This record 's been giving me trouble, pile and circumstances of trouble. I 've had more pain from this one than from the other four put together and it 's not even finished yet ! growl ... grumble ...

Anyway as a solvent I may be dumb to post than usual as I try to work over this twisty, hellish recital I choose to call a write up into submission.

Sorry, hopefully the narrative will be better for it.

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



"howdy ?"The market keeper peered, blurred eyed, at the pattern standing on the former side of the glassful door."Sorry we ‘ re closed now."

"Good."The hooded man pushed the door open roughly."Then there will be no one to get a line us."

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

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

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

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

"A Sh-"The market keeper held his manpower up, backing away."No no no no ! Why would I-"

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

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

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

The shopkeeper jumped back as he saw the dark mark emerge from under the dark robe. Even this far from Britain everyone in the line knew what it meant.

"Are you a… a bushed eater ?"

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

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

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

The storekeeper gulped as the man began listing what he wanted. His helping hand shook so very much his wand fell on the floor and rolled away unnoticed.

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


Harry's thrill hit hearth and he drew his verge out and scanned the room before lowering it and depositing the needed galleons in a jar by the barman.

"Thank you youthful master."The man simpered.

"He's probably telling person I was there right 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 edifice flashed past him. He hadn't made for capital of the United Kingdom, too obvious. The bold face silhouette of Edinburgh castle was outlined against the genius for a moment between two buildings as Harry dashed along and he darted down an alley towards it. He slowed as he passed a group of guys obviously out for the night, singing in the street, then sped up as the route began to climb towards the high castle.

He came up a side road and turned away from the historical building. Fitting himself into the crowds of Fri night reveller like a dark. He flitted across the royal Swedish mile as fast as he thought safe, clutching his long coat tight about him. At fifteen class old the great unwashed wouldn't think it weird for him to be out this previous but they might remember that he was alone. Any memory of his departure was a liability and Harry flicked his collar up and kept into the shadow of a house.

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

The rails station appeared beneath him and Harry swiftly crossed the bridge and slinked in a incline entering. He bought a ticket from an automated machine ( no memories ) to the first location on the going away instrument panel. 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 turning point, hopefully just looking like any other traveler. They wouldn't correspond the station would they ? They thought like superstar, not like muggles. Maybe he was being paranoid… the barman didn't have to tell anyone…

No ! Careless ! better prophylactic. We want to agitate them, but on our terms.

Harry nodded, it was the dependable matter to do. He gritted his teeth as the seconds ticked by. He just needed to be gone. Wherever the train went he could find adept and fluke to… to somewhere. Somewhere better, Hogwarts possibly ? It was still weeks till he had to go back to schooling and Harry wasn't tidal bore to slip back under Dumbledore's restrictive wing. He'd go somewhere anyway.

Damn it ! Harry went line of descent still as two oddly arrange individuals walked into the train place. One looked like his kit was a Allhallows Eve costume of a pirate, the other was wearing lederhosen. They were the stupefied stack Harry had ever seen.

They were also here to kill him.

Harry could finger the inwardness of barely contained ferocity coming off both of them and the pirate had a wand concealed up his arm. Harry stepped sideways, making his apparent movement seem inconsequential, uninteresting, and pushed open a faculty door. He stepped in calmly and confidently, not giving any trace that he didn't belong.

“'Ere ? Who are y-"

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

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

"R… right."The man mumbled and Harry left swiftly, passing out a English doorway and feeling the cold nighttime air. Harry crossed the road and passed to the succeeding street over and breathed a sigh of relievo. It was officious, broad of revelers. He could be inconspicuous here.

The respectable variety of invisible, the kind that didn't need cloaks.

Harry kept to the English as he ducked down the longsighted stretch and ducked into a pub. A few minutes later he emerged, unrecognisable. Wrinkled skin and grey hair's-breadth, Shakey Jack walked again. Harry walked like an old man up the route, watching both ways.

darn 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 conjuring trick. Harry winced, there was his booster coming from the former way, doing the same. Harry was cornered.

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

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

"Silencio."Harry murmured it so quietly he could almost have been silenced himself, aiming at the dying feeder's wand. No way to know whether he had hit… The wand 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 areas he could recognize from map and found an alley.

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

full moon circle, eventually we all come back home.

Harry sneered as his lid began to flag, alley used be home, now they weren't. That didn't mean value that anywhere else in particular proposition was home, but it was an advance. Harry dropped off to kip, too tired to dream.

"He ‘ s here somewhere."

Harry's centre flicked candid, the wan light of dawning filtering into the alleyway. Footsteps came slowly up the alley. Harry slid behind the bin that hid him and crawled to the former side. The two shape came cl… knack on !

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

"Underage deception and marauding death eaters, it ‘ s him."Helen Wills 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 abstruse breath…
*


"Envenerate !"

Harry lifted his head off the gage ( sens ? ) and looked around him. Moody was gone, but the tall black auror was still there, his arms crossed, calmly looking down at Harry. Harry glanced at the person who had brought him back.

"Hey Tonks."

"Wotcher Harry."Tonks held out an arm to help him up."Want to explain why my knob brought you here comatose ?"

"They didn ‘ t William Tell you ?"

"Well Moody was too angry to let the cat out of the bag and Kingsley kept laughing."

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

"I ‘ ll let Helen Wills Moody tell the taradiddle when he calms down."Harry dusted himself off and surveyed the discharge study. It seemed vaguely familiar spirit."Where are we ?"

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

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


"So what does it- WHOA !"Harry tripped backwards as the manse exploded out of the priming coat around him. Even the weed curled into the floor and became gravel and a fountain appeared like it had been pushed up from some burrow subway. 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."well to see you Draco."

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

"I owled."

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

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

"Yeah right."Draco pushed the doorway open for Harry to abuse inside."well in the stand for meter your friends and fan club have invaded my home."

"The edict of the genus Phoenix ?"Harry looked around the cavernous entrance hall."Never heard of them."

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

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

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

"Didn ‘ t Voldemort live here ?"

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

"The second ownership transferred ?"

"Yes. That."

"Well at least we 're all safety here. Constant vigilance. '' At Harry 's wrangle Shacklebolt clapped a hired hand to his mouth but could n't barricade a snicker. Harry grinned and took another look at the tapestry."Aren ‘ t you supposed to be on here ?"

"I ‘ m there."Draco pointed at a take to task burnt point at the hind end."It seems my mother reverted to her own family traditions."

"Why don ‘ t you fix it ?"

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

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

"No… no I ‘ m the last Malfoy."Draco seemed to nod to himself, his voice full of some cold resolve."Anyway, as I was saying. With the family enchantments and the supernumerary ward Dumbledore put up this place is totally impregnable."

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

"Stop saying that."Kingsley had to treat his mouth again.

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

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

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

"You ‘ re certified Potter you really are."Dragon shook his head, then stopped suddenly."How did you sneak up on Moody ?"

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

In answer Harry just smiled and rolled up his left sleeve. Around his articulatio radiocarpea was a brass bracer engraved with tracing vines. Right in the centre, on the inside arm, was a hieroglyph of a great Shirley Temple eye.

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

"That's the wickedness eye."Tonks stepped closer to search at it."It ward off magical monitoring."

"Yep."

"It ‘ s also all sorts of illegal."

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

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

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

"It makes it manageable."Harry pulled his arm John L. H. Down and put on a cheery smiling."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 than of a menace."Tonks smiled and winked at Harry."semen 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 articulatio humeri."This place is massive. It took us a week to find where you ‘ d left Macnair. He smelled awful."

"Sorry,"Harry shrugged theatrically."Next time I ‘ ll try to shoot down in a infertile environment."

They walked down a long iniquity hallway, made more nervous by the fact that every picture was abandon. Draco said nothing but Harry imagined they had left about the Same fourth dimension his forefather had. The door at the end had a steady glow coming from under it. Harry hurried forward and throw out the door open theatrically.

"I ‘ m back !"

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

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

"Where the sin were you ?"Padma hadn't joined the electric charge and was sitting with her coat of arms crossed and an tempestuous manifestation."Why did you leave ?"

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

"Bullshit."

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

"Voldemort is back."Hermione interrupted him.

"Really ?"Harry opened his eye widely in shock absorber."Is he really ? No… no, I had no idea… How could that happen ? I would remember a thing like that ? Oh… oh delay ? 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 kill you."

"Is this a get together of the obvious society ?"Harry said as the repose 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."

"wellspring I didn ‘ t bloody hang-glide."Harry grimaced."At least brooms 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 tabernacle or something ?"

"No, no temple."Harry shrugged."But I have been training. I ‘ m not ending up one-half deadened again. next fourth dimension he comes after me I ‘ ll not be helpless."

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

"Safe here ?"Harry froze."safety 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 marauder looked on confused."You know that."

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

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

"For how long ?"

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

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

"I ‘ m certain Dumbledore has considered that."

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

"I trust Dumbledore."Kingsley said confidently.

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

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

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

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

"What was that Harry ?"Ginny asked.

"What ?"

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

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

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

Harry turned to Draco, who rolled his eyes.

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

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

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

"Wh…"

"The wards extend to the prop line but it ‘ s firm in here."Hermione explained apologetically."They told us to stay-"

"By they you mean Dumbledore."

"Yes."

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

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

"Is there a windowpane in my cell ?"

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

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


Draco woke the following morning as a retching sound came through the rampart. He shook the covering off and pushed the curtain around his bed open before hurrying to the adjacent room.

"Harry is that you ?"Draco was about to try the door before he thought better of it and ran a detection charm. A couple of nasty execration lifted out of the woodwork. Draco backed a few whole step away."Harry spread out up !"Dragon heard pace then the door scraped open.

"What ?"Harry growled sleepily.

"Were you just sick ?"

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

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

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

"You ‘ re tired of ?"

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

"right,"Dragon snorted.

"You ‘ re the first one I ‘ ve told."

"I ‘ m touched."

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

"I imagine Department of Labor won ‘ t be a child's play either."Draco shook his head word, if Harry didn ‘ t want to distinguish him then he didn ‘ t want to know."smell, it smells like breakfast ‘ s ready."

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


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

Harry looked around in confusedness at the assorted people that had appeared in the kitchen of Malfoy manor. There were more Weasley's than there had been, the two parents and older pal. An odd man in a green hat was there as well, smiling at Harry and waving, along with an Old lady in an ratty robe. There was one very recognizable face though, one that went had gone from smiling to stone cold the moment he entered the room. Remus lupin had stood the moment he came in and walked away, leaving by the cover door.

"A duo of hoi polloi live here now."Ginny said to cover the silence."A couple of the rules of order members."

"Why ?"

"Because I haven ‘ t started charging rip 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 ordination last sentence. We ‘ re targets for attack. It ‘ s safer here."

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

'' It would be skillful if they 'd retrieve their own base though. '' Malfoy murmured, still staring at the panel. `` Or their own prison. ``

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

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

'' Is n't that dangerous ? ``

'' The altogether manor is under the Fidelius appealingness. '' Hermione explained. Harry smiled in understanding, so that was what the petty slip-up of paper had been about. `` It means that a hush-hush is- ''

'' I know what it is. '' Harry interrupted her calmly. `` But is n't it serious to severalise the captive the closed book ? ``

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

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

'' They tend to scream a lot. ``

Harry shrugged, unworried. At to the lowest degree there was a good place for to menage the death feeder. Of course Harry would prefer if they were all kept in nice safe coffin but this was the next just thing. While they had been talking Dragon had turned back to the soundless chess game.

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

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

"Who ‘ s winning ?"

"I think Ron ‘ s ahead by two games."

"well that ‘ s-"

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

"I have over eight one hundred chess boards in this house."Malfoy said idly as he nudged a cat's-paw forward."You ‘ re welcome to try and see all of them. Maybe you ‘ ll get lost along the way."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

Ginny shook her straits. No one could tell when Harry was lying, not even the marauder. 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 determine on him ?"Neville suggested.

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

"It ‘ d feed us something to do."Parvarti murmured quietly, voicing what they all felt. ennui was unremitting here. The only when interest times were orderliness meetings when the marauder would try to find path to hear in. Ways that were continually blocked.

All their prep had been done. All the class books had been read and so many games of exploding snap bean had been played that they all had little tiny burns on the close of their fingers. There was nothing else to do, literally nothing. They had looked, tried to come up with other things to do. They had failed.

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

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

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

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

"We could bet 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 marauder lapsed into muteness. Defeated again.

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

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

"Let ‘ s go. Quickly."

"Why ?"Ginny crossed her coat of arms."Why should we go with you ?"

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


'' Whoa ! '' Ginny gasped as they were led into a massive residence hall. On the floor there were plinths and pillow slip holding foreign sparkling items.

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

'' My fathers. '' genus Draco lugged the orchis case over. `` It 's just dust. '' True to his Book he shoved three vase off a show stand to put the eccentric in their place. `` Now ... squad. ``

'' I call skipper ! '' Ginny yelled.

'' Me too. '' Ron nodded.

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

'' But- ''

'' It 's my house. '' Malfoy cut him off snidely. `` I 'll lease the Twin. ``

'' Which single ? ``

'' The quidditch playacting unity. '' Malfoy rolled his eyes. Fred and George reluctantly went over to stand by Malfoy.

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

'' Would you split them up ? '' Malfoy said sarcastically. `` Have a nitty-gritty. ``

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

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

'' Shut up and let go of 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 circle on the wall.

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

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

Damn it he was right, Ginny shot forward after him. If only the stool pigeon would come out ! It should n't be so hard to watch it in this enclosed area. Unfortunately the charms on the snitch were never designed to deal with an irregular maze of storage locker and as a upshot it kept moving erratically. They had found and lost it three clock time already. Ginny saw Malfoy trying to score and being blocked by Ron. She took the opportunity to take another look for it.

'' Over there ! '' soul yelled, Ginny did n't waffle. The flash of gold disappeared behind a urn and Ginny spun around it. Where was it ? Another wink, there by the rack of steel. Ginny heard a crash from the side of meat her, Malfoy was closing in. There, by the looking glass again ? No ! By the urns again ! Damn it, there were reflections everywhere. It was like there were six canary !

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

Ginny drew to a stoppage, holding the thing in her hand. It was gold, but it wasn't a snitch. It was a cup, a footling gold plated teacupful, still struggling to lam from her finger. Draco hovered in next to her, looking perplexed.

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

"What is it ?"

"It ‘ s a teacupful 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 star sign ?"

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

The early marauder came in finisher, staring at it.

"I saw it by the door."Anapurna 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 rattling stoolie ?"Fred asked, wrestling a bludger back into its case.

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

"LET go."He said curtly, jerked his fountainhead and floated off towards the door.

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

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

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

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

Silence filled the hallway for a import, then ... a upstage haphazardness. It sounded like an explosion underwater, muffled by the bulwark. The marauders looked at each other, they had all heard it.

"There it is again."Ron said quietly as the sound 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 sustain up with him and she could hear the vulture behind her doing the Sami. A door was fling outdoors in front of them and Ginny spun into it, following the blonde flash in front of her. Down some footprint, along a foresightful dark hall, next - occlusive !

Ginny had to crack harshly to obviate hitting Malfoy who was hopping off his broom in front of a magnanimous wooden door.

"You ! You ... !"

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

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

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

"wellspring lets see then."Malfoy drew his wand and pushed at the heavy door. It slowly crept subject. interior was an vacate hall, looked like it was usually used for storage or something. The only things left were a few odd tables and a few boxes. In the middle of the room stood Harry, bare chested with his scars pure white against his bronzed and sweating skin. On a box next to him was a odd pile of debris. As they watched he took a crustal plate and held his wand to it. At a whispered tidings there were two plates, then three, then four. Harry dropped the original back into the mint and tapped the fakes with his wand. They instantly flew off in all way. Harry jabbed his wand and in a fraction of a second-

boot ! One shattered near the ceiling. Harry whirled. BANG ! Shattering into fragment. bam ! Smashing the side and sending the last plate spinning into the wall.

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

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

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

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

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

Ginny looked where Hermione was pointing and swallowed fearfully. Arranged in a neat row along the table was a sharp and wickedly curved sword, a short spear with a lighting bolt of lightning carved into the haft, a cycle clod that had maw for digit and seemed to be glowing from within and no LE than three muggle firearms.

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

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

"Training."Harry flicked his scepter 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 marauder expected insanity from Harry but this ...

Malfoy was the offset to speak.

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

"I may call for spares."Harry shrugged.

"Harry is this overeat wickedness magic ?"Hermione was shying away from the table.

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

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

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

"Wh ... wh ..."

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

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

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

'' Harry, do you not intend that using a wand 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 chance it not working as well as this one does ? '' Harry balanced the midst, rick wand on the edge of his hand before flicking it up into the air and catching it, all the while with the gun held nonchalantly in his early manus. `` This one works for me, maybe as well as my old one did. Besides ... it kind of fits does n't it ? This wand 's done a lot of violence in it 's lifetime. Lots of hurting, fighting, and that 's exactly what I intend to use it for. ``

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

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

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

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

"Then what ?"Harry dropped the gun back down to the mesa. It sounded heavy."I need to fight Voldemort. I have to contend 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 15 year old against the most grievous wizard on the planet ? I ‘ ll lose, he ‘ ll win, we ‘ ll all be screwed. Don ‘ t you see ? I can ‘ t afford to be an ignorant teenager any more. I have to be easily. I need to be better. Because I can ‘ t lose, can ‘ t afford to lose. None of us can afford for me to fall back. Do you know what it feels like to know 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 suppose you ‘ d know why too !"

Harry's angry tirade shocked the vulture into silence. Harry turned back to his pile of junk and began duplicating a enceinte chalk 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 XX, or XXX. Maybe you have meter ..."

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

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

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

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

"Dumbledore said-"

"Dumbledore has been improper before."Malfoy cut her off."It hurts nothing to be ready in case he ‘ s incorrectly this time."

"But Harry could be killed !"

"Yes."Malfoy nodded curtly."He could. Did you not realize that ? Did you perhaps conceive what happened last yr was some sort of funny secret plan ?"

"Of course of action not, but-"

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

"goodness point."Ginny was surprised to hear her own representative. Oh no now everyone was looking at her, better say something."And since we ‘ re all targets 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 prognostication ?"Hermione turned to face up Harry.

"What ‘ s there to say ?"Harry shrugged."It ‘ s fairly self explanatory. No one but me can vote out Voldemort. Not lots to discuss."

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

"Good."Harry hoisted a drinking glass bowl onto his shoulder and throw away it out into the way. He aimed his verge and muttered under his breath. The bowl melted and splattered into a steaming cumulus 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 cerebrate you ‘ re going !"

"Hu ?"genus Draco turned from his progress towards the threshold."What do you mean ‘ Where am I going'? I ‘ m going to the kitchen."

"You come back here Lester Willis Young man !"

"Why ? I ‘ m not your family. Nor am I one of these other waif you seem to take in adopted. I don ‘ t care for your opinion, nor for your misplaced and overworked enatic instinct. I ‘ m certainly not going to let you squall at me while you live under my roof."Draco turned back to the door ...

"Get back here !"

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

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

"Tonks."genus Draco smiled and walked through the now crowded kitchen to where his cousin was sitting. Next to the werewolf. Draco shuddered inwardly and sat on her other side."I couldn ‘ t eat another fried breakfast anyway. Any Sir Thomas More and my broom won ‘ t be able-bodied to oblige me."

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

"He ‘ s ..."Draco licked his back talk and gestured for her to lean closer."He ‘ s accepted the divination. He ‘ s accepted that he will oppose Voldemort. He ‘ s preparing for it."

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

"Don ‘ t Tell him."

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

"Will he ?"A new vocalization came in. Dragon 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 tirade I doubt she ‘ ll tally 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 former side of the judiciary and stepping up beside the Headmaster and tugging on his robe.

"Professor, can I talk to you ab-"

"After the meeting Harry."Dumbledore brushed him off."You have my word. But right now some of the order member have of import missionary work they must get back to quickly."

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

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

"What was that ?"

"What ?"

"You being calm and decent 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 gracious when I have an agenda ? That I am manipulative and self serving that way ? That I would only be cool off if I, oh say ... wanted to slip a listening device into the air hole of someone ‘ s robes before they went into an rescript get together ... or something like that ?"
*


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

"Have I missed anything important ?"

"Attacks."The painful was idly scraping her finger along the edge of a copy of the casual prophesier."Dark fall guy. Wizards and witches we suspect have been turned, or put under the imperious curse.

'' Nothing authoritative then. ``

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

'' I heard Harry found them. '' Snape cracked a grin. `` Or Moody at to the lowest degree. ``

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

'' Yes. '' Snape brought himself back to the task at hired man. `` The dark lord is moving. ``

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

'' The dark Godhead is moving more specifically. Now that Greyback is dead all but a few of the werewolf have deserted him. He seeks new troops to sew panic, he has chosen to take by solid wealthiness this clip rather than empty hope. He is arranging purchase of orotund numbers of versatile exotic species, lethifolds primarily. Chimaeras if it can find a willing vender. ``

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

'' Precisely because they are senseless. '' Snape explained. `` His felon 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 fiat well, they are distracted. The dark Divine has killed a lot of them, he seems tired of man failings. In a way he does n't want an army, he wants a weapon. Something he can let loose at will. Doubtless he will be employing the imperious curse to see that his will is done. ``

'' It does n't lick on lethifolds. '' lupin said with certainty. A petty snuff of relief slid through Snape 's intellect, swiftly swallowed up with darkness.

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

'' Manticores ? '' The former defense teacher eyes grew wide.

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

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

'' Both because that would make them less efficient fighters and because long vulnerability to the Dementors seems to let made them surprisingly resistant to mental attacks. '' Snape leant closer over the board to verbalize to the order as a whole. `` I have the particular date he plans to meet with creature trader. If we arrange a ambuscade we can get ahead of him and- ''

'' No. '' Dumbledore spoke with calm down authority.

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

'' If we act he will assuredly guess the source of our selective information. '' Dumbledore shook his beard nous. `` You are too worthful at acquaint to risk. You are our lonesome author of entropy. ``

'' info we never act on. '' Snape clenched his clenched fist on the moth-eaten Venetian red board. `` What use is my spotting ... what use is this order 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 intermediate with the foreign auror section. '' Snape tried to trick himself into thinking this was anything other than a damage limiting endeavour. `` They could collar some of the dealer before the iniquity Jehovah can meet with them. ``

'' Perhaps, '' Dumbledore nodded. `` There are very few mass we can hope. I will try to get in link with some old champion that may be able-bodied to help. ``

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

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

"Is there anything else ?"

"Barty Crouch still has not returned."Snape shook his head, Barty Crouch had become Voldemort's front-runner, surpassing even Belatrix. Snape had hoped at one clock time that Barty's failure to gain the ministry would look against him, and it had, but apparently throwing it into upheaval had been enough. That and successfully bringing Harry ceramicist directly to the dark lord. All that made it even more suspicious that Barty was absent from death eater gatherings. The wickedness Godhead kept his servant close, if he was letting one off their tether then it had to be for something important.

"Do you recollect he has left the state ?"Someone down the table asked.

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

"Why do you say that ?"

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

"You think it is connected ?"

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

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

"Is that all ?"

"early than minute of listening to the iniquity lords dark pontificating on the topic of the death or subjugation of all muggles ?"Snake crooked an eyebrow."No."

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

'' It has become functionary. Fudge is still parson for illusion. ``

A general groan went up from around the room. Snape just closed his eyes and took a calming intimation. After the consequence of go year the ministry had been fractured to its very effect. The near-election of a destruction eater had made them fearful as rabbit. Fudge had, the present 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 estimation that his riddance was not valid because of the conjuration of Barty Crouch Jr.

That was, Snape had to let in, technically true. Although the balloting to hit Fudge had been won by a comfortable margin the master gesture to remove a minister for magic could only be tabled by a phallus of the Wizengamot. Crouch Jr was not a member, only impersonating one, therefore the motion and, by extension, the voter turnout was void. A firearm of bureaucratic foolishness that meant they were stuck with that ridiculous man until someone else drummed up decent support to boot out him.

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

'' Ours too. '' Shacklebolt rumbled.

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

'' So we put individual forward. '' Snape said definitely. `` We field a candidate no one can argue is a dying eater. ``

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

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

'' I realize the state of affairs is not idealistic. '' Shacklebolt held his hands up. `` But Fudge is scared to touch any sleep together order members or anyone else who waves Dumbledore 's criterion. As a result he is leaving the aurors role and the rest of the section relatively unmoved. We can transport out our body of work without any overbearing oversight for now. And besides, with all the ex-Azkaban residents running around causing fuss we do not give birth time for a political struggle on top of that. If we can not give a sympathetic minister of magic trick, one that stays out of our way is a good second choice. ``

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

Snape grimaced but did n't scuttlebutt. Once more nothing would be done.

'' Is guard duty for the next workweek set up ? '' Dumbledore asked the foregather order. There was a general nodding. It had not been hard to organize, not with a fellow member inside the department of mysteries.

'' Then we should all get back to piece of work. '' Dumbledore stood. `` And we should all prepare for attacks by magical being. lupin can, I 'm sure, cue you of the topper method acting to force back them. ``

Snape stood quickly, he could n't be missed for long. The dark Creator 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 sure to be in the government agency 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 unhurt order was bunched up at the blanket double doors. Snape quickly pushed to the straw man and was almost forced to laugh.

Harry had built a barricade.

The fifth year was sitting casually on an overturned desk, resting his feet on a drawer. The rest of the arching paries was mostly lead and table, and one suit of armor.

'' Harry this was not requirement. '' Dumbledore stepped forward, his helping hand stretched peacefully. `` I promised we would talk. ``

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

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

'' You think Voldemort will care ? ``

'' We will stay fresh you good from Voldemort. ``

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

'' Harry I have made my decision. ``

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

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

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

'' How Harry ? '' Dumbledore crooked an eyebrow, but his common beneficial sense of humor was gone.

'' I 'll let you stew over it. '' Harry folded his implements of war. `` I want to fight down. I want to sit in order of magnitude meetings. I want a private instructor to instruct me to duel. ``

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

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

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

The rules of order phallus began to shamble out, giving Harry a wide office. lupine in particular proposition was staring at him with what could only be described as loathing. Snape walked up to the solitary student.

'' Perhaps you should not counteract him. ``

'' He antagonizes me. '' Harry answered, sounding a little defeat. `` I do n't sympathize him. ``

'' Few people do. ``

'' You ? ``

'' No. ``

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

I should have expected that question. Snape took a breath to founder himself prison term to deliberate his response.

'' No. ``

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

'' If I teach you then you will fall into the ambuscade of thinking you are fix. '' Snape shook his head. `` I could go by on everything I know to you and you would still lose to the dark lord because I would lose to the dark lord. ``

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

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

'' I 'm not an idiot. ``

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

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

Snape momentarily thought of asking where he had got the evil eye bracer but thought better of it. The result was of no fussy 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 instruct you. ``

'' fine. '' Harry seemed defeated, distant. `` Will you at to the lowest degree teach me occlumency ? I ca n't use that to fight. ``

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


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


The marauders had to run Harry again that evening. He had disappeared before dinner and was nowhere to be seen. The margin Mary Augusta Arnold Ward had n't been tripped but with Harry that meant next to nothing. They found him in a disused stairway, sitting in the rainbow blur of a varnished glass windowpane. With the Inner Light mottling his skin like some jungle cat the predator hesitated to approach him.

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

'' Not hungry. ``

'' What were you doing ? ``

'' mendicancy. Again. '' Harry let out a jumpy, sick, laugh. `` full-of-the-moon traffic circle. ``

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

'' Not money. '' Harry was still looking up into the light. `` I 've spent the evening beggary rescript members, aurors ... everyone really, to teach me to fight. barren of my meter ... '' Harry trailed off shaking his head.

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

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

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

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

'' Well ... maybe you could ask whoever they get to learn defence force this twelvemonth. '' Hermione suggested. `` Or maybe they 'll be really good any you wo n't sustain to. ``

'' You do n't get it ! '' Harry covered his aspect with his helping hand. `` It 's not just chucking around a duad of looker. None of you have seen a substantial magician affaire d'honneur, not proper dueling. Not like what Voldermort 's equal to of. Not like what I 'll let to be capable of if I want to resist a chance at winning. None of you have seen it. ``

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

'' Of trend, I saw ... him ... duel with ... '' Harry paused for a minute, then a fraction of a sparkle lit the box of his eye. `` With him. Maybe ... ''

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

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

'' Yes your poor over-traveled and long-suffering boo has found my owlery. '' Malfoy rolled his eyes. `` 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 home. ``
*


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

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

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

'' Should exercise shields too. '' Harry switched the oranges to both workforce then quickly back to his right.

'' Great ... salutary ... wonderful. ``

'' Let 's go then. '' Harry pocketed the fruit and led the confused marauders, and Malfoy, from the way. As Harry pushed the door open he pulled up short. Lupin was frozen in front line of him, his paw raised to reach for the door. His smile had frozen and dropped into the scowl he always wore on seeing Harry.

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

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

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

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

'' Before what ? ``

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

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


This was n't the close Harry heard about it though. Lupin lived in the home, they bumped into each other all the time. Each time Harry was met by the same festering hatred. It was kind of disconcerting. Eventually Harry learned lupine 's routine and managed to mostly rest out of his way. Of trend it helped that he spent at least ten hours a day in the evacuate cellar, sometimes with the piranha, sometimes with genus Draco, sometimes alone. Each day when Harry finally dropped himself into an icy bath to solace his spite frame he felt a sort of fiery satisfaction.

He was getting better !

He could beat any of the marauder one on one, even the twins. Dragon was better, at the first he had beaten Harry a lot. fountainhead, no ... at the very start Harry had won. Then Harry had raged at the blond and forced him to really cut loose and use some of the awful dark magic his father had taught him. With those tour in his arsenal Draco had been winning, but Harry was clawing back. He was getting better, there was no denying that. Every pounding bruise, every break of the day waking up aching was a victory because he was getting better. And that was n't even considering his former toys.

Harry shifted his understructure to perch on the top of a reddish brown desk in the house subroutine library ( there was some secure stuff here, more than enchantment to act as with ) when the door creaked open.

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


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

'' The man 's guide to good and efficient application of annoyance. '' Harry read calmly off the cover of the book.

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

'' Never knew there were so many habit for a horseback riding crop. '' Harry folded the page down and looked up at her. `` How are you doing ? Order keeping you busy ? ``

'' Oh definitely. '' Tonks ran a handwriting 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, solution '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 have to instruct or talk or anything just a friendly affaire d'honneur ? ``

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

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

'' Sorry Harry. ``

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

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

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

'' Remus Lupin. ``

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

'' Do you know what 's wrong with him ? '' Tonks pulled a stool and sat on the early position of the desk. From this angle Harry resembled a very appraising interviewer. His beaten and fray steel-capped boot up on one position of the desk and a Brobdingnagian agglomerate of suspicious books on the other. In between he was regarding her piercingly over his wire glasses.

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

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

'' Big thing to dismiss. '' Harry interrupted her. `` The fact that he 's a loup-garou. ``

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

'' They are in my experience. ``

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

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

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

'' I 'm sorry Tonks, '' Harry held up his men. `` I know what you 're trying to say. But I 've only ever met one loup-garou who has n't tried to drink down me and even he sometimes acts like he wants to. excuse me for not having a neat opinion of the species. When I meet a lycanthrope who does n't act like the ogre they are inside maybe I 'll cerebrate differently. Until then I think my hatred is justified. '' Harry interpreter was obdurate and sharp, and more than a small scary.

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

'' Occupational hazard. '' Harry smiled sadly, then shook it off and grinned. `` Sorry, we seem to get gotten sidetracked into a part moment. What was the original interrogative ? ``

'' Remus ... or Professor lupine. Before you came here he was ... different. ``

'' I 've heard. ``

'' He was really funny. ``

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

'' He had lots of these stories about what he did when he was Thomas Young. ``

'' Chase milkmen ? ``

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

'' I was aware. '' Harry sighed heavily. `` Sorry Tonks, I do n't think I can serve you much. He 's always been like this around me. The others tell me he was dissimilar 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 distinguish me. '' Tonks looked at the flooring. When she had asked him he had just turned and left the room in the middle of her enquiry. He had n't spoken to her for Day. `` I thought you might know, or at least have a guess. ``

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

'' That does n't voice like lupin. ``

'' Not the lupin you know. '' Harry shrugged. `` If nix else I 'll be gone in another hebdomad. He should be back to normal after that. You should make your big fluffy, mirthful lupine back. ``

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

'' Stay secure Tonks. '' Harry flicked his Christian Bible back open.

'' You too Harry. ``
*


The marauders did n't call for the train to Hogwarts that class. They were flued into Hogsmeade under an order safety device. As they walked up the long road to the castle Ginny fell back to where Harry was walking.

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

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

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

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

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

When they walked in the spread had already started. The piranha were forced to bump a clear subdivision of table with the all dormitory murmuration and pointing.

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

'' Lots of parents decided to go along their nestling home this year. '' Anapurna said sadly. `` Our parents almost did but well ... ''

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

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

'' goose egg ! '' Came the shouted response. The marauders collectively shrugged, except for Harry who just smiled faintly.

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

'' Students ! '' Dumbledore stood. The hall quieted down. `` I have a few announcements to form. Firstly, as you may make realized, some of your classmates have decided not to unite us. This is of form 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 Sun Myung Moon, the dark lord has returned. I wish to hit both that and this following fact perfectly clear. He can not hurt you here. Behind the walls of Hogwarts you are safe. Thirdly, and about happily, we have a new defense teacher. One that, I am surely you will all revel learning from. So I would ask round you to join me in saying welcome, or more correctly welcome back, to Professor M- ''

'' Yes ! Your petition have been answered ! '' The huge room access to the peachy Asaph Hall boomed open. `` I am, thanks to massive public need, dorsum ! ``

'' It 's him ! ``

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

'' Yes ! ``

'' Yes ! ``

'' Horray ! ``

'' Yes, yes thank you ! '' The muscled human body lapped up the kudos, grinning from one side of his face to the other. He was the same as ever, maybe his hair was a little shorter, his tan a little deeper, his arms more scarred, his legs clad in denim instead of leather and his Stetson replaced with a fold up hanky. But it was him, manifest and in the flesh.

'' I 'm back in the land ! book binding in activity ! Back in print ! The one, the alone MARKUS TRIPPLE M Albert Michelson ! '' The blonde colossus punched the air and the hall jumped to their feet in cheerfulness. `` But delight ... cry me Maximus. No no postponement ... call me professor Maximus. ``
*


Harry dropped out of his windowpane that night after everyone had eventually gone to sleep and made his way down to the rooftops. Finding Michelson 's place was well-situated, the light was still guttering from the crack cocaine under the doorway. Harry knocked calmly, a moment later the room access opened.

'' Was wondering if I 'd see you this night Pipsqueak. ``

'' wellspring I had to greet the new prof. '' Harry stepped into the authority, it was already all set out. It looked almost exactly the Lapp as it had three class ago, with one or two gain. Harry leant to look at a shifting wizard depiction. It showed a vast bunch of people, all but one of them looking African, standing in dustup like a school photo. Sticking out like a sore ovolo was Markus Michelson in the third row, grinning and jerking his ovolo at the thing behind them. Even lying on it 's side it towered over even Markus, spotted and studded with spears and burn scrape it looked like a ...

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

'' postulate it down with lone lxxx six people. '' Michelson nodded smugly. `` New populace phonograph recording. I got the tail. ``

'' Nice. '' Harry grinned. `` Have you been in Africa the completely meter ? ``

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

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

'' You saved my lifespan once. '' Markus clapped Harry on the articulatio humeri, severely buffeting him. `` chum at arms remember. And besides, I like Hogwarts. ``

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

'' Did n't fare 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 get across me up in bubble wrap. Want 's to proceed me good and out of danger. ``

'' Big men like us attract danger. '' Markus said definitely. `` just way to be safe is to live how to look after yourself, and you 're hardly a child. Not after what you 've been through. ``

'' My thoughts exactly. ``

'' Well in that geartrain of persuasion. '' Markus drew his long baton. `` When do you require to start ? How 's now ? ``

'' Now ? '' Harry flicked his verge out of his sleeve. `` Now 's soundly. ``



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


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



"Mr Potter."

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

"No Mr Potter, I would not."

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

"Mr Potter where were you endure Nox ?"

"I assume in bed."Harry replied calmly.

"wealthy person you forgotten Harry ?"Dumbledore's part was flat and a come to threatening."I have direction of telling where you are in Hogwarts. You were not in Hogwarts for much of last night, you were only in your bed from around one in the morning."

shucks it. Harry tried not to scratch the armguard on his wrist. He had been so hoping the evilness 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 ceramist !"The whole school was watching now in rapt attention.

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

"I dislike being kept in the dark."

"Then set up to suffer."Harry said darkly."I ‘ ve been kept dark for twelvemonth by you. It ‘ s time you reaped what you arrogantly and unthinkingly sowed. Prepare to inhabit in the dark Professor. I hope you brought lanterns."With that Harry stood and walked from the Asaph Hall, with every eye following.
*


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

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

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

"What you guys too ?"Harry laughed and summoned a mug of coffee off a pile of Word of God."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 same time as Malfoy said,

"The room of requirements ?"

"The what of what ?"Harry shook his oral sex."Nah, just ... somewhere. Anyway looking at at this."Harry pointed down at the floor. On it there were a number of rectangles, some farsighted, some unretentive, some thin. It looked kind of familiar.

"It ‘ s the bookcases."Harry said proudly."In the elbow 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 eyeshot, he can ‘ t tell what trading floor we ‘ re on. So long as we don ‘ t cross the bookcases he ‘ ll think we ‘ re just in the depository library. So long as we ‘ re in curfew we can take aim in here without him knowing. Anyway, lets go to potions. Don ‘ t want Snape angry at us."

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

Harry paused for a present moment before answering ...

"Yes."

... and walking on out of the attic. The predator shared a hanker spirit and followed him.
*


Potions passed uneventfully. Harry split his time between the script on his human knee and the caldron in strawman of him meaning that his potion wasn't even near finished. but at least it didn't explode. appealingness was next and Harry didn't pain in the neck paying attention there either, though in this eccentric it was because he already knew how to founder object wings. He could make them swan extension if he wanted, or giant star Joseph Black leathery ones. When the object lesson was over Harry didn't even annoyance to address, he just gathered his stuff and rushed back to the attic. Ginny met them on the way.

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

"No."

"But I ‘ m athirst !"

"song Dobby."Harry shed his robe and stepped into the center of the tumid vacuous space."Malfoy, you first."

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

"Did I ?"Harry froze.

"well you ‘ re not using it."

"It ‘ s fine, It ‘ s my lead anyway."Harry shrugged and wiggled his digit as proof.."Must have fallen on it or something."

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

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

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

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

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

"Bloody hell !"Harry heard Fred yell at the Saami fourth dimension as his twin yelled,"Hornets !"

"Arg ! Ouch !"Harry felt bunko game on every piece of opened flesh. Burning all across his skin like a chemical fire. Another wizard would induce been overpowered by the botheration, but Harry had felt far far unfit."direct this ! Tempesto !"

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

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

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

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

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

"I guess."Harry smiled, knowing this plot. He kept a closely bag on his baton. delay for it ...

"Confringo !"

"Protego !"Harry's cuticle was up in flock of fourth dimension to close up the curse."Ha ! Nice-"Harry's shield shattered and he was lifted off his metrical foot as his pectus 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 press himself to his feet. His wand was gone, rolled across the floor away from him.

"tinker's dam it ! Damn it ! Stupid bloody shield !"

"Are you injured Harry ?"Malfoy called out.

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

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

"I ‘ ve read the theory. I ‘ ve read the original newspaper. I ‘ ve read the whole book."Harry grabbed his scepter off the story."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."

"fountainhead Voldemort won ‘ t use canonical spells !"Harry punched the storey 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 comfortably shield in the world. If you don ‘ t stratagem you ‘ re dead."

"Simplification."Harry waved the commentary away."Come on, we ‘ ve got meter for another duel before wight. Unless we skip it ..."

"We can ‘ t."Hermione said automatically.

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

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

"Both of us ?"

"Like, at the same fourth dimension ?"

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

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

"Neither ‘ s this."Harry blasted the floorboards by Ron's feet causing him to yelp like a pup."drawing card your bloody wands."

In the end they were glad for the outside setting of creatures, although they were the alone ones not wearing coats. Harry eased his ache left hired hand in a slow rophy, 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 US Army on unicorns was low to laughable so Harry lidded his eyes and dozed.
*


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

"Oh no."She whispered under her breath.

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

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

"Have you met Harry ?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

"You didn ‘ t write. The whole summer ! You didn ‘ t say goodbye 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 lady friend ? Are we arguing ? Are we breaking up or did you break up with me at the end of last year and just forget to secernate me ?"

"Susan ..."Harry glanced down, for the first of all fourth dimension in the conversation his stony masquerade slipped a pulse. But when he looked back up it was harder than ever."I don ‘ t have time for a girlfriend now, and I won ‘ t for a foresightful 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 textile of her gown. Staring into infinite. As the Gemini watched she sobbed wetly and drew a hired man across her eyes before running off towards the greenhouses, one arm shielding her cheek from any passers by.

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

"Cruel. Harsh. Cold. Evil."Padma finished for her.

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

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


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

"Well you ‘ re going to bloody listen anyway-"

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

Harry wasn't in chronicle of conjuration. No one expected him to be.
*


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

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

"He has a funny way of showing it."

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

"He ‘ s wrong !"Parvati insisted emotionally.

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


Snape was awakened in the middle of the nighttime by glowing silver light. One of the benefits of being an occlumens was tot mental control and Snape was awake in an instant. As his centre flickered out-of-doors he groaned inwardly, then thought better of it and groaned outwardly.

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

"seminal fluid to my federal agency immediately Severus. It is about Harry."

Snape was already out the doorway before the flatware bird disappeared. He shucked his gown on as he hurried down the corridor. Wait, why was he walking ? Was Harry's condom less important than not looking stupid. Snape broke into a run. The strait of his flapping feet filled the corridor as he hammered towards the headmaster's office.

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

"Severus welcome."The schoolmaster was sitting calmly at his desk."interpret this if you would."

Snape blinked in confusion for a moment, then noticed the paper on Dumbledore's desk. He stepped faithful and saw that it was an betimes copy of the vaticinator. This was the hand brake ? Perhaps he was missing something ?
slaying AFOOT

Dannion LeSang was found dead in his family this morning. A window of his penthouse apartment had been shattered, possibly so that the grampus could gain incoming. Once inside pitiful Mr LeSang was beaten horribly, with a blunt instrument, possibly a table leg. The aurors have cordoned off the domain and refused to discharge any detals but this reporter has discovered that his harm 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 Orcinus orca 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 differentiate quidditch career ...


Snape dropped the paper in disgust.

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

"Dannion LeSang was a known death eater."

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

"It was you."

"It was me."

"You do not mean his end is important ?"

"I do not think his Death involved Harry."

"No order member was involved."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"You understand I have trouble 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 fountainhead for you I recall. But come on, poison ? A toxin the ministry can ‘ t identify ? Honestly, do you think that ‘ s me ? You ‘ ve seen my potions marks."

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

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

Dumbledore leant back, meeting Harry 's eyes with his own flinty stare. For a long instant the old wizard and the Edward Young stared each former down across the tacit role. Snape could almost feel the sparking magic as the master tried to push Harry 's nous open. After a moment Harry snorted and said,

'' Whatever. '' Harry turned and pushed the door spread. `` Wake me if you have any former unsolved murders you want to pin on a whipping boy. ``

The two instructor stood without speaking as they heard Harry 's pace echoing away from the stairwell. Even after they had faded to nix it was a recollective fourth dimension before either of them spoke.

'' Do you conceive 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 ceramist. ``

Hmmm ...

'' Harry thrower ! ``

Hmmm ... sleepy.

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

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

'' Alright ok Mr ceramicist. You have driven me to this. '' There was silence for a few moments, then ... `` Sonorus. HARRY potter GET UP ! ``

Harry was buffeted by phone and slowly, blearily, rubbed his eyes. In social movement of him was a broken glassy dais. Harry reached forward and picked it up.

'' You broke my glass. '' Harry reached up to his brass to make sure his own spyglass were n't broken then drew his baton and repaired the champaign glass. He did n't even get it on what he was supposed to be turning it into, possibly some form of squid.

Why a calamari ?

We were dreaming about a squid.

That makes no sense.

Shut up.

I ca n't exclude up I 'm contribution of your brain.

I 'll lobotomize you.

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

She is looking variety of angry.

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

The glass schism along its top, flipped upside down and scuttled along the desk blowing flatulent bubbles out of a fleshy protrusion. Harry smiled,

'' See ! I did Ok. ''

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

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

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

'' I ... do n't acknowledge. ``

'' Would you hazard a surmise ? ``

'' Well ... '' Harry tried to gum together an account from his shaky knowledge of Hellenic. `` fountainhead Kalamaraki means squid ... and I think Krasi is some kind of vegetable ... ''

'' Harry ... ''

'' Yes ? ``

'' Go back to sleep. ``

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


Harry slipped into bed that night confident in the knowledge that he had got at least two hours sleep over the course of the day. He dozed with an alarm clock under pillow until it sounded and prompted him to shuck his mantle off and leant out of the window. He looked over towards the Headmaster 's tug, the twinkle was still on. Harry flicked a twosome of binoculars out of his bag and focused in on the faraway window. Dumbledore was staring into a wistful, the Ag light playing on his run along face. He looked tire out, very tired.

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

Harry slid out onto the bulwark and confidently let himself flow. The wind whistled thrillingly in his ears as the roofing tile rose up to meet him. A moment before he hit Harry felt a unsmooth tugging around his bureau and his terminus drop slowed to a creeping. His feet touched soil 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 trick, and landed lightly in social movement of a sink.

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

'' red cent ! Silencio. '' Harry caught it before it made too much interference and watched as the entree to the sleeping room of enigma was slowly revealed. Harry lowered himself into the tube and said, `` Cissycis. '' This time he got it 1st time and the entrance began closing up as Harry slid off down the chute.

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

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

'' Nicely done Pipsqueak. '' The prof clapped his huge hands. `` But you should receive aimed Sir Thomas More, that hex did n't have a opportunity of hitting me. ``

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

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

'' There was n't a great deal time. ``

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

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

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

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

'' Yes, win. ``

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

'' Not for me. Ewwyiky ! ``

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

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

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

"Incendio ! Reducto !"Harry aimed the start at Markus and the second at the ceiling far above him."Stupefy !"Harry blasted the spell into Makrus'face and didn't hold to see if it hit. Instead he aimed at a chunk of falling cap."Confringo !"And flung himself away as it detonated like a thunderbolt. He rolled on the story and came to his feet in time to fling the first three spells he could think off at the figure in the core of the expanding swarm of junk and fire.

The only admonition Harry got was a trice of red before the spell flashed from the cloud and hit him in the tum, throwing him to the floor.

"better even than that."Albert Michelson stepped out of the dust, not a hair out of stead."That was ripe though, inventive. Good trick with the rock 'n' roll, might have caught a lesser wizard. Again."

Harry forced himself to his fundament and raised his wand. This fourth dimension he lasted just a few seconds before a stunner blasted through his hastily raised shield and knocked his lights out. Familiar unconscious inkiness held him in it's comforting embrace for a few moments before Markus brought him back.

"That was not as good."

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

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

"Don ‘ t carapace ?"Harry laughed humorlessly."Just let hooey hit me ?"

"expression kid, you first take this spell three years ago."Markus explained."You ‘ ve had to use it lots of times since then. You ‘ ve practiced. You ‘ ve practiced a lot and it hasn ‘ t got any better. It ‘ s fair to wear 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 early things."Markus turned and walked back to his starting brand."You know plenty of other elbow room to draw a blank patch. Play to your strengths and use your prodigious imagination."

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

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

"Again."

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

"Again."

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

"Again."

... Floored with a punch ...

"Again !"

... paralysed ...

"Again !"

... stunned ...

"AGAIN !"

... shocked ...

"AGAIN !"

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

"Not with that attitude."

"I ‘ m sorry I brought you here."

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

"I thought I could get better."

"I think you can get better."

"whole worldly concern should just move over up."Harry held his point in his hands."I can ‘ t musical rhythm him."

"Who ? Voldemort ?"Markus Michelson threw up his hands."Well no ! I don ‘ t think I could beat him. I don ‘ t think Dumbledore could outfox him. He ‘ s one of the most powerful living wizards and has access to powers decent people don ‘ t touch. But if what you ‘ ve told me is true then you ‘ ve got ... what was it ?"

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

"Right. 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 good odds."Markus smiled and winked. Harry didn't laugh."But seriously, you can get word to duel. You already know enough to amaze any regular wizard hands down."

"Voldemort isn ‘ t a regular wi-"

"I know !"Markus interrupted him angrily."Which is why you need to discover 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 effective at."

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

"What. Are. You. Good. At ?"Michelson punctuated each word 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 safe at anything useful."

"Oh for pigeon hawk ‘ s rice beer ! Who are you ?"Markus leant down, his angrily pointing finger barely an inch from Harry's font."Where ‘ s the Harry I met three years ago ? I don ‘ t see him. Where the hell has he gone ? Where ‘ s the kid who walked this schooling like he owned the position and obeyed teachers on acceptance ? Where is that arrogant SOB because he ‘ s the one who can stick Voldemort ! Not the whiney brat he apparently became ! well I need him here now ! WHAT ARE YOU good AT !"

"I ... magic spell ?"Harry said, staring up at Michelson.

"Right."Michelson nodded."You ‘ re good at appealingness. You ‘ re excellent at charms. You ‘ re a bloody savant at charms. If I heard the rumour in the staff room right you built a professional quality broom 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 hand to his head and breathed out a long, play out breathing space."Let me try this a unlike way. You ‘ ve seen a lot of duels 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 ?"

"wellspring ... It's like ... you kind of wealthy person .... This is hard. Can I excuse it how I see in in my own caput ?"

"Of course."

"You have kind of three types."Harry gestured vaguely."There are the touchstone duellist, they throw smasher and hexes, heaps of shield charms too, and they seem to mostly fare out of the Hogwarts defending team course of study. Not that that makes them bad. Some are really good, but they all seem to use this one style. This one set of spells."

"Hmm ... and the adjacent type ?"

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

"And the last type ?"

"The masters."Harry shook his headland."I watched some affaire d'honneur on telecasting while I was traveling. Thought I could piece up some tips. almost of the dueller were group-ones, but some of them ... the best I ... they ‘ re not even in the same league. They move like they ‘ re artillery. They don ‘ t chuck sweetheart around, most of the sentence I couldn ‘ t even recognize the patch they were using. It wasn ‘ t dueling like I ‘ d ever seen. Except maybe when I saw you fight Tom Riddle, right here. That ‘ s the conflict I guess. That ‘ s the difference between duelists."

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

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

"You ‘ ve grasped one of the central concept of dueling. One of the things that make people grouping threes. The encyclopedism curve is huge, there ‘ s a point when you just get beyond everyone else. When you stop dueling with dueling spells and set forth dueling with everything. Do you know what the other divergence is ?"

"No."

"It's that we all have tricks."Albert Abraham Michelson winked."All the grouping threes. Some joke that makes us better, something that separates us from each early and from the I and twos."

"A ... trick ?"

"Look at Dumbledore, he uses transfiguration. By the end of a fight with Dumbledore you ‘ re not just fighting him, you ‘ re fighting the bulwark, threshold, ceiling and floor. Plus anything else he can twine into a moving, thinking arm against you. Voldemort ? Well he uses dark magic, plain and simple. You ‘ ve already realized that that gives a soul index beyond your science. And he already has plenteousness of skill. Me ? I use foreign spells, turn my enemy have never heard of. The close Book of a surprising number of my antagonist was ‘ What the hell is that ?'”

Harry chuckled, but Markus wasn't finished.

"Dee Finsbury, the current worldly concern friend duelist is also a champion visionary. Your own prof Flitwick dueled for England, you think he threw around sweetheart ? And you ? Well you can do charms. right wing ?"

"Yeah."Harry nodded."Yes."

"Say it."

"Yes I can do charms."

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

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

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

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

"Ardor-Algidus !"Harry yelled and stood his ground as the inferno passed over him. He caught a glimpse of Markus'shocked face as he emerged unscathed on the other side before he aimed and fired."Confringo ! Ferio ! Stubefy !"The surprise attempt forced the instructor onto the defensive attitude, shielding desperately. A moment later he brought up a polishing ash gray sphere. Harry's magical spell bounded off like pin tumbler off a sauteing pan, sending echo all over the huge bedchamber. Albert Abraham Michelson looked out appreciatively from the safety of the sphere.

"What was that Pipsqueak ?"

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

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

"sodomist !"Harry dived for covering fire as the shadows erupted with bowel movement. Giant leathery movement. Harry dashed behind a pillar as the chiropteran flung themselves through the air towards him. They were Brobdingnagian, wings at least a meter wide, with vast fangs."Incendio !"Harry waved a fiery swath through the chiropteran but more just materialized to replace them.

"Jupitall !"

Harry dived out of the way as a spinning orb of blood plasma burnt through the air where he'd been. Albert Abraham Michelson wasn't going easy on him just because he was officious with the bats. He couldn't contrivance forever, if he didn't clear the air he was dead.

"Depulso !"Harry yelled desperately, but the bat 's were too strong and Harry had to discombobulate himself against the wall to avoid another thrown piece from his antagonist. He needed a magic spell ... what appeal ? Wait ! Bats were like, sort of gargantuan hornets ... really."Tempesto !"

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

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

"Depulso !"Harry flicked his baton, spinning the ball of consistency back away from him and bowled it back to break against the Professors shield sphere. Harry wasn't going to let up now."Diffindo !"The spell scratched against the shield to no outcome, screeching like a fiddle."Reducto !"Albert Michelson wasn't even knocked backwards as shield once again absorbed the magical spell with a brassy note. Harry gripped his verge angrily, nothing he had could damp this sodding silver shield.

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

"Motus !"Harry aimed squarely at the center of the silver ball and twisted. It vibrated like a Vanessa Stephen and filled the bedchamber with ringing. Harry twisted further and the speech sound intensified. Inside his burp A. A. Michelson clutched his ears. Harry found the resonance and bend harder, the sound outside the shield 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 counterpunch. Harry kept up the onslaught in a rush of glee ! He was winning !

"KhaNDana !"

The bolt came from nowhere. Slicing out of the dark too fast for him to oppose. Harry was thrown to the primer, electric sparks raging down every artery and turning him into a scream battery of botheration. Harry felt his baton torn from his unresisting mitt and at utmost managed to blank is mind to the pain. He waited in the night for it to draw back. When he at final opened his eye Michelson was staring down at him. The huge sorcerer put his sceptre to first one ear then the other, muttering something, then whipped away the origin 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 area full moon of giant purplish bear ambuscade. Also full of bears. The bears will be able to nullify the bear yap, you will not.


I do n't own Harry thrower. Neither have I seen him recently. If you have any information as to his whereabouts please sound. He is out in the cold without any intellectual nourishment and we think his collar may have come off. He 's nigrify and white with black paws and he 's missing a petty bit of his ear. He also answers to the name of Scraps. He likes tuna.






Severus Snape landed lightly on the scrubland and looked about him. This would get been a monumentally desolate position if not for the distant brightness level of a muggle route in the vale far below. Snape walked over to the gathering of smutty dissemble figures standing near the edge of the cliff. Snape counted faces, Barty Crouch was still absent. What was the task that man had been set ? It disturbed Snape greatly that he did not know. It made him wonder if perhaps others of the dark figures did, if perhaps he was missing something.

One chassis was apart from the others, right at the sharpness. The digit stood with his back to them, his long robes streaming out to the side of meat in the rough dark fart. He seemed to be looking down at the road, and at the further brightness level of a town.

Like a falcon, Snape realized, or a waiting mortarboard. Sitting and surveying it 's feed before swooping down and clutching one up in its talons. The wand in the security guard 's handwriting twitched as if thinking of raining fervor and pain down on those beneath him. The twitch subsided. Thank god.

'' Severus. '' The dark Almighty turned at finally from the cliff. `` You have come at survive. I was forced to hold back. I dislike waiting. ``

'' My apologies Lord. '' Snape bowed deeply. `` I could not arouse suspicion about why I was going. I was forced to sacrifice velocity for safety. I am sorry. ``

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

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

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

'' No my lord. They continue to ward the section of secret, Dumbledore still fears to motivate. Nothing has changed. ``

'' Well, '' The darkness Godhead smiled thinly. `` That at least is dependable news. ``

He does not get laid where I was. Snape kept his human face perfectly unemotional. He suspects ... he strongly suspects but he does not know. He values me, he values me as a spy in the order. That is why I am still alive, because on the of-chance that I have not betrayed him I am valuable. He will vote out me. He will 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 have to deliver him. Again."

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

"Dear Barty is none of your concern."The night Godhead replied, in the conversational tonus that was so much unsound than anger."His labor is going well. Is yours Severus ?"

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

"I dislike nonstarter Severus."

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

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

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

'' On to the meeting, we began without you Severus. I hope you don ‘ t judgement. '' The wickedness Creator turned back towards the drop-off and Snape had to strain to try him over the wind. `` We were discussing an assassination. ``

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

'' No. '' The dark overlord cut him off. `` Not poison. I intend her dying to be more graphic than that. An case. ``

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

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

'' Yes. '' No god no. `` She is an parliamentary law phallus. ``

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

'' I did my Godhead. '' I begged her not to bring in me state him. She said it would n't matter. Nothing connected them. `` If I may ask, why have you decided she must die. ``

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

'' I agree my God 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 people equally desirable of demise. ``

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

'' Of track not my lord. She is the kid of bad blood, of course she must be killed. '' Snape bowed and stepped backward. `` I will make sealed that Dumbledore and the other ordering fellow member at Hogwarts are distracted. ``

'' That will not be necessity Severus. We have already cut all communication to Mrs Zhao 's abode. I have also deployed dementors to bug any substance sent by patronus. No messages can strain her. From anyone. ``

'' Most prudent my noble. '' Snape nodded, furiously trying to roil his nous and regain some result to the trouble. He could not think, it was as if gruesome tendrils and unchewable lightlessness 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 night ? No errands to run ? '' The night Lord 's oral fissure quirked. `` No midnight strolls ? ``

'' No my Maker. ``

'' Good. '' Voldemort 's eyes narrowed. `` Because I shall live Severus. I shall lie with. ``
*


Snape walked calmly along the long course to the capital room access of Hogwarts using all the force of will he had not to break into a run. The watchers were no doubt already in place, at the boundary of the forest beyond the wards. As were the aggressor probably, in his nous he could already see them apparating into the glowering streets around Natalie 's flat. 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 doorway 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 blaze was n't waiting for the staircase this time.

'' Acellelero ! '' Snape clung to the telephone exchange pillar as the staircase rocketed upwards and came to a screeching halt at the top. Snape threw the door exposed, startling the Headmaster.

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

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

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

Snape growled and choked out a curt account of what had happened. At the end Dumbledore dropped down into his place and escape from his head.

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

'' Not if we move now ! ``

'' To move confirms his mistrust of you. And it would do no commodity. The citizenry watching you no doubt have order to kill you if you try to leave. No message can reach her. Yes, yes he had truly outmaneuver us. ``

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

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

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

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

'' Passing means the last of Natalie ! ``

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

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

'' Think of how many masses your information saved in the concluding war. Countless lives. ``

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

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

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


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

Natalie burrowed deeper into her pillow and closed her center. The earth was falling apart, not even ambition could provide respite for long.

A floorboard creaking.

Natalie 's optic flickered open in a import. Was it just her neighbour downstairs ? She reached for her wand and silently checked her cellblock. She hissed as she realized they were in shred and rolled off the bed. Her script moved towards the light shift then thought better of it, it might let them recognise 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 work. No, they had a ward up. They would induce blocked the flue as well. The alone way she was getting out was through the front door, which meant through them.

They would suss out the rooms along the Radclyffe Hall first, she perhaps had a minute.
*


Drum lemon yellow had never pretended to be an intelligent man, just a utilitarian one. He was useful say, when someone had n't paid their debts in time and natural action needed to be taken. He had been locked up for being utilitarian in the wrong blank space at the wrong time, set free eventually, suit 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 goodness. Until the wickedness Creator had given him a second chance. A chance to repay society again, to be useful again. He was only half blood but he had just enough brains to never refer that to anyone. When the nighttime Godhead had explained what needed to be done to this bint he had stepped forward instantly. It was mighty up his back street, he might even earn the print if he succeeded. Then he 'd really be set.

He touched the doorway ignition lock with his ovolo. Warded, what else ? He turned and pointed into the rabble behind him at a hunch figure, then pointed back at the doorway. The man shuffled forward, he had been a damn good curse surf until he was caught skimming a cut off the top. He was just favorable the ministry caught him before the goblin did.

membranophone waited in silence as the diminutive man clicked and hummed in straw man of the door. A few minute later the condemnation breaker pushed the door undetermined. drumfish stepped into the flat and looked around professionally. It was set out fairly regular. Kitchen that way ... empty. Drum waved two guys towards the endorse room and ignored it. This topographic point was like a catalogue, everything was in its place except for the Holy Writ and papers strewn across the coffee table. Well, that and the three aquariums near the back. Not full-of-the-moon of water. Some variety of reptile. Some sorting of incense in the air, some new age garbage.

Drum shrugged, not an issue. The chamber would either be at the end of the second door down on the left. That was how these edifice were built. barrel stepped down the corridor and pushed the door on the left open. boxful. Down the hall then. He looked behind him, the other felon were hanging back. Pathetic. The dark lord had grabbed everyone who would stand up straight with no paying attention for experience. Not that he was criticizing, at least he would get full credit for the kill.

tympan breathed in deeply. Smelled like vanilla, it was very strong. someone had once told him that look was the warm trigger for memory board. He certainly remembered that muggle girl every time he smelled cut grass. Perhaps from now on vanilla would echo in his head, reminding him of Natalie Zhao. The adult female who made him the favored bravo of the blue lord.

He made his way towards the last door. He raised his wand, fumbled it and caught it again. He shook his foreland. Had to stay concentrate. He reached the threshold and pushed it subject. Darkness, he stepped up to the bed. He had n't used the killing curse before, but he had no question he could make it work. He raised his wand, aiming at the lump in the covers. His scepter was shaking, he grabbed it with both deal. What was wrong with him ? barrel shook his headway, the baton was still shaking.

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

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

'' You did n't shut down it. '' membranophone looked up, his eyes already drooping. The girl was standing there, arms crossed.

'' Doped us. '' drum mumbled through numb lips. `` Incense ... Vanilla ... ``

'' How many Sir Thomas More of you are there ? '' The girl demanded.

Wo n't evidence you you bitch.

'' 20 ? ``

What !

'' Where are there ? ``

Ice cold cunt queen.

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

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

'' I can try. ``
*


Natalie stunned the swarthy wizard and pushed his eubstance in front of the threshold. How yearn before the others checked on him ?

The door handle rattled. That long.

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

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

"Cruci-"

Natalie whirled on the caster. No time for magic spell, she found his heart, pushed in like a obelisk and found the off switching in his mentality. He folded like a creature with the strings cut. She heard a yell behind her and protegoed so harshly that the round edges of her shield forced the bulwark out like crumpling newspaper. She turned and saw the hooded man dodging his own while and threw her own, striking him in the chest.

That was the I in the monotonic done.

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

She threw herself to the position. They must throw been shooting from the other edifice outside. Aiming blind through the pall. Aiming at her. Well that put climbing out the window out of the picture. She crouched and made her way towards the stairwell. She glanced between the slats and pulled her nous back as a commons flash obliterated the wooden banisters where she had been.

clip to start surprise them.

Natalie aimed at out into the middle of the stairway. A flicker of her scepter and a ball of glowing light appeared. Another picture show and a turbinate fishgig of sparks shot down the steps like a rogue firework. She twisted and the ball dropped slowly, like a balloon, spitting exploding spears in every centering 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 dodge the multi-fire. Natalie had to pass over over a man lying prone on the second floor, a victim of the fireworks. A spell shattered the tiles near her shoulder and she threw up a shell against the next one. Where were they coming from ?

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

There were still ten men outside. Natalie reached the ground level and took a deep intimation. They would be spread out all around her building to stop her escaping. What was her unspoilt bet to hold up ? The backrest entranceway ? It led onto an alley, loose for them to block or watch. The figurehead was no doubt a deathtrap, she'd be hit from every side before she got two steps. There was a background floor windowpane out into the car park ... hotshot tended to dismiss elevator car. She didn't have one but surely some combining of go could convert one to initiate. It was her best shot.

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

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

Bad estimate. Natalie turned and looked up into the pocked face above her. Into his eyes ... He fell with a cloggy, rag-doll thumping and Natalie grabbed his wand.

"Ere what was that ?"

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

"She ‘ s ‘ ere ! She got Poxx !"

Natalie heard more running foot and tried to slink away along the edge of the bulwark. She reached the corner, no where to go. If she tried to make for the exit they'd see her for certain. She pushed at the apparation ward again but it was no good. They had extended it beyond the building itself. How far would they stimulate pulled it ? To cover the whole block would cause been impossible. Could she just run for the edge ?

They were searching the lot. They were getting closer. Natalie looked up under the nigh car. At least five pairs of feet within light visual sense. The entrance was close, she might wee-wee it. With a distraction.

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

"What the damn ‘ ell is that !"

Natalie stood and ran. They were looking the other way, she could make it. She blazed out of the car green and made for the end of the street, all the piece pushing against the apparation barrier. A charm pin-wheeled over her principal 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 Aaron Montgomery Ward as pace surrounded her. It wouldn't John Donald Budge, she knew it wouldn't.

"Now missy twist circle nice and slow."She rolled over and tried to play the man standing in presence of her's eyes."Nah, don ‘ t try any of that."He broke eye contact and started openly staring at her chest.

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

"I assume your overlord will put up that."Natalie said, her eyes desperately flicking around for a way out.

"I was thinking you might."The front man sneered and the others drew in closer. Natalie could see the greed of days in prison flickering bright in their eyes."Actually I was thinking you ‘ re gon na. Seeing as you don ‘ t have a ch ... ch ... aa ... oh."The man raised his hired man to his mouth, there was a trickle of rake coming out of the quoin. His eyebrow knitted in discombobulation as he fell to the floor. His fellows stared at him. After a silent 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. He ‘ s dead. He- Aaa !"The neck of the kneeling man exploded, showering them with blood. The outlaw jumped back in seismic disturbance. Natalie grabbed her baton and threw herself backwards, rolling as she hit the land. She had stunned one of the wizards while they were still in shock and had turned her scepter on another when her mystery savior revealed himself. She had to pass on it to him, he knew how to make an entrance.

He dropped from the top of another construction, his robe billowing behind him as he fell straight into the middle of the thaumaturgist. He landed on one of them and rolled, a dark shape in his hand coming up. Another criminal was thrown back and landed wetly on the floor. The warrior looked up at her but she couldn't enamor his face in the night. He nodded to her. She nodded back, and they turned on the quietus of the bastards.

It was the foreign conflict Natalie had ever been involved in. Strange for it's silence. Whatever weapon the foreign man was using it made no sound as it fired and she tended to shake off non verbally. The felon yelled their spells but they were in such disarray they were mostly throwing despairing stunners at each early. Other than those there was only the strait of stride, rapid-fire like a dance, and the occasional spray of blood. A silent conflict at midnight, underneath stuttering streetlamps. Natalie's breath was hot in her capitulum by the time it was over. She turned to her rescuer, he was dumping what was now obviously a silenciod pistol in his bag.

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

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

"Ha ... Harry ?"

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

"Why ?"

"well, long level short you ‘ re still wearing a nightie and the ground you were just rolling around on is quite damp."

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

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


Carting bodies up to her two-dimensional had been a surreal experience. She had healed the ones that could be healed before stunning them into a coma. In the end they had two piles, sixteen live and four dead. She did n't doubt that without wizard medicine the count would have been a lot higher.

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

"Do you have any biscuits ?"

"What ?"

"I missed dinner."

"Oh ... yes. In that cupboard."Natalie pointed and the bleak robed boy grabbed them before coming back and sitting beside her on the couch. She looked over at him. He looked honest-to-goodness than when she had last seen him. lots honest-to-god."You saved my life."

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

"You shot them."Natalie's thought's were still a small disassociate and she was trying to fill in the musical composition."With a gun."

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

Natalie decided not to comment, instead she asked.

"How did you even know to come here ?"

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

Natalie listened in shock as Harry briefly explained a conversation that had apparently taken shoes between Severus and Dumbledore former 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 rampart, climbed it soft, the hospital ward doesn ‘ t keep in human beings. Legged it to Hogsmeade and broke into a cottage to use the flue. I didn ‘ t want anyone to get laid I ‘ d gone through there, that was why I didn ‘ t use one of the pubs."

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

"Dumbledore was right."

"What ?"

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

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

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

"Snape fling and you can hole out up at chez Malfoy. One job, They ‘ ll commend the truth."Harry pointed out, jabbing a thumb towards the outlaw."Voldemort ‘ ll discover 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 sound off the sideboard."Goldie will be able to help oneself with that."

"Voldemort ‘ s good at Legillimancy."

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

"delay a minute ..."Harry's brow furrowed."You ‘ re phone is working ?"

"Of course."

"So why did I just die out of school and go the length of the country to save up you ?"Harry threw his custody up."Couldn ‘ t Snape have just called you ?"

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

"Eew !"Harry cringed back."mental image ! All damage !"

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

"You sure ?"

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

"Yeah ?"

"Thank you."

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

"And Happy Halloween."

"Allhallows Eve ?"Harry glanced over at the clock, seeing that it was after 12."Oh yeah, felicitous Halloween."
*


Harry didn't try to reenter Hogwarts that night. Too a great deal jeopardy of being seen by one of the watchers. Instead he dozed on a bench and slipped back in around daybreak. He attended breakfast purely to secure coffee berry in large amount and managed to get through his first few lessons somehow. During lunch break he dragged his sleepy form down to the dungeons and found the flop office. He pushed the threshold open without knocking.

"What is the import of thi ... Potter."Snape deflated, his face going soft."Natalie told me. I can not begin to give thanks 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 base touched the storey he knew it was a aspiration. Before him the cottage at Godrics hole rose above his headway. Looking so ... normal. naught to speak to it's momentous importance. It could have been any one of yard of theater, there were others that could be its twin dotted down the street. naught particular, and yet it repelled him.

Harry felt his skin crawl. The house was ... amiss ... somehow. Harry turned and dashed down the street, passing Tree and hedge. He dashed with no attention and caught his foot on a paving stone, sending him sprawling to the floor. As he got to his feet he felt grass under his invertebrate foot. He was back on the front lawn. The cottage was right field in battlefront of him.

He could see the river in his ears, raging in the distance. Harry scratched at his hide, it was all wrong. Harry felt nausea grow in the pit of his breadbasket. Oh waiting ... that wasn't portion of the dream.

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


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

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

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

'' I said I 'm OK. '' Harry jerked the threshold overt, the black base under his eyes even more seeable than usual against his green and unwell skin.

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

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

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

"I SAID I ‘ M fine !"Harry whirled on his Ron."I was throw up. For some reason. 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 girls should be bringing some remnant when we go to creatures."

"well then let ‘ s go to creatures. I ‘ m hungry."Harry threw his bag over his shoulder and made for the threshold, his forefront drooping.

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

More eternal sleep, and more bruise-remover.
*


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

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

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

"You can already summon an elephant."Harry dropped his bag on the mesa."skip the adjacent few lessons."

"The rest 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 pointlessness of being taught what we already know."Harry stepped into the middle of the Attic."Alright, this time everyone except Draco. All of the marauders."

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

"I'm surely, I ‘ m mulct. Nothing a short exercise won ‘ t cure."Harry shed his robe as the marauder drew into a band around him. Ginny could see Malfoy settling down to watch, like it was a bloody show.

"Ready."Padma called out.

"Don ‘ t ask me if I ‘ m prepare. Never ask me if I ‘ m ready. Never warn me just bloody hit me."

"Stubefy !"Ginny threw out her wand but Harry was already moving, sliding under her shot like a snake. His wand came up towards her. She shielded, Harry flicked to the side and Neville went down in a flash of red light.

The Twin jumped forward like mirrors of each other but a glossy beam clicked between them and slammed them together like conkers. Harry whirled like a terpsichorean and a veil of smoke surrounded him. The marauder began firing into the cloud, thrifty not to hit each other as the stunners flew out the other side. The marauders slowed and eventually stopped.

"Do you opine we got him ?"Ron asked shakily.

"Should have counted the stunners."Padma muttered."Did anyone see if one didn ‘ t come out ?"

Padma's enquiry was answered as her wand was jerked out of her manus and flew into the pitch blackness. An array of ravisher followed it. All came back out.

"Screw this."Ginny waved her wand."Depulso smoke."The black swarm flew away and dissipated into the dusty air. Revealing nothing. The floor was empty.

"Where the Scheol is-"Ginny felt a weight smash her shoulders and a stabbing pain. As she collapsed she saw boots flash in front of her font and red sparkle flashing all around. Her shoulder was like a burning knife.

"grip !"Someone yelled."I said hold !"

The flashing lights stopped and she felt strong hands rolling her over carefully. Malfoy's face 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 count away, her eyes squeezed shut. Her arm was hanging like a musical composition of heart, hanging off her berm. The marauders began crowding around. Ginny found Harry's eyes, he was unreadable. As always. His eye didn't emote, didn't give anything away. They just looked like ... eyes.

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

"No."Draco shook his nous."Two marauders, one injured, leads back to Harry. I ‘ ll take her. We can drop dead it off as an inter-house thing."genus Draco put his arm under her good berm and lifted her gently, carrying her away.
*


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

"Yes."Harry idly woke Neville from his piece induced stupor."And if she was a end feeder I ‘ d have broken his shoulder."

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

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

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

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

"You could have really hurt her."Parvati said softly.

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

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

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

The marauders jumped back. The shadows in the bonce made Harry's fount a freakish mask. He was shaking like a leaf, breathing hard.

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

"Harry ..."Hermione reached forward.

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

"You, you want to go correct back into a fight ?"Hermione asked, her part 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 breadbasket. She made no drive to catch it.

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

"seed on !"Harry clapped like some insane sports autobus."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 gild like you seem to call up ! pull in up your psyche Harry, are we your friends or are we your ... your ground forces !"

"You giving me the choice."Harry stepped up right into Hermione's face."You giving me that choice. I have a dark ace after me that I ‘ m fated to fight. I have the greatest, no scrape that, the two heavy wizards in the human beings hating me. One trying to vote down me. One trying to keep me a prisoner. I have everything against me. So I choose a bloody US Army.'Cos I need a crashing army. And if you can ‘ t be that then to hell with you."

Harry turned, and disappeared out the door.
*


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

They went to lesson, walked, went to meal. But Harry was never with them. He still attended lecture to hold the teachers off his back, but every other moment seemed to be spent in that attic. Plus wherever he snuck out to at night.

genus Draco was with him sometimes, walking silently behind him along the corridor. Visible bruising made it unclutter that he hadn't stopped helping Harry. Ginny caught him alone one morning time and confronted him.

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

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

"He ‘ s killing himself with all this."Ginny pleaded, looking into Draco's eyes. At to the lowest degree there was some emotion there, even if it mostly seemed to be regret."You realize that don ‘ t you ? You ‘ re not helping him hold out. You ‘ re helping him self destruct."

"With anyone else I ‘ d agree with you."Draco looked away."But here we know what ‘ s coming. You know. There ‘ s no way we can keep him out of Voldemort ‘ s path. There's no keeping him rubber you understand, the divination ensures that. He will present Voldemort. He will defend him. So a piffling ego demolition now is worth it if he survives that face-off. Wouldn't you say Ginerva ?"

"Don ‘ t tour this on me."Ginny shook her fountainhead."And don ‘ t try to cook what you ‘ re doing any sort of Lord. It ‘ s not."

"Of course I ‘ m noble. I ‘ m a Malfoy."Dragon hung his straits, then looked up to meet her eyes. Regret was back, regret was definitely back."Look Ginerva I know everything you ‘ re saying is true. But I don ‘ t know how else to help him. I don ‘ t how to help oneself him at all. Do you ?"

"I ... no."

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

And exterior Hogwarts the wizarding globe slowly fell to objet d'art. As Christmas crawled closer and the night grew thirster there was no joy among the magical peoples. It just intend there were More dark hours for the death eaters to hunt in. One night a iniquity mug was raised right in the heart of Manchester. The authorities passed it off as a hot air balloon. The ace in the country did n't accept to be explained away, the ministry just had to scavenge up after. When they even bothered to do that.

contrary to popular belief the dark-skinned hour is not before dawn. It 's in the heart of the blooming night.
*


Harry closed the prophet with a heavy suspiration and dropped it on the terra firma beside him. Things were only getting worse out there. The order was n't doing anything, big surprise there. Barty Crouch was still missing from death eater encounter, apparently with Voldemort's full support. The dark creatures ? No one knew a thing about them.

No one seemed to make out anything.

Harry stretched his branch out and felt the ripples of the lake against his bare pelt, sending back ripples of horripilation to oppose. Not all to do with the cold. It was undecomposed though. He should make sure he could pull off weewee if he had to. Might have to fight down in it one day.

'' A morose state of affairs. ``

Harry tensed as the voice came from behind him and spun, baton outstretched. There was a pattern standing there, looking out over the water. He looked old, LXX maybe. Bald definitely, and not a hair in his fiddling great mustache was anything other than white. He looked like a retired instructor More than anything else, one of the old school I. He even had the patched tweed jacket.

Oh god was that a pipework in his air hole ?

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

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

'' Oh come on. '' Harry chuckled and shook his head. `` trinity things : One, I do n't drink tea. I drink coffee, in large quantities. Two : You do n't give birth any tea. Three : Even if you had a flask I would n't be able to drink it. '' Harry reached out and waved his hand directly through the old mans leg. It passed through without even a tingle.

'' Very serious Mr Potter. '' The old man sat down cross legged adjacent to him. `` How could you tell ? ``

'' There are sealed house. '' And I 'm certainly not telling him them. `` Who the pit are you ? ``

'' My epithet is James. '' Harry stiffened at those words. The old man laughed. `` No not that Henry James. Honestly Mr Potter there are more than multitude called King James I in this world than your father. ``

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

'' I 've never seen a indigence to hold in my first name. One of the benefit of having a Nice traditional epithet like Epistle of James or John or Harry. '' James smiled and took a little ottoman on his pipe. `` Of track if you wish to know my go name we shall have a job. ``

'' I do n't sacrifice a crap what your last name is. '' Harry shrugged. `` How are you doing this ? Some sort of head game ? ``

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

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

'' Very safe Mr Pott- ''

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

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

'' Is he from the ministry of zany names ? ``

'' How droll. '' King James pulled a man of paper from his jacket and held it out for Harry to see. Harry grabbed a art object of lambskin out of his bag to jot down the address then took a piddling more than prison term reading the rest of the profile.

'' Half blood, respected member of the Wizengamot, respecter writer, married to a muggle, point-blank critic of the electric current minister. Two kids at Hogwarts. His final book was a have it off report, between a pure blood and a muggle. '' Harry laughed wryly. `` Jesus, did someone just train a big firearm of play-doh and model it into a target for the dying eaters ? ``

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

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

'' I know he is. '' James tapped a date on the theme. `` Tomorrow dark. ``

'' Oh come on. ``

'' He has been repeated warned but he refused to take on a protective detail. He says it would impinge on his privateness. dopy And he will die for it. A dearest family man is going to die if you do n't save him. ``

'' Bull. You save him. You obviously have resource. ``

'' I, or more accurately the radical I represent. Do have the resources. '' St. James the Apostle smiled. Harry did n't like that smile, it had Weird profundity. James I continued, `` Our organization also dislikes Voldemort. He is troublesome to our work. But unfortunately for Mr bread maker, Voldemort is only an provocation to us therefore it is not worth enough to us to save him. We do not move in the same traffic circle as Voldemort you see, so he does not give us too much trouble. We would favor if he were gone though. It would make up things easy. ``

'' So help him. ``

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

'' appearance off. '' Harry murmured.

Of course he realized it could be a bunker. In fact it almost certainly was a trap. Harry considered. Except that Conterrando Baker was a real person. The tale, after a little checking of back vaticinator progeny, checked out. Harry even found the nestling in Ginny 's year. Hufflepuffs, twins, nice in a kind of boring Hufflepuff kind of way. Both extremity of the gobstones club. Both with significantly less silly name calling than their father.

Good tiddler. Good Father of the Church too ...

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

Looks that way.

'' Do I experience to ? ``

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

'' Do n't wish popcorn. ``

fountainhead 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 cakehole you know. ``

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

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

crazy like a fox.

'' Like a fox. ``
*


So it came to top that Harry slid down into the sleeping room of arcanum that night wearing the most singularly un-heroic patch of article of clothing in history.

A pair of waders.

'' Bloody winter. '' Harry shivered as he crawled through the tiny crack in the wall through which he had entered the chamber all those years ago. It was humble than he remembered.

Harry dropped into the icy sewer and made his way quickly along the night passageway. The water was bitingly cold on his hands whenever they got splashed but the thick waders kept his legs pleasantly warm. Thank Merlin for dragon-skin fishing supplies.

Of course this would be wanton if Dumbledore had n't strengthened the Hogwarts wards to the power point where not even dirt ball could slip by through. This was the only way out.

Harry 's passage through the catacombs was unerring. Last time he 'd been here he 'd wandered aimlessly, lost. little lost boy ... But he was n't the Same person he 'd been then. Harry sighed and walked on through the swarthiness to his destination.
*


Harry flicked his collar up and walked quickly down the street. This was John Griffith Chaney, but not a part that he had ever frequented. Big houses, big expensive houses. station that did n't film kindly to vagabond. Probably still would n't take kindly to him if he was found here.

House twenty six. Harry slowed to a stop a block away from the tall Stanford White building. In the middle of the terraced-row of equally tall Edward Douglas White Jr. buildings. Expensive they might be, private they were not.

All the lights seemed to be off. Mr Baker was probably departed. No one outside, no one obvious anyway.

hullo ...

Up on the roof. wickedness made into matt made into nightmare. Someone was waiting up there, trying to stay invisible against the skyline.

Harry cursed then darted down an skittle alley. cause in the nominal head chiliad, it might stimulate been a discard newspaper. Then again it might not.

Human Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe ! Second floor, standing near the bed ! Harry 's custody found a waste pipe and he catapulted himself up. There were two more on the bed, cowering in fear. The standing figure raised his wand. Harry swung with all his strong suit and crashed through the window.

'' What the hell ! ``

Harry tackled the death eater to the trading floor and stunned him. He rushed to the threshold and bolted it, pushing a president under the hold. The others would let heard the window break.

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

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

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

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

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

'' Do n't occupy about me. Just go ! '' Harry flicked a ward onto the door, strengthened it. But it would n't hold long. These were n't malefactor, these were genuine Death feeder. Duelist chemical group twos. 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 door and raised his wand.

The outset tangible test. Lashkar-e-Toiba see how I do.

I really hope one of them is crouch ... Harry grinned in tearing 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 the great unwashed fleeing down the backstreet, seeable in the crack between houses. They did n't matter.

His knarrled fingers clenched. It looked like the boy had beat him to these ones. He would n't be able to kill tonight. Would n't be able-bodied to hurt them, make them pay. Make the other one, the snake one, the one who took everything pay.

He licked his lip. Another metre, there would be former times. He was patient role. Patient was good, so long as it got there in the end.

The end ... the end ...

Vengeance. That was a good word.

The spectator hunkered down on the rooftops. Before him the conflict raged on and cries of pain filled the air.

He would waitress, and if there were any straggler ? Maybe he would have some fun after all.
*


'' fire up up ! ``

Urg ... Ron turned over on instinct to get away from the noise.

'' Get the hell up Weasley ! ``

'' Ow ! '' Ron grabbed his face and spun, his eyes encompassing open. `` Malfoy what the- ''

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

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

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

'' fountainhead he 's not. '' Ron gestured around. `` expect the bed 's not even catch some Z's in. And how 'd you get the password anyway ? ``

'' Something 's wrong. ``

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

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

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

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

'' Then he 's eating breakfast ! ``

'' Checked there. ``

'' library. ``

'' Checked. ``

'' Down by the lake ? ``

'' Checked. ``

'' The timberland ? Around the edge- ''

'' Checked. ``

'' Oh. '' Ron bit his lip. `` He 's probably, I do n't know. Probably training late and just passed out tired. Even you had to notice he was tired. ``

'' Surprised you did. '' Malfoy turned for the doorway. `` Get your Quaker and help attend. ``

'' We 're not your frie- ''

'' But you were Harry's ! '' Malfoy turned angrily. `` And he could be in fuss, or painfulness, or dying, right now ! I know you do n't like him any more but unless you hate him enough to wish him bushed get the snake pit up and aid me depend ! ``
*


Ron woke the marauders. The marauders roused the students. myrtle called the wraith. Hermione ran to McGonagall. McGonagall went to Dumbledore.

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

It was Dumbledore who confirmed, by 'his own methods', that Harry was not in the castle. The great Radclyffe Hall was filled with tangible tension as breakfast appeared as if it was any other day. Everyone was whispering.

Why bother, thought Ginny. It 's not like you 're trying to conceal what you 're talking about. But she found that when she talked it also came out as whispers. It was the tense atmosphere, it leeched sound out of you. Or maybe it was because saying it right out would make water it real.

The marauders mostly picked at their food. No one felt like eating. Not even Ron. Suddenly the doorway burst open.

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

The hall emptied like a firing had started. Every student of every house piled through the giant twice threshold. Jostling and pushing against each other, and against teachers, to get through. They spilled out onto the front lawn like a moving ridge, breaking and separating. Everyone was running for the main gate. Ginny saw Hagrid, out in front, yell something and the gate creaked overt. Everyone pushed through, trying to get a glimpse of the lonely flesh trudging up the path towards them.

The front moon-curser stopped and were almost bowled over as the people behind them ran into their cover. The road down from the gates was slanted, so everyone could see. See the public figure that was definitely Harry.

His gown hung off one berm, the rest torn and trailing behind him. The whole left position of his expression was covered in stock, down onto his shoulders too, caked on and streaked. One of his boots was gone, Merlin only knew where. His left arm had an ugly burn over the elbow joint, red and raw and black in the middle.

The integral of Hogwarts stared at him. Harry raised his head word painfully.

'' Well ... would ... '' Harry swallowed and licked his sass. `` Would you believe I fell down some stairs ? ``
*


'' Mr potter where were you ? ``

You know where.

'' William Tell me ! ``

He knows where. Of course he does. dolt Dumbledore.

'' Were you at the baker mansion Harry ? ``

There we are.

'' How did you go out school day grounds ? ``

You do n't take to make love that.

'' Harry answer me ! ``

'' What do you want from me Dumbledore ? '' Harry pushed a blood-entangled dreadlock of whisker out of his boldness. `` What do you want me to say ? ``

'' I want the truth ! '' Dumbledore was yelling, every portrayal on the walls of his bureau watched in silence. Apart from them the way was empty-bellied. `` I want you to tell me where you went ! Where you go every night ! I want response ! ``

'' I do n't hand a tinker's damn what you want. ``

Rather incongruent seeing as we just asked him.

'' Harry if there is a breach in the wards of Hogwarts I need to hump about it. ``

Damn. He might actually be right. Voldemort surely as hell knew about the chamber.

'' sleeping accommodation of secrets. '' Harry met the schoolmaster gaze but gave cypher away. His occlumency was getting better too. `` Remember ? There 's a passage that lets out on the side of the lake. ``

'' The ... a passage. '' Dumbledore nodded faintly. `` Yes ... yes I knew about it. ``

'' But it slipped your intellect when you were shoring up the wards. ``

'' I ... no- ''

'' You 're not a god Dumbledore. '' Harry broke in. `` You ca n't do everything. You are incapable. You make error. It does n't have to be this way between us, admit you made a mistake with regards to me. I can assist you fight. Help the ordination. ``

'' You are not of age. ``

'' Screw that ! '' Harry yelled wildly. `` There 's two people living tonight because of me ! Two kids who are not orphaned because of me ! ``

'' There are also five utter destruction feeder. ``

What ... the ... netherworld ...

'' Stunned. '' Harry corrected hopefully. `` Stunned death feeder. ``

'' Dead. '' Dumbledore 's expression grew stony. `` Killed with an occult toxin. Seen only once before. ``

No ... no no no no.

'' Dumbledore- ''

'' diaphragm ! '' The Headmaster cut him off. `` You have already demonstrated a bloodlust that disturbs pattern, in good order wizards. ``

'' When I need to ! '' Harry was breathing hard. `` When my friends living are at stake ! ``

'' You are out of ascendance Harry. ``

'' I did n't bolt down them. '' Harry held up his handwriting. `` I did n't, I swear. I stunned them, then left, then called the aurors to pick them up. ``

'' I can not believe that Harry, I can not. Not with all I know. ``

'' Legilimence me. '' Harry released his defenses. `` You 'll see. You 'll lie with. ``

'' I will not jazz. I will not know because I can not be sure that you have not reached a level of proficiency at occlumency where you could picture me whatever construct memory you wish to. ``

'' THEN WHAT DO YOU WANT ! ``

'' Anger Harry ? You have a lot of wrath do n't you. ``

Yes. Harry hung his head tiredly. There is no answer to your inquiry. Nothing that will satisfy you.

'' You will stay confined to the castle. '' Dumbledore ordered. `` You will attend all lesson. A protector appointed by me will walk you to and from each object lesson. You will do these things or I will hand you to the aurors. ``

'' I did n't do it. '' Harry whispered, More to himself than anything else.

'' I can not lead that risk. ``

postponement ! The Prophecy !

'' The divination. '' Harry blurted. `` What are we going to- ''

'' Stop thinking about such matter. '' Dumbledore cut him off. `` They are no longer your concern. ``

'' But I have to stop Voldemort. I 'm the only one who can. ``

'' This discussion is over Harry. Leave. ``

Harry stood. There was no period drawing it out. He walked towards the door, but did n't go through it. He felt drained, completely. But some rest fountainhead of obstinance would n't let him leave without one last word.

'' You 're making a mistake. '' Harry said over his shoulder. `` You do reach them commemorate. ``

'' I do. But I correct them. '' Dumbledore said sharply, but sadly. `` I am correcting one rightfield now. ``

shucks. He still got the finish word.

Harry turned and passed out of the office. There were crucial decisions to be made.
*


'' Deja vu. '' A voice said over Ron 's shoulder.

'' Malfoy ! '' Ron spun on his bench. `` Do you just sneak around everywhere ? ``

'' Hard to slip in the middle of lunch. '' Malfoy seemed agitated. `` Harry 's gone again. ``

'' Like this morning ? '' Hermione asked.

'' He said he was going to go to sleep, but his bag 's gone. '' As Malfoy spoke they heard a randomness from the high table.

Dumbledore had just shoved his professorship back roughly and strode quickly from the hall.

'' He knows about- '' Ron began but stopped as a feathered shadow dropped onto the table.

Digger cocked his foreland and hopped about a little nervously. He kept looking at first one side then another as if he did n't know who to surrender his message too.

Ginny reached forward and took it off her. She spread it out on the table. It was short, but it had a lot of subtext. It simply said.

Take charge of him






Review, or I will use my gravemetric eversion ray to bankrupt the synodic month down onto the open of the earth ! Destroying it utterly ! You have just one hr ! Mru Ha Ha Ha Ha ! Ha. Ha.


Arg ! The web site goes down ! rage everywhere ! matter dip apart, the centers can not hold ! My recap ! ! ! My valued reviews ! ! !

Ah well ... such is life.



'' Is there no news ? ``

'' No Albus, there is not. '' Minerva shook her head. `` He appears to have vanished. ``

'' Has a watch been set on the perimeter ? All ways that he could leave the area ? ``

'' Yes Albus. '' As if that had ever stopped Harry. `` But do you really think he will try to leave ? Everything we 've seen suggests he will abide and defend. ``

'' I do not have it away Minerva. '' Albus shook his head teacher. `` I am not surely of anything anymore. ``

'' arrest firm Albus. The order needs you. ``

'' Yes ... yes we must go on. ``
*


The marauders, bundled up against the cold, sat quietly before a huge bay windowpane in Malfoy manor house. They had gone there straight from Hogwarts, with a guard the entire way. They were in the minority for leaving, a lot of students had elected to stay on at Hogwarts for Christmas Day. It was safer. They were not the only I there though, Dame Alice Ellen Terry and Anne Baker ( none of the vulture had really known them ) had been dragged along looking confused.

That was until they reached the house and had a weeping reunification with their parents. Apparently someone had saved them from the death eater. accent on someone.

The manor house was filling up, lots of people. Refugees almost, multitude that had been targeted or were in danger of being. It was scary, seeing the fear in their eyes, the look of being hunted. The piranha were the same, unable to leave, scanning the papers for any confidential information of Harry. They found nothing but they kept looking. Guilt was a powerful thing.

So now they were stuck in the star sign, unable to leave its paries as snow blanketed everything outside. Even if they could throw gone outside would they cause had the bosom to dally ? Maybe, maybe not. So they sat in front of the huge spread out windowpane and watched it fall.

The adults had tried to make it cheery, there was even a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree. It had n't worked though.

'' We should go receive tiffin. '' soul murmured. No one moved. Eventually someone else echoed the sentiment and they began to get up, slowly, silently. They had just about reached the kitchen when Tonks burst in.

'' Have you heard the news program ? '' She blurted.

'' We read the prophet- '' Hermione began before Tonks interrupted her.

'' No, no. This just happened. '' She shook her top dog. `` Two dying feeder 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 ? ``

'' Most of the adults eat in the Tree room. '' Ginny pointed and Tonks hurried out.

'' Do you mean it was Harry ? '' Neville asked quietly.

'' Of course it was Harry. '' Malfoy said flatly.

'' It could have been someone else, person else trying to stop them. ``

'' individual who tied them up like present tense and dumped them Christmas eve ? It 's Harry. '' Padma grimaced. `` He 's out there fighting. ``

'' On his own. '' Her sister echoed.

They sat in silence for a piece. The simply sound was Ron rhythmically munching on bread.

'' Do you think it was us ? '' Ginny found herself whispering. `` Do you think we drove him out ? ``

'' You certainly did n't help. '' Draco sneered.

'' Shut up Malfoy ! You were the one helping him ! '' Ron reached over and tried to beat the Slytherin. `` If you had n't he would n't induce thought he could campaign them ! ``

'' He was getting supporter from other property than me. individual else I 'm sure, he was getting better too fast. '' Malfoy shook his head. `` No, I withdraw what I said before. You did n't push him towards this. This was inevitable. ``

But we abandoned him. Ginny thought darkly. Maybe if he would throw stayed retentive if he thought he had something to stay put for. Or at the very least he 'd know he was n't alone. Merlin, how had affair gone so incorrectly ?

'' It 's my error. '' Hermione murmured suddenly. `` I said that ... stupid person 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. Tell him it 's ok. ''

'' How ? '' Draco shook his head. `` Take out a personal ad in the Prophet ? ``

'' wellspring why not ? ``

'' Because it 's ridiculous. And because all it would do is conciliate your guilt. It would n't avail him. ``

'' wellspring what would help him ! '' Fred asked angrily.

'' I do n't know ! '' Draco shot to his fundament. `` 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 throw any other acquaintance. Maybe that had been why he helped Harry for so long.

'' We need to do something. '' Parvati repeated again.

'' What Sister ? What ? '' Padma frowned at her baby darkly. `` Do n't just keep saying 'do something'and carry everyone else to come up with something. ``

'' I do n't hear you coming up with anything ! ``

'' There 's aught we can do ! ``

They lapsed into an wild muteness again. There was too very much strain, too lilliputian kip. They were all at the end of their tether. Just like Harry had been. Ginny shook her school principal, they should throw gone light on him. A minuscule selfish part of her felt sword lily that she had not been part of that first argument with him. Another region blamed her for starting it. If she had just dodged he would n't suffer hurt her articulatio humeri and then they would n't have ...

It was superfluous to think about it. The argument had happened, but a short part of her still irked. They should n't have blown up on him, so what if he said he chose an ground forces ... waiting ... Was it potential ? Was she really thinking about this ?

'' I can cerebrate of something we can do. '' She said, her vocalisation detection in the eye. It had n't done that in years.

'' What Gin ? '' Fred asked without looking at her.

No one was looking at her. No one was paying attention. vulture rules ...

'' HEY ! '' The table jumped as Ginny slammed down on it concentrated. The vulture started like rabbits. Oh great, now everyone was looking at her. She stood, keeping her hands flat to the tabular array. `` 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 regular army. 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 kids. '' Neville was biting his lip.

'' We 're as old as Harry. '' Ginny stated defiantly, glossing over the fact that she wasn't.

'' We do n't know how to agitate like him. '' Ron was staring at her wildly.

'' Harry learnt, so we can. '' Ginny folded her blazon. `` Harry was n't even that good at defence mechanism and look how far he 's come. We can do it. ``

'' We could ... '' Fred murmured, and is twin began nodding thoughtfully.

'' There are only eight of us. '' Hermione pointed out.

'' I think other people in the school would be prepared to help Harry if we told them. The old chosen ... others too. '' Ginny tried to look confident. `` And besides, Harry 's just one individual ! ``

'' But Harry 's Harry ! '' Hermione shook her head. `` He could get away with that kind of thing ! He has some ... ability ... some ground he survived. A power ! That 's it ! Like the prophecy said .'A power the shadow Godhead knows not'we- ''

'' The exclusively king Harry ever displayed was stubbornness. '' Padma interrupted her. `` Stubbornness and bravery. ``

'' And the fact that he never gave up. '' Her babe added.

'' And we should n't either. '' Padma nodded.

'' So you ... '' Ginny turned to them grinning.

'' We 're in. '' Padma said, her eyes intemperate and determined. Her sis nodded her support.

'' Us too. '' Saint George folded his sleeve just as his buddy said,

'' We ca n't throw up on Harry. ``

'' And you three ? '' Ginny turned to the last three on the fence marauders. Neville shifted nervously,

'' I ... It could consume been me. '' He was looking down at the mesa. `` It could have been me. I would n't have survived this long. No ... but I ca n't just ignore it. The fact that it could have got been me I mean. I ... I feel like I have to help if I can. ``

'' You 're in ? ``

'' I do n't be intimate how lots assistant I 'll be. ``

'' You saved me. '' Ginny smiled desperately. All the piranha had to join, it was corresponding fate. For some rationality she felt like that. If they all did n't join it just would n't process. `` And Harry would have wanted it. ``

'' He understood you. '' Padma chimed in, smiling. `` to a greater extent than the remainder of us I think. ``

'' I 'll help, if I can. '' Neville said, in a small representative. Ginny breathed out in relief, one down two to go ...

'' And you two ? ``

Hermione and Ron shared a look. Ginny knew she could tease apart her brother into it, Ron was a poriferan for peer atmospheric pressure, but she would n't. Not a option like this.

'' We 'll have to miss some lessons. '' Ron said suddenly and Hermione put a hand over her sassing, chuckling. `` Think you can handle that Hermione ? ``

'' I guess so. '' Hermione turned back to Ginny. `` For Harry. ``

'' You 're in ? '' Yes, yes, yes ! `` Both of you ? ``

'' We 're in. ``

'' Us too. '' A voice came out of nowhere. Ginny spun and fixed on the large double threshold. Standing in the spread crack were two brown haired children. terrycloth and Anne Baker. They had been listening in, eavesdropping. And they had managed to do it undetected. Wow, Ginny thought. They 've already got what it takes to be a marauder.

'' What ? '' Ron stood, clearly ineffective to see them properly from where he was. `` You two ? ``

'' We heard what you were saying. '' Anne said, obviously trying to sound erstwhile. Ginny wondered if she had looked like that a few moments ago. `` We want to help too. ``

'' Harry saved our parents. '' terrycloth added in. `` The ministry did n't even know they were a target. We want to help. ``

'' You realize what this means do n't you ? '' Ginny said clearly. `` We 're talking about fighting. Fighting death feeder. 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 sleep together ? We saw Harry when he came back that break of day just like the sleep of you. That 's the form of stuff you 're talking about right ? Well that dark he was out saving our parents. Saving them was what hurt him so bad, so its ... like I do n't get laid. Only fair, I guess, that we should do that for him. ``

'' You could die. '' Padma said flatly.

'' If Voldemort wins we die anyway. '' Anne matched her lusterlessness. `` With parents like ours we 'll be on the top of his list. ``

'' We know what were getting ourselves into. '' terrycloth said defiantly. `` We want to join Harry 's army. ``

'' Harry 's ground forces ? '' Saint George snorted. `` Is that what we 're calling ourselves ? ``

'' I do n't wish it. '' His twin agreed.

'' It does sounds like something from world-war-two. '' Hermione agreed.

'' How about the elect ? We 've been that before. '' Ron suggested.

'' We 're the piranha. '' Ginny overrode him. `` We 've always been the marauder we always will be. It 's what Harry would have wanted. ``

A murmur of agreement went up from around the table and Ginny felt a surge of pride. She beckoned the Baker twins over. As she did she suddenly realized something, she had made everybody looking at her and they were still looking. Her brothers had happily accepted her principal, they all had. And now she was about to ordain two new marauders, a privilege only previously granted by Harry.

What can of dirt ball had she opened today ?

'' But wait. '' Padma said suddenly. `` How are we going to train properly ? Harry had a instructor, he had to. Where are we going to get one ? ``

'' I can think of mortal. ``
*


'' genus Draco ! ``

Draco turned in jar to reckon 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 crusade for Harry. We want your help. ``

The program library was tacit for a here and now. Draco met the center of each of the marauders, were they really serious ? Legillimancy gave him the answer.

'' Well would you bet at that. '' genus Draco murmured, then smiled. `` Lets get to it. ``
*


'' You realize this means the marauders now have penis in every Hogwarts family. '' George commented as they walked down to Harry 's old grooming cellar.

'' We do n't deliver any Ravenclaws. '' Ron said. Hermione shook her caput irritably.

'' You would think you 'd remember Ron, after all the fourth dimension she 's saved our peel. ``

'' Who ? ``

'' Moaning Myrtle. ``

'' She does n't count. '' Ron said with sanction before being clipped around the ear by Ginny.

"lookout your mouth. Harry wouldn't stand for that sort of talk."

"Besides, you ‘ re all wrongly anyway."Draco said dryly from the front."Harry made myself and Tonks piranha at the end of last year. You ‘ ve been cross-house for month now."

"Why didn ‘ t you tell us ?"Ron asked him.

"Would it have made a remainder ?"

"wellspring ... maybe."Ron shrugged."Marauders have different rules than ordinary people."

"Yeah, that section I got."Malfoy reached the door to the cellar and threw it undefendable. It was exactly how they had left it. Huge piles of transgress furniture and burn sign on the bulwark."Right, well we don ‘ t have bear upon spheres or a siswai ‘ aman or muggle gonnes-"

"Guns."Hermione corrected.

"Them either."Draco stepped into the centerfield of the elbow 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 pick up the respectable weaponry like Harry did, so I ‘ m going to focus on this ..."Malfoy drew his wand and held it out in front of him.

"Terry, Anne."Ginny turned to the two newest fellow member."How are you at refutation class ?"

"We ‘ re both getting Es."Anne said quickly.

"vulture should love how to lie better than that."

"Alright As."

"Saami as Harry lastly year."Ginny told them encouragingly."Hermione ? Can you bring in them up to rush real quick ?"

"I ... I guess so."

"Good."Ginny turned back to Dragon and nodded. He smiled at her as he directed the others into dueling lines. Her stomach did a little floaty lurch.

Just emphasis. She told herself. Just stress because we're joining a war. Natural to be uneasy, especially since they seem to have elected me leader. I'm not skittish for any early intellect. No reason at all.
*


Neville collapsed into a chair in his room. He ached everywhere. Malfoy had pushed them all day, fighting. They had only quit for the night when the bread maker kids couldn't stand up any more than. Neville hadn't been far behind them.

This must birth been what it was like for Harry.

Neville shook his head, before 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 quiet on the sideline maybe he saw more. Saw more about people ... about Harry.

Maybe there was one other thing they could do for Harry.

He had thought of it before but hadn't mentioned it. No reasonableness to severalise ` multitude, especially if he was wrong. It'd just make him appear pudden-head. It probably wouldn't help anyway. But it was Charles Frederick Worth a shot.

Neville drew a objet d'art of paper towards him and grabbed a quill. He chewed on the end nervously, how did you start a substance like this ?

beloved ... No, to familiar. Neville shook his head, it didn't matter what Son he used. He should just get the thing written. He cracked his fag knuckles and started again.

To The Pythea

My name is Neville Longbottom and I'm a friend of Harry's. I don't know if he told you about me.

Neville winced, this was heavy than he thought.

Harry's in trouble, 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 instant. The letter might get intercepted by someone.

If the idiomatic expression ‘ as the seventh month dies'means anything to you then you know why he's doing this. I don't know if you can help him but if you can then please do, and tell us what we can do to help. We're already doing everything we can but it may not be enough.

Neville read the alphabetic character over nervously. He was writing to ask the assistance of one of the most powerful adult female in the world. He signed it, his paw shaking decent to get the signature illegible, then squeaked his chair back and made for the owlery.

excavator was alert and waiting, like he knew. The owl didn't even incommode to look at the savoir-faire, it just glanced at the name and took off. Neville watched it go, hoping ...
*


He got no reply over Yule. The vulture 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 Christmas Day day. Perhaps they really did understand what they were in for.

Baron Snow of Leicester kept falling intermittently, not enough to cover the earth again. It just ended up slush. Neville wondered if Harry was exterior, frigidity, right now, then felt pudding head. If Harry could get Wyrd shadow 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 window. ``

'' I 'm coming. '' Neville turned and raised his wand. `` Just a instant. ``

We 're doing what we can Harry, just you wait.
*


Harry crouched on the roof of a planetary house, careful not to dislocate on the wet tile. The house across the way was owned by a prominent member of a stark blood phratry. Not his main house obviously, laggard footling berth like this, but one of his properties.

A place with a large basement. A property that had been taking in large provision of meat, bad core too. Off slash, the kind you would present animals.

It was a lead. Harry smiled grimly, he was on to them. He could wait here all night ...
*


"Severus the children at headquarters keep disappearing during the day. Do you know where they're going ?

"I do not Albus."Technically unfeigned though any sensible person could guess.

"Do you cerebrate they might be planning to follow Harry ?"

"It is possible."I hope they are.

"This troubles be Severus, they should be kept safe."

"They are children."Technically reliable though not actually revealing his opinion.

"You will enjoin me if you hear anything I should know."

"Of course."Anything I think you should know.

"Now, '' Dumbledore looked around the hall, meeting the heart of the four order 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 feet, impact evident on her face. `` How ? ``

'' Harry has been too trusting of Gringots. '' Dumbledore drew a dilute folder of parchments towards him. `` He forgets that they have human employees as well as goblin ones. I have managed to obtain record book of Harry 's transaction. I believe I have pinpointed his location. ``

'' So why have n't you brought the poor boy back ? ``

'' Because Harry will have an exit strategy. '' Dumbledore shook his head. `` If he sees me he will run, and I can not vouch I will be able to bewitch him. You are the order extremity I believe he will desire. You must come near him. You must bring him back. ``

And what if I do n't wish him back. Snape was deliberate to shield his thought utterly. What if I merely wish to make water sure as shooting he 's safe.

'' This is the location. '' Dumbledore floated a sheet of parchment to each of them. `` We will go. Now. ``
*


Snape looked up at the flickering lightbulb above him and scornfully flicked it off before lighting his wand.

'' The top floor ? '' The auror Tonks was looking at the map drawn by Dumbledore. `` Why would he be on the top storey ? It 's a idle end. No way out. ``

'' The boy 's smart than that. '' Alastor agreed as the four of them reached the stairwell of the muggle building. It was not vacant, indeed Snape could hear muffled voices and clicking from adjacent rooms, but the top base was closed for renovation.

'' Perhaps Dumbledore was damage then. '' Was that a speck of promise in the interpreter of the young auror ?

'' More likely Harry has a broomstick up there. '' Minerva snapped.

Harry would not have a broom handle. Snape shook his head but said goose egg out loud. He is more likely to consume a pet dragon up there than a broomstick.

'' Quiet. '' Moody was up ahead, his magical eye scanning above them. The old auror cursed. `` Damn malign eye ! There 's bags up there, and papers. But I ca n't tell if there 's a person. ``

'' Let me see. '' Minerva slinked into her cat form and carefully padded up the steps. Then came back down, her center twinkling. She transformed back and said, `` Harry has been here. His tone is everywhere. ``

'' Do you know if he is there now ? '' Snape asked.

'' He is there. The perfume is too recent for him not to be. ``

'' Then we go in. '' Moody stalked forward. `` No wands visible, do n't spook him. ``

They walked up the dim concrete stairs. The doorway was closed and covered by a charge plate sheet. Snape was reaching out to cut it aside when they all heard,

'' Do n't bother, I 've cut a slit in the one round the side. '' The four club members stopped dead. The voice continued. `` And if you want a more dramatic statement, you are Moody, Snape, McGonagall and Tonks. ``

'' Harry ? '' Tonks asked loudly. `` Is that you ? ``

'' Did I not make that unclutter ? '' The vocalization said cheerily. `` ejaculate 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 quantity vigilance."Harry replied.

Snape chuckled as he dropped his baton in his sac and walked around the corner. There indeed was a breach in the plastic drape, it was waving in the frigidness steer. Snape stepped up to the gap and pushed it aside. Harry was standing in the capable bay window, leaning easily against the edge.

He looked ... tired. Beyond tired, his eyes were sunken and his skin pale. Did he look worse than when he left Hogwarts ? Yes. He most certainly did, there was no denying. It could not just be tiredness, it could not. He seemed happier though, his eyes sparkling mischievously.

"Harry."Snape greeted him as the other guild members filed in behind him."It is good to see you. You are looking well."

"No I ‘ m not."Harry was watching them all closely."But I ‘ m surviving. How did you find me ?"

"I ‘ m afraid we can ‘ t-"

"Gringots led us here."Snape interrupted McGonagall, who glared at him."Dumbledore found you here with their information. He sent us here to bring you back."

"And are you going to ?"

"We just want to spill to you Harry."McGonagall stepped forward, her hands unfold peacefully."It is not safe for you out here."

"It ‘ s not safe anywhere."Harry shrugged."And I ‘ m helping out here. I ‘ m fighting the death feeder. What are you doing ? Looking for a lost child ? Let me ask you, which of us is doing the more useful task ?"

"Potter don ‘ t be an idiot."Helen Wills growled."You may have got caught a few death feeder but it ‘ s only a matter of time before you ‘ re caught and you upright pray it ‘ s by Dumbledore and not the dark God Almighty. If you die we all lose."

"If I fail we all lose."Harry shifted stuffy to the window.

"Harry, we ‘ re just trying to help you."Tonks stepped forward."We all know what ‘ s at stake here."

"This view 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 stand but Helen Wills Moody jabbed his verge and Harry was pushed back to the solid 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 piece about not needing to ?"

"To be reliable, both."Harry made a lunge for the threshold but McGonagall stepped in social movement of him. Harry cringed, then tried to stick out."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 properly now."Moody raised his verge."You disappointed me. Now Stup-"

"Stop !"Snape struck sideways, sending Dwight Lyman Moody's scepter sideways. As the auror 's eyes jerked give in shock Snape stunned him and whirled, holding his wand on McGonagall."Don ‘ t move Minerva. In fact back away."

"Severus what is this ?"Her optic were across-the-board in disbelief.

"Please don ‘ t talk."Snape glanced at Tonks standing twitchily in the corner, her hand hovering over her wand."And you ? Do I need to stun you too ?"

"I ... no."The immature auror's eyes flickered down to Harry."yield care of yourself Harry. Please. Please do."

"I ‘ ll try."Harry nodded, walking over and grabbing his sceptre."And I won ‘ t use Gringots any more."The boy started for the window.

"Harry !"Snape called out."Moody caught you. You let your guard down. You have to be better than that."

"I know. I screwed up. invariant Vigilance."Harry nodded towards Moody."You should recite him that too when he wakes up."

"He will probably belt down me first."Snape shrugged.

"Not likely."Harry stepped up the edge."He ‘ ll probably trust you now."

Harry grinned and dropped off the edge.

Snape waited a farsighted moment, long enough for Harry to reach the basis, then lowered his baton. McGonagall just looked at him. No student with belatedly homework had endured so withering a stare.

"well Severus, now that you have betrayed the orderliness, what do you signify 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 animation and grabbed his baton. He levered himself to his understructure and looked Snape up and down with his piercing electric blue eye.

"Well well, your true colors at last."Moody spat.

"Trelawney once told me my colouration was pale fuchsia."Snape commented as he made for the door."If I ‘ m showing that semblance you may want to get your eye checked."

"My eye ‘ s fine."

"good, then I ‘ ll sports meeting you at Headquarters."Snape apparated away, the dusty press abyss of annul giving him a instant of repose before he dropped to his feet in front of the threshold. Three pop music behind him told him the former order members 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 pace, into the marvellous hall.

"There."Snape raised his hands."Now I can ‘ t escape."

"I don ‘ t trust you."Dwight Lyman Moody shook his head."Give me your wand."

"No."Snape turned towards the main Granville Stanley Hall 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 stunt woman doors open and found something he didn't expect. The completely order was there, lining the walls. Dumbledore had called a meeting, to discuss Harry being back. Snape stopped, his arms crossed and the three following him walked past into the elbow room. Tonks was still quiet, fading into the crew, her hair unconsciously turning mute brown. Moody and Minerva walked straight up to the head of the table.

"You failed to catch Harry ?"Dumbledore clearly suspected something. He was using the stare that used to pierce Snape to the someone, now it just made his eyes itch."What went incorrect Severus ?"

"I decided that bang-up good could be served by letting him free."Severus stood equanimity against the raging muttering that rose at that. He found Natalie's centre in the gang,

Why ?

I am tired of leashes.

You aren't finished are you. It wasn't a question.

I am not. I mean Dumbledore to know I am no longer ... tame.

wellspring this should be fun.

Snape couldn't assistance but smile.

"You think this is funny Severus !"Dumbledore had stood, his eyes flinty and hard.

"Yes."

"How dare you !"

How dare I ? Snape snorted, this was the way matter should be. He felt more comfortable with everything against him.

"Snape this meter 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 cypher to say !"

"No. I have nothing to say."Snape kept his vocalism irritatingly cool"The only explanation I have you will not live with. And I can not formulate one you will because you I do not know what you want."

"I want somebody I can trust !"

"No you do not. You trust no one. You never have. Not with any hush-hush worth knowing. You are a closed system, no one is told anything."Snape glanced around the berth at the early order penis, practically everyone was there. Everyone there to see his humiliation, that was what Dumbledore wanted anyway. If Snape had his way it wasn't going to happen like that."None of these citizenry know anything do they."

"I am speak-"

"You ‘ d think that would nark them."Snape continued."You ‘ d think one of them would worry about you."

"Be understood !"

"Each of them thought another had your ear. Minerva thought Lupin, lupin thought Moody perhaps. I don ‘ t know who Dwight Lyman Moody thought. But none of them did, none of them know."

"secrecy !"

"No man is an island."Snape smiled, after all these class he knew how to get to the old man."No man is an island unless he makes himself so."

"Severus I will not listen to-"

"You will hear. You can ‘ t not."Snape shook his head."Something has frozen you. That is what you do isn ‘ t it ? You shrink, like a turtle. Back into your shell."

"And what is my shell ?"Dumbledore growled with uncontained rage and frustration.

"Your past tense. Your reputation."Snape sniffed."The last war, your resplendence days. Ha ha ... you have retreated into repeat and now ? Now you are paralyzed by it. We are not fighting this war, we are reliving it."

"You have made it illuminate what you think about-"

"Shut up."Dead silence. Snape folded his subdivision, grinning faintly. Behaving like Harry was fun."I am talking now and you will mind. You are paralyzed by something. guilt I would guess. I don ‘ t know of course, 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 ... check. You have guilt, great swirling pools of it. In every pore of you, in every facet of your nous. It ‘ s been there since the first time I ever saw you, I didn ‘ t recognize it then of course, but it was there. By the clip I came to work for you I was old enough to realise it. Something in your yesteryear, in your represent too, fill you with a festering remorse. And it just gets worse and spoilt, makes you doubt yourself, makes you guess you are never suitable. Makes you turn down the post of minister of religion for magic. Over and over again. I know what made you like this, you think I would work for you and not investigate your past. You know I am more careful than that. You must have known that I knew. You must have known that I had found out about Kendra."

Dumbledore froze, every tendon tensed. Snape breathed a sigh of relief in his thinker. He had not known for sure, not until that mo. He still didn't know really, not what had happened in that way. That closed book would probably be taken to the graves of the men concerned. No topic, Snape could gloss over the details.

"It was there in the start war."Snape continued, his harsh voice the simply sound in the packed hall."Back then it was ... helpful. It made you measured. It made you weak but ... it made you careful. I do not interpret what has happened since then, perhaps it is as Harry says and you are simply senile, but it is worsened now Previously guilt made you careful, sensible. Now it makes you useless. Useless and broken. You are no longer the noted Albus Dumbledore, you are a fractured version of him."

"No."

"Something destroyed you."

"Stop."

"I don ‘ t know what it was."

"Please."

"It must feature been something terrible."Snape smiled slyly, letting his parole sink in. Weakening."Whatever could it have been ? You don ‘ t have another baby ..."

"SILENC-"

"Legilimens !"
*


duskiness falling, falling everywhere. My fault, always my defect. I shouldn't have put him there, no right I had no right. I condemned him, his death. My one burster. loser. No. Must be done. promise. Death. nonstarter. Truth shrouded so deeply. So deep it hurts. The truth would break us all. But even without we are doomed.

It is all a lie and we are all doomed.

Everything you know I told you.

Everything you know is lies.
*


Snape tore his thinker away, shaking. He fell to his genu on the story, the repugnance, the confusion, filling him. Dumbledore had fallen too, back into his chair. The old human being face twisted in pure agony. To stay fresh a truth locked inside for nine twelvemonth only to bear it roughly ripped from you ? It must give felt like his heart had been torn out. Snape shook his headland, it could not be true up, it couldn't be. But behind the dark grumble of Dumbledore's mind, behind the aching remorse the real memories hid. He had pushed them deep, as if trying to forget them but they were there. They were impossible to forget. Snape knew he never would. The magnitude of what the old man had done hit him and he doubled over, vomiting onto the cold gemstone floor.

He felt manus on his shoulders. Natalie. He reached up for one and grasped it, holding on to something literal as parts of his universe fell apart. He tried to remain firm and found he needed Natalie's aid to rise to his feet. His legs felt like water, his feet like led. He tried to arrive at his sassing work, thing needed to be said. Something needed to be said.

"How dare you ?"Predictable, but Snape could think of nothing better."How could you do that ? To a child !"

"It ... was necessary."Dumbledore's spokesperson was barely a cardiac murmur, a syncope susurration in the air."It had to be done. It had to be done. It had to be done."Dumbledore mumbled that phrase over and over like a prayer.

"Necessary ?"Snape found his natural language 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 serve Harry. To find out him and facilitate 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 privy. 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 monster. One that has goose egg to do with the moon."Snape turned away and hobbled from the room, leaning heavily on the small womanhood beside him.

"Severus !"Dumbledore called after him, suddenly sounding scared."You will secernate no one ! Surely even you can see that this must remain a orphic !"

Snape kept walking, not trusting himself to utter. They reached the door and he stiffened, his heart felt like it had a thousand tiny come-on in it, each one attached to a weight.

"Severus ?"Natalie murmured beside him."You need to go home plate, I ‘ ll take you-"

"No. Not family. Hogwarts."Snape shook his head."Hogwarts first."

"Alright."She didn't argue, she knew when his mind was made up. There was a short-change, crisp chime and the adult female he was leaning on had blond hair and pale tweed skin. Of course, she was supposed to be abruptly. Trust her to think back point even at a time like this. They stepped outside the boundary of the wards and apparated, the cold and pressing nihility once more confine him.

He stepped out himself onto the pasture before the logic gate and allowed himself to be led up the long path to the castle. Corridors passed and Snape realized he was being led to his quartern. commodity. The paries are warded so no one will pick up. As they reached the room access Snape pushed it undefendable and went directly to the liquor cabinet. He poured himself a whisky and drunk it down, wincing at the burning in his throat.

"Ghost myrtle Henderson."Snape called out softly. Ghosts could always get a line their gens. A few moment later the shadowy 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 house elves written report to Dumbledore as do the other ghosts. I need these words to be private."Snape snapped quickly."I need you to bring prof 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 Edward Durell Stone. Snape turned to Natalie, now back to looking like her old ego, waiting patiently.

"You don ‘ t have to tell me."She said understandingly."I understand if it ‘ s something you want to keep to yourself. After all Dumbledore-"

"Was wrong."Snape cut her off."And I will tell you. If nada else I need your service to ca-ca horse sense of it."Snape took a deep breathing place and began explaining. He could feature just given her the store but he didn't want her to get the seismic disturbance he had. It didn't actually take that long to excuse, in the end it was so simpleton. When he was finished she just sat there, staring at him. As if willing him to derail up and yell ‘ fooled you ! ’, but knowing he would not.

"This ... this changes everything."She said breathlessly.

"It changes nothing."Snape gritted his dentition."We still need to aid Harry."

"You ‘ re decent, 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 secretiveness as the threshold was pushed opened. Markus Albert Abraham Michelson strode in, looking around the little way quickly.

"The ghost said this was about Harry."He said, still glancing around as if Harry would spring from a sideboard."Do you know where he is ?"

"No, but I have ... I have left the fiat 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 apprize your help."

"well finally !"Michelson threw up his arms."I was beginning to think I was the lonesome one in this position with my head on straight."

"You are not far wrong."Snape shrugged.

"So what does this make us ?"Natalie smiled."The parliamentary procedure of the Kneasle ?"

"The order of the Nundu more like."Albert Abraham Michelson cracked his knuckles.

"You know, I think it makes us marauders."Snape smiled faintly."King James I Potter must be spinning in his grave."



Half of my recap seem to have disappeared ... very sad ... : (

You all have to refresh twice now to spend a penny up for it. If you do go forth a followup then a fairy will confabulate you while you sleep and sprinkle faerie dust on you. The faggot dust won't do magic or let you fly or anything but it'll be very pretty.


Harry Potter and the Changeling tike : Chapter 5 : The dark market

Harry travels to bump information.




This reporter has some shocking news. News that will strike you, good reader, to your very core. Harry Potter has been declared a severe vigilante by the ministry. Yes, Harry ceramist the-boy-who-lived, is a murderer. According to ministry official Harry has been responsible for at least six deaths and possibly more !

Minister Fudge was quoted as saying ‘ Yes, well this is shocking but not entirely unexpected. only look at his action mechanism during the Triwizard tourney, the boy stole a ship for merlin's saki. He's always been a unloose shank that boy has.'

This promulgation came at the Lapplander metre as his official exclusion from Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry.
*


The marauder looked at each former along the hanker table in the majuscule hall. None of them said 'Is this a prank ?'or 'No way'or anything naively childish like that. They were preceding that. They had all known, on some spirit level, that this was possible. Maybe even inevitable.

'' Changes nothing. '' Fred was the first to speak. `` It 's all bollocs so it changes null. ``

'' This is crazy ! Do they think we 're stupid ? '' Ron was almost spluttering in anger. `` No one 's gon na believe any of this ! ``

'' I almost like hoi polloi did. '' Hermione was shaking her foreland as she peered down at the front page article.

'' What ! You want masses to think Harry 's a- '' Ron rounded on her, about to let loose, 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 the great unwashed wo n't. And people will find fault the ministry. mass will detest the ministry for attacking their hero. ``

'' Remember the riots survive year ? '' Padma said darkly. `` Imagine that. Except practically worse. ``

'' Oh ... '' Ron 's face fell. `` I guess that is bad. ``

'' It changes nothing. '' Malfoy said sharply. `` Not really. We all knew this was a theory. ``

'' Right, '' Ginny nodded, putting on her loss leader face. `` He 's properly. All this does is defecate what we 're doing even more urgent. ``

They all nodded, they had been training ever since they had got back to hogwarts a month ago.
*


His description has been given to every ministry law enforcement official and hit whiz. His position on the ministry 's cherished leaning is only a few places short of the known death eaters !

According to the ministry Harry 's M.O. is to use poisonous substance to do his dirty work. A poison there is no cognize antidote to.

Harry 's verbal description is known to every wizard and enchantress alive but you should be aware that he may be in disguise.
*


'' This is Dumbledore 's doing. '' Natalie shook her head as she slid the paper over to Snape. Michelson had already flicked his copy closed and was staring at it angrily, as if blaming the paper itself. Snape sighed, he had already read the offending article.

'' Dumbledore undoubtedly had a manus in it. '' Snape tried to hold back his ire rising to the open. Keep it under wrap, save it for when it was needed. `` Perhaps he thinks he can scare Harry back to him. ``

'' Then he does n't know Harry. '' Albert Abraham Michelson stood and began pacing angrily, obviously he felt no need to keep his ire under wrapper. `` This 'll just make Harry even more sure that everyone 's against him ! ``

'' Undoubtedly. '' Snape flicked through the rest of the newspaper. `` At least there is some dependable word ... ''
*


Harry may be active in Leeds. Yesterday the ministry was handed an anonymous tip that led them to a house there that had been converted to firm dark creatures. No death eaters were caught ( perhaps the consistence are hidden elsewhere ! ) but the basement was a nestle of lethifolds, swarming in the darkness in numbers never before seen on British grunge. I do not ask to recite you, good 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 proof that Harry was there but a contact in the aurors agency said that they were investigating the possibility.

Harry is to be considered as dangerous as any death eater. Perhaps more so.
*


Harry dumped the paper in a ice can. It did n't matter anymore. He coughed roughly, clutching at his stomach. It did n't matter if the ministry caught him so long as he did what he had to do first. What the nether region did he care what everybody else thought ? It just imply he had to be more careful.

Harry shoved off the wall and flicked his hood up before walking off down he alleyway. There was still work to do.
*


'' Is it confessedly ? ``

Ginny turned at the speech sound, the angry and emphatic auditory sensation. The piranha spun with her, almost in synchronicity. Cho Chang stepped back fearfully. In her defense the vulture now numbered eleven, filling the hallway with uniform anger. They had also all drawn their wands at the same time as she spoke, in reaction to the possible threat.

They must have truly looked like an army.

Cho had frozen in situation, ira turned to stupid silence. Ginny stepped forward.

'' Of row it 's not truthful. '' She said simply. `` How can you even ask that ? ``

'' I just ... '' Cho swallowed, concern still flickering across her nerve. `` Is Harry Ok ? ``

'' We do n't acknowledge. ``

'' Where is he ? ``

'' We do n't bang. ``

'' Does he call for help ? ``

'' We do n't know. We 're trying to facilitate him. '' Ginny said curtly. She was beginning to get tired of Cho 's stupid doubt. Ginny turned to allow for when Cho broke in,

'' Well I want to help too ! '' Ginny felt a piddling genial groan. That was just what she needed, a complaining pretty-girl in the ranks. A perpetual irritation at best, a liability at whip. Cho went on, `` I 'm sr. than you, and I 'm a Ravenclaw. I must know portion of turn you do n't know yet ! You should let me link up. ``

'' No you do n't you arrogant stuck-up ... '' Ginny clamped her mouth shut and took a abstruse calming hint. `` This is n't the bloody gobstones social club. You ca n't just join on a whimsy. We 're training to fight, really fight. fight dying eaters. ``

'' I know that. '' Cho looked down her nose arrogantly. `` If you can do it then I can too. ``

'' You do n't understand ! You ... '' Ginny gritted her tooth tight together again before turning to the marauders. `` Vote. All of us. I vote no. ``

The marauders glanced about between them. Some of them had obviously been thinking of voting yes before she made her feelings so abundantly clear. After some embarrassed shuffling genus Draco stepped forward, eyeing Cho up and down silently. Ginny felt another spurt of bile climb in her gut.

'' You accept the fact that you could die ? '' Dragon asked flatly. Cho nodded, her eyes wide. genus Draco looked into her eyes for a moment, Ginny thought she heard him mutter something under his breath. Draco cocked his header to the slope and asked another question. `` Do you accept the fact that you have to need gild from Ginny ? ``

YES ! take that you bitch ! Ginny was shocked at the level of glee her subconscious threw up at that doubt. If her subconscious was happy with the question, her integral brainpower grinned when Cho grimaced and nodded.

'' mulct. '' Dragon shrugged. `` We need more the great unwashed. I vote yes. If she does n't work out we can always form her parting. ``

'' We vote yes. '' Fred said, shrugging. His counterpart added, `` Sorry Ginny. ``

'' I ... yes. '' Parvati nodded, a piffling hesitantly.

'' No. '' Padma shook her brain, earning her a shocked glimpse from her sister. `` We do n't need her. No ground to consume on another project when we do n't need her. ``

'' attend just put your hands up. '' Ginny said tiredly. `` Hands for no ? ``

trinity hands rose, herself, Padma and Hermione. Ginny 's abdomen dropped, this did n't attend good.

'' For yes ? ``

Five hands were raised. Ron had followed his older buddy. Ginny turned to silent three remainders.

'' Neville, Anna, Dame Alice Ellen Terry ? '' Neville shifted uncomfortably and the baker twins looked at the flooring. `` 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 pee-pee the best of it.

'' amercement. Meet us here after example today. ``

'' Today ? But I 've got quidditch recitation. ``

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 Christian Bible of bane propped up against a plant pot. She did the same in DoD, professor Michelson was being oddly blind to the transgression of the predator. After the object lesson were done she slammed her books 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 stew and breathing hard. She would n't give Cho the satisfa ...

Cho was n't alone.

Ginny stopped with the marauders a few rate away from the starter. Lucy Kingston stood by her Ravenclaw booster with her boyfriend, Joshua Split, standing on her other side. The two ex-Slytherin Gryffindors, genus Vanessa and Elizabeth stood in social movement of him, eyeing Malfoy warily. It irked Ginny that all of them were here. It irked her more that they were probably the hoi polloi she would have chosen to admit to the marauders herself. Stupid Cho.

'' You told them. '' She tried to pull in her voice 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 tell apart them ! '' Cho interrupted her. `` Everyone in the schooltime is talking about the intelligence about Harry, and everybody knows you lot are doing something secret. They just ... ''

'' We eavesdropped. '' split interrupted. `` We want to facilitate Harry too. ``

'' This is getting ridiculous. '' Padma muttered from the depths of the marauders.

'' We heard what you asked Cho. '' Split went on. `` And we understand the endangerment. Lets face it, if you trust him, '' tear jerked his Kuki-Chin towards Malfoy. `` You have to entrust us. ``

'' I do n't bear to trust any of you. '' safe, that sounded like Harry. `` Listen I do n't care what you say. We 're going to train now. If you can keep up you can detain, we do n't have time to slack down for you. ``

'' fine with us ... madam sergeant. '' Split added sarcastically.

'' idiot. '' 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 entree to the marauders bonce, 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 confusion. `` She who ? ``

'' You do n't sleep together ? '' Split almost seemed to smile. `` changeling. ``

'' She who ? ``

'' I expect she 'll let you have it away in her own meter. ``

'' She who ? ``
*


Harry pushed his way out of the old workshop he had flued into and a blast of heat hit his case. He dragged a broad brimmed hat out of his bag and pulled it low over his eyes. Ah, that was better. His pelage and it 's various enchantment would have kept his soundbox cool but it would have looked incredibly conspicuous here. He winced in the harsh light and shucked his bag up on his shoulder before setting off along the dark macadam street.

Muggles walked past him without a second thought, jabbering to each former in French. The accent mark was very different from what he was used to but that was only to be expected. Harry had learnt Gallic in Switzerland and only spoken it to the educatee of Beauxbatons. Harry idly wondered if his French had a Swiss idiom or an English people one.

No matter, he was in Marrakesh, thousands of Roman mile from Jacques Anatole Francois Thibault or England. He would remain firm out as a foreigner whatever he did. No point trying to blend in with the locals, much better to just seem like another pudden-head tourist. There were one or two others around. Harry picked up his yard as he crossed the street and into the souk.

Why is it that I always find myself in maze ? Harry thought to himself chuckling as he skirted around a stall of veg and slid through the crowd of shoppers. The muggle souk was bad enough, a gigantic Earl Warren of streets and alleyways wide of shops and market place carrell selling everything from spiciness to electronics. Harry kept on an unerring grade through it, it was n't his destination.

Hopefully he knew where his destination was, his information was sketchy at best.

Harry came to the sales booth he wanted, a dark hole in the wall selling decrepit and moth eaten clothing. He took a inkiness T-shirt with a star on it off the stand and glanced at the aging shopkeeper. There was a barely detectable nod. Harry stepped behind a screen, a rough changing way, and pulled the curtain shut. He held the shirt up and tapped the headliner twice. With a acute groaning the storey began to grind slowly downwards.

Harry tried not to tint the sides of the stone passageway as the opening move at the top got further and further away. Ten beat ... twenty .... XXX .... forty- thump. Harry snapped to attention as the floor stopped descending. The gemstone in social movement of him split apart slowly, light spilled in, and air. The smelling ... every fragrance conceivable, burning, creature, food of every kind, incense made of spun lightning, every smell a whiz with no compliments for the laws of alchemy could create hung in the air as Harry stepped out of the colored entering into the under-souk, the dark market.

Knockturn alley had naught on this place.

Harry looked up at the ceiling a far above, mosaics kaleidoscoped over the round out control surface, changing every moment. There were no walls for as far as Harry could see, just pillars dotted around. In no rule Harry could see. Every one as wide as an oak, twisted and gouged and splaying up into that fantastic roof. Disappearing into it. And down at flat coat storey ? It was unutterable. Every kind of workshop, every kind of cubicle. Some sellers just sitting of a mat, raiment of bottles out in front of them. Others had exhibit that looked like insane and un-feasible pop up books, everything spilling out of everything else. The haphazardness was deafening, bad than up above because the noise of sparking spells and fuming potions was added to the universal noise of people, and there was the periodic screech as another shopper was brought down by one of the entrances.

There was no finding your way in this billet. Not unless you grew up down here. Harry scanned the sphere while walking sedately forwards. Many stalls had improbable ranging pole to name them from far away, he was looking for ... ah. Harry spotted the flag he was looking for and headed for it, surreptitiously checking his disguise as he did so. Harry flicked a black robe out of his bag and threw it over his shoulders. Like this he looked like about thirty, maybe more, with long grim hair and a deep scar on his boldness. Threatening, but not obvious.

Harry smelt his destination before he got there. The olfactory sensation of beast and creature dung beating out the other smell more and more the closer he got. He came to an unfold plaza in the market, a place where the stalls had been pushed aside to have way for rank upon rank of cages. Harry recognized some of the creatures in them, others were a enigma, all he gave a wide nativity. The cages seemed almost stupidly stout, surely they used unbreakable charms. Surely they did ...

Harry felt himself edging away and forced himself to calm down. He looked into one of the batting cage, a monstrosity made of unhurt I-beams, and saw the eye of a Dragon staring back at him. Somehow they must have stopped it flaming, they must birth. Harry stepped calmly up the uncut desk at the end of the cages. It was surrounded by travelling bag of what looked like some sort of feed. An ordinary bird John Milton Cage Jr. sat on the corner with a humble golden skirt fluffing its feathers. The heavily bearded and mustachioed man sat behind it looked up as he approached.

'' Yes ? '' He asked in promiscuous English. `` Are you look for something ? ``

'' My gens is Jack caiman. I have come for you to tell me the progress of an order. '' Harry pulled back his sleeve, revealing the gloomy mark. The storekeeper 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 problems at the early end. ``

'' Not my fault. '' The seller shook his head. `` Got them safe to you. You lose them after it not my demerit. ``

'' Of trend not. '' Harry smiled in an uncomforting way. `` You mistake me. I merely meant that we have reason to postulate to make sure this legal transfer goes smoothly. There can be no misunderstanding. You understand. ``

'' Of grade, of grade. '' The man nodded rapidly. `` Do not care. You can tell your passkey not to vex. Everything is fine. ``

'' Where are the puppet now ? ``

'' They are on ship. '' The man shuffled back to his desk and sat down. `` Loaded on two 24-hour interval ago. ``

Damnit, Harry cursed inwardly. It would give been so much easier if they were still on dry land.

'' Tell me their class. '' Harry leant down threateningly. `` My maestro is thinking of sending some people to see there are no ... mistakes. ``

'' No error. '' The man nodded again, dragging a map out of a drawer in his desk. `` No misapprehension. ``

Harry smiled, multitude were so stupid when they thought you were going to defeat them.
*


Harry dropped back onto British soil and immediately flued again to stave off any pursuit. He walked the last long paseo to the abandoned house he was staying in and pushed the door undetermined. It was drab inside, the window covered by anti-vandal plates put up by the police. It was empty-bellied, not even a chair when he had first arrived. But it was uninfected and the urine was still running. Harry slouched down against the bulwark and collapsed. Long day. He reached over and picked up a bottle of pep up potion. He uncorked it and let some slop into his sass. This was his second STD today. It was growing tough to keep going ... the illness ...

Harry shook his head, no use dwelling on it. Back to piece of work. He spread the mapping out in front of him on the floor and roughly arranged them out into a approximative peer to the coast of Africa and EU. The mathematical function were seriously old, like everything else wizards had, and some of the commonwealth had the improper names. One of them had a big 'here be flying dragon'warning written in the middle of the Atlantic. Knowing that it was a wizard map it might well be true.

Harry sighed as he looked at the clock time that were written on different checkpoints on the map. The ship was old too, or looked it. The man had sketched a approximate drawing of it. It resembled nothing more than a giant wooden brick with small sails that surely could never propel it too fast. Of line it would be propelled by magic, if not it would just be pudden-head, but it would still hire almost a month to come up from Africa. Could be take on it in the eye of the ocean ? Harry shuddered at the thought. Besides the coursing fear at the very thinking it was impractical to bring up. How would he even get on board the ship ? How would he even find it on the blank featureless sea ?

Harry trawled over the mathematical function again, was there any office where it came close to land ? Was there any ... ambush point ?

Oh of grade ! There 's this big tree diagram in the middle of the ocean that you can obscure behind. Sharks use it all the time to watch seals.

Harry sat back tiredly, this was going to be harder than he thought. His lid felt so sound ... sleep ...

Harry glanced around, he was in a house. A fervency crackled warmly on the hearth, throwing faint shadows on the clean blue sky walls. The pictures on the walls, a redheaded cleaning lady, a man with a familiar face. Harry shook his headway, it was a dream. He had had it before. He walked towards the threshold and pushed it open hurrying out of the theater and into the slap-up garden. He glanced back, the bungalow was as it always was. The cottage at Godrics holler. Harry shuddered, every time his pipe dream put him in this plaza he had an undeniable impulse to bequeath. It was like putting your script in a bucketful of wriggling dirt ball, a crawling sensation over his entire tegument. And yet his dreams brought his spine here again and again and again.

Harry hugged his arms to his thorax. Maybe this would be one of the good Night, the Night when he managed to get away. There was a woodland out there somewhere, a forest of apple trees, their efflorescence filling the air. When he could feel that in his dreams he slept well, he slept comfortably. But for every one of those there would be one of the bad single, when the 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 force of will. Those apple trees weren't going to find themselves. He was about to set off when a flapping sound reached his ear. Harry spent a second wondering if it was some new unpleasantness the aspiration was throwing at him before he realized it was coming from outside.

Harry woke with a start and was on his feet in a moment, wand in helping hand. He relaxed when he saw that the auditory sensation was coming from a small bloodless razz trying to squeeze in through the bottom of the window. The bird twittered then flickered back outside. It took Harry a bit to agnise it had left something behind, a small folded piece of music of paper.

Interesting. Especially considering no one should be able to meet me here.

Harry stood and hesitantly poked the composition with his wand. It did nothing. He prodded it again. Still nothing. He flicked it on the floor and folded it receptive with the end of a fork. He bent down and understand it without touching it.

Harry

I once told you to be your own path if you thought it was right. You seem to have taken that advice to substance. I can not and will not say that your choice is wrong, it may be, it may not be, I do not make love. But you can not destroy yourself for the sake of this battle. Do not. Your booster worry about you. They are as I write this working to help you. Training as hard as you ever did. You are not alone no topic how much you fight to defecate it so. There are people that will tolerate if you die, even if you take Voldemort with you.

I can not bid you any entropy about Voldemort 's plan or whereabouts. I am constrained by the rules of my club. I would better them for you but it would do no good. I would be found out recollective before I could divine anything for you.

The lonesome assistance I can generate you I have already given. I wish I could do more Harry, you must believe that.

Remember to fag out the pendent.

DO NOT DIE.

Pythea.

Harry picked the pocket-sized piece of lambskin up carefully and slipped it into his breast air pocket. His hand stayed there a moment longer, pressing it into his thorax, before he took a deep breath and let it out.

Do not die.

He did not destine to, but it had always been a hypothesis. And no matter how much masses would suffer if he died they would put up more if Voldemort was left alive. Harry had a strong urge to take the missive back out and translate it once again, or maybe twice or three clip. But no, he had workplace to do. Wait ... something in the alphabetic character tugged at his mind. Maybe there was a way.
*


Malfoy snorted as Cho was sent flying across the way. The new recruits were trying to keep up, they were just failing. He turned away, they were useless, just a waste of time for the rest of them. The marauders themselves ? Draco managed a small smile for that, they were progressing nicely. They could fight. They could fight as a team. They could push on their own. They could oppose like kneazles in a poke if they needed to. And they would need to.

He moved over to a pile of pass boxes and ran his finger over a long, dilute, grey cloak inside. The Weasley twins claimed they could release them into temp invisibleness cloaks with some Sir Thomas More practice. Draco did n't doubt it. The good luck charm would n't last for more than a day or two but that was all they needed. They could just respell them afterwards. buckler charms graced the dark grey crownwork in the next box, plenty to deter modest curse. In the beginning it had just been a way to transmit the charms, the Same as an amulet or a ring. mob of invisibleness were common enough even though they were hideously hard to progress to and protective amulets were ten a penny. But the clothes were easier for the Weasleys to work, and the darkness Lady Jane Grey made them invisible at dark. That had been the kickoff, but now it almost seemed more ... Like they were becoming an Army in truth, they had uniforms. Parvati had wanted to stitch little Ms onto the clothing as a symbol of the marauder but Ginny had n't let her. waste matter of sentence, too conspicuous too. Draco smiled again, it did n't count if the apparel were kvetch grey or rap with lilliputian snitches. Either way by the end they would suffer an group of invisible, shielded, deadly fighters.

Invincible cutthroat motherfucker. Marauders to the core. Harry would take in been proud. At least, Dragon hoped he would be.

'' Draco ! '' Ron yelled. `` Break time 's up get back here. ``

'' I 'm coming Weasley stop yelling. '' Dragon gritted his teeth, all of his muscles hurt. Never mind. `` spinal column to work on. ``

'' Stop. I need to tattle to you. ``

The voice came out of nowhere. The marauder twisted towards it, wands out. The duels ceased, every eye widened in shock.

'' I heard mortal was raising an army. '' Harry quirked an brow. `` I find myself in motivation of an army. Is this one for hire ? ``

'' Hire ? '' George let out a laugh. `` Harry this is your United States Army. ``

'' commodity, I should get a bank discount. ``

The marauders broke and all began talking at once, it was a happy tempest of sound with Harry laughing in the heart. 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 get. He had come because he needed them. This would be the 1st job of the army.

'' Harry ... '' genus Draco cleared his pharynx. The green middle 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 give birth a table ? ``

Dragon pointed the way and Harry pulled a huge flat solid of sheepskin out of his bag. Harry laid them down on the rough surface of the last-place surviving table in the attic. It looked like a giant copy of a map.

'' There 's a ship. '' Harry traced it 's path along a farseeing personal line of credit on the map. `` It 's stuffed to the branchia with dark creatures. Direct to the dark lord. one C, including a lot that we really do n't want him getting his hands on. It 's not going to make port before U.K., it 's going to be far out to sea. No portkeys, no labial pipe, only way there is to fly. ``

'' That 's why you need us. '' Padma said thoughtfully.

'' Yeah, variety of. '' Harry hung his head. `` I can just about manage to fly in a unbowed note. Slowly. But out over body of water ? With the steer and maybe storms and ... and over urine. And when I might have to piddle a quick exit ? No. I need getaway drivers. ``

'' I thought you wanted us to fight. '' Ron said, disappointedly. Harry 's eye narrowed, he opened his sass but Ginny cut in.

'' We 're here for whatever Harry needs us for Ron. '' She snapped. `` You should know that. ``

'' I ... right. ``

'' rightfield. '' Ginny nodded sharply. Draco half expected Ron to present. Ginny turned back to Harry. `` What kind of nighttime creatures are we talking about ? ``

'' respective kinds of nasty. '' Harry was looking between Ginny and Ron curiously. `` Lots of creature. ``

'' Manticores ? '' Hermione added.

'' Yes ... '' Harry looked at a list jotted at the bottom of the map. `` Six of them. ``

Draco glanced at the list and let out a startled oath. They could not let this ship reach land. Even if they had to lose half the ground forces to do it. The Cerberus had to be juvenile at least, no one could stuff six good grown ace into a ship. Unless it had been magically expanded. Which it almost certainly had. They could not let that ship orbit land.

'' We need to get on that ship. '' He heard himself saying, his vocalization a little breathless. `` We could fly on, or ... or ... ''

'' Go onto it ? '' Harry let out a harsh jape. `` That would be pretty dangerous. ``

'' Because of the puppet ? ``

'' Because I 'm going to dip it. ``



This is the finish chapter of apparatus, I promise. From now to the end of the book is unadulterated adrenalin-fueled plot.


I do n't own Harry Potter. I do however own some tall mallow. Which is just as good.



'' Sink it ? '' Hermione 's phonation was a shrill, disbelieving whine.

Ginny felt like slamming her handwriting up to her forehead. Of course of instruction Harry would want to sink the ship, it was the simplest, easiest, root if you did n't care about the consequences.

'' But ... but ... `` Terry baker raised his mitt 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 wiz, they can just apparate to prop up. 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 fingers. `` Foiled again ! If only someone had stuffed them in big metal John Cage for transferral. Then they 'd sink straight to the bottom. ``

'' How are you planning to subside it anyway ? '' Fred asked, eagerness clearly visible in his eyes.

'' Well, I plan to blow a big muddle in it underneath the body of water line of reasoning. Then I 'm going to put another big trap in it underneath the water supply line. And if that does n't work I 'm going to put a third- ''

'' This is a sensation gravy holder I assume Harry. '' Draco interrupted. `` Putting a yap in it may not be as easy as you think. It 'll take all sorts of charms and protections. ``

'' I can go around them. ``

'' Without the people on the ship realizing ? ``

'' Yes. ``

'' Really ? ``

'' Yes. '' Harry folded his weapon. `` I have thought about this Draco. I have planned this. ``

The attic became mum again. Ginny could feel the cogs moving in people 's heads. They were all thinking how far they were leave to go. The marauder ... well they were probably in. The others ? They had signed up to fight death eaters not commit turn of terrorism. How did she stand on this ? On balance ... with Harry. Those creatures could not be allowed to achieve shore.

'' We ca n't do this. '' Padma was shaking her head. `` We ca n't sink it. ``

'' You running away ? '' Harry was looking at her in repulsion. `` You want to just let them release that form of- ''

'' No of course not ! '' Padma interrupted him. `` But you have n't thought of everything. ``

'' Oh yeah ? Well what have I missed ? ``

'' The statute of secrecy. '' Padma looked down at the map, perhaps just to quash coming together people 's eyes. `` If we do this they 'll be this hulk wreck with triad headed skeletal system and they could float to the surface or get into the gulf stream or divers could detect them. Not to mention that individual 's going to notice a jumbo exploding ship off the seashore. Even if we tell the ministry afterwards they ca n't manage this kind of killing, not on this exfoliation. No one can. It 'll be worse than Roswell. Keeping magic secret from muggles, the statute of secrecy, is the one affair both side of this war agree on. If we break it then they 're going to start breaking it and then we 're going to be really screwed. ``

Harry leant back, rocking back on the balls of his feet. He bit his lip. Thinking. The marauder held their breath.

'' Ok. '' Harry spun the map to face Padma. `` Give me another option. ``

'' We add-in the ship. disenable the crew. drink down the tool. '' Padma said definitively. `` If I 'm reading this right the ship only a XII people on it. No dying eaters. Most of them are just there to celebrate the animate being in check. Should n't be too unvoiced to daze them. ``

'' And the animals ? '' Harry asked quizzically. `` Some of them are n't easily to kill. ``

'' The killing execration. '' pant rose from the army. `` It 'll kill everything on this listing. ``

'' Is n't it an moment life prison term ? '' Cho choked out.

'' Only when used against human being. '' Padma replied calmly at the Saami fourth dimension as Harry said,

'' Only if someone finds out. But would n't any underage magic be detected."

"Not in outside waters."

'' And the ship ? '' Harry asked. `` If we just leave it drifting wo n't that be against the statute of silence ? ``

'' We leave the crew on it. They can get it so a good wizard harbor. ``

'' Hmm ... '' Harry folded his arms and looked at Padma appraisingly. `` That ... could ... workplace. It would be more difficult, more speculative ... more fun ... but it could solve. ``

Ginny felt a grinning. This was the almost like the old Harry back again. Sure they were planning an act of massive piracy rather than a prank but it was Harry back again.

'' We can split up. '' Harry continued. `` direct a duo of people down to the H2O to waitress. The ease of us go in. If we can remove the crew out and stamp out the animal we do. If not ? We default back to my program and the people in the water blow it to smithereens. We worry about the side effect later. ``

Ginny took a deep breath and halfway through realized that most of the marauder were looking at her. Her throat closed up and she almost coughed up her lungs. They were still looking to her, even though Harry was back. Harry was the full general they all knew that, but maybe ... maybe she was the serjeant-at-law or something.

'' Who can swim ? '' It was literally the first matter that popped into her foreland. `` Who can float really well ? ``

Anapurna 's hand shot up instantly smiling, the two Baker youngster volunteered dim maybe still a piffling hesitant, finally schism shrugged and lacklusterly raised his arm.

'' Four hoi polloi. '' Ginny looked down at the map, at the little cartoon of the ship. `` We can put ... two each in the H2O near the forepart and back. ``

'' stem and derriere. '' genus Draco murmured. She glared at him.

'' Near the front and back. '' Ginny continued. `` Everybody else land on the front. ``

'' On the back. '' Harry disagreed. `` Here, in the steering bit with the cycle. ``

'' Bridge. ``

'' Shut up. We land on the steery bit and assume everybody out quickly. '' Harry pointed at Draco. `` You stay there and keep the ship on form. You can do that ? You know the right hand names for the steery wheel and the buttons and stuff. Yes. Good. You stay there, the rest period of us go down to the cabins and stun everybody, toss off the animate being. leave. We keep the brooms handy so that if something goes wrong we miko the bather and fly out of there. ``

'' Sounds like a program. '' Ginny nodded.

'' Right. '' Harry reached over and drew a big crisscross on the map over a beacon, right down on the Dixie seashore of Cornwall."I will assemble you here."

"Meet us ?"Ron scratched his head.

"The ship ‘ s not reaching us for another month."Harry shrugged."You don ‘ t expect me to hang around here the whole time. Dumbledore ‘ s out for the day but I think he ‘ ll notification if I start appearing on his little map."

"I thought-"

"You thought I was back."Harry finished for him."Well I ‘ m not. There ‘ s still Death eater ‘ s out there. Still work to be done. take aim up, be ready, and I ‘ ll meet you there. observe the map, I ‘ ve got transcript. But don ‘ t let anyone see it. Goes without saying. And take care up how to agitate all these things."Harry turned towards the door. He disillusioned himself with a moving picture of the wrist, and a mo later he was gone.

"Well,"Malfoy said dryly."I guess we have work to do."
*


"Can you believe he came back ?"Ron drew his knee joint up to his chest. He and Hermione were in the library, the actual library, not the Ionic dialect. They were on research responsibility and had about eight billion Bible out in front of them on every kind of sorcerous fauna, trawling through them for the useful ones. There weren't many. The Hogwarts program library for some reason didn't have Scripture on how to butcher cage animals. Ron thought it was useless, they had already decided to use the killing hex, but apparently Harry wanted to be prepared so ...

"Hmm ?"Hermione hadn't looked up from the huge book in front of her.

"Can you believe he came back ?"Ron repeated."Harry."

"Shush !"Hermione put a finger's breadth to her lip."We ‘ re not supposed to talk about him where people could discover !"

"No one ‘ s listening."Ron rolled his eyes."We're sitting on the story in the restrain section of the subroutine library, at midnight, under a temporary invisibility cloak."

"It ‘ s not an inaudibility cloak."Hermione hissed.

"Hermione no one is here."

"Just keep reading."Hermione looked back down at her account book."I ‘ m not doing all this myself."

"I'd have thought you ‘ d saltation at the chance."Ron smirked."With all the training it must be old age since you studied anything."

"Yes ..."Hermione bit her lip."And the owl are later this twelvemonth ..."

"What we ‘ re doing now is more important."

"Yes. Yes I know."Hermione shrugged noncommittally."It ‘ s just ... well there ‘ s the rest of our lifespan to opine about. What about after the war ends ? What then ?"

"Look at it this way. If Voldemort destroys the ministry he'll probably destroy the Wizarding Examination Authority too."

"That doesn ‘ t help."Hermione stared at him angrily. Ron felt his hackles rising, another fight brewing. But they couldn't fight, not here.

"You ‘ re here because if you weren ‘ t here you ‘ d flavour shamed for not being here."Ron blurted."And you could be somewhere else but you ‘ d be thinking about being here so it wouldn ‘ t even matter that you were there because you wouldn ‘ t be able to concentrate because you ‘ d be thinking about here and him and Voldemort will kill everyone. Even worse you ‘ d get bad class because you ‘ d be feeling guilty."Ron ran out of breath.

Hermione's sassing hung assailable, mid yell. She opened and shut it a few sentence before coming out with,

"Shush. People will discover you."

I won. Ron smiled as he flicked a random Book open.
*


"I am trouble Severus."

Snape stayed silent. He could not suppose of a prophylactic response.

"I should be winning this war."

Still no safe response.

"And yet things are not progressing as well as they should be."The dark noble was staring out into the darkness through a faded window. They were in another nondescript and abandoned construction. Snape felt his skin crawl, he had been summoned alone. That was worrying.

"The ministry grows weaker every day."Snape volunteered.

"It grows more dreaded each day."Voldemort tapped his finger's breadth on the crank."care can be my weapon, but it can also work against me. They retreat, they place to a greater extent safeguard, they make it more difficult for me to reach what I seek. Do the order still hold back a guard duty on the department of enigma Severus ?"

"Yes my lord."For all I know they could have got stopped, not in all probability though.

"At this point the comfortable way to gain access 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 think the dark lord was worried.

"If you wish to oppress the ministry perhaps we could use the imperious curse-"

"No !"The night master snapped."No Severus, no more sly maneuvering in the darkness. No more subversion. I tire of it. I tire of it ‘ s inadequacy. I should not have to work from the shadows. Do you not cerebrate so ?"

"I always work in the shadow Lord."

"Yes ... yes you do."The iniquity Jehovah narrowed his eyes."The Potter boy is a problem."

Snape gritted his tooth. He had to intend fast to prevent up with these lightning fast change of pace.

"The Potter boy has always been a problem."Snape said diffidently."But he is just one person."

"He has caused me a big mass of trouble for one person. I would once again parliamentary procedure his last but ... I fear it would do no good."

"He wants to obliterate you."Snape said, letting his mouth movement as his idea worked."We could set some variety of trap."

"With your lord as lure ?"The iniquity nobleman's voice was not angry, he knew that that was not what Snape meant. This was actually what passed for banter.

"Of trend not my Lord. I apologize."That had been what the dark overlord expected to hear.

"Is there any progress with the toxin Severus ? The one that has been killing so many of our Quaker ?"

"Not a corking muckle my lord."Severus bowed his head. He had no difficulty feigning ignominy at not being able to discover the secrets of the cryptic toxin."It is very unknown. 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 path impossible. No known animate being carried a toxin like this."All I can think of is that perhaps someone has been breaking the decree against observational breeding."

"You do not think it was Potter ?"

"It may take been."better to keep the shadow Almighty guessing."If he did not then we have two vigilantes against us."

"Against us ..."The dark lord seemed to roll the word on his lips."Against us ... people who are against me die. I have let this continue for too long. We have been forced back too a great deal. It will end now. I have decided. We will crush the ministry. We will wipe out them utterly. No subversion, no trace, I will kill them."

"Yes my lord."Snape tried to work out how many death eaters were left. Surprisingly few. Harry had seriously cut into their numbers pool. Did they even have enough people for an assault on the ministry ? Probably ... they probably had enough. If the order helped though ... if Dumbledore helped ...

"We will wait for the shipment to arrive."The dark lord said, almost to himself."Then we will have the forces necessary."

The shipment. The phantom shipment. None of the death eater knew when it would be arriving. It was apparently too important.

"Yes my lord."Snape bowed deeply."We will need everyone for this to succeed. If I might ask where Barty Crouch is perhaps-"

"No !"The dark God Almighty looked at Snape over his articulatio humeri. The icy stare could ingest nailed oxen to the wall."Crouch is doing what he has been told to. He will succeed, in clock time. He is one of the few I can trust. Him and you, Severus."

You trust no one. Snape thought as he turned away. Now where have I heard that before ?
*


Hermione held on tighter as the broomstick angled down. She was following the heather ahead of her but the lighthouse was already visible far below, sending out it ‘ s pulsing lighthouse across the night-time sea. The confidential information was hideously frigid on her typeface and the iniquity lashings of pelting kept spraying in through her hood. There couldn't have been a sorry day to invade a ship full of monsters.

The primer coat came up and she managed to land without falling. All around her she heard the rest period of the army touch down. Well ... almost of the rest of the army ... Of the new recruits only Split was there, lounging over his broomstick in his usual country of mild tedium. The others had been left behind, Ginny had decided they weren't cook, weren ‘ t trained yet. Not that Split was properly quick either but he was only going in the water.

Hermione looked around. Harry was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he wasn't here yet.

"You ‘ re late."Harry faded out of nowhere, shocking the piranha."Lets get on with this."Harry kept glancing at the crashing waves nervously. He drew a tumid bottle out of his coating and took a deeply gulp from it before shoving it back. `` Pep up potion, did n't sleep well conclusion night. '' Harry explained. Hermione tried to ignore the twin facts, one : that the feeding bottle had been almost abandon and two : that as Harry shoved it back in his pocket there had been the manifest Chinaman of encourage bottles.

"takings these."George broke the silence and stepped forward with a small M shaped pin and a small twain of gamey tinted glasses.

"What the nether region are these ?"Harry squinted through the electron lens."Everything looks weird."

"The pins are tags."George explained."The shabu can see the tag even under invisibility cloaks. This way we can keep track of each other."

"Ah ... nice."Harry pinned the tag on his dark coating and dropped the glasses in a pocket."I ‘ ll put them on when we get there."

"They ‘ re your prescription."

"I know."Harry nodded."Thanks. Who ‘ s broom am I sharing ?"

"Over here."Draco waved him over and Harry hesitantly flipped a leg over his broom.

"Well, we all know what we have to do."Harry addressed the piranha."let get this done before we get too wet."

genus Draco's broom snap into the air and Hermione reluctantly followed. Out over the H2O the idle words was even defective if that was possible, she kept being buffeted one way then the other. The sea underneath a groaning grey sheet, a muffle contemplation of the sky. They were getting further and further from nation. The episodic luminosity of the lighthouse got Sir Thomas More and more swoon. She couldn't see the flyer around her ! She panicked for a minute until she realized how stupid she was being and slipped her bluing lenses over her centre. The little shine sparks of the tags sprung into eyeshot, each one illuminating a minuscule glowing dark ghost of a person. Like an outline in the swarthiness. Flying close, she was near the strawman. How did Harry wait to recover the ship in this ?

"Angle left field !"Was that Harry ? The glowing shadows of Harry and Malfoy started to turn left. She turned to correspond them. What was he following ? Intuition ? legerdemain ? Something he hadn't told them about.

"I DON ‘ T SEE ANYTHING !"She heard Dragon's voice on the wind.

"IT ‘ S THERE."Harry was hunched over on the broom, peering out over Draco's articulatio humeri."WE'RE CLOSE ! drop curtain DOWN !"

Hermione descended with the residuum of them and shrieked with fear as the spray from the sea hit her ramification. Surely they didn't need to be this low ? Suddenly, as if they had crossed an invisible bloodline, the ship blinked into existence. A low slung behemoth, waves making it roll and pitch sickeningly. It looked ancient, all the wood was black with age and weather. A huge rectangular block, slowly crawling across the water.

She felt someone pass her and saw shapes flying off towards the bow and bottom, keeping close to the water. Even with the lights on the ship they were still only glowing outlines. The cloaks ! She pulled hers around herself and flicked the hood up over her fount. She should consume done that earlier. The rest of them followed until they were right up against the side of meat of the Cordell Hull. Harry leant off his ling to lean against the pitching wood. Removing the protective charms, Hermione forced herself to calm down as they hovered there just above the non-white water. Suddenly there was a little pop and a small creak ... the wards were down. Hermione picked out the raised back section, the ‘ steery bit ’. Where the rest of them were going. The brooms slowed to a creep as they raised up the face. Absolute silence as they floated up onto the deck on the promote end section. No one was on deck of cards, there weren't even any lights.

Harry raised his arm and pointed to a modest hatch. He moved over to it, whispered a silencing charm, then pulled it open and climbed inside. Draco went next, moving just as silently. They had worked this out too, The Weasley twins would go last to watch their exit. Hermione realized it was her bend snuck over to the hatch as quietly as she could. The stairs flattened out to a short hallway with the door to the nosepiece, then kept going down into the body of the ship.

The vulture were clustered around the door. Harry was crouched down looking at the curl, a look of compactness on his face. Hermione looked past him, down into the vast storage area of the ship. near of it was shrouded in darkness but she could just see the row upon rows of John Cage down the slope of the ship. The bars were rusted and ancient, reinforced with magic. But they looked like they were archetype to the ship ... like they were built in. Which was ridiculous of course, unless ...

Unless this used to be a knuckle down ship.

Hermione shuddered despite herself. None of the others had realized, none of them would. Except for Harry they had all been wizard raised and he hadn't been in school long enough. There was no point telling them, no understanding to make this any creepyer than it already was.

The shadow that was Harry stood suddenly and put his hand on the threshold handle. What was he doing ? This wasn ‘ t part of the architectural plan ! They were going to use gas under the doorway. What was going on ? Hermione raised her wand, they had to stun everyone inside in a minute. Harry threw the doorway open unhurriedly. The acute tang of ancestry filled the air. No one cast any trance. No one spoke. Harry slowly stepped into the bridge.

"Of course."He said dryly, the first row spoken since they'd landed, spoken dispassionately while looking out over a room full of ravaged remains."Of course they're loose. We ‘ re on a spooky ship at dark entire of man-eating deadly animate being. Of line the animal 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.

"bump it."Ginny growled under her breathing space."Forget everything. Sink it now."

"We can ‘ t."Harry said angrily as he stepped over a body and stood in movement of the master bike."At least not yet."

"Why ?"Annapurna was glancing around fearfully."Why not ?"

"Two reasons."Harry leant against the wheel tiredly."One ; the whole peak was that the brute would sink in their John Cage, now they could float to shore. Two ; there are still three crew penis live, barricaded down in the time lag where they ca n't apparate out."

"How do you know ?"Draco snapped suddenly.

"I know !"Harry snapped back."We need a new plan. The creatures are mostly still in their John Cage, seems like it ‘ s just the manticora that got loose."

"How do you-"

"I just know !"Harry rubbed his forehead tiredly, his eyes were closed."There are compartment room access down below. If we can trap the wildcat inside the cargo area, split up it off and ward it up unspoiled it ‘ ll be the like as a cage. urine gets in, animals do n't get out. Just one job ..."

"What ?"Ginny was eyeing the doorway carefully, looking for anything trying to nobble up on them.

"The crowd are down in that hold."Harry took a late breath and turned back towards the marauders."Alright ... this is what we ‘ re doing. I need four people with me down in the cargo deck, It ‘ s too cramped for more. We go get the survivors, get out. The eternal rest of you split up and observe the fore and aft doors. You lock them skillful the moment we give the signal."

"quaternary ‘ s not enough."genus Draco said immediately.

"I don ‘ t have meter to argue !"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 trump. Your four good. Now."

No one spoke, Hermione felt like kicking herself. Of form it wasn't like old sentence. Of path this wasn't the old Harry, it was definitely the new Harry. It always had been. Ginny cleared her throat,

"Draco, me, Hermione and Padma."Ginny took a deep breath."Ron, Fred, George, you fly over and man the other door. Everyone else watch this one. The signal is-"

"Me yelling to shut the bloody doors."Harry interrupted."No point being stealthy at that point."

Harry moved slowly out of the bridge. Hermione steeled herself them followed. They stepped down the stairs slowly, the huge wait opened up in presence of them. Surely it had been expanded.

"This way."Harry whispered, pointing along a raised walkway."Draco, watch our back."Harry stalked forward, his verge out ahead of him. Hermione followed him. They passed a non-white Cage, inside it a mammoth black lump shifted near the backbone. Hermione tried to ignore it, the one in the cages were the dependable ones, it was the ones outside they had to watch out for. The cage ended and was replaced by another, six red eyes looked out from behind the barroom. The three dog heads were pressed right up to the sharpness, watching them. occur to believe of it the cage animals probably hadn't been fed in a while. Suddenly the pitching and rolling of the ship seemed unfit. If she fell into one of the cages ...

She spread her feet further apart, trying to get more static. This was terribly, this was Scheol, and they were going in to redeem some stupid smuggler. Bad masses ! Hermione didn't feel ripe for thinking like that. Not effective at all. Harry suddenly raised a hand for them to stop.

"Get down."Harry hissed."One of them ‘ s coming. From up ahead. It hasn ‘ t seen us."

Obviously it hadn't, they were invisible. But how had Harry seen it ? Hermione watched as Harry aimed his wand down the dark gangway, waited a long consequence ... and flicked it forward, muttering under his breath. The newsbreak of jet light was expected but still horrifying, flying into the wickedness. For a instant it illuminated a raspy Lion mane and two shining eyes glowing green in the light. Then it snapped out and there was a numb clunk like a body hitting the floor.

"One out of six."Harry murmured, then shuddered."So that was the killing bane. Felt like drinking nightmares."

"Harry ..."Padma began but Harry silenced her with a wave.

"It 's just a tool."Harry shook himself."Just a creature. Just a tool. Come on, lets keep going."Harry stepped forward, into the darkness.

Harry brought them to another staircase and quietly slinked down, his dorsum pressed up to the wooden wall. As they crept down Harry held up a bridge player to stop again and dropped down to his knees.

"The other five are sleeping in there."Harry pointed down the steps."Round the corner, right in front of the storage way where the crew are barricaded."

Hermione didn't bother to ask how he knew.

"Now the hall opens up just round the corner."Harry sketched the curved shape of it with his script."We can hit them all before they even wake up. Draco, you kill the one up by the far left,"Harry pointed straight into the bulwark. `` 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 stair. Got it ? Everyone gear up ? ``

Hermione was gripping her wand hard, her medallion wet with elbow grease. She did n't experience ready but she nodded anyway. They shifted closer towards the niche. Harry held his hired hand up, three finger's breadth. Two fingers. One ...

Harry swung out around the edge, his verge coming up, at the same prison term his knees bent down. giving the ease of them a better shot. Hermione jumped out as fast as she could, the elbow room was pitch black ! How was she supposed to-

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' A blast of park light flew from Harry 's scepter, striking a dark shape on the ground and throwing the rest of the room into incisive shadows. Four readiness of shining eyes perked up in the darkness. Each of them was exactly where Harry had said. Hermione aimed frantically,

'' A ... Avada Kedavra ! '' It felt like icicles were flickering down her arm, stabbing down her arm all the way down to her mettle. Freezing deep into her chest, like threat. Then it was gone a second later as the burning at the stake green light flew away, striking the manticore as it rose from the terra firma, throwing it back into the priming. At the same time she felt three more blow of wind and flashing of dark magic fly out from beside her. A shattering wreck of wooden splinter sounded and there was an angry inhuman roar. A embodiment unfurled like a spring and flew across the room towards them. Hermione felt her arm shooting up, too slowly ! Too behind !

'' Excalabus ! ``

A shining white light flashed across the wood and there was a screech like a saw across glass. She felt a spray of dark rakehell concealment her and a heavy shape flew past her, impacting with a heavy clunk against the bet on paries. 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 roue into the floor. She turned back. Harry was standing over the early half, his wand surrounded by a glowing white nimbus, extending out like a flare. Like a sword. He flicked it off and the room became iniquity again.

'' Who missed ? '' Harry 's vocalisation was low and hard.

'' I did Harry. '' Draco shook his capitulum. `` It was too far away, too little light source. I saw the oculus, I- ''

'' Practice. '' Harry cut him off and turned away from them. `` drill hard. '' As he walked away one of the hellhounds in a cage began barking and biting at the bars. It could smell the blood. Hermione tried to disregard it, tried to recall that the cake were reinforced. But it was hard. The dog on the former slope woke up at the noise and rammed the barroom with its shoulder. There was a shriek of alloy and the dog fell back.

Harry ignored the gigantic Cerberus and walked calmly through the blue way to get to the small doorway at the end. He thumped it with his fist.

'' Hey ! '' Harry yelled. `` human in there get out. We 've come to deliver you, except we do n't want to see any wand and you 'd amend have your hands up ! '' There was a scraping sound as if huge crates were being moved. The dogs kept scraping against the bars, biting at the Wood. Hermione tried to keep on composure ... tried to ...

Oh no. No no no no no !

'' Harry ! ``

'' What ? '' Harry pushed the doorway open, revealing three tousled and ragged 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 charm on the ship ! ``

Harry 's face fell like a popped balloon. His heart shot wide.

'' So those ginmill are just ... ''

'' Heavily corroded iron. ``

'' God hates us. '' Harry whispered. `` God hates us ... RUN ! ``

At the moment Harry yelled the left hellhound took a break away pounce and shattered through the BAR straight a him.

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' Harry 's sceptre had flicked up the instant it moved and the green promiscuous struck the massive muscled shape in the air. But it kept moving and fell like a gemstone onto Harry, like a muckle of smuggled haircloth and sweating flesh. At the stopping point moment he threw himself to the incline and slid out from under it as it fell to the storey in a splintering plosion of wooden shrapnel.

'' well do n't stand there run ! '' Harry yelled, pushing himself to his groundwork and waving them towards the door. He turned to the crewmen. `` You too ! ``

The other hellhound had a bar in each mouth and was grinding them apart.

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' Harry gibe at it. The turn 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 running base and the hideous gnashing of goliath jaws. person pushed her to the face and she saw one of the scrawny crew members making a break up the stairs. She picked herself up and threw herself forward as fast as possible. She glanced behind her, all the marauders were cannoning along behind her. Harry was bringing up the seat, sending pulse of common nightmare behind him.

They reached the passing. She could see the doorway ! The paries exploded in splinters and four muscled arm reached out to grab her.

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' The spell came easier this time, freezing her to the core as even as it threw the wendigo back through the bulwark. In a way it made it promiscuous, it made her numb. She felt somebody jostle her forward and realized she had been standing still. She dashed towards the doorway, trying to prevent away from the buckling bars of the cages all around her. They could smell the blood.

'' Hermione what the blaze is going on ! '' Parvati yelled from the side of the door as she hurtled through.

'' Just close it ! '' Her throat felt raw. `` come together it ! ``

Hermione scrambled away down the corridor before turning and looking back. The raged crewmen were already huddling on this position of the door just as Ginny and Padma hurtled through with genus Draco right of their dog. Behind them the hold was a hellish nightmare of churning flesh, every dark shadow seemed to get a crawling fauna. Harry was still in the corridor, retreating slowly as he threw spell after turn at the roaring mass.

'' Harry just leave it ! '' Dragon yelled. `` Get back here ! ``

Harry spun and dashed for the door, the shadow following like a wave. Suddenly the John Milton Cage Jr. in front of him exploded outwards, dark haircloth and scarred flesh coming between the marauders and Harry. Wooden sides of the Cage buckled and broke, the cap came with it, filling the air with splinters and the passage with heavy wooden spars. It was blocked.

'' close down it ! '' Harry 's voice shook the ship, amplified by magic. `` I 'll get out the other way. ``

Hermione froze. No, they could n't. She saw Ginny glance down the corridor, then up at Draco. They both nodded.

'' conclude it. '' Ginny ordered, her voice raw.

'' But ... ''

'' CLOSE IT ! '' Ginny suited her dustup and flicked her verge at the heavy hatching, slamming it shut. `` Hermione Mary Augusta Arnold Ward it ! ``

Hermione shook as she raised her wand. It took her three endeavour to properly seal the threshold up.

'' Right, now get on the Scots heather. '' Ginny grabbed hers off her back. `` We get to the early face of the ship and go in after Harry. ``

Of course ! Hermione threw herself onto her broom. They could still go in and aid him !

'' You three with them ! '' Draco bellowed at the gang fellow member, pointing at the Baker twins and Neville. `` And detain unruffled. ``

Hermione lifted off the floor and aimed up the hatch to the outside. The rain and nothingness hit her but she ignored them, they had to go help Harry ! Suddenly the air was filled with a buffeting bulwark of sound. The night air was lit up with two twin eruption of firing. Reflecting off the mountainous waves and painting them red like a sea of lava. Under her the ship lurched to the side, there was the strait of gushing water.

'' Why did you shoot a line it ! '' Someone yelled behind her. Hermione turned to see Ginny tend off her Calluna vulgaris and grabbing snag by the nominal head of his robe.

'' I got the signal. '' The storm boy shook his drumhead. `` I assumed it was you. ``

'' What 's going on ? '' Fred yelled as he, George V and Ron were swooped in from the former end of the ship. `` Did everyone get out ? ``

Oh Harry ... we should have known.
*


Harry leapt from the top of the cage as it disappeared under the gushing water supply and grabbed the beam above him, swinging up onto it with all his intensity level. Something below him roared but he ignored it and dashed along the lose weight and shaking length of wood.

This was hellhole. This was his own personal inferno. The water supply was coming in everywhere, gushing up through a thousand holes in the hold. And the creatures ... Harry had had to lodge the cargo hold sealed. If he hadn't they would feature broken free. They were everywhere down here, he was sure that if they weren't trying to pop each other as hard as they were trying to eat him he would already be drained. In the water beneath him the drear head of a hellhound surfaced and gulped a skin breath 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 descent, in a foaming maelstrom.

He had to get out of here. Harry's eyes frantically searched for some way ... any way ... out. The water supply was everywhere ! The terror rose in Harry's throat. He couldn't think ! Couldn't intimation ! NO ! NO ! rest focused !

Harry leapt onto the top of another shift cage, ignoring the floating corpse in the water nearby. There had to be some way ! His eyes searched frantically but all there was was crashing water and writhing flesh. Harry was struck in the back by a gush of water system, knocking him down to the metal bars below. He spun around and the waterfall struck him in the side, threat blindsided him again but he threw it down again. The gushing urine was coming from a ... tube ? A trap ? A ... feeding fix ! Harry threw himself to the paries and clambered up a heaving beam of light, the roof right above him, he flicked his wand out,

"Hammus Missus !"The spinning conjured string lashed out and stabbed into the pipe. Harry grabbed to and prayed that Hollywood got some things right. He let go of the wall. He swung out into the spray of gushing water and screamed as it splattered over his foreland. He was thrown out the other side but he came back just as fast."This is ludicrous ! Arefacio !"The waterfall dried up and he was able to climb a few feet up before it began gushing again.

A squawking terror exploded from the darkness to Harry 's left. His sceptre was occupied but Harry clawed a gun from his sac and fired wildly at the feathered beast. He did n't stop shooting until it disappeared into the water below. Harry stuck the gun in his waistband and cast the Arfacio again. He was able to pull himself up another few invertebrate foot before the water came again.

By the painfully slow stopping and starting he was capable ( just ) to progress to the organ pipe. He cast one Thomas More drought charm and reached as gamy as he could in the darkness, his fingers reached the edge. Harry dropped off the Sir Ernst Boris Chain and pulled himself up with all his forte. The water system struck his head just as he pulled himself up and beached himself on the pitching deck like a seal.

The ship was already mostly subaqueous, there was just the smallest, high-pitched, portion left. Sinking fast. Where were the vulture ? There ! Up high !

"HEY !"Harry magically amplified his spokesperson and shouted out over the water supply."I ‘ M Here !"

The brooms dropped like Harlan Fiske Stone, shooting right at him. genus Draco braked to a occlusive right in battlefront of his face.

"You idiot !"He yelled, reaching out and pulling Harry onto his broom."You staring idiot !"

"Shut up and fly !"
*


The Inner Light of dawn was just creeping over the horizon when they finally touched down back on land, a rough stony beach. Harry staggered onto self-colored background and tried to get his balance back. He turned to the three disheveled crewmen.

"You three are going to go out now."He growled, raising his sceptre."I don ‘ t guardianship where you go. I risked my seat for you but it doesn ‘ t make you any less scum. Bare in mind that by failing to protect your ship you failed lord Voldemort, he ‘ s not going to be felicitous with you so if I were you I ‘ d go far far away. Right now."

The three men broke and ran like frighten coney. God knows where they ended up. Harry breathed out and turned back to the marauders.

"goodness. That went well."

"well !"Padma let out a smother cry."Everything that could possibly have gone wrong did go wrongly !"

"And despite all that we stopped the cargo and made it out alive."Harry sat down on the hard ground and pushed the whisker out of his eyes. God he was tired."We have to get into that the odds will be stacked against us. We have to always birth that in mind, tonight was a good example. We have to be prepared for the whip case scenario, we met that tonight. And we did well tonight. We did, we really did. I ‘ m proud of all of you."

The marauders all bowed their read/write head, they looked as exhaust as he felt. They were too tired to be proud right now. Too bad this wasn't over.

"Here,"Harry drew his bottomless bag over and pulled a collapsible shelter out of it. It raised itself with a tap of his wand and would fit half a business firm inside."Get inside and get some sleep. We need to be set up in five hours."

"Little Phoebe minute ?"Ginny asked pointedly."What happens in five hours ?"

"stage two of the design. In six 60 minutes will be when the ship was meant to come into port."Harry grinned evilly."There will be a grouping of last eaters, five of them, waiting to welcome them in a hidden port site. Hidden ... rocky ... enclosed ... good home for an ambush."

"We ‘ re ambushing them ?"Draco asked disbelievingly."Today ?"

"Yes."Harry pushed himself from the floor."Today. I mean Voldemort to sense the doubled whammy of the loss of his creatures and his dying feeder all in one fell swoop. I mean to put to put the heat on him, really reverse up the menace level you know ... The creature were the chief affair, couldn ‘ t let them reach land. The death eaters are just the icing on the cake."

"Harry ... are you sure enough ?"Hermione stepped forward."We ‘ re all outwear already ... we don ‘ t want any mistakes. Maybe we should let this one go."

"No."Harry shook his head teacher."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 valuable resting time. I ‘ ll subscribe the showtime watch. Go on, there are bottom for everyone. Huge 1, this a really good tent."

Harry settled back down on his rock as the marauders trouped inside the tent. Harry sighed, if they didn't like phase angle two they definitely wouldn't like phase three.



follow-up or a whale prehistoric dragonfly will choose you to be the emcee for it 's leechlike larva.


The next chapter 's a big one so brace yourselves.


Please execute these staple safety checks before reading this chapter
1 ) brand sure your electric chair is untroubled and stabilise so that if you faint you will not pass to the floor and hazard head trauma.
2 ) Make sure you are not in hearing of any tyke so when you let unleash with a string of expletives it does not reach their petite ears.
3 ) fit your blood pressure. If it is significantly above norm you may want to study this chapter in quick dashing distance of a defibrillator.
4 ) Lock away all minuscule objects you could shake off at your electronic computer screen.
5 ) Pray.

This, boys and girls, is the big one ...



Snape felt his grade burn in the midsection of a potions lesson. That was worrying, Voldemort had always been thrifty of maintaining his cover. The soft touch burnt harder and Snape had to grit his dentition as the pain sensation shot up his arm. This was very worrying.

"Are you alright Sir ?"A Slytherin first year. No one but a Slytherin would have dared ask him. Snape lurched to his feet.

"Pack up your matter. The lesson is over."He could not leave them unsupervised with potions constituent. Snape hurried out the door, 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 observe the order informed, but he could not bring himself to reach Dumbledore directly. He sent a second patronus to Natalie and a tertiary to Albert Michelson for thoroughly measure.

He reached the main 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 human foot touched undercoat. He glanced around, another morose place. A warehouse by the face of it, dust covered the wooden boxes stacked to the high cap. The rest of the decease eaters were already there, standing in a crude circle. Only Bellatrix had kept her masquerade party off, she usually did. toilet table no incertitude. vanity and a need to be seen. Snape stepped into his seat in the circle and waited. He did not block out himself, he did not recognise why. Perhaps a whim.

But were they all there ? Snape glanced back around the circle, only eight material body stood sentinel in there midnight gown. At the finally group meeting there had been fifteen. Snape had grown to the point where he could recognize each of the death eaters by shape alone beneath their masks. Who was missing ? Dolohov, Corvidae, Avery Sr, Mulciber, the Carrows and Forneus. All death feeder that Voldemort could be said to trust, if he could be said to intrust anyone. That all of they would be missing at the same clip ... it was very worrying.

'' Do not vex yourselves. '' The voice of Voldemort came from the air between two stacks of crateful. A bit 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 make for glad news show. wait my ally, wait with longanimity. ``

Snape shifted his stance. The shipment was here, that could be the just news program that would put Voldemort in such a glad mood. Snape made make to memorize any detail that he could glean when the seven death feeder appeared. Any tiny fact that might assist to at least somewhat reduce the damage.

Reduce the damage ... that was a joke. come down it from a catastrophe to a disaster.

He was broken out of his thinking be a loud quip. He turned to see Forneus hit forward from his apparition point in time. His black robe were streaked with mud and sand and were torn raged. He collapsed near the edge of the circle, his arm out entreatingly towards the nighttime lord.

'' Master ! '' He gulped, his voice good of care. `` We were attacked. Spells out of nowhere, C of them. We could not hold them back. ``

'' What ? '' Voldemort whirled on the prostrate wizard.

'' They were waiting for us. Waiting at the dock. '' Forneus ducked his head to the floor. `` I was the sole one to esc- ''

'' appear me in the eye ! '' Voldemort hissed, Forneus was dragged to his feet by an invisible force. `` take care your lord in the eye when you admit your unsuccessful person. ``

'' There was aught we could do my lord. '' Forneus cringed. `` They must feature known about- ''

'' Crucio ! ``

Snape watched as the white hirsute expiry feeder writhed on the floor. How had this happened ? Not the order, he would hold been capable to narrate if this kind of with child musical scale mental process was in the offing. The ministry ... that was just preposterous. So that left ... Harry Potter. This was done by Harry Potter. Snape kept his face impassive as his tum did cartwheel. Harry was alive, fighting and apparently capable of fighting seven destruction eaters all in one morning. But Forneus had said there were many of them ... well that explained the absence seizure in his sunrise class.

The night Jehovah whipped his verge back, Forneus stopped shaking and instead started whimpering.

'' Up Foerneus. Up ! '' Voldemort dragged the cringing death eater to his feet again. `` I expect more from one of my oldest servants. ``

'' Please ... please ... ''

'' What of my ship Forneus ? '' Voldemort stepped forwards. `` Where are my puppet ? ``

'' I ... I do not recognize my Divine. '' Forneus squeezed his middle 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 cognize about the ship. I suspect ... I think ... the ship may be no more my master. ``

'' No more ? '' Voldeomort repeated coldly. `` No more Forneus ? My loading ... my creatures ... is no more than ? ``

'' I do not know my lord. '' Forneus ducked his nous. `` They were not at the harbour. ``

'' You mean it is at the arse of the ocean. '' Voldemort 's voice was at it 's most icy and smooth. `` You mean to tell me that my wight, that I bought with good atomic number 79 and solemn promises of far gold are dead."

'' I do not know my Godhead. ``

'' You do not know. '' Voldemort snarled. `` You do not know ! Crucio ! ``

Snape tried to remain calm. What plans would this change ? How did this affect things ...

'' Please master ... '' Forneus was trying to speak through gritted teeth. `` There was nothing we could do. ``

'' Who did this ? '' Voldemort snapped suddenly. `` Who is responsible for ? Speak ! ``

'' I did not see. '' Forneus whimpered. `` They were hiding ... I did not see their faces. They were everywhere but conceal. They was zippo I could identify- ''

'' Let me be the judge of that. '' Voldemort raised his wand again. `` Legilimens ! ``

Snape watched as the two wizards remained with locked eyes for moments, then hour. Snape was beginning to marvel what was happening when Voldemort looked away, his brow creasing.

'' Your remembering have been altered. '' Voldemort said quietly. In anyone else Snape would have thought he was worried. `` Your retentivity have been altered. Inexpertly, but they clearly have been. ``

'' You ... Do you call up the ship may still be there my lord ? '' Forneus asked hurriedly.

'' No. '' Voldemort tapped the side of his chin thoughtfully. `` Your memories are your own until you remember apparating away from the fight. I suspect that you did not. I suspect you were captured and whatever was done to you was done then. You were then allowed to escape. They probably thought to conform to you here. Foolish. No magical spell could track you here, I have warded this lieu against tracking spells. ``

Snape began to feel nervous. Harry was far from a fool, what was his plan here ?

'' hitch still ! '' Voldemort snapped at Forneus. He flicked his wand at the death eater. Nothing happened. Voldemort frowned. `` No tracking spells of any kind ... interesting. rick out you pockets ! ``

Forneus quivered as he reached into first one dark pocket of his robe, then another. As his hand reached his interior pocket he froze.

'' My lord ... there is something here. '' He slowly drew out a flat ignominious box, the size of a battalion of cards. A little red light blinked on its surface. Forneus held it out for the dark Godhead. 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 to the lowest degree he could recognize that it was muggle applied science. What could it be for ? The nictitation brightness level was like a vengeful eye but it did not look to be a weapon ...
*


Ginny dropped off her broom and hastily stowed it in a carry case before shoving it under a cloak with the others. She checked herself to relieve oneself certainly no toe or lock or fuzz had fallen outside her own cloak ... no. Good. She motioned the others to follow her as they snuck up to a chain gate. Beyond were two lined of decrepit muggle warehouses, some of them with the roof fallen in. Harry eased up to the gate, his center darting down to a lowly device he held nestled in his hand.

'' This is it. '' Harry nodded. `` They 're here. In the third one down feather on the left. ``

'' Are you for certain Harry ? '' She whispered. It was n't that she did n't confide Harry, it was this muggle elec-tricks. Surely it could n't be as honest as a tracking magic spell. She glanced down at the bright screen on the device Harry was holding and tried to link it back to her muggle written report lessons. The thing was pretty composite, more coordination compound than a clock. There must birth been hundreds of gearing inside. Ginny wondered how often it had to be wound. Harry looked into the disused industrial area, squinting at the removed warehouse, then nodded.

'' I 'm sure as shooting. Ca n't you feel the wards around this berth ? yield me a minute and I 'll ruin us a way through. ``

Ginny tried to make herself breath as Harry knelt down and drew his scepter, drawing it through the air as if trying to catch rainfly. She turned to the marauders 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 masses 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 program, his plan to end it today. She had wanted to block off him, wanted to slap him down when he said that this was the best chance they would get. The job was he was right. She should secern them that Ginny realized,

'' Harry 's right, this is as well a probability as we 'll ever get. Voldemort 's sapless, Voldemort is running low on servants. We have the reward of numeral and the element of surprise. They 've got lord Voldemort, but we 've got Harry ceramicist ... '' Ginny broke off, looking into their wide eyed faces `` I know you 're scar ... I know that maybe, bass down, we all hoped we would n't feature to face Voldemort himself. But we are, and by doing it we can end this here and now. We can write grand of lifespan today. Today is the day. We 've been an U. S. Army for a farsighted while now, we 've been soldiers. But today, today we 're submarine. If we pull this off, one terminal masterpiece of marauder mayhem. We. Will. Be. Heroes. Get ready to fight, you know what to do. ``

As if on cue Harry chuckled triumphantly and pushed the gate open a fraction. He slid inside and motioned the others to do after him. Ginny swallowed and followed him in.
*


'' Whatever this device is supposed to do it is clearly faulty. '' Voldemort snorted contemptuously and knocked the Black gimmick onto the flooring. `` Foolish of them to swear on muggle devices. Idiotic. ``

A rough chuckle went around the circle of wizards. Snape faked laughter even as he continued to gaze at the box. The red light source was still blinking. Voldemort licked his back talk and sucked it air in a serpentine hiss.

'' A blow. '' He said, apparently having recover his composure. `` A momentary blow. We are still the greatest mavin alive, possessing powers the muggle loving fools in the club could not even comprehend. I shall triumph. ``

'' lord ... ''

'' We wield the wickedness magics, the only admittedly index ! Trust in your Maker and we will prevail. ``

'' Master I have- ''

'' Forneus ? '' Voldemort turned on the cowering wizard. `` You dare break your master ? You dare even after you have humiliated yourself so ? ``

'' No my lord, '' Forneus bowed his head. `` It 's just ... I have found a sec device. '' He held it up for Voldemort to see. The iniquity lord took it unworriedly.

'' Ha, how droll. '' Voldemort held the matter out for all the death feeder to see and laughed. `` They have sent me a engine block of mud. Perhaps this is their theme of a prank. ``

Snape was not totally incognizant of muggle technology and felt a unattackable urge to shake off to the floor.
*


Harry watched as Voldemort raised the bomb above his head. He glanced to either English, there were marauders poised at each threshold and her knew there were Sir Thomas More at every early entrance. He looked back to the end eaters, Snape was with them but ... standing far enough away. He probably would n't be killed. Harry closed his oculus, Snape would understand.

Harry drew the cap out of his gown. Hopefully this could be ended right now. With chance even if Voldemort realized what was happening he would n't be able-bodied to screen fast enough. The war could end there and then.

'' I do have a power you know not. '' Harry muttered under his breath. `` Turns out it goes boom. ``

He clicked up the cover song 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 shield slid between the wickedness lord and the bomb there was an earth-shattering crack and Snape was hit by a wall of noise and light. He was lifted off his feet and thrown painfully against a crate. His ears were full of only ringing and he fell in curious detachment, not even hearing the clump as his own body crash onto the floor. Through the fog of noise and tried to act his pegleg, painful but kept, then his arms. He got to his feet, blinking as everything swam before his eyes. He raised his wand to his face and tried to fix his vision. It was n't perfect but even the imperfect panorama before him shocked him to his core.

fire licked every crateful as the plosion had thrown burn shards across the intact warehouse. He could see the death eater running about in a mad, silent, panic, their mouths open in screaming of botheration. Snape raised his scepter to his ear and hesitantly muttered a healing charm. The shocking klaxon call of sidesplitter almost made him rue doing so. Nott ran past him, his very fleece ablaze on his binding. Snape ignored him, if anyone noticed his uncaring attitude to a fella death eater they would just attribute it to outrage. Voldemort himself was nowhere to be seen. Snape stumbled forward, stepping over a prone body, his mind still full phase of the moon of fuzz.

'' Stupefy ! '' The shot came out of nowhere, striking the fucking name of Nott and throwing him to the floor. Snape had his own wand out but the looker were flying faster, from everywhere. Snape 's psyche ached, he could n't keep up with this.

'' Bhraanti taraGga urvii ca agni ! '' The dark trance exploded out of the worldly concern, throwing boxes away and tearing the concrete underfoot in a burning inferno. Voldemort appeared out of the smoke in the center of it, his arms raised as the baron of the spell coursed through him. The shattering ground expanded in every direction, clearing a distance in the darkness warehouse. Voldemort finally let his blazonry fall, his heart still blazing with power. He pointed at three cowering death eaters with his claw hand. `` You ! construct a baracade there ! Bella, the same there ! They have surrounded us and warded this home against apparition, but we will cut them down ! They will rue the day they chose to fight down me ! ``

Snape felt his muscles moving dully as he moved to help levitate the crates into a roadblock. The dish were already flying again. The C. H. Best thing was to stay silent, wait for his chance.
*


'' Damnit ! '' Harry threw himself behind a big bucks of boxes as a killing curse burned through the air where he had just been. He rolled and came up next to where Draco was peering out the turning point of a flock of sacks. Harry spun out around the corner and took in the roadblock of crates. He was invisible but there was so a great deal smoke-

'' Avada kedavra ! ``

Harry spun a crate into the path of the spell then banished it against the barricade. It exploded, raining beans over the death eaters.

'' Galbinus digitus ! '' Harry whipped his wand at the greenness rain shower and vines shot out of the dried stalk, binding the two wizards into suffocating heaps. Harry darted back behind the sacks as magic spell began to rain down down on the smudge he had been standing.

'' Got them ? '' Draco yelled at him.

'' Think so ! How many do you- '' Harry was cut off as the ground before them raised up in a roaring clangor. Two massive baseball field eyes fractured open in grey Lucy Stone and two arms erupted up beside the animal. It punched into the soil and the two predator were thrown back.

'' Reducto ! '' Harry aimed at one stony eye but the enchantment just bounced off.

'' Avada kedavra ! '' Dragon called out desperately as they scrambled away, the curse left a monolithic crack through the thing 's front man but it did not stop it 's overture. It raised it 's arm like a cock,

'' Excalabus ! '' The polishing sword crew out of nothing and sliced the golem 's arm off at the elbow making it roar in pain. Harry slashed through it 's body and jumped away as it crumbled into dust.

'' That was Voldemort 's oeuvre. '' genus Draco panted.

'' Oh really ya remember ? '' Harry glanced around for a means to snipe. `` They 're all in one place. We 're strung out over the whole bloody warehouse. He can pick us off one by one like this, unseeable or not ! ``

'' You think we should form up ? '' Draco held his wand out ready.

'' No, they 'll just escape the other way. '' Harry ground his teeth together.

'' Maybe the aurors will get here soon. '' Malfoy had to dodge as a tour pin-wheeled over his read/write head. `` Or the order. ``

'' Ca n't bank on a maybe ! '' Harry glanced up and got an idea. `` Hold the line, I 'm going to break them up. ``
*


Snape saw a dim figure dashing through the smoke and aimed just behind it. This was lunacy, pure madness. Without Voldemort the destruction eaters would have fallen at the first salvo, blinded and burned as they were, but with him they were holding their own against the ghost ground forces raining spells down on them from all instruction. There was no telling where the future attack would occur from, even the roadblock were scant tribute. And all the while the heat from the burning building all around charring into his pelt. Being stuck in the middle of all that and not really being part of either side ... madness.

Snape hoped that perhaps Harry 's unseeable USA would accredit him but he could n't calculate 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 oneself Harry if something went wrong. Snape shielded himself from a barrage of lulu and cried in hurting as a luscious chip of metal dropped onto him from above. He looked up in time to see a spray of sparks dislodge from the ceiling far above then yelled despite himself as the metallic element twisted inwards and Harry dropped like a diving war hawk into the middle of the demise eaters.

His the boot struck Bellatrix in the look just as she looked up and aim her to the trading floor with a bone-splitting crunch. Harry rolled like and came up in a moment slashing his wand like a brand, there was a ostentation of white light and Rodolphus was opened from hip to neck. He went down spraying red stemma across his attacker but Harry had already whirled and blew one of the barricades to smithereens.

'' Avada kedavra ! ``

Harry ducked the nemesis and gibe back but he was in the middle of the expiry eaters now. Exactly what he wanted, Snape realized in flashing moment. He 's providing a beguilement for the others to attack. The problem was he would probably die to accomplish it. Snape raised his wand to aid Harry but there was a sudden gap of black light and he felt pain invade every tree branch. An orb of darkness spun through the air towards Harry. Harry dodged wildly but there were too many other spells flying and it exploded in the air next to him. Driving him sprawling to the floor. Snape shuddered, he had just experienced the aftermath of the tour and he felt like he had been kicked in the headland by a horse. What Harry must be feeling he could not imagine.

'' Protect us ! '' Voldemort snapped, his sceptre still smoking from the right curse. `` I will deal with the boy. ``

Snape turned to make it calculate like he was complying but retain sentinel as the wickedness Creator stepped up closer to Harry. Voldemort held out a paw and summoned Harry 's wand to him.

'' Very brave Mr Potter. '' Voldemort raised his wand. `` And very foolish. You must forgive me but I do n't suffer time to induce one of our traditional chats. Avada- ''

'' Avada kedavra ! '' Harry threw his left arm up as he shouted the unforgivable. The mocking laughter died on Voldemort 's lips as Harry 's hand exploded in green light.

The magic spell flashed through the air towards the outrage dark lord. Snape watched as if in irksome motion as Voldemort's manus flew into his gown and gripped around something. The very bit before the dark-green bolt struck him he disappeared. The patch slashed across the circle and struck Rosier in the chest, catapulting his stiff into the wall.

"Lord !"Forneus'stifled voice sounded out as she rushed forward. Harry had fallen on his position cradling his hand in agony but at the death eater 's cry he unfurled and thrust his mitt forward,

"Avada Kedavra !"The honey oil bolt flashed towards the old decease eater but he threw himself to one side and screamed a curse. A purple thunderbolt flicked off the end towards Harry but he frantically waved another death eater into the itinerary of the trance then banished the screaming frame so that it crashed into Forneus'face.

"kill him !"someone yelled and Snape realized that the other death eater were turning on Harry with rictus snarl of vengeful fury. Snape's gaze flicked from the end eater 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.

"treasonist !"Forneus was rising from the flooring with his wand pointed in recrimination."Crucio !"

Snape ducked the spell and darted over to stand berm to shoulder with Harry.

"Incendio !"

Snape shielded without thinking and the flaming while was absorbed into the general inferno.

"Tempesto !"Harry screamed, his vocalisation twisted with pain, and waved his hand in a whirling arch. A nothingness sprung from vacuous air and drew the flaming wood into a spinning crack cocaine of hellfire. Harry pointed and flung the firestorm at the death eater, scattering them like cony. Harry spun on Snape in the short-circuit metre that had gained them.

"Why did you collapse cover ?"He yelled, swooping to grab a fallen wand."They all saw you ! Idiot !"

"No more idiot than you for coming here !"Snape shot back as he sent a stunner at a stumble shape in the flame."Rushing in like a chump ! You are doing exactly what I said you would !"

"I had a plan !"Harry growled at him."And it would have bloody worked if Voldemort hadn ‘ t had an exigency portkey !"

"You risked your life !"

"Mine to risk !"

"As is my cover !"Snape glared into the grass but the other end eaters seemed to be trying to scat rather than fight.

"They ‘ re trying to escape."Harry confirmed it and began advancing after them. His wand outstretched as he marched into the smoke."The aurors have broken in too now. We can trap them between us."

"Harry how have you been casting spells ?"Snape hurried after him, his wand flicking towards every hint of motion.

"Wandlessly obviously."

"Harry wandless trick is beyond you."Snape grated, it was the simple truth."And besides, certain charm can not be performed wandlessly, it is simply insufferable. The unforgivables are among them."

"Impossible for regular people."Harry flashed a rictus smile through the murk.

'' Harry, your paw ! '' Snape cried as he saw it clearly for the firstly time. He grabbed the arm, his eyes panoptic with horror. The middle fingerbreadth was burnt down to a stub and his index finger's breadth was gone to the indorse metacarpophalangeal joint. The integral rest of the hired man was shrivelled and charred, as if it was burning from the inside out. It was boiling to the touch sensation. `` Harry what have you done ! ``

'' What I had to ! '' Harry pulled his ruin hand back and held it painfully to his chest."I ‘ m the boy who lived, the bloody chosen one ! make out on, they ‘ re this way."

Wondering how Harry knew Snape followed him into the murk.
*


'' What is the office ? '' Shacklebolt yelled as he dashed up to the side of the flaming building. Ginny turned and almost felt like hugging him. So recrimination, no asking why they were there, no telling them off, just straight to business concern. This must be why dad looked up to him.

'' There were eight demise eater inside, at least three dead now. '' Ginny rattled off. `` Voldemort too. They were barricaded in the middle but Harry scattered them. We have n't seen Voldemort himself since then but some of the others are still in there. Some of our people too, invisible. ``

'' Voldemort 's gone. '' Shacklebolt supplied. `` Unregistered portkey. Fletcher, take your team to the west entrance- ''

Ginny stepped back towards the edifice and grabbed the invisible bread maker Twin who were standing with her.

'' We 're getting everyone out, all our people. '' She motioned one of them to each end of the building. `` We got them, we won. ``
*


'' Harry give up ! '' Snape yelled as Harry had to jump out of the way of a collapsing down of burning boxes. `` You could be killed here ! ``

'' They 're still in here ! '' Harry forged onwards into the murk.

'' sucker boy ! '' Snape 's robe caught fire and he threw it off angrily before rushing forward. He grabbed Harry around the arm only to be shook off. `` They will all be suddenly or gone by now ! ``

'' Two of them are still in here ! '' Harry pointed with his ravaged mitt. `` 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 sole thing in his head was an idle interest in the fact that the vomit was steaming as it hit the floor. Harry stumbled to his groundwork and Snape hissed in shock, Harry 's optic were running red with blood.

'' Harry something is amiss with you. '' Snape stepped forward carefully. `` Something is clearly wrong. You need a healer. ``

'' I ca n't leave alone yet ! ``

'' The aurors will- ''

'' No ! '' Harry turned and dashed into the smoke. Snape heard a monumental crack from above and swung his wand up, not fast enough. The wooden beam struck Harry in the back and drove him down, knocking him out and pinning him to the story. Snape dashed forward, for once not even thinking of his wand, and shoved the beam off with all his strength. It thudded onto the story and Snape rolled Harry onto his binding. stemma was running down the poor male child haggard face.

'' Oh Harry .... why ? You fool ... '' Snape felt rising angriness. None of it directed at Harry. `` You did n't ingest to do this. You did n't bear to do any of this. You did not get to destruct yourself .... Damn you Dumbledore ! '' He slammed his fist into the cracked undercoat and bowed his pass. He did n't even notice the second beam before in struck him on the binding and drove him from consciousness.

And all around the fire raged.
*


'' Are all of your the great unwashed out. '' Shacklebolt yelled at Ginny.

'' Not Harry. '' Ginny frantically glanced back into the blaze. `` He 's still in there. '' She saw Shacklebolt 's expression fall.

'' The building is not going to finale much longer. ``

'' Gone on Harry. '' Ginny felt herself whispering. `` ejaculate on ... ''
*


The witness scrabbled through the flaming storage warehouse. He had come following the aurors, come hoping to kill more death eaters. Cause infliction to the snake-one. drive painful sensation to Tom Riddle. But all he had found was flames, fire and death.

His eyes darted around, trying to rule a way out. If he was trapped here both he and Smoky would be killed. His finger's breadth idly caressed Smoky 's scales where she hid in his sleeve. Maybe Smoky could veil in one of the grates in the floor, but he would die for indisputable. And if he died he would never get his revenge.

Henry Sweet dessert revenge ... He took a moment to savour the mentation as the flames licked at his legs.

What was that ? A jam in the floor, one of the muggle ones. A way out. He shuffled towards it and flicked the covering fire off with his wand. As he was about to bring down himself into it he froze. Just nearby were two figures pinned to the ground by a beam. 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 Riddle, the thief of life, the trickster, the face-stealer, the- He shook his head as the leaning of hatred raged through his mind.

He lifted the piece of Mrs. Henry Wood off easily with a magic spell and regarded them through his fading eyes. He did not remember 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 ground and scuttled to a faded window and threw them through the ice. There were shouts from out-of-door and he could see the robed men clustering around them. The garbed men could n't see him though. He scuttled back to the hole in the floor and lowered himself in.

They could n't enamor him yet.

He still had killing to do.
*


Harry stood in the orchard apple tree orchard again. The foliage turned brown for the season, the ground wet with dew. In every focus it stretched, impossibly deep.

'' Why am I here ? '' Harry tried to say, but his oral fissure would n't make auditory sensation. His throat was closed.

What is this place ?

Harry turned on his bounder and there was the edge of the tree, just paces away. And beyond it ... nothing. The world just dropped away as if the trees were the only if real number thing.

The speech sound of the river raged in his spike, filling him with fear. He ran from the sharpness, back into the refuge of the trees, 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 station ?

Harry hugged his arms to his chest. This was a ambition, this was only a dream.

Then why does it feel like this is the only thing that 's genuine ?
*


'' He 's awake. ``

Dragon dropped off his hospital bed at the phone of the healers phonation and hurried up to the slope of Harry 's bed. well-nigh of the early marauders clustered around with him. The Weasley Twin and Parvati were all in their own bottom, kept mercifully unconscious while their injury healed. They had all been hurt when they managed to trail themselves out of that inferno, it was a small miracle none of them were short. No ... not a miracle, they had trained, they had prepared. That was the reason they were still awake. Not a miracle.

genus Draco looked down at his friend, lying pale and wan on the infirmary flat solid. His eyes had cracked clear, but he still was n't moving.

'' Welcome back Harry. '' Hermione grasped Harry 's hand encouragingly. `` Do n't try to verbalise yet the medico said you were really sick. ``

'' ... ah ... '' Harry licked his back talk and tried again. `` ... Volde ... mort ... ''

'' He got away. '' Ginny supplied. Harry squeezed his eyes shut, a dun groan broke out from somewhere in his chest.

'' Do n't feel bad mate. '' Ron was clearly trying to sound upbeat. cretin. `` Only three death eater got away. We got all the rest, all of them. ``

'' Who ... ? '' Harry 's enquiry was hissed out through obvious pain.

'' Well, there was Rookwood. '' Padma began, counting off on her fingers. `` He managed to steal past the aurors. Forneus too. ``

'' Three ... ''

'' And ... '' Padma 's eyes flickered towards Neville. `` And Bellatrix. ``

'' Bella ... '' Harry 's face contorted into a snarl. `` Got her ... Could aver I got- ''

'' You did Harry. '' Ginny picked up a glass of pee and slowly helped Harry to drink from it. `` The aurors were dragging her out but she came to in their arms, killed one of them with her bare workforce 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 only auror, parliamentary law member or predator to die yesterday. '' Draco supplied, he could see Ginny 's promontory bow. She could n't possibly feel shamed could she ? The man had let an unconscious prisoner rip out his windpipe. It was tragic, but it was no single fault but his own. Harry certainly would n't feel guilty.

'' We got the rest though did n't we ? '' Harry asked, glancing down at his bound hand.

'' well-nigh of them are dead. '' Dragon supplied. `` Those who did n't die in the combat died in the fire. ``

'' Gibbons died. '' Neville said quietly. `` I saw the aurors pulling him out. Someone should severalise Vanessa. She deserves to know her father 's bushed. Even if he was ... well you know. ``

'' If it was me I 'd be disappointed I was n't the one to kill him. '' Harry said quietly, still staring at his bandaged hand.

'' Harry, your hired hand ... '' Hermione brought it up and there was an split second cooling among the marauders. No one had wanted to be the one to ask Harry about it. `` Your helping hand it ... ''

'' Injured, I know. '' Harry looked over at it dully. `` Can the healer fix it ? ``

'' They ... they can grow the fingers back Harry but- ''

'' Perfect, that 's all right then. ``

'' But how did it befall in the first place ? '' Hermione looked like she was trying to stave off actually looking at the helping hand. `` Snape said you used a wandless kill jinx which is impossible- ''

'' Apparently not. '' Harry cut her off. `` If they can fix me then why have n't they started ? I need my hired man back, Voldemort could retaliate at any here and now. ``

'' Harry ... '' Hermione looked around, perhaps looking for backup. Draco shook his head, she had opened Pandora 's box she could care with it on her own. `` Harry the helping hand is n't the just thing awry with you. ``

'' Some sort of curse or something ? ``

'' No, at least ... they do n't conceive so. ``

'' What are you talking about ? ``

'' Well- '' Hermione began but was cut off as a voice said,

'' Let me explain. '' genus Draco looked towards the sound to see Snape striding in through the door. The marauder made way for him as he moved to the invertebrate foot of Harry 's bed. A white bandage encircled his forehead but he did n't seem to observe it. Snape nodded towards Harry 's destroyed hand. `` I think I understand now. That was a Shén de shou was n't it ? ``

No. No Harry oh god no ! Draco felt some horrific cocktail of rage, concern and ruth grow in his chest. He didn't, he couldn't have. But genus Draco knew in his essence that he could.

'' By the fact that you 're asking you already know that the result is yes so why bother. '' Harry replied coldly.

'' Harry you are twice the fool I ever named you. '' Snape bowed his top dog, his oculus closed. `` That you would do this ... ''

'' Do what ? '' Ginny broke in. `` Do what ? What 's a ... Shin-de-show ? ``

'' Shén de shou, a god-hand. '' Draco supplied, finding that his spokesperson was almost tinged with tears. `` It 's an functioning, originating in Republic of China, they insert wand kernel into the pearl of your hand. Surgically. '' There was a gasp from the piranha 's but Draco carried on. It felt better if they knew it too, like the repulsion was more spread out. `` It 's outlawed everywhere in the world. It is insanely dangerous, even when they are done right they damage the user since the illusion has to wedge it 's way out through anatomy and cutis. And casting a curse word as powerful as the killing swearing ? He 's favorable he still has an arm. ``

'' I was n't planning on using it levitate feather. '' Harry said acidly. `` It was a weapon of last resort, and it worked. I saved myself and almost killed Voldemort. ``

'' If it were only that bare Harry. '' Snape still was n't looking Harry in the eye. `` Your Shén de shou may have been installed properly, it may not birth been. Either way it would not report for all of your symptoms. And yes Harry, you have many symptoms. The healers found infection in your blood, some new and some just leftover. You have been sick all year have n't you ? Keeping yourself going with pep-up potion as you reeled from one sickness after another. And now they have all caught up with you. ``

He was sick. Malfoy felt dread rise in his venter. He was sick rightfield at the jump of the year and I did naught ... I could have prevented this.

'' You are hurt more deeply than anyone can differentiate, and they can barely say at all because of that ! '' Snape pointed at the evanesce and chip off pick-me-up around Harry 's arm. `` You have it charmed so that none but you can remove it. Your paranoia is killing you since the malign eye prevents the healers from telling what is actually ill-timed with you. A fact I think you know, a fact I think you know very well. You do not need anyone to screw what was going on inside you. You got the Shén de shou Harry ceramicist, but what else did you get ? You came back after a summer 's fourth dimension and suddenly you stand toe to toe with Death eaters ? people who have spent their life learning the blackest of artistic creation ? No ... no ... You did not simply train over the summer calendar month. What else suppurating sore under your peel ? What else have you done to yourself ! ``

The silence in the way 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 write your life. '' Snape was virtually shaking.

'' My animation 's Charles Frederick Worth nothing if Voldemort 's around. '' Harry shook his brain. `` Afterwards. I 'll toss off Voldemort then the poppycock comes out. Until then I need it. ``

'' Afterwards ? Afterwards ? '' A pluck squeezed out of the corner of Snape 's eye, shocking everyone. It might have been a tear of cult, it might not. `` Harry by then it may be too late ! The healer say that you have months, half a twelvemonth at very best, if we do not do something. ``

'' And search what I 've done with a year ! '' Harry yelled angrily. `` I 've pushed Voldemort back to the brink ! How many death eaters does he have left ? FOUR ! Down from what ? Twenty ? thirty ? I knew I would n't have a great deal clip. I accepted that my lifespan would be severally cut, but I have taken my lifespan and beaten that snake faced jerk-off around the forefront with it ! He is hanging by a thread thanks to me ! I am the solitary one who can get the better of Voldemort ! The only when ONE ! You know that ! The freaking Chosen one, I had to do this. I had to ! There was NO OTHER WAY ! No way for me to win, not against him. I needed every advantage I could see so, god help me, I went out and found some reward. I had to. And if it means I win my big prophesied engagement against the bastard ? Then I made the right telephone call. And if I do n't ? Then it wo n't count anyway. ``

Harry cut off, his chest uprising and falling sharply, showing how much his spoken communication had taken out of his spite frame. Snape was just standing there, his face an untellable mask of sorrow. Another bust, and another. professor 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 silence like a Delilah. `` 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 eye of the night on a stormy sea. You knew where we were too. You put the glasses in your pocket, I never saw you put them on. We were invisible, but not to you. Oh god Harry ... evidence me you did n't. enjoin me ... '' Padma reached a hand forward, up towards Harry 's cheek. Harry did n't flinch back even as her long fingernail reached up close and tapped his eye.

The unmistakable chink of glassful was like a death toll.

'' Your eye ... '' Hermione breathed, every reverb of her voice begging it not to be true. `` You ... you cut out your eye ? ``

'' No, guy at the shop did it. '' Harry tried to quiver Padma 's hired hand away but clearly did n't stimulate the strength. `` Do n't you all look at me like that. I saw how utilitarian Moody 's was and got one for myself. This one's better though, it can look anywhere, out the back of my forefront and all but it's charmed to look like it's pointing the Lapplander way as the former one. So no one ever knows. It 's been utile, Thomas More than useful. You ca n't tell me it has n't. '' Harry's voice had grown more shrill as he spoke.

'' But ... your eye. '' Hermione shuddered, her hired hand involuntarily flinched up to her face. `` How could you ? ``

Draco felt bile rise like a volcano. Just the mentation of tearing out his own eye made him sick. What icy and horrific will would it take to willingly pick out that self-mutilation. For the first prison term that year, genus Draco began to reverence Harry a little.

'' Do n't expect at me like that. '' Harry was shying away from their stares, pushing back into the bed. `` What ... Do n't ! Do n't seem at me like you do n't know why I did this ! Do n't look at me like you do n't understand. I had to ! ``

The desperation in his part. The motivation for them to realize, to justify what he had done. Draco shuddered. In Harry 's lieu would he have done the same ? He honestly could n't venture. No one could. Draco cleared his pharynx,

'' 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 humble in that moment. Very lost.

'' Please let them fix you Harry. '' Draco felt a minuscule hand hold on his and glanced to the slope to see Ginny. Offering living. A good acquaintance. Thank you. `` You might now even need this clobber anymore. Voldemort is weak, maybe- ''

"Maybe !"Harry snapped."Maybe, maybe MAYBE ! That ‘ s all I ‘ ve heard all year ! I won ‘ t trust to hope ! It ‘ s too important."

"Harry please ..."Draco's pharynx felt like it was closing up."Please ... you may not understand just how much legal injury you ‘ re doing to yourself. Waiting a few workweek even could-"

"frustration Voldemort."Harry said coldly."I ‘ ve made my choice. Tell the healers to fix my mitt, just the hand. You don ‘ t think I wish it was different ? I do. But some bastard vaticination had the gall to set my life in motion long before I had any say in it. I have to win. I have to win even if I die because goose egg else thing. Turns out this fight was what I was born for and I ‘ ll burn myself from the inside out before I lose to that snake-faced bastard. I have to win. Even if I die."

Draco stepped back from the bed. The horrible sure thing in Harry's spokesperson was shocking. He had accepted his fate down to his castanets. He had drunk it in boulder clay it was the very core of his being. Was Harry even in there any more ?

Draco was shocked out of his idea by a small sound. It took him a consequence to recognize it, but when he did it surprised him once more. Snape was gripping the end of the hospital bed so hard the Sir Henry Wood was splintering. When Draco looked up at the potions master's nerve he almost cried out in reverence. The most terrible dark madness Draco had ever seen was painted across Snape's expression, etched in every stemma and crease. The sorry darkness in his middle were seething syndicate of crush fury. Suddenly Snape let out an almost cold-blooded growl and disapperated on the speckle, tearing a piece of the bed away with him.
*


No thought entered the red fog of Snape's judgement as he strode towards the gates of Hogwarts. His verge whipped out and the vast threshold were thrown back with a rumbling collapse that shook the castle. He could not care less if the whole building 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 out of his way. He was too raging to manage. He saw the gargoyle statue ahead of him and forced the password out through gritted teeth. He rode the stairs up listening to his own racing heartbeat in his auricle. The step primer to a halt and Snape slammed the doorway open. Dumbledore looked up in shock from the composition 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 estimation how to give voice to the thought inside him, they were too many and too powerful.

"I know that Severus."Dumbledore replied coldly."But you are no longer a member of the order so-"

"Do you know why Harry is in St Mungos ?"Snape tried to breath evenly."Because, in an effort to fulfill your preciously prophecy, he found some black market flesh monger that would fit him with a Shén de shou."

"A Sh ..."Dumbledore's eyes widened."My god ... he could take in killed himself ..."

"Yes."Snape could fell his fingernails biting into his palms."But not just that, he had his own eye cut out to fit a magical one. Those and who knows what other mutilations are slowly destroying him. He is going to die because of them. Because of the vaticination. Because of you !"

Dumbledore was staring off into the distance, he looked like his soul was being torn out. Good.

"The boy destroys himself, tears himself apart. He is make to die, because of the prophecy."Snape drew his boldness down horizontal surface with Dumbledore's."I think it ‘ s time he learnt the true statement. Don ‘ t you ?"

"Severus ..."

"You tell him."Snape held a shaking finger's breadth up."I will pay you one probability to tell him, to slake some of your guilt feelings with honesty. But rest assured, if you do not tell him, I will. This lie has poisoned too much already."

"You realize ..."Dumbledore spoke as if from within a fog."That the verity may fall apart him ?"

"No More than the lie has."

"Perhaps."Dumbledore stood, leaning heavily on his desk. He seemed ... ancient. ancient and tired."I will tell him now. Which room is he in ?"
*


Harry glanced up as the 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 side as if expecting to find a cane there.

"nipper,"Dumbledore addressed the marauders."Would you leave us ? Please."

"What are you going to do ?"Ginny stepped in front of the bed protectively.

"Just lecture Miss Weasley."Dumbledore's header hung weakly."Only talk."

"It ‘ s okay Ginsters."Harry nodded towards her."It ‘ s alright."

Ginny looked dubitable but waved the marauders to follow her out. As the threshold banged shut Dumbledore walked to the end of the room, glancing at each bed, then flicked the curtains closed with his scepter. Another moving ridge of his wand and Harry heard a little muffled sound from the door. Whatever Dumbledore was about to say he didn't want anyone hearing. Finally Dumbledore shuffled over to the bed diametric Harry's and sat carefully. There was a long bit of silence that stretched on and on ...

"Yes ?"Harry asked, speech still hurting his throat."You got something to say ?"

"I ... I do not sleep together how to begin."Dumbledore seemed lost, a minuscule lost boy in the Sir Henry Joseph Wood."I suppose I should come out 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 exculpation at all."

"What are you saying ?"

"I ... Let me state you a story."Dumbledore licked his back talk."I am sorry but this is the only way I know to tell you. It begins about fifteen yr ago, I had just born-witness to a prophecy that gave the only hope for the capitulation of the dark lord."

"I know this story."

"Harry please."Dumbledore raised his paw."This is severely enough ... Please just let me speak."

"Alright."

"I had heard the divination, the one you know well. I had determined that it referred to a child all of us in the purchase order knew well. The child of Lilly and St. James the Apostle Potter. I knew that the child was our only hope. Even before the divination was recorded in the department of mysteries I had already placed the potter family under the strongest protection I could. Unfortunately I failed, I was betrayed."

"Sirius Black."

"Yes. Sirius Black. But his treason, though it led to the dying of two of the most brave and honorable people I know, also spelled the end of the night lord. Voldemort was destroyed. near of the wizarding universe considered him drained. The celebrations ... they went on for Day ... hebdomad truly. The entire wizarding populace breathed again thanks to the forfeiture of Lilly and James Potter and the survival of their son. The boy-who-lived. The boy who showed that Voldemort was not invincible. He was the symbol of triumph, the symbol of Bob Hope. But I knew the accuracy, that Voldemort was not truly dead. I knew that the prophecy was not yet fulfilled and that, when the darkness lord would finally move up again, the people would need the boy-who-lived. So I placed him with his female parent blood, with his aunt. The reason were complex, the blood tie-in provided him protection of a sort but it is unimportant now. I should have known my folly, should have known. It is my fault in so many ways. My fault in every way that matters. I should have watched closer ... Because one day, when that boy was six, his aunt had taken both him and his full cousin to the shop class. Perhaps she was not paying attending 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 remembering of the crash through others centre ... he flew so far ... doctors worked on him, then I had him moved to St Mungos and the therapist worked as difficult as the could. But the impairment ... the wound to his skull ... his dresser ... he passed from this world. Just six years old. My shift. All my fault. His blood on my hands ... But I knew it was not over. I knew that Voldemort would still rise, the wizarding world would still need their symbol of hope, their boy-who-lived. Their hero. So I found another boy, of the correct age, in a muggle orphanage. I worked magic to interchange his appearance, his voice, his memory ... his retentivity I destroyed entirely and replaced with pretender, I even supplemented them with some of my own storage of James Potter to make the boy seem like him. Then I placed him back at Privet Drive, I changed the memories of the aunt ... the uncle ... the cousin. I sought out everyone who had seen the crash and tore the retentiveness from their skulls, the Doctor, the therapist ... I made it so that it never happened. And then a sat back and watched ... I watched my fake develop up. I felt my guilt grow. But it was done, and it could not be undone. My keen shame ... the lie that makes everything else a lie as well. The truth is that the chosen one has been absolutely for nine years. You are not him."

Dumbledore trailed off, he seemed littler, even weaker, as if letting this bully hole-and-corner out of him had drained him of everything. Harry shook his head. No ... No no no ...

"No, you ‘ re lying. You. Are. Lying."

"I so wish that I was."

"But I ‘ m the ... I ‘ m Harry Potter !"He shook his head."I ‘ m Harry potter !"

"No. You are not."

"I have the scar !"

"I gave you that scar."Dumbledore had his eyes closed. But even so a shoot down squeezed out from the incline, running down his long nozzle and dropping to the story."I can take out it right now if you wish it."

"No !"His work force jumped up to his brow protectively."You ‘ re just ... you ‘ re saying these things ... WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME ?"

"I am grim. 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 blood pumping in his ears."I ‘ ve fought ! I ‘ ve fought him all year ! I ‘ m the chosen one !"

"You are not. There is no chosen one."Dumbledore sounded like a man burning his live shred of Bob Hope."The prophecy died nine years ago. Voldemort won."

"No. No ..."He was shaking, he couldn't plosive consonant."Lies it ‘ s just Lie !"

"It is not."Dumbledore shook his head."If you want proof just look to your champion. You named them the predator. 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 mind. If you doubt me ask anyone who was at schooling with them."Dumbledore was speaking in dead timber now, he had reached the nates."I have heard you refer to prof Snape as Snivellus and to Remus Lupin as Moony. Those were both name James ceramicist invented. You also knew about Professor Snape ‘ s dark mark. How else would you sleep with ?"

"I ... I ..."The boy could feel himself shaking, his idea shaking apart.

"It is honest. It is all dead on target ... 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 learn his pipe up voice in his auricle."You dragged me to this life you have to be intimate !"

"I do not Harry I ‘ m ..."

"Harry ? Harry ?"The boy threw his drumhead back and screamed, a screeching clamor of anguish."And don ‘ t you dare say you ‘ re sorry ! Don ‘ t you dare !"

"I ... I can not -"

"Get out !"He grabbed his looking glass of water supply and threw it with all his intensity level, rip blurring his eyes. It shattered against the Headmaster ‘ s shoulder."Get out ! Get out ! GET OUT !"

Dumbledore fled the way, holding his arm. As the old star crashed through the doorway the boy threw himself back against the bulwark and howled in pain in the neck and confusion, tearing at his hair with deal like claws. teardrop ran freely down his facial expression from the one real eye he had left.

sobbing and crack he lay there, until dark closed in.



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