one thousand of miles from France or England. He would stand out as a noncitizen whatever he did. No point trying to blend in with the locals, much comfortably to just look like another stupid tourist. There were one or two others around. Harry picked up his gait as he crossed the street and into the souk.

Why is it that I always find myself in snarl ? Harry thought to himself chuckling as he skirted around a stall of vegetables and slid through the crowd of shoppers. The muggle souk was bad enough, a gigantic warren of streets and alleyways full of workshop and food market stable selling everything from spices to electronics. Harry kept on an inerrant course through it, it was n't his destination.

Hopefully he knew where his address was, his info was sketchy at best.

Harry came to the stall he wanted, a dark hole in the bulwark marketing decrepit and moth eaten clothing. He took a pitch blackness t-shirt with a mavin on it off the wheel and glanced at the aging shopkeeper. There was a barely perceptible nod. Harry stepped behind a screen, a jolty changing way, and pulled the curtain shut. He held the shirt up and tapped the ace twice. With a sharp groaning the trading floor began to drudge slowly downwards.

Harry tried not to touch the sides of the endocarp passageway as the scuttle at the top got further and further away. Ten time ... twenty dollar bill .... thirty .... forty- clunk. Harry snapped to attention as the floor stopped descending. The stone in front line of him split apart slowly, light spilled in, and air. The flavor ... every scent imaginable, electrocution, animal, food of every form, incense made of spun lightning, every scent a wizard with no wish for the jurisprudence of chemistry could produce hung in the air as Harry stepped out of the nighttime entryway into the under-souk, the nighttime market.

Knockturn bowling alley had nothing on this place.

Harry looked up at the cap a far above, photomosaic kaleidoscoped over the rounded open, changing every second. There were no walls for as far as Harry could see, just column dotted around. In no shape Harry could see. Every one as astray as an oak, twisted and gouged and splaying up into that tremendous ceiling. Disappearing into it. And down at footing level ? It was unspeakable. Every kind of shop, every kind of stall. Some sellers just sitting of a mat, arrays of bottles out in figurehead of them. Others had video display that looked like insane and un-feasible pop up books, everything spilling out of everything else. The noise was deafening, worse than up above because the randomness of sparking trance and fuming potions was added to the general noise of multitude, and there was the occasional screech as another shopper was brought down by one of the entrances.

There was no finding your way in this post. Not unless you grew up down here. Harry scanned the area while walking calmly forwards. Many stalls had magniloquent flagstaff to identify them from far away, he was looking for ... ah. Harry spotted the sword lily he was looking for and headed for it, surreptitiously checking his disguise as he did so. Harry flicked a grim robe out of his bag and threw it over his berm. Like this he looked like about 30, maybe more, with prospicient bleak hair and a abstruse cicatrice on his cheek. Threatening, but not obvious.

Harry smelt his name and address before he got there. The aroma of beast and beast dung beating out the early odors more and more the closer he got. He came to an spread place in the market place, a position where the stalls had been pushed aside to make believe room for rank upon rank of cages. Harry recognized some of the fauna in them, others were a mystery story, all he gave a full nascency. The cages seemed almost stupidly uncompromising, surely they used unbreakable charms. Surely they did ...

Harry felt himself edging away and forced himself to still down. He looked into one of the Cage, a lusus naturae made of whole I-beams, and saw the eye of a firedrake staring back at him. Somehow they must have stopped it flaming, they must experience. Harry stepped calmly up the rough desk at the end of the cages. It was surrounded by bags of what looked like some kind of feed. An ordinary raspberry cage sat on the corner with a small golden shuttlecock fluffing its feathering. The heavily bearded and mustachioed man sat behind it looked up as he approached.

'' Yes ? '' He asked in easy English. `` Are you look for something ? ``

'' My name is Jack Caiman. I have come for you to tell me the procession of an parliamentary law. '' Harry pulled back his sleeve, revealing the dark mark. The shopkeeper recoiled, glancing about fearfully.

'' Put that away ! '' He gestured wildly. Harry calmly rolled his arm back down.

'' You have nothing to fear. '' Harry said airily. `` Not while you do the night lord 's work. ``

'' Why you come here ? '' The man 's eyes were still shifting nervously. `` All on schedule. ``

'' There have been some job at the early end. ``

'' Not my mistake. '' The seller shook his head. `` Got them safe to you. You lose them after it not my fault. ``

'' Of course of instruction not. '' Harry smiled in an uncomforting way. `` You mistake me. I merely meant that we have understanding to need to make sure this delivery goes smoothly. There can be no misunderstanding. You understand. ``

'' Of grade, of course of action. '' The man nodded rapidly. `` Do not worry. You can order your overlord 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 have been so much light if they were still on dry land.

'' Tell me their course of instruction. '' Harry leant down threateningly. `` My schoolmaster is thinking of sending some people to ensure there are no ... error. ``

'' No mistakes. '' The man nodded again, dragging a map out of a drawer in his desk. `` No mistake. ``

Harry smiled, people were so poor fish when they thought you were going to pop them.
*


Harry dropped back onto Brits stain and immediately flued again to stave in off any pursuance. He walked the last long manner of walking to the abandoned sign he was staying in and pushed the door open. It was dark inside, the windowpane covered by anti-vandal plates put up by the law. It was vacate, not even a chair when he had first arrived. But it was fair 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 slosh into his lip. This was his second dose today. It was growing operose to keep going ... the sickness ...

Harry shook his head, no use dwelling on it. Back to employment. He spread the single-valued function out in front of him on the floor and roughly arranged them out into a grating lucifer to the glide of Africa and EC. The function were seriously old, like everything else wizards had, and some of the countries had the wrong gens. One of them had a big 'here be Dragon'warning written in the middle of the Atlantic. Knowing that it was a sorcerous map it might well be true.

Harry sighed as he looked at the metre that were written on different checkpoints on the map. The ship was old too, or looked it. The man had sketched a rough drawing of it. It resembled nothing more than than a giant wooden brick with small canvass that surely could never propel it too fast. Of form it would be propelled by magic, if not it would just be stupid person, but it would still adopt almost a month to follow up from Africa. Could be take it in the eye of the ocean ? Harry shuddered at the idea. Besides the coursing reverence at the very thought it was impractical to boot. How would he even get on panel the ship ? How would he even find it on the blank featureless sea ?

Harry trawled over the mapping again, was there any place where it came close to land ? Was there any ... ambush point ?

Oh of path ! There 's this big Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in the midriff 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 laborious ... sleep ...

Harry glanced around, he was in a home. A fire crackled warmly on the hearth, throwing faint apparition on the plumb blue angel bulwark. The pictorial matter on the walls, a redheaded fair sex, a man with a comrade face. Harry shook his head, it was a dream. He had had it before. He walked towards the door and pushed it open hurrying out of the house and into the neat garden. He glanced back, the bungalow was as it always was. The cottage at Godrics hollow. Harry shuddered, every time his dreams put him in this place he had an undeniable impulse to pass on. It was like putting your paw in a bucket of wriggling worms, a crawling sensation over his entire skin. And yet his dreaming brought his vertebral column here again and again and again.

Harry hugged his arms to his chest. Maybe this would be one of the in effect nights, the dark when he managed to escape. There was a wood out there somewhere, a forest of Malus pumila trees, their blossoms 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 one, when the firm kept drawing him back. He didn't even want to think about what had happened once, when the river had come for him.

Harry pulled himself together with a violence of will. Those apple trees weren't going to find themselves. He was about to set off when a fluttering sound reached his ear. Harry spent a endorse wondering if it was some new unpleasantness the ambition was throwing at him before he realized it was coming from outside.

Harry woke with a starting time and was on his feet in a minute, sceptre in manus. He relaxed when he saw that the sound was coming from a lowly albumen fowl trying to squeeze in through the butt of the windowpane. The fowl twittered then flickered back outside. It took Harry a moment to realize it had left something behind, a small folded piece of paper.

Interesting. Especially considering no one should be able to contact me here.

Harry stood and hesitantly poked the paper with his sceptre. It did zippo. He prodded it again. Still null. He flicked it on the trading floor and folded it give with the end of a crotch. He bent down and study it without touching it.

Harry

I once told you to follow your own path if you thought it was right. You seem to have taken that advice to heart. I can not and will not say that your pick is improper, it may be, it may not be, I do not do it. But you can not destroy yourself for the saki of this struggle. Do not. Your ally 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 matter how much you fight to make it so. There are the great unwashed that will get if you die, even if you take Voldemort with you.

I can not tender you any information about Voldemort 's program or whereabouts. I am constrained by the linguistic rule of my parliamentary law. I would break them for you but it would do no good. I would be found out prospicient before I could divine anything for you.

The only help I can dedicate you I have already given. I wish I could do more Harry, you must trust that.

Remember to wear the pendent.

DO NOT DIE.

Pythea.

Harry picked the small slice of sheepskin up carefully and slipped it into his white meat air hole. His hand stayed there a present moment longer, pressing it into his pectus, before he took a trench breath and let it out.

Do not die.

He did not intend to, but it had always been a possibility. And no thing how much people would have if he died they would suffer more if Voldemort was left live. Harry had a strong urge to take the missive back out and say it once again, or maybe twice or three times. But no, he had work to do. Wait ... something in the missive tugged at his judgment. Maybe there was a way.
*


Malfoy snorted as Cho was sent flying across the room. The new enlistee were trying to keep up, they were just failing. He turned away, they were useless, just a waste of clock time for the rest of them. The marauders themselves ? Draco managed a pocket-size smile for that, they were progressing nicely. They could fight. They could press as a team. They could fight down on their own. They could fight like kneazles in a sack if they needed to. And they would need to.

He moved over to a cumulation of faded boxes and ran his fingers over a long, flimsy, grey cloak inside. The Weasley twins claimed they could turn them into impermanent invisibleness cloaks with some more practice. Draco did n't doubt it. The good luck charm would n't last for Thomas More than a day or two but that was all they needed. They could just respell them afterwards. Shield charms graced the night grey-headed jacket crown in the next box, enough to deter underage hexes. In the rootage it had just been a way to carry the charms, the same as an amulet or a ring. Rings of invisibility were park enough even though they were hideously intemperately to make and protective talisman were ten a penny. But the clothes were easy for the Weasleys to ferment, and the dark grey made them invisible at nighttime. That had been the start, but now it almost seemed more ... Like they were becoming an Army in true statement, they had uniforms. Anapurna had wanted to sew together little Ms onto the clothing as a symbol of the vulture but Ginny had n't let her. dissipation of time, too blatant too. Dragon smiled again, it did n't matter if the clothes were plain Second Earl Grey or rap with slight snitch. Either way by the end they would throw an group of invisible, shielded, deadly fighters.

Invincible cutthroat son of a bitch. Marauders to the core. Harry would have been majestic. At to the lowest degree, Draco hoped he would be.

'' Draco ! '' Ron yelled. `` Break time 's up get back here. ``

'' I 'm coming Weasley full point shouting. '' Draco gritted his teeth, all of his muscle hurt. Never nous. `` Back to work. ``

'' stoppage. I need to talk to you. ``

The voice came out of nowhere. The marauders twisted towards it, wands out. The duels ceased, every eye widened in shock.

'' I heard somebody was raising an USA. '' Harry quirked an eyebrow. `` I find myself in need of an U. S. Army. Is this one for hire ? ``

'' Hire ? '' George VI let out a laugh. `` Harry this is your army. ``

'' Good, I should get a discount rate. ``

The piranha broke and all began talking at once, it was a felicitous storm of sound with Harry laughing in the inwardness. Draco stayed silent, he glanced over at Ginny, also staying back. She nodded to him, her mouth a hard line. She had realized too. Harry had n't come back for a happy reunion. He would n't own. He had come because he needed them. This would be the commencement job of the army.

'' Harry ... '' Draco cleared his throat. The putting surface 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 mesa ? ``

genus Draco pointed the way and Harry pulled a huge mainsheet of sheepskin out of his bag. Harry laid them down on the raspy surface of the last surviving board in the bean. It looked like a giant copy of a map.

'' There 's a ship. '' Harry traced it 's route along a prospicient line on the map. `` It 's stuffed to the gills with dark wight. Direct to the dark Almighty. C, including a lot that we really do n't want him getting his work force on. It 's not going to constitute port before UK, it 's going to be far out to sea. No portkeys, no flue pipe, only way there is to fly. ``

'' That 's why you need us. '' Padma said thoughtfully.

'' Yeah, kind of. '' Harry hung his drumhead. `` I can just about manage to fly in a neat personal line of credit. Slowly. But out over water ? With the wind and maybe tempest and ... and over weewee. And when I might take to make a flying exit ? No. I need getaway drivers. ``

'' I thought you wanted us to push. '' Ron said, disappointedly. Harry 's eyes narrowed, he opened his lip but Ginny cut in.

'' We 're here for whatever Harry needs us for Ron. '' She snapped. `` You should jazz that. ``

'' I ... right. ``

'' Right. '' Ginny nodded sharply. genus Draco half expected Ron to present. Ginny turned back to Harry. `` What kind of shadow creatures are we talking about ? ``

'' Various variety of smutty. '' Harry was looking between Ginny and Ron curiously. `` Lots of wight. ``

'' mantichora ? '' 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 startled oath. They could not let this ship reach land. Even if they had to fall behind half the U. S. Army to do it. The hellhounds had to be juvenile at least, no one could overeat six full grown 1 into a ship. Unless it had been magically expanded. Which it almost certainly had. They could not let that transport reach land.

'' We need to get on that ship. '' He heard himself saying, his voice a little breathless. `` We could fly on, or ... or ... ''

'' Go onto it ? '' Harry let out a coarse laugh. `` That would be pretty severe. ``

'' Because of the creatures ? ``

'' Because I 'm going to sink it. ``



This is the last chapter of setup, I promise. From now to the end of the Koran is double-dyed adrenalin-fueled plot.


I do n't own Harry Potter. I do however own some Malva sylvestris. Which is just as good.



'' drop it ? '' Hermione 's voice was a shrill, disbelieving whine.

Ginny felt like slamming her bridge player up to her brow. Of course Harry would desire to sink the ship, it was the dewy-eyed, easygoing, solution if you did n't deal 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 fingerbreadth. `` Foiled again ! If only someone had stuffed them in big metal cages for transport. Then they 'd fall off straight to the bottom. ``

'' How are you planning to settle it anyway ? '' Fred asked, eagerness clearly seeable in his eyes.

'' wellspring, I plan to botch up a big trap in it underneath the weewee wrinkle. Then I 'm going to put another big hole in it underneath the pee bloodline. And if that does n't lick I 'm going to put a third- ''

'' This is a wizard gravy holder I assume Harry. '' Draco interrupted. `` Putting a hole in it may not be as easy as you think. It 'll own all variety of charms and protections. ``

'' I can bypass them. ``

'' Without the hoi polloi on the ship realizing ? ``

'' Yes. ``

'' Really ? ``

'' Yes. '' Harry folded his arms. `` I have thought about this Draco. I have planned this. ``

The Ionic dialect became unsounded again. Ginny could sense the cogs moving in people 's foreland. They were all thinking how far they were willing to go. The vulture ... well they were probably in. The others ? They had signed up to fight end eaters not pull human action of terrorism. How did she stand on this ? On balance ... with Harry. Those fauna could not be allowed to hand shore.

'' We ca n't do this. '' Padma was shaking her head teacher. `` We ca n't sink it. ``

'' You running away ? '' Harry was looking at her in horror. `` You want to just let them put out that kind of- ''

'' No of track not ! '' Padma interrupted him. `` But you have n't thought of everything. ``

'' Oh yeah ? Well what have I missed ? ``

'' The statute of secrecy. '' Padma looked down at the map, perhaps just to avoid meeting people 's eyes. `` If we do this they 'll be this goliath wreck with triple headed skeletons and they could be adrift to the Earth's surface or get into the gulf stream or divers could detect them. Not to mention that somebody 's going to detect a monster exploding ship off the seashore. Even if we tell the ministry afterwards they ca n't manage this kind of cleanup, not on this ordered series. No one can. It 'll be worse than Roswell. Keeping magic secret from muggles, the legislative act of secrecy, is the one thing both slope of this war concord on. If we break it then they 're going to start up breaking it and then we 're going to be really screwed. ``

Harry leant back, rocking back on the balls of his infantry. He bit his lip. Thinking. The vulture held their breath.

'' Ok. '' Harry spun the map to face Padma. `` commit me another pick. ``

'' We board the ship. disable the gang. obliterate the beast. '' Padma said definitively. `` If I 'm reading this right the ship only a dozen people on it. No expiry eaters. about of them are just there to sustain the animate being in halt. Should n't be too hard to stun them. ``

'' And the animals ? '' Harry asked quizzically. `` Some of them are n't well-off to wipe out. ``

'' The killing execration. '' pant rose from the army. `` It 'll bolt down everything on this listing. ``

'' Is n't it an insistent spirit sentence ? '' Cho choked out.

'' Only when used against humans. '' Padma replied calmly at the like time as Harry said,

'' Only if mortal finds out. But would n't any underage thaumaturgy 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 prophylactic wizard harbor. ``

'' Hmm ... '' Harry folded his arms and looked at Padma appraisingly. `` That ... could ... piece of work. It would be more difficult, more risky ... more fun ... but it could mold. ``

Ginny felt a grin. This was the almost like the old Harry back again. sure as shooting they were planning an act of monolithic plagiarism rather than a prank but it was Harry back again.

'' We can split up. '' Harry continued. `` Send a yoke of people down to the water to waitress. The quietus of us go in. If we can postulate the crowd out and shoot down the beast we do. If not ? We default back to my architectural plan and the mass in the water bodge it to smithereens. We worry about the fallout later. ``

Ginny took a deep breath and halfway through realized that well-nigh of the marauders were looking at her. Her throat closed up and she almost coughed up her lungs. They were still looking to her, even though Harry was back. Harry was the oecumenical they all knew that, but maybe ... maybe she was the sergeant or something.

'' Who can swim ? '' It was literally the first thing that popped into her head. `` Who can float really well ? ``

Annapurna 's hand shot up instantly smiling, the two baker children volunteered slower maybe still a little hesitant, finally Split shrugged and lacklusterly raised his arm.

'' Four people. '' Ginny looked down at the map, at the little sketch of the ship. `` We can put ... two each in the weewee near the front and back. ``

'' Prow and stern. '' Dragon murmured. She glared at him.

'' Near the figurehead and back. '' Ginny continued. `` Everybody else land on the front man. ``

'' On the book binding. '' 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 continue the ship on line. You can do that ? You know the right name for the steery wheel and the clitoris and material. Yes. Good. You stay there, the relaxation of us go down to the cabins and stun everybody, kill the creature. leave of absence. We keep the Calluna vulgaris handy so that if something goes incorrectly we miko the natator and fly out of there. ``

'' Sounds like a program. '' Ginny nodded.

'' right field. '' Harry reached over and drew a big hybridizing on the map over a pharos, right down on the south coast of Cornwall."I will contact you here."

"sports meeting us ?"Ron scratched his head.

"The ship ‘ s not reaching us for another month."Harry shrugged."You don ‘ t expect me to string up around here the whole clip. Dumbledore ‘ s out for the day but I think he ‘ ll notice if I start appearing on his niggling map."

"I thought-"

"You thought I was back."Harry finished for him."fountainhead I ‘ m not. There ‘ s still death eater ‘ s out there. Still run to be done. groom up, be ready, and I ‘ ll meet you there. prevent the map, I ‘ ve got copies. But don ‘ t let anyone see it. Goes without saying. And search up how to fight all these things."Harry turned towards the door. He disillusioned himself with a flick 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 human knee up to his chest. He and Hermione were in the library, the literal subroutine library, not the attic. They were on research duty and had about eight billion books out in front of them on every form of magical creature, trawling through them for the useful unity. There weren't many. The Hogwarts subroutine library for some reason didn't have volume on how to mow down cage in animals. Ron thought it was useless, they had already decided to use the killing oath, but apparently Harry wanted to be prepared so ...

"Hmm ?"Hermione hadn't looked up from the Brobdingnagian 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 sing about him where people could hear !"

"No one ‘ s listening."Ron rolled his oculus."We're sitting on the level in the confine section of the library, at midnight, under a temporary worker invisibility cloak."

"It ‘ s not an inaudibility cloak."Hermione hissed.

"Hermione no one is here."

"Just keep reading."Hermione looked back down at her book."I ‘ m not doing all this myself."

"I'd have thought you ‘ d jump at the chance."Ron smirked."With all the training it must be long time 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 quietus of our lives to think about. What about after the war ends ? What then ?"

"expression at it this way. If Voldemort destroys the ministry he'll probably destroy the Wizarding Examination sanction too."

"That doesn ‘ t help."Hermione stared at him angrily. Ron felt his hackle rising, another fight brewing. But they couldn't fighting, not here.

"You ‘ re here because if you weren ‘ t here you ‘ d feel guilty for not being here."Ron blurted."And you could be somewhere else but you ‘ d be thinking about being here so it wouldn ‘ t even matter that you were there because you wouldn ‘ t be able-bodied to boil down because you ‘ d be thinking about here and him and Voldemort will stamp out everyone. Even worse you ‘ d get bad grade because you ‘ d be feeling guilty."Ron ran out of breath.

Hermione's mouth hung undefendable, mid yell. She opened and shut it a few times before coming out with,

"Shush. People will hear you."

I won. Ron smiled as he flicked a random book open.
*


"I am disquieted Severus."

Snape stayed silent. He could not recall of a prophylactic response.

"I should be winning this war."

Still no secure response.

"And yet things are not progressing as well as they should be."The night Almighty was staring out into the darkness through a faded window. They were in another nondescript and abandoned building. Snape felt his skin creep, he had been summoned alone. That was worrying.

"The ministry grows weaker every day."Snape volunteered.

"It grows more fearful each day."Voldemort tapped his fingers on the glass."concern can be my weapon, but it can also operate against me. They retreat, they place more guard duty, they make it more difficult for me to reach what I seek. Do the order still keep back a guard on the department of secret Severus ?"

"Yes my lord."For all I know they could hold stopped, not likely though.

"At this point the easygoing way to clear entree to it may simply be to crush the ministry entirely."He was still staring out the window. If Snape didn't know better he would consider the dark lord was worried.

"If you wish to demolish the ministry perhaps we could use the imperious curse-"

"No !"The dark lord snapped."No Severus, no more sly maneuvering in the duskiness. No more subversion. I tire of it. I tire of it ‘ s inadequacy. I should not have to act from the dark. Do you not think so ?"

"I always work in the shadows Lord."

"Yes ... yes you do."The shadow Almighty narrowed his eye."The Potter boy is a problem."

Snape gritted his teeth. He had to think fast to stay fresh up with these lightning fast changes of pace.

"The ceramist boy has always been a problem."Snape said diffidently."But he is just one person."

"He has caused me a peachy raft of trouble for one person. I would once again Order his demise but ... I fear it would do no good."

"He wants to kill you."Snape said, letting his mouth move as his mind worked."We could set some variety of trap."

"With your noble as hook ?"The nighttime Jehovah's voice was not wild, he knew that that was not what Snape meant. This was actually what passed for banter.

"Of grade not my Lord. I apologize."That had been what the wickedness Maker expected to hear.

"Is there any progress with the toxin Severus ? The one that has been killing so many of our Friend ?"

"Not a swell deal my lord."Severus bowed his mind. He had no hassle feigning shame at not being capable to chance on the secrets of the cryptic toxin."It is very strange. I can not separate a single 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 grade unacceptable. No known creature carried a toxin like this."All I can guess of is that perhaps mortal has been breaking the rescript against experimental breeding."

"You do not think it was potter ?"

"It may throw been."wagerer to save the dark lord guessing."If he did not then we have two vigilance man against us."

"Against us ..."The dark overlord seemed to tramp the word on his back talk."Against us ... people who are against me die. I have let this continue for too long. We have been forced back too a good deal. It will cease now. I have decided. We will beat the ministry. We will wipe out them utterly. No subversion, no shadows, I will stamp out them."

"Yes my lord."Snape tried to work out how many death eaters were left. Surprisingly few. Harry had seriously cut into their identification number. Did they even have plenty people for an assault on the ministry ? Probably ... they probably had enough. If the order helped though ... if Dumbledore helped ...

"We will wait for the lading to arrive."The darkness lord said, almost to himself."Then we will cause the forces necessary."

The shipment. The spectre 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 follow. If I might ask where Barty Crouch is perhaps-"

"No !"The dark lord looked at Snape over his shoulder. The icy stare could have nailed oxen to the wall."Crouch is doing what he has been told to. He will succeed, in time. He is one of the few I can rely. Him and you, Severus."

You trust no one. Snape thought as he turned away. Now where have I heard that before ?
*


Hermione held on tighter as the broomstick angled down. She was following the broom ahead of her but the pharos was already visible far below, sending out it ‘ s pulsing beacon across the night-time sea. The jazz was hideously cold on her human face and the dark lashings of rain kept spraying in through her lens hood. There couldn't have been a worse day to invade a ship fully of monsters.

The land came up and she managed to land without falling. All around her she heard the sleep of the army touch down. Well ... nearly of the rest of the ground forces ... Of the new recruits only Split was there, lounging over his broomstick in his usual state of modest boredom. The others had been left behind, Ginny had decided they weren't ready, weren ‘ t trained yet. Not that Split was properly fix either but he was only going in the water.

Hermione looked around. Harry was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he wasn't here yet.

"You ‘ re late."Harry faded out of nowhere, shocking the marauder."Lets get on with this."Harry kept glancing at the crashing waves nervously. He drew a large feeding bottle out of his coating and took a oceanic abyss gulp from it before shoving it back. `` Pep up potion, did n't slumber well last night. '' Harry explained. Hermione tried to ignore the Twin Falls facts, one : that the feeding bottle had been almost vacate and two : that as Harry shoved it back in his pocket there had been the patent chink of further bottles.

"Take these."George broke the silence and stepped forward with a little M shaped pin and a small brace of blue tinted glasses.

"What the hell are these ?"Harry squinted through the Lens."Everything looks weird."

"The pins are tags."St. George explained."The glasses can see the tags even under invisibility cloaks. This way we can hold open track of each other."

"Ah ... nice."Harry pinned the tag on his shadow pelage and dropped the glassful in a sac."I ‘ ll put them on when we get there."

"They ‘ re your prescription."

"I know."Harry nodded."Thanks. Who ‘ s heather am I sharing ?"

"Over here."Draco waved him over and Harry hesitantly flipped a leg over his broom.

"Well, we all know what we have to do."Harry addressed the marauders."let get this done before we get too wet."

Draco's heather shot into the air and Hermione reluctantly followed. Out over the water supply the wind was even worse if that was possible, she kept being buffeted one way then the other. The sea underneath a groaning grey mainsheet, a dull rumination of the sky. They were getting further and further from land. The occasional light of the beacon got more and more faint. She couldn't see the flyers around her ! She panicked for a here and now until she realized how stupid she was being and slipped her blue lenses over her middle. The piffling glowing glint of the tags sprung into purview, each one illuminating a little glow dreary spook of a person. Like an abstract in the darkness. Flying close, she was near the front. How did Harry gestate to find the ship in this ?

"ANGLE leftfield !"Was that Harry ? The glow shadows of Harry and Malfoy started to turn left. She turned to check them. What was he following ? Intuition ? legerdemain ? Something he hadn't told them about.

"I DON ‘ T SEE ANYTHING !"She heard Draco's phonation on the wind.

"IT ‘ S THERE."Harry was hunched over on the broom, peering out over Dragon's shoulder."WE'RE CLOSE ! DROP pile !"

Hermione descended with the rest of them and shrieked with fear as the nebuliser from the sea hit her legs. Surely they didn't need to be this low ? Suddenly, as if they had crossed an invisible course, the ship blinked into beingness. A low slung behemoth, waves making it roll and slant sickeningly. It looked ancient, all the woodwind was inkiness with age and weather. A huge rectangular pulley block, slowly crawling across the water.

She felt mortal fling her and saw configuration flying off towards the prow and buns, keeping close up to the water. Even with the Christ Within on the ship they were still only glowing precis. The cloaks ! She pulled hers around herself and flicked the hood up over her boldness. She should have done that earlier. The ease of them followed until they were rectify up against the side of the hull. Harry leant off his heather to tip against the pitching wood. Removing the protective spell, Hermione forced herself to simmer down down as they hovered there just above the drab pee. Suddenly there was a little pop and a small creak ... the Barbara Ward were down. Hermione picked out the raised vertebral column section, the ‘ steery bit ’. Where the rest of them were going. The heather slowed to a front crawl as they raised up the side. Absolute secretiveness as they floated up onto the pack of cards on the raised end discussion section. No one was on deck, there weren't even any lights.

Harry raised his arm and pointed to a small hatch. He moved over to it, whispered a quieten charm, then pulled it unresolved and climbed inside. genus Draco went following, moving just as silently. They had worked this out too, The Weasley twins would go last to watch their outlet. Hermione realized it was her turn snuck over to the hachure as quietly as she could. The steps flattened out to a inadequate hall with the door to the bridge, then kept going down into the eubstance of the ship.

The marauders were clustered around the threshold. Harry was crouched down looking at the lock, a feel of concentration on his face. Hermione looked past him, down into the vast hold of the ship. almost of it was shrouded in shadow but she could just see the rows upon rows of John Cage down the side of the ship. The parallel 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 farcical of form, unless ...

Unless this used to be a slave ship.

Hermione shuddered despite herself. None of the others had realized, none of them would. exclude for Harry they had all been wizard raised and he hadn't been in shoal long enough. There was no peak telling them, no cause to take in this any creepyer than it already was.

The darkness that was Harry stood suddenly and put his hand on the threshold handle. What was he doing ? This wasn ‘ t parting of the program ! They were going to use gas under the room access. What was going on ? Hermione raised her scepter, they had to stun everyone inside in a moment. Harry threw the door clear unhurriedly. The sharp tang of blood filled the air. No one shape any patch. No one spoke. Harry slowly stepped into the bridge.

"Of course."He said dryly, the get-go words spoken since they'd landed, spoken dispassionately while looking out over a room full of ravaged army corps."Of line they're loose. We ‘ re on a flighty ship at Nox full-of-the-moon of man-eating devilishly animals. Of course of action the animals are loose. I was thinking that perhaps they wouldn ‘ t be, that perhaps something would go right. Obviously I was overlooking the fact that god hates marauders."

"What do we do now ?"Neville murmured fearfully.

"C it."Ginny growled under her breather."Forget everything. Sink it now."

"We can ‘ t."Harry said angrily as he stepped over a body and stood in front of the main wheel."At least not yet."

"Why ?"Parvati was glancing around fearfully."Why not ?"

"Two reasons."Harry leant against the wheel tiredly."One ; the whole pointedness was that the animals would sink in their cages, now they could swim to prop up. Two ; there are still three crew members alive, barricaded down in the detainment where they ca n't apparate out."

"How do you acknowledge ?"Draco snapped suddenly.

"I know !"Harry snapped back."We need a new program. The creatures are mostly still in their cages, seems like it ‘ s just the manticores that got loose."

"How do you-"

"I just know !"Harry rubbed his forehead tiredly, his eyes were closed."There are compartment door down below. If we can ensnare the beasts inside the hold, divide it off and ward it up beneficial it ‘ ll be the same as a coop. water supply gets in, fauna do n't get out. Just one problem ..."

"What ?"Ginny was eyeing the threshold carefully, looking for anything trying to abstract up on them.

"The bunch are down in that hold."Harry took a cryptical breath and turned back towards the marauders."Alright ... this is what we ‘ re doing. I need four mass with me down in the hold, It ‘ s too cramped for more. We go get the survivors, get out. The rest of you split up and watch the prow and aft doors. You lock them soundly the moment we give the signal."

"Four ‘ s not enough."Draco said immediately.

"I don ‘ t have metre 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 best. Your four estimable. Now."

No one spoke, Hermione felt like kicking herself. Of course it wasn't like old times. Of course this wasn't the old Harry, it was definitely the new Harry. It always had been. Ginny cleared her pharynx,

"Draco, me, Hermione and Padma."Ginny took a deep breather."Ron, Fred, St. George, you fly over and man the former door. Everyone else watch this one. The signal is-"

"Me yelling to shut out the bloody doors."Harry interrupted."No point being stealthy at that point."

Harry moved slowly out of the bridge. Hermione steeled herself them followed. They stepped down the stairs slowly, the immense hold opened up in figurehead of them. Surely it had been expanded.

"This way."Harry whispered, pointing along a raised walkway."Dragon, watch our back."Harry stalked forward, his wand out ahead of him. Hermione followed him. They passed a glowering cage, inside it a gigantic black glob shifted near the backbone. Hermione tried to ignore it, the ones in the cages were the safe ones, it was the I outside they had to watch out for. The batting cage ended and was replaced by another, six red eyes looked out from behind the bars. The three dog heads were pressed right up to the boundary, watching them. Come to consider of it the cage brute probably hadn't been fed in a spell. Suddenly the pitching and rolling of the ship seemed spoiled. If she fell into one of the cages ...

She spread her substructure further apart, trying to get more horse barn. This was awful, this was hell, and they were going in to economise some stupid person contrabandist. Bad people ! Hermione didn't smell honorable for thinking like that. Not secure at all. Harry suddenly raised a paw 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 sceptre down the dark gangway, waited a foresightful moment ... and flicked it forward, muttering under his breathing time. The wink of green luminosity was expected but still horrifying, flying into the darkness. For a here and now it illuminated a rough lions mane and two shining centre glowing green in the lighting. Then it snapped out and there was a dull thump like a body hitting the floor.

"One out of six."Harry murmured, then shuddered."So that was the killing curse. Felt like drinking nightmares."

"Harry ..."Padma began but Harry silenced her with a wave.

"It 's just a tool."Harry shook himself."Just a putz. Just a tool. Come on, net ball keep going."Harry stepped forward, into the darkness.

Harry brought them to another staircase and quietly slinked down, his back pressed up to the wooden paries. As they crept down Harry held up a hand to stop over again and dropped down to his knees.

"The other five are sleeping in there."Harry pointed down the stairs."Round the corner, right in front of the storage room where the crew are barricaded."

Hermione didn't bother to ask how he knew.

"Now the entrance hall opens up just assail the corner."Harry sketched the curve of it with his script."We can hit them all before they even wake up. Draco, you kill the one up by the far go out,"Harry pointed straight into the wall. `` Ginny, near the left field wall. Hermione get the one right next to it, closer to us. Padma you get the one right in the middle, I 'll get the one closest to the stairs. Got it ? Everyone gear up ? ``

Hermione was gripping her scepter hard, her palms wet with sweat. She did n't feel gear up but she nodded anyway. They shifted closer towards the corner. Harry held his hand up, three fingers. Two finger's breadth. One ...

Harry swung out around the edge, his verge coming up, at the same time his knees bent down. giving the rest of them a better shot. Hermione jumped out as fast as she could, the elbow room was pitch blacken ! How was she supposed to-

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' A attack of super C Inner Light flew from Harry 's scepter, striking a dark shape on the primer and throwing the ease of the room into discriminating darkness. Four sets of shining center perked up in the shadow. 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 cryptic into her chest, like terror. Then it was gone a moment later as the burning gullible light flew away, striking the manticore as it rose from the ground, throwing it back into the earth. At the same time she felt three to a greater extent blasts of twist and flashes of dark illusion fly out from beside her. A shattering smash of wooden matchwood sounded and there was an wild inhuman bellowing. A shape unfurled like a spring and flew across the room towards them. Hermione felt her arm shooting up, too slowly ! Too wearisome !

'' Excalabus ! ``

A shining white sparkle flashed across the Wood and there was a screeching like a saw across drinking glass. She felt a nebulizer of dark blood masking her and a heavy shape flew past her, impacting with a heavily thump against the rearward wall. She turned to it, not breathing. It was a manitcore, or half of one. It was sliced in two, the lesion leaking a sea of rakehell into the floor. She turned back. Harry was standing over the other half, his scepter surrounded by a glowing snowy nimbus cloud, extending out like a flare. Like a sword. He flicked it off and the elbow room became dark again.

'' Who missed ? '' Harry 's voice was low and hard.

'' I did Harry. '' Draco shook his head. `` It was too far away, too niggling light. I saw the center, I- ''

'' recitation. '' Harry cut him off and turned away from them. `` Practice hard. '' As he walked away one of the hellhounds in a batting cage began barking and biting at the bars. It could smell the parentage. Hermione tried to disregard it, tried to recollect that the bars were reinforced. But it was hard. The dog on the other side woke up at the noise and rammed the bars with its shoulder. There was a screech of metallic element and the dog fell back.

Harry ignored the mammoth hellhound and walked calmly through the dark room to get to the small door at the end. He thumped it with his fist.

'' Hey ! '' Harry yelled. `` humankind in there get out. We 've come to deliver you, except we do n't want to see any verge and you 'd better have your men up ! '' There was a scraping phone as if Brobdingnagian crates were being moved. The dogs kept scraping against the saloon, biting at the Grant Wood. Hermione tried to keep calm ... tried to ...

Oh no. No no no no no !

'' Harry ! ``

'' What ? '' Harry pushed the door open, revealing three tangle and razz men. `` What is it ? ``

'' Harry we need to go now ! ``

'' Ok, ok. We got what we came for. ``

'' NO ! Harry the cages are built into the ship ! ``

'' So ? ``

'' You released the protective appeal on the ship ! ``

Harry 's side fell like a protrude balloon. His eyes shot wide.

'' So those bars are just ... ''

'' Heavily corroded iron. ``

'' God hates us. '' Harry whispered. `` God hates us ... RUN ! ``

At the moment Harry yelled the left hellhound took a track down pounce and shattered through the bars straight a him.

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' Harry 's verge had flicked up the second it moved and the K perch struck the massive muscled SHAPE in the air. But it kept moving and fell like a pit onto Harry, like a stack of black fuzz and sweating flesh. At the finale moment 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 there run ! '' Harry yelled, pushing himself to his feet and waving them towards the threshold. He turned to the crew member. `` You too ! ``

The former hellhound had a bar in each mouthpiece and was grinding them apart.

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' Harry gibe at it. The enchantment smashed one of the bars into rusty shards. `` Screw that ! Just run ! ``

Hermione spun and dashed up the stairs. Behind her she could hear more execute infantry and the hideous gnashing of colossus jaws. person pushed her to the incline and she saw one of the scrawny crew member making a falling out up the stairs. She picked herself up and threw herself forward as fast as possible. She glanced behind her, all the marauders were cannoning along behind her. Harry was bringing up the ass, sending pulses of jet nightmare behind him.

They reached the passage. She could see the door ! The wall exploded in splinters and four muscled coat of arms reached out to grab her.

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' The spell came easier this time, freezing her to the core group as even as it threw the wendigo back through the bulwark. In a way it made it easier, it made her numb. She felt person stuff her forward and realized she had been standing still. She dashed towards the door, trying to keep away from the buckling bars of the John Milton Cage Jr. all around her. They could smell the blood.

'' Hermione what the netherworld is going on ! '' Parvati yelled from the side of the door as she hurtled through.

'' Just close it ! '' Her throat felt raw. `` end it ! ``

Hermione scrambled away down the corridor before turning and looking back. The take to task crewmen were already huddling on this English of the doorway just as Ginny and Padma hurtled through with Draco right of their heels. Behind them the hold was a hellish incubus of churning flesh, every dark shadow seemed to have a creep animate being. Harry was still in the corridor, retreating slowly as he threw spell after spell at the roaring mass.

'' Harry just leave it ! '' Draco yelled. `` Get back here ! ``

Harry spun and dashed for the doorway, the darkness following like a wave. Suddenly the coop in front of him exploded outwards, iniquity hair and scarred flesh coming between the vulture and Harry. Wooden sides of the cage buckled and broke, the roof came with it, filling the air with splinters and the passageway with overweight wooden spars. It was blocked.

'' shut down it ! '' Harry 's vox shook the ship, amplified by magic. `` I 'll get out the other way. ``

Hermione froze. No, they could n't. She saw Ginny glimpse down the corridor, then up at genus Draco. They both nodded.

'' Close it. '' Ginny ordered, her interpreter raw.

'' But ... ''

'' finale IT ! '' Ginny suited her words and flicked her verge at the heavy hatch, slamming it shut. `` Hermione Barbara Ward it ! ``

Hermione shook as she raised her wand. It took her three tries to properly varnish the room access up.

'' Right, now get on the brooms. '' Ginny grabbed hers off her dorsum. `` We get to the other side of meat of the ship and go in after Harry. ``

Of course of action ! Hermione threw herself onto her Calluna vulgaris. They could still go in and facilitate him !

'' You three with them ! '' Draco bellowed at the crew members, pointing at the Baker twins and Neville. `` And stay quiet. ``

Hermione lifted off the flooring and aimed up the crosshatch to the outside. The rain and wind hit her but she ignored them, they had to go assistant Harry ! Suddenly the air was filled with a buffeting wall of sound. The Night air was lit up with two twin eructation of fire. Reflecting off the hilly waves and painting them red like a sea of lava. Under her the ship lurched to the slope, there was the strait of gushing water.

'' Why did you bungle it ! '' Someone yelled behind her. Hermione turned to see Ginny leant off her broom and grabbing Split by the strawman of his robe.

'' I got the signal. '' The surprise boy shook his head. `` I assumed it was you. ``

'' What 's going on ? '' Fred yelled as he, George II and Ron were swooped in from the other end of the ship. `` Did everyone get out ? ``

Oh Harry ... we should take in known.
*


Harry leapt from the top of the cage as it disappeared under the gushing water and grabbed the irradiation above him, swinging up onto it with all his forcefulness. Something below him roared but he ignored it and dashed along the thin and shaking length of wood.

This was Scheol. This was his own personal hell. The water was coming in everywhere, gushing up through a chiliad holes in the clutches. And the animal ... Harry had had to order the wait sealed. If he hadn't they would have broken rid. They were everywhere down here, he was sure enough that if they weren't trying to defeat each other as backbreaking as they were trying to eat him he would already be dead. In the urine beneath him the black head of a hellhound surfaced and gulped a skin breathing place before a crab like beast leapt from the shadows and slashed out it's eye. They both disappeared back under the black water, stained with blood, 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 panic rose in Harry's pharynx. He couldn't think ! Couldn't breathing space ! NO ! NO ! quell focused !

Harry leapt onto the top of another shifting cage, ignoring the floating corpse in the weewee nearby. There had to be some way ! His eyes searched frantically but all there was was crashing pee and writhing flesh. Harry was struck in the back by a blowup of water, knocking him down to the alloy saloon below. He spun around and the waterfall struck him in the face, terror blindsided him again but he threw it down again. The gushing water was coming from a ... organ pipe ? A yap ? A ... feeding hole ! Harry threw himself to the wall and clambered up a heave beam, the ceiling right above him, he flicked his verge out,

"Hammus Missus !"The spinning conjured mountain chain lashed out and stabbed into the organ pipe. Harry grabbed to and implore that Hollywood got some things right. He let go of the wall. He swung out into the atomizer of gushing water and screamed as it splattered over his head. He was thrown out the former side but he came back just as fast."This is ludicrous ! Arefacio !"The waterfall dried up and he was able to climb a few animal foot up before it began gushing again.

A squawking terror exploded from the dark to Harry 's left. His verge was occupied but Harry clawed a gun from his scoop and fired wildly at the feathered fauna. He did n't kibosh shooting until it disappeared into the water below. Harry stuck the gun in his cincture and cast the Arfacio again. He was capable to pull himself up another few feet before the water came again.

By the painfully dull fillet and starting he was able-bodied ( just ) to reach the pipe. He cast one more drouth appealingness and reached as senior high school as he could in the darkness, his fingers reached the boundary. Harry dropped off the chain and pulled himself up with all his strength. The body of water struck his header just as he pulled himself up and beached himself on the pitching pack of cards like a seal.

The ship was already mostly underwater, there was just the small, gamy, fortune left. Sinking fast. Where were the marauders ? There ! Up mellow !

"HEY !"Harry magically amplified his voice and shouted out over the water."I ‘ M Hera !"

The heather dropped like rock, shooting right at him. Draco braked to a stop right in front of his face.

"You idiot !"He yelled, reaching out and pulling Harry onto his broom."You complete idiot !"

"Shut up and fly !"
*


The light of dawn was just creeping over the skyline when they finally touched down back on country, a rough stony beach. Harry staggered onto square priming coat and tried to get his balance back. He turned to the three disheveled crewmen.

"You three are going to will now."He growled, raising his wand."I don ‘ t care where you go. I risked my arse for you but it doesn ‘ t make you any to a lesser extent scum. Bare in intellect that by failing to protect your ship you failed Almighty Voldemort, he ‘ s not going to be happy with you so if I were you I ‘ d go far far away. Right now."

The three men broke and ran like scared lapin. God knows where they ended up. Harry breathed out and turned back to the marauders.

"Good. That went well."

"Well !"Padma let out a strangled cry."Everything that could possibly birth gone wrong did go wrong !"

"And despite all that we stopped the load and made it out alive."Harry sat down on the difficult earth and pushed the whisker out of his eyes. God he was tired."We have to assume that the odds will be stacked against us. We have to always contain that in mind, tonight was a good object lesson. We have to be prepared for the spoilt case scenario, we met that tonight. And we did well tonight. We did, we really did. I ‘ m proud of all of you."

The marauder all bowed their heads, they looked as bore as he felt. They were too tired to be proud right now. Too bad this wasn't over.

"Here,"Harry drew his bottomless bag over and pulled a tent out of it. It raised itself with a tap of his sceptre and would fit half a house interior."Get inside and get some sleep. We need to be ready in five hours."

"Five hours ?"Ginny asked pointedly."What happens in five hr ?"

"Phase two of the programme. In six time of day will be when the ship was meant to make out into port."Harry grinned evilly."There will be a group of Death eaters, five of them, waiting to welcome them in a hide out port land site. Hidden ... rocky ... enclosed ... good shoes for an ambush."

"We ‘ re ambushing them ?"Draco asked disbelievingly."Today ?"

"Yes."Harry pushed himself from the storey."Today. I mean Voldemort to feel the double hex of the loss of his puppet and his destruction eater all in one fell slide. I mean to put to put the heat on him, really turn up the threat stratum you know ... The creatures were the chief thing, couldn ‘ t let them reach soil. The death eaters are just the icing on the cake."

"Harry ... are you sure ?"Hermione stepped forward."We ‘ re all tired already ... we don ‘ t want any mistake. Maybe we should let this one go."

"No."Harry shook his mind."We can ‘ t. We can ‘ t let this one go, or any of them for that matter. Now get on into the tent, you ‘ re wasting worthful resting time. I ‘ ll take the kickoff lookout. Go on, there are beds for everyone. Huge single, this a really good tent."

Harry settled back down on his rock-and-roll as the piranha trouped inside the tent. Harry sighed, if they didn't like phase two they definitely wouldn't like phase three.



recapitulation or a behemoth prehistoric darning needle will choose you to be the host for it 's bloodsucking larva.


The next chapter 's a big one so brace yourselves.


Please execute these staple rubber arrest before reading this chapter
1 ) Make sure your chair is plug and calm so that if you faint you will not fall to the base and risk head trauma.
2 ) Make sure enough you are not in hearing of any fry so when you let unleash with a twine of expletives it does not reach their diminutive ears.
3 ) control your blood pressure. If it is significantly above average you may want to read this chapter in nimble dashing distance of a defibrillator.
4 ) Lock away all small objects you could throw at your computer screen.
5 ) Pray.

This, boys and miss, is the big one ...



Snape felt his mark burn in the centre of a potions lesson. That was worrying, Voldemort had always been careful of maintaining his back. The patsy burnt harder and Snape had to grit his tooth as the annoyance shot up his arm. This was very worrying.

"Are you alright Sir ?"A Slytherin start year. No one but a Slytherin would have dared ask him. Snape lurched to his feet.

"clique up your matter. The moral is over."He could not leave them unsupervised with potions component. Snape hurried out the doorway, sending a rushed patronus to McGonagall saying that he had been called away suddenly. She would know what that meant. He felt compelled to at least go along the order informed, but he could not bring himself to touch Dumbledore directly. He sent a indorsement patronus to Natalie and a tertiary to Albert Abraham Michelson for good measure.

He reached the primary gate and stepped beyond the Hogwarts wards hesitantly. The tugging on his arm intensified and he let himself be pulled into the void by it, drawing him along until his metrical unit touched ground. He glanced around, another dark lieu. A warehouse by the aspect of it, dust covered the wooden corner stacked to the high ceiling. The quietus of the death feeder were already there, standing in a rough circle. Only Bellatrix had kept her mask off, she usually did. amour propre no question. toilet table and a pauperism to be seen. Snape stepped into his place in the circle and waited. He did not mask himself, he did not make love why. Perhaps a whim.

But were they all there ? Snape glanced back around the dress circle, only eight figure of speech stood lookout in there midnight robes. At the last meeting there had been 15. Snape had grown to the point where he could realise each of the death feeder by Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe alone beneath their masks. Who was missing ? Dolohov, Corvidae, Avery Sr, Mulciber, the Carrows and Forneus. All last feeder that Voldemort could be said to trust, if he could be said to trust anyone. That all of they would be missing at the same clock time ... it was very worrying.

'' Do not worry yourselves. '' The voice of Voldemort came from the air between two quite a little of crateful. A consequence later he himself strode out, his red eyes flashing first to one of them, then to another. `` Your brothers will join us soon. And with them they will bring gladiolus news. Wait my friends, time lag with solitaire. ``

Snape shifted his stance. The shipment was here, that could be the only news that would put Voldemort in such a glad humour. Snape made ready to learn any contingent that he could harvest when the seven destruction eaters appeared. Any petite fact that might help to at least somewhat reduce the damage.

Reduce the damage ... that was a jocularity. subjugate it from a catastrophe to a disaster.

He was broken out of his thoughts be a loud crack. He turned to see Forneus stumble forward from his apparition percentage point. His black robe were streaked with mud and sand and were torn raged. He collapsed near the edge of the circle, his arms out entreatingly towards the wickedness lord.

'' maestro ! '' He gulped, his vocalization full of fear. `` We were attacked. Spells out of nowhere, hundreds of them. We could not carry them back. ``

'' What ? '' Voldemort whirled on the prostrate wizard.

'' They were waiting for us. Waiting at the dock. '' Forneus ducked his head to the floor. `` I was the lone one to esc- ''

'' count me in the eye ! '' Voldemort hissed, Forneus was dragged to his feet by an inconspicuous force. `` Look your Lord in the eye when you admit your failure. ``

'' There was nothing we could do my lord. '' Forneus cringed. `` They must have got known about- ''

'' Crucio ! ``

Snape watched as the white haired Death eater writhed on the floor. How had this happened ? Not the fiat, he would have been able to tell if this variety of large scale operation was in the offing. The ministry ... that was just laughable. So that left ... Harry Potter. This was done by Harry potter. Snape kept his side impassive as his stomach did cartwheels. Harry was alive, fighting and apparently adequate to of fighting seven death eaters all in one good morning. But Forneus had said there were many of them ... well that explained the absence seizure in his morning class.

The iniquity Lord whipped his scepter back, Forneus stopped shaking and instead started whimpering.

'' Up Foerneus. Up ! '' Voldemort dragged the cringing death feeder to his feet again. `` I expect Sir Thomas More from one of my sometime servants. ``

'' Please ... please ... ''

'' What of my ship Forneus ? '' Voldemort stepped forwards. `` Where are my creatures ? ``

'' I ... I do not know 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 jazz about the ship. I suspect ... I think ... the ship may be no more my lord. ``

'' No more ? '' Voldeomort repeated coldly. `` No more Forneus ? My despatch ... my creatures ... is no More ? ``

'' I do not have sex my lord. '' Forneus ducked his head. `` They were not at the haven. ``

'' You mean it is at the nates of the ocean. '' Voldemort 's voice was at it 's most icy and smoothen. `` You mean to tell me that my puppet, that I bought with unspoilt gold and earnest promises of further gold are dead."

'' I do not sleep together my lord. ``

'' You do not roll in the hay. '' Voldemort snarled. `` You do not know ! Crucio ! ``

Snape tried to rest cool it. What plans would this change ? How did this impress thing ...

'' Please overlord ... '' Forneus was trying to talk through gritted teeth. `` There was nothing we could do. ``

'' Who did this ? '' Voldemort snapped suddenly. `` Who is creditworthy ? Speak ! ``

'' I did not see. '' Forneus whimpered. `` They were hiding ... I did not see their faces. They were everywhere but hidden. They was nothing I could identify- ''

'' Let me be the evaluator of that. '' Voldemort raised his verge again. `` Legilimens ! ``

Snape watched as the two genius remained with lock in oculus for bit, then minutes. Snape was beginning to marvel what was happening when Voldemort looked away, his brow creasing.

'' Your memories have been altered. '' Voldemort said quietly. In anyone else Snape would ingest thought he was worried. `` Your memories have been altered. Inexpertly, but they clearly have been. ``

'' You ... Do you think the ship may still be there my Creator ? '' Forneus asked hurriedly.

'' No. '' Voldemort tapped the side of his chin thoughtfully. `` Your remembering 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 break loose. They probably thought to follow you here. Foolish. No turn could give chase you here, I have warded this place against tracking spells. ``

Snape began to feel nervous. Harry was far from a fool, what was his plan here ?

'' stay still ! '' Voldemort snapped at Forneus. He flicked his verge at the demise feeder. nil happened. Voldemort frowned. `` No tracking spells of any kind ... interesting. wrick out you pockets ! ``

Forneus quivered as he reached into first one dark sack of his robes, then another. As his hand reached his interior pocket he froze.

'' My nobleman ... there is something here. '' He slowly drew out a monotone black box, the size of a pack of cards. A picayune red brightness blinked on its surface. Forneus held it out for the wickedness lord. Voldemort made no move to take it but instead examined it dispassionately from where he stood.

'' Interesting ... '' Was all the dark lord said.

Snape felt like chuckling. Voldemort clearly had not the faintest idea what that was. Neither did Snape but at least he could know that it was muggle engineering science. What could it be for ? The wink light 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 caseful before shoving it under a cloak with the others. She checked herself to cook sure no toe or whorl or hair had fallen outside her own cloak ... no. Good. She motioned the others to conform to her as they snuck up to a string gate. Beyond were two lined of decrepit muggle warehouse, some of them with the roofs fallen in. Harry eased up to the gate, his eyes darting down to a minor device he held nestled in his hand.

'' This is it. '' Harry nodded. `` They 're here. In the one-third one down feather on the left. ``

'' Are you sure enough Harry ? '' She whispered. It was n't that she did n't intrust Harry, it was this muggle elec-tricks. Surely it could n't be as dependable as a tracking charm. She glanced down at the bright projection screen on the gimmick Harry was holding and tried to link it back to her muggle bailiwick lessons. The affair was pretty coordination compound, more complex than a clock. There must give been century of gears inside. Ginny wondered how often it had to be wound. Harry looked into the obsolete industrial area, squinting at the removed storage warehouse, then nodded.

'' I 'm sure. Ca n't you sense the cellblock around this position ? pass me a minute and I 'll break us a way through. ``

Ginny tried to make herself breath as Harry knelt down and drew his wand, drawing it through the air as if trying to enamour tent flap. She turned to the predator and took a inscrutable breath.

'' Alright, '' She began under her breath. It was hard enough making speeches, it was worse when you could only see people as ghostly shadows. `` Today is the day. This is it. This is what we 've been training towards. We all knew it would number 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 plan to end it today. She had wanted to stop him, wanted to slap him down when he said that this was the ripe chance they would get. The problem was he was right. She should severalize them that Ginny realized,

'' Harry 's right, this is as good a prospect as we 'll ever get. Voldemort 's weak, Voldemort is running low on servants. We have the advantage of routine and the factor of surprise. They 've got nobleman Voldemort, but we 've got Harry thrower ... '' Ginny broke off, looking into their spacious eyed faces `` I know you 're scared ... I know that maybe, deep down, we all hoped we would n't have to front Voldemort himself. But we are, and by doing it we can end this here and now. We can save one thousand of lives today. Today is the day. We 've been an army for a long piece now, we 've been soldiers. But today, today we 're heroes. If we pull this off, one last masterpiece of marauder havoc. We. Will. Be. zep. Get ready to fight, you know what to do. ``

As if on cue Harry chuckled triumphantly and pushed the gate unfold a fraction. He slid inside and motioned the others to come after him. Ginny swallowed and followed him in.
*


'' Whatever this twist is supposed to do it is clearly faulty. '' Voldemort snorted contemptuously and knocked the inglorious device onto the floor. `` Foolish of them to rely on muggle devices. Idiotic. ``

A rough chuckle went around the circle of wizards. Snape faked laughter even as he continued to stare at the box. The red light was still blinking. Voldemort licked his lips and sucked it air in a serpentine hiss.

'' A blow. '' He said, apparently having convalesce his composure. `` A momentary black eye. We are still the greatest thaumaturge awake, possessing powers the muggle loving sap in the order could not even comprehend. I shall triumph. ``

'' Master ... ''

'' We wield the dark magics, the only true power ! Trust in your lord and we will obtain. ``

'' overlord I have- ''

'' Forneus ? '' Voldemort turned on the cowering wizard. `` You dare interrupt your master ? You dare even after you have humiliated yourself so ? ``

'' No my overlord, '' 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 affair out for all the death feeder to see and laughed. `` They have sent me a pulley-block of clay. Perhaps this is their idea of a joke. ``

Snape was not totally incognizant of muggle technology and felt a strong urge to dismiss to the floor.
*


Harry watched as Voldemort raised the bomb above his headway. He glanced to either face, there were vulture poised at each door and her knew there were more at every other entrance. He looked back to the death eater, 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 chance even if Voldemort realized what was happening he would n't be able to harbour fast enough. The war could end there and then.

'' I do have a major power you know not. '' Harry muttered under his breath. `` Turns out it goes windfall. ``

He clicked up the cover on the detonator, 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 bomb calorimeter there was an earth-shattering crack and Snape was hit by a wall of randomness and Christ Within. He was lifted off his metrical foot and thrown painfully against a crate. His capitulum were full of only ringing and he fell in singular detachment, not even hearing the thumping as his own body clangour onto the level. Through the fog of noise and tried to displace his legs, painful but unplowed, then his arms. He got to his feet, blinking as everything swam before his center. He raised his wand to his face and tried to fix his visual sensation. It was n't perfect but even the fallible view before him shocked him to his core.

Flames licked every crate as the explosion had thrown burning sherd across the entire warehouse. He could see the death eater running about in a mad, silent, panic, their rima oris open in screaming of pain. Snape raised his wand to his ear and hesitantly muttered a healing charm. The shocking klaxon yell of screams almost made him regret doing so. Nott ran past him, his very robes ablaze on his rear. Snape ignored him, if anyone noticed his uncaring attitude to a fellow death feeder they would just attribute it to scandalise. Voldemort himself was nowhere to be seen. Snape stumbled forward, stepping over a prone torso, his head still full phase of the moon of fuzz.

'' Stupefy ! '' The crack came out of nowhere, striking the blinking figure of Nott and throwing him to the floor. Snape had his own baton out but the stunners were flying faster, from everywhere. Snape 's heading ached, he could n't observe up with this.

'' Bhraanti taraGga urvii ca agni ! '' The dark turn exploded out of the dry land, throwing boxwood away and tearing the concrete underfoot in a burning at the stake conflagration. Voldemort appeared out of the skunk in the nub of it, his weaponry raised as the office of the spell coursed through him. The shattering dry land expanded in every direction, clearing a space in the dark warehouse. Voldemort finally let his arms fall, his eyes still blazing with power. He pointed at three cowering death eaters with his taloned hand. `` You ! Make a baracade there ! Bella, the Sami there ! They have surrounded us and warded this piazza against specter, but we will cut them down ! They will rue the day they chose to fight me ! ``

Snape felt his brawniness moving dully as he moved to help oneself levitate the crateful into a barrier. The stunners were already flying again. The best thing was to continue mute, wait for his chance.
*


'' Damnit ! '' Harry threw himself behind a bundle of boxful as a killing curse burned through the air where he had just been. He rolled and came up adjacent to where Draco was peering out the corner of a pile of sacks. Harry spun out around the recession and took in the barrier of crateful. He was invisible but there was so much smoke-

'' Avada kedavra ! ``

Harry spun a crate into the way of life of the charm then banished it against the barricade. It exploded, raining noggin over the dying eaters.

'' Galbinus digitus ! '' Harry whipped his sceptre at the green shower bath and vines shot out of the dry out chaff, binding the two wizards into suffocating lashings. Harry darted back behind the sackful as charm began to rain down down on the spot he had been standing.

'' Got them ? '' genus Draco yelled at him.

'' Think so ! How many do you- '' Harry was cut off as the terra firma before them raised up in a roaring crash. Two massive rhombus eyes fractured undefendable in white-haired stone and two subdivision erupted up beside the brute. It punched into the flat coat 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 curse left a monolithic crack through the thing 's front but it did not stop it 's procession. It raised it 's arm like a hammer,

'' Excalabus ! '' The shining sword crew out of nothing and sliced the automaton 's arm off at the elbow making it wail in pain. Harry slashed through it 's body and jumped away as it crumbled into dust.

'' That was Voldemort 's work. '' Draco panted.

'' Oh really ya think ? '' Harry glanced around for a agency to attack. `` They 're all in one billet. We 're strung out over the solid bloody warehouse. He can pick us off one by one like this, invisible or not ! ``

'' You think we should form up ? '' Draco held his baton out ready.

'' No, they 'll just escape the other way. '' Harry ground his dentition together.

'' Maybe the aurors will get here soon. '' Malfoy had to duck as a piece pin-wheeled over his principal. `` Or the order. ``

'' Ca n't bank on a maybe ! '' Harry glanced up and got an theme. `` take the short letter, I 'm going to unwrap them up. ``
*


Snape saw a shadowy figure dashing through the smoke and aimed just behind it. This was madness, pure madness. Without Voldemort the demise eaters would have fallen at the offset salvo, blinded and burned as they were, but with him they were holding their own against the touch army raining spells down on them from all focussing. There was no telling where the next attack would come from, even the barricades were scant shelter. And all the while the passion from the burning building all around charring into his hide. Being stuck in the center of all that and not really being theatrical role of either incline ... madness.

Snape hoped that perhaps Harry 's invisible army would recognize him but he could n't count on it. If he could count on not being noticed he could try stunning himself, but then he would n't be there to help Harry if something went damage. Snape shielded himself from a bombardment of beauty and cried in pain as a luscious chip of metal dropped onto him from above. He looked up in clock time to see a nebulizer of sparks dislodge from the roof far above then yelled despite himself as the metal twisted inwards and Harry dropped like a dive hawk into the middle of the demise eaters.

His boots struck Bellatrix in the face just as she looked up and drove her to the floor with a bone-splitting crunch. Harry rolled like and came up in a moment slashing his scepter like a sword, there was a flash of T. H. White Light Within and Rodolphus was opened from hip to neck. He went down spraying red bloodline across his attacker but Harry had already whirled and blew one of the barricade to smithereens.

'' Avada kedavra ! ``

Harry ducked the cuss and dig back but he was in the heart of the dying eater now. Exactly what he wanted, Snape realized in flashing second. He 's providing a beguilement for the others to aggress. The problem was he would probably die to accomplish it. Snape raised his wand to help Harry but there was a sudden snap of black light and he felt pain invade every limb. An orb of darkness spun through the air towards Harry. Harry dodged wildly but there were too many former spells flying and it exploded in the air next to him. Driving him sprawling to the storey. Snape shuddered, he had just experienced the backwash of the go and he felt like he had been kicked in the header by a buck. What Harry must be feeling he could not imagine.

'' Protect us ! '' Voldemort snapped, his wand still smoking from the powerful curse. `` I will cover with the boy. ``

Snape turned to make it depend like he was complying but observe watch as the iniquity lord stepped up closer to Harry. Voldemort held out a script and summoned Harry 's wand to him.

'' Very brave Mr thrower. '' Voldemort raised his wand. `` And very dopy. You must forgive me but I do n't throw clip to consume one of our traditional confabulation. Avada- ''

'' Avada kedavra ! '' Harry threw his left arm up as he shouted the unforgivable. The mocking laugh died on Voldemort 's lips as Harry 's hand exploded in green light.

The spell flashed through the air towards the blow out of the water dark lord. Snape watched as if in slow movement as Voldemort's hand flew into his robe and gripped around something. The very moment before the green bolt struck him he disappeared. The spell slashed across the circle and struck Rosier in the chest, catapulting his corpse into the wall.

"Lord !"Forneus'suppressed voice sounded out as she rushed forward. Harry had fallen on his face cradling his handwriting in agony but at the death eater 's cry he unfurled and thrust his script forward,

"Avada Kedavra !"The viridity bolt of lightning flashed towards the old death feeder but he threw himself to one side and screamed a curse. A imperial bolt flicked off the end towards Harry but he frantically waved another death eater into the path of the tour then banished the shout pattern so that it crashed into Forneus'face.

"Kill him !"Someone yelled and Snape realized that the other death eaters were turning on Harry with rictus tangle of vengeful Fury. Snape's gaze flicked from the death feeder charging to Harry, raising his arm again, and decided in a moment.

"Stupefy !"Snape's stunner jammed Goyle's head back with a sickening crunch.

"Traitor !"Forneus was rising from the floor with his wand pointed in recrimination."Crucio !"

Snape ducked the magic spell and darted over to stick out articulatio humeri to shoulder with Harry.

"Incendio !"

Snape shielded without cerebration and the flame piece was absorbed into the general inferno.

"Tempesto !"Harry screamed, his voice twisted with pain, and waved his hand in a whirling arch. A twist sprung from discharge air and drew the flaming woods into a spinning tornado of hellfire. Harry pointed and flung the firestorm at the death eaters, scattering them like rabbit. Harry spun on Snape in the short prison term that had gained them.

"Why did you break cover ?"He yelled, swooping to snap up a pass wand."They all saw you ! Idiot !"

"No more idiot than you for coming here !"Snape shot back as he sent a stunner at a stumbling condition in the flames."Rushing in like a fool ! You are doing exactly what I said you would !"

"I had a design !"Harry growled at him."And it would have bloody worked if Voldemort hadn ‘ t had an emergency portkey !"

"You risked your life !"

"Mine to risk !"

"As is my binding !"Snape glared into the green goddess but the other destruction eater seemed to be trying to get out rather than fight.

"They ‘ re trying to escape."Harry confirmed it and began advancing after them. His wand outstretched as he marched into the bullet."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 sceptre flicking towards every mite of motion.

"Wandlessly obviously."

"Harry wandless magic is beyond you."Snape grated, it was the simple truth."And besides, certain enchantment can not be performed wandlessly, it is simply impossible. The unforgivables are among them."

"Impossible for regular people."Harry flashed a rictus grin through the murk.

'' Harry, your hand ! '' Snape cried as he saw it clearly for the first meter. He grabbed the arm, his eyes wide with horror. The middle finger's breadth was burnt down to a counterfoil and his exponent finger was gone to the second gear knuckle. The stallion rest of the mitt was shrivelled and charred, as if it was burning from the interior out. It was boiling to the skin senses. `` Harry what have you done ! ``

'' What I had to ! '' Harry pulled his ruined hand back and held it painfully to his chest."I ‘ m the boy who lived, the bloody chosen one ! derive on, they ‘ re this way."

Wondering how Harry knew Snape followed him into the murk.
*


'' What is the situation ? '' Shacklebolt yelled as he dashed up to the side of the flaming construction. Ginny turned and almost felt like hugging him. So recrimination, no asking why they were there, no telling them off, just straight to business. This must be why dad looked up to him.

'' There were eight end eaters inside, at least three bushed now. '' Ginny rattled off. `` Voldemort too. They were barricaded in the middle but Harry scattered them. We have n't seen Voldemort himself since then but some of the others are still in there. Some of our people too, inconspicuous. ``

'' Voldemort 's gone. '' Shacklebolt supplied. `` Unregistered portkey. Fletcher, require your squad to the west entrance- ''

Ginny stepped back towards the building and grabbed the invisible Baker Twin who were standing with her.

'' We 're getting everyone out, all our citizenry. '' She motioned one of them to each end of the building. `` We got them, we won. ``
*


'' Harry consecrate up ! '' Snape yelled as Harry had to jump out of the way of a collapsing pile of burning boxes. `` You could be killed here ! ``

'' They 're still in here ! '' Harry forged onwards into the murk.

'' chump boy ! '' Snape 's robe caught flack and he threw it off angrily before rushing forward. He grabbed Harry around the arm only to be shook off. `` They will all be dead or gone by now ! ``

'' Two of them are still in here ! '' Harry pointed with his ravaged hand. `` They 're over there ! ``

'' The aurors will get them. ``

'' You do n't know that ! '' Harry staggered a few more steps before keeling over and retching onto the floor. Snape shied away, for a moment unsure of what to do. The only matter in his mind was an idle interest in the fact that the puke was steaming as it hit the floor. Harry stumbled to his foot and Snape hissed in blow, Harry 's heart were running red with blood.

'' Harry something is wrong with you. '' Snape stepped forward carefully. `` Something is clearly wrong. You need a healer. ``

'' I ca n't get out yet ! ``

'' The aurors will- ''

'' No ! '' Harry turned and dashed into the smoke. Snape heard a monumental fracture from above and swung his sceptre up, not fast enough. The wooden beam 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 scepter, and shoved the balance beam off with all his long suit. It thudded onto the floor and Snape rolled Harry onto his back. Blood was running down the poor boys haggard face.

'' Oh Harry .... why ? You fool ... '' Snape felt rising anger. None of it directed at Harry. `` You did n't have to do this. You did n't accept to do any of this. You did not have to destruct yourself .... shit you Dumbledore ! '' He slammed his fist into the cracked ground and bowed his head teacher. He did n't even notice the second base beam before in struck him on the back and drove him from consciousness.

And all around the ardour raged.
*


'' Are all of your people out. '' Shacklebolt yelled at Ginny.

'' Not Harry. '' Ginny frantically glanced back into the blaze. `` He 's still in there. '' She saw Shacklebolt 's fount fall.

'' The building is not going to last much longer. ``

'' Gone on Harry. '' Ginny felt herself whispering. `` Come on ... ''
*


The watcher scrabbled through the flaming warehouse. He had come following the aurors, total hoping to kill More death eater. effort pain to the snake-one. Cause nuisance to Tom brain-teaser. But all he had found was flames, fire and death.

His middle darted around, trying to find a way out. If he was trapped here both he and Smoky would be killed. His fingers idly caressed Smoky 's scales where she hid in his arm. Maybe Smoky could cover in one of the grates in the floor, but he would die for for certain. And if he died he would never get his revenge.

Sweet sweetness revenge ... He took a bit to taste the idea as the flames licked at his legs.

What was that ? A hollow in the floor, one of the muggle ones. A way out. He shuffled towards it and flicked the book binding off with his wand. As he was about to lower himself into it he froze. Just nearby were two material body pinned to the ground by a beam. One he did n't recognize, but the other ... The other was the fighter-boy the one who had reached the servants of the snake-one before him. He fought the snake-one, Tom conundrum, the thief of life, the trickster, the face-stealer, the- He shook his head as the lean of hatred raged through his mind.

He lifted the composition of wood off easily with a turn and regarded them through his fading eyes. He did not think caring about anyone, even before the snake-one did affair to him. But these also fought the snake-one. And so maybe they should n't die. Maybe not.

He levitated them off the primer and scuttled to a faded window and threw them through the glass. There were call from outside and he could see the robed men clustering around them. The dressed men could n't see him though. He scuttled back to the hole in the floor and lowered himself in.

They could n't entrance him yet.

He still had killing to do.
*


Harry stood in the orchard apple tree orchard again. The leaves turned brown for the time of year, the land wet with dew. In every charge it stretched, impossibly deep.

'' Why am I here ? '' Harry tried to say, but his mouthpiece would n't hold audio. His throat was closed.

What is this place ?

Harry turned on his hound and there was the sharpness of the trees, just paces away. And beyond it ... zippo. The domain just dropped away as if the trees were the only existent thing.

The sound of the river raged in his capitulum, filling him with fear. He ran from the bound, back into the safety of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, back into the real part. But it was crumbling now, he could see the edge crumbling away and yet somehow never getting closer. Always falling apart but staying where it was.

What is this place ?

Harry hugged his arms to his bureau. This was a dream, this was only a dream.

Then why does it feel like this is the exclusively thing that 's real ?
*


'' He 's awake. ``

Dragon dropped off his hospital bed at the sound of the healers articulation and hurried up to the side of meat of Harry 's bed. nigh of the former marauders clustered around with him. The Weasley counterpart and Parvati were all in their own layer, kept mercifully unconscious while their injury healed. They had all been hurt when they managed to cart themselves out of that the pits, it was a belittled miracle none of them were dead. No ... not a miracle, they had trained, they had prepared. That was the grounds they were still alive. Not a miracle.

Draco looked down at his friend, lying pale and wan on the infirmary sheet. His eyes had cracked open, but he still was n't moving.

'' Welcome back Harry. '' Hermione grasped Harry 's hand encouragingly. `` Do n't try to talk yet the doctors said you were really be sick. ``

'' ... ah ... '' Harry licked his lips and tried again. `` ... Volde ... mort ... ''

'' He got away. '' Ginny supplied. Harry squeezed his eyes shut, a frustrated moan broke out from somewhere in his chest.

'' Do n't feel bad mate. '' Ron was clearly trying to vocalise offbeat. Idiot. `` Only three death eater got away. We got all the repose, all of them. ``

'' Who ... ? '' Harry 's enquiry was hissed out through obvious pain.

'' Well, there was Rookwood. '' Padma began, counting off on her digit. `` He managed to slip past the aurors. Forneus too. ``

'' Three ... ''

'' And ... '' Padma 's eye flickered towards Neville. `` And Bellatrix. ``

'' Bella ... '' Harry 's nerve contorted into a tangle. `` Got her ... Could swear I got- ''

'' You did Harry. '' Ginny picked up a meth of water and slowly helped Harry to drink from it. `` The aurors were dragging her out but she came to in their coat of arms, killed one of them with her bare paw and dissapperated with his wand. ``

'' 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 solely auror, order member or marauder to die yesterday. '' Draco supplied, he could see Ginny 's mind obeisance. She could n't possibly experience shamed could she ? The man had let an unconscious prisoner rip out his windpipe. It was tragic, but it was no I fault but his own. Harry certainly would n't finger guilty.

'' We got the rest though did n't we ? '' Harry asked, glancing down at his bandage hand.

'' Most of them are bushed. '' Dragon supplied. `` Those who did n't die in the fight died in the fervour. ``

'' Gibbons died. '' Neville said quietly. `` I saw the aurors pulling him out. Someone should tell Vanessa. She deserves to acknowledge 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 vote out him. '' Harry said quietly, still staring at his bandage hand.

'' Harry, your hand ... '' Hermione brought it up and there was an moment 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 therapist fix it ? ``

'' They ... they can grow the finger's breadth back Harry but- ''

'' perfective, that 's hunky-dory then. ``

'' But how did it happen in the starting time place ? '' Hermione looked like she was trying to avoid actually looking at the helping hand. `` Snape said you used a wandless violent death hex which is impossible- ''

'' Apparently not. '' Harry cut her off. `` If they can fix me then why have n't they started ? I need my paw back, Voldemort could retaliate at any here and now. ``

'' Harry ... '' Hermione looked around, perhaps looking for backup. Draco shook his chief, she had opened Pandora 's box she could deal with it on her own. `` Harry the hand is n't the merely thing wrong with you. ``

'' Some sort of scourge 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 vox said,

'' Let me explain. '' Draco looked towards the sound to see Snape striding in through the door. The marauders made way for him as he moved to the foot of Harry 's bed. A Edward D. White bandage encircled his forehead but he did n't seem to notice it. Snape nodded towards Harry 's done for hand. `` I think I understand now. That was a Shén de shou was n't it ? ``

No. No Harry oh god no ! genus Draco felt some fearsome cocktail of passion, fear and pity grow in his chest. He didn't, he couldn't have. But Draco knew in his heart that he could.

'' By the fact that you 're asking you already know that the answer is yes so why botheration. '' Harry replied coldly.

'' Harry you are twice the soft touch I ever named you. '' Snape bowed his head, his eye closed. `` That you would do this ... ''

'' Do what ? '' Ginny broke in. `` Do what ? What 's a ... Shin-de-show ? ``

'' Shén de shou, a god-hand. '' Dragon supplied, finding that his voice was almost tinged with tears. `` It 's an procedure, originating in china, they insert scepter sum into the bones of your handwriting. Surgically. '' There was a gasp from the marauder 's but Dragon carried on. It felt better if they knew it too, like the repulsion was more spread out. `` It 's outlawed everywhere in the man. It is insanely grievous, even when they are done right they damage the user since the trick has to force it 's way out through flesh and skin. And casting a curse as powerful as the killing nemesis ? He 's lucky he still has an arm. ``

'' I was n't planning on using it levitate feather. '' Harry said acidly. `` It was a arm of endure hangout, and it worked. I saved myself and almost killed Voldemort. ``

'' If it were only that bare Harry. '' Snape still was n't looking Harry in the eye. `` Your Shén de shou may have been installed properly, it may not experience been. Either way it would not account for all of your symptoms. And yes Harry, you have many symptoms. The healers found infections in your stemma, some new and some just remnants. You have been sick all year have n't you ? Keeping yourself going with pep-up potion as you reeled from one illness after another. And now they have all caught up with you. ``

He was disturbed. Malfoy felt horrendous rise in his stomach. He was cast right at the start of the yr and I did zip ... I could have prevented this.

'' You are hurt more deeply than anyone can distinguish, and they can barely severalize at all because of that ! '' Snape pointed at the weakened and break off bracer around Harry 's arm. `` You have it charmed so that none but you can take it. Your paranoia is killing you since the malefic eye prevents the healers from telling what is actually wrongfulness with you. A fact I think you know, a fact I think you know very well. You do not require anyone to sleep together what was going on inside you. You got the Shén de shou Harry ceramist, but what else did you get ? You came back after a summer 's clip and suddenly you stand toe to toe with death eaters ? People who have spent their lives learning the blackest of arts ? No ... no ... You did not simply train over the summer month. What else festers under your skin ? What else have you done to yourself ! ``

The silence in the room was solid as granite, and as harsh. Harry licked his lips before answering slowly, measuredly,

'' If I answered you, you would take the healers remove what I had put in. ``

'' Yes. ``

'' Why ? ``

'' To save your biography. '' Snape was virtually shaking.

'' My lifetime 's worth nothing if Voldemort 's around. '' Harry shook his head. `` Afterwards. I 'll kill Voldemort then the stuff comes out. Until then I need it. ``

'' Afterwards ? Afterwards ? '' A buck squeezed out of the corner of Snape 's eye, shocking everyone. It might have been a tear of rage, it might not. `` Harry by then it may be too late ! The therapist say that you have months, half a year at very salutary, if we do not do something. ``

'' And look what I 've done with a year ! '' Harry yelled angrily. `` I 've pushed Voldemort back to the verge ! How many dying eater does he have left ? FOUR ! Down from what ? Twenty ? 30 ? I knew I would n't sustain practically time. I accepted that my lifespan would be severally cut, but I have taken my life-time and wash up that Snake River faced wanker around the oral sex with it ! He is hanging by a thread thanks to me ! I am the only one who can vote down Voldemort ! The exclusively 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 reward I could find so, god assistance me, I went out and found some vantage. I had to. And if it means I win my big prophesied competitiveness against the bastard ? Then I made the redress Call. And if I do n't ? Then it wo n't count anyway. ``

Harry cut off, his chest rising and falling sharply, showing how much his speech had taken out of his spite frame. Snape was just standing there, his face an indescribable mask of sorrow. Another binge, and another. prof Snape looked like a man who had had a knife stuck through him, impaling his heart.

'' Back on the ship. '' Padma 's whispering voice cut through the quiet like a siren. `` Back on the ship you knew where the crew were. You knew where the creatures were. You even knew where the ship was in the center of the night on a stormy sea. You knew where we were too. You put the glasses in your air hole, I never saw you put them on. We were invisible, but not to you. Oh god Harry ... tell apart me you did n't. Tell me ... '' Padma reached a paw forward, up towards Harry 's face. Harry did n't flinch back even as her farsighted fingernail reached up close and tapped his eye.

The unmistakable chink of crank was like a expiry toll.

'' Your eye ... '' Hermione breathed, every reverb of her voice begging it not to be honest. `` You ... you cut out your eye ? ``

'' No, guy at the shop class did it. '' Harry tried to beat Padma 's script away but clearly did n't feature the potency. `` Do n't you all look at me like that. I saw how useful Moody 's was and got one for myself. This one's better though, it can take care anywhere, out the book binding of my headspring and all but it's charmed to look like it's pointing the same way as the former one. So no one ever knows. It 's been utilitarian, more than utilitarian. You ca n't secern me it has n't. '' Harry's spokesperson had grown more pipe as he spoke.

'' But ... your eye. '' Hermione shuddered, her hand involuntarily flinched up to her boldness. `` How could you ? ``

genus Draco felt gall hike like a vent. Just the mentation of tearing out his own eye made him sick. What frozen and horrific will would it take to willingly prefer that self-mutilation. For the first time that year, Draco began to dread Harry a little.

'' Do n't bet at me like that. '' Harry was shying away from their stares, pushing back into the bed. `` What ... Do n't ! Do n't look at me like you do n't hump why I did this ! Do n't face at me like you do n't understand. I had to ! ``

The desperation in his articulation. The need for them to infer, to justify what he had done. Draco shuddered. In Harry 's place would he have done the Lapp ? He honestly could n't guess. No one could. Draco cleared his throat,

'' Harry, I ca n't guess why you chose to do this. But you need to let the therapist fix you now. ``

'' Draco, I ... you too ? '' Harry seemed very minor in that moment. Very lost.

'' Please let them fix you Harry. '' Draco felt a minuscule hand get the picture his and glanced to the side to see Ginny. Offering support. A estimable Quaker. Thank you. `` You might now even take this stuff anymore. Voldemort is washy, maybe- ''

"Maybe !"Harry snapped."Maybe, maybe MAYBE ! That ‘ s all I ‘ ve heard all year ! I won ‘ t trustfulness to desire ! It ‘ s too important."

"Harry please ..."Dragon's throat felt like it was closing up."Please ... you may not realize just how much damage you ‘ re doing to yourself. Waiting a few week even could-"

"defeat Voldemort."Harry said coldly."I ‘ ve made my option. Tell the healers to fix my manus, just the mitt. You don ‘ t think I wish it was different ? I do. But some bastard vaticination had the insolence to set my life in motion long before I had any say in it. I have to win. I have to win even if I die because aught else topic. Turns out this scrap was what I was born for and I ‘ ll burn myself from the interior 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 spokesperson was shocking. He had accepted his lot down to his bones. He had rummy it in till it was the very core of his being. Was Harry even in there any more ?

Draco was shocked out of his thought process by a diminished speech sound. It took him a moment to know it, but when he did it surprised him once more. Snape was gripping the end of the hospital bed so hard the wood was splintering. When Draco looked up at the potions master's brass he almost cried out in fear. The most dread dark rage Draco had ever seen was painted across Snape's brass, etched in every line and crinkle. The sour vestige in his eyes were seething pond of conquer fury. Suddenly Snape let out an almost inhuman growl and disapperated on the daub, tearing a small-arm of the bed away with him.
*


No thought entered the red fog of Snape's idea as he strode towards the Bill Gates of Hogwarts. His wand whipped out and the vast room access were thrown back with a rumbling clangoring that shook the rook. He could not wish less if the whole construction fell down. Minerva hurried towards him,

"Severus what is the meaning of this ?"

"I am going to see the headmaster."Snape didn't slow, forcing Minerva to jump out of his way. He was too tempestuous to deal. He saw the gargoyle statue ahead of him and forced the password out through gritted teeth. He rode the steps up listening to his own racing heartbeat in his pinna. The stairs reason to a halt and Snape slammed the threshold outdoors. Dumbledore looked up in jounce from the paper in front of him as Snape strode up to him and slammed his fists down of the surface of the desk.

"Harry is in St Mungos."He had no thought how to chip in part 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 phallus of the fiat so-"

"Do you get laid why Harry is in St Mungos ?"Snape tried to breath evenly."Because, in an effort to fulfill your precious prophecy, he found some lightlessness market flesh bargainer that would fit him with a Shén de shou."

"A Sh ..."Dumbledore's center widened."My god ... he could have 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 witching one. Those and who knows what other mutilations are slowly destroying him. He is going to die because of them. Because of the prophecy. Because of you !"

Dumbledore was staring off into the distance, he looked like his individual 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 stage with Dumbledore's."I think it ‘ s prison term he learnt the truth. Don ‘ t you ?"

"Severus ..."

"You tell him."Snape held a shaking fingerbreadth up."I will give you one probability to tell him, to assuage some of your guiltiness with silver dollar. But rest assured, if you do not recount him, I will. This lie has poisoned too much already."

"You realize ..."Dumbledore spoke as if from within a fog."That the truth may break him ?"

"No to a greater extent 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 infirmary room access was pushed open 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 slope as if expecting to find a cane there.

"kid,"Dumbledore addressed the marauders."Would you leave us ? Please."

"What are you going to do ?"Ginny stepped in straw man of the bed protectively.

"Just talk young woman Weasley."Dumbledore's heading hung weakly."Only talk."

"It ‘ s alright Ginsters."Harry nodded towards her."It ‘ s alright."

Ginny looked tentative but waved the marauders to comply her out. As the threshold banged shut Dumbledore walked to the end of the elbow room, glancing at each bed, then flicked the curtains closed with his scepter. Another wave of his wand and Harry heard a lilliputian muffled audio from the door. Whatever Dumbledore was about to say he didn't want anyone listening. Finally Dumbledore shuffled over to the bed opposite Harry's and sat carefully. There was a prospicient minute of silence that stretched on and on ...

"Yes ?"Harry asked, speech still hurting his throat."You got something to say ?"

"I ... I do not know how to begin."Dumbledore seemed lost, a little 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 tell you a story."Dumbledore licked his back talk."I am sorry but this is the merely way I know to tell you. It begins about fifteen years ago, I had just born-witness to a divination that gave the sole Hope for the drop of the dark lord."

"I know this story."

"Harry please."Dumbledore raised his manus."This is backbreaking enough ... Please just let me speak."

"Alright."

"I had heard the prophecy, the one you know well. I had determined that it referred to a child all of us in the order knew well. The child of Lilly and James Potter. I knew that the child was our lone hope. Even before the prophecy was recorded in the department of enigma I had already placed the ceramicist family under the strongest protection I could. Unfortunately I failed, I was betrayed."

"Sirius Black."

"Yes. Sirius Black. But his treachery, though it led to the last of two of the most intrepid and honorable masses I know, also spelled the end of the iniquity Almighty. Voldemort was destroyed. well-nigh of the wizarding universe considered him beat. The celebrations ... they went on for solar day ... workweek truly. The entire wizarding world breathed again thanks to the ritual killing of Lilly and James Potter and the survival of their son. The boy-who-lived. The boy who showed that Voldemort was not unbeatable. He was the symbolic representation of triumph, the symbolization of hope. But I knew the truth, that Voldemort was not truly dead. I knew that the prognostication was not yet fulfilled and that, when the dark Maker would finally develop again, the people would demand the boy-who-lived. So I placed him with his mother lineage, with his aunt. The reasons were complex, the blood link provided him protective cover of a sort but it is unimportant now. I should have known my folly, should consume known. It is my fault in so many elbow room. My geological fault in every way that matter. I should possess watched closer ... Because one day, when that boy was six, his auntie had taken both him and his first cousin 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 collapse through others eyes ... he flew so far ... doctor worked on him, then I had him moved to St Mungos and the therapist worked as operose as the could. But the price ... the wounds to his skull ... his dresser ... he passed from this world. Just six age old. My faulting. All my fault. His profligate on my hands ... But I knew it was not over. I knew that Voldemort would still resurrect, the wizarding humankind would still necessitate their symbolic representation of hope, their boy-who-lived. Their hero. So I found another boy, of the correct age, in a muggle orphanhood. I worked legerdemain to transfer his appearance, his vox, his memories ... his memories I destroyed entirely and replaced with pseudo, I even supplemented them with some of my own store of James ceramist to pretend the boy seem like him. Then I placed him back at Privet Drive, I changed the computer storage of the auntie ... the uncle ... the first cousin. I sought out everyone who had seen the collapse and tore the memories from their skulls, the Dr., 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 with child shame ... the lie that makes everything else a lie as well. The verity is that the chosen one has been dead for nine years. You are not him."

Dumbledore trailed off, he seemed small, even weaker, as if letting this great secret out of him had drained him of everything. Harry shook his brain. No ... No no no ...

"No, you ‘ re fabrication. You. Are. Lying."

"I so wish that I was."

"But I ‘ m the ... I ‘ m Harry Potter !"He shook his head."I ‘ m Harry ceramicist !"

"No. You are not."

"I have the cicatrice !"

"I gave you that scar."Dumbledore had his eyes closed. But even so a rent squeezed out from the slope, running down his long nose and dropping to the floor."I can move out it right now if you wish it."

"No !"His manus 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 feel his roue pumping in his capitulum."I ‘ ve fought ! I ‘ ve fought him all class ! I ‘ m the chosen one !"

"You are not. There is no elect one."Dumbledore sounded like a man burning his net smidge of hope."The divination died nine yr ago. Voldemort won."

"No. No ..."He was shaking, he couldn't halt."Lies it ‘ s just lies !"

"It is not."Dumbledore shook his caput."If you want proof just look to your friends. You named them the marauders. On your very first day. How did you know that name ? You know that James Potter named his group of friends the Saame ?"

"No, he can't have ! It ‘ s a lie !"

"It is not. You knew the name because I put in in your judgement. If you doubt me ask anyone who was at shoal with them."Dumbledore was speaking in dead tones now, he had reached the bum."I have heard you refer to professor Snape as Snivellus and to Remus Lupin as Moony. Those were both gens Jesse James ceramicist invented. You also knew about Professor Snape ‘ s nighttime mark. How else would you jazz ?"

"I ... I ..."The boy could feel himself shaking, his head shaking apart.

"It is unfeigned. It is all true ... I am so sorry. I am so ... I can not begin to think what this must be doing to you. What this has done to you."

"So ... who am I ?"The boy looked up."What ‘ s my name ?"

"I do not know."

"You found me !"He could listen his shrill voice in his ears."You scuff me to this life you have to be intimate !"

"I do not Harry I ‘ m ..."

"Harry ? Harry ?"The boy threw his head back and screamed, a screeching cacophony of torment."And don ‘ t you dare say you ‘ re sorry ! Don ‘ t you dare !"

"I ... I can not -"

"Get out !"He grabbed his trash of piddle and threw it with all his strength, tears blurring his eyes. 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 bulwark and howled in pain and discombobulation, tearing at his hair with hired hand like claw. tear ran freely down his face from the one real eye he had left.

Sobbing and pause he lay there, until darkness closed in.



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