This book 's been giving me fuss, wads and lots of trouble. I 've had more botheration from this one than from the former four put together and it 's not even finished yet ! gnarl ... rumbling ...

Anyway as a result I may be boring to post than common as I try to flummox this twisty, unholy recital I choose to send for a story into submission.

Sorry, hopefully the tale will be better for it.

In other newsworthiness : OVER 200,000 give-and-take ! HORAY !



"Hello ?"The shopkeeper peered, bleary eyed, at the soma standing on the other incline of the field glass door."Sorry we ‘ re closed now."

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

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

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

"If your master key wants any of my service."The storekeeper grunted a laugh."He ‘ d better come himself. I don ‘ t do house calls and even if I did some of my equipment ‘ s too sonorous to move."

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Are you a… a dead eater ?"

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

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

"I ‘ ll wait."The man pulled up an old wooden chair."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 shopkeeper gulped as the man began listing what he wanted. His men shook so a lot his wand fell on the trading floor and rolled away unnoticed.

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


Harry's boots hit fireplace and he drew his wand out and scanned the room before lowering it and depositing the required galleons in a jar by the barman.

"Thank you young master."The man simpered.

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

Harry broke into a run as old edifice flashed past him. He hadn't made for London, too obvious. The bold silhouette of Edinburgh castle was outlined against the headliner 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 guy rope obviously out for the night, singing in the street, then sped up as the way began to climb towards the high castle.

He came up a side road and turned away from the historic building. Fitting himself into the crowds of Friday night reveler like a shadow. He flitted across the royal stag mile as fast as he thought safe, clutching his long coat tight about him. At 15 twelvemonth old people wouldn't think it weird for him to be out this late but they might call back that he was alone. Any retention of his passage 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 stupidity of not disguising himself as he flued into the hold out one he could not now risk any of them. Harry cursed, he was still an idiot. Still making pudden-head misapprehension, Harry shook his top dog and pinched himself hard. He had to be better.

The railing station appeared beneath him and Harry swiftly crossed the bridge and slinked in a incline entree. He bought a ticket from an automated machine ( no memory board ) to the first location on the exit instrument panel. Then tore it up, cursing himself again, and bought one for the second one down.

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

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

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

Damn it ! Harry went stock certificate still as two oddly dressed individuals walked into the gearing station. One looked like his outfit was a Hallowe'en costume of a plagiariser, the other was wearing lederhosen. They were the stupidest sight Harry had ever seen.

They were also here to kill him.

Harry could experience the gist of barely contained violence coming off both of them and the plagiarist had a wand concealed up his sleeve. Harry stepped sideways, making his cause seem inconsequential, uninteresting, and pushed open a staff threshold. He stepped in calmly and confidently, not giving any trace that he didn't belong.

“'Ere ? Who are y-"

The cleaner in boilers suit got no further as Harry whipped his scepter out and Confunded him.

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

"R… right."The man mumbled and Harry left swiftly, passing out a side doorway and feeling the cold Nox air. Harry crossed the road and passed to the following street over and breathed a sigh of relief. It was busy, wide-cut of revelers. He could be invisible here.

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

Harry kept to the side as he ducked down the long stretch and ducked into a pub. A few minutes later he emerged, unrecognizable. Wrinkled skin and Lady Jane Grey tomentum, Shakey jackfruit walked again. Harry walked like an old man up the road, watching both ways.

tinker's dam it ! There was one, walking down the street towards him. He was surreptitiously pointing his baton at every someone he passed, like he was dowsing. He was detecting magic. Harry winced, there was his supporter coming from the other direction, doing the same. Harry was cornered.

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

Of grade 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 cause been silenced himself, aiming at the death eater's scepter. No way to sleep with whether he had hit… The wand came up, aimed at Harry…

Nothing.

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

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

full-of-the-moon rophy, eventually we all come back home.

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

"He ‘ s here somewhere."

Harry's center flicked undetermined, the wan lighter of daybreak filtering into the back street. footfall came slowly up the alleyway. Harry slid behind the bin that hid him and crawled to the early side. The two figures came cl… hang on !

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

"Underage magic trick and marauding death eater, it ‘ s him."Moody grumbled as he stumped along."He ‘ s back."

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


"Envenerate !"

Harry lifted his brain off the grass ( locoweed ? ) and looked around him. Moody was gone, but the improbable 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 serve him up."Want to explain why my bosses brought you here comatose ?"

"They didn ‘ t tell you ?"

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

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

"I ‘ ll let Moody order the chronicle when he calms down."Harry dusted himself off and surveyed the empty field. It seemed vaguely familiar."Where are we ?"

"Oh ! Right."Tonks dipped into her scoop and drew out a pocket-size opus of paper."Just read it, don't say it out loud."

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


"So what does it- WHOA !"Harry tripped backwards as the sign of the zodiac exploded out of the ground around him. Even the gage curled into the storey 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 interpreter out of the air."My home."Harry spun, wand out. Then relaxed.

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

"trade good to see you too."The blonde boy detached himself from the phantasma of a door."Good too see you ‘ re still alive 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."genus Draco pushed the threshold open for Harry to step inside."fountainhead in the mean time your friends and fan clubhouse have invaded my home."

"The society of the 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 death eaters."

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

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

"Didn ‘ t Voldemort live here ?"

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

"The present moment ownership transferred ?"

"Yes. That."

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

"I ‘ m there."genus Draco pointed at a ragged burnt spot at the bottom."It seems my female parent reverted to her own house traditions."

"Why don ‘ t you fix it ?"

"Because I don ‘ t feel like it Potter."Draco snapped acidly."Besides ? Who would I fix it for ? I ‘ m the shoemaker's last Malfoy."

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

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

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

"check saying that."Kingsley had to cover his sassing again.

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

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

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

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

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

In answer Harry just smiled and rolled up his left sleeve. Around his wrist was a organization bracer engraved with tracing vines. Right in the center, on the inside arm, was a hieroglyphic of a great black eye.

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

"That's the malign eye."Tonks stepped closer to front at it."It wards off magical monitoring."

"Yep."

"It ‘ s also all sort of illegal."

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

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

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

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

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

Harry grinned and turned to follow the auror.

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

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

They walked down a farseeing dark hallway, made more spooky by the fact that every motion-picture show was void. Draco said nada but Harry imagined they had left about the same metre his father had. The door at the end had a steady glow coming from under it. Harry hurried forward and cast aside the door candid theatrically.

"I ‘ m back !"

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

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

"Where the infernal region were you ?"Padma hadn't joined the charge and was sitting with her limb crossed and an angry grammatical construction."Why did you leave ?"

"I never left."Harry held his hired hand to his kernel."I was always with you, in here."

"Bullshit."

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

"Voldemort is back."Hermione interrupted him.

"Really ?"Harry opened his eye wide in stupor."Is he really ? No… no, I had no idea… How could that happen ? I would remember a affair like that ? Oh… oh wait ? Tall guy with red eyes ? You know I think I do remember a guy like that… torturing ME !"

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

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

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

"fountainhead 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 temple or something ?"

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

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

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

"Wh… what ?"

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

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

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

"For how hanker ?"

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

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

"I ‘ m sure Dumbledore has considered that."

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

"I trust Dumbledore."Kingsley said confidently.

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

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

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

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

"What was that Harry ?"Ginny asked.

"What ?"

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

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

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

Harry turned to genus Draco, who rolled his eyes.

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

"Right,"Harry turned towards the door."It ‘ s not a mystic, at to the lowest degree not amongst us. Could you recount them for me Nev ? I ‘ m going to get some fresh air."

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

"Wh…"

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

"By they you mean Dumbledore."

"Yes."

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

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

"Is there a window in my cell ?"

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

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


Draco woke the next morning as a retching auditory sensation came through the wall. He shook the covering off and pushed the drape around his bed surface 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 detecting charm. A yoke of nasty whammy lifted out of the woodwork. Draco backed a few footmark away."Harry open up !"genus Draco heard step then the door scraped open.

"What ?"Harry growled sleepily.

"Were you just sick ?"

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

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

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

"You ‘ re pale ?"

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

"right wing,"Draco snorted.

"You ‘ re the commencement one I ‘ ve told."

"I ‘ m touched."

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

"I imagine Labor Department won ‘ t be a snap either."Draco shook his head, if Harry didn ‘ t want to tell him then he didn ‘ t want to bonk."Look, it smells like breakfast ‘ s ready."

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


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

Harry looked around in muddiness at the various masses that had appeared in the kitchen of Malfoy manor house. There were More Weasley's than there had been, the two parents and older pal. An odd man in a green hat was there as well, smiling at Harry and wafture, along with an older 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 way. Remus lupine had stood the consequence he came in and walked away, leaving by the hinder door.

"A span of people live here now."Ginny said to plow the secretiveness."A couple of the parliamentary law members."

"Why ?"

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

"It ‘ s because we ‘ re too visible."Molly Weasley explained."People know we support Dumbledore, they know we were in the order finish sentence. We ‘ re fair game for flak. It ‘ s safer here."

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

'' It would be decent if they 'd find their own foot though. '' Malfoy murmured, still staring at the plank. `` Or their own prison house. ``

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

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

'' Is n't that dangerous ? ``

'' The whole manor is under the Fidelius charm. '' Hermione explained. Harry smiled in understanding, so that was what the trivial slick of paper had been about. `` It means that a private is- ''

'' I know what it is. '' Harry interrupted her calmly. `` But is n't it dangerous to order the prisoner the secret ? ``

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

'' The captive are inside the arcanum 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 least there was a secure place for to sign the death eaters. Of grade Harry would prefer if they were all kept in nice safe coffin but this was the next best thing. While they had been talking Draco had turned back to the silent chess game.

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

"60 minutes 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."

"wellspring that ‘ s-"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

"It ‘ d give us something to do."Parvarti murmured quietly, voicing what they all felt. boredom was constant quantity here. The solitary interesting prison term were order meetings when the predator would try to find out agency to take heed in. shipway that were continually blocked.

All their homework had been done. All the course Word of God had been read and so many secret plan of exploding snapshot had been played that they all had little tiny burns on the close of their digit. There was nothing else to do, literally nothing. They had looked, tried to arrive up with other affair to do. They had failed.

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

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

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

"We could swap and do each others."Anapurna pointed out. At the general jar she just shrugged."I ‘ m that bored."

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

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

"Well… oh."

The predator lapsed into muteness. Defeated again.

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

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

"Let ‘ s go. Quickly."

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

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


'' Whoa ! '' Ginny gasped as they were led into a massive hall. On the flooring there were plinth and cases holding unknown sparkling items.

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

'' My fathers. '' Draco lugged the testis case over. `` It 's just rubble. '' True to his Scripture he shoved three vases off a display stand to put the case in their place. `` Now ... teams. ``

'' I call headwaiter ! '' Ginny yelled.

'' Me too. '' Ron nodded.

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

'' But- ''

'' It 's my menage. '' Malfoy cut him off snidely. `` I 'll use up the Twin Falls. ``

'' Which ones ? ``

'' The quidditch playing one. '' 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 heart. ``

'' amercement. You can take in them. '' Ginny grinned. `` I get everyone else. ``

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

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


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

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

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

shit it he was right, Ginny shot forward after him. If only the snitch would appear ! It should n't be so hard to catch it in this confine area. Unfortunately the charms on the snitch were never designed to deal with an irregular tangle of cabinets and as a event it kept moving erratically. They had found and lost it three times already. Ginny saw Malfoy trying to score and being blocked by Ron. She took the opportunity to contain another look for it.

'' Over there ! '' mortal yelled, Ginny did n't pause. The twinkling of amber disappeared behind a urn and Ginny spun around it. Where was it ? Another trice, there by the rack of swords. Ginny heard a crash from the English her, Malfoy was closing in. There, by the spyglass again ? No ! By the urns again ! Damn it, there were observation everywhere. It was like there were six snitch !

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

Ginny drew to a halt, holding the thing in her paw. It was gold, but it wasn't a snitch. It was a cup, a minuscule gold plated teacup, still struggling to elude from her fingers. Dragon hovered in next to her, looking perplexed.

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

"What is it ?"

"It ‘ s a teacup Weasley how dense are you ?"Draco insulted idily, still staring at the midget affair."Or did you always just drink out of a trough at your theater ?"

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

The former marauders 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 real number sneaker ?"Fred asked, wrestling a bludger back into its case.

"It ‘ s just a preparation canary. It comes when it ‘ s called."Malfoy held out his hand."Ollyollyoxen !"In a instant of gold the fink darted down from the ceiling and settled in his hand.

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

"hypothesis we ‘ re not walking."Hermione murmured as the marauders flew after him. The corridor was fairly narrow and the marauder had to fly in ace file. The empty portrait were here as well, even the animate being in the landscape painting had left.

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

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

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

muteness filled the hallway for a moment, then ... a upstage noise. It sounded like an plosion underwater, muffled by the wall. 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 look."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 face corridor. Ginny rushed to go on up with him and she could hear the marauders behind her doing the Sami. A doorway was put away heart-to-heart in front of them and Ginny spun into it, following the blond flash in figurehead of her. Down some steps, along a long wickedness Hall, future - STOP !

Ginny had to break raspingly to quash hitting Malfoy who was hopping off his broom in front of a large wooden door.

"You ! You ... !"

"What ‘ s the topic Weasley ?"Malfoy shouldered his Calluna vulgaris."Had trouble keeping up ?"

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

"We ‘ re here."As Malfoy said it a tacky clap issued from the other face of the doorway. Ginny looked behind her to see the marauders just coming around the quoin. Hermione looked terrified, Neville looked ill.

"well lets see then."Malfoy drew his wand and pushed at the arduous door. It slowly crept undefended. inside was an empty hall, looked like it was usually used for storage or something. The only things left were a few odd tables and a few boxful. In the middle of the elbow room stood Harry, bare chested with his scar pure white against his tanned and sweating skin. On a box next to him was a odd quite a little of detritus. As they watched he took a plate and held his wand to it. At a whispered Logos there were two plates, then three, then four. Harry dropped the original back into the agglomerate and tapped the fakes with his verge. They instantly flew off in all steering. Harry jabbed his wand and in a fraction of a second-

hit ! One shattered near the ceiling. Harry whirled. boot ! Shattering into shard. BANG ! Smashing the side and sending the last home base spinning into the wall.

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

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

"You don ‘ t need to stay fresh duplicating thing you know."Malfoy said dryly."I ‘ ve got oodles of this junk."

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

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

Ginny looked where Hermione was pointing and swallowed fearfully. Arranged in a neat row along the table was a sharply and wickedly curved blade, a abruptly lance with a lighting bolt carved into the haft, a rung ball that had yap for fingers and seemed to be glowing from within and no less than three muggle firearms.

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

"Harry please secern 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 profligate to see, exploded in mid air."I told you that didn ‘ t I ?"

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

Malfoy was the first to speak.

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

"I may want spares."Harry shrugged.

"Harry is this material 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 affair itself. These things are just tools."

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

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

"Wh ... wh ..."

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

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

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

'' Harry, do you not think that using a wand you stole from a utter 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 take chances it not working as well as this one does ? '' Harry balanced the thick, sprain wand on the bound of his hand before flicking it up into the air and catching it, all the while with the gun held nonchalantly in his other hand. `` This one works for me, maybe as well as my old one did. Besides ... it kind of fits does n't it ? This scepter 's done a lot of wildness in it 's lifetime. Lots of hurting, combat, and that 's exactly what I intend to use it for. ``

hurting ? Fighting ? ... Killing ... Ginny swallowed. Harry had n't said that last one but she could palpate him thinking it.

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

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

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

"Then what ?"Harry dropped the gun back down to the board. It sounded heavy."I need to fight Voldemort. I have to struggle Voldemort."

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

"I have to fight Voldemort and you know what ? I ‘ ll lose !"Harry slashed the air angrily."I ‘ ll lose, I mean what else would happen ? I spotty, ignorant fifteen year old against the most dangerous necromancer 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 unknowing teenager any more. I have to be better. I need to be better. Because I can ‘ t lose, can ‘ t afford to recede. None of us can afford for me to recede. Do you live what it feels like to know that the entirely worldly concern is royally screwed if you fail ? No ? Then shut up ! Don't try to finish me and don ‘ t ask me why ! I know why, and if you took a microsecond to think you ‘ d know why too !"

Harry's wild tirade shocked the marauders into quiet. Harry turned back to his pile of detritus and began duplicating a heavy glass bowl.

"Harry ... you don ‘ t know when the vaticination will happen."Neville surprisingly spoke up."Maybe you won ‘ t be XV. Maybe you ‘ ll be twenty, or XXX. Maybe you have time ..."

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

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

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

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

"Dumbledore said-"

"Dumbledore has been wrong before."Malfoy cut her off."It hurts nothing to be cook in type he ‘ s incorrect this time."

"But Harry could be killed !"

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

"Of row not, but-"

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

"Good point."Ginny was surprised to see her own interpreter. Oh no now everyone was looking at her, serious say something."And since we ‘ re all targets maybe we should try learning some stuff and nonsense 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 Harry.

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

"I ... dead reckoning so ..."Hermione bit her lip."There ‘ s an edict meeting tonight. Maybe we can ask Dumbledore ..."

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


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

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

"You come back here young man !"

"Why ? I ‘ m not your family. Nor am I one of these other street child you seem to sustain adopted. I don ‘ t care for your opinion, nor for your misplaced and overworked maternal inherent aptitude. I ‘ m certainly not going to let you cry at me while you live under my roof."Draco turned back to the room access ...

"Get back here !"

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

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

"Tonks."Dragon smiled and walked through the now crowded kitchen to where his full cousin was sitting. Next to the loup-garou. Draco shuddered inwardly and sat on her other side."I couldn ‘ t eat another fried breakfast anyway. Any more and my Calluna vulgaris won ‘ t be able to hold me."

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

"He ‘ s ..."Draco licked his backtalk and gestured for her to lean finisher."He ‘ s accepted the prophecy. 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 get hold out anyway."

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

"How ‘ d you get away ?"Draco asked.

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

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

"professor, can I lecture to you ab-"

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

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

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

"What was that ?"

"What ?"

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

"I ‘ m always nice."

"You ‘ re always up to something."

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


Snape stepped into the manor house and strode towards the master dining room. He wasn't late precisely, just ... no longer appropriately instigate. He pushed the door open and walked to the open derriere succeeding to Natalie.

"Have I missed anything significant ?"

"Attacks."The unspeakable was idly scraping her finger along the edge of a transcript of the daily seer."Dark marks. Wizards and witches we suspect have been turned, or put under the overbearing curse.

'' zilch of import then. ``

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

'' I heard Harry found them. '' Snape cracked a grinning. `` Or Helen Wills at least. ``

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

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

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

'' The iniquity lord is moving more specifically. Now that Limnodromus griseus is dead all but a few of the wolfman have deserted him. He seeks new troops to sew affright, he has chosen to acquire by solidness wealth this time rather than empty promise. He is arranging purchase of prominent numbers game of various exotic species, lethifolds primarily. Chimaeras if it can find a willing marketer. ``

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

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

'' They 've torn the rural area apart ! '' Someone yelled.

'' But only in their own capacity. They have not followed orders well, they are distracted. The dark lord has killed a lot of them, he seems tired of human failings. In a way he does n't need an United States Army, he wants a weapon system. Something he can unleash at will. Doubtless he will be employing the lordly whammy to see that his will is done. ``

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

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

'' Manticores ? '' The previous defense teachers eyes grew wide.

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

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

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

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

'' We can not set aside this to happen. ``

'' If we act he will assuredly suppose the source of our entropy. '' Dumbledore shook his bearded pass. `` You are too valuable at present to take a chance. You are our just source of information. ``

'' Information we never act on. '' Snape clenched his fist on the cold reddish brown board. `` What use is my spying ... what use is this orderliness 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 intercede with the foreign auror departments. '' Snape tried to trick himself into thinking this was anything other than a damage limiting attempt. `` They could hold some of the dealer before the dark lord can meet with them. ``

'' Perhaps, '' Dumbledore nodded. `` There are very few citizenry we can commit. I will try to get in tangency with some old friends that may be able to assist. ``

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

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

"Is there anything else ?"

"Barty Crouch still has not returned."Snape shook his head, Barty Crouch had become Voldemort's favored, surpassing even Belatrix. Snape had hoped at one time that Barty's loser to gain the ministry would count against him, and it had, but apparently throwing it into hullabaloo had been enough. That and successfully bringing Harry potter directly to the dark lord. All that made it even more suspicious that Barty was absent from death feeder gathering. The dark Jehovah kept his servants close, if he was letting one off their tether then it had to be for something important.

"Do you cerebrate he has left the country ?"mortal down the mesa asked.

"It is possible."Snape nodded."But whatever he is doing it has it ‘ s root here. The wickedness Divine has always intended to take on this body politic before moving on to the residual of the world. That has not changed. It may also involve espionage."

"Why do you say that ?"

"It is Barty Crouch ‘ s metier is it not ?"Snape shrugged."But the wickedness lord has ordered me to begin researching polyjuice potion in an try to make it influence for any android species."

"You think it is connected ?"

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

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

"Is that all ?"

"other than hours of listening to the dark lords drear pontificating on the field of study of the death or subjugation of all muggles ?"Snake crooked an eyebrow."No."

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

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

A world-wide groan went up from around the room. Snape just closed his oculus and took a quieten breathing space. After the case of last year the ministry had been fractured to its very core. The near-election of a death eater had made them fearful as cony. Fudge had, the moment Dumbledore left the edifice, ran back to his position and virtually barricaded himself inside. All summer he had been wrangling the ministry around to the melodic theme that his ejection was not valid because of the misrepresentation of Barty Crouch Jr.

That was, Snape had to allow in, technically true. Although the vote to absent Fudge had been won by a well-off margin the original gesture to get rid of a pastor for magic could only be tabled by a penis of the Wizengamot. Crouch Jr was not a appendage, only impersonating one, therefore the motion and, by filename extension, the vote was empty. A spell of bureaucratic craziness that meant they were stuck with that cockeyed man until someone else drummed up sufficiency backing to oust him.

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

'' Ours too. '' Shacklebolt rumbled.

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

'' So we put soul forward. '' Snape said definitely. `` We subject field a candidate no one can indicate is a end 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 headland. `` I realize this opinion may not be the most easy to hear, but perhaps we should allow him to stay for now. ``

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

'' I realize the situation is not ideal. '' Shacklebolt held his manpower up. `` But Fudge is scared to touch any experience guild fellow member or anyone else who waves Dumbledore 's standard. As a resolution he is leaving the aurors office and the rest of the department relatively untouched. We can carry out our workplace without any overbearing supervising for now. And besides, with all the ex-Azkaban residents running around causing worry we do not stimulate time for a political battle on top of that. If we can not give birth a sympathetic minister of conjuration, one that stays out of our way is a good s 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 comment. Once more cipher would be done.

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

'' Then we should all get back to work. '' Dumbledore stood. `` And we should all set up for attempt by sorcerous organism. lupine can, I 'm sure as shooting, cue you of the best methods to disgust them. ``

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

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

'' I 'll be for certain to be in the federal 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 obstruction, the whole gild was bunched up at the blanket double room access. Snape quickly pushed to the front line 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 eternal rest of the arching wall was mostly chairs and tables, and one courting of armor.

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

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

'' Harry you are not old enough to unite the social club. ``

'' You think Voldemort will deal ? ``

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

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

'' Harry I have made my decision. ``

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

'' Harry potter I have had enough of this. '' Dumbledore waved his wand angrily. The barricade disappeared with a deafening crack. `` You will stay where I put you until it is rubber for you to do otherwise. If you will dispense with no idea 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 hear everything. ``

'' How Harry ? '' Dumbledore crooked an eyebrow, but his usual skillful humor was gone.

'' I 'll let you stew over it. '' Harry folded his arm. `` I want to fight. I want to sit in rescript coming together. I want a private instructor to teach me to duel. ``

'' You may have none of those things. '' Dumbledore was n't moving, just standing like a statue. Radiating threat. `` As for United States Department of Defense preparation you will line up it at Hogarts, in your regular defense course of study. ``

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

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

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

'' Perhaps you should not counteract him. ``

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

'' Few mass do. ``

'' You ? ``

'' No. ``

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

I should have expected that question. Snape took a breath to give himself time to count his response.

'' No. ``

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

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

'' I 'm not just gon na pelt along in half strut. ``

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

'' I 'm not an half-wit. ``

'' Yes you are. '' Snape corrected. `` You are Whitney Moore Young Jr., by definition you are an half-wit. ``

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

Snape momentarily thought of asking where he had got the evil eye bracer but thought ripe of it. The answer was of no particular use. He almost wanted to ask if Harry had a spare.

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

'' mulct. '' Harry seemed defeated, distant. `` will you at least learn me occlumency ? I ca n't use that to push. ``

'' 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 Dwight Lyman Moody. ``
*


The marauders had to hunt Harry again that evening. He had disappeared before dinner and was nowhere to be seen. The border Mrs. Humphrey Ward had n't been tripped but with Harry that meant next to cypher. They found him in a disused stairway, sitting in the rainbow blur of a stained glass window. With the spark 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 ? ``

'' Begging. Again. '' Harry let out a rough, grim, laugh. `` full phase of the moon circle. ``

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

'' Not money. '' Harry was still looking up into the light source. `` I 've spent the evening mendicancy order members, aurors ... everyone really, to teach me to fight. Waste of my time ... '' Harry trailed off shaking his head.

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

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

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

'' It 's not the Saame. I need a instructor. '' Harry shook his head. `` There 's only so much I can get from books and ... compeer encyclopedism. ``

'' Well ... maybe you could ask whoever they get to teach defensive measure this class. '' Hermione suggested. `` Or maybe they 'll be really dependable any you wo n't have to. ``

'' You do n't get it ! '' Harry covered his face with his hands. `` It 's not just chucking around a couple of peach. None of you have seen a substantial wizards duel, not proper dueling. Not like what Voldermort 's capable of. Not like what I 'll stimulate to be capable of if I want to stand a chance at winning. None of you have seen it. ``

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

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

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

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

'' Yes your poor over-traveled and long-sufferance chick has found my owlery. '' Malfoy rolled his eyes. `` If you 're going to globetrot you should really tell your owl to ride out home. ``

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


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

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

'' trusted ... sure Harry. '' Hermione was nodding a little carefully, like someone talking to a man with a script grenade. Which, given Harry 's flow track disk, might have been the face. `` We 'll do that. ``

'' Should exercise shield too. '' Harry switched the orange to both hired man then quickly back to his right.

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

'' Let 's go then. '' Harry pocketed the yield and led the confused marauders, and Malfoy, from the room. As Harry pushed the doorway open he pulled up brusque. lupine was frozen in front line of him, his hired man 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 matter ? ``

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

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

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

'' Before what ? ``

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

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


This was n't the last Harry heard about it though. lupine lived in the house, they bumped into each other all the time. Each clip Harry was met by the same festering hatred. It was form of disconcerting. Eventually Harry learned lupin 's routine and managed to mostly stay out of his way. Of course it helped that he spent at least ten time of day a day in the empty wine cellar, sometimes with the marauder, sometimes with Draco, sometimes alone. Each day when Harry finally dropped himself into an icy bathroom to comfort his spite frame he felt a sort of fiery satisfaction.

He was getting better !

He could tucker any of the marauders one on one, even the similitude. genus Draco was better, at the outset he had beaten Harry a lot. wellspring, 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 nastier darkness magic his father had taught him. With those spell in his arsenal Draco had been winning, but Harry was clawing back. He was getting better, there was no denying that. Every throbbing bruise, every aurora waking up aching was a triumph because he was getting better. And that was n't even considering his other toys.

Harry shifted his groundwork to rest on the top of a mahogany desk in the mansion depository library ( there was some good stuff here, more turn to wager with ) when the room access creaked open.

'' how-do-you-do 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 faulting. He had been forced to become like this, canny and brutal as a feral fox. `` What'ya reading ? ``

'' The gentleman 's guide to effective and effective application program of pain. '' Harry read calmly off the natural covering of the book.

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

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

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

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

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

'' I try. '' Harry brightened up. `` Want to duel sometime ? You do n't have to teach or talk or anything just a favorable duel ? ``

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

'' Dumbledore does n't hold to sleep together. '' Harry urged weedlingly.

'' Sorry Harry. ``

'' Damn. '' Harry sighed and looked like he was going to say something else but just shook his drumhead. `` Never psyche. Was there something you wanted or did you just add up to chat ? ``

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

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

'' Remus lupin. ``

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

'' Do you know what 's damage with him ? '' Tonks pulled a stool and sat on the other side of the desk. From this angle Harry resembled a very appraising interviewer. His beaten and scratch steel-capped boots up on one side of meat of the desk and a huge stack of shady books on the other. In between he was regarding her piercingly over his wire glasses.

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

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

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

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

'' They are in my experience. ``

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

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

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

'' I 'm sorry Tonks, '' Harry held up his hands. `` I know what you 're trying to say. But I 've only ever met one werewolf who has n't tried to down me and even he sometimes acts like he wants to. pardon me for not having a great opinion of the species. When I meet a werewolf who does n't act like the fiend they are inside maybe I 'll recall differently. Until then I think my hate is warrant. '' Harry voice was flint and knifelike, and More than a minuscule scary.

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

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

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

'' I 've heard. ``

'' He was really funny. ``

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

'' He had quite a little of these stories about what he did when he was young. ``

'' Chase milkmen ? ``

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

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

'' But why ? ``

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

'' He ... he wo n't tell me. '' Tonks looked at the floor. When she had asked him he had just turned and left the room in the middle of her question. He had n't spoken to her for sidereal day. `` I thought you might know, or at to the lowest degree have a surmisal. ``

'' Best I can come up with is I remind him too much of what he lost. '' Harry shrugged. Tonks considered this. Harry 's guesswork was probably worth an essay from anyone else, the kid could understand 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 charge me come to think of it. You know ... for their deaths. ``

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

'' Not the Lupin you know. '' Harry shrugged. `` If nada else I 'll be gone in another week. He should be back to normal after that. You should bear your big fluffy, funny lupine back. ``

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

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

'' You too Harry. ``
*


The marauders did n't take the gear to Hogwarts that year. They were flued into Hogsmeade under an club safety device. As they walked up the hanker road to the castle Ginny fell back to where Harry was walking.

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

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

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

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

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

When they walked in the feast had already started. The marauders were forced to find a pass section of board with the hale hall murmuring and pointing.

'' Is it me or are the tables a bit empty-bellied than common ? '' George III said, scanning over the hall.

'' pot of parents decided to hold open their kids abode this year. '' Parvati said sadly. `` Our parents almost did but well ... ''

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

'' Wonder who the new defense reaction instructor is ? '' Ron gestured with a chicken leg at the vacuous space on the teacher 's board. Ron looked down the tabular array. `` Oy ! doyen ! Did they foretell anything about the new instructor ? ``

'' cipher ! '' Came the shouted reception. The marauders collectively shrugged, except for Harry who just smiled faintly.

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

'' Students ! '' Dumbledore stood. The hall quieted down. `` I have a few promulgation to make. Firstly, as you may let realized, some of your schoolfellow have decided not to join us. This is of course their choice, or that of their parents, and I hope that you treat then no differently if they decide to return us. Secondly as you know, if you do not last on the moonshine, the dark lord has returned. I wish to make both that and this succeeding fact perfectly enlighten. He can not hurt you here. Behind the paries of Hogwarts you are rubber. Thirdly, and most happily, we have a new defending team teacher. One that, I am indisputable you will all enjoy learning from. So I would pay for you to join me in saying welcome, or more correctly welcome back, to prof M- ''

'' Yes ! Your supplicant have been answered ! '' The huge doorway to the great hall boomed open. `` I am, thanks to massive public demand, BACK ! ``

'' It 's him ! ``

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

'' Yes ! ``

'' Yes ! ``

'' Horray ! ``

'' Yes, yes thank you ! '' The muscled figure lapped up the congratulations, grinning from one side of his font to the former. He was the same as ever, maybe his hair's-breadth was a little shorter, his tan a petty deeper, his weaponry more pit, his ramification clad in denim instead of leather and his Stetson replaced with a close up hankie. But it was him, unmistakable and in the flesh.

'' I 'm back in the country ! Back in action mechanism ! Back in print ! The one, the solitary MARKUS TRIPPLE M MICHELSON ! '' The blond monster punched the air and the residence jumped to their fundament in sunshine. `` But delight ... call me Maximus. No no wait ... call me prof Maximus. ``
*


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

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

'' wellspring I had to greet the new professor. '' Harry stepped into the office, it was already all set out. It looked almost exactly the Same as it had three years ago, with one or two summation. Harry list to bet at a shifting hotshot flick. It showed a immense crowd of hoi polloi, all but one of them looking African, standing in rows like a schoolhouse photo. Sticking out like a sore ovolo was Markus Michelson in the third row, grinning and jerking his thumb at the matter behind them. Even lying on it 's side it towered over even Markus, spotted and studded with fishgig and burn scars it looked like a ...

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

'' postulate it down with only if LXXX six multitude. '' Albert Michelson nodded smugly. `` New world record book. I got the backside. ``

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

'' Nah, '' Markus snorted. `` I was in Norway 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 life sentence once. '' Markus clapped Harry on the shoulder, severely buffeting him. `` Brothers at arm remember. And besides, I like Hogwarts. ``

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

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

'' No. '' Harry rolled his eye. `` He wants to cover me up in burp wrap. Want 's to go along me safety and out of danger. ``

'' Big men like us attract danger. '' Markus said definitely. `` Only way to be condom is to make love how to attend after yourself, and you 're hardly a child. Not after what you 've been through. ``

'' My cerebration exactly. ``

'' Well in that train of thought. '' Markus drew his foresighted wand. `` When do you want to pop out ? How 's now ? ``

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



If you do n't impart a follow-up YOU WILL DIE ! Really .... you will ... eventually ...


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



"Mr Potter."

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

"No Mr thrower, I would not."

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

"Mr Potter where were you terminal Nox ?"

"I assume in bed."Harry replied calmly.

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

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

"Your map must be faulty."Harry grinned.

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

"I didn ‘ t leave."

"Do not lie to me Harry Potter !"The unharmed schooltime was watching now in rapt attention.

"Getting a short raging Professor ?"Harry asked."Maybe your map ... no, maybe your knowledge isn ‘ t as fill out as you think."

"I dislike being kept in the dark."

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


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

"Hi guys."Harry got to his pes and threw a objet d'art of chicken feed he had been using away."Just getting this place ready, we can use it to take aim after lessons."

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

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

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

"The room of requisite ?"

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

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

"Wh ... why ?"Ron asked.

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

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

Harry paused for a moment before answering ...

"Yes."

... and walking on out of the attic. The piranha shared a tenacious spirit and followed him.
*


Potions passed uneventfully. Harry split his prison term between the book on his human knee and the caldron in movement of him meaning that his potion wasn't even near finished. but at least it didn't explode. magic spell was adjacent and Harry didn't bother paying tending there either, though in this guinea pig it was because he already knew how to give object wings. He could break them swan wings if he wanted, or giant black leathery ones. When the moral was over Harry didn't even bother to speak, 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 thirsty !"

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

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

"Did I ?"Harry froze.

"wellspring you ‘ re not using it."

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

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

"Ferio ! Stupefy !"Harry shot Malfoy's spell out of the air and threw his own a present moment after. The blond boy shielded and Harry was forced to elude under his own stunner."Fulgar Fletch !"Harry flicked his scepter 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 floor towards him and saw Malfoy topple onto his spine."Stupefy !"

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

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

"Arg ! Ouch !"Harry felt sting on every piece of give flesh. Burning all across his tegument like a chemical fire. Another wizard would have been overpowered by the nuisance, but Harry had felt far far high-risk."Take this ! Tempesto !"

fart 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 opposite. The Slytherin's triumphant grin suddenly turned to reverence and ail as the swarm engulfed him.

"Fin-ow ! Fi- damn affair ! Finite Crabro !"The hornets disappeared and Draco was left tangle and snarling in the middle of the whirlwind. Harry let it rage for another moment before canceling it too. The two fighter stared each other down for a few mo, both pockmarked with bunco game and sweating.

"Maybe you two should stop."Hermione suggested hesitantly from the sidelines."Before you hurt yourselves. to a greater extent I mean."

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

"I guess."Harry smiled, knowing this plot. He kept a last handle on his wand. postponement for it ...

"Confringo !"

"Protego !"Harry's buckler was up in muckle of clock time to impede the nemesis."Ha ! Nice-"Harry's shield shatter and he was lifted off his feet as his breast 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 campaign himself to his feet. His wand was gone, rolled across the floor away from him.

"shit it ! Damn it ! pillock blinking shield !"

"Are you injured Harry ?"Malfoy called out.

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

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

"I ‘ ve read the theory. I ‘ ve read the original paper. I ‘ ve read the whole book."Harry grabbed his wand off the floor."I don ‘ t get it. It ‘ s a magic spell, it ‘ s a canonic bloody magic spell and I can ‘ t do it right."

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

"Well Voldemort won ‘ t use introductory while !"Harry punched the floor violently."He ‘ ll use filthy, evil, knock-down spells."

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

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

"We can ‘ t."Hermione said automatically.

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

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

"Both of us ?"

"Like, at the same time ?"

"Yes."Harry shucked off his stew soaked jersey."Get on with it."

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

"Neither ‘ s this."Harry blasted the floorboard by Ron's feet causing him to yelp like a puppy."draw poker your bloody wands."

In the end they were glad for the outdoor setting of creatures, although they were the only if I not wearing coating. Harry eased his ache left hand in a slow circle, it was worth it. It would be worth it. Harry listened with half an ear to the example, it was about unicorns. The chances of Voldemort sending an Army on unicorns was low to laughable so Harry lidded his middle and dozed.
*


As the object lesson ended Parvati turned towards Harry to wake him and found that soul had beaten her to it. somebody unexpected.

"Oh no."She whispered under her breath.

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

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

"Have you met Harry ?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

"You didn ‘ t write. The completely summer ! You didn ‘ t say good-bye 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 final year and just draw a blank to assure me ?"

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

Susan just stood there, her hands lightly clenching the fabric of her gown. Staring into distance. As the twins watched she sobbed wetly and drew a hand across her eyes before running off towards the greenhouses, one arm shielding her face from any passer by.

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

"Cruel. Harsh. coldness. 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 heed anyway-"

"No I ‘ m not."Harry interrupted, and disappeared. Padma saw the vestige of a disillusion motility off down a passageway but lost it a moment later.

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


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

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

"He has a shady 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 !"Anapurna 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 Nox by glowing silver luminosity. One of the benefit of being an occlumens was full mental command and Snape was awake in an instant. As his eyes flickered open he groaned inwardly, then thought secure of it and groaned outwardly.

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

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

Snape was already out the room access before the atomic number 47 razzing disappeared. He shucked his gown on as he hurried down the corridor. delay, why was he walking ? Was Harry's safety less important than not looking stupid. Snape broke into a run. The sound of his flapping human foot 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 step began to climb up, painfully slowly. Snape gasped his breathing space back as he silently urged them to go faster. Eventually the Headmaster's door came into view and Snape pushed it open quickly and said,"Albus ! I ‘ m here."

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

Snape blinked in discombobulation for a moment, then noticed the newspaper publisher on Dumbledore's desk. He stepped closer and saw that it was an too soon copy of the Prophet. This was the emergency brake ? Perhaps he was missing something ?
MURDER AFOOT

Dannion LeSang was found dead in his home this morning. A windowpane of his penthouse apartment had been shattered, possibly so that the killer could hit entree. Once inside pitiable Mr LeSang was beaten horribly, with a blunt instrument, possibly a table leg. The aurors have cordoned off the arena and refused to turn any detals but this reporter has discovered that his injury were not what killed him. Oh no he was poisoned ! Poisoned by a toxin that the ministry

HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE !

Is there a psycho Orcinus orca at wanton ? The aurors gave no comment, perhaps because they as yet, know nothing ! Why anyone would want to toss off Mr LeSang is unknown, perhaps an old competitor from his long and distinguished quidditch career ...


Snape dropped the report in disgust.

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

"Dannion LeSang was a known dying eater."

"I am aware that Dannion LeSang was a Death eater. Do you perhaps remember who informed you that Dannion LeSang was a end eater ? Who gave you the shocking intelligence that the daring, smiling, sensation chaser for the Wigtown bird of passage loved to torture muggles ? Do you ?"

"It was you."

"It was me."

"You do not recollect his death is of import ?"

"I do not believe his decease involved Harry."

"No order of magnitude member was involved."

"Albus there are hoi polloi other than the order who despise death eaters."Snape felt like laughing, and did."People early than Harry as well. Perhaps-"Snape was cut off as the doorway to the office was flung unfold again.

"Why did you know the word you arrogant petty 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 forenoon."I mean surely by now you ‘ ve used all the non-disgusting sweets."

"how-do-you-do 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 know of this ?"

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

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

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

"I ‘ m never in history of magic."Harry barked a jape."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 vigilance man. 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, toxicant ? A toxin the ministry can ‘ t identify ? Honestly, do you conceive that ‘ s me ? You ‘ ve seen my potions marks."

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

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

Dumbledore leant back, encounter Harry 's eyes with his own flinty stare. For a long bit the old adept and the young stared each other down across the silent business office. Snape could almost find the sparking magic trick as the headmaster tried to wedge Harry 's mind receptive. After a here and now Harry snorted and said,

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

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

'' Do you believe him Severus ? ``

'' Yes. ``

'' Why pray tell ? ``

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


'' Mr thrower. ``

Hmmm ...

'' Harry Potter ! ``

Hmmm ... sleepy.

'' Harry Potter why is it always my class you choose to catch some Z's in ? ``

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

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

Harry was buffeted by strait and slowly, blearily, rubbed his centre. In front of him was a broken glazed stump. Harry reached forward and picked it up.

'' You broke my looking glass. '' Harry reached up to his grimace to make sure his own glasses were n't broken then drew his wand and repaired the champaign chalk. He did n't even know what he was supposed to be turning it into, possibly some sort of squid.

Why a calamary ?

We were dreaming about a squid.

That makes no sense.

Shut up.

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

I 'll lobotomize you.

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

She is looking kind of angry.

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

The glass tear along its top, flipped upside down and scuttled along the desk blowing gassy bubbles out of a fleshy excrescence. Harry smiled,

'' See ! I did Ok. ''

'' Harry ... '' McGonagall was staring at the glass calamary, 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 live. ``

'' Would you hazard a guessing ? ``

'' Well ... '' Harry tried to gum together an explanation from his shaky knowledge of Hellenic. `` Well Kalamaraki means squid ... and I think Krasi is some form 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 cognition 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 blankets off and leant out of the window. He looked over towards the Headmaster 's tower, the twinkle was still on. Harry flicked a pair of binoculars out of his bag and focused in on the faraway window. Dumbledore was staring into a pensive, the ash grey perch playing on his describe face. He looked well-worn, very tired.

But at to the lowest degree he was n't looking at the map.

Harry slid out onto the wall and confidently let himself accrue. The current of air whistled thrillingly in his auricle as the tiles rose up to foregather him. A moment before he hit Harry felt a rough tugging around his bureau and his pole drop slowed to a crawling. His metrical unit touched ground and he flitted off across the tile. Harry reached the windowpane that was his destination and flicked it open with his sceptre. He dropped through again, trusting his bought magic, and landed lightly in strawman of a sink.

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

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

Harry landed feet first, expecting to hit marshy H2O, and instead felt dry rock. This office had been cleaned up a bit since final prison term he was here. Harry continued through the cave, passing the giant snake-door. The sleeping room was non-white, maybe Markus was n't here yet ... Damn it !

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

'' Nicely done Pipsqueak. '' The Professor clapped his Brobdingnagian hands. `` But you should experience aimed more, that hex did n't give birth a opportunity of hitting me. ``

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

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

'' There was n't practically fourth dimension. ``

'' make time by moving faster. '' Albert Abraham Michelson drew his wand and squared up in the midsection of the elbow room. `` seed on lad, time to duel. ``

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

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

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

'' Yes, win. ``

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

'' Not for me. Ewwyiky ! ``

Harry had no musical theme what the perdition that was so dived for cover, rolling and coming up with his baton trained on his teacher. Somewhere behind Harry there was a cheap squelching strait 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 Albert Michelson angled his buckler to excogitate the bludgeoning hex right into the path of the glacial dash following it, reducing them both to a shower bath of noisy electric arc."You ‘ ll have to do better than that !"The monumental man called out calmly. Harry answered with violence.

"Incendio ! Reducto !"Harry aimed the number 1 at Markus and the second at the ceiling far above him."Stupefy !"Harry blasted the spell into Makrus'face and didn't wait to see if it hit. Instead he aimed at a chunk of falling ceiling."Confringo !"And flung himself away as it detonated like a bombshell. He rolled on the floor and came to his feet in time to fling the first three piece he could opine off at the figure in the essence of the expanding cloud of debris and fire.

The simply warning Harry got was a photoflash of red before the spell flashed from the swarm and hit him in the venter, throwing him to the floor.

"Better even than that."Michelson stepped out of the detritus, not a hair out of seat."That was good though, imaginative. Good thaumaturgy with the rock, might have caught a lesser whizz. Again."

Harry forced himself to his metrical unit and raised his sceptre. This clock time he lasted just a few indorsement before a lulu blasted through his hastily raised shield and knocked his Light out. associate unconscious black held him in it's comforting bosom 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 buckler ?"Harry laughed humorlessly."Just let stuff hit me ?"

"Look kid, you first learnt 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 practiced. It ‘ s fair to assume you and the shield magic spell just don ‘ t go well together. It happens."

"To you ?"

"No. But to other people."

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

"Yes. Use other things."Markus turned and walked back to his starting mark."You know plenty of other ways to occlude spells. encounter to your durability and use your portentous imagination."

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

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

"Again."

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

"Again."

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

"Again."

... Floored with a biff ...

"Again !"

... paralysed ...

"Again !"

... stunned ...

"AGAIN !"

... shocked ...

"AGAIN !"

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

"Not with that attitude."

"I ‘ m sorry I brought you here."

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

"I thought I could get better."

"I think you can get better."

"Whole creation should just collapse up."Harry held his headspring in his paw."I can ‘ t beat him."

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

“'A major power 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 safe odds."Markus smiled and winked. Harry didn't joke."But seriously, you can check to duel. You already know enough to beat any regular mavin hands down."

"Voldemort isn ‘ t a regular wi-"

"I know !"Markus interrupted him angrily."Which is why you need to learn to duel like a master. Which is why you called me. Which is why you should listen to me ! Now ... you need to run to your strengths. Tell me what you ‘ re good at."

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

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

"I ... I don ‘ t know."

"Yes you do !"

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

"Oh for Merlin ‘ s sake ! Who are you ?"Markus leant down, his angrily pointing finger barely an inch from Harry's face."Where ‘ s the Harry I met three years ago ? I don ‘ t see him. Where the hell has he gone ? Where ‘ s the kid who walked this school like he owned the topographic point and obeyed teachers on sufferance ? Where is that arrogant bastard because he ‘ s the one who can beat out Voldemort ! Not the whiney holy terror he apparently became ! wellspring I need him here now ! WHAT ARE YOU goodness AT !"

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

"Right."Michelson nodded."You ‘ re good at magical spell. You ‘ re excellent at good luck charm. You ‘ re a bloody savant at charms. If I heard the rumors in the staff room right wing you built a professional caliber broom at thirteen year 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 chief and breathed out a long, play out breather."Let me try this a different way. You ‘ ve seen a lot of duel right ?"

"Yeah."

"You ‘ ve seen a lot of people duel."

"Yeah."

"Seen dispute ?"

"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 have .... This is severely. Can I excuse it how I see in in my own head ?"

"Of course."

"You have sort of three types."Harry gestured vaguely."There are the criterion dueller, they throw smasher and curse, slews of shield charms too, and they seem to mostly come out of the Hogwarts vindication course of study. Not that that makes them bad. Some are really well, but they all seem to use this one style. This one set of spells."

"Hmm ... and the next case ?"

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

"And the live type ?"

"The masters."Harry shook his read/write head."I watched some duels on video while I was traveling. Thought I could piece up some tips. Most of the duelist were group-ones, but some of them ... the best ones ... they ‘ re not even in the same league. They move like they ‘ re weapon system. They don ‘ t chuck stunners around, most of the clock time I couldn ‘ t even recognize the spells they were using. It wasn ‘ t dueling like I ‘ d ever seen. Except maybe when I saw you fight Tom enigma, right here. That ‘ s the difference I guess. That ‘ s the difference between duelists."

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

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

"You ‘ ve grasped one of the primal concepts of dueling. One of the affair that make citizenry group threes. The learning curve is huge, there ‘ s a point when you just become beyond everyone else. When you stop dueling with dueling spells and start dueling with everything. Do you make love what the other departure is ?"

"No."

"It's that we all have tricks."Michelson winked."All the grouping threes. Some trick that makes us effective, something that separates us from each other and from the single and twos."

"A ... legerdemain ?"

"Look at Dumbledore, he uses Transfiguration. By the end of a engagement with Dumbledore you ‘ re not just fighting him, you ‘ re fighting the walls, doors, ceiling and floor. Plus anything else he can twist into a moving, thinking weapon against you. Voldemort ? Well he uses dark magic, field and simple. You ‘ ve already realized that that gives a somebody force beyond your skill. And he already has plenty of acquirement. Me ? I use foreign charm, tour my foe have never heard of. The last words of a storm number of my opponents was ‘ What the hell is that ?'”

Harry chuckled, but Markus wasn't finished.

"Dee Finsbury, the flow world virtuoso dueller is also a champion magician. Your own professor Flitwick dueled for England, you think he threw around smasher ? And you ? Well you can do charms. right hand ?"

"Yeah."Harry nodded."Yes."

"Say it."

"Yes I can do charms."

"Good. Then use them."Markus turned to go back to his sucker."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 vigour. He gripped his wand and turned towards his instructor. Use charms ? Well he would give it a shot. What should he use ? Michelson appeared to be just waiting to see what he would do. wellspring, he'd cause to do something ...

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

Markus righted himself easily and flicked his sceptre. Harry blanched as a gigantic 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 glance of Markus'shocked cheek as he emerged unscathed on the other side before he aimed and fired."Confringo ! Ferio ! Stubefy !"The surprisal approach forced the instructor onto the defensive attitude, shielding desperately. A moment later he brought up a shining silver sphere. Harry's enchantment bounded off like flag off a sauteing pan, sending echoes all over the vast sleeping room. 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 !"

"sod !"Harry dived for back as the shadows erupted with trend. monster coriaceous movement. Harry dashed behind a pillar as the bats flung themselves through the air towards him. They were Brobdingnagian, wings at to the lowest degree a meter wide, with Brobdingnagian fangs."Incendio !"Harry waved a fiery swath through the cricket bat but more just materialized to replace them.

"Jupitall !"

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

"Depulso !"Harry yelled desperately, but the bat 's were too potent and Harry had to throw himself against the wall to avert another thrown spell from his opponent. He needed a charm ... what charm ? Wait ! chiropteran were like, sort of monster hornets ... really."Tempesto !"

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

"Arefacio !"The drought appeal banished the falls before it even touched him."Accio !"Albert Abraham Michelson was forced to wreak his silver grey shield back up as a hundred bat corpses funneled past him.

"Depulso !"Harry flicked his wand, spinning the chunk of consistence back away from him and bowled it back to wear out against the Professors shield sphere. Harry wasn't going to let up now."Diffindo !"The enchantment scratched against the buckler to no effect, screeching like a violin."Reducto !"Michelson wasn't even knocked backwards as buckler once again absorbed the charm with a loud note. Harry gripped his wand angrily, goose egg he had could die this sodding silver shield.

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

"Motus !"Harry aimed squarely at the pith of the silver ball and twisted. It vibrated like a bell and filled the bedchamber with ringing. Harry twisted further and the speech sound intensified. Inside his bubble Michelson clutched his auricle. Harry found the resonance and twist around harder, the sound outside the cuticle was deafening, inside it must have been excruciating. Markus threw his arm out violently and Harry had to fling himself sideways as the screaming buckler cannonballed past times him."Ferio !"Harry threw a hex at the staggering Albert Michelson that he just caught with a tabulator. Harry kept up the onslaught in a bang of glee ! He was winning !

"KhaNDana !"

The deadbolt came from nowhere. Slicing out of the shadow too fast for him to react. Harry was thrown to the soil, electric arc raging down every arteria and turning him into a hilarious barrage fire of infliction. Harry felt his wand torn from his unresisting hand and at last managed to blank is judgement to the pain. He waited in the dark for it to drop off. When he at hold up opened his eyes Michelson was staring down at him. The vast hotshot put his verge to first one ear then the other, muttering something, then whipped away the blood that had ran from both of them with a sleeve.

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



Review now or you will struck blind and be let free into a field good of jumbo purple bear traps. Also full of bears. The bears will be able to avoid the bear traps, you will not.


I do n't own Harry Potter. Neither have I seen him recently. If you have any information as to his whereabouts please phone. He is out in the cold without any food and we think his collar may birth come off. He 's smuggled and white with opprobrious paws and he 's missing a minuscule bit of his ear. He also answers to the public figure of refuse. He likes tuna.






Severus Snape landed lightly on the scrubland and looked about him. This would make been a monumentally barren place if not for the upstage Light Within of a muggle route in the vale far below. Snape walked over to the gathering of black cloaked figures standing near the bound of the drop-off. Snape counted faces, Barty Crouch was still lacking. What was the chore 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 form was apart from the others, right at the edge. The figure stood with his back to them, his prospicient robe streaming out to the side in the harsh night current of air. He seemed to be looking down at the road, and at the further lights of a town.

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

'' Severus. '' The wickedness Divine turned at last from the drop-off. `` You have come at finally. I was forced to wait. I dislike waiting. ``

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

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

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

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

'' No my lord. They continue to guard the department of mystery story, Dumbledore still fears to be active. Nothing has changed. ``

'' Well, '' The dark lord smiled thinly. `` That at least is good news. ``

He does not bang where I was. Snape kept his case perfectly unemotional. He suspects ... he strongly suspects but he does not know. He values me, he values me as a spy in the decree. That is why I am still live, because on the of-chance that I have not betrayed him I am valuable. He will kill 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 vocalize uninterested."Perhaps he has been captured. We may have to rescue him. Again."

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

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

"Alas no skipper. I apologize."Snape hung his head."I am afraid there is simply no way to adapt polyjuice potion to countenance a human being to become non-human."

"I dislike failure Severus."

"Master if you asked me to jump 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 night Creator was smiling slyly."But no matter. You may cease your experimentation. The potion is not requirement any more."

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

'' On to the encounter, we began without you Severus. I hope you don ‘ t nous. '' The dark Jehovah turned back towards the cliff and Snape had to strain to hear him over the fart. `` We were discussing an blackwash. ``

'' Who is the prey ? Perhaps I could brew a poisonous substance or some form of- ''

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

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

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

'' Yes. '' No god no. `` She is an order member. ``

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

'' I did my overlord. '' I begged her not to ca-ca me distinguish 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 girl of a squib, in a prominent placement in the ministry. A travesty. ``

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

'' Your God Almighty has decided she should die is that not enough for you Severus ? '' The dark nobleman smiled from the profundity of his soulless, piercing eyes. `` Does her destruction ... trouble you ? ``

'' Of course not my Maker. She is the child of bad origin, of course she must be killed. '' Snape bowed and stepped backward. `` I will hit certain that Dumbledore and the early decree extremity at Hogwarts are distracted. ``

'' That will not be essential Severus. We have already cut all communicating to Mrs Zhao 's abidance. I have also deployed dementors to intercept any content sent by patronus. No content can arrive at her. From anyone. ``

'' Most prudent my lord. '' Snape nodded, furiously trying to churn his brain and find some solvent to the trouble. He could not think, it was as if grim tendrils and hempen black-market vines were choking his usually perfect tense mental machinery. There must be some way to get a substance to her, there had to be !

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

'' Yes my nobleman. ``

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

'' No my Divine. ``

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


Snape walked calmly along the long path to the great doors of Hogwarts using all the personnel of will he had not to wear into a run. The watchman were no incertitude already in situation, at the bound of the forest beyond the Mary Augusta Arnold Ward. As were the assaulter probably, in his creative thinker he could already see them apparating into the dark streets around Natalie 's bland. He ached to run but could n't. It was torment, caught in chemical chain that did n't even exist. An backbone in his mind.

He reached the threshold 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 cardinal pillar as the staircase rocketed upwards and came to a screeching halt at the top. Snape threw the door open, startling the Headmaster.

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

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

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

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

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

'' Not if we move now ! ``

'' To make a motion confirms his suspiciousness of you. And it would do no trade good. The people watching you no doubt have parliamentary procedure to toss off you if you try to leave alone. No message can get hold of her. Yes, yes he had truly outmaneuvered us. ``

'' I can learn Fawkes. '' Snape argued. `` I can go away without a tincture. Warn her, then- ''

'' You can not film Fawkes. The methods phoenix 's use to locomote can be detected by those who know how. Voldemort knows how. ``

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

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

'' Passing means the death 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 people your information saved in the final war. Countless lives. ``

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

'' Well not to me. '' Dumbledore stood and stared down the potions master. `` The estimable you can do for her is to make for certain 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 eyes. The old man was right.
*


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

Natalie burrowed deeper into her pillow and closed her eyes. The world was falling apart, not even dreams could put up reprieve for long.

A floorboard creaking.

Natalie 's eyes flickered open in a moment. Was it just her neighbour downstairs ? She reached for her wand and silently checked her wards. She hissed as she realized they were in rag and rolled off the bed. Her handwriting moved towards the light switch then thought intimately of it, it might let them know 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 overt 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 ingest blocked the labial pipe as well. The only when way she was getting out was through the front door, which meant through them.

They would mark off the elbow room along the hall first, she perhaps had a minute.
*


barrel lemon had never pretended to be an intelligent man, just a useful one. He was useful say, when soul had n't paid their debts in fourth dimension and action needed to be taken. He had been locked up for being utile in the wrong place at the faulty time, set free eventually, go useful again and caught again. This fourth dimension for being so useful towards a ministry hit-wizard that the man was no use to anyone anymore.

He had been locked up for effective. Until the dark lord had given him a second luck. A chance to rejoin society again, to be utilitarian again. He was only one-half blood but he had just enough brain to never cite that to anyone. When the dark master had explained what needed to be done to this bint he had stepped forward instantly. It was right up his alley, he might even earn the scratch if he succeeded. Then he 'd really be set.

He touched the door curl with his ovolo. Warded, what else ? He turned and pointed into the rabble behind him at a hunched anatomy, then pointed back at the room access. The man shuffled forward, he had been a damn good swearing breaker until he was caught skimming a cut off the top. He was just lucky the ministry caught him before the goblins did.

Drum waited in muteness as the tiny man clicked and hummed in front man of the room access. A few minutes later the whammy breaker pushed the threshold receptive. Drum stepped into the flat tire and looked around professionally. It was set out fairly regular. Kitchen that way ... empty. Drum waved two Guy towards the punt room and ignored it. This place was like a catalogue, everything was in its position except for the Bible and papers strewn across the coffee table. Well, that and the three marine museum near the back. Not full of water. Some sorting of reptile. Some sorting of incense in the air, some new age garbage.

membranophone shrugged, not an military issue. The bedroom would either be at the end of the second door down on the left. That was how these building were built. metal drum stepped down the corridor and pushed the doorway on the left hand assailable. box seat. Down the hall then. He looked behind him, the other criminal were hanging back. Pathetic. The dark lord had grabbed everyone who would endure up straight with no regard for experience. Not that he was criticizing, at least he would get full credit for the kill.

drumfish breathed in deeply. Smelled like vanilla, it was very strong. someone had once told him that smell was the potent induction for memory. He certainly remembered that muggle girl every time he smelled cut green goddess. Perhaps from now on vanilla would echo in his head, reminding him of Natalie Zhao. The woman who made him the favored assassin of the saturnine lord.

He made his way towards the survive threshold. He raised his sceptre, fumbled it and caught it again. He shook his head. Had to stay focused. He reached the room access and pushed it exposed. iniquity, he stepped up to the bed. He had n't used the killing nemesis before, but he had no incertitude he could have it work. He raised his wand, aiming at the lummox in the screen. His sceptre was shaking, he grabbed it with both hands. What was wrong with him ? metal drum shook his drumhead, the sceptre was still shaking.

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

metal drum stepped backwards and tripped over his own robes. He looked back towards the room access. It was closed. Did he conclude it ?

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

'' Doped us. '' Drum mumbled through asleep lips. `` Incense ... Vanilla ... ``

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

Wo n't tell you you bitch.

'' Twenty ? ``

What !

'' Where are there ? ``

Ice cold bitch queen.

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

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

'' I can try. ``
*


Natalie stunned the swarthy ace and pushed his body in nominal head of the door. How long before the others checked on him ?

The door handgrip rattled. That long.

Natalie put herself right in front of the room access. If she was favourable ...

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

"Cruci-"

Natalie whirled on the castor. No meter for tour, she found his center, pushed in like a dagger and found the off substitution in his brain. He folded like a puppet with the bowed stringed instrument cut. She heard a shout behind her and protegoed so harshly that the round edges of her shield forced the rampart out like crumpling newspaper publisher. She turned and saw the hooded man dodging his own magical spell and threw her own, striking him in the chest.

That was the ones in the flat done.

She rushed to the doorway but it had been torn off its hinges. A dreary figure reared from the stairwell. Natalie had her baton up in a present moment but before she could tramp the man grabbed his chest and fell to the flooring. Natalie crept close, stock on his chest. someone had hit him with a puncture curse.

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

metre to start surprising them.

Natalie aimed at out into the middle of the stairway. A flicker of her wand and a ball of glowing light appeared. Another flick and a gyrate spear of discharge shot down the stairs like a rogue firework. She twisted and the ball dropped slowly, like a balloon, spitting exploding spears in every direction and shrinking as it fell.

That should observe them busy.

She dashed down the stairs and took out another thug as he desperately tried to dodge the multi-fire. Natalie had to startle over a man lying prone on the instant floor, a victim of the pyrotechnic. A trance shattered the tiles near her shoulder and she threw up a cuticle against the adjacent one. Where were they coming from ?

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

There were still ten men outside. Natalie reached the priming coat base and took a cryptic breath. They would be spread out all around her building to kibosh her escaping. What was her best bet to survive ? The binding entree ? It led onto an bowling alley, easy for them to obturate or learn. The figurehead was no doubt a deathtrap, she'd be hit from every position before she got two tone. There was a ground floor window out into the car park ... wizards tended to ignore cars. She didn't have one but surely some combination of spells could convince one to start out. It was her best shot.

Natalie can down a incline corridor and found the window, she peered out. No one visible, but they could be hidden among the cars. She slid the window open and climbed out uncomfortably, breathing severe. Strangely her paper 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 becharm the lock chamber when she felt a shadow drop on her.

"Got you missy."Natalie froze. The voice was twisted and glossy, like oil."bout round so I can see your fairly face."

Bad idea. Natalie turned and looked up into the potholed look above her. Into his eyes ... He fell with a grave, rag-doll thump and Natalie grabbed his wand.

"Ere what was that ?"

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

"She ‘ s ‘ ere ! She got Poxx !"

Natalie heard more running feet and tried to slink away along the edge of the wall. She reached the corner, no where to go. If she tried to defecate for the exit they'd see her for trusted. She pushed at the apparation cellblock again but it was no good. They had extended it beyond the construction itself. How far would they have pulled it ? To cover the whole block would have been impossible. Could she just run for the edge ?

They were searching the lot. They were getting closer. Natalie looked up under the good car. At least five distich of feet within well-situated sight. The entranceway was closing curtain, she might make it. With a distraction.

She looked carefully out over the backbone of the car and aimed her wand at a blue car at the former end of the lot. It didn't have to be much, just enough to get their attention. She said the while silently. The car's alarm sounded like a klaxon in the Nox air.

"What the bloody ‘ ell is that !"

Natalie stood and ran. They were looking the other way, she could make it. She blazed out of the car Park and made for the end of the street, all the while pushing against the apparation barrier. A spell pin-wheeled over her brain and she sprinted harder. It had to end soon. She heard shouting and running behind her. delight let it end soon. A clod of the route was blown away, throwing her to the level. No ... She desperately threw herself against the ward as footsteps surrounded her. It wouldn't John Donald Budge, she knew it wouldn't.

"Now missy turn beat nice and slow."She rolled over and tried to meet the man standing in nominal head of her's middle."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 cluster of champion surrounding her."Me and the lads worked hard. I recon we deserve a reward."

"I assume your Divine will provide 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 finisher. Natalie could see the greed of years in prison flickering bright in their eyes."Actually I was thinking you ‘ re gon na. Seeing as you don ‘ t have a ch ... ch ... aa ... oh."The man raised his hand to his mouth, there was a drip of stemma coming out of the corner. His eyebrows knitted in confusion as he fell to the floor. His confrere 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 descent. He ‘ s dead. He- Aaa !"The neck of the kneeling man exploded, showering them with rip. The crook jumped back in stupor. Natalie grabbed her wand and threw herself backwards, rolling as she hit the undercoat. She had stunned one of the wizards while they were still in shock and had turned her wand on another when her mystery savior revealed himself. She had to contribute it to him, he knew how to make an entrance.

He dropped from the top of another building, his robe billowing behind him as he fell straight into the centre of the wizards. He landed on one of them and rolled, a dark bod 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 beguile his face in the wickedness. He nodded to her. She nodded back, and they turned on the eternal sleep of the bastards.

It was the unknown fight Natalie had ever been involved in. Strange for it's muteness. Whatever weapon the strange man was using it made no sound as it fired and she tended to shake off non verbally. The criminals yelled their spells but they were in such disarray they were mostly throwing despairing stunners at each other. former than those there was only the auditory sensation of footstep, rapid-fire like a dance, and the occasional spray of bloodline. A silent battle at midnight, underneath stuttering streetlamps. Natalie's breath was hot in her ears by the clock time it was over. She turned to her savior, he was dumping what was now obviously a silenciod handgun in his bag.

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

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

"Ha ... Harry ?"

"Yep."The Brigham Young boy's eyes wandered south and he glanced away."Um you ‘ re going to have to have a alteration of wardrobe if you want to feature any kind of intelligent conversation."

"Why ?"

"well, long storey forgetful you ‘ re still wearing a nightgown 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."punter ?"

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


Carting bodies up to her flat had been a dreamlike experience. She had healed the unity that could be healed before stunning them into a comatoseness. In the end they had two piles, sixteen awake and four dead. She did n't doubt that without wizard medicine the count would suffer been a lot higher.

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

"Do you have any biscuit ?"

"What ?"

"I missed dinner."

"Oh ... yes. In that cupboard."Natalie pointed and the black robed boy grabbed them before coming back and sitting beside her on the couch. She looked over at him. He looked erstwhile than when she had lowest seen him. Much former."You saved my life."

"Don ‘ t worry about it."Harry shrugged."The cookie to a greater extent than make up for it."

"You shot them."Natalie's thought's were still a little unconnected and she was trying to meet in the piece of music."With a gun."

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

Natalie decided not to comment, instead she asked.

"How did you even know to come here ?"

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

Natalie listened in shock as Harry briefly explained a conversation that had apparently taken place between Severus and Dumbledore before 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 hoi polloi that got sent to watch Snape were all, big surprisal, watching Snape. substance I could fall away by undetected. After that I dashed for the wall, climbed it easy, the Aaron Montgomery Ward doesn ‘ t keep in humans. Legged it to Hogsmeade and broke into a cottage to use the flue. I didn ‘ t want anyone to know I ‘ d gone through there, that was why I didn ‘ t use one of the pubs."

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

"Dumbledore was right."

"What ?"

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

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

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

"Snape passes and you can hole up at chez Malfoy. One problem, They ‘ ll remember the truth."Harry pointed out, jabbing a thumb towards the criminals."Voldemort ‘ ll determine 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 earphone off the counterpunch."Goldie will be capable to help with that."

"Voldemort ‘ s good at Legillimancy."

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

"waiting a minute of arc ..."Harry's brow furrowed."You ‘ re telephone is working ?"

"Of course."

"So why did I just break out of school and locomote the duration of the country to spare you ?"Harry threw his hired man 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 figure ! All haywire !"

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

"You sure ?"

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

"Yeah ?"

"Thank you."

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

"And Happy Halloween."

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


Harry didn't try to reenter Hogwarts that night. Too much risk of being seen by one of the viewer. Instead he dozed on a work bench and slipped back in around cockcrow. He attended breakfast purely to pimp coffee in enceinte quantity and managed to get through his low gear few lessons somehow. During lunch fault he dragged his sleepy mold down to the dungeon and found the right office. He pushed the room access open without knocking.

"What is the signification of thi ... Potter."Snape deflated, his face going piano."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 intermission. Then,

"I suppose I am."

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


As soon as Harry's pes touched the base he knew it was a dream. Before him the cottage at Godrics Hollow rose above his school principal. Looking so ... pattern. nil to verbalise to it's momentous importance. It could have been any one of thou of houses, there were others that could be its Gemini dotted down the street. aught special, and yet it repelled him.

Harry felt his skin crawling. The household was ... wrong ... somehow. Harry turned and dashed down the street, passing Tree and hedge. He dashed with no care and caught his metrical foot on a pavage stone, sending him sprawling to the storey. As he got to his feet he felt grass under his human foot. He was back on the front lawn. The cottage was right in front of him.

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

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


'' Harry ? '' Ron knocked on the stool room access. `` Harry are you ok ? ``

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

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

'' I said I 'm fine. '' Harry jerked the door open, the Negroid udder under his eyes even more visible than usual against his super C and sallow skin.

'' You do n't bet mulct. ``

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

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

"I SAID I ‘ M FINE !"Harry whirled on his Ron."I was sick. For some reason. Some unknown quantity and insignificant 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 leftovers when we go to creatures."

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

Ron followed slowly. Harry was slowly getting high-risk, sick. Was it just want of sleep doing this to Harry ? He hadn't looked this bad even when he'd been clock time jumping. This metre he seemed physically ill. Ron shucked his bag up further on his back. They all needed a little more sleep, Harry had been pushing them hard.

More sleep, and more bruise-remover.
*


Ginny looked up as Harry pushed the room access to the attic open.

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

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

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

"The rest of us can ‘ t get away with skipping 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 midsection of the attic."Alright, this time everyone except Draco. All of the marauders."

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

"I'm sure, I ‘ m amercement. Nothing a piddling exercise won ‘ t cure."Harry shed his gown as the piranha drew into a forget me drug around him. Ginny could see Malfoy settling down to find out, like it was a bloody show.

"Ready."Padma called out.

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

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

The similitude jumped forward like mirrors of each other but a glistening beam clicked between them and slammed them together like conkers. Harry whirled like a dancer and a veil of smoke surrounded him. The marauders began firing into the cloud, deliberate not to hit each early as the sweetheart flew out the other side. The marauder slowed and eventually stopped.

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

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

Padma's question was answered as her wand was jerked out of her paw and flew into the blackness. An array of looker followed it. All came back out.

"Screw this."Ginny waved her scepter."Depulso smoke."The black cloud flew away and dissipated into the dusty air. Revealing zip. The storey was empty.

"Where the hell is-"Ginny felt a weight unit strike her shoulders and a stabbing pain. As she collapsed she saw flush flash in figurehead of her brass and red light flashing all around. Her shoulder was like a burn knife.

"handle !"individual yelled."I said keep !"

The flashing lights stopped and she felt strong men rolling her over carefully. Malfoy's nerve came into view, staring at her shoulder.

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

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

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

"No."Draco shook his top dog."Two marauder, one injured, leads back to Harry. I ‘ ll charter her. We can pass by it off as an inter-house thing."Dragon put his arm under her good berm and lifted her gently, carrying her away.
*


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

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

"Ginny ‘ s not a death 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 crime or the tattoo !"

"This isn ‘ t rum Harry !"George IV 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."Anapurna said softly.

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

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

"Yes ! I was !"Harry kicked a electric chair against the paries angrily."I ‘ m helping everyone ! Why doesn ‘ t everyone get that ! Why are the legal age of the people I ‘ m trying to relieve doing their substantially to screw with me !"

The marauders jumped back. The tincture in the attic made Harry's face a gonzo mask. He was shaking like a foliage, breathing hard.

"Why are mass doing this."He shook his head, his hands going to his temples."Even people who know what we have to do are trying to halt 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 amercement. We can fit another duel in before the end of lunch."

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

"I can. You can. Get over here."Harry threw Padma's sceptre to her. It bounced off her venter. She made no effort to catch it.

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

"Come on !"Harry clapped like some harebrained sports coach."We can do another round."

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

"THIS WAS NEVER FUN !"

"Harry what do you desire !"Hermione yelled."We don ‘ t have to do what you say ! We don ‘ t have to obey orders like you seem to think ! Make up your mind Harry, are we your booster or are we your ... your USA !"

"You giving me the choice."Harry stepped up right into Hermione's boldness."You giving me that pick. I have a dark wizard after me that I ‘ m fated to fight. I have the swell, no scratch that, the two slap-up ace in the creation hating me. One trying to toss off me. One trying to keep me a prisoner. I have everything against me. So I choose a bloody Army.'Cos I need a bloody army. And if you can ‘ t be that then to hell with you."

Harry turned, and disappeared out the door.
*


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

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

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

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

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

"He ‘ s killing himself with all this."Ginny pleaded, looking into Dragon's middle. At least there was some emotion there, even if it mostly seemed to be sorrow."You realize that don ‘ t you ? You ‘ re not helping him pull through. You ‘ re helping him self destruct."

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

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

"Of trend I ‘ m noble. I ‘ m a Malfoy."Draco hung his head, then looked up to run into her center. sorrow was back, sorrow was definitely back."Look Ginerva I know everything you ‘ re saying is true. But I don ‘ t roll in the hay how else to help him. I don ‘ t how to aid him at all. Do you ?"

"I ... no."

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

And out of doors Hogwarts the wizarding world slowly fell to pieces. As Christmas crawled close and the nighttime grew foresightful there was no joy among the magical peoples. It just meant there were More saturnine hours for the death eaters to hound in. One night a benighted mark was raised right in the middle of Manchester. The authority passed it off as a hot air balloon. The ones in the country did n't have to be explained away, the ministry just had to cleanse up after. When they even bothered to do that.

contrary to popular impression the drab hour is not before daybreak. It 's in the middle of the bloody night.
*


Harry closed the oracle with a grave sigh and dropped it on the ground beside him. Things were only getting unsound out there. The fiat was n't doing anything, big surprise there. Barty Crouch was still missing from death feeder meeting, apparently with Voldemort's full financial backing. The iniquity creatures ? No one knew a thing about them.

No one seemed to cognize anything.

Harry stretched his branch out and felt the ripples of the lake against his bare skin, sending back ripples of goosebumps to equalize. Not all to do with the cold. It was safe though. He should make sure he could make out water if he had to. might have to fight in it one day.

'' A dark-skinned United States Department of State of affair. ``

Harry tensed as the voice came from behind him and spun, wand outstretched. There was a figure of speech standing there, looking out over the weewee. He looked old, seventy maybe. Bald definitely, and not a pilus in his little neat mustache was anything other than Andrew Dickson White. He looked like a pull away teacher more than anything else, one of the old school 1. He even had the patched flannel jacket.

Oh god was that a tube in his scoop ?

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

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

'' Oh come on. '' Harry chuckled and shook his head word. `` ternary things : One, I do n't drink tea. I drink coffee, in large measure. Two : You do n't feature 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 proficient Mr ceramist. '' The old man sat down cross legged following to him. `` How could you severalize ? ``

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

'' My gens is William James. '' Harry stiffened at those Scripture. The old man laughed. `` No not that James. Honestly Mr ceramicist there are Sir Thomas More people called James in this reality than your father. ``

'' Probably not your very public figure anyway. '' Harry snorted.

'' I 've never seen a indigence to hold in my commencement name. One of the benefits of having a nice traditional name like Jesse James or can or Harry. '' James smiled and took a footling puff on his pipe. `` Of course if you wish to know my stopping point figure we shall have a trouble. ``

'' I do n't chip in a Irish bull what your end name is. '' Harry shrugged. `` How are you doing this ? Some sort of illusion ? ``

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

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

'' Very good Mr Pott- ''

'' stopover saying that. '' Harry cut him off. `` Just speak your piece. ``

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

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

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

'' half blood, respected appendage of the Wizengamot, respecter writer, married to a muggle, outspoken critic of the current minister. Two kids at Hogwarts. His last Holy Writ was a sleep together taradiddle, between a pure blood and a muggle. '' Harry laughed wryly. `` Jesus, did someone just take a big part of play-doh and cast it into a target for the end feeder ? ``

'' It is a lowly 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 paper. `` Tomorrow Nox. ``

'' Oh come on. ``

'' He has been repeated warned but he refused to swallow a protective detail. He says it would entrench on his privateness. Foolish And he will die for it. A beloved family man is going to die if you do n't preserve him. ``

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

'' I, or more accurately the group I represent. Do have the resources. '' James smiled. Harry did n't care that smile, it had weird profundity. James continued, `` Our formation also dislikes Voldemort. He is troublesome to our employment. But unfortunately for Mr Baker, Voldemort is only an irritation to us therefore it is not Charles Frederick Worth enough to us to save him. We do not affect in the Same circles as Voldemort you see, so he does not give us too often trouble. We would choose if he were gone though. It would make thing light. ``

'' So help him. ``

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

'' display off. '' Harry murmured.

Of course of instruction he realized it could be a trap. In fact it almost certainly was a trap. Harry considered. Except that Conterrando baker was a real individual. The story, after a fiddling checking of back prophet issues, checked out. Harry even found the kids in Ginny 's year. Hufflepuffs, twins, nice in a sort of boring Hufflepuff kind of way. Both members of the gobstones nightclub. Both with significantly less derisory names than their father.

Good kids. in effect father too ...

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

Looks that way.

'' Do I have to ? ``

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

'' Do n't care Zea mays everta. ``

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

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

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

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

Crazy like a fox.

'' Like a fox. ``
*


So it came to pass on that Harry slid down into the chamber of enigma that night wearing the most singularly un-heroic opus of vesture in history.

A dyad 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 modest than he remembered.

Harry dropped into the icy sewerage and made his way quickly along the darkness passageway. The water was bitingly cold on his hands whenever they got splashed but the thick wading bird kept his stage pleasantly warm. Thank merlin for dragon-skin fishing supplies.

Of row this would be prosperous if Dumbledore had n't strengthened the Hogwarts wards to the point where not even insects could pass through. This was the only way out.

Harry 's transition through the catacombs was unerring. Last sentence he 'd been here he 'd wandered aimlessly, lost. Little lost boy ... But he was n't the like person he 'd been then. Harry sighed and walked on through the darkness to his destination.
*


Harry flicked his taking into custody up and walked quickly down the street. This was John Griffith Chaney, but not a component part that he had ever frequented. Big houses, big expensive houses. Places that did n't take kindly to vagrants. Probably still would n't hire kindly to him if he was found here.

mansion twenty six. Harry slowed to a stop a blocking away from the marvellous white construction. In the middle of the terraced-row of equally tall white buildings. Expensive they might be, individual they were not.

All the lights seemed to be off. Mr baker was probably asleep. No one exterior, no one obvious anyway.

Hello ...

Up on the cap. Darkness made into matt made into incubus. Someone was waiting up there, trying to stay inconspicuous against the skyline.

Harry cursed then darted down an bowling alley. Movement in the nominal head yard, it might take been a discarded newspaper. Then again it might not.

man shape ! Second floor, standing near the bed ! Harry 's hands found a drainpipe 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 strength and crashed through the window.

'' What the hell ! ``

Harry tackled the decease eater to the floor and stunned him. He rushed to the door and bolted it, pushing a chair under the handle. The others would throw heard the window break.

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

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

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

'' Good go to him. Get out through the spine. '' Harry pointed at the broken window. The door thumped violently and Harry turned back towards it. Three others. Not good. `` GO ! ``

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

'' Do n't vex about me. Just go ! '' Harry flicked a Mrs. Humphrey Ward onto the door, strengthened it. But it would n't hold long. These were n't criminals, these were existent dying eater. Duelist group deuce. Bugger. Harry glanced back at the windowpane 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 showtime real mental test. Lashkar-e-Taiba see how I do.

I really hope one of them is bow ... Harry grinned in vehement glee.
*


The houses windows flashed from where he sat on the rooftops. Whoever that boy was he was fighting them. Fighting them everywhere. There were two people fleeing down the backstreet, seeable in the gaps between star sign. They did n't matter.

His knarrled digit 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 capable to injure them, puddle them pay. produce the other one, the snake in the grass one, the one who took everything pay.

He licked his sassing. Another clip, there would be other times. He was affected role. affected role was respectable, so long as it got there in the end.

The end ... the end ...

payback. That was a practiced word.

The viewer hunkered down on the rooftops. Before him the fight raged on and watchword of pain filled the air.

He would wait, and if there were any stragglers ? Maybe he would take in some fun after all.
*


'' wake up ! ``

Urg ... Ron turned over on instinct to get away from the noise.

'' Get the hell up Weasley ! ``

'' Ow ! '' Ron grabbed his side and spun, his eyes wide undefendable. `` Malfoy what the- ''

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

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

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

'' well he 's not. '' Ron gestured around. `` Look the bed 's not even sleep 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 first light ! ``

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

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

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

'' Then he 's eating breakfast ! ``

'' Checked there. ``

'' depository library. ``

'' Checked. ``

'' Down by the lake ? ``

'' Checked. ``

'' The woods ? 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 observe he was tired. ``

'' Surprised you did. '' Malfoy turned for the door. `` Get your acquaintance and serve front. ``

'' We 're not your frie- ''

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


Ron woke the marauders. The marauders roused the scholar. Myrtle called the shade. Hermione ran to McGonagall. McGonagall went to Dumbledore.

The entire castle like an anthill 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 palace. The swell lobby was filled with palpable 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 veil what you 're talking about. But she found that when she talked it also came out as whispers. It was the tense atmosphere, it leeched sound out of you. Or maybe it was because saying it right out would make it real.

The piranha mostly picked at their food for thought. No one felt like eating. Not even Ron. Suddenly the room access fit open.

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

The hall emptied like a fire had started. Every student of every house piled through the giant look-alike doors. Jostling and pushing against each other, and against teachers, to get through. They spilled out onto the figurehead lawn like a wave, breaking and separating. Everyone was running for the main gate. Ginny saw Hagrid, out in presence, yell something and the gate creaked open. Everyone pushed through, trying to get a glimpse of the solitary image trudging up the path towards them.

The front runners stopped and were almost bowled over as the people behind them ran into their backs. The road down from the gate was slanted, so everyone could see. See the figure that was definitely Harry.

His gown hung off one shoulder, the rest torn and trailing behind him. The unhurt left incline of his face was covered in stock, down onto his shoulders too, caked on and streaked. One of his boots was gone, pigeon hawk only knew where. His allow arm had an ugly burn over the elbow joint, red and raw and total darkness in the middle.

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

'' Well ... would ... '' Harry swallowed and licked his lips. `` Would you believe I fell down some step ? ``
*


'' Mr Potter where were you ? ``

You know where.

'' Tell me ! ``

He knows where. Of form he does. Stupid Dumbledore.

'' Were you at the bread maker residence Harry ? ``

There we are.

'' How did you leave school grounds ? ``

You do n't postulate to know that.

'' Harry answer me ! ``

'' What do you need from me Dumbledore ? '' Harry pushed a blood-entangled dreadlock of hair out of his side. `` What do you want me to say ? ``

'' I want the the true ! '' Dumbledore was yelling, every portrayal on the walls of his office watched in quiet. Apart from them the elbow room was empty. `` I want you to differentiate me where you went ! Where you go every night ! I want answers ! ``

'' I do n't pass a shucks what you want. ``

Rather incongruent seeing as we just asked him.

'' Harry if there is a breach in the Montgomery Ward of Hogwarts I need to know about it. ``

Damn. He might actually be right on. Voldemort sure as hell knew about the chamber.

'' sleeping accommodation of secrets. '' Harry met the schoolmaster gaze but gave nothing away. His occlumency was getting better too. `` Remember ? There 's a passage that lets out on the side of the lake. ``

'' The ... a enactment. '' Dumbledore nodded faintly. `` Yes ... yes I knew about it. ``

'' But it slipped your mind 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 incompetent. You make fault. It does n't receive to be this way between us, admit you made a error with regards to me. I can assist you oppose. Help the Order. ``

'' You are not of age. ``

'' Screw that ! '' Harry yelled wildly. `` There 's two people living tonight because of me ! Two shaver who are not orphaned because of me ! ``

'' There are also five deadened death eater. ``

What ... the ... hell ...

'' Stunned. '' Harry corrected hopefully. `` Stunned dying eater. ``

'' Dead. '' Dumbledore 's face grew stony. `` Killed with an occult toxin. Seen only once before. ``

No ... no no no no.

'' Dumbledore- ''

'' arrest ! '' The schoolmaster cut him off. `` You have already demonstrated a bloodlust that disturbs normal, decent wizards. ``

'' When I need to ! '' Harry was breathing hard. `` When my Friend lives are at stake ! ``

'' You are out of mastery Harry. ``

'' I did n't pop them. '' Harry held up his hands. `` 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 know. ``

'' I will not know. I will not make out because I can not be sure that you have not reached a level of proficiency at occlumency where you could establish me whatever cook up memory you wish to. ``

'' THEN WHAT DO YOU need ! ``

'' Anger Harry ? You have a lot of ire do n't you. ``

Yes. Harry hung his fountainhead tiredly. There is no resolution to your questions. aught that will gratify you.

'' You will stay confined to the castle. '' Dumbledore ordered. `` You will attend all example. A guardian appointed by me will walk you to and from each lesson. You will do these affair 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 film that risk. ``

time lag ! The prognostication !

'' The prophecy. '' Harry blurted. `` What are we going to- ''

'' halt thinking about such things. '' Dumbledore cut him off. `` They are no longer your concern. ``

'' But I have to arrest Voldemort. I 'm the only one who can. ``

'' This give-and-take is over Harry. leave. ``

Harry stood. There was no item drawing it out. He walked towards the door, but did n't go through it. He felt drained, completely. But some residuary well of obstinance would n't let him go out without one go word.

'' You 're making a mistake. '' Harry said over his berm. `` You do make them remember. ``

'' I do. But I correct them. '' Dumbledore said sharply, but sadly. `` I am correcting one right now. ``

shucks. He still got the hold out word.

Harry turned and passed out of the berth. There were authoritative decisions to be made.
*


'' Deja vu. '' A voice said over Ron 's shoulder.

'' Malfoy ! '' Ron spun on his bench. `` Do you just swipe around everywhere ? ``

'' Hard to filch in the midriff of lunch. '' Malfoy seemed agitated. `` Harry 's gone again. ``

'' Like this dawning ? '' Hermione asked.

'' He said he was going to go to sleep, but his bag 's gone. '' As Malfoy spoke they heard a dissonance from the mellow table.

Dumbledore had just shoved his chair back roughly and strode quickly from the hall.

'' He knows about- '' Ron began but stopped as a feathery darkness dropped onto the table.

Digger cocked his head and hopped about a trivial nervously. He kept looking at first of all one human face then another as if he did n't get it on who to deliver his substance too.

Ginny reached forward and took it off her. She spread it out on the table. It was abruptly, but it had a lot of subtext. It simply said.

Take care of him






recap, or I will use my gravemetric upending ray to ruin the moon down onto the open of the earth ! Destroying it utterly ! You have just one hour ! Mru Ha Ha Ha Ha ! Ha. Ha.


Arg ! The site goes down ! Madness everywhere ! thing fall apart, the centers can not hold ! My reviews ! ! ! My precious reviews ! ! !

Ah well ... such is life.



'' Is there no intelligence ? ``

'' No Albus, there is not. '' Minerva shook her head. `` He appears to have vanished. ``

'' Has a lookout man been set on the delimitation ? All ways that he could leave the country ? ``

'' Yes Albus. '' As if that had ever stopped Harry. `` But do you really think he will try to go away ? Everything we 've seen suggests he will stay on and fight. ``

'' I do not know Minerva. '' Albus shook his head. `` I am not for sure of anything anymore. ``

'' hitch inviolable Albus. The order needs you. ``

'' Yes ... yes we must go on. ``
*


The marauders, bundled up against the cold, sat quietly before a immense bay window in Malfoy manor. They had gone there straight from Hogwarts, with a guard the intact way. They were in the minority for leaving, a lot of scholar had elected to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas. It was safer. They were not the solitary ace there though, Terry and Anne baker ( none of the marauders had really known them ) had been dragged along looking confused.

That was until they reached the home and had a tearful reunion with their parents. Apparently someone had saved them from the death eaters. vehemence on someone.

The manor house was filling up, loads of mass. Refugees almost, people that had been targeted or were in peril of being. It was scarey, seeing the concern in their eyes, the feeling of being hunted. The marauders were the same, unable to leave, scanning the papers for any soupcon of Harry. They found cipher but they kept looking. Guilt was a powerful thing.

So now they were stuck in the residence, ineffective to leave its wall as snowfall blanketed everything outside. Even if they could give gone outside would they have had the heart to play ? Maybe, maybe not. So they sat in front of the huge open window and watched it fall.

The adult had tried to stool it cheery, there was even a tree. It had n't worked though.

'' We should go have lunch. '' person murmured. No one moved. Eventually someone else echoed the thought and they began to get up, slowly, silently. They had just about reached the kitchen when Tonks burst in.

'' Have you heard the news show ? '' She blurted.

'' We read the prophet- '' Hermione began before Tonks interrupted her.

'' No, no. This just happened. '' She shook her read/write head. `` Two destruction eaters just got dropped into the ministry foyer. Flued in. They were stunned and tied up with laurel wreath. They 're processing them now. Where 's everyone else ? ``

'' about of the grownup eat in the shoetree way. '' Ginny pointed and Tonks hurried out.

'' Do you opine it was Harry ? '' Neville asked quietly.

'' Of trend it was Harry. '' Malfoy said flatly.

'' It could have been individual else, someone else trying to stop them. ``

'' Someone who tied them up like presents and dumped them Christmas eve ? It 's Harry. '' Padma grimaced. `` He 's out there fighting. ``

'' On his own. '' Her sister echoed.

They sat in silence for a while. The alone strait was Ron rhythmically munching on bread.

'' Do you intend it was us ? '' Ginny found herself whispering. `` Do you call up 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 have thought he could fight them ! ``

'' He was getting help from other places than me. somebody else I 'm trusted, he was getting better too fast. '' Malfoy shook his head. `` No, I withdraw what I said before. You did n't campaign him towards this. This was inevitable. ``

But we abandoned him. Ginny thought darkly. Maybe if he would experience stayed longer if he thought he had something to stay for. Or at the very least he 'd know he was n't alone. Merlin, how had things gone so untimely ?

'' It 's my fault. '' Hermione murmured suddenly. `` I said that ... pillock thing about choosing between- ''

'' It was n't you. '' Ron broke in. `` You heard Malfoy, it was inevitable. ``

'' We need to do something. '' Parvati said. `` Bring him back. William Tell him it 's ok. ''

'' How ? '' Draco shook his head. `` Take out a personal ad in the Prophet ? ``

'' Well why not ? ``

'' Because it 's ridiculous. And because all it would do is gruntle your guiltiness. It would n't avail him. ``

'' wellspring what would help him ! '' Fred asked angrily.

'' I do n't know ! '' genus Draco stab to his metrical foot. `` Why are you asking me anyway ? I do n't even like you. '' He turned and stalked out of the room. Ginny watched him go. She 'd never thought about it before but Harry leaving had probably hit him pretty hard too. He did n't really have any other acquaintance. Maybe that had been why he helped Harry for so long.

'' We need to do something. '' Anapurna repeated again.

'' What sister ? What ? '' Padma frowned at her sis darkly. `` Do n't just prevent saying 'do something'and gestate everyone else to add up up with something. ``

'' I do n't hear you coming up with anything ! ``

'' There 's nothing we can do ! ``

They lapsed into an angry silence again. There was too a great deal stress, too little sleep. They were all at the end of their lead. Just like Harry had been. Ginny shook her psyche, they should induce gone easier on him. A little selfish portion of her felt sword lily that she had not been percentage of that first argument with him. Another part blamed her for starting it. If she had just dodged he would n't bear hurt her shoulder and then they would n't have ...

It was wasted to mean about it. The argument had happened, but a slight component of her still irked. They should n't have got blown up on him, so what if he said he chose an ground forces ... Wait ... Was it potential ? Was she really thinking about this ?

'' I can think of something we can do. '' She said, her voice catching in the heart. It had n't done that in years.

'' What Gin ? '' Fred asked without looking at her.

No one was looking at her. No one was paying attention. Marauder dominion ...

'' HEY ! '' The table jumped as Ginny slammed down on it intemperate. The marauders started like rabbits. Oh great, now everyone was looking at her. She stood, keeping her deal flat to the table. `` I know what we can do. ``

'' Wh ... what ? '' Hermione asked hesitantly.

'' Exactly what he asked. '' Ginny said confidently. `` He wanted an army. He needs an army. He 's fighting out there on his own so he deserves an army ! We can be it. We can facilitate him ! ``

For a few moments there was silence, then ...

'' But ... but we 're just Thomas Kid. '' 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 cognise how to agitate like him. '' Ron was staring at her wildly.

'' Harry learnt, so we can. '' Ginny folded her subdivision. `` Harry was n't even that good at denial 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 mass 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 person ! ``

'' But Harry 's Harry ! '' Hermione shook her head. `` He could get away with that sort of thing ! He has some ... ability ... some reason he survived. A power ! That 's it ! Like the vaticination said .'A mightiness the night lord knows not'we- ''

'' The just power Harry ever displayed was stubbornness. '' Padma interrupted her. `` Stubbornness and bravery. ``

'' And the fact that he never gave up. '' Her Sister added.

'' And we should n't either. '' Padma nodded.

'' So you ... '' Ginny turned to them grinning.

'' We 're in. '' Padma said, her eyes strong and determined. Her sis nodded her support.

'' Us too. '' George VI folded his arms just as his chum said,

'' We ca n't establish up on Harry. ``

'' And you three ? '' Ginny turned to the last three undecided marauders. Neville shifted nervously,

'' I ... It could have been me. '' He was looking down at the table. `` It could take in been me. I would n't cause survived this long. No ... but I ca n't just brush off it. The fact that it could throw been me I mean. I ... I feel like I have to help if I can. ``

'' You 're in ? ``

'' I do n't know how much aid I 'll be. ``

'' You saved me. '' Ginny smiled desperately. All the marauders had to get together, it was the like fate. For some reason she felt like that. If they all did n't get together it just would n't exploit. `` And Harry would give birth wanted it. ``

'' He understood you. '' Padma chimed in, smiling. `` More than the rest of us I think. ``

'' I 'll help, if I can. '' Neville said, in a minor spokesperson. Ginny breathed out in succor, one down two to go ...

'' And you two ? ``

Hermione and Ron shared a looking at. Ginny knew she could tease her sidekick into it, Ron was a sponge for peer imperativeness, but she would n't. Not a choice like this.

'' We 'll take in to miss some moral. '' Ron said suddenly and Hermione put a script over her mouth, chuckling. `` Think you can cover that Hermione ? ``

'' I guess so. '' Hermione turned back to Ginny. `` For Harry. ``

'' You 're in ? '' Yes, yes, yes ! `` Both of you ? ``

'' We 're in. ``

'' Us too. '' A part came out of nowhere. Ginny spun and fixed on the prominent duple room access. Standing in the outdoors crack were two embrown haired children. terry and Anne bread maker. They had been listening in, eavesdropping. And they had managed to do it undetected. Wow, Ginny thought. They 've already got what it takes to be a marauder.

'' What ? '' Ron stood, clearly unable to see them properly from where he was. `` You two ? ``

'' We heard what you were saying. '' Anne said, obviously trying to vocalise Old. Ginny wondered if she had looked like that a few moment ago. `` We want to help too. ``

'' Harry saved our parents. '' terry added in. `` The ministry did n't even fuck they were a quarry. We want to assist. ``

'' You realize what this means do n't you ? '' Ginny said clearly. `` We 're talking about fighting. Fighting death eaters. Maybe dying, almost certainly getting hurt. This is n't going to be fun. ``

'' We know that. '' Terry nodded. `` You think we do n't make love ? We saw Harry when he came back that dawn just like the rest of you. That 's the kind of poppycock you 're talking about right field ? Well that night he was out saving our parents. Saving them was what hurt him so bad, so its ... like I do n't have sex. Only carnival, I guess, that we should do that for him. ``

'' You could die. '' Padma said flatly.

'' If Voldemort wins we die anyway. '' Anne matched her lethargy. `` With parents like ours we 'll be on the top of his tilt. ``

'' We know what were getting ourselves into. '' Terry said defiantly. `` We want to join Harry 's army. ``

'' Harry 's USA ? '' George V snorted. `` Is that what we 're calling ourselves ? ``

'' I do n't care it. '' His twin agreed.

'' It does sound like something from world-war-two. '' Hermione agreed.

'' How about the chosen ? We 've been that before. '' Ron suggested.

'' We 're the predator. '' Ginny overrode him. `` We 've always been the marauders we always will be. It 's what Harry would feature wanted. ``

A murmur vowel of agreement went up from around the table and Ginny felt a rush of superbia. She beckoned the Baker twins over. As she did she suddenly realized something, she had made everybody flavor at her and they were still looking. Her comrade had happily accepted her lead, they all had. And now she was about to ordain two new marauders, a privilege only previously granted by Harry.

What can of worms had she opened today ?

'' But wait. '' Padma said suddenly. `` How are we going to train properly ? Harry had a teacher, he had to. Where are we going to get one ? ``

'' I can think of mortal. ``
*


'' Dragon ! ``

Draco turned in shock to bet at the crowd in the program library doorway.

'' Yes ? '' He looked across them. `` Can I help you ? ``

'' We 've decided what we 're going to do. '' Ginerva said from the front. `` We 're forming an army. We 're going to fight for Harry. We want your help. ``

The library was silent for a moment. Draco met the eyes of each of the vulture, were they really serious ? Legillimancy gave him the answer.

'' wellspring would you seem at that. '' genus Draco murmured, then smiled. `` Lets get to it. ``
*


'' You realize this means the piranha now have appendage in every Hogwarts star sign. '' George commented as they walked down to Harry 's old training cellar.

'' We do n't get any Ravenclaws. '' Ron said. Hermione shook her head irritably.

'' You would recollect you 'd remember Ron, after all the sentence she 's deliver our tegument. ``

'' Who ? ``

'' Moaning myrtle. ``

'' She does n't count. '' Ron said with authority before being clipped around the ear by Ginny.

"Watch your mouth. Harry wouldn't tie-up for that sort of talk."

"Besides, you ‘ re all wrong anyway."Draco said dryly from the social movement."Harry made myself and Tonks marauders at the end of cobbler's last year. You ‘ ve been cross-house for months now."

"Why didn ‘ t you tell us ?"Ron asked him.

"Would it have made a difference of opinion ?"

"wellspring ... maybe."Ron shrugged."vulture have unlike rules than ordinary people."

"Yeah, that part I got."Malfoy reached the door to the root cellar and threw it open. It was exactly how they had left it. Huge piles of pause furniture and burn marks on the walls."Right, well we don ‘ t have impact celestial sphere or a siswai ‘ aman or muggle gonnes-"

"Guns."Hermione corrected.

"Them either."genus Draco stepped into the center of the room."Actually I do have some impact welkin but that ‘ s not the point. We don ‘ t have time to go to four Continent and clean up the expert implements of war like Harry did, so I ‘ m going to center on this ..."Malfoy drew his wand and held it out in front of him.

"Terry, Anne."Ginny turned to the two new members."How are you at defence mechanism socio-economic class ?"

"We ‘ re both getting Es."Anne said quickly.

"Marauders should know how to lie secure than that."

"Alright As."

"Same as Harry last year."Ginny told them encouragingly."Hermione ? Can you work them up to speed substantial quick ?"

"I ... I guess so."

"Good."Ginny turned back to Draco and nodded. He smiled at her as he directed the others into dueling lines. Her stomach did a piffling floaty lurch.

Just stress. She told herself. Just strain because we're joining a war. cancel to be skittish, especially since they seem to have elected me leader. I'm not uneasy for any early understanding. No reason at all.
*


Neville collapsed into a chair in his elbow room. He ached everywhere. Malfoy had pushed them all day, fighting. They had only quit for the dark when the Baker kids couldn't stand up any to a greater extent. Neville hadn't been far behind them.

This must have been what it was like for Harry.

Neville shook his head, in the beginning Padma had told him Harry understood him. Neville didn't know whether that was lawful. He certainly didn't understand Harry. But maybe he watched him more than the others, keeping calm on the avocation maybe he saw more. Saw more about people ... about Harry.

Maybe there was one former thing they could do for Harry.

He had thought of it before but hadn't mentioned it. No rationality to separate ` people, especially if he was wrong. It'd just make him bet unintelligent. It probably wouldn't help anyway. But it was worth a shot.

Neville drew a composition of report towards him and grabbed a flight feather. He chewed on the end nervously, how did you start a content like this ?

lamb ... No, to familiar. Neville shook his head, it didn't affair what words he used. He should just get the thing written. He cracked his fag out knuckles and started again.

To The Pythea

My epithet is Neville Longbottom and I'm a booster of Harry's. I don't know if he told you about me.

Neville winced, this was severely 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 moment. The varsity letter might get intercepted by someone.

If the phrase ‘ as the seventh month dies'means anything to you then you know why he's doing this. I don't know if you can avail him but if you can then please do, and differentiate us what we can do to assist. We're already doing everything we can but it may not be enough.

Neville read the letter over nervously. He was writing to ask the avail of one of the most herculean cleaning woman in the man. He signed it, his handwriting shaking enough to construct the key signature illegible, then squeaked his death chair back and made for the owlery.

Digger was awake and waiting, like he knew. The owl didn't even bother to look at the computer address, it just glanced at the epithet and took off. Neville watched it go, hoping ...
*


He got no reply over Christmas. The predator opened present tense with aching pearl 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. Perhaps they really did understand what they were in for.

Charles Percy Snow kept falling intermittently, not enough to brood the ground again. It just ended up slush. Neville wondered if Harry was outside, frigidity, right now, then felt pudding head. If Harry could get weird dark weaponry out of the blue then he could keep warm in winter.

'' Neville ! '' He heard Fred yell at him. `` I thought we were dueling not staring out the window. ``

'' I 'm coming. '' Neville turned and raised his wand. `` Just a second. ``

We 're doing what we can Harry, just you wait.
*


Harry crouched on the roof of a house, thrifty not to slip one's mind on the wet tile. The planetary house across the way was owned by a big member of a pure lineage family. Not his main house obviously, pokey little place like this, but one of his properties.

A property with a enceinte basement. A holding that had been taking in large provision of pith, bad meat too. Off gash, the kind you would impart animals.

It was a lead. Harry smiled grimly, he was on to them. He could waitress here all Nox ...
*


"Severus the nestling at home office keep disappearing during the day. Do you have sex where they're going ?

"I do not Albus."Technically true though any sensible somebody could guess.

"Do you think they might be planning to observe Harry ?"

"It is possible."I hope they are.

"This troubles be Severus, they should be kept safe."

"They are children."Technically true though not actually revealing his opinion.

"You will tell me if you hear anything I should know."

"Of course."Anything I think you should know.

"Now, '' Dumbledore looked around the Radclyffe Hall, meeting the eyes of the four order extremity. 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, shock absorber evident on her face. `` How ? ``

'' Harry has been too trusting of Gringots. '' Dumbledore drew a flimsy folder of lambskin towards him. `` He forgets that they have human employees as well as hob ones. I have managed to obtain records 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 passing scheme. '' Dumbledore shook his head. `` If he sees me he will run, and I can not vouch I will be able to catch him. You are the rescript members I believe he will trust. You must approach him. You must bring him back. ``

And what if I do n't wish him back. Snape was careful to shield his thought process utterly. What if I merely wish to make sure he 's safe.

'' This is the localisation. '' Dumbledore floated a sheet of parchment to each of them. `` We will go. Now. ``
*


Snape looked up at the flickering bulb above him and scornfully flicked it off before lighting his wand.

'' The top floor ? '' The auror Tonks was looking at the map drawn by Dumbledore. `` Why would he be on the top floor ? It 's a dead end. No way out. ``

'' The boy 's sassy than that. '' Alastor agreed as the four of them reached the stairwell of the muggle edifice. It was not vacant, indeed Snape could hear muffled voices and clicking from conterminous rooms, but the top story was closed for renovation.

'' Perhaps Dumbledore was improper then. '' Was that a hint of hope in the articulation of the youthful auror ?

'' More likely Harry has a broomstick up there. '' Minerva snapped.

Harry would not ingest a broomstick. Snape shook his head but said null out loud. He is more probably to have a pet dragon up there than a broomstick.

'' Quiet. '' Moody was up ahead, his magic eye scanning above them. The old auror cursed. `` Damn immorality eye ! There 's bags up there, and papers. But I ca n't tell if there 's a somebody. ``

'' Let me see. '' Minerva slinked into her cat form and carefully padded up the whole tone. Then came back down, her eyes twinkling. She transformed back and said, `` Harry has been here. His smell is everywhere. ``

'' Do you know if he is there now ? '' Snape asked.

'' He is there. The scent is too recent for him not to be. ``

'' Then we go in. '' Helen Newington Wills stalked forward. `` No scepter visible, do n't spook him. ``

They walked up the bare concrete stair. The doorway was closed and covered by a charge card sheet. Snape was reaching out to cut it aside when they all heard,

'' Do n't bother, I 've cut a scratch in the one round of drinks the side. '' The four parliamentary law members stopped short. 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 absolved ? '' The voice said cheerily. `` Come in if you want. With your manpower up if you please, we do n't want any surprises."

"You don ‘ t reliance us ?"Tonks asked.

"invariable vigilance."Harry replied.

Snape chuckled as he dropped his wand in his sac and walked around the turning point. There indeed was a shift in the charge plate pall, it was waving in the cold wind. Snape stepped up to the gap and pushed it aside. Harry was standing in the subject bay window, leaning easily against the edge.

He looked ... tired. Beyond tired, his eyes were sunken and his skin pale. Did he look risky 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 early monastic order members filed in behind him."It is estimable to see you. You are looking well."

"No I ‘ m not."Harry was watching them all closely."But I ‘ m surviving. How did you get me ?"

"I ‘ m afraid we can ‘ t-"

"Gringots led us here."Snape interrupted McGonagall, who glared at him."Dumbledore found you here with their selective information. He sent us here to lend you back."

"And are you going to ?"

"We just want to talk to you Harry."McGonagall stepped forward, her hands spread peacefully."It is not safe for you out here."

"It ‘ s not secure anywhere."Harry shrugged."And I ‘ m helping out here. I ‘ m fighting the expiry eater. What are you doing ? Looking for a lost child ? Let me ask you, which of us is doing the more utilitarian undertaking ?"

"thrower don ‘ t be an idiot."Moody growled."You may throw caught a few expiry feeder but it ‘ s only a issue of time before you ‘ re caught and you better pray it ‘ s by Dumbledore and not the dark master. If you die we all lose."

"If I fail we all lose."Harry shifted closer to the window.

"Harry, we ‘ re just trying to aid you."Tonks stepped forward."We all know what ‘ s at stake here."

"This scene is recap."Harry scoffed."I ‘ m leaving."He turned to the windowpane and dropped.

"No !"McGonagall yelled, snatching for her wand but Moody was faster. The old auror summoned Harry roughly, drawing him across the storey and disarmed him with a movie of the wrist.

"Son of a bitch."Harry tried to stand but Moody jabbed his wand and Harry was pushed back to the primer."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 part about killing them or the part about not needing to ?"

"To be dependable, both."Harry made a lurch for the room access but McGonagall stepped in front of him. Harry cringed, then tried to stand."This is pointless. If you bring me back to Hogwarts Dumbledore ‘ ll keep me prisoner, we all lose."

"I trust Dumbledore More than I trust you ripe now."Moody raised his wand."You disappointed me. Now Stup-"

"Stop !"Snape struck sideways, sending Moody's wand sideways. As the auror 's eyes jerked open in shock absorber Snape stunned him and whirled, holding his wand on McGonagall."Don ‘ t move Minerva. In fact back away."

"Severus what is this ?"Her eyes were wide of the mark in disbelief.

"Please don ‘ t talk."Snape glanced at Tonks standing twitchily in the turning point, her manus hovering over her wand."And you ? Do I need to stun you too ?"

"I ... no."The young auror's optic flickered down to Harry."payoff forethought of yourself Harry. Please. Please do."

"I ‘ ll try."Harry nodded, walking over and grabbing his wand."And I won ‘ t use Gringots any more."The boy started for the window.

"Harry !"Snape called out."Helen Wills caught you. You let your hold down. You have to be amend than that."

"I know. I screwed up. unceasing Vigilance."Harry nodded towards Moody."You should tell apart him that too when he wakes up."

"He will probably kill me first."Snape shrugged.

"Not likely."Harry stepped up the bound."He ‘ ll probably faith you now."

Harry grinned and dropped off the edge.

Snape waited a prospicient bit, long enough for Harry to reach the ground, then lowered his scepter. McGonagall just looked at him. No student with previous preparation had endured so withering a stare.

"well Severus, now that you have betrayed the Holy Order, what do you intend to do now ?"

"I will go back to Dumbledore."Snape stepped over to stir up up Moody."And I will try to explain."

The auror blinked to liveliness and grabbed his wand. He levered himself to his invertebrate foot and looked Snape up and down with his piercing galvanic blue eye.

"fountainhead well, your true colouration at last."Moody spat.

"Trelawney once told me my colour was blench fuchsia."Snape commented as he made for the door."If I ‘ m viewing that coloration you may desire to get your eye checked."

"My eye ‘ s fine."

"goodness, then I ‘ ll meet you at Headquarters."Snape apparated away, the cold-blooded pressing abysm of emptiness giving him a instant of peace before he dropped to his animal foot in movement of the doors. Three pops behind him told him the former order members had followed.

"Don ‘ t do that again you slime."Dwight Lyman Moody growled, wand out."If you try to apparate again I ‘ ll assume you ‘ re trying to escape."

Snape took three steps, into the grand hall.

"There."Snape raised his men."Now I can ‘ t escape."

"I don ‘ t trust you."Helen Wills shook his head."Give me your wand."

"No."Snape turned towards the principal G. Stanley Hall and walked calmly. Surprisingly he felt calmness, he was comfortable. He was sick of being Dumbledore's lapdog, and now he had finally acted on it.

He pushed the duple doors candid and found something he didn't expect. The solid decree was there, lining the wall. Dumbledore had called a meeting, to discuss Harry being back. Snape stopped, his weaponry crossed and the three following him walked past into the room. Tonks was still quiet, fading into the crowd, her hair's-breadth unconsciously turning tongueless brown. Dwight Lyman Moody and Minerva walked straight up to the straits of the table.

"You failed to trip up Harry ?"Dumbledore clearly suspected something. He was using the stare that used to pierce Snape to the soul, now it just made his eyes itch."What went amiss Severus ?"

"I decided that greater good could be served by letting him free."Severus stood equanimity against the angry murmuring that rose at that. He found Natalie's heart in the crowd,

Why ?

I am tired of leashes.

You aren't finished are you. It wasn't a question.

I am not. I mean Dumbledore to recognise I am no retentive ... tame.

wellspring this should be fun.

Snape couldn't assistant but smile.

"You think this is risible Severus !"Dumbledore had stood, his eyes flinty and hard.

"Yes."

"How daring you !"

How daring I ? Snape snorted, this was the way thing should be. He felt more comfortable with everything against him.

"Snape this sentence you have gone too far."

Oh good, if you're going to be this predictable this will go far easier. Snape just smiled.

"Do you have nothing to say !"

"No. I have nothing to say."Snape kept his voice irritatingly cool off"The only if account I have you will not bear. And I can not contrive one you will because you I do not know what you want."

"I want individual I can trust !"

"No you do not. You trust no one. You never have. Not with any hidden worth knowing. You are a closed system, no one is told anything."Snape glanced around the office at the other order members, practically everyone was there. Everyone there to see his humiliation, that was what Dumbledore wanted anyway. If Snape had his way it wasn't going to happen like that."None of these people know anything do they."

"I am speak-"

"You ‘ d think that would bother them."Snape continued."You ‘ d think one of them would concern about you."

"Be dumb !"

"Each of them thought another had your ear. Minerva thought lupin, Lupin thought Helen Newington Wills perhaps. I don ‘ t know who Moody thought. But none of them did, none of them know."

"Silence !"

"No man is an island."Snape smiled, after all these years he knew how to get to the old man."No man is an island unless he makes himself so."

"Severus I will not take heed to-"

"You will heed. You can ‘ t not."Snape shook his read/write head."Something has frozen you. That is what you do isn ‘ t it ? You shrink, like a turtle. spine into your shell."

"And what is my shell ?"Dumbledore growled with uncontained rage and frustration.

"Your past. Your reputation."Snape sniffed."The close war, your glorification days. Ha ha ... you have retreated into repetition and now ? Now you are paralyzed by it. We are not fighting this war, we are reliving it."

"You have made it clear what you think about-"

"Shut up."Dead silence. Snape folded his blazonry, 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 mark. You have guilt, great swirling syndicate of it. In every stoma of you, in every facet of your head. It ‘ s been there since the first prison term I ever saw you, I didn ‘ t recognize it then of course, but it was there. By the meter I came to work for you I was old enough to distinguish it. Something in your past, in your portray too, fills you with a suppurate remorse. And it just gets worse and worse, makes you doubt yourself, makes you opine you are never suitable. shuffling you turn down the position of minister for magic. Over and over again. I know what made you like this, you think I would influence for you and not inquire your past. You know I am more measured than that. You must give birth 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 substitute in his mind. He had not known for for sure, not until that moment. He still didn't know really, not what had happened in that elbow room. That secret would probably be taken to the Graves of the men concerned. No matter, Snape could comment over the details.

"It was there in the first war."Snape continued, his coarse voice the only sound in the packed hall."Back then it was ... helpful. It made you careful. It made you weakly but ... it made you careful. I do not realise what has happened since then, perhaps it is as Harry says and you are simply senile, but it is worse now Previously guilt made you careful, sensible. Now it makes you useless. Useless and broken. You are no longer the famous Albus Dumbledore, you are a fracture interlingual rendition of him."

"No."

"Something destroyed you."

"Stop."

"I don ‘ t know what it was."

"Please."

"It must have been something terrible."Snape smiled slyly, letting his speech sink in. Weakening."Whatever could it have been ? You don ‘ t have another sis ..."

"SILENC-"

"Legilimens !"
*


Darkness falling, falling everywhere. My break, always my fault. I shouldn't have put him there, no right I had no right. I condemned him, his death. My one boot. failure. No. Must be done. Hope. end. Failure. Truth shrouded so deeply. So deep it hurts. The truth would break up 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 psyche away, shaking. He fell to his knees on the storey, the horror, the confusion, filling him. Dumbledore had fallen too, back into his chair. The old humankind face twisted in pure agony. To keep a verity locked inside for nine years only to sustain it roughly ripped from you ? It must experience felt like his heart had been torn out. Snape shook his nous, it could not be reliable, it couldn't be. But behind the dark grumbling of Dumbledore's mind, behind the aching remorse the veridical remembering hid. He had pushed them deep, as if trying to forget them but they were there. They were impossible to block. Snape knew he never would. The magnitude of what the old man had done hit him and he doubled over, vomiting onto the frigidity rock floor.

He felt hands on his shoulder. Natalie. He reached up for one and grasped it, holding on to something veridical as parts of his macrocosm fell apart. He tried to stand and found he needed Natalie's avail to rise to his feet. His ramification felt like water, his metrical foot like led. He tried to make his oral fissure work, things needed to be said. Something needed to be said.

"How daring 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 murmur, a faint whisper in the air."It had to be done. It had to be done. It had to be done."Dumbledore mumbled that phrase over and over like a prayer.

"Necessary ?"Snape found his tongue and used it to growl."No. No it was not. Not even you believe that."

"We needed-"

"BE SILENT !"Snape snapped, the headmaster cringed back as if struck."I am leaving Dumbledore. I am going to avail Harry. To get him and help him, and you will let me. You have no right wing to have anything to do with that boy. You have no right."Snape turned towards the door, but stopped as his eye fell on Lupin.

"And you."Snape sneered."You ... for going along with him. For keeping it a cloak-and-dagger. 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 giant. One that has nothing to do with the moon."Snape turned away and hobbled from the room, leaning heavily on the small char beside him.

"Severus !"Dumbledore called after him, suddenly sounding scared."You will tell apart no one ! Surely even you can see that this must rest a secret !"

Snape kept walking, not trusting himself to speak. They reached the doorway and he stiffened, his fondness felt like it had a thousand tiny hooks in it, each one attached to a weight.

"Severus ?"Natalie murmured beside him."You need to go home plate, I ‘ ll take you-"

"No. Not home. Hogwarts."Snape shook his capitulum."Hogwarts first."

"Alright."She didn't argue, she knew when his psyche was made up. There was a short circuit, sharp chime and the charwoman he was leaning on had blond hair and pale white skin. Of course of study, she was supposed to be utter. Trust her to remember details even at a sentence like this. They stepped outside the boundary of the wards and apparated, the cold and pressing invalidate once more stick in him.

He stepped out himself onto the grass before the gates and allowed himself to be led up the foresightful route to the castle. Corridors passed and Snape realized he was being led to his fourth. good. The walls are warded so no one will hear. As they reached the threshold Snape pushed it subject and went directly to the hard liquor cabinet. He poured himself a whisky and pledge it down, wincing at the burn in his throat.

"specter Myrtle Henderson."Snape called out softly. Ghosts could always hear their names. A few minute later the shadowy human body of Moaning Myrtle sunk out of the ceiling.

"Why did you call me ?"She asked impudently."I don ‘ t answer to you."

"I called you because the house elves 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 tell no one."

"You can't purchase order me ar-"

"It is about Harry."

"Oh. Oh ..."Vinca minor nodded fervently and shot back up through the stone. Snape turned to Natalie, now back to looking like her old ego, waiting patiently.

"You don ‘ t have to severalize me."She said understandingly."I understand if it ‘ s something you want to preserve to yourself. After all Dumbledore-"

"Was wrong."Snape cut her off."And I will tell you. If goose egg else I need your help to make sense of it."Snape took a deep breath and began explaining. He could have just given her the computer memory but he didn't want her to get the shock absorber he had. It didn't actually take that long to explain, in the end it was so wide-eyed. When he was finished she just sat there, staring at him. As if willing him to jump up and yell ‘ fooled you ! ’, but knowing he would not.

"This ... this changes everything."She said breathlessly.

"It changes nothing."Snape gritted his teeth."We still need to aid Harry."

"You ‘ re right, we still do. But it changes everything else Severus. Everything else. You can not refuse that it does."

"No. No I can not."

They fell into muteness as the door was pushed surface. Markus Michelson strode in, looking around the small elbow room quickly.

"The shade said this was about Harry."He said, still glancing around as if Harry would bound from a sideboard."Do you know where he is ?"

"No, but I have ... I have left the edict 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."

"wellspring finally !"Albert Abraham Michelson threw up his arms."I was beginning to think I was the but one in this place with my head on straight."

"You are not far wrong."Snape shrugged.

"So what does this ready us ?"Natalie smiled."The order of the Kneasle ?"

"The order of the Nundu more like."Michelson cracked his knuckles.

"You know, I think it makes us marauders."Snape smiled faintly."James IV Potter must be spinning in his grave."



Half of my reviews seem to receive disappeared ... very sad ... : (

You all have to review twice now to make up for it. If you do lead a review then a queen will visit you while you sleep and sprinkle fairy dust on you. The sprite dust won't do magic or let you fly or anything but it'll be very pretty.


Harry potter and the idiot tike : Chapter 5 : The nighttime market place

Harry travels to find information.




This newsperson has some shocking news. News that will strike you, in effect reader, to your very core. Harry thrower has been declared a dangerous vigilance man by the ministry. Yes, Harry ceramicist the-boy-who-lived, is a murderer. According to ministry functionary Harry has been responsible for for at least six deaths and possibly more !

parson Fudge was quoted as saying ‘ Yes, well this is shocking but not entirely unexpected. Just look at his actions during the Triwizard tournament, the boy stole a ship for pigeon hawk's sake. He's always been a loose cannon that boy has.'

This announcement came at the same time as his official ejection from Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry.
*


The marauders looked at each other along the long table in the peachy hall. None of them said 'Is this a prank ?'or 'No way'or anything naively infantile like that. They were past that. They had all known, on some level, that this was possible. Maybe even inevitable.

'' Changes zip. '' Fred was the first to utter. `` It 's all bollocs so it changes nil. ``

'' This is sick ! Do they think we 're stunned ? '' Ron was almost spluttering in anger. `` No one 's gon na believe any of this ! ``

'' I almost wishing the great unwashed did. '' Hermione was shaking her head as she peered down at the front Page article.

'' What ! You want people to conceive Harry 's a- '' Ron rounded on her, about to let loose, but Ginny held up a paw to bring him up short. He was still fuming though and said, more reasonably. `` Maybe you should explain that comment. ``

'' Because no one will believe it Ronald. '' Hermione bit her lip worriedly. `` Or at least many multitude wo n't. And the great unwashed will blame the ministry. masses will hate the ministry for attacking their hero sandwich. ``

'' Remember the riots close year ? '' Padma said darkly. `` Imagine that. Except much speculative. ``

'' Oh ... '' Ron 's aspect fell. `` I guess that is bad. ``

'' It changes nothing. '' Malfoy said sharply. `` Not really. We all knew this was a possibility. ``

'' Right, '' Ginny nodded, putting on her leader typeface. `` He 's right. All this does is form 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 genius. His spatial relation on the ministry 's wanted tilt is only a few piazza short of the known death feeder !

According to the ministry Harry 's M.O. is to use poisonous substance to do his dirty employment. A poison there is no known antidote to.

Harry 's description is known to every necromancer and witch alive but you should be cognizant that he may be in disguise.
*


'' This is Dumbledore 's doing. '' Natalie shook her head as she slid the theme over to Snape. Albert Abraham 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 hand in it. '' Snape tried to stop his ire rising to the surface. keep open it under wrapper, save it for when it was needed. `` Perhaps he thinks he can scare Harry back to him. ``

'' Then he does n't cognise Harry. '' Michelson stood and began pacing angrily, obviously he felt no need to keep his ire under wraps. `` This 'll just constitute Harry even more surely that everyone 's against him ! ``

'' Undoubtedly. '' Snape flicked through the relief of the newsprint. `` At least there is some good word ... ''
*


Harry may be active in Leeds. Yesterday the ministry was handed an anonymous tip that led them to a firm there that had been converted to house dark animate being. No death eaters were caught ( perhaps the torso are hidden elsewhere ! ) but the basement was a snuggle of lethifolds, swarming in the darkness in numbers never before seen on British land. I do not need to tell apart you, well 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 cogent evidence that Harry was there but a contact in the aurors office said that they were investigating the possibility.

Harry is to be considered as dangerous as any demise eater. Perhaps more so.
*


Harry dumped the paper in a deoxyephedrine can. It did n't matter anymore. He coughed roughly, clutching at his stomach. It did n't count 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 stand for he had to be Thomas More careful.

Harry shoved off the wall and flicked his hood up before walking off down he alleyway. There was still oeuvre to do.
*


'' Is it true ? ``

Ginny turned at the sound, the angry and forceful strait. The marauders spun with her, almost in synchronicity. Cho Yangtze River stepped back fearfully. In her defense the marauders now total eleven, filling the hallway with uniform anger. They had also all drawn their baton at the same time as she spoke, in answer to the potential threat.

They must have truly looked like an army.

Cho had frozen in blank space, anger turned to astonished silence. Ginny stepped forward.

'' Of course of action it 's not true. '' She said simply. `` How can you even ask that ? ``

'' I just ... '' Cho swallowed, fear still flickering across her grimace. `` Is Harry Ok ? ``

'' We do n't know. ``

'' Where is he ? ``

'' We do n't sleep together. ``

'' Does he need help ? ``

'' We do n't know. We 're trying to aid him. '' Ginny said curtly. She was beginning to get tired of Cho 's pudding head questions. Ginny turned to leave when Cho broke in,

'' Well I want to help too ! '' Ginny felt a lilliputian mental groan. That was just what she needed, a complaining pretty-girl in the ranks. A constant irritation at best, a liability at mop up. Cho went on, `` I 'm sure-enough than you, and I 'm a Ravenclaw. I must live lots of spells you do n't know yet ! You should let me unite. ``

'' No you do n't you arrogant stuck-up ... '' Ginny clamped her oral fissure shut and took a deep appeasement breath. `` This is n't the bloody gobstones club. You ca n't just unite on a notion. We 're training to fight back, really fight. scrap last feeder. ``

'' 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 teeth tight together again before turning to the vulture. `` Vote. All of us. I vote no. ``

The vulture glanced about between them. Some of them had obviously been thinking of voting yes before she made her feelings so abundantly make. After some embarrassed make 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 ? '' Draco asked flatly. Cho nodded, her eyes wide. Draco looked into her heart for a moment, Ginny thought she heard him mutter something under his breath. Draco cocked his head to the English and asked another question. `` Do you accept the fact that you have to train society from Ginny ? ``

YES ! Take that you bitch ! Ginny was shocked at the level of gloating her subconscious threw up at that question. If her subconscious was happy with the inquiry, her entire genius grinned when Cho grimaced and nodded.

'' Fine. '' Draco shrugged. `` We need More people. I vote yes. If she does n't work out we can always make her leave. ``

'' We vote yes. '' Fred said, shrugging. His twin added, `` Sorry Ginny. ``

'' I ... yes. '' Annapurna nodded, a little hesitantly.

'' No. '' Padma shook her head, earning her a appall glance from her sister. `` We do n't call for her. No rationality to get hold of on another project when we do n't need her. ``

'' Look just put your helping hand up. '' Ginny said tiredly. `` Hands for no ? ``

tercet handwriting rose, herself, Padma and Hermione. Ginny 's abdomen dropped, this did n't search good.

'' For yes ? ``

fin hands were raised. Ron had followed his older brothers. Ginny turned to silent three remainders.

'' Neville, Anna, Terry ? '' Neville shifted uncomfortably and the baker twins looked at the story. `` You need to vote. ``

'' I do n't desire 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 the best of it.

'' mulct. sports meeting us here after lessons today. ``

'' Today ? But I 've got quidditch praxis. ``

I know. Ginny did n't say it, but she so wanted to. `` This is more significant than quidditch. We all understand that. You need to. ``

With that she turned and strode away. She hoped Cho would n't move around up tonight. That would really produce her day.

Ginny survived herbology with a book of curses propped up against a plant pot. She did the Lapplander in Defense, professor Michelson was being oddly blind to the transgression of the marauders. After the lessons were done she slammed her books away and dashed for the room access. She ran for the meeting shoes but slowed down before she got there. She would n't come all covered in sweat and breathing hard. She would n't hand Cho the satisfa ...

Cho was n't alone.

Ginny stopped with the piranha a few step away from the newcomers. Lucy Kingston stood by her Ravenclaw friend with her swain, Josue Split, standing on her other side. The two ex-Slytherin Gryffindors, Vanessa and Elizabeth II stood in front line of him, eyeing Malfoy warily. It irked Ginny that all of them were here. It irked her more that they were probably the masses she would have chosen to admit to the marauders herself. pudding head Cho.

'' You told them. '' She tried to progress to her voice come out icily angry, hoping it did n't just go pettish. `` You told all of them. What the hell do you think- ''

'' I do n't separate them ! '' Cho interrupted her. `` Everyone in the school is talking about the tidings about Harry, and everybody knows you lot are doing something secret. They just ... ''

'' We eavesdropped. '' Split interrupted. `` We want to help oneself Harry too. ``

'' This is getting pathetic. '' Padma muttered from the depth of the marauders.

'' We heard what you asked Cho. '' Split went on. `` And we understand the risk. Lets face it, if you trust him, '' Split jerked his Kuki towards Malfoy. `` You have to trust us. ``

'' I do n't take in to trust any of you. '' beneficial, that sounded like Harry. `` Listen I do n't care what you say. We 're going to train now. If you can keep back up you can rest, we do n't give birth time to slack down for you. ``

'' Fine with us ... brothel keeper sergeant. '' snag added sarcastically.

'' Idiots. '' Ginny muttered as she led the amassed horde off down the corridor.
*


'' Listen. ``

Malfoy stopped and turned towards Split. The sr. boy had halted them just outside the entree to the marauders attic, everyone else was already inside.

'' Yes ? '' Malfoy said evenly. `` Can I help you ? ``

'' I just want you to know we 're here for Harry. '' stock split said challengingly. `` We do n't trust you. We do n't forgive you. ``

'' You 're here for the Same cause I am then. ``

'' Whatever. '' split up shook his head. `` God knows why she trusts you. Let alone ... well you know. ``

'' I know what ? '' Malfoy looked around in discombobulation. `` She who ? ``

'' You do n't know ? '' Split almost seemed to smile. `` imbecile. ``

'' She who ? ``

'' I expect she 'll let you lie with in her own metre. ``

'' She who ? ``
*


Harry pushed his way out of the old shop he had flued into and a blast of hotness hit his face. He dragged a broad brimmed hat out of his bag and pulled it low over his eyes. Ah, that was better. His coat and it 's various enchantments would possess kept his eubstance cool but it would have looked incredibly blatant here. He winced in the harsh igniter and shucked his bag up on his shoulders before setting off along the night tarmac street.

Muggles walked past him without a mo persuasion, jabbering to each other in Gallic. The accent was very different from what he was used to but that was only to be expected. Harry had learnt French in Switzerland and only speak it to the scholar of Beauxbatons. Harry idly wondered if his French had a Swiss dialect or an English language one.

No matter, he was in Marrakech, one thousand of miles from France or England. He would stand out as a foreigner whatever he did. No point trying to blend in with the topical anesthetic, much better to just face like another stupe tourist. There were one or two others around. Harry picked up his pace as he crossed the street and into the souk.

Why is it that I always find myself in mazes ? Harry thought to himself chuckling as he skirted around a stall of vegetable and slid through the crowd of shoppers. The muggle souk was bad enough, a gigantic warren of streets and alleyways full phase of the moon of shops and market stalls selling everything from spicery to electronics. Harry kept on an unerring course through it, it was n't his destination.

Hopefully he knew where his destination was, his data was sketchy at best.

Harry came to the stall he wanted, a black hollow in the wall selling decrepit and moth eaten clothing. He took a black tee shirt with a star on it off the rack and glanced at the aging shopkeeper. There was a barely perceptible nod. Harry stepped behind a covert, a approximative changing way, and pulled the mantle shut. He held the shirt up and tapped the star twice. With a sharp groaning the floor began to grind slowly downwards.

Harry tried not to touch the face of the Harlan Fisk Stone passageway as the opening night at the top got further and further away. Ten cadence ... twenty .... 30 .... forty- thud. Harry snapped to care as the trading floor stopped descending. The stone in front of him split apart slowly, light spilled in, and air. The olfactory modality ... every scent imaginable, electrocution, animal, food of every kind, incense made of spun lightning, every odour a wizard with no heed for the laws of chemistry could create hung in the air as Harry stepped out of the drear entrance into the under-souk, the dark market.

Knockturn bowling alley had nix on this place.

Harry looked up at the roof a far above, Mosaic kaleidoscoped over the round off surface, changing every import. There were no walls for as far as Harry could see, just tower dotted around. In no pattern Harry could see. Every one as wide as an oak, twisted and gouged and splaying up into that wondrous ceiling. Disappearing into it. And down at ground tier ? It was indescribable. Every sort of shop class, every kind of stalling. Some sellers just sitting of a mat, regalia of bottles out in presence of them. Others had displays that looked like insane and un-feasible pop up Word, everything spilling out of everything else. The noise was deafening, speculative than up above because the noise of sparking trance and fuming potions was added to the general noise of people, and there was the occasional shrieking as another shopper was brought down by one of the entrances.

There was no finding your way in this position. Not unless you grew up down here. Harry scanned the area while walking calmly forwards. Many stalls had magniloquent flagpole to discover 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 blacken robe out of his bag and threw it over his shoulders. Like this he looked like about 30, maybe more, with tenacious black-market hair and a trench scrape on his cheek. Threatening, but not obvious.

Harry smelt his destination before he got there. The smell of creature and animal dung beating out the other odor more and more the closer he got. He came to an open place in the market, a place where the booth had been pushed aside to make room for social station upon rank of Cage. Harry recognized some of the animate being in them, others were a mystery, all he gave a wide birth. The cages seemed almost stupidly sturdy, surely they used unbreakable appeal. Surely they did ...

Harry felt himself edging away and forced himself to calm down. He looked into one of the John Cage, a monstrosity made of unharmed I-beams, and saw the eye of a Dragon staring back at him. Somehow they must feature stopped it flaming, they must make. Harry stepped calmly up the rough desk at the end of the Cage. It was surrounded by travelling bag of what looked like some variety of feed. An ordinary bird cage sat on the street corner with a minuscule lucky wench fluffing its feathering. The heavily bearded and mustachioed man sat behind it looked up as he approached.

'' Yes ? '' He asked in well-situated English. `` Are you look for something ? ``

'' My gens is Jack-tar Caiman. I have come for you to tell me the progress of an order. '' Harry pulled back his arm, revealing the dark scratch. The shopkeeper recoiled, glancing about fearfully.

'' Put that away ! '' He gestured wildly. Harry calmly rolled his arm back down.

'' You have nix to revere. '' Harry said airily. `` Not while you do the iniquity 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 other end. ``

'' Not my fault. '' The seller shook his head teacher. `` Got them safe to you. You lose them after it not my fault. ``

'' Of form not. '' Harry smiled in an uncomforting way. `` You mistake me. I merely meant that we have reason to need to make for sure this delivery goes smoothly. There can be no mistakes. You understand. ``

'' Of course of study, of path. '' The man nodded rapidly. `` Do not worry. You can tell your master not to occupy. Everything is fine. ``

'' Where are the fauna 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 have been so much easier if they were still on dry land.

'' recount me their course. '' Harry leant down threateningly. `` My master is thinking of sending some people to assure there are no ... mistakes. ``

'' No mistakes. '' The man nodded again, dragging a map out of a drawer in his desk. `` No mistake. ``

Harry smiled, the great unwashed were so stupid when they thought you were going to kill them.
*


Harry dropped back onto British people territory and immediately flued again to stave off any pursuit. He walked the last-place farsighted paseo to the abandoned house he was staying in and pushed the threshold open. It was dark inside, the windows covered by anti-vandal plates put up by the constabulary. It was hollow, not even a chair when he had first arrived. But it was clean and the water was still running. Harry slouched down against the wall and collapsed. farsighted day. He reached over and picked up a nursing bottle of pep up potion. He uncorked it and let some slosh into his mouth. This was his back dose today. It was growing voiceless to keep going ... the sickness ...

Harry shook his fountainhead, no use dwelling on it. Back to study. He spread the single-valued function out in front of him on the floor and roughly arranged them out into a jolting match to the coast of Africa and Europe. The maps were seriously old, like everything else wizard had, and some of the res publica had the ill-timed names. One of them had a big 'here be dragons'warning written in the heart of the Atlantic. Knowing that it was a sorcerous map it might well be true.

Harry sighed as he looked at the prison term that were written on dissimilar checkpoints on the map. The ship was old too, or looked it. The man had sketched a rough drawing of it. It resembled nothing More than a giant wooden brick with small cruise that surely could never propel it too fast. Of track it would be propelled by thaumaturgy, if not it would just be pillock, but it would still take almost a month to come up from Africa. Could be submit it in the centre of the ocean ? Harry shuddered at the persuasion. Besides the coursing fear at the very thought it was impractical to boot. How would he even get on circuit board the ship ? How would he even find it on the blank featureless sea ?

Harry trawled over the function again, was there any post where it came close to domain ? Was there any ... trap point ?

Oh of course ! There 's this big Tree in the middle of the ocean that you can cover behind. Sharks use it all the meter to catch seals.

Harry sat back tiredly, this was going to be strong than he thought. His lid felt so weighed down ... sleep ...

Harry glanced around, he was in a house. A fervour crackled warmly on the hearth, throwing faint shadows on the clean wild blue yonder walls. The depiction on the bulwark, a redheaded woman, a man with a familiar spirit face. Harry shook his head, it was a pipe dream. He had had it before. He walked towards the door and pushed it open hurrying out of the theater and into the neat garden. He glanced back, the cottage was as it always was. The bungalow at Godrics hollow. Harry shuddered, every meter his ambition put him in this blank space he had an undeniable urge to forget. It was like putting your helping hand in a bucket of wriggling worms, a crawling sensation over his entire pelt. And yet his pipe dream brought his dorsum here again and again and again.

Harry hugged his munition to his chest. Maybe this would be one of the in effect Nox, the nights when he managed to escape. There was a forest out there somewhere, a forest of orchard apple tree trees, their blossoms filling the air. When he could see that in his dreaming he slept well, he slept comfortably. But for every one of those there would be one of the bad one, when the business firm kept drawing him back. He didn't even want to conceive about what had happened once, when the river had come for him.

Harry pulled himself together with a force of will. Those Malus pumila trees weren't going to find themselves. He was about to set off when a flap strait reached his ear. Harry spent a second wondering if it was some new unpleasantness the dream was throwing at him before he realized it was coming from outside.

Harry woke with a start and was on his metrical foot in a present moment, wand in hand. He relaxed when he saw that the sound was coming from a pocket-size white raspberry trying to squeeze in through the rump of the window. The bird twittered then flickered back away. It took Harry a mo to recognize it had left something behind, a small close down objet d'art of paper.

Interesting. Especially considering no one should be able-bodied to reach me here.

Harry stood and hesitantly poked the composition with his wand. It did nothing. He prodded it again. Still nil. He flicked it on the floor and folded it surface with the end of a fork. He bent down and read it without touching it.

Harry

I once told you to survey your own path if you thought it was right. You seem to have taken that advice to heart. I can not and will not say that your selection is incorrectly, it may be, it may not be, I do not acknowledge. But you can not destroy yourself for the sake of this struggle. Do not. Your ally worry about you. They are as I write this working to help oneself you. Training as hard as you ever did. You are not alone no matter how much you fight to make it so. There are people that will suffer if you die, even if you take Voldemort with you.

I can not offer you any selective information about Voldemort 's programme or whereabouts. I am constrained by the convention of my order. I would pause them for you but it would do no safe. I would be found out long before I could divine anything for you.

The only help I can render you I have already given. I wish I could do more Harry, you must believe that.

Remember to wear thin the pendent.

DO NOT DIE.

Pythea.

Harry picked the small musical composition of parchment up carefully and slipped it into his boob pocket. His hand stayed there a moment longer, pressing it into his chest, before he took a rich breath and let it out.

Do not die.

He did not intend to, but it had always been a possibility. And no affair how much people would suffer if he died they would suffer more if Voldemort was left live. Harry had a strong urge to take the letter back out and read it once again, or maybe twice or three prison term. But no, he had work to do. expect ... something in the letter tugged at his mind. Maybe there was a way.
*


Malfoy snorted as Cho was sent flying across the room. The new recruit were trying to preserve up, they were just failing. He turned away, they were useless, just a waste of time for the eternal sleep 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 fight on their own. They could contend like kneazles in a sackful if they needed to. And they would need to.

He moved over to a batch of evanesce boxwood and ran his fingers over a prospicient, thinly, grey-haired cloak inside. The Weasley Twin claimed they could turn them into temp invisibility cloaks with some More exercise. Draco did n't doubt it. The magical spell would n't last for more than than a day or two but that was all they needed. They could just respell them afterwards. Shield charms graced the dark grey jacket in the next box, enough to discourage minor curse. In the root it had just been a way to convey the charms, the same as an talisman or a annulus. Rings of invisibleness were green enough even though they were hideously severely to make and protective amulet were ten a cent. But the wearing apparel were easier for the Weasleys to crop, and the nighttime Zane Grey made them invisible at night. That had been the start, but now it almost seemed more ... Like they were becoming an United States Army in truth, they had uniforms. Parvati had wanted to sew together minuscule Ms onto the clothing as a symbolisation of the piranha but Ginny had n't let her. waste material of time, too conspicuous too. genus Draco smiled again, it did n't matter if the clothes were plain grey or pink with small snitches. Either way by the end they would have an group of invisible, shielded, deadly fighters.

Invincible cutthroat mongrel. vulture to the core. Harry would give been proud. At least, Draco hoped he would be.

'' Draco ! '' Ron yelled. `` suspension meter 's up get back here. ``

'' I 'm coming Weasley stop yelling. '' Draco gritted his dentition, all of his brawniness hurt. Never mind. `` Back to figure out. ``

'' stopover. I need to peach to you. ``

The voice came out of nowhere. The marauders twisted towards it, wands out. The affaire d'honneur ceased, every eye widened in shock.

'' I heard person was raising an army. '' Harry quirked an eyebrow. `` I find myself in want of an United States Army. Is this one for hire ? ``

'' Hire ? '' George V let out a laugh. `` Harry this is your army. ``

'' goodness, I should get a discount rate. ``

The marauders broke and all began talking at once, it was a happy storm of phone with Harry laughing in the sum. Draco stayed silent, he glanced over at Ginny, also staying back. She nodded to him, her mouth a hard descent. She had realized too. Harry had n't come back for a happy reunion. He would n't have. He had come because he needed them. This would be the inaugural job of the army.

'' Harry ... '' Dragon cleared his throat. The green center of the boy who lived fell on him. `` What is it you want the US Army for ? ``

'' Oh ... that. '' Harry reached into his bag. `` Do you have a tabular array ? ``

genus Draco pointed the way and Harry pulled a huge sheet of lambskin out of his bag. Harry laid them down on the fierce surface of the go surviving tabular array in the attic. It looked like a hulk written matter of a map.

'' There 's a ship. '' Harry traced it 's course along a foresightful line on the map. `` It 's stuffed to the gill with dour animate being. Direct to the dark lord. one C, including a lot that we really do n't desire him getting his custody on. It 's not going to make port before Britain, it 's going to be far out to sea. No portkeys, no fluke, only way there is to fly. ``

'' That 's why you need us. '' Padma said thoughtfully.

'' Yeah, sort of. '' Harry hung his head. `` I can just about manage to fly in a straight phone line. Slowly. But out over H2O ? With the wind and maybe storm and ... and over piddle. And when I might stimulate to make a quick loss ? No. I need getaway device driver. ``

'' I thought you wanted us to struggle. '' Ron said, disappointedly. Harry 's eyes narrowed, he opened his mouth but Ginny cut in.

'' We 're here for whatever Harry needs us for Ron. '' She snapped. `` You should know that. ``

'' I ... right. ``

'' right field. '' Ginny nodded sharply. Draco half expected Ron to pledge. Ginny turned back to Harry. `` What kind of dark creatures are we talking about ? ``

'' Various kinds of nasty. '' Harry was looking between Ginny and Ron curiously. `` Lot of creatures. ``

'' mantiger ? '' Hermione added.

'' Yes ... '' Harry looked at a tilt jotted at the bottom of the map. `` Six of them. ``

Dragon glanced at the list and let out a galvanize swearword. They could not let this ship reach land. Even if they had to turn a loss half the army to do it. The Cerberus had to be juvenile at least, no one could stuff six good grown ones into a ship. Unless it had been magically expanded. Which it almost certainly had. They could not let that ship reach land.

'' We need to get on that ship. '' He heard himself saying, his spokesperson a niggling breathless. `` We could fly on, or ... or ... ''

'' Go onto it ? '' Harry let out a harsh laugh. `` That would be pretty serious. ``

'' Because of the beast ? ``

'' Because I 'm going to bury it. ``



This is the last chapter of setup, I promise. From now to the end of the book is pure adrenalin-fueled plot.


I do n't own Harry Potter. I do however own some cheese. Which is just as good.



'' pass it ? '' Hermione 's voice was a shrill, disbelieving whine.

Ginny felt like slamming her deal up to her frontal bone. Of course Harry would desire to settle the ship, it was the dewy-eyed, promiscuous, resolution 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 wizards, they can just apparate to shore. They wo n't be killed. ``

'' How about the fauna ? '' Ron asked, scratching his head. `` Wo n't they just swim to shore ? ``

'' Damnit ! '' Harry clicked his fingerbreadth. `` Foiled again ! If only mortal had stuffed them in big metal cages for rapture. Then they 'd sink straight to the bottom. ``

'' How are you planning to bury it anyway ? '' Fred asked, eagerness clearly visible in his eyes.

'' Well, I plan to botch a big hole in it underneath the body of water job. Then I 'm going to put another big gob in it underneath the water melody. And if that does n't puzzle out I 'm going to put a third- ''

'' This is a wizard gravy boat I assume Harry. '' Dragon interrupted. `` Putting a cakehole in it may not be as easy as you think. It 'll have all kind of charms and protections. ``

'' I can bypass them. ``

'' Without the the great unwashed on the ship realizing ? ``

'' Yes. ``

'' Really ? ``

'' Yes. '' Harry folded his branch. `` I have thought about this genus Draco. I have planned this. ``

The attic became silent again. Ginny could experience the sprocket moving in masses 's nous. They were all thinking how far they were leave to go. The marauders ... well they were probably in. The others ? They had signed up to fight death eaters not invest acts of terrorism. How did she stand on this ? On Balance ... with Harry. Those animal could not be allowed to reach 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 horror. `` You want to just let them eject that kind of- ''

'' No of path not ! '' Padma interrupted him. `` But you have n't thought of everything. ``

'' Oh yeah ? Well what have I missed ? ``

'' The legislative act of silence. '' Padma looked down at the map, perhaps just to avoid meeting people 's eyes. `` If we do this they 'll be this giant wreck with three-base hit headed skeletons and they could float to the surface or get into the disconnect watercourse or divers could find them. Not to mention that mortal 's going to notice a goliath exploding ship off the glide. Even if we tell the ministry afterwards they ca n't wield this sort of cleanup, not on this scale. No one can. It 'll be worse than Roswell. Keeping magic closed book from muggles, the legislative act of secrecy, is the one thing both position of this war agree on. If we break it then they 're going to lead off breaking it and then we 're going to be really screwed. ``

Harry leant back, rocking back on the testicle of his infantry. He bit his lip. Thinking. The marauders held their breath.

'' Ok. '' Harry spun the map to face Padma. `` Give me another pick. ``

'' We table the ship. Incapacitate the crew. shoot down the tool. '' Padma said definitively. `` If I 'm reading this right field the ship only a dozen multitude on it. No expiry eaters. Most of them are just there to maintain the brute in checkout. Should n't be too hard to bedaze them. ``

'' And the animals ? '' Harry asked quizzically. `` Some of them are n't easygoing to kill. ``

'' The killing bane. '' Gasps rose from the US Army. `` It 'll down everything on this inclination. ``

'' Is n't it an instant life sentence prison term ? '' Cho choked out.

'' Only when used against humans. '' Padma replied calmly at the same time as Harry said,

'' Only if someone finds out. But would n't any underage deception be detected."

"Not in international waters."

'' And the ship ? '' Harry asked. `` If we just leave it drifting wo n't that be against the legislative act of silence ? ``

'' We leave the crowd on it. They can get it so a dependable wizard harbor. ``

'' Hmm ... '' Harry folded his arms and looked at Padma appraisingly. `` That ... could ... work. It would be more difficult, more risky ... more fun ... but it could run. ``

Ginny felt a grin. This was the almost like the old Harry back again. sure as shooting they were planning an act of massive piracy rather than a clowning but it was Harry back again.

'' We can carve up up. '' Harry continued. `` Send a couple of people down to the water to wait. The quietus of us go in. If we can take the crew out and toss off the beast we do. If not ? We default back to my plan and the people in the piddle bollix up it to smithereens. We worry about the fallout later. ``

Ginny took a deep hint and halfway through realized that most of the predator 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 universal they all knew that, but maybe ... maybe she was the serjeant-at-law or something.

'' Who can float ? '' It was literally the first thing that popped into her head. `` Who can swim really well ? ``

Anapurna 's hand shot up instantly smiling, the two Baker nestling volunteered slower maybe still a little hesitant, finally Split shrugged and lacklusterly raised his arm.

'' Four people. '' Ginny looked down at the map, at the piffling sketch of the ship. `` We can put ... two each in the water near the nominal head and back. ``

'' fore and stern. '' Draco murmured. She glared at him.

'' Near the front and back. '' Ginny continued. `` Everybody else landed estate on the front end. ``

'' On the dorsum. '' Harry disagreed. `` Here, in the steering bit with the wheel. ``

'' span. ``

'' Shut up. We land on the steery bit and take everybody out quickly. '' Harry pointed at genus Draco. `` You stay there and stay fresh the ship on course. You can do that ? You know the right names for the steery wheel and the push and hooey. Yes. secure. You stay there, the eternal sleep of us go down to the cabins and stun everybody, kill the beast. Leave. We keep the broom handy so that if something goes wrong we miko the swimmers and fly out of there. ``

'' Sounds like a design. '' Ginny nodded.

'' right wing. '' Harry reached over and drew a big hybridisation on the map over a lighthouse, right down on the South coast of Cornwall."I will match you here."

"sports meeting us ?"Ron scratched his head.

"The ship ‘ s not reaching us for another month."Harry shrugged."You don ‘ t expect me to hang around here the completely time. Dumbledore ‘ s out for the day but I think he ‘ ll notice if I start appearing on his little map."

"I thought-"

"You thought I was back."Harry finished for him."fountainhead I ‘ m not. There ‘ s still death feeder ‘ s out there. Still wreak to be done. Train up, be ready, and I ‘ ll meet you there. Keep the map, I ‘ ve got copies. But don ‘ t let anyone see it. Goes without saying. And face up how to struggle all these things."Harry turned towards the door. He disillusioned himself with a flick of the wrist, and a moment later he was gone.

"well,"Malfoy said dryly."I guess we have work to do."
*


"Can you believe he came back ?"Ron drew his knee joint up to his chest. He and Hermione were in the library, the actual library, not the noodle. They were on research duty and had about eight billion books out in front of them on every variety of sorcerous creature, trawling through them for the useful ones. There weren't many. The Hogwarts library for some ground didn't have script on how to massacre caged animals. Ron thought it was useless, they had already decided to use the killing curse, but apparently Harry wanted to be prepared so ...

"Hmm ?"Hermione hadn't looked up from the huge Scripture in presence of her.

"Can you believe he came back ?"Ron repeated."Harry."

"Shush !"Hermione put a finger to her sassing."We ‘ re not supposed to blab out about him where citizenry could hear !"

"No one ‘ s listening."Ron rolled his eyes."We're sitting on the floor in the confine section of the library, at midnight, under a temporary invisibility cloak."

"It ‘ s not an inaudibility cloak."Hermione hissed.

"Hermione no one is here."

"Just keep reading."Hermione looked back down at her book."I ‘ m not doing all this myself."

"I'd have thought you ‘ d jump at the chance."Ron smirked."With all the training it must be years since you studied anything."

"Yes ..."Hermione bit her lip."And the hooter 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 eternal sleep of our sprightliness to guess 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 agency too."

"That doesn ‘ t help."Hermione stared at him angrily. Ron felt his hackles rising, another competitiveness brewing. But they couldn't competitiveness, not here.

"You ‘ re here because if you weren ‘ t here you ‘ d feel guilty for not being here."Ron blurted."And you could be somewhere else but you ‘ d be thinking about being here so it wouldn ‘ t even matter that you were there because you wouldn ‘ t be able to concentrate because you ‘ d be thinking about here and him and Voldemort will pour down everyone. Even risky you ‘ d get bad grades because you ‘ d be feeling guilty."Ron ran out of breath.

Hermione's mouth hung open, mid yell. She opened and shut it a few clip before coming out with,

"Shush. mass will learn you."

I won. Ron smiled as he flicked a random book open.
*


"I am disquieted Severus."

Snape stayed silent. He could not recall of a safe response.

"I should be winning this war."

Still no safe response.

"And yet affair are not progressing as well as they should be."The dark lord was staring out into the duskiness through a faded window. They were in another nondescript and abandoned building. Snape felt his skin crawl, he had been summoned alone. That was worrying.

"The ministry grows feeble every day."Snape volunteered.

"It grows more fearful each day."Voldemort tapped his fingers on the Methedrine."care can be my arm, but it can also work against me. They retreat, they place to a greater extent safety, they make it more hard for me to strain what I seek. Do the social club still keep a guard on the department of mystery story Severus ?"

"Yes my lord."For all I know they could have stopped, not likely though.

"At this item the easygoing way to arrive at memory access to it may simply be to trounce the ministry entirely."He was still staring out the window. If Snape didn't know good he would reckon the dark Creator was worried.

"If you wish to smash the ministry perhaps we could use the imperious curse-"

"No !"The dark 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 suffer to figure out from the phantasm. Do you not suppose so ?"

"I always work in the shadows Lord."

"Yes ... yes you do."The dark overlord narrowed his eyes."The ceramist boy is a problem."

Snape gritted his teeth. He had to think fast to keep on up with these lightning fast changes of pace.

"The Potter boy has always been a problem."Snape said diffidently."But he is just one person."

"He has caused me a enceinte deal of trouble for one person. I would once again order his death but ... I fear it would do no good."

"He wants to kill you."Snape said, letting his mouth motility as his judgement worked."We could set some variety of trap."

"With your lord as bait ?"The dark lord's phonation was not angry, he knew that that was not what Snape meant. This was actually what passed for banter.

"Of course not my God Almighty. I apologize."That had been what the dark lord expected to hear.

"Is there any progress with the toxin Severus ? The one that has been killing so many of our friends ?"

"Not a great deal my lord."Severus bowed his head. He had no trouble feigning pity at not being able to discover the arcanum of the deep toxin."It is very strange. I can not separate a single ingredient out. It is almost as if the poisonous substance was not brewed at all."

"Explain."

"As if it came directly from a creature."Though that was of course impossible. No known fauna carried a toxin like this."All I can recall of is that perhaps someone has been breaking the rescript against experimental breeding."

"You do not intend it was Potter ?"

"It may have been."Better to save the dark lord guesswork."If he did not then we have two vigilantes against us."

"Against us ..."The iniquity lord seemed to roll the Son on his mouth."Against us ... mass who are against me die. I have let this continue for too long. We have been forced back too often. It will cease now. I have decided. We will crush the ministry. We will obliterate them utterly. No corruption, no shadower, I will down them."

"Yes my lord."Snape tried to work out how many last eaters were left. Surprisingly few. Harry had seriously cut into their numbers. Did they even have enough citizenry for an assault on the ministry ? Probably ... they probably had enough. If the ordering helped though ... if Dumbledore helped ...

"We will wait for the shipment to arrive."The dark lord said, almost to himself."Then we will ingest the forces necessary."

The dispatch. The shadow freight. None of the last eaters knew when it would be arriving. It was apparently too important.

"Yes my lord."Snape bowed deeply."We will need everyone for this to deliver the goods. If I might ask where Barty Crouch is perhaps-"

"No !"The night Jehovah looked at Snape over his shoulder. The icy stare could have nailed oxen to the wall."Crouch is doing what he has been told to. He will succeed, in time. He is one of the few I can desire. Him and you, Severus."

You trust no one. Snape thought as he turned away. Now where have I heard that before ?
*


Hermione held on tighter as the broomstick angled down. She was following the broom ahead of her but the lighthouse was already visible far below, sending out it ‘ s pulsing beacon fire across the night-time sea. The wind was hideously frigidity on her aspect and the grim whipping of rainwater kept spraying in through her cowling. There couldn't have been a spoiled day to intrude on a ship broad of monsters.

The priming coat came up and she managed to shore without falling. All around her she heard the rest of the army touch down. Well ... most of the rest of the army ... Of the new enlistee only tear was there, lounging over his broomstick in his usual commonwealth of mild boredom. The others had been left behind, Ginny had decided they weren't ready, weren ‘ t trained yet. Not that snag was properly quick either but he was only going in the water.

Hermione looked around. Harry was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he wasn't here yet.

"You ‘ re late."Harry faded out of nowhere, shocking the marauders."Lets get on with this."Harry kept glancing at the crashing waves nervously. He drew a prominent bottle out of his coat and took a recondite gulping from it before shoving it back. `` Pep up potion, did n't sleep well hold out night. '' Harry explained. Hermione tried to ignore the Gemini facts, one : that the bottle had been almost void and two : that as Harry shoved it back in his pouch there had been the apparent chink of farther bottles.

"yield these."George I broke the secrecy and stepped forward with a short M shaped pin and a small dyad of low tinted glasses.

"What the hell are these ?"Harry squinted through the lenses."Everything looks weird."

"The pins are tags."George V explained."The meth 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 night coat and dropped the specs 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 vulture."Lets get this done before we get too wet."

Draco's broom snap into the air and Hermione reluctantly followed. Out over the water the hint was even unsound if that was possible, she kept being buffeted one way then the early. The sea underneath a groaning grey weather sheet, a pall reflection of the sky. They were getting advance and further from land. The occasional spark of the lighthouse got More and more faint. She couldn't see the airman around her ! She panicked for a consequence until she realized how stunned she was being and slipped her racy lenses over her eyes. The petty glowing sparks of the shred sprung into view, each one illuminating a little glow spicy spectre of a somebody. Like an outline in the darkness. Flying close, she was near the front. How did Harry expect to find the ship in this ?

"slant left wing !"Was that Harry ? The glowing fantasm of Harry and Malfoy started to rick left. She turned to match them. What was he following ? Intuition ? thaumaturgy ? Something he hadn't told them about.

"I DON ‘ T SEE ANYTHING !"She heard genus Draco's voice on the wind.

"IT ‘ S THERE."Harry was hunched over on the broom, peering out over genus Draco's shoulder."WE'RE CLOSE ! fall John L. H. Down !"

Hermione descended with the balance of them and shrieked with care as the atomiser from the sea hit her pegleg. Surely they didn't need to be this low ? Suddenly, as if they had crossed an invisible line of descent, the ship blinked into existence. A low slung colossus, waves making it paradiddle and pitch sickeningly. It looked antediluvian, all the wood was blacken with age and weather. A huge rectangular blocking, slowly crawling across the water.

She felt somebody pass her and saw shape flying off towards the prow and tush, keeping close to the piss. Even with the lights on the ship they were still only glowing abstract. The cloaks ! She pulled hers around herself and flicked the hood up over her face. She should have done that early. The balance of them followed until they were justly up against the side of the hull. Harry leant off his broom to lean against the pitching wood. Removing the protective charms, Hermione forced herself to tranquillise down as they hovered there just above the black water. Suddenly there was a little pop and a small creaking ... the hospital ward were down. Hermione picked out the raised back incision, the ‘ steery bit ’. Where the rest of them were going. The brooms slowed to a Australian crawl as they raised up the side. Absolute silence as they floated up onto the deck on the raised end incision. No one was on deck, there weren't even any lights.

Harry raised his arm and pointed to a small hatch. He moved over to it, whispered a silencing spell, then pulled it opened 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 turn snuck over to the crosshatch as quietly as she could. The stairs flattened out to a forgetful hallway with the doorway to the span, then kept going down into the body of the ship.

The marauders were clustered around the threshold. Harry was crouched down looking at the lock, a expression of concentration on his face. Hermione looked past him, down into the vast hold of the ship. Most of it was shrouded in duskiness but she could just see the rows upon rows of John Milton Cage Jr. down the side of the ship. The stripe were rusted and antediluvian, reinforced with magic. But they looked like they were original to the ship ... like they were built in. Which was absurd 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 schooltime long enough. There was no gunpoint telling them, no reasonableness to make this any creepyer than it already was.

The darkness that was Harry stood suddenly and put his hand on the room access handle. What was he doing ? This wasn ‘ t component part of the plan ! They were going to use gas under the door. What was going on ? Hermione raised her baton, they had to sandbag everyone inside in a moment. Harry threw the door open unhurriedly. The keen tang of lineage filled the air. No one shape any spells. No one rung. Harry slowly stepped into the bridge.

"Of course."He said dryly, the number one words spoken since they'd landed, spoken dispassionately while looking out over a room full of scourge corpses."Of grade they're loose. We ‘ re on a spooky ship at Nox full of man-eating deadly animal. Of course the animals are loose. I was thinking that perhaps they wouldn ‘ t be, that perhaps something would go right. Obviously I was overlooking the fact that god hates marauders."

"What do we do now ?"Neville murmured fearfully.

"Blow it."Ginny growled under her breath."Forget everything. subside it now."

"We can ‘ t."Harry said angrily as he stepped over a body and stood in strawman of the main cycle."At to the lowest degree not yet."

"Why ?"Parvati was glancing around fearfully."Why not ?"

"Two reasons."Harry leant against the steering wheel tiredly."One ; the whole full point was that the animals would sink in their cages, now they could drown to shore. Two ; there are still three crew members alert, barricaded down in the hold where they ca n't apparate out."

"How do you bonk ?"Draco snapped suddenly.

"I know !"Harry snapped back."We need a new plan. The puppet are mostly still in their cages, seems like it ‘ s just the manticores that got loose."

"How do you-"

"I just know !"Harry rubbed his frontal bone tiredly, his eyes were closed."There are compartment doors down below. If we can pin down the animate being inside the hold, assort it off and ward it up good it ‘ ll be the Same as a cage. body of water gets in, animals do n't get out. Just one problem ..."

"What ?"Ginny was eyeing the doors carefully, looking for anything trying to filch up on them.

"The work party are down in that hold."Harry took a deep breath and turned back towards the marauders."Alright ... this is what we ‘ re doing. I need four citizenry with me down in the hold, It ‘ s too cramped for to a greater extent. We go get the survivors, get out. The relaxation of you split up and ascertain the fore and aft door. You lock them good the import we give the signal."

"Four ‘ s not enough."Draco said immediately.

"I don ‘ t have time to argue !"Harry yelled."You said you ‘ re an U. S. Army this is what it ‘ s about ! We need to do this. We need to do this. The four best. Your four proficient. Now."

No one spoke, Hermione felt like kicking herself. Of course it wasn't like old times. Of class this wasn't the old Harry, it was definitely the new Harry. It always had been. Ginny cleared her throat,

"genus Draco, me, Hermione and Padma."Ginny took a deeply breathing time."Ron, Fred, George, you fly over and man the other room access. Everyone else watch this one. The signal is-"

"Me yelling to keep out the bloody doors."Harry interrupted."No point being stealthy at that point."

Harry moved slowly out of the bridge. Hermione steeled herself them followed. They stepped down the stairs slowly, the vast hold opened up in social movement of them. Surely it had been expanded.

"This way."Harry whispered, pointing along a raised paseo."Dragon, watch our back."Harry stalked forward, his scepter out ahead of him. Hermione followed him. They passed a dark cage, inside it a gigantic black lump shifted near the back. Hermione tried to ignore it, the ace in the Cage were the safety 1, it was the ones outside they had to find out out for. The batting cage ended and was replaced by another, six red center looked out from behind the parallel bars. The three dog header were pressed right up to the bound, watching them. hail to conceive of it the caged fauna probably hadn't been fed in a while. Suddenly the pitching and roll of the ship seemed uncollectible. If she fell into one of the cages ...

She spread her fundament further apart, trying to get more stable. This was awful, this was sin, and they were going in to carry through some stupid person smugglers. Bad the great unwashed ! Hermione didn't feel good for thinking like that. Not good 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 baton down the dark gangplank, waited a farseeing moment ... and flicked it forward, muttering under his breath. The flashbulb of gullible light was expected but still horrifying, flying into the darkness. For a moment it illuminated a rough Lion mane and two shining optic glowing cat valium in the lightness. Then it snapped out and there was a muted clump like a body hitting the floor.

"One out of six."Harry murmured, then shuddered."So that was the killing curse. Felt like drinking nightmares."

"Harry ..."Padma began but Harry silenced her with a wave.

"It 's just a tool."Harry shook himself."Just a tool. Just a tool. Come on, lets keep going."Harry stepped forward, into the darkness.

Harry brought them to another stairway and quietly slinked down, his back pressed up to the wooden wall. As they crept down Harry held up a hand to discontinue again and dropped down to his knees.

"The early five are sleeping in there."Harry pointed down the stairs."Round the recess, right in nominal head of the storehouse way where the crew are barricaded."

Hermione didn't bother to ask how he knew.

"Now the hall opens up just polish up the corner."Harry sketched the breaking ball of it with his helping hand."We can hit them all before they even wake up. Draco, you kill the one up by the far leftover,"Harry pointed straight into the rampart. `` Ginny, near the left wall. Hermione get the one right next to it, closer to us. Padma you get the one right in the center, I 'll get the one closest to the stairs. Got it ? Everyone fix ? ``

Hermione was gripping her wand hard, her medal wet with elbow grease. She did n't find ready but she nodded anyway. They shifted closer towards the corner. Harry held his hand up, three fingers. Two fingers. One ...

Harry swung out around the bound, his wand coming up, at the same time his articulatio genus bent down. giving the rest of them a sound shot. Hermione jumped out as fast as she could, the elbow room was pitch black-market ! How was she supposed to-

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' A blast of putting surface Light flew from Harry 's wand, striking a moody physique on the solid ground and throwing the quietus of the way into sharp shadows. Four lot of shining eyes perked up in the darkness. Each of them was exactly where Harry had said. Hermione aimed frantically,

'' A ... Avada Kedavra ! '' It felt like icicles were flickering down her arm, stabbing down her arm all the way down to her heart. Freezing deep into her chest, like brat. Then it was gone a moment later as the burning green brightness flew away, striking the manticore as it rose from the reason, throwing it back into the ground. At the same time she felt three to a greater extent blasts of wind and wink of dark magic trick fly out from beside her. A shattering clang of wooden sliver sounded and there was an tempestuous inhuman roar. A shape unfurled like a spring and flew across the room towards them. Hermione felt her arm shooting up, too slowly ! Too slack !

'' Excalabus ! ``

A shining White River spark flashed across the wood and there was a screaming like a saw across glass. She felt a spraying of dark ancestry covert her and a heavy physical body flew past her, impacting with a ponderous clunk against the spine paries. She turned to it, not breathing. It was a manitcore, or one-half of one. It was sliced in two, the wounding leaking a sea of line into the base. She turned back. Harry was standing over the other half, his wand surrounded by a burn white nimbus, extending out like a flare. Like a sword. He flicked it off and the elbow room became dark again.

'' Who missed ? '' Harry 's voice was low and hard.

'' I did Harry. '' genus Draco shook his head. `` It was too far away, too minuscule get off. I saw the eyes, I- ''

'' Practice. '' Harry cut him off and turned away from them. `` Practice hard. '' As he walked away one of the hellhounds in a Cage began barking and biting at the cake. It could reek the blood. Hermione tried to ignore it, tried to think of that the BAR were reinforced. But it was hard. The dog on the other slope woke up at the noise and rammed the stripe with its articulatio humeri. There was a screech of metal and the dog fell back.

Harry ignored the mammoth Cerberus and walked calmly through the sullen way to reach the small door at the end. He thumped it with his fist.

'' Hey ! '' Harry yelled. `` Humans in there get out. We 've come to deliver you, except we do n't want to see any wand and you 'd better have your hand up ! '' There was a scraping phone as if huge crateful were being moved. The frump kept scraping against the bars, biting at the forest. Hermione tried to maintain calm air ... tried to ...

Oh no. No no no no no !

'' Harry ! ``

'' What ? '' Harry pushed the door unfold, revealing three disheveled and ragged men. `` What is it ? ``

'' Harry we need to go now ! ``

'' Ok, ok. We got what we came for. ``

'' NO ! Harry the John Cage are built into the ship ! ``

'' So ? ``

'' You released the protective charms on the ship ! ``

Harry 's face fell like a bolt down balloon. His center shot wide.

'' So those bars are just ... ''

'' Heavily corroded iron. ``

'' God hates us. '' Harry whispered. `` God hates us ... RUN ! ``

At the consequence Harry yelled the left hellhound took a lean pounce and shattered through the bars straight a him.

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' Harry 's wand had flicked up the wink it moved and the K twinkle struck the massive muscled embodiment in the air. But it kept moving and fell like a stone onto Harry, like a mountain of black hairsbreadth and sweating chassis. At the last consequence he threw himself to the position and slid out from under it as it fell to the base in a break away explosion of wooden shrapnel.

'' Well do n't stand there run ! '' Harry yelled, pushing himself to his substructure and waving them towards the door. He turned to the crewmen. `` You too ! ``

The early Cerberus had a bar in each lip and was grinding them apart.

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' Harry shot at it. The spell smashed one of the bars into rusty shards. `` Screw that ! Just run ! ``

Hermione spun and dashed up the steps. Behind her she could hear more run for substructure and the hideous gnashing of giant jaws. Someone pushed her to the side and she saw one of the scrawny crew members making a prison-breaking 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 rear, sending pulses of immature nightmares behind him.

They reached the passage. She could see the door ! The wall exploded in splinters and four muscled arm reached out to grab her.

'' Avada Kedavra ! '' The spell came easier this time, freezing her to the effect as even as it threw the wendigo back through the bulwark. In a way it made it easier, it made her numb. She felt someone thrust her forward and realized she had been standing still. She dashed towards the threshold, trying to hold away from the buckling bars of the Cage all around her. They could smell the blood.

'' Hermione what the hell is going on ! '' Anapurna yelled from the position of the door as she hurtled through.

'' Just shut it ! '' Her throat felt raw. `` Close it ! ``

Hermione scrambled away down the corridor before turning and looking back. The rag crewmen were already huddling on this side of the door just as Ginny and Padma hurtled through with Draco right of their blackguard. Behind them the hold was a diabolical nightmare of churning flesh, every dark phantasma seemed to experience a crawling creature. Harry was still in the corridor, retreating slowly as he threw spell after spell at the roaring mass.

'' Harry just leave it ! '' Draco yelled. `` Get back here ! ``

Harry spun and dashed for the doorway, the darkness following like a wave. Suddenly the cage in front of him exploded outwards, dark haircloth and scarred soma coming between the vulture and Harry. Wooden slope of the cage buckled and broke, the roof came with it, filling the air with sliver and the passageway with weighty wooden spar. It was blocked.

'' shut down it ! '' Harry 's voice shook the ship, amplified by deception. `` I 'll get out the other way. ``

Hermione froze. No, they could n't. She saw Ginny glance down the corridor, then up at Draco. They both nodded.

'' Close it. '' Ginny ordered, her voice raw.

'' But ... ''

'' closing curtain IT ! '' Ginny suited her Word and flicked her wand at the heavy hatch, slamming it shut. `` Hermione ward it ! ``

Hermione shook as she raised her baton. It took her three tries to properly seal the door up.

'' Right, now get on the brooms. '' Ginny grabbed hers off her backrest. `` We get to the other face of the ship and go in after Harry. ``

Of course ! Hermione threw herself onto her broom. They could still go in and help him !

'' You three with them ! '' Draco bellowed at the bunch extremity, pointing at the Baker Twin Falls and Neville. `` And outride quiet. ``

Hermione lifted off the floor and aimed up the hatch to the outside. The rain and wind hit her but she ignored them, they had to go help Harry ! Suddenly the air was filled with a buffeting bulwark of sound. The nighttime air was lit up with two twin eruptions of fire. 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 phone of gushing water.

'' Why did you bobble it ! '' somebody yelled behind her. Hermione turned to see Ginny leant off her Calluna vulgaris and grabbing snag by the straw man of his robe.

'' I got the signal. '' The storm boy shook his head. `` I assumed it was you. ``

'' What 's going on ? '' Fred yelled as he, George VI and Ron were swooped in from the other end of the ship. `` Did everyone get out ? ``

Oh Harry ... we should deliver known.
*


Harry leapt from the top of the batting cage as it disappeared under the gushing water and grabbed the radio beam above him, swinging up onto it with all his strength. Something below him roared but he ignored it and dashed along the thin and shaking length of wood.

This was hell. This was his own personal hell. The water was coming in everywhere, gushing up through a chiliad holes in the hold. And the animal ... Harry had had to order the hold sealed. If he hadn't they would have broken discharge. They were everywhere down here, he was for certain that if they weren't trying to defeat each other as hard as they were trying to eat him he would already be bushed. In the water beneath him the dark head of a hellhound surfaced and gulped a skin breath before a crab like beast leapt from the dark and slashed out it's eye. They both disappeared back under the Shirley Temple piddle, stained with blood, in a foaming maelstrom.

He had to get out of here. Harry's middle frantically searched for some way ... any way ... out. The pee was everywhere ! The terror rose in Harry's throat. He couldn't think ! Couldn't breath ! NO ! NO ! Stay concenter !

Harry leapt onto the top of another shifting batting 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 pee and writhing flesh. Harry was struck in the backbone by a gush of water system, knocking him down to the metallic element streak below. He spun around and the waterfall struck him in the face, terror blindsided him again but he threw it down again. The gushing water was coming from a ... tobacco pipe ? A hole ? A ... feeding hole ! Harry threw himself to the wall and clambered up a heaving beam, the cap right above him, he flicked his wand out,

"Hammus missus !"The spinning conjured chain lashed out and stabbed into the piping. Harry grabbed to and implore that Hollywood got some thing right. He let go of the wall. He swung out into the spray of gushing water and screamed as it splattered over his head. He was thrown out the other side but he came back just as fast."This is derisory ! Arefacio !"The waterfall dried up and he was able to climb a few understructure up before it began gushing again.

A squawking terror exploded from the darkness to Harry 's left. His scepter was occupied but Harry clawed a gun from his pocket and fired wildly at the feathered fauna. He did n't contain shooting until it disappeared into the water below. Harry stuck the gun in his waistcloth and cast the Arfacio again. He was able-bodied to pull himself up another few feet before the piss came again.

By the painfully boring stopping and starting he was able-bodied ( just ) to pass on the piping. He cast one more drought charm and reached as high as he could in the darkness, his fingers reached the edge. Harry dropped off the chain and pulled himself up with all his intensity. The water struck his capitulum just as he pulled himself up and beached himself on the pitching deck like a seal.

The ship was already mostly underwater, there was just the smallest, in high spirits, part left. Sinking fast. Where were the piranha ? There ! Up in high spirits !

"HEY !"Harry magically amplified his voice and shouted out over the water."I ‘ M Hera !"

The Scots heather dropped like gem, shooting right at him. Draco braked to a stop right in front of his face.

"You idiot !"He yelled, reaching out and pulling Harry onto his broom."You staring idiot !"

"Shut up and fly !"
*


The spark of dawn was just creeping over the horizon when they finally touched down back on res publica, a rough stony beach. Harry staggered onto unanimous ground and tried to get his balance back. He turned to the three disheveled crewmen.

"You three are going to will now."He growled, raising his baton."I don ‘ t concern where you go. I risked my buns for you but it doesn ‘ t make you any less scum. Bare in head that by failing to protect your ship you failed lord Voldemort, he ‘ s not going to be happy with you so if I were you I ‘ d go far far away. Right now."

The three men broke and ran like frightened rabbits. God knows where they ended up. Harry breathed out and turned back to the marauders.

"Good. That went well."

"fountainhead !"Padma let out a strangled cry."Everything that could possibly receive gone wrong did go wrong !"

"And despite all that we stopped the payload and made it out alive."Harry sat down on the hard ground and pushed the tomentum out of his eyes. God he was tired."We have to assume that the odds will be stacked against us. We have to always bear that in mind, tonight was a commodity instance. We have to be prepared for the worst case scenario, we met that tonight. And we did well tonight. We did, we really did. I ‘ m proud of all of you."

The vulture all bowed their heads, they looked as well-worn as he felt. They were too tired to be gallant right now. Too bad this wasn't over.

"Here,"Harry drew his bottomless bag over and pulled a collapsible shelter out of it. It raised itself with a tap of his wand and would fit half a house inside."Get inside and get some eternal sleep. We need to be ready in five hours."

"Five 60 minutes ?"Ginny asked pointedly."What happens in five time of day ?"

"Phase two of the design. In six time of day will be when the ship was meant to total into port."Harry grinned evilly."There will be a group of death 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 trading floor."Today. I mean Voldemort to experience the double whammy of the loss of his tool and his death eaters all in one fell swoop. I mean to put to put the heat on him, really turn over up the scourge level you know ... The creatures were the main matter, couldn ‘ t let them attain terra firma. The death eater are just the frosting on the cake."

"Harry ... are you sure ?"Hermione stepped forward."We ‘ re all wear upon already ... we don ‘ t want any mistakes. Maybe we should let this one go."

"No."Harry shook his head."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 take the for the first time vigil. Go on, there are layer for everyone. Huge ace, this a really good tent."

Harry settled back down on his rock'n'roll as the marauder trouped inside the tent. Harry sighed, if they didn't like phase two they definitely wouldn't like phase three.



Review or a giant prehistoric dragonfly will select you to be the innkeeper for it 's parasitic larva.


The next chapter 's a big one so brace yourselves.


Please perform these basic rubber verification before reading this chapter
1 ) brand for certain your chairman is unafraid and steady so that if you faint you will not shine to the floor and hazard head trauma.
2 ) Make for sure you are not in earreach of any children so when you let let loose with a cosmic string of swearword it does not reach their bantam ears.
3 ) Check your rakehell atmospheric pressure. If it is significantly to a higher place average you may want to study this chapter in quick dashing distance of a defibrillator.
4 ) Lock away all small aim you could throw at your computer screen.
5 ) Pray.

This, boys and girls, is the big one ...



Snape felt his mark burn in the middle of a potions object lesson. That was worrying, Voldemort had always been deliberate of maintaining his cover. The mark burnt harder and Snape had to grit his tooth as the pain shot up his arm. This was very worrying.

"Are you alright Sir ?"A Slytherin first year. No one but a Slytherin would experience dared ask him. Snape lurched to his feet.

"Pack up your things. The deterrent example is over."He could not leave them unsupervised with potions ingredients. Snape hurried out the door, sending a hasten patronus to McGonagall saying that he had been called away suddenly. She would know what that meant. He felt compelled to at to the lowest degree keep the parliamentary procedure informed, but he could not convey himself to contact Dumbledore directly. He sent a second patronus to Natalie and a 3rd to Michelson for good measure.

He reached the main gate and stepped beyond the Hogwarts Aaron Montgomery Ward hesitantly. The tugging on his arm intensified and he let himself be pulled into the nihility by it, drawing him along until his feet touched ground. He glanced around, another dingy shoes. A warehouse by the look of it, dust covered the wooden boxwood stacked to the high ceiling. The rest of the dying eaters were already there, standing in a rough circle. Only Bellatrix had kept her mask off, she usually did. Vanity no doubt. Vanity and a motivation to be seen. Snape stepped into his place in the lap and waited. He did not mask himself, he did not have a go at it why. Perhaps a whim.

But were they all there ? Snape glanced back around the circle, only eight physical body stood lookout man in there midnight robes. At the last meeting there had been xv. Snape had grown to the point where he could recognize each of the death eaters by shape alone beneath their masks. Who was missing ? Dolohov, Corvidae, Avery Sr, Mulciber, the Carrows and Forneus. All dying eaters that Voldemort could be said to trust, if he could be said to confide anyone. That all of they would be missing at the Saame time ... it was very worrying.

'' Do not worry yourselves. '' The spokesperson of Voldemort came from the air between two stacks of crateful. A moment later he himself strode out, his red centre flashing first to one of them, then to another. `` Your brother will link up us soon. And with them they will bring sword lily tidings. Wait my booster, hold with patience. ``

Snape shifted his stance. The despatch was here, that could be the sole news that would put Voldemort in such a glad humour. Snape made ready to con any detail that he could glean when the seven last eaters appeared. Any diminutive fact that might help to at least somewhat reduce the damage.

Reduce the wrong ... that was a joke. Reduce it from a tragedy to a disaster.

He was broken out of his idea be a tatty crack. He turned to see Forneus lurch forward from his phantasma degree. His disastrous robes were streaked with mud and sand and were torn raged. He collapsed near the sharpness of the circle, his arms out entreatingly towards the dark lord.

'' master copy ! '' He gulped, his voice full of fear. `` We were attacked. Spells out of nowhere, one 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 lonesome one to esc- ''

'' see me in the eye ! '' Voldemort hissed, Forneus was dragged to his feet by an inconspicuous strength. `` seem your Lord in the eye when you admit your failure. ``

'' There was nil we could do my lord. '' Forneus cringed. `` They must have known about- ''

'' Crucio ! ``

Snape watched as the White person hirsute demise eater writhed on the floor. How had this happened ? Not the club, he would have been able-bodied to say if this form of bombastic scale military operation was in the offing. The ministry ... that was just funny. So that left ... Harry potter. This was done by Harry ceramicist. Snape kept his face impassive as his stomach did cartwheel. Harry was alive, fighting and apparently open of fighting seven last eater all in one morning. But Forneus had said there were many of them ... well that explained the absences in his morning class.

The dark lord whipped his wand back, Forneus stopped shaking and instead started whimpering.

'' Up Foerneus. Up ! '' Voldemort dragged the cringing last eater to his feet again. `` I expect more from one of my older servants. ``

'' Please ... please ... ''

'' What of my ship Forneus ? '' Voldemort stepped forwards. `` Where are my creatures ? ``

'' I ... I do not know my nobleman. '' Forneus squeezed his eye shut. `` It was not in the harbor. It was not in the bay beyond. I think perhaps ... If they knew where we would be then they probably also knew about the ship. I suspect ... I think ... the ship may be no more my lord. ``

'' No more ? '' Voldeomort repeated coldly. `` No more Forneus ? My dispatch ... my beast ... is no more ? ``

'' I do not know my lord. '' Forneus ducked his pass. `` They were not at the harbour. ``

'' You mean it is at the bottom of the sea. '' Voldemort 's voice was at it 's most icy and smooth. `` You mean to tell me that my creatures, that I bought with in effect gold and solemn promises of foster gold are dead."

'' I do not know my overlord. ``

'' You do not know. '' Voldemort snarled. `` You do not bed ! Crucio ! ``

Snape tried to stay on quiet. What plans would this change ? How did this strike 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 ? Speak ! ``

'' I did not see. '' Forneus whimpered. `` They were hiding ... I did not see their faces. They were everywhere but hidden. They was nothing I could identify- ''

'' Let me be the judge of that. '' Voldemort raised his wand again. `` Legilimens ! ``

Snape watched as the two wizards remained with mesh eyes for moments, then minutes. Snape was beginning to wonder what was happening when Voldemort looked away, his brow creasing.

'' Your memories have been altered. '' Voldemort said quietly. In anyone else Snape would have thought he was worried. `` Your store have been altered. Inexpertly, but they clearly have been. ``

'' You ... Do you remember 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 engagement. I suspect that you did not. I suspect you were captured and whatever was done to you was done then. You were then allowed to escape. They probably thought to follow you here. Foolish. No spell could track you here, I have warded this plaza against tracking enchantment. ``

Snape began to feel spooky. Harry was far from a fool, what was his plan here ?

'' check still ! '' Voldemort snapped at Forneus. He flicked his verge at the death eater. zip happened. Voldemort frowned. `` No tracking spells of any form ... interesting. Turn out you pockets ! ``

Forneus quivered as he reached into first one nighttime pocket of his gown, then another. As his script reached his inside air pocket he froze.

'' My noble ... there is something here. '' He slowly drew out a flatcar black box, the size of a pack of board. A picayune red light blinked on its Earth's surface. Forneus held it out for the dark lord. Voldemort made no movement 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 swooning musical theme what that was. Neither did Snape but at least he could recognize that it was muggle technology. What could it be for ? The blink light was like a vengeful eye but it did not look to be a weapon ...
*


Ginny dropped off her heather and hastily stowed it in a carry typesetter's case before shoving it under a cloak with the others. She checked herself to attain sure no toe or lock or hair had fallen outside her own cloak ... no. Good. She motioned the others to take after her as they snuck up to a chain logic gate. Beyond were two lined of decrepit muggle warehouses, some of them with the roofs fallen in. Harry eased up to the gate, his center darting down to a small device he held nestled in his hand.

'' This is it. '' Harry nodded. `` They 're here. In the third one down on the leftfield. ``

'' Are you trusted Harry ? '' She whispered. It was n't that she did n't bank Harry, it was this muggle elec-tricks. Surely it could n't be as reliable as a tracking spell. She glanced down at the bright CRT screen on the device Harry was holding and tried to link it back to her muggle studies lessons. The thing was pretty complex, more complex than a clock. There must have been hundreds of gears inside. Ginny wondered how often it had to be wound. Harry looked into the disused industrial region, squinting at the distant warehouse, then nodded.

'' I 'm for certain. Ca n't you feel the ward around this place ? give way me a minute and I 'll wear out us a way through. ``

Ginny tried to score herself breath as Harry knelt down and drew his wand, drawing it through the air as if trying to catch flies. She turned to the marauders and took a deep breath.

'' Alright, '' She began under her breath. It was severe enough making speeches, it was worse when you could only see hoi polloi as ghostly shadows. `` Today is the day. This is it. This is what we 've been training towards. We all knew it would come in 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 hold back him, wanted to slap him down when he said that this was the in force chance they would get. The problem was he was right. She should state them that Ginny realized,

'' Harry 's right, this is as good a opportunity as we 'll ever get. Voldemort 's weak, Voldemort is running low on retainer. We have the advantage of numbers and the constituent of surprise. They 've got lord Voldemort, but we 've got Harry thrower ... '' Ginny broke off, looking into their wide eyed faces `` I know you 're scare away ... I know that maybe, deep down, we all hoped we would n't possess to face Voldemort himself. But we are, and by doing it we can end this here and now. We can save thousands of lives today. Today is the day. We 've been an ground forces for a retentive while now, we 've been soldiers. But today, today we 're heroes. If we pull this off, one last masterpiece of marauder mayhem. We. Will. Be. Hero of Alexandria. Get ready to fight, you know what to do. ``

As if on cue Harry chuckled triumphantly and pushed the logic gate open up a fraction. He slid inside and motioned the others to come in after him. Ginny swallowed and followed him in.
*


'' Whatever this device is supposed to do it is clearly faulty. '' Voldemort snorted contemptuously and knocked the black device onto the base. `` Foolish of them to rely on muggle device. Idiotic. ``

A rough chuckle went around the dress circle of necromancer. Snape faked laughter even as he continued to stare at the box. The red light was still blinking. Voldemort licked his lip and sucked it air in a serpentine hiss.

'' A setback. '' He said, apparently having convalesce his composure. `` A momentary reversal. We are still the greatest wizards animated, possessing mightiness the muggle loving fools in the order of magnitude could not even comprehend. I shall exuberate. ``

'' passe-partout ... ''

'' We wield the nighttime magics, the only true power ! Trust in your Godhead and we will prevail. ``

'' Master I have- ''

'' Forneus ? '' Voldemort turned on the cowering wizard. `` You dare disrupt your passkey ? You dare even after you have humiliated yourself so ? ``

'' No my Maker, '' Forneus bowed his chief. `` It 's just ... I have found a secondment device. '' He held it up for Voldemort to see. The dark lord took it unworriedly.

'' Ha, how droll. '' Voldemort held the thing out for all the death eaters to see and express mirth. `` They have sent me a pulley-block of clay. Perhaps this is their theme of a jape. ``

Snape was not totally unaware of muggle technology and felt a stiff urge to drop to the floor.
*


Harry watched as Voldemort raised the dud above his forefront. He glanced to either side, there were predator poised at each threshold and her knew there were more at every former entrance. He looked back to the death eater, Snape was with them but ... standing far enough away. He probably would n't be killed. Harry closed his eyes, Snape would understand.

Harry drew the detonator out of his robes. Hopefully this could be ended right now. With luck even if Voldemort realized what was happening he would n't be able to shield fast enough. The war could end there and then.

'' I do have a force you know not. '' Harry muttered under his breath. `` Turns out it goes microphone boom. ``

He clicked up the covert on the cap, and pressed the switch.
*


'' Master no ! '' Rookwood suddenly yelled, whipping his wand out. Every eye flicked to him, even Voldemort 's. `` Protego ! ``

Even as the shining shield slid between the dark God Almighty 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 project painfully against a crate. His ears were full of only ringing and he fell in rum disengagement, not even hearing the thump as his own body crash onto the floor. Through the fog of interference and tried to act his peg, painful but unploughed, then his weapon. He got to his feet, blinking as everything swam before his eye. He raised his baton to his face and tried to fix his imagination. It was n't double-dyed but even the continuous tense view before him shocked him to his core.

Flames licked every crate as the burst had thrown combustion fragment across the entire storage warehouse. He could see the death eater running about in a mad, silent, panic, their sass open in thigh-slapper of pain. Snape raised his sceptre to his ear and hesitantly muttered a healing charm. The shocking klaxon vociferation of shrieking almost made him regret doing so. Nott ran past him, his very vest ablaze on his back. Snape ignored him, if anyone noticed his uncaring posture to a fella Death eater they would just attribute it to shock. Voldemort himself was nowhere to be seen. Snape stumbled forward, stepping over a prone body, his straits still wide-cut of fuzz.

'' Stupefy ! '' The shot came out of nowhere, striking the flaming frame of Nott and throwing him to the floor. Snape had his own wand out but the stunners were flying faster, from everywhere. Snape 's forefront ached, he could n't keep back up with this.

'' Bhraanti taraGga urvii ca agni ! '' The dark turn exploded out of the Earth, throwing boxes away and tearing the concrete underfoot in a burning conflagration. Voldemort appeared out of the smoke in the center of it, his blazon raised as the power of the spell coursed through him. The shattering soil expanded in every counsel, clearing a space in the dark warehouse. Voldemort finally let his weapon system fall, his center still blazing with tycoon. He pointed at three cowering death eaters with his claw hand. `` You ! Make a baracade there ! Bella, the Lapplander there ! They have surrounded us and warded this piazza against spectre, but we will cut them down ! They will rue the day they chose to contend me ! ``

Snape felt his muscles moving dully as he moved to help levitate the crateful into a barrier. The stunners were already flying again. The undecomposed matter was to stay understood, wait for his chance.
*


'' Damnit ! '' Harry threw himself behind a pile of corner as a killing execration burned through the air where he had just been. He rolled and came up next to where genus Draco was peering out the recess of a pile of sacks. Harry spun out around the turning point and took in the barrier of crateful. He was invisible but there was so a great deal smoke-

'' Avada kedavra ! ``

Harry spun a crate into the way of the spell then banished it against the roadblock. It exploded, raining bonce over the decease eaters.

'' Galbinus digitus ! '' Harry whipped his baton at the green shower and vines shot out of the dried husk, binding the two wizards into suffocating heaps. Harry darted back behind the pouch as spells began to rain down on the spot he had been standing.

'' Got them ? '' Dragon yelled at him.

'' Think so ! How many do you- '' Harry was cut off as the footing before them raised up in a roaring clash. Two massive diamond eyes fractured surface in Zane Grey stone and two blazon erupted up beside the animal. It punched into the ground and the two predator were thrown back.

'' Reducto ! '' Harry aimed at one stony eye but the spell just bounced off.

'' Avada kedavra ! '' genus Draco called out desperately as they scrambled away, the curse left a massive snap through the thing 's front end but it did not stop it 's rise. It raised it 's arm like a hammer,

'' Excalabus ! '' The shining sword crew out of zippo and sliced the golem 's arm off at the elbow joint making it roar in botheration. Harry slashed through it 's body and jumped away as it crumbled into dust.

'' That was Voldemort 's work. '' Draco panted.

'' Oh really ya think ? '' Harry glanced around for a means to snipe. `` They 're all in one home. We 're strung out over the whole bloody warehouse. He can pick us off one by one like this, inconspicuous or not ! ``

'' You think we should form up ? '' Draco held his wand out ready.

'' No, they 'll just escape the early way. '' Harry ground his teeth together.

'' Maybe the aurors will get here soon. '' Malfoy had to duck as a spell pin-wheeled over his headland. `` Or the society. ``

'' Ca n't banking concern on a maybe ! '' Harry glanced up and got an idea. `` Hold the line, I 'm going to break them up. ``
*


Snape saw a shadowy figure dashing through the smoke and aimed just behind it. This was hydrophobia, pure fury. Without Voldemort the destruction eater would sustain fallen at the first volley, blinded and burned as they were, but with him they were holding their own against the wraith US Army raining go down on them from all centering. There was no telling where the side by side attack would come from, even the roadblock were scant protection. And all the while the estrus from the burning building all around charring into his peel. Being stuck in the middle of all that and not really being portion of either side ... madness.

Snape hoped that perhaps Harry 's invisible army would distinguish him but he could n't count on it. If he could count on not being noticed he could try stunning himself, but then he would n't be there to facilitate Harry if something went haywire. Snape shielded himself from a barrage of stunners and cried in pain as a red-hot scrap of metal dropped onto him from above. He looked up in meter to see a spraying of sparks dislodge from the roof far above then yelled despite himself as the metal twisted inwards and Harry dropped like a diving event hawk into the midriff of the expiry eaters.

His iron boot struck Bellatrix in the case just as she looked up and labor her to the story with a bone-splitting crunch. Harry rolled like and came up in a moment slashing his sceptre like a brand, there was a New York minute of white-hot light and Rodolphus was opened from hip to neck. He went down spraying red ancestry across his attacker but Harry had already whirled and blew one of the barricade to smithereens.

'' Avada kedavra ! ``

Harry ducked the curse and shaft back but he was in the middle of the demise eaters now. Exactly what he wanted, Snape realized in flashing moment. He 's providing a distraction for the others to snipe. The trouble was he would probably die to accomplish it. Snape raised his verge to aid Harry but there was a sudden crack of disgraceful illumination and he felt pain invade every branch. An orb of darkness spun through the air towards Harry. Harry dodged wildly but there were too many early spells flying and it exploded in the air following to him. Driving him sprawling to the story. Snape shuddered, he had just experienced the backwash of the magical spell and he felt like he had been kicked in the head by a horse. What Harry must be feeling he could not imagine.

'' Protect us ! '' Voldemort snapped, his wand still smoking from the muscular scourge. `` I will trade with the boy. ``

Snape turned to attain it look like he was complying but kept watch as the dark Almighty stepped up stuffy to Harry. Voldemort held out a hired man and summoned Harry 's baton to him.

'' Very brave Mr ceramist. '' Voldemort raised his wand. `` And very gooselike. You must forgive me but I do n't have fourth dimension to have got one of our traditional schmoose. Avada- ''

'' Avada kedavra ! '' Harry threw his left arm up as he shouted the unforgivable. The mocking laugh died on Voldemort 's lips as Harry 's paw exploded in green light.

The go flashed through the air towards the scandalize dark lord. Snape watched as if in easy motion as Voldemort's hand flew into his robes and gripped around something. The very present moment before the green bolt struck him he disappeared. The while slashed across the lap and struck Rosier in the chest, catapulting his remains into the wall.

"Lord !"Forneus'strangled voice sounded out as she rushed forward. Harry had fallen on his side cradling his helping hand in suffering but at the destruction eater 's cry he unfurled and thrust his script forward,

"Avada Kedavra !"The unripe dash flashed towards the old death eater but he threw himself to one side and screamed a curse. A violet bolt flicked off the end towards Harry but he frantically waved another dying eater into the path of the while then banished the screaming figure so that it crashed into Forneus'face.

"killing him !"mortal yelled and Snape realized that the former death eaters were turning on Harry with rictus maze of vindictive fury. Snape's gaze flicked from the expiry eater charging to Harry, raising his arm again, and decided in a moment.

"Stupefy !"Snape's stunner jammed Goyle's chief back with a sickening crunch.

"Traitor !"Forneus was rising from the floor with his wand pointed in recrimination."Crucio !"

Snape ducked the spell and darted over to stand articulatio humeri to shoulder with Harry.

"Incendio !"

Snape shielded without thinking and the fire charm was absorbed into the general inferno.

"Tempesto !"Harry screamed, his voice twisted with pain, and waved his bridge player in a whirling archway. A lead sprung from void air and drew the fire Sir Henry Wood into a spinning tornado of hellfire. Harry pointed and flung the firestorm at the demise feeder, scattering them like lapin. Harry spun on Snape in the light time that had gained them.

"Why did you give out cover ?"He yelled, swooping to take hold of a strike verge."They all saw you ! Idiot !"

"No more idiot than you for coming here !"Snape shot back as he sent a dish at a stumble shape in the flaming."Rushing in like a fool ! You are doing exactly what I said you would !"

"I had a plan !"Harry growled at him."And it would have got bloody worked if Voldemort hadn ‘ t had an emergency brake portkey !"

"You risked your life !"

"Mine to risk !"

"As is my cover !"Snape glared into the smoke but the former death eaters seemed to be trying to escape 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 immobilise them between us."

"Harry how have you been casting trance ?"Snape hurried after him, his wand flicking towards every mite of motion.

"Wandlessly obviously."

"Harry wandless magic is beyond you."Snape grated, it was the dim-witted Truth."And besides, sure spells can not be performed wandlessly, it is simply unsufferable. The unforgivables are among them."

"Impossible for regular people."Harry flashed a rictus grin through the murk.

'' Harry, your hand ! '' Snape cried as he saw it clearly for the first time. He grabbed the arm, his eyes all-embracing with repugnance. The middle finger was burnt down to a butt and his index finger was gone to the second knuckle. The entire rest of the manus was shrivelled and charred, as if it was burning from the inside out. It was boiling to the trace. `` Harry what have you done ! ``

'' What I had to ! '' Harry pulled his break hand back and held it painfully to his dresser."I ‘ m the boy who lived, the bloody chosen one ! descend on, they ‘ re this way."

Wondering how Harry knew Snape followed him into the murk.
*


'' What is the site ? '' 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 line of work. This must be why dad looked up to him.

'' There were eight death eaters inside, at least three all in 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, unseeable. ``

'' Voldemort 's gone. '' Shacklebolt supplied. `` Unregistered portkey. John Fletcher, ask your team to the Occident entrance- ''

Ginny stepped back towards the building and grabbed the invisible bread maker twins 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 devote up ! '' Snape yelled as Harry had to jump out of the way of a collapsing raft of burning boxes. `` You could be killed here ! ``

'' They 're still in here ! '' Harry forged onwards into the murk.

'' Fool boy ! '' Snape 's robe caught flame and he threw it off angrily before rushing forward. He grabbed Harry around the arm only to be shook off. `` They will all be dead or gone by now ! ``

'' Two of them are still in here ! '' Harry pointed with his harry hand. `` They 're over there ! ``

'' The aurors will get them. ``

'' You do n't sleep together that ! '' Harry staggered a few more than steps before keeling over and retching onto the floor. Snape shied away, for a second unsure of what to do. The only when thing in his intellect was an idle interest group in the fact that the vomit was steaming as it hit the floor. Harry stumbled to his feet and Snape hissed in cushion, Harry 's oculus were running red with blood.

'' Harry something is incorrect with you. '' Snape stepped forward carefully. `` Something is clearly untimely. You need a therapist. ``

'' I ca n't leave yet ! ``

'' The aurors will- ''

'' No ! '' Harry turned and dashed into the smoke. Snape heard a monumental crack from above and swing over 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 trading floor. Snape dashed forward, for once not even thinking of his baton, and shoved the beam off with all his military capability. It thudded onto the floor and Snape rolled Harry onto his back. Blood was running down the poor boys haggard face.

'' Oh Harry .... why ? You fool ... '' Snape felt rising anger. None of it directed at Harry. `` You did n't accept to do this. You did n't give birth to do any of this. You did not take in to destroy yourself .... hoot you Dumbledore ! '' He slammed his fist into the cracked ground and bowed his head. He did n't even acknowledge the arcsecond shaft before in struck him on the back and drove him from consciousness.

And all around the fire raged.
*


'' Are all of your people out. '' Shacklebolt yelled at Ginny.

'' Not Harry. '' Ginny frantically glanced back into the blaze. `` He 's still in there. '' She saw Shacklebolt 's case fall.

'' The building is not going to go much longer. ``

'' Gone on Harry. '' Ginny felt herself whispering. `` Come on ... ''
*


The watcher scrabbled through the flaming warehouse. He had come following the aurors, come hoping to kill more death feeder. Cause pain to the snake-one. Cause nuisance to Tom Riddle. But all he had found was flames, flames and death.

His centre darted around, trying to find a way out. If he was trapped here both he and Smoky would be killed. His fingers idly caressed Smoky 's scales where she hid in his sleeve. Maybe Smoky could hide in one of the grate in the storey, but he would die for certainly. And if he died he would never get his revenge.

Sweet dulcet revenge ... He took a moment to savour the thought as the flames licked at his legs.

What was that ? A fix in the floor, one of the muggle ones. A way out. He shuffled towards it and flicked the masking off with his wand. As he was about to lower 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 former ... The early 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 sentence, the trickster, the face-stealer, the- He shook his head word as the list of hatred raged through his mind.

He lifted the piece of Ellen Price Wood off easily with a magical spell and regarded them through his fading heart. He did not recall 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 solid ground and scuttled to a faded windowpane and threw them through the field glass. There were shouts from international and he could see the dressed men clustering around them. The robed men could n't see him though. He scuttled back to the hole in the floor and lowered himself in.

They could n't catch him yet.

He still had killing to do.
*


Harry stood in the apple grove again. The leaves turned brown for the time of year, the undercoat wet with dew. In every direction it stretched, impossibly deep.

'' Why am I here ? '' Harry tried to say, but his oral fissure would n't take a shit sound. His throat was closed.

What is this place ?

Harry turned on his heel and there was the border of the trees, just paces away. And beyond it ... zilch. The world just dropped away as if the trees were the only real thing.

The sound of the river raged in his ears, filling him with fear. He ran from the edge, back into the safety device of the trees, back into the real persona. 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 piazza ?

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 very ?
*


'' He 's awake. ``

Dragon dropped off his infirmary bed at the audio of the healer voice and hurried up to the position of Harry 's bed. Most of the other marauder clustered around with him. The Weasley twins and Parvati were all in their own layer, kept mercifully unconscious mind while their injuries healed. They had all been hurt when they managed to drop back themselves out of that hell, it was a small miracle none of them were dead. No ... not a miracle, they had trained, they had prepared. That was the rationality they were still alive. Not a miracle.

Draco looked down at his friend, lying pale and wan on the hospital sheets. His eyes had cracked capable, but he still was n't moving.

'' Welcome back Harry. '' Hermione grasped Harry 's mitt encouragingly. `` Do n't try to verbalise yet the doctors said you were really grim. ``

'' ... ah ... '' Harry licked his lips and tried again. `` ... Volde ... mort ... ''

'' He got away. '' Ginny supplied. Harry squeezed his oculus shut, a frustrated groan broke out from somewhere in his chest.

'' Do n't experience bad mate. '' Ron was clearly trying to sound upbeat. Idiot. `` Only three death eaters got away. We got all the relaxation, all of them. ``

'' Who ... ? '' Harry 's question was hissed out through obvious pain.

'' Well, there was Rookwood. '' Padma began, counting off on her digit. `` He managed to skid past the aurors. Forneus too. ``

'' Three ... ''

'' And ... '' Padma 's eyes flickered towards Neville. `` And Bellatrix. ``

'' Bella ... '' Harry 's face contorted into a snarl. `` Got her ... Could verify I got- ''

'' You did Harry. '' Ginny picked up a glass of water and slowly helped Harry to drink from it. `` The aurors were dragging her out but she came to in their arms, killed one of them with her bare hands and dissapperated with his wand. ``

'' Killed ? He died ? '' Harry 's vocalisation seemed to be coming a bit easier now but it was still at the edge of weakness.

'' Yes. The exclusively auror, order member or marauder to die yesterday. '' Draco supplied, he could see Ginny 's head bowing. She could n't possibly feel shamefaced could she ? The man had let an unconscious prisoner rip out his windpipe. It was tragic, but it was no ones defect but his own. Harry certainly would n't feel guilty.

'' We got the eternal sleep though did n't we ? '' Harry asked, glancing down at his bound hand.

'' nearly of them are deadened. '' Dragon supplied. `` Those who did n't die in the fight died in the ardour. ``

'' Gibbons died. '' Neville said quietly. `` I saw the aurors pulling him out. Someone should tell Vanessa. She deserves to jazz her forefather 's dead. Even if he was ... well you know. ``

'' If it was me I 'd be disappointed I was n't the one to obliterate him. '' Harry said quietly, still staring at his bind hand.

'' Harry, your hand ... '' Hermione brought it up and there was an instant cooling among the marauders. No one had wanted to be the one to ask Harry about it. `` Your hand it ... ''

'' Injured, I know. '' Harry looked over at it dully. `` Can the healers fix it ? ``

'' They ... they can grow the fingers back Harry but- ''

'' Perfect, that 's fine then. ``

'' But how did it happen in the for the first time topographic point ? '' Hermione looked like she was trying to forefend actually looking at the hand. `` Snape said you used a wandless killing curse which is impossible- ''

'' Apparently not. '' Harry cut her off. `` If they can fix me then why have n't they started ? I need my hand back, Voldemort could retaliate at any here and now. ``

'' Harry ... '' Hermione looked around, perhaps looking for backup. genus Draco shook his head, she had opened Pandora 's box she could cover with it on her own. `` Harry the hired hand is n't the only thing wrong with you. ``

'' Some sort of curse word or something ? ``

'' No, at least ... they do n't think so. ``

'' What are you talking about ? ``

'' Well- '' Hermione began but was cut off as a interpreter said,

'' Let me explain. '' Draco looked towards the sound to see Snape striding in through the door. The marauders made way for him as he moved to the foot of Harry 's bed. A white bandage encircled his forehead but he did n't look to notice it. Snape nodded towards Harry 's ruined 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 hideous cocktail of rage, fear and commiseration grow in his chest. He didn't, he couldn't have. But genus Draco knew in his philia that he could.

'' By the fact that you 're asking you already know that the answer is yes so why pain in the ass. '' Harry replied coldly.

'' Harry you are twice the soft touch I ever named you. '' Snape bowed his head, his eyes closed. `` That you would do this ... ''

'' Do what ? '' Ginny broke in. `` Do what ? What 's a ... Shin-de-show ? ``

'' Shén de shou, a god-hand. '' Draco supplied, finding that his vocalisation was almost tinged with tears. `` It 's an operation, originating in PRC, they insert wand nucleus 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 revulsion was more fan out out. `` It 's outlawed everywhere in the world. It is insanely serious, even when they are done right they damage the user since the trick has to force it 's way out through flesh and skin. And casting a curse as potent as the killing curse ? He 's golden he still has an arm. ``

'' I was n't planning on using it hover feathers. '' Harry said acidly. `` It was a weapon of finale resort hotel, and it worked. I saved myself and almost killed Voldemort. ``

'' If it were only that simple Harry. '' Snape still was n't looking Harry in the eye. `` Your Shén de shou may have been installed properly, it may not have been. Either way it would not account for all of your symptoms. And yes Harry, you have many symptoms. The healers found infections in your blood, some new and some just end. You have been sick all year have n't you ? Keeping yourself going with pep-up potion as you reeled from one malady after another. And now they have all caught up with you. ``

He was gruesome. Malfoy felt dread emanation in his venter. He was vomit rightfield at the scratch of the class and I did nothing ... I could have prevented this.

'' You are hurt more deeply than anyone can tell, and they can barely tell at all because of that ! '' Snape pointed at the faded and chipped pick-me-up around Harry 's arm. `` You have it charmed so that none but you can get rid of it. Your paranoia is killing you since the malevolent eye prevents the healers from telling what is actually wrong with you. A fact I think you know, a fact I think you know very well. You do not require anyone to know what was going on inside you. You got the Shén de shou Harry Potter, but what else did you get ? You came back after a summertime 's time and suddenly you stand toe to toe with Death feeder ? citizenry who have spent their life-time learning the grim of nontextual matter ? No ... no ... You did not simply discipline over the summertime month. What else fester under your cutis ? What else have you done to yourself ! ``

The secretiveness in the way was solid as granite, and as harsh. Harry licked his lips before answering slowly, measuredly,

'' If I answered you, you would have the healers remove what I had put in. ``

'' Yes. ``

'' Why ? ``

'' To preserve your lifespan. '' Snape was virtually shaking.

'' My life 's worth nothing if Voldemort 's around. '' Harry shook his point. `` Afterwards. I 'll kill Voldemort then the stuff comes out. Until then I need it. ``

'' Afterwards ? Afterwards ? '' A tear squeezed out of the corner of Snape 's eye, shocking everyone. It might take been a tear of rage, it might not. `` Harry by then it may be too late ! The healer say that you have months, half a year at very best, if we do not do something. ``

'' And search what I 've done with a year ! '' Harry yelled angrily. `` I 've pushed Voldemort back to the brink ! How many death eater does he have left ? FOUR ! Down from what ? Twenty ? Thirty ? I knew I would n't give birth much fourth dimension. I accepted that my lifespan would be severally cut, but I have taken my lifespan and mystify that snake faced wanker around the head with it ! He is hanging by a thread thanks to me ! I am the only one who can defeat Voldemort ! The ONLY 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 happen so, god help me, I went out and found some advantages. I had to. And if it means I win my big vaticinate fight against the asshole ? Then I made the ripe claim. And if I do n't ? Then it wo n't matter anyway. ``

Harry cut off, his chest ascent and falling sharply, showing how much his actor's line had taken out of his injured frame. Snape was just standing there, his boldness an ineffable mask of sorrow. Another tear, and another. prof Snape looked like a man who had had a knife stuck through him, impaling his heart.

'' Back on the ship. '' Padma 's whispering part cut through the silence like a enchantress. `` Back on the ship you knew where the crew were. You knew where the creatures were. You even knew where the ship was in the center of the dark on a stormy sea. You knew where we were too. You put the crank in your pocket, I never saw you put them on. We were invisible, but not to you. Oh god Harry ... tell me you did n't. Tell me ... '' Padma reached a bridge player forward, up towards Harry 's font. Harry did n't flinch back even as her longsighted fingernail reached up close and tapped his eye.

The evident chink of glass was like a death toll.

'' Your eye ... '' Hermione breathed, every reverb of her voice begging it not to be true up. `` You ... you cut out your eye ? ``

'' No, guy at the shop class did it. '' Harry tried to outwit Padma 's hand away but clearly did n't have the forcefulness. `` Do n't you all look at me like that. I saw how useful Moody 's was and got one for myself. This one's better though, it can look anywhere, out the dorsum of my head and all but it's charmed to await like it's pointing the same way as the former one. So no one ever knows. It 's been utilitarian, more than useful. You ca n't secern me it has n't. '' Harry's voice had grown more shrill as he spoke.

'' But ... your eye. '' Hermione shuddered, her hand involuntarily flinched up to her look. `` How could you ? ``

Draco felt bile rise like a vent. Just the persuasion of tearing out his own eye made him barf. What stop dead and horrific will would it bring to willingly pick out that self-mutilation. For the first meter that year, Draco began to fear Harry a little.

'' Do n't look at me like that. '' Harry was shying away from their stares, pushing back into the bed. `` What ... Do n't ! Do n't look at me like you do n't know why I did this ! Do n't look at me like you do n't see. I had to ! ``

The despair in his voice. The need for them to realize, to apologize what he had done. Draco shuddered. In Harry 's place would he possess done the same ? He honestly could n't reckon. No one could. Draco cleared his throat,

'' Harry, I ca n't guess why you chose to do this. But you need to let the healers fix you now. ``

'' Draco, I ... you too ? '' Harry seemed very small-scale in that moment. Very lost.

'' Please let them fix you Harry. '' Draco felt a little helping hand savvy his and glanced to the side to see Ginny. Offering financial backing. A soundly Quaker. Thank you. `` You might now even need this stuff and nonsense anymore. Voldemort is washy, maybe- ''

"Maybe !"Harry snapped."Maybe, maybe MAYBE ! That ‘ s all I ‘ ve heard all class ! I won ‘ t trust to hope ! It ‘ s too important."

"Harry please ..."Dragon's throat felt like it was closing up."Please ... you may not interpret just how a lot damage you ‘ re doing to yourself. Waiting a few weeks even could-"

"defeat Voldemort."Harry said coldly."I ‘ ve made my choice. tell apart the healers to fix my handwriting, just the handwriting. You don ‘ t think I wish it was different ? I do. But some motherfucker prognostication had the gall to set my life in movement long before I had any say in it. I have to win. I have to win even if I die because nothing else matters. 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."

Dragon stepped back from the bed. The frightful certainty in Harry's vocalisation was shocking. He had accepted his fate down to his bones. He had rummy it in till it was the very core of his being. Was Harry even in there any more ?

Draco was shocked out of his thoughts by a pocket-sized sound. It took him a import to recognize it, but when he did it surprised him once more. Snape was gripping the end of the infirmary bed so hard the forest was splintering. When Draco looked up at the potions master's face he almost cried out in fear. The most terrible blue craze Draco had ever seen was painted across Snape's face, etched in every line and crease. The dark shadows in his oculus were seething pools of suppressed fury. Suddenly Snape let out an almost insensate growl and disapperated on the topographic point, tearing a piece of the bed away with him.
*


No view entered the red fog of Snape's mind as he strode towards the Bill Gates of Hogwarts. His wand whipped out and the vast doors were thrown back with a rumbling crash that shook the castle. He could not deal less if the whole edifice fell down. Minerva hurried towards him,

"Severus what is the meaning of this ?"

"I am going to see the headmaster."Snape didn't slow, forcing Minerva to jump out of his way. He was too angry to care. 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 ears. The stairs terra firma to a stoppage and Snape slammed the threshold open. Dumbledore looked up in seismic disturbance from the papers in front man of him as Snape strode up to him and slammed his clenched fist down of the Earth's surface of the desk.

"Harry is in St Mungos."He had no idea how to leave vocalization 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 fellow member of the monastic order so-"

"Do you acknowledge why Harry is in St Mungos ?"Snape tried to breath evenly."Because, in an effort to fill your precious 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 sorcerous one. Those and who knows what early mutilations are slowly destroying him. He is going to die because of them. Because of the prognostication. Because of you !"

Dumbledore was staring off into the length, he looked like his person was being torn out. Good.

"The boy destroys himself, tears himself apart. He is ready to die, because of the prophecy."Snape drew his face down level with Dumbledore's."I think it ‘ s time he learnt the truth. Don ‘ t you ?"

"Severus ..."

"You tell him."Snape held a quiver finger up."I will give you one probability to tell him, to relieve some of your guilt with satin flower. But breathe assured, if you do not tell him, I will. This lie has poisoned too practically already."

"You realize ..."Dumbledore spoke as if from within a fog."That the verity may break away 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 way is he in ?"
*


Harry glanced up as the hospital doorway was pushed open air and Dumbledore stepped in and braced himself for being yelled at. Dumbledore just walked slowly towards Harry's bed, his helping hand kept flinching out to the side as if expecting to find a cane there.

"kid,"Dumbledore addressed the piranha."Would you leave us ? Please."

"What are you going to do ?"Ginny stepped in front of the bed protectively.

"Just talk Miss Weasley."Dumbledore's heading hung weakly."Only talk."

"It ‘ s all right Ginsters."Harry nodded towards her."It ‘ s alright."

Ginny looked doubtful but waved the marauder to postdate her out. As the door banged shut Dumbledore walked to the end of the room, glancing at each bed, then flicked the pall closed with his wand. Another wafture of his baton and Harry heard a fiddling muffled sound from the threshold. Whatever Dumbledore was about to say he didn't want anyone hearing. Finally Dumbledore shuffled over to the bed opposite Harry's and sat carefully. There was a long moment of silence that stretched on and on ...

"Yes ?"Harry asked, speech communication still hurting his throat."You got something to say ?"

"I ... I do not hump how to begin."Dumbledore seemed lost, a little lost boy in the forest."I suppose I should set about by telling you how ... how incredibly sorry I am. You must consider I never expected that you would do this. But that is no self-justification, no excuse at all."

"What are you saying ?"

"I ... Let me tell you a story."Dumbledore licked his lips."I am sorry but this is the only way I know to distinguish you. It begins about XV age ago, I had just born-witness to a prognostication that gave the exclusively hope for the fall of the sour lord."

"I know this story."

"Harry please."Dumbledore raised his handwriting."This is hard enough ... Please just let me speak."

"Alright."

"I had heard the prophecy, the one you know well. I had determined that it referred to a shaver all of us in the guild knew well. The child of Lilly and Saint James the Apostle ceramicist. I knew that the tiddler was our sole Hope. Even before the divination was recorded in the department of mystery story I had already placed the ceramist family line under the solid aegis I could. Unfortunately I failed, I was betrayed."

"Sothis Black."

"Yes. Dog Star pitch blackness. But his treachery, though it led to the destruction of two of the most brave and honorable people I know, also spelled the end of the dark lord. Voldemort was destroyed. Most of the wizarding world considered him drained. The celebrations ... they went on for days ... week truly. The stallion wizarding reality breathed again thanks to the ritual killing of Lilly and James Potter and the endurance of their son. The boy-who-lived. The boy who showed that Voldemort was not invincible. He was the symbolisation of victory, the symbol of Leslie Townes Hope. But I knew the truth, that Voldemort was not truly utterly. I knew that the prophecy was not yet fulfilled and that, when the shadow Lord would finally originate again, the citizenry would want the boy-who-lived. So I placed him with his mothers pedigree, with his aunt. The intellect were complex, the rakehell tie provided him trade protection of a kind but it is unimportant now. I should have known my folly, should have known. It is my fault in so many ways. My demerit 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 cousin to the shop. Perhaps she was not paying attention or perhaps it was simply an fortuity, but the boy ran out into the road. A car struck him, terribly fast. I have watched the remembering of the crash through others heart ... he flew so far ... doctors worked on him, then I had him moved to St Mungos and the therapist worked as hard as the could. But the price ... the wounding to his skull ... his chest ... he passed from this Earth. Just six twelvemonth old. My fault. All my fault. His line of descent on my mitt ... But I knew it was not over. I knew that Voldemort would still stand up, the wizarding world would still need their symbol of Leslie Townes Hope, their boy-who-lived. Their hero. So I found another boy, of the even up age, in a muggle orphanage. I worked magic to switch his appearance, his voice, his retention ... his store I destroyed entirely and replaced with fakes, I even supplemented them with some of my own memories of James I Potter to make the boy seem like him. Then I placed him back at Privet thrust, I changed the memories of the aunt ... the uncle ... the first cousin. I sought out everyone who had seen the crash and tore the computer memory from their skulls, the doctors, the healers ... I made it so that it never happened. And then a sat back and watched ... I watched my fake grow up. I felt my guilt trip grow. But it was done, and it could not be undone. My great pity ... the lie that makes everything else a lie as well. The Sojourner Truth is that the chosen one has been stagnant for nine years. You are not him."

Dumbledore trailed off, he seemed smaller, even infirm, as if letting this keen secret out of him had drained him of everything. Harry shook his foreland. No ... No no no ...

"No, you ‘ re fabrication. You. Are. Lying."

"I so wish that I was."

"But I ‘ m the ... I ‘ m Harry potter !"He shook his head."I ‘ m Harry Potter !"

"No. You are not."

"I have the scratch !"

"I gave you that scar."Dumbledore had his centre closed. But even so a tear squeezed out from the side, running down his long intrude and dropping to the trading floor."I can remove it right now if you wish it."

"No !"His custody jumped up to his forehead protectively."You ‘ re just ... you ‘ re saying these things ... WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME ?"

"I am sorry. I am so sorry."Dumbledore bowed his head."I can not say that to you enough. I ... I destroyed you."

"No ! I ... I cut out my eye !"Harry could feel his blood pumping in his spike."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 last smidgin of Leslie Townes Hope."The vaticination died nine long time ago. Voldemort won."

"No. No ..."He was shaking, he couldn't stop."Lies it ‘ s just lies !"

"It is not."Dumbledore shook his read/write head."If you want substantiation just look to your champion. You named them the piranha. On your very first day. How did you know that name ? You know that James Potter named his group of friends the Sami ?"

"No, he can't have ! It ‘ s a lie !"

"It is not. You knew the name because I put in in your intellect. If you doubt me ask anyone who was at school with them."Dumbledore was speaking in drained tones now, he had reached the behind."I have heard you refer to prof Snape as Snivellus and to Remus lupine as Moony. Those were both names James I Potter invented. You also knew about prof Snape ‘ s wickedness stigma. How else would you bed ?"

"I ... I ..."The boy could feel himself shaking, his thinker shaking apart.

"It is dead on target. It is all true ... I am so deplorable. I am so ... I can not get 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 shrill vocalisation in his ear."You dragged me to this animation you have to know !"

"I do not Harry I ‘ m ..."

"Harry ? Harry ?"The boy threw his psyche back and screamed, a screeching cacophony of torment."And don ‘ t you dare say you ‘ re sorry ! Don ‘ t you dare !"

"I ... I can not -"

"Get out !"He grabbed his glass of water and threw it with all his forte, tear blurring his eyes. It shattered against the headmaster ‘ s shoulder joint."Get out ! Get out ! GET OUT !"

Dumbledore fled the room, holding his arm. As the old hotshot crashed through the door the boy threw himself back against the wall and howled in annoyance and confusion, tearing at his hair with hired man like claw. snag ran freely down his case from the one really eye he had left.

Sobbing and broken he lay there, until duskiness closed in.



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