The Rise Of the Last Potter

by HPfanfictioner66

Summary:

During the battle in the COS the basilisk fang destroys the horcrux in Harry's Scar. The Chamber holds more than a giant snake. What happens when Harry finds the secrets? Will it aid him achieve the greatness he was always destined for? Powerful! Harry. Good! Dumbledore. HPXDGXFDX Susan.
Massive Canon divergence from Ch.5

Chapter 1: The Battle in the chamber

Ch1 The Battle of the Chamber.

"This is what Dumbledore sends his defender! A songbird and an old hat! Do you feel brave, Harry Potter? Do you feel safe now?" Harry didn't answer. He might not see what use Fawkes or the Sorting Hat were, but he was no longer alone, and he waited for Riddle to stop laughing with his courage mounting.

"To business, Harry," said Riddle, still smiling broadly. "Twice — in your past, in my future — we have met. And twice I failed to kill you. How did you survive? Tell me everything. The longer you talk," he added softly, "the longer you stay alive."

Harry was thinking fast, weighing his chances. Riddle had the wand. He had Fawkes and the Sorting Hat, neither of which would be much good in a duel. It looked bad, all right.… but the longer Riddle stood there, the more life was dwindling out of Ginny.… and in the meantime, Harry noticed suddenly, Riddle's outline was becoming clearer, more solid.… If it had to be a fight between him and Riddle, better sooner than later.

"No one knows why you lost your powers when you attacked me," said Harry abruptly. "I don't know myself. But I know why you couldn't kill me. Because my mother died to save me. My common Muggle-born mother," he added, shaking with suppressed rage. "She stopped you killing me. And I've seen the real you, I saw you last year. You're a wreck. You're barely alive. That's where all your power got you. You're in hiding. You're ugly, you are foul —"

Riddle's face contorted. Then he forced it into an awful smile. "So. Your mother died to save you. Yes, that's a powerful countercharm. I can see now…. there is nothing special about you, after all. I wondered, you see. There are strange likenesses between us, after all. Even you must have noticed. Both half-bloods, orphans, raised by Muggles. Probably the only two Parselmouths to come to Hogwarts since the great Slytherin himself. We even look something alike …. but after all, it was merely a lucky chance that saved you from me. That's all I wanted to know."

Harry stood, tense, waiting for Riddle to raise his wand. But Riddle's twisted smile was widening again. "Now, Harry, I'm going to teach you a little lesson. Let's match the powers of Lord Voldemort, Heir of Salazar Slytherin, against famous Harry Potter, and the best weapons Dumbledore can give him…."

He cast an amused eye over Fawkes and the Sorting Hat, then walked away. Harry, fear spreading up his numb legs, watched Riddle stop between the high pillars and look up into the stone face of Slytherin, high above him in the half-darkness. Riddle opened his mouth wide and hissed — but Harry understood what he was saying,

"Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts Four."

Harry wheeled around to look up at the statue, Fawkes swaying on his shoulder. Slytherin's gigantic stone face was moving. Horrorstruck, Harry saw his mouth opening, wider and wider, to make a huge black hole. And something was stirring inside the statue's mouth. Something was slithering up from its depths.

He wondered if he could convince the Basilisk to leave him alone. "Go back noble serpent. Go to sleep." He hissed. "It won't listen to you, Potter! It only takes orders from me." Riddle cackled. Harry backed away until he hit the dark Chamber wall, and as he shut his eyes tight he felt Fawkes' wing sweep his cheek as he took flight. Harry wanted to shout, "Don't leave me!" but what chance did a phoenix have against the king of serpents?

Something huge hit the stone floor of the Chamber. Harry felt it shudder — he knew what was happening, he could sense it, could almost see the giant serpent uncoiling itself from Slytherin's mouth. Then he heard Riddle's hissing voice: "Kill him."

The Basilisk was moving toward Harry; he could hear its heavy body slithering heavily across the dusty floor. Eyes still tightly shut, Harry began to run blindly sideways, his hands outstretched, feeling his way — Voldemort was laughing.

Harry tripped. He fell hard onto the stone and tasted blood. The serpent was barely feet from him. He could hear it coming. There was a loud, explosive spitting sound right above him, and then something heavy hit Harry so hard that he smashed into the wall. Waiting for fangs to sink through him he heard more mad hissing, something thrashing wildly off the pillars.

He couldn't help it — he opened his eyes wide enough to squint at what was going on. The enormous serpent, bright, poisonous green, thick as an oak trunk, had raised itself high in the air and its great blunt head was weaving drunkenly between the pillars. As Harry trembled, ready to close his eyes if it turned, he saw what had distracted the snake.

Fawkes was soaring around its head, and the Basilisk was snapping furiously at him with fangs long and thin as sabers Fawkes dived. His long golden beak sank out of sight. A sudden shower of dark blood spattered the floor. The snake's tail thrashed, narrowly missing Harry, and before Harry could shut his eyes, it turned — Harry looked straight into its face and saw that its eyes, both its great, bulbous yellow eyes, had been punctured by the phoenix; blood was streaming to the floor, and the snake was spitting in agony.

"NO!" Harry heard Riddle screaming. "LEAVE THE BIRD! LEAVE THE BIRD! THE BOY IS BEHIND YOU. YOU CAN STILL SMELL HIM. KILL HIM!"

The blinded serpent swayed, confused, still deadly. Fawkes was circling its head, piping his eerie song, jabbing here and there at its scaly nose as the blood poured from its ruined eyes.

"Help me, help me," Harry muttered wildly, "someone — anyone…."

The snake's tail whipped across the floor again. Harry ducked. Something soft hit his face. The Basilisk had swept the Sorting Hat into Harry's arms. Harry seized it. It was all he had left, his only chance — he rammed it onto his head and threw himself flat onto the floor as the Basilisk's tail swung over him again.

Help me — help me — Harry thought, his eyes screwed tight under the hat. Please help

me. There was no answering voice. Instead, the hat contracted, as though an invisible hand

was squeezing it very tightly. Something very hard and heavy thudded onto the top of Harry's head, almost knocking him out. Stars winking in front of his eyes, he grabbed the top of the hat to pull it off and felt something long and hard beneath it.

A gleaming silver sword had appeared inside the hat, its handle glittering with rubies the size of eggs.

"KILL THE BOY! LEAVE THE BIRD! THE BOY IS BEHIND YOU. SNIFF — SMELL HIM."

Harry was on his feet, ready. The Basilisk's head was falling, its body coiling around, hitting pillars as it twisted to face him. He could see the vast, bloody eye sockets, see the mouth stretching wide, wide enough to swallow him whole, lined with fangs long as his sword, thin, glittering, venomous —It lunged blindly — Harry dodged. It hit the Chamber wall. It lunged again, and its forked tongue lashed Harry's side. He raised the sword in both his hands — The basilisk lunged again, and this time its aim was true — Harry threw his whole weight behind the sword and drove it to the hilt into the roof of the serpent's mouth —But as warm blood drenched Harry's arms, he felt a searing pain just above his elbow and his head, exactly where his famous scar was. One long, poisonous fang was sinking deeper and deeper into his arm. It splintered as the Basilisk keeled over sideways and fell, twitching, to the floor.

Harry slid down the wall. He gripped the fang that was spreading poison through his body and wrenched it out of his arm. But he knew it was too late. White-hot pain was spreading slowly and steadily from the wound in his arm and he was getting a blinding headache from the scar, much worse than the moment when he had confronted Voldemort's shade. Even as he dropped the fang and watched his blood soaking his robes, his vision went foggy. The Chamber was dissolving in a whirl of dull color.

A patch of scarlet swam past, and Harry heard a soft clatter of claws beside him. "Fawkes," said Harry thickly. "You were fantastic, Fawkes…."

He felt the bird lay its beautiful head on the spot where the serpent's fang had pierced him. He could hear echoing footsteps. Then a dark shadow moved in front of him. "You're dead, Harry Potter," said Riddle's voice above him. "Dead. Even Dumbledore's bird knows it. Do you see what he's doing, Potter? He's crying."

Harry blinked. Fawkes's head slid in and out of focus. Thick, pearly tears were trickling

down the glossy feathers.

"I'm going to sit here and watch you die, Harry Potter. Take your time. I'm in no hurry."

Harry felt drowsy. Everything around him seemed to be spinning. "So ends the famous Harry Potter," said Riddle's distant voice. "Alone in the Chamber of Secrets, forsaken by his friends, defeated at last by the Dark Lord he so unwisely challenged. You'll be back with your dear Mudblood mother soon, Harry…. She bought you twelve years of borrowed time….but Lord Voldemort got you in the end, as you knew he must…."

Everything went black.

Chapter 2: Meeting mum

Ch.2 Meeting Mum

Harry opened his eyes. He was lying on a stone-hard floor. Everything was white. One more thing he noticed was that he was buck naked. He felt embarrassed and wished for clothes. As he wished for clothes, they appeared on his body. He got up and looked around. He saw a horrid-looking baby-like bloodied creature whimpering in pain.

"Harry! My brave brave baby!" He turned towards the sound of the melodious female voice. He felt his breath hitch. Standing there was Lily Potter, her emerald eyes filled with unshed tears and a proud smile on her face.

"Mum." he croaked out. His throat was dry. The moment he had dreamed of since he was little was happening. His mother was standing right in front of him. He ran into her open arms and cried. Tears flowed down his cheek without shame. His mother just held him close in her arms. He basked in her warmth.

After what felt like an eternity, he questioned, "mum, am I- am I dead?" Lily potter looked into his eyes and said, "Yes and no, Harry. Currently, you are in a limbo of sorts, between life and death. Here you face crossroads, baby. You choose if you pass on or return to the realm of the living. You see, you had an abomination in your scar. When the venom hit it was removed from your body."

"That ugly baby thing?" he inquired. Lily nodded. "What is that thing? And why the fuck was it in me?"

"What it is, is something I can't tell you. Lady Death has only allowed some information to be given to you. I can't tell you several things. A lot of information is forbidden to be told to you just now. I had to agree to several conditions to come and see you here. As for your latter question, it latched to you on Halloween of 81."

"Thank You."

"You should know that if you go back, your magic will feel much more powerful. More than 60% of your magic was being leeched by the... that abomination in your body." Harry's eyes widened at the revelation." So, I will be more than twice powerful than I was before." His mother nodded. Harry was already one of the more powerful students in his year. His spells were almost more potent than even Hermione's like his Lumos charm was the brightest in the class. His transfigurations lasted longer than other students among other things. To think that this was with more than 60% of his magic blocked was shocking.

"Oh! Don't be so shocked by this. You were doing accidental magic when you were barely 3 months old. Most children don't show magic till they are six or seven years old. You were three months old when you summoned your toy from across the room. If I hadn't seen it myself I would not have even believed it. James was jumping up and down in happiness. You are what people call a centennial wizard, a wizard who defines the century, a Titan among men. You, Dumbledore, Voldemort, Grindelwald are exponentially powerful than normal witches and wizards. You were destined for greatness Harry."

Harry stood there flabbergasted at the revelation. Him being equal to Dumbledore! Surely a joke! But he knew his mother was not joking. "Currently, you may not feel that you are as great as the other wizards. But if you train and apply yourself, I am sure you will surpass them all. Even now, you have accomplished feats no other witch or wizard has done. You took down a mountain troll at the age of eleven to save a person with whom you were barely acquainted, stopped Voldemort once again from acquiring the stone, and today you slew a basilisk with nothing but a sword."

"I had help." He mumbled but was ignored.

"Such things make me and your father proud beyond words, Harry." He straightened at hearing this. His parents were proud of him! The compliment made him fill up with a sense of elation he had never felt before.

"Where is dad?" he questioned, finally changing the topic of discussion. "Only one of us could come here to meet you. So I came instead of him. He sends his love." They fell into silence. Neither knowing what to say further. Both were overwhelmed by the emotions they were feeling.

"You will soon have to decide to either go back or move on." said Lily, finally breaking the silence.

"What happens if I go back?" He asked. " You pave your path ahead. You have a great destiny ahead of you if you go back. You will face hardships but you will become stronger. You have the potential to surpass them all if you go back." she replied.

"And if I move on?"

"You get to spend your time with us. No burdens, nothing. Or as Dumbledore says, you go to the next great adventure" She lightly shrugged." What will happen to the real world?" On this, Lily closed her eyes as if conversing with someone. then nodded and said three words sending chills down his spine " Voldemort will win." Harry gulped. "If I go back, will I ever see you again? Will I ever meet dad?"

"Of course you will see us again someday Harry." She gave a watery chuckle. "Everyone gets united in death after all."

Decision made, he smiled and nodded. " I will go back and make you proud, Mum." At this, Lily gave him a proud smile.

"Always remember, James and I will always watch over you and love you whatever happens." She took in a deep breath. "Apply yourself more in studies, stop holding back and hiding your damn potential for god's sake, find love, embrace all qualities of Hogwarts- The bravery of a Gryffindor, Cunning of a Slytherin, Hardworking nature of a puff and knowledge of a claw. Most importantly, enjoy and live your life to the fullest, Harry. Your dad adds for you to play pranks, set records for quidditch, and to have a harem." Harry laughed at the last one. "And that is our advice for you. Live up to your name Harry. Go make us proud."

"I will," Harry vowed. On cue, a bell-like chime sounded throughout the area.

"There is the warning bell. Once you go back, you must destroy Riddle's diary. Stab it with the fang or sword, Harry, as soon as possible. Lastly, you must not mention this conversation to anyone. This is our secret." She placed a kiss on Harry's forehead.

"One last question, Is this all real, or is it happening in my head?"

Lily grinned at him " Of course it is all happening inside your head Harry but why on earth should that mean it's not real?"

And everything dissolved in a flash of light.

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In this story Dumbledore will play a better role than cannon and train harry, but it will be in fifth year... Atleast I plan to... Let me know what you think of it.

I don't own Harry Potter, JKR does. But plot is mine!

For first few chapters, it may seem that I take a lot from canon. There are changes. Things are completely new from Ch.5

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OMAKE:

Harry: You say you will always watch on me, will that include times when I have sex?

Lily:...

Harry:...

Lily: James planned on it but I won't.

James appearing out of nowhere

James: You liar! That was you!

Chapter 3: Back to Earth

Ch.3 Back to Earth

Harry groggily opened his eyes. The first thing he noticed was a scarlet and gold plumage of Dumbledore's familiar and felt a hot liquid drop on his forehead. Phoenix tears, he realized. Their healing powers were unrivaled in the whole world and it was the only antidote to the venom that had just entered his body moment's ago, in real-world time that is.

"Get away, bird," said Riddle's voice suddenly. "Get away from him — I said, get away — " Harry raised his head. Riddle was pointing Harry's wand at Fawkes; there was a bang like a gun, and Fawkes took flight again in a whirl of gold and scarlet. "Phoenix tears…" said Riddle quietly, staring at Harry's arm. "Of course… healing powers… I forgot…" He looked into Harry's face. "But it makes no difference. I prefer it this way. Just you and me, Harry Potter. You and me…." He raised the wand.

Remembering his mother's words, he willed the black diary to come to him, desperately hoping it would work. The black diary came soaring to him from where it was on the floor. For a split second, Riddle, wand still raised, stared at it. That was all Harry needed. Then, as he had meant to do it all along, Harry seized the basilisk fang on the floor next to him and plunged it straight into the heart of the book.

There was a long, dreadful, piercing scream. Ink spurted out of the diary in torrents, streaming over Harry's hands, flooding the floor. Riddle was writhing and twisting, screaming and flailing and then — He had gone. Harry's wand fell to the floor with a clatter and there was silence. Silence except for the steady drip-drip of ink still oozing from the diary. The basilisk venom had burned a sizzling hole right through it.

Shaking all over, Harry pulled himself up. His head was spinning as though he'd just traveled miles by floo powder. Slowly, he gathered together his wand and the Sorting Hat, and, with a huge tug, retrieved the glittering sword from the roof of the basilisk's mouth. Not knowing what to do further, he put the sorting hat on his head again.

"Ah! Mr. Potter, you succeeded in killing the ancient basilisk of Salazar Slytherin. A truly marvelous feat if I say so myself. You showed bravery beyond what I have ever seen. But answer my one question, Mr. Potter. Why would Salazar leave a gigantic killer snake under the school, Mr. Potter, when he was the one who envisioned the idea of Hogwarts?" He heard the sorting hat speak in his mind.

The revelation that Slytherin was the one who had envisioned the founding of Hogwarts, but then again, the house of Slytherin valued ambition too with cunning. Harry knew that the sorting hat wouldn't have asked him this question if the answer was the normal historic lesson that proclaimed that Slytherin wanted to wipe off all muggleborns. Why found a school if he wanted to kill its students? But then again why would he leave a snake that could kill with a single glance? He racked his brains.

"Protection" he realized. "Salazar Slytherin left a basilisk as a guardian to protect the students from attacks from outside." They had studied in the history of magic about acts carried in ancient times by muggles, namely the burning of witches and wizards and other despicable acts. This was one of the main results due to which most purebloods did not like muggles. Harry's own experience with muggles was not good at all. Petunia and Vernon Dursley may not have ever physically abused him, most likely because of the fear of being caught by authorities if someone saw it. But they did encourage Dudley to beat him. They also never spent money on him. All his possessions at the Dursleys were hand-me-downs before his eleventh birthday when he had for the first time buying new things for himself with his parent's money. Also, he slept in the cupboard under the stairs till his Hogwarts letters arrived for Merlin's sake! Last year had not been any better after that damned letter from the ministry had arrived for something he had not done.

"Very good Mr. Potter. You have been deemed worthy of the gift of Hogwarts. A thing only two other have achieved before today. Put your left hand in me." Harry had never heard of such a thing. But did in never-the-less. He felt something on his finger. He pulled it out and saw that gleaming on his left finger was a bronze-gold colored ring with the Hogwarts crest. It was beautiful.

"This is no ordinary ring, Mr. Potter. Come back here afterward and explore. This chamber holds more than a single secret, several of which will surprise you. Also, you have summoned Godric's sword. Remember that it will come to you whenever you want. Also do not tell of this to anyone. Only you have been deemed worthy of this secret." Harry nodded. He now had to keep two secrets from everyone. 'But the ring would be visible.' he thought. As if the ring was reading his thoughts the ring became invisible.

Harry raised an eyebrow. This was new. Experimentally, he willed for the ring to appear. It did. "Wow," he breathed.

Then came a faint moan from the end of the Chamber. Ginny was stirring. Willing his new ring invisible, Harry hurried toward her, she sat up. Her bemused eyes traveled from the huge form of the dead basilisk, over Harry, in his blood-soaked robes, then to the diary in his hand. She drew a great, shuddering gasp and tears began to pour down her face. "Harry — oh, Harry — I tried to tell you at b-breakfast, but I c-couldn't say it in front of Percy — it was me, Harry — but I — I s-swear I d-didn't mean to — R-Riddle made me. he t-took me over — and — how did you kill that — that thing? W-where's Riddle? The last thing I r-remember is him coming out of the diary —"

"It's all right," said Harry, holding up the diary, and showing Ginny the fang hole, "Riddle's finished. Look! Him and the basilisk. C'mon, Ginny, let's get out of here —" "I'm going to be expelled!" Ginny wept as Harry helped her awkwardly to her feet.

"I've looked forward to coming to Hogwarts ever since B-Bill came and n-now I'll have to leave and — w-what'll Mum and Dad say?" Fawkes was waiting for them, hovering in the Chamber entrance. Harry urged Ginny forward; they stepped over the motionless coils of the dead basilisk, through the echoing gloom, and back into the tunnel. Harry heard the stone doors close behind them with a soft hiss.

After a few minutes' progress up the dark tunnel, a distant sound of slowly shifting rock reached Harry's ears. "Ron!" Harry yelled, speeding up. "Ginny's okay! I've got her!" He heard Ron give a strangled cheer, and they turned the next bend to see his eager face staring through the sizable gap he had managed to make in the rockfall. "Ginny!" Ron thrust an arm through the gap in the rock to pull her through first. "You're alive! I don't believe it! What happened? How — what — where did that bird come from?"

Fawkes had swooped through the gap after Ginny. "He's Dumbledore's," said Harry, squeezing through himself. "How come you've got a sword?" said Ron, gaping at the glittering weapon in Harry's hand. "I'll explain when we get out of here," said Harry with a sideways glance at Ginny, who was crying harder than ever.

The odd party was led by Fawkes to Professor McGonagall's a moment there was silence as Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Lockhart stood in the doorway, covered in muck and slime and (in Harry's case) blood. Then there was a scream. "Ginny!" It was Mrs. Weasley, who had been sitting crying in front of the fire.

She leaped to her feet, closely followed by Mr. Weasley, and both of them flung themselves on their daughter. Harry, however, was looking past them. Professor Dumbledore was standing by the mantelpiece, beaming, next to Professor McGonagall, who was taking great, steadying gasps, clutching her chest. Fawkes went whooshing past Harry's ear and settled on Dumbledore's shoulder, just as Harry found himself and Ron about to be swept into Mrs. Weasley's tight embrace, he shouted "WAIT! Don't Touch the robes. It has venom on it."

"You saved her! You saved her! How did you do it?" asked Mrs. Weasley after calming down a bit.

*"I think we'd all like to know that," said Professor McGonagall weakly. Harry, hesitated for a moment, then walked over to the desk and laid upon it the Sorting Hat, the ruby-encrusted sword, and what remained of Riddle's diary. Then he started telling them everything. For nearly a quarter of an hour, he spoke into the rapt silence: He told them about hearing the disembodied voice, how Hermione had finally realized that he was hearing a basilisk in the pipes; how he and Ron had followed the spiders into the forest, that Aragog had told them where the last victim of the basilisk had died; how he had guessed that Moaning Myrtle had been the victim and that the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets might be in her bathroom…

"Very well," Professor McGonagall prompted him as he paused, "so you found out where the entrance was — breaking a hundred school rules into pieces along the way, I might add — but how on earth did you all get out of there alive, Potter?" So Harry, his voice now growing hoarse from all this talking, told them about Fawkes's timely arrival and the Sorting Hat giving him the sword. But then he faltered. He had so far avoided mentioning Riddle's diary — or Ginny and him dying.

Ginny was standing with her head against Mrs. Weasley's shoulder, and tears were still coursing silently down her cheeks. What if they expelled her? Harry thought in panic. Riddle's diary didn't work anymore… How could they prove it had been he who'd made her do it all?

Instinctively, Harry looked at Dumbledore, who smiled faintly, the firelight glancing off his half-moon spectacles. "What interests me most," said Dumbledore gently, "is how Lord Voldemort managed to enchant Ginny when my sources tell me he is currently in hiding in the forests of Albania."

Relief — warm, sweeping, glorious relief – swept over Harry. "What's that?" said Mr. Weasley in a stunned voice. "You-Know-Who? En-enchant Ginny? But Ginny's not… Ginny hasn't been… has she?"

"It was this diary," said Harry quickly, picking it up and showing it to Dumbledore. "Riddle wrote it when he was sixteen…" Dumbledore took the diary from Harry and peered keenly down his long, crooked nose at its burnt and soggy pages. "Brilliant," he said softly. "Of course, he was probably the most brilliant student Hogwarts has ever seen." He turned around to the Weasleys, who were looking utterly bewildered.

"Very few people know that Lord Voldemort was once called Tom Riddle. I taught him myself, fifty years ago, at Hogwarts. He disappeared after leaving the school… traveled far and wide… sank so deeply into the Dark Arts, consorted with the very worst of our kind, underwent so many dangerous, magical transformations, that when he resurfaced as Lord Voldemort, he was barely recognizable. Hardly anyone connected Lord Voldemort with the clever, handsome boy who was once Head Boy here."

"But, Ginny," said Mrs. Weasley. "What's our Ginny got to do with — with — him?" "His d-diary" Ginny sobbed. "I've b-been writing in it, and he's been w-writing back all year —" "Ginny!" said Mr. Weasley, flabbergasted. "Haven't I taught you anything? What have I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain? Why didn't you show the diary to me or your mother? A suspicious object like that, it was full of Dark Magic!' "I d-didn't know," sobbed Ginny. "I found it inside one of the books Mum got me. I th-thought someone had just left it in there and forgotten about it —"

"Miss Weasley should go up to the hospital wing right away," Dumbledore interrupted in a firm voice. "This has been a terrible ordeal for her. There will be no punishment. Older and wiser wizards than she has been hoodwinked by Lord Voldemort." He strode over to the door and opened it. "Bed rest and perhaps a large, steaming mug of hot chocolate. I always find that cheers me up," he added, twinkling kindly down at her. "You will find that Madam Pomfrey is still awake. She's just giving out Mandrake juice — I daresay the basilisk's victims will be waking up any moment."

"So Hermione's okay!" said Ron brightly. "There has been no lasting harm done, Ginny. But I will recommend that she should visit a mind healer," said Dumbledore. Mrs. Weasley nodded led Ginny out, and Mr. Weasley followed, still looking deeply shaken. "You know, Minerva," Professor Dumbledore said thoughtfully to Professor McGonagall, "I think all this merits a good feast. Might I ask you to go and alert the kitchens?"

"Right," said Professor McGonagall crisply, also moving to the door. "I'll leave you to deal with Potter and Weasley, shall I?" "Certainly," said Dumbledore. She left, and Harry and Ron gazed uncertainly at Dumbledore. What exactly had Professor McGonagall meant, deal with them? Surely — surely — they weren't about to be punished?

"I seem to remember telling you both that I would have to expel you if you broke any more school rules," said Dumbledore. Ron opened his mouth in horror. "Which goes to show that the best of us must sometimes eat our words," Dumbledore went on, smiling. "You will both receive Special Awards for Services to the School and — let me see — yes, I think two hundred points apiece for Gryffindor."

Ron went as brightly pink as Lockhart's valentine flowers and closed his mouth again. "But one of us seems to be keeping mightily quiet about his part in this dangerous adventure," Dumbledore added. "Why so modest, Gilderoy?" Harry gave a start. He had completely forgotten about Lockhart. He turned and saw that Lockhart was standing in a corner of the room, still wearing his vague smile. When Dumbledore addressed him, Lockhart looked over his shoulder to see who he was talking to.

"Professor Dumbledore," Ron said quickly, "there was an accident down in the Chamber of Secrets. Professor Lockhart —" "Am I a professor?" said Lockhart in mild surprise. "Goodness. I expect I was hopeless, was I?" "He tried to do a Memory Charm and the wand backfired," Ron explained quietly to Dumbledore.

"Dear me," said Dumbledore, shaking his head, his long silver mustache quivering. "Impaled upon your sword, Gilderoy!" "Sword?" said Lockhart dimly. "Haven't got a sword. That boy has, though." He pointed at Harry. "He'll lend you one." "Would you mind taking Professor Lockhart up to the infirmary, too?" Dumbledore said to Ron. "I'd like a few more words with Harry.…" Lockhart ambled out. Ron cast a curious look back at Dumbledore and Harry as he closed the door. Dumbledore crossed to one of the chairs by the fire.

"Sit down, Harry," he said, and Harry sat, feeling unaccountably nervous. "First of all, Harry, I want to thank you," said Dumbledore, eyes twinkling again. "You must have shown me real loyalty down in the Chamber. Nothing but that could have called Fawkes to you."

He stroked the phoenix, which had fluttered down onto his knee. Harry grinned awkwardly as Dumbledore watched him. "And so you met Tom Riddle," said Dumbledore thoughtfully. "I imagine he was most interested in you…." Suddenly, something that was nagging at Harry came tumbling out of his mouth. *

"Professor, can you-err- tell me what was that diary? It seemed like Ginny was possessed by Tom Riddle. He also said that we were alike, him and I."

The headmaster took a deep breath, "Harry, to be truthful, I don't know what it is exactly. The thing seems like the worst possible use of magic. I am not sure, but I think it was some sort of soul magic. I would myself have to research it."

Harry raised his eyebrows, " Isn't that forbidden by the ministry?"

"Harry, Lord Voldemort embodied everything that Salazar Slytherin prized in his hand-picked students. His own, very rare gift, Parseltongue — resourcefulness — determination — ambition— and a certain disregard for rules much like yourself."

"So I should have been in Slytherin... like the sorting hat had said..."

"And I still stand by it, Mr. Potter." said the sorting hat interrupting them. " Slytherin would have helped you on your path to greatness. But I must confess, you are as much as a Gryffindor as you are Slytherin. I could not have given that sword to anyone less than the truest Gryffindor. You, Harry Potter, have potential I have only seen twice before in any other student who has graced these halls."

Dumbledore smiled at him, "As the sorting hat said, Harry, you may seem very similar to the student Tom riddle was once. But as I have heard, it is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

"Now, tell me what happened after Voldemort called the basilisk," Dumbledore added. And so Harry relayed the tale of defeating the snake, omitting the parts of meeting his mother and his conversation with the sorting hat.

"Truly marvelous. You say you got bit by the basilisk on your arm and scar?" Harry nodded. Dumbledore waved his wand over the parts and then smiled. " I can confirm that the venom is destroyed from your bloodstream courtesy of phoenix tears. Also, your scar is healing after all these years. I daresay it will hardly be visible after a few days. Whatever happened removed the magic of the killing curse. But now I would request you to go to the hospital wing, and stay under Poppy's care till the feast begins."

Harry nodded and left. He truly needed a nap after everything that had occurred today. But, he smiled, remembering the memory of meeting his mother. He vowed to make her proud. He would be the best damn wizard the world had seen. This year he would come first in the final exams. He had three weeks after all till they began.

Chapter 4: Ch.4 Dobby's Reward

Ch.4 Dobby's Reward

Harry was rejoined by Dumbledore before he reached the hospital wing. Truthfully Harry was walking slower than necessary because he had a bad body ache due to being slammed into the wall in the chamber. Also, he was internally dreading the confrontation to come. He was sure to get a dressing down because of his recklessness and the fact that he had managed to get himself injured. Again. That woman was scary. He was sure that even Dumbledore himself was scared of her. After all, she had forcibly removed the headmaster from the Hospital wing at the end of the previous year.

"Ah! Harry. Why are you still here? You left like fifteen minutes ago! Are you in pain?" He questioned worriedly.

"A bit. After all, I got a bit- err-smacked into a wall by the basilisk." Dumbledore nodded," Then you best hurry to Madam Pomfrey. She will have you fit within a few minutes."

Harry gave a tired nod and continued walking with Dumbledore.

"Professor, why are you going to the hospital wing?" enquired Harry curiously.

"I have to check on the mandrake-potion that is being brewed. Also, I will have to be present when it is being administered to the students' Harry." saying so, he pushed open the door and entered.

" Headmaster! The potion is almost... Mr. Potter, what have you gotten into yourself this time?" Pomfrey questioned.

"Got smacked into the wall by a giant snake. Have body pain. maybe a couple of broken bones." Harry replied.

"Go on your bed, Mr. Potter. I will check you out. Headmaster, I hope you know where to go" She started bustling around, waving her wand over his body, and rushed to get potions for him. "Take these potions, Mr. Potter. You should be light as rain before dinner today."

"Can I have a nap?" Pomfrey just nodded. "Of course. Rest will help you heal faster. I will wake you up before dinner time."

Suddenly the doors opened again, and in came Draco's father. Lucius Malfoy stood there, fury in his face. And cowering behind his legs, heavily wrapped in bandages, was Dobby.

"Good evening, Lucius," said Dumbledore pleasantly, appearing out of the adjoining door. Dobby was crouching at the hem of his cloak, a look of abject terror on his face. The elf was carrying a stained rag with which he was attempting to finish cleaning Mr. Malfoys shoes. Mr. Malfoy had set out in a great hurry, for not only were his shoes half-polished, but his usually sleek hair was disheveled. Ignoring the elf bobbing apologetically around his ankles, he fixed his cold eyes upon Dumbledore.

"So!" he said " You have come back. The governors suspended you, but you still saw fit to return to Hogwarts." "Well, you see, Lucius," said Dumbledore, smiling serenely, "the other eleven governors contacted me today. It was something like being caught in a hailstorm of owls, to tell the truth. They'd heard that Arthur Weasley's daughter had been killed and wanted me back here at once. They seemed to think I was the best man for the job after all. Very strange tales they told me, too. Several of them seemed to think that you had threatened to curse their families if they didn't agree to suspend me in the first place."

Mr. Malfoy went even paler than usual, but his eyes were still slits of fury. "So — have you stopped the attacks yet?" he sneered. "Have you caught the culprit?"

"We have," said Dumbledore, with a smile. "Well?" said Mr. Malfoy sharply. "Who is it?"

"The same person as last time, Lucius," said Dumbledore. "But this time, Lord Voldemort was acting through somebody else. Employing this diary." He held up the small black book with the large hole through the center, watching Mr. Malfoy closely. Harry, however, was watching Dobby. The elf was doing something very odd. His great eyes fixed meaningfully on Harry, he kept pointing at the diary, then at Mr. Malfoy, and then hitting himself hard on the head with his fist.

"I see…" said Mr. Malfoy slowly to Dumbledore. "A clever plan," said Dumbledore in a level voice, still staring Mr. Malfoy straight in the eye. "Because if Harry here —" Mr. Malfoy shot Harry a swift, sharp look "and his friend Ron hadn't discovered this book, why — Ginny Weasley might have taken all the blame. No one would ever have been able to prove she hadn't acted of her own free will…." Mr. Malfoy said nothing. His face was suddenly masklike. "And imagine," Dumbledore went on, "what might have happened then… The Weasleys are one of our most prominent pure-blood families. Imagine the effect on Arthur Weasley and his Muggle Protection Act, if his daughter was discovered attacking and — killing Muggleborns… Very fortunate the diary was discovered, and Riddle's memories wiped from it. Who knows what the consequences might have been otherwise…" Mr. Malfoy forced himself to speak. "Very fortunate," he said stiffly.

And still, behind his back, Dobby was pointing, first to the diary, then to Lucius Malfoy, then punching himself in the head. And Harry suddenly understood. He nodded at Dobby, and Dobby backed into a corner, now twisting his ears in punishment. "Don't you want to know how Ginny got hold of that diary, Mr. Malfoy?" asked Harry sweetly.

Lucius Malfoy rounded on him. "How should I know how the stupid little girl got hold of it?" he said. "Because you gave it to her," said Harry spoke all hints of sweetness gone. "In Flourish and Blotts. You picked up her old Transfiguration book and slipped the diary inside it, didn't you?" unknown to him, his eyes had started glowing and swirling like a storm brewing. Lucius became aware that he had pissed not one but two, extremely powerful wizards. Harry Potter's eyes were glowing an eerie green similar to the killing curse, while Albus Dumbledore had all grandfatherly persona absent. In his place was the man who had defeated Grindewald and the only person his master feared.

Harry saw Mr. Malfoy's white hands clench and unclench. "Prove it," he hissed. "Oh, no one will be able to do that," said Dumbledore, smiling at Harry. "Not now that Riddle has vanished from the book. On the other hand, I would advise you, Lucius, not to go giving out any more of Lord Voldemort's old school things. If any more of them find their way into innocent hands, I think Arthur Weasley, for one, will make sure they are traced back to you."

Lucius Malfoy stood for a moment, and Harry distinctly saw his right-hand twitch as though he was longing to reach for his wand. Instead, he turned to his house-elf. "We're going, Dobby!" He wrenched open the door as the elf came hurrying up to him. He kicked him right through it. They could hear Dobby squealing with pain along the corridor. Harry stood for a moment, thinking hard. Then it came to him — "Professor Dumbledore," he said hurriedly. "Can I give that diary back to Mr. Malfoy, please?"

"Certainly, Harry," said Dumbledore calmly. "But hurry. The feast, remember…" Harry grabbed the diary and dashed out of the office. He could hear Dobby's squeals of pain receding around the corner. Quickly, wondering if this plan could work, Harry took off one of his shoes, pulled off his slimy, filthy sock, and stuffed the diary into it. Then he ran down the dark corridor. He caught up with them at the top of the stairs.

"Mr. Malfoy," he gasped, skidding to a halt, "I've got something for you —" And he forced the smelly sock into Lucius Malfoy's hand. "What the —?" Mr. Malfoy ripped the sock off the diary, threw it aside, then looked furiously from the ruined book to Harry. "You'll meet the same sticky end as your parents one of these days, Harry Potter," he said softly. "They were meddlesome fools, too." Harry's eyes narrowed in anger. Lucius turned to go.

"Come, Dobby. I said, come." But Dobby didn't move. He was holding up Harry's disgusting, slimy sock, and looking at it as though it were a priceless treasure. "Master has given a sock," said the elf in wonderment. "Master gave it to Dobby." "What's that?" spat Mr. Malfoy. "What did you say?" "Got a sock," said Dobby in disbelief. "Master threw it, and Dobby caught it, and Dobby — Dobby is free." Lucius Malfoy stood frozen, staring at the elf then he lunged at Harry. "You've lost me my servant, boy!" But Dobby shouted, "You shall not harm Harry Potter!"

There was a loud bang, and Mr. Malfoy was thrown backward. He crashed down the stairs, three at a time, landing in a crumpled heap on the landing below. Before he could get up, Harry whipped his wand out and intoned "Petrificus Totalus" Lucius felt himself stiffen due to the body bind.

Harry frowned at his wand. It did not feel as it did before. It was resisting. But that was a matter for afterward. "Dobby, can you kindly levitate him to an empty classroom," Harry asked. "Of course, great master Harry Potter sir!" Dobby looked like Christmas had come early.

They reached a classroom. Lucius was laid on the floor. "Dobby, take away all his wands and other items he has." Dobby snapped his fingers and two wands, a money bag, and a comb appeared on a desk nearby. Harry nodded and locked the room with a colloportus before removing the body bind from Lucius's head.

"POTTER!" spat Malfoy before he was punched in the jaw by Harry. "Shut up Moron." and turned to Dobby. "Can you soundproof the room? We don't need his screams to be heard, now, do we." Lucius was terrified. He was alone without any aid or his wands, being confronted by his former house-elf and the defeater of his master.

"Now, do you know why we are here? I will tell you, Lucy. We are here because due to your actions, I nearly died today. Do you know? What Salazar Slytherin's supposed monster even was?" Harry questioned in a sickly sweet tone, but his eyes were a different story, they were swirling and glowing with power. Invisible wind was ripping through his hair, even though he didn't realize it.

Lucius gulped due to the fear he felt. Harry Potter was reminding him eerily of the dark lord. "I am sure you will enlighten me." He drawled, knowing he should not show his fear, just not to give the child, his own son's age, the satisfaction of being afraid. "AAHHHH!" He screamed girlishly in pain because harry had stomped his groin. Tears stung his eyes due to the pain he was feeling.

"That was for being a smart-ass. Now, as for the monster, it was a Basilisk. A-fucking-sixty-meters-long-Basilisk, with a killer gaze and the most potent venom in the world. Now imagine what would have happened if one day the heir of Slytherin was leading the basilisk in hopes of killing a muggleborn. Now dear ol' Draco happened to be in the area and met the basilisk's gaze! wouldn't it be devastatingly hilarious that your son died due to the plot set by his father?" Harry questioned. At this, Lucius somehow managed to turn even paler. Blood had completely drained from his face. For all his faults, Lucius still loved his son beyond anything.

"Do you know what it did to me Lucy, IT FUCKING BIT ME!" Harry thundered.

"Impossible! You would be dead!" at this, Harry just showed him the spot on which the basilisk had bitten him and removed the fang from his pocket, smirking. "Do you need any other proof?" Lucius was pale. If A killing curse and Basilisk venom could not kill the boy, what could?

"And for this, reparations must be made. You need to do two things for me. First and foremost, you will swear an unbreakable vow, to never harm me or my friend in any way or form." Harry had read about them thanks to Hermione when they were searching for methods to prove that he hadn't opened the chamber or was the heir of Slytherin before Hermione was petrified.

"Secondly, you will make monetary reparation of 1 million Galleons to me," Harry stated. Why? Because the Malfoys always flaunted around their wealth. Attacking their source of pride was the best route. Plus, if he got more money, he could live much more comfortably after Hogwarts. Also, the Malfoy's net worth was Seven and a half million galleons as of last month, according to the teen witch weekly. Draco had bragged about it a lot after all. Also, it would reduce the monetary funds Voldemort and his supporters had.

"NEVER!" spat Malfoy.

"Serpentosortia" harry summoned a snake, a black mamba to be precise, and hissed at it. Lucius felt chills run down his spine hearing the snake language again after more than a decade. The serpent wrapped around his left arm and bared its fangs.

"Now, are you giving me my vow and two million galleons or.. should I..." Harry gestured to the snake. "But you asked only for one million!" Lucius hissed. "Did I? No, I am certain it was three million." Harry said, smirking.

Lucius knew he had lost. He was dubious that Potter would kill him. But he knew that if he was killed, Dumbledore would justify it to the world. "I agree." He said, glaring at the boy.

"Jolly good. Dobby, get a Gringotts's form here, and will you act as a binder for the vow?"

"Yes, great Harry Potter, sir." Dobby followed through the instructions perfectly.

"Do You, Lucius Malfoy, swear on your life that you shall never harm Harry James Potter and those who he considers as friends in any way or form"

"I do."

"Do You, Lucius Malfoy, swear on your life that you shall never mention what happened today to anyone and uphold the secrets of Harry James Potter"

"I do," Lucius said through gritted teeth

"So mote be it."

"So mote be it."

"So mote be it."

"Wasn't that awesome!" Harry exclaimed. "Yes... lovely." drawled Lucius

"Now, money! Fill this out, and you shall be free to go! And when I free that arm, no funny business." Harry smiled. Drawing his wand, Harry transfigured the comb to a quill and told Dobby to fetch ink. Lucius filled the form out, occasionally glaring at the boy responsible for his current predicament. "Here! Three million Galleons! Now free me and take the serpent off."

Harry ignored him. "Dobby, take this form to Gringotts and ask the goblins to distribute 1 million out of the total amongst those who were petrified, Ginny Weasley, Ron Weasley, and Rubeus Hagrid." Dobby popped away.

"Now, you do realize that if you don't do something I ask for, it might harm me due to inaction?" He asked smirking at the once again paling form of Malfoy.

"Vipera evansco" "Finitus"

He collected all the items he had taken from Lucius. And walked towards the door. "Oh and Lucy, tell your son not to bother me and my friends next year." He smirked and unlocked the door. Turning back the last time, he flipped Lucius the bird and walked out. This had cost him his nap, but two million Galleons in his account, along with the vow and the compensation to the ones who had suffered was worth it.

Furthermore, he had unleashed his Slytherin side, Cut the Malfoy fortune by nearly half, and had trapped arguably the most slippery person in Britain. Now he had a feast to attend to, then have a well-deserved sleep before looking into the matter in the chamber and the issue of his wand. Also, he had to top this year's finals as the first step to greatness as he had promised his mother.

---

Omake:

Before leaving the room harry called Dobby.

Dobby: Yes Great Harry Potter sir. Dobby has told Goblins as you asked me to.

Harry: Good Dobby. Now if you wish to have revenge on Lucius, you may. Just don't kill him.

Dobby looked to and fro between Harry and Lucius before grinning evilly and snapping his fingers.

Lucius: AHHHHHH!

Harry: What did you do?

Dobby: Dobby shoved former master's wand in his behind and stuck it there permanently.

A minute later if someone had looked into the room they would see a maniacally grinning house elf, Lucius Malfoy sobbing and Harry Potter rolling on the floor in laughter.

 

 

Chapter 5: Musings of the Headmaster

Ch.5 Musings of the Headmaster

Albus Dumbledore sat in his office contemplating the events that had occurred in the past few of hours. A few weeks prior, he had been dismissed from the position of the headmaster citing that he was incapable of handling the crisis of the chamber of secrets, courtesy of Lucius Malfoy who had most likely bribed and threatened the board of governors. His long time friend Rubeus Hagrid, the gentle half-giant had been sent to Azkaban for suspicion of opening the chamber of secrets, as he was the one blamed last time, because of one Tom Riddle, Lucius's master a.k.a Lord Voldemort.

He had accepted it quietly knowing that it won't stand for very long. He was still worried about the safety of his students but there was little he could do, as the scroll had the signatures of all twelve board of governors. He housed with his brother in Hogsmeade, even though their relationship wasn't the best, just so he could be near the school if something happened.

Five and a half hours ago a frantic Minerva had floo called him, stating that Ginny Weasley had been taken into the Chamber and Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Lockhart had followed her. He had a very little confidence in Lockhart's ability to do magic. The only reason he had been chosen was that little fact that he was the only applicant for the job. The infamous curse on the DADA position deterred most from applying, add to the fact that the previous teacher had died under mysterious circumstances, as the fact that Quirrell was possessed by Lord Voldemort was kept under tight wraps. In fact only Harry and himself knew the exact details of what had transpired in the mirror room. He had asked the boy to keep the fact quite that Voldemort was alive as he feared that his followers would start trying to bring him back if they knew that he was still alive, while most of the normal public would panic or stick their heads in the sand. Nothing positive would have actually came out of it.

The official story was that Quirrell was a budding dark lord who wanted the philosopher's stone that he was protecting for his mentor, Nicholas after the attack on their manor in late June and Quirrell had tricked Harry into coming to him to finish both tasks of killing harry potter and acquiring the stone in one shot, But had failed as harry had miraculously held him off till he himself had arrived and dueled with Quirrell. Quirrell was then killed when his own obliterating curse had rebounded off Dumbledore's shield.

Anyways, as soon as he heard the news he had directly apparated to the staff room, a privilege of being the headmaster, suspended or not. He had immediately ordered the teachers to conduct a search throughout the castle for the missing students.

In the meantime, he had floo called the Weasley parents along with Minerva. When they had arrived he had patiently told them the situation they were in. When Molly had heard of her daughter being taken into the Chamber and that her youngest son had gone to rescue her she had started to cry while Arthur just stood there, slumped in shock.

A few minutes a knock had sounded on the door, and he had to draw in a sharp breath in when Harry Potter pushed the door open, his robes bloodied, a sword in one hand and a book with some sort of a fang in the other. Add to the fact that his own familiar flying above the boy, made him gape internally in astonishment. If not for his highly advanced occlumency it would have shown on his face. Minerva's was equally shocked if the expression on her face was anything to go by.

When Harry had informed him that the monster in the chamber was a basilisk he had nearly fainted. Yes, the thought of the monster being a basilisk had crossed his mind 50 years ago when myrtle Warren was murdered. There was no proof that time that the chamber had been opened except the fact that there was a message of the heir of Slytherin striking the impure on the bathroom mirror. For all he knew, Tom Riddle could have struck her with a killing curse. The killing curse after all left no evidence of how a person was killed. It could be an heart attack for all they knew!

Even for the case of Tom Riddle he had no proof, just a very large suspicion and a gut feeling. That time he had no political clout so that he could put him under an interrogation without concrete proof. He was after all only a school teacher till 1945, when he had ended the reign of Grindelwald by capturing him in an extremely destructive duel that had levelled the small town where the confrontation happened.

This time when the victims were not killed but instead petrified, the basilisk had not even been in the list of monsters for him. Never in his dreams had he thought of the fact that seeing a basilisk through a reflection would petrify instead of kill. Truly, the minds of children were an wonderful thing. Whist he had speculated that Salazar Slytherin had created a completely new species, the children had successfully deducted that the creature was a basilisk with just seeing the crime scene and a little research. Miss Granger would have a bright career if she joined the DMLE investigation force, he mussed.

The diary was a curious thing. As per what harry had said, it sounded like possession by the means of an object, something that was heard before but it was more like mind control or an imperious. Never had a specter of a person had started taking a corporal form by using the hosts life. This was most likely some soul magic long forgotten. He would have to review the books he had taken away from the restricted section years ago knowing that the magic in them was too dangerous in the hands of students.

Harry had caught his eye, bemused, most likely thinking that young Ginevra was going to be expelled. He handled the situation from there.

He took secret enjoyment when he had made Harry and Ronald sweat over their rule breaking. Also what had happened to the braggart was something amusing as he had been impaled upon his own sword.

After he had sent the youngest male Weasley away, he turned to talk to Harry. He needed to know the whole story after all. The child had only told them about young Ginevra was possesed by Voldemort by the means of a diary that had led to the whole fiasco of the basilisk being set on loose again. But had not narrated the story after the basilisk was called. But he was interrupted by Harry asking him questions about the diary and Voldemort. He had answered him the best best he could, as he himself had speculations nothing more. He would take his time to research how was tom riddle, in his 16 year old body, no less, was here. Since end of the last academic year he was searching how Voldemort had survived. He knew that Tom had dabbled in obscure Magical arts which most would tell were extremely dark. Not him. He knew there was no dark and light magic. A person could kill using a first year levitation charm or a diffindo to the neck as they could with a killing curse. The imperious curse, an unforgivable had been used by him several times in both wars to save countless lives and to make enemy surrender peacefully. Heck, the cruciatus was invented as a medical spell to restart a person's heart before unsavory individuals started using it as a means to torture.

When the hat had said "And I still stand by it Mr. Potter." said the sorting hat interrupting them. " Slytherin would have helped you on your path to greatness. But I must confess … You are as much as a Gryffindor as you are Slytherin. I could not have given that sword to anyone less than the truest Gryffindor. You Harry Potter have potential I have only seen twice before in any other student who has graced these halls." He had just smiled at harry but was internally remembering the lines of the prophecy, stating that harry would be the dark lord's equal.

When Harry had described the battle, he was both flabbergasted and proud of the boy. He had survived being bit by a basilisk! A creature which had the most potent venom in the world. Add to the fact that a phoenix, his familiar had actually healed the boy with his tears, something Fawkes had never done for any person bar him, even when he himself had requested. A phoenix would only bond or heal only the people with a person whose intentions were pure. Magic may not be light or dark, but people were.

He had ran diagnostics on the boy to confirm that the venom in his scar and arm had been completely neutralized. To his immense shock, the curse scar, the famous lightning bolt on Harry's forehead was healing. There had always been tom's magical signature in the scar, but now it had almost faded into nothing. He was sure after a few days, the scar won't be there. Several times, curse scars came handy. A scar that had been left by Gellert's spell had saved his life before the final duel as Grindelwald had originally planned to attack him from behind while invisible like a coward. But the cursed scar on his arm had tingled, alerting him to the fact that Gellert was there, saving his life.

He sent the boy to The Hospital wing to get checked by poppy. That was when he first noticed the change in the boy's demeanor. He carried himself with more grace and confidence. He was less shy than before.

He had sent an owl to Azkaban to free Rubeus before going to the hospital wing himself to check the mandrake potion to cure petrified students. He had again met Harry outside the hospital wing. The boy was in pain but he knew That for Poppy it was an easy task to fix him up within moments. A few minutes later, a furious Lucius Malfoy had stormed in the Hospital wing. It was a shame that Madam Pomfrey had just left or else he was sure that Lucius would have been thrown physically out of the hospital wing and would have got an dressing down.

He had confronted Lucius, suspecting his hand in the matter already. But then harry had sweetly asked him if he had an idea where Ginny got the diary. When Lucius rounded on the boy denying the allegation, Harry had lost all pretense of sweetness and spoke to him coldly. But what likely got the point across was the fact that Harry's eyes were Glowing an eerie avada kedavra green, swirling with power and magic was rolling off him in waves. A flash of fear was seen on Lucius's face but was expertly masked. Dumbledore enhanced his senses to feel the magic at an innate level, a technique taught to him by Perenell Flamel. It was of immense use for sensing and dismantling wards and also to get a taste of how powerful a person was.

Dumbledore knew that Harry was perhaps the most powerful second year, but this was something off charts for a twelve year old. The level of magic he was feeling was the level of an advanced seventh year or a trainee auror. Tom Riddle's magic was this powerful at the end of his third year, he knew for a fact. He had checked it after all. But he also knew that Tom had undergone several rituals to increase the power he had making him Lord Voldemort.

Lucius had practically ran out of the Hospital wing with the poor elf. That was when harry made the odd request of giving the diary back to Lucius. He had compiled and the child had ran after Lucius. Dumbledore followed a moment later after applying a perfect disillusionment charm and a silencing charm. He had to protect the boy if Lucius decided to attack him.

He watched with amusement as harry tricked Lucius into freeing the elf. He felt pride at the child's actions in saving an innocent person. When Lucius had went for his wand, he was ready to protect Harry or even kill Lucius if the situation demanded. He wouldn't let a child be harmed under his watch especially if he had a say about it. But it proved unnecessary because the elf had blasted Lucius across the corridor. This was sure to go in his pensive so he could have a hearty laugh afterwards. He was curious when harry placed Lucius in a full body bind and took him to a classroom. So he followed, still invisible.

Even though he was on guard to stop harry if necessary in case he did something outwardly. But it was not needed. He watched as Harry tore Lucius a new one and then punched him on the jaw and stomped his groin. He felt no sympathy for Lucius. A person who wished to harm and kill children deserved no mercy in his eyes. A part of him even wished that Harry had injured the Malfoy patriarch more.

When Harry summoned a black mamba and hissed at it, he was on guard again, just so that Harry didn't kill him, if for nothing more than loosing his innocence.

When Harry made Lucius accept the vow and made him loose half of his fortune he had to stop himself from dancing in joy. Harry had effectively neutered Malfoy in a single move. He had also cut a large part of Voldemort's funding whenever he returned in the future. It was a move worthy of Salazar himself. He was further impressed by the boy when he asked one million Galleons to be distributed amongst victims of the Basilisk.

When Harry left, flipping Lucius the bird he had to stop himself from laughing uproariously there and there itself. He apparated to his office and did a small victory jig at the fact that Lucius Malfoy had paid for his crimes... A part of them atleast.

He also had wanted to cancel the school exams for all except OWLs and NEWT students, but Minerva had put her foot down saying exams were important before the feast started. At the feast, all the petrified students along with nearly-headless Nick had joined in after a few minutes. He saw Harry, now in fresh robes, free of blood and grime greet his friend enthusiastically. Hagrid had joined mid-way coming back from Azkaban, his name cleared after half a century for a crime he didn't commit.

He sighted. It had been a long day. The grand father clock on his wall chirped, with a miniature Fawkes coming out of it, a gift from Filius Fitwick on his hundredth birthday eight years ago, showing that it was midnight. He decided to retire for the night.

Chapter 6: The Secrets of the Chamber

Ch. 6 The Secrets of the Chamber

Harry collapsed on his bed after coming from the feast. The feast was very good, not because of the food or anything but because he got his friend back. After the feast had started, the students who had been petrified along with the Gryffindor house ghost had entered the hall. It had been an heart touching reunion as friends met again after several weeks. Hermione had given him a rib crushing hug, and shook Ron's hand, much to Harry's amusement. She had then proceeded to pester them relentlessly for information. Harry gave her a summary of what had happened in the chamber, leaving parts about his mother and the hat.

Ron informed him that Ginny had been taken home and would return on the following Monday before classes, 'that was five days from now' Harry ideally thought. Hagrid had come mid-way through the feast amid cheers. Dumbledore had informed the students that a student had been controlled by an artifact of unknown origin which led to the opening of the chamber. Ginny Weasley had been kidnapped by the person and informed them that Harry and Ron had managed to destroy the artifact, freeing the person from its control and saving Ginny. This had effectively vanished all doubts that harry was the heir, for those who still had thought he was the one after Hermione had been petrified.

Professor McGonagall also informed the students that those who were petrified were offered a crash course starting next week to make up for the missed weeks. Which in Harry's opinion was actually a very good decision.

He had not even bothered to change his clothes after coming back. He was bone tired today. After the confrontation with Mr. Malfoy, which still brought a smirk to his face, was over he went back to his dorm to shower and change. He was on the receiving end of several odd looks from the people in the common room but had ignored them.

'Tomorrow I will go and explore the chamber.' Harry thought before drifting off to slumber-land.

---

He woke up after 9 the next morning. This was the most he had slept in ever. At the Dursley's he had to wake up at five thirty in the morning to make breakfast since he was six years old. Vernon had to leave for his office at seven and thus had breakfast at six thirty. Even at Hogwarts he had maintained this habit. from five thirty to seven thirty, the time when most of his dormmates woke, he used the time to do homework or study in secret. He could have easily come in the top five last year easily but had held himself back and came on the 24th position in the year out of 57 people. Why? Because the Dursley's didn't like the fact he did better than their precious Dudley. So he had always dumbed himself down. When in the first test he had taken in muggle school and came first foolishly hoping that Dursleys would start to approve him, Petunia had yelled at him for cheating as there was no way a freak like him could do better that Dudley. He was put into his cupboard without food for the rest of the day. Since then he forced himself not to do better than his cousin. At Hogwarts, he didn't want Ron to get jealous of him, as he was his first friend. 'No more' he told himself. He would only be number one, no less.

It helped that Hermione had gone on a heavy revision schedule as she had missed three weeks of schooling. "We only have three weeks to prepare, I don't want to fail!" she told them. Harry snorted at it. He was sure that even if Hermione had given the exams there and then, she would have passed. They were given the day off and Hermione had dragged him and Ron to the library after breakfast much to Ron's horror. Ron had slipped away after an hour and half stating that he had enough for the day and asked Harry to join him. Harry had declined citing that he wanted to study and revise with Hermione, Earning him a betrayed look from Ron and a beaming smile from Hermione.

Hermione and Harry had continued studying for another three hours, before Harry had forcibly dragged Hermione for lunch. They had already completed revision for charms and Astronomy. After lunch Hermione had made Harry return to the library. She tried to get Ron but the coward had ran away. 'Some Gryffindor he is' Harry thought sarcastically.

After two and a half hours of more studying, he said, "Hermione, I am going for a short walk. You coming? " She shook her head and said "Be back soon. Don't run away like Ron."

"I won't. Keep an eye on my books." He told her and walked out. He had his invisibility cloak with him and planned to visit the chamber of secrets.

---

"$Open$" Harry hissed at the sinks in the second floor girls bathroom. Currently Moaning Myrtle wasn't in the bathroom, most likely loitering in some sinks or pipes. The sink slid open. Harry prepared to jump in but paused. He couldn't imagine Salazar Slytherin jumping into a pipe and sliding down it. "$Steps$"

A spiraling staircase grew out magically from it. It certainly was impressive magic as he could see the width of the pipe expand, but the size of the main hole remained the same. Lumos. He descended down the steps holding his wand tip alight.

He passed the cave in where Flophart's (as Harry and Ron had started calling him) spell had stuck and then entered the main chamber.

The Chamber was still the same as yesterday. But now he noticed snake motifs around the pillars, the torches that burned permanently along the walls and the cold beauty of the chamber. But the main thing he noticed was a gigantic snake that he had killed not even 24 hours. Around Sixty meters in length, as thick as an oak tree with poisonous green scales and Fangs as long as his forearm he had to admit that it was a majestic creature now that it wasn't trying to kill him. On the floor near the Basilisk mouth had dried blood and ink.

Scourgify. He spelled it clean and walked ahead, to the place from where the Snake had come out.

"$Speak to me Salazar Slytherin greatest of the Hogwarts four.$" He spoke the words Riddle had spoken to call the Basilisk.

The mouth of the statue opened and Harry climbed up in it. There was nothing much except a door to his right a bit further down the corridor. Also the corridor continued further down. Harry first decided to go ahead instead of opening the door. The corridor ended in a steep drop after a hundred meters. Down there he could see Snake skins and bones of animals. 'The Basilisk nest.' He realized. Coming to the conclusion that there was nothing here, He went back towards the door he had seen.

"$Open$" Nothing happened.

"$Open in the name of Slytherin$" Still nothing

"Alohomora" The door opened. He raise an eyebrow at the door. A normal unlocking charm? Seriously! 'But then again nobody except Salazar Slytherin would have been able to come here.' He thought. He entered.

It was a plain study which was surprisingly clean. There was an polished ebony desk, a bookshelf with few books(no more than 50-60), a couple of armchairs, a fireplace, and a single bed in the corner of the room. On one wall there was a painting. The painting had several people. There were even two children. 'Perhaps the founders and their families.' He thought. This was priceless. There existed no painting of the founders and no one knew how they even looked. The paintings in books and all were based on speculation and tales by the ghosts in Hogwarts. This was perhaps the only actual painting with the founders and their families.

On the wall directly in front of the door was the Hogwarts crest. Suddenly he felt the ring on his finger heat up. He felt an urge to press the ring to the crest. 'It is the ring. This is the fabled secret the sorting hat spoke about.' Harry came to the conclusion. He felt the sense of excitement grip him. He was perhaps going to become the only person alive to uncover the actual secret of the fabled chamber! He pressed the ring on the crest. What would he find? A big treasure? Long lost magical knowledge? An artifact perhaps?

The wall rumbled and harry stepped back. The wall slid open to reveal another study, this one was much larger with Several hundreds of books and several doors. But the thing that surprised him the most were the two portraits hanging on the wall. They contained two people. A man and a women. The woman was beautiful, with an hour-glass figure, Blonde hair and black eyes.

The man on the other hand was athletic, his black hair ties in a ponytail with a few streaks of grey. His eyes were an familiar shade of avada kedavra green. His mother's... and thus his. Harry realized.

"Greetings. Welcome to my humble abode. My name is Salazar Slytherin. The beautiful woman on my left is Helga Hufflepuff. It is an honor to meet you Harry Potter."

Notes:

Just to address the concern of a few readers:

I have been told that I took too much from the original book in ch.1, ch.3 and Ch.4. Yes, I did it, but I wanted a more solid base to the story. I have read a few stories in which the story diverges from the canon completely from the first chapter itself without any preamble. I felt like I should go with the flow a bit before diverging completely. Now from ch.5 there will hardly be an excerpt straight from the canon.

But I can't change a few things like the wand weighting ceremony for the other three champions and the selection of the champions.

Some scenes I will still take from canon or movie which are my favorite. Like Luna telling harry 'you're just as sane as I am' and giving him words of wisdom telling him that Voldemort wants him alone and broken. Or my favorite plot twist in the entire series "have a biscuit potter''. (If you know what I am talking about.)

I will also take a few ideas/ concepts from other authors who have inspired me, but of course the material won't be the same. Like the idea of Harry and Lucius's confrontation is an idea from Just Bored 21's Silver King Ch. 35. But the actual confrontation is a lot different in our fics if you go and read it. I will also give due credit for the idea.

I will also take spell ideas from other authors LIKE the pappilonis( butterfly creating) Spell from A Cadmean Victory by Darkness enthroned.

I give credit to those whom I have taken the idea from at the end of the chapter.

BUT THE PLOT AS A WHOLE WILL REMAIN MINE SO WILL THE ACTUAL CONTENT!

Thank you. Stay Happy! Stay safe! Keep smiling! Keep reading!

Chapter 7: Meeting the Original Snake and Badger

Ch.7 Meeting the Original Snake and Badger

Harry stood there gaping like a fish out of water. Was it due to the fact he and Salazar Slytherin of all people had the same eyes, indicating the same lineage or the fact that he was in front of the live portraits of two founders of Hogwarts or just the fact that they knew his name, he didn't know.

Admittedly he was very famous in the wizarding world but he could not fathom how two portraits, of the Hogwarts founders no less, who had been in a closed off chamber knew of him.

" Are you going to stand there gaping like a moron? It's quiet rude you know" Slytherin spoke after a moment or two.

"Oh Sal, cut the boy some slack. The poor dear is probably shocked seeing us. Afterall we are the founders of his school." Helga Hufflepuff spoke for the first time.

"Err... Yes my name is Harry Potter. But you already knew that." He added sheepishly. "But how do you know my name? You are two are portraits in a chamber unknown to all except me." Harry continued.

He had to control his emotions of shock at his situation. He was talking to two founders of Hogwarts! Two who were on the opposite side of the spectrum according to history. Salazar was a bigot of the highest order and a dark wizard while Helga Hufflepuff was a kind lady who had accepted everyone with open arms. He had no confidence in the subject of history that had been recorded. as far as he knew, what was written in them had a high chance of being wrong and sometimes it was downright speculation presented as history in the wizarding world. His own history was all speculation since the night of Halloween in 1981. Books said that Harry as a baby had done obscure accidental magic to rebound the killing curse. His childhood according to many books was spent in a castle. Some said he had been sent away to train with the best of wizards. Everything but the truth.

He was hailed a hero in his first year and a villain and the heir of Slytherin this year. Currently he had just chalked up his and Slytherin's eyes being same as a mere coincidence. After all, many people had the same eye colour, didn't they. And this similarity between them was barely noticeable.

"OH! I can definitely see the family resemblance between you and him, Sal. You both have the same manner of speaking. Even your eyes are the same"

Or maybe not.

Harry shook his head, " I can't be related to him. My father had no Slytherin blood in him, I checked and my mother is a muggleborn"

"Child you speak parseltounge, an ability I tied to my bloodline. You and I have the same eyes if you look look closely. You are my descendant. You say your mother was a muggleborn right? She must have been a squib descendant of mine. Most muggleborns are descendants from a squib, child." Salazar said.

" Don't you dislike all muggleborns? " Harry asked hesitantly.

Salazar scowled, " Someday I am going to kill the idiot who started this ridiculous rumor. I never disliked muggleborns! I disliked muggles! Those were vile disgusting creatures. I wanted to provide a safe haven to muggleborns here at Hogwarts by taking them away from their parents as soon as they showed signs of magic! I never wanted to kill muggleborns! Just wait till I get my hands on the one who started this ridiculousness ruining my image and legacy. I will rip him from limb to limb with my bare hands!"

"You are a portrait. You can't even touch anyone, let alone rip someone apart from limb to limb." Harry sassed. The moment Salazar had scowled, Harry was prepared for the views he held about the founders to be ripped apart.

" Then I will find a way. I am Salazar Slytherin after all."

"Shush now Salazar. Harry here is right. Calm yourself!" Helga chided.

"You still have not answered my question. How do you know my name?" Harry questioned curiously.

" We created our portraits in such a way that we are connected to each and every portrait in Hogwarts. We know all they ever hear or see. Several portraits are even connected to their other portraits outside the castle. We know most things that go around the world. We also make house elves get us books and newspapers from the library when no one is looking. We know much more about the world than most people who are alive, as we have eyes everywhere and ears everywhere else, all around the globe." Helga explained.

" Yes, portraits and house-elves make excellent spies." Salazar added.

Harry felt his eyes widen. This way, both of them knew essentially everything. There were thousands of portraits in Hogwarts and it had the largest number of house elves in whole Europe. What kind of information and secrets they would know, Harry could only fathom.

"Yes, I see you understood what I am talking about." Salazar grinned at him.

"We also know all about your adventures! Taking down a troll, stopping that dark lord claiming to be Salazar's descendant and killing Salazar's basilisk." Helga said.

Harry suddenly remembered that he had killed Salazar's basilisk just yesterday.

"Err... Sir I apologize for killing your basilisk. I tried to negotiate but it didn't listen. So I had to kill her." Harry said wringing his hands.

"And I am glad that you did. Basilisk are not meant to live for so long. Bessie was more than 1700 years old. Basilisk don't live beyond 900. And usually grow only thirty meters in length. Bessie grew 60 meters long! I am pretty sure that her mind had long snapped due to loneliness and isolation. Further Tom Riddle" he spat the name, "used several mind controlling compulsions and the imperious on her to further his own means! Her broken mind couldn't handle it, and she became a puppet. The queen of serpents became a mindless slave. I thank you for putting my Familiar out of her misery Harry." He finished.

"Oh! In that case you are welcome. Now can you kindly explain what is this ring the sorting hat gave me? What is the gift of Hogwarts?"

Helga nodded and looked at Salazar. He nodded in ascent. Helga began," Sit down, we have a story to tell you if you wish to understand the answer to your question completely." Harry Compiled. "In 38BCE Hogwarts was founded by me, Salazar, Rowena and Godric. It had taken a total of 14 years to both erect this castle and fortify it before we could start teaching. Salazar had the idea of a safe haven for all magical children where they could stay safe and learn magic in 56BCE. He was regarded as an excellent orator, a potioneer and a master of obscure magical arts like mind magic, rituals etc. He consulted Rowena Ravenclaw who was regarded as an excellent scholar and enchantress during the time and lived only a few villages away from Salazar."

"We travelled far and wide offering knowledge and aid in exchange for gold. We also learnt a lot during our travel and from each other. We needed gold to buy the materials, workers and the land. After a year and half of traveling, we were residing in a village, the modern-day Wales. That was when a man named Godric Gryffindor approached us. He was a battle mage, and excellent at the art of transfiguration. He was a descendant of a Noble house and thus had a lot of gold. He had heard of our goals and wished to fund the school and teach young minds. He became our biggest benefactor for founding Hogwarts. But at that time even all the gold his family had combined with what we had earned on our travel was not enough to actually make a safe haven for hundreds of wizards and witches in Britain. So we travelled further, now with Godric with us we made much more. We also spread the word of our goals. Generous witches and wizards gave us donations. During this time, Rowena began working on a project she named the Book of Admittance which she said would note the names of all young witches and wizards when they showed the first sign of magic. It was the longest project she ever undertook and admittedly her second greatest invention. She took a five years to make it. It was 8 or 9 months since Godric had joined us, we were resting in the outskirts of a village when some muggle king's army returning from a conquest decided to attack us after they saw our wands." Salazar said scowling at the memory.

"Godric, Rowena and I stood side by side and faced the army of around a thousand muggles hell bent on killing us because we were 'devil spawns'. Rowena shielded while Godric and I started attacking them. Godric proved why he was regarded as one of the best Battle Mages to be ever born. With each spell he killed around a dozen of those men. I rained down curses and hexes taking down the men one by one. For fifteen minutes we fought, without stopping, but then an arrow struck Rowena in her chest. Godric yelled at me to apparate away with her telling he would take care of the army. I apparated a distance away from the battle field. I started to heal Rowena the best I could but it was beyond my capabilities to heal a poisoned arrow that had struck her near her heart immediately, atleast. If I had time I could have healed her with my parselmagic and potions, but she didn't have that. I saw Godric unleashed cursed hell flames as we called it or if you prefer, fiendfyre." Harry's eyes widened, " Isn't that dark magic? And why didn't you apparate out as soon as you saw them coming?" he blurted before he could stop himself.

He felt Salazar's scrutinizing stare on himself. Finally he sighted spoke again, "Child, there is no such thing as light and dark magic. Magic is magic. Nothing more, nothing less. People are the ones who are good and bad. Magic is all about intent. Tell me what do you define the so called 'dark magic' as."

"Dark magic is a branch of magic that is used to harm or kill another witch or wizard" Harry recited verbatim from his first year DADA book as had learnt. Quirrellmort was a terrible teacher, but the book was atleast good unlike Lockhart's books which were as useless as their author.

"See! The very definition of dark magic is flawed. Tell me will you consider the levitation charm dark magic?" Harry shook his head. " What if I levitated a huge rock and dropped it on you? Will you consider it dark magic then?" Salazar asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No."

"But wasn't it used to harm or kill another witch or wizard? As far as I am aware dropping a big rock on a person will harm or kill him or her, depending on the weight of the rock."

Harry was already wide eyed. His most basic views on magic were changing! He just nodded dumbly.

"Harry magic is all about intent. It can be used to harm, heal, protect, and several other things. Magic is magic neither dark nor light in itself. Think of it as a knife in the most mundane term. Like a knife can be used to make food, do gardening, ensure safety of a person and even murder. Similarly magic can be used in a plethora of ways. It depends on the wielder what he or she chooses to do with it. A killing curse can be used to murder in cold blood or it can be used to put down a dark wizard, and by a dark wizard I mean a wizard who uses magic to harm and kill others for enjoyment, who would have otherwise killed you and your friends and family." Harry listened with rapt attention. His views on magic had forever changed. He now understood that a person could be light or dark depending on what he or she did. But magic was neither. It just was. Comparing magic to a knife was actually an wonderful way of understanding this concept. A knife could be used to ham others like criminals in the muggle world did, or used to protect oneself from assault, or just used for household stuff. Magic was the same.

Harry nodded, " Thank you sir, ma'am for explaining me. I got what you are saying. Now why didn't you apparate out and chose to confront them?" Harry looked expectantly at Salazar.

"Oh! no sir and ma'am stuff. Call us by our names. Don't use formalities. Also you must know, the minister of magic, Thorfe Weasley in 1123 introduced this term, and banned its use. This was because of the rise of the dark lord Albercomb who used magic for destructive purposes killing a lot of witches and wizards. So as to deter another dark lord from rising at the time magic started to be regulated. If anyone used 'Dark magic' they were put in prison. This caused innumerable spells to be lost in time. Very few families have some of these spells documented. Most were lost, and the ones who had it became a part of their family grimoire. You both didn't let me complete what I was saying so I had to add it now."

'So one of Ron's ancestor banned this dark magic, well as per what the government at the time described it as. Interesting.' Harry thought to himself.

"Now for your second question, At that time, if a magical person apparated away, a skill very few knew, a manhunt would be launched by muggle monarchs to kill them citing they were the devil themselves as they could teleport. We couldn't leave a single muggle or else we would become hunted. As long as they didn't know who did it, we were safe. The soldiers had seen our faces, we couldn't leave them alive. Obliviating charm was not invented until several decades later." Harry was unsure how to react. They had killed a thousand muggles just so that they won't be hunted. Given they could have ran away but spending a whole life in fear for your life just because some people did not like the ability you have? He didn't know what was worse, he could not decide who was wrong. The muggles who lived at that time were vile and disgusting, anyone who burned another person at stake and gave them gruesome death just because they have an ability the world didn't like, but killing a thousand people to save your own hide was equally bad. He decided that what was done was done. It was centuries ago. He didn't live then and did not know what they went through. So he decided to just take it as another history lesson, nothing more, nothing less. "Please continue your story, Salazar." He requested.

"Yes, yes." Salazar said, "Let me now continue the story. So... Rowena was injured. I decided to apparate to our next destination. We had heard about an excellent healer residing there." Salazar smiled. "And that was when we first met Helga Hufflepuff. She was an excellent healer, renowned in a lot of nearby towns for her ability." Helga blushed in her portrait.

"She saved Rowena's life and cured her. I stayed with her until she stabilized and then went back to Godric. He was near the site where the battle had happened rummaging through trunks. The trunks were filled with gold. Enough gold to build a small township with all wards possible and still have some left over. We were set. Before we left, we included Helga in our plans. Our haven would need a healer atleast! She was the youngest of us all. As Helga said before it took us fourteen long years to start the school. We also made it possible for the setting up the village of Hogsmeade, the only exclusive magical settlement in whole Britain. Parents and older students started residing there and set up their families. We had set up what we aimed for. Our biggest regret was that we couldn't just take kids who showed magic from muggles as soon as first accidental magic happened. It may have resulted in exposing the haven to the filthy creatures. Anyways, the school flourished for the next four decades. We all now had our own families, I was married to a fellow teacher who we had hired for teaching with us, after my fling with Rowena had failed and we broke up, still remaining as friends instead of lovers. I had a son and a daughter. My son was a fairly powerful wizard, though not as strong as us four founders, while my daughter was unfortunately a squib. Godric had a wife and a daughter my son's age. Rowena had a little daughter, who was unfortunately a bastard child. She was not the best of mother but did her best and loved her daughter more than anything. We will come back to her later. Helga also had twins, a son and daughter. The painting you may have seen outside was the painted a few days before tragedy struck. Godric and his family had gone to another village for a tour whe-where..." Salazar's voice wavered and tears flowed down his eyes in grief.

So Helga took over "Where tragedy struck. Godric had briefly gone to the river, leaving his wife and daughter in the village. Someone, somehow had got to know that they were witches. Godric's wife was pregnant with her second child, five months along and could not apparate. His daughter was fifteen and had not learnt it yet. The muggles cornered and killed both of them, burning them at stake." Tears were flowing freely down everyone's cheeks. "When Godric came to know this he set out for revenge destroying everything in his rage and grief. He was- He was extremely emotional and- and not at his best. He was struck down with an arrow to the neck. He immediately died. His ghost lingered and came to us informing what had happened. Salazar immediately set out to destroy the villagers."

"I burnt the damn village to ground including the neighboring settlements. Not a single brick remained. Godric didn't pass on till he saw the ashes of the village."

"I am sorry." Harry croaked.

Salazar and Helga waved it off. "That was when Rowena decided that we all should leave a legacy. She enchanted Godric's prized sword, one he got as a gift from the goblins as a gift for protecting them before he had joined us. Yes the same one you pulled from the hat. It could only be pulled by a person who embodied all traits Godric prided himself on. Bravery in the face of danger, courage and most importantly, doing what is right instead of what is easy. It will now come to you whenever you call it. Rowena made a room on the fifth floor, which could change into anything the person required and open to all. She called it the room of requirement, an highly impressive piece of magic, her greatest infact. We both decided to leave something more. Something that would aid a person who was worthy, a person who embodied the values of all four of us prized to become more. Aid him or her better the world. Aid the person to become greater than he or she already was. Essentially now we are going to teach you too. We had created the sorting hat when we founded the school, first it was only used to sort students, an artifact capable of using mind magic to look into a person's character and sort him or her. But then we decided to enhance it. We gave it a personality and left the decision to it to judge who would be worthy of Godric's sword and the Secrets of our chamber." Helga finished.

He was going to learn personally from the founders!

"And what are these rings? And why was there a basilisk? and such a big space outside." Asked harry curiously.

"As a key to the main secrets, us, we created four enchanted rings, all entrusted to the sorting hat. We may not have been as good as Rowena but we were still skilled enough to create these. It is made of an alloy of gold and platinum, enchanted to work as a portkey straight to the chamber if you say the Hogwarts motto. It will also enable the wearer to apparate regardless of the anti apparation wards put in Hogwarts. As for the second question, if the wards were ever attacked the basilisk was supposed to wake up and protect the school. Each founder made something special to fortify the school. Rowena made the wards around Hogwarts, I put the Basilisk, Godric animated the hundreds of sets of armors we had looted after the battle we told you about earlier to act as soldiers in case of an attack. And Helga made pacts with several creatures in the forbidden forest and the Black lake."

"The main chamber outside is specially made underground so in case of a natural calamity or attack, students could come down here. Also you can practice high level battle magic outside. It is made to withstand any magical attack. I am also pretty sure that the chamber can withstand a point blank muggle nuclear bomb as it is warded to that level and each wall has been carved with insanely strengthening runes! You can unleash fiendfyre in there and nothing will be damaged. It is quite literally the safest place in Hogwarts." Salazar explained.

"But can't the chamber be accessed by only a paselmouth?" Harry questioned.

"There are other ways to the chamber, you will find a map in the desk. And house elves would have led them down here. The study you saw outside was made in such a case for teachers to work in. Tom riddle learnt a lot from the books out there, but it is like a glass in front of a bucket for what we have here."

"Merlin! this is all just... wow. Who were the other two the sorting hat mentioned that were judged worthy before me?"

Salazar and Helga grinned. "Why? They were Myrddin Emrys and Morgana of house Fae. Now you know them as Merlin and Morgana Ley Fae!" Helga said.

Harry felt a big shock for the... he didn't even know how many times he had been shocked in the whole day. First he was judged equal to an honor Merlin received. MERLIN! The dude was like a legend among legends in the wizarding world. His mother's words rang in his head, 'If you train and apply yourself I am sure you will surpass them all'. Then there was the fact he was going to be taught by Salazar and Helga, something he hadn't even thought in his wildest dreams. And then there was Morgana Le... Wait a damn minute!

"Wasn't Morgana Ley Fae a dark witch. Like the Most powerful dark lady of all time!?" Harry blurted out. He was already mentally preparing himself to hear how Morgana was an extremely good person and history was corrupted. It would not be the first his views had been completely shattered about a topic, be it the founders history or magic.

"Yes, history regards her as a dark witch because she planned to make it so. It started when Merlin was first chosen as worthy when he attended Hogwarts in the 350CE. He was sorted in the Slytherin house. At the start of his fourth year he saved a bunch of children who had foolishly ventured into the forbidden forest at great personal risk. When he arrived, he was already an exceptional student. He trained under our tutelage and became what he is today. His greatest achievement, the setting up of a magical government and the statute of secrecy was concocted in this very chamber. Long story short, For setting up the magical government he needed the permission of the then King of Britain, king Arthur. He became a close advisor to him and a very good friend as Merlin was older than him. But king Arthur needed a strong incentive to approve the statute and a magical government." Helga said

"It was the 410CE when we had taken Morgana as our second apprentice. Myrddin had come back with this problem during the time Morgana was in her seventh year, in Ravenclaw. We were worried that witches and wizards would always need to hide if Myrddin failed. King Arthur was so far the only king highly receptive of witches and wizards. We didn't know if such a golden opportunity would present itself again. That was when Morgana suggested the plan that she become a dark lady, and then Merlin would 'kill' her in an epic duel, well pretend to kill her, cementing himself completely with king Arthur. He would suggest him that if there was a statute of secrecy and a magical government, a rise like morgana would have been dealt with much more effectively. Myrddin would have subtly influenced the ascent if needed by legilimency, if needed. The imperious curse wasn't invented yet, during the time. So Once King Arthur was firm, it would have become much easier to convince the knights of the Round Table Conference. So we and Merlin trained Morgana for next 6 to 8 years, she became a pseudo daughter to Merlin, and became a great duelist. And everything fell in place half a decade later. The magical government and the statute of secrecy was founded. A huge ritual was done at stone-hedge to make muggles forget about witches and wizards and make them disbelieving of magic forever. And with the help of several prominent families, namely Albertos, Black, Bones, Greengrass, Longbottom, Potter, Selwyn. These are the Most Noble and Most Ancient houses with a permanent seat on the Wizengamot currently. Thus they secured much more freedom for witches and wizards." Salazar finished dramatically.

"What happened to Morgana?" Harry asked.

"She lived an happy life as a Runes teacher at Hogwarts after she changed her name, she also became the first head of the DMLE, in 440CE under Oliver Evershine's government.(*)" Helga answered with pride in her voice for her former student's achievement.

"And what was that part about my family?" Harry questioned. He wished to know more about his family history. Hagrid had told him that he would be able to access the family vault when he came of age where he could find all about his family history as he had kept asking questions about it.

"Randalf Potter was your ancestor, who aided Myrddin in forming the government and the ministry of magic. The Potter's have a permanent seat on the Wizengamot with 7 votes like the other Most Ancient and Most Noble Houses. A big part of the Wizengamot is the sacred 28, 28 families who have contributed vastly to betterment of magic. It consists of 7 Most Ancient and Most Noble Houses with seven votes each; 7 Most Ancient and Noble Houses with 3 votes each; 7 Ancient and Most Noble Houses with 3 votes each; and 7 Ancient and Noble Houses with a single vote each. The current criteria for the title of an ancient house is 300 years in Britain, while for most ancient it is 1000 years. These seats on the Wizengamot may change families if in case a family is absent for a century with no known living members or has fallen from grace. An excellent example would be the Toothhill family, the Dagworth-Granger family, Cephalopos family who all went extinct in recent times primarily due to the two wizarding wars. The Weasley family and the Tillyman family fell in disgrace and lost their seats on the Wizengamot."

The Weasley family falling into disgrace was something he had heard about, after he had asked about it to Fred and George. Malfoy had called them blood-traitors and he had asked what he had meant by it.

"I have a friend named Hermione Granger, is it possible that she is related to the Dagworth-Grangers?"

"She maybe... She would need to take a blood heritage test at Gringotts. If she turns out to be one, she may even receive a vault. But the test is pricey and most don't bother to do it. Same with the abilities test." Helga replied.

"Ability test?"

"Ability test is a test which shows the special abilities a person may possess. Like metamorphamagus: the ability to change ones appearance at will; Paselmouth: you are one; Elemental: Ability to control a particular element without a wand and have better grasp at it then other wizards, Myrddin was a wind elemental while your headmaster is a fire elemental, Salazar was a water elemental. Another ability is a battle mage: It dials the persons senses during a battle to eleven(Heightens it to an insane level); Mage sight: The ability to see magic; Magic sense: Ability to feel magic in the nature. etc." Helga elaborated.

"Some of these abilities like mage sight and mage sense may be developed by powerful wizards, like your headmaster has. Sometimes rituals may give one abilities if done correctly."

"Helga, you said that an elemental can control a particular element without a wand. So are you saying it is impossible to do wandless magic."

"Wandless magic is possible. But it requires much more magic, intent and focus. And one can only do charms as it only relies on intent and focus. Transfiguration, curses, hexes, jinxes are impossible without a wand except for a person who has the arch-mage ability. Which is super-rare. Morgana was one of the only five people in history who had it. It is simply the ability to do magic without a wand without the extra effort and limitations. In other words an arch-mage can do wand-magic without the need of a wand. One may argue that accidental magic is wandless magic, but the fact is it requires much more magic than doing the same thing with a wand. example will be if you require x amount of magic to levitate a 1 kg weight ten meters above a ground wandlessly, you could have lifted about 49kg to 169 kg with the wand depending on the intent and focus of a person. You will understand it precisely when you learn Arithmancy. Since the magic required is much higher, high level charms like apparation is not possible without a wand." Helga explained.

Harry took in a deep breath and blurted, "I may be an arch-mage, I think." Salazar and Helga raised an eyebrow. "When I was fighting Riddle yesterday, I summoned his diary wandlessly as he had my wand and stabbed it. And.."

"Controlled accidental magic, you were desperate and in a life threatening situation." Salazar interrupted.

"I apparated to my school's roof top when I was seven, when my cousin and his friends were chasing me." Harry completed shooting Salazar a glare for interrupting him.

"Pardon!?"

"I apparated to my school's roof top when I was seven, when my cousin and his friends were chasing me." Harry replied calmly.

"Take a book from the shelf and show me a levitation charm using your wand."

Harry compiled.

"wingardium leviosa" The book rose a meter high from the table.

"Now without the wand."

"wingardium leviosa" nothing happened. Harry frowned. He remembered how he had willed himself to get away from his cousin. how he had willed the book in his hand. Intent was after all the most important aspect of magic.

He willed the book to levitate.

"See I told..." Salazar stopped in mid sentence as the book rose up in the air.

Harry smirked, Salazar gaped and Helga cheered.

"Take an ink bottle cap and transfigure it into a quill. If you do it, you are definitely an Arch-mage." Salazar conceded. "Scribillifors" Harry intoned willing it to change into a quill. It did. Helga cheered and harry pumped a fist into the air. Salazar just smiled.

Salazar ordered him to convert it back and cap the ink bottle so that it didn't dry. "Reverto" Harry again did it wandlessly again. "Good, but you should keep this a secret. We all know Tom Riddle and his death eaters are after you. It will be your ace. Don't show this to anyone. Keep using a wand. Even Morgana never used solely wandless magic during duels, She used a wand in one hand and wandless magic from the other. You will find her journal on the fifth shelf." Salazar advised.

Harry nodded. "Sir, since yesterday, after my confrontation with the basilisk, my wand is feeling off."

"What do you mean?"

"My wand doesn't feel the same. It feels as if its somewhat resisting me. Today I tried to use Hermione's wand. It felt even worse."

Salazar nodded, "That's because something in you changed. Your personality or your goal or perhaps even your magic as you got exposed to the two most potent liquids in the world, Basilisk venom and Phoenix tears." Salazar shrugged. "I will advise you to get a new wand as soon as possible. Keep your current wand as a secondary wand." He advised.

"We should make him do the magic purification and connection ritual first don't you think? Remember my wand length changed after I did it. And he can do it anytime as planetary position has no effect on it." Helga said.

"You make a good point Helga. Harry, before you get a new wand, we will do a ritual that will purify your magic from foreign presences and increase your connection to it."

Harry gulped. Rituals were considered extremely dark by the ministry. But he just had learnt that there is no light and dark magic, only intent. And how could a purifying ritual be dark? Also if he couldn't trust two Hogwarts founders and Merlin's teachers, then who could he? He nodded in consent.

"Are you willing to do it tomorrow? It is extremely easy. You just have to draw a star and put some runes here and there." Helga questioned.

Harry again nodded. Suddenly he remembered he had to meet Hermione in the library!

"Tempus" It had been almost five hours since he had arrived!

"Shite!" He exclaimed.

"Language dear, what happened?" Helga chided. "I was supposed to go back four hours ago. My friend was waiting for me in the library. Now its past dinnertime!"

"Calm down. No need to worry. Check the fourth drawer in the desk. It has a time turner. How much time has passed since you arrived?"

"four hours forty minutes approximately."

"Then go back five hours. Five complete turns of the time turner should do it. We are anyways going to use it for your training. That was how both Myrddin and Morgana did it." Helga said.

Harry sighted in relief. His stomach rumbled.

"Go to the kitchens to have a snack. You have to hide from yourself and must not be seen. The kitchen is on the ground floor, behind a painting of a fruit bowl. You have to tickle the pear to get in." Helga said

"Tickle the pear?" Harry asked incredulously.

Helga blushed and Salazar laughed. "Just go!"

Harry shrugged and did as told. A new chapter in his life had begun and he was going to make the most of it.

Notes:

* I changed it for my convenience as I wanted. It is different from what I found on google.

ARCH-MAGE Ability: It is just the ability to do magic without needing a wand. An weak witch or wizard also may have it. As Nymphadora Tonks could change her appearance without wand or potion, Harry can do magic without a wand. It doesn't mean he is super powerful or OP. In my story, Harry would be of the level of Voldemort during the final battle. EQUALS. of course he would grow stronger as he would grow older, but that won't be covered more than as a short epilogue.

Chapter 8: First Ritual and a Trip to Diagon

Ch.8 First Ritual and a Trip to Diagon

Harry reached the kitchens in time, under his cloak. He estimated that his real self would currently be walking towards the chamber of secrets. He had learnt an insane amount today! He apparently was an arch-mage, and had the ability to do wandless magic. On top of that he was going to be taught by the founders! Tomorrow he was going to do his first ritual. He was a bit apprehensive about it but decided he would trust the founders over the ministry. And the ministry was filled with morons! Last summer he had gotten a warning for underage magic by the ministry for a Hoover charm used by a house elf.

He tickled the pear and the painting swung open, to reveal a very large kitchen filled with house elves. Several crowded him asking what he wanted and welcoming him to the kitchens.

"Okay, okay! Wait. I just want something to eat. I am hungry. Something like sandwiches and soup!" He added as he saw a couple of elves rush and bring a bowl filled with eclairs. He wanted to eat somewhere equivalent to dinner, not candies.

The elves showed Harry a circular table to sit on. "Which type of sandwich would master like?" One elf asked.

" One bacon sandwich and one cheese grilled sandwich if you can please."

The elf bowed and quickly went over to make his order. A minute later a bowl of soup was on front of him. "Would master like this tomato soup or does he want something else?" An elf questioned shyly.

"No, no this is wonderful, thank you " All the elves in the kitchen paused whatever they were doing to stare at him. Of course, house-elves were underappreciated workers.

"Harry Potter is much greater than we heard. Harry Potter is so kind and noble, thanking is lowly house elves!"

"Umm.. Yes thank you for the compliment, but please go back to your work." He said and started eating his soup.

After a hearty meal, he decided to go back to his dorms for some time. For Hermione it was only eighteen minutes since he had left. So he entered the dorms, and opened his trunk. He saw the basilisk fang, Lucius's money bag and his wands. Malfoy's wand didn't work so he put it back in his trunk. 'The trunk is nearly overflowing. I need a new one. Next year we will have more subjects and I will even take books for extra study.' he thought to himself.

He took Lucius's money bag and cast a money counting charm on it. 4732 G, 720 S, 20 K. It came. 'Holy shit! Who roams about with so much money on them? Well too bad Malfoy was looted. Now this was Harry's. He was going to spoil himself a bit. After all he never had any luxury, so a couple of fancy clothes or a good trunk won't hurt. After all, it wasn't his money!'.

He put it in his trunk and locked it. He then hurried back to Hermione. He was a man of his word after all!

---

The next day he woke up at his usual time of five thirty. He carried out his morning rituals and got ready for the day. He had decided to visit the chamber and learn there, before would either head back for breakfast or use the time turner. He briefly wondered if he should disturb them this early, but they were portraits not humans and didn't need rest. So he donned his invisibility cloak and went to the chamber.

"Back so soon?" Salazar asked,

"Good morning to you too." Harry answered. "See Sal learn some manners from the boy! Good Morning Harry." Helga chided.

"I decide to come here first. We have a little more than an hour and half before my class mates wake up. We were going to do a ritual. So I decided it was the best to come early incase we need to prepare something."

"Its nothing much. It is a beginner's ritual, The most basic of all. Take the Rituals book, the thick one from the seventh shelf, third row. It is the thickest one." Helga said.

Harry removed the book and flipped to the index. "The magicke Purificus one?" Harry questioned. Salazar and Halga nodded.

He opened it and saw that on one page was a diagram, the ritual, and the other page had information. It was quite simple. It would purify his magic from all foreign presences, repair and open his Magical channels( from the core to each part of the body, magic flows through these channels) and finally help his magic flow more freely in his body.

It was simple enough. use flagerate inscribus to draw the Star structure and the seven runes and then put three drops of his blood on each rune. Then he had to lay in the middle without any magic items on himself and say a short seven word chant. Easy!

"Practice saying the charm, you don't want to make a pronunciation mistake. Once you are through, draw the structure on the floor and do the ritual." Salazar said.

"How do I put the blood?"

"There is a ritual knife in the ritual chamber, second door from the right. Go in, we will meet you there." Helga said moving out of her portrait followed by Salazar. Harry went in and was met with a simple stone chamber, bare of everything except the two portraits on the wall and a ritual knife and bowl lying at one side. "Scourgify" Harry cleaned them.

"Hey what is in the other rooms?" Harry asked. He still hadn't explored the whole thing.

"A potions lab, Three bedrooms, a roman bath like the prefects bathroom of Hogwarts and finally the map room. It has a complete map of Hogwarts and can be used to locate anyone in the school. Also the room has a cabinet in which there are self updating maps of the ministry of magic of every single country, Diagon alley and its similar counterparts all over the world, Hogsmeade, Beauxbatons academy of magic, Drumstrang Institute, Livermony, Salem institute, Takshshila university, Nalanda University, Greek magic Institute, MACUSA headquarters and also every muggle institute like white house, Birmingham Castle, UN headquarters etc. They unfortunately don't show people, just a normal map." Salazar explained to Harry's who's eyes were widening at every name.

"How the fuck do you have all this."

"I am Salazar Slytherin. Now stop questioning my greatness and work on yours! start drawing the ritual!" Helga and Harry rolled their eyes. And Harry complied. After he drew it, Salazar and Helga spent ten minutes making sure it was perfect while Harry removed his outer cloak, ring and wand. They nodded at him to continue. He cut his thumb and squeezed three drops of blood on each rune. His thumb was almost healed thanks to the magic on the knife. He lied in the middle of the star and chanted the words. The star glowed and he felt a tingle spread throughout his body. His gut felt warm and the heat spread through his veins. It felt uncomfortable but endured it. It stopped after almost fifteen magic. He now felt like he had taken a warm bubble bath after a tiring day.

"How do you feel?" Helga asked. "Like I have taken a warm bubble bath after a tiring day." he replied.

"Then congratulations Harry Potter, you have just completed your first ritual." Salazar said.

"Now what?" Harry asked.

"You shouldn't do any magic for an hour or so atleast. Keep use of magic to a minimum today." Helga said. "I have still 50 minutes or so before I need to leave. What should I do until then?" Harry asked them.

"Then we start your training. First and foremost you will start learning the mind arts. Your mind is your greatest weapon. A person with a well organized mind learns better and performs better in every aspect. The mind arts has two main branches. Occlumency and Legilimency. Occlumency is the art of organizing and protecting the mind against intrusion. At the most advanced level, an Occlumens has a photographic memory, and can think much faster, perceive things faster than normal and most importantly it helps the person cast magic with precision, without wasting magical energy. Also a master Occlumens can cast a Patronus charm and a killing curse one after the other without stopping even though they require completely opposite emotions to cast. Patronus charm requires positive emotions like happiness and love, while the killing curse requires negative emotion of hate. Your headmaster, Riddle, Grindewald, Myrddin, Morgana, and all of us founders are master Occlumens. The.. Yes?" Salazar stopped his lecture as harry had raised his hand.

"What is the Patronus charm?"

"The Patronus charm is the charm the only known shield charm against creatures like Dementors, Lethifolds and nightmares. It can be cast only with positive emotions. The incantation is expecto patronum. A perfectly cast Patronus takes the shape of a silver guardian in form of an animal, which may depend on ones personality or if the person has a connection to the animal, like a familiar or Animagus form or even a form of a loved one. All the house mascots are our Patronus forms." Helga answered him. "Okay."

"So as I was saying, The second branch is Legilimency, the art of reading the mind and emotions. The mind is not an open book to be picked and read at pleasure. It is multi-layered and complex. Most people who know this art can read only emotions, surface thoughts and discern a truth from a lie and at the most see flashes of memories. But a master legilimens can look through the mind like a book. He or She can even look into obliviated memories if needed. If done brutally it would destroy a mind completely except if the person who is attacked is sufficiently skilled at occlumency. For now I will only teach you Occlumency. Once you are sufficient, I will start Legilimency. Pick up the book titled 'An introduction to protecting the mind' and complete reading the first chapter before you go back."

---

Harry went for breakfast after reading the first two chapters of the book. It was an interesting read. After eating he went to professor McGonagall's office and knocked.

"Come in." Harry entered his head of the house's office. "What can I do for you today Mr. Potter?"

" Professor, I have a concern with my wand. It is feeling off in a sense. So I was wondering if it could be checked and I could get a new wand if necessary?"

"I am no expert in wand lore Mr. Potter, But you need to go to the headmaster if you want to leave the school. Go fast before your classes start. The password is Chocolate frogs."

Harry thanked her and ran through the corridors before stopping at the gargoyle. He straightened his clothes and spoke the password.

He was just about to knock on the door, when the headmaster's voice rang out, "Come in Mr. Potter."

Harry blinked once. twice. Then shrugged and entered. It was probably some sort of ward telling the headmaster that he was at the door.

"What can I do for you today Mr. Potter?"

"Professor, I have a concern with my wand. It is feeling off in a sense. So I was wondering if it could be checked and I could get a new wand if necessary? I asked Professor McGonagall and she sent me to you."

"Feeling off as in?" Dumbledore questioned. "It is resisting me. It doesn't feel as good as before."

Dumbledore pondered on his words. After Ariana's death, he had a similar problem with his wand. So he had got a custom made wand from Ollivanders, tailored specifically for him. 13 and three quarter inches, Cherry, Chinese fireball( from his original wand) and Sphinx heartstring and phoenix feather with a half gram of pure gold. It cost much higher than a normal wand costed but was worth it. It was the wand he had defeated Gellert with and won the fabled Death-stick.

"After classes today, you can visit Diagon Alley. I will advice you to tell Ollivanders to make a custom wand for you. It is much better than a normal wand he sells. Come back here after classes" He knew Harry had a lot of money, being from a Most ancient and Most Noble House as well as he had the gold from Lucius.

Harry nodded and left.

---

After classes Harry found himself back in the Headmasters office after classes ended. He had informed Hermione and Ron that he was going to buy a new wand.

"Ah! Harry are you ready to go?" Harry nodded in assent. "Before you go I have a gift for you. Take this necklace and say Glamour on to put on a glamor on your face. to remove it say glamour off. It is also a portkey straight here. It is a special Hit wizard portkey."

"What is a hit-wizard portkey? and why do I need this?"

"A hit wizard portkey is a highly protected secret of the hit wizard branch of The DMLE. They are the ones who go in high danger situations and are trained to take down Dark wizards. So to escape such situation, they use these portkeys as these can bypass temporary anti-portkey and anti-Apparation wards. They all take a magical oath to never give out this secret or a portkey to anyone who is not a hit wizard. And it is for your safety. Put the glamour on in Diagon alley and public places except Gringotts."

"Thank you sir. If the secret is so protected, how do you know to make it?" Harry asked.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled and he smiled, "I am Albus Dumbledore." He said in a greater than thou tone.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Remember to return here before dinner. The portkey phrase is Fawkes base. Keep the necklace, its yours now. I wish you luck in getting a new wand made." Suddenly a trill filled the air and Fawkes landed on Dumbledore's desk. He nudged Dumbledore's hand and pointed at Harry.

"You want to give a feather for Harry's wand?" Fawkes shook his head and trilled again.

"You want to give your tears?" Dumbledore asked flabbergasted. Fawkes trilled and nodded. A phoenix, bonded to a person or not, giving tears freely to another without the other person being fatally injured was unheard of. And even for its bonded a phoenix never gave its tears except he or she was injured. He had never even heard of a wand with phoenix tears!

He summoned a small crystal vial and held it for Fawkes. He cried in it and filled it up. He put an unbreakable charm on it and handed it to Harry. "You should feel honored Harry. It is a big thing for a phoenix to give his tears to a person even in life and death situations. Let alone for a wand. You are a lucky person Mr. Potter"

Harry just nodded dumbly, took the vial gently as if it was a fragile thing and said "Thank you Professor. Thank you Fawkes. I will make sure I am back before dinner." Saying he activated the Glamour necklace, took floo powder and threw it in the fire place saying Diagon Alley."

---

Harry stumbled out of the fire place barely managing to catch himself before he fell down. He nodded at tom and entered Diagon alley after tapping the bricks. in the correct order. The alley was filled with a lot less people than in summer before school. He entered Ollivanders wand shop. The place was the same as he had visited it almost three years ago to buy his wand.

"Welcome back Mr. Potter, what can I do for you." Harry jumped in the air startled by Ollivanders sudden appearance. He didn't know how Ollivander saw through the glamour but decided to not question it. He told him about the situation with his wand. "Mr. Potter so you are saying the wand doesn't work properly for you as it did, but it is still better than other wands you use?" Harry nodded. "Then I will make you a custom wand, as well as change your first wand a bit so that it is a better fit for you, of course if you are willing to pay."

"Money is no concern Mr. Ollivander, just put your best work in. Also, Professor Dumbledore's Phoenix gave me this." He said showing the phoenix tear vial. Ollivander sucked in a sharp breath "My word Mr. Potter. I feel that this will be my greatest creation yet. I have never used phoenix tears for a wand. But I am sure I can handle it. Come with me."

They walked into an adjoining room, filled with several types of woods, more than he had ever heard of, and several animal products, Heartstrings, fur, claws, feathers etc. "Mr. Potter kindly hover you hand above the wood and tell me which wood feels the warmest."

Harry started hovering his hand above the woods. After several blocks he knew he got the right one. It was a strange wood but he picked it up. The wandmakers expression shifted into a bit of shock before becoming giddy. "Elder wood. One of the rarest wood type that we wandmakers use for wands. In my career of more than half century I have at the most made a dozen elder wood wands, and only one has been sold, that was a couple of decades ago. It signifies wisdom, intelligence, power, greatness and has an association with death. A fitting wand for you Mr. Potter, after all you are the only person who has survived death." He smiled at Harry, referring to him surviving the killing curse.

'I have been closer to death than one can ever imagine.' He thought but nodded in assent nevertheless.

"Now take the wood and repeat the procedure with all the cores." Harry did it. After some dozens of cores he picked up a blue-black feather. Ollivander nodded and just looked giddier with each material. Finally he picked some sort of heartstring. Ollivander now looked like he was having an orgasm. "Is that all Mr. Potter?"

"Yes sir." He was now becoming wary of the old wandmaker. The wandmaker looked like he was high.

"Yes, Elder wood, with core of phoenix tears, Thunderbird Feather and Manticore heartstring. This is going to be a great challenge. Thank you Mr. Potter! Now give me a few drops of your blood to determine the wands length and a stabilizing agent for the multiple cores. Then you can leave."

"What about my original wand?"

"Oh yes, give it here." He took the holly wand to a counter and took some sort of nail and a hammer. He placed the nail on the wand and brought down his hammer. Harry cried out in alarm as the wood splintered and Ollivander picked up the phoenix feather. "Fret not Mr. Potter, you would need a new wand wood for this. Holly won't do. So take this feather and repeat the procedure with the woods." this time Harry picked an almost black colour wood.

"Ebony." Ollivander simply said and gestured towards the cores. Harry got the impression that it wasn't as rare as elder wood. He hovered his hand above the cores with the wood and phoenix feather in hand, he only got a single one but Ollivander looked happy now. "Great horned Hebridean Black heartstring. What do you know Mr. Potter about this dragon?"

"Nothing. I don't even know about the manticore and thunder bird."

"The Great horned Hebridean Black Dragons were once the most fierce Dragons to walk on the Earth. They grew up to a hundred feet in height, had the thickest hide among dragons, and could easily fire flames to about 60-70 meters far. They were fiercely loyal to their pack and it took around 150 Qualified wizards to take one down. So dangerous that the ICW forcibly hunted them into extinction 4 centuries ago. The thunderbird on the other hand is the king of the skies. It can cause huge storms and shoot thunder on their whim. It is almost poetic that a thunderbird feather chose you with your scar being a lightning bolt." His scar had grown fainter since the Basilisk battle but was still present and very much visible.

"The Manticore is of the feline family. It is has human level intelligence and can speak human languages. Half lion-half man, the manticore is perhaps one of the most dangerous magical to currently walk on Earth because of its cunning, High intelligence, deadly claws, superspeed and agility with the ability to shoot poisoned spikes from its tail. All of them are XXXXX creatures. Now enough questions give me some drops of your blood." he did as Mr. Ollivander commanded. "Now go and come after a couple of hours to collect the wands. Your total is 150 Galleons and I will put two top line wand hostlers and a wand polish for free." He ushered Harry out of the shop. and flipped the CLOSED board. Harry shrugged and decided to go to the bank to see the status of the vault.

Removing his glamour, he entered the bank and went to the nearest Goblin teller. He recognized the goblin sitting behind the desk.

"Griphook!" He called. The poor goblin almost fell off his chair. The neighboring goblins also looked at harry, surprise etched on their faces.

"Mister Potter, you recognize me?" He asked.

"Of course I do. How else would I have called you by name otherwise?" Harry answered dryly. "Oh yes, Ok Mr. Potter, what is your business with Gringotts today?"

"I wish to know about my finances. I recently got a transaction done. I wish to know about it." Griphook's nodded. "Very well, Sharptooth, take Mr. Potter here to his Account Manager."

Sharptooth led harry through a few corridors before stopping in front of a door on which was written Family Account Manager Ragnok: Potter, Timthony, Diggory, Langer. He raised his hand and knocked thrice. "Enter."

Harry entered an office. Behind the desk sat an old goblin. "Mr. Potter, you are more than two months too early! You have to come on your thirteenth birthday for the Heir Ring and to gain partial access to your family Vault. Currently you would get nothing."

"Wait a second! I had to come here? I never knew of this. And I thought that I could not see my other vaults till I was of age?" Harry exclaimed

"Oh! You would have of course been notified a week before your thirteenth birthday by owl for the meeting. And you will only be able to access the heirlooms, books and other things, everything except money from your family vault, that you will only be able to access when you are seventeen. So if you didn't know this then why are you here today?"

"Oh err... yeah I wanted to know about my finances. I recently got a huge amount of money from Mr. Malfoy. I wish to know about it and the request I sent with my house elf."

The goblin took out a ledger and showed it to him. "3 million Galleons transferred from Malfoy vault to a newly opened vault. I took the liberty of opening a new vault for you as your trust vault was decreed to have no more than 2500 G at a single time. So I opened a new vault at my discretion. Hope you approve?" Harry nodded. "Out of the three million you wished for 1 million to be distributed among the chamber victims. So we transferred 100,000G to the vault of Rubeus Hagrid and Penelope Clearwater. The same amount was put in the newly opened vaults for Colin Creevey, Justin Finch-Fletchley, and Hermione Granger. They will be notified at the end of the month via owl. 200,000G has been deposited in the Weasley vault. Then there is the matter of the cat, and the ghosts. The ghosts have no relatives, neither they are alive. And a cat doesn't need money and its master is a squib and has no vault here. So their 300,000 G have been kept in your vault. Your newest vault has 2,299,900 G. The 100G fee was deducted as a vault fee and the total transaction cost." Harry nodded approvingly.

"Thank you sir. I wished to know just that. I will come back here on my thirteenth Birthday. Goodbye."

"Yes Mr. Potter. May your enemies fall and your gold overflow."

"Err... How am I supposed to reply?"

"You say, May your gold overflow and your enemies fall." Harry replied just that and walked out of Gringotts after reapplying the glamour. He still could spent more than 4500G to spoil himself with the free money. He decided he should buy a good trunk and then few pairs of clothes and a pair of new sneakers. He entered a shop named Tambol Trunks and Tents. He went to the counter and said, "Good evening, I wish to buy a trunk. Can you kindly show me your options?"

"Certainly fine sir! We have standard trunks, Expanded Standard trunk, 3 compartment trunks, 5 compartment trunks, 7 compartment trunks, And a special expanded version for each which gives thrice the normal space per compartment. We also have trunks with a special library compartment, And one room compartments, which has an expanded space of 5m X 5m. We also give customized option. Also for each trunks we have add ons like self cleaning " She said it in a tone suggesting that it was memorized by her.

"Can I have a 5-compartment trunk with three expanded compartments, one library compartment and the room one?"

"Of course sir, but it will cost you 580 G without the add-ons." Harry just waved her off and said "As for the add ons put fire resistance, Water proofing, Extra durability, Password protection, Auto-shrink and enlarge, and err..." the cost was 685 G by now. He wanted to add another 15G item and make it 700G price. " a keep-cool box!" He said noticing the feature which was like an extremely small fridge in muggle terms.

"Certainly. If you wait here for ten minutes, the trunk will be ready with add ons and everything. Till then you can make the payment there." She said pointing to and old man before giving him a slip of paper, showing his purchase. Thanking her he went to make the payment. True to her word she returned ten minutes later with a shrunken trunk. She showed him it's features and how to use it. Thanking them for the final time, he left. Now he wanted to buy a few new clothes. He went Madam Malkin's shop. It was empty.

"Good evening! Welcome to the shop. How can I help you sir?" Madam Malkin asked.

"Good evening to you too. I would like to buy a few clothes. 3 t-shirts, two shirts, a casual robe, 2 pairs of jeans, some socks, boxer briefs and umm... Actually that is all." She looked ecstatic at the big order. "Certainly young sir." She started showing him all sorts of variety among things and he chose from those. He didn't deter from the order, as he knew there was no point in buying extra because he would soon start growing due to puberty. These will become short for him within a few months. He put the purchases in his trunk. And shrunk it again to the size of a match box. He walked out 96G lighter. He saw that he still had a half hour wait for getting his wands. He decided to head to Florean Forescue's ice cream shop. On the way he saw a newly opened shop named Wizarding watches and clocks. He wanted a watch. So he entered the shop and left a few minutes later with a new watch on his left wrist. It showed the time, lunar chart, the date and had a compass. Everything was automatically set by magic. So he didn't need to worry while using the time turner.

He bought a vanilla sundae from the ice cream shop and enjoyed it sitting outside. It wasn't too hot yet, but who says no to a good ice cream?

After finishing the sundae, he walked at a leisurely pace to Ollivanders wand shop. The CLOSED board had been removed meaning that his wands were ready. He entered the shop, already on guard for the eccentric wand maker. "Yes Mr. Potter, your wands are ready. I have to say that your custom wand is my greatest creation till date. Wait here." He said appearing from nowhere as always and then went inside the adjoining room only to come out moments later carrying two boxes. 'My wands' Harry realized. He was quiet curious to see the end product, which in Ollivanders, the most premium wand maker in Britain, own words, was his greatest creation.

Mr. Ollivander opened the first box. In it rested a black coloured wand. "Ebony, 13 inches, with phoenix feather core and a great horned Hebridean black heart string. Give it a wave."

Harry waved it and a few multicoloured sparks shower from it. It didn't feel as good as it originally was but it was certainly much better than it was since the last two days.

"Certainly not a perfect match, but sufficient enough to become a secondary wand. Now hear me carefully Mr. Potter. this wand in itself is impressive. It shows that you are an extremely powerful and capable wizard. Whenever you need to present a wand officially like at the ministry or at some other occasion, always present this one. One can tell a lot from a person's wand. Reserve your main wand for personal use and use during duels and such. Always make sure that officially the wand you present is this. No one bothers after an initial check anyways. Now for your main wand, my greatest creation till date. If I am told to remember my one creation and forget the rest, I will certainly remember this one Mr. Potter. Elder wood, 13 inches, inlaid with 0.7 grams Mithril and cores of phoenix tears, Manticore heartstring and a thunderbird feather. It has the ability to cast its own curses automatically if you are in danger. " He finished dramatically. Harry had to admit that the wand looked beautiful... Actually no... Beautiful was not sufficient... It looked stunning.

It was elder wood and berries structure with thin lines of a golden-ish silver coloured metal, Mithril running down its length in a helical shape.(think of the elder wand... The original one... With a golden-ish silver helix running down its length).

Harry touched it. The room was filled with warmth and wind blew in all directions. The wand sang in his hand. It was like the phoenix song coupled with the sensation he felt while riding his broom at insane speeds and like the roar of a lion encouraging him. The sensation was one on a kind. This wand felt like a part of himself, much better than his holly wand ever felt.

" Tha - thank you Mr. Ollivander. It is great" Harry said.

" Yes, a perfect match. As I said when you got your first wand, I will expect great things from you Mr. Potter great things indeed." Ollivander smiled at him.

" I haven't sullied these wands with the taint of the ministry trace Mr. Potter. Now you will be able to do magic in high magic areas like this alley or in a magical house. Of course the ministry will still detect you casting magic if you do it in a muggle area due to your magical signature. And here are your Ukrainian Ironbelly hide- demiguise hair wand holsters with flick-draw feature, auto sticking charm, anti-summoning charm, except for you that is and anti-theft. It is water and fireproof and most importantly will become invisible if you wish. And this is wand polish, a wand care manual is inside." He added.

Harry nodded gratefully. Now he would be able to do magic at the Weasley's or in the alley without restriction. Of course not at his relatives house but still something is better than nothing. He thought. He thanked the wand maker, paid him 180G, 30G tip for his special service that he had given, without asking.

He went outside after attaching one holster to his forearm and putting his elder wood wand in it, keeping the other one in his bag. And then said "Fawkes Base" and portkeyed back to Hogwarts.

Chapter 9: A talk with Dumbledore

Ch.9 A talk with Dumbledore

Harry felt a hook behind his navel sensation and started spinning. After a moment it stopped and Harry lost his balance sprawling face up on the floor. He gingerly sat up holding his head as it still felt like it was spinning and the first thing he noticed was that he was in the headmaster's office. Second he heard uproarious laughter.

The headmaster was laughing his head off. "That has to be the worst landing I have seen in my entire life!" He said after he calmed down from his laughing.

"Yeah yeah. I swear wizarding travel hates me. I prefer my broom." Harry mumbled but Dumbledore heard him.

"It has nothing to do with the method of travel hating you, I assure you Harry. But you should ask Madam Prince for the book 'A guide to magical means of travel'. It will atleast guide you to make your landing better. In any case, was your outing successful? I hope you got your wands."

"Yes professor. Mr. Ollivander made me a custom wand, and used my old wand's phoenix feather to make me a secondary wand." Harry answered.

"What are the wands made of? If you don't mind me asking." Dumbledore asked. Seeing no point in hiding the nature of his true wand, he said, "Sure. My custom wand, Elder wood, 13 inches, inlaid with 0.7 grams Mithril and cores of phoenix tears, Manticore heartstring and a thunderbird feather. Mr. Ollivander said it was his greatest work ever. And my secondary wand, Ebony, 13 inches, Phoenix feather and Great Horned Hebridean Black heart string." He removed his ebony wand and placed it on Dumbledore's desk before flicking his wrist as Ollivander had told him. It was only due to Harry's seeker reflexes that he caught the wand as it had shot out at an incredible speed. He would need to practice this thing.

Albus Dumbledore felt his eyebrows disappear into his hair line. The child's wand was both arithmetically and materially powerful. Elder wood wands only chose wizards and witches who were extremely powerful, both in character and magic. The death-stick was also made of elder wood after all. And he had all the three most powerful magical numbers in his wand. 13 inches length, 0.7 gram mithril, MITHRIL! The most magically inclined metal in wand. Pure gold came second in those terms. And finally the three cores, Phoenix tears from his own familiar, showing that he would fight for the light side, thankfully: Manticore heartstring, showing his intelligence, cunning, bravery and power and finally thunderbird feather, showing that he would bow to no one and become his own man. He felt very proud of his student after all how could he not? Also he was the child of Lily and James Potter, two students with whom he had closely worked with. They would certainly be proud today if they saw Harry.

He hoped that the boy would work with him when Tom returned and not work like Charlus Potter and Arcturus Black did. Him and Charlus Potter, both had mutual respect for each other, but Charlus Potter had refused to work with him in both wars, Even though they had a common enemy, stating that he was too soft for his own good and didn't have a place in the war if he was unwilling to kill. He didn't refute the point. He had killed before, but it was out of desperation. He always preferred to capture a person. He was a teacher first and foremost, his talents lying in Transfiguration and Alchemy. He was not a warrior.

On the other hand Charlus Potter and Arcturus Black had a reputation for taking no prisoners, and worked on their own code of morals. They were warriors, unlike him. He had no problem with killing. He knew sometimes tough decisions needed to be made in a war. He just felt that if they had joined forces, Grindelwald would have fallen earlier than he did. Charlus and Arcturus had been fundamental in winning the war. They were known as the 'Slayers of Walpurgis' and both had received Baronship, a title higher than The Order of Merlin First Class.

He knew that Harry too would be fundamental in the coming war. He was prophesized to vanquish Tom after all. And he would need help. The ministry was filled with corrupts and wouldn't survive for long once the war started. He didn't even know when the may begin! Tom had already made two bids for returning to power, both thwarted by Harry. The worst fact was that it had happened right under his nose, where his power base was, a place he considered home- Hogwarts, much to his great shame. In such cases Harry would need support. And he could provide him that, both political, mutual, as he had taken down a dark lord and even knowledge, which he had a century worth of. But how to ensure they both would work together? He didn't like manipulating a child, neither would he prefer to put a child in danger, ever. But there was little he could do in Harry's case. Voldemort would definitely come after the boy responsible for his downfall, prophecy or not. Harry was practically a symbol of hope, a symbol of victory of light over dark for the wizarding world. 'What if I start mentoring him?' Dumbledore suddenly thought. 'I won't start training him outright yet, he needs to enjoy his childhood, but a little bit knowledge here and there never hurts. Yes this plan was perfect. Next time Tom attacks Harry, he wouldn't be completely powerless, also he would see me as a mentor, ensuring that we would join forces and Tom could be put down for good.'

Two powerful wizards working together against someone like Voldemort would tip the favor in their side. Voldemort was a Monster, A terrorist with no true agenda except gaining power. Power, for which he would destroy the world. He didn't have an agenda for the world. Most thought that he wanted more right for pure bloods and eradication of muggleborns, but he himself was the son of a muggle and squib. He had tried to get this published in hopes of crippling tom's pureblood support, but Tom had killed the paper's editor and the reporter to replace with his own sympathizer. Corruption, right from the roots.

Tom Riddle just wanted to prove that he was the best, above everyone. A god. He didn't care how many died in the process, he wouldn't care if the statute was broken. And to top it all, Tom Riddle had done horrifying rituals, which he had no idea about. Once in a duel in which more than a dozen hit-wizards had fired on him and one had managed to cut off Tom's leg. He had just laughed as a new leg grew out of his old stub right in front of their eyes and proceeded to slaughter them. Only 3 had come back with their lives out of 16. He had also survived dying, So had harry, but Harry's was due to his mother's sacrifice. How Tom had survived he had no idea, just theories, dozens of them, but none confirmed. Tom Riddle needed to be put down for good and only one who had the power to do it was the boy sitting in front of him.

All this plan was thought in milliseconds, thanks to his advanced Occlumency.

He smiled, "An impressive wand Harry, I hope it will serve you well. Have you tried any spells with it?" Harry shook his head. "Then please show me a levitation charm on this quill. I want to check something. Levitate this quill a foot above the table." Harry nodded taking the wand and incanting, "Wingardium Leviosa". The quill shot up at frightening speed and embedded itself into the ceiling. Harry found that his spell was much powerful than before with his new wand.

"I am sorry professor, I didn't mean to do that."

"Oh do not apologies, I had an idea that the quill would shoot up more than expected, but I must admit that I had not expected it to shoot up like a bullet." Dumbledore smiled and his eyes twinkled. "I had theorized it would be a little more powerful due to you having phoenix tears of Fawkes in both your blood and wand. A similar thing was experienced by a witch in France, who was a Veela and used a dragon heartstring wand at first. But then at the age of 20 changed her wand core to Veela hair, her owns, resulting her spells to be more powerful than usual." Dumbledore added. Harry didn't know what on Earth a Veela was but just took it as an ability of sorts or a part creature in form of a witch like professor Flitwick was a half-goblin.

"Take this book. It has exercises which will help you control the power you put in a spell." Said Dumbledore smiling after summoning a book from the shelf. "Thank you Professor." Harry replied. They sat in silence for a few moments before Harry spoke out. "Sir I have some questions for you. will you answer it truthfully?"

Dumbledore's twinkle dimmed a little and he sighted. "Truth Harry, as I told you last year, is a beautiful and terrible thing and therefore should be treated with caution. But I promise that whatever I would answer will be the full truth. If I feel that you are not ready yet, I won't tell you anything till you are older." Harry didn't necessarily like that but it was still better than nothing.

"Sir, what was the Diary?"

"I don't know yet. I would have to research it. I would also appreciate if you give me that diary. Even if I don't think that anything will be found from it, due to the potency of the Basilisk venom, there is a miniscule chance that some lingering trace may be found in it."

Harry nodded and called "Dobby".

"Yes Harry Potter sir?" Dobby asked after popping in. "Can you bring me the diary I gave you?"

"Yes Harry Potter sir." He popped out before popping in again this time with the diary. He handed it to Dumbledore who took it and put it in a metal box. He thanked them before Dobby popped out.

"Sir, I wished to ask about the protections for the Philosopher's stone. They in my opinion were laughably easy sir. We three first years got through it. Why were they so easy to bypass?" This was bugging him since the past year.

Dumbledore fixed Harry with a piercing stare. Before sighting again and saying, "You thought that you faced the real traps, in their full force, didn't you? No Harry, Except the Devil's snare and the flying keys, you just went through the distractions. The first two were to lure the thief into a false sense of security. Then from the chess room, began the real challenges. Each was a deadly trap in its own. The Chess pieces were to attack once the game had finished, whilst a special paralyzing gas was released as soon as the ward was triggered. There was another trigger ward tied to the troll's consciousness and life, that would have released poisoned arrows from the walls and ceiling. The final trap you faced in all its glory. The mirror of Erised, is meant to lure people, enthralling them. Most people would have never left seeing the mirror. The fact that you had went back safely on your first night, without loosing yourself completely was a miracle. There have been several who have spent time staring at the mirror till they starved to death." Harry's eyes widened. They were foolish in their actions and would have definitely died if they would have faced the full force of the traps.

"But Lord Voldemort was always a brilliant magician. He managed to disable the traps within an hour without setting off the alert wards which would have taken even a team of the most experienced curse-breakers thrice than that. We knew that we were dealing with someone knowledgeable and powerful. The thief had already broken into Gringotts and Flamel home. And let me tell you, Perenell Flamel's wards are no joke. She is perhaps the only one who could have single handedly disabled the wards within an hour."

"So if the thief had broken her level wards once, why put something of similar level?"

Dumbledore snorted, "Harry, the thief had taken two weeks to break into the wards. Perenell and Nicholas were out of the continent that time. Alert wards don't work at such large distances."

Harry nodded, thanking the gods for saving his hide from his own foolishness.

"Voldemort said last year that he only killed my mother because she tried to stop him killing me. But why did he want to kill me in the first place?" Harry finally asked the question he had asked the previous year again

"You are not ready yet Harry... I know you will hate to hear this... But you are still too young to bear the burden of the truth." Dumbledore said serenely.

Harry nodded. He had not really expected to hear the truth. He had known he would be denied. "Thank you sir for answering my questions. I have one final one. Do I have to go back to the Dursley's this year?"

Dumbledore closed his eyes. "Yes, Harry. Unfortunately you will have to go back there. It is the safest place for you. Due to being close to your mother's blood, it strengthens the magic she gave you by her sacrifice. I even placed special blood wards there, which is not legal. I, as the Chief Warlock have it on good authority that had a normal person erected these wards, it would mean five years in Azkaban, the wizarding prison."

"Normal person. Not you?" Harry questioned immediately catching upon the loophole in the statement.

"Politics Harry is both a terrible and wonderful business. Had you had more experience with politics, you would have understood why I wouldn't get imprisoned in an instant. Let me explain. I am Albus Dumbledore, The leader of light, the Defeater of Grindelwald, The headmaster of Hogwarts, The Chief Warlock of Wizengamot, Supreme Mugwump of ICW and an holder of Order of Merlin First class. I am a revered figure in Wizarding Britain. And I broke the law to protect you, Harry Potter, the last living member of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, the only survivor of the killing curse, the defeater of Voldemort and The Boy-who-Lived." Dumbledore paused to conjure a glass of water and took a sip. "You and I are revered figures in the WHOLE magical world Harry, famous beyond Britain, beyond Europe. Of course, we won't get as much attention as we would receive here in Europe in a country, say India, which is the biggest magical nation in the world. But we would receive attention none the less. Now think, I was protecting you the savior of Magical Britain from potential death eaters. As soon as I would have listed my reasons to give you obscure protection, no one, including Lucius Malfoy would have dared voted against me, as it would have proclaimed that they didn't want you protected and wanted me imprisoned, the only reason for which would have been that they supported Voldemort." Harry finally understood what the big deal was. Politics was indeed a big game.

"I would also like to inform you that before you came to Hogwarts, the wards have killed, three death eaters, two vampires and two muggles. All who wished you harm. No person or creature meaning you harm will be able to cross the wards without disintegrating."

"Wow. So I have to go back to the Dursleys." Harry didn't like it but decided to agree.

"If it is any consolation, you need to stay there for four weeks. It takes 21 days for the wards to recharge enough to stay for a year, and one extra week to bring it to full power." Dumbledore said.

"Ok professor, I will stay there for a month, no more, no less."

"Thank you, your co operation in protecting yourself is appreciated. Now lets go for Dinner."

---

At dinner, Harry told Ron and Hermione about his wand. He just told that it was Elder wood and thunderbird feather. And his secondary was Ebony and phoenix feather. Ron got a jealous look due to the fact Harry had a new wand and he didn't.

"Ron, when are you getting a new wand? I have told you that you should get a new wand. I will pay for it! A new wand is necessary for you to give exams! With a wand like that, you will fail your exams!" Harry pleaded. He had told him the same thing since his wand had backfired the first time while cursing Malfoy.

Ron's face became determined. "No Harry mate, I won't accept money like that. I lost my wand due to my own mistake. You are not going to convince me how many times you try."

"But what of the exams Ron? Harry has a point. You won't be able to cast a single spell with that wand in exams." Hermione said.

"Then I will use one of my brother's wand then. I will not except charity." Ron said determined. It was one of Ron's qualities that confused him the most. He would get jealous if he saw someone having something better than him but would deny any money, even for a basic thing like a wand. Harry could not gift him a wand as the wand chose the wizard. Both Harry and Hermione sighted, knowing that they won't be able to persuade him into buying a new wand.

After dinner Harry wanted to visit the library to take the book Dumbledore had suggested but remembered that the library hours were after breakfast and before dinner. So he just went back to the common room with his friends. He played a game of chess with Ron, loosing spectacularly, though he blamed Hermione who was trying to help him. After that he read a few pages of the book Dumbledore had given him. It recommended meditation to control the magic. Also it suggested an interesting exercise with Lumos charm. "Lumos". A bright light formed on of his wand tip, very bright actually. He proceeded to make it dimmer and brighter again in succession. It took a few minutes, but he managed it.

He smiled in triumph. "Harry, what are you doing?" Hermione questioned. "Oh nothing, my spells were coming overpowered, so it is an exercise to control the problem."

"Oh! Should I try it too?" Hermione questioned him again. "That's your wish really. Just do a lumos and start making it brighter and dimmer." Hermione nodded and removed her wand to start practicing like him. He ideally noted that she took twice longer than him to just make it brighter.

After sometime, he went back to his dorm, and closed the curtains on his bed before he called Dobby. He appeared and Harry said, "Dobby, would you like to work for me?" at this Dobby looked like both Christmas and his birthday had come early. "Yes! Yes! Yes! It would be Dobby would be delighted to work for the great Harry Potter sir. And err... Dobby already bonded himself to the great Harry potter after you freed me from bad masters, Harry Potter sir! you see, house elves can't live without Master's Magic. Dobby is sorry sir. Dobby will be punishing himself."

"NO! wait. My first order as your master is that you will never punish yourself. And second Just call me Harry or if you wish Master Harry." Harry said stopping the elf from hitting himself. "Thank you Gre.. Master Harry. Do you need anything?"

"Yes, can you arrange my things in the old trunk into the new one? See here..." Harry explained the working of the trunk and what should go where. "Yes master harry your trunk will be arranged." Dobby looked delighted at doing work.

Harry took out his invisibility cloak and secondary wand. He had a trip to make.

Chapter 10: Training Begins

Ch. 10 Training Begins.

Harry portkeyed to the the Chamber of secrets having decided to get a hang of the sensation so that he won't make a fool of himself. He had decided to show his wands to Salazar and Helga before sleeping. He landed on his butt this time in the outer study. 'Atleast I didn't end sprawled up on the floor' He thought.

"Salazar! Helga! I got my new wands." He said after the wall slid open. "That's wonderful dear, what is it made of? And wait. Did you say wands, as in plural?"

Harry quickly told them what had exactly happened at Ollivanders and told them about his new wands. On hearing about it, Salazar let out a low whistle "That is indeed an impressive wand. I have never heard of a wand with a liquid core material, let alone phoenix tears. I won't claim to be studied in the subject of wand-lore. But as far as I know it is impressive. Morgana had a yew, chimera heartstring wand. Myrddin, while in school had a white ash, Griffin and phoenix feather wand and later fashioned himself a staff."

"The fact that you are overpowering spells would need some work on." Helga added. "But don't worry, you will get hang of it soon. We have decided to start training you from tomorrow."

'Okay. When should I come?" Harry enquired. "Do you get up early every day?" Salazar questioned. Harry nodded in affirmative and said, "at five thirty every day. It's a habit since I was six years old."

"Good. You will come here in the morning by quarter to six from tomorrow. Wear comfortable clothes in which you can move easily. We will let you go at half past seven. Then you will come back here after break fast at 8.30 and study till lunch, a house elf will bring you lunch. Then using a time turner, you will go back and attend classes. For the rest of the day, you may do your own study. This is enough for this year, and first quarter of the next year. Then we will start increasing the time afterwards. For now 6 hours is enough." Salazar said.

"And what will I be doing?" Harry questioned.

"In the morning, we shall start with exercise. One hour of exercise and rest of the time for spell casting practice. After breakfast we will dedicate time to theory of magic, Potions, Runes, occlumency, arithmancy, Political knowledge, widening your spell arsenal, Herbology, History, Healing and so on. Two to three combination of subjects a day." Salazar said.

"That's a lot of subjects."

"You won't be doing a lot till the end of this month and coincidently this academic year atleast. We will concentrate on bringing you up to a proper level for an exemplary student for each school subject, occlumency and broadening your spell arsenal. In the summer we will start with Runes, Arithmancy, politics and continue with the rest of the subjects " Helga said. Harry had to admit it was a perfect plan. Harry was also glad that he would be able to do something in the summer than sitting on his arse and being bored out of his mind.

"How will I practice magic? I can't practice magic at my relatives. Even if I come here, there are no means by which I can go back." Harry asked

"You will portkey here in the morning, follow the same schedule, till lunch and then go back using a time turner and enjoy your summer. Summer is meant to be enjoyed not spent being trained. Technically you would be able to enjoy the full summer. As for the transport issue, you will portkey here and a house elf will pop you back."

"Nice. Now I need my beauty sleep. See you guys tomorrow." Harry said waving them goodbye.

---

The next day Harry arrived on time by portkey, as Salazar had asked, wearing comfortable clothes one could exercise in. This time he fell on his but again, but felt that the spinning sensation was much less than the first time. He opened the wall, and was greeted by Salazar. "Good, you are on time. I half expected you to be late."

Harry rolled his eyes in annoyance and said, "Well, I am sorry to say but one doesn't have all his or hers expectations fulfilled. And I am known to break expectations. Like I was expected to die due to the killing curse, I was expected to fail in my first quidditch match by most of the students, I was expected by Tom Riddle to die fighting the basilisk, but none of it happened! So if you expect me to fail, it is a fools expectation." Harry sassed.

"Of course I would receive a cheeky one. Now start the exercise." Salazar grumbled.

"Can you tell me why we are doing this? I wouldn't have expected you to make me learn muggle exercise."

"Harry, exercise keeps the body fit. It will help your magic to cope with your body. Also it will help you move faster in a duel. Most wizards and witches don't do exercise. So they become fat and slow." Helga explained.

"And what is muggle exercise? Exercise is exercise there is no muggle and magical in it. Now start running three laps around the chamber" Salazar told him and Harry obeyed.

After an hour Harry was sweating profusely and his muscles were aching. Salazar and Helga had made him do 2 sets of 10 pushup, 10 squats, 10 crunches, two minute of planks. It was not much in their opinion stating that once he got the hang of it, it will be very easy. Helga had then ordered an elf to bring him a glass of fruit juice and a banana. He ate and drank the things given, thankful for it.

" Now that you have had your 5 minute break, let's see your spell casting. Show me all the spells you know that can be used in combat." Helga said. Harry casted all the jinxes and hexes he knew, which were not much, due to his incompetent teachers in DADA.

"Is that all?" Salazar questioned. At Harry's nod, he continued, "Your arsenal is very limited, we need to work on teaching you more combat spells. There were no curses, neither a single shield. Your speed of casting was Pathetic! And you are saying the spells aloud and doing unnecessary wand movements ! Your only saving grace was that whatever you cast was cast perfectly, just overpowered. That's another thing we need to work on. Additionally most of your current arsenal is useless. Only expelliarmus, serpentosortia and petrificus totalus is something that I will use in a fight. Now do that again." Harry was feeling an odd sort of emotion. He knew that by no means was he a competent spell caster. It had only been two years since he had joined the Wizarding world and had incompetent teachers. But for Salazar to find a fault in everything was something he had not expected.

"Don't be upset Harry, Salazar isn't saying this to demean you. It is not your fault that you have had such useless teachers for DADA. But learning about your shortcomings, will help you improve. It's better that we find your faults and correct you rather than an enemy to find and exploit them. And I assure you that we will help you in every way possible." Helga told him gently. Harry nodded and got into stance again.

"Your legs are too wide, no, no now they are too narrow, Yes, yes a little more... Perfect. Now turn a little. Wand a bit higher..." Salazar started to perfect his stance for a duel. He explained that such a stance would reduce body area and make it easier to dodge.

"Now your stance is correct, show me the disarming hex."

Moving his wand in a semi circle motion he said "Expelliarmus". A perfect red light hit the pillar. "Loose the wand motion, it's not needed." Harry tried again without the wand motion. He was rewarded with the same light again. "Again" Helga said. They made him do it this way for half a dozen more times. "Excellent now don't speak the incantation aloud. Only in your mind."

'Expelliarmus' he thought. The spell was not as good as his previous attempts but it came out none the less. "Try again and focus. You lost some focus last time." Salazar said. Harry did as told and this time the light was as strong as usual.

" Very good. Repeat 15 times" after his fifth or so try it was feeling easier to do it. By his tenth try it was feeling natural. Harry tried to shoot faster for the last 5 spells. It took him three seconds to shoot them. He was so engrossed that he didn't see the two founders exchange a look.

"Okay, now put the wand away and try." Harry holstered his wand and pointed his hand at the pillar. 'expelliarmus' he thought. Nothing happened. He frowned and tried again. He closed his eyes and focused for a moment before thinking again 'EXPELLIARMUS' He was rewarded with a perfect disarming hex from his palm. He smiled and tried again, this time his two mentors didn't even need to prompt. He practiced it 15 times till he was sure he could do it anytime now. It was not as potent as it was with his wand but it would be effective nevertheless.

"Now with your off hand" Helga said smiling. Harry obeyed. It was easier than the previous tries, and perfected it within 5 tries but did two more for assurance. He heard clapping. "Well done Harry" Helga said as Salazar gave him an approving nod.

" How much time do you have before you need to leave for breakfast?" Harry looked at his watch and replied that it was 7.08 and thus he had twenty minutes more.

"Good let's teach you A new spell known as the stunning spell. It's incantation is stupefy and doesn't need wand movements. It's jet is a crimson light. It knocks an opponent out for sometime, depending on the power put. It also has a counter, ennervate. It can be blocked with a simple protego. It is a spell widely used by aurors. " Salazar said. It took harry four tries to get the spell correct verbally. He then proceeded to repeat the procedure as he did with the disarming hex. Before breakfast he had perfected the stunner.

"Good. Remember this spell. It is extremely useful. Also I suggest you to buy a diary, to write these spells you learn in. Now after breakfast we will do occlumency and theory of magic today." Helga said. "Now go and have a healthy breakfast. Eating healthy food is important for your magic and body. Eat fruits and protein. I will recommend you to eat atleast one egg with it."

Harry nodded. He usually had bacon and eggs for breakfast or toasts and sometimes pancakes if he felt like it.

"After you come back we will start with theory of magic and occlumency. Now go have a good breakfast as Helga said. It is necessary for you to eat proper now as your magic will start maturing with your body in puberty." Salazar said.

Harry nodded and called for dobby.

"Dobby, please pop me back to my room after I wear my invisibility cloak." And he was off.

After breakfast Harry returned to the chamber by saying, "Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus"

It was certainly a long password, but who was he to argue over something done almost 2 millennia ago.

The rest of the time till lunch was spent in learning magical theory and occlumency. Harry realized that there was much more to magic, then just using spells, Runes and potions. Each had its own reason for use and its own advantages. For example if one wants to cheer a person, they could use a cheering charm, a happiness potion or make a runic array for the same purpose on an object.

Spells were the quickest way, potions would not need magic and runes would make the effect from the object permanent.

Also each branch of magic had a different fundamental. Charms required intent, transfiguration needed visualization and hexes, jinxes and curses depended on Arithmancy and thus incantation as their main aspects of casting.

Occlumency, at initial stage required clearing the mind of all thoughts. Once this was achieved, one would have to reorganize their thoughts by slipping into their subconscious. The next step was forming a shield like object around these thoughts. This shield would protect against intrusion. Whilst clearing the mind would stop Legilimency at surface thought, but won't protect against a proper probe. This was the maximum the majority would go in the study if Occlumency. After that came the making of a mind place. This took the longest to do. After that came adding defenses in the mind place and forming an additional mental shield. This was where the most determined people stopped. But there were two extra levels in the art. Levels due to which Dumbledore, Grindelwald and Voldemort were so great at magic and called master Occlumens. The mind arts were indeed the most powerful magic to be studied. The sixth step was finding the magical core. This actually was the stage where one to find and merge with their Animagus form, if one used the mind arts technique to become an Animagus that is. There was the other method of using a potion. It enabled one to find their form quickly, but it took a lot more time to master the changing of forms. The mind arts technique was the opposite. It took patience to find their form but the change would become instantaneous. Another advantage was that due to this method the person's senses increased to suit their animal form. Canines and Felines would get better eye sight and hearing, while perhaps a snake Animagus would be able to feel the motions.

The final step was connecting the magical core and the mind. It enabled the person to bend magic to their whims, literally. This step made Dumbledore, Voldemort, Grindelwald, Merlin, Morgana and the founders superior magic users, Titans of magic. Of course they were more powerful than other witches and wizards but there had been other witches and wizards who were as powerful as them in terms of raw power, but didn't measure up to their level simply because they could not bend magic like they did. Harry vowed to master that level as soon as possible. "Before my OWL exams I will be a master Occlumen." He said to himself. He would be great. He would make his parents proud. He would not disappoint his mother. He would surpass them all. And for that, his training had begun.

Chapter 11: Exams! the Bane of a Student's Existence

Ch.11 Exams! the Bane of a Student's  Existence

The next two weeks passed and Harry's training continued. He now had atleast a few spells that he could use in combat, all or which he could also do wandlessly too. He was now atleast an above average student in potions which was previously his worse class, thanks to Snape. He was now sure that he could score an E on the practical and a straight O at written even if Snape was biased. Occlumency was already helping him remember things much better than before. He was at the second stage, the organization of the mind, and would do it every night before sleep and With the founders, thrice a week. He by no means had a photographic memory yet, but his retention and learning speed, theory that is was atleast Hermione level now.

He had found that his learning speed for practical was very fast. Now he got a spell right on the first or the second try. McGonagall and Flitwick were impressed by his progress. Hermione had questioned him how was he doing it so fast when she herself was taking a dozen tries atleast. He had replied that she had missed two weeks of classes and the magic controlling exercise was helping him learn faster. Hermione had decided after the initial try that the thing was useless and had not continued practicing it.

On another note, Professor Dumbledore was now taking the DADA classes. He had to admit that Dumbledore was an excellent teacher. On par with Salazar and Helga in his opinion. Dumbledore had brought the students up to speed for what should have actually consisted the curriculum in just 4 lectures, that is 12 hours, as he had taken the double slots. Everyone enjoyed his classes. Even Malfoy and his cronies didn't complain. Now the class was hugely practical, Harry was at the top followed by Daphne Greengrass of Slytherin, Susan Bones from Hufflepuff and Hermione, much to the chagrins of Ravenclaw house and Hermione.

Also the past two weeks had seen most students going into a studying frenzy. Almost everyone in the castle had expected that the exams except OWLs and NEWTs won't take place. Hermione also dragged him to the library everyday to study. Ron always ran away after a couple of hours and he was left, not that he had a problem. He himself would study theoretical subjects like History, Herbology, Astronomy and other subjects theory part. He was sure that he would do perfectly in practical's but theory may bring his level down. He could not let that happen. Number one spot was going to be his.

---

On first June, most second year students were preparing for transfiguration exam, their second one. In the morning there was the theory paper and after lunch were the practical's.

At breakfast table, Harry saw an owl heading towards Hermione and Colin. Their Gringotts notice had arrived. Hermione read the letter and gaped. Harry, even though he knew what exactly was in it, asked what happened.

"Harry... Harry someone has opened a vault in my name... And has deposited a 100,000 G in it!"

"Wow it looks like you have an admirer... or on second thoughts perhaps someone gave the basilisk victims compensation." He said pointing at Colin, who was also jumping up and down on his seat. He applauded himself for his good acting.

"Harry, what do you know?" Hermione asked with narrowed eyes.

Shit! He should not have jinxed it! He also had to work on his acting skills.

"What!? Nothing. I know nothing. I just put the clues together!" He said defensively.

Hermione pulled him out of the great hall, with Ron following. "But Hermione, Breakfast" he whined which fell on deaf years. Hermione led him to an empty classroom. " Now Harry James Potter, tell me what do you know. Did you give your money to us?"

"What no... No... It was not my money that was sent!" An angry Hermione was terrific. He wasn't this scared of the Basilisk who had a killer gaze and was 50 times longer than her... Okay an exaggeration... But you get it!

"Ah! So you know what happened. Spill!" Harry took a deep breath, " Okay, I might have... Persuaded... Lucius Malfoy to give all victims of the chamber of secrets, a... Donation of 100,000 G. That includes Hagrid, me, Ron and Ginny!"

"Wait! You are saying that you gave us money that too 200,000 G! Harry I told you..." Ron started before he was interrupted.

" Ron it wasn't my money! It was Malfoy's. And no, it's not a donation, it was Lucius Malfoy paying for his crimes." Harry snapped. " What do you mean crimes? See mate I know Malfoy was a Death Eater but that does not mean he has to pay for the petrified students." Harry started to take a calming breath, "Ron, do you remember that Mr. Malfoy bumped into us in the book shop in Diagon Alley? Well I remember Lucius Malfoy picking up Ginny's books and giving it back to her. And Ginny told us that she got the diary with her school books." Hermione's eyes went wide and Ron got angry.

"That Bastard! I will kill him!" Saying so he stormed towards the door likely to do something stupid. But didn't reached it because harry had hit him with a wandless petrificus totalis. "Ron! Calm down! Malfoy has been dealt with. Don't do something stupid! Just take a deep breath, yes calm down. Trust me Lucius Malfoy won't be a problem now how much ever he hates us."

"Harry, did you... did you kill him" Hermione asked hesitantly. Harry realized that his words were interpreted in a wrong way. He knew even if he said yes, Hermione would not have left him. Ron was likely to start celebrating.

"No... No I did not kill him, I am not a murderer Hermione. Lucius Malfoy is in perfect health, I assure you. But he won't be able to harm us directly or indirectly, unless he wishes to die." Harry smirked.

"You made him take a vow, didn't you?" Hermione, as brilliant as ever, asked. Harry nodded. "Would you tell us how you did it?"

"I told you that I persuaded him Hermione." Harry said, but Hermione got the underlying meaning. She nodded and said, "Just so you know, I won't have thought of you any less if you had killed him without getting caught... But its the best you didn't. Malfoy is a Death Eater and has committed numerous crimes. It would have been a bad guy less but you would have to live with the fact that you killed. My dad was in the Marines. He always said that people who are cold blooded murders and kill for pleasure, had everything coming for them as a fair game."

"I thought they were dentists?" Harry asked, glad he was right about Hermione.

"Mum is. Dad helps her. " She replied. They turned to Ron who was still in a body bind. "Are you calm enough?" Ron blinked in confirmation. "Finite Incantenum" Hermione freed him from the body bind. Ron got up and dusted his robes. He quietly said, "Thank you Harry, for what you did for my Family."

"Anytime Ron. Anytime. Now Lets go. We have the transfiguration exam in fifteen minutes."

"OH NO! I can't revise the notes now!" Hermione Exclaimed distraught. "I am sure you will do fine Hermione."

"Yes, Yes Hermione. You will." Ron affirmed.

---

It was four days later, that the Trio found themselves in the DADA classroom in front of Dumbledore for Practical exams. "Good afternoon students. Welcome to the practical Exams for the Defense against the Dark Arts course. For this exam I will ask you to demonstrate seven spells out of the forty in the curriculum. Marks will be given on how well you do a spell. A perfectly cast spell will earn you full marks. Further, you have to demonstrate three spells of your own choosing on that dummy. It may be of the second year syllabus, First year syllabus or a spell not taught yet. These marks will be given on the difficulty of the chosen spell, how well it is cast and its use in DADA. You have to also explain what spell you are doing before you cast. Now I will take out a name out of the bowl and the said person would perform in front of the class."

"First is... Lily Moon... Ms. Moon please come here..." The test started. Harry was getting the feeling that he may be the last as by now only him, Hermione, Abbot, Crabbe and Padma were remaining. So far if he had to place a ranking, Greengrass was the best, she had done all spells asked perfectly and then showed the class a stunner, A knee reversal hex, which harry found interesting, and a Diffindo.

Bones was next, doing all spells perfectly and performing a stunner, an Expelliarmus and the Langlock, tounge tying charm.

Hermione's chance came and she too did all the spells perfectly and doing a stunner, Diffindo and Immobulos.

Then came the man of the hour, him. He was the last one. He didn't think this was a coincidence. He went to the front of the class and as Dumbledore asked performed all the spells perfectly and he had been asked to do the spells which were the hardest to perform in the syllabus. "Now Mr. Potter please show us three spells of your choosing."

Harry nodded and said, "My first spell is the Smoke-screen spell. It produces a white fog which hinders visibility enabling a person to hide. Fumos." A perfect fog enveloped the whole class. The visibility was hardly two feet after the spell was finished. That was till Dumbledore blew it away by making wind. 'The ventus charm' Harry realized. "Mr. Potter, I must say a most wonderful spell, one not taught at Hogwarts, but found in several reference books. It was perfectly cast. Next spell please."

"My next spell is an enhanced version of the Arrow shooting spell. It shoots three arrows instead of one. Triplexi Saggita" Three arrows impacted the dummy. One in the shoulder, one in the heart and one on the forehead. Dumbledore's eyebrows raised. "An excellent spell again Mr. Potter, one used by several duelers in the dueling ring. And you even shot it perfectly. Now your last one."

Harry readied himself. His next spell was the one he had learned just a couple of days ago, under the founders tutelage. "My last spell will be the shield charm, Protego. It is a defense against several mid level jinxes and hexes, and can withstand even low level curses." Many in the class were gaping, no doubt knowing that the famous shield charm was an owl level spell. They currently had only learned Aegis Shieldus, a shield to stop extremely low level jinxes and hexes. "Mr. Potter, mind if I test your shield? Then once you cast, please keep your wand on the teacher's desk so it can't be reinforced." He added after Harry shook his head that he didn't mind.

Professor Dumbledore stepped in front of him, a few meters away and took out his wand. Harry took a deep breath. He was confident that his shield would be perfect. Salazar and Helga had made him practice till it formed perfectly even without a wand or an incantation. So he was sure that with his wand it will be flawless. The problem? Dumbledore was the one testing his shield. "Protego." He cast a perfect shield, overpowering it a bit too and put his wand aside. "Perfectly cast Mr. Potter. Not a single ripple. Now let's test how much it will withstand." Saying so he whipped out his wand and shot an Expelliarmus at the shield. It held. Dumbledore nodded and shot two more. It still held. He knew Dumbledore had called him the last for a reason. Why? He didn't know, but guessed like a showman holds his most impressive trick for the end, Dumbledore had held his star student for the last demonstration.

Dumbledore shot two more disarming hexes at it. He frowned when it held. He had expected it to break. And it would have if Harry had not overpowered it. Dumbledore looked at it critically. He raised his wand again and shot a minor blasting hex, Expulso. Harry knew this was it. The shield would break now. To his surprise it didn't. Well not exactly. After the spell hit, it started flickering, Showing it was on the verge of breaking. A simple stinging hex and that was it. But he was proud that the shield had withstood 5 expelliarmuses and an Expulso from Dumbledore, no less, even if he had not reinforced it. Dumbledore finally shot an Expelliarmus again. The shield finally broke. The spell rushed towards Harry. His eyes widened and he side stepped the spell allowing it to pass and hit the wall behind. He then heard clapping. Dumbledore was applauding and soon the class followed the loudest coming from Hermione. He blushed a bit. "Mr. Potter, I must say, that was the most powerful Protego shield I have seen. It was commendable that it held so much. Now please take your seat."

Albus Dumbledore was going through a plethora of emotions internally. He had called Harry in the end, the only reason being that the show should end with a bang. He had asked Harry to demonstrate the toughest spells in the curriculum knowing that he would perform it flawlessly. He was their teacher for the last few weeks after all! And he was right. Harry did it as expected. When he asked Harry to show the spells of his spells the first one he did was fumos, the smoke screen spell. That too at such a level that he could not see more than two feet ahead of him. He blew it away using the wind making charm. Next the boy showed the Triplexi Saggita spell of all spells available. It was a spell used by professional duelers in the dueling championships. Next was a flawless Protego an OWL level spell for sure, and Harry would have received full marks for it. When he tested the Shield He was shocked. Most Protego shields done by Aurors and Hitwizards wouldn't survive more than two or maximum three Expelliarmus spells by him. When the shield withstood two more expelliarmuses, He was shocked. Only a Protego shield cast by Alastor Moody, Amelia Bones, Filius Flitwick, Bellatrix Lestrange and likes would have held for so long! He finally shot an Expulso hoping to break the shield. It stood, though barely. By so much damage Only perhaps a Protego cast by Gellert or tom would hold, perhaps even theirs would break by the expulso cast by the death-stick. The Dark Lords equal. Indeed. His final spell broke it, at last! Harry gracefully sidestepped the incoming spell. He applauded genuinely impressed by the performance. Harry Potter had received full marks.

---

The next morning exams had ended with History being the last paper. Now the school awaited results which would be up in five days. They had a week before they the school year ended and they were back in the Hogwarts express. Most students were loitering about the courtyards in casual clothes and a batch of students were playing a pickup match of Quidditch. Only some of the Seventh years were inside preparing for their Ancient Runes Paper the next day. Harry was sure to get the first position in Charms, DADA and Transfiguration. His other subjects ranks depended on how others had done in the exams. And Potions was on Snape's mood.

The trio were currently at Hagrid's telling him about the Exams and the school year. It was fun. They talked about mundane things, and before they left, even showed them new unicorn Foals in the forest. They were golden in colour and cute. Harry even joked about taking one home.

As for Harry's personal studies, He was progressing fairly well. He had almost completely reorganized his mind. By the end of the school year he would probably start his mind shield. Even Salazar said that the speed was very fast for someone so young. For combat he was doing good. His endless page journal was filled with around 40-50 new spells already and guessed would be twice than that atleast before his third year began. Salazar and Helga had even increased his physical exercise by one whole set. But now, he didn't get as tired as he was when they first started. A subtle change could be seen in his physique, not too noticeable but he now had some muscle mass than before. He no longer looked emaciated and gained a couple of stones of weight, thanks to Helga's diet.

He had also learnt to do wanded magic while using his off hand and secondary wand. Salazar had made him do it. He said, "An intelligent person is always prepared for every eventuality in a duel. If you break your wand arm during a fight, you should atleast have some idea on how to duel with your off arm. If you can aim properly at the very atleast, you have a greater chance of getting away then if you can use your wand arm only! I am not saying that you need to become as capable with your off hand in doing magic as your wand arm. If you can do that, a lot better for you. But you should atleast be able to shoot spells properly with it."

When he had questioned the founders why his off hand magic was less potent than while using his wand in the right hand, while there was no difference with wandless magic Helga had answered, "Harry, the answer lies deep in wand-lore. I am not going to explain the whole thing, as even I don't know everything, but in simple terms there is a deeper connection between your wand and dominant hand. As for the wandless magic, only a wizard or witch with arch-mage ability can do it and is uncharted waters. Even Morgana had asked us the same thing. Wandless magic in both arms for her was equal, but with a wand, her left hand was better. And just because you can do wandless magic, remember fighting an all out duel without a wand is suicide. Even Morgana said that. Wandless magic is neither as potent nor as fast as magic with a wand. Wandless magic should only be used as a support, nothing more." Helga and Salazar had several time said the last fact, drilling it into his mind.

Harry smiled at the memories. They had become like an aunt and uncle for Harry. Even though they were portraits, Harry had grown attached to them. Helga's mothering and Salazar's dry sarcasm were always refreshing for the boy who had practically spent his life alone for ten years being mentally abused. Helga had made him talk about it saying that he shouldn't keep it within him forever it had helped indeed. He felt better, lighter in a way. He had more self confidence since his training had started. He was picking Salazar's dry sarcasm. He still could not believe that he was Salazar's descendent. When he had asked what it meant, the man had just shrugged and said "Nothing, we were long gone before the government and Gringotts was founded. All we have is within this school. It was just to tell you we were related and I am your several times great Grandfather."

Chapter 12: End of the Second Year

Ch.12 End of the Second Year

Harry was walking around the Black lake. It was just after his trip from the chamber and training with Helga and Salazar. Today he had finally started making his mind shields meaning he was on the stage three for Occlumency. The other topic had been Politics. Salazar and Helga had started telling him about every person around him, their affiliation, political and house standings etc. He now had lot of information specially about his year mates and students a year above and below him. He also had information about every single person in a high position at the ministry and the Sacred 28. Salazar said that it was good to know about people who rule you and who are around you. This was their second session. In the first one, they had taught him about basics of Wizengamot, British Ministry, ICW and basic etiquette for a lord. He would be learning much more over the summer. Salazar had said that if he put himself in it, he would easily be able to handle himself atleast with Politicians. Grasp the double speak and all, even manipulate them a bit. of course not Dumbledore's level but a lot better than several other novices. He would be taught by Salazar Slytherin, the king of cunning after all (Salazar's words, not his).

He had learnt that in the Political arena of Britain currently, Dumbledore was the most powerful political figure followed by Amelia Bones, Head of DMLE, Reagent of Most Noble and Most ancient House of Bones, Former hit-witch, one of the most successful at that followed by Augusta Longbottom, Neville's Grandmother who was the Reagent of Most Noble and Most ancient House of Longbottom and a consummate politician closely followed by Cyrus Greengrass, Lord of Most Noble and Most ancient House of Greengrass and the leader of Neutrals. The Dark faction's leadership was always unstable and the Selwyn seat was empty as the lord, Lady and heir were in Azkaban. Same with Black. He thought with a snarl. Voldemort's boot lickers, each of them. Lucius Malfoy had power because he bribed Fudge. Corruption.

Among the students, most politically powerful were himself, being at the top due to being the only head of Most Noble and Most ancient House in the school, a namesake position really showcasing they are the oldest living person in the family and was the future lord of the family. And of course his position as the boy who lived made him even more politically powerful. He was followed by Susan Bones, future Lady Bones and surprisingly Neville Longbottom, future Lord Longbottom. Then came Daphne Greengrass, Heiress of Most Noble and Most ancient House of Greengrass. He ideally noted that all were his year mates, all 12 years old more politically powerful than the seventh years. He also came to know that Slytherin was led by Heir Rosier and Angela Zabini daughter of the Black Widow of Britain, not Malfoy. Malfoy just had his boyfriends and Parkinson and threw his father's money and name around.

Currently he was throwing rocks at the water watching them bounce on its surface. He heard someone approach. He turned around. Daphne Greengrass was approaching him. "Potter, I have been looking for you." She said in greeting. "Ms. Greengrass, its a pleasure." He said kissing her knuckles. He didn't really have to, but Helga said it was polite to do so for ladies who were of equal standing or higher to him atleast, if not all. It was sort of a compliment that should atleast be paid in a formal setting or Meeting a Lady of a house for the first time.

Greengrass raised an eyebrow, "Didn't know you were one for political etiquette Potter." She said.

"Oh, I was merely complimenting a beautiful Lady. There was no politics I assure you my Lady. What can I do for you." He said with a lopsided charming smile, another thing taught, surprisingly by Helga, along with intimidation techniques to woo, comfort or confront. But it was Salazar who had taught him his favorite- Making his eyes glow and swirl with power with a brief flaring of his magic. It looked deadly beautiful.

" I just wished to ask you if you could teach me the spells you did in the DADA practical. They were very good and looked useful."

Harry looked at her with a calculating stare. Daphne felt that she was being judged by those beautiful soul piercing emerald green orbs. After a few seconds Harry finally spoke, "Forgive me Miss Greengrass, but what is in it for me?"

"I didn't take you for a Slytherin Mr. Potter." She replied. "Miss Greengrass, we all have a bit of Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw inside of us, just the most dominant wins and we get sorted. But you didn't answer my question, what is in it for me?" Harry shot back.

Greengrass stared at him again before sightings and saying, "You teach me two spells, I will teach you two. Teach me your smokescreen and arrow spell, I will teach you knee reversal hex and stunner. And if you are interested in dueling I can become your dueling partner, if you want."

Daphne was initially hesitant to reach out to Potter. He was the Gryffindor Golden boy. And hated Malfoy and anything to do with Slytherin, atleast that was what Malfoy proclaimed. She had never entertained the blonde ponce. He gave a bad name to Slytherin by making enemies left right and center. When Filch's cat was found petrified with the message written about the chamber, the fool had loudly proclaimed that the muggleborns would be next, and used the slur. Her father, an ex-auror had always taught her that one should be judged by magical ability than blood.

She had taken more of an interest in Potter after he had become the top student after the heir of Slytherin had been caught. Before he was just average at best. He was the future Lord Potter, and the boy who lived. He would make an excellent Ally in the Wizengamot in the future. And if house Potter joined the neutral alliance, it would be a huge asset. She had to think of all this as she was the future Lady Greengrass.

Harry on the other hand was thinking along the same lines was thinking similarly. Heiress Greengrass would make an excellent Ally. Both against Voldemort and in the future. Harry and the founders had discussed at length about Voldemort and the war that may come. All had agreed that Harry would be at the center of it. They had discussed Voldemort's action in the last war. His strategies, tactics, allies, chief benefactors to his cause, and most importantly his inner circle-the most cruel and ruthless followers of Voldemort and his most loyal.

They had also discussed the ministry and an organization known as the order of the phoenix, a group led by Dumbledore against Voldemort in the last war. His parents were a part of it Salazar had told Harry that alliances must be formed, and Helga had added that it be converted into friendship if possible, as friendship bond would be stronger than a mere ally. Of course both may betray you, but nonetheless. At the top of the list were three people, Susan Bones, Neville and Daphne Greengrass. None from the dark faction or supporting Voldemort. Also Susan Bones and Neville had lost their parents to Voldemort's reign of terror, like himself. To start making alliances, Greengrass was giving him an opportunity on a silver platter.

"What makes you think that I can't find the spell and practice it? Also why didn't you?" Harry questioned her.

She shrugged and then said, "I could, but I didn't want to. Also I wanted a dueling partner. I saw your performance in class. It was good. We both could benefit from having a partner in each other."

"Oh! And here I was thinking along the lines of you hoping to take me on a date, after seeing my handsome face. But a bloke can't get everything can he?" Harry said in faux disappointment. Greengrass sputtered and choked on her spit and blushed.

"What... No-no I -" she started but was interrupted by Harry. Potter had broke the ice queen persona of her with a single comment.

"And I am afraid miss Greengrass you have to find a better spell than the stunner if you want to learn the arrow spell, I already know that one. Come here back tomorrow, same time. If you are here with a good spell, consider both your offers accepted. Till then goodbye!" Having the last word Harry spun and strolled away leaving a blushing and sputtering Daphne Greengrass in the wake. Throwing a person off their guard and having the last word. Salazar would be proud of this move.

The next day, Daphne Greengrass had indeed came back. Harry smiled. "So you came indeed came milady. I expect that you have a good spell for exchange of the arrow spell."

"Indeed I do Potter." She had no delusion of the fact that potter's spell knowledge and magic ability was superior to her owns. A perfect Protego at age of 12 was very impressive. It was a spell which gave the most trouble to OWL level students, and one which withstood seven spells from Albus Dumbledore himself. Apparently once you mastered the Protego charm, other shield charms were a lot more easier to learn, so Potter had a three years head start in learning shields. His other spells were not a part of the Hogwarts curriculum. So she wanted to learn that first. Protego could be learnt from a older student too.

"My spell has a similar function to your arrow spell. The ice spike." She pointed her wand at the water and said Spikus Glaceii. A 6-inch spike of ice formed from the water and shot forward. Harry nodded. "Where did you get this spell from?"

"Salacia Goldhorn's 100 easy yet impressive spells book. Where did you get yours?"

"Confronting the faceless: A guide to defense against the dark arts. It is a reference book for OWL level students." The book mostly had elaborated instructions to cast spells from the OWL curriculum for students, but there were a few extra useful spells in it. He had not read the full book yet, only the parts which had the spells he was taught. Helga had insisted that even though he was learning the spell, he should know the theory behind it completely. They were yet to teach him some super-rare spell long lost to time. They were only teaching him known, school level spells much to his disappointment since he had envisioned learning spells that no one knew about, extremely flashy magic etc.

"Oh!" Daphne said lamely. She had not expected the spells she wanted to learn from potter to be in a simple reference book, one widely known. She had expected it from a book rarely known or from the restricted section. "So when will you teach me?" She asked.

"Now, if you want. We will take alternate turns to teach each other the spells. First, you teach me your knee reversal hex, then I will teach you the arrow spell, and so on."

An hour later, Daphne found herself in the middle of a light fog. She had finally successfully cast the fumos spell. Potter was a decent teacher and a very fast learner. He was certainly much better than the stuttering fool Quirrell and Lockhart. He had only taken a few tries to get the spells right. They had struck a light conversation, and Daphne felt that she was pleasantly enjoying his company. She had also dropped her ice queen barriers a bit. He was already better than any other boy in Slytherin she had ever talked to. Both shared an interest in dueling and had agreed to practice together for a few hours every week, secretly of course. She had even told him that most people in her house found Draco as an annoying blonde ponce who had nothing of note except his father's money. He had just laughed. The rivalry between the two was well known and it was clear that potter always had an upper hand as he regularly put Malfoy in his place. It was always entertaining. She suddenly found a light breeze blowing it away. A simple ventis charm. A third year charm. Potter was indeed ahead of her and others in their year. She did not know if somehow he had suddenly came to posses all the spell knowledge and ability or was merely hiding his true potential until now but didn't ask. "Thank you Potter. I certainly enjoyed it. I look forward to see you next year and practice with you." She said.

"I aim to please My lady. I certainly look forward to seeing a beautiful girl as yourself more frequently, Ms. Greengrass." He answered. Daphne blushed a bit at the compliment. Potter had gave her several compliments and she found herself flattered. She found herself not needing to be an ice-queen but could be merely like a normal 12, nearly 13 year old girl in his company. She said, "You should call me Daphne."

"Only if you call me Harry." He gave his standard lopsided grin. She found herself giving him a wide smile in return. "Harry it is then."

---

"So how did it go with the Greengrass girl?" Helga questioned him once he returned to the chamber. They had told him to come and tell them what had transpired.

"I have an ally now. She is a good one, atleast that is what I think. She does not buy into the pureblood ideology as we had guessed. Also I guess we were right about her approaching me for the political support in future. She asked me about my political standings indirectly but I sidestepped it." He said.

"That is good. But what is actually your political agenda? Like what do you wish to do and achieve? Now you should atleast have an idea about it."

"I want an equal country where people are not judged by their blood but instead merit. You told about incompetent fools running the ministry just because they are purebloods. I also wish for equal rights for part creature witches and wizards, as they are discriminated terribly for something they have no control over. Finally I have thought of one bill I want to pass. A bill which will make it compulsory for a muggleborns home conditions to be checked at regular intervals by school or ministry authorities after their first bout of accidental magic is recorded. If found lacking or abusive, they will be removed from there and be put in with a magical family or in a magical orphanage. I also want to start a pre-school for them and others who wish to attend, which will teach them all basics that the purebloods learn. It may start a year before Hogwarts enabling them to fit better into this new world."

Salazar and Helga looked at him with impressed looks. "It is certainly an ambitious goal. The bill and school idea is excellent I must admit. A proper presentation and it will most likely change the lives of several muggleborns who may have grew up in less than savory conditions."

"Yes, I agree. We have taught you well and will continue doing so. Now we need to discuss some things for the summer." Helga said.

"What about it? We have already went through how I will come and..." Harry started but was interrupted. "No... I am not talking about that. Salazar and I have decided which two rituals you should do next. They are date and day oriented, so can't be performed anytime one wishes." Harry nodded and gave them a go on motion.

"The first ritual you will do on 24 June, the summer solstice which is 12 days from now. It is a healing and immunity ritual. This one will heal you or any ailments or defects you have till date and fasten your healing speed a bit, a tiny bit mind you and immunity from several diseases, both magical and muggle. Read the list of ingredients you will need and buy them timely. Also you need venom from a snake or magical beast you have killed for the ritual. The venom you put in the ritual will give you complete immunity to poisons of that potency and lower, and considering you have slayed a Basilisk, a creature with the most potent venom in the world, I daresay no poison will be able to harm you the slightest, except perhaps the Nundu breath, which will make you violently sick. Also while we are at that what do you plan to do with Bessie's Corpse." Bessie was the name Salazar had given to his Basilisk.

"Truthfully speaking, I am not sure. I don't know to harvest a magical creature let alone a Basilisk. And I am not bringing any other person in here. Even the outer chamber. Now I wanted to ask that will this ritual heal my eyes? The glasses are annoying."

"Yes it will. And you don't need to bring another person in here. Just call the house elves. They will do it. Or instead I will. Hogwarts has hundreds of elves after all. You should sell the meat. Keep the skin, venom and heart. The skin could be used to make excellent vest armors, more magic resistant than dragon hide and much more flexible. As for its venom and heart, they can be used in rituals."

'Yay! No more glasses!' Harry thought. "And what about the other ritual?"

"The second one will be done on your thirteenth Birthday. It is known as the puberty ritual. One can only do that on their thirteenth Birthday. It will improve your features, like make you more handsome and taller than you would have been as puberty will progress. It is a long term gradual Ritual which will continue working till you reach sixteen but most effects will be visible within a year. It will also reduce the less desirable effects of puberty like mood swings and acne problems. It will also benefit you more when you work out. It will also endow you with better male antonymy making you more desirable in bed." Helga finished. Harry blushed furiously at her last sentence. It was indeed a good ritual. He was not vain by any means but he preferred to look good. And he was a teenage boy. Of course he would prefer that girls looked at him!

"Ok, nice. I will be prepared. Anything else or should I head back?"

"No, No that is all. You can go back. All the Best for your results tomorrow." Helga said. Harry thanked her and left

---

The next morning before breakfast, a crowd was witnessed near notice boards in the Common Rooms. The reason? Their Overall ranking had been displayed. They would be receiving detailed scores at breakfast. McGonagall had come in at seven in the morning and put it up. Immediately after she left a crowd had formed. Obviously no one was foolish to do it in her presence, while she was working. Harry and Hermione jostled their way through to see it. The results were:

SECOND YEAR STUDENTS FINAL EXAM RANKING

YEAR 1992-93

1. Harry James Potter, Gryffindor

2. Hermione Jean Granger, Gryffindor and Daphne Greengrass, Slytherin

3. Padma Patil, Ravenclaw

4. Lisa Turnip, Ravenclaw and Terry Boot, Ravenclaw

5. Susan Bones, Hufflepuff

6. Blaise Zabini, Slytherin

7. Lily Moon, Slytherin and Nicholas Clayden, Ravenclaw

Harry did not bother reading further. He was first. Whooping in joy, he turned to hug Hermione who was looking at the board. "I topped Hermione! We are the first two! Isn't that awesome? The best in our year!" He half yelled.

"Yes, Yes. We are the first...two in our year. Congrats Harry. You topped." She said in happiness. She looked genuinely happy but was a bit sadness in it too, probably from coming second. She probably expected first position, but was second. Harry had surpassed her. Harry sensing that pulled her aside into a corner.

"What's the matter 'mione?" He asked. He had guessed it but wanted to hear it from her. "Nothing Harry, I am so Happy! We are the first two!"

"Hermione... I know you enough. tell me what troubles you." Harry said firmly. At this her eyes teared up. "Now you are first, I am afraid you won't need me anymore Harry. It was nice being your friend." She turned away. Harry blinked. That was not what he had expected. Hermione thought that their friendship would end because he was now better than her academically.

He slapped her on the back of her head. "OW!" she exclaimed. He spoke, "Hermione, you silly girl, we are friends not because of grades. We are best friends because of our personalities, not because I wanted your help. I won't leave you like that just because I have more marks than you."

"Promise?"

"Best friends forever Hermione, I promise." She caught him into a rib crushing hug. "Thank you Harry. Best friends forever." She said with tears flowing down her cheeks. "Don't cry Hermione. Its time to celebrate! Now I only want to see a smile on your face. No tears." He said wiping her tears with his sleeve. She nodded. And they walked together for breakfast but stopped before They reached the portrait hole, as They remembered Ron. He had woken up but was yet to come down. Harry told Hermione that he will check his rank, as he should know. Ron was the 5th overall, from the last that is. He had come 52nd from the top in the class of 57. Most likely he had barely passed. The boy seriously needed to improve and take studies seriously.

When they informed him about it he had congratulated them, after expressing a bit disbelief at the fact that Harry had beaten Hermione. For his own rank he said that he wanted to become a coach for Chudely Cannons and play Quidditch. Grades were not needed for it. He cited the example of Apollius Troy, a world famous chaser who had failed his NEWTs. They just shook their heads and decided not to push it. They headed for Breakfast.

In the great hall, there were several people but some were still not present, most likely sleeping in. A few minutes later Harry was eating scrambled eggs and bacon. McGonagall chose that time to arrive to hand their detailed results. Wiping his hands and mouth with a napkin he accepted it from her. She spoke, "Mr. Potter, I must say that this year your grades are exemplary. Yours too miss Granger. It makes me proud that the top two students in the year are my lions. I hope you would keep this performance up in the coming years."

"I will Professor." Harry and Hermione said. The Transfiguration Professor nodded and continued to hand out results.

He looked at his results.

SECOND YEAR(1992-93) FINAL EXAM RESULTS

STUDENT: Harry James Potter

HOUSE: Gryffindor

OVERALL RANK: 1st

SUBJECT RESULTS: Subject-Theory-Practical- Subject Rank

Transfiguration- O - O+ - 1st

Charms-O-O-1st

Potions- O - E -6th

History of Magic- E - N/A - 5th

Defence Against the Dark Arts- O+ - O+ - 1st

Astronomy- O - N/A - 4th

Herbology- O - E- 4th

He was happy with his results. Snape had cut his marks for a perfect potion. But that man was a lost cause. Apparently he could not cut his marks in theory. 'Probably as we can give it for rechecking and he did not want to risk being caught.' He thought. His mother would be proud of it. She was known as the brightest witch of her generation, that's what Hagrid had told him.

---

On 14th June, Harry, Ron and Hermione found themselves in a compartment aboard the Hogwarts express. They had just handed of their Elective forms to McGonagall who stood at the door collecting it as student left the common room. Harry had chosen Ancient Runes, Arithmancy and Care of Magical creatures. Hermione had chosen all of the subjects. The girl was an academically obsessed freak. Ron had chosen Divination and Muggle studies for an easy grade. He was upset that Harry was not going to be with him but when Harry suggested that he took the subjects as he did he had backed off saying he wanted an easy grade.

Currently they were discussing plans for Summer. Harry just told that his was going to be boring. Hermione was going to France while Ron was going to visit his elder brother Bill in Egypt. Together they headed towards London, back to the muggle world. Harry was still going to visit Hogwarts, The chamber of secrets to be specific everyday. His arrangements were made. He would come by portkey to the chamber and leave with Dobby's help. He would use the time turner only if he wanted.

He had planned to tell this to his relatives and stay out of their way for a busy summer.

Notes:

An Important thing I want to tell you all. It is regarding Harry's friendships.
HERMIONE: She would be Harry's version of Bellatrix Lestrange, except the deranged murderer part in my fic. She would be his most loyal and most trustworthy. They would share a very close sibling like bond.

RONALD: Ron will be a lazy ass, not willing to do much school work, but will still be a loyal friend to Harry. He would have bouts of Jealousy like he had in canon and eventually their friendship would lessen especially after the Selection of champions in GOF. Harry would be friends with him, but no longer best mates.

DAPHNE: She will be Lady Potter eventually in epilogue. I just introduced her! They won't go public for wizarding world until end of OOTP, atleast that is my current plan. But they will start dating in GOF.

FLEUR: She will come in GOF and become friends and then eventually fall in love with Harry. She will be Lady Black eventually in epilogue.

NEVILLE: He will take Ron's place as Harry's best friend eventually. Should I pair him with Hermione/ Luna/ Ginny? Tell me in comment.

SUSAN BONES: She will be Lady Bones with a line continuation consort for house Bones. But she will be Harry's lover.

Stay Happy, Stay safe, Keep smiling and keep reading!

Chapter 13: Start of the Summer

Ch.13 Start of the Summer

Harry reached number 4 Privet Drive. Uncle Vernon started dragging his trunk out of the car. "Uncle Vernon." He called. The trunk he was dragging was not his actual trunk. That trunk he had bought recently was shrunk in his pocket with all the books, extra clothes and money he would need, but he did not need to tell him that. "I have a deal for you. This summer you don't have to feed me or anything. I will stay out of your way the whole summer, as much as out of sight as possible. You don't have to spend any money on me. In exchange you will leave me alone and my room open. Also you have to sign a form."

Vernon's eyes glinted. It was a good offer for him. "Deal. What is the ruddy form you are talking about?" He said after pondering over it. "Nothing, just a permission form for learning new subjects." He lied, handing over the form. He was not really worried. He had placed a confoundo on it to make them just sign it once handed to him, given the request was reasonable, or his logic would have overpowered it. He could have said that it was to visit Hogsmeade but did not want to risk it just in case. He was going to a school, magical, but studies is what you do in a school. Well for normal students that is. For Harry it was doing death defying feats too. Killing a Troll, stopping dark lords, fighting giant-ass spiders and Titanic snakes who could kill with a glance and had the most potent venom. Also get belittled or hailed a hero depending on the Public's mood. He remembered what had taken place on the Hogwarts express a few hours ago.

---

FLASHBACK

Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting in the compartment, playing a game of exploding snap. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Harry opened it with a wave of his wand. Outside stood a crowd of around a dozen people. Susan Bones, Hannah Abbot, Ernie Macmillan, J ustin Finch Fletchley... actually all the Hufflepuffs in his year. Most of them were the main instigators of the resentment he had faced due to his Parseltongue ability.

"What can I help you folks with?" He questioned emotionlessly with a raised eyebrow. "Err... Yes" Susan Bones began, "We wished to apologize for the behavior towards you this year due to all the heirs..." She was interrupted by Harry as he raised his hand and commanded, "Stop Ms. Bones. Why are you apologizing? You never did anything to antagonize me this year. Infact I even saw you defending me. And for that you have my most sincere gratitude. So why are you apologizing on behalf of these... people?" Harry said and started to use the eye-glow technique Salazar taught had him

"Oh! umm... yes guys, please take over." The Blue eyed blonde said awkwardly. It was clear that the Hufflepuffs had elected Susan as their spokesperson and had expected her to handle it. Now they were extremely unnerved that their spokesperson had abandoned them and also due to Harry's eyes and emotionless face. They just stood there shooting glances at each other.

"Are you going to speak up or are you going to waste my time like the fuckwits you are?" Harry finally snapped at them after a few moments of silence. They bristled at the comment but knew they had it coming. Harry potter had endured six months of taunting and name calling. Ernie Macmillan finally spoke. "Err... I guess we wanted to just say sorry."

"You guess?" Harry said, his eyes glowing brighter and his magic flaring. They all gulped. "I meant we are sorry."

"And for what are you sorry Mr..." He trailed off. He knew Macmillan's name but he wanted to show that he was inconsequential... A politician would have picked this message flawlessly. Subtly telling the opposite person that they are not worth their time. To tell a person in a higher position than yourself, it may be political suicide. If one genuinely did not know the other person's name, they should say, I am sorry but I don't think we have been introduced or something along those lines politely. The founders had taught him these basics.

"Macmillan, Ernie Macmillan. We are sorry for all the name calling and jeers we sent at you after the dueling club. We should not have done it. It was wrong of us to do so. We should not have jumped to conclusions."

"And pray tell what caused this change of heart?" Harry asked. By now his eyes were swirling vortexes of power, showing that he was pissed at them and was not in a forgiving mood. They suddenly seemed even more frightened than before. They knew that they were facing the top student in their year who was Harry Potter, t he savior of the magical world, whom they had pissed off. Royally. The more politically inclined even knew that as the last of Potter family he could make their and their families lives hell in Britain with merely an interview. Some of these families were even indebted to the Potter Family and for some the Potter Family had several shares in their family businesses and such. They hoped that Harry Potter did not decide to act on it.

"We realized that you were not such a person who would harm muggleborns. Your best friend is Muggleborn and you have never acted bad towards them. You can not be the Heir of Slytherin." Ernie said, really wishing Potter would stop questioning them further. He was extremely unnerved and wanted to get the hell out of the compartment.

Harry knew that he was a descendant from Salazar, The heir of Slytherin indeed, but did not correct him, obviously.

"Really? You morons did not think of this before you started the taunts?" Justin and Ernie opened their mouths and others shuffled their feet. "Don't speak! You imbeciles did not even realize that my own mother is a muggleborn, one of the most famous at that. You called me a dark lord, just because I can speak to snakes. You realize how dumb is that? It is just a mother-fucking language like English. And while we are at that, according to history, if what is written is true, even Merlin, the greatest wizard to have lived, was a parselmouth." It was true. Myrddin had done a ritual so that he could learn parselmagic, Salazar's specialty. So had Morgana. But it was not passed down the bloodline like Salazar's was and his would be. "Do you think Helga Hufflepuff, a lady who was said to be extremely kind, loyal and accepting of others would have approved of your behavior? No. She would have been ashamed. You have besmirched your own house's ideology. I am disgusted by you all."

"Now, what are you waiting for? You gave your half assed apology. Go back!" He said as the Hufflepuffs had just stood there with their heads bowed in shame.

"Aren't you going to forgive us?" A person at the end of the group asked though looked like he wanted to run. "Forgiveness is not given, it is achieved. But if you want to hear it, I won't hold it against you all. Now let us play our game in peace." He said with finality. He did not want to deal with them any longer. They were all sheep. They followed a loud voice mindlessly without any logic. They all scampered down the corridors.

He turned to Susan. "Ms. Bones, I would once again like to thank you for your support. It is deeply appreciated. You are welcome to sit with us."

"It was nothing... no really... You couldn't be the one attacking students. You just listed the reasons yourself. I know both our parents lost their lives in the fight against you-know-who. You would not have done such a thing. As for err... the offer, I would have to politely decline. I have to leave, I am afraid. Goodbye Harry, and please call me Susan."

"Bye Susan. Have a good summer."

FLASHBACK ENDS

---

Uncle Vernon nodded and signed the form with an ink pen. "Here you go. And mind you, I don't want to see you at dinner. And if you are going to go out, stay out as long as you can. And remember boy, no freakishness in the house."

He nodded and took his trunk up the stairs to the smallest bedroom. It was clean, with a bed, a wardrobe, a chair and an old desk. He called for Dobby and asked the hyperactive elf to make the bed softer and improve the desk and chair. It was done with a snap of his finger. Harry then told him to bring dinner after a couple of hours straight to his room. Dobby nodded and popped away. Harry settled on his improved bed after removing a book on charms he had taken from the Chamber, to bring home.

The next day Harry returned to the chamber and trained and practiced till lunch. After the work-out and learning about potions and Transfiguration he was a bit tired and went to one of the bedrooms in the chamber for a short nap. After the nap, instead of going back in time he decided to go to London to explore. He sent Dobby with 100 G to Gringotts to convert them into pounds. He returned with 1130 pounds according to the exchange rate. Dobby then popped him to Charing Cross Road under a timed notice me not charm, so that the muggles did not notice him popping in. He roamed the streets and bought some things like a brand new Wallet, a can of coke to enjoy and a new jacket he noticed in a shop.

As he was roaming he noticed a poster advertising a summer class to learn a thing called Krav Maga*. Underneath it was a picture of two men fighting. It provided an address, which was not too far from his current location. The fees was 250 pounds for one month's worth of classes which proclaimed that the students will master basics in a month. It was interesting. He called on the number given from a public phone and enquired all about it. He ended up registering for the evening batch. Something new to learn. The batch started from the last week of June and would last till Last week of May. Except Sunday, they had it everyday.

He ate a Pizza at a restaurant before going back to Number 4 Privet drive via Dobby Express.

---

On 24th June, the summer solstice, Harry was moving around the Chamber of secrets making final preparations for the Ritual. He had to make sure everything went right. At quarter to one Salazar and Helga nodded approvingly. "Remember, the Ritual will feel a bit painful. Under no circumstances must you exit it till the ritual is complete. You would most likely fall asleep due to the effects of the ritual within a few minutes. After the ritual is complete we will ask the elf to teleport you to the bedroom in the chamber. Remove every article of clothing as well as everything magical on you. No wand, no necklace, no ring." Helga instructed.

"Do I have to be naked?" Harry asked. The ritual needed him to be naked. There should not be any restrictions on the body. "You have read what was written in the book Harry. It is nothing I have not seen before. I was a healer." Helga said, rolling her eyes. He nodded and followed reluctantly. He had memorized the chant. He sat in the middle of the Ritual circle and waited for the clock to strike 1300 Hours (1pm). At exactly the time he started the chant after laying down on the cold stone floor. The Runes glowed an ethereal blue. Then the pain started. It felt like his bones were on fire and his eyes were also burning. He stayed still through sheer will power. A few minutes later he passed out.

Harry's eyes opened slowly. He saw the ceiling of the bedroom in the Chamber of Secrets. He sat up and stretched resulting in several cracking sounds from his joints. Memories of what had transpired flooded back into his mind. With a jolt he realized that he did not have his glasses on and he could see clearly. He sprang up in joy and stumbled a bit. He was taller than before and felt a bit heavier. He also became aware of the fact that he was stark naked. He panicked before looking around and seeing clothes on a chair next to his bed. He wore the cloak that Dobby had removed and went outside to retrieve his possessions and meet Helga and Salazar.

"So you are finally awake." Salazar's voice sounded. Harry nodded and asked "How long was I out?"

"More than four hours. It is 5:20 now." His eyes widened as His Krav Maga classes started at four thirty before he remembered that he could just use the time turner. He relaxed. "How do you feel?" Helga questioned.

"Good, I am feeling a bit of pain in my back but it is going away. Most importantly I can see clearly without glasses."

"It is a good thing. You may have become disadvantaged because of it. Also now you will be immune to any poisons in the world. Check how much you have grown." Salazar said. Harry nodded and did a spell on himself. " An inch and a half in height and put on 2 Kgs weight. My bone density and nutrients have come to an ideal state."

"Good. The effects will continue for a couple of weeks, slowly. You may grow a bit more during this time like maybe half an inch or one inch. Also you would need to buy new clothes. Don't buy too many as I suspect you will soon shoot up like a fiddle. Buy a few pairs. For now, resizing charms will do till you buy a new one." Salazar said.

"Also keep magic to a minimum for the next few days. Instead of spell casting we will dedicate the hour to Magical theory and Occlumency till this weekend. We will start with healing theory and arithmancy this week." Helga said. "Also everyday till the weekend you will study politics." Salazar added Harry nodded, a bit sad that he won't be doing spell casting but decided to obey.

"Now eat something and enjoy the rest of the day Harry." He nodded and ate, knowing Helga won't leave him in peace till he ate properly. After eating he took out a book on Healing theory to have an idea what they were going to study. It was a bunch of facts about the Human body, while interesting, he had frankly expected more but continued reading. After an hour, he felt good enough to learn Krav Maga so used the time turner to go back to 3 pm. After wearing a t-shirt and jeans with resizing charms, he went to buy a few new clothes in muggle London, before going to his new classes.

---

It was the second week of July, two weeks before he turned thirteen. His training was going well with the founders along with his Krav Maga and swimming camp. Oh! yes Harry had joined a swimming camp which was for a fortnight last week. It was fun and he had learnt how to swim. It was an excellent exercise. He was not an expert swimmer by any means but now could swim to save his life and for fun.

That was when in the morning, uncle Vernon approached him. He had used the time turner to come back in the morning and took a nap from 5:30 to 7:00. Then had some food before he had settled down with the Lord of the Rings book, A muggle fiction he had taken an interest in. He did not study the whole day after all!

"Boy listen here. Marge is visiting in the last week of this month. You will keep to yourself and not tell her anything about your freakishness. You will tell her..."

"Wait a second... When is she coming exactly?"

"The 26th."

"Ok... So I will leave the house on the 25th. I won't come back till next year." Harry wished to spend no time when Marge and her dogs were coming.

"So, you would not be in the house?"

"No, I won't be."

"Excellent. And don't you dare forget it." Saying this Vernon left the room.

---

On 25th Harry's trunks were properly packed, by Dobby of course not him. He had decided to go to the Leaky Cauldron. He initially wanted to stay in the Chamber but Salazar pointed out that it would be unwise of him to go completely off the grid where no one could find him. He was a national hero and if he went missing, a huge manhunt would start. He would not be wearing a glamour while checking in and being at the inn, but whilst he roamed the alley he would wear the glamour.

He struck his wand out to summon the knight bus, a mode of transport he wanted to try out. He had read it in the book Dumbledore had recommended. It also listed techniques for graceful floo exits and portkey landings. Now he landed without a problem in the chamber every morning.

On another note, his stage 3 of occlumency had been achieved. His mind shield was complete. Now he would soon start on the mind place soon. By the end of the calendar year at the latest he expected to start his Mind place defenses and shield, the stage 5 of Occlumency. Also now he had 137 new spells in his journal. Several of them were combat spells. But he also had household charms and some basic healing and diagnostic spells in it. He also now understood that he was most skilled in transfiguration and combat spells. He could do charms too, but it took more practice compared to his spells for transfiguration and offensive and defensive magic, as Salazar and Helga called it.

The purple bus arrived with a bang. A conductor in a purple uniform leapt out of the bus and began to speak loudly to the night. "Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this eve-"

"Yes, yes. Thank you. I wish to go to the Leaky Cauldron. How much for the fare?"

"Eleven Sickles," said Stan, "but for fifteen you get 'ot chocolate, and for fifteen you get an 'otwater bottle an' a toothbrush in the color of your choice."

"Only the fare... No hot chocolate or hot water bottle or those things. Just get me to the leaky." He said handing over a Galleon to him. He returned the change. And he got on the bus.

"What is your name?" the conductor asked.

"Would you believe me if I said Albus Dumbledore?"

"Of course not. Dum'ledore is an old man with a beard and all. He is..."

"Then my name is Albus Dumbledore. Just get me to the Leaky Cauldron please." He snapped, not wanting to be fanboyed by a heavily pimpled conductor. He knew if he would give a name it would be it. He was not travelling incognito exactly as he wanted to leave a trail of how he got to the leaky cauldron if someone wanted to investigate or someone asked him. So by a person telling the conductor that they would remember him, but not fanboy over him too. Killing two birds with a single stone.

"Err... yes. Ernie! to the Leaky Cauldron after Abergavenny. Madam Marsh, your stop is next!" The conductor called as the bus Started with a bang. Harry fell back on his bed. Yes! The damned bus had beds instead of seats and apparently started and stopped from high velocity to zero, in a second. The damned bus did not even have a seatbelt. There were no fucking safety standards in the thing!

"WHERE IS THE DAMNED SEATBELT?" Harry yelled at the conductor over the noise the bus was making. "What's a seatbelt?" The conductor asked in confusion.

"Fuck it! How much time till we arrive at the Leaky?"

"One more stop and then in two minutes." The conductor replied. Harry nodded, praying to the almighty that the Ride ended as soon as possible. He loved high speed maneuvers on his Nimbus 2000 but this bus was making him sick.

They arrived at Charing cross road and Harry jumped off. "Hope you enjoyed the ride. Hope you travel again with us err... Albus." Harry did not get what could possibly be enjoyable about the ride but nodded nonetheless. He had no plans to travel by the wretched thing again. He preferred Dobby express or broom.

He entered the Leaky Cauldron and booked a room till the first week of August. If something new came up, like Weasleys inviting him over he did not want to lose money. A fortnight for now was good enough. He handed the barkeeper the advanced payment for his room and registered it under his real name. His eyes went wide when he heard the name but Harry put a finger to his lips. Tom nodded and gave him a room.

He went to the room, and opened the door. Hedwig was already there perched on the wardrobe. His very intelligent girl. She flew onto his shoulder and nipped his ear. He stroked her white plumage lovingly. "Hey! Hed. Glad you are here." He settled in the room.

 

Chapter 14: Birthday, Heir Potter and a Meeting

Ch. 14 Birthday, Heir Potter and a Meeting

Harry woke up early on his birthday, at his usual time of 5.30 am in the morning. He portkeyed to the chamber. Today he would do the work out only. Then he will go back to the leaky and prepare to go to Gringotts. He had received a letter that said that he should visit Gringotts for his family business anytime between 8 am to 2pm or 5pm to 11pm. Gringotts anyways opened at 6 in the morning and closed at 12 in the midnight. He would have to come back to the chamber by 12 and start preparing for the puberty ritual. It could only be done once in your lifetime and only on one's thirteenth birthday. At 1pm he would start the Ritual and by 2, he would be free from everything else for the day. He planned to buy himself a gift and then go sight seeing in London. His money from Malfoy's bag had not run out yet and a little more than 2000 G was left.

So once he portkeyed into the chamber, Salazar and Helga wished him Happy Birthday, with Helga singing the whole Happy Birthday song, while Salazar clapped his hands in rhythm. He smiled at them and started his exercises. He did 4 sets of 10 pushup, 10 squats, 10 crunches, three minutes of planks.

Then he took a shower and went back to the leaky cauldron after a good breakfast. In his room, several owls were waiting. Birthday presents.

He opened the letters first. Ron told him that his dad had won the daily prophets grand draw price, and enclosed a photo. Harry had read about it two days ago in the daily prophet he had subscribed at the end of last year. The Weasley's now may have a lot of money, Percy had sat shocked when the letter informing them about the new found money as a donation. Harry had left an anonymous letter in which he had written to the Weasley's that the money was a reparation given to the family due to the incident of the chamber and Ginny and Ron's role in it. Ron knew but he had sworn never to tell that to anyone. So had Hermione. Another thing in the letter was that Percy was the new Head Boy. And if Ron's words were anything to go by, he and the twins were not thrilled about it.

Hermione's was a long winded letter wishing him a Happy Birthday and her being thrilled about all the classes she would take. She was currently in France.

For gifts, Hermione had sent him a broom polishing kit. He had in all truth expected a huge-heavy book as a gift from her. Ron had sent him a pocket sneak-scope he had bought from a local shop. Apparently Bill had checked it and confirmed that if anyone untrustworthy came in a radius of 10 meters it would light up and spin once he activated it. Ron had written that some people even sold cheap, fake ones to tourists, so he had bought a proper working model.

His last gift was from Hagrid. It was a biting book. As soon as Harry had tried to open it, the book had developed jaws and teeth and started biting. Harry had dropped it on the floor and hit it with a wandless stupefy . Nothing happened. He followed it by a Petrificus Totalus. Still nothing happened. Finally he cast an immobulos on it and it stopped. He finally opened it gingerly and saw it was a book on magical creatures and titled the monster book of monsters. There was another letter from Daphne surprisingly. She had just wished him a Happy Birthday. It was a short letter written in a neat script. His birthday was after all public knowledge. There was also the yearly booklist from Hogwarts. It had five more books than usual due to the three new subjects he was taking. It had the monster book of monsters as one of them.

Harry just put them in his trunk and walked towards Twitfit and Tattling's shop, a high class clothing shop. He had decided to buy himself a semi-formal robe. He would wear it to Gringotts today as he was going to become Heir Potter. Also if he went on a date in Hogsmeade, he should wear something nice. He bought one in royal blue colour made of fine silk. There was also an acromantula silk one but he decided against it. The robe had resizing charm, an anti-wrinkle charm, weather charms and an auto clean charm. It cost twice more than a normal robe from Madam Malkin's shop, but it was actually extremely comfortable and stylish along with the extra charms. He wore them and walked to Gringotts.

He entered Gringotts and went to a nearby teller. "Good morning. I have a meeting with the Potter's account manager. Can you kindly show me to him?" He asked politely. The Goblin nodded and called another Goblin. Before leaving Harry remembered and said, "May your enemies fall and your gold overflow, Teller."

The goblin blinked in a bit of shock, not accustomed to hearing the Goblin Salutation by normal humans, only their curse breakers said this. Given the Goblins always used Goblin tongue for it but this was the nearest humans could say as they were unable to speak their noble tongue. "And may your gold overflow and enemies fall, Mr. Potter."

He was led to Ragnok's office. He entered the office and saw the same old Goblin as last time. "Manager Ragnok. It is a pleasure to meet you again. I am here for the meeting."

"Yes Mr. Potter, come and sit. First we must confirm your identity for this, I am afraid. The wards of Gringotts would identify any intruders, but it is a necessary procedure."

"I also want to take a Ability's test and a Heritage test."

"The fees is 350G and 150G respectively. If you are doing heritage test, there is no need for Identity test. Lets get going. Take this knife and put three drops of blood on this parchment Mr. Potter. The results will show." Harry did as instructed.

GRINGOTTS HERITAGE TEST

NAME: Harry James Potter

MOTHER: Lily Elizabeth Potter nee Evans, deceased

FATHER: James Charlus Potter, deceased

BIRTHDATE: July 31st 1980

LORD TO: N/A (due to age)

HEIR TO: Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter

MEMBER OF HOUSE: Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Black

Beneath this was a Family tree that he could see drawn. It went back 13 generations. "What does it mean that I am a member of Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Black?" Blacks were notorious death eaters, well most of them anyways. Narcissa Malfoy nee Black and Andromeda Tonks nee Black were not. Narcissa wasn't, atleast officially. Then there was the last head of house Arcturus Black. He was a good friend of his Grandfather and his brother in law. His grandmother Dorea was also a black before marriage. Baron Arcturus Black had fought alongside his Grandfather in the war against Grindelwald.

"It means that you MAY have a chance of inheriting heirship or lordship if either the current Lord makes you the heir or on his death, you are judged worthy by the Lord Ring. Currently there is no lord, but most likely Sirius Black . And no one would be able to inherit it or do anything till he decrees it or he dies. the former being more likely."

"How can he be the lord. He is in Azkaban! With life imprisonment no less." Harry said. "It can not be changed by that Mr. Potter. Several Lords of Families who supported the previous dark lord are currently permanent residents in Azkaban, and nothing can be done due to the laws of the land till they die." Ragnok shrugged. Harry nodded. Sirius Black was imprisoned for killing 13 people. Atleast that was what he was told. "Ok sir." He was handed the Potter heir ring. It had a Dragon on it roaring. The Great Horned Hebridean Black, the core of his secondary wand. He realized once he looked closely enough. He wore it on his left pinky finger, and it resized itself.

"Now the ability test. Then I will give you an overview of your finances before you can visit the family vault." Harry nodded and repeated the procedure for Ability test.

GRINGOTTS HERITAGE TEST

NAME: Harry James Potter, Heir of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter

ABILITIES:

1. Arch-Mage

2. Battle Mage

3. Mage Sight

4. Occlumens

5. Paselmouth

"I thought that Occlumency can only be developed?" Harry asked.

"Mr. Potter, there are several abilities, not all but many, that can be developed over time with practice. Occlumency, Legilimency, Mage sight, Magical sense, Animagus etc. are some of them. An Animagus and Occlumens are the most common ability to be developed. Also one can gain them by rituals, which are forbidden by the ministry of magic. But some like Arch mage ability that you have can only be present naturally at birth. That one is a super rare ability to have I must say." Harry nodded. "Kindly keep it confidential. I don't want my abilities being known to anyone."

Ragnok swore a vow that the word of his abilities won't leave the room, atleast due to the actions of any Goblin. He also was told to keep the paper. Then they started discussing his finances. He had more than 12 million Galleons in the Potter family vault along with the heirlooms and jewelry. He had several Shares in magical businesses like Nimbus company(15%), Daily Prophet(25%), Teen witch weekly(12%), Puddlemore United(40%), Holyhead Harpies(35%), Twitfit and Tattling's (7%) etc. He also had shares in rising muggle companies like Apple(23%), Ferrari(18%), Microsoft(21%), Ford(14%) etc. This was the major sources of his income. The potter vaults were lying dormant since more than a decade and thus had accumulated a lot of money over the time.

The Potter Family even owned a Dragon reserve, A magical creature farm, a Potions company all overseen by a board which whose dealings were cross checked by Ragnok, who had sworn an oath for Fleamont Potter, Harry's Great Grandfather to serve the best interest of Potter Family for of course a salary which had an automatic raise of 3% per annum as decreed years ago. They also had the patents to several things. Harry did not know what to say. To think he was so rich! A millionaire! Add to the fact he had more than 2 million Galleons from Lucius sitting in another vault. He and his future generations were set for life.

He also had several Homes around the world which he could unfortunately not access till he was of age or emancipated. Potter Manor would be accessible by the Lord Ring only, which Harry would get on his 17th Birthday. Harry finalized a few things and left for his family vault. He would now get financial statements quarterly by owl.

There was a dragon outside the vault which was subdued by weird sounding drums by the Goblin. There was the Potter crest in the middle underneath the words "novissima autem inimica destruetor mors( The last enemy that shall be destroyed is Death)*" It was an odd motto but he did not question it, It was probably here since Gringotts was founded along with the ministry and The house of Lords( Now the Wizengamot), when Magical Britain was given financial autonomy by King Arthur. He pressed his hand on the crest and the doors swung open.

It was Huge. Bloody fucking huge filled with mountains of gold and silver. There were Suits of armor, swords, Spears from medieval times, several Trunks, A cupboard full of Silver dishware and book shelves filled with books. Many-many books. But most importantly, on the middle there was a pedestal. On it was a single book: The Potter family Grimoire. A book that contained ancient spells as well as Spells, potions, wards etc. invented by the Potter family over the generations. It also contained family History and secrets of Potters. He flipped through it. The book could only be opened and read by a Potter. If someone accidently picked and read it, they would just see gibberish. If someone picked it with the intentions of knowing the secrets of Potter family they would be cursed. Horribly. Such was the protection on his family Grimoire.

He saw the last entries. They were by his mother and father. In their own handwriting. His mother had invented a sort of cutting curse, which made multiple cuts on the body as if slashed by a pocket knife several times. The most interesting fact, it's only counter for healing was the essence of dittany. His father's spells on the other hand was a Butterfly shield, which would work against the unforgivable Curses! Pappilonis was the spell.

He shut the book and took it. He would have to protect it fiercely nonetheless, The Chamber was the only ideal place for this book to be read it in privacy. He toured through the rest of the vaults, picking up some books from there. He soon left to go back to his room. He changed back from his new robes he had worn for the occasion to normal clothes. He wore a white t-shirt, Black jeans and the jacket he had bought from muggle London. It was still 10:50. He decided to treat himself with a sundae from Florescue's ice cream parlor. He needed to go to the chamber at noon only.

---

At noon after touring the Alley some more and even buying his books for the year, he portkeyed back to the chamber. Under the watchful eye of Helga and Salazar he started the preparation for the puberty ritual. The ingredients for it were fairly common, not something that a Hogwarts student won't need, so Harry had owl ordered them from the apothecary with a full third and fourth year potion making kit. It was a kit consisting all ingredients required for a year for potions class according to the curriculum. Salazar had started teaching him potions. Now he was much better. And Salazar was a million times better teacher than Snape. He actually understood the working of ingredients now, stirring effects on a potion and proper chopping methods, some things Snape had not bothered to teach them.

The Ritual started by his chant at exactly 1 pm. The runes glowed blue again and he felt a tingling sensation in his whole body. He was thankfully clothed since this ritual won't be affected by clothes. Only his Jacket and belt was removed, along with of course all the magical items on him. The sensation continued for nearly 10 minutes before stopping. He did not feel or look any different. Of course this was because the ritual worked over a period of time than immediately. The effects would be visible within six to eight months and the ritual would continue working till he was 16.

"Done." He said, putting his rings on and sticking his wand Holster back on his forearm. It contained the Elder wood wand. His other went on his right calf.

"Good. You have successfully done your third ritual. Next would most likely be done on the equinox, which we will decide afterwards." Salazar said. Harry nodded finally putting on his necklace.

"Harry, we have a small gift for you. Happy Birthday Harry." Helga said. "You didn't have to do it Helga. You teaching me is good enough."

"Hush young man. We wanted to. It is your birthday after all!" Helga said.

A house elf popped in with a small cake. It was a little bigger than a pastry, but he was the only one eating. He smiled and thanked them. "Oh! that is not all. This is just celebration. The gift is on the table." The gift was a holster of some sort with a handle sticking out of it. He pulled it out and a seven inch knife came out. It was beautiful and very sharp. A combat knife. "It is made of goblin silver, laced with a special venom of my own invention. The venom would paralyze the person when hit within 5 minutes, and if antidote is not given, kill after 2 hours. The antidote is simple to make if you know, but testing it and making will definitely be fatal as it would take time. We will make a batch tomorrow. And the holster is similar to your wand holsters." Harry nodded, repeatedly thanking them for the gift. It certainly was useful. He finally went back to his room and relaxed by reading the Lord of Rings for the rest of the day.

---

The next evening there was a knock at the door. He was in his room, completing his History homework. He opened the door and found Tom, the barkeeper, not the dark lord. He said, "Mr. Potter, the Minister of magic along with the headmaster and Madame Bones are wanting to meet you. They are in room 17." Harry's eyebrows disappeared into his hairline. Three of the most powerful people in the country wanted to meet him. He had not done anything wrong since they were not arresting him and he had not done anything wrong. He nodded and told Tom that he will be in there within a few minutes. He quickly put on his new robes and Knife Holster (on his left calf). He let his heir ring visible and controlled his emotions of worry by his occlumency. He put on his aristocratic face as Salazar called it. A face to deal with politicians. He made his eyes faintly glow with power. It looked even better now he did not have glasses. He strolled out of his room towards room 17, all the way clamping down his occlumency. This was his first time he would deal with politicians. The Minister of Magic, The Head of DMLE and The Chief Warlock. He had only met Dumbledore before. Heck, he had not even seen the other two in person, only pictures in the prophet. He put a wandless Notice-me charm on his heir ring, thus cementing his position as Heir Potter.

The door was open. He saw that the three people were standing inside, conversing lightly. He knocked on the open door. Their attention snapped towards him.

"Harry, please come in." Dumbledore said. He strolled forward and smiled at Dumbledore. "Nice to see you again Professor Dumbledore." He turned to Fudge and Bones. Fudge was a porky short man wearing horrendous green robes, who did not look anything special, except the fact he was the minister. The woman, Madame Bones, was on the other hand in one word, Hot. Her beautiful red hair tied in a bun, an hourglass figure with DD cup rack made her drool worthy. Her lips had light lipstick applied, which looked so kiss... Damn Hormonal changes! Concentrate. Harry told himself, breaking out of the teenage fantasies.

Fudge shook his hand saying in a jovial tone, "It is a pleasure to meet you Harry." He was behaving like a favorite uncle meeting his nephew.

"The pleasure is all mine, after all I am the one meeting the esteemed minister of our country." He gave a charming smile. Fudge puffed his chest at the compliment. Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the man's vainness. He turned to the beau... Madame Bones. "Madame Bones, Head of DMLE and Reagent Bones right." He asked rhetorically kissing her knuckles. "It is a pleasure to meet you My lady. Susan speaks highly of you." Harry finished.

"Heir Potter. My niece speaks well of you. It is a pleasure to meet you in person." She said nodding curtly and giving a brief smile. She had noticed the ring after all. Dumbledore also had but did not address it. He was not sure about the fatty, err... the minister.

He walked towards the only chair in the room and without turning back spoke, "What can I do for you all? Please have a seat. Let us be comfortable." and took the seat. Being in control of the situation. Salazar's teachings.

Minister Fudge took the couch along with Madame Bones while Dumbledore conjured a chair. The minister started speaking. "Harry, we are here because we are afraid your life may be in danger." Harry raised an eyebrow. It was the same story last year, only Dobby warned him in a deranged manner. Now it was the three most powerful people in Britain. Last year by the house elf he was warned by a Basilisk, now he wondered what was the danger.

"How?" Dumbledore spoke before Fudge could open his mouth, "Harry, what do you know about Sirius Black."

"He was convicted for killing 13 people, 12 muggles and a Peter Pettigrew. He was given life imprisonment in Azkaban. He was also one of Voldemort's Death eater." Fudge flinched violently while Bones stiffened. "Don't say his name." The minister hissed.

"Okay, He was Voldy's death eater and said to be one of his chief enforcers and his Right hand man." Dumbledore's lips quirked up, Madame Bones did too but looked like she was resisting the urge to facepalm. The minister goggled. "He killed those 13 people with a single spell. Nothing more than a finger was found of Pettigrew's." Harry finished.

"Err... yes. That is fairly accurate. Now, do you know anything more?" Madame Bones asked

"No. That's all." Harry answered, not liking where this conversation was heading.

"Ok, you see that is not all. He was the secret keeper of your family. He sold your parents to Voldemort Mr. Potter."

"What is a secret keeper?" Harry asked with narrow not knowing the term except the obvious meaning. "Ah! Harry, you see, Your parents went under fidelius charm, an extremely complicated and special charm which hides an location inside a person known as the secret keeper. No one except the secret keeper can give the location. For the people who do not have the secret, provided by the secret keeper the place in concern disappears from Earth and their mind. Suppose I was to Leaky Cauldron by the fidelius and make you the secret keeper, for every witch and wizard, the location would disappear and they would forget about it except those who you will give the location. A secret keeper can only be a person who is immensely trusted to keep the secret. So your parents could not be the secret keeper as they were the ones hiding under it. I had myself offered my services but they declined and chose Black. The charm depends on trust Harry. The secret keeper has to willingly give the location. It can't be given even under the truth serum, or the art of Legilimency- the art of mind reading." Dumbledore said, ever the teacher.

"So... Black is the reason that my parents are dead." Harry asked calmly but his eyes were swirling with anger. "Yes." Madame Bones nodded. "What is this to do with you all visiting me?" Harry questioned, dreading where this was going.

"You see Harry, Sirius Black as of yesterday evening has escaped Azkaban." Harry turned his attention from Bones to Fudge. He instantly tried to sink back in the couch seeing his eyes swirling vortexes of power. "How?" his voice was barely above a whisper but was heard in the whole room. "Err... you-you see that-that no one in his-history has escaped Azkaban... it was unex..." Fudge stammered but was interrupted by Harry "I asked how he escaped. Not information about Azkaban minister." His voice was calm but had the effect of successfully scarring the life out of Fudge due to his dangerous tone.

Cornelius Fudge gulped. The boy was an excellent young man when they met. He had praised his work and greeted them like a Lord would greet his friends. When the news about Black was told to him, he had turned angry. The boy's eyes scarred him... no it terrified the shit out of him. His eyes were like Dumbledore's when he was pissed, and he had seen Dumbledore pissed only once which was years ago. His eyes were swirling with power, speaking volumes why he had defeated He-who-must-not-be-named. No 13 years old should have that kind of stare. His tone conveyed him to speak out soon or the consequences won't be good. Of course! His parents betrayer had just escaped. He would be pissed. "We don't know... there was nothing. No evidence of how he escaped. He just vanished. From his cell."

Harry took a calming breath and counted to ten in his head. He applied his occlumency shields. "Why is this not in the newspapers yet?" He questioned once he brought his emotions under control and started thinking straight.

"It will be tomorrow." Madame Bones answered. Harry nodded. "And you think he is coming after me?" He deduced. "Yes Harry. We are here to ask you to stay in the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley till the summer ends. The Minister is also going to provide you auror protection." Dumbledore said.

"And what are you doing to catch him?"

"My auror and hit wizard force is spread thin. We will be looking everywhere possible. Tomorrow it will also be in muggle news. The efforts would be better if the funds were not cut due to peace time" Amelia Bones spat the last word. There was nothing like peace time cuts. A country must be ready for any conflict, internal or external. "Then increase the funds! My parents betrayer and Voldemort's Right Hand man is on the loose."

"Mr. Potter, it is not as easy as you think." Fudge tried to placate. "Minister, if you increase funds now, it will really look good on you. You will be seen taking actions for the safety of citizens of Great Britain." Fudge's eyes lit up. "Yes, yes, You are absolutely correct! Thank you. I will tell to call an emergency meeting in two days for it."

"If you want I will also give an statement to the Daily Prophet tomorrow stating the need for a man like Black to be caught and the importance that funds should be increased. It may influence the bill positively as it was my Parents the bastard betrayed and it will be in the daily prophet before the meeting. I will also myself give an donation of 50,000 G as an Donation to DMLE for it." Fudge's eyes lit up further. "Thank you! that is quiet generous of you. I will do my best to ensure that the DMLE gets their funds doubled." Fudge said. Dumbledore's and Amelia's faces held shock.

Harry had masterfully played them. He now held better reputation with all of them, the three most powerful people in British isles. By the statement and the word of his donation, public opinion for him would shoot up. Any backlash he had received due to last year's Paselmouth revelation, would be repaired and forgotten. Salazar would be proud as he had taken his politics lessons to heart.

"Yes minister. You do that. Also do not dedicate the auror force to protect me. The public is more important than an individual. Just give me a permit to do magic freely so I can hone my skills if he attacks me and protect myself without worrying for repercussions. I will escape if needed by the portkey Professor Dumbledore in case as provided to me. Also I don't think Black will be foolish enough to attack me in middle of a magical district."

"It is quiet dangerous but makes perfect sense. And it is quiet wise of you Harry to give the donation and interview." Dumbledore said. Harry nodded.

"Yes Mr. Potter. It is perfectly fine. I will give you the official permit tomorrow by owl. Just do not venture out of Diagon Alley and remember the statute of secrecy. Now I have an emergency meeting to call." Fudge said and got up from the couch. "Minister, what about Hogwarts? He will most likely come there"

"The ministry will deploy dementors there on the boundaries of the school. If black comes there, they will catch him."

"You are putting Dementors in school!?" Harry exclaimed

"Yes... they are under ministry control and would catch Black if he comes there. The decision is final!" Fudge said in a tone that he had done this conversation with Madam Bones and Dumbledore, if the looks Fudge was giving them was any indication.

"Yes minister. I understand. I was just shocked that those beasts will be in a school." Fudge nodded and smiled before leaving. Once harry was sure he was out of earshot, He turned to the remaining people in the room. "Is he mad! Who puts dementors in a school! It is a school not a Prison!"

"We told him the same thing Mr. Potter. He is adamant. But atleast you convinced him to increase funds. We had even failed at that. And you have my most sincere thanks for the donation." Amelia said and gave him a grateful smile.

"You are welcome. I suggest that you both also give a statement with me tomorrow. It would do loads good for the matter to be passed."

Notes:

Harry's Abilities and possessions:-

1. Arch-Mage: Ability to do magic without a wand. Does not make a person extremely powerful. Even a weak wizard can have it.

2. Battle Mage: Senses in battle or high danger situation dial up to 11.( like ADHD in PJO series for Demigods)

3. Mage Sight: Ability to see magic. Will be elaborated further in later chapters

4. Occlumens: Explained in detail.

5. Paselmouth: ability to talk to snakes.

6. Harry's primary Wand: Elder wood, 13 inches, inlaid with 0.7 grams Mithril and cores of phoenix tears, Manticore heartstring and a thunderbird feather.

7. Harry's secondary wand: Ebony, 13 inches, with phoenix feather core and a great horned Hebridean black heart string.

8. Poisoned knife: Made of Goblin silver, 7 inches blade. Laced with a special venom, a Salazar's invention. The venom would paralyze the person when hit within 5 minutes, and if antidote is not given, kill after 2 hours.

9. Hogwarts ring: Can turn invisible, A permanent portkey to the Chamber, allows apparation within Hogwarts.

10. Potter Heir ring: Can turn invisible, Detects poisons and potions in food.

11. Peverell Invisibility cloak: Turns wearer invisible. Resistant to spells. Hides wearers magic completely. Will allow wearer to bypass any ward as good as wind without detection. Charms don't fade.

12. Necklace: Is a Hit wizard portkey, capable of breaking through temporary anti apparation wards to Headmaster's office in Hogwarts. Also gives the wearer a glamour when saying 'Glamour on'. Given by Dumbledore.

13. Trunk: A 5 compartment trunk which has feather light charm and shrinking charm to easily fit in a pocket. For all read chapter 8.

14. Wand and knife holsters: made of Dragon hide and demiguise hair. Can turn invisible and had anti theft charms and such. Harry is the only one who can summon things from it.

Chapter 15: The Patronus Charm

Ch. 15 The Patronus Charm

2nd August 1993

The next morning, Harry portkeyed to the chamber of secrets. He exercised as usual. His workout was paying off. His body looked better than it ever was. He did not look all bluff with muscles like Arnold Schwarzenegger. He looked more like an athletic swimmer. His height had grown. He was nearly 5 feet 3 inches, compared to his 5 feet height, before the chamber incident. He had grown three inches in less than three months. He looked better than ever. He had seen some older girls ogling him in Diagon Alley as well as his Krav Maga classes. His swimming camp had separate batches for boys and girls. On the note of classes, he could now perform the basics of Krav Maga perfectly. He was sure that if he got in close combat with anyone in the wizarding world, that, he currently knew, they would likely lose. Witches and wizards relied heavily on magic. Few would do any exercise at all, and they were quidditch players mostly. Krav Maga was one of the most effective close-quarter combat skills in the world. Originated from a combination of techniques sourced from Boxing, Wrestling, Judo, Aikido, and Karate, known for its focus on real-world situations and its extreme efficiency in incapacitating the opponent.

He was now a decent swimmer. On his magical study, he was confident that he could achieve an O in Runes and an E in Arithmancy if he gave the third year exams at the moment. Salazar and Helga were excellent teachers. They knew even to make what could have been the longest, boring lecture interesting. His Occlumency was aiding him to remember things much better now he had started the mind place. Salazar said that once he achieved this stage, he would get a near-photographic memory and perfect recall. The next stage would not give him anything, to say at least, just make his mind an impenetrable fortress. He had decided to make a smaller version of Hogwarts, with three floors instead of seven and a single dungeon. Most importantly he had already replicated the chamber. There was where all his memories were. Behind the wall with the Hogwarts crest, with all rooms like the actual chamber, just containing memories instead of other things.

After the usual workout and spell casting, he decided to address the elephant in his mind. He told the two founders everything that had transpired the previous day. Salazar was extremely proud of his masterful handling of the situation despite his anger. "Did you know that Black was the secret keeper?" He asked them. "Did you know that he was the reason my parents are dead?"

"Yes," Salazar answered. "Why did you not tell me."

"We decided against it because we did not want to see you lose Faith. Faith in friendship. Your parents were betrayed by their best friend. We did not want you to start questioning your friendships. You will need them in the future." Harry looked away. He had run through scenarios in his head indeed, about Ron turning out a death eater in disguise, Weasley's selling him to death eaters for money, Hermione being the Daughter of Voldemort- a stupid scenario but one nonetheless. They were right. His trust in friendships had wavered. To think that his father was betrayed by a person he so trusted was shocking for him.

"Harry, look here. There is nothing wrong with being cautious. But doing stupid things due to a mere possibility is. I am not saying that all people are good. Many will backstab you if they are put in a position of death or would gain something from it. It is up to you to choose them wisely." Helga said gently.

"How do I do it?"

"Trust your gut and heart, child. They will show you the right path than your brain sometimes, but always give it a thought too." Helga replied. Harry nodded. He had no reason to be wary of his friends. He knew they were good. But every secret won't be shared with them. His most important secrets will be kept to himself.

"Oh, I forgot to mention that Fudge is putting Dementors in school for protection against Black," Harry added, remembering that he would need to learn to defend himself against them. He would not be taking risks. He did not fancy having his soul sucked out. Thank you very much.

"I beg your pardon!?" Salazar said in disbelief.

"Fudge is putting Dementors in school for protection against Black," Harry repeated. What followed was a string of curses that would have made a sailor jealous. "The moronic, idiotic fool. That intellectually Malnourished cunt! The fuckwit was dropped on his head. I tell you both! Dementors! Which sane person puts soul-sucking demons in a school? I will kill him. Wait till I get my hands on him. He won't put dementors around my school. I..."

"SALAZAR SLYTHERIN! CALM YOURSELF!" Helga finally shouted. Salazar's mouth snapped shut.

"Thank you. Now, how can I defend myself against them? I wish to be prepared because as much as Salazar rants here, he won't be able to do anything." Salazar glared but, he was ignored. Helga nodded at him and started a lecture.

"Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk on this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places. They glory in decay and despair. They drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them. Get too near a Dementor, and every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself... soulless and evil. You will be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life."*

Helga shivered and continued, "There is only one spell that truly works against them, the Patronus charm. It is a projection of extremely positive thoughts, like happiness or love. Most relate it to happiness, but love is the most powerful emotion there is, so powerful that the Ancient Greeks personified it as a goddess, Aphrodite. If cast perfectly, it takes the form of a guardian, most likely an animal. If not, it is a wispy shield. It is an extremely tough spell, taught for charms mastery and auror course. We have discussed it before when we explained magic to you. The incantation is Expecto Patronum. Select a positive memory and immerse yourself in it. Feel the emotions and cast the spell. I have faith you can do it.

Harry thought about the first time he saw Hogwarts, the thoughts of entering a new world, the thoughts of magic. Expecto Patronum. Something indeed happened. a glow like a Lumos formed at the tip of his wand. It was not even a shield. "The memory wasn't good. Select another." Salazar said.

Harry thought of his first time on a broom. The exhilaration, the joy of the wind rushing through his hair. "Expecto Patronum" he intoned. This was better than his first time. But was not even a shield, just a very bright glow. It was a tough spell, according to them, but he was Harry Potter. He would do it.

'Think Harry, think. Your happiest memory, even if you don't have many. think when you felt the most happiness, most loved. Wait. Yes. If this does not work, nothing would.'

Salazar said, "See Harry. If you can't do it, no problem. It is an extremely tough charm. Do not drain yourself, child. It will harm you. Even several Aurors have troub..." Harry shut him out and remembered the memory.

"Such things make me and your father proud beyond words, Harry." He remembered his mother saying. "Live up to your name Harry, make us proud." Her hug, the warmth he felt in his mother's arms, her kissing his forehead. He remembered it all. "EXPECTO PATRONUM"

A bright silver light filled the chamber. It began taking form. It sprouted horns, wings, and Legs. Soon a Dragon stood in front of him. Not just any dragon, A great Horned Hebridean Black. The most dangerous dragon ever. The symbol of the Potters. The last Potter had a Great Horned Hebridean Black as his Patronus.

Harry felt proud of himself. A rare feeling in the past, but now it was much more frequent. The Dursleys had reduced his self-worth by their mental abuse. But with the aid of Helga, harry had come over it. Now he was more proud of his accomplishments. He turned to the portraits. Salazar was gaping at the Patronus, so was Helga.

"He... He produced a corporeal Patronus on-on his third try. How- how is it possible, Helga?" Salazar stammered. By now, Harry's Patronus had faded.

"Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus." Helga whispered. Never tickle a sleeping dragon. Fitting, for the boy. Loyal to his friends, intelligent, fierce, a force of nature, unbending to anyone, and dangerous if provoked. Extremely so. His Patronus said it. Then again, the boy had killed a 60 meters long Basilisk at the age of 12. It should not be surprising.

"Can you cast it again?" Salazar questioned. Harry nodded and cast again. The dragon formed. It was beautiful. The horns were pronounced with its dangerous spiked tail. It looked, Majestic.

"You know, I never expected that you would get the corporeal Patronus this week, let alone this very hour. The memory you used must be very powerful. Can I know what did you use?"

"The only memory of my mom telling me that she loved me," Harry answered. It was the truth, a partial one but the truth nonetheless.

Salazar looked away. "I am sorry, I should not have pried," Salazar said.

"It's okay. But I am tired. Can we continue in the evening?" They nodded. Patronus was a draining spell. Extremely so. Harry used the time turner to go back. Now that a killer was on loose, he could not afford to be out of the public eye.

He reached his room and took a nap till 7 in the morning before going to breakfast downstairs. The place was in an uproar. 'So the Prophet has arrived. Let's see.'

The headlines were "NOTORIOUS MASS MURDERER, SIRIUS BLACK ESCAPES FROM AZKABAN."

He read the article. It was nothing he did not know. The Muggles were told, that Black was armed with a gun. It wrote about Aurors patrolling places like Hogsmeade, Diagon and Knockturn Alley, Godric's Hollow, St. Mungo's Hospital and the public should cooperate with them. Underneath it, there was a photo of Black. He looked extremely haggard and was screaming. He got up after finishing his breakfast and went to buy the rest of his things. The rune carving kit was the most important of them. He bought the highest quality. He also went and bought a couple of copper Cauldrons. He saw Professor McGonagall leading two children who looked like first years and a man through the Alley. Probably muggleborns. He waved at her, and she called him.

"Good morning Mr. Potter. Fancy seeing you here. How are you? And what happened to your glasses?"

"Professor McGonagall! Good morning. I am doing fine. And I got contact lens instead of glasses." He shot her a grin. "These must be new students. Muggleborns, I presume." At her nod, he turned to them and smiled. "Let me welcome you to the wizarding world... "

"Jennifer, Jennifer Carter, this is my twin brother, Jason Carter. We just got to know about all new things. We never knew about magic before the letter came. First, we thought it was a joke, then she came to our house and turned the table into a lion. Mum got soooo scared. I hope I am good with magic. I can not wait to learn new things. Who are you? Which year are you in? Do I need to learn anything else than the school books? How are the exams? How..." The girl, Jennifer, sounded like Hermione. She said all this in a single breath.

"Then I hope you both enjoy it here. I am Potter, Harry Potter." Harry interrupted her before she could go overboard. "I will enter the third year. For the books, well, a few extra won't hurt. Ask your professor. She will also explain the exams to you. Professor, I will leave you with them. Hope to see you both in Gryffindor!" Before he left, he whispered in Professor McGonagall's year, "Are you sure her last name is not Granger? She sounds like Hermione too much." She snorted. "I thought it was only me." She whispered.

He went back to the chamber after lunch. "I am back."

"Oh joy," Salazar muttered, sarcasm dripping off his voice. "Harry! Did you eat before coming?" Helga asked in a mothering tone. She was like that. Mothering him every day, making sure he ate, rested enough, etc. Harry simply nodded. "What are we doing today?"

"First Arithmancy. Then transfiguration. And if time permits, we will start your Mage sight practice. It will take you a few months to use it as you have to start gradually imbibing your eyes with magic to develop it." Helga answered.

---

Before afternoon they had sent Dumbledore the statement for the Prophet. It was carefully worded. Salazar and Helga had convinced Harry to make peace with his fame. It was necessary. The fame was a part of him, he could not run away from it, so it was best to embrace and use it to his advantage. Harry did not like it, but the reasoning and logic had made him agree. This would be the first time he would embrace the concept of the Boy-Who-Lived and use his fame. 'It was for a good purpose. There could have been worse uses for it.'

The next day the prophet was,

EMERGENCY WIZENGAMOT SESSION TODAY, FUNDS FOR DMLE MAY BE INCREASED

THE BOY-WHO LIVED REACTS.

HOUSE POTTER TO DONATE 50,000 G TO AID BLACK'S CAPTURE

In light of mass murderer Sirius Black's Azkaban escape, on the night of 1st August, Minister Cornelius Fudge called for an emergency session of Wizengamot, that will take place today. The minister's office says that increasing funds on the DMLE is vital. That is the very agenda for today's meeting.

The funds for the DMLE have been decreased in the last decade as it was peacetime for Wizarding Britain. Madame Bones, The head of DMLE, has always asked for more funds for the DMLE since her accession to the post 6 years ago. She says, "I was always concerned that the funds of the DMLE were too less. Even though it was peacetime, a country must be ready for any adversity. Now Sirius Black's escape has highlighted the need for increasing auror forces as they are spread too thin. I hope that the funds for the DMLE are increased so that such future situations and the current one can be handled."

Another surprise is that for the first time, Harry Potter has spoken to the media. His message was

Dear witches and wizards,

My name is Harry James Potter, The Heir of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter. Today I communicate to you by the means of the Daily Prophet. Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban prison, a feat never heard of before. The man is dangerous if he can escape a high-security prison even after 12 years of company with the dementors. He was a Death Eater. Such people are a danger to the community so are those who support them. Black has killed 13 people with a single spell, according to reports.

I urge you all to be cautious. Be on guard. I am sure the ministry is doing its best to capture the betrayer of the Potter Family and to ensure the safety of citizens but it may not be enough. I urge you all to cooperate and help them the best you can. In such times I feel that the auror and hit-wizards should have enough funds to pull operations to capture the notorious mass murderer and protect the people. Currently, Aurors are spread thin throughout the country looking for Black. I am still a student and learning magic. I am unable to aid them physically or magically as I am not qualified enough yet. So I have decided to do my part and give the DMLE 50,000G as a donation to aid them to capture Sirius Black. I also hope that today, the esteemed Wizengamot body passes the request for more fund allocations to DMLE. Truthfully, I can't see anything to lose from protecting the country, better, unless someone wants to protect a Death Eater, or is a criminal. It is always necessary to have a ready force to fight any crisis that may arise, such as these. It may not be wartime, but dangers are always there. If today, more funds, are provided to DMLE, I am sure that such a situation in the future will be prevented, and Magical Britain will become much safer."

Yes! You read it. Harry Potter has spoken in favor of increasing the funds for the DMLE. The young man has donated 50,000G just so, he can do his part in keeping us safe. It also came to our notice that Harry Potter is a brilliant student and stood first in his year. He has also been reported to take down a Troll, and a budding dark wizard, as the Prophet reported two years ago. We need more noble young men like Mr. Potter. We hope here at the Daily Prophet that Sirius Black is caught soon.

Maddison Fawley

Reporter, Daily Prophet

For more information on Harry Potter, the Boy-Who lived, pg2

For more information on budget cuts for DMLE, pg2

For more information on incidents two years ago, pg4

For more information on Sirius Black, pg3

The article was good. It painted him in a good light. It basically ensured that most on the Wizengamot would vote for the bill now. Unless someone wanted to say that they were criminals or supported death eaters. Even he would be on guard. Black may come after him for vengeance. He would have to talk to Salazar and Helga to increase his combat training. For now, he was content that the dementors won't be a problem. He had a fully corporeal Patronus.

 

---

OMAKE:

Harry: Professor, we should have a DNA test between them.

McGonagall: (sigh) Mr. Potter, the girl is just excited, she acts like Miss Granger, does not mean that she is her long lost sister!

Harry: With all due respect professor, she even has Hermione's hair colour! Her hair may be more tame but the colour is same.

McGonagall: ...

Harry: ...

McGonagall: Ms. Carter, how do you feel about taking a DNA test?

Chapter 16

Ch. 16 The End of summer

Harry dodged a red light and ducked under a purple one before leaning away from a pink spell. He was currently dodging spells, being fired by two dummies at him. The dummies were provided by the room of requirement, a room made by Rowena Ravenclaw as her legacy. When Harry had told the founders that he wanted to get better at combat, this was the first thing they had made him do almost three weeks ago. He had been told to go to the seventh floor and pace across the wall opposite the tapestry of dancing trolls, thrice thinking 'Hel-Sal Secret chamber'. That was a special feature they had added to Rowena's room only accessible through this code word.

It was an awe-inspiring piece of magic. Rowena Ravenclaw at her best indeed. It provided anything and everything in the boundaries of the room, except food and rare, non-conjurable metals like gold and platinum. The extraordinary room had this feature with the addition of their portraits. Now he could train there. But he felt that the chamber was better even if it was not capable of this. It had a homey feeling to it which this room didn't.

Helga and Salazar had made him practice dodging for combat training. 'You can not be hit by a spell if you are not in its path.' Also, it saved magical energy. Now Harry could dodge spells from two dummies at the same time. They only fired stunners of different colors. A Hogwarts elf was there to enervate him if he got hit by a spell.

There were, of course, other settings to fire some higher-level spells and even faster, but nothing worse than a bone-breaking curse. These dummies were currently set at trainee- auror level and shot 5 spells in three seconds. For the first week, he could hardly last more than a minute against one dummy, and he was better than most, as he had practice with bludgers in quidditch. Now, he could dodge 3 spells a second and last a few minutes against them. It was an excellent rate of progress as his youth gave him an advantage. He was faster than adults, most children were. They were all hyperactive. Adults lacked this unless they were trained.

His other studies were going well. He would like to see Snape belittle him for perfect potions. He was sure going to be first in Runes and Arithmancy. Harry had no doubt about it. He was already on the fourth-year syllabus in those subjects. In charms, DADA, and transfiguration, he was owl level already. Since the chamber incident, magic was much more effortless for him. Also, the credit for it went to occlumency, his practice, and most importantly the founder's tutelage. They taught him most things he now knew. He loved spending time with them, not just studying but also hearing random tales about students and the founders.

He dodged a yellow stunner but fell straight into the bluish-green one. After getting enervated by the elf, he turned to them. "4 minutes 23 seconds. Excellent. From the next session, we will add another dummy. You are doing extremely well. Keep this progress up. Now, cast spells as fast as you can. Stunners, 10 in total. We will record the time. 3...2...1 start!" Salazar said, and Harry fired. He used silent casting. The two founders were always insistent that all spells he did should be silent, except for the ones that needed incantations, high-level spells usually like Expecto Patronum. The unforgivable curses also needed incantations, well, for almost everyone. Those who had mastered the last level of occlumency, connecting the core and mind, could cast without incantation as they bent magic to their will. This was another advantage of mastering the mind arts.

"5.23 secs for ten stunners. Not bad, trainee-auror level. But you are 13 years old."

"How fast should I be? To stand toe to toe with Voldemort?" Harry asked the question. " Voldemort and Dumbledore can do 6 to 7 stunners a second. Of course, Voldemort always uses higher-level spells and so shoots 3 to 4 a second, but they are higher-level spells like blasting curses and bone breaker level." Harry's eyes widened. His speed was not even 2 spells a second. To match Voldemort and Dumbledore, he needed to be thrice faster than he currently was. He would practice relentlessly. He decided that he would be the best. Next time Voldemort and he would meet, he wouldn't rely on luck. He would depend on his skills. He wouldn't be weak again.

Harry nodded. "Harry, do not think for a moment that you are not doing well. For a thirteen-year-old, you are fantastic. You need to practice, Yes. But you have time. Don't overdo it. Okay." Helga said. Of course, she could tell what he was thinking.

"I agree with Helga. Since Black escaped, you have been exhausting yourself almost every day. It is not good. You will damage yourself." Salazar said. They were worried for him. "So, we have decided that you will not work out or do magic for the next three days. We will restart that all on Monday."

"WHAT? But- but, you-" Harry stammered.

"No buts, young man! It is an order. This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, no workouts. No spell casting. You need to rest your core and body, Harry. It will do you no good to do what you're currently doing, so from tomorrow, only theoretical study and political studies. No arguments." Helga chided. Sufficiently cowed, Harry nodded meekly. She smiled. "Now go and enjoy the rest of the day. Come back tomorrow after breakfast."

Harry obeyed Helga and loitered around the Alley for the rest of the day. He did not put on glamour as there were many of his schoolmates shopping for the new Hogwarts year in the Alley. Harry would buy the replenishments he needed on 29th August with brand-new school robes and a few casual ones. He already had given his old robes and clothes to a charity shop in the Alley as they had grown too short for him. He also had to buy potion ingredients as Salazar was making him brew extensively. When Harry asked him why they were brewing so much, he had simply replied, " You are my Heir. No heir of mine would lack at the subject I was considered the master of!"

On Monday, Harry had received a letter from Hermione that she would be in the Alley from Thursday, the 26th of July. So were the Weasleys. They all were going to stay in the Leaky Cauldron till the morning of 1st September when Harry and party would board the train to Hogwarts. 'Probably to safely see me on the train and to ensure that I am not attacked on the way to King's Cross by Black.' Harry thought. But he could not wait to see his friends again. He wondered how insufferable Percy Weasley would be now he was the Head Boy. The twins were repeatedly pranking Percy by stealing his Head Boy badge, which Percy would take everywhere with him since he had received it. At least that is what Ron wrote to him, and he had no trouble believing it.

On Thursday, Harry went out into the Alley in the afternoon. The Weasley's were not there in the Leaky Cauldron. From tom, he had known that they had checked in almost an hour ago. They had taken up four rooms. And there was a reservation made for Hermione to room with Ginny. But they had gone in the Alley.

After a few minutes, he found them in the ice cream shop. They had a bunch of bags with them. 'So they completed shopping. And they are in new clothes. The money helped then.' Harry thought. "HARRY!" Ron yelled. "Ron!" He replied, but before he could reach him, he was pulled into a hug by Mrs. Weasley. "Oh, Harry, look at you! You have grown so much!"

"Really? Who could have thought? It is almost like I have returned to my teens." Harry said, sarcasm dripping from his voice. Why must everyone comment about his growth spurt? Many students from Hogwarts whom he had met had commented on it and his glasses. "Oh, hush you! What happened to your glasses, Harry?" She asked as the twins snickered in the background. "I got contacts." He answered. He was not going, to tell the truth after all and so had come up with the excuse of contacts.

"Harry!" Hermione's voice sounded from behind. He turned and saw her waving at him. There were two people with her. Her parents. She hugged him and started speaking about her tour, in the typical Hermione manner. She finally asked the same questions as Mrs. Weasley. "I sacrificed seven virgins in an extremely dark ritual to make myself taller and correct my eyesight." He answered exasperatedly. What was with everyone asking him the same thing? Hermione gaped before smacking him on his head. "Don't joke, Harry!"

"Seriously, I just got contact lens and, well, I am a growing boy! Why is everyone asking me the same damned thing!" he huffed. "Language!"

"These must be your parents. I would like to be introduced." Hermione blushed at forgetting them in her excitement. "Yes, my daughter is like that. I am Jane Granger, and this is my husband, Benedict. We are Hermione's parents. You must be Harry Potter. We have heard a lot about you."

"All good things, I hope." Harry gave a charming smile and shook their hands.

"Yes, yes. Now you kids go and catch up. We will eat our ice cream here. And Hermione, control over the ice cream, right!" Hermione's mom was a dentist. Obviously, she was against sweet and sugary things. Hermione nodded. And the trio went over to the shop to buy ice creams. Harry paid for it despite their protests. And they got into a conversation. Ron spoke about his trip to Egypt and how the twins had tried to lock Percy in a tomb but, Mrs. Weasley had saved him. The conversation turned to school. "Honestly, I can't fathom why you are taking muggle studies! You are muggleborn for Merlin's sake, Hermione." Ron said. "But it will be interesting to know from wizard's point of view, won't it?" Hermione said, and Harry rolled his eyes. What would be good about muggles for a world which thought they were beneath them? But, wisely kept his mouth shut. "Have you bought your books?" Hermione asked.

"No, we were going there next," Ron replied. Harry shrugged and said, "I got all my things except the school robes weeks ago. I will buy them on the 29th. I want them to last a year." Harry shrugged.

"Harry, mate, did you donate 50,000 G to the DMLE?" Ron asked out of the blue, and Hermione leaned forward, clearly interested in the answer. Harry replied, "You know how I made Lucius donate 100,000G to all victims of the chamber, right? Well, I donated 50,000G from mine, so I could aid them to catch Black. He sold out my Family to Voldemort. So I gave them the money and a statement in the Prophet to help DMLE catch him and ensure the safety of Britain." Harry grinned. The hot Head of DMLE had hugged him and kissed him on the cheek in thanks for his support when she had met him in the Alley with Susan a week ago. The bill had been passed, with 100% votes due to his statement. Not a single person had abstained or opposed the motion. Not even the Death Eaters who had bribed their way out of Azkaban.

They got up from the table and went to Flourish and Blotts book shop to buy books. Harry pulled Ginny aside and asked her in a quiet voice, "Ginny, how are you? You know after last year?" Ginny was initially blushing, but Harry ignored the fangirl part of her. "It is- it is fine now. Mom and Dad took me to a mind healer at St. Mungo. She was a nice lady. She helped me get over the guilt and also got Ron and me a new wand! Now I am fine. Even visiting Bill helped a lot." She answered. Harry nodded and said, "If you need any help, don't hesitate to come to me. If you missed anything due to Tom, you know like studies just come to me, I will teach you. Even Hermione will help you if needed." The girl nodded, blushing furiously. He turned to his friends again.

Hermione had a whole bag full of books more than Ron. She was taking three more subjects than him and bought extra reference books for each. Harry always wondered why Hermione did not go to Ravenclaw. She was the perfect definition of a bookworm. The shopkeeper greeted him jovially. Why? He had told him that the immobulos charm worked on the Monster book of Monsters. He had nearly cried in relief and proclaimed that Harry would get a 20% discount on all his purchases that day.

On the morning of September first, Harry was waiting down in the lobby of Leaky Cauldron with his trunk in his pocket at 10 AM. The Weasley's were still packing things and running around the place. Only Percy was ready, with his badge proudly pinned on his Robes proclaiming ' Big Head Boy', courtesy of the twins, not that Percy knew it. Mrs. Weasley was shouting at them to hurry up. Hermione was bribing Crookshanks to go into his basket with cat treats. The 'monster cat' as Ron had nicknamed the cat, was the source of a lot of grief between Ron and Hermione for the last couple of days. Hermione's cat kept chasing Ron's sick Scabbers, and Ron blamed her cat for Scabbers sickness even though he said that the rat did not look well since Egypt. It had led to numerous fights between the two, with Ron telling Hermione to put the cat away and Hermione justifying her cat's actions. When they had turned to him, Harry being the wise boy he was, had shouted, "HEDWIG FOREVER" and ran away from them. Childish? Yes. Did he care? No. It had saved him from being dragged into their pointless quarrel so, it was perfect, and Hedwig was the best anyways.

The ministry had provided cars for them to reach King's Cross. They boarded the magical cars, which weaved through London traffic smoothly. Harry never understood why didn't they floo or apparate to King's Cross but did not voice his thoughts. Before Harry could board the train, he was pulled aside by Mr. Weasley.

"Harry," said Mr. Weasley quietly, "come over here for a moment."

He jerked his head towards a pillar, and Harry followed him behind it, leaving the others crowded around Mrs. Weasley who was handing everyone sandwiches.

"There's something I've got to tell you before you leave —" said Mr. Weasley in a tense voice.

"It's all right, Mr. Weasley," said Harry, "I already know."

"You know? How could you know?"

"I — er — I heard you and Mrs. Wesley talking last night. I couldn't help hearing, also Amelia Bones, the minister and Dumbledore told me as soon as Sirius escape" Harry added quickly. He had heard the couple talk about the danger Sirius Black posed to Harry.

"That's not the way I'd have chosen for you to find out," said Mr. Weasley looking anxious... "And I already know everything, sir. The danger Black poses to me and how he betrayed my parents. I promise not to go out looking for him. I have better things to do.

"Harry, you must be scared — "

"I'm not," said Harry sincerely. "Really," he added because Mr. Weasley was looking disbelieving. "I'm not trying to be a hero, but seriously, Sirius Black can't be worse than a Basilisk and Voldemort, can he?" he asked. The Weasley parents knew that it was a younger version of Voldemort who had possessed Ginny. But they did not know that he had faced the adult version too. For now, this would suffice.

Mr. Weasley flinched at the sound of the name but overlooked it. "Arthur!" called Mrs. Weasley, who was now shepherding the rest onto the train. "Arthur, what are you doing? It's about to go!"

"He's coming, Molly!" said Mr. Weasley, but he turned back to Harry and kept talking in a lower and more hurried voice, "Listen, I want you to give me your word —"

" — that I'll be a good boy and stay in the castle?" said Harry.

"Not entirely," said Mr. Weasley, who looked more serious than Harry had ever seen him. "Harry, swear to me you won't go looking for Black."

"I give the word to you that I won't go looking for him. But if he comes to me, I won't hold back and run away." Harry said, making his eyes glow. Mr. Weasley did not look Happy but nodded. "ARTHUR, QUICKLY!" The train had started moving. "Bye, Mr. Weasley!" Harry said before running towards the already moving train. He could easily do it because of his summer training. Ron had held the door open, and Harry gracefully climbed in.

He was off to Hogwarts for another year.

Chapter 17: Start of the Third Year.

Ch. 17 Start of the Third Year.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione found a compartment at the very back of the train. Everywhere else was full. Some were with groups chatting and catching up with friends, and some contained students using the train compartment as a personal broom cupboard for inappropriate actions. The compartment they found had a man fast asleep next to the window.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione checked on the threshold. The Hogwarts Express was usually reserved for students, and they had never seen an adult there before, except for the witch who pushed the food cart. The stranger was wearing an extremely shabby set of wizard's robes that had been darned in several places. He looked ill and exhausted. Though quite young, his light brown hair was flecked with gray.

"Who d'you reckon he is?" Ron hissed as they sat down and slid the door shut, taking the seats farthest away from the window. "Professor R. J. Lupin," whispered Hermione at once.

"How'd you know that?"

"It's on his case," she replied, pointing at the luggage rack over the man's head, where there was a small, battered case held together with a large quantity of neatly knotted string. The name Professor R. J. Lupin was stamped across one corner in peeling letters. "Wonder what he teaches?" said Ron, frowning at Professor Lupin's pallid profile.

"That's obvious," whispered Hermione. "There's only one vacancy, isn't there? Defense Against the Dark Arts." Harry, Ron, and Hermione had already had two Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers, both of whom had lasted only one year. There were rumors that the job was jinxed. "Well, I hope he's up to it," said Ron doubtfully. "He looks like one good hex would finish him off, doesn't he?"

Harry flicked his wand into his hand and pointed it at the new professor, and incanted, "Tumultum Silentia". A spell shot from his wand and took a dome shape around the man.

"Done! Now we can talk freely without disturbing him." The usual conversation picked up between them. From Quidditch league matches to the history of Hogsmeade and its shops. Ron had visited there before, a few years ago to see Charlie with his mother and father. He told them about shops and what the sweet shop Honeydukes sold. "You both have the slip signed, don't you?" Ron asked them. They both replied in the affirmative. After the cart lady passed and they had lunch that Mrs. Weasley had packed. They sat in compatible silence. Hermione read a school book while Ron read the Quidditch weekly magazine. Harry meditated for his occlumency building his mindscape. To his friends, he looked like he had dozed off. After a couple of hours, they were paid a visit by their favorite three people in the world: Malfoy and his boyfriends.

"Look who it is! Weasley and Potty."

"Malfoy, are you insulting the name of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter?" Harry's wand slipped into his hands, and his eyes started glowing. The boy's eyes widened, and he paled. Such insults could lead to a court battle or an honor duel easily or start a blood feud at worse. Draco Malfoy was many things, but uneducated about these customs, he wasn't. "I am sorry... Heir Potter. I did not want to besmirch your family's name." He said, distaste visible. "I would hope so... Now, why are you and your boyfriends here?"

"They are not my boyfriends!" Malfoy exclaimed. "It is alright, Draco dear. We all have our preferences. If you are not ready to accept the fact that you are gay, no problem. Even though everyone can see it as the day."

"I am not gay! And they aren't my boyfriends!" Malfoy half yelled. "Shouting that won't change a fact, Draco dear. I hope you go now and think about it. And once you realize it, do not come after me, as I bat for the other side of the quidditch pitch than you." Harry gave him a smile, and Malfoy sputtered. "Now shoo, unless you want more advice about coming out with your sexual preferences... But if you need more, you should go to Madame Pomfrey. She would explain it better."

"I AM NOT GAY POTTER!"

"Shush now... You don't want to wake up the Professor and get detention, do we?" Harry questioned, neglecting to mention the fact that he had put a silencing dome on the Professor. Malfoy paled again and said, "Come on. Let us go." Malfoy went away, not wanting to get more embarrassed or receive a detention.

The trio burst out laughing. "That was Brill- brilliant Harry." Hermione wheezed out between laughs, and Ron agreed. Their laughing was accompanied by the sounds of the drizzle. Hermione opened the straps of her cat's basket. "Don't let that thing out!" Ron said, but too late; Crookshanks leaped lightly from the basket, stretched, yawned, and sprang onto Ron's knees; the lump in Ron's pocket trembled, and he shoved Crookshanks angrily away. "Get out of it!"

"Ron, don't!" said Hermione angrily. And they started arguing... Again. Harry sighed and said that he was going out to free his legs. He walked up the length of the train but stopped at the sight of an oddly filled compartment. There were three blonde girls in the compartment with an older guy, two Hufflepuffs, and a Slytherin with a Firstie. He recognized Susan and Daphne. The boy's name was Cedric, a sixth-year Hufflepuff. He smiled and knocked before entering.

"Hey, Guys! Can I sit here for some time?" Susan looked at him before smiling and saying, "Harry! Yes, come in! make yourself home!"

"Daphne, Susan, Cedric... Right?" He asked. "Yes... Cedric. Cedric Diggory."

"Harry Potter. Nice to meet you. And you are..." He turned to the small gaping girl who was looking at him with wide eyes. "You-you are... Harry POTTER!" she was nearly looking like a crazy fangirl by the fact she was meeting Harry. 'She may be one... like Ginny'

"Yes... I just said it, didn't I? So, who are you?"

"Astoria... Astoria Greengrass." She replied, blushing. Harry looked at Daphne, who was looking like she was controlling herself from laughing at the girl. "Your sister?" She nodded. "Oh! You are Daphne's sister! It is a great pleasure to meet you, little miss Greengrass." He gave her a charming smile and kissed her knuckles. The girl looked like all her dreams had come true and were smiling and blushing like mad. She bent down and rummaged through her trunk and took out a book and a quill. Harry was looking at her quizzically.

She handed him the book, 'The Boy-Who-Lived and the rampaging dragon' along with the quill'

"Can I have an autograph, please?" She gave him puppy dog eyes. Harry felt uncomfortable. He had never given an autograph even to Colin Creevey. "Err... what do I have to do?" He asked, finally not knowing what to do. This proved too much for Daphne. She burst out laughing with the rest of them. Astoria glared at them for making fun of Harry. "Sir, you just have to sign it."

He took the quill and simply wrote 'Best wishes to the beautiful Astoria Greengrass: Harry Potter.' "Here you go. My first autograph ever for you, my lady. And none of the sir stuff, call me Harry." Astoria looked like Christmas had come early.

"Are you and Daffy dating?" She asked and sounded excited at the prospect. "NO " Daphne shouted, "We are barely friends." Potter was handsome. She had to give him that. With his beautiful Green orbs and nest of black hair, which were perfect to put her hands in while kissing, he was a fine specimen. Also, he had grown this summer in terms of muscle and had a fine body. She would not mind him as his boyfriend, but that was not ideal while they were at Hogwarts- At least in public.

"Oh my dear, Ms. Greengrass, you wound me. I thought we were good friends after the end of last year." Harry said. They were by no means dating, but he had to admit that Daphne looked beautiful, so did Susan, and if she looked anything like her hot aunt... She was going to turn heads.

"Do I, Potter? Well, I will give you real ones when we practice dueling this year." Daphne snarked. "You overestimate yourself, Ms. Greengrass. Why don't you remind me who came first last year?" She glared. "We will see Potter. We will see."

Harry turned to Cedric, and the conversation started around Quidditch. They both were seekers of their respective houses. Cedric was a humble and kind boy- A true Hufflepuff. "We should see who wins this year's Gryffindor Hufflepuff match. We haven't faced off in the last two years. Last year, the match was canceled, and in my first year, I was in the hospital wing."

"Then may the best wizard win!" Cedric exclaimed, and they shook hands. The girls rolled their eyes at their enthusiasm. Harry turned to Astoria. "So, little miss Greengrass, which house do you want to go in?"

"I don't know. Daffy is in Slytherin, while Hufflepuff sounds good from what these two told me."

"Why not Gryffindor. And I advise you not to go in Slytherin." Harry said.

"Why Potter? I am a Slytherin. Do you have a problem with us all in general, or is it the Gryffindor Slytherin Rivalry?" Daphne asked with a bit of irritation.

"Neither. Your common room is so gloomy. It is a long, low underground room with rough stone walls and ceiling, from which round, greenish lamps hang on chains. It looks like a room from a horror book. And it is in the Dungeons, always cold. Gryffindor tower on the other hand is on the Seventh floor. Straight view of the Black Lake and the Quidditch pitch. We also have wild parties for every Quidditch match. Whether we play or not, can you compare to it?" He asked.

"It is not... Wait a minute. How the hell do you know, how our common room looks like? You don't even know where it is!" Harry's eyes widened before he replied with a smirk, "Oh, your common room, the one behind the wall next to the picture of the shipwreck?" Daphne's eyes were wide with shock and was gaping. "HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?" Daphne yelled.

"I am Harry Potter." He answered, taking a leaf out of Dumbledore's book. Daphne scowled but did not push it. Suddenly the train slowed down.

"Are we there yet?" Astoria asked. "No, it is still too soon. We can't be there yet," Cedric said. The atmosphere was getting colder. The rain was heavier. The train was now completely still. "Have we broken down?" Susan asked. The chill increased, frost started forming on the glass, the lights flickered. Harry's eyes widened. These were all signs of the Dementor effect. He clamped down on his Occlumency. The chill was increasing. He heard a voice at the back of his head, 'No, not Harry, not Harry, please.' The rest of them were shivering. Astoria was crying. A dark wraith-like Figure appeared outside the door- A Dementor. It opened the door. Harry summoned his Patronus Memories in his Occlumency. "There is no Sirius Black here. Begone." It didn't listen. It glided forward.

'No, not Harry, not Harry, please.' No, not this one. "Such things make me and your father proud beyond words, Harry." Yes. "EXPECTO PATRONUM" The dragon appeared. The Dementor screeched and fled. Harry directed his Patronus across the train corridor. All the rest of the dementors shrieked too. It was joined, by a wolf Patronus. A few minutes later, the shabbily dressed Professor appeared as the lights came back on. Harry was still standing with his wand held aloof. "Are you kids all right?"

"Yes, Sir, Harry shot a silver dragon thing... A corporeal Patronus if I am right, at the Dementor, and it fled." Susan said. The man's eyes widened. "You can produce a fully corporeal Patronus?" Harry nodded. "You should check the rest of the compartments. By the way, I am Harry. Harry Potter." He introduced himself.

"Remus Lupin. I am your new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. You should have some chocolate. I will check the rest of them." He said and went ahead. Harry turned to them. Everyone's eyes were wide. Astoria looked at him in reverence. "I guess you all should eat chocolate. I will go and check on Ron and Hermione now." He said and left before they could ask questions.

He hurried to his compartment and saw that Hermione and Ron were safe. The Professor had saved them by his Patronus. They talked about the experience. The Professor returned and told them to change as they would be at Hogwarts soon.

By the time the train reached Hogwarts, it seemed that the word about his Patronus had spread. People were shooting him awed looks and Whispering about his Patronus.

They boarded a carriage and journeyed to Hogwarts Great Hall. Before they could enter, Professor McGonagall came and addressed Hermione. "Miss Granger, I would like for you to visit my office before the feast starts." She said before turning to Harry, "Are the Rumors true, Mr. Potter? That you produced a fully corporeal Patronus."

"Err... Yes, I did. A dementor had entered our compartment. So I had to do it." Harry said, rubbing the back of his head. "Can I see it?" Harry nodded. "Expecto Patronum" The dragon appeared. "A Great Horned Hebridean Black." She whispered. "It is my Family Symbol," Harry said loudly enough for nearby people to hear, who were gaping and whispering at the Patronus. "50 points to Gryffindor, Mr. Potter for protecting the students and performing an advanced spell." She said. She turned to Hermione and took her to her office. Harry went to the Great Hall and sat at the Gryffindor table. People were still looking at him in awe. The teachers sat at their table. Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling. Professor Flitwick raised a Goblet to him when their eyes met. Snape sneered. Lupin was talking to Professor Sprout. Hagrid was not present, most likely leading the first years to Hogwarts.

Hermione soon returned. "What happened?" Harry asked.

"Professor wished to talk to me about my schedule for the year." She answered. Any further conversation stopped as the first years came in and the hat sang. Astoria was sorted into Hufflepuff. Good for her. The sorting ended, and Dumbledore stood up.

"Welcome!" said Dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast…"

Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business." He paused, and Harry remembered what Mr. Weasley had said about Dumbledore not being happy with the Dementors guarding the school.

"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises — or even Invisibility Cloaks," he added blandly, and Harry and Ron glanced at each other. "It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I, therefore, warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the Dementors," he said.

Percy, who was sitting a few seats down from Harry, puffed out his chest again and stared around impressively. Dumbledore paused again; he looked very seriously around the hall, and nobody moved or made a sound. "On a happier note," he continued, "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. "First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic applause. Professor Lupin looked particularly shabby next to all the other teachers in their best robes.

"Look at Snape!" Ron hissed in Harry's ear. Professor Snape, the Potions master, was staring along with the staff table at Professor Lupin. It was common knowledge that Snape wanted the Defense Against the Dark Arts job, but even Harry, who hated Snape, was startled at the expression twisting his thin, sallow face. It was beyond anger: it was loathing. Harry knew that expression only too well; it was the look Snape wore every time he set eyes on Harry.

"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued as the lukewarm applause for Professor Lupin died away. "Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his game-keeping duties."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared at one another, stunned. Then they joined in with the applause, which was tumultuous at the Gryffindor table in particular. Harry leaned forward to see Hagrid, who was ruby red in the face and staring down at his enormous hands, his wide grin hidden in the tangle of his black beard.

"We should've known!" Ron roared, pounding the table. "Who else would have assigned us a biting book?" Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the last to stop clapping, and as Professor Dumbledore started speaking again, they saw that Hagrid was wiping his eyes on the tablecloth. "Well, I think that's everything of importance," said Dumbledore. "Let the feast begin!"

The food appeared, and they dug in. Harry's thoughts were, 'And so another year begins. Hopefully, it would be a normal one, however unlikely it seems. Let's hope for the best.'

Chapter 18: New Classes and the DADA professor

Ch. 18 New Classes and the DADA professor

The next day classes had begun. The first thing at breakfast that had happened was that McGonagall had handed them their timetable. It was Thursday, and the first class was Charms, followed by Ancient Runes. After lunch, they had DADA and History. For Ron, it was a free period after charms. Hermione hid her timetable as soon as she got it- Weird.

In charms class, they revised everything they learned in the last academic year. It was done the previous year too. After Charms, they headed to Ancient Runes. The teacher was a young lady who looked barely 25. He took a seat beside Susan, who was sitting alone. There were a couple of Ravenclaws in the class at the time, and Hermione had gone to the bathroom. After the bell rang, and everyone was in the class, the professor started, "Good Afternoon class, My name is Bethesda Babbling. I will teach you Ancient Runes till at least the end of your fifth year. Then, if you qualify and choose to study my subject further, we will be together till you graduate. I have a mastery of this subject and am teaching for 4 years already at Hogwarts. This is my fifth. In all these years, not a single student has failed in this class. I would like it if you keep it that way. Now, let us all introduce ourselves!" She finished with a cheerful smile. The class only learned what the subject was about and the dangers one may face while practicing. She also told them where all the subject was applicable. Nothing much, but it was a really good introduction.

After lunch, they went together to the DADA class. Harry wanted to see how this new professor was. For the last two years, the professors for the subject were useless. He knew Lupin did know a bit about the subject, as he had produced a fully corporeal Patronus and knew to combat the effects of a Dementor by eating chocolate.

Once the bell rang, the professor entered. Lupin smiled vaguely and placed his tatty old briefcase on the teacher's desk. He was as shabby as ever but looked healthier than he had on the train, as though he had had a few square meals. "Good afternoon," he said. "Would you please put all your books back in your bags? Today will be a practical lesson. You will need only your wands."

A few curious looks were exchanged as the class put away their books. They had never had a practical Defense Against the Dark Arts class before unless you counted the memorable class last year when their old teacher had brought a cageful of pixies to class and set them loose. "Right then," said Professor Lupin, when everyone was ready. "If you'd follow me."

They went to the staff room after a brief encounter with peeves. Snape was his usual self and bullied Neville before leaving. He knew that he could not bully Harry as he was the best DADA student along with Potions too now, not that the dour potions master would ever admit it.

The class was about Boggarts. The class had various fears. Parvati's was a mummy, Neville's was Snape. How bad of a bully Snape was if a student Boggart turned into him? Neville made him wear his grandmother's clothing, sending the class into laughter.

"Excellent! Ron, you next!" Ron leaped forward.

Crack! Quite a few people screamed. A giant spider, six feet tall and covered in hair, was advancing on Ron, clicking its pincers menacingly. For a moment, Harry thought Ron had frozen.

Then — "Riddikulus!" bellowed Ron, and the spider's legs vanished; it rolled over and over; Lavender Brown squealed and ran out of its way and it came to a halt at Harry's feet. He raised his wand, ready, but —

"Here!" shouted Professor Lupin suddenly, hurrying forward.

Crack! The legless spider had vanished. For a second, everyone looked wildly around to see where it was. Then they saw a silvery-white orb hanging in the air in front of Lupin, who said, "Riddikulus!" almost lazily.

Crack! "Forward, Neville, and finish him off!" said Lupin as the Boggart landed on the floor like a cockroach. Crack! Snape was back. This time Neville charged forward-looking determined.

"Riddikulus!" he shouted, and they had a split second's view of Snape in his lacy dress before Neville let out a great "Ha!" of laughter, and the Boggart exploded, burst into a thousand tiny wisps of smoke, and was gone.

"Excellent!" cried Professor Lupin as the class broke into applause. "Excellent, Neville. Well done, everyone… Let me see… five points to Gryffindor for every person to tackle the Boggart — ten for Neville because he did it twice… and five each to Hermione and Harry."

"But I didn't do anything," said Harry with narrowed eyes. He was irritated that the professor did not let him face Boggart.

"You and Hermione answered my questions correctly at the start of the class, Harry," Lupin said lightly. "Very well, everyone, an excellent lesson. Homework, kindly read the chapter on Boggarts and summarize it for me… to be handed in on Monday. That will be all."

Yet Harry stayed back. "Professor Lupin." Lupin turned. "Yes, Harry?"

"Why didn't you let me face the Boggart?" He asked, making his eyes glow faintly.

Remus Lupin looked at the boy who once called him unca' Moony. He was standing tall, looking so much like James without glasses and having Lily's eyes. He also noted that he had high cheekbones of his grandmother, Dorea Potter. His emerald eyes were glowing like Charlus Potter when he was irritated. The previous day, he had seen Harry form a corporeal Patronus! A fully corporeal Patronus at 13! He was so proud. He wanted to tell Harry that he and James were friends but could not muster the courage to do so. "I did not want Lord Voldemort appearing in my class if there was a chance that you remembered him in your subconscious." He answered Harry's question. The boy looked at him with a scrutinizing stare before nodding. Harry thanked him for the class and left.

As for the rest of his classes, Arithmancy and COMC, they were interesting, to say at the very least.

Professor Vector was the Arithmancy teacher. She was a 30-year-old lady with a strict no-nonsense type of attitude. Harry was strongly reminded of Professor McGonagall. Her class only had 19 students because of the difficulty of the subject. But it was nigh essential to understand the inner workings of several spells, especially hexes, jinxes, and curses. After OWL level, from their sixth year, they would learn to combine two spells to make a new one. Making, a completely new spell, was extremely difficult. The best people did was combine two spells to make a new one or tweak the spell. These were documented at the ministry for every student, at least the ones presented. Several went unrecorded, straight into family grimoires. Several times people made the same spells like a stunner which would stun as well as put the victim in a full body bind. This was one of the most frequent combinations. He had Daphne and Susan in the class as well as Runes. Well, Hermione too, but that was beside the point as she was taking every class.

The Care of Magical creatures class was taken by none other than Hagrid. He was an enthusiastic teacher, to say at the very least. For the first class, they had been shown a Hippogriff. First, Harry had successfully ridden one, named Buckbeak. Then, the class gained confidence and came forward. The blonde ponce Malfoy had insulted the proud bird. The Hippogriff had reared back and struck him with its sharp claws. Malfoy had cried like a baby. A couple of days later, he left the hospital wing still acting like he was grievously injured and had suffered severely.

He had loudly proclaimed that Hagrid would be fired and the Hippogriff would be executed as his Father would ensure it at the Gryffindor table. Harry had said, " Oh, Malfoy, he won't. I bet on it. You were the one who insulted the Hippogriff, an action only a severely intellectually malnourished moron would do. You are a fool, Malfoy, and I assure you the Hippogriff and the Professor won't suffer due to your imbecile nature." It had sent the whole great hall into Peals of laughter as the word spread.

Malfoy had replied with the best comeback he had, "My Father would hear about this. And the beast would be executed, mark my words. My Father wouldn't let this matter down." He had turned on his heel and marched out of the Great Hall. Harry had proceeded to write a letter to Lucius stating that Hagrid was his friend, and taking action against them for something moronic his son had done would harm Harry and his friend. He also suggested that he should publicly reprimand his son and tell Draco how he had disgraced the Malfoy name.

The next day, a howler had arrived during breakfast at the Slytherin table for Draco.

" DRACO MALFOY, you, have brought disgrace to the name house Malfoy. You insulted a Hippogriff, something no sane wizard would do, that too, despite the instructions from the professor. I will not go to court and justify your moronic actions to satisfy your useless tantrums. I publicly apologize for my son's behavior to the professor." Malfoy senior's voice had sounded loud enough for the hall to hear. Draco went red in the face in anger and embarrassment and fled. Harry was smirking at the boy. Soon, Draco lost all support he had in the Slytherin House due to his Father's money, except, of course, his boyfriends. Or so Daphne told him in their first dueling session in which she had got her cute arse handed to her. Harry had used only verbal spells. He had toyed with her for some minutes by just dodging her spells, before firing off a Stunner, a body bind, and disarming hex. The girl had evaded the Stunner but fell straight into the other two.

---

It was Tuesday. Harry came back from his Ancient Runes to attend Transfiguration. He was a bit late as he had stayed behind to ask the professor questions about an equation. The whole class was sitting. As soon as he entered, the entire class looked at him as if they were going to attend his funeral. Harry raised an eyebrow before taking a seat with Ron just as McGonagall entered the class.

The lecture was about Animagi and it was an interesting one. Harry wanted the ability to turn into an animal. Thinking the possibilities, Harry's eyes widened. The next time when Voldemort confronted him, how badass would it be if Harry jumped on him and turned into an Elephant! Not even Voldemort could survive that. He was quickly disappointed as they could not change into an animal of their will because they had a definite inner animal, which was strictly non-magical.

McGonagall transformed herself in front of their eyes into a tabby cat with spectacle markings around her eyes. "Really, what has got into you all today?" said Professor McGonagall, turning back into herself with a faint pop, and staring around at them all. "Not that it matters, but that's the first time my transformation's not got applause from a class." Everybody's heads turned toward Harry again, but nobody spoke.

Then Hermione raised her hand. "Please, Professor, we've just had our first Divination class, and we were reading the tea leaves, and —"

"Ah, of course," said Professor McGonagall, suddenly frowning. "There is no need to say anymore, Miss Granger. Tell me, which of you will be dying this year?" Everyone stared at her.

"Harry." She said finally. Harry raised an eyebrow. 'So that's why everyone looked at me like it was my Funeral.' He thought to himself. Salazar had told him that the current divination teacher was a fraud and predicted the death of a student every year since last years. None had come true yet.

"I see," said Professor McGonagall, fixing Harry with her beady eyes. "Then you should know, Potter, that Sybill Trelawney has predicted the death of one student a year since she arrived at this school. None of them has died yet. Seeing death omens is her favorite way of greeting a new class. If it were not for the fact that I never speak ill of my colleagues —" Professor McGonagall broke off, and they saw that her nostrils had gone white.

She went on, more calmly, "Divination is one of the most imprecise branches of magic. I shall not conceal from you that I have very little patience with it. True Seers are very rare, and Professor Trelawney…" She stopped again, and then said, in a very matter-of-fact tone, "You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you will excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in."

"Don't worry, Professor McGonagall, even if I die, I will make sure that my ghost completes Transfiguration homework. I can't have you saying that Harry Potter died without handing in his homework, can I?" He said cheekily. The woman was a fraud, both in the Founder's and McGonagall's words. He did not need to worry.

Everyone laughed. Soon the bell rang, and they all headed for lunch.

---

It was 23rd September, the September Equinox, more than three weeks since the classes had started. He was at the top of his classes at Hogwarts now. Snape was still biased and sneered at him whenever he made a perfect Potion but couldn't do anything. He felt good about it. He was also a little worried about Hermione. She was hiding something from him. He did not push it as he had several secrets and understood the need to keep something close to his chest.

Currently, he was in the Chamber of secrets Drawing runes in the ritual chamber. A bunch of ingredients lay in a corner of the room for the ritual. The Ritual was going to be the most difficult one he had done so far. A total of ninety-one Runes had to be drawn, and Twenty-one different ingredients were needed. He had started preparing at eleven itself, an hour before the ritual had to start.

The ritual was an extremely beneficial one. It would improve his balance, speed, and reflexes. Along with these attributes being majorly benefitted, he would also get a minor increase in his strength, dexterity, pain threshold, and flexibility. Of course, he would still have to train to become better. Rituals were an opportunity for improvement. It was not like once he had done the ritual he could sit back and rest. He would still have to work out to maintain these benefits, or else it will become useless.

Once he had finished it, Salazar and Helga checked it out. Helga said, "It is perfect. You have memorized the chant, right?" Harry nodded. "Good. Remove your clothing and magical items and wait for noon. As soon as The clock strikes 12, start the chant." Salazar said. Harry gave him a salute and obeyed. As soon as the clock struck noon, he started chanting. The runes glowed as usual. Then the pain started. It felt like his nerve endings were burning. After what seemed like an eternity but was only three minutes, the pain lessened but was still there. It was painful and exceedingly uncomfortable. After thirty-six minutes, it completely stopped. Harry had bared the discomfort and the pain for more than half-hour. His body was sore. It felt like the first day he had worked out under Salazar and Helga, only twice worse. He immediately took a pain relief potion, wore his clothes, and went to bed. He would go back in time afterward to attend his classes by the time turner.

Chapter 19: Hogsmeade and Halloween

Ch.19 Hogsmeade and Halloween

Harry sidestepped a yellow cutting curse, shielded from a bone-breaker before returning fire with a piercing curse, a bludgeoner, and a stunner, non-verbally. He was currently fighting with two auror level training dummies. While not as good as dueling a real auror, it was sufficient for practice as he used two dummies currently.

Harry's past month was spent in classes and training with the two founders. He could now shoot 10 stunners in 2.57 seconds. That was really good progress. The ritual he had done on the day of the equinox was really beneficial. He could now dodge spells at the rate of 4 spells a second at the maximum of four minutes. The Auror dummies he now dueled with, could fire various spells, bone breakers being the worse of them. It was useful to practice dueling. It also defended itself with shields and moving. So a proper dueling session could be held with them. That dummy only fired 3 spells a second, so he was faster than the dummy now, leading him to use two dummies at a time instead of a single one. Two dummies instead of one-hit wizard level-dummy was a tougher challenge, but it was also better in another way as the Hit-wizard dummy fired much more dangerous spells at the rate of 9 spells in two seconds. It was dangerous to use them.

He finished the session as he hit the head of a dummy with a Lacero, an advanced cutter exclusively used in dueling, and pierced the chest of the other dummy with a flaming arrow. "Excellent, you defeated them both, even though you sustained injuries. Take the healing potions then we will talk about how you can improve." Salazar said. This was the common practice between them. Harry would duel the dummies, heal himself and then get tips from the two Founders about where he could improve.

Since he had joined them more than five months ago, his prowess in magic had grown by leaps and bounds. Sometimes he even surprised Helga and Salazar by mastering spells faster than they expected. The Patronus charm was the biggest surprise to date for them or so they told him. "We had expected you to do the spell successfully by December, not in our wildest dreams we had guessed that you would get it on your third try itself, that too a fully corporeal one. It is one of the toughest spells in the world, many Aurors can not do it. In fact, one of the requirements, if you want to get the job of a hit-wizard, is producing a corporeal Patronus." Helga had told him. He was proud of his achievements. He was being lauded for something he had actually done and not for something that had happened when he was a year old.

His other studies were going well except for the mage sight. He was still not able to see magic. The founders had said that it took time but, Harry had not expected it to take this much time! His mind place was being created. The base structure of the castle was ready. He had ended up with a five-floor castle and two-level dungeon along with his version of the chamber of secrets which was accessible by what would be the third-floor bathroom in his mind place. Here were his actual memories. The other floors and rooms would be decoys for a Legilimens. He was currently in the process of creating these rooms. A mind battle, the scenario in which a Legilimens fights an Occlumens for accessing the memories could take anywhere between minutes to hours in the mind, but would merely be seconds outside, could be prolonged enough by these decoys to break the eye contact and thus protecting the Occlumens secrets.

On another note, he had also started the practice of Legilimency. He could only read the emotions of a person as he had tried it out on a few people. Salazar had also started teaching him parselmagic. It couldn't be cast silently. Parselmagic, was a branch of magic that dealt mostly in the fields of healing and wards. There were curses and combat spells but they were a few compared to the numerous wards and healing spells. Parselmagic made the best, the strongest, and the most effective wards and healing spells. This was the reason that there the Staff of Aesculapius had snakes and was the symbol of healers.

Harry put the dummies aside and called for Dobby to bring him some fruits to eat. He sat down for a lecture on wards that would be given by Helga. He had read about a lot of wards from the Potter Family Grimoire. Also, his ancestors had invented a plethora of useful spells ranging from normal household charms to curses and Battle magic. Most interesting was the information about his own invisibility cloak.

The invisibility cloak was a priceless heirloom of his family. The book spoke about it being the same cloak that Ignotus Peverell, the youngest brother in the story of the Deathly Hallows and their ancestor, had received from death. The cloak was by no means an ordinary one. It was completely spell resistant and hid the wearer completely. No detection charms, wards, magical artifacts or spells would detect a blood-bound wearer when under it. He could walk into any wards, even the best ones, undetected. He had immediately blood bound it by the method mentioned in the grimoire. The cloak had glowed and accepted his magic. He could now use the cloak to its full potential.

After the lecture, he used the time-turner to go back in time and restart his day.

---

Today was Halloween. This day sucked for Harry. This was the Death Anniversary of his parents. This was the day he had faced the troll in his first year. Last year, the first attack by Tom Riddle had taken place. He hoped that this year, nothing unfortunate would happen. On a positive note, today was the first Hogsmeade weekend. After breakfast they had formed a queue in the antechamber next to the Great Hall. Harry was dressed in a Black full-sleeve shirt, whose sleeves he had folded at the elbow and light blue jeans. He was spending the day with Ron and Hermione.

As they lined up, Draco shot him a glare and Harry waved back cheekily. The boy had not approached any of his friends after the howler from his father. Apparently he had realized how much damage Harry could do if he wanted. 'Or perhaps his father told him to stay out of my way' Harry thought. He saw Daphne with Tracy Davis and gave her a wink. Daphne rolled her eyes but smiled at him nonetheless. They were soon cleared by McGonagall and they boarded a carriage which would take them to Hogsmeade.

The village was calmer than the hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley. The houses looked nice as if taken straight out of a post-card. Shops were selling various things. There was a apothecary, a couple of clothing stores, a green grocer, Honeydukes sweet shop, Dervish and Banges, the wizarding equipment shop, Zonko's Joke Shop, the Three Broomsticks, an inn, an ice cream shop, a coffee shop, among many others.

Hermione had dragged them to the small bookstore in the village despite Ron's protest. Whilst Hermione browsed through the books, Harry bought a couple of books for Christmas presents. They then proceeded to Honeydukes as per Ron's request to buy sweets. Harry stocked up on his chocolates. He did not try the disgusting sounding ones like blood pops, Maggot squares and cockroach cluster. 'Who would eat cockroach flavored sweets?' Harry thought to himself.

They finally got out of the shop and started exploring the village. Some girls looked at Harry like he was a piece of meat to be devoured. He was a bit uncomfortable by that but was delighted that girls were interested in him. Which thirteen year old wizard won't be happy by the fact that older girls were shooting him appreciative looks?

They went to Three Broomsticks and bought Butterbeer. It contained a little amount of Alcohol. One would need to drink a gallon of it just to get tipsy. The drink was heavenly. It lifted his mood further. Before leaving, he bought half dozen bottles and sent them with Dobby to be kept in the keep-cool box in his trunk. The trio then went to the inn to have lunch before roaming around the village. They saw the post office and the infamous shrieking shack, the most haunted place in Britain. He had to admit, the village had it's own charm.

He even bought a bracelet for Daphne as a Christmas present. He remembered their latest dueling session.

FLASHBACK

Harry was waiting in an abandoned classroom on the third floor. They had chosen this place to practice dueling every Saturday evening. Soon Daphne entered at the designated time.

"Hi! So, what's up?" Daphne asked. "Same old, same old. You know, classes, homework, Quidditch practice. I swear, this year Wood is going to wear us out. We have been practicing four days a week!"

"Oh, poor Harry! So much practice! I feel sooo sorry." Daphne said dramatically. "Yes, yes. Now let us practice." Harry said after he rolled his eyes at the girl's antics. Daphne and he had developed a friendship over the past month. She was fun to be with once you got over the ice-queen persona of hers. Harry enjoyed the couple of hours he spent with her once a week

Daphne took stance for dueling. "Your legs are too wide, it will hamper your balance. No, now they are too narrow." Harry tried correcting her.

"Can you come here and correct it?" Daphne asked in an odd voice. Harry blinked before he shrugged and went behind her. He moved her leg a little to correct the posture. Then moved to her arms. He gently raised her hand a little and then tilted her body so it would expose the least area. "Perfect." Harry said once he finished. Daphne looked oddly pleased with it. He went back to his place and took his stance. "Three... two... one. GO!"

("Expelliarmus") (Daphne)

"Everte statum"

("Hydrus")

Harry and Daphne started dueling. The first two spells were evaded by each of them. Next Daphne shot a glob of water at him. Daphne was a creative duelist. She was a fairly fast shooter, perhaps the fastest in their year if Harry was excluded. Harry could shoot spells silently, but had not revealed this to anyone. He always used verbal, wanded spells in public. Due to this their speed was evenly matched. You couldn't enunciate a spell faster than a possible level, unless you want to mess it up. He knew Daphne would be an excellent duelist when she grew older. She was fast, creative and used variety in her spells. The number of spells she knew was impressive for their age. But Harry was better. It was largely due to his training under the founders. If not for that, Daphne would have been better.

"Globus incendia" Harry returned fire with a fire ball. The two spells clashed and steam was produced.

("Stupefy"). Harry dodged

"Flippendo, Impendimenta"

Daphne avoided the first one but fell into the slowing hex. "Stupefy, Stupefy" Harry ended the duel. Daphne could not dodge as she was under the effects of impendimenta. Harry had won. 19-0 to Harry.

"Enervate" She woke up with a groan and took Harry's offered hand. "You won. Again." Daphne said. Harry smiled. "You are a great duelist, Daphne. There is no denying that. I am just faster at dodging. You should practice it." Daphne nodded. "Then let us do it. You shoot spells, I will dodge." Harry gave a thumbs up and took position. Daphne dodged stinging hexes for next hour. At the end of it she was moaning with pain. Harry had told her to take a break. But the girl was stubborn.

"I told you that we should wrap up dodging for the day, thirty minutes ago. You should have listened." Daphne glared at him. " corpus cura dolore "  He said waving his wand in a 8 shape motion. Relief spread through Daphne's body. The places where she was hit no longer pained that badly. "It will heal over the next few minutes. I will look forward to the next Saturday." Harry said.

Daphne nodded before smiling and pecking his cheek. "Thank you Harry. I too look forward to it." She left, leaving a mildly blushing Harry behind

FLASHBACK ENDS

As Harry remembered it, he touched the spot where she had kissed him. He smiled.

Soon the trio returned to school, a couple of hours before the Halloween feast.

---

After a scrumptious Halloween feast the trio of friends walked towards the Gryffindor tower. *When they reached the corridor that ended with the portrait of the Fat Lady, they found it jammed with students. "Why isn't anyone going in?" said Ron curiously. Harry peered over the heads in front of him. The portrait seemed to be closed.

"Let me through, please," came Percy's voice, and he came bustling importantly through the crowd. "What's the holdup here? You can't all have forgotten the password — excuse me, I'm Head Boy —" And then a silence fell over the crowd, from the front first, so that a chill seemed to spread down the corridor. They heard Percy say, in a suddenly sharp voice, "Somebody get Professor Dumbledore. Quick."

People's heads turned; those at the back were standing on tiptoe. "What's going on?" said Ginny, who had just arrived. A moment later, Professor Dumbledore was there, sweeping toward the portrait; the Gryffindors squeezed together to let him through, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione moved closer to see what the trouble was.

"Oh, my —" Hermione grabbed Harry's arm. The Fat Lady had vanished from her portrait, which had been slashed so viciously that strips of canvas littered the floor; great chunks of it had been torn away completely. Dumbledore took one quick look at the ruined painting and turned, his eyes somber, to see Professors McGonagall, Lupin, and Snape hurrying toward him. "We need to find her," said Dumbledore. "Professor McGonagall, please go to Mr. Filch at once and tell him to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady."

"You'll be lucky!" said a cackling voice. It was Peeves the Poltergeist, bobbing over the crowd and looking delighted, as he always did, at the sight of wreckage or worry.

"What do you mean, Peeves?" said Dumbledore calmly, and Peeves's grin faded a little. He didn't dare taunt Dumbledore. Instead he adopted an oily voice that was no better than his cackle. "Ashamed, Your Headship, sir. Doesn't want to be seen. She's a horrible mess. Saw her running through the landscape up on the fourth floor, sir, dodging between the trees. Crying something dreadful," he said happily. "Poor thing." he added unconvincingly.

"Did she say who did it?" said Dumbledore quietly. "Oh yes, Professor-head," said Peeves, with the air of one cradling a large bombshell in his arms. "He got very angry when she wouldn't let him in, you see." Peeves flipped over and grinned at Dumbledore from between his own legs. "Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black." *

All the Gryffindor students were Quickly ushered back to the Great Hall. Soon, they were joined by the other houses. Word quickly spread that Black had tried to break into the Gryffindor tower.

"Students, I request you all to calm down." Dumbledore's amplified voice spoke above all the whispers and chatters. Everyone paid attention to the Headmaster. "Thank you. As you all undoubtedly know by now that Sirius Black has broken into the castle and due to this we must conduct a search throughout the Castle. For your safety, tonight you will be staying in the Great Hall. Check now, for your friends. If any are missing, tell us now." People looked around but no one raised concern.

Dumbledore nodded. "Very well. Prefects, Head Boy and Head Girl will stand guard over you all and so will Professor Vector and Professor Burbage. Of course you will be needing, this." He waved his wand and the House tables parted. Another wave and Hundreds of sleeping bags appeared for students.

Harry's eyebrows raised at the casual display of powerful magic. Mass conjuring a dozen bags would not be a problem, but more than 500 bags? That, required a massive amount of magic. Dumbledore had shown exactly why he was regarded as the most powerful wizard alive. If someone else had conjured this, they would be on their knees, tired due to the massive usage or outright passed out. Dumbledore was not even sweating, he was just breathing deeper than usual. A titan of magic indeed.

But Harry had a bigger problem. Sirius Black was at Hogwarts and had tried to break into the Gryffindor tower to kill him.

Notes:

corpus cura dolore: Heal Body pain. Straight translation from English to Latin.

JKR gave the pink toad the name DOLOREs Umbridge. Dolore means pain in Latin and Umbridge is a pain in the ass and caused pain to Harry. I got to know this today. Quiet a fact, Don't you think?

Stay Happy! Stay safe! Keep smiling! Keep reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 20: Aurors and a Narrow Win

Ch.20 Aurors and a Narrow Win

The next day, Dumbledore arrived early in the morning. Harry had not been able to go to the chamber, due to all the security. The great Hall was fortified by the magic of Hogwarts wards. He had sent Dobby to tell them what had happened.

"Good Morning students. I hope you all slept well." Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling a bit, but dimmer than usual. He looked tired. 'Probably he did not have a wink of sleep.' Harry thought. "The castle has been searched. There was no evidence of Black found. We do not know how he got in without wards detecting him. We have contacted the DMLE. From next week we will be playing host to a dozen Aurors in this castle, all of them are Hogwarts alumni. I wish that you all will co-operate with them. They will be here for your safety. I expect you all to obey them like you will obey a professor, or the punishments will be dire." He said sternly.

"On another note, the today are cancelled. You all can leave for your Common rooms in an orderly manner. Prefects, take charge." Dumbledore said and left.

The Fat Lady was replaced by a complete nutter of a knight named Sir Cadogan. He spent half the time challenging students to a duel and coming up with the most complex of passwords. He had challenged Harry the next day he was put.

"Oi! You! Show me your worthiness! I sir Cadogan challenge you to a duel. Show me your..." He stopped short when he saw Harry holding a flame on the tip of his wand. "Yes, I Heir Harry Potter, accept the challenge. My weapon will be fire. We shall brandish our weapons. If I get skewered by your sword, I lose. But if your portrait burns, you lose. Accept or forfeit now." He said dramatically. The portrait got a fearful look. He probably realized that he was a portrait and would get burned. He never challenged Harry again.

The school talked of nothing but Sirius Black for the next few days. The theories about how he had entered the castle became wilder and wilder; Hannah Abbott, from Hufflepuff, spent much of their next Herbology class telling anyone who'd listen that Black could turn into a flowering shrub. Harry shook his head at those.

Harry was now being closely watched. Teachers found excuses to walk along corridors with him, and Percy Weasley (acting, Harry suspected, on his mother's orders) was tailing him everywhere like an extremely pompous guard dog. To cap it all, Professor McGonagall summoned Harry into her office, with such a somber expression on her face Harry thought someone must have died.

"Potter, I hope that you know that Sirius Black is probably after you." Harry nodded, "During Summer, the evening before Black's escape was published, the minister, Madame Bones and the Headmaster came and told me. I know he is after me professor." McGonagall nodded.

"Well, in that case, Potter, you'll understand why I don't think it's a good idea for you to be practicing Quidditch in the evenings. Out on the field with only your team members, it's very exposed, Potter —"

"We've got our first match on Saturday!" said Harry, outraged. "I've got to train, Professor!" Professor McGonagall considered him intently. Harry knew she was deeply interested in the Gryffindor team's prospects; it had been she, after all, who'd suggested him as Seeker in the first Place. He waited, holding his breath.

"Hmm…"Professor McGonagall stood up and stared out of the window at the Quidditch field, just visible through the rain. "Well… goodness knows, I'd like to see us win the Cup at last… but all the same, Potter… I'd be happier if a teacher were present. I'll ask Madam Hooch to oversee your training sessions."

The weather was getting worse and Wood was getting frantic. It was his last year and he wanted to win the cup. If not for potions and Harry's ritual, he would have fallen ill due to everyday practices in the heavy thunderstorm in the first few days. He had asked Salazar and Helga for a spell to avoid the rain. They did not have one. So, with their help he modified the impervious charm to protect and keep dry in the rain, like a raincoat. Fred and George had gave him a Bone breaking hug and the chasers had kissed him on the cheeks. He had blushed like mad.

On 8th November, the aurors arrived before dinner. The Gryffindor team had just returned from the Quidditch practice, completely dry thanks to Harry's special charm.

"Attention students. Our guests have arrived. They are all aurors from the DMLE. I hand the stage to Madame Bones to address you all." Dumbledore said. The hot redhead stood up and walked to the platform. "Good evening, students of Hogwarts. I am Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Twelve Aurors are assigned to Hogwarts for your protection in the light of Black's break in on Halloween, a week ago. I expect you all to listen to them. Any suspicious activity by your side will be investigated immediately even from a student. An auror will be given to each house, and will stay in common rooms and accompany you all to Great Hall for meals. Your respective subject teacher will come and accompany you to the classes. Curfew will be regulated. You are to inform them where you go. You will be free to move for the most part as it is a school not a military camp. But, I must insist that you tell one of them, preferably your House Auror where you will be." She paused and looked around.

"Very well. Let me introduce you to the Aurors and their designated posts. First we have John Dawlish, he will be the Slytherin House Auror. For Ravenclaw, it will be Vesta Edwards. For Hufflepuff, Hestia Jones." Every auror waved at them as they were introduced. "For Gryffindor, we will have two aurors as Black tried to break in there. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Nymphadora Tonks" The last name was said by Madame Bones while catching his eye. He immediately understood that the pink... wait red wait... pink again haired girl was assigned for him. That girl was a metamorphmagus, he concluded by her changing hair colour. Interesting. Madame Bones introduced the rest of them before Dinner began.

As dinner began, the five aurors assigned to the houses moved towards their respective tables. The Metamorphmagus came and sat right in front of him, beside Hermione. "Wotcher! I am Tonks!" She said.

"Hermione Granger"

"Ron Weasley"

"Oh! I know your older brother, Charlie. We are friends."

"Harry Potter" Harry introduced himself by kissing her knuckles and giving her a charming smile. "Oh. Nice to meet you. I did not realize it was you. Didn't you have glasses?" She said. It was an act. She knew exactly who he was. "I got contacts, Ms. Tonks. You are a metamorphmagus, ain't you?" Harry said, ignoring the act.

"Yes I am. I am surprised that you know about the ability." Harry shrugged. "What is a meta-what-a-magus?" Hermione questioned

"Metamorphmagus. It is..." The auror started her explanation about it with Hermione pestering the poor girl. But that was not a worry. He would now have to be careful while going in and out of the chamber. He had already warded his bed the very day after the break-in. He was not taking risks due to Black. Now, he would have to be careful from the new aurors too.

---

"We are playing Hufflepuff this Saturday. Slytherin says that their seeker's arm is injured." Wood scowled as he entered the Quidditch pitch on Wednesday. "But it's obvious why they're doing it. Don't want to play in this weather. Think it'll damage their chances…"

There had been strong winds and heavy rain all day, and as Wood spoke, they heard a distant rumble of thunder. "There's nothing wrong with Malfoy's arm!" said Harry furiously. "He's faking it!"

"I KNOW! AND WE CAN'T PROVE IT! WE HAVE TO NOW, CHANGE EVERY PLAY WE DESIGNED! THE PLAYS OF THE TEAMS ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT" Wood fumed.

"Calm down Oliver. We can play them. Hufflepuff, while not exactly a pushover is not as tough challenge as Slytherin. Slytherin had their Brooms and Cheating and yet we would have won. So calm down. Also weather makes a little difference to us due to Harry's special spell." Angelina said shooting Harry a grin. "Only problem would be visibility. Nothing we can't handle. And the Hufflepuffs will be at a disadvantage."

Wood nodded at the logic.

"But we should not let the Slytherin team scot free. What do you think Gred and Forge?" Harry whispered to the Weasley twins.

"We think..."

"That it is..."

"A brilliant idea!" They finished together.

"After the match, I will help you set a prank. Don't want Snape putting us in detention on the day of the match." The Weasley twins nodded

---

The day of the match, the weather was worse. There was a heavy thunderstorm. The whole school had turned up despite the weather. The stands were protected with spells to repel rain. The pitch wasn't. Before going out, Harry applied his special Raincoat charm on the whole team.

The Hufflepuffs were approaching from the opposite side of the field, wearing canary-yellow robes. The Captains walked up to each other and shook hands; Diggory smiled at Wood but Wood now looked as though he had lockjaw and merely nodded. Harry saw Madam Hooch's mouth form the words, "Mount Your brooms."

He pulled his right foot out of the mud with a squelch and swung it over his Nimbus Two Thousand. Madam Hooch put her whistle to her lips and gave it a blast that sounded shrill and distant — they were off. Harry rose fast, but his Nimbus was swerving slightly with the wind. He held it as steady as he could and turned, squinting into the rain.

Visibility was deplorable. He could not see clearly more than ten feet ahead of him. How was he supposed to see the snitch let alone catch it? He was hardly able to see his team mates due to the heavy rain. They were just blurs. After around half hour, Madam Hooch whistle sounded signifying a time out. Harry went to their team huddle under the Umbrella. "The puffs have called for a time out." Wood half yelled above the roar of the thunder and rain. The team was dry but looked windswept. Flying in high velocity winds sucked.

"What's the score?" Harry asked.

"We're seventy points up," said Wood, "but unless we get the Snitch soon, we'll be playing into the night." Harry nodded. They took to the sky soon.

"Harry! Behind you!" Wood yelled after a few minutes back into the game. Harry looked wildly around. Cedric Diggory was pelting up the field, and a tiny speck of gold was shimmering in the rain-filled air between them… With a jolt of panic, Harry threw himself flat to the broom handle and zoomed toward the Snitch. "Come on!" he growled at his Nimbus as the rain whipped his face. "Faster!" But something odd was happening.

An eerie silence was falling across the stadium. The wind, though as strong as ever, was forgetting to roar. It was as though someone had turned off the sound, as though Harry had gone suddenly deaf — what was going on? And then a horribly familiar wave of cold swept over him, inside him, just as he became aware of something moving on the field below… Before he'd had time to think, Harry had taken his eyes off the Snitch and looked down. At least a hundred Dementors, their hidden faces pointing up at him, were standing beneath him. It was as though freezing water were rising in his chest, cutting at his insides. And then he heard it again… Someone was screaming, screaming inside his head… a woman…

"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!" He blocked it by his Occlumency and remembered his meeting with his mum. With one hand on his broom he flicked his wand into his hand. "EXPECTO PATRONUM" he incanted keeping his eyes on the snitch. The Dragon formed, but he paid little heed. Suddenly a bludger slammed into his broom with extreme force, band a snap was heard. Harry lunged without thinking. He took the snitch by its wing. They had won. But Harry had a problem, he was falling and he did not have a functioning broom. It was broken.

He flicked his wand into his hand and cast a Arresto momentum on himself and a wandless cushioning charm down on the ground. He saw above in the sky. His Great Horned Hebridean Black was in the sky, being the brightest of all, well, along with the phoenix. 'Dumbledore's Patronus' Harry realized. There was a cat, an eagle, a lynx, a type of lizard and a doe in the sky. He was descending at a slow speed down, enough to land safely. Suddenly a levitation charm was applied on him. It was powerful. He looked and saw that in the teacher's stand Dumbledore was standing with a furious expression on his face, and wand pointed at him, something he could clearly see despite the rain. Harry landed safely on the ground. His team mates surrounded him. So did some of the puffs.

"Are you alright Harry?" Wood asked. Harry nodded, "Yeah, applied an Arresto Momentum on myself and Dumbledore put a levitation charm on me."

"Thank God. The snitch is lost. We should call for a rematch we can't continue in such..." Diggory trailed off seeing the snitch in Harry's hands. "Oh, Congratulations for the win." Diggory finished with a smile. Harry shook his hand.

"It was a close call. I barely caught it. Well played, Cedric." Harry said.

Suddenly Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape along with some of the aurors arrived. "Mr. Potter! are you alright?" The headmaster asked.

"Yes professor. I applied an Arresto Momentum on myself. Also your levitation charm helped." He nodded.

"It is commendable that you thought of it in such a situation Mr. Potter." Dumbledore said.

"Yes, and thank Merlin for the Dragon Patronus which alerted us to the dementors. Or else, I am afraid we may have lost people." The usually silent Kingsley Shacklebolt spoke in his deep voice. "By the way, whose Patronus was it, Headmaster?" He added.

"Mine" Harry said.

"Yes, as if a thirteen year old can produce a corporeal Patronus, that too one so powerful." The auror, John Dawlish, sneered.

Harry narrowed his eyes and made them glow. "Expecto Patronum" He proved himself. The dragon let out a silent roar. Dawlish was staring wide eyed at it.

"You have any other doubts on my word auror?" Harry asked making his eyes swirling vortexes of power. He did not feel angry, but intimidation was necessary to make the auror respect him. The auror shook his head frantically. "Good."

He nodded at the professors before turning to his team mates. "What are you all waiting for? Party in the common room." Everyone cheered and left for the common room.

Harry had won, but at a steep price. His broom was broken and he would have to buy a new one.

Chapter 21: Pranks, Christmas and the Firebolt

Ch.21 Pranks, Christmas and the Firebolt

On Sunday evening, the day after their match, found Harry and the Weasley twins in an abandoned classroom. "So, how are we going to..."

"Prank Malfoy?"

"I say make him do something that makes him use his arm and humiliates him. We can make him do a pole dance, in front of the Great hall, go near flint, and punch him. That's what I thought of yesterday." They nodded in consent, "What are you— "

"— up to?"

" We can conjure a pole and put a compulsion on it to dance. A dancing potion in Malfoy's food with a switching spell will make him dance and the pole will ensure that he does a pole dance. A potion in flint's food to make him aroused or a compulsion to like Draco or a mild love Potion to get Flint touch Malfoy, along with an aggression potion keyed to Flint in Malfoy's food. So Malfoy will likely hit him."

"..."

"..."

"Do you like it?" Harry asked after a few moments of silence.

"Harrykins— "

"— we never took you— "

"— for a prankster— "

" — but we must— "

"Admit that— "

"It is a —

"BRILLIANT PLAN" They finally concluded together. How they could twin speak so flawlessly, Harry had no idea. "I am glad you approve." He said. "We will make a few tweaks and it will be a plan worthy of the marauders." Fred said.

"Indeed, less handsome brother of mine. We should make Harry our third twin, even though he does not look like us. Now we have Malfoy to prank!" George said.

They all grinned

---

The next day at dinner, they set the plan in motion. The switching of food was carried out by the twins. Soon the food was eaten making Malfoy twitch and Flint eye Malfoy. Now, Harry's part. He took the shrunken Pole and stuck it on the Slytherin table. As soon as the pole appeared, Malfoy ripped off his cast and climbed on the table. Suddenly his clothes changed and so did his body.

"GOOD EVENING. I AM DRACONIA MALFOY. SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE SHOW." Harry discretely waved his wand and music started playing. Malfoy started pole dancing sensually leaning and showing cleavage through his... her bikini and shook his ass at the Slytherins. The hall was filled with cat calls from various students.' Marcus Flint climbed on the table and started touching Malfoy.

Draconia punched him straight in the face. "You BASTARD! Keep your hands off me." Harry stopped the music and removed the compulsions. Draconia's eyes widened and he ran out of the hall screaming.

"Who did this? Better come and own it up. If I find proof, the consequences would be severe" Snape said in a dangerous voice looking at the Weasley twins but they gave him an innocent look.

"Wasn't Malfoy's arm injured? That was why Slytherin opted out of yesterday's game and we had to play Hufflepuff. Professor Snape also had confirmed it. Now, it looked perfectly fine while dancing and punching." Harry said loudly enough for nearby Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs to hear but not for Snape. Word quickly spread. Malfoy had faked an injury to get Slytherin out of a match and Snape had supported him. Snape was a liar. Harry smirked. The plan had worked out perfectly and they were not caught.

Fred and George raised a goblet to him. He returned the gesture. Hermione gave him a weird look. She had deduced that he was behind it. Harry shot her a wink. She understood it perfectly. Her suspicions were correct. She grinned back and gave him a wink back.

---

"It was brilliant" Harry said to the Weasley twins once they reached the common room. "Yes— "

"Harrikins— "

"It indeed— "

"— was brilliant. We— "

"— should do it— "

"— more often."

"I heard you want to open a joke shop." Harry said. They nodded seriously. "I have a proposition. I can fund your initial research and your shop once you leave Hogwarts. Just give me a good financial structure and plans of what you want to do. I will also help you with them, however I can. I also know about a lot of muggle things that you can use."

The twins eyes were wide in astonishment. "What do you want in return?" One twin questioned finally. Harry raised an eyebrow. "30% of the shares in your shop. We three will be partners. You two will own the rest. I feel you will be very successful with this idea."

"Really! That's it?" the other twin asked. Harry shrugged. "Yes." It would become an excellent business if the Weasley twins put their hearts into it and he knew they would. Whatever funding he would provide would be paid back by the shares within a couple of years if the shop was as successful as he estimated.

The twins shared a look before shaking his hands jovially. "Thank you." They said in unison. Before Fred started looking in his pockets and brought out a piece of parchment. "Harry, as you are doing this for us, we will entrust you with the secret of our success."

"This is the Marauder's map. It shows all secret passageways and people in Hogwarts." Harry raised an eyebrow at it. "You are kidding." There was a map which showed the position of all occupants in the castle and secret passageways in the chamber but to think that the twins had one was really... absurd.

"Oh, are we?" said George. He took out his wand, touched the parchment lightly, and said, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." And at once, thin ink lines began to spread like a spider's web from the point that George's wand had touched. They joined each other, they crisscrossed, they fanned into every corner of the parchment; then words began to blossom across the top, great, curly green words, that proclaimed:

Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs

Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers

are proud to present

THE MARAUDER'S MAP

It was a map showing every detail of the Hogwarts castle and grounds. But the truly remarkable thing were the tiny ink dots moving around it, each labeled with a name in minuscule writing. Astounded, Harry bent over it. A labeled dot in the top left corner showed that Professor Dumbledore was pacing his study; the caretaker's cat, Mrs. Norris, was prowling the second floor; and Peeves the Poltergeist was currently bouncing around the trophy room.

And as Harry's eyes traveled up and down the familiar corridors, he noticed something else, It did not show the Room of requirement or the Chamber. He also noted it showed only seven passageways out of the school. There were 13. Also, each common room had a path to the outer chamber which was not on the map. But it was portable easily unlike the map in the chamber.

"Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs," sighed George, patting the heading of the map. "We owe them so much." "Noble men, working tirelessly to help a new generation of lawbreakers," said Fred solemnly.

"Right," said George briskly. "Don't forget to wipe it after you've used it —" "— or anyone can read it," Fred said warningly. "Just tap it again and say, 'Mischief managed!' And it'll go blank."

"This is awesome" Harry breathed. "Indeed it— "

"— is Harrykins." The twins smirked. "It is pleasure to be in business with you, Mr. Potter." They said in unison. "Show me your ideas after Christmas. I will fund it if they are indeed worthy of selling in the most premium prank shop that will be opened." They grinned.

---

It was Christmas morning. By mid-November he had completed his mind place. It was a beautiful five-floor Castle with 2 floor of Dungeons and the Chamber of secrets, Surrounded by huge grounds, a lake and a Quidditch pitch. He had started adding defenses to it.

His own training was going well. He could now shoot 4 stunners a second. The progress was slower now as he was already decently fast in spell shooting. Senior Aurors in the DMLE had this speed of spell shooting. His spell knowledge had grown by leaps and bounds. He now knew more than a hundred combat spells, though some were children level and one won't use in a real fight. He was still woefully inadequate as compared to Dumbledore, Voldemort and some of the Hitwizards who knew thousands of such spells. In subjects like Charms and Transfiguration, he was on NEWT level and mid-sixth year in Ancient Runes and Arithmancy. Subjects like Herbology, Astronomy, History of Magic and COMC depended on the topic Harry wanted to study. He had regular debates, read through laws and found loopholes, made mock bills and learned relevant laws to his goals for Political studies.

The only disappointment for him was that he still could not see magic by mage sight. He was currently on a break from any training or learning new magic since the last 4 days and would remain so for another 3. Why? Because of the ritual he had done on the winter solstice.

FLASHBACK

Near midnight of December 21, the winter solstice, Harry was busy drawing runes on the floor of the ritual chamber in the Chamber of Secrets. "Harry, recheck the rune on your right... yeah that one, it is not drawn perfectly, do it again. We can't afford a single mistake in this one." Harry redrew the rune. This was the most dangerous ritual he was going to perform till date. Not a single mistake could be tolerated.

He remembered the explanation he had received for it three weeks ago. 'On this winter solstice, midnight you will perform your most dangerous and complex ritual till date. It will also be your most beneficial. You remember how we explained the magical core to you? Well, this ritual focuses on the increasing your magical core a bit, widens the magical pathways in your body so your magic will flow more freely and most importantly will give you a greater benefit of magical training. As we have said, Magic is like a muscle, the more you train it, the more it increases. This ritual will be like a mild steroid making the growth of your magic faster than usual. Its name is  melius est magicae ritual. '

The ritual was dangerous as for all this, the ritual drained almost all magic from the persons body and then made the magical core more easily stretchable in a sense and increases its size automatically by a few percent.

Think of the magical core as balls. As a comparison, Squibs had a size of magical core as big as a thermocol ball(the ones used for decoration), average witches and wizards had the size of a baseball and centennial wizards had a size of a football at their full maturity. The more powerful witches and wizards like McGonagall, Amelia Bones, the famed Alastor Moody, Professor Flitwick, Hitwizards, etc. had a core size somewhere between a baseball and a football. Currently, Harry's core size was around this size. This ritual will make it easier for this size to increase and also immediately after the ritual the Magical core of his would become a tiny bit bigger than it was.

It was a damn powerful and useful ritual and also equally dangerous. Salazar and Helga triple checked the runes before giving a go-ahead.

At exactly midnight, Harry started a long chant, lying naked in the ritual circle. The runes glowed and then the excruciating pain started. He was frozen for this by Dobby so he would not move. "AHHHHHHH!"

"Bear this pain Harry, for a few minutes, please." Helga said between his screams of pain. Tears flowed down Harry's eyes. The ritual was painful.

After what felt like an eternity, the pain stopped and the glow of runes died out. Harry lay there, in pain feeling weak and helpless. He felt extremely drained. He soon passed out.

It was a few minutes before noon the next day when Harry came around. He was on a bed, still naked from yesterday's ritual. He was feeling pain all over his body. His feeling of magic had returned by a bit but he still felt drained. Gingerly getting up, he went to the adjoined Bathroom to relieve himself. He also prepared a hot bath and lay in it for an hour. After coming out, he donned the clothes laid out by an elf, probably Dobby. He looked around for his wands and other things, not finding them he went out to the study.

"So you are awake. How are you feeling?" Salazar asked.

"Drained. Tired. Weak. In pain." Harry said. "Don't worry dear, it is an unfortunate side effect. You will be perfectly fine in a couple of days. But I will advise you to avoid doing magic for a few hours atleast. And no magical training for a week. Healer's order." Helga said. Harry nodded, knowing she was correct and it was futile to argue. "Tippy, bring Harry food and a pain relief potion." Helga called and ordered a Hogwarts elf. "Harry, first eat the lunch and then drink the potion. Then use the time turner." Harry obeyed. He wasn't going to argue. He was hungry and he knew that pain relief potions worked best with a full stomach.

FLASHBACK END

"HARRY! Wake up mate, its Christmas." Ron yelled. "I am up, I am up." Ron and Hermione had stayed back for Christmas despite Harry's protest. They had put their foot down saying that they were not leaving Harry. Hermione said that her parents had went to an international conference, so she anyways had to stay. She had given him a big name for it but Harry could not exactly remember it. Ron was the only one who had no reason to stay but yet stayed for Harry. He was touched by the gesture.

They went down to the common room. Under the Christmas tree, there were several presents. Harry also noticed She-who-must-not-be-named Tonks sitting next to the fire with Hermione, wearing casual clothes instead of her auror uniform.

"Hey Tonks! Why are you here? You don't wanna go home for Christmas?" Harry asked

"Uh... Oh Harry! Merry Christmas! I am not going to home this year. Bonesy is paying us triple for this. It is necessary to remain here. The castle is empty and so Black might decide to attack... someone." Tonks said. Harry knew that someone was actually him but smiled nonetheless. "Well then I thank you Tonks. For ensuring our safety. And yeah, Merry Christmas."

Harry and her had developed a friendship of sorts. The bubbly auror had spent a of time around the trio. They liked her. She was a Hufflepuff who graduated in 1991, the year before Harry came to Hogwarts. She was an extremely cheerful girl who was fun to be around.

"Well... I am going for Dinner to my parent's house, but will be back before curfew. Don't get in danger today, alright." She added and Harry nodded. He then gestured towards the presents. They nodded and all went to the pile. Harry saw his presents.

Mrs. Weasley had sent him a scarlet sweater with the Gryffindor lion knitted on the front, also a dozen home-baked mince pies, some Christmas cake, and a box of nut brittle. He heard Ron moan about the maroon colour. Hermione had given him a nice book on History. He saw additional presents, one was from Tonks and the other was from DG: Daphne Greengrass. He tore it open. It was a set of expensive cologne. Two medium-sized bottles a blend of citrus-rosemary-spice blend in one and jasmine-woods-ocean breezes in the other. It smelt extremely nice. He was now glad that he had bought a silver bracelet for her. It was the most expensive gift he had given. Certain standards needed to be maintained for the Most Noble and Most Ancient Houses. Also by now they were very good friends, in secret, of course. No one except Astoria knew about it. Salazar and Helga didn't count.

"Harry, you didn't have to!" Tonks said seeing his gift. It was a ladies purse. He had gotten Ron a Wrist watch with a wand holster so he didn't break his wand. For Hermione, it was books. He had kept the budget for them the same. He didn't know what to buy for Tonks and so bought her a purse. What else could he buy for a women? She was merely a friend so he wasn't going to give her an expensive gift nor she was from a Most Noble and Most Ancient House.

She had given him a book on Dueling. He had it, but appreciated the gesture nonetheless. There was one more, a long, thin package.

"What's that?" said Ron, looking over, a freshly unwrapped pair of maroon socks in his hand. "Dunno…" Harry ripped the parcel open and gasped as a magnificent, gleaming broomstick rolled out onto his bedspread. Ron dropped his socks and jumped off his bed for a closer look.

"I don't believe it," he said hoarsely.

It was a Firebolt, identical to the dream broom Harry had gone to see every day in Diagon Alley. Its handle glittered as he picked it up. He could feel it vibrating and let go; it hung in midair, unsupported, at exactly the right height for him to mount it. His eyes moved from the golden registration number at the top of the handle, 007, right down to the perfectly smooth, streamlined birch twigs that made up the tail. "Who sent it to you?" said Ron in a hushed voice. "Look and see if there's a card," said Harry. Ron ripped apart the Firebolt's wrappings.

"Nothing! Blimey, who'd spend that much on you?"

"No idea."

Tonks was gaping at it. So was Hermione. But Harry suddenly had a thought. What if... "Ron, don't touch it. Back away, everyone. It may be dangerous." He cried out in alarm. Ron looked at him in shock. Tonks eyes went wide understanding what Harry was saying. She went for her wand but Harry beat her to it. "Domus nontangere" He said. A golden dome appeared around it. No one would be able to physically touch it without breaking this shield. It was a spell used by curse breakers to protect objects from being touched till they were deemed safe. "How the fuck do you know this spell? We learn it in Auror training! Fuck that! How can you cast it. It took me a month to cast that damned spell properly." He looked at Tonks once she was finished ranting. "Tonks, I can produce a corporeal Patronus. This is easy work." He said simply.

"Let that dome be. Why the bloody hell do you think it's dangerous?" Ron asked.

"It is without a note. It is plausible that Sirius Black may have sent it."

"Harry mate... Black is on run. How could he walk into a shop and buy a firebolt?" Ron asked

"There are disguises, Ron. Polyjuice, glamor charms, artifacts to change looks and so on." Hermione said.

"I am no expert on cursed objects, I admit. We should call the professors." Tonks said. Harry nodded and sent off a Patronus message to Dumbledore, McGonagall and Flitwick saying that a curse broom may have been gifted to Harry by Black. Within minutes, Dumbledore appeared with his phoenix in a flash of flames. His eyes alert and wand at ready. He looked around the room and saw the dome. "A firebolt. Was there a note?" He asked and they shook their heads. Dumbledore waved his wand around the room and relaxed at once. Then concentrated back on the broom. That was when McGonagall and Flitwick arrived. Dumbledore said nothing to them, instead turned to Tonks. "Nymphadora, can you kindly remove this dome? So I can inspect it."

Her hair turned red. "Don't call me Nymphadora. And the spell was done by Harry, not me." Dumbledore's eyebrows raised. The other two professors wore expressions of shock. Harry flicked his wand and ended the spell. Dumbledore started waving his wand on the broom. After 15 minutes he finally stepped back. "The broom does not appeared to be cursed. There are no curses or jinxes on it, I can certify... Just... Fawkes, bring me the dark detector." Fawkes flamed out from where he was sitting on Harry's shoulder and returned with a metal detector like object. Dumbledore waved that object on the broom. It glowed green.

"The broom is completely safe Mr. Potter. But who sent it is a mystery." He said. "Though it is commendable that you thought on your feet and did not ride it. There was a high possibility that it might have been a death trap. 15 points to Gryffindor." He added.

"Are you sure it is perfectly safe, Professor Dumbledore? Such an expensive, top-of-the -line broom, without a note?" McGonagall asked. Dumbledore nodded. "I bid you all merry Christmas. I will see you at lunch. Enjoy your day." He said before leaving the common room.

"You know Filius, I am seeing the Quidditch Cup already in my office." McGonagall said. Flitwick rubbed his temples before they both left.

"Woah Harry! A Firebolt for you. I want to ride it once." Tonks said.

"Me too! And think about Malfoy's face when he sees it!" Ron exclaimed. Harry grinned and nodded. "After me, you both will get a chance. Hermione, you too."

"NO! Thank you. I prefer my feet on the ground. I am not keen on riding a normal broom let alone the Fastest. I will watch." She said and they laughed.

---

After the Christmas feast Tonks returned. They were the only ones in the Tower. The trio was sitting near the fire chatting amiably. "Wotcher Guys! I am back!" She said and took a sit next to them. After a few minutes of describing her celebration, she said, "Hey, let us celebrate properly."

"We just had a dinner worthy of kings. What do you want to celebrate more?" Harry asked and Tonks winked, removing a bottle. "Firewhiskey" She whispered.

Their eyes went wide. "We are not of age to drink it." Hermione said. "Oh, lighten up, it's Christmas." Tonks said.

"Yeah Hermione, at parties everyone above fourth year drinks anyways. What is the big deal." Hermione reluctantly nodded and Tonks conjured glasses and poured the amber liquid.

"To friends and Christmas Spirit." She raised her glass and they all drank. The teenager coughed violently, smoke coming out of their mouth while Tonks let out a burp with a flame. "You, kids just had your first proper alcohol. Welcome to adulthood!" And they continued till the bottle was empty. All stumbled into their rooms while Hermione just went to sleep on the couch slurring that she was too tipsy.

The next day, unfortunately, they all woke with a massive hangover.

Notes:

Sorry, I couldn't update yesterday due to a technical problem. Enjoy!

Chapter 22: Quidditch Match and the Break-in

Ch.22 Quidditch Match and the Break-in

After Christmas, all students returned back to Hogwarts. The biggest incident that happened on their return was that Oliver Wood nearly had a heart attack. Why? He saw that his star player had a Firebolt as a broom. He spent the next hour drooling at it, making Harry question his captain's sexuality. There was a lot of gawking at the broom by everyone and the whole Quidditch team threatened the Gryffindor students that the news of Harry having a firebolt MUST NOT get leaked as their next Match was in two weeks against Ravenclaw. Harry didn't say that professor Flitwick knew. It was fun to see them all keep it hush-hush.

The practice started becoming guarded by fellow Gryffindors so no one saw that they had a firebolt and even Tonks(for Harry's safety). Wood had told Harry to practice breaking formations and play interfering seeker. His Firebolt was so fast that it would take only 8 seconds to go from one end of the pitch to the other. The Firebolt proved loads better than his Nimbus. It responded to his every thought and was more than 2 times fast than the Nimbus 2000. In their first practice, Harry had caught the snitch in 10 seconds flat. Their win looked guaranteed.

Harry continued his sessions with Daphne. She was improving and it was good practice for Harry. He had gotten a few creative ideas from her during their sessions. He was still the top of his classes except Herbology, History and Potions. Neville was somehow still the greenest thumb. Snape was still a biased bastard and a horrible teacher. His hatred for Harry was likely from the fact that Harry had killed his master. Dumbledore had vouched for Snape at his trial saying Snape was a spy for him. Harry doubted that Snape was genuinely on the Headmaster's side, but that was hugely due to Snape's behavior towards Harry, not on concrete proof. Even Salazar and Helga did not know what was the truth about Snape. So, Harry was always alert around him. Snape, after all, had the dark mark, a tattoo proclaiming you are in Voldemort's service.

---

Harry went down to breakfast on the morning of the match with the rest of the boys in his dormitory, all of whom seemed to think the Firebolt deserved a sort of guard of honor. As Harry entered the Great Hall, heads turned in the direction of the Firebolt, and there was a good deal of excited muttering. Harry saw, with enormous satisfaction, that the Slytherin team were all looking thunderstruck. "Did you see his face?" said Ron gleefully, looking back at Malfoy. "He can't believe it! This is brilliant!" Wood, too, was basking in the reflected glory of the Firebolt.

"Put it here, Harry," he said, laying the broom in the middle of the table and carefully turning it so that its name faced upward. People from the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables were soon coming over to look. Cedric Diggory came over to congratulate Harry on having acquired such a superb replacement for his Nimbus, and Percy's Ravenclaw girlfriend, Penelope Clearwater, asked if she could actually hold the Firebolt. "Now, now, Penny, no sabotage!" said Percy heartily as she examined the Firebolt closely. "Penelope and I have got a bet on," he told the team. "Ten Galleons on the outcome of the match!"

Penelope put the Firebolt down again, thanked Harry, and went back to her table. "Harry — make sure you win," said Percy, in an urgent whisper. "I haven't got ten Galleons. Yes, I'm coming, Penny!" And he bustled off to join her in a piece of toast.

"Sure you can manage that broom, Potter?" said a cold, drawling voice. Draco Malfoy had arrived for a closer look, Crabbe and Goyle right behind him.

"Obviously I can. I am yet to loose a match, and have successfully snatched the snitch from above the head of the Slytherin seeker last year. Oh wait! That was you." The whole Gryffindor table snickered.

Malfoy's face turned red and he sneered before returning to his table.

Hedwig flew down to his arm and nipped his ear before hooting as if saying 'Good Luck'. He smiled at her and gave her bacon which she happily devoured before going off again.

"Gryffindor team! Time to go!" Wood soon shouted. The team got up and walked out amidst cheers from Gryffindors and some Hufflepuffs. Harry saw Daphne give him a discreet thumbs up from the Slytherin table.

The weather was sunny and clear. Perfect visibility. "You know what we've got to do," said Wood as they prepared to leave the locker rooms. "If we lose this match, we're out of the running, just — just fly like you did in practice yesterday, and we'll be okay!"

They walked out onto the field to tumultuous applause. The Ravenclaw team, dressed in blue, were already standing in the middle of the field. Their Seeker, Cho Chang, was the only girl on their team. She was shorter than Harry by about a head, and Harry couldn't help noticing, nervous as he was, that she was pretty. She smiled at Harry as the teams faced each other behind their captains. Harry smiled back and mounted his broom.

They took off at Madam Hooch's whistle. He heard Jordan advertising about his broom on the mic and McGonagall chastising him.

He broke off the Ravenclaw formation and kicked the Quaffle out of their chaser's hand and Katie took it and scored. "I can't believe it! Potter is playing an interfering seeker. It is usually a potential risk but Chang's comet is no match for the Firebolt's acceleration It has -"

"JORDAN! Tell us about the match!" McGonagall yelled at Lee Jordan... again.

Within 10 minutes, they were 80 points up. 80-0 was the score. Harry had not let them score at all. Wood was just hovering in the air shouting instructions at them. He was yet to touch the Quaffle. Harry again broke formation of the Ravenclaw chasers and Angelina stole the Quaffle. Suddenly he saw a flash of gold and veered his broom toward it and accelerated. He was a dozen feet away when a bludger came, hit by the Ravenclaw beater. Harry avoided it by his enhanced reflexes but then Chang blocked him. In this all, the elusive snitch had vanished. Harry growled and Chang smirked. She wanted to mark him, so be it.

He suddenly veered his broom in a vertical dive, slower than normal firebolt speed. As expected, Chang followed. At the last moment Harry pulled up. Chang crashed her pretty face into the mud. "I can not believe it. Harry Potter has executed a perfect wronski feint." Gryffindor were screaming themselves hoarse. He looked around again. The score was 100-0. Suddenly he saw the gold flash again. He put the broom at full speed and went towards the snitch. A bludger was shot at him, but it was aimed pathetically. He didn't even need to dodge. He caught the snitch.

Madam Hooch's whistle sounded. Harry turned around in midair and saw six scarlet blurs bearing down on him; next moment, the whole team was hugging him so hard he was nearly pulled off his broom. Down below he could hear the roars of the Gryffindors in the crowd. "That's my boy!" Wood kept yelling. Alicia, Angelina, and Katie had all kissed Harry; Fred had him in a grip so tight Harry felt as though his head would come off. In complete disarray, the team managed to make its way back to the ground. Harry got off his broom and looked up to see a gaggle of Gryffindor supporters sprinting onto the field, Ron in the lead. Before he knew it, he had been engulfed by the cheering crowd.

They had won the match. But the final Battle was yet to come and it was against their arch nemesis: Gryffindor v/s Slytherin Quidditch match 1993-94, here they came.

---

That night there was a massive party in the common room. Everyone except Hermione was celebrating. She was studying in a corner with several books spread on the table. "Hermione, come on! You can leave that for a while! You are running yourself ragged!"

"I can't, Harry. I've still got four hundred and twenty-two pages to read!" said Hermione, now sounding slightly hysterical. "Anyway…" She glanced over at Ron too. "He doesn't want me to join in."

The quarrel between Ron and Hermione was on an all time high. Apparently, Hermione's cat had eaten Scabbers and Ron was pissed. He always said that the rat was useless but now was making Hermione's life hell over it. Their fights were getting so frequent that Harry had started spending more and more time with Susan, Cedric and the Gryffindor quidditch team. Cedric by now was a good friend of his. They shared a lot of common interests: Quidditch, Defense and Transfiguration, both the boys were the top student of their year and both hated Snape.

Susan Bones was a kind girl, always ready to help and gentle. Helga would have loved her as a student. She wanted to follow her aunt's footsteps and become a hit-witch. Harry had offered her help with DADA and dueling. She was included in the little group of Harry and Daphne after the Christmas Break.

Harry had no doubt that both the girls could gauge the alliance that was forming- House Bones-Greengrass-Potter. All of them were heirs of Most Noble and Most Ancient Houses. Harry and Susan would be Lord Potter and Lady Bones respectively. Daphne would also be Lady Greengrass unless she married in a Family of equal standing which would need her to take her Husband's name while her Sister would continue the Family line by becoming Lady Greengrass and marrying a guy from a lower house, so that the Husband would take the Greengrass name.

It was a rare case scenario as only three options were currently there for Daphne for this: Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom or if a Black heir emerged. Truthfully, it was a high chance that Harry would become heir or Lord Black after Sirius Black's death if the Lord ring judged him worthy. The only competition to him was Draco, but Harry could force Lucius to deny his son. So it was practically Harry's after Black got the dementor's kiss. Still Harry would wait till it was confirmed. He still had three and a half years before he sat on the Wizengamot.

Ron chose that moment to say loudly, "If Scabbers hadn't just been eaten, he could have had some of those Fudge Flies. He used to really like them —" Hermione burst into tears. Before Harry could say or do anything, she tucked the enormous book under her arm, and, still sobbing, ran toward the staircase to the girls' dormitories and out of sight.

"Can't you give her a break! You are now NEEDLESSLY antagonizing her! I am tired of your fights!" Harry snapped.

"No," said Ron flatly. "If she just acted like she was sorry — but she'll never admit she's wrong, Hermione. She's still acting like Scabbers has gone on vacation or something."

He wasn't completely wrong.

---

That night Harry was woken up by a scream. He wandlessly summoned his wand from the night stand and pointed it at the source of the sound.

It was Ron.

Ron was sitting up in bed, the hangings torn from one side, a look of utmost terror on his face.

"Black! Sirius Black! With a knife!"

"What?"

"Here! Just now! Slashed the curtains! Woke me up!"

"You sure you weren't dreaming, Ron?" said Dean.

"Look at the curtains! I tell you, he was here!"

They all scrambled out of bed; Harry reached the dormitory door first, and they sprinted back down the staircase. Doors opened behind them, and sleepy voices called after them.

"Who shouted?"

"What're you doing?"

The common room was lit with the glow of the dying fire, still littered with the debris from the party. It was deserted. "Are you sure you weren't dreaming, Ron?"

"I'm telling you, I saw him!"

"What's all the noise?" Kingsley asked in his deep voice. Tonks was there too, in her nightdress, wand out and eyes alert.

Sirius Black!" said Ron faintly. "In our dormitory! With a knife! Woke me up!" The common room went very still. "Nonsense! You..." Percy began but was cut off by Tonks. "Are you sure Ron?"

"Yes. Even my bed curtains are slashed open." Ron replied.

"Now, really, that's enough!" Professor McGonagall had arrived with a furious expression. "I am delighted that Gryffindor won the match, but this is getting ridiculous! You both are aurors, Kingsley, Nymphadora! I expected better from you." She told the aurors. Tonks' eyes narrowed. "Professor, Ron Weasley woke us all up saying he saw Sirius Black."

"Don't be ridiculous, Weasley, how could he possibly have gotten through the portrait hole?"

"Ask him!" said Ron, pointing a shaking finger at the back of Sir Cadogan's picture. "Ask him if he saw —"

Glaring suspiciously at Ron, Professor McGonagall pushed the portrait back open and went outside. The whole common room listened with bated breath. "Sir Cadogan, did you just let a man enter Gryffindor Tower?"

"Certainly, good lady!" cried Sir Cadogan. There was a stunned silence, both inside and outside the common room. "You — you did?" said Professor McGonagall. "But — but the password!"

"He had 'em!" said Sir Cadogan proudly. "Had the whole week's, my lady! Read 'em off a little piece of paper!" Professor McGonagall pulled herself back through the portrait hole to face the stunned crowd. She was white as chalk. "Which person," she said, her voice shaking, "which abysmally foolish person wrote down this week's passwords and left them lying around?"

There was utter silence, broken by the smallest of terrified squeaks. Neville Longbottom, trembling from head to fluffy slippered toes, raised his hand slowly into the air.

Chapter 23: The Rat, the Dog, the Wolf and the Dungeon Bat

Ch.23 The Rat, the Dog, the Wolf and the Dungeon Bat

"Yes, Susan! See Daphne's footing. Daphne, you are exaggerating wand movement, you actually do not need it. Susan! Don't use a fucking stinging hex in a duel!"

Harry was instructing Daphne and Susan as they dueled each other in the classroom. It was a week after the Break-in. McGonagall had taken away Neville's Hogsmeade privileges due to his part in Black's break in. Neville had received an Howler from his Grandmother berating him and telling him that he had brought shame on the family name.

"Uhh... Shit! What happened?" Susan asked after she was enervated by Harry. Susan was a good duelist for someone who was 13. She was fast but that was it. Daphne was much better than the Bones heiress as she was fast, creative and good at dodging. She also had more spell knowledge than Susan. Susan's spells were all limited to third year school spells and a few standard spells. She did not have any advanced spells to use in a duel like Harry or Daphne.

"You got defeated by Daphne. You are a decent duelist but there is a lot of room for improvement." This was the first session Susan had actually dueled. In their last two sessions, Susan had only watched Harry and Daphne duel and taken notes. They had also spent a lot of time chatting on mundane topics from Hogwarts studies to professors to the bills proposed in the Wizengamot. They had spent a small part of last session telling each other the names of professors as given by students of their house and their own opinions about them. It was fun hearing about it.

"How can I improve? Where all did I make mistakes?" Susan questioned.

"First the number of spells you use. One must always have variety or at lest a decent number of spells in their arsenal. You foolishly used a stinging hex. Stinging hex is literally suicide in a duel. It does nothing. Also everything you used were schoolyard spells. If you want to go in the dueling ring or become a hit-witch, out of all the spells you used, only the stunner and Expelliarmus would be used and they too would be seldom. Spells like leg locker, jelly legs, punching hex and everything are only used in schoolyard fights. You know instead of Stupefy, you can use obstupefio. It is a stunner with no counter, but only stuns the person for one hour. This spell is used by hit-wizard force instead of Stupefy. Instead of the punching hex use Conlido curse. It is a more powerful alternative." Harry told her.

"Can you teach them to me now? These spells you told me about." Susan asked.

"Yes... I will teach them to you today. Let me finish where you went wrong so we can work on improving... Yeah, so, your spell arsenal is woefully short. Also, your dodging is shite. Now, you both are doing unnecessary wand movements. To cast most spells, an incantation is not necessary let alone wand movement. Let me demonstrate."

"Stupefy" He did it with incantation and wand movement.

"Stupefy" He did it with incantation only.

Next a jet of red hit the wall. It was silent and without wand movement. He had decided to show that he could cast non-verbally. Salazar had said that Dumbledore, when he was in school had started openly using non-verbal spells from the start of his fourth year. Tom Riddle had done the same in the second term of the fourth year. It had got them a lot of positive attention from their teachers and had been offered private lessons.

"You can cast non-verbally? That is a sixth year thing!" Daphne half shrieked.

"It is not that tough. You just have to practice." Harry replied with a shrug.

"What about Dodging? can you demonstrate that?" Susan asked again.

"Gladly. You both can shoot stinging hexes in my direction. I will dodge."

"Both of us?" Daphne asked and Harry nodded. The exercise started and the two blondes shot stinging hexes at Harry.

10 minutes later, Harry was still untouched and waving around spells. Both the girls were breathing heavily. Stinging hexes may not require any high amount of magic, but firing more than 600 hexes continuously was tiring even for an average adult wizard. It showed that the girls were more powerful than an average witch or wizard of their age. Not in Harry's league but Harry was sure that their power would easily rival in power with the likes of Bellatrix Lestrange, Antonio Dolohov, Alastor Moody and so on, at full magical maturity. A normal third year student would be on their knees by the first 300-350 hexes itself. They had fired like 700-800 hexes by estimation each.

"Stop!" Harry commanded. He did not wish for the girls to exhaust themselves magically.

"Did we, by chance, get a hit in?" Daphne asked after a few moments.

"Obviously not."

"Damn! I thought that with two of us, we will hit the bastard." Daphne cursed.

"How did you dodge every singe fucking spell?" Susan asked exasperatedly.

"Practice, my dear Ms. Bones. And that is what we will be doing. You will be able to do the same soon if you practice diligently." Harry replied.

"Can we meet more frequently? I am woefully inadequate. And so you do not have to teach us everything, we will research and bring you spells from our side too after summer. That way, you would also get something out of this." Susan said. Harry had no problem in teaching the two girls for free. He would not teach them everything, obviously, but he could make them extremely competent in case he needed to form his own version of the Order of the Phoenix or the Dragon legion, a group formed by several powerful witches and wizards to combat Grindelwald and his forces.

His Grandfather, Charlus Potter, was one of the main members of this group along with Arcturus Black. Together they both were made a deadly force and were titled 'The Butchers of Walpurgis' as they had killed the most members of Grindelwald forces who called themselves Knights of Walpurgis. The Dragon legion had a reputation of taking no prisoners. This group included several powerful members like Ophelia Greengrass ( Daphne's Great aunt), Gerald Longbottom, Alexander Bones, Christopher Rosier, Asher Crouch among others. The most surprising name was Abraxas Malfoy, Lucius's Father. Apparently Lucy didn't follow his Father's footsteps and became a bootlicker of a dark lord.

"We can... I have no problem with it. I can manage Thursday, Saturday and Sunday." Harry replied to Susan's question.

"That is acceptable." Daphne nodded.

"Then it is decided. Every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday evening. And Daph and I will research new spells for us all." Susan said.

"Thank you for today's session Harry." Daphne said kissing his cheek, dangerously close to his mouth.

"Yes, Thanks Harry." Susan said kissing his other cheek.

"Come Susan. Let us go." Daphne said and they left together leaving Harry, as he had stood rooted at the spot

"The fuck!" Harry said after a few moments to an empty room.

---

The trio were currently in Hagrid's Hut chatting amiably about school. Ron was talking about Lupin's class and how Trelawney was a fraud. His two friends had arrived at a truce finally a couple of days ago after Hermione had insulted the divination Professor and called her a fraud on the face before quitting Divination all together. Ron's respect for Hermione had grown enough to get over his rat's death after his mourning period had passed.

"Hermione, can you give me the milk Jug? It is in the cupboard." Hagrid asked as he needed the milk for tea.

"Ron, I don't believe it — it's Scabbers!" Hermione suddenly yelled.

Ron gaped at her.

"What are you talking about?"

Hermione carried the milk jug over to the table and turned it upside down. With a frantic squeak, and much scrambling to get back inside, Scabbers the rat came sliding out onto the table.

"Scabbers!" said Ron blankly. "Scabbers, what are you doing here?"

He grabbed the struggling rat and held him up to the light. Scabbers looked dreadful. He was  thinner than ever, large tufts of hair had fallen out leaving wide bald patches, and he writhed in  Ron's hands as though desperate to free himself.

"It's okay, Scabbers!" said Ron. "No cats! There's nothing here to hurt you!"

"I guess you owe me something." Hermione said.

"What?" Ron asked cluelessly.

Harry stomped his foot and hissed "An apology, Ron."

"Oh! Err... Yeah, I am sorry for err... blaming the mons- I meant the cat, yeah, your cat needlessly." Ron stammered out an apology. Hermione smiled.

"Well, all's well that ends well. But you both owe me an apology too. For you know, turning me mad due to the fight between the two of you." Harry said.

The two of his friends shared a look before lunging at him and taking him into a group hug.

"Can't breath." Harry gasped as he tried to free himself from their tight embrace. They parted and grinned at each other. They turned to hear clapping sounds accompanied by sounds of Ron's rat. Hagrid was applauding them with a smile on his face.

"I am 'appy fer you all. Would anyone like my cakes? Freshly baked and all. We should celebrate by eating 'em." The trio shared a look. Hagrid may be a very good person and all, but his skills at baking were shit. Eating his cakes were torture for the teeth.

"No Hagrid, maybe next time. We are getting late. I do not want a man hunt launched to find me." Harry lied to Hagrid for the sake of his teeth. "And Ron, I am petrifying your rat till we get to the tower. We don't want it lost on the grounds." At this Scabbers bit Ron and made a dash. But Harry was faster. He shot a full body bind at the rat and it hit true.

"Thanks mate. I am sure, he is scared of going back to the tower. Scared of Hermione's cat... Well it's not the cat's fault. All cats chase rats." Ron added the last part hastily seeing Hermione's glare directed at him.

Harry chuckled. "We will order a cage for Scabbers, Ron. That will protect him from Crookshanks." Harry placated.

"Well, we better get going. The dinner will start soon. If we don't reach there, Tonks will launch a man hunt for us." Hermione said.

They nodded and bid Hagrid goodbye. Meeting Hagrid was always good, well except when he made them try out his rock cakes and last year when Hagrid was arrested and he told them to follow the spiders... And the Norbet incident too.

Ron, Harry and Hermione started walking towards the castle at a leisurely pace, Ron telling Harry about the latest scores in the England Quidditch league. Puddlemore united was currently at the top of the chart followed by Holyhead Harpies. Harry remembered that he had a lot of shares in those teams. 'Good for me. My finances would increase. Perhaps I should officially start supporting Puddlemore.' Harry thought.

"You know mate, that tree brings back a load of memories, doesn't it?" Ron said pointing at the whomping willow. It was just out of range. It was the only violent tree he had seen.

Harry grinned, "We flew your dad's car to Hogwarts and crashed it there. We almost got expelled, didn't we?"

They laughed and Hermione huffed, "I don't understand what's funny about getting expelled. Also that stunt was the most fooli..."

Hermione was cut off by a growl. They turned to look at a jet black dog who was growling at Ron. Scabbers sounds increased, probably afraid of the dog.

"It's the-the gr-grim. We are going to d-die!" Ron stammered in fear.

"Don't be ridiculous, Ron. It is just a dog. Not that tripe Trelawney sprouts. There are so many black dogs on the streets. This one is also a stray." Hermione said. The dog growled at Ron.

"Good doggy. Good doggy." Ron said taking a step forward to calm the dog. Harry did not think it was the best decision, but animals yearned for love. Ron, by showing the dog some love would calm it down. It was a gamble. Ron took a couple of more steps forward after putting his pet rat, still in the body bind, into his pocket. The dog had stopped growling. It was a good sign. Right?

Well, apparently not. As soon as Ron got close enough, the dog lunged and bit Ron's leg. The force sent them tumbling to the Willow.

"RON!" Harry and Hermione yelled and ran forward, Harry drawing his wand to stun the dog. But Harry had forgotten about the violent tree. A branch of the tree came to hit him in the abdomen. His reflexes kicked him and he tried to dodge the branch, 'tried' being the key word. The branch of the Whomping Willow hit him and Hermione, sending them sprawling onto the ground.

Harry groaned in pain. He wanted to lie there but his friend's life was in danger. Harry got up and summoned his wand, wandlessly. "Immobulos Maxima" He incanted at the tree branches. They stopped dead. "Come on Hermione!" He yelled to the girls who was getting up. Her lip was split and her clothes were muddy. Harry himself was sure that he had a bruise and a few scratches from the fall.

Harry finally saw Ron disappear into the base of the tree. 'The tunnel to the shrieking shack.' Harry realized remembering the maps. The marauder's map was in possession of Lupin as he had confiscated it a week ago seeing it in Harry's hands. Moreover, Lupin somehow knew it was a map. It was fishy but Harry could not have defied a teacher. He had a much more detailed map in the Chamber.

"Harry — we've got to go for help —" Hermione gasped.

"No! That thing's big enough to eat him; we haven't got time." Harry replied. They could not wait for help to arrive. Ron may be eaten or mangled by that dog... grim as Ron called it. Harry saw a cat slip in where the dog went.

"Crookshanks?" Hermione whispered uncertainly.

"We have to go in Hermione, come on!"

The two started crawling into the tunnel. Harry knew it lead to the shrieking shack.

"Where does this tunnel come out?" Hermione asked breathlessly from behind him.

"The shrieking shack." Harry replied before ignoring Hermione's next question about how he knew that.

They moved as fast as they could, bent almost double; ahead of them, Crookshanks's tail bobbed in and out of view. On and on went the passage... But Harry could only think of rescuing his friend from the dog.

And then the tunnel began to rise; moments later it twisted, and Crookshanks had gone. Ahead Harry could see a patch of dim light through a small opening. He and Hermione paused, gasping for breath, edging forward. Both raised their wands to see what lay beyond.

They had arrived in the infamous Shrieking shack. The room they were in was in shambles. cobwebs hung around the room. There were trails in the dirt that layered the room. "Ghosts definitely did not do that." Hermione stated.

"Obviously." Harry muttered.

They followed the thickest dirt tail which looked like someone had been dragged on the floor- Ron. Wands out they climbed upstairs as stealthily as possible. They reached a door. Harry could hear faint whimpers from behind it. He kicked the door open. Ron lay on the floor, clutching his leg which was definitely broken. Harry's eyes roamed around the room.

"Where is the dog gone?" He questioned.

"Not a dog," Ron moaned. His teeth were gritted with pain. "Harry, it's a trap —"

"What?"

"He's the dog… he's an Animagus." Ron was staring over Harry's shoulder. Harry wheeled around. With a snap, the man in the shadows closed the door behind them. His body was coming into view, 'a disillusionment charm' Harry realized

A mass of filthy, matted hair hung to his elbows. If eyes hadn't been shining out of the deep, dark sockets, he might have been a corpse. The waxy skin was stretched so tightly over the bones of his face, it looked like a skull. His yellow teeth were bared in a grin. It was Sirius Black.

Harry snarled. His eyes glowed swirling like a storm.

"Expelliarmus, Expelliarmus" Black shot disarming hexes at them. Hermione was disarmed. Harry was quicker. He erected a non-verbal Protego, stopping the spell before returning fire with a bone breaker, Stupefy, piercing curse, a fire arrow, Bludgeoner, Lacero, Reducto and a special disarmer from his family grimoire which broke the victims hand too. Black had erected a hasty auror shield, Protego Aegis but it was shattered by Harry's Reducto, and Harry's special disarmer hit true. The wand came sailing towards Harry and he caught it in his free hand. Black screamed in pain and his eyes showed disbelief.

"You are fast." Black started but Harry was not interested.

"Concluserat Magia Vincula." Harry shot one of the most potent restraining spell invented and one lost to time, taught to him by the founders. It produced extremely powerful magic inhibiting chains that were so tight that it was painful to move. If the victim tried to do magic, it would bring them pain and only the caster could remove these chains. It was an incredible spell if someone was to be captured. The only downside was that it only lasted for 7 hours, but for now it was enough.

Black grimaced as the metal chains wrapped around him. Harry would now give him to the dementors so the Bastard could get the payment of his crimes from the dementors.

"I thought you'd come and help your friend," he said hoarsely. His voice sounded as though he had long since lost the habit of using it. "Your father would have done the same for me. Brave of you not to run for a teacher. I'm grateful… it will make everything much easier…" Black said, strangely unfazed by the fact he was in chains.

"Black, now you have been caught. You will pay your due for betraying my parents you traitorous bastard!" Harry growled.

"I may have... in a way... But only if you knew the whole story..."

"The whole story!? You betrayed my parents to Voldemort. You sold them out when they trusted you! End of the story." Harry snapped back.

And then came a new sound — Muffled footsteps were echoing up through the floor — someone was moving downstairs. "WE'RE UP HERE!" Hermione screamed suddenly. "WE'RE UP HERE — SIRIUS BLACK — QUICK!"

Harry wheeled around as Professor Lupin came hurtling into the room, his face bloodless, his wand raised and ready. His eyes flickered over Ron, lying on the floor, over Hermione, cowering next to the door, to Harry, standing there with his wand covering Black, and then to Black himself, crumpled and bleeding at Harry's feet. That too in chains.

"Expelliarmus" Lupin yelled. Harry was shocked at the sudden move and had no time to do anything as his wand was ripped out of his and his friends hands and Lupin caught them.

Then Lupin spoke, in a very tense voice. "Where is he, Sirius?"

Harry was confused at the odd questioned but had already seen red. As the professor's attention was on Black, he wandlessly summoned his secondary wand from his leg holster and snapped an Expelliarmus, bludgeoner and a body bind nonverbally at Lupin.

Lupin had no time to react as he was disarmed and slammed into the wall, before he found himself the victim of a body bind. Harry reclaimed the wands and returned Hermione's wand to her.

"Harry, you must listen to me! I saw-"

That was as far as Lupin got before Harry punched him in the face. "I should have known, Lupin. I gave you the benefit of doubt. You were a friend of Black's... and my father's. You never approached me but I held hope that you would be a good person. Sadly, I was wrong. You are in league with Black. Today I will bring justice to my parent's death. I will avenge them by handing you two motherfuckers to the DMLE, where you and your buddy will receive the dementor's kiss. Let's go. But before that... Argenti Conpedes" Silver shackles snapped on Lupin. He won't be able to escape.

He turned to Ron and pointed his wand at Ron's leg and waved it. The bone snapped back in place and Ron yelped. "You will be able to walk now atleast. Madame Pomfrey will heal it better though." Harry told him.

"I should have outed you as soon as I came to know you are a werewolf, professor." Hermione told Lupin.

Lupin chuckled. "Brilliant as always Miss Granger. Severus assigned that essay hoping someone would realize what my symptoms meant… Did you check the lunar chart and realize that I was always ill at the full moon? Or did you realize that the Boggart changed into the moon when it saw me?"

"Both," Hermione said quietly.

"And when did you know, Harry? After all, you specifically used chains made of Silver, a metal which is poisonous to werewolves."

"Yes, yes whatever. Let us drag you both for the meeting with the dementors, shall we? And, to answer your question, since the year started, the academic one." Harry said.

"Harry, you must hear me out, please. Today, in the map, the one I confiscated, I saw you, Ron, Hermione and Sirius standing together near the Whomping willow, but there was one other name... Peter Pettigrew. So I hurried down here..."

Harry was not amused. "You know, it was an extremely pathetic attempt to buy time Lupin. No one is coming to save you both."

Fate seemed to hate Harry as at the very moment he completed the sentence, the door was pushed open and at the door stood Severus Snape.

"What do we have here?" He sneered looking around, his eyes lingered a moment more on Black and Lupin. "So, Black, you are finally caught, and I was correct... You are aiding him Lupin. And yes... the Gryffindor trio! I will have you three expelled for being out of school. Let us go." He sneered and raised his wand.

Harry reacted on instinct. "Fulgur Percutiens". A massive bolt of lightning shot out of Harry's wand and hit Snape breaking through his hastily erected shield. It was a rare elemental spell which would do a lot of damage to the victim. In some cases the victim had been sent to a coma. Snape's shield saved him from this fate but he was still knocked unconscious due to the sheer level of the spell. No one would have expected a Hogwarts student to know it, let alone a third year. It was the most powerful attack spell in Harry's arsenal currently.

"How do you know that spell? And for that matter, the rest of them?" Lupin asked.

"Lupin" Harry growled. "Now, that your plan has failed, questioning me won't save your hides. Your ridiculous ploy failed as did your backup man. Pettigrew being alive was a fucking lame excuse. One a child could see through!"

"Pettigrew is alive! and in this very room! Infact in this redhead's pocket!" Black snapped finally saying something.

"He was the secret keeper! I myself suggested it to Lily and James. I shouldn't have. But it was the perfect ploy to fool Voldemort. But Pettigrew betrayed us! He played us! I was going to kill the Rat today! I mean you no harm Harry. I swear!" Black pleaded.

"What does Scabbers have to do with all this?" Ron asked. From where harry was standing he could hear the sounds from Ron's Pocket.

"Everything. He is Peter Pettigrew! A rat Animagus!" Lupin said.

"Black blew him up almost 13 years ago. No more than a finger was found of Pettigrew's." Harry shot back.

"Yes... isn't Ron's rat missing a toe?" Lupin asked.

"I HAVE HAD HIM IN MY FAMILY FOR TWELVE YEARS!" Ron yelled.

"Twelve years... Garden rats do not survive for that long. Their lifespan is 3 to 4 years at the max."

"But-" Ron started but was cut off.

"Give me the rat Ron, let us see if they are indeed telling the truth or it is a load of tripe."

"He is -" Ron stopped short seeing Harry's glare and handed him the rat quietly. Harry gazed at the two men who were glaring at the rat in his hands. Snape was still out cold.

"Animagi Reverto." To their immense shock, the rat actually turned into a balding, fat man who lay stiff on the floor due to the body bind. Ron was gaping at it. Hermione's eyes were wide. Harry was wearing a neutral, cold expression thanks to his occlumency while Lupin and Black were glaring daggers at the guy.

"You traitorous Rat, I will kill you. You betrayed Lily and James. You Bastard! I will commit the murder I was convicted for 12 years ago!" Black seethed.

"Harry, you must lis-" The rat turned man began, but Harry hit him with the Obstupefio stunner.

"Do you believe us now?" Black asked Harry after a moment.

"Why should I?"

"Check his left forearm Harry. If he has a snake-skull tattoo, the mark of a death eater, he is, well a Death Eater, follower of Voldemort." Lupin said.

Harry checked Pettigrew's left forearm. There was a pale tattoo of a snake coming out of a skull. Harry felt a massive headache coming.

"I am taking the lot of you to the aurors. They will pump you all full of Veritaserum and you will speak up the truths. Hermione, Ron, let us drag this lot to the Headmaster's office. But, before that... Concluserat Magia Vincula. Concluserat Magia Vincula."

Harry put the special magic inhibiting chains on Pettigrew and Snape. They could not escape now. Lupin was in silver chains and won't be moving as it would be poisonous to the werewolf.

Harry was internally going through a shitload of emotions. He had just caught the supposed betrayer of his parents and a man who was dead for more than 12 years. By the way things were going, Black could be proved innocent by all means.

"You know Harry, I am your Godfather. Once I get this trial, a trial that was to take place 12 years ago and am proved innocent, you could, you know, come and live with me." Harry just nodded stiffly. He would have snarked back if he had not seen the man's joyful and hopeful face. He seemed confident.

"A trial that was to take place 12 years ago?" Hermione questioned.

"I was never given a trial. They chucked me straight into Azkaban after this rat blasted the street. He cut off his finger and turned into a rat before disappearing into the sewers. Crouch sent me straight into Azkaban, said I was a Black, a dark magic user and did not deserve a trial." Black replied.

Harry rubbed his temples. This was getting complicated. In his previous near death situations, he had killed the very root of the problem, Troll, Quirrell, the Basilisk and Tom Riddle. Here he did not even know who was at fault!

"Let's Go!" he snapped.

"How will we take them to the castle? They are four, we are three, and I am injured, even though you put my leg back, it is still hurting."

"He is correct Harry." Hermione said.

They were right. The prisoners had to be transported to the castle. Harry started taking deep breaths, to calm himself.

"Harry, you can send the Patronus message to the Professor." Hermione suddenly said.

"Of course!" Harry said slapping his forehead. "Why didn't I think of that before?"

He quickly sent a Patronus message to Dumbledore, McGonagall and Amelia Bones stating that he had captured Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew who turned out to be alive in the shrieking shack and they should arrive ASAP.

Not even three minutes later, Dumbledore and McGonagall arrived in a flash of flames. Dumbledore had his wand out, his eyes glowing with power. This was not the senile Headmaster, but the man who defeated Grindelwald, the man Voldemort feared. He looked at the four men. Two unconscious and two sitting in chains.

"Hey Minnie, long time, no see." Black spoke with a grin.

Harry facepalmed.

Notes:

Obstupefio: Advanced stunner. Knocks victim out for an hour. No counter. Used instead of stupefy.

Conlido: A more powerful punching hex.

Protego aegis: A more powerful shield than Protego. Protects from more powerful spells.

Concluserat Magia vincula: Extremely potent magic inhibiting chains. Lost to time. will cause the victim pain if they try to use magic. Also makes movement impossible due to tightness. Can only be removed by the caster. But the chains would dissipate in 7 hours.

Argenti Conpedes: Makes Silver chains. Silver is poisonous to werewolves.

Fulgur Percutiens: Shoots lightning Bolt from the caster's wand.

Chapter 24: Finding Out the Truth

Notes:

This confrontation between Sirius, Remus, Snape, Peter and the Trio is taking place at the same time as the Canon. It is NOT the same time. It is in 3rd or 4th week of February, in my fic. The Quidditch finals have not taken place yet, neither has the Third year exams, so I had thought it was pretty obvious. It is not a full moon either. I wanted to give Sirius a few months to heal before Harry's Year ends. The academic year ends in mid June. So Sirius has more than three full months to heal from the Azkaban stay.

Ch.23 Finding Out the Truth

"What in Merlin's name is happening here!?" Professor McGonagall's voice cut through the silence that had enveloped the room for a few moment's after Black's... statement.

Harry sighted. "Professor, I will summarize. Black is an Animagus, who takes the form of a dog. Ron, Hermione and I were returning from Hagrid's to the castle when we met the dog. When Ron tried to calm the dog down, he was bit and dragged into the tunnel beneath the Whomping Willow. Before we could do anything, the violent tree smacked us away. I froze the tree with an immobulos maxima. and went into the tunnel. We emerged in here, the Shrieking Shack. We followed the trail upstairs and saw Ron was lying on the floor with his leg broken. Black emerged from the shadows and tried to disarm us. I was faster and reacted with a shield and returned fired. It ended up in Black's hand being broken and disarmed. I immediately bound him in special chains, which would inhibit magic and cause pain to Black, if he tried to use magic or force. They can only be removed by me. Then..."

"Forgive me for interrupting, but can you tell me the name of the spell you used? I have never heard of it." Dumbledore questioned.

"I am sorry professor, but it is family magic from the Potter Family Grimoire. I can not tell you." Harry lied, unwilling to answer the questions that would follow if he told them the truth.

Dumbledore nodded and gestured him to continue.

"Yeah, well then we heard footsteps and Professor Lupin emerged from the door. He saw Black and disarmed us successfully. He asked Black, and I quote, 'Where is he, Sirius?' but by that time, I had seen red so I took my secondary wand and attacked him quickly, disarming and putting him under a body bind. He tried to talk his way out but I interrupted him with a punch on his face. I told him that I regretted thinking that he was a good man and bound him in silver shackles as you can see. Then I healed Ron's leg, which was broken, to the best of my abilities. I think it would be better if Madam Pomfrey looks over it. After that Lupin told us that he came here because he saw Peter Pettigrew on a map. I told it was a load of tripe and no one was coming to save him. And that was when Snape entered. He told us that he will have us three expelled for being out of bounds and raised his wand at us, likely the death eater wanted to kill us for his Master, Voldemort. So I..."

"Harry, Severus has my complete trust. Voldemort is not Severus's master and he was a spy for the light side during the last war. I assure you that he redeemed himself and is no longer a death eater." Dumbledore said trying to defend Snape. Harry looked at him critically for a moment.

"Well... good for you. He may have your complete trust but in my opinion you should reconsider it as he does not show any signs of being... redeemed. In my eyes he was going to attack me, so I hit him with a lightning bolt and knocked him out." He said with a shrug. Dumbledore may have his own reasons to trust the Death Eater, but there was not a single chance in seven levels of hell that he would trust Snape. He paused and non-verbally conjured a glass of water and took a drink.

"Then anyway, Black pleaded to hear him out saying that Pettigrew was the real secret keeper and he was in this very room. He told us that Ron's rat was an Animagus and was Pettigrew. So, I took Ron's rat and used the Animagus reversal spell on it, and BAM! There was this man. These two started shouting at him but before he could respond, I stunned him. Oh, and I checked, he is branded."

"What does that mean Mr. Potter?" McGonagall questioned.

"You know how Voldemort gives his followers a mark? Well, it is similar to how cattle is branded as an owner's." He replied with a casual shrug of his shoulders.

"So, to sum it up, I am sure that Pettigrew and Snape are death eaters, what I am not sure is whether these two are guilty or not." Harry said pointing at Black and Lupin.

Dumbledore sighted, "Harry, listen to me, Professor Snape isn't a death eater any longer. As for the rest of them we should take them to my office and call the DMLE to oversee the..."

"I have already sent a Patronus message to Madame Bones. We should wait here till she comes. And for Snape..."

"Professor Snape, Harry" Dumbledore corrected.

"NO, Snivellus!" Black spoke out.

Hermione and Ron had looked at the exchange without a single word so far, but snickered at the name Snape was given. Harry looked between the wizened Headmaster and the haggard prisoner.

"As for Snivellus, I am not trusting him one bit even at your word. He probably even knew Pettigrew was hiding as Ron's rat and used him as a means to spy on us." Harry shot back. He would not let Snape... no Snivellus get out scot free. Even if he was not a death eater, he was a vile man who bullied students to feel superior. The results for OWLs had dropped by a huge margin after he became the potions professor and the number of NEWT students were even less. The number of Aurors and Healers were lessening as an effect. In Harry's opinion it was a perfect guise to weaken the light side by reducing the protectors and healers for them cementing Snape as a death eater in Harry's eyes.

There were several footsteps and everyone pointed their wands at the door. The door opened to reveal Madame Bones and a dozen aurors, including some from the castle security like Tonks.

"Professor, I call dibs on not telling the story again. You can do the honors." Harry said dryly and went to stand next to Ron and Hermione.

---

Half an hour later the group found themselves in Dumbledore's office. Hermione and Ron were sent to the Hospital wing to patch them up. Currently they were waiting for the Minister to arrive and then they would carry out the interrogation for the four prisoners. And to Harry's glee it included Snape despite Dumbledore's best efforts to make Madame Bones see reason. Harry's respect had increased exponentially for the hot redhead. She had also lost her brother and sister in law to death eaters and Voldemort and had vendetta against everyone bearing the dark mark .

Harry was sitting in a plush armchair besides the aforementioned hot redhead with Fawkes in his lap, stroking the majestic bird's plumage. The aurors present looked at him in awe seeing him pet a phoenix. Harry was feeling pretty tired as a result of the stressful day which was yet to end, and using all the high level spells so frequently. The chains required high level of magic to cast and he had done it four times!

"Madame Bones, we are unable to remove the chains on the Snape, Pettigrew and Black. We have never even seen such chains!" An auror exclaimed.

"And you won't. It is a spell straight from my family Grimoire. They are special chains, which would inhibit magic and cause pain to the prisoner, if he tried to use magic or force. They can only be removed by me or after seven hours. They are perfectly secure till seven hours pass." Harry replied casually as he glanced at Lupin stretching his legs after being free from his silver chains courtesy of Dumbledore.

"An extremely useful spell then but you can not give it to me for use." Madame Bones sighted. Harry was feeling particularly cheeky, he did not know why.

"There is a way, you know. You can always marry me and I will share a lot of things of mine with you." He winked at her.

She gave him an amused smile. "I am too old for you, If I was younger, I assure you that I would have jumped at the chance."

"Blasphemy! Madam Bones, you look extremely beautiful and hot, I assure you. Think about it, you a hot older auror and my tendencies to break school rules to save the school. So many possibilities." He gave her his most charming grin.

There were several choking noises, amused snorts and shocked looks. The aurors were shocked to see a thirteen year old boy flirting shamelessly with their boss, who would not entertain any guy who tried flirted with her.

"I thank you for thinking that I am hot, but you are too young."

"Nonsense! Age is a mere number, size is what matters." Harry shot back. Lupin had unfortunately chosen that moment to drink some water and spat it out while Madam Bones blushed like a school girl and black guffawed at him.

Unfortunately, Pettigrew chose that moment to wake up. "Wha- Where am I?" He asked but paled on seeing all the people in the room. "You-you mu-must understand. It- It was..." That was as far as he got. The flames in the fireplace turned green and the minister stepped out followed shortly by a hooded figure.

"I have brought along an unspeakable and he has the truth serum to interrogate them. Let us begin, shall we?" Fudge said.

Dumbledore had told the minister the whole story by sticking his head into the fireplace and the minister had agreed to bring an unspeakable with a verified Veritaserum to interrogate Black and Pettigrew. Lupin and Snape would only give a statement in the interrogation as there was no solid foundation for being convicted except they had arrived at the Shrieking Shack.

"Before we begin do you want to say anything, Mr. Black?" Madame Bones asked as her position as the head of DMLE.

"Yes, I am innocent of all the crimes I had been put into Azkaban for. I was never given a trial. Crouch said that as I was a black, a dark magic user and hence I was definitely a death eater and did not deserve a trial. It was Peter Pettigrew who was the secret keeper for the Potter's. When I confronted him, he began shouting how I had betrayed Lily and James. Peter tried to hit me with a dark cutting curse but I shielded. Next he hit a car nearby with a blasting curse, causing an explosion. My shield saved me and I saw Peter cut off his finger before transforming into a rat and escaping into the sewers."

"Mr. Pettigrew is not registered as an Animagus."

"Yes, he was not, rather we were not. James Potter, Peter Pettigrew and myself became animagi in our fifth year at school."

"My dad was an Animagus?" Harry questioned.

"Yes, he was a magnificent stag. We called him Prongs. I am a black dog while Pettigrew as you know, turned into a rat." He said with a nostalgic smile

"You mean one of the Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, Prongs people? The marauders?"

"Yes! We were the ones! how do you know of this?"

"I found your map... which Professor Lupin has confiscated. He somehow knew it was a map. I am guessing he was one of the four."

"Oh yes, I am Moony, Sirius is Padfoot and he is Wormtail." Lupin spat the last name.

"Mr. Potter, while I have no problems with you wanting to know about your father, I would ask you to refrain from it until the interrogation is over." Madame Bones said and Harry nodded.

"I will keep that in mind, Madame Bones."

"Thank you. So, you say that you were not the secret keeper, neither did you blast the street and killed the muggles, also you claim to have not received a trial which was specifically denied by Barty Crouch, my predecessor as the head of DMLE."

Sirius nodded at each of her points.

"Are you completely certain that when we ask you these questions under the influence of the truth serum, the answers will remain the same?"

"Yes." He confidently replied.

"Very well. Chief Warlock, administer the accused Veritaserum. Dicta Quill activate. Trial of Sirius Orion Black. Accused answers under Veritaserum. Interrogator: Amelia Serphina Bones, Head of DMLE. Witness: Albus P.W.B. Dumbledore, Cornelius Fudge, Kingsley Shacklebolt."

Harry was not included despite being present as he was a minor.

"What is your name?"

"Sirius Orion Black." Sirius replied in a monotone voice, his eyes glazed over.

"Very well. Were you the Secret Keeper for the Potter family?"

"No"

"Who was?"

"Peter Pettigrew"

"Did you kill the muggles on the 2nd of November 1981?"

"No, it was Peter Pettigrew who killed them."

"Are you a death eater? Or a supporter of the Dark Lord?"

"Never."

"Were you planning to register as an Animagus?"

"Yes."

"Elaborate."

"Our Animagus forms were a secret weapon in case we needed to escape Death eaters or Voldemort. We were planning to register once the war was over and given that we survived it."

"Thank you. Dicta Quill deactivate." Madame Bones completed.

Sirius Black was innocent of all crimes he was convicted of. Harry waved his wand freeing Sirius from the chains.

"And what of Crouch. I do not know all laws, but I am certain that it would be illegal to put a man into Azkaban without a trial."

"That will be addressed by the Wizengamot. This is just an auror investigation. The Wizengamot will decide if they are innocent, well, no one will object to Sirius being innocent, once he tells everything under the truth serum again. For Barty Crouch and Pettigrew, their punishment will be decided by Wizengamot." Dumbledore replied.

"He Lies! Black must have found a way to evade the truth serum effects."

"Don't worry, Mr. Pettigrew, you will also be answering everything under the truth serum now. If statements contradict, we will investigate further." Dumbledore replied calmly.

"I object to being put under the truth serum! I have rights to refuse to it! I am a pureblood."

Bones paused, and sighted "He is correct, if he refuses we can't administer the truth serum as he is a pureblood." She said glaring at Pettigrew. There was a biased law that Members of the Families in Sacred 28 and Purebloods could not be administered Veritaserum as they were afraid of Family secrets leaking out.

"Technically you are a dead body, Pettigrew. You died twelve years ago. A dead body does not have any rights as far as the law is concerned." Harry said fuming. He was thankful for Salazar's lessons in politics as it enabled him to find the loophole in it.

Madame Bones looked elated. "Yes, Mr. Potter! You are indeed correct. Pettigrew, you are a corpse since the last 12 years. You have no rights. Let us administer the potion."

Kingsley punched Pettigrew and forcibly opened his mouth and Dumbledore put 3 drops of the serum in it.

Pettigrew's eyes glazed over.

"Dicta Quill activate. Trial of Peter Patrick Pettigrew. Accused answers under Veritaserum. Interrogator: Amelia Serphina Bones, Head of DMLE. Witness: Albus P.W.B. Dumbledore, Cornelius Fudge, Kingsley Shacklebolt. What is your name?"

"Peter Patrick Pettigrew."

"Very well. Were you the Secret Keeper for the Potter family?"

"Yes."

"Did you kill the muggles on the 2nd of November 1981?"

"Yes."

"Are you a death eater?"

"Yes."

"Dicta Quill deactivate. Peter Pettigrew, you are under arrest. Sirius Black, you are a free man, but are to be available for contact till your trial takes place in front of the Wizengamot."

Sirius gave a whoop of joy. The unspeakable put a collar around Pettigrew's neck. "This is an Animagus restriction collar. Heir Potter, kindly remove your chains so we can cuff him." Harry nodded and waved his wand, vanishing the chains on Pettigrew and also let a short burst of lightning, enough to cause a lot of pain.

"AHHHHH!" The rat shouted as he convulsed in pain on the floor.

"Oops." Harry said unconvincingly.

"Aurors check Pettigrew for all the items on him." Madame Bones said ignoring Harry cursing Pettigrew. The auror nodded and checked Pettigrew and found two two wands a few Galleons and a knife.

"I recognize that wand." Dumbledore suddenly said. He further added "It belonged to Lord Voldemort." The aurors, Minister, and Pettigrew flinched at the name. Bones, Harry, Lupin, and Black were unfazed.

"Really? So by the rights of conquest the wand belongs to my family, doesn't it?"

"Yes." The Minister answered after a moment.

"Jolly good. Hand it over here please."

"Harry, what are you planni..." Dumbledore stopped short as Harry had casually snapped the wand in half and chucked the pieces into the fireplace where they burned to ashes. Snapping a wizard's wand was supposed to be the biggest insult to a person who wielded magic. It was akin to saying that the witch or wizard was unworthy to wield magic or had committed an serious offense.

"Why did you do that!" An auror exclaimed.

"Auror, you do realize that by law, it was my property as he had attacked the Potter family and was defeated. So, I could do anything with it." He glared at the auror who backed away quickly. "Good. Now what are you lot staring at? Take the criminal to jail!" The rest of the aurors broke out of their stupor and took Pettigrew away.

"Now, Mr. Lupin, we need your statement." The Minister said finally remembering that Lupin had to give an official statement. After 10 minutes, Lupin had described what had transpired in his own words before being thanked for his co-operation.

"What about Mr. Snape?" Madame Bones asked as Snivellus was still unconscious.

"Expergo Ennervate" Harry shot a very powerful waking charm on Snape. He had no doubt that Dumbledore knew of the spell but was unwilling for Snape to stand on trial for reasons unknown.

Albus Dumbledore looked at the boy. On one hand he was proud of the way he had handled himself and his advanced spell knowledge. Defeating four wizards, that too three so skilled was no small feat, even with them unwilling to attack at full power. On the other hand he was also irritated with the child's grudge against Severus, though Severus had brought it upon himself with his behavior towards Harry and his friends. He had warned Severus time and again not to take his rivalry with James Potter on the man's son. But, he could not have Severus sent to Azkaban. Snape was the only spy he had within Voldemort's ranks and would be invaluable once the Dark Lord returned. And Harry Potter was trying to team up with Amelia Bones, a lady with vengeance for every person who bore Voldemort's mark as she had lost a lot due to them. The team up was working and Harry was even casually flirting with Madame Bones and she did not even object!

Snape stirred. "Ouch. Where am I? What happ- POTTER! The brat attacked me! I will have him expelled! I -"

"SEVERUS! Control yourself." McGonagall thundered. Snape shut his mouth, realizing that he was in chains and surrounded by several Aurors along with Madame Bones.

"What happened?" He asked reigning in his temper due to the severity of the situation.

"You are accused of attempting to kill Heir Potter and would have killed him if he had not defended himself."

"WHAT?"

"You raised your wand at him Severus after handing him an expulsion threat despite the situation Mr. Potter was in. He had a supposed mass murderer at wand point, captured and you threatened to expel him for doing a service to the magical community, regardless of the fact that now, Sirius Black is proven innocent. At that moment neither you nor Harry knew about the fact that Sirius Black was in fact innocent." Dumbledore said, masterfully explaining the situation that Snape had found himself in.

"Wait a second. How can we be sure if Snape did not know of the fact that Sirius was innocent. He is a death eater. Surely he would have seen Pettigrew instead of Sirius in the Death eater ranks." Harry stated. He would not let a death eater roam free if he could help it.

"Exactly! I agree with Harry here!" Madame Bones said giving Harry a huge smile. She would love to take one extra death eater to Azkaban tonight. Death Eaters were the reason she did not have Edgar and his wife with her. The reason Susan was an orphan. Several death eaters had escaped justice by bribing their way out, pleading imperious and Snape by saying he was a spy for the old headmaster.

"I by no means knew that Black was innocent or that Peter Pettigrew was a death eater. I did not know everything that went on within the ranks of the Death Eaters. I just helped by trying to find out the destination and time of attacks so the ministry or the Order could be present there to save lives."

"I still say we should interrogate him with the truth serum." Madame Bones said to the minister.

"My dear Amelia, you can not administer the truth serum without a solid case, and certainly not on suspicion. The law forbids it." Dumbledore said calmly.

"Very well." Amelia conceded accepting defeat. She could not go against the protocols and rules despite how much she wished to sometimes.

"Describe the events that led to you going to the shrieking shack. And raising a wand on Harry Potter."

"I had went to Remus Lupin's office to discuss a detention of one of my Slytherin students. When I reached his office, I knocked and entered only to find an office empty. I saw a map on his desk and went to see it. To my immense shock, it was a map of Hogwarts that showed every single person in the Castle. On it, I saw Potter and Granger disappear underneath the Whomping Willow, and knew it was a passage to go outside Hogwarts. Potter has previously broken school rules so, I assumed that he was sneaking out to go into Hogsmeade and followed to catch him red handed. I arrived at the Shrieking and told Potter that I will have him and his friends expelled for breaking rules. But at hearing this Potter viciously attacked me with a dark curse." Snape finished.

"Objection. Snape lies. His exact words were and I quote, 'What do we have here? So, Black, you are finally caught, and I was correct... You are aiding him Lupin. And yes... the Gryffindor trio! I will have you three expelled for being out of school. Let us go.' He then proceeded to raise his wand at me. I defended myself, knowing that Snape hated me with every fiber of his being, likely for killing his master, and he was a known death eater who said that he was a spy during the war and got off. And the spell I used was Fulgur Percutiens a well known elemental spell which is used frequently in international dueling rings and not a dark curse as Snape stated. It won't even classify as a curse actually, but it is understandable that an incompetently useless dunderhead like Snape won't be able to differentiate between an elemental spell and a curse." Harry said.

"Are you calling me incompetent Potter?" He fumed, spittle flying from his mouth.

"No, I called you an incompetently useless dunderhead." Harry corrected calmly. He heard Sirius and Professor Lupin snigger and Amelia covered her mouth.

"Harry, Severus has a mastery in Defense against the Dark Arts. I assure you that he is competent. But, I have to agree with you. Fulgur Percutiens is an elemental spell and not a dark curse. I am sure, Severus made a mistake in identifying the spell."

"Really? Actually I do not think that several volts of electricity coursing through your body can be mistaken. We should check with his examiners. Snape may have used Blackmail or given a death threat to the Examiner, seeing he is a death eater and all."

"Mr. Potter, it was proven in court that Severus Snape was innocent. It is enough of accusations now." Dumbledore firmly told him with steel in his voice, and authority. Magic was rolling off Dumbledore in waves trying to make Harry submit to his wishes of leaving Severus alone.

"On your word professor, there was no other proof suggesting Snape was not a death eater. If you had not stood up for him in the court, he would be with his death eater buddies in Azkaban." Harry calmly countered.

Dumbledore did not respond. What could he say? Harry was correct. If he hadn't supported Snape, he would be a prisoner with likes of Lestranges. But he could not even tell them about the vow Severus had taken to protect Lily Potter's son nor his reasons to betray Voldemort. He shuddered to think of the day Harry came to know that Severus was the one who had given Voldemort the part of the prophecy that led to his parents demise.

"Well the statement has been taken. There is no evidence that Severus Snape wanted to fire a spell on Harry, as no spell was actually fired. Mr. Potter acted in self defense as his reasons were sound. We will take your leave now. It has been a long day. Good night." Madame Bones said finally breaking the silence.

"Wait. What will happen now? Like the trial for Sirius in front of the Wizengamot and all."

"We will call a meeting of the Wizengamot within a few days. There a similar trial will take place for them. I am sure that your godfather will be declared innocent and will be paid reparations for the mistakes of the previous administration. You would also need to be present with your friends if testimony is required during the trial. You will receive a notice for the same soon." It was Fudge who spoke. Harry noted how Fudge politicked his way out to save his reputation. Putting the blame on the previous administration was a good move for him.

Harry nodded. "Thank you Minister. Thank you Madame Bones. I assure you that I will be present on the day of the trial."

They nodded and left with the aurors.

"Sirius, I offer you the services of Hogwarts healer to get you back in health till the trial. It was partly my fault that you did not receive a trial all those years ago. I should have checked and not believed Barty blindly when he told me that you were convicted. You have my sincerest apologies."

"No problem professor. I may not be happy with it, but I understand that you believed Crouch so, it wasn't your fault." Sirius replied. He was happy to finally be free. James and Lily's betrayer was going to face justice soon.

He stood up shakily. "Let's go, Padfoot. We need to get you cleaned up." Remus's voice sounded.

"Professor" Harry hesitantly said. "I just wanted to apologize for treating you like a criminal. I am sorry."

"No problem Harry. I would have done the same if I was in your place. Also, I am sorry for not approaching you earlier and introducing myself as your Father's friend."

"We will sort that out later, professor. Let us first get my godfather to Madam Pomfrey." The man in question smiled widely. His godson had acknowledged him as his godfather. He stumbled but Harry and Remus caught him.

"Easy there. Let us go. I also want dinner. We can eat together in the Hospital wing and catch up." They supported Sirius and walked out of the Headmaster's office.

Dumbledore smiled softly at the scene.

"Headmaster, kindly free me from these chains Potter has put on me. I just want to leave and have some sleep." Snape said fuming at the fact Potter had nearly sent him to Azkaban and had gone scot free for attacking him.

"Why did you not say something before Severus? These are special chains. Only Harry can remove them or be removed after seven hours. I am afraid you would have to wait till the morning to get free."

"WHAT!"

Chapter 25: A Talk and the Wizengamot Trial

Ch. 25 A Talk and the Wizengamot Trial

The trio of Harry, Sirius and Professor Lupin made their way towards the Hospital wing.

"You know Harry, as your godfather, incase you want to move in with me, since my name is cleared... I have a house in London, I guess..."

"Forgive me for interrupting but I am sure you have a house, more than one infact."

Sirius frowned, "How is that? I may have inherited the Black townhouse, my childhood home. I am sure that will require extreme levels of cleaning... but I never want to go back there again..." He trailed off. Sirius needed extensive mind healing.

"Sirius, you are Lord Black, an Most Noble and Most ancient House. One of the oldest and richest. I am sure that you will have more than one house." Harry replied.

"I can't be Lord Black. My mother, she was a vile woman... Supported Voldemort and pureblood supremacy. She wanted me to join his cause but I refused. I ran away to your Grandparent's house when I was 16 and she disowned me."

"Then she won't have the authority to do so and just bluffed. She was not the Lord, neither the Lady of the house, Arcturus Black was. When I went to take a heritage test on my thirteenth birthday, it showed that I was a member of House Black. I asked the goblin and he told me that you should be the Lord Black. We just need confirmation."

Sirius nodded.

"Padfoot, how did you escape Azkaban?" Lupin questioned.

"I don't know how I did it," he said slowly. "I think the only reason I never lost my mind is that I knew I was innocent. That wasn't a happy thought, so the Dementors couldn't suck it out of me… but it kept me sane and knowing who I am… helped me keep my powers… so when it all became… too much… I could transform in my cell… become a dog. Dementors can't see, you know…"

He swallowed. "They feel their way toward people by feeding off their emotions… They could tell that my feelings were less — less human, less complex when I was a dog… but they thought, of course, that I was losing my mind like everyone else in there, so it didn't trouble them. But I was weak, very weak, and I had no hope of driving them away from me without a wand… But then I saw Peter in that picture… I realized he was at Hogwarts with Harry… perfectly positioned to act, if one hint reached his ears that the Dark Side was gathering strength again…ready to strike at the moment he could be sure of allies… and to deliver the last Potter to them. If he gave them Harry, who'd dare say he'd betrayed Lord Voldemort? He'd be welcomed back with honors…"

"It was as if someone had lit a fire In my head, and the Dementors couldn't destroy it… It wasn't a happy feeling… it was an obsession… but it gave me strength, it cleared my mind. So, one night when they opened my door to bring food, I slipped past them as a dog… It's so much harder for them to sense animal emotions that they were confused… I was thin, very thin… thin enough to slip through the bars… I swam as a dog back to the mainland… I journeyed north and slipped into the Hogwarts grounds as a dog. I've been living in the forest ever since, except when I came to watch the Quidditch, of course. You fly as well as your father did, Harry…"

Harry smiled at the compliment. "Thanks." Not a single word was spoken further till they pushed open the doors of the Hospital wing.

"Mr. Black, come in. The headmaster informed me about your situation."

"I guess Sirius should have a bath first and new clothes. Then a good meal." Lupin told Madam Pomfrey.

"Yes, a bath and new clothes... Then food." Sirius said a bit dreamily.

Madame Pomfrey nodded and directed him accordingly.

Harry looked around the Hospital wing and saw Hermione looking at him and Lupin while Ron's curtains were pulled. She gestured him to come and sit next to her.

"What happened? Is Sirius free? What happened to professor Snape?" Hermione fired rapid questions in a single breath.

"Hermione, slow down. I will tell you what happened. So, once we reached the Headmaster's office..." Harry retold the whole story of what had taken place in Dumbledore's office.

"That's great Harry! I will give a testimony in court if needed! I will research all on Wizengamot, we will make Sirius officially free."

"Well, we won't need that as Madame Bones will be handling it along with Dumbledore. They will directly administer the truth serum to them and clear Sirius's name. But, it may be the best for you to study about protocols and such, so you don't commit a faux pas there." Harry said and Hermione nodded.

"Mr. Potter, come to your bed, I need to check you for injuries." Harry rolled his eyes. He just had a bruise, but went to his unofficially designated bed nonetheless.

"Hmm... You don't have any injuries except a bruise. Drink this and it will be alright. And I must say Mr. Potter, you did a commendable first aid on Mr. Weasley. He is currently asleep and healing properly. I will dismiss him tomorrow morning."

Soon Sirius came in looking much better. He looked clean and had trimmed his beard. He was still extremely emaciated but would heal.

Soon they had a lot of food on a table from the kitchens in Hogwarts. Sirius was eating with worse manners than Ron but it was probably the first proper meal in 13 years that he had eaten. Hermione sat at the table drinking a cup of hot chocolate as she had already eaten dinner with Ron. The other two, Harry and Remus were eating dinner in a dignified manner.

Stories were exchanged. Sirius and Remus spoke about their Pranks at Hogwarts. Sirius looked like he was having a really good time.

"... And so we locked McGonagall in her cat form for a whole day!" Sirius finished and they laughed at the tale.

Harry knew that his father was a prankster but he realized today that the Weasley twin's pranks barely held a candle to the pranks by the Marauders. Sirius recounted their first trip to the three broomsticks where his father ended up with his face being splashed with butterbeer courtesy of his mother who did not appreciate his flirting.

"You know Harry, you got serious balls for flirting with Bones. She is like the second most intimidating woman in Britain. First will always be McGonagall of course." Remus said.

"Oh, shush Remus. I will teach my godson all about flirting. He is good but he needs lessons from a master." Sirius said puffing his chest.

"Harry, what is this about? You flirted with the Head of DMLE! Are you serious?"

"No Hermione, I am Harry, he is Sirius."

Sirius laughed, Remus facepalmed and Hermione slapped his shoulder.

---

Six days later Harry, Ron, Hermione, Remus and Sirius found themselves in Dumbledore's office once again. All of them were dressed in fine Robes. Ron's Father was also going to accompany them along with professor Lupin. Harry was wearing a Navy Blue, acromantula silk robe with the Potter crest he had specially ordered for his first foray into the Wizengamot along with dragon hide boots. His heir ring was visible. He had specially prepared under Salazar and Helga for this since last two days and had gathered a lot of information on the members who would be present.

Sirius was wearing a similar attire just with the difference of the black robes with the Black crest. He looked loads better than before. Almost a week worth of Potions and healing made Sirius look like he was a person rather than a skeleton with skin. Lupin had also purchased new clothes for the event.

Hermione and Ron were also dressed in their best robes, with Hermione wearing a pendent with the Potter crest, signifying that she was under the protection of house Potter. Also Harry had given her a crash course on how to behave in the court room.

They were yet to visit Gringotts for the Black Lordship for Sirius having decided to wait till the trial ended. There was an article about Sirius's innocence, the day after Sirius was questioned by the Minister and Madame Bones.

SIRIUS BLACK: AN INNOCENT MAN

Yesterday we reporters at the Daily Prophet received a statement from the DMLE stating that Sirius Black is likely innocent. Yes, that is correct dear readers! Sirius Black, a man rumored to be the right hand of He who must not be named, a mass murderer and the betrayer of the Potter family is likely to be innocent.

It all started due to a new evidence coming to light, and that was Peter Pettigrew being alive. Peter Pettigrew who was thought to be dead for the last 12 years was actually hiding as an illegal Animagus with the Weasley family as a pet rat. On the evening of 23rd February, Wednesday, Sirius Black tried to pry the rat out of the youngest Weasley boy's hands and ended up dragging him to the shrieking shack. Harry Potter, the boy who lived followed them to save his friend. It is unsure that what happened in the shack but Harry Potter came out with Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew in chains. After which they were interrogated and it was determined that Sirius Black was never given a trial and was actually framed by Peter Pettigrew.

Peter Pettigrew is determined a death eater, and currently in a ministry holding cell awaiting trial. An official Wizengamot trial will take place on 1st of March pertaining to these case. The minister himself issued an statement for this. "It is a great travesty of justice has taken place due to the actions of the previous administration. An innocent man had to suffer twelve years in Azkaban as he was denied a trial while the real criminal lived free and was hailed a martyr. I will personally ensure that this travesty is corrected. It is a great shame that we have to see such a day due to the previous administration wherein an innocent suffers punishment for an act he has not done. I am personally looking into files of all the inmates in Azkaban to check if they have had a trial and another case like that of Sirius Black does not appear."

We at the Daily Prophet wish that this mistake by the Bagnold administration is corrected as soon as possible and hope that no other person has been through a similar fate. We wish Mr. Black a speedy recovery from the ordeal. He is currently in the Hogwarts hospital wing and will remain to heal till the official trial takes place.

For more on Sirius Black's case pg.2

For more on Sirius Black's achievements pg. 4

For more on Sirius Black's career as a Hit-wizard pg. 4

For more on Harry Potter pg. 5

It was a brilliant move on Fudge's part to ensure that no blame comes on him. Also the Prophet had printed articles highlighting Sirius's achievements and the captures he made during the war. He was receiving a lot of praises from readers and was gaining sympathy from them.

"Is everyone ready?" Dumbledore asked them and got nods in affirmative. "Very well. We will be taking a portkey straight to my atrium in the ministry. Hold tight." He said passing a rope around. "Everyone in. Good. Ministry Atrium activate."

The portkey activated and they all were transported to a splendid hall with a highly polished, dark wood floor. Hermione and Ron ended on their butts while Sirius stumbled but was caught by Arthur. Rest of them were standing on their feet perfectly. The two friends picked themselves up with embarrassed expressions.

Harry looked around. It was his first time at the Ministry of Magic. In the middle of the atrium was a statue. The fountain featured golden statues of a wizard, a witch, a centaur, a goblin, and a house-elf, all which spouted water from various locales into the pool of water below, and each of the last three of which was shown in some manner basking in the generosity, wisdom and apparent superiority of wizard kind.

Harry frowned at it internally. This was another thing he would need to correct. Equality for all magically sentients. It was necessary for magic to prosper.

There were four aurors near the fireplaces that lined the walls and moved towards the group.

"Mr. Black, we will be escorting you to the courtroom as protocol demands. Kindly submit your weapon and any other possession on yourself." It was Kingsley Shacklebolt, the auror who was a part of Gryffindor security until a week ago. Sirius handed them the items and he was further probed by detectors. Once everything was ok, they led him ahead whilst the rest moved to the checking point.

"Wand of every visitor please." Except Dumbledore and Mr. Weasley everyone handed their wands to the man there and he stuck a slip on a brass spike for each wand before returning it.

"Ebony, 13 inches, with phoenix feather core and Dragon heartstring, in use for an year." The man said after Harry presented his wand from his pocket.

"Yes"

"Thank you..." His eyes widened seeing who was he checking the wand of. "Harry- Harry Potter!"

"Yes. I am. Can I have my wand back please?" He asked politely.

"Yes, Yes. here you go."

Harry nodded and proceeded with the group. He still had his main wand secured in an holster

---

After a few minutes Harry found himself in a court room on level nine. The lift he had travelled in was a funny one as it travelled in all directions- From up to down, to sideways, to front and back. He strolled into the court room. There were a few people already there. Harry recognized Augusta Longbottom, Neville's Grandmother and Regent of her house. There were several reporters in the visitors Gallery. He recognized some other people in the courtroom as he had seen their faces at either Diagon Alley or platform 9 3/4.

He went towards Neville's Grandmother. "Regent Longbottom, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Harry James Potter, Heir and Head of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter." He introduced kissing her knuckles

"Heir Potter. It is indeed a pleasure." They settled into a light conversation about Sirius Black case with Harry telling her a summary of what happened. Some people were listening in. Augusta introduced several people to him. Some were Lords and Ladies of Houses, a couple were receivers of Order of Merlin. And the head of Games department (DMGS) - Ludo Bagman, former beater for England team and accused death eater but was proven innocent. He also met Griselda Marchbanks, Head of education department(WEA). She was so old that she was the examiner in Dumbledore's NEWTs! That was positively ancient!

"Heir Potter, meet Lord Greengrass."

Harry turned. Standing there was a tall man with brown hair, blue eyes with a regal expression on his face- Daphne's father.

"Lord Greengrass." He shook his hand.

"Heir Potter. I have heard a lot about you from my daughters."

"All good things I hope."

Lord Greengrass nodded. "Very good things indeed. My youngest, Astoria was gushing about how you saved her from the Dementors on the Hogwarts express. A fully corporeal Patronus for one so young is unheard of. You have my gratitude for saving my daughters."

Harry waved him off. "I just did something any other person would have done. It was no big deal."

"You can produce a fully corporeal Patronus?" Madame Marchbank asked.

"Yes, it takes the form of a dragon, a Great horned Hebridean Black to be specific, the Potter family emblem." He gave them a charming smile.

"How old are you?" Another asked.

"I will be 14 at the end of July this year. Currently I am in the third year at Hogwarts."

"Order in the courtroom. Please take your seats. We will begin in a couple of minutes." Dumbledore's voice boomed.

Harry, Lord Greengrass and Regent Longbottom made their way to the front row, Where the seats for the Most Noble and Most Ancient Houses were. This was directly behind where the interrogators and the court scribe would seat.

It was an ornate seat with a Potter crest. He had an individual desk with a drawer and also a cup holder, similar to the other six. The first seat from the left was Longbottom , followed by Bones, then was his set- the Potter chair, then was Greengrass seat, followed by Albertos, Selwyn and Black seat. He ideally noted that in the future he would be between Susan and Daphne.

Lord Greengrass was on his right, but the Bones seat was empty as Amelia was in the Interrogator's seat as the Head of DMLE. Dumbledore was seated on the middle chair- Chief Warlock's chair. Beside him was the Minister of Magic and on his other side was Bones in her uniform. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed a pink clad woman take the scribe's seat. She looked remarkably like a toad. He looked and saw that his friends were seated in the visitors gallery.

His attention was drawn back by the sound of a gavel being banged. "Order in the courtroom. Good Morning, members of the Wizengamot/ Today we have gathered here to judge the case of Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew. Bring them in." Dumbledore said.

The two men were led in. Pettigrew was chained in shackles while Sirius had a pair of handcuffs on.

"Hearing of the Wizengamot of March 1st 1994. Case of Sirius Orion Black and Peter Patrick Pettigrew pertaining to events of Late October 1981 and Early November 1992. "

"Are you Sirius Orion Black?"

"Yes"

"Are you Peter Patrick Pettigrew?"

"Yes"

"Interrogators: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Chief Warlock; Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of magic and Amelia Serphina Bones, Head of DMLE. Prosecutor: Rufus Scrimgeour"

"Dear Witches and Wizards! Today we are here to correct a grave travesty of justice. An innocent man has spent 12 years in Prison while the main culprit was in hiding. On the night of 23rd February, I myself along with the Chief Warlock and Madame Bones have interrogated these two under the influence of Veritaserum. We have enough evidence to declare Sirius Black innocent of all charges and put Peter Pettigrew in prison for a life sentence. But protocols must be followed. This is the reason we are gathered here today. We are holding an official trial for them. Prosecution, please begin." Fudge said.

" Thank you Minister. I would first like to ask a couple of questions to Arthur Weasley."

Mr. Weasley stood up from his seat and came down. "Mr. Weasley, please tell the court when and where did you find the pet rat."

"My son, Percy found the rat when he was playing in the garden one day. I can not tell the exact date but it was shortly after you know who's demise on Halloween. Say the third or fourth week of November. My son named him Scabbers thinking it was an innocent rat."

"And your son has had the rat ever since?"

"No, after Percy became a prefect three years ago, we gifted him an owl and the rat was passed on to my youngest, Ronald who was to start at Hogwarts that year."

"Has the rat ever shown any signs of unusual activity?"

"No, all he used to do was eat and sleep. It was when we made a trip to Egypt a few months ago, during summer, the rat started looking sickly and weak. If I am to guess it was because he saw that Mr. Black had escaped Azkaban but at that time we thought it was due to the weather or his time was coming."

"Thank you. You may go. Now, I would call Harry Potter here."

Harry got up and strolled forward with a grace worthy of a prince his eyes glowing faintly but enough to see. He applied a wandless mild sonorous charm to himself on the way.

"Heir Potter. Kindly tell the court of the events that transpired on the evening of February 23rd in the Shrieking Shack." Scrimgeour spoke acknowledging Harry's status.

Harry spoke confidently and smoothly of the events that had transpired, obviously cutting short the part of Remus Lupin and Snape intervention.

"... So once I transformed Pettigrew back, I sent a Patronus message to Professor -"

"Hem, hem"

"Dumbledore, Madame Bones and Professor McGonagall. Soon–" He continued ignoring the interruption made by the toad like witch. Several people in the court also looked irritated by it.

"Hem, Hem."

"Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall arrived with–"

"Mr. Potter! You have no right to ignore me!" The shrill girly voice of the toad like witch sounded cutting his sentence short.

He turned to her. "And who might you be?" He questioned.

"Lady Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic." The woman stated proudly.

"Firstly, I have never heard of House Umbridge. It is neither an Noble nor an ancient house and certainly not a part of the sacred 28. So you are no lady, miss Umbridge." He said emphasizing on the miss part. He was sure as he had learnt the names of all the houses as ordered by Salazar. To be a minor house, a house must have atleast 5 generations of people.

"Secondly, you are a mere court scribe. You are not an official part of the Wizengamot. Today, you are just an over glorified note taker. So you actually don't have permission to speak in this court unless you are recognized, which you did not ask for. So you need to take permission for from the Chief Warlock before interrupting the session like someone not a part of this esteemed body would need to." The toad was going red with either anger or embarrassment Harry could not tell.

"Thirdly, I will have you know that I have every right to ignore something I do not deem important and your coughing was one of them. Also, while we are at it, for future reference, note that if you ever want to gain someone's attention to speak with them, raise your hand or speak politely like a civilized person and not cough like an old crippled man on his deathbed."

People were openly snickering by now at her by now. Dumbledore had a slight grin while his eyes were twinkling. Fudge had hid his face with his hand and Madame Bones was grinning like a loon. Sirius was also laughing. The prosecutor had covered his mouth but his eyes gave his laughter away. All this while Harry had a perfectly calm face.

"Now are you going to sit there, turning red like a red-bellied toad or are you going to let us continue and stop wasting our time?" He snapped.

Salazar had told him about the minister's new senior undersecretary. his words were, ' Umbridge, Fudge's new undersecretary is a vile woman who is a first generation pureblood with a hatred of everything that is not pureblood. She hates part creatures and muggleborns especially. She recently tried to propose a bill to have a registry for muggleborns and part creatures but it was scrapped by the Wizengamot.'

"Mr. Potter, I just wanted to–" She began in a sickly sweet girly tone.

"Are you deaf or just mentally malnourished? I just stated the rule that if you want to speak in the court, you need permission from the chair and here you are, continuing your blabbering."

"Chief Warlock, may I speak?" She finally asked with gritted teeth.

"The chair recognizes Dolores Umbridge, the court scribe." A part of Harry wished that Dumbledore would have said no to her. It would have been hilarious to be honest.

"Thank you Chief Warlock. Now, Mr. Potter–"

"Heir Potter. Why are you even sitting in here if you do not even know the basic etiquette and rules of this body?" Harry asked.

"Heir Potter, I just wanted to ask you to stop lying in the court."

"Oh wow! Now, you are questioning my honor and calling me a liar. Pray tell what is my lie?" He said in a cold tone which screamed that she was going to pay.

"A Patronus charm and the spell you claimed to have used are too advanced for your age. No mere boy can cast them." She released a snort.

Harry narrowed his eyes before flicking his wand into his hand and concentrating on his happiest memory. "Expecto Patronum". The silvery Dragon burst forth from his wand and went over to Umbridge. It was over 20 feet tall as a Patronus. It spoke in Harry's tone, "Is this enough or do you need more proof?"

Umbridge was white as a sheet and said nothing.

"I asked you a question Umbridge." Harry growled. "Do you still want to question my truthfulness? If you do so, I can declare an honor duel and demonstrate all the spells during it." He asked. His eyes were glowing and an invisible wind was blowing through his hair.

"No- No, that won't be necessary." She said fearfully.

"If you are sure. Now, apologize and we can put all of this behind us."

"I am sorry." she gritted out in a barely audible tone.

"Pardon? I could not hear your supposed apology."

"I apologize, Heir Potter."

Harry nodded and turned to Scrimgeour. "Where were we before I was rudely interrupted?"

"You said that Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall arrived."

"Ok... Yeah, they arrived with Professor Dumbledore's phoenix and they were shortly followed by the aurors and Madame Bones storming in. Then we went to the Headmaster's office and I believe you will have records of the interrogation given by Madame Bones."

"Yes we have. Thank you, Heir Potter. You can take your seat."

Harry went back and sat on his seat. Soon Sirius and Pettigrew were interrogated under Veritaserum without any interruptions. There were several outrageous looks on hearing the story.

"All in the favor of declaring Sirius Orion Black innocent of all charges?"

Every single wand in the courtroom went up. Sirius was free, officially.

"All in favor of punishing Peter Pettigrew?" Again every wand went up.

"The motion is passed. Now we vote on the actual punishment."

After a few minutes of voting, it was decided that Pettigrew would get a life sentence in Azkaban. It was a close thing. 60% had voted for life sentence. Rest had voted for Pettigrew to receive the dementor's kiss. Harry unfortunately could not vote yet as he was not of age.

"Peter Patrick Pettigrew, you will spend the rest of your life in Azkaban. Aurors! Take him away." Dumbledore said banging his gavel. "Also, charges are to be filed against Barty Crouch to answer for his crimes. Sirius Black, you will receive Monetary compensation of 100,000 G for every year you spent in prison. Also the ministry will pay for your full medical charges for being healed in St. Mungo's. It won't give you back your years or reverse your suffering, but it is the least we could do. Court is adjourned."

Chapter 26: Heir Black and a Dueling Instructor

Ch.25 Heir Black and a Dueling Instructor

Everyone started getting up. Harry rushed to his godfather and gave him a bone crushing hug. The rat was dragged away screaming and kicking. He had ignored the toad's glare since he had taken his seat.

"I am free. I am free." Sirius whispered tears streaming down his face.

"Yes, you are dear godfather of mine. Now, don't cry Sirius." Harry said wiping Sirius's tears with his sleeve. Sirius gave a watery smile. Soon he was pulled into another hug by Remus after Harry pulled back. He left the two friends to express their happiness and looked around. Hermione and Ron were beaming at him. Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling. He saw Madame Bones and fudge packing away their papers and approached them.

"Madame Bones, Minister Fudge. I would like to thank you both for your support in freeing my godfather and making sure that the betrayer of my family paid for his crimes." At this Fudge puffed out his chest and Madame Bones gave him a soft smile.

"It was my duty Harry, to ensure that the law and justice is upheld. I was doing my duty. It was, as I said a grave travesty committed by the previous administration."

Harry curbed the urge to roll his eyes at the previous administration part. " Nevertheless sir, you have my gratitude."

"Then you are welcome. Now, I am afraid I have to take your leave. Work calls." Saying so he shook Harry's hand and left. Harry turned towards the Head of DMLE.

"Madame Bones. You too have my gratitude." He gave her a charming smile.

"Oh, Mr. Potter, you have done much more good for me than I have for you. It was because of you that I got more funding for my department and you yourself donated a generous amount. And today, you showed Umbitch... err, Umbridge her place. She has been insufferable. Then you saved my niece from the Dementors on the Hogwarts express. Also I now hear that you are training her. I hear that you are very good at dueling."

"I am decent enough at it, Madame Bones. And please call me Harry." He said with a shrug. "By the way, what did you think of my proposal?" He asked with a mischievous grin.

"Well, Harry, then you must call me Amelia and what proposal?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"You know, the one for learning the special chain spell?"

"No Mr. Potter, I am not marrying you to learn a single spell." She said with a roll of her eyes.

"I assure you there will be several other benefits from it, Madame Bones. I will gladly give a demo." He said waggling his eyebrows.

"Harry don't." Hermione interjected with a slap on his shoulders as Madame Bones coughed.

"Yes Harry. You are my niece's age. " Amelia said with exasperation.

"So, are you telling me that I should start dating Susan? Hmmm, its not a bad proposition. I will tell Susan that you have given me permission to take her on a date next time we meet."

"Wha- What, no that's not... that's not -"

"Ma'am, ignore him please. Come Harry." Hermione said pulling him away, giving Amelia an amused look. They started moving back towards their own group, but were intercepted by Augusta Longbottom and Daphne's Father. Harry motioned Hermione to go ahead.

"Regent Longbottom, Lord Greengrass. What can I help you with?"

"Oh, nothing Heir Potter. I just wanted to compliment you. I remember your grandfather, Charlus and Arcturus in this very chamber. I must say that seeing you handle Umbridge today was almost like seeing them again. It is a shame they are no more. They would have kept all these new... people on their feet. I look forward to the day you join us as Lord Potter." She said.

"Thank you ma'am." he replied with a proud smile.

"I too look forward for it Heir Potter. My daughters were full of praises for you when they came home for Christmas. And the way you showed the undersecretary her place was entertaining. We need more such entertainment in this chamber."

"Thank you sir. Please call me Harry. Neville and Daphne are my friends after all."

"Then call me Cyrus."

"And you can call me gran. Frank and James grew up together after all." She said, a bit sadness creeping into the last sentence. "Now, you should get going. They are waiting." Regent Longbottom said pointing to his friends. Harry nodded and went to his friends and godfather.

"Sirius, you should go to Gringotts first and then take you to the hospital. The Blacks have remained dormant for too long. It is time for the Lord Black to come back as we decided."

" I never wanted to go back to my family name but you lot convinced me." He grumbled but nodded nonetheless. Harry and Remus had convinced him to take up the Black Lordship. Sirius was reluctant but there were several benefits and almost no loss. Harry had convinced him that they will make a new reputation for house Black.

"But, its not you, it is we who are going. A Lord Black needs a Heir Black after all."

"Sorry?"

"Harry you will be the new Heir Black."

"But in the future, you may have kids. If you make me Heir Black, either you would have to give me Lordship instead of your child or disown me from House Black to give the child the Heir Black title."

"Harry... I can't. I am infertile due to Azkaban. Poppy confirmed it" He said in a low voice.

"Oh. I am sorry." He said giving Sirius a hug.

"So, you are my heir and everything. My family." Sirius told him

"Thank you."

"Let us go now, Harry."

---

They finally reached the Black account manager. Once they had gotten to the atrium, there were several reporters hoping for a statement. They had answered a few questions, Harry had shown his Patronus and then told them that Harry and Sirius had a matter to attend to at Gringotts and left quickly.

Sirius pushed the door open. There sat a relatively younger goblin than Ragnok.

"Barchoke."

"Sirius Black. Never thought that I will see the day when you would walk in here after your imprisonment in 1981."

"Well, here I am. I would like to take up the Black Lordship."

"Take a seat. I will send for the ring. And who might this be?"

"I am Harry James Potter, nice to meet you manager Barchoke."

"Yes, and he will also be my heir. Please bring the heir ring too." Sirius added.

The goblin nodded and they took their seats. Sirius's and Harry's identities were confirmed. Soon a younger Goblin came in with a box.

"Please take the Lord ring. If you are judged worthy, you will be Lord Black."

As soon as Sirius put on the Lord ring. There was a flash and it enveloped Sirius, before the ring fit his finger. Sirius closed his eyes for some moments. When he opened them, his eyes were a more brilliant shade of grey.

"Woah." He breathed. "I feel connection to so many houses across the world."

" Yes, you would. You control the wards of these houses. Arcturus made sure that all houses belonging to his houses were connected to the Black ring before he died. Now, Mr. Potter, please don the Black heir ring."

Harry did the same. There was a miniscule flash and it resized itself. Nothing grand like Sirius.

"Lord Black, Heir Potter-Black I guess congratulations are in order."

"Thank you." they chorused.

"Now, let us have a look at your finances..."

---

Harry returned to Hogwarts just in time for dinner. He had missed all his classes for the day including potions, so he would have to catch up with the homework and notes. Sirius and he had spent the whole day together. After sorting finances at Gringotts, they went to shop for some things for Sirius in muggle London. After that they went to an upscale Italian restaurant to have lunch. The food was delicious. They roamed around for a bit more and even visited a mall. They ate Burger and fries at a fast food chain in the evening before going to St. Mungo's for Sirius's healing regiment. There some forms were filled before Sirius was led to a VIP room. Harry then flooed back to Hogwarts, this time arriving at Lupin's office.

He plopped down at the Gryffindor table, tired from the day's activities.

"Tiring day?" Ron asked cutting a piece of steak.

"Yup."

"Go to sleep sooner Harry. It will help." Hermione said.

"I will. I have to."

---

The next morning, Harry went to the chamber.

"We were expecting you yesterday, you know?" Salazar said.

"I am sorry. I got back at Dinner and I was tired."

"Tell us what happened. We know the result but we need to hear the more intricate details."

"How about I show you. See it in the pensive while I do my workout." He said levitating the special pensive and tapping the runes, before he added a memory. It started showing his memories from the moment he had entered, like a projector.

After an hour, Harry came back, his t-shirt drenched in sweat. They were watching the end of the trial. Once it was over, Harry spoke, "So... How was it?"

"Absolutely Brilliant Harry! The way you put that horrid woman down was awesome!" Helga exclaimed.

"Yes, and extremely entertaining. You did well. I am extremely proud." Salazar said.

"Thank you." Harry said with a bow.

"Now, you have progressed extremely well. Beyond our expectations actually. We expected you to complete the full Hogwarts curriculum just before the fourth year started or in October by the latest, but you proved to be faster." Helga said.

Indeed he was. He had completed NEWT level studies in Charms, Transfiguration and DADA. In DADA he was miles ahead if his knowledge was to be considered. He was learning spells which were forbidden and labeled as dark magic. Some other spells were long lost to time. He could give his NEWTs then and there and would get Outstanding's easily.

His Occlumency Stage 5 was almost complete and would be finished in the Second week of March by estimation. Then he would begin the sixth stage. Due to this he nearly had a photographic memory aiding him in learning.

In subjects of Ancient Runes and Arithmancy, he was at mid 7th Year Syllabus, but it would easily be complete by mid-April. He was loads ahead of his peers due to the founder's tutelage.

Hogwarts curriculum these days was easy as compared to the studies he would have done if he was taught under a private tutor. In older days, around Myrddin's and Morgana's time, what students studied for NEWTs these days would have come for their OWL exams, if they would have existed at that time. They were taught non verbal spells and conjuration of objects in their fourth year! Currently these were in the sixth year syllabus. Standards had fallen in magical education.

A very big reason for this was the ministry and corruption. Purebloods did not want their heirs to fail in studies so had eased the level of education over the centuries gradually. It was also done to ensure that the muggleborns stayed limited and did not excel like they would have in the other case.

" So as you have almost completed the syllabus, we have decided to start tutoring you in arts that were forbidden like blood magic, Thaumaturgy, etc. and rare magics like Alchemy, curse-breaking and enchanting. We have also decided that you have now surpassed the need for dummies for learning. You now need a proper instructor."

Nowadays the best of magics like blood magic, Thaumaturgy, rituals, and even occlumency and Legilimency were all forbidden arts, only to be found in the libraries of the oldest families or in the Archives of the ICW or DOM. Some of the less rarer books could be found in the Black market but they only contained the basics.

"What do you mean that I need a proper instructor? You both are teaching me already. Whom do I need more?"

"Harry, we are portraits. If we were alive, you won't be needing anyone else. There are somethings we can not teach you as portraits. For them, you need a proper, living instructor."

"Like?"

"We can't fire spells at you. Dueling dummies are just dummies and don't think like a real person. They won't pull tricks or try to confuse you like a duelist would If you truly want to excel at the art of dueling, dummies won't be enough. You need to apprentice under a master." Salazar said.

"Ok, then who?"

"Filius Flitwick. He is a nine time World dueling champion. And has won several other championships too."

---

It was Saturday when Harry found himself at Professor Flitwick's office. He knocked.

"Come in." Came the charms professor's voice from inside. "Ah! Mr. Potter. come in and take a seat. How can I help you today?"

"Good Afternoon sir. I umm... wanted to enquire about dueling."

"What about it Mr. Potter? Do you want right books or some tips?"

"Neither sir. I wanted to ask if you could teach me?"

"Teach you? Mr. Potter, my standards for teaching dueling are very high. I do not take students on request. If you had come for charms, I would have jumped at the chance to take you as an apprentice, after seeing your Patronus charm especially. Your mother was my charms protégé in her sixth and seventh year. You are good Mr. Potter, for your age. You are the best in your year, but I am afraid you may not meet requirements yet for becoming my protégé."

"Really? What about Dueling apprentices? Was she one too?" Harry asked curiously.

"No, Lily was a charms protégé. I have had only 6 dueling protégés in my more than three decades of teaching here. One is the current International Dueling Champion, Alberic Wenlock; one was Cherok Mclean, he was killed during the war against You-know-who as he was the then Head Auror; One is the best hit-wizard in the world, Alastor Moody himself; One is the current head of DMLE, Amelia Bones; Then Rufus Scrimgeour the Head of the hit-wizard force and the last but never the least, is the most feared witch in Britain, Bellatrix Lestrange."

"You taught Bellatrix Lestrange!?" Harry asked flabbergasted by the fact.

"Yes, Mr. Potter. At that time she was an student, not what she is today. Bellatrix Black was one of the most promising duelist I have ever seen. If she had not went to the Dark side, she would have done wonders. And these all names I took, passed my test only when they were in fifth year or above. You are just a third year. I am afraid you would just end up injured like several others who have tried before. Only six have succeeded."

"Sir, but I want to try. I insist. Tell me your test. I will give it. If I fail, I won't bother you again until my fifth year."

Flitwick sighted before nodding.

Harry decided that he would prove himself. He won't give the professor a chance to tell him, 'told you so'.

"Very well, Mr. Potter. If you wish so be it. Then do not say I did not warn you. My test is simple. I go all out on you. Just I won't use things which would be obviously lethal. Same applies to you. I will do a standard dueling safety shield charm, you will do the same for me. You have to keep standing against the onslaught for Seven minutes. If you manage to do so, I will then judge you on your other aspects."

The dueling safety shield was a special shield that applied to the head and neck during all dueling competitions. It negated any spell of the same magical signature as the shield. One would have to do it on their opponent before the match started, so if their spell struck the head or neck of the opponent by mistake, the opponent won't die. The opponent would do the same to you. It had prevented several deaths in dueling rings since it was invented. Without the shield being cast on each person, a competition would not begin.

"I trust that you know the shield."

"Yes Professor. What if I win by chance?"

Flitwick laughed, "I do not want to blow my own trumpet but let me tell you that not a single student has ever landed a hit on me, much less defeated during this test. It has been the same since the last 37 years Mr. Potter. Now, let's do the shield and start unless you are reconsidering?"

"Not at all professor." Harry said, stepping forward and casting the shield on Flitwick. He nodded approvingly.

"Perfectly cast. Now, here you go." Flitwick said, casting the charm on him.

They bowed to each other and took stance on the platform Flitwick had conjured.

Harry had to last 7 minutes against a master duelist and not just any master duelist, Filius Flitwick the nine time World dueling champion. No biggie. Right?

He analyzed Flitwick's stance. 'Feet slightly raised- he prefers dodging and quick footwork. Wand not held extremely tight- fast spell work, instead of powerful start.'

Harry readied his wand. He needed to pass this test. It was important for his future plans and also fighting skills was something he would need in a war for obvious reasons.

"Cast when you are ready." Flitwick said.

A lightning bolt was launched from Harry's wand that marked the start of the duel. Flitwick quickly erected a shield before he returned fire with barrage of stunners, expelliarmuses and other hexes. Harry weaved out of the way of the first few spells before he needed to erect a shield to protect himself. The man was shooting spells in such a way that it made dodging tough.

Harry fired back a bone-breaker, Lacero, a fireball and followed it up by shooting a dozen arrows at the professor. He swatted aside the first spell and dodged the second, countered the fireball with aguamenti, snuffing the fireball out and wetting the floor. Harry's eyes narrowed. He quickly waved his wand converting the water into ice spikes and shooting it.

Flitwick conjured a granite wall on which the arrows and spikes got embedded before he banished the whole wall at Harry.

Harry waved his wand again, stopping it and transfiguring it into a wolf which ran at the Professor before ducking out of a bone breaker which would have hit his shoulder. He returned fire with a Reducto.

Flitwick reversed the transfiguration back into a wall, but before he could do anything, Harry's Reducto hit it, sending debris flying at the professor.

'Huh, I hadn't even planned that' Harry thought.

Flitwick did a charm which stopped all the projectiles midway before they arranged themselves in the form of a golem which ran at Harry.

Harry decided to vanish the damn thing before it could be used again to attack. He shot a bludgeoner which ricocheted as it met Flitwick Lacero.

Harry glanced at the time. 5 minutes 32 seconds more to go.

It cost him. Flitwick's another cutter cut chipped him on the thigh, drawing a thin line of blood. Harry hissed and returned fire with piercing curse and a Expulso.

Flitwick dodged and ducked from his next Reducto with ease. And shot half a dozen stunners in quick succession.

Harry erected a Protego which thankfully held till the last stunner. Harry decided to conjure a serpent and cause a distraction. Firing a Reducto, he hissed a command at the snake to bite Flitwick. Flitwick swatted the Reducto aside and fired an Expelliarmus, a Conlido and Petrificus Totalus.

Harry dodged each and returned fire with Triplexi Explosus one of his Grandfather's spells which shot three explosion hexes in a triangle formation simultaneously, a Bombarda and followed it up with a variety of school yard jinxes.

The charms master's eyes widened at his Grandfather's spell and he erected a shield again. It held for the Bombarda too. This was when the professor became aware of the fact that a snake was lunging at him. He vanished the snake.

Harry saw as his snake being vanished but continued firing spells. This time the professor's shield broke and a Lacero hit the professor in his arm. He hissed in pain and looked shocked for a brief moment before he too returned fire with a barrage of spells.

The next three minutes or so the pair traded spells viciously. Flitwick wasn't hit but Harry had an injured right shoulder and a broken left forearm.

'Bombarda, Depulso, Conlido, Impendimenta' Harry fired non-verbally in quick succession hoping to score one more hit, but the dueling champion just avoided them by dodging or swatting them away.

Harry was once again forced to defend with a shield to protect himself from the next spell chain of the charms master.

One and a half minute left.

"Everbo, Excaeco, Protego Scutum" At the last spell, a rectangular full body shield formed.

He couldn't attack as he wanted due to his injured shoulder hindering his movement. Two spells clashed into the shield with a gong like sound.

"Sonus Buttius"

A sonic wave was issued from the tip of his wand towards Flitwick, forcing the charms master on his knees and cry out in pain. At the same time a Banishing charm hit Harry that Flitwick had shot.

Harry went flying at the wall. He placed a wandless cushioning charm on the wall. He hit it and groaned in pain despite the cushioning as he twisted his ankle.

Suddenly he was forced to roll out of the way to avoid the stunner Flitwick had shot while he was still on his knees.

"Ventus Tempestas" Extremely fast wind started blowing from Harry's wand. It was an elemental charm which produced storm like winds.

Flitwick was thrown onto his back. He retaliated with some spells. Harry just erected the most advanced shield knowing that he could not get up and start dodging.

PING! PING! PING!

The sound came signifying the end of the Seven minutes. Harry's shield had held.

Professor Flitwick lowered his wand and lay on the ground, breathing heavily.

"MR. POTTER THAT WAS AN PERFORMANCE." Flitwick shouted.

'Shit! I burst his eardrums by my spell!' Harry thought.

He wrote in the air with fire like Tom Riddle had written his name.

' SIR, YOU HAVE BURST YOUR EAR DRUMS. DO NOT SHOUT. WE NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL WING'

Seeing the writing Flitwick gave him a thumbs up sign. Harry sighted in relief.

After half an hour Harry and Professor Flitwick were back in the office after being healed.

"Mr. Potter, I must say, It was one of the toughest duels I have had in the last few years. You are extremely good. I must admit that I had my doubts but you proved yourself. Infact you were the first student to injure me during the test and not once, but twice you injured me. If you don't mind me asking what was that spell?"

"It was a sonic wave sir."

Flitwick looked impressed. "It was the first time I have heard of it. It burst my eardrums and caused my bones to rattle. An extremely useful spell. First I thought it was Albus's spell that he had invented, but it never burst eardrums."

"Professor Dumbledore's spell?"

"Oh yes. He invented a spell which released a force field that caused an opponent or opponents on their knees or blows them away. Yours was similar, merely with the addition of the Sonic effect."

"So, will you teach me sir?"

"Obviously, Mr. Potter. It would be my genuine pleasure to tutor you in the noble art of dueling. Report in the morning at quarter to six at my office every Wednesday and Friday. And at 4 PM on Sundays. "

"Quarter to six?" Harry questioned.

"Yes. We will practice till breakfast." He firmly replied.

"Ok, Professor." Harry replied. There was practically no change in his schedule. It was going to be the same. Instead of practicing spell work with Salazar and Helga, he would do it with Professor Flitwick.

He bid the professor a good day and left for his dorms.

Chapter 27: First Date(s) and the Quidditch Finals

Ch.27 First Date(s) and the Quidditch Finals

"So, let me get this straight. You, Harry James Potter, the boy-who-lived, are the heir of Most Noble and Most Ancient houses of Potter and Black." Daphne said.

"Yes."

"That gives you 14 votes on the Wizengamot and makes you perhaps the richest man in whole of Magical Britain, perhaps Europe due to the combined fortunes of them." Susan added thoughtfully.

"Obviously."

"You also realize that you have to marry two ladies to keep the lines separate, as dictated by the law?"

He sighted. Daphne, Susan and himself were meeting for their usual dueling session on Friday in their classroom. The topic had strayed to the trial of Sirius and Harry had mentioned that he was now Heir Potter-Black. It was a big deal. Never had a single person held heirships of two Most Noble and Most Ancient houses.

There were instances where power of two seats were held by a couple due to marriage. In such a case they had to produce two heirs. If they only produce a single heir and pass on both heirships to him (or her), the heir had to marry two people to separate the lines. The law was adamant that two lines MUST NOT merge in the long run and had to be kept separate.

Harry fell into the latter category and would have to marry two wives. The other option was giving up a seat to the next closest relative, which was something Harry was not going to do. Marrying two witches seemed a much better prospect to him than handing over the Black estate to Draco Malfoy, or worse Bellatrix Lestrange, where it will surely be used to fund Death Eater activities.

"Yes, unfortunately, I will marry two witches. It is better to handle two girls than hand the Black estate to Malfoy, or worse Bellatrix Lestrange."

"What makes you think that you are unfortunate or that you can handle it either?" Daphne snarked.

"I handle you two, don't I? It is a tough task but I manage."

"..."

"..."

Harry then had to dodge several hexes shot at him by the blondes.

"Oh sheesh! I was kidding. No need to get violent."

"Good, but if you say that again, you will get hexed." Daphne said twirling her wand in hand.

"Bloody violent girls." He mumbled.

"What was that?" Susan asked sickly sweet tone.

"I said I won't say some thing like that again." Harry hastily answered

"Good. Now what else happened?" Susan asked.

"Let's see, I told you about the Veritaserum part, me insulting that toad undersecretary, me meeting Daphne's Father, Neville's Grandmother, producing Patronus in court... Oh yeah! Susan, your aunt rejected my marriage proposal for her and asked me to date you instead." He casually added.

"You proposed The Head of DMLE?" Daphne asked incredulously.

"My aunt gave you permission to date me!?" Susan blurted at the same time.

"I just said that." Harry added dryly.

"Why?" Susan asked.

"She thought that you were more suited for me. She thinks herself as old and that she won't be able to keep up with me. I disagreed but respected her wishes."

"No, I meant that why did you propose auntie?"

"She is hot, like a complete MILF. On top of that she is an intelligent and powerful witch. Who wouldn't want her?" Harry replied with a grin.

"HARRY!" Susan said scandalized.

"What? You asked. And she wished to learn a spell from the Potter Family Grimoire which I used to capture Sirius and Pettigrew in the shack. The only way for that was for her to become a Potter. I jumped at the chance." Harry replied with mock innocence. He was enjoying Susan's expressions of shock. Even Daphne, who usually was stoic around most people, was snickering.

Susan groaned. "Lets talk about something else please."

"Ok. We will talk about something else."

"Thank you."

"Your aunt told me that I should date you. So... Will you go out with me on the next Hogsmeade weekend on a date?" Harry changed the topic.

"You know Potter, you should work on your proposing skills. They could do with some work." Daphne said as Susan just stared at him with wide eyes.

Harry turned to Daphne. He went forward and bent on one knee conjuring a bunch of Roses. "Daphne Roxanne Greengrass, Whenever I see you my heart starts beating faster. Your beauty, wit and intelligence leaves me speechless. I like you very much. So will you do me the honor of going out on a date with me, my lady?"

"Yes. I will." Daphne replied with a smirk, throwing Harry off his game.

"Wait, what about me?" Susan blurted out.

"Harry is taking you out on a date to Hogsmeade. Mine's and his will be private. I don't want to be caught in house politics between Gryffindors and Slytherins. So mine will be private and you both will go out in public." Daphne replied.

The two girls shared a look.

"That works." Susan said after a moment, nodding her head.

"Wait! I was just joking! You can't be serious." Harry exclaimed still in shock.

"Potter, you should have thought before joking. Now you are struck with both of us."

"But- But that would be cheating on you both." Harry sputtered.

Susan petted his arm. "I am giving you permission to date Daph and me. It is not cheating."

"Yes Harry, it is not cheating. And after all you said that you can handle us both, didn't you?" Daphne replied with a smug look.

"So now, you are going to date us both." Susan said.

"We will see how well you are able to handle us. Let us go, Sue. Harry has two dates to plan." And they left quickly, leaving a gaping Harry in their wake.

"THE FUCK." Harry yelled again to an empty room, feeling a sense of Deja vu.

Damn girls and their antics. He was regretting his decision to joke with them now. But who would have guessed that the girls would make him date them both? He would never be able to understand girls. Now, he had two dates to plan

---

Harry stood near a pile of Barrels. It was the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room. It was the second Saturday of March and a Hogsmeade day. His foot was tapping nervously on the floor. He was going to go on his first date today. He had decided to take Susan and Daphne on dates on consecutive days, to get the matter out of his hair.

On one hand, he considered himself a lucky bloke to be taking two of the most beautiful girls in their year to a date, and that too with their approval. On the other hand, he was wary. Two girls had agreed to go on separate dates with him. He was pretty sure that it was unprecedented that a guy got to date two knock-out gorgeous girls simultaneously with their consent. He was unsure if how the relationship would work. He had decided to go with the flow for the time being.

'It is probably good practice for the future when I would need two wives. Perhaps we can go on a three way date in the future. Also the three of us in bed would be so aweso... Bad Harry! Don't think that. No thoughts on threesomes.' Harry thought to himself breaking out of the teenage hormonal thoughts his mind was having.

The Barrels slid open. Cedric stepped out.

"Waiting for Susan?"

"Yes. If you can, will you inform Susan that I am waiting for her?"

"Don't worry. She is coming. All the best." Cedric said.

"Do you have a date yourself?" Harry asked.

"Yes. I am going out with Cho."

"Cho Chang, the Ravenclaw seeker?"

"Yes."

"Well then, good luck to you too."

"It is my third date with her. It is your first. Just a bit of advise, don't go to Madam Puddifoot's. Go to any other place you want except that if you want to maintain your sanity."

"Thank you. I will keep that in mind." Harry nodded.

That was when the barrels slid open again and Susan came out. She was not gorgeously dressed or anything. She wore normal everyday clothes that a girl would choose while going on a shopping trip, but Harry could see that she had done something to her strawberry blonde hair. What it was, he could not say for sure, but her hair looked different than it usually was. She also had worn light makeup.

"My lady, you look gorgeous." Harry said giving her a charming smile. "For you." He added handing Susan a rose.

She blushed. "Thank you."

"You are most welcome. Let us enjoy a day out, shall we Susan?" Harry said offering his arm.

He was trying his level best not to sound too cheesy. He had taken tips from the founders on what to do. Salazar had been unhelpful but Helga had told him to do it naturally. Just compliment her a bit, give her a rose or a bouquet then spend the day around Hogsmeade like a normal person. He also had to pay for her purchases if it was not overly expensive. And buy lunch. Easy.

"Yes, Harry. You also look quiet nice yourself. You sure clean up nicely." Susan said taking the proffered arm.

They both walked to the carriages in silence as neither knew what to do.

"So, what is the plan for today?" Susan asked breaking the ice.

"Well, I am not sure myself. I just planned to pick you up from the Hufflepuff common room, go to the village, roam about for a bit, you know like visit shops as we please and then stop for lunch at three broomsticks. Have a fun day, in short."

"That is a good plan, even though vague. We are going with it." Susan said. Harry nodded knowing that Susan would most likely approve.

They reached Hogsmeade. The weather was thankfully clear and sunny.

"Where to first?"

"Hmmm... I need to go to the Scriven-shaft's to get quills and ink. I ran out of them. Then perhaps Honeyduke's and Zonko's."

"That works."

---

In the evening, Harry and Susan found themselves walking to the castle. They had a fun day all in all. Harry had a nagging suspicion that they were being stalked by Ron, Hermione and Hannah Abbott. He had seen them several times. It couldn't be a coincidence if he had seen them in 7 out of 10 shops they had been visiting, could it?

"It was fun." Susan said.

"Yes it was."

"I would like to go on another date with you."

"Me too. But I hope you remember that I am going on a date with Daphne tomorrow. I am not sure but most girls don't like that the boy that they are going out on dates with is simultaneously dating another girl."

"Obviously, I remember. I gave you permission too. I am not most girls after all. Maybe the three of us could go on a date together. It would be fun."

Harry just hummed. Homosexual relationships in the wizarding world were not common, but they weren't rare either. The magical world was open to different types of relationships much more than what the muggle world was. Also Homosexual couples could bear a child, magically if needed. It involved a shitload of potions and medication, but it was possible nonetheless.

"Well your wish then. I certainly won't say no to two beautiful girls."

Susan rolled her eyes but gave a short laugh. "Of course you won't."

They fell into companionable silence as they walked hand in hand towards the Hufflepuff common room.

Helga had told him to pick up and drop Susan to her home in a sense. It was gentleman behavior to get your date home if possible.

"Here we are." Harry said as they arrived at the pile of barrels.

"Thank you Harry for the wonderful day." Susan said looking into his eyes.

"I also liked it." Harry gave her a soft smiled.

Susan leaned in. Harry leaned in too, realizing what was about to happen.

Their lips met in a soft kiss. Susan came closer and threaded her fingers through his hair. Harry put a hand around her waist.

A few seconds later they broke the kiss and rested their foreheads against each other. Susan broke the embrace and walked to the barrels and tapped them. Once they slid open, She turned around and gave him a grin. "Bye Harry."

"Bye." The Barrels slid close.

Harry walked back to the Gryffindor tower with a smile on his face.

---

Harry was pacing outside the seventh floor corridor wall, waiting for Daphne. He had decided that it would be the best to introduce the girls to this secret room. He obviously wasn't going to show them the training chamber feature. He would tell Daphne that he found this wonderful room while looking for a place to take her for a date courtesy of the house elves. Many people had stumbled upon this room after all, including Tom Riddle, as told to him by Salazar. This was the place he practiced his spells during his Hogwarts years.

It was near dinner time and Harry was dressed in the robes he had worn to the Trial. Dobby was acting as a waiter for Harry and Daphne's dinner date. Harry had convinced some elves to make some French cuisines to eat.

Daphne arrived, wearing robes befitting an heiress. They were having a formal dinner date instead of a fun day like he had spent with Susan the previous day

"Harry. You look nice." Daphne said eyeing his attire.

"You look beautiful too, Daphne. Here's something for you." He said handing her a crystal rose which he had enchanted himself. It would change colours according to the days of the week. It was initially something Helga had told him to make to hone his enchanting skills before Harry decided to gift it to Daphne.

"It's beautiful." She whispered.

"I enchanted it myself. It will change colours according to the days of the week."

"Impressive. But where are you going to take me on a date? We are in the middle of a corridor, opposite to a horrible painting."

"Nowhere far my dear Miss Greengrass, just Paris, on top of the Eiffel Tower. " He replied.

Daphne blinked twice before she snorted. "Yeah, crack another one."

Harry raised a unamused eyebrow.

"Wait. Are you serious."

"Obviously. Now, are you coming or not?"

She nodded skeptically.

Harry completed the final pace and the door appeared. He stepped in, offering a hand to Daphne.

"Welcome to the city of love, Daphne."

The room was absolutely gorgeous. One could see the view of the nightlife in Paris. The buildings, the streets, the lighting etc. which was an illusion. There was a table in the middle with two chairs. The table was set for a date. Harry willed the door to disappear behind them.

Daphne looked at the scenery with her mouth agape.

"Wha- What? How? We- we were at Hogwarts and now we are in PARIS! That is not possible."

"Magic. Well not mine but the room's. It can convert into anything the user wants and give you anything within the boundaries of the room except somethings like food. It is a pinnacle of illusionary magic."

"Wow. What is it called?"

"Well, the elves call it the come and go room. It also goes by the name of The Room of Requirement."

"Nice." Daphne said peering over the edge.

"Now shall we, my Lady? We have a date."

"Of course."

He lead her to the table and pulled a chair for her. Gentleman like behavior, you know. She took the seat and nodded at him. Harry took his own seat.

They made small talk before their food arrived. For starter they had a classic tarte aux pommes. Followed by French chateaubriand with red wine and finally chocolate Mousse for dessert.

During dinner they talked about a plethora of things. Daphne told him about her home life and her parents. He learnt that Astoria was a prankster and loved pulling pranks and annoying Daphne, who would have guessed?. Her father was an ex-auror and now managed the family estate while her mother was a potions mistress and made potions to be sold to St. Mungo's Hospital. Harry already knew that but Daphne didn't need to know that.

Harry did not talk about his home life a lot instead chose to talk about the events in the last two school years. He told her about Norbet the dragon which sent the witch into giggles.

"So, would you like anything else?"

"No. I am full. It was a wonderful dinner Harry. I certainly loved it." Harry grinned at the compliment.

"Also, your elf is one of a kind." She said pointing at Dobby who was dressed in a black suit looking like a classic waiter.

"He is just like that. I am glad you enjoyed it." He replied as they got up.

"You set up a high standard for yourself. Taking me to Paris for the first date. I wonder where you would take me next." Daphne said, indirectly saying that she expected another date with him.

"That is for me to know and you to find out."

"I will look forward to it, Harry." Daphne replied before leaning forward and placing a kiss on Harry's lips.

The kiss was not as long as he had with Susan but it certainly wasn't a peck.

"Bye Harry."

"Bye Daphne."

---

"Harry, do not catch the snitch before we are 50 points up. If you do so we will loose the cup despite winning the match." Oliver Wood told him.

"I know Oliver." Harry said through gritted teeth. His captain had said this point some 500 times since Hufflepuff had spectacularly lost to Slytherin, putting them in lead. Gryffindor needed 200 points to win the cup. 190 and it would be a tie. Any lower would result them in loosing the cup despite winning the match. They could not loose to Slytherin.

The rivalry between the houses was on an all time high. Several fights had taken place in the corridors between the members of the two houses.

A small group of 4 Slytherins had tried to ambush Harry alone and attacked him. Needless to say that the four people went to the Hospital wing with the wand arm of their leader in pieces and the other cronies sprouting antlers, using hands as feet and vice versa and one babbling nonsense respectively.

It was thankfully McGonagall who had arrived and not Snape. She had heard the incident and promptly put the four Slytherins in a month long detention. Snape had arrived and tried to have Harry expelled for attacking his precious Slytherins. They had ended up in the Headmaster's office again where Harry had promptly offered his memories.

FLASHBACK

"What happened?"

"This brat..."

"Quite Severus. First Harry as he was the one who was there. I don't want to hear your assumptions." Dumbledore had said in a firm voice. Snape tried to find a reason to expel Harry every other week and it was clear that even the Headmaster's near infinite patience on the topic had ran out.

"I was walking down the corridor, going to the Gryffindor Tower. That was when four Slytherin's jumped out and tried to hex me. I defended myself and now they are in the Hospital wing."

"The brat is clearly lying. Potter has..." Snape began his usual prattle.

"I can offer my memories of the event. I do not need to lie or fool others to prove my innocence unlike a certain death eater." Harry had cut in.

"Why you..."

"Yes. That would be appropriate."

The headmaster and Snivellus had went into the pensive to see the memory of the event emerging a few minutes later.

"That was impressive dueling. I would see to it that the Slytherin's are punished for attacking you."

"Headmaster. Memories can be faked. I am sure that Potter did it! Why would they attack him for no apparent reason?"

"Oh! I don't know. Perhaps to take me out of the Match between Slytherin and Gryffindor. Or perhaps... You ordered them to kidnap me so that you could torture me to death to avenge your late master." Harry innocently suggested.

Snape went for his wand. Seeing Snape's reaction so did Harry. Before a spell could be fired they both found themselves disarmed.

"ENOUGH" Dumbledore roared, magic rolling off him in waves.  "Both of you. ENOUGH! Harry, you were out of line. You can not put up baseless accusations. I ignored your first jab at professor Snape. Anymore won't be tolerated."

"It was merely a theory. If I was sure than we wouldn't be having a conversation. Your pet death eater would have been in jail right where he belongs." Harry said calmly acting unfazed by Dumbledore's outburst.

After the Shrieking Shack incident, Snape had been ten times worse to him actively trying to belittle him for the smallest of things. Harry had put extensive occlumency to use and ignored the potions professor. His work was perfect as usual so Snape had given him detention for breathing too loudly. Harry had went to McGonagall and she had overturned the decision and the point loss. Harry had even sent a letter to the Board of Governors but Dumbledore had managed to get his potions master on probation instead of getting fired.

Dumbledore took a few calming breaths and sighted. "Harry, I have already told you, time and again, that Severus has my complete trust."

"Then I advise you to be careful, professor. Sometimes we tend to put our trust in wrong people and it tends to cost us horribly. See what happened to my parents they were betrayed by their best friend, who turned out to be a death eater. It lead them to their deaths." He wanted to add that Snape already was a death eater and probably had plans to spy on Dumbledore and the resistance against Voldemort once he returned but did not push it.

Dumbledore sighted tiredly knowing there was no convincing Harry. "Thank you Harry for your concern. You may leave. There won't be any punishment. Severus and I need to have a talk."

Harry nodded and took his wand back before turning around promptly and walking towards the door.

"And Headmaster, I would request you to keep your pet death eater on a leash. I do not know of your reasons to trust him and I won't ask. But if he tries to attack me once again in any way, I will make sure he is atleast fired or hauled to Azkaban, where he belongs at the best. He is already on probation as I have heard." Harry smirked at the last jab.

Snape was frothing like a mad dog but did not say anything thanks to Dumbledore's powerful glare. Harry knew that between him and Snivellus, Dumbledore would choose him. Why? Harry was Heir Potter-Black, a national hero, a figure of hope and magically and politically powerful. Snape on the other hand was an ex-death eater who was hated by 80% of the students who had studied under him in the past 13 years who was saved from life with dementors due to Dumbledore's words. Snape when compared to Harry, Politically or magically was nothing.

FLASHBACK ENDS

Snape had actively ignored him since then. Dumbledore had apparently been able to get in his thick-empty head that Harry would love to destroy him when given a chance.

Also since the incident had happened Wood had asked Gryffindors to escort Harry to classes and in corridors for his safety. Last two weeks he was followed everywhere by a dozen people atleast. It was worse than the time Sirius had broken in the tower.

"Okay team. Listen up. This is it. The final match. The moment we all have been waiting for. This is my last chance to win the cup. last five years we have not won the cup once. Today, we can reclaim the cup. We have three superb chasers, two unbeatable beaters and a seeker wo has never failed to catch the snitch."

"Aww.. Oliver-"

"We thank you for-"

"-the compliments. And-"

"-would like to say-"

"-that you are a pretty good keeper-"

"-yourself" The twins said in their typical twin speak.

Oliver nodded and they flew out of the Locker room in a V-formation. Harry discreetly waved his wands as cheers started. Sparks shot up and a red-gold roaring Lion formed in the Sky.

The crowd went wild.

"GO GRYFFINDOR! GO GRYFFINDOR!" Chants could be heard.

"And here are the Gryffindors!" yelled Lee Jordan, who was acting as commentator as usual. "Potter, Bell, Johnson, Spinnet, Weasley, Weasley, and Wood. Widely acknowledged as the best team Hogwarts has seen in a good few years —"

"And here come the Slytherin team, led by Captain Flint. He's made some changes in the lineup and seems to be going for size rather than skill —"

The commentary was drowned by boo's from the Slytherin section.

After the customary Hand-crushing... err- Handshake by the captains the match started. Alicia took possession immediately.

Warrington intercepted a pass and took the Quaffle but had to drop it due to a Bludger sent at him by Fred or George, he couldn't tell which.

Angelina scored. 10-nil to Gryffindor. 40 points more and Harry could catch the snitch.

"OUCH!" Angelina exclaimed as she was nearly unseated by Flint slamming into her.

'Time to give him a taste of his own medicine.' Harry thought and veered his firebolt and shot towards Flint at full speed. What was so scary was the fact that it could go from zero to the acceleration of 150 miles an hour speed in 10 seconds. It would look like a comet hurling towards you.

Flint's eyes widened and he tried to go out of the way. But Harry was much more skilled. He purposefully missed by a hair's breadth but it was enough not to warrant a foul and unseating Flint who tried to jump out of the way. Flint dangled on his broom having lost the Quaffle, which Katie took and scored. There were cheers from the crowd.

20-nil to Gryffindor. 30 points more.

Malfoy was following him closely. Well, fuck him.

Harry pulled a Wronski feint causing Malfoy to crash onto the ground.

"THAT WAS DELIBERATE." he heard Lee shout. He say Lee pointing at Katie who was trying to sit back.

The whistle blew. "Penalty to Gryffindor"

Katie took the penalty, scoring one more goal.

"THIRTY-ZERO! TAKE THAT, YOU DIRTY, CHEATING —"

"Jordan, if you can't commentate in an unbiased way —"

"I'm telling it like it is, Professor!"

Harry decided to play with the interfering seeker. He kicked the Quaffle in mid-air as the Keeper passed to Warrington putting it straight into the goal. The field went silent. Even Harry hadn't expected that.

"Goal to Gryffindor" Hooch said.

The crowd went wild. Flint called a timeout and tried to protest but there was no rule saying that a seeker could not score a goal.

After the timeout, the game got dirtier. Slytherin defended their goal posts.

Katie was sporting a nasty bruise. The Slytherins had tried a couple of shots on the goals but Oliver had proved to be an exceptional keeper.

"50-0 TO GRYFFINDOR!" Lee roared as Angelina finally got a goal in. Time to find the snitch.

Harry soon spotted the Snitch hoovering near the Gryffindor goal posts. He sped towards it. Malfoy, who had managed to come back after the time out tried to shove him, but Harry had been exercising for more than a year. He pushed back and Malfoy fell off the broom, dangling on his broom by his fingertips.

Harry dodged the Bludger sent at him. Flint tried to slam in him midway and was successful. Well partly anyway. As they slammed, Flint may be heavier but Harry had an insane speed and arm strength. He pushed Flint off completely. Flint fell down a couple of Dozen feet. But the Snitch was lost

"60-0 to Gryffindor. Penalty to Gryffindor." Hooch said.

Alicia had shot a goal during the confusion. Smart girl.

Angelina took the penalty but missed.

Flint was meanwhile moaning in pain and trying to get up. Fred shot a bludger, injuring Flint even more. The play continued. Harry soon spotted it again, flying near the stands. Harry shot towards it and caught it with ease.

"HARRY POTTER HAS DONE IT! GRYFFINDOR WINS 230-0!"

Wood had tears in his eyes. McGonagall was bouncing up and down like a mad woman. People rushed towards Harry including the whole team.

They had triumphed.

Chapter 28: End of the Third Year

Ch. 28 End of the Third Year

"Bravo! Harry. Nicely done." Helga praised.

Harry currently was practicing blood magic, a branch of magic forbidden by most Ministries of Magic centuries ago. Any person found practicing it would get a 5 years in prison at a minimum if done in Britain. The sentence would increase with the reason of use. According to them, it was an extremely dark use of magic. But, what they never mentioned was that Blood magic was perhaps the most useful branch of magic in case of protection.

Protections formed by blood magic were the most powerful protection one could provide. Most wards on old manors and castles had blood magic wards in them. Salazar and Helga had theorized that Harry had survived the killing curse due to a combination of Sacrificial and blood magic. Also the Dursley home was protected by blood wards put up by Dumbledore.

Harry was practicing the most basic of blood magic. A simple blood lock. By this, he ensured that only he or his descendants could open his trunk, well the one he was practicing on.

"Yes. It was perfectly done. Now strengthen the trunk."

Harry started drawing more symbols on the trunk wood to make it nearly unbreakable. It would be able to withstand almost all physical attacks without breaking. It would be easier to break a thick stainless steel wall than the trunk if done correctly.

His other studies were going well. He had started practice of Wards, curse breaking, Parselmagic, Elemental magic along with the blood magic. Helga and Salazar had made him ward and curse a dozen different boxed, all of which looked same. Then they had shuffled it and Harry had to break the curses and the wards on the boxes. It was the best they could do with current resources.

He was the top of his classes as usual except in subjects of Astronomy, Herbology and History. He simply did not give that much attention to those subjects. He was still in top 3 regardless of his laxity for those subjects.

Currently he was having trouble in Occlumency. Finding his core was proving tougher than he had imagined. He had started this from the second week of March. It was mid-May now. All he had done was see glimpses of his core for the briefest moments a few times

On a positive note, he could finally use his mage sight to see magic. It left him with a headache if he did it for more than five minutes at a stretch. The sight of magic was fascinating. He could see enchantments in a sense on the walls of the castle. He could make out the faults in a ward. He could check if an object was cursed or not by just seeing it.

He had achieved it after a ritual he had done on 20th March. It was a simple ritual which would have bettered his eyes and ears. He could now see at night and view things farther than he could before. He could pick up the smallest movements. Also his hearing had enhanced. When people thought he was out of hearing range, he could actually hear them clearly. It was beneficial for spying. It had a side effect of allowing him to use the mage sight, a skill in which he was not making progress.

The trunk glowed golden as he finished drawing the symbols with his blood as ink and then channeled magic into it, incanting a few words in Greek.

"It looks like it was successful. Try hitting it with some brute force." Salazar said.

Harry conjured a sledge hammer and brought the Hammer down on it using brute force. The hammer collided with the trunk but it did not even make a crack. A normal trunk would have been easily broken with half the force Harry had applied on it.

"Excellent. Well done. This would be enough for today."

---

"Good evening, Mr. Potter. Please come in." The Charms professor said. It was the third Sunday of May and Harry had reported at 4PM for his dueling lessons from Professor Flitwick.

"Good evening professor."

"Please have a seat. I need to talk to you about something." Flitwick said. Harry raised an eyebrow at that. They usually went straight to the dueling room adjoining the office. But he took a seat.

"Mr. Potter, I have been tutoring you in the art of dueling since the last three months. And I must say that you are an exceptional student and you would give the best duelist a run for their money even now."

Harry smiled. "Thank you sir."

"You are most welcome. But as I was saying that you are an excellent duelist and I would like you to consider this." The professor said handing him a leaflet.

Harry looked at it. It was a dueling competition, the U-18 ICW World Dueling league to be exact.

Harry's eyes widened. The biggest dueling league, held every 4 years, well for the people under 18 years of age that is. The adults(those above 18 years of age, as per ICW guidelines) had their own version which was even bigger.

Harry had expected Flitwick to send him for a competition, but not this one. He had expected something like British Dueling Championship, Champions Cup, CMDR (Commonwealth Magical dueling ring), or even the European League. Not this.

The U-18 ICW World Dueling league was the Olympics of dueling. A championship amongst the best duelers.

"Professor, are you sure? Like, this would be my first competition. And you are sending me to this? The most prestigious competition. Who would even select me to represent them?"

It was necessary for a country or a certified organization to sponsor and select a duelist, atleast for the U-18 version. The adult version had duelist only from countries. One couldn't just show up and start dueling.

"I would sponsor you as my apprentice."

"Sir, only countries or organizations can sponsor a duelist."

"You are correct, partially that is. There is a rule that states that a person who had won the ICW World Dueling Championship, singles more than thrice is certified as a master and can sponsor a single duelist in U-18 to compete if they wish. I have won it five times. In my career I have won 5 singles, 3 doubles and 1 group Championship in this league. So you can go as an individual, representing me as an apprentice."

Harry did not know that rule. Professor Flitwick was the only person to win that Championship so many times and was a revered figure in the Dueling Competition. To be taught by him was considered an Honor. To represent him was even a bigger thing.

"So, if I go, I will represent you in Singles as your apprentice?"

"Yes. The same way Alberic Wenlock did when he was 16."

Harry leaned back in his chair. It was a HUGE opportunity. If he won, he would become the youngest person to win the competition. Currently the record was held by a person from India who was 14 years and 3 months old when he won, which was 48 years ago.

"I am in sir." He finally said.

Flitwick smiled in triumph. "Mr. Potter, I will make sure you are trained sufficiently to win it. We have nearly two months to prepare. After that, we will continue training for the ICW World Dueling Championship(Adult version). I would love to become known as the teacher of youngest World Dueling Champion, if things go my way."

"I would not disappoint you sir. I promise"

"Good. I expected nothing less."

---

The following three weeks were pure torture in a sense. Harry had to use the time turner almost everyday to get some extra rest. Salazar and Helga had also eased his studies for the time being but still continued with his morning exercises and a single subject a day. He had a very busy schedule taking into account the U-18 WDL preparations and his third year exam revisions.

It was more of the League preparation that left him drained and in pain. Flitwick was a slave driver. Flitwick was hell-bent on making Harry win. He had proclaimed a week ago that Harry would most likely win the competition but he wasn't taking any chances. Harry himself was determined to win it. He would make his parents, Salazar, Helga and Flitwick proud.

His exams had gone well. Once again the DADA was the most interesting exam. Remus had made an outdoor course. Each obstacle contained something that they had learnt through the year. Harry completed the course in 1 minute 14 seconds. Next was Daphne at 3 minutes 48 secs followed closely by Susan at 3 minutes 56 secs. Harry was proud of his girlfriends. Hermione had nearly aborted the course at the last task- the Boggart but Remus convinced her to try again.

His relationships were going well. He had gone out on a few more dates with them by now individually and even twice on a three-way date. They usually ended in them snogging in the end. Him dating Susan was official, Daphne was a secret. Their usual dueling sessions also ended in snogging nowadays. He had two happy girlfriends.

Sirius had sent him a letter informing him of his discharge from the Hospital. He still had to take potions for next six months but was fit enough to be discharged. He had written how the medicines and the mind healer had helped him a lot. He also had a cottage in Somerset ready for them to move in. Harry was not going back to the Dursleys.

Currently he was walking towards the Gryffindor tower through a lesser used passageway after a leisurely fly. Their exams had ended and they awaited results. In four days by this time he would be back with Sirius in their new house.

He suddenly saw a figure walking towards him. It was a lady. She was very thin; her large glasses magnified her eyes to several times their natural size, and she was draped in a gauzy spangled shawl. Innumerable chains and beads hung around her spindly neck, and her arms and hands were encrusted with bangles and rings.

It gave her a typical look of the astrologers in fairs. He recognized her as Sybill Trelawney, the Divination professor at Hogwarts.

"Harry Potter." She spoke in a mysterious type voice.

"Professor Trelawney."

"What are you doing here, my dear?"

"Returning to the Gryffindor tower. I have heard that you do not usually leave your tower. Do you need some help?" He politely asked.

"Yes, I do not do it often. I find that descending too often into the hustle and bustle of the main school clouds my Inner Eye. But today while I was crystal gazing, I saw myself walking down this passageway and meeting someone..."

Harry raised his eyebrow but said nothing. What did she want with him? He didn't even take her class.

"Would you like me to read your palm?" She suddenly questioned.

"Err... why not?" He said not wishing to be impolite.

She took his right hand and started tracing lines on his palm while he stood there a bit creeped out.

"You have great danger ahead of you. And a deadly foe. I also see a great victory that you will soon achieve. And..."

She suddenly stiffened. Her eyes glazed over. Light green smoke started to come out of her mouth. Harry flicked his wand into his hand. 'What the bloody hell was going on?'

"IT WILL HAPPEN TONIGHT.

THE DARK LORD LIES ALONE AND FRIENDLESS,

ABANDONED BY HIS FOLLOWERS.

TONIGHT A SERVANT SHALL COME TO KNOW OF HIS SURVIVAL.

AND SET OUT TO REJOIN HIS MASTER.

THE DARK LORD WILL RISE AGAIN WITH HIS SERVANT'S AID,

GREATER AND MORE TERRIBLE THAN EVER HE WAS.

BUT THE STUDENT OF THE GREAT TEACHERS WOULD BE THERE

TO PUT A WRENCH IN HIS PLANS

AS EQUALS THEY SHALL MEET ON THE BATTLEFIED,

THE FATE OF THE WORLD THEY SHALL DECIDE.

TONIGHT… BEFORE MIDNIGHT… THE SERVANT…

WILL SET OUT… TO REJOIN… HIS MASTER…"

The smoke vanished. She blinked. Harry stood frozen.

"What happened my dear?"

"Err... No-nothing Professor. I was just saying that- err... that I needed to go to the- to the loo. Sorry!"

Harry rushed out of there. He needed to tell Salazar and Helga of what had happened.

---

Harry found himself aboard the Hogwarts express on June 12th. He had stood first again in his year. The express was heading to London. Harry was in for a very busy next summer.

Till 22nd July he had 4 hours of daily practice for the tournament. 2 hours in the morning and 2 in the evening every single day under Flitwick. On 23rd, Harry, Sirius and Flitwick were to take a Portkey to France where it would be held.

He had told Ron, Hermione, Daphne and Susan about this and requested to keep it under wraps. They had all congratulated him and wished him luck. Well, Susan and Daphne had even promised to give him rewards if he won. By their tone he knew exactly what kind of rewards it would be.

He currently was practicing Occlumency exercises to keep his mind calm. He had finally been able to keep the image of his core stable a week ago. He would hopefully complete the stage 6 before the competition. He was really excited to find his Animagus form. He hoped it was a useful animal.

On another note, Salazar and Helga had told him not to worry about the prophecy. The art of Divination was a bit... imprecise. They told him that there were thousands of prophecies in the DOM, just lying there and gathering dust. It would do best not to dwell on it. To take his mind off it, they decided to teach him apparation. It was a damn useful skill.

They had not done the useless ministry method of Destination, Determination, and Deliberation. He was taught the old method- Wrapping your magic around you and visualizing the destination. The magic wrapping technique was loads better as it was silent and did not give a nauseating feeling to the user. It also prevented splinching unlike the usual method that was used these days.

The best part was now he could travel within Hogwarts without needing Dobby. It was possible due to the ring of Hogwarts.

Soon the train pulled into the station. Harry saw Sirius and walked towards him. To his surprise he was standing with Amelia.

"Sirius!" Harry exclaimed hugging him. Sirius looked loads better. He looked like a Lord should. The medication had helped.

They broke off the hug. Harry turned to Madame Bones. "Good afternoon, Amelia."

"Harry." She gave him a smile.

" Are you waiting for Susan?"

"Yes."

A few moments later they spotted Susan coming towards them.

Harry suddenly had a brainwave. "Sirius, as soon as I say let's go home, Apparate me immediately. Do not wait." He whispered.

"What are you planning to do?"

"You'll see."

"Auntiee!" Susan hugged her aunt.

"Sue."

"Lord Black. A pleasure." Susan said as Sirius kissed her knuckles.

"Pleasure is all mine. Call me Sirius please."

Susan smiled and turned to Harry.

Harry grinned at her and kissed her passionately straight on the lips. As they broke the kiss, Harry saw Amelia's gaping face.

"Bye Susan. Let's go home Sirius."

Sirius took Harry's arm and they disappeared with a pop.

"WAIT. urggh..." Amelia said, still looking at the spot they had disapperated from.

Notes:

Okay... I just wanted to clear any doubt about the tournament.

U-18 ICW World Dueling league: According to ICW, those under 18 are minors (it is AU). This is for them. It is like Olympics of dueling for minors. Held every four years. It has three categories: Singles, Doubles and Group dueling. Harry will participate in singles. A participant must be chosen to represent a Country/ Organization or must be sponsored by a master. Harry will be sponsored by Flitwick as an individual participant.

ICW World Dueling Championship: Adult version of the above. People above 18 years of age compete. Flitwick has won 5 singles, 3 doubles and 1 group Championship in this competition.

 

If anyone still doesn't get it, don't loose sleep over it. Just enjoy the next chapter where the competition will begin.

Chapter 29: House Black and the Wizengamot Summer Session

Ch. 29 House Black and the Wizengamot Summer Session

Sirius and Harry appeared in front of a beautiful house. It had three floors and was surrounded by lush green grass field. A little distance from the house, Harry could see a pond and a small shack.

Harry activated his mage sight to see the wards. He realized that they were already within the wards. The wards were excellent in their own right but Harry was definitely going to add a few wards of his own. There were quiet a few wards he didn't recognize at a look. He would have to run diagnostics on them before adding the parselmagic and blood wards.

"Welcome to the Black cottage in Somerset.

"It's beautiful. I like it."

"I am glad that you like it. It was last occupied by my grandfather, Arcturus Black. It has been unoccupied for a decade or so. I got a couple of house elves to do the cleaning. It is three storey high and has a basement which is a dueling room too. It also has a potions lab and a small library. Thankfully it didn't have any cursed objects like my childhood home in London. That house would need curse breakers to clean it."

"Is anyone else is going to stay with us?"

"Moony obviously. No one else. He would come tonight after wrapping up everything at Hogwarts."

Remus had resigned after Snivellus had outed him as a werewolf a couple of days before the end of the year feast. Harry scowled at the memory. Snape and his pettiness. Suddenly he had an idea.

"Hey Sirius, how fast can you create a steward contract?" Harry asked

"Tomorrow morning at the fastest. Why?" Came the reply.

"I was thinking that since Moony no longer has a job, he can take up the stewardship of House Potter-Black. There is no one I would trust more with my finances and everything."

"That is actually a brilliant idea!" Sirius exclaimed. "But...it would be a little tough to convince him. He will see it as charity."

"Leave that to me. Just get the contract ready till tomorrow."

"Fair enough. Now go and freshen up. We need to have lunch. You can look around later after Lunch."

"Done, make sure that the food is ready. I am starving." Harry said as they entered the house. It was cozy and looked homey. The room they had entered in was a floo parlor, used to receive guests and as an arrival point. He followed Sirius inside and saw a huge living room. It had extremely soft couches and a light décor. Perfect to rest.

There were several doors too and a staircase. Two doors were open and as far as Harry could see one lead to a dining room and the other lead to the Kitchen.

"Go on the first floor, second door on the right. It had a plague with Harry's room written on it. It has a Bathroom attached." Sirius said.

Harry nodded and went upstairs.

His first impression on entering the room was that it was big. A little bigger than the bedroom in the chamber and thrice the size of the Master bedroom of Privet drive. It had a Brown and cream colour scheme. The bed in the center of the room was queen sized and looked extremely good. He had a big desk, a couple of armchairs, a bookshelf and a walk in wardrobe. He would decorate it further later.

He removed his trunk from his pocket and enlarged it before he called Dobby and told him to arrange his wardrobe. The little bugger was delighted at the work.

He entered the adjoining door. It was a nice bathroom and contained a bath tub and shower. Both of which were big enough to contain three people with ease. Harry grinned at the foresight.

Harry soon went down for lunch. The lunch was indeed ready and Sirius was already seated at the table wearing glasses and reading some sort of document . He looked up as Harry walked into the room.

"I didn't realize that you wore glasses."

"I didn't, but I need it for reading now as the healer at St. Mungo has told me. They are reading glasses. I only require them while I am reading"

Harry nodded and took a seat at the dining table. The crockery placed on it looked expensive. Harry made a mental note to not break it. Not that he couldn't afford it, but it would be a shame to break such a beautiful set.

"So kiddo, tell me about your school year. And of course your lovely girlfriend, Miss Bones."

So Harry told him about the school year. He deliberately left Susan and Daphne out of it. He obviously didn't tell about the chamber.

"Harry, you are avoiding the topic of your girlfriend. I am not leaving you alone till you spill." Sirius teased. " You should know that I have a lot of experience in dating. I dated quiet a few chicks in my time. So if you need any advice, I am here. "

"Really? Any advice? Then kindly enlighten me on how to handle two girls and date them in a three way relationship."

"Why would you need advice on dating two girls?"

"What makes you think that I have a single girlfriend?"

"..."

"..."

"You are kidding, right?"

Harry rolled his eyes. " I am not kidding. I am dating two girls and am in a three way relationship. Something that I am yet to understand."

"MY GODSON! I AM SOOO PROUD. ALREADY DATING TWO GIRLS AND IN A THREE WAY RELATIONSHIP" Sirius wailed and wiped imaginary tears.

"Glad to know that you approve." Harry said dryly at Sirius's antics.

"You didn't tell me the other girls name."

"You promise not to tell anyone?" At Sirius nod, Harry continued, " Daphne Greengrass."

"You are dating heiress Greengrass and Bones!?"

Harry nodded.

"MY GODSON! I AM SOOO PROUD. ALREADY DATING TWO HEIRESSES AND IN A THREE WAY RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. AND HE ISN'T EVEN 14!" Sirius wailed again.

After answering a few more questions, most of which were vague answers, Harry got up from the seat having finished lunch. Sirius had given no concrete advice. But Harry was Happy. It was the first time someone had asked about his school year and everything. He had never had that experience before.

"Harry, I just wanted to inform you that tomorrow we are having a meeting with my cousin. She was disowned from House Black because she married a muggleborn. Also on 18th June there is the Summer session of the Wizengamot. If you want to attend, then you can as Heir Potter-Black."

Harry had completely forgotten about that.

The Summer session of the Wizengamot was held every year on the third Saturday of June. During this, usually several heirs attended to view the proceedings and get an experience for the future. It was not compulsory but most Lords preferred to give a taste to their heirs. It was a common practice. Even though Harry couldn't vote, he could voice his opinion as he was the head of house Potter and not a mere Heir. If a Lord was present, the heirs sat quietly and observed.

The return of House Potter and Black was necessary. The seats were vacant for more than a decade. They needed to be back with a bang. Harry would need to think of something to gain positive attention to fortify their return.

"I would be coming."

---

Harry sat on a seat in the living room. They were waiting for Sirius's cousin, Andromeda Tonks. He wondered if she was related to the bubbly auror. He hoped that this Andromeda was Tonks's mother. Sirius had mentioned that Andromeda was coming with her Husband and Daughter but hadn't mentioned their names.

In the morning at 6.30, he had flooed to Flitwick's house for the practice. He had used the time turner to exercise and have some extra sleep between the exercise and the dueling. Now, he was waiting for the guests that were scheduled to arrive at 11. It was 10.58 according to his watch. Sirius was sitting besides him. Remus was going to pick up the guests from the parlor as the Steward of house Potter- Black.

Harry had convinced Remus with a combination of emotional blackmail, sheer logic and puppy-dog eyes. He had signed a contract an hour ago. Sirius and Harry had given him a Salary(a little more than necessary), a room on board, a monthly stipend and wolfsbane potion for every full moon. Remus had tried to protest but they were much more stubborn then him.

Harry heard the chime signaling that someone had came through the floo. There were two more. A moment later Remus entered the room, followed by a woman in her late thirties, a pot-bellied man and then She-Who-Must-Not-be-Named Tonks. Today, her hair was black, like the woman who Harry had deduced to be her mother.

"Sirius." Andromeda said. Sirius got up and swiftly pulled her into a hug.

"Andi" Sirius whispered.

Harry saw Tonks give him a grin and wave. Harry smiled back.

The two adults broke off from their embrace. Andromeda turned to Harry. "Heir Potter."

"Technically it's Heir Potter-Black though, you can call me Harry. We are family after all. It is a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Tonks." Harry said kissing her knuckles. He shook hands with the pot bellied man who introduced himself as Ted Tonks. Tonks hugged him in greeting.

Harry turned and walked towards the couch. "What are you all waiting for? Do you plan to keep standing?" Harry asked without turning back.

The adults scrambled and took their seats. The Tonks family occupied a sofa, Remus took an arm chair and Harry and Sirius sat on the recliner chairs. Harry had claimed one for himself as soon as he had seen it the previous day. It was extremely comfy.

The adults engaged in light conversation for a few minutes before Sirius brought up the main topic.

"Andi, I called you all here today because I wanted to reinstate you into the House Black."

"What are the conditions?"

"We called you here to reinstate you into the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, because we feel that the decision of your disownment is unfair. We have decided to reinstate you without any conditions. Same goes for Tonks." Harry replied pointing at Nymphadora.

"Then I would love to be a part of House Black again." Andromeda said.

They soon conducted the ceremony of reinstating them as members of House Black. A letter soon came from Gringotts stating the same.

"So, Harry, how is it going. All well at Hogwarts." Tonks asked

"Yup. Everything is fine. Topped the year and also won the Quidditch cup this year."

"Woah! You came first. When's the party?"

"I am not throwing a party for a simple reason as coming first in school exams. I have many more things to worry about."

"Liiikeee?" Tonks asked in a tone that screamed the question - What worries could a thirteen-fucking-year old have.

"Pup here is preparing for the U-18 ICW World Dueling league next month." Sirius answered.

"Really?"

"Yes"

"Oooh... So, can I duel you?"

"If you wish. I will love to. Just don't cry when you get your ass handed to you." Harry replied.

Tonks snorted and said, "You wish."

Soon they stood in front of each other in the house's basement. Sirius and Nymphadora's parents stood in a corner, away from them. They did the customary protection charm and bowed to each other before walking away and taking stance.

"3... 2... 1... BEGIN." Sirius's voice rang through the basement.

Harry quickly shot off a bludgeoner, a Stupefy, a bone-breaker, a piercing curse, a concussion hex, a Confoundo. The spell chain was so fast and powerful that the standard auror shield that the girl had erected broke quickly and she was hit by the concussion hex. The Confoundo just sailed over her head as she fell to the floor. Harry immediately disarmed her before doing a quick counter to the spell.

"Owww... Shit! I just lost to a 13 year old!"

"You did. I hate to do this but... Told you so." Harry nodded in agreement.

"You won because I wasn't going all out on you."

"Well, then let's do it again. Now don't hold back." Harry replied.

They got into stance again. This time as soon as the signal was given, Tonks sent a flock of birds at him. Harry erected a wall of fire and burnt them before sending the fire at his opponent and swatted away a Stunner and bone-breaker. Tonks defended by shooting water at the fire balls and extinguishing them.

Harry used the water to form an ice spike which shot at Tonks. She dodged it band shielded from a Reducto. A couple of spells later that shield fell and Tonks was again on the ground, stunned and disarmed.

Harry enervated her. She blearily opened her eyes.

"Wh-what happened." Then she saw Harry with her wand in his hands. "OH FUCK!"

---

Harry gracefully stepped out of a fireplace in the ministry atrium and waved his wand over his clothes, vanishing the soot from the floo travel. There were quiet a few people in the atrium. Some were reporters, some were normal ministry workers. The auror presence was heavy as there were some were Lords and Ladies on the Wizengamot still there in the atrium. Harry was there to attend the summer session in the Wizengamot too.

The fire behind him turned green and Sirius came out and conducted the same process as he did. They both walked to the guard desk and presented their wands. After receiving the slip they both walked to the lift.

"Wizengamot Courtroom please." Sirius told the auror who was sitting as the lift man for security.

They soon entered the chambers. The first session was from 10.30 to 1. After that they would break for Lunch and reconvene at 2.30.

It was 10.10 already by the time they entered. Harry immediately spotted Susan and Daphne in the courtroom. They both looked smoking hot in formal robes. Harry nodded at Sirius and they separated to go in different directions to play politics. Harry had assured Sirius that he would be able to handle himself and Sirius had no doubts as he had seen Harry handle Umbridge.

Harry walked towards Daphne. She was standing with her Father who was talking to Lady Marchbanks.

"Lady Marchbanks, Lord Greengrass, Heiress Greengrass." He greeted and kissed the knuckles of the females and shook hands with Lord Greengrass. Marchbanks greeted him before she was drawn away by another old lady.

"Heir Potter." Lord Greengrass greeted.

"It is Heir Potter-Black now. But I told you to call me Harry, Cyrus."

"Of course, Harry." He said before he leaned in and whispered, "Or should I say my daughter's boyfriend."

Harry smiled at him. "So you are well informed."

"Obviously. I heard that you are dating my daughter and Heiress Bones too."

"The correct term would be we are in a three-way relationship, I believe. And it was your daughter's idea. Who would say no to two intelligent, beautiful girls?"

Cyrus nodded. "Treat her well." He said in an 'or else' tone.

"I promise." He smiled back at him and left him with Daphne.

"Daphne."

"Harry. How's your preparation going?"

"Good. I have four hours of dueling session with Flitwick everyday. At end of it I am drained but the practice is good. Hey, there's Susan. Let's go." He said walking with Daphne towards Susan and Amelia.

"Susan. Amelia." He greeted.

"Harry!" Susan grinned at him.

"Mr. Potter, I wished to ask you what did you do at the platform?" Amelia asked with narrow eyes.

"I kissed my girlfriend goodbye." He casually replied.

"And why did you run away after that?"

"What? I didn't run away. I had a busy schedule so had to hurry."

"And it had nothing to do with the fact that you didn't want to face me?" She said with a McGonagall worthy glare. The woman was scary, Harry would give that to her.

Harry raised an eyebrow. "What answers? I vividly remember that you were the one who told me to date Susan at Sirius's trail."

"I certainly did not. I just said that you were my niece's age and you shouldn't flirt with me."

"Which meant that I should leave you alone and go after your niece. Fortunately she was willing." Harry winked at Susan.

"Auntie, leave poor Harry alone. We have had this conversation. I would like you to meet Daphne Greengrass." Susan said before adding in a low voice, "My and Harry's girlfriend."

Amelia looked at Harry and Daphne who were both grinning at her. She groaned. "Kids these days."

"Now, Amelia, no need to be jealous. I am sure that you will find a man soon. I can set you up with Sirius if you want. He has told me that you dated in your seventh year. Actually, keep your next Saturday free. I will send Sirius."

This time either Amelia had came prepared or was actually for the idea because she immediately said, "Sure. I will keep my next Saturday free. Tell him to pick me for lunch from Bones Manor."

"I will. Lets go and take our seats. Dumbledore has arrived." The three kids made their way up to their seats. Amelia would obviously be sitting on her Head of DMLE chair.

"Where are you going to be seated Daphne?"

"Besides my father. He will conjure me a chair to seat beside him."

"Oh, then allow me instead." Harry said, conjuring a plush armchair with the green crest on it. He made sure that Daphne would sit beside him rather than away from him.

"Thank you, Harry."

"I am just doing my duty as a responsible boyfriend." He whispered and took his seat. Susan already was seated comfortably on the Bones chair. She and Daphne won't be allowed to speak, but Harry would. He may not be allowed to vote but he could still voice his opinion like any other member of the body.

The gavel was banged. "Members of the Wizengamot. We shall begin at 10.30 sharp. Please take your seats." Dumbledore's voice boomed in the chamber." The conversations broke off and people scrambled to take their seats. A young guy, who looked no older than 25, made his way to Harry's row(The seats with MNMA Houses) and stopped in front of them.

"Heiress Greengrass, Heir Potter, And Heiress Bones. It is a pleasure to meet you all. I am Robert Albertos, Heir Albertos. I think it is your first time in here?" He said shaking Harry's hand and kissing his girlfriends knuckles as the customary greeting.

"Heir Albertos, Likewise. Yes it is my first time in here." Daphne replied.

"Mine too." Susan chirped

"I have been here for my godfather's trial."

"Hmmm... But not for a session in which they pass laws and bills like today's have you?" Harry shook his head.

"Robert! How are you? And where's your father?" A voice broke their conversation.

Robert turned to see Cyrus Greengrass walking towards them.

"Lord Greengrass. I am fine. My father is in Maldives celebrating his Silver Jubilee with mother."

"Oh. Then please send them my congratulations."

"I will." Robert replied before turning to Harry, "By the way, I saw the memory of the trial. I must say, you were awesome."

"Thank you, Heir Albertos." He nodded and took his seat. Sirius had already taken his seat at the right end of the row where the Black seat was. He smiled and waved at him. Harry shot him a grin.

"Order in the Court Room. I, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, call the summer session of the Wizengamot of year 1994 to order. Seal the doors."

Harry looked around the room. The minister and Department Heads were in their assigned seats. The Scribe's seat was occupied by a thin, balding man who was ready with a stack of parchment and a quill poised to be used. There were a few aurors standing around for security. The toad in pink was sitting in the ministry chair with a stack of paper in her hands.

'The toad is likely going to introduce a bill today from the ministry seat.' The ministry workers were usually the ones who would propose bills in the Wizengamot sessions. It was rare for a lord to put one forth. The ministry worker put forth a bill, usually regarding to the affairs of the department.

"Does anyone have any notices to give?" Dumbledore asked. Several people, including Sirius and Harry raised their wands. Dumbledore chose them to declare their notices one by one. A couple of people's passing was announced, three had new people born in their family, one marriage was declared, three bethorals, one guy was a new lord in the Wizengamot as he was promoted from heir to lord.

"Lord Black."

"Dear members of the Wizengamot. I stand before you to inform you of the fact, that I now am the New Lord Black." Sirius said flashing his Lord ring. "Furthermore, I declare Harry James Potter as the new Heir Black." Harry stood up from his seat and showed them the Black heir ring. Whispers broke out in the Chamber. "Also, as of five days ago, Andromeda Tonks is reinstated into the Black family, and so is her daughter Nymphadora Tonks. That's all. Thank you." Whispering continued. some discussed the fact that the Boy-Who-Lived was the new Heir Black, some about reinstating Andromeda.

"Order in the court room." Dumbledore boomed and everyone quietened. "Thank you. Heir Potter- Black, your notices."

"Thank you, Chief Warlock. As Lord Black already said, I am now the new Heir Black. I have also taken my mantle as the Head of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter. I would also like to inform this esteemed body that House Potter has recently made a new fund, known as the Lily Potter-Orphan's Fund. It aims to pay the fees of magical children who are orphans and can not pay for their Hogwarts education as the limit of the muggleborn and muggle-raised fund for Hogwarts is already low and limited. So House Potter has made this fund in order to support such children. A single orphaned magical child's Hogwarts education fee and the costs for books and other equipment along with a stipend would be paid for, by House Potter every year. It will be in the hands of the deputy Headmistress to select such a student. This fund already has 500,000G in it ensuring that the 7 years of Hogwarts education for a student in this year's batch and the coming 25 batches will be paid in full atleast with the current amount. If some other House or person wishes to donate, we can increase the number of students who would receive this privilege every year." Harry finished.

Whispers again broke out in the court room. It was a rather generous amount for them. For Harry it was big, but it would hardly put a dent in his finances. The amount was 2500G for a year of a student's education including everything like equipment and the stipend. That amount would be replenished within a week in the Potter account due to their extensive investments. It wasn't like it was all going to be used in one go. At the max, at a single time, 17500G will be required and that was when seven students under the LPOF were at Hogwarts. It was pure mathematics. Simple.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Thank you Heir Potter for this generous gift. I myself will donate an amount for this fund."

"Thank you Chief Warlock." Harry replied with a bow and sat back in his chair. The announcements continued. Afterwards a motion to ask questions Ministry heads regarding the security and arrangements for the Quidditch world cup was passed. Ludo Bagman answered a few questions from the Lords and the other members. Harry came to know that the ministry had booked a huge muggle establishment to host the event. There were wards erected on it temporarily by the Ministry warders. Also there will be auror presence in heavy numbers to protect the citizens, foreign visitors and the VIPs.

A short five minute break was taken so that the people could visit the loo and stretch their legs. After that they moved to the bills being proposed by the Ministry. The first one to be proposed was by the Senior Undersecretary, Dolores Umbridge.

"Hem- Hem. Dear members of the Wizengamot." She began in her high-pitched-irritatingly- girly voice. "I stand before you all today to propose a bill to regulate the danger the Werewolves possesses to the wizarding society. Werewolves pose an immense danger to us. They are beasts that in my opinion need to be controlled. These blood thirsty beasts have in the past caused several deaths and converted respectable citizens into beasts like them. They have no control over themselves and just love to spread death and chaos. So I am proposing that a registry for these creatures be formed. It will also enable the ministry to form a separate squad to put down these beasts if they wander close to a person. Also these beasts should not be allowed near normal upstanding citizens, so I propose that we restrict their job opportunities so that a prestigious post doesn't go to a mindless beast and instead are taken by upstanding citizens of the society. Those who register will be rehoused far away from the normal civilization for safety. Also they should be classified as beasts so that they can be put down without legal repercussions and need for procedures."

Harry cast a glance at Sirius as the vile woman continued her bitching and saw a furious expression on his face. Dumbledore had a disapproving look on his face and was furiously writing somethings down. Harry himself had taken some pointers. Once she finished Dumbledore said, "Very well, if anyone wants to speak regarding this proposal right now, they should raise their wands or else we shall take a small break to discuss this proposal amongst ourselves and then debate if we should make this proposal into a bill." Dumbledore said casting a glance at Lord Jones. Harry immediately knew that all the notes Dumbledore had taken would be spoken by Lord Jones

Harry raised his wand. Fuck the break. He was going to destroy this bill now. He also shot Sirius a look saying not to interfere. He was going to handle it.

"Heir Potter-Black? You want to speak regarding this proposal now?" Dumbledore asked in a skeptical, urgent tone. He had expected a break to be declared so he could politick his way.

"That is exactly why I raised my wand, Chief Warlock. I assure you I wasn't stretching with my wand tip glowing." Harry said dryly. Some snickers were heard in the chamber. Others leaned forward in interest.

"Very well. Heir Potter-Black, you have the floor to express your opinion about this proposal of Madame Umbridge." Dumbledore said.

"Thank you. Now, as for my opinion on this bill, I would say that it is complete, utter shit which poses more danger to Britain than Werewolves themselves."

"Hem-Hem."

"Let us go through the points made by the... Ministry worker. First she said that Werewolves are mindless beasts. It is as if she believes that it is a everyday scenario. I would like to correct this misconception. They loose their minds during one night a month, which can be prevented by the Wolfsbane potion. Secondly, no person voluntarily gets converted into a werewolf. They are bitten without consent. Also not all are such as you described. It was a group of certain werewolves led by Fenrir Greyback who attacked citizens and converted innocent people into werewolves. Most of these just want to live a normal life and usually isolate themselves during the full moon. Furthermore, there have not been a single werewolf conversion reported in the last 5 years, so I really do not understand the need for this registration or actually separating and rehousing them when the werewolf activity is nil."

"Hem-hem, Mr. Potter -"

"It is Heir Potter-Black you etiquette-less uneducated amnesic woman. And stop croaking when I am speaking. You can speak after I am done." Harry shut her up before she could continue. Several people snickered at Umbridge's rapidly reddening face.

"So as I was saying before a rude, amnesic woman interrupted, this bill poses more danger than werewolves themselves. It was proposed that Werewolves are prevented from getting jobs, which will cause them to loose a source of income. This will make their financial conditions deplorable and may lead them to commit crimes like thievery to fill their own stomachs. As it is said, an empty mind is a devil's workshop. Currently the werewolves are happy and content with what they are getting. Why do we need to rip their normal life away?" Harry looked around the chamber. Several people were nodding in agreement.

"Also you said that you will relocate them. Which sane person would leave their homes, friends and families willingly? Also what about the costs incurred by the ministry? There are 250 werewolves currently alive by approximation as per the last wizarding census. That means relocating 250 people at the minimum plus possibly their families. Why use so much of the taxpayers money to solve a problem that doesn't exist? And to have a separate squad to merely protect people in a possibility that a werewolf would attack them once in a month? A thing which hasn't been witnessed for the last 5 years. That is a complete and utter waste of money." By now, most of the Wizengamot was nodding at the logic. Dumbledore shot him a grin approving it.

"And furthermore, you want to take away their basic human rights by classifying them as a beast. You wish to take away the Human rights of a human being who is not in that form for like 6 hours a month. What of the rest 29 days 18 hours when they are human. Also do you know what people do when their rights are taken away? They REBEL."

"Let me describe the scenario which will happen if this shitty proposal passes- Once the proposal is passed, 250 people along with their families are moved to a remote location. The life they had been living peacefully has been disrupted due to a law needlessly passed. They now have no prospect of getting employment. Their savings will soon run out. So a group of werewolves start stealing... It fulfills their need for a short time. But then, the aurors catch some of them and kill them as they are classified as beasts instead of humans. The other werewolves will get angry due to this and decide to get revenge. So they will adopt the same tactic as done by Fenrir Greyback in the blood-war. They will place themselves near a wizarding family and bite them when transformed. And Bam! A new group of people have their lives ripped away because they are werewolves now! And do you all realize who they are to likely target in such a scenario?" Harry took a dramatic pause. "Families on this body of course! The Wizengamot would have passed the bill which made their lives hell so in retaliation they will do the same to us."

Silence. Not a single person spoke.

Umbridge was quiet red.

Harry conjured a glass of water and took a sip. "During the blood war, the group of werewolves, led by Greyback, who had joined Voldemort-" There were several flinches and shrieks but Harry ignored them, "- was due to the fact that they were discriminated against as it was stated in quiet a few interrogations. They had been promised equal rights by Voldemort- a chance to live as a human than a beast, something the ministry had denied them. If we pass this proposal today, their conditions would worsen and the next dark lord who would rise would immediately have their support. Lycanthropy is a disease, not their choice. No person would go and willingly become a werewolf. I implore you to think about this. The same goes not only for werewolves but other creatures and part creatures too, be it Centaurs, Merfolk, Veelas, goblins, so on and so forth. If we take away their rights, they will rebel. Why torment a group, when you can leave peacefully as a single-magical community where magic thrives freely and every magical-being lives in harmony? Thank you."

Applause filled the room at the passionate speech. Several people gave Harry a standing ovation including Sirius, Dumbledore, Fudge and Madame Bones.

Harry smiled at them and took another sip of water from the glass. He had shaken several people today with his impromptu speech. Also he had cemented his position as a capable future Lord Potter-Black with this speech.

"How was I?" Harry whispered to Susan and Daphne once everyone settled down.

"Fucking Brilliant." Susan said.

"It was quiet a speech. You looked hot while saying it." Daphne whispered.

"So will I get some reward?" Harry whispered back hopefully.

"Hmm... I will consider it."

"Fair enough."

---

The next day Harry had made Headlines on the front page. He was the new Heir Black, had made the Lily Potter Orphan-Fund and had given a passionate speech in front of the Wizengamot after all. His words, 'Why torment a group (of magical beings), when you can leave peacefully as a single-magical community where magic thrives freely and every magical-being lives in harmony?' Was printed on the front page as an introduction headline to the article which highlighted all the key points of his speech.

During the Lunch Break, several people had approached him regarding his speech as well as the fund. Lord Greengrass was positively beaming at him as he complimented Harry about his performance. Even the minister personally came to lick his ass and further his own political standing by it. The werewolf proposal was scrapped immediately with 100% votes against it. Several people had discussed with him the possibility of scrapping the previous laws which discriminated against part creatures and magical beings.

He also received several letters of gratitude from various people for his speech. Even Professor Flitwick had gone a bit easy on him in the morning session.

After the Wizengamot session had ended, Harry had asked permission to take Daphne and Susan on a date in the muggle world. They had been permitted to do so by their respective guardians after being told to bring them back home by 10. That was a lot of time that Harry had gotten considering it was not even 6PM when he had asked them. Their clothes were transfigured by Harry into muggle appropriate clothing. This all happened after Harry was mobbed by reporters and he had answered their questions.

FLASHBACK

Once they came out into the muggle world they were free from Harry's fame. Now Harry was simply a normal person instead of a world famous wizard. Harry immediately asked them if they would like a movie. He thankfully didn't need to explain what a movie was but the girls had never seen one. Neither had Harry in a movie hall atleast.

"Susan, promise me that you won't rat me out to your aunt."

"Why?"

"Because I am going to do this." Harry waved his wand around them applying a notice-me-not charm. "Hold tight." Harry said taking their arms before they disappeared with a pop and appeared in a parking lot of a mall, one which Harry had visited before.

"Wait. You just apparated." Susan said.

"Obviously. Don't look so shocked. Just don't tell your aunt. Now shall we?" Harry asked and offered them his arms to them again to lead the, further. They took his arms.

After two hours, Harry and his girlfriends came out of the Movie Hall. They had watched Disney's Lion King. It was an animated movie but the trio of lovers had enjoyed it. Susan had even cried when Mufasa died and Daphne had gushed about Simba's cuteness. Throughout the movie the girls had snuggled into Harry. Harry enjoyed the feeling of their boobs on his sides. They had even shared popcorn.

The two girls had loved the experience. After the movie they had pulled him into a clothing store and had bought quiet a few articles of clothing on Harry's expense, not that it made a difference to Harry. He was still to run out of Lucius's Galleons.. Daphne and Susan looked smoking hot in tight fitting jeans. Harry swore that they were purposefully swaying their hips to get Harry's attention to their hot ass. So he gave a light spank. It wasn't like they hadn't groped each other before while snogging.

They ended their day with a pizza at a fast food restaurant before Harry apparated them to Charing cross road from where they went to the Leaky Cauldron and flooed Home

FLASHBACK END

---

On June 24th, Harry found himself in the ritual Chamber again. This time he was going to do a ritual to increase the speed of his healing by several times as compared to a normal person. He was in no way going to become like the Merc with a mouth but it he would be able to heal a lot faster than a normal wizard without medical care. Cuts would automatically seal themselves within seconds of being inflicted, atleast the ones that wouldn't deep, instead of needing medical attention to seal them. Sadly he won't be able to grow limbs back if they were cut off.

Harry followed the usual procedure of removing items and then doing the ritual. This one wasn't painful like the Melius est magicae ritual but it wasn't exactly painless either.

The ritual was soon over and Harry got up.

"Check out if it has worked." Salazar said.

Harry raised an eyebrow but summoned his wand and cast a diffindo on his palm. A deep cut was made and blood started flowing. Harry hissed in pain. To his shock in a minute the cut had sealed and had stopped bleeding. Within three minutes there wasn't a single evidence that a deep cut had been made on his palm.

"Perfect." Helga said.

Harry just nodded in agreement.

Chapter 30: Animagus and Dueling League

Ch.30 Animagus and Dueling League

On 17th July, Harry was sitting cross legged in the Chamber of secrets with his eyes closed. He was currently searching for his Animagus form. This was something he was already doing for the past week and half. He had taken three days to find his Animagus landscape- the place where he would meet his Animagus in his mindscape. Once he had found his core, he had worked on connecting it through his body in a sense. The first time he had achieved seeing the connections, his mind was blown away from its sheer beauty. It looked similar to a diagram of blood vessels in the Human body from a biology textbook but much more beautiful. It simply was mesmerizing. Emerald channels connecting parts of his body to his gut. These were the magical channels in his body.

Salazar and Helga had started teaching him how to manipulate these channels effectively.

But back to his Animagus form. So far, he had discerned that it was a feline of some form. A big one. He had to find this form and merge with it. Once he did so, he would gain the ability of Animagus transformation and also, some of the Animagus' positive capabilities may get carried over to his human form in minor quantities. As he had discerned that it was probably a feline so it was likely that he would become more graceful, have better balance or might get better hearing, something that could only be obtained by the mindscape method and not the potion method. The ability would be watered down in his human form than that of his Animagus but an improvement was an improvement regardless of how minor it may be.

Harry heard a roar. The same one he had been hearing countless times in his Animagus landscape, but it was much closer this time. Harry hoped he was a lion or a tiger. Then for the first time he felt a shift in the air. From the vegetation around the landscape, a dark figure emerged almost silently. It was around 2 meters in length and a little above 5 feet in height. Its fur was dark brown which in low light would look black. It looked muscular and heavy. But it's most prominent feature was its large, long, sharp teeth which looked like daggers. It also had emerald eyes, the same ones as him.

It was a Sabretooth Tiger, well cat technically but who cared.

It prowled towards Harry; its movements silent. Harry stood his ground. This was where the animal would judge him worthy. If he fled, he would need to repeat the whole process again. Salazar and Helga had told him to stay there despite any fear he might feel once Harry had told them that his animal was a big-ass feline. If the animal attacked, he would wake up like one would after a bad dream.

The feline stopped in front of him, looking straight into his eyes, judging his worth. Harry slowly raised his hand. The sabretooth tiger made no move. Harry gently petted it on its head. The animal closed its eyes and moved forward, its nose touching Harry's heart. Harry instinctively knew about the animal. Its food habit, likes, dislikes, abilities, hunting techniques etc. Harry came to know that despite the size of the animal it could run at around 50 miles an hour(80kmph), the same as a lion. It used its large teeth and sharp claws to hunt animals for its prey. It was also agile but not as agile as a leopard, at least that's what Harry could gain. How he could tell so much, he had no fucking idea.

Its hunting tactic was to sneak towards a prey item as silently as possible and then throw as much weight and weaponry at it, in order to score a quick kill. The Sabretooth's huge feet provided cushioning and let them sneak up on prey with the utmost silence. Think about that for a second: a 2-meter-long animal, weighing 500lbs with extremely powerful limbs that can stalk you in almost perfect silence before killing you. Deadly.

Harry was broken from his thoughts as he felt himself merging with the Sabretooth Tiger. His body structure changed. Bones lengthened, his skin turned to fur, his teeth grew and a tail sprouted. Once it the process was over, which was strangely painless and smooth, Harry let out a roar which echoed through the chamber deep under Hogwarts.

"Bloody Hell!" Salazar gasped. Even Helga was shocked as she didn't chastise Salazar for his language.

Harry let out another roar before willing himself into his human form. Harry changed back into a human, thankfully keeping his clothes on.

"A Sabretooth Cat." Salazar let out a low whistle.

"It looks so majestic. You have a wonderful Animagus form Harry dear."

"I agree, it is awesome, but I have a question. When the animal and I merged, I got a shitload of information and..."

"...you could tell all about its habits, diet, hunting, speed, and other characteristics? " Salazar finished Harry's statement.

"Yes. So how did it happen?"

"The merging of a person with his or her Animagus form by the mind arts method usually does that. When the inner animal merges with the wizard or witch, its mind also merges with the normal mind. This is the reason that those who use the potion don't get the extra advantages of the Animagus transformation. The potion only enables one to replicate the animal form of the inner animal and not merge with it."

"Wow."

"Indeed. Now practice the transformation till you can do it in the blink of an eye."

Harry nodded and started the practice. It took him an hour and half of continuous practice to do it flawlessly in speed. Now he could transform in mid-stride effortlessly.

Harry turned the time-turner back and apparated back to Somerset to their home. It was a testament to his magical power and skill that he could apparate to a place more than 700Km away effortlessly in a single apparation jump. Most Average witches and Wizards could do only 150 to 200 km at the most in a single jump.

But Harry didn't even think about this fact now for two reasons: One, it was common for him now and two, he was thinking of ways to scare Sirius when his Padfoot form made an appearance next time.

---

On the 23rd of July, Harry along with Sirius and Flitwick arrived in the French Ministry's Portkey arrival point in Paris by an international portkey. "Portkey from Britain. Please deposit your Portkey in the box before proceeding to the security checks. The French Ministry wishes you a fruitful journey." A automated voice sounded.

Sirius put the Firewhiskey Bottle in the box and the three men proceeded ahead. A wizard checked them and their luggage for any illegal artifacts or items before giving them a go ahead. They went to give their names to the witch sitting on a desk. Sirius presented their identification and documents.

"British citizens: Sirius Black, Filius Flitwick and a minor, H- Harry - Harry POTTER!" She spoke in a French accent.

"Yes." Harry replied dryly. Even in France he was famous beyond belief. Seriously!

"It is an honor to meet you sir." The Lady said in French

"It's good to meet you too madam. Now, if you could clear us, I would be grateful." Harry replied in perfect French.

"Oui, Monsieur Potter. " After sometime the Lady cleared them but before they left she interrupted "Mr. Potter, Eight year old daughter is your huge fan. Can you give an autograph for her please."

Harry nodded before writing 'For the sweetest girl in the world, my best wishes.' and then wrote his name in a stylish manner on a piece of parchment adding a smiley to it.

"Merci." The lady said and Harry just gave her a charming smile. He didn't like giving autographs but refusing one could damage his image. Salazar and Helga had convinced him to accept his fame and embrace it long ago stating that even though he may not like it, his fame would become useful in certain situations that he will face in his future and also that he couldn't run away from it, so better embrace it.

He was now at his destination. Tomorrow would be his first match. He wanted to win this competition, not only for self-satisfaction but to make his parents, Sirius, Remus, Flitwick, Salazar and Helga proud. He had promised his mom that he will be the best and he intended to keep it.

In the past month, he had been pushed to his limits in every practice session. He was taught a lot of things by Flitwick especially tricks and use of charms in dueling. He had shown him how to use a Scrougify- the cleaning spell in a duel. Yes, a Merlin-be-damned household charm in a fucking duel. In the demonstration, Flitwick had shot the spell in his eyes temporarily blinding him painfully and proceeded to stun him. Harry just marvelled at the creative use of spells. Another example of this creativity was summoning his shoe in the middle of a duel, causing Harry to loose balance and fall on his butt.

Harry had mastered the spell deflection technique even though it took him a week to get the hang of it. Now he didn't need to shield against every spell he was unable to dodge.

"Pup, how do you know to speak French? And how can you speak it so fluently"

"I learnt it in Muggle school. One of my favorite teachers there was the French teacher. She taught me when I expressed interest in the subject." Harry smoothly lied.

He wasn't going to tell Sirius that he was using a charm created by Rowena Ravenclaw that enabled him to speak and understand French without a problem. She had even invented a translation spell to read books in foreign languages. It was limited to Human languages. One couldn't speak or understand Mermish, parseltounge, Troll, Gobbledegook, etc by these spells. He remembered what Salazar had said about Ravenclaw creating these charms, "Rowena had an endless hunger for knowledge. She was not going to be stopped by something as puny as a language barrier."

"Harry, Sirius, we are going to Portkey to the Hotel. Hold this envelope." Flitwick said, handing him an envelope. Harry took it and Flitwick tapped his wand.

After a portkey trip, Harry found himself in a Hotel. It was a muggle hotel which had been exclusively booked for the French ministry for this tournament. Harry was sure that the muggles were under a shitload of mind altering spells to pull this off and protect the statute of secrecy. They were greeted by a wizard wearing muggle clothes. How did Harry know? The man had the French ministry symbol on his shirt.

They soon checked in and went to their rooms.

---

"NEXT UP WE HAVE DAVID ABASCAL OF SPAIN VERSUS HARRY POTTER, WHO IS AN INDIVIDUAL COMPETITOR SPONSORED BY DUELING MASTER, FILIUS FLITWICK!"

There were several people who stared in shock at Harry's name. Harry could feel the anticipation radiating from the crowd as he ascended the dueling platform. There were several whispers he could hear from the crowd.

Harry took a deep breath before stepping onto the platform. He could see Flitwick standing at a corner near the Platform from where he ascended. He saw Sirius sitting in the front row in the crowd. Then Harry saw his opponent. His opponent was a teenage boy who looked 16 years old. He had average height and a lean built.

Harry and his opponent walked towards each other and met at the middle of the platform. The referee came and instructed them to put on the safety shields on each other. After they did so, the referee even checked if it was perfectly cast. At his nod, the opponents bowed to each other, before walking back to their positions. The shields around the platform went up as the Referee went to a side. The noise of the crowd vanished.

"Begin in 3...2...1!" The referee fired a bang with his wand. Harry immediately began his spell chain. ' Stupefy, Expelliarmus, Pila Incendio, Bombarda."

All this while his opponent only had the time to yell "Protego Maxima" Harry mentally shook his head. Who casted verbally in such competitions? To his opponent's credit, the shield was decently powered and held under the onslaught.

Harry immediately conjured a flock of birds and send it at his opponent. Protego maxima didn't protect from physical attacks and also prevented spell fire from both sides.

David had to abandon the shield and shot a burst of flames at the birds, non verbally this time. Harry was waiting for this. As the birds burnt and smoke rose, Harry shot 4 stunners in rapid succession. His opponent dodged two, but was struck by the third, ending the duel.

"WINNER IS HARRY POTTER!" The shields around the platform went down. Harry could hear cheering from the crowd. He could see Sirius jumping up and down in his place. Flitwick gave him a nod. Harry saw the referee enervate his opponent. They shook hands before leaving the platform. Harry had won 1 duel. He needed to win 3 out of the next 4 duels atleast to proceed to the next round. Harry intended to win all of them.

---

Out of more than 250 competitors, only 46 proceeded to the Round 2. The criteria to proceed from the first two rounds was simple: Win 4 out of 5 duels atleast to proceed ahead. From the third round the rules would change according to the number of people who would win. This round would be held on the 25th of July.

Harry had currently won all 5 duels and was one of the 12 people out of 40 to do so. In Harry's opinion the duels were rather easy to win. None of them had taken more than three minutes to win.

Harry once again ascended the dueling platform to face his opponent. It was a girl from Japan who looked around 15 or 16 but was a head shorter than Harry. She smiled at him softly before bowing to him. Harry returned the bow and the smile. They took their positions.

Harry analyzed her stance. It was the same as professor Flitwick. She was going to jump around a lot.

"Begin in 3...2...1!" The referee fired a bang with his wand.

Harry fired a dozen spells consisting of stunners, Diffindos, and Expelliarmuses at the girl. She dodged the first four before deflecting three of the spells. Then she had to erect a shield to protect herself. Harry could see her frown at his speed of casting. Harry internally grinned. He wasn't even casting at full speed!

She returned fire with a Reducto, Obstupefio and a Conlido. Harry effortlessly dodged all of them. She was fast, Harry would give her that, but her speed was similar to Tonks, if not a little slower.

Harry shot Lacero and a Reducto, followed by a Flippendo to mix things up. The girl dodged the first before shielding from the next two.

Harry continued his onslaught with a fireball and a Bludgeoner. The shield broke and the girl was thrown back on her butt. Thankfully, for her the spell was watered down due to her shield. She quickly rolled out of Harry's stunner and disarmer before getting to her feet and sending a flock of birds at Harry.

'Time for transfiguration. Lets show her why it is a bad idea to use transfiguration against the son of James Potter' Harry thought to himself.

He waved his wand transfiguring the birds into spikes and shooting them at the girl. She conjured a marble slab to intercept the spikes. Harry transfigured the slab into a Wolf. The girl's eyes widened before she had to role out of the way to avoid the animal. She quickly undid the transfiguration and banished the slab at Harry.

Harry converted the slab to a Golem and animated it. The Golem ran at the girl. She shot some basting hexes at the Golem managing to take off its head and arm before she was hit with the Golem's other arm on her leg. She cried out in pain as the cracking of bone could be clearly heard. She shot lightning at the Golem managing to break it to pieces.

The girl suddenly had to roll out of the way as Harry had shot an advanced stunner at her again. She returned fire with a Bone breaker which Harry swatted aside and sent a choking hex and a blinding hex at her. She dodged the first but was impacted by the second.

Harry finished the duel with an Expelliarmus, disarming the Japanese girl and catching her wand in his hand.

"HARRY POTTER WINS."

The girl took her wand wordlessly from Harry. He had broken her winning streak. It was natural for her to be upset.

"Good duel." Harry told her.

She nodded and went off the platform and so did Harry.

---

Harry threw himself on the bed as soon as he reached the Hotel room. He wasn't tired but wished to call it a day. The day had been full of victories for him. He had not lost a single match and was one of the five contestants in the competition remaining with a perfect record. Out of 46 people only 16 would go into round 3. Rest all were out.

The judges had decided to keep the third round as a knockout format. Only one match will take place for a competitor. If you win, you go ahead. If you lose, you go home. Next round would again be the same format. In the semi-finals, the four people will compete for the trophy by dueling with each other and the winner would be decided by the points table.

Harry got up after fifteen minutes of lying leisurely on the bed and went to freshen up. He removed the dueling robes he had been given and put them in the laundry basket. He would get cleaned, pressed robes in the morning courtesy of the house elves. It was a white robe with his name written on the back.

After that he went to Sirius's and Flitwick's rooms and called them for dinner. He was hungry, goddamn it and these two were taking their time. Soon they came out and they went to eat dinner. Harry chose to eat simple sandwiches and soup instead of going for something fancy.

"Harry, you were impressive today. You didn't lose a single match. Continue this and you will take the trophy home."

"Yes professor. I will"

"You were impressive indeed. I am sure that you would have given James and I a run for our Galleons when we were in Hit-wizard training." Sirius said.

"I would like to remind you that you lost in all the three duels we have had since I came back from Hogwarts was won by me. So I won't have merely given you a run for your Galleons but defeated you." Harry replied cheekily. Sirius glared at him for reminding him of his defeats.

Harry remembered the last duel they had. It was a few days ago. After Sirius was disarmed, he tried to attack Harry by converting into Padfoot. Harry in retaliation had transformed into the Sabretooth giving Sirius the scare of his life. He had ran away with his tail between his legs both literally and figuratively. After that he had cried over the fact that Harry had followed the Marauders footsteps and they ought to give Harry a marauder name. Even Remus was delighted. They were yet to name him as all the names they had given so far were horrible and Harry had rejected them.

"Sirius's defeats aside, I noticed that you didn't duel at your fullest today. You were holding back"

Harry nodded. "It wasn't necessary. If it is needed in the next rounds it would be a nasty surprise to the opponent to see me faster and much better than expected."

Flitwick nodded at the explanation.

"Tomorrow you cannot afford to lose a single match, Harry. It is knockouts. If you lose you are out."

"I know professor. I will win all the matches." Harry stated with conviction.

"Good. Now finish your food and go to sleep. You will need your energy tomorrow."

---

Harry won the next two knock out rounds with almost no difficulty. It wasn't the easiest duel he had done but it didn't compare to the training he had received from Flitwick. If Harry had to compare them, they would have been around Nymphadora Tonks' level duelers- Good in their own right but not enough to challenge Harry. To his surprise he had to face the Japanese girl again in Round 4. She had tried to use new tricks but Harry had defeated her again.

Currently Harry walked towards Sirius and Flitwick. They had broken for Lunch and the Final round would start at 3PM. There were 4 Finalist: A 15-year-old boy from Greece who had lost 1 match so far, a 17-year-old boy from India who was unbeaten and a girl from the French Female Duelist Association (FFDA) who was also unbeaten so far and of course, Harry himself.

"HARRY! FINALS PUP! YOU ARE IN THE FINAL ROUND!" Sirius said jumping up and down while hugging Harry as they met.

Harry smiled. He was in the top 4.

They ate lunch in silence. Harry was using Occlumency to calm his nerves.

"Harry, now each duels would happen one by one. So when you are sitting outside, see your opponent's carefully. Analyze them. I will also be helping you with that." Harry nodded. So far, several duels had taken place simultaneously. There were several screens displaying the duels around the field so that the audience could see the duels, whichever they wished for. The finals will also be played in several places around the world, thanks to some artifacts developed to act like Muggle cameras and televisions. It was a company Harry had heard about before and had bought several shares too. He had made a huge profit due to it. They were also going to be used for the Quidditch world cup, taking place in Britain this year. Sirius had procured four VVIP Top Box tickets for the Finals, courtesy of the minister as a reparation due to his unlawful imprisonment. So, Harry, Sirius, Nymphadora and Andromeda were going to go.

Remus wasn't coming as there was a full moon the following day. They had even asked Professor Flitwick but he had declined saying that he needed to be at Hogwarts to prepare for the next school year as the finals were on 28th of August, Sunday and the term began on 1st September as usual which meant they had to attend classes on Friday and got the weekend off before the classes began in the regular fashion.

"Let us go Harry, It is 2.40. The round will begin in 20 minutes." Professor Flitwick said and Harry nodded. They bid Sirius Goodbye as he went to sit in the audience and they went to sit in the contestant area. The Indian boy was already there chattering in Hindi with his instructor. Harry did the translation spell and he understood that the instructor was telling the boy to keep calm and stick to their practice. Harry cancelled the spell giving them privacy. The Greek boy was pacing along the benches while the fourth contestant was nowhere to be seen.

Harry decided to ignore them and closed his eyes and escaped to his mind place to calm himself. A couple of minutes before 3 PM, he was told to go and stand near the platform and go and bow when his name was called by an official.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. Today we have gathered here to witness the finals of the Under-18 ICW World Dueling League. So far, we have had 4 rounds and now we have our 4 FINALISTS! First, THEMIS ROUVAS from GREECE! Next, we have YASH KAPOOR from INDIA! Next FLEUR DELACOUR from French Female Duelist Association. And Last but not the least HARRY POTTER, an Individual competitor sponsored by Duel Master, the great Filius Flitwick. Let's have a huge round of applause for these young contestants." The announcer announced.

Harry walked onto the stage amongst thunderous applause. He gave a charming smile at them. The screens showed his face to the whole audience.

"The first duel will be between HARRY POTTER and THEMIS ROUVAS." The audience cheered again.

Harry bowed to his opponent after the referee checked the safety shield. They took their stances.

"3..."

'Firm stance, he will go for an explosive start most likely.'

"2..."

'Legs widely spread. He relies on shielding.

"1... BEGIN" The shot went off and the Greek boy immediately casted. Harry was bang on in his assumption. He dodged the first two explosion hexes and swatted a piercing curse aside.

Harry responded with a Fireball followed by a Bludgeoner, a concussion hex and a punching hex aimed at the boy's groin. As expected the boy erected a full body shield protecting himself before firing off a trio of Reductos. Harry dodged with ease and shot half dozen arrows at the boy.

His opponent flicked his wand and the arrows stopped in mid-air. They were promptly banished back at Harry who, transfigured them to snakes and sent them at his opponent. His opponent fired a wide area cutting severing curse, cutting off the snakes necks and then firing Bone breakers and piercing curses at Harry. Harry, in a show of his agility, ducked under the first, jumped between the next two and avoided the last two by swaying out of the way. His opponent seeing this sent an Incendio at him.

Harry waved his wand at the incoming wave of fire and it took the shape of a bird before rushing back at its caster. The boy fired at aguamenti at the fire, extinguishing it and producing a lot of steam in the process. The visibility dropped due to the steam and Harry aided it with a Fumos. His opponent panicked and started to fire in random directions. Harry swatted aside a Bone breaker which would have impacted him and activated mage sight. He could instantly see his opponent's magical core and aura. He casted a Expelliarmus, Stupefy and Petrificus Totalus before blowing away the smoke with a breeze from his wand.

When the fog cleared, the Greek boy was on the floor and his wand was in Harry's hands. He heard thunderous applause as the shields around the dueling platform went down. Harry went back to the contestant stands after the usual Handshake with his opponent.

Next was the girl and the dude from India. Their duel began and Harry started noting each of their styles. The girl preferred to use charms and a wide variety of spells. The boy on the other hand used elemental spells and transfiguration mainly. He hardly fired any hexes or curses throughout the duel. Harry had to admit that both were extremely skilled. He winced as the girl was hit by a fire-whip but to his surprise she looked unfazed.

"Harry, she is a Veela- atleast I think so. Do not use fire spells against her. Use water and ice spells. Veelas are natural fire elementals. Normal fire won't affect them." Flitwick whispered to Harry urgently. Harry nodded. He had to admit that the girl looked beautiful on screen. It didn't necessarily mean that she was a Veela but Harry decided to keep his occlumency at the fullest regardless.

The duel between them continued for another two minutes before the boy made a mistake and ended up stunned.

---

Half an hour later Harry once again found himself on the dueling platform facing the Indian champion, Yash Kapoor. The tournament officials had given them time to recover from their matches. The French girl and the Greek boy had gone first before Harry. The girl had won within a minute as the Greek boy tried to avoid a disarmer but fell into her Body-bind.

After that Harry and the Indian boy had ascended to duel. After the usual Shields and bow they turned to face each other. If Harry won this, his silver medal was guaranteed in every case.

They took stances and as soon as the bang went off, Harry needed to shield from the Lightning bolt that his opponent had shot at him. Harry return fire with a Bone breaker and a Bludgeoner which his opponent deflected before sending flaming spikes at Harry. Harry mentally took note of this variation of the spell.

He conjured a Marble block on which the spikes got embedded before one of his favorite tricks was turned against him. His opponent transfigured the slab into a leopard which pounced on Harry. Harry dove out of the way but the transfigured animal scored a nasty claw mark on Harry's left arm. It was the first time Harry was injured during this tournament.

Harry immediately got up and undid the transfiguration before he had to shield from an advanced stunner sent his way by his opponent. Harry retaliated with a barrage of half dozen spells consisting of Stunners, bone-breakers, blasting hexes and disarmers. His opponent flawlessly protected himself from the spells by either dodging or swatting the spells away before waving his wand. Harry was confused for a millisecond as nothing happened before he understood as something slammed into his legs causing him to lose balance. His opponent had summoned the marble slab from behind Harry, impacting Harry's legs.

Harry fell on the ground, hissing in pain. The marble slab was banished again towards him by his opponent as it reached half way. Harry shot a Bombarda maxima at the slab, reducing it to dust. He had to roll out of the way of another stunner and getting to his feet, wincing a bit due to the pain. His body had started healing but it would atleast take a few minutes to heal completely. The duel won't last that long. His bleeding from his arm had stopped but the three claw marks could clearly be seen.

Harry immediately shot a Bludgeoner, a piercing curse, Reducto and a Lacero at his opponent. He dodged the first three but was nicked by the Lacero, scoring a cut on his left arm. His opponent hissed out in pain and shot a flock of flaming birds at Harry.

Harry erected a wall of water which extinguished the Birds before twirling his wand causing the water to go towards his opponents feet and freeze the floor into a thin layer of ice underneath him. He nearly got hit by an Expelliarmus but was saved by his reflexes in this process.

Harry immediately waved his wand saying "Ventus Tempestas" producing high velocity wind from his wand end. It was an elemental spell that needed an incantation, nearly all wind elemental spells did.

His opponent lost balance and fell to the floor, immediately erecting a shield to protect himself.

Harry, seeing this fired a couple of overpowered blasting curses and followed it up with a dozen stunners. His opponent tried to get up but the ice was making it impossible. The shield broke and the last two stunners raced towards the boy, both impacting and knocking the Indian boy out cold.

"HARRY POTTER WINS!" The referee announced and the shields went down, making Harry nearly shut his ears at the sudden rise in noise. The audience was cheering like mad by now. Harry was grateful for the silencing charms in the shields around the platform or else it would have been a massive distraction for the duelist.

He smiled at the applause. Now the competition was between Harry and the French girl for the trophy.

"Mr. Kapoor." Harry called out to the Indian boy he had dueled a few minutes ago. They were once again given a 30 minutes break before the final matches after they had walked off the platform.

The person in question looked towards Harry. "Harry Potter. I must say that you are an excellent duelist. There was no shame in loosing to you."

"And so are you. I must say that you are the first person to score a hit on me throughout this league." Harry returned.

"Really?"

"Yes. I just came here to wish you luck for the next match. I hope you win the next match for the second Runner-up."

"I too hope so. It would be a shame to go home without a medal. Well... anyway, All the best to you too for the finals. I hope you win. I am supporting you."

Harry nodded but was interrupted by a female voice. "You said the exactly same theeng' to me a few moments ago." The French girl said appearing from behind them, her English thick with French accent. Harry turned to see the girl. He had to admit that she looked extremely beautiful with platinum blonde hair and high cheekbones. She had an hourglass figure too.

"I actually hope that you both defeat each other, if such a thing is possible. Then all four of us could take a medal home."

"They don't work like that. We would have a rematch if we somehow defeat each other." Harry remarked.

"That's a shame. Anyways, I wish you both Luck. I have to leave now. Coach calls." Yash Kapoor said before leaving the two finalists. Harry was amused by how the other boy had escaped the situation of telling them both, 'I hope you win.'

Harry saw the girl scrutinizing him. "I am sorry, I didn't catch your name." Harry said politely. He remembered her name perfectly but wished to break the ice between them.

The girl smirked in response. "I will let you read my name off the trophy."

"I would like to remind you that the runner-up trophy doesn't have a name written on it, so you would have to tell me." Harry smirked back.

"Fleur Delacour" She replied with her nose in the air

"Harry Potter. A pleasure to meet the runner-up of the U-18 WDL." Harry said kissing her knuckles.

"We will see leetle boy." She said and left.

"That we will." Harry whispered before moving towards Flitwick.

---

The crowd was cheering wildly as Harry ascended the stairs. Flitwick thumped his back in encouragement as Harry passed. Several in the crowd were chanting his name.

"WELCOME, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN TO THE FINALS OF THE U-18 ICW WORLD DUELLING LEAGUE. ON ONE SIDE, REPRESENTING THE FRENCH FEMALE DUELING ASSOCIATION, WE HAVE FLEUR DELACOUR AND FACING HER IS THE ONE AND ONLY... HARRY POTTER. BOTH THE COMPETITORS ARE UNDEFEATED SO FAR, BUT TODAY ONLY ONE WILL TAKE THE TROPHY HOME. LET US GIVE THEM A HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE." The announcer said. He was the head of the French Magical sports and Games department as far as Harry knew.

A few minutes ago, Yash Kapoor had defeated his opponent, taking the third place in the league. Now was his chance.

He looked around and caught Sirius's eye. Sirius gave him a huge smile and thumbs up as Harry walked towards the centre of the stage to meet his opponent.

Harry was nervous. The moment he had tirelessly trained for since the past two months was here. The battle for the title of the champion.

They put the shields on each other and bowed to each other before walking back and taking stance.

The shields went up and the noise from the crowd was cut off. Harry took a deep breath.

'Mum, Dad. I know you are watching over me.'

"3..."

'I have reached the finals of the U-18 WDL and am going to face off my opponent.'

"2..."

'Give me your blessings to win this.'

"1..."

'And I hope to do you proud.'

"BEGIN!"

Chapter 31: The Dueling Finals and Sweet Fourteen

Ch. 31 The Dueling Finals and Sweet Fourteen

As soon as the bang was fired the contestants were spurred into action. Their first spells met in mid air causing a small boom but both were unfazed.

Harry immediately went on the offensive firing a Bone-breaker, a Reducto, Conlido and a bludgeoner. His opponent gracefully deflected and dodged those spells and returned fire with a barrage of Stunners, disarmers and cutting hexes. Harry instead of dodging, conjured a swarm of butterflies, expertly intercepting each spell before transfiguring the downed figures into spikes and banishing them at the girl.

Fleur waved her wand which slowed the motion of the spikes to a crawl, side stepped a bone-breaker, before she waved her wand again, turning the spikes and sending them back at Harry.

Harry vanished the spikes and deflected a Lacero and ducked an Expelliarmus before shooting a piercing curse and dislocation hex at his opponent which she deflected before sending a Banishing charm at him.

Harry shielded against the charm and conjured a lightning whip and tried to hit Fleur. She immediately erected a full body shield, protecting herself against the whip which was trying to hit her. Harry abandoned the whip and fired a Bombarda Maxima, shattering the girl's shield.

Fleur waved her wand again, conjuring two wolves out of thin air. The girl was extremely skilled, Harry would have to give her that. Conjuring two mammals out of thin air was much beyond NEWT level skill. But Harry was no slouch either. He let out a burst of magic at the wolves, wrenching their control from Fleur and turned them against her.

Fleur's eyes widened as her control over her conjurations was wrested away and the wolves turned against her. She immediately fired a Severing curse, killing the wolves and vanishing them before barely deflecting a stunner from Harry.

Harry continued his barrage with a Confoundo, Bludgeoner, Reducto, Conlido and Praeuro( Frostbite curse). Each spell impacted on Fleur's shield with a gong like noise before the Harry shattered the shield with a Reducto Forte.

Harry swatted aside a stunner and side-stepped a Bludgeoner before he returned fire with Aguamenti firing several galleons of water at Fleur. She avoided it by erecting an elemental shield, stopping the water which flooded the ground, away from her, towards Harry, wetting the ground under him. Harry waved his wand, flinging the water at the girl, intending to encase her in a water globe. At the same time, Fleur tried to freeze the water at his feet.

The result was interesting. Huge chunks of ice, size of oranges went flying at the girl, albeit slower than needed. She expertly banished them at Harry.

Harry waved his wand, making an animated golem out of the ice chunks which ran at Fleur. She shot a Confringo at the Golem destroying its whole body. She had to shield against a barrage of impact and cutting hexes from Harry. She returned fire with a barrage of similar hexes which Harry either dodged or deflected.

The two finalist traded more spells for more than three minutes with none of them getting the upper hand before Harry fell into a Diffindo, to avoid a Blasting curse which resulted in a thin cut on his wand arm. Harry wasn't bothered by the pain but by the fact that his opponent had drawn first blood.

Harry knew that currently they were closely matched in power as Harry was three to four years younger than her. Harry may be a centennial wizard but he had just entered puberty and was still maturing while his opponent was a powerful, older witch whose puberty had almost ended. She was easily at an Hit-wizard level in magical power and skills, the same as Harry. So, Harry couldn't simply tire her out. Their duel had been going on for more than seven minutes already.

Harry waved his wand in a triangular motion, firing a Triplexi Explosus resulting in three explosion hexes being shot from his wand. The girl once again erected a shield, Harry had anticipated this as the spell was near impossible to dodge due to its speed and specialty. He immediately casted a ball of lightning which went towards his opponent in a projectile motion. It was an advanced version of the lightning he had hit Snivellus with.

Fleur dove out of the path of the spell as her shield failed to hold against the lightning ball. She immediately rolled back to her feet and fired several curses at Harry. She was getting desperate. Harry deflected and shielded against these curses before firing back at her.

'Reducto, Conlido, Piercio, Deprimo, Descoyuntar.' Harry fired non-verbally. The Reducto ricocheted against one of her curses before, she dodged the second and deflected the rest. Unfortunately for her the last spell- the dislocation hex wasn't properly deflected and it hit her left shoulder. Unfortunately for Harry, she was Right-handed. He had intended to dislocate her wand arm.

Fleur let out a pained shriek. Harry decided to capitalize on it. He wasn't sure if another opportunity like this would present itself again.

"Sonus Buttius" Harry used the same sonic wave as he had used against Professor Flitwick during his test. Fleur was forced on her knees due to the force before she dropped her wand and protected her ears from the Sonic assault. Harry ended it and fired a stunner at her.

Apparently she was more aware than he thought as she dodged it, YES! She fucking dodged the spell despite being wandless and lunged for her wand. Harry started shooting stunners at her at full speed. She was successful in erecting a hasty Protego but it shattered within seconds under Harry's spells, impacting the girl.

Harry stared at the downed form of the girl before falling to his knees himself in tiredness, breathing heavily.

"HARRY POTTER WINS! AFTER A 11 MINUTES 24 SECONDS LONG DUEL. THE WINNER OF THE U-18 ICW WORLD DUELING LEAGUE IS... HARRY POTTER!"

---

Harry found himself admiring the Eiffel Tower. It was a wonderful structure that the muggles had made. It was the day after he had won the tournament. Now, Sirius and he were exploring France, specifically the city of Paris. Professor Flitwick was attending the doubles currently and would attend the group dueling league the following day.

After winning, Harry was awarded a Trophy and a gold medal along with a monetary price of 25,000G. Fleur Delacour had received a silver medal with a Monetary award of 15,000G while Yash Kapoor had got a bronze medal with 10,000G Monetary price.

Professor Flitwick also received a monetary price of 15,000G which was reserved for the winning Country/ Institute/ Master.

Also, Harry's name had gone down in history as the youngest person to win the competition. Also professor Flitwick informed Harry that his was the second longest U-18 duel fought. First price belonged to a pair who fought the semi finals for 14 Minutes 38 seconds in 1746 since the competition started in 1054 AD. The world record was 49 minutes 58 seconds long in the adult version. Both the competitors had spent two weeks in the Hospital after the duel and had to be carried out on a stretcher.

After visiting the Eiffel tower and Lourve Museum, they had lunch before they travelled towards the Notre-Dame, the place where the ICW office of France was located. Why were they there? To register Harry's Animagus form and get an International Animagus certificate. They had decided to register through the ICW office in Paris instead of the British ministry or the ICW office(of Britain) in Birmingham. It was done so that Harry's Animagus could be legal while being kept as a secret from the people of Britain. It would cost a few extra Galleons but it was worth it.

They got a certificate and took a secrecy oath from the official after an hour of procedures.

"So Harry, where do you want to go now?"

"I am hungry. We had lunch five hours ago. I wanna to eat something."

"Ok. Food first. After that?"

"Notre-Dame. We didn't see it up close. Seeing it from a cab window doesn't do it justice."

"Fair enough."

---

Harry arrived back at the British Ministry of Magic on Thursday morning, the 28th of July. Harry, Sirius and Professor Flitwick landed on the ground gracefully after the International portkey travel. Harry's trophy was already in his hands. He was willing to bet his trust vault at Gringotts that the press was waiting for them outside. Good photos were necessary for public image. He was also wearing Formal robes instead of Muggle clothing, which was his usual preference. Harry always felt more comfortable wearing muggle clothing than robes, something which was a result of his muggle upbringing.

"Portkey from France. Please deposit your Portkey in the box before proceeding to the security checks. The British Ministry wishes you a pleasant day." A automated voice sounded.

Professor Flitwick deposited the hair-band in the box before proceeding with them towards the customs desk. To Harry's little shock, Ludo Bagman, Barty Crouch, and Minister Fudge were standing there along with Percy Weasley of all people, who had a bouquet in his hands. Harry also noticed a photographer standing at a side.

"Mr. Potter. Welcome back. Let me congratulate you on your victory in the U-18 World Dueling League." Cornelius Fudge said shaking his hand before handing the flower Bouquet to Harry. Harry took it and both looked at the camera for a photo. He then shook hands with Ludo Bagman before proceeding to ignore Barty Crouch. The man had unfortunately kept his position as the Head of International affairs even after the fallout due of his Sirius's unlawful imprisonment likely due to his need for organizing the upcoming Quidditch World cup. He had to pay an hefty fine to Sirius and the British Ministry as a punishment though. In Harry's opinion, he got off with nothing more than a slap on his wrist. Barty Crouch had only lost respect and some money. If Harry had a say about it, Crouch would have also lost his seat on the Wizengamot along with his job at the ministry.

They soon went out after a quick security and document check. As predicted, there was a crowd of reporters waiting for him in the atrium.

As soon as the reporters saw him, they rushed towards Harry and started shouting questions at once. After a couple of moments of Chaos, Harry flicked his wand and let out a bang. They instantly quietened. "Please everyone. One question at a time. I can't answer a dozen questions at once. Raise your hand and I will call you. Also, kindly introduce yourself. Now, take a couple of steps back and now, ask. You." Harry said pointing at a reporter.

"Amanda Allen, from British weekly. How do you feel on winning this prestigious competition?"

"I obviously feel elated. It was a prestigious event and winning it is a big achievement. You."

"Audery Balecastle from the MSEM (Magical Sports Events Magazine). How much time did you spent to prepare for this event?"

"Well... I am studying under Professor Flitwick since January this year. I started training specifically for this competition since May. You sir."

"Robert Acton, Europe International. Which according to you was the toughest opponent."

"Ahh... I say it will be a tie between Yash Kapoor and Fleur Delacour. Both were excellent duelists. Both the duels were a narrow win for me. You."

"Alexandra Hathaway, Teen witch weekly. Mr. Potter, what do you think your late Parents would think about you?"

"I am sure that my parents would be proud of my achievement. Every parent loves to see their child achieve things. You." Harry said pointing to a Blonde reporter, who was gaudily dressed.

"Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet. And what of the magic you used Mr. Potter?"

Harry paused. It was a question which could be turned in several directions due to its wide nature and Rita Skeeter was known for twisting facts and exaggerating things.

"My parents would be happy with my progress in my magical education and the fact that I can stand toe to toe with other contestants with much more education than me. My mother was widely regarded as the brightest witch of her age while my dad was a transfiguration prodigy. I am sure they will love to see me following their footsteps. Of course, a big credit for my magical prowess during the tournament goes to Professor Flitwick for teaching me so many..."

"I am quiet curious to know what kind of spells you must have used to win against witches and wizards with twice as much as education as you." The reporter cut Harry off. Harry knew exactly where this conversation was heading.

"Curiosity is one of the greatest secrets of happiness, Miss Skeeter. One should always be curious, but caution must be exercised while indulging in it. You." Harry said purposefully side stepping the statement and moving on from Skeeter. He didn't answer to statements. If she wanted an answer, she better ask a direct question.

"John Daily from..."

"Mr. Potter, I was asking you what kind of spells you used to win against witches and wizards with twice as much as education as you?"

"It is quite rude you know? You have already had your chance. And to answer your question, I used spells that can be used in dueling obviously. You cannot win duels with household charms Miss Skeeter. Anyone can tell you that. I used transfiguration, charms and combat spells if you are enquiring about the branches of magic I used." Harry said in a tone that screamed that it was an idiotic question.

He knew Skeeter was trying to accuse him of using dark magic but Harry won't give anything away till she asked a direct question regarding it. Or else, she would turn his words against him and make him a dark wizard.

"And what about usage of Dark magic? I am skeptical that a someone so young could learn so much in so less time." She finally asked the direct question.

"Miss Skeeter, define dark magic please."

"Dark magic is any magic used to harm or kill another witch or wizard. The use of such magic has been forbidden by the Ministry of Magic. So..."

"Excellent Miss Skeeter. Now you do realize that the duels were monitored by individuals from the International Confederation of Wizards, a body on which magical Britain has a permanent seat. So, I am pretty sure that the qualified individuals could discern the usage of forbidden magic during the competition. Am I wrong?"

"No, Mr. Potter. I..."

"So I cannot, for the life of me, understand the reason why you are accusing me of using these forbidden spells during the competition, which I repeat, was monitored by qualified masters from the ICW itself, a fact that everyone is aware of. So... are you questioning my honor as well as the competency of ICW's Dueling masters?"

"No, no Mr. Potter. I am not. I was just curious. I was merely wondering how someone could learn so much, nothing else." She back pedaled.

"Practice Miss Skeeter. I used to get up at 5:30 every morning to practice dueling with Professor Flitwick. And I would also add that not every person is magically incompetent like you. So don't think that what you can do is the epitome of what a person could achieve. Also, you clearly asked me about using dark magic. You weren't curious. You were clearly accusing me of using dark magic. I would appreciate if you keep your baseless accusations in your own fantasies. Now, let us move on. You, Mr. John Daily."

Oh, yes. Harry knew he had made an enemy, he could tell that much from the reporters rapidly reddening face. But he could easily handle her. She was a mere reporter who worked for a paper that Harry essentially owned as Heir Potter-Black. He could crush her in no time if he was needed. Also, he would gather dirt on her soon enough. But it ensured that she won't print anything negative about him in this article.

It took Harry an hour more to get home after the impromptu press conference. After that he had visited the chamber and informed Salazar and Helga of everything. They had congratulated him on his success. Harry had also sent two house elves to spy on Skeeter to find dirt on her.

The next day the article in the Prophet was singing his praises for winning the dueling tournament. The reason for it was that the article wasn't written by Skeeter but by someone else. According to his sources, the Head editor had refused to give Rita Skeeter a chance to write that article because of her behavior towards Harry in the atrium. Harry even made sure that he would be reading all articles before they were printed. He had sent elves to the Daily Prophet office to told them to check the articles and bring it to him if they had something on Harry, his family or those whom he considered friends. Anything that was false or degrading would be changed or scrapped before it was published through a judicious use of House elves, Confoundus charm and cunning. He could also fire the reporters if he wanted through his influence and ownership but he would be seen as a bully.

Media was an important part of the society and it should be unbiased. But the magical society, unfortunately, wasn't an utopia. So manipulation became necessary.

---

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY!"

Harry immediately shot up and went for his wand before he saw Sirius and Remus standing there along with the Weasleys( bar Charlie, who was in Romania) and Hermione, all adorning huge smiles and wearing party caps. His room was somehow decorated with ribbons and Balloons, something that wasn't there before he went to sleep early yesterday after dinner. From the corner of his eye he saw that it was pitch Black outside the window, indicating that it was still midnight- specifically the midnight when July 31st began, his birthday.

Harry's face broke into a huge smile. "When did you plan all this?" He asked looking Sirius and Remus.

"A few days ago. Today, we hit you with a mild sleeping charm at dinner which sent you to sleep early. Then we floo called this lot to come after we confirmed you were asleep. They came through and here we are!" Remus said.

"Enough of all that. Dobby!"

The excitable elf popped in with a HUGE cake. The cake was three layered and two feet in height. Each layer had different designs. One had snitches flying around it, another had symbol of the dueling tournament and the topmost layer had small dragons, representing his Patronus. On the cake, it was written: ' HARRY POTTER: THE YOUNGEST DUELING CHAMPION'

They all sang the Happy Birthday song for Harry and ate some cake before Harry opened the gifts. He had received a Chudley Cannon History book from Ron (something which Harry wasn't even going to read), a box full of goodies from the parent Weasleys, prank items from the twins, a handmade card and scarf from Ginny, and Bill, Percy and Charlie had combine-gifted him a Probity Probe( type of dark detector). To no one's surprise Hermione had got him a book but Harry was delighted to see it was a Hercule Poirot Book instead of something related to magic. Sirius and Remus had gifted Harry a magical hoverboard, which was a latest invention to the wizarding market.

After the party Harry went to bed at around 2 AM. He was extremely thankful of the fact that Salazar and Helga had put him on a 10-day complete break. He was strictly instructed to rest and enjoy himself during these ten days. No studies. Minimum magic use.

Harry fell asleep with a soft smile on his face. He had the whole next day planned out with activities that he had no clue about after all!

Chapter 32: The Quidditch World Cup

Ch.32 The Quidditch World Cup

"Yes... now enchant the torch to produce green flames instead of the normal colour." Helga instructed.

Harry currently was in the Chamber once again practicing the art of enchanting. So far he had enchanted a cup to produce unlimited water, a cap to change colours according to the weather and a glass to convert the water poured into it to red wine. Helga and Salazar were in their usual teacher–Slave driver mode, assessing his enchanting skills.

Suddenly a pop sounded breaking Harry's attention from the torch that he was enchanting.

"Tilly, what happened?" Harry asked the elf, who he had instructed to spy on Skeeter.

"Master Harry, Tilly saw the reporter woman converting herself into a bug. She flew away and went along with a wizard to his home by the floo."

"Come here Tilly. Now, concentrate on what you saw and I will remove the memory and view it in my pensive. Understood?" The elf nodded. Harry placed his wand at Tilly's Temple before drawing a silvery strand from it. "Come Tilly." He ordered and lead her to the pensive before promptly dropping the memory strand in it and promptly tapping relevant runes. A holographic image appeared above it.

Harry recognized the place as the Leaky Cauldron. She was eyeing a man who was eating his breakfast at the inn. As it seemed that he was about to finish his breakfast, Skeeter got up and went to the bathroom, where she transformed into a water beetle upon entering and promptly flew out again. She landed on the man's shoulder and quickly crawled under his collar. Soon the man flooed out, with Rita Skeeter tagging along.

"So she is a beetle Animagus, an extremely small and excellent Animagus form for spying. If it was revealed that she is an Animagus and used it to spy on people, she will have to pay a fine along with 3 months in Azkaban at the minimum and that is not considering trespassing charges and the charges for trying to find Family secrets of the sacred 28. If someone levied charges of stealing family magic on her, she would be given the kiss or be walked through the veil of death." Salazar said.

"True. Next time I meet her, I will use it to make her comply." Harry remarked. Tilly had hit a goldmine on blackmail for Skeeter. By the sheer number of people Rita Skeeter had tarnished the reputation of, she was likely to be sentenced to Azkaban for her whole life and that was if the family magic stealing charge wasn't proved in court.

"Tilly, you have done me a great service. I am extremely happy with you." The elf blushed. "So, here, take these 10G and buy yourself anything that you want. If you need more money, just come to me. And that is an order." Harry said as the elf opened her mouth to protest. She looked conflicted for a moment before bowing and taking the money from Harry.

"You are the greatest, Master Harry Potter Sir. Dobby's tales of your nobleness and generosity aren't exaggerated. Thank you." She said before popping out.

"What is Dobby telling the other elves now?" Harry questioned himself. He knew that Dobby had spread the tale of Harry saving him from the Malfoy's but Tilly had said tales meaning more than one.

"So, greatest master Harry Potter Sir..."

"Shut up."

"Are you going to complete the work on the torch or do I have to come out of my portrait to finish the enchanting?"

"Oh yeah! Doing it. No need to be snarky Salazar."

---

"Wake up Lionheart!" Sirius shouted, waking Harry from his morning nap... the one he took after doing his morning exercises and travelling back in time.

And yeah... Sirius and Remus had nicknamed him Lionheart after Harry had rejected some 1000 shitty names. At least Lionheart sounded good. Richard I, the king of England in 1190's was nicknamed Lionheart and was known to be an iconic warrior and military leader and also said to be one of the most respected kings. He also was highly educated. So not a bad name. Also it stroked Harry's Gryffindor pride.

"I am up Padfoot. Quit the shouting."

"Today is the world cup Harry. We need to take the portkey at 8.30. It is already 7.30. Andy and Nymmy will be here soon."

"I know. I know. Out now. Let me get ready. I will be down in fifteen minutes."

"Don't be late."

"Won't be, unless you stay here Sirius."

"Ok. I am leaving! And muggle clothes."

"Yup."

After 10 minutes Harry was dressed in a red t-shirt and blue jeans along with a leather jacket.

'Elder wand? Check. Ebony wand? Check. Knife? Check. Necklace? Check. Rings? Check. Perfect' Harry thought while checking all his possessions. He wasn't taking any risks as he was going to be in the open where Voldemort's cronies may decide to take revenge for their late master's supposed demise.

Harry went downstairs and was immediately greeted by the aroma of delicious food. He immediately went to the dining room where he saw Sirius, Remus( who looked under the weather), Andromeda and Nymphadora seated at the table which was laid with plates filled with delicious food.

"Wotcher Harry!"

"Hey Dora. Good morning."

"Good morning to you too Harry. Come sit and have breakfast. And have a good fill as we will have a late lunch." Andromeda said. Harry needed no further reason to dig in immediately.

At quarter past 8 the four people were ready to go. A hairbrush was lying on a coffee table in front of them which was a portkey to the grounds of the QWC.

"Is everyone ready? And make sure you have everything you need specially money if you wish to buy anything. Sirius, have you collected muggle cash?"

"Yep! I have given it to Harry to handle the transaction. Don't wanna mess up." At that Harry showed Andromeda his wallet.

"And tent?"

"With me right here." Sirius said picking up the tent pack from his feet.

At half past eight sharp, the portkey activated and they were off.

They had arrived on what appeared to be a deserted stretch of misty moor. In front of them was a pair of tired and grumpy-looking wizards, one of whom was holding a large gold watch, the other a thick roll of parchment and a quill. Both were dressed as Muggles, though very inexpertly: The man with the watch wore a tweed suit with thigh length galoshes; his colleague, a kilt and a poncho.

"Half past eight from Somerset." a voice said.

"Lord Black and party. Wait, I will direct you to the camp site... Black...Black... here it is! First field- the VIP one that is. It is half a mile walk from here. Have a good day and remember to uphold the statute... even though ministry Obliviators are present in heavy numbers. Approach the site manager called Steve Roberts"

"Thank you. We will."

After walking a few meters, Harry felt the wards wash over him and immediately activated mage sight. 'Heavy muggle-repelling wards, basic protection wards, anti apparation, compulsion ward... to turn away if you aren't here for the World cup and increase muggles disbelief in magic. Also, a confusion ward to confuse muggles to see magic as a trick of light.' Harry determined feeling and seeing the wards. He also noted that his portkeys would work in case it was needed.

They approached a cottage which was there on the field. A man was standing in the doorway, looking out at the tents. Harry knew at a glance that this was the only real Muggle for several acres. When he heard their footsteps, he turned his head to look at them.

Harry approached the muggle. "Are you by any chance the site manager, Steve Roberts?"

"Aye! I am kid."

Harry felt an invisible presence approaching them and was on alert. The invisible guy stood next to the muggle as far as Harry could tell.

"One tent registered under Sirius Black." Harry said, playing ignorant of the fact that he knew that a person was standing there. The muggle consulted a list before nodding.

"Sirius Black, right there near the woods. Only one night, correct?" at Harry's nod he continued, "You will be paying now?"

"Certainly. Here" Harry said, handing over the right amount.

"Atleast you know to pay." The muggle remarked. At Harry's raised eyebrow he said, "You are one of the few who didn't have a problem while paying. I had two try and pay me with great gold coins the size of hubcaps ten minutes ago."

"Hmmm... I am pretty sure they would be foreigners." Harry quickly said mentally noting to find an oblivator and send them there. He still had to worry about the person standing next to the muggle.

"Never been this crowded," he said suddenly, looking out over the misty field again. "Hundreds of pre-bookings. People usually just turn up... People from all over. Loads of foreigners. And not just foreigners. Weirdos, you know? There's a bloke walking 'round in a kilt and a poncho."

"Is it? Well, people do tend to dress weirdly these days... Think it's fashion, but they actually look disgusting in it or like clowns."

"Aye! I completely agree lad. Here is your change."

"Thank you sir."

"It's like some sort of... I dunno... like some sort of rally," said Mr. Roberts. "They all seem to know each other. Like a big party."

At that moment, the wizard removed an invisibility cloak. He looked in his instantly slid his wand into his hand, ready to face the wizard

"Obliviate!" he said sharply, pointing his wand at Mr. Roberts. Instantly, Mr. Roberts's eyes slid out of focus, his brows unknitted, and a took of dreamy unconcern fell over his face. Harry recognized the symptoms of one who had just had his memory modified.

"A map of the campsite for you," Mr. Roberts said placidly.

"Thanks. Have a pleasant day." Harry said and walked away. He was relived to see that the guy was an Obliviator and not an enemy.

They trudged up the misty field between long rows of tents. Most looked almost ordinary; their owners had clearly tried to make them as Muggle-like as possible, but had slipped up by adding chimneys, or bell pulls, or weather vanes. However, here and there was a tent so obviously magical that Harry could hardly be surprised that Mr. Roberts was getting suspicious. Halfway up the field stood an extravagant confection of striped silk like a miniature palace, with several live peacocks tethered at the entrance. A little farther on they passed a tent that had three floors and several turrets; and a short way beyond that was a tent that had a front garden attached, complete with birdbath, sundial, and fountain.

Harry received several appreciative looks from a lot of girls and women as he walked towards the designated area much to everyone's amusement.

They reached their allotted location. A board displayed the name Black on it. Sirius put the tent on the ground and turned to them. "We need to pitch a tent! I have done it once. Lets see how much I remember!" He said excitedly. Harry merely rolled his eyes and waved his wand. within a couple of seconds a tent stood in the place.

"Spoilsport." Sirius pouted.

"Wait! You just did magic outside school Harry!" Nymphadora said.

"So?"

"You will receive a warning! It is illegal to do magic until you are an adult. You will receive a warning letter from the ministry soon." Andromeda said.

"Tell that when the letter comes. Now, let's camp!" Harry said dismissive towards their concerns. He had a permit signed by the minister of magic to do magic outside school.

"You mean there won't be a letter! Why? And how?"

"I never said that. But you are correct. There won't be a letter."

"How?"

"I mask my magical signature. No detector can prove or detect the magic usage."

"What! Really? How do you do it? I didn't even know such a thing was possible!" Nymphadora asked excitedly.

Harry suddenly burst out laughing.

"What?"

"Can't believe you fell for that. HaHaHa. I just have a permit to use magic outside school, you know? HaHaHa. You fell for the ruse of masking magic!" Harry laughed. It was possible to mask the magical signature once stage 6 of Occlumency was mastered by an individual, but Nymphadora didn't need to know that.

"You bastard! You- you pranked me!"

"Course I did. Son of a marauder, remember? And you forgot that I participated in a magical tournament too and dueled with you ata the black house."

Tonks just rolled her eyes mumbling, "I thought it was due to some wards on the property." before they entered the tent. It was beautiful and Harry let out a low whistle. A whole damn house in a tent! How magical was that!

After exploring the tent, they went outside. Harry spotted some redheads a distance away and walked toward them- The Weasleys.

He saw that Mr. Weasley was having fun with the matches and trying to ignite a fire, trying being the keyword. "Mr. Weasley! Fred! George!"

"Harry!" Mr. Weasley looked up from his failed attempts at fire-lighting. "You are here!"

"Course I am. Where are Ron and Hermione? Or Ginny, Bill, Charlie and Percy for that matter?"

"Percy, William and Charlie will apparate here afterwards. Hermione, Ron and Ginny have went to collect the water from a nearby tap to cook food."

"Why didn't you use Aguamenti charm?" Harry questioned

"Anti-muggle measures Harry."

"The only muggle here is at that cottage, Mr. Weasley. And do you think that these folks are exactly being discreet?" Harry said pointing at a tent which had a chimney with smoke coming from it. Outside a little girl was flying on a toy broom.

"Err..."

"HARRY!" Harry heard his name before being engulfed in a hug from Hermione. He then fist bumped Ron. "Good Morning Ginny." He said looking at the only female Weasley present there. She went tomato red before returning the sentiment. Her crush was apparently still present.

Soon they were sitting as Mr. Weasley, still insistent on the muggle-way stroked the fire. He kept a running commentary on the witches and wizards who passed them. "That was Cuthbert Mockridge, Head of the Goblin Liaison Office... Here comes Gilbert Wimple; he's with the Committee on Experimental Charms; he's had those horns for a while now... Hello, Arnie... Arnold Peasegood, he's an Obliviator - member of the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad, you know... and that's Bode and Croaker... they're Unspeakables."

Harry filed away the information for later use. They also saw an old, bald wizard wearing a female sundress of all things. Several others had also worn hilarious clothes which looked completely out of place. They were soon approached by Bagman (who was wearing robes with yellow-black theme of the wasps).

"Ahoy there!" Bagman called happily. He was walking as though he had springs attached to the balls of his feet and was plainly in a state of wild excitement. "Arthur, old man," he puffed as he reached the campfire, "what a day, eh? What a day! Could we have asked for more perfect weather? A cloudless night coming... and hardly a hiccough in the arrangements... Not much for me to do!"

Behind him, a group of haggard-looking Ministry wizards rushed past, pointing at the distant evidence of some sort of a magical fire that was sending violet sparks twenty feet into the air. Percy hurried forward with his hand outstretched. Apparently his disapproval of the way Ludo Bagman ran his department did not prevent him from wanting to make a good impression. "Ah - yes," said Mr. Weasley, grinning, "this is my son Percy. He's just started at the Ministry - and this is Fred - no, George, sorry - that's Fred - Bill, Charlie, Ron - my daughter, Ginny and Ron's friends, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter."

From Bagman's expression, Harry immediately knew that he was here to meet Harry specially. Harry was also certain that the Weasley's had received top box tickets by using Harry's name as Arthur and Bagman didn't know that Harry was already invited. He had gathered that much from the shock on Mr. Weasley's face when they had discussed the QWC at Harry's birthday party.

"Everyone," Mr. Weasley continued, "this is Ludo Bagman, you know who he is, it's thanks to him we've got such good tickets -" Bagman beamed and waved his hand as if to say it had been nothing.

Bagman then tried to rope them into betting on the match results. Arthur betted 5G on Ireland winning. Bagman told them that Agatha Timms, whoever the hell she was had put up half shares in her eel farm on a weeklong match. Harry was sure that even he could catch the snitch before a week passed and a legend like Victor Krum was playing. But, it wasn't farfetched though as the longest match ever played had lasted 3 months.

The Weasley twins were about to gamble a huge amount of Galleons but Harry pulled them aside.

"What do you think you are doing?" He hissed.

"We are betting 100G on Ireland winning and Krum catching the snitch."

"Yeah... that's alright but don't. Bagman has a lot of debt with the Goblins. I seriously doubt he will pay you both back. If you want, bet 10G instead. If he pays properly, I will give you the amount that you would have received by betting 100G."

"Harrykins..."

"I am serious. Deadly serious." The twins relented under his glare and betted 5G each instead on Krum catching the snitch but Ireland winning.

Soon Crouch arrived and greeted Bagman, right after Percy was gushing about how he could speak 200 languages and Harry remarked that he could speak more along with parseltounge and called Crouch a moron who didn't do his basic duties properly. Percy looked highly offended by Harry's insult on his idol.

"Ludo, Arthur. How's it going?"

"Oh everything is perfect Barty. No worries."

"The Bulgarians are insisting we add another twelve seats to the Top Box. And the obliviation squad is being run ragged." Crouch remarked dryly.

"Oh pish posh Barty." Bagman said.

"Mr. Crouch, will you like tea?"

"Oh, Weatherby. What are you doing here?"

"He was gushing about your supposed competency in your job, you know. Poor guy idolizes you. Then I was reminding him of your incompetence before you arrived."

"Potter." Crouch growled.

"That is Heir Potter-Black to you Crouch." Harry calmly reminded him. Crouch was going to pay for Sirius being sent to prison.

"I apologize for Harry's behavior Mr. Crouch. He is merely jealous that you could speak so many languages."

"I can speak more than 7000 muggle languages Weatherby plus parseltounge and some Gobblegook. Shush now." It was true after all. Rowena Ravenclaw's all-speak Charm was such that he could understand and speak any non-magical language after he casted it.

"Seriously? You claim to be able to speak 7000+ languages?" Crouch asked skeptically like he knew Harry was lying.

"You are welcome to challenge me Crouch." Harry said with a light shrug. Crouch did and had a flawless conversation with Harry in a dozen different languages before giving up.

"How is it possible!" Crouch half yelled in frustration. Percy was looking wide eyed at both of them and so were Hermione and the rest of the Weasleys.

"I would have known even more if you had done your work properly and not illegally imprisoned my innocent godfather." Harry remarked lightly.

Crouch growled at the jab before turning and marching away. Harry took satisfaction on the fact that he had defeated Barty Crouch in something that Crouch prided himself on.

Soon Harry, Ron and Hermione left the Weasley tent and went exploring. First they reached the Black tent. Sirius and Andromeda were playing chess and by the looks of it Sirius was loosing. Horribly.

Nymphadora was nowhere to be found, probably going around the place to see her friends.

"I GIVE UP!" Sirius shouted, throwing up his hands in the air and flipping the chess board. Andromeda had a smug smile on her face. With a wave of her wand she righted the chess board.

"Don't be upset dear. I was the best chess player at Hogwarts. You were not even in my league." Andromeda said condescendingly .

"Really?" Ron asked. "I am the best player in all of Gryffindor. Never lost a match. Would you like to go against me Ms. ..."

"Ron, Hermione meet Andromeda Tonks nee Black, Sirius's cousin. Andromeda, My friends Ron and Hermione."

"Nice to meet you both."

"Likewise, Mrs. Tonks" Hermione replied.

"So... the match?"

"You bet!"

Two hours later, Ron was found fuming as he had lost several(read all) matches against Andromeda. While they played, Harry and Hermione went to explore the place further. They walked around, meeting several of Hogwarts students like Seamus, Cedric, Oliver Wood, Terry Boot, Angelina and Katie, and most prominently the Greengrass family. Daphne and Harry flirted for nearly 15 minutes before Hermione pulled him away chastising him for flirting when he already had a girlfriend. She didn't know they were dating. As far as everyone was aware, Susan was dating Harry.

Oh! And Daphne had whispered in his ears of rewarding him after they got to school for his epic win.

---

Harry walked up the stairs to the top VIP box, set at the highest point of the stadium and situated exactly halfway between the golden goal posts, along with Sirius, Andromeda, Nymphadora and the Weasleys. It was the prime spot to view the finals. They would be joined by the Ministers of Magic from Britain, Bulgaria and Ireland along with prominent people from those countries. Harry was also informed that Susan and Amelia would be joining them along with the Greengrass family there.

The atmosphere was of feverish excitement and infectious. People were cheering already. The stadium was HUGE and GRAND.

"Seats a hundred thousand," said Mr. Weasley, spotting the awestruck look on Harry's face. "Ministry task force of five hundred have been working on it all year. Muggle Repelling Charms on every inch of it. Every time Muggles have got anywhere near here all year, they've suddenly remembered urgent appointments and had to dash away again... bless them," he added fondly, leading the way toward the nearest entrance, which was already surrounded by a swarm of shouting witches and wizards

They arrived in what looked like a room fit for a king's palace. Even Arcturus Black's Public study was less grand than this. There were 5 rows of 20 comfy arm-chairs set in a theater like fashion so no one had a problem viewing the match. Harry could clearly see the whole field from there and the 1000s witches and wizards cheering from their seats in the common area. Advertisements were flashing from huge boards prominently displayed around the stadium.

So far they were the only ones there so far. The first row was reserved for Ministry officials like the Ministers, Amelia Bones, Chief Warlocks including Dumbledore, Heads of Foreign affair department from the three countries, Sports Head etc. Their names were displayed on their seats. So Harry called dibs to take the seat behind Dumbledore. Why? He would be sitting in the exact middle as the Supreme Mugwump of the ICW. So Harry would be in the exact middle too.

Over the next half hour the box slowly started filling up. Harry shook hands with some people, half of whom he had never heard of. He greeted Robert Albertos and his pregnant wife, whose baby bump was clearly visible. Several even congratulated Harry on his win in the U-18 WDL. Percy was bowing low every now and then and shaking hands reverently with every person who came. Soon, The Greengrass family arrived and Harry shot a discreet wink to Daphne before formally greeting them. They took seats in the third row next to the Albertos couple.

Soon Fudge arrived along with another two wizards who were grandly dressed in their country colours as Madame Bones and Susan brought up the rear. The three ministers of magic with the Head of DMLE. Percy bowed so low that his glasses fell off his face. Fudge ignored him and led the others towards Harry. He greeted him with familiarity as if he was Harry's favorite uncle. All the while Percy shot jealous looks at Harry.

"Harry Potter, you know," he told the Bulgarian minister loudly, who was wearing splendid robes of black velvet trimmed with gold and didn't seem to understand a word of English. "Harry Potter... oh come on now..." Fudge made an ass of himself trying to introduce Harry. Didn't the moron know that English language was an essential language to be learnt to become the Minister of magic for any country which was a part of ICW? And Fudge wasn't trying to explain, he was speaking loudly as if the Bulgarian minister had partial deafness.

Harry saved him from further embarrassment by introducing himself in perfect Bulgarian. "Minister Aleksandar Oblansk, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Harry Potter. I hope you are enjoying the hospitality here."

The minister greeted him and congratulated him on his recent win and also, how he had heard a lot about Harry. To the rest the people it looked like excited gabbling.

"Thank Merlin! You know Bulgarian language Mr. Potter... It has been a pain in my ass to try explaining them what I am speaking... I'm no great shakes at languages; I need Barty Crouch for this sort of thing... Thank gods we have already reserved the seats in the front row...these Bulgarian blighters have been trying to cadge all the best places... ah, and here's Lucius!" Harry resisted the urge to kick and hex Fudge there and there itself. Insulting the Bulgarians in front of their minister! Who the fuck does that?

Harry quickly turned back to Minister Oblansk and spoke in Bulgarian, "Minister, I apologize for Minister Fudge's words. I know that you are understanding everything being said as the ICW has made it mandatory for a minister of a country to know English in order to communicate but it seems that our minister has forgotten it. Please don't let his behavior reflect on Britain..."

"Oh, I know Mr. Potter, you are the first one to figure it out. It was interesting and hilarious to see your minister trying to explain me things... Though, I am pleased to see that not every person is a moron here. Now, excuse me. I need to meet my Sports department head." Harry inclined his head in agreement and he left. He turned to see that the minister was conversing with the Malfoys.

"...And let's see who else - you know Arthur Weasley, I daresay? And of course, Harry Potter himself." Harry heard the minister saying.

"Harry, this is Lucius Malfoy, and Narcissa, his wife and Draco... he is with you at school."

"Of course I know them minister. We are acquainted and I daresay that Lucius and I enjoyed our last talk at the end of my second year, didn't we?" Harry stated innocently. Sirius and the rest of his party were listening with interest.

Lucius flinched a bit. "Yes we did. A lot indeed." He said through gritted teeth.

"Even I look forward to our next meeting, and of course, Narcissa. Sirius and I never received your letter that you must have sent after he was freed and I became heir of House Black. I was looking forward to meeting you since a long time..." Harry said with complete innocence. He had addressed Mrs. Malfoy by name clearly stating he was of a much higher station than her.

"So was I, Heir Potter. It is nice to finally meet you. I have... heard a lot about you."

"Don't believe anything Draco says, Narcissa."

Draco sneered, "Potter, you-"

"My, my. Do you have no etiquette Draco? It is heir Potter-Black. I am the heir of the house your mother is a member of... The house which you had the delusion of getting lordship of. Has your mother taught you nothing? Narcissa, I must confess myself... disappointed. I would have thought that as a Black, you would have taught basic etiquette to your son and how to address Heirs of the sacred 28."

"I did teach him, Heir Potter-Black." She replied sharply.

"Well... that means that your son is an imbecile who cannot follow your basic teachings... Can't say I would have expected any better from Draco... But anyways, I advise you to reteach him. I am his classmate and didn't take offense, if he does that with another heir or Merlin forbid, a Lord, he will get into a lot of trouble. Now, I need to talk with the Minister... Minister if you would kindly step aside." He said all this with faux concern, seeming that he actually cared. Draco was quite red and Narcissa was drilling holes into Draco's skull while Lucius held his cane tightly.

As soon as the minister and Harry stepped aside, Harry erected a silencing dome with a wave of his wand before turning to the Minister.

"Yes Harry, what..."

"What the hell do you think you were doing minister?" Harry hissed.

"Wh-what do you mean Harry?" He sputtered.

Harry rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I was talking about you, insulting the Bulgarians when the Bulgarian minister was standing right there!"

"Harry, Harry, he couldn't understand a word of it. He can't speak English."

"Minister, can you kindly tell me the rules laid down by the ICW to become the Minister of magic and the ICW for a country which is a member of the body?" Harry asked. Fudge blinked before shaking his head. Harry groaned, "You can check all of them out later... but there is a rule stating that the minister of magic and the ICW representative for a country in ICW must be able to understand, speak and read the English language. They communicate only in English at the ICW."

Fudge paled, "Are you sure?"

"Even if I wasn't, while talking to Minister Oblansk, he clearly stated that he was having fun seeing you all trying to explain things thinking that he couldn't understand English. I even apologized on your behalf to him. He clearly stated that I was the first one to realize that he could understand English perfectly."

Fudge's eyes were wide and he was shaking. "Wh-what sh-should I do now?" He stammered. Harry sighed.

"Now, behave as you were behaving... but make sure to compliment him while talking to your other colleagues. If you go and start commending him at his face he would come to know that you are faking to make amends. Let him think that you are still under the delusion that he can't understand English. That is the best I feel you can do. I have apologized but it will be the best if he hears you speak highly of him... hopefully."

"Thank you. Thank you so much Harry. You saved me. I am grateful."

"Anytime Minister."

Soon Dumbledore and the all the others arrived except Barty Crouch whose seat was empty and his elf was saving a seat by standing there. Dumbledore even congratulated him on winning the WDL in front of everyone before taking his seat. Harry sat behind him with Susan at his left and Hermione at his right.

"Ladies and gentlemen. . . welcome! Welcome to the final of the four hundred and twenty-second Quidditch World Cup!" Ludo Bagman's voice boomed. "And now, without further ado, allow me to introduce. . . the Bulgarian National Team Mascots!"

Suddenly Hundreds of pretty ladies were moving into the field. 'Veela' Harry realized and immediately pulled occlumency to its full. He was glad that he did so as an extremely powerful wave of Veela Allure hit him as the Veela started dancing. The dancing was beautiful.

"Superb dancers, ain't they?" He whispered to Susan. She looked shock for a moment before beaming at him. He couldn't fault her for being happy. All the other boys were behaving like... Well, Draco and were being held back by Narcissa. George and Fred were drooling and leaning at the edge of their seats. Hermione was holding an enchanted Ron. Same was the case with several other men. He saw that Lord Greengrass and Robert had closed their eyes and ears. Smart men. Only Harry, Dumbledore, most of the ladies and a couple of other men were behaving normally and weren't enthralled by the Allure.

After that the Irish mascots were announced even though there was a lot of protests from the crowd. The Irish had Leprechauns conduct a light show in the sky and rained fake gold on the audience. Ron was about to pick up the gold before Harry told him that it was fake and would disappear in a few hours. Ron sat back sulking.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, kindly welcome - the Bulgarian National Quidditch Team! I give you - Dimitrov! Ivanova! Zograf! Levski! Vulchanov! Volkov! Aaaaaaand - Krum!"

"Its Krum!" Ron half yelled as Krum shot into the field and did an impressive bit of aerobatics. Viktor Krum was thin, dark, and sallow-skinned, with a large curved nose and thick black eyebrows. He looked like an overgrown bird of prey. It was hard to believe he was only eighteen.

"He looks grumpy, and okay-ish ... what's so great about him?" Hermione asked.

"Who cares how he looks? He is one of the best seeker to ever play!" Ron remarked.

"And now, please greet - the Irish National Quidditch Team!" yelled Bagman. "Presenting - Connolly! Ryan! Troy! Mullet! Moran! Quigley! Aaaaaand - Lynch!

"And here, all the way from Egypt, our referee, acclaimed Chair-wizard of the International Association of Quidditch, Hassan Mostafa!"

And the game was on. The Irish chasers were working seamlessly changing formations and quickly scoring.

"Krum is moving! He has seen the snitch!" Bagman yelled over the microphone.

"He's feinting! The snitch is by the Irish stands" Harry said loudly enough for the nearby people to hear, which included Dumbledore, the ministers and Amelia Bones along with some others. They all immediately looked towards the Irish goalposts and spotted the glint of gold hoovering there before it disappeared a second later.

"How did you see that?" Sirius asked flabbergasted from.

"I have Omniculars to zoom in, unlike the players playing there. Also, I am a seeker myself Sirius." Harry said.

"The youngest seeker in the century who is yet to loose a match for Gryffindor." Ron added.

The conversation was broken as medics rushing into the quidditch field due to the fact that the Irish seeker had crashed onto the ground due to the Wronski Feint by Krum, who was now hoovering and looking around the field for the elusive snitch.

---

After another half an hour, the match ended in the same way that the Weasley Twins had predicted: Ireland winning but Krum catching the snitch. The score was 160-170 in Ireland's favor. It took another half for the reward ceremony and everything to get finished. It was a bit disappointing as Bulgaria had only been able to score a single goal in front of Ireland's 17. Harry had spotted the snitch another 7 or 8 times by his omniculars before Krum had caught it. The most amusing incident was that the referee had became enthralled by the Veelas mid-way during the match when Bulgaria had managed to score a goal. It had soon lead to a fight between the Veelas and the Leprechauns. Ministry aurors and hit-wizards had flooded into the stadium to separate the two mascots.

Also Bagman had given the Weasley twins Leprechaun gold instead of real money. They had smugly came to Harry and shown him the 100G they had won before Harry waved his wand and declared it to be Leprechaun gold. To prove his point he had vanished two coins from the pile. Real Goblin Galleons couldn't be vanished.

Currently Harry, Sirius, Andromeda and Nymphadora were sitting outside their tent, near a fire, toasting marshmallows. Nymphadora was in a heated discussion with Sirius on the topic 'Did Krum do the right thing by catching the snitch when they were 160 points down. They were going to leave the next morning after having breakfast there, having decided to make it a camping night instead of going home. For Harry it was a completely new experience.

They soon went to sleep. Harry was a nice wet dream of a threesome between him and his girlfriends when he was awoken by shouting from outside. Harry quickly flicked his wand into his hand. He saw that on the nearby bed, even Sirius was awake and alert. They shared a look before both leapt to their feet and went outside their room. They saw that Andromeda and Nymphadora were already there.

"What's going on?" Harry questioned.

"Don't know. Probably a fight between Bulgarians and the Irish who went overboard with drinks. We should go out and check nonetheless." Andromeda said before the four went outside.

As soon as they reached outside the atmosphere could be described only as one thing: Pure chaos.

Chapter 33: Terror at the Quidditch World Cup

Ch.33 Terror at the Quidditch World Cup

"What the Fuck!?" Nymphadora cursed as they looked at the scene outside. People were running like headless chicken in every direction. Harry could see that some people were being levitated in the air a distance away but couldn't make out who they were or who were doing it. He could see flames and smoke rising from where the stadium was located.

"HARRY! SIRIUS!" Arthur Weasley's voice rang out. They turned to see the whole Weasley family coming towards them. "Glad you all are alright. I was worried." Arthur said panting due to shortness of breath.

"Do you have any idea of what's going on there Arthur?" Sirius asked pointing to the figures in the air.

"Not exactly. But I could see Black robed figures levitating them. I couldn't see who they were. They were more than half a dozen with shields active around them. Also someone set the quidditch stadium on fire along with some tents. Ministry is trying to bring the fire under control first. Some are trying to bring the shields down as far as I know and save the people who are being held."

Sirius and Andromeda paled. "Death Eaters?" Andromeda whispered. Arthur nodded uncertainly.

"We should go and help them. I was a Hit-wizard myself. We can help. Dora, Arthur with me. Charlie, Bill, Percy, Andi go to the woods with the kids and apparate them home. Harry, go to the Burrow if you need or to our house. MOVE IT!" Sirius commanded. Harry, for the first time, could see the Sirius who was the Hit-Wizard in the Blood war instead of the irresponsible prankster he usually behaved like.

Sirius, Nymphadora and Arthur moved towards the levitating people, while Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Ginny, Andromeda, Bill, Charlie and Percy moved towards the Woods. Andromeda took the front, Percy took the center while Bill and Charlie took the right and left sides respectively. Harry took the rear of the group.

The ward boundary was nearly a away from their current position. Moving there was difficult because of the sheer crowd of people running around. It was night time, so even the visibility was low due to the darkness (though Harry could see clearly due to the ritual he had done) leading people to stumble around. Harry could see spell fire happening at a few places around them. Harry deflected a stray stunner from a pair of wizards who were fighting with each other, clearly drunk.

' Damn! So we are under attack from Death Eaters, people are running haywire, Tents on fire, several are inebriated and getting into fights with each other. What's next? ' Harry thought to himself before releasing a wide area pushing jinx to clear some area for their party to move. "TO THE WOODS! DON'T STOP! AND STAY CLOSE TO ANOTHER PERSON!" Harry yelled to his friends, his voice rising above the commotion.

"Ok!"; "Yeah!"; "Got it!" replies came from the people around him including some strangers. He could see Ginny, Fred and George group together and moved towards Bill. Charlie and Andromeda and Ron, Hermione and Percy as a group.

"That wasn't what I meant! Stay together." Harry said but his voice was drowned among the chaos.

'Superb. I am left alone now.' Harry thought sarcastically but followed them. Harry was the most capable duelist in the party. He knew that.

Harry waved his wand again, extinguishing a fire which had started on a tent. Suddenly someone slammed into Harry making him stumble. A quick sorry was muttered before the wizard continued running ahead. A whole lot of people had gotten into the way between Harry and his friends. Harry did another pushback jinx but he could hardly make some way. His friends had gotten away far enough that he could Hardly spot them.

'Fuck! Fuck! Shit!' Harry internally cursed. 'Fuck it! I am going to make my way to the woods and apparate home and send a Patronus or floo call them.' Thinking so he changed his direction so that he could move a little freely without needing to push his way through. He activated mage sight and saw that the Ward line was still a third of a mile away (approx. 500 meters).

Harry jumped over a broken pole before he heard a ground shattering scream originating from his left. Harry was horrified by what he saw. A group of black robed figures were surrounding a family. They wore skull masks to hide their identities. Death Eaters.

Without thinking Harry moved towards them. He couldn't let the family die or get tortured! As he got near, he hissed in Parseltounge, erecting a anti-travel field. It was one of Salazar's parselmagic invention which prevented any form of magical travel from a place.

Harry needed to get rid of the shields that were protecting the Death Eaters.

"CONFRINGO DESTRUCTUS" Harry yelled shooting the blast from his wand. It was a battle magic spell which was known by a very few. A blasting curse so powerful that it could easily level a metal wall if needed. The shields shattered upon contact with a huge bang. The Death Eaters were startled by their shields shattering with a single spell.

Harry took advantage of their brief shock and waved his wand sending the family a little distance away and erecting a shield dome on them before he started shooting spells at the Death Eaters with full speed. 'Reducto, Obstupefio, Piercio, Deprimo, Secare Infindo, Pila Incendio' The first spell impacted the shoulder of a death eater taking it off. His screams snapped the others out of their stupor but not before the advance stunner impacted another death eater. Harry's next two spells were shielded against but his cleaving curse cut a death eater's legs from the knees, leaving him to bleed on the ground.

Harry ducked, deflected and dodged the spells the Death Eaters started sending his way before he waved his wand conjuring a swarm of butterflies which took the curses and other spells instead of him. Harry could see everyone else running away from the location instead of trying to help him. Damn cowards!

He barely dodged a bone-breaker which had slipped through his shield before he returned fire. 'Bombarda, Obstupefio, Obstupefio, Expelliarmus, Mutilo Optruco (Mutilating curse), Obstupefio.' Harry was thankful to his occlumency which was helping him intercept spells from the Death Eaters, and shoot at the same time.

The first spell impacted near the feet of the Death Eaters, blowing two of them off their feet. The stunners ensured that they won't be rejoining their associates. Five down 6 more to go.

His Expelliarmus and mutilating curse were stopped with a shield. That was when someone realized something. "IT'S POTTER!". The death eater who had yelled was promptly stunned as an advance stunner hit him on his face, courtesy of Harry.

Harry waved his wand once again and all the butterflies were transfigured into spikes which went shooting at the Death Eaters. Most spikes were shielded against but one hit its mark: on a Death Eater's abdomen. The death eater screamed in pain. From the scream, Harry could tell the Death Eater was a female. Another death eater send magical ropes at Harry. Harry set them on fire and banished them at the female death eater who screamed in agony as she was burnt.

"AVADA KEDAVRA" A death Eater shot the killing curse towards Harry. Harry's eyes widened before he waved his wand and a wall of dirt intercepted the spell. Harry snarled and banished the pieces of the wall at them.

He formed another one of his butterfly shield and started attacking. 'Conlido, Confodere (stabbing curse), Sectis Extermino (burning cut), Fulmenti Flagellum (Lightning whip)' The first three were unfortunately stopped but the lightning whip successfully lashed on the death eater who had shot the killing curse, making him scream. The butterflies were dropping due to being hit.

"IMPERIO. Drop your wand. Drop your wand and surrender." Harry felt light headed sensation and the voice told him to drop his wand.

'Why should I? I am in the middle of a fight, why should I drop my wand?' He thought to himself. That broke the spell. Harry looked at the Death Eater who was wide eyed and shot a Reducto, blowing off his forearm

He suddenly felt a burning sensation on his abdomen as a Lacero hit it. He winced in pain as warm blood flowed from the wound. He deflected a stupefy and an Blood-boiling curse. 'Protego Scutum Maxima' He erected a full body shield before hissing in parseltounge. The spell shot and his wand started sealing. The blood flow lessened and soon stopped. Parseltounge healing spells were very powerful after all and add his own healing factor, he would be perfectly fine in a few minutes. All this while the remaining two Death Eaters were shooting spells at the shield, trying to break it. Needless to say, they were unsuccessful.

Somehow the killing curse guy had also managed to shakily get up but was yet to cast. Harry dropped the shield and deflected an organ shredding curse and a Bone crusher before returning fire with bone breakers, stunners and cutting curses.

The Killing Curse guy went down first after being hit by a bone breaker followed by an advanced stunner. The remaining two erected a shield to protect themselves from the onslaught. Harry growled and shot two Bombarda Maxima spells at their respective shields. One shield held but the other broke and the death eater was blasted away. Harry immediately stunned him (or her).

The remaining death eater who was still standing saw his companion go down and yelled, "SAFE BASE!" Harry felt his anti portkey jinx getting strained as 11 portkeys activated at the same time but it fortunately held. The death eater panicked and tried to run away, abandoning the safety of his shield. Harry immediately caught him with an advanced stunner and put him down.

He had succeeded and thwarted the attack. He stepped bac and looked at his wound. It had completely stopped bleeding and now looked several days old. With a wave of his wand he cleaned the blood off his robes and with another repaired them. He walked towards the fallen death eaters. He immediately took away their wands and portkeys before wrapping them in magic restraining chains. He made sure that everyone was alive and stopped the bleeding of some by cauterizing the cut parts.

Then he turned to the family who was watching him wide eyed. He removed the dome and kneeled down.

"Are you all alright?"

The man who was probably the patriarch shakily joined his hands and said, "Thank... Thank you sir. Thank you for saving my family. We would have-have died. I-I don't know what would they have done to my wife and children." Harry looked at the wife who was cradling the two children. The boy was asleep while the girl was staring at him. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

"Sir, it was no problem... I did what was right... Now, are you hurt or seriously injured somewhere?" The man shook his head. "Can you walk?" The man nodded. "Very well..."

"OH MY GODS! YOU ARE HARRY POTTER!" the girl suddenly yelled startling her brother awake. They apparently hadn't heard the death eater shout it, from their wide eyed look.

Harry gave the little girl a smile. "Yes, I am. What's your name?"

"Selena, sir."

"It is nice to meet you Selena. How old..." Harry stopped as he could hear people running towards him. He got up and saw several witches and wizards in red robes running towards them- Aurors.

"Aurors! Put down your wands and surrender!" An Auror commanded.

"You are late, Mr. Auror. I already did your job for you." Harry remarked dryly.

The aurors looked around and saw the death eaters wrapped in chains, some of them missing their limbs.

"What happened here, Mr. Potter?" One asked. Several Aurors eyes widened seeing whom they were talking to. Harry recognized the voice as Kingsley Shacklebolt's.

"These bastards were attacking this family. I saw that and acted. They all are alive, and bound in magic restraining chains, the chains will vanish after seven hours... till then, no one can remove them. Here are their wands and their portkeys. You will also find that two wands have evidence of Unforgivables being casted, specifically the killing curse and the imperious curse. I hope that these people will be standing on trial, Mr. Shacklebolt?"

Kingsley nodded and took the bag from Harry. "Thank you, Mr. Potter. You have done the country a great service today. But I am afraid your part isn't done yet. You would be called to testify against them."

"All letters addressed to me, given that they aren't cursed or have something harmful will find their way to me via Gringotts mail box. I will be there when you call for it." Sirius had purchased a Gringotts mail box for house Potter-Black which would direct the letters to Gringotts where it would be check for traps and such before being forwarded to Harry. Hedwig was thankfully exempted from that ward which redirected letters.

"Round 'em up lads. Make sure they are put in cells and note their identities."

"Yes sir!" The aurors said and began rounding them up. Harry suddenly saw something green forming up n the sky from the corner of his eye. It was a skull with a snake coming out from its mouth- The dark mark. Something not seen for the past 13 years. That was when Harry realized something... His friends had ran in that same general direction.

"Shit!" Harry started running towards the direction of the dark mark.

"Harry! Don't go there!" Kingsley shouted.

"My friends have gone in that direction! I am not leaving them." Harry said without looking back.

"Damnit! You all round them up. Stevens, Carter..." That was all Harry heard before he went out of hearing range.

Harry rushed towards the place above which the mark was floating. He hoped that his friends were alright. He couldn't bear to loose them all. He shoved people who were running away from the place and continued. He arrived at the clearing where he could see several aurors already present including his family and friends except Sirius, Arthur and Nymphadora. That was before Harry saw the situation they were in.

"Do not lie, girl!" Mr. Crouch was shouting, his wand was pointing directly at Hermione's head, and his eyes were popping - he looked slightly mad. "You have been discovered at the scene of the crime! One of you two casted the dark mark"

"Lower your wand Crouch, before I deem you guilty enough to declare a blood feud on the House of Crouch." Harry said in a cold voice. How dare the man accuse his friends of such a crime. Several people gasped. Blood feuds were serious business.

"We did not do it Mr. Crouch. There was someone behind the trees. . . they shouted words - an incantation -" Hermione quickly said. Several people surrounding them immediately pointed their wands at the trees.

"Oh, stood over there, did they?" said Mr. Crouch, turning back, his popping eyes on Hermione again, disbelief etched all over his face. "Said an incantation, did they? You seem very well informed about how that Mark is summoned, missy - !"

"I told you Crouch to keep your accusations and your wand to yourself. And while you are at it, stop accusing innocents for something they didn't do. After all it won't be the first time an innocent suffers due to your accusations." Harry's warning boomed as he moved closer.

"I spent a decade as the Head of DMLE boy. Do not..."

"You were useless even there, weren't you?" Harry interrupted his tirade. "You sent an innocent person and a war hero, a Hit-wizard for the ministry, to Azkaban without a trial and you didn't even notice that a death eater was living with you, who was your own son, no less. So, forgive me if your assessment skills are impossible to trust upon."

Crouch frothed and turned his wand towards Harry. "You DARE! I WILL- ARRGHH" he let out a pained shriek as the bones in his wand arm were crushed and he dropped his wand due to a Bone-crushing curse from Harry.

"What are you all looking at me and the incompetent cunt for? Go and check the woods for the Death Eater who fired the mark. And Crouch, next time you point a wand at me or my friends or family, it will be your last as after that you won't have a hand to hold the wand. This is my last warning." Harry said. Some people quickly went to the woods and Bill, who was trying to defend his friends from moved near Harry.

"We're too late," said a witch in a woolen dressing gown, shaking her head. "They'll have Disapparated."

"I don't think so," said a wizard with a scrubby brown beard. It was Amos Diggory, Cedric's father. "Our Stunners went right through those trees... There's a good chance we got them..."

"Amos, be careful!" said a few of the wizards warningly as Mr. Diggory squared his shoulders, raised his wand, marched across the clearing, and disappeared into the darkness. Hermione watched him vanish with her hands over her mouth.

A few seconds later, they heard Mr. Diggory shout. "Yes! We got them! There's someone here! Unconscious! It's - but - blimey..."

"You've got someone?" shouted Mr. Crouch grunted from his position on the ground as his arm was being healed by another wizard as a first aid. "Who? Who is it?

Amos Diggory emerged with a house elf in his arms. Harry saw Crouch pale and narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"No. NO! That's not possible! Winky can't do it." Crouch said picking up his wand gingerly and moving to the spot where Mr. Diggory had emerged from.

"No point, Mr. Crouch," Mr. Diggory called after him. "There's no one else there."

But Mr. Crouch did not seem prepared to take his word for it. They could hear him moving around and the rustling of leaves as he pushed the bushes aside, searching.

"Bit embarrassing," Mr. Diggory said grimly, looking down at the elf's unconscious form. "Barty Crouch's house-elf. . . I mean to say..."

"It is a dark spell Amos. It needs a wand to cast. An house elf can't cast it." The witch in the woolen gown said.

"I found a wand in her hands... here." He said taking a wand out of his pockets and showing it.

"That's mine!" Percy exclaimed. "I couldn't find it after returning from the match!"

"She must have picked it up by mistake." Hermione defended the elf.

"Priori Incantenum." A skull like shape formed from the wand tip as Amos Diggory casted the wand check spell. "This wand was used to fire the dark mark." He said grimly.

"So, Crouch's house elf fired the mark?"

"Yes."

Harry pointed his wand towards the emerging figure of Barty Crouch and shot an Expelliarmus and magical restraining chains, disarming him and binding him before stunning him as well.

"What are you doing!?" A wizard asked.

"Making sure that the death eater doesn't attack us." Harry said with a shrug.

"But Barty Crouch didn't fire the mark, so..."

"His elf did. An elf can only act in his master's orders and their well being." It wasn't exactly true. An elf with enough will and a weak bond could act against their well being but not orders, but it was not known. And Harry didn't think that the elf would cast a dark mark to get Crouch in trouble.

"True." A witch remarked.

"But, Barty put his own son in Azkaban... He can't be a death eater!"

"It is a high possibility and I am unwilling to take any risks. We won't know for sure till he is questioned by the Aurors. Also, today he wasn't present during the match despite having front row seat in the top box and being the Head of foreign affairs meaning that his presence during such an important event should be necessary, yet he didn't do his duty. He could have been planning for today's attack and ordered his elf to cast the mark during that time."

"That is an interesting theory you have Mr. Potter. But what you said is true, an elf can only act in his master's orders and their well-being. Unfortunately, we can't take Barty crouch into custody based on a mere theory and without concrete proof that he ordered the attack. He can be called for questioning but not put in prison unless his guilt is proven." A voice said from behind them. Harry turned to see Amelia Bones standing there with a couple of Aurors.

"But you can detain him in a DMLE medical room under observation till he is called for questioning for health and safety reasons." Amelia gave a nod at that. "By the way, how long were you here?"

"I got here when Mr. Diggory did the wand check." Harry nodded.

"Also you will be called to give a statement on what happened here as you stunned Crouch. You too Amos. Any other person willing to give a statement must send a letter to the DMLE and book an appointment."

"I already have to go to answer questions regarding my capture of 11 death eaters. I don't have problems if you ask me about one more."

"You captured 11 Death Eaters?"

"Yes. You're welcome. Your aurors are now taking them in." Harry said with a bow.

"It is true Director Bones." Kingsley confirmed.

"Shouldn't we all be questioned regarding the Dark Mark being cast?" Hermione suddenly asked.

"The word of two people and their memories are enough but if you have something more you are welcome to share."

"I was present here when the mark was cast. Both Ron and I were."

"Then you both also need to come to DMLE. A letter will reach you tomorrow giving you the time you need to report to give your statements and memories." Hermione nodded.

"What about Winky?"

"The elf will be taken into custody till it is determined whether Mr. Crouch guilty or not." Amos Diggory answered.

Chapter 34: Aftermath of the Attack

Ch. 34 Aftermath of the Attack

"Order in the court room. Members of the Wizengamot. Today we have gathered here to witness the trials of eleven witches and wizards. They were torturing the Welbourne family when Heir Harry James Potter-Black witnessed the scene and subdued them with force. These people are: Vega Rowlatt, Hardwin..." Dumbledore proceeded to take all the eleven names.

"How do you plead?" Dumbledore asked each one of them. 6 of them pleaded guilty knowing that they had no hopes of being proved innocent as they had been caught red handed and by Harry Potter of all people. But, the rest 5 pleaded not guilty. It was foolish to do so but they did it.

"And on what grounds were you not guilty?" Madame Bones asked in a dangerous tone.

"I was under the imperious curse. I wasn't in control of my actions!" One said and the rest nodded in unison.

Harry sneered at them. That excuse had worked for likes of Notts, Avery, Mcnair due to their political clout and for Malfoy due to his money. Some death eaters were never even convicted due to the lack of evidence especially the lower level death eaters. It was a good thing that Voldemort's most loyal death eaters, his inner circle- Lestranges, Selwyn's, Dolohov, Rookwood, Carrow Twins, Yaxley etc. were caught and were in Azkaban. A couple like Igor Karkaroff had sold out their fellow death eaters for a short term in Azkaban. Of course, there was Snivellus who had been vouched for by Dumbledore.

He was currently in the Wizengamot chamber in courtroom 10. A couple of days ago he had given statements to Madame Bones regarding the capture of the eleven Death Eaters and Barty Crouch. Now, he had to testify in court against them. Their sentences would be decided today. Madame Bones had found four of them guilty for casting unforgivable curses, so their life sentence was assured. Also, those four had confessed guilty already. Unfortunately, Barty Crouch wasn't proved guilty due to the lack of evidence. The house elf was dismissed and Crouch was free to go. But, he lost his position as the Head of Foreign Affairs this time at least.

Frankly speaking all eleven of the death eaters were no one of importance to the wizarding society unlike people Lucius Malfoy, the Notts etc. who had bought their way out of prison and were Voldemort's inner circle death eaters. These were lower level death eaters, nothing more. These 5 couldn't buy their way out as they had little political cloud and money, being from lesser pureblood families. Harry didn't know why they even bothered to put up a fight.

"Is that your final stance? Remember that if you are proven guilty, your sentences would be harsher." They all nodded at Fudge's question.

"I would like to call Mr. Apollo Welbourne to ask him questions." The prosecution lawyer spoke. The defense lawyer was sitting quietly. Mr. Welbourne was the patriarch of the family he had saved. He gave a summary of the attack on them and then how Harry had turned up and saved them. After that a similar procedure was followed with Mrs. Welbourne. Thankfully the kids weren't called to testify.

"I would like to call Harry Potter and ask him a few questions." The prosecution lawyer said.

"Permission granted." Madame Bones, who was the interrogator said. Harry got up and descended the steps.

"Heir Potter-Black, can you give us the version of events that took place after the quidditch match ended."

"Yes, we were sleeping in the tent, my Godfather Sirius Black and I when we got up due to the sounds of screaming from outside. We immediately took our wands..." Harry related the events that had taken place. "... Seeing the last of his buddies go down, the death eater shouted the words 'safe base' but the portkeys failed due to the anti-travel field I had erected as I mentioned before. I stunned him and then bound everyone in in magic restraining chains, after taking away their wands and portkeys. After that the aurors arrived at the scene." Harry finished.

"And what of the methods you used to subdue them, Mr. Potter?" The defense lawyer spoke for the first time since the proceeding had begun. Christopher Jugson, the defense lawyer, wasn't proved to be a death eater and hadn't even been accused as one. But his elder brother was killed by the Aurors in a raid the death eaters had done on Hogsmeade in November 1979. So, he definitely had ties with the Death Eaters and Voldemort, even if he wasn't a death eater himself.

"What of it?"

"I feel that it was exceedingly violent and as we can see, three people are missing limbs, one is badly burned and electrocuted, one had a spike in their abdomen and the others had various injuries varying from broken bones to nasty cuts. Some of them are now cripples for life since you cauterized their wounds. That much violence was unnecessary!"

"My, my, Mr. Jugson, exceedingly violent?" Jugson flinched at the tone. "You do realize that I was within my rights to kill some of this lot due to their use of Unforgivable curses against me? And if you forgot, your clients outnumbered me 11 to 1. It wasn't exactly easy to subdue these death eaters especially when they were hell bent on killing me. I can offer you the memories to be shown in this courtroom, Madame Bones has already seen it. Then we can determine whether my actions were unnecessarily violent or appropriate."

"I suggest that we see the memory Heir Potter has too offer. It will make it easier to know what the death eaters were exactly doing." One member said.

"I agree. Please bring in the pensive. We will take a 10 minute break till the pensive is set up." Dumbledore said.

Harry went back to his seat and sat next to Lord Greengrass. "I don't understand why these people are bothering to defend themselves. They were caught red handed by you." He said to Harry. Harry shrugged in response.

After ten minutes the court settled down once more and the memory started playing after it was ensured that the memory was untampered. People gasped and let out ooh's and aah's at appropriate places. They cheered when a death eater went down. By the end of it, people were looking at Harry in awe. Harry just sat there with a bored expression on his face.

"Do you still feel that my actions were unnecessary and exceedingly violent, Mr. Jugson?" Harry questioned after a few moments of silence.

"N-No Heir Potter-Black."

"Good. Now, can we decide their punishment and go home?" Harry asked.

"You have already decided our guilt! We weren't in control of our actions! We were under the imperious curse!" One of the death eaters said.

"That isn't a problem. I have proof that they were free of any sort of mind magic. Here is the report from the healers at St. Mungo's." Madame Bones said waving her wand at a paper and duplicating it. The copies were passed around and everyone saw the proof that all were free from all sorts of mind magics.

"Do you have anything else to say Mr. Wilkes?" Amelia asked.

"I- I..." He stuttered before falling quiet.

"Very well. So you admit that you tortured the Welbourne Family, spread terror at the Quidditch World Cup and attacked Harry Potter?" Dumbledore asked.

"Ye-yes" One said and the others reluctantly nodded.

Soon their sentences were decided. Four got life-sentences due to unforgivable curse usage. Rest all got 47 years in High security wing in Azkaban.

"I declare-"

"Wait a second, Chief Warlock. I have an announcement to make to the Wizengamot."

"Yes, Minister?"

"Dear members of the Wizengamot. Today we all saw the memory of the fight between Heir Potter-Black and the eleven Death Eaters. He bravely fought them, putting his own life on the line to save a family he didn't even know. Does anyone think that his actions were any less than that of a hero? So, the Ministry has decided to award Harry James Potter the Order of Merlin, First class for his brave actions and the subduing of the miscreants who caused terror at the Quidditch World Cup." Fudge declared. Whispers filled the chamber before people started clapping. Harry sat there in stunned silence. He hadn't expected an Order of Merlin, First Class for his actions.

---

Harry tiredly walked into the study in the chamber of secrets. After he thanked the minister for the award, it was announced that the ceremony would take place during the usual New-year Ball at the ministry. So, Harry needed to attend it. He hadn't gone the previous year because he didn't know how to dance and neither he had a date. 'I still don't know how to dance. Another thing I need to learn.' Harry thought ideally.

After that, he was hounded by the press once again. The prophet was already singing his praises since the incident at the Quidditch World Cup. He was being called a true hero as the Harry Potter stories described. Harry would have taken them off market but he was receiving royalties for each book and other products, something that was set up by Dumbledore and his account manager. He would be able to access it once he came of age apparently. Also, he had seen his 'Dueling champion; figurines in a few shops after he came back from France. In the last few days the sales of 'Harry Potter products' had seen a rapid rise according to the Goblins. Ragnok had written him a letter exclusively informing him of several more deals he had made for Harry Potter product sales.

"Congratulations Harry! Order of Merlin, First Class!" Helga greeted as he entered.

"Yes, Congratulations. It was indeed unexpected that you would receive that award. You would also become the youngest person in History to receive the award. You are amassing quite a few titles."

Harry groaned. "Unfortunately. People are giving me a shit load of titles. This just adds one more."

"You should be proud of your achievements Harry. Not many can claim to have done so many things at such a young age. Actually, I believe that no one can. Your parents would be proud of you." Helga said.

Harry nodded, imagining the smiling faces of his parents like he had seen in the Mirror of Erised.

"Anyhow, You now have 2 additional votes on the Wizengamot." Salazar said. Harry looked at him in shock before he remembered the privileges with the award. An Order of Merlin First Class got 2 votes on the Wizengamot while a second class awardee got 1 vote. The third class award was for namesake.

"Oh... that means that I have 16 votes. And an additional title."

"Yes." Salazar replied.

"Anyways, can you teach me to dance? I need to attend the new year ball at the ministry."

"You need a partner to dance. So, unless you find a way for Helga to come out of her portrait, we can't teach you that. And I am not going to do dancing" Salazar stated.

"Yes Harry, Salazar is correct. You need a proper instructor to learn dancing. Perhaps one of your girlfriends could practice with you."

"You know, I still can't believe that he has two girlfriends." Salazar muttered.

"You are just jealous that I accomplished something that you had only fantasized about." Harry said with amusement. Helga giggled.

"Oh, you also have a yule ball at Hogwarts this year."

Harry frowned. "Why?"

"As of a couple of days ago, it was finalized that the Triwizard Tournament would be reinstated this year."

"What's that?"

"The Triwizard Tournament was a magical contest held between the three largest wizarding schools of Europe: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Durmstrang Institute, and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, each school being represented by one champion. Each Champion had to complete three tasks which were designed to test magical ability, intelligence, and courage. It was held every five years, until it was discontinued due to the increasing death toll during the tournament."

"Death toll?"

"Yes. When the tournament was last held about 80 or so years ago, due to a Wyvern going on rampage, it resulted in death of all the three champions and some of the audience too. Several were grievously injured. Due to this incident the competition was discontinued. Now, it has been reestablished and Hogwarts is going to host it again this year." Helga informed.

"What else do you know about the tournament? Like what's going to happen this year. Tell me everything"

"Well... I don't know everything about it. This year safety standards have been increased. There will be experts and hit-wizards present for safety. They have introduced an age criteria too. Three tasks as usual. First task contains creatures as far as I know... which, I don't know. They have kept it all hush-hush and held talks in secure rooms."

"Okay. I am glad that the age criteria is present... And a bit disappointed too as it does sound interesting and challenging."

"I assure you that it is a competition amongst the best. And if you did participate, you will win." Salazar said.

"How can you be so sure?"

"You are my student and are hand-trained by me, Salazar Slytherin. Obviously you would win."

"Also, you yourself are an exceptional wizard. You have proved yourself to be the best time and again Harry. We just guided you to be the best instead of exceptional." Helga added after shooting a brief glare at Salazar.

"Well... Thank you. Anyways, what are we studying today?" Harry asked and his usual study for the day started.

Chapter 35: Fourth Year Begins

Ch.35 Fourth Year Begins

"Write to me every week. Understood."

"I will Sirius and now for Merlin's sake stop hugging the life out of me. We are in this position since past five minutes. I have a train to catch Padfoot. We need to go to the platform. It is 10.40 already for fuck's sake."

"But pup! We won't meet again till a day after Christmas!" Sirius sniffed. Their Christmas vacation started three days late this year but fortunately the vacation was still 12 days long like usual.

"Help me Remus."

"That is enough of your dramatics Sirius. Harry needs to reach the platform. Stop the act." Remus said at Harry's insistence.

"Wait. You are acting!?"

"Damn it Moony. I was rocking it before you ruined the thing." Sirius said still not breaking from their embrace.

Harry groaned and said, "Last warning Sirius. If you don't let go of me right now, I will vanish your clothes and apparate to the platform with you. So, unless you wish for your nude body to be showed to the world..." Harry let the threat hang.

"I will have you know pup that they will be privileged to view my perfect ass. Ladies swoon at its sight."

"Perhaps these words should be reported to Amelia. She will set you right."

Amelia and Sirius had apparently started dating after Harry had set them up. They had gone on a total of six dates and Sirius had taken Amelia for Dinner for the last one. They both hadn't come back home till the next morning, sending a message to Harry and Susan that they were busy. It didn't take a genius to figure out what they were up to.

Susan had grabbed that opportunity to come to Harry's House and snog him senseless. But, she went back to Bones Hall (Her family's ancestral home) after an hour.

"Ok. Ok. Happy?" Sirius asked finally breaking their embrace.

"I wasn't upset Sirius. Just in a hurry. Now, let's apparate to King's cross shall we?" Sirius nodded and took Harry's arm before disappearing with a pop. They arrived at the apparation point at platform 9 and three quarters with a crack of apparation. Harry's trunk was already in his pocket and Hedwig was flying to Hogwarts as she hated being put in a cage especially after the flying car trip to Hogwarts two years ago. Harry had bought her a perch at his home in Somerset so that she didn't need the cage. So, currently he didn't need to worry about baggage.

They walked towards the train. Harry knew that Weasley's were yet to arrive. They never arrived before 10.55 AM for the Hogwarts express. As Harry and Sirius walked towards the train, Harry felt several eyes on him. He could hear whispering among the student and the parent body. It wasn't something he hadn't expected. He was the youngest winner of the U-18 WDL and the Order of Merlin. His fame had shot up like a rocket during the summer vacation.

"Harry! HARRY!" he heard Susan's voice calling him. She was already seated in a compartment with some other people. "Come here! We have seats!" Harry shot her a thumbs up sign.

"Go kiddo. Your girlfriend's calling." Sirius teased.

"Well her aunt would be around here. Who happens to be your girlfriend. Go trouble her." Harry replied.

"Oh, I will after you kids are off."

Harry merely rolled his eyes and boarded the train, bidding Sirius goodbye. He went towards the compartment his girlfriend was sitting in. On reaching there, he saw that with her Cedric and Cho were also present in the compartment. "Hey Susan, Cho, Cedric. How are you guys?" He greeted before giving Susan a chaste kiss on her lips.

"Harry. Or should I say Mr. Dueling champion, winner of Order of Merlin, First Class, Heir Harry James Potter Black?" Cedric greeted in a jokey tone.

"Well, the second one sounds better and more dramatic which is why I like it. But, as I am a busy person, stick to Harry. The titles take up a lot of time to recite." Harry replied in a similar fashion.

"Of course. I will make a point not to take more time from your busy schedule." Cedric replied.

Susan and Cho rolled their eyes at their banter. "Come, sit Harry. Where are your friends? Weasley and Granger?" Cho asked.

"Hermione had gone to stay with the Weasleys two days ago. So, she will arrive with them only. And knowing Weasleys it won't be until a couple of minutes before the train leaves."

"They arrive so late?" Cho asked in an incredulous tone.

"Every year Cho. I stayed with them last year. The rush they made... it was the most chaotic thing I have seen. And Ron says that it happens every year."

"So, it's a tradition?" Cedric asked.

"I guess." Harry replied with a shrug.

True to his prediction, Susan saw a gaggle of Red-heads enter from the muggle side of the platform exactly two and a half minutes before the train left. They immediately entered the nearest compartment as Mrs. Weasley fussed over them. Suddenly their door opened and Astoria came in dragging Daphne with her.

"Hey guys! Can we sit?" they nodded at the youngest Greengrass' question.

She plopped herself beside Cedric while Daphne gracefully sat down beside Harry. She sat closer than necessary, making Harry love his position between his two girlfriends even though one was a secret one for the world. Soon they were joined by Neville Longbottom. Puberty had hit him good as he was looking about a quarter feet taller than he was before they had broken for the Summer break. But, he was still the shy boy he was since their first year. He still congratulated Harry for winning the WDL and the Order of Merlin.

The train journeyed for another hour before Ron and Hermione finally found Harry.

"Here you are! We were searching everywhere for you. I thought you missed the train again!" Hermione said in a single breath.

"Budge up Nev." Ron said as Hermione sat beside Daphne.

"Where do you think there is space to shift for?" Neville asked. Ron looked around and saw that there was indeed no space.

"Here." Harry solved the problem by waving his wand and increasing the compartment size.

"Damn Harry. You make us look bad."

"Isn't it against the rules to alter a compartment?" Hermione asked to no one in particular.

"So, if you feel we are breaking rules you will have to leave as I am not. And I am also not standing." Ron said. As if on cue everyone looked at Hermione as if she was going to take a world changing decision. She leaned back in her seat before opening her mouth.

"Well... Cedric here is a prefect. So he is with us and hasn't said anything. So, we have permission." Hermione declared.

"When did I come from?" Cedric asked with amusement. Hermione just hummed before asking him if he had a prefects meeting or not.

"At 1.00 PM. They changed it this year as it took a lot of time for people to settle. It is experimental. Atleast that's what they said."

"So Cedric, how is your preparation for NEWTs going?" Hermione asked

"They are still more than a year and a half away. Why should I be worried?"

"You are in seventh year, right?"

"Nope. I start my sixth year today. Don't know where you got that idea from."

"When we took the Portkey for the World cup, your dad mentioned that you would be of age in a month."

"Yes. My birthday is on 12th September. Due to that, I am the oldest guy in my year. I was 12 when I took my first flying lesson in the first year. It was my birthday that day if I remember correctly."

"They don't admit students who turn 11 after September First even though their birthday is in September itself?"

"No. I actually cried when I didn't receive an invitation to Hogwarts a week before it began when I was 10. Dad floo called McGonagall and she told that I will receive the invitation for the following year on my Birthday regardless of the fact that I turned 11 two weeks into the term."

"That's sad."

"You have no idea Tori."

---

They soon reached Hogsmeade station. The only problem was that it was raining cats and dogs. Harry applied his raincoat charm on his carriage companions before exiting the compartment. Harry, Neville, Ron and Hermione took the first carriage to the Castle from Hogsmeade station as they had casually walked and boarded the carriage while the other students were preparing their robes to run towards the carriages.

"You know, I pity the firsties. I won't fancy a trip through the lake in such a weather." Ron remarked and they nodded. If this type of rain continued for a few more hours, the lake would definitely overflow.

They made their way up the stairs before entering the area outside the Great Hall. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a water Balloon fall towards Ron. He flicked his wand out while simultaneously using a wandless charm to stop the Balloon, making it look like a spell performed incredibly fast.

"PEEVES! Come down HERE!" Professor McGonagall's voice roared. The Poltergeist just cackled before he threw another Balloon towards the batch of students who entered but he forgot that Harry was still there. Harry stopped that one too before hurling the balloons back at PEEVES with a spell. Poltergeist are semi-solid... they could turn intangible or solid at will. Unfortunately for Peeves he was solid at that moment since he needed to hold the water Balloons.

It impacted him straight on his face causing Peeves to fly back and drop the Balloons. Everyone's eyes widened as two dozen water Balloons rushed towards the floor. But, Harry saved them by catching those Balloons too and shooting them towards Peeves who had just gotten up.

"AHHHH! NO!" Peeves shouted as he was impacted by several Balloons in rapid succession before he could even process what was happening. The last three Balloons impacted the wall as Peeves turned intangible. Still, the damage was already done. Peeves had gotten hell. He raised his hands and said, "Sorry ickle Potter. Peevesy won't do anything to you again. Forgive ol' Peevesy sir." Before he rushed out through a wall. Harry vanished the water from the floor as people cheered.

He looked around and saw that everyone was soaked due to the rains outside. He casted a wide area drying charm. It wasn't as effective as an individual one but would suffice for time being. Several people thanked him on the way to the Hall and some even added congratulations. Harry turned to the professor. "Professor McGonagall, can you cast dying charms on everyone? It will be better if people weren't wet during the feast."

"I was going to do that Mr. Potter before you beat me to it. You can go in now. I will do the needful. And 20 points to Gryffindor for helping fellow students out and 10 more for controlling Peeves."

Harry nodded and walked into the Great Hall and sat at the Gryffindor table where Hermione had already saved him a seat. Soon everyone was seated, thankfully dry or damp at worse. McGonagall led in the First year students to be sorted. The batch was much bigger than theirs with more than 90 students as compared to their 57. Another unfortunate effect of Voldemort's reign of terror resulted in their batch being smaller than usual. Usually each year consisted of around a 100 students but their batch was almost half of the normal amount due to Voldemort and his cronies killing off several children and expecting parents before he was stopped by Harry.

After the sumptuous feast Dumbledore stood up and the Hall quietened.

Harry paid a little attention to the first few notices that Dumbledore gave about Filch extending the list of forbidden items, the Forbidden forest being out of bounds, Hogsmeade etc. Then he dropped the bomb. "... It is my painful duty to inform you all that the inter-house Quidditch league will unfortunately not be taking place this year."

Protests broke out amongst the student body, several students calling Dumbledore names and swearing out loud in a manner which would have earned them a month of detention from McGonagall in usual cases. But, she couldn't punish the whole school. After a minute of protests and whisperings, Dumbledore got fed up and let out a loud blast from the end of his wand and instantly everyone quietened.

"This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy - but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely." Dumbledore continued as if nothing had happened. "I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts -" But, at that moment the doors of the great hall banged open.

A man stood in the doorway, leaning upon a long staff, shrouded in a black traveling cloak. Every head in the Great Hall swiveled toward the stranger, suddenly brightly illuminated by a fork of lightning that flashed across the ceiling. He lowered his hood, shook out a long mane of grizzled, dark gray hair, then began to walk up toward the teachers' table. A dull clunk echoed through the Hall on his every other step. He reached the end of the top table, turned right, and limped heavily toward Dumbledore. Another flash of lightning crossed the ceiling. Hermione gasped.

The lightning had thrown the man's face into sharp relief, and it was a face unlike any Harry had ever seen. It looked as though it had been carved out of weathered wood by someone who had only the vaguest idea of what human faces are supposed to look like, and was none too skilled with a chisel. Every inch of skin seemed to be scarred. The mouth looked like a diagonal gash, and a large chunk of the nose was missing. But it was the man's eyes that made him frightening. One of them was small, dark, and beady. The other was large, round as a coin, and a vivid, electric blue. The blue eye was moving ceaselessly, without blinking, and was rolling up, down, and from side to side, quite independently of the normal eye - and then it rolled right over, pointing into the back of the man's head, so that all they could see was whiteness.

Harry recognized him. Alastor 'Mad-eye' Moody. One of the greatest Hit-wizard to have ever lived with the greatest field record to boot. Also, one of the most paranoid men alive. He had also hand trained his dad, Sirius, Amelia, and most recently Tonks for field work. Tonks was his last protégé along with two others before he had decided to retire last year. And now he was at Hogwarts as a professor.

Moody shook hands with Dumbledore and they conversed for a few moments before both nodded. 'Probably a password of some sort to ensure security.' Harry had heard this trait of Moody's from Sirius and something they had incorporated. Whenever meeting outside the confines of their home, they would greet each other by their marauder names before proceeding to use three specific, pre-decided words in their sentence namely splendid, delicious and dragonhide. They didn't have an opportunity to use it yet though.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "As I was saying, we are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."

"You're JOKING!" said Fred Weasley loudly.

The tension that had filled the Hall ever since Moody's arrival suddenly broke. Nearly everyone laughed, and Dumbledore chuckled appreciatively. "I am not joking, Mr. Weasley," he said, "though now that you mention it, I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag, and a leprechaun who all go into a bar.

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly. "Er - but maybe this is not the time.. . no. . ." said Dumbledore, "where was I? Ah yes, the Triwizard Tournament. . . well, some of you will not know what this tournament involves, so I hope those who do know will forgive me for giving a short explanation, and allow their attention to wander freely."

Dumbledore proceeded to give the basic information of the tournament and its history. It was nothing that Harry didn't already know.

"The heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their short-listed contenders in October, and the selection of the three champions will take place at Halloween. An impartial judge will decide which students are most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a ten thousand Galleons personal prize money."

The student body seemed extremely excited and eager to participate in the tournament. Harry calmly sat in his seat gauging everyone's reactions. He knew most people's hopes were going to be crushed as soon as the age requirement criteria was announced. As predicted, protests broke out as soon as Dumbledore told they had to be of age i.e. 17 years of age or above to compete. They were all silenced as Dumbledore let out a bang from the end of his wand and proceeded to highlight the safety precautions that were being taken. He also told them that anyone below sixth or seventh year students were unlikely to be selected as they won't be able to cope up with it and thus they shouldn't waste their time in trying to submit their names.

"The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving in October and remaining with us for the greater part of this year. I know that you will all extend every courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us, and will give your whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when he or she is selected. And now, it is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop chop!"

---

"Mr. Potter, here is your timetable. Here is yours Ms. Granger and I am pleased to see that you have seen sense and dropped two subjects this year." McGonagall said before moving ahead. Harry looked at his timetable and saw that they were going to spend time outdoors until lunch as the first lesson was Herbology followed by COMC. After Lunch it was their sleep time... err... History of Magic period followed by Arithmancy. A good day then.

Confession time: It wasn't good at all.

For Herbology they had to squeeze Bubotubers to collect their pus. The pus was absolutely disgusting and smelled like petrol. And on top of it, the pus had to be carefully removed and it had to be ensured that it didn't come in contact with their skins. They each collected around Half dozen bottles of pus. Harry even stole the last Bottle which he was only able to fill halfway. Bubotuber pus was an extremely important ingredient in several potions. Though, the only person who had seemed to enjoy the activity was Neville.

After that they went to Hagrid's and were introduced to a completely new breed of creatures called Blast-ended Skrewts. They were six inch long, extremely hideous creatures which smelled like rotten fish. Harry had to cast the air freshening charm about a dozen times throughout the class.

After that Harry had a heavy Lunch and went to the History of Magic classroom with Ron and Hermione. As soon as the class started, Harry dozed off and was woken up by Hermione when the bell rang. Bless Hermione's soul that she had also took proper notes which she gave it to Ron and Harry with a roll of her eyes. Harry duplicated it and handed it back to Hermione with a grin. The teachers only checked homework after all. Notes weren't checked.

Harry and Hermione parted ways with Ron to go to the Arithmancy class while Ron went to the North tower for divination. Professor vector just revised the previous year topics and send them off. After that they met a sulking Ron in the common room. The reason? Their professor had given them a lot of homework in Divination that was due in three days. So, Ron did his homework while Harry and Hermione chatted away.

After a while they went for Dinner to the Great Hall. As they neared, a voice stopped them.

"Weasley! Hey, Weasley!" Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were standing there, each looking thoroughly pleased about something.

"What?" said Ron shortly.

"Your dad's in the paper, Weasley!" said Malfoy, brandishing a copy of the Evening Prophet and speaking very loudly, so that everyone in the packed entrance hall could hear. Before he could say anything more, Harry snatched the paper out of his hands and silently read the headline as Hermione and Ron leaned over his shoulder.

FURTHER MISTAKES AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC

It seems as though the Ministry of Magic's troubles are not yet at an end, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. Recently under fire for its poor crowd control at the Quidditch World Cup, and still unable to account for the disappearance of one of its witches, the Ministry was plunged into fresh embarrassment yesterday by the antics of Arnold Weasley, of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office.

Arnold Weasley, who was charged with possession of a flying car two years ago, was yesterday involved in a tussle with several Muggle law-keepers ("policemen") over a number of highly aggressive dustbins. Mr. Weasley appears to have rushed to the aid of "Mad-Eye" Moody, the aged ex-Auror who retired from the Ministry when no longer able to tell the difference between a handshake and attempted murder. Unsurprisingly, Mr. Weasley found, upon arrival at Mr. Moody's heavily guarded house, that Mr. Moody had once again raised a false alarm. Mr. Weasley was forced to modify several memories before he could escape from the policemen, but refused to answer Daily Prophet questions about why he had involved the Ministry in such an undignified and potentially embarrassing scene.

"They didn't even get your father's name correct Weasley. But, after all he is a nobody so they wouldn't have bothered anyway." Malfoy said with a smirk. Hermione and Harry had to physically stop Ron from attacking Malfoy. "And there's a picture, Weasley! A picture of your parents outside their house - if you can call it a house! Your mother could do with losing a bit of weight, couldn't she?"

"Like the way your mother would do much better by loosing you Malfoy?" Harry asked. Malfoy went pink and opened his mouth but couldn't say anything as Harry had silenced him with a wandless charm. "After all, you brought her such shame when you didn't obey common etiquette in the top box in front of the highest authorities in the Magical world, no less. A pathetic and mannerless wizard like you born to a daughter of house Black. The shame. Come Ron don't pay heed to such... people." Malfoy was already turning purple. Harry took Ron's arm and lead him away.

Suddenly he heard a bang and immediately dodged out of the way of a Spell that was fired at his back as his senses tingled (another advantage of Occlumency). He immediately whirled around and fired his bone-breaking-disarmer spell at Malfoy as someone yelled "OH YOU DON'T LADDIE!"

Malfoy screamed in pain for a brief moment as the bones in his arm broke and he was disarmed just before he was converted into a pure white ferret.

Harry turned around and saw that Professor Moody was limping down the marble staircase. His wand was out and it was pointing right at the pure white ferret, which was shivering on the stone-flagged floor.

There was a terrified silence in the entrance hall. Nobody but Moody was moving a muscle. Moody turned to look at Harry - at least, his normal eye was looking at Harry; the other one was pointing into the back of his head. "Did he get you?" Moody growled. His voice was low and gravelly.

"No," said Harry, "I dodged and hit him back before he could do anything."

"Good Potter. LEAVE IT!" Moody shouted suddenly.

"Leave - what?" Harry said, bewildered.

"Not you - him!" Moody growled, jerking his thumb over his shoulder at Crabbe, who had just frozen, about to pick up the white ferret. It seemed that Moody's rolling eye was magical and could see out of the back of his head. Moody started to limp toward Crabbe, Goyle, and the ferret, which gave a terrified squeak and took off, streaking toward the dungeons. "I don't think so!" roared Moody, pointing his wand at the ferret again - it flew ten feet into the air, fell with a smack to the floor, and then bounced upward once more.

"I don't like people who attack when their opponent's back's turned," growled Moody as the ferret bounced higher and higher, squealing in pain. "Stinking, cowardly, scummy thing to do..." The ferret flew through the air, its legs and tail flailing helplessly. "Never - do - that - again -" said Moody, speaking each word as the ferret hit the stone floor and bounced upward again.

"Professor Moody!" said a shocked voice. Professor McGonagall was coming down the marble staircase with her arms full of books.

"Hello, Professor McGonagall," said Moody calmly, bouncing the ferret still higher.

"What - what are you doing?" said Professor McGonagall, her eyes following the bouncing ferret's progress through the air.

"Teaching," said Moody.

"Teach - Moody, is that a student?" shrieked Professor McGonagall, the books spilling out of her arms.

"Yep," said Moody.

"No!" cried Professor McGonagall, running down the stairs and pulling out her wand; a moment later, with a loud snapping noise, Draco Malfoy had reappeared, lying in a heap on the floor with his sleek blond hair all over his now brilliantly pink face. He got to his feet, wincing. "Moody, we never use Transfiguration as a punishment!" said Professor McGonagall weakly. "Surely Professor Dumbledore told you that?"

"He might've mentioned it, yeah," said Moody, scratching his chin unconcernedly, "but I thought a good sharp shock -"

"We give detentions, Moody! Or speak to the offender's Head of House!"

"I'll do that, then," said Moody, staring at Malfoy with great dislike. Malfoy, whose pale eyes were still watering with pain and humiliation, looked malevolently up at Moody and muttered something in which the words "my father" were distinguishable.

"Oh yeah?" said Moody quietly, limping forward a few steps, the dull clunk of his wooden leg echoing around the hall. "Well, I know your father of old, boy... . You tell him Moody's keeping a close eye on his son. . . you tell him that from me. . . . Now, your Head of House'll be Snape, will it?"

"Yes," said Malfoy resentfully.

"Another old friend," growled Moody. "I've been looking forward to a chat with old Snape. . . . Come on, you. . ." And he seized Malfoy's upper arm and marched him off toward the dungeon.

"That was bloody brilliant" Ron gasped between fits of laughter. Hermione and Harry were also laughing as they made their way to the Gryffindor table. It was a similar scenario with several different people as it seemed that the word had spread like fire about the Ferret-Malfoy incident.

"Cool, isn't he. Professor Moody?" Fred (or George) asked as the twins slid into the empty space next to the trio.

"Beyond cool. Supercool." Said the other twin.

"Did you have a lesson with him Today."

"Yep. double period after Lunch."

"How was it?" Hermione questioned.

"Awesome. He knows –"

"– what he is doing. He has –"

"–seen it all! And –"

"– done it all"

"Seen what, done what?" Ron asked.

"Fighting the dark arts." Said Fred in a solemn voice.

While Harry knew that no such thing as Dark magic existed, he was very interested for the lesson now. The twins were never easily impressed but this man had them singing his praises!

"We haven't got him till Thursday." Ron whined, breaking Harry out of his thoughts.

---

Harry had misjudged the excitement for Moody's class. Apparently by the time he reached there after a trip to the chamber, there was already a queue outside the Classroom waiting for the bell to ring. And there was still 15 minutes remaining for the bell. Thankfully Ron was at the beginning of the line with Hermione, so Harry just joined them in the line instead of going at the end.

As soon as the bell rang they all rushed to grab the front seats.

A minute late they heard dull clunking and Moody limped into the classroom. The class was unnaturally quite. It wasn't this quite even in Snape's or McGonagall's classroom even when the professors were present.

"You can put those away," he growled, stumping over to his desk and sitting down, "those books. You won't need them." People scrambled to put the books in as Moody read the register, one eye fixed on the book while his magical eye was spinning to see each person. A moment later he snapped it shut before he proceeded to give a short speech on how he was at Hogwarts to teach only for a single year and their class would be covering curses as their syllabus.

His first topic somewhat shocked Harry- the Unforgivable curses. Salazar and Helga had only briefly covered them saying that he would learn them later. Yes, casting included.

"Who can give me the name of an Unforgivable curse?" He asked in his gruff voice. Some people raised their hands. You Weasley. He said pointing at Ron who had not raised his hand.

"Well- well there is one known as the Imp-imperious curse... my dad... he told me about it." He said in a low voice.

"Ah, yes," said Moody appreciatively. "Your father would know that one. Gave the Ministry a lot of trouble at one time, the Imperious Curse. Take 5 points." Moody said getting up and taking out a spider from a jar. Harry heard Ron let out a whimper beside him. His arachnophobia was widely known.

He pointed his wand at the spider and almost inaudibly muttered "Imperio". Harry heard it only because of the fact that he was in the first row and his enhanced hearing.

Moody proceeded to start making the spider tap dance. The class bar Harry and Ron laughed at the antics Moody was making the spider do.

"Think it's funny, do you?" he growled. "You'd like it, would you, if I did it to you?" The laughter died away almost instantly. "Total control," said Moody quietly as the spider balled itself up and began to roll over and over. "I could make it jump out of the window, drown itself, throw itself down one of your throats. . ."

Ron gave an involuntary shudder.

"Years back, there were a lot of witches and wizards being controlled by the Imperious Curse," said Moody, and Harry knew he was talking about the days in which Voldemort had been all-powerful. "Some job for the Ministry, trying to sort out who was being forced to act, and who was acting of their own free will. "The Imperious Curse can be fought, and I'll be teaching you how, but it takes real strength of character, and not everyone's got it. Better avoid being hit with it if you can. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" he barked, and everyone jumped.

"Anyone else? Come on, who can name the second unforgivable curse? You Longbottom." He pointed towards Neville who had timidly raised his hand, much to Harry's shock.

"There is one... The cru-Cruciatus curse." He said in a barely audible voice.

Harry closed his eyes remembering what had happened to Neville's parents. A fate worse than death. The Lestranges and Barty Crouch Jr. had tortured the couple into insanity. Now, the once powerful auror couple, were vegetables lying in a bed at St. Mungo's permanent damage ward. Even Salazar and Helga had said that there was no hope from them because parts of their nervous system were literally fried.

"Yes... yes. The torture curse- the Cruciatus. Nasty spell." Moody began. "One doesn't need thumbscrews or knives to torture someone if you can perform the Cruciatus Curse. . .. That one was very popular once too. For this you need something bigger. Engorgio." The spider in Moody's hand swelled to the size of a tarantula. Ron instantly pushed his chair back, trying to get as far away from the spider as possible.

"Crucio" Moody said pointing his wand at the spider and a red coloured light emerged.

At once, the spider's legs bent in upon its body; it rolled over and began to twitch horribly, rocking from side to side. No sound came from it, but Harry was sure that if it could have given voice, it would have been screaming. Moody did not remove his wand, and the spider started to shudder and jerk more violently -

"Stop it!" Hermione said shrilly.

Harry looked around at her. She was looking, not at the spider, but at Neville, and Harry, following her gaze, saw that Neville's hands were clenched upon the desk in front of him, his knuckles white, his eyes wide and horrified. The poor boy.

Moody stopped the curse. "As I said, nasty. The last one? Which is the last unforgivable?" He asked. No one answered. "No one, eh? Very well. The killing curse. Avada Kedavra."

A flash of green and the spider rolled away. Dead. "Not nice," he said calmly. "Not pleasant. And there's no counter-curse. There's no blocking it. Only one known person has ever survived it, and he's sitting right in front of me." Moody said, looking at Harry with both his eyes. Harry met his gaze unwaveringly.

"Sir, but the killing curse can be blocked if a substantial physical object is put in its path. Similar with the Cruciatus." Harry calmly stated.

Moody looked at him in surprise before he barked out a laugh. "You have done it, haven't you? You protected yourself against the Unforgivable curses when the scum at the World cup used them against you by doing that. Bravo Potter! You have the making of a fine hit-wizard." Moody stated as Harry nodded in agreement.

"Yes, the Cruciatus and the Killing curse can be protected against by putting a substantial object in its path. It has to be heavy and thick, something like a marble block. It is advisable to conjure it, but that requires quickness and skills, something that Potter thankfully has. But, no magical shield is able to stop it." Moody said looking around the class.

"Now, you may ask that why am I showing you these curses? Because you've got to know. You've got to appreciate what the worst is. You don't want to find yourself in a situation where you're facing it. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" he roared, and the whole class jumped again.

"Now. . . these three curses - Avada Kedavra, Imperius, and Cruciatus - are known as the Unforgivable Curses. The use of any one of them on a fellow human being is enough to earn a life sentence in Azkaban. That's what you're up against. That's what I've got to teach you to fight. You need preparing. You need arming. But most of all, you need to practice constant, never-ceasing vigilance. Get out your quills... copy this down..."

---

On 23rd September, Harry found himself in the ritual chamber once again. Only this time, Hedwig was with him. Why? Because Harry was performing the familiar ritual. He remembered what the conversation he had with the two Hogwarts Founders about the Ritual a couple of weeks ago.

FLASHBACK

"Harry, on this equinox, you will do another Ritual. It will be different than any other ritual that you have done till date. By this ritual, you won't gain any ability or enhancement, but rather your companion will." Helga said.

"Companion?"

"Yes. You told us about your owl Hedwig, correct? And we determined she had formed a weak bond with you?"

"Yes, a familiar bond. She can understand my feelings and is extremely loyal to me." Harry stated.

"Excellent. The ritual that we have decided for you to do is known as the familiar ritual."

"What does it do? What will happen to Hedwig."

"The effects of the ritual can not be predicted." Salazar began. "It depends from person to person and animal to animal. The ritual can result in something as simple as prolonging the animals life, forming of a mental link between the person and the animal, or to outright giving the animal new abilities or turning it into a higher form."

"Meaning?"

"A higher form of animal means converting it into a more magical animal... for example, a horse into a Pegasus or an unicorn, a house-cat into a kneazle, a snake into a magical variety like ash-winder or a basilisk. Helga, Godric and I did the ritual. Godric got his house cat turn into a completely new creature which looked like half-lion and had it's strength and the speed of a cheetah. Helga got her falcon turned into a Phoenix, while my king cobra Bessie, she turned into a Basilisk after we did the ritual."

"Wait..." Harry frowned. "Shouldn't it be a Queen Cobra if Bessie was a female?"

"..."

"A King Cobra is a King cobra. Regardless of whether it is a male or female." Salazar said after a few moments of silence. "Even if it is a female, it won't be called a queen cobra."

"And what about Rowena Ravenclaw? Didn't she do the ritual?"

"Rowena never found a appropriate animal to take as a familiar after her pet Eagle died when she was young. It happened much before we met to discuss the idea of Hogwarts. After that, she never had heart to take another familiar so she never did."

"Oh." Harry could completely understand Rowena's feelings. If something happened to Hedwig, he couldn't see himself replacing her. She was his constant companion for more than three years and someone he told everything about. And Hedwig was a patient listener. She was truly an extremely intelligent owl.

"Will it harm Hedwig?"

"No... Not unless you horribly botch up the ritual by drawing wrong runes which won't happen as we will be checking it several times before you do it. So, rest assure Hedwig is safe. In our time, most people with an animal did the ritual. Never has an animal died. It was after all those bans that the ritual fell out of practice."

"Okay... then I will do it." Harry said.

FLASHBACK ENDS

"Check it once again." Harry told Salazar and Helga.

"Child, do not worry. No harm will come to her. We have already checked the runes twice. They are perfect. Now, tell Hedwig to settle in the smaller circle and use a mild Petrificus Totalus or a Stupefy on her to ensure that she doesn't move or fly out." Salazar said.

Harry nodded and turned to Hedwig. "Hed, I am going to put you into a mild body bind. We are going to do a ritual which will benefit you. Don't worry, nothing will happen to you." Hedwig hooted and bobbed her head up and down in agreement.

"Yeah... Ready, 1...2...3..." Harry finished the countdown by shooting a mild body bind at Hedwig. She stiffened. Harry gently picked her up and laid her in the smaller ritual circle before he himself laid in the bigger one.

"Remember... you will go into a sleep like state and won't feel anything or see anything but will be awake. So, don't panic or do something when that happens or else we will have to do it again." Helga reminded and Harry nodded.

He chanted and the runes glowed. Instantly he felt his senses shut down like he had fallen asleep but he was still awake. It was a peculiar experience.

After what seemed like hours Harry's senses returned and he opened his eyes.

Chapter 36: The Goblet of Fire

36. The Goblet of Fire

Upon opening his eyes he saw the ceiling of the Ritual chamber. That was when he heard a melodious trill. It was unique to hear and filled him with confidence. It was like the phoenix song, only it filled him with confidence instead of calmness like the phoenix song.

He looked towards the place where Hedwig was, already knowing that the ritual had been a success. He saw a bird sitting there in the ritual circle. It was twice the size Hedwig had been but a little smaller than Fawkes. The bird had pure white feathers like Hedwig and her amber eyes. But now she looked like a pure white phoenix instead of a snowy owl. Hedwig looked for a lack of better word, majestic

"Hed?" Harry asked and she trilled in affirmation. Suddenly Harry was bombarded with pictures of them together and bacon. He got confused for a moment before he asked her, "You are hungry and want me to feed you bacon?"

Hedwig nodded.

"Then wait till we talk with Salazar and Helga. I will feed you bacon after that." Hedwig trilled again before she was enveloped in purple flames and disappeared from the spot, only to reappear on Harry's shoulder. Harry jumped in fright before he understood what had happened. She was surprisingly very light weighted. Hedwig nipped his ear and he suddenly saw images of Salazar's and Helga's portrait.

"Yes, yes. We are going there." Harry replied understanding her message.

He went out and saw that Salazar and Helga were dozing in their portraits. " Wakey, wakey sleepy heads" He said and their eyes opened. "Huh... yawn... Harry... Oh is that Hedwig?" Helga asked.

"Yep."

"So the Ritual was successful and Hedwig is a phoenix now... hmmm... Phoenixes are marvelous creatures. But, I must say that she is the most beautiful phoenix I have ever seen."

Hedwig puffed out her chest and trilled again while Harry rolled his eyes. "Stop saying things like that. She already has an ego. You will give her an even bigger head." Salazar and Helga chuckled while Hedwig pecked Harry on the head. "But Hedwig's big head aside, when she trilled it filled me with confidence instead of calmness like a phoenix song. Also, she has purple flames."

"The flame part is interesting. Young phoenixes have a normal orange flame while the older phoenixes have blue. I have never heard of purple flames for a phoenix. Also, phoenixes always have pink, red, orange and golden shades. I have never seen a pure white phoenix. Right Helga."

"Yes. And as for the song part, Phoenix song can do a lot of things. It can give confidence, calmness, fear, courage etc. depending on the situation they are in. You were likely worried that the ritual would have failed, so she filled you with confidence."

"Oh. Okay. She is also bombarding me with images to communicate. Like the first message she sent me was that she is hungry and wants to eat Bacon."

"That is how phoenixes communicate with humans Harry. It is perfectly normal. Cadarius too conversed with me in the same way." Helga assured.

"I wonder what else she can do." Harry mused.

"Phoenixes can lift incredible weights, flame travel and their tears have unrivalled healing powers." Salazar said and Harry glared.

"Tell me something I don't know Salazar. I knew all that since my second year."

"Than that is all Hedwig will be able to do. How much more do you want from a bird?" At this Hedwig glared at Salazar before she flew off Harry's shoulder and lightning shot from her talons, impacting quite close to Salazar's portrait, leaving a scorch mark on the wall.

Salazar yelped in fear before running into Helga's portrait muttering about violent birds.

"You can shoot lightning too Hed! That is awesome." Hedwig trilled in agreement to Harry's statement.

"So, she is a phoenix which can shoot lightning. Something unheard of before today. It is like she is a cross between a phoenix and a thunderbird. Also that explains her colour as some species thunderbirds, like the ones situated near the Mt. Fidelity in Canada, are white in colour, not pure white though but sort of yellowish white." Helga said.

"Anything else you can do?" Salazar asked Hedwig. She shook her head. Then Salazar turned back to Harry. "You would need to come up with a suitable explanation as to why is your owl suddenly turned into a phoenix of all things."

"Oh. What should I do?"

"We will think of something Ha..." Salazar began but Harry tuned out as he was bombarded with another image from Hedwig. It was of the Headmaster's office with a phoenix in there.

"That's a brilliant idea Hedwig! You are such an intelligent owl... err... phoenix!"

"Excuse me!?" Salazar blurted.

"Hedwig gave me an image of Fawkes. I guess she is telling that we take Fawkes' help to explain what happened to her." Harry informed.

"Hmmm... that can work. People don't usually check such things just take the word for it as long as it doesn't concern them. They will be concentrated much more on the fact that the hero of the wizarding world has a Phoenix as a familiar." Helga mused. "Call Fawkes. He has given his tears for you. So, he may hear your call and come."

"Err... Fawkes can you come here?" Harry asked to the thin air once he went outside the study into the main chamber. Suddenly the phoenix song filled the chamber like it had in Harry's second year when he had battled Salazar's Basilisk and Fawkes appeared in a flash of flames. Hedwig took off from her place on Harry's shoulders and joined Fawkes as they both flew in circles around the chamber and the phoenix song filled the chamber. They soon landed on one of the snake motifs in the chamber after several rounds.

Harry broke out of the mesmerizing song which was still faintly echoing throughout the chamber. "Hey Fawkes. You good?" Fawkes trilled. "Good, good... You see, I needed your help for something. I used the familiar ritual for myself and Hedwig. As you can see, she turned into a phoenix. So, as I can't exactly tell them that this was due to a ritual... can you sort of help me to find an explanation of how it happened without mentioning that I did a ritual."

Fawkes turned to Hedwig and they both started trilling at each other for a few moments before Harry was bombarded with three images. First was an owl lying with a deep gash on its chest. Next was Fawkes crying and the third was Hedwig appearing in a flash of flames.

"So... an owl's injured... Fawkes came and cried on it. And then Hedwig turned up. Okay... okay. Got it. You want me to say that Hedwig got fatally injured so I called you in desperation and you came. Then you cried into her wound and then instead of being healed, Hedwig suddenly burst into flames which resulted in her becoming a phoenix."

Both the phoenixes trilled in affirmation. "That's nice. Please keep the ritual a secret Fawkes... even from Professor Dumbledore. Please."

Fawkes once again turned and conversed with Hedwig. Suddenly Harry once again got an image of Fawkes and... a packet Lemon drops?

"You want a packet of Lemon drops for this?" Fawkes turned to Hedwig again and Harry got an image of number 2.

"You want two packets of Lemon drops for this?" Fawkes trilled in affirmation. Wow. He didn't imagine that phoenix would take a bribe. But, it was a reasonable price. He didn't want Dumbledore knowing of the fact that he was doing rituals. He didn't know what Dumbledore would do. He may support him or he may disapprove and hand him over to the authorities or even use the material as Blackmail. Harry wasn't sure what the wizened headmaster would do.

"Okay... you will get your two bags of lemon drops Fawkes. We have a deal." Fawkes trilled and disappeared in a burst of flames.

Harry sighed in relief, just before he received an image of bacon. "Yes, yes. I am giving you your bacon. Stop pestering me Hed." Harry said with a roll of his eyes.

---

"You know, I still can't believe that Hedwig turned into a phoenix. It is unheard of!" Hermione said to Harry. They were sitting in a corner of the common room doing their homework. Well, Harry and Ron were. Hermione had completed hers a few minutes ago and was petting Hedwig who was perched on the armrest Harry's chair.

"Well, I guess a phoenix never healed an owl, atleast in front of witnesses. I don't know how it happened. You should ask Fawkes... well after learning whatever language Phoenixes communicate in." Harry answered with a shrug. Everyone had bought the story. Hedwig was injured by some creature in the forbidden forest but she managed to fly to Harry. Harry, seeing that she was rapidly losing blood, called the headmaster's Phoenix for help who came and cried into the wound which turned Hedwig into a phoenix somehow. Even Dumbledore had bought the story and so did the ministry's magical creature registration office. Since phoenixes were XXXX creatures, Harry was needed to register Hedwig with them according to the protocol. Any person with a pet which was classified as XXX creature or above needed to register the creature and Harry was no different.

"Leave Hedwig alone 'mione. You have asked the same question three times already." Ron said in exasperation.

"But it is so fascinating!"

"It is... but I need help to predict some tragic fate for myself. Suggest me something."

"Why do you need a tragic fate?" Harry asked in shock.

"For divination homework."

"I got that part... but why tragic?"

"Oh... our professor likes tragic fates, you know? Just put in loads of misery, she'll lap it up. Easy way out of homework. But, the problem is that I am running out of misery so help me make up more."

"That's... sad." Hermione said with a sigh.

"Did you just crack a pun?"

"...Yes. I can do puns, if you didn't know." Hermione replied.

"Who would have guessed?" Ron remarked.

"Anyways, back to Ron and his tragic fates." Harry said changing the topic. "What about burns?"

"Done"

"Drowning?"

"Done"

"Losing something?"

"Done"

"Falling down the stairs?"

"Done"

"Concussion?"

"Do... hey that's a nice idea. In Wednesday, I will be in the danger of receiving a concussion due to the influence of Jupiter and Neptune. Four more please and I will be done with my horoscope from October 15th to November 15th."

"You made almost a month's worth of tragic fates so far by yourself?" Hermione asked in an impressed voice.

"Yeah. Now, suggest. I want to be done with this."

"Err... getting stabbed."

"Done before."

"Fever."

"Done"

"Flu?"

"okay... on Thursday, I will be in the danger of catching Flu due to the influence of Mars."

"Then you will be in hospital till 15th." Hermione said.

"That is brilliant Hermione! Thanks!" Ron exclaimed. He finished writing as Harry packed up. "You know, I have been working like an house elf since the last week to complete this homework. It is finally finished!"

"Don't say things like that. They are poor, creatures who have been enslaved and have no rights." Hermione said. Harry raised his eyebrows at the statement.

"It is an idiom Hermione. No need to get all angry." Ron said raising his hands in a universal motion of surrender.

"Anyways. I have decided to start a Society for Promotion of Elfish Welfare. We will advocate that House elves should be freed from enslavement and given rights. I will call it SPEW for short." Hermione said. "I have even prepared the batches." She added removing a box from her robes.

"Wait a second. You said you will free them?" Harry asked.

"Of course. Slavery is a cruel thing. It is barbaric!"

"No, it isn't."

"Harry! I-"

"Hear me out. House elves need to be enslaved by wizards. It is necessary for them to survive. The slave bond acts like a symbiotic relationship. We help them survive and they serve us in return."

"What?"

"There are several types of elves, or nature spirits if you want a technical term. There are forest elves, river spirits, night elves etc. apart from house elves. They are found only in areas with high concentration of magic though. They live in seclusion mostly though. They all have a purpose. Forest elves take care of the magical forest and the animals in it. River spirits do the same for water creatures. Similarly there are mountain elves too. House elves on the other hand have the purpose to take care of Wizards and witches. They draw magic from us in order to reproduce and live. And in exchange, they serve us."

"But they don't get paid!"

"Our magic is the payment. They don't need money as they can conjure almost anything they need. Even if we give them money, they will likely buy something like mops. Also, the magic we give them keeps a house elf alive. A house elf would likely go insane within a few days of being free and soon die."

"Oh. So, by freeing them, I was likely to kill them?"

"Yes. But, if I must ask, where did you get this idea of spew from?"

"S-P-E-W." Hermione corrected. "When I read that Winky, Mr. Crouch's elf, was executed despite being innocent, I started researching about house elves." Winky, Barty Crouch's elf had been executed for casting the dark mark and the charge of possessing a wand. It was tragic to see a innocent creature being executed for the crimes of their master, but there was nothing Harry could do. He had tried to get Crouch convicted but it hadn't worked as the man was proved innocent. So, Winky became the scape goat and was executed. Crouch just lost his job due to all the bad press and the shame.

"Winky's circumstances were different. Crouch was an important ministry official. It would have looked very bad on the British ministry that they found their former head of DMLE and then Foreign affairs guilty of being a part of the terrorist organization that had caused terror in the British Isles merely a decade ago, especially when there was no concrete evidence." Harry began

"Crouch did technically loose his job, but he technically wasn't fired. He resigned. A resignation of a foreign affair department head won't be reported by an international newspaper. It isn't news worth their time to put it simply. Even the prophet put it in a corner on their 4th page. But now, the British ministry also had to appease the British public. The one who casted the symbol of terror after more than a decade of peace needed to be punished. So, they needed a scape goat who wasn't an important figure. Who better than an house elf found with a wand in her hand on the scene of crime? And that news was reported on Prophet's front page and even by international newspapers, albeit in a corner"

"That's- that is literally mind boggling. So much politics behind one small gesture. They controlled their PR rating both within the state and internationally!"

Harry just smirked. She had no idea of how much politics would have taken place behind the scenes. Atleast he didn't need to protest for the rights of house elves now.

---

"Today we are going to be doing a very important lesson. One of dark wizards favorite spell is the imperious curse. Why kill a person when they can make him or her their slave? So, today we will see if you can resist the Imperious curse. Today you will get a glimpse of what fighting dark wizards seem like. As I call your name, you will step here and I will place the Imperious curse on you. This is an activity all the hit-wizard squad goes through. Atleast they did when I was training them."

"But- but that is illegal!" Hermione exclaimed.

"If you want to feel it when a dark wizard completely controls you and has you do things according to their whims- Fine by me. You are free to leave. The door's open."

Hermione turned pink and sat down muttering an hasty apology. "That's what I thought." Moody grunted before he called Dean forward.

Harry leaned back and watched as each of his classmates were made to do the most embarrassing of things. Dean Thomas hopped three times around the room, singing the national anthem. Lavender Brown imitated a squirrel. Neville performed a series of quite astonishing gymnastics he would certainly not have been capable of in his normal state. Not one of them seemed to be able to fight off the curse, and each of them recovered only when Moody had removed it.

Then he called Harry. Even he seemed excited to test Harry. Harry on the other hand had resisted the imperious before, that too in battle. He was confident of his ability to shrug it off in a completely controlled class room environment. He pulled his occlumency to his fullest as he stepped forward.

"Imperio" Moody casted without a warning like he had given to others. "Jump on the table." He commanded.

"No thanks, I am fine on the ground professor." He said shrugging of the blissful feeling that accompanied the curse. Moody stared at him in shock for a moment before he barked out a laugh. "Look at you lot... Potter fought it! He shrugged off the curse! Bravo Potter! They would have a tough time controlling you."

Moody send Harry off after he demonstrated the throwing off imperious curse twice more for the class to see. After that Moody put the remaining people under the curse. Hermione sang 'I am a teapot' while dancing around the class. Ron did a belly dance. Seamus walked around the classroom on his hands, upside down before they left.

"You know Harry, the way Moody talks, he makes it seem like we are going to be attacked anytime. Talk about paranoid." Harry just shrugged at Ron's statement. While Ron wasn't completely wrong as Moody certainly did exaggerate the danger factor, he wasn't completely right either. Harry had so far been attacked by a Troll, Cerebus, Quirrelmort, violent trees, Acromantulas, Basilisk, Voldemort again, Dementors. So, he wasn't exactly safe.

On another note, Harry felt that all their teachers were going a bit overboard with teaching. According to McGonagall, this was one of their most crucial years for their magical education. When Dean had remarked that it wasn't even their OWL year, she had retorted saying that his pincushion turned Hedge-dog still curled up in fright when approached with a pin. She further added that no one with the exception of Harry and Hermione had the likeness of getting into her NEWT class with how they currently were doing. She also said that only Harry was currently competent enough to get an outstanding in OWLs while Hermione was an EE. Much to Hermione's chagrin and Harry's pride.

Professor Flitwick had asked the whole class with the exception of Harry, Hermione, Susan and Su Li to read three extra books on the summoning charm.

Snape was nastier to the class than usual except Harry, whom he had completely ignored this whole year. No barbs, no insults or no hoovering either. Instead his whole scorn was directed at poor Neville.

Professor Vector and Babbling had assigned them copious amount of Homework (something that Harry had to do and wasn't exempt from).

Binns was still droning about the goblin rebellions every lecture.

"Come on Ronald, let us get back to the common room. I still have three parchment worth of home to complete for Snape."

"Oh yeah. Joy." Ron said sarcastically.

---

The whole school was assembled in the courtyard on the 30th of October. They had all been arranged in an orderly fashion and had been reminded time and again to be on their best behavior in front of the foreign schools. Even the Castle seemed to have underwent a complete renovation in the past week. Now, it looked like a castle of a king rather than a school.

People were discussing heatedly on how the school were going to arrive. The most popular theory was they were travelling by Portkey so far. Harry kept quite knowing how they were to arrive. Helga had already told him about it.

"Aha! Unless I am very much mistaken, the delegation from Beauxbatons approaches!" Dumbledore said from his position in front of the crowd.

A large figure emerged from above the Forbidden forest.

"It is a dragon!" A first year girl from Hufflepuff shrieked in fear.

"No, it is a flying house you idiot." Dennis Creevy, the younger brother of Colin said. McGonagall shushed them both.

The huge flying carriage, drawn by 12 Pegasus- flying horses- landed on the ground bouncing a few times before it stopped. The doors opened and a boy stepped out before he bent down and unfurled a set of Golden steps from the carriage to the ground. From the carriage emerged the largest person Harry had even seen. She was larger than even Hagrid.

'Madame Maxime. The headmistress of Beauxbatons academy of magic. And possibly a half-giant.' Harry remembered what Salazar and Helga had told him about her.

"My dear Madame Maxime, Welcome to Hogwarts." Dumbledore said kissing her knuckles. It was almost funny to see the sight of Dumbledore holding her hand to kiss her knuckles when his height came only to Madame Maxime's chest level. And Dumbledore was a six feet tall man.

"Dumbly-dort," said Madame Maxime in a deep voice. "I 'ope I find you well?"

"In excellent form, I thank you," said Dumbledore.

"My pupils," said Madame Maxime, waving one of her enormous hands carelessly behind her. There were about some 30 students in blue uniforms who had stepped out from the carriage behind her. Harry recognized one of the students.

Fleur Delacour. Runner-up of the U-18 World Dueling League.

Maxime and Dumbledore had a short conversation about the horses before she went inside along with her pupils who had started shivering due to the cold weather in Scotland. They weren't wearing robes, just their thin silk uniform to make matters worse. 'Haven't they heard of warming charms?' Harry thought to himself. They were all of age as far as he could see. There was no reason for them to not know a simple spell like the warming charm. It was taught in the third year at Hogwarts for Merlin's sake!

Suddenly Harry's enhanced hearing picked up an odd sound coming from the lake. It was like someone had started a vacuum cleaner in the lake. Suddenly bubbling started on the surface of the lake before a whirlpool formed and the mast of a ship emerged. Whispers started among the student body as the Durmstrang ship arrived. Harry knew that they were coming in a ship. But, he had thought that they would sail in from the river that extended from the black lake. He had not thought in his dreams that it would emerge like a bloody submarine. It was impressive magic though.

Soon figures started emerging from the boat in an orderly manner. They all were wearing thick crimson robes. Leading them was a tall, thin man with a goatee and black hair streaked with white showing his age.

Igor Karkaroff. High master of Durmstrang. Death eater. Traitor among death eaters.

"Dumbledore!" he called heartily as he walked up the slope. "How are you, my dear fellow, how are you?"

"Blooming, thank you, Professor Karkaroff," Dumbledore replied. Karkaroff had a fruity, unctuous voice. "Dear old Hogwarts," he said, looking up at the castle and smiling; his teeth were rather yellow, and Harry noticed that his smile did not extend to his eyes, which remained cold and shrewd. "How good it is to be here, how good.. . . Viktor, come along, into the warmth. . . you don't mind, Dumbledore? Viktor has a slight head cold..."

Whispers were heard amongst the student body at the student whom the Death Eater was pointing. It was Viktor Krum. The star seeker of Bulgarian Quidditch team and arguably the best seeker in the world currently.

Dumbledore just smiled warmly at Krum. Harry had understood perfectly that Karkaroff was boasting of having a celebrity as a student. Colds could be cured with a single, easy-to-brew potion after all.

Harry ideally wondered what would have been Karkaroff's reaction if Dumbledore had introduced Harry to him in such a manner. He was the reason for Voldemort's downfall after all and a world famous celebrity especially after his recent achievements.

---

Harry made his way to the Gryffindor table as Ron gushed about Viktor Krum coming to Hogwarts and Hermione exclaiming that Krum was a mere seeker. Ron went into a rant on how Krum was the best Seeker in the world. Several girls were wondering if Krum would give them an autograph.

Soon the Beauxbatons came in and sat at the Ravenclaw table. After that the Durmstrang Students followed but went to sit at the Slytherin table despite Ron's try to attract their attention to sit at the Gryffindor table.

The Durmstrang students wore awed expressions at the grandiose of the hall, especially the enchanted ceiling. While, the Beauxbatons students didn't look impressed. That was when Harry noticed two things. One, four extra chairs had been added at the staff table. And two, almost every boy's eyes were on a Beauxbatons girl. Not just any girl, but Fleur Delacour. Some of them were even drooling. Even though Fleur seemed unfazed, Harry frowned at his fellow students behavior.

He understood that she was a very beautiful girl and most likely a Veela to boot, but that was no reason to drool. And she was a single Veela. It would need half a dozen or so Veelas to attract this sort of attention. That was when Harry remembered Helga's words about the Veela allure.

'The Veela allure is the natural aura around a Veela that heightens the feeling of attraction and lust among the males around them. The more magically powerful Veela, the more powerful her allure is. If a Veela is twice strong in terms of magical power than another, her Allure will be four times as strong.'

'So, Fleur Delacour is likely going to be the Beauxbatons champion due to her sheer magical power and the skills she has with her wand.' Harry thought to himself.

That was when Maxime entered the hall and every single Beauxbatons student jumped to their feet. They only sat down when after their Headmistress took a seat at the staff table to the right of Dumbledore's chair as Karkaroff sat at the left. The two were joined by Ludo Bagman and Minister Fudge.

Dumbledore welcomed the visiting schools and as soon as he finished speaking, the feast appeared. It seemed that the Hogwarts elves had outdone themselves. There were several continental dishes too at the table. They dug in.

"Excuse moi. Are you wanting ze bouillabaisse?" A voice called from behind Harry. It was Fleur Delacour. Every boy at the table was ogling her, but she paid no heed to them.

Harry gave her a charming smile. "Madame Delacour. A pleasure to meet you again." He said in perfect French, thanks to the wandlessly applied translation charm. Fleur's eyes briefly widened when she realized who he was.

"Monsieur Potter." She curtsied back.

"You can have the bouillabaisse."

"You are finished with it Monsieur Potter?"

"Yes I am. Here, take it." He said handing her the dish. "I hope you enjoy our hospitality with us here at Hogwarts."

"Oui. Merci." Saying so, she went back at the Ravenclaw table.

After the feast, Dumbledore gave a speech about the tournament once again and how the ministry had worked tirelessly to organize everything. He also introduced Fudge and Bagman to the student body.

Filch carried in a great wooden chest which was encrusted with jewels.

"There will be three tasks, spaced throughout the school year, and they will test the champions in many different ways.. their magical prowess - their daring - their powers of deduction - and, of course, their ability to cope with danger. As you know, three champions compete in the tournament, one from each of the participating schools. They will be marked on how well they perform each of the Tournament tasks and the champion with the highest total after task three will win the Triwizard Cup. The champions will be chosen by an impartial selector: the Goblet of Fire."

He tapped the trunk thrice and stepped back as the lid opened and a Cup rose from it. Its most impressive feature was that it was filled with Hot blue-white dancing flames.

"Aspiring champions must write their name clearly on a piece of parchment along with their School's name before submitting their name in the Goblet. I will personally be drawing an age line and adding protections around the goblet to ensure that no student under the age of seventeen can submit their name." Dumbledore began

"Finally, I wish to impress upon any of you wishing to compete that this tournament is not to be entered into lightly. Once a champion has been selected by the Goblet of Fire, he or she is obliged to see the tournament through to the end. The placing of your name in the goblet constitutes a binding, magical contract. There can be no change of heart once you have become a champion. Please be very sure, therefore, that you are wholeheartedly prepared to play before you drop your name into the goblet." Dumbledore said in a serious tone clearly wishing to impress upon them the consequences of submitting their name.

"And most importantly, as of this moment, the Triwizard Tournament has begun!" He finished dramatically.

Soon they all were dismissed after Dumbledore bid them all good night. Harry, Ron and Hermione walked towards the doors of the Great Hall as Harry heard Karkaroff and his students talking about drinking wine. He paused at the doors to let them pass first. They were guests after all. It would look bad to cross their path while they were returning to their ship especially on their first day at the school.

"Thank you," said Karkaroff carelessly, glancing at him. And then Karkaroff froze. He turned his head back to Harry and stared at him as though he couldn't believe his eyes. Behind their headmaster, the students from Durmstrang came to a halt too. Karkaroff's eyes moved slowly up Harry's face and fixed upon his scar. The Durmstrang students were staring curiously at Harry too.

Some recognized who he was and their eyes widened. Karkaroff was still frozen.

"Headmaster Karkaroff. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Harry, Harry Potter." He introduced, making his eyes glow and swirl with power despite the charming smile on his face.

Karkaroff almost mechanically shook the proffered hand, but from his body structure, he still seemed frozen at the spot. Whispers started amongst the foreign students. They all were waiting for Karkaroff to pass as he was blocking the door.

"Yeah, that's Harry Potter, as he introduced himself to be." said a growling voice from behind them. Karkaroff broke from his frozen stupor and spun around before his face paled. Mad-Eye Moody was standing there, leaning heavily on his staff, his magical eye glaring unblinkingly at Karkaroff.

"You!"

"Me." said Moody grimly. "And unless you've got anything to say to Potter, Karkaroff, you might want to move. You're blocking the doorway."

Karkaroff practically ran away and his students followed him, several of them confused at what had happened.

---

The next day, the Gryffindor trio reach the Great hall for breakfast. In the center of the hall, the Goblet of fire was placed on the sorting hat stool, burning in all its glory. A golden circle of 10 feet Radius was drawn around it. Harry immediately activated the mage sight to view the protections over the Goblet of fire. There was the age line preventing anyone below the age of 17 from entering the circle. Then there was a ward to prevent summoning the Goblet or the stool underneath it. A ward to detect potions, specifically the aging potion and tied to it was what looked like a feature alteration jinx. There was a ward to prevent anything from being thrown into the Goblet from outside of the circle. A ward to prevent animals from entering. A ward against house elves. And most importantly, a dormant ward tied to all these protections which will trap the person entering the circle if they forcefully broke through the wards to put there name in along with a alert ward. And another age ward was also there just above the Goblet for extra protection.

Harry had to give it to Dumbledore that the wards were well cast but, there was a loop hole. What if an underage student bribed a seventeen year old to put their his or her name in the goblet for them? That was one BIG loophole that Harry could find.

Also, Harry felt that he was capable enough of breaking the wards if he was given enough time without getting trapped or alerting Dumbledore, something that he had no plans of doing. But, he doubted that any student besides himself at Hogwarts could do the same. And the foreign schools had only brought along students who were already of age.

He caught the sound of Weasley twins coming in with Lee Jordan, saying they had just taken the age potion, aging them up a few months and hence were ready to enter their name in the Goblet of fire despite the Age line.

Harry wondered if he should warn them about the potion ward before thinking, 'Nah. Let them suffer the consequences.'

"Ready Fred?"

"Ready George?"

"3..."

"2..."

"1..."

And they jumped in the jumped into the circle. For a moment nothing happened. Harry felt the ward activate.

"WE DI.." That was as far as the twins got to saying before they were hurled out of the circle onto their ass. Both had grown long, dumbledorish beards.

The Great Hall broke into peels of laughter. "I did warn you," said a deep, amused voice, and everyone turned to see Professor Dumbledore coming out of the Great Hall. He surveyed Fred and George, his eyes twinkling. "I suggest you both go up to Madam Pomfrey. She is already tending to Miss Fawcett, of Ravenclaw, and Mr. Summers, of Hufflepuff, both of whom decided to age themselves up a little too. Though I must say, neither of their beards is anything like as fine as yours."

Throughout the rest of the day people were betting on who would be the Hogwarts champion. Most Gryffindors were betting on Angelina Johnson. While, Hufflepuff was with Cedric Diggory who had also put his name in. Several Ravenclaws were putting their weight behind Roger Davies while Slytherin's money was on Warrington. They all were the most capable student in their houses above the age of seventeen.

Harry personally felt that it would either be Cedric or Roger Davies. Angelina, while she was his team member, wasn't great with a wand like the other two boys were.

They visited Hagrid in the afternoon before the feast. They saw that Hagrid was dressed in a horrendous suit and had tried to comb his hair. He was wearing a copious amount of Cologne. Hermione gagged at the smell.

"Hagrid, by any chance do you have a date?" Harry asked and Hagrid blushed.

"N-No! it is nothing like that!" He stuttered.

"So you are trying to impress someone?" He blushed again but nodded this time. "And is the someone by any chance Madame Maxime?"

Hagrid's eyes widened. "How- how did ya know that?"

Harry shrugged. "I guessed. If you want to impress her, let me assure you that this attire would make her run away."

"What-What's wrong with this?" Hagrid sounded heart broken.

Harry sighed before patting his arm. "A lot is wrong with it. But don't worry. Now, I am here! I will help you out Hagrid."

"Really?" Harry nodded and Hagrid pulled him into a bone crushing hug. "Come with us Hermione, let us get Hagrid ready. I will need your opinion." Harry said before he pulled Hagrid inside his hut and first started working on his hair and beard. After a copious amounts of charms and cutting a lot of hair, Hagrid looked good. His hair was shoulder length now and pulled into a neat ponytail like Bill Weasley's while his once shaggy beard was trimmed properly. He looked like a completely different person altogether!

"This looks good on you Hagrid!" Ron remarked while Hermione nodded.

"Now the clothes. I am going to transfigure it for now, as there is very little time left for the feast to go to buy a suit." Saying so, Harry started transfiguring the suit into different styles and shades after some 15 tries, they found the best looking suit.

"Do you approve Hagrid?" He nodded in affirmation. Harry nodded and undid the transfiguration before telling his friends to stay back. He Transfigured the suit into the type they had chosen pushing a lot of magic into it, ensuring that it wouldn't convert back for a few days atleast.

"Here." Harry said, letting out a breath. "It will last for around a week or so now."

"Thank ya Harry." Hagrid said as he inspected his final appearance. He now looked smartly dressed and like a nobleman. Harry did one more charm to reduce the cologne to an appropriate amount.

"Perfect. Now, all the best. Remember to compliment her a bit and behave like a gentleman. You will be sure to impress her." Harry told him. Hermione and Ron also offered words of encouragement to Hagrid before they left for the Halloween feast and most importantly the selection of champions.

---

Dumbledore got up from his seat and stood on the podium once the remnants of the desert disappeared, leaving the plates spotlessly clean. "Good evening dear students, professors, Minister Fudge, Ludo, media reporters, ghosts and most importantly- guests. As you all know, and I am sure are eagerly anticipating, the selection of champions is about to begin"

"Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision," said Dumbledore. "I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now, when the champions' names are called, I would ask them please to come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the next chamber" - he indicated the door behind the staff table - "where they will be receiving their first instructions."

He waved his hand around the great hall, promptly extinguishing the candles in the pumpkins and dimming the torches on the walls, plunging the hall into semi-darkness. It was an impressive as well as dramatic display of wandless magic. Now, the brightest light source in the great hall was the Goblet of fire which was burning merrily with blue-white flames.

The flames inside the goblet turned suddenly red again. Sparks began to fly from it. Next moment, a tongue of flame shot into the air, a charred piece of parchment fluttered out of it - the whole room gasped. Dumbledore caught the piece of parchment and held it at arm's length, so that he could read it by the light of the flames, which had turned back to blue-white. "The champion for Durmstrang, will be Viktor Krum."

Cheers and applause filled the hall as Krum got up pumping his fist. He went towards Dumbledore, shook his hand and proceeded towards the ante-chamber.

The flames turned red again a few moments later and another piece of parchment shot out. "The champion for Beauxbatons Academy of Magic is... Fleur Delacour." She got up as a few Beauxbatons students got looks of disdain on their faces and a couple of girls burst into tears. Fleur also shook Dumbledore's hand and quickly went into the adjoining chamber as most boys eyes were glued to her backside.

Then, Harry could taste the anticipation in the air. The Hogwarts champion was next...

The flames turned red. A piece of parchment shot out and Dumbledore caught it with practiced ease. "The Hogwarts champion is... CEDRIC DIGGORY!"

Someone outside the Castle would have thought that a bomb had gone off in the great hall. The applause from the Hufflepuff table was so loud. They all had risen to their feet and were congratulating Cedric and patting his back. It took about a minute for Cedric to get to Dumbledore to shake his hand. He too disappeared into the chamber.

"Excellent! We have our three champions. The first task of-" Dumbledore stopped in mid-sentence as the flames turned red again. A piece of parchment shot out and Dumbledore automatically caught it. There was stunned silence in the Great Hall before Dumbledore called out.

"Harry Potter."

Chapter 37: The Fourth Champion

Ch. 37 The Fourth Champion

"Excuse me sir?" Harry asked standing up from his seat at the Gryffindor table, using occlumency to calm his mind. He had gotten a good idea of what had happened as soon as Dumbledore called his name.

"Your name has come out from the Goblet of Fire, Mr. Potter." Dumbledore replied, while casting detection charms on the parchment with his wand.

"How is that possible, Headmaster? I never entered my name in the Goblet and I am underage. I reckon that there is some kind of mistake." Whispers filled the hall. Speculations of what had happened started amongst the student body. Some of them were saying how Harry was obviously a liar and a glory hog. Harry resisted the urge to insult them or even hex them right there.

"Your name is written on this parchment that came out of the Goblet of Fire, Mr. Potter. We shall resolve this in the ante-chamber with the authorities. Please come with us."

Harry nodded and stepped out before walking towards Dumbledore, a plan to prove his innocence already formed in his mind. As soon as he reached the headmaster, Dumbledore gave him a reassuring squeeze on his shoulder and lead him towards the ante-chamber. Just as they had taken a couple of steps in the direction of the antechamber and thus, were at the exact center of the hall, Harry said, "Wait a moment please Professor Dumbledore. I wish to say something."

Dumbledore blinked and released the hold on his shoulder before giving him a nod. Harry turned to the student body, which was still speculating amongst itself. The theory of Harry being a glory hog and cheating his way in was spreading rapidly. It seemed that most of Hufflepuff had already bought the theory. The same with the Slytherins. Susan and Daphne were wearing worried expressions on their face, and so was Hermione. Ron's face was neutral, but Harry could see the anger and jealousy shining in his eyes. Time to make that theory fall on its face.

"I, Harry James Potter," gasps filled the hall as several students realized what he was about to do. "hereby swear on my life and magic that I did not intentionally or knowingly put my name in the Goblet of fire." The ones who were spreading the theory, were looking wide eyed at him by now and the entire hall was silent. "Neither did I ask anyone else to put my name in the Goblet of fire. So, mote be it. Ut Magica Iudex Juramento (may magic judge my oath)."

Harry glowed an ethereal gold, showing that he was being judged. A couple of flashes went off from the media cameras. The golden glow faded out after a couple of moments. Everyone was staring wide-eyed at Harry by now in stunned silence while some muggleborns wore confused looks. Oaths judged by magic were a serious thing. One word wrong, and one would end up loosing their magic or their life, or both in some cases.

"Expecto Patronum." Harry's Dragon Patronus burst forth from his wand and started flying around the hall. The foreign students and the first year students were looking at the Patronus with awe. The photographers took some more pictures as the reporters scribbled furiously on their note-pads.

Harry turned back to Dumbledore. "I hope that the situation is resolved now headmaster as I have proved that I didn't enter my name in the Goblet of Fire?"

Dumbledore sighed before replying, "I never doubted your word in the first place, Mr. Potter. But, unfortunately, innocent or not, regardless of the oath, your name has come out of the Goblet of fire, which is an ancient and powerful artifact that is around ten times older than I am. We need to consult the rule book and the goblet documents from the department of mysteries before we can surely say if you have a way to get out of the tournament or not. We would not want you to loose your magic due to the fact that we thought, that since you didn't enter your name in the goblet, you won't have to compete in the tournament." Dumbledore said looking at Harry with sympathy. Harry could see the worry written on his face clearly. It was unnerving to see the wizened headmaster troubled.

"And the rules, as far as I remember, clearly state that one can not back down after their name comes out of the Goblet of Fire. One must compete in the tournament. Though, we will still check it out once again if there is some way to get out of the tournament Mr. Potter. But, for now please proceed to the side-chamber. We will discuss this matter in there." Dumbledore said, pointing to the side chamber. Harry nodded and proceeded to the ante-chamber where the rest of the champions had went. As he left the hall, he could hear Dumbledore telling the rest of the students to return to their respective areas while they resolved the matter and gave instructions to the rest of the champions.

Viktor Krum, Cedric Diggory, and Fleur Delacour were grouped around the fire as Harry strode into the chamber, irritation clearly visible on his face. Why must he compete when he hadn't even entered his name in the goblet? He had even sworn an oath judged by magic to prove that he never entered! He had gauged from Dumbledore's words and his look that he held little hope for Harry to get out of the tournament without competing in it.

"Do zey want us back in ze hall?" Fleur asked with heavy French accent.

"No..." That was when Harry heard scurrying of feet behind him and Ludo Bagman entered the room.

"Extraordinary! Extraordinary! A fourth Champion, that too Harry Potter at that!" Bagman said beaming at them all as if a joyous occasion had happened. "It is... It is so amazing... an incredible event of the Fourth champion competing in the Triwizard tournament."

"Oh, vairy funny..." Fleur stopped in mid sentence as Harry had closed the distance between Ludo and himself and grabbed the man by his collar, lifting him a few inches off the ground using a bit of wandless magic.

"Pray tell, what do you find as amazing or incredible in this situation, Bagman? I have been entered in a death trap of a tournament against my wishes and if I do not compete, I take the risk of loosing my MAGIC!" Harry shouted the last word, as his eyes glowed with power and his magic filled the room.

"Mr. Potter, I request you to put poor Ludovic down. He has understood his mistake. Please release him and we can discuss what will happen." Dumbledore's calm voice rang out as he, Madame Maxime, Karkaroff, Fudge, McGonagall, Flitwick and Snape walked into the chamber at a brisk walk. Harry released Bagman's collar and Bagman fell on his ass before he picked himself up and distanced himself from Harry, breathing heavily.

"Sir, how can Harry's name come out of the Goblet of Fire? He's a fourteen years old. How can he have entered?" Cedric asked.

"I did not enter my name in the Goblet." Harry said sharply.

"It is true. Mr. Potter swore an oath judged by magic in front of the great hall swearing that he didn't enter his name in the Goblet, neither did he ask anyone to do so for him." Professor Flitwick confirmed before anyone could say anything. Fleur let out a soft gasp while Cedric's eyes widened and Krum raised his eyebrows so high that they almost disappeared into his hairline.

"And that being said, I would ask you to avoid swearing an oath judged by magic unless absolutely necessary, Mr. Potter. One word wrong, and you could have lost your life Harry. I would strongly advise you to not do such things in the future." Dumbledore added

Harry nodded before saying, "I felt that it was the fastest, most convenient and the only way to prove my innocence. So I did it. Now, can we start searching for a way to get me out of this death trap of a tournament?"

"Yes, find a way to get him out of the tournament Dumbledore. Hogwarts can not have two champions!" Karkaroff exclaimed.

"Yes 'Ogwarts can not 'ave two champions." The French headmistress supported Karkaroff.

Harry's eye twitched. Here he was illegally entered in a death trap of a tournament and these two were protesting about Hogwarts having two champions?

"And while we are at it, let us also investigate who put my name in. Someone clearly wishes me to die and they entered my name in the tournament." Harry said coming back to the concerning topic. "Perhaps, we should start by questioning the resident death eaters in the castle, who may have been taking revenge from me for putting their buddies in Azkaban a couple of months ago." Harry suggested as his gaze shifted from Karkaroff to Snape and Bagman.

"I rather suspect that someone 'oo wished to give 'Ogwarts two bites at ze apple entered the boyz name in zee Goblet." Madame Maxime said, before either of the three death eaters could react and changed the topic.

"I quite agree, Madame Maxime," said Karkaroff, bowing to her. "I shall be lodging complaints with the Ministry of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards -"

"If anyone's got reason to complain, it's only Potter. He is the one who has been entered against his wishes in the tournament." A gruff voice said from the doorway. Moody limped into the room with his magical eye scanning the surroundings, checking for threats. "What are you lot complaining for, eh?"

"But why is 'e complaining?" burst out Fleur Delacour, stamping her foot. "He has the chance to compete, 'asn't he? We 'ave all been 'oping to be chosen for weeks and weeks! Ze honor for our schools! Eternal Glory! A ten thousand Galleons in prize money - zis is a chance many would die for! So-"

She was cut off with a bark of laughter from Harry. She gave him a shocked look as Harry chuckled and turned to her. "Eternal Glory? Tell me miss Delacour the name, of the first person to win the Triwizard Tournament?" She remained silent. "Or perhaps the last one?" Harry added at her silence.

Fleur Delacour said nothing, clearly showing that she didn't know the answer. "You don't know? Very well, now tell me the name of the only person to survive the killing curse."

"You... 'arry Potter."

"Now, tell me the name of the youngest winner of the U-18 WDL."

Fleur's eye twitched. "You." She said with greeted teeth. Harry smirked. Of course he needed to add that point.

"Excellent miss Delacour. Now, do I look like I am in the need of Eternal Glory? That too from a competition whose winners no one remembers?" Harry scoffed. "Don't make me laugh! And... as for the money," Harry let out a scoff. "I make more than ten thousand Galleons in a month from investments of Potter and Black families. I don't need to participate in what clearly is a deadly tournament to earn 10,000 galleons, I assure you that much, Ms. Delacour. And by the number of attempts on my life in the past three years, I won't be shocked if this is also one of them, as I said earlier."

Fleur remained quite but gulped as Harry's eyes were swirling vortexes of power. Harry turned back to the officials who were standing there in stunned silence, watching Harry. Harry was about to raise an eyebrow at them but, a gruff voice spoke up. "I completely agree with Potter. Someone's hoping Potter is going to die in the tournament. So, he has been entered against his wishes."

No one said anything for a few moments. Harry resisted an urge to bang his head on something. These people were wasting time by arguing needlessly and standing about! Maxime and Karkaroff were concerned about Hogwarts having an extra champion while Bagman was excited by the whole thing! Those three were causing the delays. They should be finding a way to get him out of the death trap.

'And where the hell did Dumbledore go?' Harry questioned himself as Dumbledore wasn't at his previous position.

That was when, out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw that Dumbledore was already going through a booklet at an amazing speed along with Fudge, who was looking over Dumbledore's shoulder. Harry had completely forgotten that the minister was there. The minister was being uncharacteristically non hyper-verbal. But, atleast he was doing something unlike Maxime and Karkaroff.

"It would have taken a skilled wizard to put Potter's name in the Goblet of fire." Moody continued when no one spoke

"And why ees that?" Madame Maxime asked.

"Because they hoodwinked a very powerful and ancient magical object!" said Moody. "It would have needed an exceptionally strong and specific Confundus Charm to bamboozle that goblet into believing that there were four schools instead of three in the Triwizard Tournament. Then, they would have put Potter's name under that school's name to ensure that he is the only participant from the particular school so his name was sure to come out. And once it came out, he would have been forced to compete in the tournament and would probably die during one of the tasks. And this is perhaps the revenge for what Potter did at the World cup finals. He caught a dozen dark wizards, didn't he?"

"We all know Moody's morning isn't complete till he discovers a dozen assassination plots till Lunch." Karkaroff mused aloud. "You seem to have given it a lot of thought Moody."

"It's my job to think the way Dark wizards do, Karkaroff - as you ought to remember..."

"Alastor. That's enough." Dumbledore firmly told Moody as he walked back towards them again with the minister in tow. "I have just gone through the rule book. Unfortunately there is no way for Harry to get out of the tournament. A participant must compete if his of her name comes out of the Goblet of Fire. The Goblet of fire forms binds them to participate in the tournament of risk loosing their magic."

"WHAT!? There must be some way professor!" Harry exclaimed.

"No, unfortunately there isn't. I looked through the rules, Harry. There isn't a way. You are welcome to suggest one if you have any. In the meanwhile, Alastor, can you investigate this case? Find out who put Mr. Potter's name as the fourth contestant if you can and the tampering on the goblet."

"Aye. I will get to the bottom of this." Moddy said nodding his head

"You said that the goblet binds us to participate, headmaster. What if I destroy the goblet?" Harry asked.

"It doesn't work that way. You have been already bound by the Goblet and regardless of its destruction, you will have to compete." Dumbledore said after pondering over the question.

"What of name inconsistency?"

"Has your name been changed by magic in your birth certificate or the records at Gringotts? If your name officially is Harry Potter-Black or anything except Harry Potter, middle names not considered, then we can explore that avenue and find if we can do something to break the magical contract of the goblet."

"No..."

"So, your name is Harry Potter in official records?" Harry nodded. "Then there is nothing in there to exploit and get you out."

"What if I change my name now?"

"You have been bound by the goblet Harry. I checked it as soon as you stepped out of your seat in the great hall with a spell." Dumbledore said. Harry felt that Dumbledore wasn't being entirely truthful as he never felt a spell impact him before he realized that Dumbledore must have used mage sight to check it. Damn. He would have to compete now.

Harry sighed out loud. "So, there is no way... I would still like to see the rule book sir, if you will give it to me."

"Yes. Here you go. Inform me if you find a way please." Dumbledore said as he duplicated the book with a spell and handed it to Harry. Harry nodded at the wizened headmaster.

"But Dumbly-door this is most unjust. Hogwarts can not have two champions!"

"My dear Madame Maxime, if you have an alternative, I would be delighted to hear it." Dumbledore said with steel in his voice. Harry suspected that even Dumbledore was loosing his patience with the 'Hogwarts having two champions' topic when there was a possible murder plot going on.

"I do have an alternative for Madame Maxime's worry about Hogwarts having two champions." Harry piped up. "I won't be representing Hogwarts. Cedric is the Hogwarts champion. I will represent House Potter-Black and compete under the banner of House Potter-Black instead of Hogwarts. So, it won't be a Hogwarts victory if I win. And Hogwarts won't have two champions either. Happy?"

"That ees acceptable." Madame Maxime said with a nod.

"It is." Karkaroff added.

"Wonderful. I will nominate Lord Black as a judge from House Potter-Black."

"What are you talking about boy?" Karkaroff immediately sneered.

"The judges rule, Headmaster Karkaroff. Each participating institution must have a representative as a judge on the panel. It is the first rule written in the judging panel section." Fudge spoke up for the first time since the selection of Champions had begun.

"Which is, coincidently the first section in this rule book." Harry added, showing him the first relevant page in the book, the preface and the index aside. It was thankfully the first thing he had read as soon as he started inspecting the rule book after Dumbledore handed it to him. "I thought you would have atleast bothered to open the rule book before bringing your school students here to complete, Headmaster Karkaroff."

Karkaroff just glared at Harry but the Beauxbatons headmistress spoke up, "That ees acceptable, Monsieur Potter. It ees fair for 'im to 'ave his own judge on ze panel as he ees not representing Hogwarts."

"I too agree with Madame Maxime. But, we need to replace someone from the panel and then make Lord Black sign the secrecy contract." Dumbledore said.

"I will gladly step down, Headmaster Dumbledore. I was anyways the replacement for Barty Crouch after he had resigned from his duties a couple of months ago. I am very busy with running the ministry and all. Stepping down will free up a bit of my time too." Fudge said nodding in agreement.

It was very wise of Fudge to pull such a move. He won't be blamed directly if anything went wrong in the tournament and it got him on Harry's good side... Atleast that's what he must have thought. Harry knew that Fudge was a political animal and cared nothing of what happened to Harry, beyond how it affected his reputation.

"Well, should we give the champions the instructions then?" Bagman asked hesitantly clearly subduing his enthusiasm about the tournament. "Minister, would you do the honors?"

"Yes... The first task is designed to test your daring," he told Harry, Cedric, Fleur, and Viktor, "so we are not going to be telling you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard. . . very important. The first task will take place on November the twenty-fourth, in front of the other students and the panel of judges consisting of Madame Maxime, Professor Dumbledore, Karkaroff, Ludo, and now, as it was decided, Lord Black. The champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their teachers to complete the tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first task armed only with their wands. They will receive information about the second task when the first is over... Or shall I say you will be collecting the clues yourself. Did I leave something out?" Fudge said.

"Also, owing to the demanding and time-consuming nature of the tournament, the champions are exempted from end-of-year tests. Also, the wand weighting ceremony would be held on the 21st of November." Dumbledore added as Fudge nodded his head.

"The wand weighting ceremony?" Harry asked.

"A wand expert will come and check if your wands are in perfect working condition for the tournament." McGonagall said.

"Now, I suggest that you all go to bed champions. Madame Maxime, Igor will you join me for a nightcap?" The two shook their heads at Dumbledore's question before they lead their respective champions out of the chamber. The rest of the professors and the minister followed them. Only Harry, Cedric and Dumbledore remained in the room.

Dumbledore turned to his two students. "Harry, Cedric, I suggest you go up to bed," said Dumbledore, smiling at both of them. "I am sure Gryffindor and Hufflepuff are waiting to celebrate with you, and it would be a shame to deprive them of this excellent excuse to make a great deal of mess and noise. And Harry, do not worry. I am sure you will get through the tournament just fine. And I promise to find the one who put your name in the Goblet."

They both nodded and left the room, Harry heading to the Gryffindor tower while Cedric to the Hufflepuff dorms after they bid each other good night.

Harry entered the Gryffindor Common room and saw that people were already prepared to celebrate and party.

"What happened?" Lee Jordan asked.

"I have to compete regardless of not putting my name in the Goblet of Fire." Harry declared and a cheer went up from the people in the common room and the music started. His eyes sought Ron and Hermione in the common room. Ron was waiting for him in a corner of the room and tried to tell him something with sign language but Harry didn't understand it. Hermione was nowhere to be seen in the common room.

People lifted him on their shoulders and placed a Gryffindor banner on his shoulders before he was being paraded around. "Guys, put me down! I want to say something." They dutifully placed him on a table and Harry stood up.

"Speech, Speech!" The crowd cheered.

"Yes, yes... Thank you everyone. I get it that you all are very happy. But I have to say a few things. First and foremost I am not the Hogwarts champion, Cedric Diggory is." Harry said

"But you said you are participating!" a person shouted and protests followed. Harry immediately let out a bang from his wand silencing the protests.

"Yes, I am participating but not as the Hogwarts champion, but instead under the banner of House Potter-Black. Cedric is the only Hogwarts champion. The heads of the foreign schools were rather insistent that Hogwarts can not have two champions. I request you all to show support to Cedric as well as me in the name of school spirit and house spirit respectively. Thank you."

"Well, but a Gryffindor is still competing! Harry may not be representing Hogwarts but he is one of us. So, there is no reason to stop the celebration!" One of the Weasley twins said and people cheered before the party resumed. Harry shook his head before he moved away from the crowd towards Ron.

"What happened in there?" was Ron's question as soon as Harry reached him.

"The Goblet constitutes of a magically binding contract of sorts which compels me to participate in the tournament. If I don't, I run the risk of losing my magic. Moody and I even think that someone did it hoping that I would die in the tournament. Someone's hoping to kill me."

"Kill... you? That... that is absurd but yet... it makes sense mate. Hermione has been going on about how many people have died during the tournament since it was announced. But, Dumbledore said it is going to be safer this year mate."

"Hogwarts is said to be the safest place in the whole of Europe but still, a troll got in on Halloween, there was a basilisk in school, a dark artifact, Dementors, Pettigrew that we faced in the past three years. I guess they all qualify as unsafe. And god knows what is going to happen this year with the tournament and my name coming out of the Goblet. That all aside, where's Hermione?"

"Take a guess."

"... Library?"

"Correct. She left bout ten minutes before you arrived. Said that she will be checking if we can do something. Researching things to see if we can get you out."

On cue the portrait door opened and Hermione stormed in before she saw Harry and Ron and immediately walked towards them. "The library is closed till Monday morning! Can you believe it? Madame Pince didn't even let me in! Oh, Harry. What are we going to do now? Don't worry, I am sure we will find a way to get you out of this tournament. By the way, what happened in the ante-chamber? Did the Professors find a way to get you out?" She ranted.

"Calm down Hermione. Now,..." Harry narrated everything that had taken place in the side-chamber.

"I am going to send a letter to Sirius and Andromeda along with copies of the rule book right now with Hedwig. Andromeda has studied Law. She may find something but I don't think there is a lot of hope. Professor Dumbledore made that much clear. He literally read the whole rule book while standing there... well, atleast the relevant parts that could have had something. Meanwhile, Mad-eye is on the case. We couldn't have hoped for anyone better to investigate. He is the best there is."

"I agree. So, what should we do? Hermione and I? We are with you mate. If someone's hoping for you to die, let us ensure that their plan fails"

"For now? Research the history of the tournament. I want to know all about the types of tasks possible. That is for you to do Hermione. Ron, can you start research about XXXX and XXXXX creatures and specifically their weaknesses? That is when the library opens though. Let us wait to see if Andromeda or Sirius come up with something till tomorrow. Or by Monday, we will begin preparations." Both of them nodded.

---

"Harry, what happened in the ante-chamber? Will you have to compete?" Daphne questioned as soon as Harry entered the Room of requirements, where the three of them practiced dueling and other important activities. Susan was already standing beside Daphne in the room today tapping her foot impatiently.

Harry had only been able to go to the Chamber of Secrets in the morning and had instantly received a lecture from Helga on how should he have visited immediately after the goblet incident last evening. After that, they began discussing what the tasks could be and who could have possibly put Harry's name in the Goblet. Both agreed that someone was hoping that Harry would die during one of the tasks in the tournament. Salazar told him that the first task had creatures. Most likely XXXX or XXXXX creatures to be specific. Salazar assured him that the details will be definitely known a week before the actual task though. For now, they were only sure that the task had creatures, either to be subdued, passed after stealing something or killed. And doing any of this in presence of XXXXX creature was no easy task and for most wizards and witches, practically suicide.

Harry had also asked if one of their spy- portraits or elves- had witnessed anyone tampering with the Goblet of Fire. They said that there were no portraits in the Great Hall neither the elves had reported anything. The preparator was likely an adult, experienced wizard with an invisibility cloak or some other artefact to hide his or her presence. Of course, no artefact was as efficient as Harry's fabled cloak of invisibility but some were sufficient enough to do the task of tampering with the Goblet which, admittedly had next to no wards for safety if one was an adult wizard or witch i.e. of 17 years of age or older.

But despite all this, they had not changed Harry's training, citing that Harry was sufficiently knowledgeable, prepared and powerful enough to go through the tournament and win without resorting to a rigorous training schedule for the tournament. They would continue training as they were doing before, regardless of the Triwizard participation. Only near the task date, they would concentrate on the task at hand, just to make sure that Harry was prepared enough to face the task.

Harry already was at the level of a senior hit-wizard in terms of skills and power, both of which already outclassed most adult Wizards and witches, bar a few. And those few were the epitome of magical powerhouses and extremely qualified witches and wizards. Harry, according to the founders was probably among the top 15 most powerful and skilled witches and wizards in whole of magical Europe. And by the time Christmas rolled around, he would probably be in top 10. And he was fourteen-years-old while the rest were well into their adult life.

As his mother had said, 'you will surpass them all.'

The only concerning thing for Harry, that the founders had told him regarding his training was that this month, Harry would be learning to cast some of the most dangerous spells around - like fiendfyre, the killing curse, the cruciatus, the imperious and some other spells which were highly fatal or destructive in nature. He was also expected to master the fourth stage of Legilimency by November end and the sixth stage of occlumency by mid-January at the latest.

After his trip to the chamber and his subsequent regular training for the day, he went back in time, slept for some time in his dorms and had a second-breakfast in the Great Hall, before he went to meet his two worried girlfriends in the Room of requirement. He was immediately questioned on what had exactly happened after he had disappeared into the side-chamber. Harry patiently retold the story and answered their questions.

"There must be some way though! I will contact auntie. She may know something." Susan said. Harry gave a half-hearted nod. Even Salazar and Helga had read the whole rulebook while he exercised and much to his dismay, they hadn't found a loophole to get him out. Harry was competent enough to win the damn tournament but, why waste time and put your life at risk needlessly especially if you had a way out? But unfortunately, there wasn't one. And if Helga, Salazar and Dumbledore couldn't find a loophole, Harry seriously doubted that Amelia Bones would be successful.

"How are you going to prepare Harry?" Daphne asked.

"The usual. Learning spells that will come handy during the tournament and reading up on what could come in the tasks. I have already enlisted Hermione's help to research what type of tasks have previously been done while Ron would research on creatures and their weaknesses."

"I can understand that you put Granger on research... But, Weasley? That boy is literally at the bottom of the class and hates to study as far as I know." Daphne stated

"He wanted to help too. So, I gave him what I felt appropriate. Plus, his elder brother works in a dragon reserve... so he may know something." Harry said with a shrug. Ron wasn't the best person when it concerned academics or anything apart from quidditch really but he was still Harry's first friend.

"What do you think of the other competitors? Knowing your competition is important to win." Daphne remarked.

"Well... Krum is a powerful wizard and as far as I can tell, he will rely on advanced curses and the power spells that are taught at Durmstrang. So, essentially brute force but with Karkaroff aiding him... He will be a tough opponent. Cedric on the other hand, as much as I hate to say it, is perhaps the person I am least worried about as he doesn't pose a lot of competition."

"And why is that?" Susan asked in an offended tone.

"Because he isn't a duelist, nor does he have knowledge of the so-called 'darker' variety of spells that Krum has." Harry replied.

Harry, Daphne and Susan had briefly discussed about the so called dark-spells after they had begun dating. Daphne did not have a lot of qualms about using them due to being from a traditionally grey family. Her father had even taught her a few border-line spells to defend herself in case it was needed. Also, a huge factor was that the ministry defined nearly every spell that a standard auror shield couldn't stop as a dark spell. The only saving grace for the ministry was that beyond a few specific spells, none carried a punishment even though ministry actively worked to erase the existence of the unpunishable-dark-spells from the hands of the normal public. Susan initially was hesitant but when Harry explained in the same way Helga explained him, she had written a letter to her aunt asking about dark-spells and what they were.

Amelia Bones had written back saying the same thing that Harry had told Susan. One could use a simple diffindo or the killing curse to kill a person. The dark spell classification was only to deter general public, specifically Half-blood and Muggleborns(and their descendants), along with the blind followers of the schemes of ministry from becoming too powerful or dangerous. If they ever led a coup, aurors could withstand the attacks without too much problems. If they used the so called dark-spells, it would become much more difficult to control any uprising that took place from the general public not to mention much more dangerous.

"I agree Cedric is a good bloke, hard working, intelligent and all of that... and perhaps the best Hogwarts has to offer from above 17 category but, he doesn't pose a lot of challenge to what the rest three of us can do. Fleur Delacour is extremely competent with a wand and an extremely good duelist, the runner-up of WDL to boot. Krum has knowledge of spells that would never be taught at Hogwarts and has crazy seeker instincts being an international quidditch star and all. I myself am the World dueling champion. Cedric as compared to us... is just a hardworking-kind-humble type student. A quintessential Hufflepuff if I have ever seen one. I am not saying that he isn't worthy of being a champion... just that he is the weakest amongst us four." Harry finished his explanation and Susan nodded.

"I get your point... But still I will be supporting you both."

"But, I am your boyfriend." Harry did not whine.

"So? I am supporting you, ain't I?"

"You can't support both of us! Come on... if you support only me, my morale would get boosted by like... a lot!" Harry gave her puppy dog eyes. Susan looked away blushing.

"Harry, don't put poor Susie in a quandary. She can't choose between her godbrother and boyfriend. But, I am sure she can make it up to you... Even I will help. Won't we Susan?" Daphne asked pulling the girl closer. Both girls grinned wickedly.

"And I am sure that Harry is incredibly stressed due to his name coming out of the Goblet of Fire too. We will help reduce it." Susan added.

Harry just grinned goofily in response remembering what the girls could do and the rewards he had received in the past two months from the two.

---

The following two weeks were spent normally for Harry. A lot of people had expressed their concern for Harry's safety due to the inclusion of Harry in the Triwizard tournament. This was likely due to the article that the Daily Prophet printed for the selection of Champions.

MURDER PLOT FOR THE BOY-WHO-LIVED IN THE TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT ?

by Barnabas Cuffe

As we have reported dear readers, that the famous Triwizard tournament has been held at Hogwarts again this year after nearly a century of being discontinued due to its heavy death toll. The tournament, famous for its danger factor is being held at Hogwarts and will continue for the better part of the academic year. The tournament consists of three dangerous trials that each contestant has to go through. The winner's name will go down in history and he or she will receive 10,000G price money and the Triwizard trophy to take home. Winning the tournament is indeed an achievement one could boast about throughout their life. But, this year the reestablished tournament took a rather ugly turn during the first ceremony itself.

On Halloween, the first ceremony of the Triwizard- Selection of Champions took place in the Hogwarts Great Hall. The ceremony is considered as the official beginning of the Triwizard tournament. An artefact, known as the Goblet of fire, is the impartial which chooses which champions would compete in the tournament. It also binds the person whose name came out, to compulsorily compete in the tournament and prevent them from backing away as the penalty of doing so would result in the loss of magic for the individual.

This year the names were drawn out for the Champions of Durmstrang, Beauxbatons Academy and Hogwarts on the evening of 31st October. The first name that came out was for the Champion of Durmstrang who will be the famed Bulgarian Quidditch team's star seeker, Victor Krum.

Next name came out was of the Beauxbatons champion, who will be Fleur Delacour. Fleur Delacour recently made headlines in France when she became the Runner up of the World Dueling league. She was undefeated in the tournament till the final match when, she was defeated by Harry Potter himself. The Daily Prophet has found that Ms. Delacour is a model student who is consistently at the top of her classes at the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic.

The next name to come out was of the much awaited Hogwarts Champion. Cedric Diggory, Heir of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Diggory will be representing Hogwarts in this year's Triwizard tournament. He is the son of Amos Diggory, the Head of the Control and Regulation of Magical Creatures Department(CRMCD) at the British Ministry of Magic. Cedric Diggory too is one of the top students at Hogwarts in his sixth year and the Seeker and Captain for the Hufflepuff Quidditch team.

Everyone thought that Viktor Krum, Fleur Delacour and Cedric Diggory were the three champions who would compete for the title of the Triwizard champion. But, that was when the Goblet sparked again and a fourth name came out of the Goblet. The name was of  Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived; Heir of the Most Noble and Most ancient houses of Potter and Black; World dueling Champion; and most recently, the winner of Order of Merlin First class for his capture of 11 death eaters at the Quidditch World cup earlier this year.

As soon as Harry Potter's name was called out, he swore an oath judged by magic stating that he did not enter his name in the Goblet of fire, neither did he ask an older student to do so on his behalf.

His words were, "I, Harry James Potter, hereby swear on my life and magic that I did not intentionally or knowingly put my name in the Goblet of fire. Neither did I ask anyone else to put my name in the Goblet of fire. So, mote be it. Ut Magica Iudex Juramento."

A golden glow surrounded him as soon as the words were uttered before he proceeded to produce a Patronus charm to prove that he still had magic and thus had not entered himself in the Tournament. Despite of all this, Mr. Potter would have to compete in the tournament due to the magic of the Goblet of Fire or loose his magic. We were later informed that to keep his friend, Cedric Diggory's position as the Hogwarts champion, Harry Potter himself gave up the Hogwarts Champion title and now, instead of Hogwarts he will be representing House Potter-Black during the tournament.

But the question is, Who put Harry Potter's name in the Goblet of fire? And why did they do so? Is this a revenge for Harry Potter's capture of 11 death eaters? Does someone wish to kill him?

We at the Daily Prophet are tirelessly working to find answers to these questions.

For more on Viktor Krum pg. 2

For more on Fleur Delacour pg. 2

For more on Cedric Diggory pg. 2

For more on Harry Potter and his achievements, pg.3

For more on the Triwizard Tournament pg. 4

For more on magical oaths pg. 9

Below the articles, there were coloured photos of Harry's oath and his Patronus along with a photo of a parchment coming out of the Goblet of Fire (and Dumbledore catching it). The photo of the other three champions were along with their articles on the second page in black and white instead of a colour photo.

---

Harry was sitting in the Library with Neville, Ron, Hermione, Susan and Hannah Abbott when Tilly, the house elf, popped into there with a note from Salazar and Helga. It read:

'Come urgently. We have found something important.'

Harry became worried. What would have happened so that Salazar and Helga would have called him so urgently?

"What is it Harry?" Neville asked.

"Professor McGonagall wants to meet me in her office urgently. She said to come to her as soon as I receive this note. Sorry, I have to go guys. Ron, can you pack up if I don't come back till Dinner?" Ron nodded at Harry's question.

Harry rushed out of the Library immediately. As soon as he went outside, he applied a perfect disillusionment charm even though there was no one around, and immediately apparated silently to the chamber of secrets.

He rushed into the main study as he removed the charm and entered. "What happened?"

"Oh good you are here. We have found something." Helga said.

"About what?"

"The first task of the Triwizard tournament." came Salazar's reply.

"Tell me everything."

Chapter 38: Preparations and Ceremonies

Ch. 38 Preparations and Ceremonies

"Cockroach clusters."

The gargoyle in front of the headmaster's office moved aside and Harry ascended up the steps of the magical escalator. Just before he could knock on the door, the Headmaster's voice called, "Come in Harry."

Harry entered the office and looked around the room. It looked the same as it had been when he visited the office in his second year. Dumbledore was sitting on the desk writing something on a parchment with an ornate Eagle feather quill. The most noticeable difference was the absence of Fawkes from the office.

"Good morning, Professor Dumbledore." Harry greeted. It was a Sunday and there were no classes. Next Saturday was the date of the first task. The previous night, Harry had ventured into the forbidden forest to see the various creatures that had been bought from different parts of the world. Salazar and Helga had told him about the creatures that were being brought but, Harry wished to see them himself.

According to Salazar and Helga, the first task would consist of three challenges. Each champion would have to face an magical creature and retrieve the thing they were protecting. Points would be given on the time taken, ingenuity and type of magic used primarily. Marks would be cut if the champion sustained an injury while dealing with the creature. And each creature was atleast class XXXX or XXXXX which they were going to face.

"Ah, Harry. Lemon drop?"

"No, thank you sir. I just had breakfast."

"Very well. If you don't mind me asking, what are you going out of the castle for today?"

"I need to take some things from my family vault sir. That is why I need to go out of the castle." Dumbledore nodded and gave him some floo powder before reminding him to be back as soon as he could, possibly by lunch.

Harry nodded and flooed to the Leaky Cauldron.

He gracefully stepped out of the fire place in the inn before he proceeded through the back door into Diagon Alley. He was thankful for the glamour necklace that Dumbledore had given him. As a result, he wasn't mobbed by the media or the public.

He went to Gringotts and asked the nearest goblin teller to take him to the Potter family vault. After a roller coaster type cart ride, they arrived at the Potter vault. It was at the lowest levels in the bowels of Gringotts. It was a maximum security vault too with a dragon and high level wards. Harry activated his mage sight to see what wards protected the vault.

The ward scheme of each vault was a closely guarded secret among Goblins and was not known to anyone. There was a reason that Gringotts was known as one of the safest place to keep things in the wizarding world after all. Much to Harry's chagrin, he couldn't recognize about 60% of the wards which were there on the vault door. He had never even seen those wards in his training with Salazar and Helga. He never expected to recognize every single ward but failing to recognize 60% of the ward scheme was something that Harry had not expected. This was something he would certainly look into.

He pressed his hand on the Potter crest and entered the vault. It was a sight to behold even though Harry had visited it twice before already. He immediately went towards the section where robes were kept. That was why he was here for. To take Battle Robes.

Battle robes were the robes made specifically to be worn in battles and war. They had a shitload of protective enchantments that made them extremely useful in battle due to the added protection they offered and the less bulk it had as compared to a dragon hide armor. They were barely thicker than normal everyday robes. Also, they were expensive as fuck. They were so expensive that not even the ICW war-commandos wore them as an uniform, rather going with a cheaper imitation made of acromantula silk.

True battle robes were made of acromantula silk weaved in dragonhide along with Demi-guise hair with Runes expertly stitched on the fabric to sustain magical power to hold the enchantments. The dragonhide protected the wearer from spell fire while the silk gave comfort and enabled fluidity of the fabric. A true battle robe served as an armor of sorts against several medium level jinxes and hexes and also enabled stealth due to their ability to camouflage like a chameleon due to the demi-guise hair. They also had added stealth enchantments like silencing charms and notice-me-not charm interwoven in the fabric. They were resistant against most normal fire and water spells too. It also had other knick-knacks like added weapon holsters, expanded pockets, cushioning charms, self-cleaning charms, weather charms, temperature charms, lightweight enchantment, resizing charms, easy body moment charm etc. Another important feature was the identity- concealing hood that obscured one's face and changed voice when needed. All these enchantments were meant to last for several decades without degrading.

The fabric needed to make the robe itself costed about 1500G to make due to the materials as well as the trickiness of the sewing process. The enchantments could only be done by a master of enchanting due to its difficulty and the precision required which would cost about 5,000 G for a single robe. Plus miscellaneous costs increased the overall cost of the robe to about 7500G easily. This was the making price. When sold, it costed even more as the seller made a huge profit from it. It was a huge price to pay for a robe.

It was a testament to the immense wealth of the Potter family that they had a dozen battle robes lying around in their vault, waiting to be used. Harry took a black-grey robe with a Dragon stitched on the back and breast. It was a great-horned Hebridean black dragon, holding a sword and roaring to the heavens. The war banner of Charlus Potter and Arcturus Black in the Grindelwald war and later, the symbol of the Dragon Legion (which was primarily founded by them, along with a few other members). It was the symbol which put fears in the hearts of the Knights of Walpurgis- the followers of the Dark Lord Grindelwald. His Grandfather and along with Arcturus Black were also famously known as butchers of Walpurgis and this was their battle robe. Perfect. It represented both of Harry's houses and the warrior quality in Harry and it was in pristine condition too.

Harry put it on and it shrunk to fit him perfectly. It was like a second skin and extremely comfortable. Harry removed the robe and neatly folded it before he put it in a bag. Now, for some other things. Harry immediately started looking around the Potter vault, searching for things that would aid him in the tournament. He picked up two Goblin-silver daggers which were a 12 inches in length from top to hilt. Next he picked up a couple of books on creatures and wards. They were both obscure books that were not in the chamber... atleast Harry hadn't seen them yet. He also took a bag of Galleons from the vault before he decided that it was enough for now.

Harry nodded at the Goblin standing there as Harry exited the vault. The vault locked itself and Harry climbed into the cart to go back up.

---

"Good you are here. The elves have just finished making your vests." Helga said as soon as Harry returned from his trip to the Alley.

"Vests?"

"Yes... Basilisk hide vests to be specific. It is thinner than a dragon hide vest, less bulkier and enables more movement while also offering more protection. Edgar."

An elf popped in with two vests held in his hands. They were poisonous green coloured, the same as Bessie, whom Harry had killed two years ago.

"Why two? And why is it needed?"

"It is needed for protection and two, because you may need a backup if one is damaged in some fight. You will be preparing both now. One will go in storage till you need to use it. It is better to enchant both at once because we will be using blood magic."

Harry frowned. "I already got a battle robe. Why do I need a vest? That too, enchanted with blood magic? Battle robe will offer enough protection for this tournament."

"Yes... for the tournament it may be enough. But, you would need it in the future too. And it is the best that you win this tournament unscathed as it is very likely that there would be a murder attempt on you during it. So, protection is your best option. I know that you are capable enough to handle most threats on your own without all this, but they would try to catch you by surprise and kill you. So, it is the best that you make this basilisk hide vest as well. It would decrease your movement by a little, but the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. The movement hampering will not even be that much to make a difference to a wizard of your capabilities." Salazar said.

Harry nodded. It sounded fair enough. Basilisk vests enhanced with blood magic would give him an insane amount of protection while hardly hampering his movements, a flaw which could be overcome with plenty of practice. The Basilisk-hide vest was loads better than a Dragonhide vest or armor. That added with the Battle robes he would be wearing would make him almost invulnerable.

"So, if you are ready, then start the blood magic process. It will take a few days for all the protections that we would make you put to get at full power."

"Okay... let us start... I am not looking forward to cut my hand though..."

"Stop being a wimp. You have done it several times. You are a Gryffindor or not?" Salazar said. Harry maturely struck his tongue out at him before he went and started collecting his blood in a bowl to draw runes on the two vests.

---

Harry, Ron and Hermione were walking toward the COMC class when a voice called out from behind them as they neared Hagrid's hut.

"Ah look boys. What have we got here? It is the champion himself! " It was of course Malfoy who was speaking. "Have you got an autograph book? Better get a signature now, because I doubt he's going to be around much longer... Half the Triwizard champions have died.. . how long d'you reckon you're going to last, Potter? Ten minutes into the first task's my bet."

"Ah, the blonde ferret along with his boyfriends and puppy Parkinson, I was wondering when you would all come to waste my time and make a fool of yourselves. And I assure you that I would last longer in the tournament than you could. Also, you should put ten minutes as the time the task will last because I am sure by then, I would have accomplished the task."

"Ha! Over confident much Potter? I bet you would die in the first task like most champions did. The mudblood and the Weasel should be saying their last goodbyes." Crabbe, Goyle, and Parkinson laughed at the statement

"You shouldn't compare standards with what a Malfoy can do, Draco. Not everyone is an incompetent wizard like those born in the Malfoy family." Harry said coldly.

Malfoy's face contorted in anger and he whipped out his wand and shot a teeth growing spell at Harry. Harry swatted the spell away before he transfigured Malfoy into a Ferret. Parkinson, Crabbe and Goyle whipped out their own wands but Crabbe and Goyle were disarmed by Hermione and Ron with ease as Parkinson's arm shattered due to a well placed bone breaker-disarmer from Harry. A crowd had gathered around them witnessing the events taking place and laughing at Malfoy's fate.

Harry summoned the ferret into his hands. "Attack me again Malfoy and I will ensure that you are fed to Buckbeak in Ferret form." The ferret squealed in terror. "The same goes for your henchmen and Parkinson. I have been kind this time. Next time you call my friend that slur, I will make sure that you spend the rest of your pathetic life as a crippled ferret after of course I declare an honor duel against you for insulting a person protected by the Most Noble and Most Ancient house of Potter." The squeaks of terror increased. "Same goes for your henchmen." He added casting a glance at the three. Crabbe and Goyle stood there confused like the dumb idiots they were and Parkinson was clutching her broken wand arm.

Harry banished Ferret-Malfoy and he slammed into a trunk of a nearby tree. He scampered off towards Crabbe and Goyle and started biting their feet as the two looked confused at Draco. "Pick him you idiots and help me to the Hospital wing." Parkinson shrieked and they followed her orders.

"That was wicked Harry!" Ron said.

"Thank you for defending me Harry, and putting Malfoy in his place." Hermione said.

"Nonsense Hermione. There is no need to thank me."

Needless to say, an hour later, Harry found himself in McGonagall's office defending what he had done. Malfoy received several detentions for attacking Harry and calling Hermione a mudblood. Snape even gave Harry detention for a month for breaking Pansy's hand and transfiguring Malfoy into a ferret but Harry reminded him that he was a triwizard champion and was technically exempted for participating in any normal school activities except classes and so, he won't be showing up for detention.

Snape frothed at his mouth before taking 500 points from Gryffindor. Thankfully, McGonagall was there and restored the point loss and warned Snape to stay in his limits when he started shouting. Snape had stormed out of the office at that point. McGonagall had harshly reprimanded Harry for transfiguring a student into an animal before giving him 10 points for brilliant transfiguration. That had brought the point loss to a reasonable 40 points due to the incident as she had taken 50 points for it earlier.

---

Harry was currently seated in the potions classroom brewing an antidote to the hallucination-inducing potion. Snape was hovering on Neville's neck, making the poor boy nervous. Neville had became Snape's primary target since the shrieking shack incident. He no longer bothered Harry much except for trying to grade him unfairly in class assignments, but he couldn't give Harry any less than an E because Harry's potions were perfect. Harry dared say, that Snape was scared of him now. Harry had been nearly successful in sending him to Azkaban and had Dumbledore not used his immense influence, he would have succeeded in the endeavor. That is not to mention about Harry attacking him with a lightning strike and later leaving him in chains for several hours till the spell wore off. Also, Harry's capture of eleven of his buddies may have put Snape on edge. Harry had captured them ruthlessly, even crippling a few for life.

Harry didn't know why Dumbledore was hell bent on protecting the dour potions master and having him as a teacher. Yes, Severus Snape was the youngest potions master in history to receive the title, but he was a horrible teacher and a death eater to boot.

"Excuse me sir." A squeaky voice sounded as the person knocked on the door.

"Yes." Snape asked curtly.

"Harry Potter has been called upstairs for a ceremony sir. It is for the Triwizard tournament." Colin Creevey, Harry's number one fan boy said.

"Potter! Leave your things here and I want you back down to complete your assignment."

"Please sir, he's got to take his things with him. All the champions are-"

"Very well! Go with your things Potter!" Snape snapped.

Harry nodded and vanished the potion. With a flick of his wand, the cauldron cleaned itself and all the things packed themselves in his bag. He picked up the cauldron and carried it along with his bag outside.

"It's amazing, isn't it, Harry?" said Colin, starting to speak the moment Harry had closed the dungeon door behind him. "Isn't it, though? You being champion?"

"No, it is not. I am being pushed into a death trap of a tournament against my wishes." Colin recoiled as if struck.

"I-I'm sor-sorry."

Harry sighed. "No need to apologize. I am not angry with you Colin, just telling you the truth. Not everything is as amazing as it seems and you will do well to remember that. Now, if you would excuse me, I need to use the bathroom." Harry said as he entered the nearest boy's lavatory and shut the door behind him.

He immediately apparated to the chamber of secrets and deposited his things before changing into his battle robes. They were going to be his uniform for the tournament as he was representing House Potter-Black. He won't be going in Hogwarts uniform because only Cedric had the right to wear the that for tournament business as each champion would wear for the uniforms of their respective schools and Harry for House Potter-Black.

He applied cologne and tried to tame his hair a bit before apparating back to the lavatory silently. He emerged out and went with Colin to where the rest were waiting. All the while, Colin was gushing about how cool Harry was looking.

"It's in here, isn't it?"

"Yes, yes. It-"

"Thank you Colin. We will catch up later." Harry said, briefly closing his eyes before he opened them and entered the room. His magical aura was already flared up and his eyes were glowing as his robes billowed behind him as he walked into the room. All eyes turned to him.

Cedric and Fleur were sitting on chairs in a corner of the room while Viktor was standing, tapping his foot.

"Ah, the youngest champion." Bagman said. "Nothing to worry about, it's just the wand weighing ceremony, the rest of the judges will be here in a moment with the expert. And then there's going to be a little photo shoot. This is Rita Skeeter. She's doing a small piece on the Triwizard tournament" He said, pointing to the mutton dressed as a lamb. Rita Skeeter was looking horrendous with all the makeup, the jewelry, her hair style and tight acid green robes.

"Maybe, not such a small piece, Ludo." She said, her eyes gleaming predatorily at Harry. "I would like a word with the youngest champion. To add a bit of colour to the article and all..."

"Of course, Rita dear. We can have a small talk." Harry said with a wolf grin. Skeeter was taken aback for a brief moment before she composed herself and nodded. She went near Harry and grabbed Harry's arm in a vice like grip. Harry immediately reacted and freed his arm before twisting Skeeter's. "You will do well to remember not to touch me without consent, Rita." She whimpered in pain before nodding. Harry released her arm.

"Good, Ms. Skeeter. Now, let us have the word you want." Harry said and gestured her to follow him to the next door classroom. From her expression, Harry could tell that she was thinking of ways to ruin his reputation but that was not going to happen as Harry had come prepared.

"So, Ms. Skeeter. You wished to have a word, don't you? Speak. And before we start, if your articles are anything less than the absolute truth-"

"Or else what would you do? I have ruined countless powerful figures in the past with my poisonous quill and next will be you if you wish so." Skeeter sneered.

"I will make sure that I crush you like I would crush a water beetle with round markings around her eyes." Harry replied calmly as if he hadn't been interrupted.

Skeeter paled.

"Oh, I see you understood what I am speaking about." Harry said with a grin. "Yes, I know about your illegal Animagus form."

"So-so what. I can always go and register. Then what would you do?"

"Rita, Rita, Rita. Don't behave like a fool. You know that past actions have a repercussion. You have been working for the daily Prophet since past 15 years and have gathered intel illegally on several people including powerful, important Political figures and dragged their names through mud. Now, you were spying illegally by trespassing on their properties and eavesdropping. Also, who knows? You might even have done so to take family secrets of families of the sacred 28? Perhaps even the Most Noble and most ancient houses." Rita lost all colour. Her legs were already shaking.

"The last crime itself will be enough to give you the Dementor's kiss. Even if not that, it will be enough to dose you with Veritaserum and be questioned. You don't even have the pureblood exemption as you are a half-blood. And, you will do well to remember that the guardian of my girlfriend is the Head of DMLE herself. It will be pretty easy to get the word to her about all this, won't it?" Harry asked with a grin.

"And don't even think of trying to obliviate me. I am faster than you and I have contingencies in place if you are successful." Harry added as Skeeter's hand gravitated towards her wand.

"Wh-What do y-you want? T-to keep this t-to yourself?" Skeeter asked, already knowing that Harry had a deal for her. Or else, she would have been in Azkaban by now.

"Now you are talking business my dear." Harry said with a wide smile before he took out a paper... more specifically, a contract. "If you sign this then we will both be in an agreement."

Skeeter gingerly took it and started reading it.

"This essentially says that I WILL BE WORKING FOR YOU!" she shouted after she finished going through it.

"Geez. No need to shout. In case you were unaware. you already work for me. I am the majority share holder of the Daily Prophet and essentially the boss of your boss, Cuffe. But currently, you have a lot of freedom to write whatever you want to and I could not do a lot about it, atleast not legally without breaking the freedom of press clause." Harry informed her and her eyes widened.

"This contract just states that you would not write anything negative or anything fabricated about me, my family and those whom I consider as friends. Furthermore, you will protect all my secrets and show me the articles that would be printed by you in the Prophet regarding me. Also, you will take my requests to write articles on people whom I ask you to and publish them in the Prophet." Harry said with a smirk. Yes, if Skeeter signed this, she would essentially become his puppet, writing whatever Harry wished to get published in the Prophet. He would be controlling what the best reporter and the second in command of the Daily Prophet, the premium Newspaper in all of magical Britain, wrote in her articles.

"Of course in exchange, I will keep the secret of yours and not reveal your secret and crimes to the authorities."

"Yo-you can't be serious! This will ensure that I write whatever you wish for me to write!"

"I am as serious as death Rita, which coincidently is your other option. The evidence that the Boy-who-lived, the Heir of House Potter-Black, catcher of dark wizards, order of Merlin First Class will be enough to convince the Wizengamot about your crimes even if you may not have spied on family secrets of the Sacred 28 and, that is not to mention, the families whose reputation you have dragged through mud, already holding a grudge against you. I would just need to prove that you are an Animagus and have spied on people with it, which I do have. So, the Wizengamot will vote to walk you through the veil of death or sentence you to the kiss. You choose. Either sign this or I will have you in front of the Wizengamot which will sentence you to death."

"I w-will sign it."

"Good. Here." She signed on the indicted place with a flourish. Harry took it and signed on the place he needed to sign. The contract glowed, sealing the promise by magic.

"Now, you will write an unbiased account on each champion tomorrow and have a short interview with all of us. No negative press about us. I will tell you the rest when you take my interview afterwards. Now, I need to go for the ceremony." He said before leaving the room with the contract and going back to the room where the wand-weighting Ceremony would take place.

None of the judges other than bagman had arrived yet. Harry walked towards the place where the champions were sitting, well, Krum was still standing. "Ms. Delacour." Harry greeted, kissing her knuckles and giving her a charming smile.

"Monsieur Potter." She curtsied, eyeing his figure and attire.

"Cedric." He gave him a nod and turned to Krum. "And Mr. Krum. I guess we haven't been introduced. I am Harry Potter." He said sticking out his hand

"Viktor Krum. I have heard a lot about you in Bulgaria." He replied shaking Harry's hand. His accent leaked through a bit but otherwise it was perfect English.

"Thank you. I must say that even I have heard a lot about you too and your performance against Ireland was spectacular at the World cup."

"Thank you. My team still lost though."

"Losing and winning is a part of the game. What matters is whether you played your best game or not." Harry said sagely.

"Da."

"What are you wearing Harry? We had to be in our uniforms." Cedric asked, finally speaking up.

"This is my uniform, Ced. You are the Hogwarts champion. I am representing House Potter-Black. So, only you have the right to wear the Hogwarts Robes." Harry explained.

"But that is the logo of the Dragon legion." Krum said. Of course he would know. He was from Durmstrang, the place where Grindelwald had recruited heavily from.

"That is correct. But, it was first the war Banner of Charlus Potter and Arcturus Black. When they founded the Dragon legion, along with a few other members, it became the logo of the Dragon Legion due to its significance."

"Oh."

"I am sorry but what is the Dragon Legion?"

"Eet was the opposing force against zee dark Lord Grindelwald. Zey aided ze aurors and ICW against 'is forces- the Knights of Walpurgis. My Paternal Grandparents were also a part of the legion. Eet was where Grandmozzer met grandfather and they fell in love." Fleur said. Harry was amused about the love story part but didn't say anything.

That was when footsteps sounded and Dumbledore, Maxime, Karkaroff entered the room followed by Sirius and Mr. Ollivander. All of them stood to face them.

"Champions. Welcome to the Wand-Weighting ceremony. I see you all-" Dumbledore faltered in his step as his eyes laid on Harry and widened. He quickly composed himself. "-are here already. May I introduce Mr. Ollivander, the premium wandmaker in Britain. He will be checking your wands to ensure that they are in good condition before the tournament." Dumbledore finished before he took his seat at the judges chair, followed by the rest of the judges.

Sirius shot him a grin before taking his seat. Rita had also entered and was standing at one side of the room. Harry saw that Karkaroff's and Dumbledore were eyeing his attire, more specifically the emblem on it.

Ollivander stepped forth into the middle of the room. ""Mademoiselle Delacour, you first." He called.

Fleur swept forward and handed her wand to him. "Nine and a half inches... inflexible... rosewood... and containing... dear me... the hair of a Veela." Ollivander said inspecting her wand carefully.

Harry's mind immediately went to the incident that Dumbledore had told him about the Veela using a dragon heartstring wand before she changed it Veela hair. It had increased the power of the spells and Harry was willing to bet that Fleur's wand would increase the potency and power of Fleur's spells

"One of my grandmozzer's." Fleur added as Mr. Ollivander ran his hand along the length of the wood checking for bumps in the wand before producing a bunch of flowers from the end of it.

"It is in perfect working condition. Mr. Diggory, you next." He said handing Fleur her wand, handle first. She took her wand and walked back to her seat, shooting Cedric a smile on her way back.

"Ah, one of my creations! 10 and three quarter inches Male Unicorn hair... ash... pleasantly springy." He gave it a wave, conjured several smoke rings. "In perfect working conditions. You treat it regularly?"

"I polished my wand last night in the common room." Harry's lips twitched at Cedric's statement. Cedric came back to them as Krum was called.

"You polish your wand in the common room Cedric?" Harry whispered. Fleur covered her mouth to hide her smile as Cedric sputtered before mumbling to shut up.

"Hornbeam... 10 and half inches... Antipodean Opaleye Heartstring... Rather thick than one usually sees... and rigid. A Gregorovitch creation, isn't it?"

Krum nodded. "Da. One of his last creations."

Hephatetis Gregorovitch. The premium wandmaker and crafter in Germany and one of the best in the field worldwide. He was a follower of the story of the Deathly Hallows, particularly the Elder wand and had tried to replicate it with Thestral hair as the core but failed to do so. He was also the wizard to make Gellert Grindelwald's wand and one of the main suppliers for the Grindelwald youth- The magical counterpart of the Hitler youth during the reign of Nazi Germany and WW2.

"Avis." Ollivander incanted, shooting a flock of birds from the end of Krum's wand which went flying out of the window. "In perfect working condition." He proclaimed and gave Krum his wand back. "Which leaves... Mr. Potter."

Harry strolled towards the wandmaker and handed him his secondary wand. Ollivander nodded approvingly. "Oh yes. How well I remember this wand... Ebony, 13 inches, with phoenix feather core and a great horned Hebridean Black heartstring."

Harry looked around and saw surprised looks on the champions faces while the two foreign heads looked wide eyed. Dual core wands were rare. And added to the fact that Harry had a Great-Horned Hebridean Black heartstring in his wand proving that he was a powerful wizard and a dangerous wizard in combat and had affinity for all sorts of magics due to the versatile nature of the Phoenix feather. Harry was thankful that Mr. Ollivander hadn't told about the connection of the phoenix feather to Voldemort. Even though the wand was destroyed by Harry and the fact that the twin cores meant nothing, he still was uncomfortable with the connection.

Harry briefly wondered what would have happened if he had shown his primary wand to Mr. Ollivander instead as Karkaroff was still looking speculatively at Harry. His attention was drawn back to the wandmaker as Mr. Ollivander shot a fountain of wine from his wand before he vanished the mess. "In perfect condition Mr. Potter. I pronounce all the wands of the champions in perfect working condition for the tournament."

"Thank you all," said Dumbledore, standing up from his seat. "You may go back to your lessons now - or perhaps it would be quicker just to go down to dinner, as they are about to end -"

"PHOTOS!" Bagman cried as the camera man cleared his throat. "Photos Dumbledore. I say first with all the Judges and the Champions? And Rita here also wants an interview with you all."

Harry resisted to roll his eyes at the man's excitement.

---

Harry stood in front of a full length Mirror in the bedroom in the chamber of secrets. It was the day of the First task. He had already put on the Basilisk hide vest. Harry had spent several hours, doing blood magic on the vest. Now, the hide was impenetrable, spell and elemental resistant, untearable, lightweight as a feather, and had the ability to absorb impacts such that Harry wouldn't even feel it through the vest. Harry had also made compressed it with magic, making it more dense and thinner in thickness.

He examined that the vest was put on perfectly once more before he put on his Battle robe. He had been practicing spell casting and dodging in the attire for the past week and had grown accustomed to it. It no longer felt weird to wear a vest and a battle robe now.

He put on his arm and leg Holster followed by the knives and finally his watch. He flexed his shoulders before giving himself an approving nod and going for breakfast. He would need his energy to face the challenges that would begin in a couple of hours.

Notes:

Hey folks, for those who meticulously follow this story, I am sorry that I took so long to update so I did a double update today. But, from now, the updates will be a little slower like once or twice a week.

Also, I will be posting a new fic today: The Legend of the Son of Poseidon.
It is a PJO fanfic. Read it if you are a PJO fan.
Thank you.
Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep reading!

Chapter 39: The First Task

Ch. 39 The First Task

Harry stepped into the champions tent. He had just left his friends side after they had their share of last moment advises and wishes of good luck. Oh and of course, a good luck snog from Susan. Daphne had given hers the previous night. Professor McGonagall had also wished him luck as she escorted him from the Gryffindor table.

In the tent, Krum and Cedric were already present while the French Champion was nowhere to be seen. He gave Krum and Cedric nods and took a seat in a corner. He was actively using occlumency to calm his nerves.

'Come on Harry, no need to be nervous. You have seven plans ready to face each creature that is there. Don't worry.' He thought to himself but it did not reduce his anxiety.

After a minute or so, Fleur Delacour also entered and was soon followed by a medi-witch who was there to make sure that none of the champions had taken potions to cheat in any form in the task.

Sharon Wynter, was one of the top healers at St. Mungo's and was contracted for the duration of the Triwizard Tournament. She was renowned in Europe due to her prodigious skill in healing and had even been awarded the Order of Merlin, Second Class for her extraordinary services in the field of magical healing. Her job during the Triwizard was to tend to the champions after each task and make sure they were in perfect health before they faced a task. Madame Pomfrey would be helping her. Poppy Pomfrey was a highly qualified medi-witch but this Healer Wynter was on a whole different level. She was also appointed to make sure that none of them were doped with any sort of magical potion.

All of their results came negative for doping and they were in perfect health. So, the healer left the tent and immediately, Rita Skeeter entered. She wanted to ask them questions but none of them paid her heed. Krum also went as far as to say that she was not allowed as inside as the tent was for champions and not nosy reporters. Thankfully, Rita took the hint and left.

A couple of minutes later, Dumbledore, Madame Maxime, Karkaroff, Sirius and Bagman entered the tent. Sirius gave Harry an assuring nod and a smile but the worry could be clearly be seen on his face.

Sirius had send him a couple of letters and a book over the past week. In his letters he had written words like 'Hagrid', 'care of MAGICAL CREATURES', 'First Task' etc. with bold, uppercase letters. The book he had send was titled 'The Most Dangerous Magical Creatures' by Newt Scamander. In the book, Sirius had carefully folded the corners of the pages which had information on certain creatures. The main fact was, that all the creatures marked were actually going to be used for the first task. He had clearly found a loophole in the secrecy oath and exploited it.

"Champions." Dumbledore said. "I see you all are here. Mr. Bagman will be giving you instructions in a minute about the First task. But first, I have a few notices and instructions that are vital throughout any task. First and foremost, rest assured that we have taken several steps to keep you all safe in the tasks. You all will be given this ring. It is actually a voice activated portkey that I have made. It will be activated when you say the word 'Abort' thrice in succession and it will bring you straight to the medical tent where Healer Wynter and Healer Pomfrey will be present, to treat you if needed. Be warned though. Once you portkey out, the task will be considered done. You won't be able to go back. You won't get a second chance." Dumbledore said looking at each of the champion in their eye.

Harry had no plans on using that Portkey unless absolutely needed. He was going to win the Tournament to give a proverbial slap to the bastard who had entered his name in the tournament.

"Also," Dumbledore continued, "There are experts and Hit-wizards present to step in as soon as we feel that you are in danger or anything goes wrong. Third, you won't be able to summon anything from outside the arena once you are inside due to the protections we have put in place for the audience."

So, Harry's plan D to summon the firebolt and steal the treasure was out of the window.

"You have to face the challenges with only your wand. No other magical items are allowed except for protective clothing." Dumbledore reminded.

All the champions had worn some sort of protective clothing. Cedric and Krum had worn the top-quality protective equipment that Quidditch players wore. Fleur Delacour was wearing a Dragonhide armor on her blue-dueling robes. Armors were thicker and more restrictive than vests but also offered much more protection. Of course, any Dragonhide armor wouldn't hold a candle in front of Harry's Basilisk-hide- blood magic enhanced- vest. The vest could take a physical blow with the with enough power to level a thick wall behind it but, Harry would hardly even feel it impacting him. That added with the battle robe he was wearing, made him invulnerable to any physical blow and any school level spell.

As for Harry's knives, they weren't magical, at least not technically. They had no magical properties like curses or enchantments. They were just metal knifes laced with venom (he had laced the silver daggers from the family vault with a powerful variant of the venom on the knife Salazar and Helga had given on his birthday).

"Each task will also be recorded on the magical viewing mirrors, similar to those used recently at the WDL and the QWC. Now, Mr. Bagman. Can you give the instructions for the First task?" Dumbledore asked.

The magical viewing mirror's function was same as a football match broadcast on a T.V. Only, instead of a camera recording it, there was a ward over the field and inside the tent too (which was already active) and instead of a T.V., there was a mirror. They had been invented recently, about half a decade ago, by an Indian couple living in the USA.

"Yes. Yes. The First Task! The first task isn't going to be a singular challenge rather, be divided into three challenges or let us say three rounds. In each round, each of you will have to retrieve a golden key after bypassing or defeating the guardian of the key. Simple. Your time will be recorded from the point you enter the arena, to the point you exit it. Once you exit the arena, the challenge will be considered complete. You will be given points when the round has been completed by each champion. After that, you will be given instruction for the next round."

Harry could tell from the faces of the other champions that they too knew about the task or atleast had an idea what it was. He knew that Fleur and Krum had already seen the creatures that had been brought along with their headmaster/headmistress, courtesy of Hagrid. He had apparently thought that taking Madame Maxime on a date to see the creatures was a good idea. Hagrid had told Harry that He had seen Krum and Karkaroff near the creature enclosure and caught Fleur Delacour entering her carriage as he and Maxime had exited the forest. Of course, Hagrid had also taken Harry to see the creatures. Harry had no problem taking another glimpse of the creatures to confirm what he was up against.

And Cedric's dad, Amos Diggory was the Head of the Control and Regulation of Magical Creatures department(CRMCD) at the Ministry of magic. There was no way that he hadn't informed his son about it. The tournament officials had to register at the CRMCD to use the magical animals that they were using in the tournament after all.

"Now," Bagman continued "the first round is simple. Each of you will have to take the golden key by facing the guardian or, should I say guardians, whose identity you will come to know as soon as you step out into the arena. Also, to make this first challenge more interesting, we have laid magical traps in the arena which you have to avoid. The challenge is same for all of you. There won't be any difference in the guardians you will be facing or the traps laid. The rest of the champions can not witness the task while another champion is performing, so, you all will stay here till your chance comes. The points will be out of 50, 10 points by each judge. Got it? Wonderful!" He finished excitedly. Bagman looked like a kid who had been gifted a candy shop.

"Ahem. The coins, Ludo." Dumbledore reminded.

"Wha- oh the coins. Yeah." Bagman said before he took out four coins and gave each of them one. "Now, tap the coin with your wand." The four champions did as instructed and a number appeared on each coin. Harry's coin displayed the number 2.

"Tell us your numbers. Ladies first."

"3" Fleur said.

"4" Cedric said as Bagman looked at him.

"1" grunted Krum.

"2" Harry spoke with a shrug.

"So, this will be the order you will go. First, Mr. Krum. followed by Mr. Potter, Ms. Delacour and Mr. Diggory in that order. Good luck." Saying so, each of the judges left, each offering words of encouragement.

Harry took a deep breath to calm himself. He may have known which creatures were being used in the first task but, he didn't know which creature will be used in which round. Also, he had no idea about the traps and seeing the faces of the other three, they too didn't have any idea. Cedric was visibly sweating, Fleur's eyes were panicked while Krum was fidgeting with a worried expression on his face.

Harry was using Occlumency to revise everything about wards and traps that he had read and learnt about from either Salazar or the books from the Potter and Black Libraries. He needed to deal with the traps before confronting the creatures and taking his key. He couldn't afford to fall into a trap while fighting a XXXX or XXXXX creature.

He could use mage sight to see the wards and avoid them as he confronted the creatures, which was not the best idea... He could hide and dismantle the traps before confronting the creatures to leave him a clear path. He could also use a Parseltounge spell that Salazar had taught him to simultaneously activate the traps around the arena as soon as he entered, making them useless, but that wasn't the most ideal solution. He could also transfigure an animal to go ahead of him so that the animal would get trapped before him and he would avoid the trap. Also, that animal could be used in attacking the creature.

A bang went off and Krum went out of the tent. Harry took the seat he was previously occupying and sat in silence. Cedric had started pacing up and down while Fleur also took a seat and tapped her foot impatiently muttering things under her breath. She was revising spells to detect traps and neutralize them or get out of them. Harry was actually impressed by whatever he could hear with his enhanced hearing. It was also a wonderful revision for him.

About fifteen minutes later, to Harry's surprise, Percy Weasley came into the tent. "Mr. Potter." He said in a formal tone, like he never knew Harry personally. "Mr. Krum has just completed his first. Be ready. At the sound of the canon, you have to step into the arena. They are making the arena ready for you." He said before exiting again.

Harry got up and stood near the gate of the tent. Fleur gave him a smile and Cedric gave him a thumbs up. Harry returned the smile before saying, "Well, good luck to you both for the first challenge." On cue, the canon went off and Harry stepped out of the Champion's tent.

---

The first thing Harry saw as he entered the Arena was a rocky terrain and three different types of creatures: Three Orcs, Two mountain-Trolls and two Acromantula Spiders size of a small car. And all of them were surrounding a pedestal, which likely had the key on it. The Trolls and the spiders were standing inside the boundary of sorts that the Orcs had formed, basically protecting them from direct assault.

Orcs were basically bigger-meaner brothers of trolls. They were stronger, more intelligent, faster and more magic resistant than a Troll. Also, they were wielding a huge-ass double-sided axe and a Roman-type metal shield each. The trolls had a wooden club in their hands.

'Okay... Trolls and Acromantula spiders are easy to get rid off. I can defeat the trolls like Ron and I did on Halloween in my first year... without jumping on its back that is... The spiders won't be too tough to incapacitate... But, the Orcs would be a problem especially with those shields and they are protecting the rest...' Harry thought to himself as he took cover behind a rock. He had not expected them to be placed in such a formation that too with shields neither had he expected for this combination of animals. He has estimated that each champion would get the same species of creatures. He didn't want to use battle magic or elemental spells especially to take down some XXXX creatures who were harmless until they were close. That was when a brilliant idea came to Harry.

He decided to use mage sight first to see the traps that Bagman had spoken about. The first thing he saw was the dome surrounding the arena, protecting the audience and silencing their voice from entering the arena, likely to prevent the animals from getting agitated. Harry, could see the audience was already cheering wildly for him though. There were several posters that people were waving, and Harry caught the glimpse of one of them saying 'Potter for President', the same poster that Dean had made for his first Quidditch match before he turned his attention to the arena for the traps.

There were several traps laid throughout the arena. Some would hang him upside down as soon as he stepped on them, one trap was a text-book fire-pit trap which was widely found in magical tombs in Egypt and would release hot flames upwards on whomever had stepped on the trap. A few would make him dizzy, make him puke, put him to sleep or break his bones. Some were designed to petrify him or jinx him with the leg-locker jinx and the Jelly-leg jinx. A couple were Hallucination traps and some were practically prank traps that would alter his physical features like growing toe-nails, making him bald, putting his nose upside down, making his teeth grow etc. Also, there was an anti-summoning field along with a magic blocking shield-ward around the pedestal. So, either Harry would have to go and physically take the key or break the wards and summon the key.

Harry decided to immediately act as he had already been inside for almost a whole minute already. He shot an advance version of Finite, immediately dismantling the prank traps in a single spell. Those were practically harmless traps but would become an hinderance in the task. Next, he dismantled the jinx-traps like the petrification traps, the dizziness ones, leg-locker traps etc.

After another minute of working only three traps were remaining: two which hanged the victim upside down and the fire-pit. The judges were looking at him critically, all of them wearing special glasses. Glasses made to see magic. Those worked only for a couple of hours in total and were fairly expensive. The cheapest versions of those glasses costed about 200G. Also, they only showed that there was a magical trap or a ward present. It wasn't possible to discern what the trap or the ward would do unlike using mage sight. By using mage sight, a person could even determine what the ward or the trap would do, their weak points and the power behind them. The glasses just highlighted the area where it was present with a colour. They were basically an artifact to visually replicate a detection charm.

Also, bagman was saying something pointing at Harry and looking at the crowd, but Harry couldn't hear him due to the silencing charms around the arena. 'Probably giving commentary on what I am doing.' Harry thought to himself.

He neutralized the last three traps instead of dismantling them and stepped out of his cover and walked forward towards the creatures. As soon as he came into view, the orcs also started moving forward towards him, their shields raised in front of them to protect their bodies. Harry's wand immediately sprung into action and transfigured their shields into tigers.

The orcs were immediately attacked by those tigers. But, they were Orcs, not humans. The tiger's claws hardly made a scratch on their thick skin and the Orcs were only a little injured before the tigers were cut down with the axes they wielded. But, Harry wasn't ideal either. Harry hurled rocks bigger than the size of basketballs towards the Orcs with a wave of his wand.

The Orcs roared in pain but were not knocked out. An Orc bent down and picked up a rock and hurled it at Harry. The rock was as big as a bean bag and sailed towards Harry. He immediately blasted the rock to dust with a Confrigo.

That was when Harry saw the Trolls and Acromantula spiders moving towards him too.

'Shit. I need to end this fast.' Harry thought to himself. He immediately launched several curses at the Orcs. A severing charm that would have cut a human into half made a thin cut on the Orc's skin. Just how thick were they? So, Harry decided to go with lower level elemental spells. First he shot several gallons of water from the end of his wand, drenching the orcs and the stone ground beneath them, before launching the next spell.

"FULMEN FORTE". An arc of lightning shot from Harry's wand and impacted the Orcs, instantly knocking two Orcs off. The third Orc wasn't affected because it had staggered away from the group. The last Orc roared in rage and charged at Harry with his axe held high. Harry instantly shot ropes at the feet of the Orc making it fall on its face with a crunch. Harry turned his attention to the spiders who were rapidly closing the distance.

Harry shot two Bombarda Maxima at the spiders, killing them instantly.

The Acromantula spiders were a menace in many forests, including the forbidden forest (which was Hagrid's fault), because they multiplied faster than a catholic rabbit and caused massive damage to the ecosystem. They were also known to kill people who had stumbled near their nests for food. Harry had personal experience with that one. No one would fault Harry for killing them off. Also, the parts of an Acromantula were useful in potions, so there would be profit from the deaths of the two spiders too. Orcs and Trolls on the other hand were used to guard important things. Their body parts didn't have use in potions except for their hair. So, killing them would be a waste especially for no reason. It was better to knock them out

The Trolls also charged towards him but ran extremely slow. So, Harry just levitated their clubs like Ron had done in their first year. The Trolls looked up stupidly and Harry dropped the clubs on his face after applying an heavy-weight charm on the clubs, knocking the Trolls out.

So, the Trolls and Orcs were knocked out, the Acromantula spiders were dead. Harry started jogging towards the pedestal where the key was kept. He picked the key and started to jog towards the exit. There were no traps left and his path was clear. As he neared the exit, he heard a roar of rage. Harry turned and saw the Orc he had tripped had gotten up and was preparing to charge towards Harry. Harry resisted the urge to groan and roll his eyes at the same time. Groan because he would have to fight the Orc again and roll his eyes because the Orc was doing the same thing he had done the last thing.

But, Harry wasn't going to do the same thing twice. He activated the trap that he had dismantled that was on the way between the Troll and him. As soon as the Troll stepped on the trap, the Orc suddenly was hanging by his ankle upside down. The Orc roared but Harry didn't pay it heed and walked back to the exit. As soon as he stepped out he could hear thunderous applause from the audience and heard Bagman say in his magically enhanced voice that boomed over the noise of the applause and cheering. "-TTER REACTIVATED A TRAP THAT HE HAD NEUTRALIZED AND USED IT AGAINST THE ORC! WHAT A FEAT OF MAGIC HARRY POTTER HAS SHOWN. LETS SEE WHAT MS. DELACOUR WILL DO NEXT!"

Harry smiled and walked ahead into the medical tent.

Krum was already sitting there on a bed sulking, his golden key in his hands. As Harry entered, his head shot up and Krum looked at Harry. Krum's robes and protective equipment was muddy and damaged a bit.

"Are you alright Mr. Potter?" Healer Wynter asked.

"Not a single scratch."

"I will determine that. Come and sit on the bed." Harry rolled his eyes. Krum's lips twitched upwards as Harry was made to sit on the bed and Sharon Wynter waved her wand over him.

"Hmm... You appear to be alright."

"Really? I couldn't tell. It was almost like it was my body you were asking about." Harry said dryly. The healer rolled her eyes before lightly slapping him on the back of his head and going back as Krum let out a chuckle.

"What happened to you." Harry asked Krum, pointing towards his clothes.

"The ground did all the damage. None of the guardians even touched me."

"Yes... the ground was certainly not ideal to roll in." Harry conceded.

It took fifteen more minutes for Fleur to enter. She looked unharmed except for a beard that was growing rapidly on her face. It was already long enough to reach her knees. It was a comedic sight but Harry didn't laugh. The Healer again bustled over and a minute later, Fleur was free of the beard.

"You fell into one of the prank traps, didn't you?" Harry asked, trying to hide his amusement.

"Oui. I meesed one as I went towards ze exit."

"Pity. What did you do?"

"I disillusioned myself and did a smoke screen spell and sneaked towards ze key after dismantling the traps. But ze spiders sensed me as I picked ze key and attacked. So I cut zere legs off and took ze key before running towards ze exit as ze Orcs and Trolls followed. I created a ring of fire, stopping zem. So, I started walking to the exit, keeping an eye on zem. That was when I stepped on ze trap." She said. "What did you do?"

So, Harry narrated what he had done followed by Krum. Krum too had taken the direct approach of attacking the creatures. Half-way through his tale, an injured Cedric Diggory portkeyed into the tent. All the champions immediately rose to their feet seeing Cedric condition. "He-lp" Cedric croaked before passing out.

The two healers immediately rushed to Cedric and levitated him away to the adjoining room.

Cedric Diggory had aborted the task and from the looks of it, he was fortunate that the portkey had been provided. He was bleeding in several places, his arm was hanging limp, his leg was bent at an odd angle and he had a nasty bump on his head. His protective equipment was badly damaged and clothes torn in several places. His breathing was shallow. Harry shuddered to think what would have happened if Cedric hadn't portkeyed away. This was the reason that this tournament was dangerous and was discontinued 80 years ago. Cedric would have most likely died if he hadn't aborted.

Two minutes later Dumbledore rushed into the tent followed by Sirius, Maxime and Karkaroff. Bagman was nowhere to be seen.

Dumbledore looked at Harry. "Where is Cedric?"

"The healers took him inside that room." Harry said pointing to the door the healers had taken Cedric in. Dumbledore's eyes widened.

"How was his condition?"

"Bad. He was badly injured and his breathing was shallow."

"That explains why they took him to the emergency room straight away." Sirius mumbled. But, Dumbledore had moved towards the door and entered. The other three judges stayed there.

"What 'appened?" Fleur asked

"Mr. Diggory stepped on a trap designed to break bones as he walked towards the Orcs while attacking them. Apparently his transfigured dogs missed a few traps. As soon as he fell, the Orcs charged and the poor boy froze in fear. The first one, thankfully kicked him away instead of impaling him. He was badly injured by the rocks in the arena and the force of the kick but fortunately managed to abort. Currently, the experts and hit-wizards are working to subdue all the creatures." Sirius informed in a regretful tone.

Five minutes later, Dumbledore came out. "You all will be happy to know that Mr. Diggory is out of danger. He is still being healed but is in no danger of loosing his life." Harry and the rest let out sighs of relief. "That being said, now only you three will go ahead to the next round as Mr. Diggory has aborted the task. Please proceed outside champions. We will be giving you your scores. After that, please proceed to the champion's tent again where we will give you further instructions."

They all nodded and walked out of the tent along with the judges. Soon the judges were seated except for Bagman who was standing. "Dear audience! It is time for us to give the scores to the champions for their first round. All the judges have signed contracts to mark all the champions fairly so that there is no partiality or cheating." At the statement, Karkaroff shot a glare at Sirius as Sirius smiled smugly back in return. "First, scores for Mr. Krum of Durmstrang."

First Madame Maxime shot an 8 in the air, followed by Sirius who gave a 9 to Krum. Dumbledore put up another 8 and Bagman also shot a 9 like Sirius. Karkaroff paused for a while, trying to think what to do, before he too shot a 9.

"The total for Viktor Krum is 43/50." The crowd rose to its feet to cheer at the score. "Next, the scores for Harry Potter!"

Madame Maxime shot a 10, so did Sirius, Dumbledore and Bagman. Karkaroff waved his wand but nothing came up. He tried again before gaining an angry expression on his face and giving a 10.

'He likely tried to cut my marks over something trivial and unfair but the contract didn't let him.' Harry realized with amusement.

"The total for Harry Potter comes to a fifty! A PERFECT SCORE! But, it was expected after all as Mr. Potter disabled all the traps, wasn't injured and also completed the task in the least time. This has certainly shortened the odds on Mr. Potter! Let's have a huge round of applause! Come on audience!" Bagman said, but his voice was already being drowned under the sound of the cheering.

It took a minute for the applause to die away. "Next, the points for Ms. Delacour, the Beauxbatons champion."

Maxime shot a 9, so did Sirius, Dumbledore and Bagman. But, Karkaroff shot a 7.

Harry blinked. Fleur did not deserve something as less points as a 7. She was uninjured and only had fallen into a single trap. She deserved a 9 points. No more, no less. But, the marking seemed to be fair as Karkaroff wasn't stopped by magic of the contract like he did with Harry.

"Ms. Delacour also receives a total of 43 points! Let's give her a huge round of applause!" Bagman said. "So, the current standings are: Harry Potter in the first place with 50 points. And Mr. Krum and Ms. Delacour are tied at 43 points each! Mr. Diggory is unfortunately out of the first task and receives a 0 as he aborted. We will start the next round in a few minutes. Champions proceed to the champions tent and stay put. We will come and give you further instructions."

The three champions nodded and went to the tent. After 5 minutes, the five judges also entered and Harry felt the broadcasting charm for the mirror activate.

"Champions! As we know, the first round is already over and Cedric Diggory, the Hogwarts champion has aborted the task. Now, it is time for the second round!" Bagman said. "So, this round is similar to the first. It will have a single guardian and no traps though. You just have to go and collect the key from the nest of the guardian." Bagman said cheerfully.

Harry immediately understood what he was talking about. Dragons. Mothering Dragons to be specific. They were the only ones who built a nest.

Taking something from the nest of a mothering Dragon was suicide for anyone other than highly trained wizards and witches. In Dragon sanctuaries, Mothering Dragons were assigned only to the most experienced handlers and their salaries were astronomical for doing so. It wasn't regarded as the most dangerous profession in the wizarding world for nothing.

Thankfully, Harry had a plan and several backup plans. He along with the two founders had sat down and brainstormed for a whole day coming up with those.

"Now, put your hand in this bag and take out a model. The model depicts the guardian you will be facing, well err... there are different varieties of it in this round. Ladies first." Fleur put her hand in the bag and removed a model of the Dragon - a Welsh Green. It had the number two around its neck.

Next Krum put his hand in and pulled out the scarlet Chinese Fireball. It had a number three around its neck.

Harry held his breath and put his hand in the bag. He knew only two Dragons were left and he was hoping that he didn't get that one. Not that he had a problem with facing any breed but one Dragon was the tamest of the lot and the other was the most dangerous breed of Dragon alive.

He pulled out the Hungarian Horntail model with the number four around its neck.

'Damn it. Of course, just my luck that I get to face the only Dragon I was apprehensive of facing, which happens to be the most dangerous type of Dragon alive.' Harry thought to himself.

"Very well, now as Mr. Diggory is not there and the Swedish short snout was number 1, Ms. Delacour will go first to face the Welsh green. Followed by Mr. Krum who will face the Chinese fireball and finally Mr. Potter who will face... the Hungarian Horntail." Bagman said. "Good luck champions." he added before hurrying out of the tent.

The rest of the judges offered words of encouragement and luck to their respective champions except Dumbledore who wished everyone before leaving.

"Pup, whatever you do, just come out alive. Don't die. Okay. The tournament is not important, you are." Sirius told Harry softly and he nodded.

Soon the canon went off and Fleur left the tent to face her Dragon. It took more than 10 minutes before Percy Weasley came running into the tent to inform Krum that he would be next. He also told that Fleur had successfully completed her task. It took ten more minutes before the canon went off again and Krum went to face his Dragon.

It took six or seven minutes for Percy to arrive again and inform him that Krum too had completed his task. Harry was next. Harry took a deep breath and steeled himself. After fifteen minutes Percy came back in and told Harry to wait for a few more minutes as the Dragon handlers were trying to get the Horntail into the arena. That statement made Harry nervous.

Finally the canon went off and Harry stepped into the arena to face the most dangerous breed of Dragon alive.

The Horntail was in the middle of the enclosure, crouched low over her clutch of eggs, her wings half-furled, her evil, yellow eyes upon him, a monstrous, scaly, black lizard, thrashing her spiked tail, heaving yard-long gouge marks in the hard ground.

It was an intimidating sight. The Dragon was over 60 feet tall and could crush Harry by just stepping on him. As soon as the Dragon saw him, she roared to the heavens and let out fire from her mouth in the sky. The flames shot fifty feet high did nothing to ease his worries.

'Okay... Plan A.' Harry thought to himself before he cast an invisibility charm. It was an higher version of the disillusionment charm but gave perfect invisibility. The spell was invented by Salazar and Harry was the only person alive who knew about it.

He added a notice-me-not charm, a scent removing charm, and silencing charm on himself before he changed his position. He started inching closer to the Dragon. The Hungarian Horntail was looking around but, she could not find him. So, she curled around her nest. That was when Harry put the second part of the plan in motion.

He conjured several birds to attack the Dragon. The birds flew towards the Dragon and started pecking at her head. Meanwhile, Harry wasn't idle either. He transfigured the rocks in the enclosure to wolves, which ran towards the Dragon's nest. Harry himself started running towards the nest from the other side as the wolves ran towards the Dragon as she was dealing with the birds by breathing fire at them but, the birds were flying around her head and she couldn't burn them down in one breath.

The Dragon was starting to get agitated and was already at her full height, trying to combat the birds and the wolves. Harry transfigured a few more rocks into wolves and sent a flock of birds towards the Dragon again to keep her occupied, now that he was a dozen meters away from her nest.

The Dragon roared in rage and flapped her winds causing Harry to crouch down and hold his ground from the powerful winds the Dragon had caused. The Dragon was now using her tail to avoid the wolves while shooting flames at the birds flying around her head. Harry again started going towards the Dragon's nest. He could clearly see the key now. He unfortunately couldn't summon the key without breaking the wards around the nest and he didn't want to risk the Dragon coming to know that something was wrong due to the shift of magic underneath her.

So, Harry dashed towards the nest but had to duck underneath the spiked tail of the Dragon as it smashed where he had been crouching a few minutes prior. One spike grazed his shoulder but Harry's clothes protected him from getting injured.

He dashed again and picked the key up before running towards his exit. He had to dive out of the way of the spiked tail again as the Dragon smashed another wolf that Harry had transfigured. Harry continued running and dropped the invisibility charm once he was far enough from the Dragon to not get injured if the Dragon saw him. The crowd rose to their feet as Harry raised the key in his hand before leaving the enclosure.

He entered the medical tent and saw that Fleur and Krum were sitting on a bed. Krum had a nasty tear on his clothes but the skin under it looked just fine. The healer must have healed him. Fleur on the other hand, had burnt robes but her skin was just fine. Harry himself had muddy clothes but otherwise looked fine.

Healer Wynter came over to check Harry and he just sighed before obeying, knowing that there was no escaping from the healer.

---

"Wonderful! All three of you have completed the second round. The points as you all know are as follows: Harry Potter at 98 points followed by Viktor Krum at 85 points and then Ms. Delacour at 83." Bagman said.

Madame Maxime and Karkaroff had cut one point each stating that they couldn't see Harry while he was collecting the key(Sirius told him that part). So, Harry had got 48 points. While, Fleur, who had put the Dragon to sleep had got 40 and Krum who had attacked the Dragon got 42.

"Now, for the third round. It is the same as the second round but, this time the creatures that you will face would be completely different from each other and you have to collect the key they are guarding. Well, ladies first." He said presenting the purple bag to Fleur. She was shaking from head to toe. She also knew what was coming. The only creatures left were the most dangerous creatures. Dragons in the last round were dangerous but, the ones that were left could be even more deadly. Dragons didn't attack unless threatened. The creatures which were left were known to attack wizards and witches without reason too.

Fleur put her hand in the bag and pulled out a multi headed reptile. The thirteen-headed Hydra to be precise with a number 1 around its neck. While Basilisks were referred to as the king of snakes, the Hydra was the queen. The Hydra had deadly venom, second to only the Basilisk and could breathe fire like a Dragon and also spit venom like a cobra.

Harry had seriously wished to get the Hydra. Why? He was a damned Parselmouth. Snakes would always listen to a Parsel-speaker and revered them too. Harry would have just gone and ordered the Hydra to step aside, took the key and exited the arena. But, damn his luck.

Next, Bagman offered the bag to Harry. He put his hand in and removed a Chimera from the bag. Of course. His damned luck ensured that he got the most dangerous of the lot... again.

"Ooh... The Chimera." Bagman said looking excited. Sirius looked horrified and scared. Fleur and Krum were giving him sympathetic looks. Dumbledore had a steely look on his face. He was probably using Occlumency to sort out his emotions. Madame Maxime looked scared while Karkaroff was smiling. Harry glared at the death eater and he flinched and looked away. He was seriously resisting the urge to strangle Bagman and Karkaroff.

The Chimera was one of the most dangerous magical beast to exist and on number four overall. The only creatures more dangerous were the Nundu, the Basilisk and the Great-Horned Hebridean Black. And out of them, Basilisk and the Great-Horned Hebridean Black were considered extinct. So, the Chimera was arguably the second most dangerous creature alive.

It had the head of a lion, the body of a goat and the tail of a Dragon. The head could breathe fire and the tail sting was venomous. The Chimera could also run very fast and climb mountains easily. Most importantly, its skin was very much like Dragonhide- resistant to most spells bar the most powerful ones and its strength was astronomical. It was known to break iron chains with unbreakable charms easily. It took no less than 5 dozen wizards to subdue or kill one according to the books that were written on the Chimera. Never in history had the Chimera been subdued or killed by less than 60 wizards. But, then again something similar was written for the basilisk but Harry had killed one when he was 12 singlehandedly with a little help from the phoenix.

When the founders and he were making plans for the first task, and the Chimera's turn had come, Salazar had said, "I have three brilliant plans to combat the Chimera if you face it, and I really pray that you don't face that beast. Plan A: Use the killing curse to kill it by hitting it inside the Chimera's mouth. Plan B: Use fiendfyre and turn it to ashes and Plan C: Throw the most powerful Battle magic spells you know at it or high-powered elemental spells. Whatever you do, kill it. It is impossible to subdue it singlehandedly. The best you can do is kill it as killing it will be much easier than subduing a Chimera. Dragons are one thing... but no one in their right minds would actually pit school children against a Chimera of all creatures."

"Mr. Krum, if you will?" Bagman asked Krum, breaking him from staring sympathetically at Harry .

He put his hand in the bag and removed a Griffon with a number 2 on its neck. It had the body of a lion and the head of an Eagle. and its tail extended and had a spiked ball on its end. Another very dangerous creature.

"If anyone wishes that they do not want to face their opponent, inform us now. There is no shame in avoiding a deadly opponent. Your life is more important than a few extra points" Dumbledore told everyone before pointedly looking at Harry.

Harry stood firm. He had prepared plans to face the Chimera other than what Salazar had suggested. Salazar's plans were kept as an last resort too. Harry had already perfected casting the three unforgivable curses and casting the Fiendfyre. He could now perfectly control Fiendfyre enough that he could use it to just light a candle or burn down a whole building with the spell.

"And, if you are in danger, abort the task immediately champions. I wish you all luck with the challenge." Dumbledore said before leaving with the rest of the judges. Sirius stopped and looked Harry in the eye for a few moments asking him if he was sure. Harry gave him a nod and he too followed the rest of the judges.

"You didn't even want to participate. Why are you reesking your life by facing the Chimera?" Fleur asked once the three champions were alone in the tent.

"What is life without a little risk?" Harry asked her, quoting what Sirius had said to him once. "And I want to test myself, I want to see how capable I am. If I find myself in danger, I will simply portkey out. Also, whoever put my name in would get the shock of their life if I actually win all the challenges, won't they?" He added with a smirk, sounding loads more confident than he actually felt.

Fleur gave him a weird look before saying, "Well, then I weesh you luck."

"Good luck to you too Ms. Delacour." Harry said cordially.

The canon went off and Fleur had to go out to the arena. Krum was looking at him speculatively. Twenty minutes later, Percy came into the tent and told them that Fleur had sort off completed her task before telling Krum to be ready. Apparently Fleur had picked the key up before she aborted the task. It took ten more minutes for the bang to go off, signaling that it was going to be Krum's turn.

Harry started pacing around the tent... He was going to be facing the Chimera in a few minutes. He conjured a glass of water and took a couple of sips before breathing deeply.

'I have killed a fucking Basilisk with only a sword and a phoenix when I was a skinny, untrained twelve year old. Now, I have been training for more than a year under the founders. I am the youngest dueling champion. I have taken down Acromantula spiders, trolls, dementors, Orcs, death eaters and bypassed a dragon. I am an arch-mage and a Battle-mage. I can take down a Chimera. Come on.' Harry tried to encourage himself. Harry was feeling really nervous and even a little scared.

Ten minutes later Percy once again came in and informed that Krum had aborted his task too and he would be next but, it would take time. Harry merely nodded and took a seat.

Almost 25 minutes later the canon sounded and Harry stood up from his chair and walked towards the exit of the tent

---

As soon as Harry entered the arena for the third time that day, the first thing he saw was the pedestal and then the sheer number of wizards and witches standing ready, just outside the boundary of the enclosure, ready to step in at a moment's notice. That was when he heard the roar. The Chimera had seen Harry and was running towards him from Harry's right. Harry immediately erected a dome shield to protect himself. He had learnt that shield spell specifically to combat the Chimera, Hydra and the dragons in the first task a couple of days ago.

The Chimera was around 4 meters tall in height and had a meter long tail.

It pounced on the dome but was instantly repelled. It tried to kick the dome and hit it with its spiked tail. The dome repelled all the attacks and Harry held it. The dome was collecting energy from the brute attacks of the beast. The Chimera got fed up of physical attacks and breathed fire at the dome. Harry smirked as it had no effect. The shield was specifically designed to collect energy from any physical attacks and elemental spells but it couldn't stop spells like jinxes, hexes and curses.

The fire was impressive but didn't do shit to Harry. Seeing this the Chimera roared in rage and charged at full speed towards the dome before ramming into it. That was what Harry was weighting for. He released the spell, creating a shockwave of energy. The Chimera was flung away several meters. Harry immediately started moving towards the center of the enclosure towards the pedestal while transfiguring several rocks into tigers and lions which charged at the Chimera. He even added a flock of birds.

The Chimera roared in rage and started killing the animals at an incredible speed. It burnt the birds with a single breathe of fire at them. By the time Harry picked up his key, the Chimera must have killed around 50 transfigured animals and that was not counting the conjured birds! This won't do. If he kept doing so, he would be magically exhausted by the time he reached the exit! He needed to kill the damned thing if he wanted to reach the exit.

The Chimera roared again, killing two tigers with a single strike of its tail before turning another flock of birds. Harry stopped the turning the rocks into animals and instead transfigured a single rock into a sharp metal spike.

'Gemino Duplicatus Maxima' He shot a charm at the spike, and it started multiplying. The Chimera bit the last tiger, killing it before it charged at Harry.

Harry immediately banished more than a dozen spikes at the charging animal. It dodged.

Yes, it fucking dodged the spikes by crouching and jumping over it. It even slapped a few away with its tail: all except one which scored a thin gash on the left side of its body which looked like a papercut. The Chimera roared again and resumed charging.

"Sonus Buttius." Harry incanted, over powering the spell. A sonic wave issued from his wand. The Chimera stopped and held its ground before roaring in pain. Harry banished the last remaining spikes at the Chimera. Only two hit and embedded themselves in the body of the Chimera, their ends sticking out from the other side. Any creature would have died if they had two huge ass spikes embedded in their bodies but the Chimera released a mighty roar.

Harry instinctively shot a dozen flaming arrows at its eyes. One hit its mark while the rest bounced off the Creature's skin. The Chimera roared again. Time to end this.

He shot a massive lightning whip from his wand. It was an high level elemental spell that Salazar had taught him. It was similar to the fire whip, only made of lightning and much more difficult to wield than the former. Normally, the whip won't even affect the Chimera but, Harry didn't hit the Chimera with the whip directly. He hit the spike embedded in the Chimera's body and held it. The beast roared in pain. before falling to the ground and writhing in pain as it was electrocuted. A minute later the Chimera lay still and Harry let go of the whip. He waved his wand, casting a diagnostic spell on the chimera. It was dead.

Harry panted for a few minutes before walking towards the exit. He had done it. He saw that most people in the stadium were gaping or cheering. Sirius was bouncing up and down in his seat. Dumbledore wore a proud look. The rest two school heads were gaping at Harry while bagman looked like all his dreams had come true. Harry seriously needed to figure that guy out.

Daphne was cheering in her seat, looking like she wanted to come down and snog him. The rest of his friends were nowhere to be found. Harry shrugged and proceeded to the medical tent.

He seriously needed a pepper up potion and some sleep.

Chapter 40: Of Girlfriends, Dark Lord and Dancing

Notes:

WARNING: Lemon in the chapter. The place where the lemon will begin and end will be MARKED, so that you can skip the part if you're uncomfortable with such content. The chapter contains plot too so read ahead.

Ch.40 Of Girlfriends, Dark Lord and Dancing

As soon as Harry walked into the tent, the first thing that he saw was that Cedric, Fleur and Krum sitting up on their respective hospital beds... well, Krum was lying on his stomach, shirtless with paste coating his back to heal some extremely nasty cuts which were clearly hade with talons. They were not a pretty sight to see. Cedric had bandages wrapped around his head, his arm was in a sling and his legs had a cast on them. He was also shirtless like Krum and there was healing paste on various spots across his torso.

Fleur on the other hand had bandages on her left leg. Either she had been touched by the Hydra venom or badly burnt by the Hydra. The former was more likely as her Veela Heritage gave her a certain immunity against fire. Normal flame spells like Incendio or the bluebell flames wouldn't even harm them one bit.

As soon as Harry entered the tent, all eyes turned to him.

"You're alive and uninjured?" Fleur asked with bewilderment, blinking her eyes to confirm she was seeing perfectly.

"Obviously." Harry said before he turned to Cedric. "How are you feeling Cedric?"

"Like a herd of Hippogriff ran over me. But, I will be fine."

"That's good."

"Why is she so shocked that you're alive?"

"She had very little faith in my ability to fight a Chimera." Harry replied.

"YOU FOUGHT A CHIMERA!?" Cedric yelled before he began coughing violently. Healer Wynter who had been standing there immediately rushed to Cedric and did some sort of spell which ceased his coughing.

"Mr Diggory! Control yourself! You have just came out of the medical emergency ward child. Don't shout, it will put stress on you." She chastised and Cedric nodded.

"'Ow did you do eet?" Fleur questioned.

"Killed it."

"What?" It was Krum who asked. Cedric was wisely keeping quiet as Healer Wynter was still glaring at him.

"I killed the Chimera." Harry repeated with a casual shrug.

"Come Mr. Potter. You look completely uninjured but, I will still check you." The Healer told Harry after she shifted her attention from the Hogwarts champion.

Harry sat on the bed as she ran diagnostic spells on him before saying, "I must say Mr. Potter. You look remarkably uninjured for a person who has just fought trolls, orcs, spiders, a Hungarian-Horntail Dragon and killed a Chimera in the last four hours."

"Well... Thank you. But, can I have a pepper-up potion? I am feeling exhausted." Harry replied.

"I don't know what they were thinking when creatures like Dragons, a Gryphon, Hydra and most maddeningly a Chimera of all things for a school competition. The Orcs and trolls were alright but this is madness." Madame Pomfrey spoke up as she handed Harry his pepper-up potion. Healer Wynter nodded in agreement.

Harry drank the potion and shook his head as steam came out of his ears and he felt a rush of energy. "What happened to you two?" Harry asked Fleur and Krum once the side-effects of the Pepper-up potion stopped.

"Ze Hydra spat its venom and some splashed on my leg. Eet was just after I picked my key. So, I portkeyed out with the key as eet hurt a lot." Fleur replied, suppressing a wince.

Hydra venom, when it came in contact with skin or fabric, reacted very similarly to a muggle-laboratory acid. It left second-degree to third-degree chemical burns on the skin depending on how much cam in contact with the skin. Thankfully, the magical world had treatment for it and the person wasn't scarred for life unlike in the muggle world. But, that was better than being bitten by the Hydra atleast.

"The Gryphon clawed me on the back. The gear protected me to an extent but it was destroyed in the process." Krum replied while still lying on his stomach facing away from Harry.

Gryphons, while not extremely dangerous like a Chimera or a manticore were formidable opponents in their own right. They had a tendency to collect shiny treasures and protect them fiercely. Also, their claws were extremely sharp, deadly and almost unbreakable. There was a reason that the Gryphon claw was such a valuable material in the market. So, collecting a shiny golden key which a Gryphon was protecting was a suitably dangerous task.

"HARRY!" Susan's voice called and Harry turned towards the source of voice, only to feel a pair of lips smash against his own. Susan was snogging Harry like her life depended on it.

Harry moaned into her mouth as he felt her tongue battle his own for dominance. They jumped apart as someone cleared their throat. That someone was Hermione who was smiling at them mischievously.

"Ahem. You two love birds can snog the life out of each other later." She said and Susan blushed. Harry just raised his eyebrow at her, unfazed by the statement. Ron grinned beside Hermione and gave him a wink and a thumbs up.

Fleur was looking amused and... jealous? While Cedric was looking away from where they were. Krum was still facing the wall as his back was injured and he was lying on his stomach.

"That was awesome mate." Ron said.

"What, the kiss or the task?" Harry asked with mirth.

"Err... I was talking about the t-task." Ron stuttered. "I can't believe that you killed a Chimera. A Merlin-be-damned Chimera. It was awesome!" He gushed.

"Yeah. No one has single-handedly killed a Chimera in history Harry." Hermione said. "It is said that it takes around 60-70 wizards to subdue a Chimera. Harry, what you did... will go down in history." She gushed like Ron.

Harry briefly wondered if this was the reaction of his best friends, what would Ginny and Colin do? Hermione and Ron, who were his best friends for more than three years were gushing about his achievements. Colin and Ginny were already his biggest fanboy and fangirl respectively. Their reactions would be astronomical.

"Yeah. By tomorrow they will be calling you the boy-who-kills-Chimeras or something." Ron added and Harry groaned, breaking out of his musing.

"That's just what I needed. Another moniker. Like the boy-who-captures-dark-wizards wasn't bad enough... I swear if they give me one more moniker like that for killing the Chimera, I will sue them." Harry grumbled and his friends laughed. The Boy-who-captures-dark-wizards was the literal headline of the Daily Prophet after the Quidditch World Cup fiasco.

Susan went to check up on Cedric but, that was when five Judges entered the tent. Sirius beamed at Harry and he smiled back before casting a glance at Karkaroff, who flinched as he met Harry's eyes.

"Ms. Bones, Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley, what are you all doing here?"

"Err... we came to congratulate Harry, professor and see if he was alright." Ron said.

"And also see Cedric." Susan added.

Dumbledore smiled at them before saying, "While, your concern for your friend is admirable and the wish to congratulate him on his achievement is completely acceptable, I am afraid that I would have to request you all to leave the tent so we can broadcast the points and the next task's instructions. You can meet up with them afterwards."

Harry's friends nodded and immediately left. Then the broadcasting enchantment was started with a wave of Dumbledore's wand.

"Champions, we decided to come here to award you points and give you instructions for the next task instead of calling you all outside, seeing that some of you are injured." Dumbledore informed in his grandfatherly voice, casting a glance at the three injured champions who nodded gratefully .

"I am pleased to inform you that this marks the end of the first task. Now, as for the points for the third round, Mr. Krum aborted the task after being injured by the Gryphon so, we have to give him zero points. Ms. Delacour on the other hand picked the key up but aborted the task as her leg was injured due to the Hydra spitting venom on it. So, we decided to award her 25 points out of 50 for the round."

Fleur smiled and nodded at the statement.

Harry decided that it was fair enough because she technically completed the main part of the task and only was unable to reach the exit. So, 25 points were fair.

"Mr. Potter, on the other hand completed the task by slaying the Chimera, a feat previously unheard of and wasn't even injured in the process. So, we decided that we will be awarding him... full points." Dumbledore finished before looking at Bagman.

"Oh... err... Yes! So, the standings are as follows," Bagman started after consulting the parchment in his hand. "In the first place, Mr. Harry Potter with 148 points, followed by Ms. Fleur Delacour with 105 points, followed by Mr. Viktor Krum with 85 points and finally in the fourth place, Mr. Diggory with, unfortunately, zero points." Bagman said.

Everyone in the tent nodded at the results. Sirius shot Harry a smile and had a proud look in his eyes. Karkaroff was glaring at Harry and Fleur. Madame Maxime looked concerned while Bagman looked like his dreams were coming true. Dumbledore was looking every bit of the grandfatherly headmaster with twinkling eyes and everything.

"Professor Dumbledore, will you give them the instructions for the second task while I fetch the eggs?" Bagman asked. Harry frowned. What did he mean by eggs?

"Of course Ludo." Bagman nodded and exited the tent.

"Champions." Dumbledore addressed them. "The second task will take place at half past nine on the morning of February the twenty-fourth. All of you, in the meantime won't be idle despite the three month gap that you are receiving in-between. We will be giving each one of you a golden egg. The Golden egg will contain a clue for the next task. Now, there would be two rounds in the task and there is a little... ah, advantage that each one of you will receive according to the number of keys you retrieved today."

Cedric's smile dropped. He won't be receiving a single advantage since he hadn't taken a single key.

"The advantage will be declared on the day of the task in the concerned round. As I said, you would be given the clue for the first round of the task. We are not telling you what the first round is. You will have to figure it out yourself from the egg we will give you. For the second round, you will have to retrieve a treasure by breaking through wards that we and the rest three champions choose to put up."

"Rest three champions?" Krum asked.

"Yes. You all will be given three boxes to ward to the best of your abilities. The wards you put up should be same on all three boxes as each box will be going to your fellow champions. Now, the boxes, one from each of your fellow champion will be placed in a room that our warders have warded. You have to break through the wards of the room, then proceed to break the wards on the boxes that his or her fellow champions have warded." Dumbledore said.

"There will also be an additional box that would have been warded by one of the four heads namely Madame Maxime, High-master Karkaroff, Lord Black and me for you all to break. For breaking the room's wards you will receive 20 points. For breaking the wards on a box, put up by your fellow champion, you will receive 15 points. And by breaking the ward on the box warded by one of us, you will receive 35 points. Of course, you won't get the box that your head of institute has warded. So, for example, Mr. Diggory will be receiving a box that would have been warded by either Madame Maxime, Lord black or High-master Karkaroff."

Cedric looked panicked. Harry felt bad for the boy. He was the weakest champion among the four of them.

He had no proper idea about warding and ward-breaking as Cedric had taken COMC, Charms, Transfiguration, DADA, Herbology and History of Magic as his NEWT subjects. He had no knowledge of Arithmancy and he had dropped Runes after OWLs despite having qualifying marks to take the class. He may be very good with charms but, that was not enough to break wards. Also, the quality of Hogwarts DADA classes, or the lack of thereof, put him at an huge disadvantage.

Fleur on the other hand was one of the top students in Runes, Arithmancy and Charms. She was actually pursuing a mastery in enchanting if the interview she gave was anything to go by and wished to join the Bureau d'Énigmes — The French equivalent of the Department of mysteries. She was also a trained duelist.

At Durmstrang, they had ward study as a compulsory subject since their third year, replacing Herbology. It was because the weather there was not suitable for most variety of plants save the local species. So, students couldn't study Herbology beyond the basics. They had also replaced DADA with combat magic. So, Viktor Krum had a bigger repertoire of combat spells than Cedric at the very atleast

Harry himself had studied wards extensively under the tutelage of Salazar and Helga. Also, many of his ancestors from the Potter family had been expert warders and curse-breakers. So, he had an extensive knowledge of wards that would make a senior Gringotts curse-breaker burn with jealousy. He was also a trained duelist, had studied spells long lost to time under the founders and had the Potter and Black family Grimoires at his disposal. It was actually unfair to the rest three of the champions that he was participating in the tournament. But, Harry had no choice other than to compete. And if he was going to compete, he would compete to win.

"Now, Ludo. Please give them the eggs." Dumbledore said.

Harry had been listening to the instructions so intently that he hadn't seen Bagman enter the tent, carrying four golden eggs. He handed one egg to each of them.

"If you look down at those golden eggs you're all holding, you will see that they open... see the hinges there? You need to solve the clue inside the egg - because it will tell you what the first round of the second task is, and enable you to prepare for it! All clear? Sure? Well, off you go" Bagman said in his usual cheerful tone.

Dumbledore waved his wand again and the broadcasting enchantment was ended. And soon they left after Krum, Cedric and Fleur were transported to the Hogwarts infirmary and Harry claimed the carcass of the Chimera and the acromantula spiders he had slain before he headed to the Gryffindor tower, where he was sure that a party was waiting for him.

---

The Riddle House, Little Hangleton

25th November 1994

Tom Riddle a.k.a. Lord Voldemort sat in a high chair in the Riddle House in Little Hangleton with his familiar Nagini curled around him as he Crucio-ed the man who had dared doubted his plans.

Thirteen years ago, he had gone after the Potter family on Halloween night, trying to end the person that was prophesized to vanquish him: Harry Potter. The child born as the seventh month, July, died to parents, Lily and James Potter, who had thrice defied him. He didn't know the rest of the Prophecy that his servant, one Severus Snape, had brought him after eavesdropping on an interview that Albus Dumbledore had taken to hire the divination professor: Sybil Trelawney, the great grand-daughter of Cassandra Trelawney.

The Potters had gone into hiding under the Fidelius charm shortly after their son turned a year old as he had sent numerous of his death eaters to end the family but the Potters had either evaded them or the order and Dumbledore had intervened causing a great loss to his forces. But they made a mistake while going into hiding. They trusted the wrong person and Peter Pettigrew betrayed them. The sniveling coward, also known as Wormtail was actually a pathetic and useless wizard who betrayed his own friends because he was afraid of him. But, he had not outran his usefulness at that time, so he had kept Pettigrew alive.

But, the night he went to the Potters, in his hubris, he never noticed the sacrificial ritual(or so he assumed) that the mudblood, Lily Potter had made which led to his downfall. The killing curse that he had cast was rebounded at him and had it not been for his horcruxes, he would have died. How the mudblood had gotten knowledge of such a ritual to rebound the killing curse that even he didn't have a clue about was beyond him. He didn't even know what she had exactly done! He was speculating that it was a sacrificial and blood magic ritual but he had no definitive proof of that fact. But, regardless, it had lead to his downfall that night and the subsequent rise of Harry Potter as the boy-who-lived and a symbol of hope for the world.

In the boy's first year, the year the Philosopher's stone was at Hogwarts, he had carefully observed the boy and concluded that he was nothing special, giving credence to his theory. The idea that the boy could even touch him had been thrown out of the window by Christmas. But, at the end of the year he had done just that. He had touched Quirrell and the man had turned to ashes, leading him to flee his host's body to Albania. He concluded it was probably due to whatever magic the mudblood had done which had saved the boy. The boy was no more than an average wizard.

One of his servants had come searching for him shortly after March 1994, and with the aid of the servant, who had came searching for him, they had worked together to give him the body of a toddler to enable him to make the journey to Britain. That was also when his servant had stumbled upon Bertha Jorkins, a witch working at the British ministry. From her, he had came to know two important things. One: The Triwizard tournament was being held at Hogwarts. And two: one of his most loyal servants, whom he had thought to be dead was still free but, under the imperious curse.

So, he had concocted a plan to regain his body and free his servant to aid him. All he needed was a few drops of the boy's blood. Which better enemy than the person who was credited for his downfall all those years ago? And the boy was an average wizard at the best. So, it would be an easy task to kill him and announce his return. The hope of Britain would be snuffed out with the corpse of the boy who lived.

But, all of those perceptions of Harry Potter being average had gone out of the window when he had returned to Britain. The boy was the youngest U-18 World dueling champion and already making waves in the wizarding world. Shortly after that, he had caught eleven of his followers who had tried to spread terror at the Quidditch world cup and sent them to Azkaban after facing them eleven to one! The followers may not have been members of his inner circle but they still were qualified witches and wizards.

Somehow, Harry Potter had gone from a weak, average wizard to a powerful and skilled wizard in a gap of 2 years.

But, he hadn't abandoned his plan. He entered the boy's in the Triwizard tournament with the aid of his freed servant. He would make sure that the boy would either die in the tournament or reach the cup and be transported to him, where he would use his blood to resurrect his body. Then he would duel and kill Potter, proving to the world that he was the most powerful wizard in the world and what had happened on Halloween 1981 was nothing but bad luck.

The boy had been entered in the tournament successfully and, Potter had proved his innocence in the matter with an oath. But, it didn't matter as there was no way out for the boy. He would have to compete. Lord Voldemort's plan was successful. Like usual.

And today, the news proclaimed that, Harry Potter had killed a Chimera. A merlin-be-damned Chimera! A feat unheard of. And the kill wasn't luck. It was skill. And power. He had seen the task in the mind of his servant by Legilimency a few minutes ago and also sensed his fear. The servant had then questioned him if it would be better to use the blood of some other wizard or witch other than Harry Potter.

He sneered at the thought. For all the boys accomplishments, he would still be the better wizard. He was Lord Voldemort. What could a boy, how much ever skilled, do against him when Albus Dumbledore had failed?

And it was better if the boy accomplished more of such feats. Wizarding Britain would look upon Potter as an figure of power and hope. And when he announced his return with the dead body of Harry Potter, their savior, it would give a message to the world: All those who dared oppose him, regardless of how powerful the person was, would fall by his wand. He was the greatest wizard of all time and no person could hope to stand against him. Not even Harry Potter.

He just hoped that his servant would keep the boy was successfully subdued till he regained a proper body. For all his skills, power and knowledge, he couldn't hope to duel Harry Potter or anyone for that matter, in the body of a toddler. Once he regained a proper body no person would be able to stand against him. Not even Albus Dumbledore or Harry Potter. He would finish the mission he had started all those years ago. He would rule the wizarding world.

But... yes... He shouldn't rely on a single servant. The boy was dangerous and could overpower most his servants as he had done at the world cup. Hmmm... what to do... yes, when would the rest of his servants come in use? Time to summon a few more death eaters.

---

Room of Requirement, Hogwarts

30th November 1994

Harry tapped his foot impatiently as he waited for his two girlfriends. McGonagall had announced a few days ago that the yule ball would be taking place at Hogwarts on 24th of December. Of course, Harry was aware of the fact but he had completely neglected it till now in the heat of the first task and learning new magic. Now, he had to dance in front of hundreds of people and international media at that.

McGonagall had informed him that he would open the ball with the other champions. He needed to bring a date and learn dancing. He had no problem with the former. He had two girlfriends and there was no need to look for a date but, he had still asked Susan officially to be his date to the yule ball immediately after that. And today was his first dancing lesson with her. Daphne was also going to help them. He couldn't take her to the ball as their relationship was a secret but, he had promised her a dance after the Yule ball.

Daphne was going to go to the ball with a boy from Ravenclaw. The boy she was taking was apparently into wizards instead of witches and already dating a boy from Hufflepuff. The Hufflepuff boy was going to accompany Tracy Davis, Daphne's friend to the ball.

A truly Slytherin move.

Soon, the door opened and Daphne stepped into the room, wearing Slytherin robes. Harry felt that the Hogwarts uniform was one of the worst articles of clothing made, as they hid his girlfriend's beautiful figure.

"Where's Susan?" She asked as she closed the door behind her. Harry shrugged in reply. She looked thoughtful for a moment before she grinned and closed the distance between them.

"Well, till she comes, let us do something, shall we?" saying so, she smashed her lips against Harry's and the couple started snogging.

"I am five minutes late and you both already started without me?" An exasperated voice asked from the doorway. Harry and Daphne broke the kiss and saw Susan mock-glaring at them with her hands on her hips "And I thought we were here for dancing and not for sexual activities."

They gave her an innocent look. "True. But we got bored waiting for you so, we decided to do something productive. Now, that you are here we can start Harry's dance lessons."

Susan nodded and they started Harry's dance lessons. They proved to be more difficult than Harry had thought and much more boring, But, having Daphne's and Susan's body pressed to his and stealing snogs was worth the torture.

Chapter 41: The Yule Ball

Ch. 41 The Yule Ball

Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts

7th December 1994, Wednesday

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Supreme Mugwump of the ICW, winner of Order of Merlin- First class, defeater of dark lord Grindelwald, one of the most powerful wizards to have walked on Earth sat behind his desk with his head in his hands at his most recent discovery.

His usually pristine office was currently in disarray. Books were strewn about, Quills were lying of the floor, the waste basket was upturned the visitor chairs were broken and the bowl of Lemon drops was lying shattered against a wall, its contents spilled on the floor. The cause of this was the headmaster himself.

Albus Dumbledore massaged his temples with his fingers feeling a huge headache of epic proportions coming.

Tom Riddle had made Horcruxes.

Merlin-be-damned Horcruxes.

More than one.

Horcruxes were a use of magic so vile and obscure that only a few people would have even heard of them in history. It was first created by Herpo-the-foul made by combining Soul magic, Necromancy and sacrificial magic- three branches of magic which were banned by most magical nations and even by the ICW. Only those at the department of mysteries or its equivalents were legally allowed to study it, that too, under strict oaths and binding magical contracts.

The normal public had no source of information on them, save perhaps ancestral books and family grimoires- a resource very few families had.

Thankfully, being Albus Dumbledore had its perks.

Albus had been searching answers for the phenomena of Tom Riddle's survival on the fateful Halloween night especially since the fiasco with the Philosopher's stone. It was only a year later that he had gotten his first lead in form of Tom Riddle's diary which housed his 16-year-old form and was used to open the Chamber of secrets. Fortunately or unfortunately, the diary had been destroyed by Harry Potter to kill the 16-year form of Tom Riddle with basilisk venom.

Basilisk venom was one of the most destructive magical materials in the world. It burned through anything and everything including high level enchantments, leaving no trace of their existence. It was the same with Fiendfyre. It left no trace of the magic that it had destroyed.

It was the same with the diary.

Whatever magic Tom had done on it, was no more. Not even a miniscule trace. But, Harry's account of events that had transpired in the chamber of secrets had given him a direction to look into: Soul magic. Since that very day Albus Dumbledore had started searching in that direction. He read through countless books to find an answer to what it was.

That was when he stumbled upon a line in a famous, rather infamous book: Magick most Evile. A book which contained the worst possible uses of Magic to be ever invented and used. And to his immense shock, there was only one line written on the subject of something known as Horcruxes in it:

"Of the Horcrux, wickedest of magical inventions, we shall not speak nor give direction"

A book literally titled 'Magick most Evile', refused to speak of the Horcrux due to its evil nature. He immediately understood that Tom Riddle had most likely researched and dwelled in the branch of magic. To most, the amount of information available on the subject would be frustrating. But, a single word was enough of a lead for Albus Dumbledore. He had immediately taken out a few books on myriad subjects from the ICW restricted library using his position as the Supreme Mugwump and today he had finally found of what the Horcruxes exactly were.

An Horcrux was an object which housed a fragment of the soul of a witch or wizard in it. As long as the Witch or Wizard had a Horcrux, their soul was tied to the living plane instead of passing on to the next great adventure.

The process of making one was itself evil. It involved the sacrifice of a soul... A cold blooded murder for the sole purpose of conducting a ritual which would tear an individual's soul in half and tether the torn half to an object while the other half stayed in the body itself. The ritual, according to the book, was very painful to do and complex to understand. One mistake and the doer would suffer a fate worse than death. Also, the soul... the cold blooded murder- wasn't the only thing the doer needed to sacrifice while making a Horcrux... It even took away a part of their identity and sanity. That certainly explained the changes Tom Riddle underwent to become Lord Voldemort- The terror of Great Britain.

One of the greatest advantages, according to the book, of making a Horcrux was that the object turned into a Horcrux became neigh indestructible. Not even high level blasting charms could put a scratch on the object. The only things capable of destroying the Horcrux was fiendfyre and basilisk venom that too because of their capability to destroy anything including magical enchantments. Also, a Horcrux could possess a human- muggle or magical, if one came into contact with it for a prolonged time.

The same thing that had happened with Ginevra Weasley which led to opening the Chamber of secrets. Thankfully, Harry Potter had yet again, saved the day with the help of Fawkes and the sorting hat killing a Basilisk and destroying one of Voldemort's Horcruxes in the process.

Albus didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the boy's luck. The first time Harry had (unknowingly)encountered a Horcrux, he had been facing a 1000 year old basilisk at the same time, and had enough instinct to destroy the diary with the Basilisk fang instead of anything else available in the room.

Harry Potter was another enigma in his own right. The boy before the chamber incident was an average student at best. But, after that, he had seemingly changed. He became the top student in his year and became what one could only term as a prodigious wizard. When he had returned in his third year, he had already mastered the Patronus charm and saved his friends from the dementors. Then, he had managed to get Filius to train him in the art of dueling and proceeded to go and win the World Dueling league.

After that there was the whole fiasco at the Quidditch World Cup where Harry had managed to single-handedly capture eleven death eaters who were tried and sent to Azkaban.

Now, the boy had been entered into the tournament and was facing mortal peril again. But, Albus had seen Harry's performance in the first task and was in awe of the boy's skills. He had managed to single-handedly kill a Chimera in the third round of the first task. And what a show it had been! Of course, it begged to question how had Harry gotten so skilled. Skilled enough to not rely on luck, rather pure skill and power to kill a Chimera of all creatures.

Of course, the boy had two huge, old libraries of his ancestors at his disposal. And Filius was an excellent teacher. But, what the boy had shown was on another level.

The transfiguration and the conjurations Harry had used in the first task were flawless. Albus Dumbledore had always thought that out of all his achievements, his achievements in the field of Transfiguration would always remain unparalleled. Not even Lord Voldemort and Gellert Grindelwald could match him in that field. But, now he could easily see Harry Potter surpassing him. And he was proud of the boy. If James and Lily could see him, they would have been equally proud of him especially James Potter.

Even Minerva and Filius were gushing about Harry's performance at the most recent staff meeting, much to Severus Snape's chagrin.

Severus Snape... was another concerning matter. His dark mark- the symbol of being in Lord Voldemort's servitude, was darkening. It was becoming more and more prominent showing that Lord Voldemort was gaining power again. After the Halloween night of 1981, the mark had almost faded to the point of being non-existent. It had again darkened at the end of 1991 and for the first few months of 1992, before it had faded again after Harry had defeated Quirrell and Lord Voldemort's spirit had fled.

So, Albus Dumbledore was becoming worried. The death eater attack at the world cup... Appearance of the dark mark at the world cup... Harry Potter's name being put into the Goblet of Fire and the dark mark on Severus's arm darkening again... And Horcruxes.

He was sure that Tom had made more than one. Or else, he would have died in 1993 when Harry destroyed the diary. But, he was most definitely alive. The mark proved that much as it was tied to Tom's magic.

All in all, things were looking concerning. Very concerning.

War was coming once again to the British isles. Unless by some miracle, Tom was banished again, war would be on British isles again by 1996 at the latest by his estimates.

He needed to begin preparations. He had to find who put Harry Potter's name in the Goblet. And start finding about Tom's Horcruxes before he began destroying them. All of Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes needed to be destroyed before Harry confronted Lord Voldemort for the final battle. All in all a lot of work.

'Perhaps, I could involve Harry in my plans too.' Dumbledore mused. 'An equally capable wizard with me would do wonders and the mind of the youth is always better than an old man's mind. But... not yet. The boy had a deadly tournament to go through. Once that was over, I would brush the boy up on my plans and start training him personally. But, first I needed a stiff drink now.' Albus thought to himself.

With a wave of his wand the office returned to its pristine state and he opened his cabinet and pulled out a bottle of Ogden's century-aged Fire-whiskey before he poured out a generous amount of the amber liquid and gulped it in a single shot.

---

"Come on ladies you can do better!" Harry shouted, as he dodged another jinx from Daphne and sidestepped a stunner from Susan.

Harry was currently dueling Susan and Daphne, two on one in the Room of Requirement. The girls had improved by leaps and bounds since the first time he had dueled them. Both were excellent learners and powerful witches. He could easily see Susan and Daphne being at par in skill and power with likes of Amelia Bones, Rufus Scrimgeour and Bellatrix Lestrange a decade or so down the line.

He swatted aside a bone breaker and a piercing curse before dodging a barrage of advanced stunners from Susan, simultaneously shielding from a blasting curse from Daphne. That was when he decided to end the duel. He unleashed a barrage of spells against them.

They erected a Protego Aegis, an advanced shield charm but they broke against his barrage within a few seconds. They deflected and dodged the next few spells but eventually Daphne fell victim to an Expelliarmus and Susan soon followed with a stunner.

Harry enervated Susan and she groaned.

"You both are getting better." He complimented.

"You still defeat us though." Susan grumbled.

"I have a lot more practice and experience than you both. But, I think you would be easily able to take on a seventh year student now and are at the level of trainee aurors. Now, let us focus on spell casting. Today I will be teaching you the lightning-whip spell. The same I used against the Chimera in the first task. I have already taught you the fire whip, right? So, this is similar, only made of lightning and much more dangerous and even deadly, if is held for a prolonged time for the opponent."

"Oh. Like it was with the Chimera." Susan said.

"Exactly. Now, the incantation is Fulguris Flagellum. The method of casting is similar to the fire whip but, needs more will to control. Have you being progressing in Occlumency as I asked you?"

"Yep. I am still working on my mindscape though. I estimate that I will complete the third stage by February end at the latest." Daphne said cheerfully. She had been taught basics of occlumency by her father even before she came to Hogwarts. So, it was much easier for her to learn the art than Susan who hadn't been taught at all.

"I completed the second stage... the first shield a week ago. I have started with the mindscape. I will definitely have that down by next Halloween." Susan replied.

Harry nodded.

He had noticed that the girls took much longer to learn anything than he had. He could usually learn to cast a high level spell in three or four tries. Daphne and Susan took anywhere between 10 to 20 tries to get the same spell properly.

"Good." Harry said. "Continue doing so. Occlumency will help you to cast spells as it helps you direct your will and intent properly in a spell properly. Now, Let me demonstrate the lightning whip. Fulguris Flagellum."

A lightning whip about five meters in length arced from his wand and with thundercrack, the whip snapped around the dummy the room of requirement had produced. After a few seconds, Harry let go of the spell. The dummy fell to the ground, scorch marks covering its torso due to the lightning.

"Painful." Daphne remarked.

"Obviously."

"But, you look hot while wielding it."

"I look hot all the time Daphne, now, start doing the spell. I want you both to get it down by the end of the session." Harry said rolling his eyes.

Daphne pouted and Susan giggled before they started trying the spell out.

It took them about an hour to get the spell down perfectly. Both the girls were tired by the end of it.

"Harry, I wanted to tell you that my Father wants to invite you to dinner on the boxing day." Daphne said as they packed up. "He will be sending a formal invitation in a couple of days."

"No problem."

"Ooohhhhh... meeting the parents already!" Susan exclaimed. "You sure move fast."

"If you remember, I have already met both of your guardians... except for Daphne's mother that is... The dinner would be a good opportunity to meet her."

"Yeah... She would love to meet you. Even you too Susan... but, currently they want to meet Harry."

"Oh, thank Merlin. I seriously don't want to be facing awkward questions."

"You bet."

---

"Ron... That's ghastly. What are they exactly?"

"My Dress robes."

"Dress... robes for the yule ball?" Harry questioned slowly, not believing his eyes.

They were currently in their dormitory and Mrs. Weasley had just sent Ron his dress robes for the yule ball. Truth to be told, those weren't dress robes but more like a dress that an old grandmother would wear to formal functions in the mid-seventeenth Century.

"Yes." Ron gloomily replied.

"Well... they are fashionable atleast... if we had been living in the 17th Century at least."

Ron shot him a glare before grumbling inaudibly.

There was a knock on the door and Hermione walked in.

"Have any of you seen- What the hell are you wearing Ron?"

"Dress robes. For the Yule ball."

Hermione met Harry's eyes for a moment before they both cracked up.

"Oh- merlin." Hermione wheezed between laughs. "You look like- a seventeenth Century witch-Ron."

"I told him the exact same thing." Harry remarked before he continued to laugh.

"Don't laugh people! Help me." Ron said exasperatedly.

"Just out of curiosity, why did Mrs. Weasley send you these? Like you guys have enough money now to buy new robes. Fred and George got theirs."

"According to mum, I am a growing boy. I would be able to wear these only once and then, they won't fit me. Plus, they're vintage."

"Sure... Vintage." Hermione nodded.

"Come on! Do something! Harry, you can kill a Chimera, you can definitely help me out."

"Yeah- yeah. Don't worry. I'll transfigure the robes like I did with Hagrid's the other day. And secondly how does killing a Chimera co-relate with solving your problem?" Harry asked.

"Thanks and Shut up." Ron said. "Speaking of Hagrid, do you think he will bag the Beauxbatons headmistress for a date?"

"I hope so. But, he was mighty nervous when we met him last Monday."

"Yeah. Poor Hagrid. He can handle dangerous creatures but gets scared of asking a girl to a date."

"I think, girls are more dangerous than even Dragons."

"What did you say Ronald?" Hermione asked sweetly.

"Err... I was wondering how will Hagrid's and Maxime's children look like." He hastily said.

"They'd be huge." Harry supported him, if nothing more than to prevent a rant from Hermione.

Thankfully, they all had already gotten dates. Harry was taking Susan, Ron had been set up with someone named Luna Lovegood from Ravenclaw while, Hermione had a secret date whose name she hadn't told them yet but, Harry knew it was Viktor Krum by the use Legilimency on her. She was extremely nervous to be the date of a Quidditch superstar. One would have thought that spending four years in Harry's company would have gotten her a bit used to it... but apparently not.

---

The Day of the Yule Ball

24th December 1994

Harry looked over his attire one more time. He was wearing a white undershirt with a royal-blue tie and a Black acromantula silk robe with a silver trim and the Potter-black crest on it. He checked that his gold cufflinks were properly in place, before he picked up some cologne and sprayed it wherever he found fit. He checked that his wand was in place and easily accessible bye flicking his wand out before returning to to the holster. He tried and failed to tame his hair once more... but that was a part of his charm. Giving himself a nod, he exited the Gryffindor Dormitory, waving Ron and Neville goodbye on his way.

Of course, No girls had been there in the common room yet. All of them were getting ready... since the past three and a half hours.

He had transfigured Ron's robes about half an hour ago into something acceptable for a ball with foreign guests. Neville was also dressed smartly wearing a robe with the Longbottom crest. He was taking Ginny to the ball, much to Ron's chagrin. Of course, all the Weasley brothers tried to have a 'talk' with Neville, but Ginny had shooed them away, with a warning to hex them if any of them troubled Neville and they surprisingly listened to her.

Harry made his way towards the Hufflepuff common room, after he apparated to a secluded corner of the first floor. He reached the barrels which were the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room and tapped his wand in the pattern of Helga Hufflepuff on the Barrels and they slid open. Their password had been the same since centuries.

He could also have gained access by the Hogwarts ring but, he didn't do so, choosing to do it the traditional way.

Harry stepped into the Hufflepuff common room and looked around.

The room was cozy. A fireplace was burning merrily and the Christmas cheer could be felt in the room. There were several couches and seats around. The walls were filled with personal effects too like drawings and posters for various clubs.

"What are you doing here, Potter?" a snide, nasally voice asked. Harry turned and saw that it was Zacharias Smith who had asked the question.

"I am here for my date, Smith." He replied calmly as he saw that no girls had come down yet.

What was with girls taking so much time to get ready? He had taken a complete bath and got ready in a grand total of twenty five minutes. Okay... girls had more things to do while getting ready but anything more than an hour was plain ridiculous.

"How did you know the password?"

"The password to the Hufflepuff common room has been same since centuries Smith. You tap the Barrels in the pattern of Helga Hufflepuff. If you get it wrong, you're sprayed with vinegar."

"Hey Harry!" Cedric called and gestured to the seat next to him. He was sitting with three other boys already.

Harry waved back and made his way towards him, ignoring Smith's gaping face.

"Hey Cedric. You well?"

"In excellent condition now thank you. Harry, this is Benjamin Bradley, Henry Clarke and Edward Hopkirk." He introduced his friends to him and Harry shook their hands.

"Where're the Ladies, Gentlemen?" Harry asked as he sat on a plush armchair

"Still getting ready."

"So, it is universal."

"Yep." Cedric agreed to Harry's sentiment. "But now, since we need to wait and it is your first time in the Hufflepuff common room, let me show you our pride."

"Your pride?"

"Yep, come along." Cedric said as he pulled Harry towards a corner of the room and showed Harry their pride. It was something that Harry had never expected to see in the wizarding world.

"I introduce you to the Hufflepuff Vending Machine!" Cedric said dramatically.

Inside the vending machine was every type of chocolate and wizarding drink imaginable(except the strictly adult variety alcohol). There was butterbeer, several types of fruit juices, sodas, all Honey-dukes special chocolates, Bertie beans, Chocolate frogs, Pumpkin pasties, liquore wands, Sugar quills... you name it!

"WHOA!"

"Amazing, isn't it? An Hogwarts Alumni made it and donated it to the Hufflepuff house about four years ago. Professor Sprout has the responsibility to ensure that everything's stocked and in order with the machine. You get everything on the same price as you get in Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley. Of course, you need to pay an extra of 2G every year if you wish to use it. That plus the profit from selling these things total is used to buy the next batch of things."

"That's impressive." Harry complimented.

"Let me buy you a drink." Cedric said and immediately pushed two sickles into the machine and punched a few numbers. A bottle of butterbeer fell down into the box and Cedric picked it up and handed it to Harry before repeating the process and taking one for himself.

"Cheers!" Cedric said clinking his bottle to Harry's and they returned to their seats and started drinking the Butterbeer as they waited for their dates.

"So, how's your preparation for the second task going on Cedric?" Harry asked after a few moments of silence.

"Good. I am yet to solve the clue of the egg but, I am reading up on wards. I seriously don't want to repeat the mistake I made last time of missing something out and falling prey to it. But, I am seriously not getting how to break wards. Putting them is still okay... but I am not getting how to break them."

"There are three ways to break a ward which has been put on something. One is the lengthy way in which you detect and identify the wards, figure out the ward scheme before starting to systematically dismantle each and every ward. Second is identifying the wards and erecting a counter ward scheme to nullify the exiting ward in a particular area, creating a hole of sorts through which one can enter in. And the third way is overwhelming the ward with excessive magic."

"Okay... I don't know anything about the second way and only have heard about the third."

"Well, the third is just shooting a hell lot of powerful spells against the ward dome to break them. Usually five to six people do this together, but, if you're powerful enough or have a very powerful spell, you can do it singlehandedly too. Tell you what? You live near the Weasleys, right?"

"Yes, I do."

"Do you know Bill Weasley?"

"Yeah... he was the head boy when I was in my first year."

"He's a curse breaker for Gringotts. Go to him during the holidays. He will help you out if you ask nicely. You can get a crash course on the topic."

"Thanks Harry, I will."

"Also, Federick Luftkin has authored several books on the topic. He has good work."

"Thanks a ton Harry. Luftkin, Right? I'll remember. Oh, looks like the ladies are almost ready. Now excuse me, I have to go to get my date." Cedric said chugging down the rest of the butterbeer, as the first girls started appearing from their rooms, all dressed beautifully in gowns of Myriad colours.

"Who's your date?"

"Cho Chang from Ravenclaw."

"You're still dating her then." Harry stated, remembering their conversation when he had came to collect Susan for their first date the previous year.

"Yes I am. Bye. See you later Harry!" Cedric said, walking out of the common room.

Harry, sat there waiting for Susan to come down, occasionally engaging in conversation with someone else in the room and ignoring the number of girls who were ogling him while conversing with their dates. Soon, Hannah Abbot, Susan's best friend came down the steps, wearing a beautiful yellow gown. She was going with Ernie Macmillan to the ball.

"Hey Hannah, where's Susan?"

"She's almost ready. She was wearing her heels when I left." She replied before going towards Ernie.

Soon, Harry's eyes fell on Susan as she descended down the steps and his breath hitched.

Susan was wearing a royal blue coloured gown with a silver trim, high heels and pearl jewelry which perfectly complimented her attire. Her hair was tied in an elegant bun with a few curled strands falling on her face. The gown hugged her body perfectly making her look smolderingly hot. She was also wearing makeup today.

She shot Harry a dazzling smile as she neared him. Harry, who was still speechless, extended his hand almost mechanically towards her and kissed her knuckles.

"You look good Harry." She complimented.

Harry broke out of his stupor and gave her a charming grin. "Not as good as you, Susan. You look exquisite."

"Thank you. Now, shall we go?"

Harry just extended his elbow towards her, which she took and together, they walked towards the great Hall.

Arriving outside the Hall, Harry saw that several students were already present there, waiting for the doors to open. Professor McGonagall gestured them towards where Cedric and Cho were standing and Viktor Krum was waiting for his date... which was going to be Hermione. Apparently, champions were going to make a grand entry, have an opening Dance, then have dinner with the Judges while the others dined in a buffet and finally dance again when the ball began.

"Looking good Susie." Cedric said to his god-sister.

"Thank you. You don't look bad yourself Ced."

"Miss Chang." Harry greeted, kissing her knuckles.

"Please call me Cho."

"Very well Cho. I must say, Cedric is playing above his standards by dating you." Harry said mirthfully. Cho giggled and Cedric and Susan laughed.

Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw a few boys looking at Susan. He shot them a glare and they hurriedly looked away. Unknown to him, Susan did the same for the girls who were ogling Harry and Cedric.

Harry saw Ron arrive with a little blonde girl who was wearing outrageously colourful robes and... radish earrings and a butterbeer cork necklace? Hermione was still nowhere to be seen.

"That's Luna Lovegood." Cho replied seeing whom Harry was seeing. "She is... unique."

Harry nodded.

Dumbledore, despite being one of the most influential and powerful wizards in the world wore outrageous coloured robes which were an eyesore and had an obssesion with muggle sweets.

So, it wasn't exactly strange.

Harry then excused himself from Susan for a bit and went towards Viktor and gave him a light slap on his back.

"Harry." He greeted.

"Viktor, nice to see you. I heard you are taking Hermione to the ball?" He asked conversationally.

"Da. I am taking Hermy-own to the ball." He replied. It took a moment for Harry to realize that Krum couldn't pronounce Hermione's name properly.

"Yeah. Good." Harry replied, hiding his amusement and taking on a sterner tone instead. "Now, Hermione has been my best friend since I was eleven and she is like a little sister to me."

"Da. She speaks a lot about you."

"So, you may know that I am very protective of her. So, if you try anything..." Harry trailed off, making his eyes glow and magic flare up, "... I will show you how exactly I killed a Chimera. Am I understood." He said in a dangerous tone.

Krum gulped and nodded. "Da. Hermy-own will be safe and I won't do anything to her without her consent."

Harry smiled at him and thumped his back. "That is all I ask for Viktor. Have a good ball and make my Hermione happy." Harry said went to rejoin Susan who was waiting for him.

"What were you talking about?" She whispered in his ear.

"I was threatening Krum to be a gentleman for Hermione. She is under the protection of House Potter."

"He's taking Hermione then. That is bound to turn a few heads." Susan hummed.

Harry nodded in agreement.

Harry's eyes were then drawn to Fleur Delacour who walked in with Roger Davies, who was busy trying not to drool at her. She was wearing a stunning gown of silver-gray satin, looking beautiful.

"She's hot." Susan whispered to him. "I won't mind sharing you and Daphne with her."

Harry resisted to roll his eyes at the girl. Susan was exceedingly bi-sexual and kinky as hell. Daphne didn't mind girls but preferred boys but, she too had her own kinks. But... Susan wasn't wrong. Fleur Delacour was Hot. And Susan couldn't be Lady Potter or Lady Black as she had to continue her own line- The Bones line. She would have to be Lady Bones.

She had already started talking to her aunt about a signing line-continuation contract with Harry. If they did so, Harry will be her Husband in all but name in the future and the father of her children. Daphne had already convinced her father to sign a Bethoral contract with Harry for her which was going to happen soon, perhaps the boxing day as Harry had been invited for dinner on that day or in the Summer.

The wizarding world, unfortunately still followed a lot of old traditions. Most pure-blood girls and Heiresses of sacred 28 were entered into a Bethoral contract with another person by the time they completed their OWLS, or NEWTs at the latest. It was only in recent times that most were told to choose an 'appropriate partner' of their choice to get bethored to before they turned fifteen so that they could have a choice to whom they married. If they failed to do so, they were put into a Bethoral contract for a political alliance by their parents.

It was the same for the pure-blood males and the Heirs of sacred 28, but they had a little more leeway than the females.

Some families... the conservative lot, still didn't give their wards a choice to choose their own partner, entering them into Bethoral contracts even before they started Hogwarts. Draco Malfoy was an example. The ferret had been bethored to Pansy Parkinson when he was nine years old by their parents. They all learned to live with it.

'Atleast most girls from Neutral families and the Liberals get a time limit to choose whom they want to Marry, like Susan and Daphne are doing.' Harry thought to himself. 'On that topic, I still need a Lady Black if Daphne's going to be Lady Potter or vice versa. Susan will only be Lady Bones due to Wizengamot inheritance rules. Hmmm... Fleur isn't a bad option. Powerful, intelligent, skilled, talented and a Veela to boot.'

Harry's attention was drawn to Fleur again as she neared them, looking at Harry and Susan, before she gave them a smile. Harry smiled back and kissed her knuckles as tradition dictated. "Ms. Delacour, you're looking lovely."

"Merci. You're also looking 'andsome Monsieur Potter and your date is looking beautiful." She complimented Susan, looking over her. Fleur Delacour certainly had competition in the department of hotness today. Susan was looking equally beautiful.

On another note, Roger Davies was still busy, trying not to drool over Fleur. Cedric was looking only at Cho, avoiding Fleur. Krum was standing there looking bored. Krum would obviously be immune to the Veela allure as the Bulgarian cheerleaders were Veelas. So, Fleur wasn't a problem from him.

"Susan Bones. Nice to meet you Miss Delacour. Your performance in the first task was spectacular." Susan said, shaking Fleur's hand.

"Not as good as 'arry's." She said winking at Harry, much to Harry's amusement. She was meant to be his competitor after all. "But it won't last long. I'll win ze next task."

Ah, there was the competitive spirit in her.

Harry chuckled. "You said something similar before our duel Fleur, didn't you?"

"But, zis time I'll win."

"We'll see my dear." Harry replied before he engaged Susan in a conversation.

Soon, Hermione descended down the steps. She had done something with her hair; it was no longer bushy but sleek and shiny, and twisted up into an elegant knot at the back of her head. She was wearing robes made of a floaty, periwinkle-blue material, and she was holding herself differently. She looked like a Disney princess.

"Hi Harry! Hi Susan!" She said with a smile as she took Krum's elbow after he kissed her knuckles. Harry knew that she was expecting him to be shocked.

"Hey Hermione." Harry casually replied.

Some girls around were gaping at Hermione in complete shock and unflattering disbelief as they realized who exactly was accompanying Viktor Krum. So were some boys. Ron had still not seen Hermione and was talking with Dean.

That was when a group of Slytherins came up the steps from their dungeon common room. Malfoy was in front; he was wearing dress robes of black velvet with a high collar, which in Harry's opinion made him look like a vicar. Pansy Parkinson in very frilly robes of pale pink was clutching Malfoy's arm. Crabbe and Goyle were both wearing green; they resembled moss-colored boulders, and neither of them had managed to find a partner.

Daphne was with them wearing a emerald green gown. She shot Harry and Daphne a quick smile before slipping back into her ice queen persona. The boy from Ravenclaw joined her while another boy(the Hufflepuff one) joined Tracey.

Then Professor McGonagall's voice called, "Champions over here, please!"

They quickly moved aside with their dates waiting for everyone to move in. McGonagall reminded them that they were to move into the Great Hall in procession when the rest of the students had sat down and have their first dance before joining the judges at their table for dinner.

Harry caught Parkinson's and Malfoy's reaction to Hermione being Krum's date and resisted the urge to laugh at their faces.

"Is my dress still okay?" Susan questioned looking over her dress once more, smoothing non existent creases on her dress.

"Perfect. Don't worry Susan. You'll be good."

"Yeah, but I am still nervous."

"You're going to be my date to the ministry ball too. If you're so nervous right now, what will you do there? I am going to be the chief guest there." Harry said with amusement.

"We'll face it that day Harry." She said, putting on her smile and hiding her nervousness.

"Just enjoy yourself Susan. Don't worry." He reassured her and she nodded.

Once everyone else was settled in the Hall, Professor McGonagall told the champions and their partners to get in line in pairs and to follow her. They did so, and everyone in the Great Hall applauded as they entered and made their way to the dance floor.

The walls of the Hall had all been covered in sparkling silver frost, with hundreds of garlands of mistletoe and ivy crossing the starry black ceiling. The House tables had vanished; instead, there were about a hundred smaller, lantern-lit ones, each seating about a dozen people.

Fleur and Roger entered first, followed by Cedric and Cho, then Krum and Hermione and finally Harry and Susan, all wearing smiles on their faces as Cameras flashed and took their photos.

They took positions for their opening dance and the music started playing. The Weird sisters, one of the most famous music band in the magical world had been called to give the music for the event. The music started and Harry and Susan started dancing as they had practiced.

Harry was seriously glad for practicing how to dance and that was the only reason he wasn't making a fool of himself or hurting Susan's feet.

It took four minutes for the dance to end and the four champions, with their date proceeded to the large round table at the top of the Hall, where the judges were sitting with their dates.

Sirius was sitting with Amelia Bones. Karkaroff was sitting with a woman Harry didn't recognize. Madame Maxime and Hagrid were sitting together while Ludo Bagman was with his wife. Dumbledore was sitting in the middle with the chair next to him empty. Harry seriously wanted to see who was Dumbledore's date.

He pulled out the second chair to Sirius's right for Susan to sit on and then, Harry immediately took the seat next to his godfather and they bumped fists under the table. Hermione sat next to Susan who was sitting on Harry's right. Harry was directly across Dumbledore himself.

Dumbledore beamed at the champions and stood up and announced that the dinner had begun.

Harry saw that the glittering golden plates in front of him were empty, but small menus were lying in front of each of them. Harry picked his up uncertainly and looked around - there were no waiters. It looked that the rest of the champions and judges were equally confused. Surely, they won't have to stand in line for the buffet? Dumbledore, however, looked carefully down at his own menu, then said very clearly to his plate, "Pork chops!" And pork chops appeared.

'Ah, house elves. I should have known.' Harry thought to himself as he looked at the menu himself to select a dish and said, "Shepherd's pie."

Getting the idea, the rest of the table placed their orders with their plates too. And struck up idle conversation with those at the table.

Sirius and Harry started speaking about the recent game between the Harpies and the Puddlemore united. Amelia was speaking about some matter in the ministry of magic with Bagman's wife, Cedric and Cho were listening to what the others were speaking. That was when Professor McGonagall joined the table beside Dumbledore. Dumbledore and McGonagall? Now, this definitely was interesting. Even Cedric and Cho were staring at the two of them as they both started speaking about the latest article in 'Trials of Transfiguration' magazine.

Hermione was listening as Krum spoke animatedly about Durmstrang.

"Well, we have a castle also, not as big as this, nor as comfortable, I am thinking," he was telling Hermione. "We have just four floors, and the fires are lit only for magical purposes. But We have grounds larger even than these - though in Winter, we have very little daylight, so we are not enjoying them. But in summer we are flying every day, over the lakes and the mountains -

"Now, now, Viktor!" said Karkaroff with a laugh that didn't reach his cold eyes, "don't go giving away anything else, now, or your charming friend will know exactly where to find us!"

Everyone's attention was drawn to Krum and Karkaroff as the Durmstrang high-master had interrupted their conversation from across the table.

Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Igor, all this secrecy... one would almost think you didn't want visitors." Though by the gleam in his eye, Harry could tell Dumbledore knew exactly where the school was... and so did Harry but, to most normal public, except the students of Durmstrang, the location was a secret.

"Well, Dumbledore," said Karkaroff, displaying his yellowing teeth to their fullest extent, "we are all protective of our private domains, are we not? Do we not jealously guard the halls of learning that have been entrusted to us? Are we not right to be proud that we alone know our school's secrets, and right to protect them?"

"Oh I would never dream of assuming I know all Hogwarts' secrets, Igor," said Dumbledore amicably. "Only this morning, for instance, I took a wrong turning on the way to the bathroom and found myself in a beautifully proportioned room I have never seen before, containing a really rather magnificent collection of chamber pots. When I went back to investigate more closely, I discovered that the room had vanished. But I must keep an eye out for it. Possibly it is only accessible at five-thirty in the morning. Or it may only appear at the quarter moon - or when the seeker has an exceptionally full bladder."

Susan and Harry coughed into their goblets. Both knew that Dumbledore had found the Room of Requirement. Dumbledore winked at them.

Meanwhile Fleur Delacour was criticizing the Hogwarts decorations to Roger Davies.

"Zis is nothing," she said dismissively, looking around at the sparkling walls of the Great Hall. "At ze Palace of Beauxbatons, we 'ave ice sculptures all around ze dining chamber at Christmas. Zey do not melt, of course . . . zey are like 'uge statues of diamond, glittering around ze place. And ze food is simply superb. And we 'ave choirs of wood nymphs, 'oo serenade us as we eat. We 'ave none of zis ugly armor in ze 'alls, and eef a poltergeist ever entered into Beauxbatons, he would be expelled like zat." She slapped her hand onto the table impatiently.

Roger Davies was watching her talk with a very dazed look on his face, and he kept missing his mouth with his fork. Harry had the impression that Davies was too busy staring at Fleur to take in a word she was saying.

"But, Miss Delacour," Harry interrupted her. He won't hear anyone demeaning his first home. "Those ugly suits of armors, as you called them, are for the protection of the castle. In the past, they have successfully protected the school from many sieges by invading armies and dark lords. They are one of the reasons why Hogwarts has never fallen to an invading force. Hogwarts is also regarded as one of the safest places on Earth by the ICW and also as a magical heritage site unlike Beauxbatons. Also, your school's founder, Nicholas Flamel, if I am not mistaken, is a Ravenclaw Alumni from Hogwarts." Harry added.

Hogwarts, being one of the safest places on Earth was not untrue despite whatever had taken place in the past few years. If Hogwarts went under its war-time wards, to attack the castle was practically suicide even if the person had an army. Neither Voldemort, nor Grindelwald had ever attacked Hogwarts directly even at the height of their powers. Hogsmeade village, yes. But, never Hogwarts itself. The school had never been conquered in history by an invading force.

Durmstrang had fallen to Grindelwald during late 1930's. Beauxbatons had fallen during the French Revolution. But, not Hogwarts.

That shut Fleur up.

Dumbledore shot him a smile conveying that he appreciated what Harry had said.

Some time later, Harry even heard Hermione trying to teach Krum how to say her name, much to his amusement.

"Her-my-oh-nee," she said slowly and clearly.

"Herm-own-ninny."

"Close enough," she said, catching Harry's eye and grinning. Harry grinned back. It was excellent teasing material.

When all the food had been consumed, Dumbledore stood up and asked the students to do the same. Then, with a wave of his wand, all the tables zoomed back along the walls leaving the floor clear, expanding the area of the Dance floor.

The Weird Sisters trooped back up onto the stage to wildly enthusiastic applause; they were all extremely hairy and dressed in black robes that had been artfully ripped and torn. They picked up their instruments.

Harry got up and extended his hand to Susan who gracefully took it and stood up.

"Will you honor me with another dance, my lady?"

"Of course."

He led her to the dance floor once again following Sirius and Amelia who had already started dancing. Soon, Cedric and Harry exchanged partners after two dances and Cedric danced with his god-sister while Harry danced with Cho Chang. By the way Cho danced, Harry could tell that she had professional training in the field. Her moves were crisp and perfect that could only be attained if one had professional training.

Neville and Ginny were dancing nearby - he could see Ginny wincing frequently as Neville trod on her feet - and Dumbledore was waltzing with Madame Maxime. He was so dwarfed by her that the top of his pointed hat barely tickled her chin; however, she moved very gracefully for a woman so large. Mad-Eye Moody was doing an extremely ungainly two-step with Professor Sinistra, who was nervously avoiding his wooden leg. Fred and Angelina, were dancing so exuberantly that people around them were backing away in fear of injury, giving them a wide berth.

Next, after Harry and Susan took break for a single dance, Sirius led Susan to the Dance floor while Harry did the same with Amelia. Harry was seriously glad that he had grown so much in the past couple of years. Or else, his face would have been in a very awkward position. Amelia was an inch taller than him... but she was wearing pencil heels which increased her height.

"So, Harry. How is it going on between you and Susan?" She asked as Harry twirled her around.

"Excellent."

"That's good. Have you done it yet?" She asked with a gleam in her eye.

Lesson number 63 to avoid embarrassing questions from relatives: Tell the blunt truth to one of the questions. They would get too flustered to ask more. Caution: it may backfire if the parent was like Sirius or make the situation worse in some cases.

Well, Harry was going to do just that.

"We haven't gone all way, but she gives excellent Blowjobs." Harry whispered in her ear and Amelia choked on her spit violently. Harry spun her, continuing their dance. "And there is this thing she does-"

"Stop! I don't want to hear." She hissed in his ear.

"Then why did you ask if you don't want to hear?" He asked with a shit eating grin. She didn't ask anymore questions and they continued dancing peacefully.

Harry saw that Sirius led back a completely flustered Susan after the dance ended. So... they had planned it. Sirius had succeeded but Amelia had failed. Harry couldn't blame her. Madame Bones was a rule following, down to earth woman while Sirius was a Marauder- a prankster. Of course he was going to succeed.

Both the ladies sat down and removed their heels, massaging their toes.

Harry sat beside them while Sirius went to get some drinks. He saw Fred and George dancing together in a comedically exuberant way. The Weasley twins were one of a kind. Hermione was dancing with Cedric. Cho was sitting down on the big table, rubbing her foot. Ron was still dancing with Luna Lovegood, looking quite happy. Professor Dumbledore was dancing with Professor Sprout, Ludo Bagman with Professor McGonagall; Madame Maxime and Hagrid were cutting a wide path around the dance floor as they waltzed through the students, and Karkaroff was nowhere to be seen. When the next song ended, everybody applauded once more, and Harry saw Ludo Bagman kiss Professor McGonagall's hand and make his way back through the crowds, at which point Fred and George accosted him.

"Monsieur Potter?" Harry turned and saw Fleur standing behind him. "Can I have a dance with you?"

Harry shared a brief look with Susan who gave her assent to him. Harry smiled at Fleur.

"Of course Miss Delacour. I will be honored."

And he led her to the dance floor for a dance. Fleur was quiet happy to dance with someone who wasn't drooling at her. After a dance, Harry went back to where Susan was sitting, but her chair was empty and instead, Hermione, Ron and Luna were sitting there as Amelia and Sirius sipped their drinks in a corner.

Harry cast a questioning glance at Amelia and she pointed in a direction and Harry saw Susan was dancing with Cedric. He took Susan's empty seat, directly beside Hermione.

"How's it going?" asked everyone in general.

"It's hot, isn't it?" said Hermione, fanning herself with her hand. "Viktor's just gone to get some drinks."

"Ron is an extremely good dance partner. He doesn't have a Wrackspurt infestation in his head like most do." Ron's date, Luna Lovegood said.

"What's a Wrackspurt?" Hermione asked.

"A Wrackspurt... They're invisible. They float in through your ears and make your brain go fuzzy." She replied.

Hermione frowned. "I have never heard of them."

"We haven't heard about all the creatures in the wizarding world Hermione." Harry said placatingly. He realized that Luna Lovegood was probably the daughter of Xenophilius Lovegood, the editor of Quibbler, which usually printed about imaginary creatures in their magazine but their rune puzzles were very good.

"And I think we haven't met." Harry continued, turning to Luna "I am Harry Potter"

She shook his hand across the table. "Luna Lovegood. I think our mothers were friends."

"Really?"

"Yes. My mother and your mother have some photos together."

"Then I would like to meet her someday." He said with a smile.

"I am sorry, but you can't."

"Why?" Harry frowned.

"Because she and your mother are already together. She died while she was making a new spell when I was nine years old." She said sadly. Ron patted her back and she gave him a smile.

"Oh... I am sorry." Harry replied feeling bad for the girl.

"It's okay."

Soon, Susan returned as the song ended.

"Hey, do you want to go out to the gardens for a bit?" Harry asked her and she nodded.

They left the table, edged around the dance floor, and slipped out into the entrance hall. The front doors stood open, and the fluttering fairy lights in the rose garden winked and twinkled as they went down the front steps, where they found themselves surrounded by bushes; winding, ornamental paths; and large stone statues. Harry could hear splashing water, which sounded like a fountain. Here and there, people were sitting on carved benches.

Susan and Harry set off along one of the winding paths through the rosebushes, walking hand in hand, but they had gone only a short way when they heard an unpleasantly familiar voice.

"... don't see what there is to fuss about, Igor."

"Severus, you cannot pretend this isn't happening!" Karkaroff's voice sounded anxious and hushed, as though keen not to be overheard. "It's been getting clearer and clearer for months. I am becoming seriously concerned, I can't deny it _"

"Then flee," said Snape's voice curtly. "Flee - I will make your excuses. I, however, am remaining at Hogwarts."

Snape and Karkaroff came around the corner. Snape had his wand out and was blasting rosebushes apart, his expression most ill-natured. Squeals issued from many of the bushes, and dark shapes emerged from them.

"Ten points from Ravenclaw, Fawcett!" Snape snarled as a girl ran past him. "And ten points from Hufflepuff too, Stebbins!" as a boy went rushing after her. "And what are you two doing?" he added, catching sight of Harry and Susan on the path ahead.

Karkaroff, Harry saw, looked slightly discomposed to see him and Susan standing there. His hand went nervously to his goatee, and he began winding it around his finger. For him, Harry was an extremely dangerous wizard with a vendetta and Susan was the niece of the head of DMLE.

"Having a walk Sir. I hope it is not a problem." He said, keeping the irritation out of his voice and resisting the urge to antagonize the two Death Eaters.

"Keep walking, then!" Snape snarled, and he brushed past them, his long black cloak billowing out behind him. Karkaroff hurried away after Snape, trying to put as much distance between Harry and himself as possible.

Harry glared at their retreating backs.

"What's got Karkaroff all worried? And since when are Snape and Karkaroff on first name basis?" Susan muttered.

"Both are Death Eaters Susan. Pure Death Eaters. Karkaroff brought his freedom by naming a few other Death Eaters while Snape was vouched for by Dumbledore. They never said that they were forced or anything. Why do you think Snape hates me? Cause I offed his master of course." Harry said exasperatedly.

'But, whatever they were speaking about is concerning. What was darkening? And why did Karkaroff had to flee? Did it have something to do with Voldemort? Or putting his name in the Goblet? I need to talk to Salazar and Helga about this.'

"I will speak to auntie when I get home about this. No need to worry her today."

Harry nodded in agreement and they continued walking, enjoying the beautiful night. Other things could wait for now.

Chapter 42: Of In-Laws, Awards and Assassinations

Ch. 42 Of In-Laws, Awards and Assassinations

26th December 1994

Late evening, a few hours before Dinner time

"Looking good pup. One must look sharp when meeting their future in-laws." Sirius said cheekily. Harry rolled his eyes in response. In a few minutes, he was going to go to Greengrass Manor to meet Lord and Lady Greengrass and have dinner with them. Harry had been called in his capacity as Head of House Potter, so he was going to go alone. Sirius and Remus weren't coming with him.

"All the best Harry." Remus said. "You will need it, as you're meeting Daphne's father. He'll likely give you the shovel talk and intimidate you. You know, if you hurt my daughter speech?" He added with a grin.

"Alright. I will handle whatever Lord Greengrass throws at me. I am sure he won't be too harsh." Harry replied, internally scoffing at that thought. He was damn sure that Cyrus Greengrass wasn't going to be more intimidating than a Basilisk, a Dragon or a Chimera.

"Good luck Lionheart." Sirius said, echoing Remus's words.

Hedwig trilled from her perch, the phoenix song filling the house up. Harry smiled at her. She flew to his shoulder and nuzzled his face, nipped at his ear before flashing back to her Perch.

He checked over himself once again. His Formal black robes with the Potter and the Black crest were looking perfect. His watch was there, necklace: check, wands: check, Heir rings: Visible and proudly displayed. Cologne: Applied. The gift: check.

It was customary to give the host a small token of appreciation when going for a formal occasion to their house, especially for the first time. Harry had bought the finest mead available in market to gift it to Lord and Lady Greengrass.

"Okay. Bye. See you both later. Greengrass Manor, Activate." Harry said, activating the portkey on the letter that had borne the official invitation to dinner.

He landed gracefully in a pristine parlor. It screamed of wealth and grandeur. There was a faint trace of Rosemary in the air making the house smell nice. The sound of cackling of fire filled the room as the floo-fireplace burned merrily feeling the room with warmth.

An house elf popped in and bowed to Harry.

"Are you Heir Potter?" She asked inquisitively after bowing.

"Yes I am. Please inform Lord and Lady Greengrass that I have arrived."

The elf nodded and popped away. Harry checked his watch. He was on time... well, a minute and a half early but that didn't really matter. Better to arrive early than be late, even fashionably so, especially when meeting someone of a higher station than yourself. Yes, Harry was Heir Potter and Heir Black, but Cyrus Greengrass was Lord Greengrass. Being a Lord, he technically outranked Harry, by a minimal margin, but outranked him nonetheless. Of course, when Harry turned seventeen, he would outrank every single person in Magical Britain due to his titles: Lord Potter, Lord Black, Savior of the magical world and of course, winner of the Order of Merlin- First Class. But till then, he had to follow the etiquettes.

If he had been of a higher station, he could've been fashionably late but he wasn't.

The door to the parlor opened and Lord and Lady Greengrass strolled in followed by Daphne and Astoria. All of them were dressed in formal robes befitting their status. "Lord Greengrass. It is nice to see you again. Please accept this small token by House Potter." Harry said, shaking hands with Lord Greengrass and handing him the gift.

"Thank you Heir Potter-Black but, I remember asking you to call me Cyrus."

Harry smirked at the statement. "Quite hypocritical of you to say that when I remember asking you to call me Harry too."

They shared a chuckle. "Quite true, Harry. Let me introduce you to my wife and Daphne's and Astoria's mother, Roxanne Greengrass." Cyrus said gesturing to the lady beside him. Harry could totally see where Daphne got her looks from.

Harry gave her a charming smile. "Lady Greengrass, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. Are you sure you're Daphne and Astoria's mother though?"

She raised an eyebrow, "Yes I am. Why do you ask?"

"Because you look more like their older sister than their mother, Lady Greengrass." Harry replied with his patented charming grin.

Her lips quirked before she outright burst into laughter. "Oh, you have definitely inherited James Potter's charm and his cheek." She said chuckling. Harry just grinned at her before turning to Daphne and Astoria.

Daphne came forward and extended her hand. Harry kissed it. "Daphne." She nodded and stepped away to stand beside him, just before a little blonde missile slammed into Harry.

"How are you Harry? It is so good to see you. Did you miss me? Did you write to Daphne yet? How is staying away from her feeling?"

"Astoria!" Mrs. Greengrass chastised.

Harry was amused by the whole scenario. He gently pulled Astoria away. "We met four days ago Astoria and I bid goodbye to your sister at the express barely twenty-four hours ago." Harry replied, ruffling her hair. She scowled and batted Harry's hand away.

Astoria had gone home early with most students below the fourth year due to the Yule ball being held.

"I am sorry for my youngest's behavior, Heir Potter. She can be a little... mischievous at times." Her mother said.

Harry nodded. "Oh, I know that already Lady Greengrass." He said waving her off as he casted a smirk at Astoria and she pouted. "And please call me Harry."

"Then you must call me Roxanne, dear. Now, please join us in the living room." Harry nodded and followed them to the living room, with Daphne walking by his side.

They entered a posh yet comfortable living room. The walls had a soft colour scheme and were adorned with portraits of Greengrass ancestors, most of whom were dozing and other photos of the family. Harry's eyes fell of one particular portrait and he nearly faltered in his steps. Daphne caught it though.

"That is Ophelia Black nee Greengrass." Daphne said looking where Harry was seeing.

"I know. I didn't expect to find a portrait of her. Arcturus Black doesn't have a portrait... atleast I didn't find one. So, I assumed that even his wife won't."

Ophelia Black nee Greengrass was the wife of Arcturus Black, Sirius's Grandfather. She had also fought against Grindelwald and was one of the founding members of the Dragon Legion. She was also a world renowned Duelist.

At Arcturus Black's name, Ophelia's eyes shot open and she looked at him and frowned. "Charlus? No... you're not Charlus... is it you James?"

Daphne looked at Harry and nodded. He stepped forward. "No ma'am. I am Harry Potter, Charlus Potter's grandson and James Potter's son."

"Then introduce yourself properly young man. Your family name and titles are important when you are introducing yourself for the first time." She replied in a tone that reminded Harry of Professor McGonagall.

"Very well," He replied. "I am Harry James Potter, Son of James Potter and Lily Potter nee Evans, The Head of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, Heir of Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, Recipient of the Order of Merlin first class, The Boy-who-lived, savior of magical Britain, Under eighteen World Dueling Champion and currently a Triwizard Champion."

Ophelia blinked at him.

"Did I miss anything?" Harry asked turning to Daphne.

"The youngest seeker in a century." She replied.

"Slayer of Slytherin's Basilisk." Astoria piped up.

"Chimera slayer." Daphne added.

"Youngest Person to win the WDL." Astoria reciprocated.

"Boy-who-catches-dark-wizards."

"Youngest Person to receive an Order of Merlin."

"Winner of Teen witch weekly's most charming smile award." Daphne added the last part with a dreamy smile.

"Wait a second" Harry stopped them. "When did I win Witch Weekly's most charming smile award? And who the hell gave it to me?"

"Oh, its in today's edition — The Christmas edition. You've made the front page." Astoria replied before running out of the room, likely to fetch the magazine.

Harry groaned.

"Oh, and the most eligible bachelor in Magical Britain. That was also in today's edition." Daphne added and Harry put his head in his hands, mush to the amusement of Lord and Lady Greengrass.

Ophelia Black stared at him for a few minutes before breaking out of her stupor and said, "That is an awful lot of titles for a sixteen year old."

"I am fourteen, the same age as Daphne" Harry replied automatically.

"Very well. That is an awful lot of titles for a sixteen year old. Now, I am Ophelia Black nee Greengrass, wife of Baron Arcturus Black and the former Lady Black. Member of the Dragon Legion and three times World Dueling Champion. It is a pleasure to meet you Heir Potter-Black. If you don't mind me asking, how did you come to win an Order of Merlin and a first class at that?"

"He hasn't actually won it yet." Cyrus stated.

"The ceremony's in four days. And it was announced in the paper ages ago. So, your point is moot" Harry replied dryly.

"True."

"And to answer your question Lady Black, it is a long story. Daphne would tell you some day on my behalf. Now, I wished to enquire if your husband, Arcturus Black has made a portrait or not. We didn't find one in the Somerset Manor or in the Black Vault at Gringotts. House Black needs a portrait of one of its most distinguished and respected lords. I even didn't find your portrait and we were assuming till now that you both haven't made one."

"No, Arcturus had made a portrait. Infact Charlus, Dorea, Arcturus and I put a commission for our portraits together shortly after James started Hogwarts. But, I do not know where his portrait is. I haven't seen either of their portraits since... I don't know... What is today's date?"

"December 26th 1994." Mrs. Greengrass replied.

"Oh," Ophelia said sadly. "I have been dead for more than a couple of decades already then."

That was when Astoria came into the room with a magazine in her hand. The front page showed Harry standing in his battle robes. It was the photo taken at the weighing of the wands ceremony.

"Thank you Astoria." Harry dryly said before flipping through the pages. Several pages had his photos and several were from the Yule Ball. One whole page was dedicated to him and was titled 'The Heart-throb of Witches: The Lord Potter.

"Oh seriously, come on! They are now overdoing it!" Harry moaned.

The article had photos of him and Susan standing together arm in arm, and others dancing with other girls: One with Fleur Delacour, Hermione, Katie Bell, Amelia Bones and hilariously, even Professor McGonagall.

On cue, Roxanne blurted. "You danced with Kitty Mc-G!?"

Harry's head snapped towards her at McGonagall's nick name. Roxanne blushed. "Err—I meant Professor McGonagall."

Daphne and Astoria burst out laughing. Harry gave her an amused smile and remembered how he had been roped into dancing with McGonagall of all people

FLASHBACK

Harry was standing having the wonderful fruit punch that the house elves had prepared with Susan, Hermione, Ron and Luna standing beside him. That was when the Weasley twins along with the flying foxes and Lee Jordan popped up from besides them all of a sudden.

"Lookie lookie,. Who we have here. The famed golden Trio and dear Ms. Bones."

"How are you all?"

"Enjoying the Ball?"

The Weasley twins said in their customary twin-speech.

"We are doing well, thank you for asking. You both have snortywracks in your head." Luna said pleasantly.

"Err... Okay." Fred(or George) said completely thrown off by her statement.

"Anyways, we were discussing how Harrykins here is the pride of Gryffindor." The other twin said.

"Yes, the truest Gryffindor of us all."

"The pride of Gryffindor house."

"What do you two want?" Harry asked, cutting through their dramatic speech.

"Coming to that—"

"—Harrykins, patience."

"So, then we saw poor old McGonagall standing all alone."

"But, we didn't have guts to ask her to a dance."

"You know how she gets—"

"—probably would have given us detention."

"Then Lee said that no one—"

"—was brave enough to do that in the student body."

"But, our dear dates here—"

"— The flying foxes of Gryffindor—"

"—said that you could do it."

"So, here we are." They finished together. Luna started giggling, finding the twin speech extremely funny as Susan watched them both like a tennis match.

"So, you want to know if I can ask Professor McGonagall to a dance or not?."

"Yes—"

"— Harrykins. They said—"

"—that you are a quintessential Gryffindor."

"But no pressure!"

"Hmm... Decisions, decisions." Harry replied, thinking whether or not he should do it.

"You can do it Harry." The three chasers remarked.

"I bet 5 G that even Harry isn't Gryffindor enough to do that... and succeed." Lee said.

"I will take that bet. Harry will succeed." Ron said and Hermione frowned at him.

"Well, Damn. Even I am taking that bet by the way Lee. Better have 10 G ready." Harry replied before walking towards McGonagall.

He walked up to her and said, "Good evening Professor McGonagall."

"Good evening, Mr. Potter. Are you enjoying the ball Mr. Potter?"

"Quite so Professor. The arrangements are wonderful. But, you are just standing here professor. Can I interest you in a dance?"

McGonagall raised an eyebrow and glanced around the hall before her lips quirked.

Unknown to Harry, McGonagall had felt a Deja vu as she remembered James Potter doing the exact same thing at a ministry ball that she had attended a couple of decades or so ago. He had used the exact same words while his friends were standing there looking at James in anticipation.

"Very well, Mr. Potter. But, if you step on my toes, I will put you in detention. Am I understood?" She said sternly.

Harry gulped. McGonagall was a scary woman. "Loud and clear Professor."

She extended her hand and Harry took it and led her for a dance. Several students and even teachers stared at them as they started dancing. But, both the student and the teacher ignored them.

FLASHBACK ENDS

"The Weasley twins placed a bet on me." Harry said with a shrug. "I went and did it. But, like seriously?" Harry added waving the magazine around. "Susan was my date, alright. I barely know Delacour, Hermione is the closest thing I have to a sibling, Katie is like my sister too, Amelia's dating my godfather, and McGonagall of all people!?"

Cyrus chuckled. "The media is a funny thing Harry. They don't show what is important and exaggerate matters which don't exist. And it isn't only these... magazines. Even the most prominent newspaper in our country is more like a tabloid than a real newspaper."

"True. Especially reporters like Rita Skeeter make it even worse."

"That woman is a pest." Mrs. Greengrass added.

"But, she is remarkably complimentary towards you Harry." Lord Greengrass stated.

Harry just smirked in response.

"You have something on her, don't you? You made her agree to not give you bad press. And from your smirk, I can tell it is something big." Lady Greengrass said. Harry just gave a non-committal shrug.

"You know," She continued, "I would have easily mistaken you for a Slytherin if I didn't know you were a Gryffindor."

Harry chuckled. "We all have a bit of Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw inside of us, just the most dominant wins and we get sorted into that house."

"You said the same thing to me at the end of our second year... The first time we talked." Daphne remarked slipping her arm around his

Harry smiled. "I remember the conversation well."

"Why don't you show Harry around the house, dear? Come for dinner in an hour." Roxanne said and Daphne nodded before pulling Harry with her.

"No detours you two!" Harry heard Astoria yelling after them and giggling as her mother chastised her.

Daphne gave Harry a tour of her beautiful house. It was very much like Harry's own home in Somerset, just bigger and having more Heritage to it. Of course, that was expected since this was the original Manor erected by the Greengrass family- their main ancestral Manor while the house Harry lived in was more like a retirement home than anything else for the late Lord Arcturus Black. The original Black Manor was actually a small castle-fortress rather than a house with expansive grounds, forests, a lake and even several outhouses. Its wards were even deadlier and better than any other place the blacks owned-but, only when the war-wards were activated.

And according to the Potter family Grimoire, the Potter Fortress, the ancestral house of the Potters, had security and wards rivalling Hogwarts itself. He couldn't wait to be seventeen and access the Potter Fortress. He was also likely to find the portraits of his ancestors there.

Anyways, the tour of the house was made much more enjoyable for because of Daphne and him kept stealing snogs at regular intervals.

An hour later, as the Lady of the house had requested, Daphne and Harry showed up for dinner. The first thing Harry got was a blast of mouth watering smell of cuisines that had been prepared for dinner. The rest of the Greengrass family was already at the dinner table.

"So you two love birds finally arrived." Astoria remarked.

"We are exactly on time dear sister." Daphne said with warning creeping in her voice. Harry got the feeling that Astoria had been riling Daphne up on her love life and Daphne was irritated by now.

"Yes, yes, you are. How many snogs did you both steal on the way?"

"That is—"

"— none of your business."

"Aww, you both are completing each others sentences now! That is sooo CUTE!"

Daphne went for her wand but Harry slapped her hand away. She gave him a questioning-betrayed look.

"You don't want to get into trouble for using magic during holidays, do you? Your wand would still have the trace."

Daphne groaned. "Great. Damn the ministry! Now I can't even hex the little shit." She muttered loud enough for only Harry to hear.

"Don't worry my lady. As you wish." Harry replied and Astoria yelped as a stinging hex impacted her arm.

"Why did you do that?"

"Because your sister couldn't." Harry replied immediately.

"She already has you wrapped around her finger." Astoria muttered and received another stinging hex on her forearm.

"Astoria, shut up and you both, sit. There won't be anymore fighting at the dinner table and no more teasing." Astoria's mother said sternly, glaring at her as her husband chuckled at the antics of the teenagers.

He leaned in and whispered in his wife's ear "Remind you of something?" His wife muttered a quick shut up. Harry only caught that snippet due to his enhanced hearing as he and Daphne took seats at the dinner table.

Soon the food was served and the five started eating while conversing on different topics which mainly revolved around Harry and the Wizengamot's most recent winter session. Apparently, this time the toad had tried to pass a bill affecting Centaurs but it had been sent for reconsideration with many members quoting from Harry's previous speech that he had made against the werewolf law. This time apparently the toad had put up a few arguments which had swayed a few members of the body enough to not outright scrap the bill. She had to revise the bill and present it again in the summer session, where Harry would be present.

Harry wasn't going to let a single bill pass that would suppress the rights of a magical race if he had any say about it.

Soon, the conversation turned to their relationship.

"So, what have you both planned for the future? Will Daphne be Lady Potter or Lady Black? And what of Susan?"

"Daphne can become the Lady of any house she likes. Susan on the other hand, will be entering into a line-continuation contract with me. She won't take my name and remain as Lady Bones. Atleast that is what we three have discussed."

The Greengrass adults nodded.

"Yes... She is the last of her house. Same with you. I heard that Amelia is dating Sirius though."

"She is. But, I am afraid that Sirius's illegal imprisonment with the dementors have left an unpleasant effect. He won't be able to bear children."

"Oh. So, she is forced to take the Bones seat and thus the line continuation contract. Hmmm... So, you will also need a Lady Black."

"Yes I will Cyrus." Harry nodded.

"So, are you okay with this?" Roxanne asked Daphne.

"Susan and I have discussed it especially in the past few weeks. We don't have a problem. We trust Harry enough to treat all of us equally. And we both love him. He won't use us for our status as Heiress of Most Noble and Most Ancient houses like most will."

Harry smiled at that.

"It is your life Daphne... and Harry. So, you should ponder over it more. It is just an advise. I am not saying that it is a bad idea. But, it can turn out to be."

"It is certainly better than marrying someone I don't even know or worse, hate mother."

"Harry, Roxanne is right. I am even more worried about you though. My daughter loves both you and Susan and I know that she would handle it just fine. But, it is you who have to handle three women."

"What are you implying Cyrus Greengrass?" Roxanne asked is a sickly sweet tone.

"N-nothing dear. Just saying."

"So, do you have the contract ready Cyrus?" Harry asked, saving Daphne's father from further embarassment.

"Contract? You mean the Betrothal contract? No, I don't."

Harry blinked before frowning.

"I thought that the point of the dinner invite was to sign the contract."

"Ah, I can see why you thought that. But no. Today I just wanted you to meet the whole family as Harry and not Heir Potter-Black, especially Roxanne. And, I also wished to discuss something important with you which doesn't concern the relationship you have with my daughter. As for the contract, we can sign it on your 15th Birthday too or Daphne's with your guardian present and even a lawyer if you want." Lord Greengrass replied.

"And what do you want to discuss about?"

"Not here. In my private study."

"Private study dad?" Astoria asked from her seat.

"Of course. There are some important things in there that I will need and Harry will soon be family. Your sister has accepted him as her future husband. On that note, you should choose someone from a lower house if you wish to marry."

"That means anyone except Longbottom." Daphne clarified.

"I am not interested in Longbottom...What about Harry though?" Astoria questioned with an innocent look but the mirth in her eyes could be clearly seen.

"No." Daphne firmly replied

"Aww, you are already so possessive about him." She gushed.

Daphne pinched the bridge of her nose. "Shut up Tori. One more such comment and I am hexing you."

"You can't hex me. Your wand still has the trace."

"Harry can lend me his wand long enough to Hex you. It doesn't have the trace."

"Here you go Daphne." Harry said handing Daphne his ebony wand.

"She already has him wrapped around her finger!" Astoria exclaimed giddily. Daphne took Harry's wand and pointed it at her sister.

"There won't be any spells flying at the dinner table!" Daphne's mother chastised her. "And Astoria, enough is enough!"

"Yes mother." Both the sisters muttered sufficiently cowed. Harry put his wand back into the holster.

"And Harry dear, don't encourage my daughter more."

"Yes ma'am." Harry said grinning at Daphne.

Soon, dinner ended and the family got up. "Harry, Roxanne please accompany me to my office and girls, go back to your rooms. We'll call you when our talk ends."

The three teens raised their eyebrows but compiled with Lord Greengrass's wish. It was clear that he meant business. The two girls went upstairs to their room while Harry followed Lord and Lady Greengrass into a simple study.

The first thing that caught Harry's eye were the chairs that were in the study. They were muggle made office chairs... the one which revolved and had wheels.

"Err, these are special chairs Harry... they are much more comfortable than normal chair and doesn't cause problems with my back." Lord Greengrass said hesitantly and Harry raised an eyebrow.

"They are office chairs that muggles use Cyrus. I am muggle-raised if you forgot." Harry said with amusement as he took a seat meant for visitors and leaned back in it. "I love these chairs." He added.

"Umm... yeah. I do too. It is a life-saver or should I say back-saver." He said with a laugh before taking a seat behind the desk. Lady Greengrass dragged the chair beside Harry to place it next to her husband and sat on it. Lord Greengrass tapped a rune and Harry felt privacy wards go up around the room.

"So, what did you want to talk about Cyrus?"

He wordlessly rummaged through his desk's drawer and handed Harry a daily prophet. "This is the newspaper published on 2nd November 1981. Which was—"

"—exactly two days after my parents died" Harry finished Cyrus's statement as he accepted the paper.

The paper was filled with headlines of the fall of Voldemort or He-who-must-not-be-named as the paper wrote at his hand.

HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED FINALLY KILLED WHILE ATTACKING THE POTTERS;

LILY AND JAMES POTTER MARTYRED, THEIR SON THE ONLY SURVIVER;

HARRY POTTER, THE ONLY PERSON KNOWN TO SURVIVE THE KILLING CURSE;

HARRY POTTER, THE BOY-WHO-LIVED, THE SAVIOR OF MAGICAL WORLD;

"And also the fall of you-know-who." Lord Greengrass added.

"What do you want me to do with this sir?" Harry asked curiously.

"I want you to turn to the third page and read what Dumbledore has to say about the events of the Halloween night Harry and tell me what you can gauge from it. Albus Dumbledore, for all his senile-old man behavior is one of the most powerful and knowledgeable wizard alive and a consummate politician to boot. His words are always calculated. He won't say anything that can potentially backfire on him or be proven false."

"True." Harry agreed. There was a reason after all that the wizened headmaster was so revered and held so many positions in the magical world.

He turned to the third page where Dumbledore's speech was printed.

ALBUS DUMBLEDORE SPEAKS ABOUT THE EVENTS AT THE GODRICS HOLLOW AND THE FALL OF THE DARK LORD

Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts, the Chief Warlock and the Supreme Mugwump spoke about the events at Godric's Hollow and the fall of He-who-must-not-be-named on Halloween night. He also speaks about the whereabouts of the savior of the wizarding world, the boy-who-lived, Harry Potter.

"On Halloween night, October 31st 1981, Lord **** (He-who-must-not-be-named) attacked the Potter family who were residing in the Godric's hollow under the Fidelius charm. James and Lily Potter had previously evaded Lord **** (He-who-must-not-be-named) in battle three times already and have escaped with their life. Also, Auror James Potter is credited for the capture of several death eaters. It was no surprise that Lord **** (He-who-must-not-be-named) was after them. So, they had decided to go into hiding under the best security they could find- The Fidelius charm. T hey were unfortunately betrayed by their Secret keeper and Lord **** (He-who-must-not-be-named) found them and attacked the Potter family in hopes to finish them once and for all.

James and Lily Potter were both students of mine and brilliant individuals. They actively fought against the terrorism spread by  Lord **** (He-who-must-not-be-named) and his Death Eaters. They fell to Lord Voldemort's wand on Halloween night.

By what I could gauge from the scene in their cottage, which I am sure the auror reports would elaborate upon, James Potter first confronted  Lord **** (He-who-must-not-be-named) at the entrance of the cottage and fought him in order to buy his wife and infant son time  to escape. He bravely put on a fight but soon fell, the victim to a killing curse cast by his attacker.

Lily Potter, in the meantime ran upstairs to the nursery and barricaded it the best she could because she didn't have any means of escape.  Lord **** (He-who-must-not-be-named) had erected Anti-portkey and Anti-apparation wards around the property and the Floo was found to be shut off. Lily Potter, being the brilliant charms prodigy she was, erected several wards on the doorway as fast as she could but,  Lord **** (He-who-must-not-be-named) broke through them and blasted the door open and immediately disarmed Lily Potter and killed her with a killing curse too.

He then turned to the son of Lily and James Potter and casted yet another killing curse on him. In a miraculous turn of events, the killing curse, instead of hitting young Harry, rebounded on its caster and Lord Voldemort was vanquished.

It is unknown what exactly caused the Killing curse of all spells to be rebounded and led to the young Potter surviving a killing curse completely unscathed save for a lightning bolt scar on his forehead but, it did happen and  Lord **** (He-who-must-not-be-named) was vanquished, falling to the Potter Family . Unfortunately, the Lord and Lady Potter lost their life in the process and their son was orphaned. Their sacrifice will always be remembered."

We at the Daily Prophet even consulted the Unspeakables in the department of mysteries but, they too are unsure what led to Harry Potter surviving the killing curse with nothing but a scar and the curse rebounding.

We further asked Albus Dumbledore about the whereabouts of our savior to which he replied, "I have placed Harry Potter with his new guardians and sent them to a safe place, protected by extensive wards for the safety of the boy. There are several death eaters still out there who will wish to harm him to take revenge. In such a case, his safety is paramount. Also, for those who wish to sent him gifts, on behalf of Harry, I thank them. Harry won't be receiving ANY mail though. This is also something done for his safety. So, his well wishers won't be able to send him gifts or letters and I would ask them to not waste their time trying."

He refused to name who were the Boy-who-lived guardians though and where he was taken. We hope that Harry Potter is safe and leads a happy life while we await his return to the wizarding world.

For more on Fidelius charm, pg.5

Statement by the DOM, pg.4

For more on house Potter, pg. 4

For more on Lily and James Potter, pg.5

Harry put the paper down and looked at the Greengrass parents who were looking at him.

"So? What did you pick up Harry?"

"He never once specified who was the one whom Voldemort actually fell to." They flinched at the name as Harry casually shrugged. "And I suppose that is true. No one knows how I survived the curse. According to me too, it was my parents who did something to ensure my survival. What? I don't know. No one does."

Harry didn't dare mention the other thing that he had noticed: Lord Voldemort was vanquished. Not killed. Not dead. Vanquished.

But, he was afraid that Lord Greengrass would point that very fact out. Another part of him thought about why would Lord Greengrass bring up Voldemort?

"True. But, that was not what I wished for you to see. No, I wished for you to see that Dumbledore never said that you-know-who is dead. Vanquished, not dead."

Harry controlled his reactions with Occlumency.

His fears had come true. Lord Greengrass had picked up the one thing that was to remain a secret. The news that Lord Voldemort was definitely alive couldn't get out under any circumstances. He had made two bids to return to power and regain a body already. If he had support, he would most likely succeed.

Thirteen years ago, several death eaters had tried searching for him and that was when several had been caught, both within the country and outside. Some were even killed when they tried to resist against the aurors. They had failed that time. Now, they won't as the death eaters who were left out of Azkaban were either pardoned or unknown. There wasn't any security force looking out to stop them.

Harry raised an eyebrow at Cyrus.

"What I am saying is that you-know-who may not be as dead as we thought. He may be alive."

"And... are you saying this only based on a single word from Dumbledore?"

"No. Well, Dumbledore wouldn't have chosen his words like he did if he also didn't suspect of this fact. But, I have something more. I was an Auror during the blood war against you-know-who Harry. They were terrible times to live in. I have seen that monster fight. He could regrow limbs that had been cut off within a few minutes. Most injuries that the aurors and hit-wizards inflicted upon him healed in front of our eyes Harry. He was too... inhumane to die that easily."

He took a deep breath and shuddered at the memory. Harry remembered that Cyrus had ended up in St. Mungo's Hospital for several weeks due to a injury to his back. Magic had saved him from being crippled for life. That had happened near the end of the war... In the May 1981 infact.

"Anyways, that is not all. Tell me Harry, what do you know about the dark mark?"

"Many things sir. Tell me what you know. The information that I have will likely blow your brain out of the window."

The Greengrass parents shared a look before Cyrus turned back to him.

"If you think so. Very well. Whatever I have about the subject is from what Barty Crouch, the then head of DMLE had told my father and a little of my own research. So, the dark mark is a tattoo that each and every death eater is branded with. It is a mark of their servitude to you-know-who. The Unspeakables suspect that it was a variation of the protean charm. And it is no mere mark. It aided Death Eaters to communicate with each other and reach to their master when he called them, instinctively without even knowing the location they were going to. It is also suspected that a death eater can't take the mark without consent but, it was a speculation. There isn't any concrete proof." Lord Greengrass said.

"Anything else?"

"It is tied to you-know-who. Once he fell to your family on Halloween of '81, the mark on the death eaters arms almost faded to nothing."

Harry gave him a light applause.

"Good research Lord Greengrass. Whatever you have gathered is very good as compared to what the public knows."

"And what is it that you know?" Roxanne asked.

"Will you consent to a vow of silence?"

"Why?"

"If you want to know what I know, you have to swear a vow of silence. The information is too sensitive to get leaked."

A vow of silence was a customary oath that was very common especially when working with legal or sensitive information. The Hippocratic Oath that the healers took and the vows of the Unspeakables were variations to the vow of silence. If the Greengrass parents took the oath, they won't be able to tell anyone whatever Harry told them to anyone in by any means or in any form without Harry's exclusive permission. Their magic would forbid it. Even if they wanted to, they couldn't tell anyone.

"Very well. We'll take the oath. Roxanne?"

She nodded and they both took the vow of silence.

"Very well. Whatever you have gathered Lord Greengrass is actually very good but, it is by no means precise or completely correct." Lord Greengrass raised an eyebrow at the statement.

"The dark mark is the symbol of Lord Voldemort's servitude." The two adults flinched at the name. " and, as you said, it is no mere tattoo. The dark mark isn't a variation of the protean charm though, neither is it a charm at all. No, the dark mark is created with a combination of soul magic, Sacrificial magic and parselmagic put together. Tell me, do you know anything about the Egyptian enslavement ritual?"

Both of them choked on the air. "How in the name of Merlin do you know about that!?" Roxanne asked.

"I make it a point to research everything about my enemy especially one as dangerous as Voldemort. Now, what do you know about it."

"It was a ritual used by ancient Egyptians to enslave other people. The person enslaved would loose all free will of their own. They became bound to the wizard or witch who performed the ritual."

"True. But, that is not the part I wanted. The ritual also formed a connection of the slave with the master. The master would know about the slave's whereabouts, their emotions, their loyalty etc. whenever they wished so. They could also torture the servant on their whims with a mere thought. The dark mark works on a similar principle. Voldemort would know where any of his death eaters are even if they go under extensive wards. He can torture them through the mark and even summon them if he wishes. He also modified the ritual to a certain extent. Instead of loosing their free will, the servant would keep their free will and magic. Can you guess why?"

They shook their heads.

"Because, it would hinder their magic casting if they lost their free will. They won't be able to muster up the intent required to cast the spells. That was what happened to the Egyptian slaves. They became worse then house elves. They could only do what their master asked. If their master didn't tell them, they couldn't do it. That included daily activities like eating and nature's call too. They were of no use in battle. Voldemort kept their free will intact, instead making the mark act like a loyalty potion. So, Death eaters are basically normal witches and wizards who are loyal to Voldemort. Not slaves but loyal soldiers."

"So, the ones bearing the mark are instinctively loyal to you-know-who unless they have enough mental fortitude to throw it off?" Roxanne asked.

"Yes. Also, Lord Voldemort can draw some magic from each of his followers when he needs. Not all, but some. It is one of the reasons he is so powerful."

"He can draw... magic from his followers, like use their magic to cast spells?" Harry nodded at Cyrus's question. "Bloody Hell! How is that possible?"

"Nothing is impossible when it comes to magic sir. As to how, it is due to the sacrificial magic ritual. The death eaters have an initiation ceremony. They are made to kill a human being, magical or non-magical and then, Voldemort marks them. The sacrifice... the murder, serves as a sacrifice to bind the Death Eater under the Dark mark. The sacrifice forges a connection between Voldemort and the Death Eater by soul and by magic. The chant is in Parseltounge that brands them."

The Greengrass Parents were silent for a few moments. Harry leaned back in his chair, waiting for them to process the information.

"So, to summarize, the dark mark that is branded serves several function. One, it acts like a loyalty potion making the marked person loyal to you-know-who. It also makes him privy to the location of his death eaters, summon them at will, torture them through the mark on his whims and also allows him to draw magical power from their reserves when needed." Lady Greengrass said.

"Yes. That is about right. I think it also helps them communicate. I am not sure, but it may be a possibility."

"I need a drink." Cyrus said after a few more minutes of silence. "Roxanne, Fire-whiskey?"

"Yes."

"Harry, will you take anything?"

"A butterbeer if it isn't a problem." Harry replied. He nodded and went to get the drinks, leaving his wife and Harry alone.

She smiled weakly at him. "How do you know this Harry?"

"Research. A lot of research. Some of it was even done by my parents and I elaborated on it."

"Who else knows?"

"Perhaps Dumbledore. He may know this, less than this or maybe even something more. But, he will know something beyond what you have told me." Harry replied.

"So, by everything you know, do you also think you-know who isn't dead then?" Cyrus asked as he walked back into the room with a two bottles and two glasses, closing the door behind him. He handed the butterbeer to Harry and looked at him inquisitively.

Harry leaned back into his chair before he let out a sigh. "I do not think so Lord Greengrass..." The adults raised their eyebrows. "I know so. Lord Voldemort is definitely alive. He is more than a ghost and less than a human currently. A wraith. But, he isn't dead."

"WHAT? How... What? How do you know that?" They sputtered.

Harry opened the butterbeer and took a sip contemplating if he should tell them or not. He made the call to tell them.

"Because I have faced him after the Halloween night. Twice. Once in early June 1992 and once in May 1993."

"WHAT!?" Both of them shouted.

"Yes. You have heard how Quirrell, our DADA professor was actually a dark wizard and wanted to kill me? Well, he was being possesed by Voldemort. He wanted the philosopher's stone to regain his body but his plans were thwarted. The following year the chamber of secret incident took place... The artifact that possesed the girl was Voldemort's... I faced his ghost, his 16 year old wrath down in the chamber."

Lord Greengrass kept silent and poured two glasses of Fire-whiskey, handed one to his wife and downed the whole glass in one shot. Roxanne also downed half the glass in a single sip.

"You know, if it hadn't been you telling me this, I would have thought all of this was a lie Harry." Cyrus sighed and poured himself another drink.

They sat in silence sipping their drinks.

"But, what was it that you actually wanted to talk about Cyrus?"

"Ah, yes. You did blow our minds out of the window as you told... Yeah, we were discussing about the dark mark. The mark which had faded almost to nothing is darkening again."

"Excuse me?"

"The dark mark—"

"I heard you the first time Lord Greengrass. Where did you hear this? Are you sure?"

He nodded solemnly. "Harry... I need to deal with some... unsavory sort of people especially for my potions ingredient business. There are whispers among them Harry. The dark mark is gaining colour. Some are worried, some are waiting and some, they are happy. Some are even thinking of fleeing the country Harry. The last time it happened was in 1992, but it was brief. This one, it started since the Quidditch World cup and is steadily gaining colour. See these photos." He handed Harry four photographs.

One was the dark mark branded and in its full glory. One was of a mark that was barely visible, another was a little darker than the first and the last one was like an intermediate between the first and second photo.

"The first photo is the picture of the mark taken in 1979... at the height of his power. The second photo was taken exactly one year after his fall, on 1st November 1982, the third photo was taken two days after the attacks in the Quidditch World Cup. The last was taken a week and a half ago."

Harry suddenly recollected the night of the Yule Ball... specifically the conversation between Karkaroff and Snape.

Harry slumped in his chair. Voldemort was making a bid to return to power... again. The first two times, Harry had managed to foil his plans. This time, it seemed that Voldemort had a better plan. He had already gained a lot of power. Voldemort had managed to enter him into a deadly tournament. What was his plan?

He also remembered the Prophecy that the divination teacher had given.

Did Voldemort want him out of the way before he returned? Or was the plan something else?

He looked at Lord and Lady Greengrass, who were mirroring his grim expression.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Harry," Cyrus sighed. "You are going to be the hope if He-who-must-not-be-named returns. You ended him the first time. You are known for several feats of magic. You are perhaps the most politically powerful person in the country bar Dumbledore... well, once you are seventeen anyways. You are a symbol of hope Harry. And you are perhaps the only one capable enough to defeat him. House Greengrass will rally behind you Harry."

Harry sat up straight. Cyrus Greengrass had offered an alliance. If Voldemort returned, House Greengrass would fight under his banner.

"Yes Harry. Cyrus speaks the truth. You are an exceptional wizard. You took down eleven death eaters without a single scratch on your body at the World cup. You killed a Chimera. And you are fourteen. I don't think any person can boast of the feats you have achieved that too at such a young age. And the main point is, House Greengrass has been a neutral house since centuries. We were of course against You-know-who in the war with Cyrus being an auror and all, but it was a close thing. Near the end... The whole of 1981 till he fell, the death eaters were pressurizing us to rally under their banner. If he hadn't fallen to your family... We would have been forced to join him for the safety of our family especially our Daphne. They were dark times Harry. I still remember the night of October 31st... At night we were seriously contemplating what to do. We brainstormed everything from fleeing to running for Dumbledore's protection to bending to the pressure that the dark lord was putting on us to join. We had received yet another death threat earlier that day saying if we didn't join they would end our family. Next morning, we heard that the dark lord had fallen. Only I know what amount of... Happiness and relief I got when I heard the news." She said hanging her head.

"Lady Greengrass... there is no need to feel ashamed. The duty of a Lord and Lady is first and foremost to the safety of their family. We don't need to ponder on the what if's."

"True." Cyrus said nodding his head. "We want to be prepared this time Harry. If we ally with you, we won't need to join you-know-who. Pure-blood supremacy may benefit us but it isn't the right thing to do. He is a terrorist first and foremost despite he may call himself a revolutionary championing pure-blood supremacy."

Harry laughed. He outright burst into laughter.

"What is it that you find so funny?" Mrs. Greengrass asked bewildered.

"Oh, nothing much except for the fact that a bastard son of a muggle and a near squib is the champion of pure-bloods."

"What?"

"Oh, you didn't know? Voldemort isn't his real name. His name is Tom Marvolo Riddle. The name he uses is an Anagram." Harry took his wand out and wrote the name with flaming letters in the air like Tom had done in the chamber. The letters rearranged into "I AM LORD VOLDEMORT"

"THE FUCK!" Lord Greengrass yelled as his wife gaped at the letters.

"Yes, Tom Riddle, the son of Merope Gaunt, a near squib. The Gaunt line is the bastardized descendant of Salazar Slytherin and is noted for a vein of instability and violence that flourished through the generations due to their habit of marrying their own cousins. Anyways, back to Voldemort, well, Merope Gaunt fell in love... one-sided love I might add, with a muggle named Thomas Riddle, a guy who lived in her neighborhood." Harry continued.

"He didn't return her feelings so Merope fed him a love potion and fell pregnant. Thinking that impregnating her would give Thomas a sense of duty to be with her, she stopped feeding him love potions. It turned out that Thomas became angry when he came to know that his wife was a witch and kicked her out. Soon, Tom Riddle was born at Wool's orphanage in London on 31st of December 1926 and his mother died soon after childbirth, naming the child after his father. The child was known as Tom Riddle."

The adults just poured themselves another drink and gulped it down in one shot. They repeated the action.

"Ok. Damn. I say, you can tell us all you know about the Dark Lord some other day. This is enough information overload as it is. The crux of the matter is that he's regaining power. He may return soon. And if he returns, House Greengrass will rally behind House Potter. I want protection of House Potter. This is the option we didn't have last time. Some of our family ideologies went against Dumbledore's at that time and they still do. We aren't going to join you-know-who. You have emerged as my third and last option Harry. You dating my daughter was much more of a boon than I initially thought for my House. What do you say."

"Will you be willing to stand against Voldemort... like fighting against him or do you want complete safety... like go into hiding?"

"The former. If I wanted to go into hiding, I would have done it myself Harry." Cyrus replied.

"So... what do you mean by gaining the protection of House Potter?"

"You don't know?" Lady Greengrass asked.

"I am afraid not ma'am."

"Ah, with the savviness you displayed in the Wizengamot, I thought you would know... Well, the protection means that in case of a threat you will lend us support, be it financial, political or magical in nature. Well, we don't need money as we already have plenty but by financial I meant contacts that are required to buy a few exclusive, not strictly legal things if you get what I am talking about. Political is self-explanatory."

"And by magical you mean that your enemy will be my enemy and vice-versa unless our interests conflict. If anyone dares harm you, I will protect you and seek retribution too if needed. Right?" She nodded. "Ah. House Potter agrees then."

There were a very few capable of defeating Harry in a single duel by now. He had trained that much and to that level. Probably only Voldemort and Dumbledore could defeat him now to be honest.

It was wise to seek shelter behind him if war broke out. Putting House Greengrass under his protection would be akin to saying 'Try to harm them and I will deal with you personally.' And by now, many people feared Harry. He had captured eleven death eaters without a single scratch on his body and killed a Chimera too. People had enough reason to be scared to go against him.

"Thank you Harry." Lord Greengrass said looking a bit relieved.

Harry looked at his watch. He had promised Sirius to be home around 10. It was 10:09 PM already!

"Lord Greengrass, I am sorry but I have to leave sir. Sirius and Remus would worry if I am late." Harry said in a worried tone. Sirius could become a really big mother hen sometimes.

"Oh gods! Look at the time! Never felt when the time passed. I will call Daphne and you can say goodbye. We will continue this discussion some other day... probably when you come for Summer Holidays, eh." Lord Greengrass said rising from his seat.

"It was nice meeting you Harry. Even if you did blow my mind out of the window." Lady Greengrass said smiling at Harry.

"It was nice meeting you too Lady Greengrass. But, before I go, I must ask you to keep all of this to yourself. We do not want to induce mass panic and have people sticking their heads in the sand like Ostriches."

"They would probably say that we are going senile if we bring this out in public right now." Cyrus said with a laugh.

"True." Harry said, getting up himself and followed him outside with Lady Greengrass trailing behind him.

Daphne and Astoria were already waiting for them outside. Daphne cast him a questioning look and Harry nodded in reassurance.

They went to the floo fire-place and Lord Greengrass gave a light slap on Harry's back. "It was nice meeting you Harry. I hope we will meet soon again." He said with a smile.

Lady Greengrass gave him a hug and mirrored her husband's words.

Astoria too hugged him and the three left Harry and Daphne alone bidding Harry a good-night. It looked like Astoria was going to add her input but kept quiet when her mother shot her a look.

"What happened in there Harry? Was it anything serious?"

"A serious talk? Yes. It was about politics actually. House Potter and Greengrass alliance of sorts. He wanted to talk to me like Lord to Lord."

Daphne hummed and gave him a hug before she leaned in for a kiss. Harry reciprocated it and soon they were snogging each other with vigor before Harry had to leave to go back to his house. Sirius would be waiting.

And he needed to have a conversation with his two mentors.

---

31st December 1994

Atrium, British Ministry of Magic

Harry floo-travelled into the atrium of the ministry of Magic and was soon followed his date, Susan, Amelia and finally Sirius. All were dressed immaculately in formal acromantula-silk dress robes befitting their status in the wizarding world.

Sometimes Harry thought that he spent more on these types of robes than his school supplies put together. Thankfully the Potter and Black families were loaded and their investments were vast. Whatever they spent was replenished within a week or two.

Susan took Harry's elbow as Amelia did the same with Sirius. They were soon greeted by the Minister of Magic.

"Harry, Sirius, Amelia! Welcome!" Fudge greeted in a jovial voice with familiarity like he was seeing an old friend. If he wasn't the minister of magic, it would have been considered a serious offense to give the first greeting by first name at a such formal, high-profile event. But, to the people who were nearby, it seemed that Harry, Sirius and Madame Bones were close friends with the Minister.

"Cornelius. It is good to see you again." Sirius replied as he shook his hand and Harry followed his Godfather's actions. Soon the party of four broke and Sirius and Harry took their dates in different directions to talk to different people. Sirius and Amelia began conversing with Lord Ogden while Harry steered Susan to where Lord Albertos was standing.

"Lord Albertos." Harry greeted the man.

Lord Albertos was a man in his early seventies. His white hair was streaked with occasional brown Hair which must have been his natural hair colour when he was younger. He had heterochromatic eyes: One blue, one brown.

"Heir Potter-Black." He greeted back. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person. And, I am afraid that I do not know who is your date."

"Lord Albertos, meet Susan Bones, the Heiress of House Bones." Harry introduced her.

"Oh, look at you! You have grown so much Susan. Last I saw you, you were a little tyke playing with dolls. And look at you now!"

"You knew me as a child?"

"Not exactly... I had came to meet Amelia once for some urgent work and had seen you there. You came and offered me a cup of tea... imaginary one."

Harry snickered as Susan blushed in embarrassment.

"Oh, I had even seen you as a child Heir Potter. You were six months old that time. When I lifted you in my arms, you turned my hair pink. I still remember it. I lifted you and a few seconds later, James Potter was rolling on the floor with laughter. It took me five minutes to actually realize what had exactly happened and whatever I did, couldn't reverse it! I had to go to St. Mungo's and there they said that the magic would wear off in a couple of days. My hair was pink for three and a half days!"

"Err... I am sorry for the actions of my younger self sir." Harry apologized. It was accidental magic! He hadn't done it on purpose!

"Oh, no need to apologize to him Heir Potter." A feminine voice called from behind. Harry turned and saw Lady Albertos walking towards him with Griselda Marchbanks in tow and a few other ladies. "It was very funny to see my husband with pink hair. It was a welcome change."

"Lady Albertos. Madame Marchbanks." Harry greeted kissing their knuckles. He was soon roped into conversation with them. He came to know that he could sit for all his OWLS as soon as he turned fifteen if he wished to. For NEWTs he needed to be seventeen. He just needed to come to her office and give the exams given that he had informed her two days ago that he was going to come and write the exams of specified subjects.

Harry decided to give the exams for a few subjects which he didn't learn at Hogwarts for his OWLs before his fifth year started.

Soon, they took seats at circular tables. Harry and Susan sat once again on the head table with Sirius, Amelia, Fudge, Dumbledore, the Greengrass family, Lord and Lady Albertos, and finally Augusta Longbottom. Apparently she hadn't seen it fit to bring Neville with her probably believing he would mess up. Neville's Grandmother was perhaps the biggest reason for the boy's lack of confidence.

Dinner was soon served by several waiters. One had to tap their dish with their wand and place their order. The waiters would then bring their order.

The conversation on their table picked up. Surprisingly the talk involved very little of politics or Wizengamot talk. With the most politically powerful people sitting together on a single table and conversing, Harry had expected the main topic of discussion to be politics. Instead the topic varied from the latest Quidditch match to the Triwizard tournament. When the Triwizard topic had been arisen, Harry had became the center of attention at the table. They talked about what mistakes each champion made and how could it have turned out differently. They even discussed what they would have done in the champion's place.

Soon after dinner ended and the remnants of the deserts cleared, Fudge left his seat and went up on the stage that had been built in the Atrium. He tapped the mic twice and cleared his throat.

"Ladies and Gentlemen." He said beaming at everyone in the Atrium. "It is my genuine pleasure to see you all present at such a momentous occasion and I hope that you all enjoyed the food that we served. Today, we have gathered here for two main reasons. One, is of course the annual ball hosted by the Ministry of Magic. The ball will begin in a few minutes by the way, but, before we proceed to enjoy our evening, we have to do something very important." He said.

"Today, we have also gathered here to honor the actions of a hero. He bravely fought a dozen Death Eaters to protect a family whom he didn't even know just because it was the right thing to do. He successfully subdued those death eaters who were attacking innocents at the Quidditch World Cup and has done Britain a great service and that too, not for the first time. The ministry, on behalf of Magical Britain, has decided to award him the highest civilian award in the country, The Order of Merlin-First Class. Without further adieu, I would like to call Harry James Potter on the stage to receive his award. Please put your hands together on this momentous occasion!"

Amidst thunderous applause, Harry strolled forward and ascended upon the stage.

"May I please call the Chief Warlock upon the stage to hand him the Merlin shield and the Certificate." Fudge added and Dumbledore also followed Harry onto the stage, his eyes twinkling like stars.

An assistant quickly came forward with a tray. Fudge took his position on Harry's right as Dumbledore picked up the Merlin shield from the tray and handed it to Harry and they both posed for the camera.

The Merlin Shield was actually a circular plate made of solid gold, a feet long in diameter and 1Kg in weight. It had Harry's name engraved on it in a flowery script.

HARRY JAMES POTTER

ORDER OF MERLIN

FIRST CLASS

Next Dumbledore handed him the official certificate of the achievement and the service he had done to the country. They posed again and this time, even Fudge joined them. Several flashes went off from the media cameras as thunderous applause filled the ministry atrium once again. Harry gave the crowd another of his charming smiles.

Fudge slowly slipped away and cast a sonorous on himself and announced, "May I now call upon Harry Potter to speak a few words."

If Salazar and Helga hadn't warned him, Harry would have been shocked. Apparently, it was a tradition not to tell the recipient of the award that they had to make a speech. They just announced it after the award was received. It had to be impromptu.

Harry walked to the center of the stage as Dumbledore and Fudge went back to the table and sat down.

The crowd quietened as Harry cleared his throat and gave the crowd a smile. "Good evening everyone. I did be lying if I said that I didn't expect that I would be called upon to make a speech today." There were a few chuckles around the room.

"I would say I am extremely honored to receive such an prestigious award. I would just say that I did what I thought was right. I never—"

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" A man, standing a little distance away from the stage yelled pointing his wand at Harry . A sickly green beam of light shot from the man's wand but was intercepted by a marble block that Harry conjured. He had conjured it wandlessly as he flicked his wand in his hand, making it look like a very quick action.

Many people screamed.

The marble block exploded as the killing curse impacted it. Harry converted the debris into spikes and banished it at the man who had tried to kill him. But, it seemed he wasn't alone. A magical shield intercepted the spikes and spells started raining down on Harry from all sides. Unfortunately for the attackers, Harry was already in action.

Chapter 43: The shadow assassins

Notes:

NOTE: THIS CHAPTER HAS SEVERAL NEW THINGS ADDED AND EDITED. PLEASE READ THE WHOLE CHAPTER AGAIN.

I REPEAT, READ THE WHOLE CHAPTER AGAIN

OR, YOU WILL MISS A LOT

SO... YOUR LOSS IF YOU DON'T

Ch. 43 The Shadow Assassins

Harry immediately raised a mage-dome shield... The strongest magical shield spell known to mankind, around himself and several spells splashed harmlessly on it. As an added protection, Harry conjured a kaleidoscope of butterflies around him. The golden dome held under the onslaught of curses casted by the people who were trying to kill him. Harry immediately counted the number of people firing at him. Sixteen.

A few others... around a dozen people were firing at the crowd, keeping them busy but Dumbledore and the aurors were protecting the crowd with a few others. So, Harry decided to deal with the sixteen people firing at him. He also decided that he wasn't going to hold back. The mage-dome was already straining under the onslaught of spells. The assassins weren't playing around. They were firing spells which would all be labeled as extremely-dark by the British ministry. All spells were powerful and lethal. A few killing curses had already bypassed Harry's shield, but were intercepted by the butterflies.

Harry let go of his shield, creating a shockwave around him before his wand sprang into action. He casted a wide area Chopping curse followed by two advanced stunners at the death eaters... or whoever they were as the attackers weren't wearing the usual death eater regalia. The curse successfully chopped two of the assassins in half from waist down as they were still recovering from the shockwave. They screamed in pain as blood spewed from their stumps before their stunned bodies crumpled to the floor.

Next, Harry created a fire-whip which wrapped around one of the men who was still getting up after falling to the floor, while he simultaneously replenished the butterflies. The man screamed in pain before Harry let go of the whip and hit him with a guillotine curse, beheading him in one fluid motion.

The back of Harry's neck tingled and he moved. Harry suddenly felt a stinging sensation on his upper left arm. He had been clipped by a Lacero which had slipped through his butterfly shield. He erected an Aegis-maximus shield and return fired upon the attackers. His wand was a blur as spells flew from it. But, he was being out-numbered thirteen to one. The butterflies were swirling around him faster than ever, intercepting spells left right and center. He was simultaneously conjuring more butterflies wandlessly to replenish their numbers and even deflecting spells.

A piercing curse nearly hit him but Harry had ducked at the last moment before he too retaliated.

'Conlido, Reducto, Bombarda Maxima, Obstupefio, Protego Maxima, Piercio, Deprimo, Lacero, Avis, Oppungo, Abscido Maxima, Confringo, Expungo.'

None of his spells scored a hit as all were stopped by shields.

Harry, completely undeterred by the lack of success, waved his wand, transfiguring the dozens of dead butterflies into spikes and send them flying at the attackers. They all erected shields to stop them... all except one, who got a couple of spikes to his shoulder, one to his leg and three on his abdomen, one to his chest and he fell to the ground, screaming in pain.

A bludgeoner hit Harry's chest but, he stood there unfazed, still firing and deflecting spells. Thank Merlin that he had worn his Basilisk-vest underneath his robes. Harry next shot a dozen fire arrows at the attackers followed by Confringos and Reductos. All his spells were blocked expertly. These attackers were loads more skilled than the Death Eaters at the Quidditch World Cup.

He was hit by an arrow point blank at his heart, but the vest protected him once again.

That was when nearly a dozen aurors flooded near the stage and half of Harry's attackers engaged the aurors. Out of the corner of his eyes, Harry saw that half of the assassins attacking the crowd had been successfully taken down. He conjured a stone-wall to intercept a dozen spikes which had been shot at him and ducked under a killing curse before intercepting another with a butterfly.

'Piercio, Depulso, Uanescere, Deprimo, Confringo, Protego Aegis, Ensis Incido, Triplexi Explosus, Excaceo.' All these spells flashed from Harry's wand in less than one second. The result? Only the Ensis Incido spell... the swordsman spell, impacted a female attacker and she went down screaming, bleeding deeply. All the rest of his spells were blocked with shields or physical objects.

The attackers were working in Harmony to protect each other and attack Harry. It was as if they were trained specifically to work in teams.

As soon as the Lady went down, the rest five shouted 'Avada Kedavra' in harmony and five killing curses sped towards Harry. He intercepted the killing curses with another swarm of butterflies. Before the dead butterflies fell to the floor, Harry transfigured them to iron spikes and banished them at the attackers. An attacker Conjured a marble wall to block the spikes.

Time for Harry's favorite trick.

He transfigured the wall into a Leopard which pounced upon the man who had conjured the wall and attacked him. Another attacker aided him by beheading Harry's leopard, but, Harry's stunner impacted the man who was bleeding extensively due to the claw marks.

Harry hissed in pain as a bone-breaker impacted his elbow, breaking it before he had to duck under a killing curse and dodge several spells send his way.

Harry grunted in pain as a sledge-hammer curse, which his butterfly-shield was incapable of stopping, hit his abdomen. His vest saved him from certain death, but it was going to leave a nasty bruise.

'Protego scutum.' A shimmering blue barrier protected his body from the next several curses that had been shot at Harry. He immediately performed a quick healing spell on his elbow before he performed the Mjolnir spell... a spell the ancient Norse wizards had invented. It shot several lightning bolts at once which would hit the caster's opponents.

Four tendrils of lightning leapt from Harry's wand and hurled towards the attackers. All of the conjured an elemental shield but the spell broke through them and impacted three of the attackers. Now, only one attacker remained.

The remaining attacker looked around at her fallen companions. The people attacking the crowd had all been captured except for two who were hiding behind tables, still firing spells. She yelled something to them and before Harry could do anything, she pointed her wand to the heavens and yelled, "FIENDFYRE"

Hot, eldritch flames started pouring out of her wand and started taking the shape of a huge Dragon. Her remaining companions who were still standing followed her lead.

Screams filling the atrium increased in intensity. People were desperately trying to escape. The ones brave and skilled enough were casting spells, trying to help each other but, instead creating more chaos as people intercepted their way, trying to run away. But, they had a bigger fish to fry than people running around like headless chickens.

Three people casting Fiendfyre in an enclosed space with a crowd present was bad news, very-very bad news.

Harry immediately raised his wand and water emerged from his wand. The problem? The water was semi-sentient like Fiendfyre and needed conscious and continuous attention to be controlled. While not destructive as Fiendfyre, the spell had been known for flooding several small towns in the past and drowning houses when it went wrong.

The two dragons, made of fire and water respectively battled in a awe-inspiring display of magic. Soon, Harry's dragon started overpowering the Fiendfyre and Harry turned the his Dragon into a great wave of water and used it to encompass the Fiendfyre, creating a globe of water with the Fiendfyre in it. He wandlessly shot a Lacero at the attacker and she fell on the ground dead as blood spewed from her jugular.

Harry immediately subdued the Fiendfyre before it could grow and become haywire as its caster was no longer in control. He also subdued his own water spell from multiplying in quantity due to the ambient magic from the Fiendfyre. Flooding the atrium was a bad idea at the moment.

He dropped on one knee as soon as he successfully ended his own spell. The mage dome and subduing the fiendfyre had taken a lot out of Harry. He greedily breathed in several gulps of air. He looked around the atrium. Dumbledore was subduing the last of Fiendfyre that was casted. All the attackers were down. There was wide spread destruction around the atrium. Enchanted windows were broken, the tiles were cracked, several tables were chairs were in ashes or in pieces.

The once beautifully decorated ministry atrium now looked like a war zone. The residuary fumes of the Fiendfyre was making it hard to breathe.

Several people were lying on the floor either bleeding or unmoving. It included both the attackers and normal public. The attackers who had been chopped from waist down by Harry lay in a pool of their own blood, dead. The woman whose abdomen had been slashed open... her guts were spilled on the floor. It was a horrifying sight.

Harry wasn't bothered about that though. He was searching for his family and friends. His eyes met Sirius's as he got up from where he had taken cover. He had a cut across his cheek, soot on his face and was massaging his shoulder. Amelia was hugging Susan tightly but they both looked alright. The Greengrass family, bar Lord Greengrass, was hidden behind a makeshift cover of Chairs and tables with many other people, including the minister. Lord Greengrass was lying on the floor near Sirius, breathing heavily and his leg was bent at an odd angle.

Harry gingerly got up. His magical reserves were running low and as a result, he was feeling fatigued. His robes were bloodied and his injuries were still healing. His ribs ached as he took a shuddering breath. Everyone dear to him was alright. There had been civilian casualties though.

"AVADA KEDAVRA" someone yelled. Harry turned to the source of the voice and saw the sickly greet light of the killing curse speeding towards him. Before he could even react, there was a burst of purple fire in front of him and Hedwig flamed in. She swallowed the killing curse and burst into flames.

"HEDWIG!" Harry yelled seeing his beloved familiar get hit by a killing curse. All sense left Harry. He turned his attention on the person who had shot the curse, fury written on his face and his eyes glowing with power. He roared and slashed his wand downwards.

"AVADA KE-" The guy tried again, but had to stop as a humongous bolt of lightning hit him square on the chest.

People in the atrium were temporarily blinded as they saw spots in their vison and their ears rang due to the sheer power of the bolt. The smell of ozone and charred flesh filled the atrium. When people successfully blinked out the spots from their eyes, many nearly vomited at the sight of the man's charred body.

Harry though, was paying little attention to the body of the attacker. He immediately kneeled besides Hedwig's ashes. "Hedwig." Harry muttered. A small chick poked her head out of the ash pile. Harry picked her up and warmly cradled her in his arms. He felt a person lay his hands on his shoulder. He nearly attacked but relaxed when he saw that it was Dumbledore.

"You need Medical attention Harry." Dumbledore said.

Sirius too hurried to his side. "Harry, the Headmaster's right. Come." Harry nodded and got back to his feet swaying slightly, baby Hedwig still in his arms.

Sirius and Dumbledore shared a look, silently conversing. Dumbledore finally spoke up. "Come, Harry. I am apparating you to Hogwarts."

Harry just nodded again, as he was unable to answer. Fatigue had gripped him as his adrenaline subsided.

He was suffering from magical exhaustion. The mage-dome shield was one of the most taxing and the most powerful shield spell in his arsenal. Holding it successfully while being bombarded by so many powerful spells would leave even the best wizards and witches with severe magical exhaustion. There was also the fact that the number of witches and wizards who could successfully cast the mage-dome shield were only a handful in the world, which made casting the spell itself a feat of magic.

Harry had also battled a dozen wizards and extinguished fiendfyre immediately after that. And that lightning spell had taken a lot out of him.

Dumbledore led him towards the apparation point with Sirius following behind them. Aurors were bustling around the atrium, giving emergency first aid and arresting the attackers.

They almost reached the Apparation point when Amelia intercepted their way. Susan was with her.

"I am sorry, but, won't it be better that Mr. Potter is led to St. Mungo's where he'll get better treatment? I will personally place a security detail for him if needed. And my aurors even need to take statements... but that can wait till Harry is healed." She sent an apologetic look to Harry.

Harry wasn't upset with Amelia though. She was only doing her duty as the head of DMLE. Harry needed to be accessible for the case and statements needed to be recorded as soon as possible.

But, Dumbledore was having none of it. "I am afraid Amelia, that St. Mungo's may not be safe enough for young Harry especially after today's assassination attempt. I am taking him to Hogwarts for treatment and I am sure that Madame Pomfrey is qualified enough to handle injuries at this level. And as for the statements, you and your trusted aurors can come to Hogwarts after lunch at 3PM in the evening to take the statements from Mr. Potter." He said with steel in his voice.

Dumbledore looked intimidating as hell as he looked down at the Head of DMLE, his eyes devoid of his legendary twinkle behind his half-moon spectacles. His soot covered face and beard just added to the intimidation factor.

Amelia quickly nodded and let them pass. Harry tried to give Susan a reassuring smile as he went towards the apparation point but it came out more like a grimace as he stumbled and Dumbledore grabbed his injured elbow to stabilize him.

Dumbledore led Harry to the apparation point and told Sirius to go home and get clothes and other essentials for Harry before he side-apparated Harry straight to the hospital wing. It was fortunately empty. Dumbledore waved his wand and a bell chime sounded from it.

Madame Pomfrey immediately emerged from her office and saw Harry's condition. He immediately knew that he was in for a long night.

---

1st January 1995

Hospital wing, Hogwarts

The next morning, Harry woke up with sunlight streaming on his face from an open window. He was completely healed and his magic almost had been replenished completely but, it was still settling. By dinner or by breakfast the next day at the latest, he would be in full health once again. Most severe magical exhaustion cases took a few days... almost a week to be completely cured. A severely depleted core needed atleast two to four days to be replenished completely and took a further couple of days for the core to settle down. So, healers recommended a week's rest to those who suffered from magical exhaustion.

He had only recovered so soon thanks to the ritual he had done on Winter Solstice almost a fortnight ago. It was a ritual that decreased the amount of time that he would need to replenish his magic drastically. It wouldn't help him in a duel but rather recovering after a taxing duel.

Harry got up from his bed and the matron came bustling in.

"Mr. Potter! You aren't recovered yet. You need—"

"I need to use the bathroom Madame Pomfrey. I assure you that I am not sneaking away." Harry said rolling his eyes. The healer seemed so overbearing that a few of her patients ran away after a few hours. Harry had done that too a couple of times. But, she was just doing her job. She had to ensure that each of her charges were in perfect health before they were discharged.

"Very well, Mr. Potter. But, if you run away, I will personally drag you back here. Am I understood?"

"Loud and clear."

"Good. Off you go then. I will have your breakfast ready by the time you come back." She informed. Harry just nodded and went to get ready for the day.

With breakfast, Harry was also delivered the Daily Prophet. The headlines were:

ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON THE BOY-WHO-LIVED AT THE ANNUAL MINISTRY BALL

by Rita Skeeter

Harry read the article. It was highly factual especially considering the fact that it was an article written by Rita Skeeter. Of course, she had added conspiration theories and used her flowery words but, it was limited. According to the article there were a total of Thirty people who had attacked the ministry ball. Thirty. Out of whom only nine had survived. Apparently, many attackers who had been stunned by aurors had been killed when Fiendfyre was unleashed. But, Harry knew another thing. He had most definitely killed eight attackers. He didn't know about the condition of the rest two who he had taken down, neither the six who had engaged the aurors.

He knew he should feel remorse but, he didn't. There was only cold acceptance of the fact. It was either them or him and his loved ones.

But, there was one main piece of news. None of the attackers bore the dark mark. Neither were they identified. They had no records of being born or any legal documents. It was as if they had dropped from thin space. There was no record of them existing.

Rita Skeeter had gone on a questioning spree about this even going as far as to call the ministry's record officers corrupt and incompetent.

The saddest part of the article was that twelve civilians... well, eleven civilians and one auror had lost their lives, eight were in critical conditions and seventy-two were injured in some way or the other and were admitted in St. Mundo's for medical attention. All the names of the deceased had been mentioned in the article.

Harry folded the paper and kept it down and finished his bacon in silence. It was soon broken as Sirius arrived in the hospital wing to check on him. He had already brought Harry's things the previous night to Hogwarts and stayed in a guest room for the night at Hogwarts. They talked for a while and were interrupted by Madame Pomfrey bringing him two letters that had came from him.

They were from Daphne and Susan respectively. Both were inquiring about his health and if he was alright.

Daphne informed him that her father had been admitted at St. Mungo's but was discharged in two hours and advised a day's rest. Astoria was shaken but otherwise unharmed. Susan on the other hand was also alright and her aunt apparently was yet to arrive home since the previous night as she was dealing with the whole situation.

Harry spend the rest of the day reading, only sneaking out to talk with Helga and Salazar. He went to the Bathroom and apparated to the chamber.

They were predictably worried about him but, they too had no idea of who the attackers were but suspected it to be the work of military organizations that weren't registered with ICW. He conversed with them for an hour before using the time turner to go back in time. He had no wish to get an earful from an angry Madame Pomfrey.

Soon it was afternoon and exactly at 3:00PM, three aurors along with Amelia Bones entered the hospital wing. Harry recognized one as Kingsley Shacklebolt and another as John Dawlish. He didn't know who the second lady was.

Amelia looked... tired. She had bag under her eyes and her hair was a little unkempt. "Good afternoon Harry." She said. Harry could hear the tiredness in her voice.

"Good afternoon. Are you alright Amelia?"

"I should be the one asking you that." She said dryly.

"Oh, I am alright. It is just Madame Pomfrey unwilling to let me go."

"I will be the one to decide if you're alright Mr. Potter. Not you." Madame Pomfrey said entering the hospital wing from her office with a thin file. She turned to the aurors present. "Here is Mr. Potter's file. All his injuries that I treated yesterday are noted here. Also, he was suffering from magical exhaustion yesterday. His latest checkup was an hour ago and is also filed."

Dawlish accepted the file with a nod.

"Thank you healer Pomfrey. You may leave. We need to speak with Mr. Potter here and need to record his statement." Amelia told her and she went back to her office. Amelia turned back to Harry. "Mr. Potter, are you ready to give us your statement?"

Harry nodded and answered their questions. It took around twenty minutes for it to get over.

"Thank you Mr. Potter for your cooperation. Dicta quill off."

Amelia leaned back in her seat and rubbed her eyes.

"You look extremely tired Amelia. You should get some rest Amelia. Or a pepper-up potion atleast."

"I know. But, I can't. The assassination attempt on you has caused an uproar of epic proportions. The assassins or whoever the hell they were... there is literally no record of them. It is like they dropped from space. And I am already on my third potion."

"Yeah... I read about the records not existing." Harry replied. Poor Amelia.

"You... what?"

"It is in the Daily Prophet. First page." Harry said, handing her the newspaper lying on the table next to him. Amelia read the article and groaned.

"Dawlish!" She barked. "Find out how Skeeter got hold of this. It was a private DMLE investigation. Now."

"Yes ma'am. I will find out the leak." He saluted and hurried out of the room.

Harry had a huge suspicion on how Skeeter had exactly got hold of the information but, he was under a contract to not reveal that secret. Instead, he said, "Amelia, how is it possible? How can thirty people, with no previous record drop out of nowhere?"

Instead of Amelia, Carolee Smulders... the second female in the room and a member of the DMLE investigation branch answered, "We are still investigating it. I am afraid we can not tell you Mr. Potter."

"Have you found anything at all?"

"... No." She replied.

"Nothing at all? Well, I can give you a lead I believe. Check out the non-recognized, illegal military organizations."

"Non-recognized, illegal military organization?" Smulders asked slowly as if tasting the words.

"Hired assassins and mercenaries in layman terms." Harry replied

"You think they hired thirty people to kill you?"

"They even failed with thirty people, Ms. Smulders. What is your point?" Harry asked curtly.

"N-No. That is not what I meant. I meant like thirty assassins are going to be expensive... and that is actually insane."

"That is why I used the word Non-recognized, illegal military organization. They could be a group of mercenaries for all we know or an assassination group too. There are many of them who work in different ways. Research about them Miss Smulders. But, I am sure Madame Bones already knows a little about them." Amelia nodded in agreement.

"Why aren't you asking them? Give them Veritaserum. They don't exist according to the records... do they?" Harry asked after a few seconds of silence

"Yes... they don't Harry. But... there was a little problem. Keep this confidential. The first two people whom we interrogated... or precisely were about to interrogate, apparently had a fake tooth which contained poison. As soon as they realized that they had been captured, they both broke the tooth and committed suicide. So, we removed the tooth from the rest of them. The first two just died before we could even register what they were doing. We understood what the two did when the third prisoner shouted a word and died suddenly." Amelia said.

Harry put the pieces together. "An unbreakable vow. Likely one to never say the word... atleast not if they had been captured. Ingenious." Harry mused out loud.

Amelia nodded. "We are now contemplating what to do with the rest four. If they die as soon as they say a word... we don't know what other measures they may have in place to stop themselves from being interrogated. Oh, and under no circumstances should this information leak."

"Of course."

"Then thank you for your cooperation. We'll take our leave now. Take care."

"Thank you. And you all too. Amelia, you should get some sleep. Susan's worried about you."

"Yeah... I know." Amelia nodded stifling a yawn. Soon the aurors and Amelia left the hospital wing, leaving Harry alone just before Madame Pomfrey bustled in to check on him and insisted that he should have a nap.

---

1st January 1995

Riddle House, Little Hangleton

Tom Riddle POV

Lord Voldemort roared in rage but, it the sound came out more like a baby screaming for a cookie. He was currently propped up in a comfortable plush armchair which looked too big for his size in his current form. Pillows surrounded him to keep his small-baby body from falling over. This was what had become of one of the most feared dark lord to walk on earth.

The Daily Prophet in his hands burst into flames and was promptly banished. The body he was currently in may not be the best, but his magic was still great as ever.

"Crucio" Voldemort said pointing his wand at the already trembling servant at his feet. The wand wasn't as great as the yew wand he had, but, it mattered not. His original wand had been broken by Harry Potter when Pettigrew had been captured. Just another thing the boy would pay for. After taking the boy's blood and resurrecting himself to his former body, the boy would be shown his place. Crushed like the worm he was.

The servant of the dark lord writhed on the floor in pain, his screams filling the room. Voldemort let go of the curse nearly a minute later.

"Get up you blithering fool. Tell me, what were my orders."

"To-to gather a fo-force to ca-capture the Potter boy, m-my lord." The death eater stammered.

"Crucio." The servant fell to the ground writhing in pain once again. After a few seconds, Voldemort ended the curse. "Then why am hearing that Potter was nearly ASSASSINATED? I want him CAPTURED! ALIVE! Not DEAD! He is of no use to me dead atleast for now!"

The servant shakily got to his knees. "I d-don't k-know m-my lord. I don't k-know wh-who did this."

"You weren't the one behind this?" Voldemort asked sharply.

"N-no master. I am still finding people for the t-task you gave m-me. I d-didn't order this attack on Potter." The servant stammered again, afraid of his lord's temper.

"You didn't?" Voldemort asked and sent a Legilimency probe at the stammering fool.

"No My Lord."

He was telling the truth.

Then who had tried to assassinate the boy? He would find out if he could... later. Now, was the time for a more concerning detail. Thirty attackers had been sent behind Potter to kill him. It had been foolish to attack him when he was surrounded by aurors, hit-wizards and even the old man himself. But nevertheless, they had failed.

The boy was dangerous.

Perhaps... he could convince him to join him. He would be an excellent addition to the death eater ranks... but, he knew that the boy wouldn't. He was too deep in the old fool's pocket to consider joining him.

He decided that he would give the boy an option after his resurrection. To join him or perish. But first, he needed to successfully capture the boy and take his blood

"Master?" His servant interrupted his train of thoughts.

"Crucio" Voldemort tortured the man again. "Tell me why haven't you finished the task I gave you yet?"

"I-I am still searching Master. Y-you said n-not to c-call the seniors yet. I-I am not finding e-enough volunteers to c-capture the b-boy. But, I will master! Give me some more time!"

"Crucio." Voldemort cast the torture curse the fourth time on the servant in a span of few minutes. "It seems you aren't capable of the job! I need someone better." Voldemort sneered.

"M-My Lord?"

"Yes... It is time to relieve one of my most loyal servants from his prison."

"Master?"

"You need to make a fake body and place it in his cell before breaking the man out. You talked to Pettigrew in Azkaban right? You need to get to Azkaban the same way and break one of my most useful death eaters out. He will help us a lot by contacting volunteers to capture Potter, with my ritual and the trap that we have to lay."

"W-who is it my lord?"

"Augustus Rookwood."

---

8th January 1995

Hogwarts

It was the fourth day back since the new term had started at Hogwarts. The teachers were already giving the fourth and the sixth year students loads of homework and pushing them to their limits. OWL and NEWT level students had formed study groups to learn and revise topics. The teachers were handing them mock tests every week to make sure that they were prepared. The library was always filled with students wishing to do their homework or study.

Harry was immune to all this tension. He had a bigger problem to worry about: Voldemort.

And, to be honest, school work didn't hold a candle to what he could do. He had surpassed school level studies long ago. Even in potions despite whatever Snivellus felt. McGonagall had loudly proclaimed in her Friday morning class that Harry was the only student currently capable of getting an O in transfiguration OWLS when he had transfigured a pig into a perfect coffee table with a wave of his wand. McGonagall had awarded him twenty points for a perfect transfiguration and ten more for doing it non-verbally.

When the students had returned, Harry's friends were understandably worried about him... despite of him already telling them that he was alright in his letters. Hermione had asked half-dozen questions before remembering to breathe. Susan had snogged him senseless, much to his enjoyment, in an empty train compartment. She needed reassurance that Harry was alright and Harry was more than happy to reassure her.

Daphne had done the same the following day.

Currently, Harry was walking down the corridor towards the headmaster's office. The reason? He wanted to have a long talk with the headmaster and requested him for an appointment. Dumbledore had cleared his Sunday evening schedule to accommodate him.

"Cockroach clusters" Harry said and the gargoyle sprang aside, giving Harry a way to the Headmaster's office.

"Come in Harry." Dumbledore's voice sounded just before Harry could knock the door. Harry pushed the door open and entered the office. The headmaster was sitting behind his desk, his eyes twinkling as several silver instruments whirled and made noises. Fawkes was sitting on his perch, preening himself. He trilled as Harry entered.

Harry smiled at the headmaster. "Good evening sir."

"Good evening Harry. Please take a seat. Lemon drop?" Dumbledore asked, gesturing to a bowl of Lemon drops on his desk as Harry took a seat in front of him.

"No thank you."

"So, what is it that you wanted to talk about?" He asked.

"Many things professor. Let us take the most recent matter at hand first. The assassination attempt on me at the ministry. What do you know about it?"

Dumbledore sighed. "I am afraid that I don't know much myself Harry. I have been investigating but who ordered the assassination attempt on you still remains a mystery."

"But, you do know something that the normal public and DMLE doesn't." Harry said sharply.

"Yes. I do. The attackers, as reported in the Prophet have no records of existing. So, I tried to find out who they were and what connection did they have in common. I found that they belonged to a group known as the 'Shadow Assassins'."

Harry raised his eyebrows. He had read about the group in his Grandfather's journal. He had said that it was the most wide-spread mercenary group to exist and not much was known about them. Apparently the group had been contracted to kill Charlus Potter and Arcturus Black before a crucial Wizengamot session. The Mercenaries that had been hired had failed, but, that day several lords on the Wizengamot had died in the crossfire.

Salazar and Helga said that there were actually several smaller Mercenary groups in the past which had joined hands to form the group Shadow Assassins.

"You know about them?" Dumbledore asked with a piercing look.

"I have read about them. They had tried and failed to assassinate my grandfather and Arcturus Black in September 1941. It was written in my Grandfather's journals. But, he didn't know much about them."

"Ah, alright. Then let me enlighten you. The shadow assassins is actually not an assassin guild despite its name but rather a mercenary group which works everywhere in the world. It actually works both in the wizarding and the muggle world. In the past century and half, they have conducted several assassinations all over the world. Many famous assassinations, especially in the recent muggle world, have been done by them. An example would be the ex-president of United States, John F. Kennedy. Another would be Martin Luther King Junior. In the magical world too there have been famous assassination by this group of mercenaries."

That was interesting to know.

"And yet, we know so little about them?" Harry questioned.

"Yes. They make sure that their secrets are well protected. The ones caught last week when they attacked you... they are all already dead as you must have read in the prophet. I only know what I know about them through years of research since I joined the ICW as the representative of Britain... my first political position. And that was because my predecessor had been assassinated by this group."

Dumbledore was proving why he was one of the most knowledgeable and dangerous wizard in the world. Harry doubted any person alive in the world would have as much knowledge about mysterious things as Dumbledore did. The Shadow Assassins was just one of them. They sure protected their secrets well. Just before their trial, the four prisoners who were still alive had been assassinated. The prophet had reported that all nine were assassinated, but Harry knew the truth. Amelia had told Sirius what had happened on their latest date. The DMLE had literally found nothing. Not even the names of the attackers.

"Yes... what else do you know about them sir?"

"Their motto is success or death. It is drilled into their minds that they must never get caught or abort a mission. The fees they take for a task depends on the task itself, the location, the number of people needed and the difficulty of the task. The fees for your assassination, I believe was four million galleons."

"Four Million Galleons! That's insane!" Harry exclaimed. That was a big amount. A third of the Potter family fortune.

"Of course, they return half the amount back if the task fails, given that none of their men return alive." Dumbledore added nonchalantly.

"You know that they took four million galleons to assassinate me but, don't know who contracted them?" Harry asked incredulously.

"They protect the identity of their clients with unbreakable vows and contracts Harry. And only a selected few people interact with the clients. The assassins would have just been given the order to assassinate you. I do not know the identity of the attacker."

Harry blinked. It made sense. A top secret Mercenary organization keeping their secrets.

"If they are so secretive, how can you contact them sir?"

"That is an interesting thing I believe. You just write a letter addressed to the assassins."

"Just... like that? Then—"

"Of course," Dumbledore interrupted "the letter or the animal delivering the letter must not have any magic on it. If it does, the owl would just fly around and come back. Also, the person writing the letter must not intend to harm the organization in any way or form. Then only, the letter would reach them. And the letter never goes in a fixed direction as per whatever I know."

"This happens due to wards?" Harry asked and Dumbledore nodded.

"They must have seriously powerful intent based wards and mail wards to do that." Harry mused.

"Yes, they do. And, then the person who wrote the letter would get a reply to meet a person... their agent, in a location of their choosing. There, a deal would be struck and a contract would be signed. These Mercenaries will do anything for the right amount. Assassination, kidnapping, thievery, vandalization... you name it."

"And what of the identities of the attackers themselves? Where were they from? And why can't their records be found?"

"The Shadow Assassins recruit their members young... more like take them... Children— both muggle and magical are taken from various parts of the world and brainwashed and trained to be Mercenaries. They have no personal identity beyond their code-names. No relations. No family. Nothing. And I am afraid that no one knows where these children are trained. No one does. The ICW has been trying to end the organization since the last century. But, they haven't been successful yet. The ICW is actually trying to wipe all illegal military organizations out, but, have only been variedly successful so far. I suspect that the facilities of the Shadow Assassins, as they call themselves are under a variation of the Fidelius charm."

"Oh." Harry said softly. Young children being turned into ruthless killers... assassins... Mercenaries for hire was horrible. Inhumane.

"It is a sad thing Harry that there is nothing we can do." Dumbledore said with a sigh. "There are Mercenaries and illegal Militant organizations in the world... both muggle and magical. Let the ICW deal with them."

"Alright..." Harry said after a few moments of silence. "Next question. Did you find who put my name in the Goblet of Fire?"

"No. Nothing. Alastor is still investigating it. The only thing I can tell for sure is that the Goblet's enchantments was confounded into believing that there is a fourth school and you were entered as the sole participant."

Harry nodded. "Do you have any idea who it may be sir?"

"You have many enemies Harry... all the loyal death eaters and several pureblood supremist, who supported Voldemort's cause consider you their enemy. Anyone could have done it. But, my suspect is Lord Voldemort himself. Both for the assassination attempt and putting your name in the Goblet."

"He is gaining power. Isn't he?" Harry asked "The dark mark on the Death eaters' forearm is darkening since the Quidditch World cup."

"Yes it is." Dumbledore said in a grave tone. "How did you know?"

"Lord Greengrass recently invited me for dinner. He told me this. He wanted protection of House Potter in case Voldemort rose again. He even showed me the Daily Prophet in which your statement for the events of the night of Halloween 1981 was published. You never said Voldemort was killed. You said vanquished."

Dumbledore nodded. "I always suspected that he would have done something to ensure that in case he was killed, he would still not be gone from this world forever and one day make his return. Tom Riddle has dwelled into magics so obscure that even I don't know about. I don't consider Voldemort a great threat for no reason."

"Who is more dangerous according to you? Voldemort or Grindelwald?"

"That... is an interesting question. Gellert Grindelwald is an exceptional wizard and very powerful and skilled too. So, is Tom. Gellert Grindelwald was more dangerous as a dark lord than Voldemort. But, as a wizard, Voldemort is more dangerous on the battlefield." Dumbledore replied.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"To simply put it, Gellert rallied many more people under his cause than Lord Voldemort ever could. He had taken over the whole of Germany, Italy and even parts of France. He had plunged whole Europe and several other parts of the world into a civil war. Lord Voldemort's actions were vastly limited to Great Britain. He hadn't crossed the boundaries but, was planning to do so before his abrupt fall at the hands of your family Harry." Dumbledore explained.

"But, in a one on one duel, Voldemort was much more dangerous. He has dwelled into magics which give him inhumane endurance and healing abilities. Gellert had done nothing of such sort." He said in a grave tone and gave a shudder. "There is another great difference between the two. Gellert was more like a revolutionary. He at least had an agenda to go with his desire to rule the world. Tom on the other hand just wants to rule. He will raze anything and anyone who stands on his way. He has no agenda. The pureblood supremacy is just a guise. He himself is technically a half blood and the son of a muggle."

Harry nodded in agreement. That was true.

"Now, the question I asked you in the first year sir. Voldemort said that he only killed my mother because she tried to stop him killing me. But why would he want to kill me in the first place?"

Dumbledore sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Are you sure you wish to know?"

"Yes sir. I have waited for three years for this answer." Harry stated in a firm tone.

Dumbledore nodded weakly looking every bit of the aged wizard he was. "Very well. You see Harry, a couple of months before your birth, a prophecy was given. It spoke about a child who would vanquish the dark lord. A child who would be born as the seventh month dies to parents who have thrice defied the dark lord. At that time, two children fulfilled the prophecy. You and Neville Longbottom."

Harry leaned back in his chair.

Neville Longbottom, a boy who had been labelled as a near-squib boy could have been the boy-who-lived.

"The dark lord only received this part of the prophecy. Do you wish to know the exact words?"

Harry nodded.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...
Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...
and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...
and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives...
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."

Harry just nodded again completely unfazed by the fact that he would have to face Voldemort in a duel to death. He had been preparing for that very thing since the end of the previous academic year.

"You aren't worried Harry?"

"He was going to come after me anyways sir. I foiled his first rise to power and two attempts to return to a corporeal body. I also put eleven of his death eaters in Azkaban. He will try to kill me, prophecy or not. This just tells me that I have to be the one to kill him which is exactly what I want to do. He took my family from me. He will fall to my wand only."

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.

"I must say, you handled it loads more maturely than I anticipated."

Harry just shrugged in response. The prophecy that he had received was loads more concerning. It said that Voldemort was going to rise worse and terrible than ever before.

Harry changed the topic.

"Sir, did you find how he survived? And what that diary was?"

Dumbledore just fixed him with a piercing look, contemplating whether to tell Harry or not. He had first internally sighed in relief that the boy didn't ask how Voldemort got the Prophecy. He needed Severus to spy on Tom when he rose.

"Yes." He replied to Harry's question in a grave tone. "Yes, I do."

"You found it?" Harry asked leaning forward.

"Yes. I did. Recently infact. Infact the answer to both your questions is the same."

"What was it sir?"

Dumbledore sighed. "I am afraid I am not telling you that Harry till you learn a vital skill."

Harry raised an eyebrow.

"You need to learn to protect your mind Harry. Lord Voldemort can read minds to put it simply. If you know how Voldemort survived and if he reads—"

"I am a level six Occlumens professor." Harry interrupted Dumbledore. He felt no reason to lie to the headmaster's face. If Dumbledore used Legilimency on him, he would know it in seconds that Harry was atleast a level five Occlumens even if he Harry broke eye contact in an instant.

Dumbledore blinked.

"Pardon?"

"I am a level six Occlumens professor." Harry repeated slowly. "I will be a master Occlumens by the end of the academic year." He added helpfully.

Dumbledore removed his wand. "May I?"

Harry braced his shields and nodded.

"Legilimens."

Harry felt a powerful probe on his shields and repelled it instantly. A lesser practitioner of the mind arts would have been defeated by it easily.

"Impressive." Dumbledore commented. "Very impressive. Where did you learn it?"

"The first book on the mind arts was written by a Black, Headmaster. The Black family has been known for its Metamorphmagi, mind arts and practice of questionable branches of magic since centuries." Harry commented.

It was the truth but, he technically hadn't answered Dumbledore's question.

"True." Dumbledore nodded. "Should I assume you also know its counterpart, Legilimency too?"

Harry fired a Legilimency probe with a message at the Headmaster.

'Obviously sir. It came easier to me once I had learnt Occlumency.' Harry told Dumbledore mentally. The man looked shocked for a moment before he smiled and his twinkle returned in full force.

'You have mastered Mental communication already? You never cease to impress me my boy.' Dumbledore sent a mental message back at Harry.

"I aim to please professor." Harry said out loud and Dumbledore chuckled.

"Now, I hope you can tell me sir." Harry said hopefully.

"True. Tell me Harry what do you know about Horcruxes?"

"Horcruxes? Hmm... I haven't heard of them and I can't derive anything from that word itself."

"I would have been worried if you had heard of them. Here take a look at this book."

Dumbledore summoned a book and Harry read its title.

MAGICK MOST EVILE

"Magick most Evile?" Harry questioned. Now, that was one dangerous, rare, forbidden and banned book. "Not a book I would have expected in your collection sir." Harry added.

"You know of it?" Dumbledore asked.

"I am the heir to the Black Family sir. We have two copies of that book in our library. I haven't read it beyond the preface and the index page though." He replied almost truthfully. He had read a few topics from it that were relevant to what he was studying- blood magic, wards, rituals and the likes from the book.

"Oh thank Merlin." Dumbledore muttered before looking at Harry. "Turn to page 96."

Harry turned and read what was written.

"Of the Horcrux, wickedest of magical inventions, we shall not speak nor give direction"

Harry looked at Dumbledore with an incredulous expression. "Is this a joke Professor?" He asked.

"I assure you Harry that this is no joke."

"Then, pray tell what am I supposed to derive from this single sentence?"

"The type of magic that Tom used is so abominable that even a book infamous for recording the worst possible uses of magic writes that it wouldn't speak nor, give direction."

"It is nothing I would expect from him sir. Now, can you tell me what exactly is this Horcrux?"

Dumbledore nodded gravely, dreading the information he was going to give out.

"First, I want you to swear a magical vow that you will never make a horcrux for your own self."

Harry blinked and raised an eyebrow. "Sir, can you first atleast tell me what a Horcrux is? Like the basic definition before you ask me to swear a vow."

Dumbledore nodded. "A Horcrux is an object in which a Wizard or Witch stores a fragment of his or her own soul to tie it to the mortal plane as long as the object exists."

"You mean you can tear your soul?" Harry asked flabbergasted. He hadn't studied more than the absolute basics of soul magic but, he knew one thing: The soul was the essence of a person. To damage or alter ones own soul willingly was an absolutely abominable act. And to actually tear a part of it and store it in an object was perhaps the worse thing a person could ever do.

The worst possible use of magic indeed.

"Harry, in the realm of magic, anything and everything is possible." Dumbledore said serenely. "Now, your vow. If you don't give it to me, I am afraid that I'll have to obliviate you of this information and believe me that I can do it in a way that you'll never detect it despite your prowess in the mind arts." He said with a piercing look, already palming his wand.

Harry had no doubt that Dumbledore would follow up his threat and be successful despite all of Harry's prowess in Occlumency and magic. Dumbledore wasn't regarded as one of the greatest wizard to walk on Earth for no reason. And, he was a level seven Legilimens with decades of experience in the field of mind arts.

"Very well sir. I, Harry James Potter, swear that I will never create my own Horcrux. Ut Magicae Tenere Me Iuramento (may magic hold me to my oath)."

Dumbledore put his wand back and nodded at Harry.

"Thank you for easing my concerns Harry and sorry for threatening you my boy."

"It is alright professor. Such sensitive magical knowledge should only be given after taking necessary measures. I would have done the same had I been in your place sir. Now, can you tell me more about what Voldemort has done? And more about a Horcrux."

"All right. The Horcrux was first made by Herpo-the-Foul. It has its roots in Soul magic, Necromancy and Sacrificial magic. The process of making one was itself is abominable. It involves the sacrifice of a soul— A cold blooded murder for the sole purpose of conducting a ritual which would tear an individual's soul in half and tether the torn half to an object while the other half stayed in the body itself."

Harry chocked on his own spit.

Dumbledore continued. "Then, even if the creator's body is attacked or destroyed, he or she cannot die, for part of the soul remains earthbound and undamaged. That is how Voldemort survived."

"Means Voldemort would be essentially immortal till we destroy his horcrux."

"Horcruxes."

"Hor— wait. You mean he made more than one?"

"Yes. He most definitely made more than one." Dumbledore replied.

"How can you be sure."

"Because he is still alive despite you destroying his Horcrux in your second year."

"The diary was a Horcrux." Harry said in realization. "What else can an Horcrux do sir? Because this Horcrux possessed Ginny for a year in such a way that she might as well have been under the Imperious curse."

"As long as the vessel exists, the fragment of a person's soul within a Horcrux was capable of thinking for itself and possibly have certain magical abilities, including the ability to influence those in their vicinity and affect them mentally like it did to young Ms. Weasley. A Horcrux, for a person like Lord Voldemort, has many advantages. One of them is that the object made into an Horcrux is neigh indestructible. There are actually a selected few things capable of destroying a Horcrux. Can you guess one?"

"Basilisk venom, I destroyed the diary with it. And maybe Fiendfyre. It is an all-consuming fire after all."

"Correct. The only two known substances capable of destroying a Horcrux are Basilisk Venom and Fiendfyre. It was theorized that even Drakon stomach acid would be capable of destroying it, but it hasn't been proved."

Drakon stomach acid. Was he serious? That thing was some thousand times rarer Basilisk venom, perhaps even rarer considering the fact that Drakons were extinct centuries ago.

Basilisk venom, for the normal public was also as rare as Drakon stomach-acid but, considering Harry owned a hell lot of the substance...

"So, how many has he made."

"I do not know but, I intend to find out. But, I have a suspicion of the number."

"Seven?" Harry guessed. Seven was the most arithmetically powerful number.

"Yes. Seven. The most powerful magical number. But, only six horcruxes. I suspect he must have gone to spit his soul in seven parts. Thus, six Horcruxes and the one which is lingering... the master soul, if you may."

Harry leaned back in his chair as he sucked in a sharp breath. Splitting your soul once was already an abominable thing... but, to do it seven times?

"Of course, I could be overthinking and it may only be two horcruxes, but, that is wishful thinking on my part."

"If three, why not thirteen?"

"The soul is not an infinite thing Harry. It has limitations. According to me, the most one would be able to split a soul would be seven parts before it becomes unstable. I concluded this from the research of Ancient Indian wizards who believed in the theory of the seven chakras. These seven chakras were theorized to be seven energy centers of the soul itself. They said that each of these must be open, or balanced, for a human in order to function optimally. If one of them is damaged in anyway or form, one would suffer emotional and physical symptoms that the chakra holds."

"This is just a theory though."

"Yes. But, it certainly explains the glaring differences between the boy who was once Tom Riddle and Lord Voldemort. Of course, it could also have been the side-effects of the numerous obscure rituals he did in order to improve his body and magic but, I can't be sure about that because there are a selected few rituals that have side-effects and they are usually minor in nature."

Harry nodded in agreement. The worst lingering side-effects of rituals... atleast the ones he had done and read about, were body pain, tiredness and mood-swings that usually lasted a few days. No ritual he knew about could change a person so drastically as Tom Riddle had. Tom Riddle was once a handsome man but as Voldemort, according to the pictures Harry had seen, he was a bald, nose-less, serpent faced, hideous bastard.

"Sir, what are you going to do about this? For all we know, Tom could've made a pebble his horcrux and chucked it in the ocean."

Dumbledore chuckled. "Harry, I can assure you that Lord Voldemort wouldn't have put his Horcrux under the ocean because he would need the horcruxes accessible incase he wanted to do something with them. And, as for the pebble theory, as far as I know Tom, he wouldn't choose something that was so ordinary as a pebble. He would choose things of value atleast to him or the history. Since he was a young boy, he liked to collect things that he deemed were of value. If he saw something and desired to possess it, he resorted to even stealing them if necessary. And I am talking about a ten-year-old Tom Riddle whom I gave his Hogwarts Acceptance Letter to."

Harry nodded thoughtfully. "So, you are telling Voldemort has hidden six horcruxes, which can be anywhere in Britain or even outside the British isles."

"Yes."

"Fantastic. Any ideas?"

"No. But, I am going to go on what I am calling a Tom Riddle knowledge collecting spree once this Triwizard tournament ends. I will be collecting every memory of Tom Riddle and analyzing them in order to get clues where he could have hidden his Horcruxes. I also intend to confirm the number of Horcruxes Tom may have made with an old friend of mine. And in the meantime, find out everything I can about the topic itself."

"Excellent, how can I help sir?"

"I actually planned on having this conversation with you at the end of the year, once you were through with the Triwizard Tournament. I wished to ask you to accompany me whenever I go Horcrux hunting. Two minds are better than one. I am going to find about possible locations where he might've hidden his Horcruxes and then, we will go there together."

"Then I will accompany you sir. Also, I will check the Black and Potter family libraries for any information on Horcruxes." Harry said. But, before that, he was going straight to Salazar and Helga.

"Thank you Harry. Your help is greatly appreciated. In case you find anything, send Hedwig to me."

Harry nodded in agreement.

"Sir," He said after a few seconds. "Voldemort is rising. What do you plan to do? Are you going to reassemble The Order of the Phoenix?"

Dumbledore looked at him in surprise "Oh, you already know about the order?"

"Obviously sir. My parents were a part of it. So were Sirius and Remus. I am asking this because Lord Greengrass has asked me for protection incase if Voldemort arises again. If Voldemort is going to rise again, he will come after me and you both. And he will do his best to kill us. So, it will obviously be wise to join forces."

"True. I will support you in everyway I can in the fight against Voldemort Harry. Infact, let me start right now." Dumbledore waved his wand and summoned a journal. "This is my personal journal in which I recorded spells, runes, magical theories, potion recipes etc. from my third year at Hogwarts till I gave my NEWTs. I admit, a good part of it are things taught in school but, I have also recorded things that I found in books that I read and it also contains spells and techniques that I have invented myself."

Harry just accepted the book. The spells and techniques Dumbledore had invented himself would definitely be useful.

"And," Dumbledore continued, "Once you finish with this book, I will give you the next one which covers the magics I recorded after leaving Hogwarts and the five-year apprenticeship under Nicholas Flamel. It also has several things that Perenell herself taught me, especially wards."

At that Harry's eyes went wide. Dumbledore was giving him a priceless treasure. Sure, he had Salazar and Helga, but, they didn't know every spell invented. They only knew about a new spell if it had been published in some book.

They weren't privy to anything in family books, personal spells and spells that had been passed by mouth in some families.

"Thank you sir. I do not know what to say."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "You do not need to say anything my boy. Just become the best wizard you can. That is all I ask of you."

Harry nodded in agreement.

"I will sir. I promise. But, you still haven't answered my question."

Dumbledore blinked. "Forgive me my boy. Can you repeat your question? Despite all my mastery in the mind arts, I still forget a few things which I tend to miss these days. Perils of being old, I reckon."

"I had asked, what do you plan to do in case Voldemort rises? Are you going to reassemble your Order of the Phoenix?"

"Ah, yes. I am afraid that there is a little I can do till Lord Voldemort actually rises. I cannot reassemble the order till Lord Voldemort actually rises. I can not act on suspicions my boy. And I am afraid that it will just cause needless panic than being beneficial."

"Let us assume that Lord Voldemort is successful and rises in say... a year. What will you do?" Harry questioned. Harry hadn't liked Dumbledore's answer but, whatever he had said was the truth. Most people were sheep and went with whatever they felt was easy.

"The first thing I will do is to inform the public of his return and the ministry. I am afraid though that this step won't work as I hope unless Voldemort makes a public return though. But, I will do it regardless of the fact that I am believed or not. But yes, I will reassemble the order immediately with those who would believe me and start preparing for the war to come."

Harry frowned. "Why do you believe this sir?"

Dumbledore sighed "Harry, you must understand. The era when Lord Voldemort was active was the darkest period for magical Britain. People were deadly afraid of him. The fear carries over till date. Why do you think that it was said that only the bravest or the most foolish called Voldemort by name? You may not know this Harry but, celebrations of Lord Voldemort's supposed death carried in for a whole fortnight after his fall." He replied.

"If I proclaim that Lord Voldemort has returned from the dead without him making a public appearance, the first thing the majority of the wizarding population would do is panic and the next step, would be sticking their heads in the sand as the muggles say. They will refuse to believe that the terror of Britain has returned. They may even go as far as to proclaim that I am delusional and have gone senile. And, I fear that they will be lead by none other than Cornelius Fudge himself. Fear makes people do stupid things Harry."

"You seem to have given this a lot of thought sir."

Dumbledore smiled weakly. "All this comes with experience Harry. By now, I can predict what people would do. I am no seer but, I can predict several things in a fairly accurate manner. I am about eighty percent sure that Lord Voldemort will not want the news of his return to leak publicly until he gathers his death eaters and is powerful enough to lead a civil war. Lord Voldemort may have many negative qualities—"

Harry snorted at the understatement.

"—But, being a fool and a weak wizard is not one of them. He will only attack when he is powerful enough. As for Cornelius, the man is a coward. He may be a fairly good peacetime minister but, he can't lead during a war. He will not choose to believe me... atleast just at my word without concrete proof. So, I am afraid that even I would have to secretly gather my forces and work in the shadows before working to draw Voldemort out."

Harry nodded. Whatever Dumbledore said was completely logical and to-the-point. Unless people didn't see Voldemort alive and attacking, they wouldn't believe that he had returned regardless of whoever, be it himself or Dumbledore, proclaimed his return. Despite all of his and Dumbledore's fame, people wouldn't believe such an improbable proclamation of the worst dark lord of Britain, who is believed to be dead, returning to life.

Harry remembered what Gilderoy Lockhart's of all people had said to him once: Fame is a fickle friend Harry.

"Do you have anymore questions Harry?" Dumbledore asked, breaking Harry out of his thoughts.

"Uh... um, no sir. I think that is all. Thank you for answering my questions and taking time our for me."

Dumbledore shook his head. "My door is always open to you Harry. Whenever you want, you can come here or send me a message."

"Thank you sir."

---

12th January 1995

Chamber of Secrets, Hogwarts

"Harry, I think you should work on the egg clue today." Helga said as Harry finished taking down a dozen Hit-Wizard-Level dummies.

"Hmm... That thing makes an horrid noise when I open it. I have only opened it once and shut it off in a few seconds." Harry said as he healed the cut on his leg.

"You have opened it already? And you didn't tell us?" Salazar said.

Harry raised his eyebrow. "I assumed you already knew. I opened it during the party after the first task in the Gryffindor common room."

"Oh, we did know... atleast I did. Salazar must've missed it."

"Poor Salazar is getting old." Harry remarked.

"I was kidding." Salazar replied. "I wanted to make you feel all guilty. Have it on you."

Harry rolled his eyes and Helga commented that Salazar should've learnt the art of pranking from Godric.

"You suck at pranks Salazar." Harry said as the portrait was about to retort to Helga's jab.

"Whatever." Salazar grumbled.

"Dobby." Harry called and the said elf popped in. "Please bring me the golden egg in my trunk."

"Yes Master Harry." He disappeared with a pop before reappearing a few seconds later with the egg.

"Thank you Dobby." Harry said.

He turned to Salazar and Helga. "I am going to shut my ears and open this egg. I will close it once you give me thumbs up. And listen to whatever you've to say."

Harry wandlessly put a silencing field around himself and opened the egg. He saw Helga and Salazar cup their ears. About four seconds later, Helga shot him a thumbs up. and Harry shut the egg.

"What did you decode?"

"The clue is in Mermish, the language of mermen."

"So, I have got to listen it underwater?"

"Yes."

"Alright. I will go to the prefect's bath and listen to it... preferably with Susan or Daphne." Harry said.

"If you go with them, I don't think that you'll be doing any work on the egg." Salazar said dryly.

Harry ignored the comment.

"So, what is the new thing you're going to teach me today? Or is it the same old?"

"What are your thoughts about flying without a broom Harry?"

"..."

"..."

"Teach me NOW!" Harry said excitedly and the two founders grinned at his enthusiasm.

---

29th January 1995

Hogwarts Hallways

Harry was walking down an Hallway with Susan on his arm, making his way towards the Hufflepuff dorms. Their appearance was perfectly normal, giving no clue of their previous activities along with Daphne. Harry had straightened their clothes and rearranged their disheveled hair... well, Susan's and Daphne's hair since his hair was untamable as ever, before leaving the room of requirement. The three of them had arranged a dinner date which resulted in their activities.

It was nearing curfew time. Thankfully, Daphne had left a few minutes before Susan and Harry and had reached the Slytherin Dorms before Harry saw her being cornered by her best friend Tracey Davies on the Marauders map. Tracey, despite being Daphne's best friend, had no clue about hers and Harry's relationship. Why? The girl was pretty terrible with keeping potential gossip as secret unless absolutely needed.

That was when they saw Luna Lovegood, Ron's date to the Yule Ball skipping down the hallway from the opposite end. Ron had taken a liking to the girl and was planning on asking her to a date on the next Hogwarts weekend which was on the first Saturday of February.

The most peculiar thing was that she was wearing no shoes. Harry frowned at that. While there was no longer snowfall, it wasn't ideal weather to roam barefooted either.

"Hello Harry Potter. Hello Susan Bones." She said as she neared them.

"Hey Luna." Harry said.

"I am sad I couldn't get to meet Daphne. I expected your girlfriend to be with you." She said with a whimsical smile as Harry and Susan sputtered

"H-how do you know that?" Susan demanded.

"The nargles told me." She replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Harry immediately send a Legilimency probe at her.

Her mind was messed up. Completely fucked up. There was no semblance of a proper mind and thought process. Her thoughts were scattered and... new things kept popping in? What the actual fuck? Harry latched onto a thought-thread and immediately saw a scene playing out.

It was himself dueling someone fiercely in what appeared to be a graveyard. He wasn't holding back at all. He was weaving through curses and spells and retaliating with expert ease as his Battle-robes and butterfly-shield protected him. That was when the thread just ended.

He latched onto another thread.

He saw himself, Susan and Daphne lying naked in a bed with sweat glistening off their bodies as they panted. Daphne lying on his chest caressing his naked chest and Susan was on the bed on his left panting. Her naked boobs rose and fell in a hypnotic motion. The most surprising thing was that there was another nude woman lying to Harry's right. Harry could make out that she was tall and had fair skin but failed to see her face before the thread ended.

It wasn't a memory. It wasn't a fabrication even. It... was like a glimpse from the future.

Realization dawned upon Harry.

Luna Lovegood was a seer. A seer who could see glimpses of the future.

There were three types of seers. One who gave prophecies like the oracle of Delphi in the Greek myths. They were known as prophetic seers. Sybil Trelawney was an example of a Prophetic seer. Another was the one who could see glimpses of the future. Not complete things. Just Glimpses. Luna Lovegood was perhaps such a seer.

The third type was the one who possessed both the ability to give Prophecies and see the glimpses of the future. Cassandra, the famous seer was an example of this. Of course, the potential of the ability varied from person to person. The divination that was usually taught... like reading cards and seeing crystal balls. was actually possible for anyone to perform, but, it wasn't accurate by any means. Though, people with seer abilities got much better results with them than a normal person.

It seemed that Luna was a very potent seer though and continuously have glimpses of the future. Due to that, her mind had been damaged though. It was the reason why people called her Loony Lovegood.

"What happened Harry Potter? What did you find?" Luna asked breaking Harry out of his thoughts.

"Where are your shoes Luna?"

"The wrackspurts love to steal my shoes Harry Potter." She replied.

She had created her own fantasy world to cope with all of the pressure of getting glimpses. In it, she referred to bullies as Wrackspurts and her glimpses as Nargles.

But, the fact remained. She was being bullied. And, Harry hated bullies.

"Are you missing your shoes since the morning?" He asked gently, suppressing his anger.

"Yes Harry Potter. How did you know?"

"The Nargles told me." He replied with a smile.

Her shoes had been stolen from the Ravenclaw dorms. The bullies were her housemates.

"Come with me Luna."

"Why do you want to come to our common room Harry?" She asked, probably having a future-glimpse.

"I am going to take your things back from the Wrackspurts and return it to you." He said without missing a beat.

"Harry... what?" Susan asked.

"Susan. Go to Flitwick and tell him that I am going to take care of a few problems in Ravenclaw. Oh, and don't tell anyone that I can apparate. Come Luna."

"Harry you can not apparate in Hog—" She stopped in mid-sentence as Harry grabbed Luna's shoulder and disappeared silently.

Susan stared at the space which Harry and the Lovegood girl had just occupied.

"FUCKING HOW!"

Chapter 44: Bullies and the Second Task

Notes:

IF YOU HAVEN'T RE-READ THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER PLEASE DO SO. IT HAS BEEN EDITED AND THINGS HAVE BEEN ADDED IN IT.

LAST TIME:

Her shoes had been stolen from the Ravenclaw dorms. The bullies were her housemates.

"Come with me Luna."

"Why do you want to come to our common room Harry?" She asked, probably having a future-glimpse.

"I am going to take your things back from the Wrackspurts and return it to you." He said without missing a beat.

"Harry... what?" Susan asked.

"Susan. Go to Flitwick and tell him that I am going to take care of a few problems in Ravenclaw. Oh, and don't tell anyone that I can apparate. Come Luna."

"Harry you can not apparate in Hog—" She stopped in mid-sentence as Harry grabbed Luna's shoulder and disappeared silently.

Susan stared at the space which Harry and the Lovegood girl had just occupied.

"FUCKING HOW!"

---

IF YOU HAVEN'T RE-READ THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER PLEASE DO SO. IT HAS BEEN EDITED AND THINGS HAVE BEEN ADDED IN IT.

---

Ch.44 Bullies and the Second Task

Harry apparated with Luna straight to the entrance of the Ravenclaw tower. They stood in front of a door. There was no handle and no keyhole: nothing but a plain expanse of aged wood, and a bronze knocker in the shape of an eagle.

"You don't have to do this Harry Potter." Luna said in a musical tone

Harry smiled. "I don't have to. But, I want to Luna. Open the door."

Luna hesitantly reached out with her hand and knocked at the wood.

At once the beak of the eagle opened, but instead of a bird's call, a soft musical voice said, "What can go through glass without breaking it?"

"Hmm... What do you think, Harry Potter?" said Luna, looking thoughtful.

"Light." Harry replied instantly.

"Correct." The door knocker said and the door swung open. Instantly the chatter of students reached Harry's ears.

Harry ushered Luna into the room and stepped inside before clearing his throat and flaring his magic. Instantly all the noise ceased.

The Ravenclaw common room was a wide, circular room, airier than any Harry had ever seen at Hogwarts. Graceful etched windows punctuated the walls, which were hung with blue-and-bronze silks; By day, the Ravenclaws would have a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains. The ceiling was domed and painted with stars, which were echoed in the midnight-blue carpet. There were tables, chairs, and bookcases, and in a niche opposite the door stood a tall statue of white marble.

Harry instantly recognized the statue as Rowena Ravenclaw's. The statue stood beside a door that led, he guessed, to dormitories above. He strode right up to the marble woman, and she seemed to look back at him with a quizzical half smile on her face, beautiful yet slightly intimidating. A delicate-looking circlet had been reproduced in marble on top of her head. The lost diadem of Ravenclaw.

Helena Ravenclaw, the daughter of Rowena Ravenclaw and the ghost of the Ravenclaw tower, had stolen it and ran away. Rowena Ravenclaw had fallen ill due to the heartbreak of her daughter, a person she had loved with her life abandoning her. She wished to see Helena one last time. So, Rowena had sent the Baron, now, known as the Bloody Baron- the ghost of Slytherin. Baron apparently was head over heels for Helena Ravenclaw and Rowena though he would succeed in the endeavor of making her daughter return. But, when Helena refused, Baron being the hot tempered man he was, stabbed her in the chest. When he saw what he had done, he was overcome with remorse. He took the weapon that had claimed Helena's life, and used it to kill himself. All these centuries later, he still wore his chains as an act of penitence.

All this news had resulted in Rowena's death and she had passed over to her afterlife while her daughter roamed the halls of Hogwarts to date. And, Harry disliked the ghost of Ravenclaw, the gray lady as she was called, for she had abandoned something that should be treasured. She wanted fame when she had the most important thing in the world with her: Her own mother and parental figures. As an orphan, Harry understood what place family held, but, the daughter of Rowena didn't.

Harry looked around the room and saw stunned faces of the students gaping at him. A few were whispering amongst themselves. "What are you doing here Potter?" The head boy, Roger Davies asked from the crowd.

Harry turned to him. "A job that you should've done apparently. Isn't it your duty to protect younger students from bullying Davies?"

He sputtered. "W-what? What do you mean by bullying Potter?" He demanded.

"I meant what I meant, Head Boy. Several members of your house are bullying another student and I am here to rectify the problem. Now, I want the whole Ravenclaw house down here in a minute."

"You can not demand things like that Potter." Some student shouted from the crowd.

"RAVENCLAW HOUSE! THIS IS HARRY POTTER SPEAKING." Harry said, casting a sound amplifying charm on himself. "I WANT EVERY STUDENT FROM HOUSE RAVENCLAW DOWN HERE IN THE COMMON ROOM IN ONE MINUTE OR ELSE THE CONSEQUENCES WOULD BE GRAVE. YOUR TIME STARTS NOW."

"Potter, this is against the rules. I—" A prefect started saying but, Harry wandlessly silenced him.

"You will find that cursing you is also against the rules but I am willing to do it if you don't shut up." Harry said and conjured an ornate throne-like chair at the base of the statue and sat down on it.

"You don't have to do this Harry Potter." Luna repeated softly in a nervous tone but, Harry ignored her as he chose to see the students arriving from their dormitories.

"Is everyone present?" Harry asked to the room.

"Yes. Everyone's here as far as I can see." Cho answered.

"Very well. Now, Ladies and Gentlemen, it has come to my notice that a certain member of your house is being bullied frequently. I would like you all to know that from today, Luna Lovegood is under my protection." Luna's eyes went wide at that and a few people gasped in the room. "I would request you all to return her things from wherever you've hidden them right now and cease bullying from this moment forth." Harry completed in a serious, commanding tone.

"Why do you care? She is just Loony Lovegood!" A girl standing beside Cho said.

"What is your name?"

"Excuse me?"

"What. Is. Your. Name?"

"Marietta Edgecombe." She replied snobbishly. Time to put her in her place

"Hmm... Edgecombe isn't a part of the sacred 28 so, you're basically a nobody, right?"

"I am a pure blood!" She shrieked at being called a nobody.

"So, it gives me the right to bully you, doesn't it Ms. Ebcall?" Harry continued, ignoring her statement.

"It is Edgecombe and what do you fucking mean?" The girl snarled just before she screamed out in pain and fell to the ground as the bones in her leg were crushed.

"I mean that I have the right to do this and bully you Ms. Elcose just because you're unimportant. You said that you could bully Luna here cause she is Loony? Well, by that logic I am bullying you cause you're a nobody. Come on. Who else thinks that you have freedom to bully Ms. Lovegood?" Harry asked twirling his wand in his hand.

No one spoke up. The only noise in the room was the girl's whimpers.

"Very good. I give you all two minutes. Whoever has taken her things, return them NOW. If you don't... you can see Meloise down here. Now, scram!"

A couple of older girls and a boy who was in Harry's year immediately ran up to their dormitories with scared looks on their faces. Luna looked around the room nervously. Harry knew there were more bullies.

"Potter." The head boy called. "I respectfully ask you what has lead you to doing this?"

"I found Luna wandering through the halls without her shoes on. When asked, she told me that people love to take her things and it was a common occurrence... Something which was your duty to keep an eye out for." Roger flinched at the statement.

"See here now—"

"What is going on here?" A voice boomed from the doorway. Harry turned to see Professor Flitwick standing there with Susan behind him.

"Good evening Professor Flitwick." Harry greeted, standing up from his conjured throne.

"What are you doing here Mr. Potter? And why is Ms. Edgecombe in this condition?"

"Who Ms. Edgecombe?" Harry asked innocently, rubbing salt on the girl's wounded pride.

But, Flitwick narrowed his eyes, knowing perfectly well that Harry knew who the said person was. "Ms. Edgecombe is the girl lying on the ground with a crushed leg Mr. Potter. I, for a fact, know that only you in this whole room beside me could've successfully casted a perfect bone-crusher curse."

The bone-crusher curse was a spell only taught in the hit-wizard academy or known only by professional adult duelers. The bone-breaker curse was taught in the second term of the NEWT year in DADA. Not the bone-crusher. And, it was a tough spell to master to be honest. In a duel, if one is hit with the spell, it would be nearly impossible to duel further due to the crippling and the excruciating pain.

"Hmm... I am here because I found out that a young student from your house is being bullied by several people in your house. Be it by name-calling or by stealing her things."

Flitwick's eyes widened before gaining a dangerous glint in them. "Who is the person being bullied?" Flitwick asked in a tone he had never used before. Many Ravenclaws flinched at it.

"Luna Lovegood sir. I found her wandering through the halls bare-footed in the cold. When asked, she told me that people love to take her things and it was a common occurrence to call her names."

"Is this true Miss Lovegood?" Flitwick asked the girl who just nodded meekly in response.

"And," Harry continued, "When I confronted the whole house about this, she came forward asking me why I cared about, and I quote, 'Loony Lovegood'. So, she had the right to bully Luna." Harry said making air quotes. "In response I asked her name and came to know that she was a nobody, and if we went by her theory, I too had the right to bully a nobody, don't I?"

"Mr. Potter, while I appreciate your willingness to protect a younger student from bullying, I would request you to avoid using such spells to punish the preparators and leave it to us professors. And, in any case, you could've used a less harmful spell like the bone-breaker to give an example. So, five points from Gryffindor."

Harry just smirked and nodded in response as Flitwick turned to his house.

"Now, as for you lot. WHOEVER HAS BULLIED MISS LOVEGOOD, STEP FORWARD RIGHT NOW!" He roared. Harry caught Susan looking wide-eyed at Flitwick and they shared a look. Harry too had never seen Flitwick yelling at a student.

Many people in the common room gulped.

"Sir, a few of your students have already gone to retrieve Luna's things. But, I still believe that there are several more preparators to this." Harry added. On cue, a girl came down the stairs holding two textbooks.

She gulped when she saw the enraged charms master standing in the common room. The other two students soon followed holding things they had taken from Luna. Harry strode forward and snatched them from them before handing it to Luna.

"Who else has Ms. Lovegood's things?" Flitwick asked sternly.

No one dared to step forward.

"Dobby." Harry said and the elf popped in. "Go bring me a dozen house elves and ask them to search for Luna Lovegood's things. And bring me a list from wherever they were found."

"Yes Master Harry." He said and popped away.

"This is the last chance to step forward. Once, the elves come, and you're found guilty, the punishment would be much harsher." Flitwick warned the house again. One guy from the sixth year stepped forward hesitantly and was followed by a couple of more people. Flitwick and Harry just glared at them. Five minutes later, the elves popped in with a multitude of things: books, parchment, quills, a robe, Quibbler copies, shoes, socks, a photo-frame, letters, two pairs of shoes among other things.

Luna squealed and hurried towards the things and picked up the photo-frame. Her eyes teared up at their sight. From what Harry could see, the picture had a woman and a child... who was probably a younger Luna and her mother... who was no longer in this world.

Rage filled Harry. How dare they take a memento of a parent from an orphan! That was an unforgivable offense in Harry's eyes. His magic flared violently. The fireplace and the torches burned brighter. Lightning flickered between Harry's fingertips.

"From where did you find the photo-frame?" Harry asked the elves.

Several of the Ravenclaws, especially the preparators of Luna's bullying were cowering by now, realizing the repercussions of their actions.

"From—"

"I had taken it. I am sorry." The sixth year stepped out, admitting his mistake.

Harry turned to him and immediately sent a Legilimency probe at him. He had no occlumency shields whatsoever. He was scared of Harry and had confessed in hopes of lighter punishment. He was wishing that he hadn't taken Loony's photo-frame to see the girl make a fuss. To feel supremacy over someone.

"Mr. Potter. I will deal with him." Flitwick pleaded as Harry lifted the boy into the air by sheer will, constricting his air passage. Harry ignored Flitwick and concentrated on the boy who was frantically grasping the thin air to ease the pressure on his throat.

"HOW DARE YOU TAKE A MEMENTO OF A DEAD PARENT FROM AN ORPHAN?" Harry thundered. "HOW FUCKING DARE YOU TAKE HER MOTHER'S PICTURE FROM HER? A PHOTO OF HER LATE MOTHER! ANSWER ME!"

Harry felt someone grasp his arm. He turned to see Susan's pleading eyes. "Harry." She said softly. "Let him go. Professor will deal with him." She pleaded.

Harry looked at the boy floating in mid air and flung him across the room, and let go. The sixth year crashed into the wall and several people winced at the sound of breaking bones.

He screamed in pain and lay crumpled on the floor whimpering in agony.

"Mr. Potter. I request you to leave this room. I assure you on my honor that every bully will be punished appropriately. I ask you to leave this to me and trust me on this. Please."

Harry looked critically at Flitwick before he nodded.

"And I assure you that in case, anyone dares do anything from this moment forth to Ms. Lovegood, I will personally duel them for retribution." Flitwick added.

"Very well sir. I will take my leave. And, Luna. If anyone does anything, including calling you by names, come to me. I will deal with them. And leave what is left of them for Professor Flitwick to deal with."

"Thank you for bringing this to my attention Mr. Potter and Ms. Bones. Take thirty points and return to your dorms. It is almost curfew. Go."

The two students left as they heard Flitwick starting to yell at the Ravenclaws. The door closed behind Harry and Susan.

"Why did you stop me?" Harry asked neutrally as the couple walked down the corridor.

"I was scared you'd kill him. Because, that is what I wanted to do. He took the photo of a late mother from an orphan girl... if he had done that with me, I would have fucking ripped the bastard apart." Susan stated.

Susan had also lost both her parents to Voldemort and his forces. Susan was only alive because she had not been with her parents at that time. And when the incident had taken place, Susan was just above a year old. She was an orphan like him. Thankfully, Susan had a parental figure in Amelia Bones.

"The photo must be very dear to Luna." Harry agreed. "If someone dared to take the mementos of my parents... I don't know what I would've done to them. People don't understand the value of something unless they don't have it. You know, in my first year, I found a very special mirror during the Christmas break. It is known as the mirror of Erised." Harry said.

"It shows nothing but our deepest desires. I saw my parents in it. For the first time."

Susan gasped. "You... you mean to say that... you never knew what your parents looked like till you were eleven?"

Harry nodded. "The guardians I lived with... weren't the best people. They hated my parents and anything to do with the wizarding world. I didn't even know my whole name till I attended primary school."

"Did they... abuse you Harry." Susan asked softly.

"No. Abuse, never. But, neglected me? Yes. Very much so." Harry replied.

"What... did they do?" Susan asked.

So, Harry gave her a brief history of whatever had happened with him at the Dursley's. She had a right to know about his life as his girlfriend and future wife. Amelia Bones had consented to signing a line continuation contract with House Potter for Susan. Susan would not be taking the Potter name and thus retain her position as Lady Bones in the magical hierarchy. The Bones line would be continued with Harry though by the line continuation contract. In essence, Susan would be Harry's wife in all but her official name. The finer details of the contract would be discussed over the summer with Sirius present along with a lawyer.

"I will kill those fucking bastards. How dare they do this to you?" Susan seethed. "I will tell this to Aunt Amelia. She would—"

"Susan, there is no point. The Dursleys have moved to Australia. A magical-nation which is not under the ICW." Harry replied

It was the truth. The only difference was that Harry was the one who had pulled the strings. They were his last direct living blood relatives. Petunia was her aunt. He couldn't leave them unprotected especially from something they never wanted to get involved in. But, he didn't want the Dursley family near him again. So, he had pulled strings and Vernon had been offered a transfer from Grunnings in their new branch in Australia in August 1994.

Susan cursed about not getting to punish the Dursleys for their crimes, but Harry ended her rant with a kiss before dropping her off to the Hufflepuff dorms and apparating himself to the entrance of the Gryffindor tower as Filch rounded the corner as soon as the curfew set in.

The next day, the Ravenclaw house had lost nearly 700 points and several people were put in detention with Argus Filch, the caretaker for the whole year. Two Prefects lost their badges and their Quidditch team Beaters were banned from playing for the next three years... till which they would have graduated anyways.

Harry was given a week of detention too with Flitwick because of the damage he had done to the girl and the sixth year boy, which constituted of Harry sitting in front of Flitwick and helping him grade NEWT and OWL students' mock papers.

Needless to say, the students got their papers thoroughly checked and their parchment was filled with red ink, stating their mistakes.

The charms master had just looked at Harry with an amused expression and declared that Harry was welcome to come and replace him whenever he retired from teaching.

---

24th February 1995

Black Lake, Hogwarts.

"Welcome!" Bagman's voice boomed. "Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen, to the first round of the Second task of the TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT!"

The crowd went wild at the proclamation, cheering wildly for the four champions. Several students in the audience started jumping up and down in their seats. Several huge mirrors surrounded the crowd. The mirrors clearly showed each of the four champions standing near the start line, awaiting the beginning of their task.

"As we all know, this task has two rounds: the first will take place now, and the second will take place after Lunch. As for this round, last night, something was stolen from each of our champions. This treasure now lies at the bottom of the black lake. In order to win this task, the champion only needs to find their treasure and return to the surface facing whatever they come across in the Black Lake under the water. In order to do so, they have exactly one hour." Bagman informed the crowd.

He of course failed to mention that the said treasure was a person. Harry would have been more worried if the professors hadn't assured him that the hostages would be asked to consent beforehand and their safety was being guaranteed by the four heads- Sirius, Dumbledore, Karkaroff and Maxime themselves.

"The task will begin exactly at 10 AM at the sound of the canon." Bagman announced. Harry looked at the huge clock that had been specially placed to keep record of the time. There were still about ten minutes to go. "Till then, the champions would be receiving the final set of instructions for the task!"

Harry rechecked himself first before looking around at the champions. He was wearing a plain black hoodie over a pair of swimming shorts currently. A knife was strapped to his calf currently disillusioned and his wands were in his arm Holster. In his mouth, was an antidote pill which he would need to break in order to reverse the effects of the Gillyweed (He had stuck it in his mouth with a mild sticking charm). And, in his shorts pocket were three batches of Gillyweed which he was going to use to swim underwater. He had ordered nearly a dozen batches of the product and practiced swimming underwater beforehand several times. Each batch gave him the capability to breathe underwater for an hour. He had taken the two extra for assurance.

And he also had practiced and perfected the body-bubble charm which was an advanced variation of the bubblehead charm usually used by deep sea divers to find magical creatures or magical plants under the water. He could do a normal bubble-head charm too but, it was much less reliable than the body-bubble charm.

But, that wasn't Harry's plan A because it took continuous magic to maintain. Magic which he didn't want to waste. He would need to be in his prime to break through so many wards in round 2.

Around him, the other champions were in a similar state. Cedric was practicing the wand movements of the bubblehead charm while Krum was doing basic warmup exercises the quidditch players did before a match. Fleur Delacour on the other hand, was panicking. She was searching for someone. She probably had thought that the treasure would be an object rather than a person. And only now she had realized that it was a loved one.

He tapped her shoulder gently and her head snapped towards Harry. "Miss Delacour, do not worry. The hostages at the bottom of the lake are perfectly safe and no harm would come to them." Harry said in perfect French.

"How do you know that?" She snapped.

"As soon as I heard the egg riddle, I realized that the treasure that we had to retrieve was likely a person. So, I stormed the deputy headmistress's office and questioned her. She has told that the three heads of the schools and Sirius are ensuring the safety of the hostages. No harm will come to them even if you fail your task. My own girlfriend is at the bottom of the lake and so is my best friend whom I consider as my sister." Harry added.

Susan was Harry's hostage while, Hermione was Viktor Krum's.

"They have my sister. She is eight!"

"Champions!" Dumbledore's voice interrupted their conversation. "I hope you all have decoded the riddle of the egg. Because if you haven't, I will tell you that this round is going to be completely underwater and, if you haven't noticed, a person you hold dear is currently missing. They are your treasure. You have to find where they exactly are and retrieve them before the end of one hour. Rest assured that no harm would come to the hostages in case you fail. We have two hit-wizards stationed in the lake near the hostages to ensure their safety and come to your aid if in dire need."

Dumbledore looked each one of them in the eye, trying to reassure them of the fact.

"As for the hostages, Gabrielle Delacour is the hostage for Fleur Delacour, Hermione Granger for Mr. Krum, Cho Chang for Mr. Diggory and finally, Susan Bones for Mr. Potter."

All the champions nodded, visibly steeling themselves.

"Very well champions. The task begins in three minutes. Get in your swim attire." Dumbledore said before turning and returning to the judge's table with the rest of the judges. The champions started taking off their footwear before removing their outer cloaks/ hoodies.

The crowd positively went wide at seeing the champions in such state. The three boys looked extremely fit with a toned body and six pack abs. Krum and Harry's were more defined than Cedric's though. Fleur Delacour on the other hand was wearing a silvery-blue one piece conservative swimwear which did absolutely nothing to hide her figure.

Harry applied a wandless warming charm on himself to combat the cold before looking at the crowd. He caught Daphne's eyes and gave a charming smile and a wink. Several girls in the crowd swooned. Harry had technically winked at the crowd.

"Well, all our champions are ready for the second task, which will start on the sound of the canon. They have precisely an hour to recover what has been taken from them. On the count of three, then. One... two... three!"

At the number one itself, Harry had put a batch of the Gillyweed in his mouth and at three, he dived with the other three champions as the canon boomed.

The water was cold. Damn cold. Harry could feel the chill despite the warming charm he had applied on himself. Then, Harry felt as though an invisible pillow had been pressed over his mouth and nose. His lungs were empty, and he felt the expected piercing pain on either side of his neck - Harry clapped his hands around his throat and felt two large slits just below his ears. He stretched out his hands in front of him and stared at them. They looked green and ghostly under the water, and they had become webbed. He twisted around and looked at his bare feet - they had become elongated and the toes were webbed too.

The Gillyweed had taken effect perfectly. It was just very unpleasant and Harry could still not get used to it despite having experienced it a few times already in the past two weeks.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Fleur and Cedric had opted for a bubble-head charm whilst Krum had transfigured himself into a half-shark. Now, that was dangerous. Self transfiguration while in an uncontrolled environment for anyone less than a master of the art of self transfiguration was a recipe of disaster waiting to happen. Krum was taking a risk here as Harry doubted that Krum had actually mastered the art.

Of course, it wasn't an impossible notion but, Harry still doubted it. Self transfiguration only came in practical when one started studying for their masters in the art of transfiguration. It was just a theoretical concept for the NEWT level students. Harry himself had not mastered it completely. To transfigure your body into something other than your Animagus form was extremely dangerous and Harry saw a little appeal in it. He only learned the art on the insistence of Helga and Salazar.

Harry flicked his wand into his hand and used a propelling charm to push himself forward while simultaneously kicking his legs. It pushed him forward at an unbelievably fast pace as the other champions followed him before splitting up.

The lake was HUGE and a little could be seen over the strange, dark, foggy landscape. Harry could only see fifteen feet around him even with his enhanced vison. As he sped through the water, new scenes seemed to loom suddenly out of the incoming darkness: forests of rippling, tangled black weed, wide plains of mud littered with dull, glimmering stones.

He swam deeper and deeper, out toward the middle of the lake, staring through the eerily gray-lit water around him to the shadow beyond, where the water became opaque. Small fish flickered past him like silver darts. Once or twice he thought he saw something larger moving ahead of him, but when he got nearer, he discovered it to be nothing but a large, blackened log, or a dense clump of weed. There was no sign of any of the other champions, merpeople, Hostages- nor, thankfully, the giant squid.

Harry unfortunately couldn't use locating charms or revealing charm as the water tended to disturb those type of spells. And, if he produced a light, he would become a beacon for creatures to attack.

Light green weed stretched ahead of him as far as he could see, two feet deep, like a meadow of very overgrown grass. Harry was staring unblinkingly ahead of him, trying to discern shapes through the gloom... and then, without warning, something grabbed hold of his ankle. Harry twisted his body around and saw a Grindylow, a small, horned water demon, poking out of the weed, its long fingers clutched tightly around Harry's leg, its pointed fangs bared. Harry just shot a stunner at it and put it down.

Several more of the creatures popped out of the weeds. So, Harry shot a jet of boiling hot water at them and they sank back down. Harry continued swimming, occasionally sending a jet of boiling water around himself.

Suddenly out of the corner of his eye, he saw a light. He turned towards the source to see Fleur Delacour panicking as she was being attacked by the Grindylows.

She was already surrounded by several of the water demons and was already bleeding. The water around her was tinted red. Harry immediately swam towards the girl and sent several Relashio charms at the water demons along with stunners and banishing charms.

That was when Harry saw her bubble-head charm being pierced. Harry's eyes widened before he burst into action, banishing all the water demons or stunning them as Fleur struggled to hold her breath. As she was about to loose it, Harry pulled her closer, smashing his lips against hers and gave her oxygen through her mouth before reapplying the bubblehead charm. Fleur gulped in the fresh air that Harry had produced greedily before giving him a look of pure gratitude. She looked at Harry like he was her knight in shining armor... which he was- sort off.

Harry waved his wand again and her wounds started sealing themselves as her swim suit got repaired. He shot her a mock salute before propelling ahead. Harry saw that Fleur chose a different direction to go in than himself.

He continued ahead, wading through the murky waters, looking for the hostages.

He swam on for what felt like at least twenty minutes. He was passing over vast expanses of black mud now, which swirled murkily as he disturbed the water. Then, at long last, he heard a snatch of haunting mersong.

"An hour long you'll have to look,

And to recover what we took..."

Harry swam faster and soon saw a large rock emerge out of the muddy water ahead. It had paintings of Merpeople on it; they were carrying spears and chasing what looked like the giant squid. Harry swam on past the rock, following the mersong.

"...your time's half gone,

so tarry not Lest what you seek stays here to rot..."

A cluster of crude stone dwellings stained with algae loomed suddenly out of the gloom on all sides. Here and there at the dark windows, Harry saw faces . . . faces that bore no resemblance at all to the painting of the mermaid in the prefects' bathroom...

The Merpeople had grayish skin and long, wild, dark green hair. Their eyes were yellow, as were their broken teeth, and they wore thick ropes of pebbles around their necks. They leered at Harry as he swam past; one or two of them emerged from their caves to watch him better, their powerful, silver fish tails beating the water, spears clutched in their hands. Harry sped on, staring around, and soon the dwellings became more numerous; there were gardens of weed around some of them, and he even saw a pet Grindylow tied to a stake outside one door.

Merpeople were emerging on all sides now, watching him eagerly, pointing at his webbed hands and gills, talking behind their hands to one another. Harry sped around a corner and a very strange sight met his eyes. A whole crowd of Merpeople was floating in front of the houses that lined what looked like a Mer-version of a village square. A choir of Merpeople was singing in the middle, calling the champions toward them, and behind them rose a crude sort of statue; a gigantic Merperson hewn from a boulder. Four people were bound tightly to the tail of the stone Merperson. Four Girls: Cho, Susan, Hermione and a little, barely eight year old girl who looked like a mini-Fleur.

The hostages.

All four of them appeared to be in a very deep sleep. Their heads were lolling onto their shoulders, and fine streams of bubbles kept issuing from their mouths.

Harry sped toward the hostages, half expecting the Merpeople to lower their spears and charge at him, but they fortunately did nothing. Harry would hate to kill or harm such an endangered magical species.

The ropes of weed tying the hostages to the statue were thick, slimy, and very strong. Harry shot a Lacero at the ropes tying Susan but it just bounced off harmlessly. Harry blinked.

Then he shot a much more powerful severing spell which could cut thick trees in half but, that too bounced off harmlessly.

Magic resistant weed?

Harry admittedly wasn't the best at Herbology, but he never had heard of a weed that could resist magic. Harry looked at them with mage sight and saw that they were charmed to resist and deflect magic. Also, two disillusioned people were standing at the base of the statue: The hit wizards.

That was when Harry found a fault in the enchantment: There was no protection against physically cutting the weed.

So, Harry took his knife out and cut the weed off, freeing Susan. All this while, he was constantly on guard for a surprise attack by the Merpeople.

They didn't even move.

Harry cut Susan free and hugged her tightly before willing his magic to propel him and Susan straight up like a rocket in the water. Harry saw a figure swimming towards the Mer-village in a distance and assumed that it probably was Cedric by its figure.

He and Susan broke through the surface of the lake a few moments later.

Harry immediately broke the antidote pill he had placed in his mouth before the task, undoing the effects of the Gillyweed.

Both he and Susan breathed in the cold clear air once again. The enchantment on Susan had broken as soon as her head broke through the surface of the water. Now, her strawberry-blonde hair was sticking to her face as droplets of water dripped down her face.

"Harry!"

"You alright?" Harry asked, using magic to make them stand upright in the water without sinking one bit.

"Yes" She panted.

Harry nodded before both of them swam to the bank near where the Judges were waiting and got back on the land. Harry had to help Susan as her wet robes weighted her down and made walking difficult.

He immediately hit her with a powerful drying and warming charm making her sigh in relief as the chill elevated before doing the same for himself. Steam rose from Susan's clothes as her hair braided itself, which was once again completely dry and pristine.

"Thanks." She said with a grin and kissed his cheek before whispering in his ear, "You're looking hot as fuck."

Harry just grinned at her as Cedric emerged with Cho Chang from the lake. The mirrors showed that Delacour and Krum had also entered the village, but were still looking for the hostages.

---

Nearly half an hour later, the four champions and their hostages found themselves in front of the judges, once again being viewed by the crowd.

They had been checked by the healers and they were only allowed to leave a few moments ago. All the champions had returned safely with their hostages, nearly unharmed.

In the medical tent, Fleur had came in and hugged Harry before kissing his cheeks and thanking him profusely for saving her life.

"Now, it is time for the points!" Bagman's voice boomed once again as the crowd cheered. "Fleur Delacour, though she demonstrated excellent use of the Bubble-Head Charm, was attacked by grindylows as she approached her goal, and was saved from being eliminated only by the heroics of Harry Potter. She was also the last to return with her Hostage, well outside the time limit. So, we award her thirty points out of fifty."

She just nodded in agreement.

"Cedric Diggory, who also used the Bubble-Head Charm, was the second to return with his hostage, though he returned just one minute inside the time limit of an hour." Enormous cheers from the Hufflepuffs in the crowd; Harry saw Cho give Cedric a glowing look.

"So, we award him forty-eight points."

"Viktor Krum used an incomplete form of Transfiguration, which was nevertheless effective, and was third to return with his hostage. We award him, forty points."

Karkaroff clapped particularly hard, looking very superior.

"Harry Potter used Gillyweed to great effect," Bagman continued. "He returned first, and well inside the time limit of an hour. Despite some disagreement of him helping another champion," and here, Bagman gave Karkaroff a very nasty look, " we have come to the conclusion that we award him full points."

The crowd went wild. Sirius shot him a thumbs up from where he was standing.

"So, the points stand as follows: In the first place, we have Mister Potter with 198 points. In the second place, Miss Delacour with 135 points. Followed by Mr. Krum having 125 points. Last, but not the least, we have Mr. Diggory with forty-eight points."

The crowd cheered again.

"We shall meet again in a few hours after Lunch for the Second round of the task. Till then, let us give the champions a well deserved rest! Thank you."

Chapter 45: Warding and Ward-Breaking

Summary:

And... DONE!

I have been extremely busy in the past week and this is expected to continue. I will continue to update as frequently as I can but, I request you all to show patience regarding new updates for a chapter as it takes time to write so much. Putting the idea on paper is also a tough task.

This is my hobby and my studies take priority.

Thank you.

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There is a small dedication in this chapter to my friends: Letus and Dorothea Greengrass... yes, the same author who has written a dozen excellent Haphne fics!

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Stay Happy! Stay safe! Keep smiling! Keep Reading.

HPfanfictioner66

Ch. 45 Warding and Ward-Breaking

Harry walked back to the castle hand in hand with Susan as they were surrounded by a group of Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors mainly consisting of their friends. The Weasley twins were at the front of the group, clearing up our path while singing a victory song in the tune of a funeral march till Angelina and Alicia slapped them on their heads. Hermione and Ron were also with them.

Ron had joined as soon as the Judges told them that they were free to leave while Viktor had went back to his ship to change and revise for the second round. The trio of friends made their way back to the castle surrounded by well-wishers and Harry's fans.

Fleur gave the same reason as Viktor and went to the Beauxbatons carriage with her headmistress, parents and her little sister to prepare for the next round of the second task. Much to Harry's amusement, Fleur's younger sister Gabrielle was still bouncing in excitement about 'The Great Harry Potter' shaking hands with her.

Harry and Susan parted ways with their friends to go and have a bath and change into proper clothing for Lunch. They had just emerged from the Black lake and were feeling unclean despite the cleaning charms that Harry had done. A nice bath would get rid of that feeling and freshen Harry's mind.

Harry kissed Susan goodbye as she went towards the Hufflepuff dorms while Harry apparated straight to the chamber of secrets where Salazar and Helga were already waiting.

"Congratulations Harry!" Helga cheered as Harry walked into the room. "First place! I am so proud of you my student."

"Did you expect anything less Helga? He has trained under us as our apprentice after all. He was bound to come first. The three champions may be the best in their year but, Harry here is on a completely different level." Salazar remarked.

Harry just smiled in response.

"Go and shower Harry dear. We will talk after you've your lunch and go over your warding scheme for one last time."

Harry nodded and went to have a nice long bath.

---

At 3 PM, Harry found himself standing on the quidditch pitch with the other champions awaiting the beginning of the next round of the second task. He was dressed in his battle-robes for the task even though they weren't exactly needed. Cedric and Krum were dressed in their school uniforms while Fleur was wearing light-blue colored dueling robes for the event.

A light breeze was blowing through the quidditch field as the chatter of the gathered crowd sounded through the air.

In front of the champions, four structures had been constructed which looked like a one-room house. At one side of the pitch, four work tables were arranged with a Rune-carving kit and three chests on each one of them. A little distance away from where the champions were standing, the judges table was also placed where Dumbledore, Sirius and Madame Maxime were conversing about something with two people Harry didn't recognize. Karkaroff on the other hand was already sitting at his spot already, thinking about Merlin-knows-what.

In the stands, students of the three schools were ready to support their favorite champion and cheer for them. There were also a few reporters present who were allotted a special row in the stands with the teachers of Hogwarts. To Harry's great irritation, his eyes also fell on Snape who was shouting at some younger students about something which Harry couldn't hear above the chatter of the crowd.

"Dear audience and Champions! Welcome, to the Second round of the second task of the Triwizard Tournament!" Bagman's voice boomed above the chatter of the crowd and the crowd immediately cheered.

"The points for the champions currently stand as follows: In the first place, we have Mister Potter with 198 points! In the second place, Miss Delacour with 135 points! Followed by Mr. Krum having 125 points! Last, but not the least, we have Mr. Diggory with forty-eight points! Give a huge round of applause for the champions dear audience!"

The crowd applauded so loudly that the applause may have been heard by the citizens of Hogsmeade too. Several people had rose to their feet and clapped for the champions.

"Yes, Yes. We all are excited. But, before we begin, let me explain what the task entails. The champions will have to retrieve a treasure by breaking through wards that we and the rest of their fellow champions choose to put up. First, the task will begin with each of the champions warding three chests as they wish. These three chests are meant to be warded in the exact same way and one chest will go to each of the other three champions to break through. They have 45 minutes for this part of the task. After those forty-five minutes are up, the warded boxes will be placed in the rooms which have been constructed as you can see." Bagman said gesturing to the four constructed structures.

"These rooms have been warded by one of the best warding teams in Britain. The champions will have to break through these wards and go into the room. In the room, there will be four boxes. Three boxes that each of their fellow champions would have respectively warded and the last one from one of the heads of the institutions... meaning from either Headmaster Dumbledore, High-master Karkaroff, Headmistress Maxime or Lord Black. Of course, we will ensure that a champion will not receive the chest warded by his or her head of institute." Bagman declared, repeating the instructions that the champions had been given after the first task.

The audience was also listening to him with rapt attention.

"For doing this, the champions have exactly seventy-five minutes... or perhaps a little more. As said at the end of the first task, the champions will receive a small advantage for the number of keys they successfully collected in the first task. The advantage will be... TIME! For each key collected, a champion would get five minutes more which he or she can utilize to either ward their boxes or to break the wards!" Bagman added.

Harry and Fleur smiled. They would have fifteen minutes more as compared to Diggory and five minutes more than Krum. While the advantage wasn't huge, it was still big enough to make a difference especially during the ward-breaking part of the task. The time limit for the ward-breaking part was a little tight especially for untrained school children. For professional ward-breakers it may be enough but, the champions, despite being the best their schools had to offer, were still not on par with professionals... except for Harry who probably surpassed most of them bar the best in the field.

Harry was confident that he could break through all the wards, both on the room and the boxes within an hour with ease... unless he got a box warded by Dumbledore, given that the wizened headmaster had taken the task seriously enough and warded it to the best of his abilities... which Harry didn't think was a serious possibility as Dumbledore won't make it a near impossible task for the champions... atleast the rest of them.

Cedric on the other hand looked worried... extremely worried.

Harry pitied the poor boy. He was a great guy and a good wizard. One of the best that Hogwarts had to offer. But, unfortunately he was out of the league that the rest three of them were in... Viktor Krum and Fleur Delacour were the best students in their years. Fleur was an international duelist whilst Krum had the knowledge of the so called dark arts on his side which he had been taught in Durmstrang... which Cedric lacked. And, Harry Potter was Harry Potter... He was the best amongst the four of them and currently the favorite to win the competition, despite being three years younger than the rest of the champions.

He knew of magics that most of the adult witches and wizards had never heard of. He had one of the rarest abilities in the world and was being trained by two of the greatest magical people to walk on the face of Earth. He also had the knowledge of the Potter and Black Families behind him. Families who had hoarded knowledge since before the time of Camelot.

"So, Mr. Diggory will have no extra time, because he unfortunately had failed to retrieve any of the keys in the first task." Beside Harry, Cedric winced at the reminder of his failure as Bagman continued speaking. "Mr. Krum on the other hand will have ten minutes more to utilize as he sees fit while Mr. Potter and Miss Delacour have a quarter hour extra!"

The Audience, especially the Gryffindors and the Beauxbatons students cheered wildly for them.

"Now, let me give some details on the scoring part for this round. For breaking the room's wards, a champion will receive 20 points. For breaking the wards on a box, put up by their fellow champion, a champion will receive 15 points each. And by breaking the ward on the box warded by one of the heads of institutes, the champion will receive 35 points. In addition, 10 points will be given to the champion in case a fellow champion fails to break through the wards on the box he or she has warded."

'Okay... the last part was new.' Harry thought. 'I will have to put up a couple of extra wards just in case, to ensure that none of the other three can break through my wards... though I only am getting fifteen minutes to ward a box... Hmmm... Decisions, decisions...'

"So, are you ready audience?" Bagman asked, half yelling, despite the Sonorous charm he had put on himself.

The audience just cheered wildly.

Harry and the other champions hoped that the judges would activate the wards to cut the sounds off from the audience. Harry wondered what level of volume would be reached by the audience during the task if this was the condition before the task even started!

"The task begins in ten minutes where the champions would put up a race against time to create and break through the wards. We judges in the meantime would give the champions final directions before the task begins!"

Dumbledore, Maxime, Sirius and Karkaroff hurried towards where the champions were standing.

"All ready kids?" Sirius asked with a slight grin. The four youngsters just nodded mutely in agreement.

"Alright champions. There aren't many instructions left which we have to give as Mr. Bagman has already announced almost everything. We just needed to add that the wards which you will put up on the box should not be of a lethal variety under any circumstances. After you all have warded the boxes, a team of expert warders and curse-breakers will check what you've put up on your boxes to give us an overview and ensure that nothing lethal is added. Also, each box should be warded in the exact same manner. There should not be any additional or different wards on a particular box. This is to ensure that the competition remains as fair as it can be for everyone" Dumbledore said sternly.

"Now, how would you three like to use your extra time?" Dumbledore asked, looking straight at Harry, Fleur and Krum.

"I will use five minutes extra for warding and rest five minutes to ward breaking." Krum said and Dumbledore noted it down.

"Miss Delacour?"

"All fifteen minutes to ward-breaking." Fleur replied instantly.

"Ten minutes to warding and five to ward-breaking." Harry said when Dumbledore looked at him. Dumbledore nodded and noted it down. Besides him, both Madame Maxime and Karkaroff raised their eyebrows but Harry ignored them.

He was confident that he could break through the wards that the officials, the champions and one of the heads had put up within the time-limit of eighty minutes despite that being a slightly tougher task. He wanted to get the thirty points when the rest three failed to break the wards on his box.

"If you've any questions please ask right now before we begin the task." Dumbledore said and we shook our heads.

"Very well. I will take your leave now. Go to your tables. The chests have the emblems of your respective schools... institutes. So choose those tables which have the boxes with your emblem. I wish you all luck in this task." Saying so, the judges went to the judge's table and sat on their respective seats while the champions went towards the tables and found their own.

Harry saw that his chest had a great-horned Hebridean black holding a sword while roaring to the heavens carved on the top of it. The same emblem that was stitched at the back of his robes. Harry traced the design with his fingers as a smile appeared on his face. The Potter's war symbol. The symbol that showed why the Potter's were to be feared by those who wronged them. The symbol that even Grindelwald was wary of.

"Our champions are ready! At the sound of the whistle, Harry Potter, who has chosen to allot ten minutes extra for warding his boxes, will begin. At the second whistle, which will be sounded after five minutes, Mr. Krum will begin. And finally at the sound of the canon, Miss Delacour and Mr. Diggory will start their work on their boxes. From the moment the canon is fired, our champions would have forty-five minutes to complete the work on their boxes!" Bagman announced and the audience cheered, which was soon cut off abruptly as if the audience had been muted.

Someone had activated a silencing dome over the quidditch pitch.

Harry prepared himself as he arranged his table and tools. He also opened the boxes and saw that there was a coin in each box with the dragon symbol on it.

A minute later, the whistle was blown.

Harry immediately began carving runes on the box to make it unbreakable and increasing its ability to hold the charms and wards he would put up soon. He had nearly finished carving the Runes on his second box when the second whistle was blown and Krum started his work. Harry hurried up, wanting to finish carving and activating the required runes before the canon was sounded.

He had just put up an advanced locking charm on all the three boxes, after the Runes had been activated when the canon went off with a bang. Harry winced at the loud explosion before continuing his work.

The advanced-locking charm was meant to seal the box from the edges instead of making a form of locking mechanism like normal locking charms did. It was to keep the latch free for the main surprise he would be putting on the latch. After that, he started moving his wand in a complicated pattern, weaving in one of the toughest enchantments that he was going to put on the box: The boggart enchantment, also known as the illusional-fear ward.

It would give a similar effect of the boggart when the box was opened except for the fact that a Riddikulus spell won't repel it and neither would any other spell have any effect on it. Any spell, including a killing curse and Fiendfyre would pass straight through the figure which would form, because it would be an illusion... Pure illusion. One just needed to be brave enough to ignore the illusion of their worst fears and continue what they were doing.

Six and a half minutes later, Harry breathed a sigh of relief as he successfully accomplished weaving in the boggart ward on all the three boxes. Now, in case a champion successfully opened the box, they would have to face the ward before they could take the coin in the box... which may be a faint possibility but, a possibility was a possibility nonetheless.

And, Harry wasn't taking any risks. He was going to win this tournament hands down. Harry wanted no one to claim that he won due to sheer luck under any circumstances.

Next, he started putting up the Egyptian Temporary-coma curse ward on the latch of the box before weaving a notice-me-not charm upon the ward. The Egyptian Temporary Coma curse ward was a ward that was found in some of the most guarded tombs of Ancient Egypt. Whoever came into contact with this ward fell into deep, coma like sleep for twenty-four hours. In the tombs, there were various other traps that killed the person unless he/she had a companion with them. Here, there was a time limit. And the notice-me-not charm that Harry had put up on the ward ensured that none bar those adept at the art of Occlumency or having a great sensitivity to magic would notice it. Professional, experienced curse-breakers may, but that was besides the point as none of the champions fell into that category.

They would most likely ignore the ward on the latch and just open it... or try to open it because the moment they would touch the latch, either with bare-skin or anything less than a metal glove, the person would fall into a state of coma for 24 hours... leading them to loosing the task. The ward was even capable of penetrating through dragon-hide if the books were to be believed. Harry had never tried it in person. Neither had Salazar and Helga. They hadn't seen the phenomenon either. The only time Salazar had seen the Egyptian Temporary-coma curse ward in action was when a person had touched the object with bare-hands and fallen into twenty-four hours of coma.

Now, the time for deception to ensure that none of the other three champions realized that there was something fishy with no enchantments on the latch in case they broke through the wards that he laid on the main box.

Harry carved another rune on the latch and put up a burns-curse on it before weaving a Notice-Me charm on that one. It was one of the toughest skills in the art of ward-laying... to put two wards, one upon the other, before weaving two charms with completely opposite effects on them respectively and be successful in the endeavor. Most attempts like these ended up blowing the object itself in most cases... Harry's had too, when he first learned the skill under the founders. Salazar had laughed uproariously till Helga reminded him that he had suffered a similar fate when he had tried the same thing under Rowena's guidance.

Harry touched the latch and checked if the magic had settled properly on them. They had settled and worked perfectly. Thankfully, the ward and the curse won't have any effect on him when he touched the latch because he was the caster. He also confirmed that the wards were perfectly put with his mage sight.

He gave a faint smile at his success before looking at the time. He had eighteen minutes left before he needed to step back from his work station.

Now, was time for laying some standard wards on the box which would serve as added protection and also waste a little time of his fellow champions.

Harry immediately put up an anti-jinx shield followed by a shield ward, a water repulsion ward, An anti-fire ward, an extra elemental ward to protect it from the likes of high-level blasting curses or elemental attacks like lightning. Next, he put a stunner-ward, a hallucination hex, a puking curse, petrification hex and some other wards which were quite standard in nature. If a person had studied ward-breaking properly, they would know how to counter them with ease though. They were commonly used in several places after-all. But, they would still take a little time to break through.

Harry saw the time again. Putting so many wards on the three boxes had taken eleven minutes! He had seven minutes left now... He started hissing nearly inaudibly in Parseltongue. The first boxed glowed a faint green, showing that he had been successful in accomplishing what he wanted. He had just put up a ward which did nothing other than absorb the magic that was being fired on it. It was like a shield-ward of sorts which only broke when saturated with enough magic.

So, one needed to keep firing spells on it till the ward broke... they couldn't counter any other ward on the object till this ward broke.

He did the same with the other two boxes too before putting his final weapon: He weaved a Confoundus charm on the whole ward scheme and the enchantments. Now, due to the confoundus charm, the detection charms that anyone used on the box would come up hay-wired. Normally, such a trick could be neutralized with a simple, powerful Finite Incantatem but, now the person would need to fire several spells to break his Parsel-ward before they could move on to nullifying the Confoundus charm on the wards and then and only then, would they be able to disable the rest of the wards. Till then, they would be running blind.

Harry gave a final glance at the clock and saw that he had less than a minute left. So, he just stepped back and activated his mage sight, re-checking the wards and enchantments. Of course, mage sight wasn't fooled by the Notice-me-not or the Confoundus charms that he had weaved on the wards.

Mage-sight could detect almost any enchantment one laid on a ward-scheme to fool someone. But, Harry seriously doubted that any person other than himself and Albus Dumbledore had that ability in the entire campus. He was ninety-five percent sure that none of the students had it at least. He couldn't comment about the curse-breakers and the hit-wizards who had specially come for the tournament.

"Champions! You have fifteen seconds left! Wrap up your work fast!" Sirius's voice boomed from the judges table.

Harry examined the wards to ensure that each of the box he had warded was in the exact same way. They were perfectly done. He could not spot a single difference in the wards and enchantments.

"TEN SECONDS LEFT! TEN... NINE... EIGHT... SEVEN... SIX... FIVE... FOUR... THREE... TWO... ONE! STOP YOUR WORK AND STEP BACK CHAMPIONS. WANDS DOWN!" Sirius's voice boomed.

The four teenagers stepped back from their work tables. Harry looked around and saw around eight people: five men and three women walking towards the champions as the judges sat back on their chairs, awaiting what the people would do. As the group got closer, Harry saw that they had several instruments with them... Instruments to analyze wards and curses on an object. It didn't take a genius to figure out that they were the warders and curse-breakers who had came for this round of the second task. Harry even recognized one of them as Bill Weasley, Ron's older brother, who went to Krum's table... unfortunately.

A man and a woman approached his table and gestured him to step forward. His fellow champions were asked to do the same by the respective officials who had came to their tables.

The man was a balding, pot-bellied wizard who had a few streaks of black hair left in his now, silver hair. The girl on the other hand was clearly very young and was likely in her late-twenties. She had fine auburn hair which she had tied into a bun and electric-blue eyes. He could clearly see that the girl was excited.

As soon as Harry stepped forward, the guy waved his wand, erecting a privacy-dome around them. He smiled at Harry. "Just to ensure that the other champions don't realize what we discuss here. I am Letus Blane." He said extending his hand, which already had dragon-hide gloves on. Harry shook hands with him, internally praying that the man had enough sense not to touch the latch... or even the box.

"And I am Dorothea Starkey, Mr. Potter. It is a pleasure to meet you. I have heard sooo much about you. I am a—"

"Dorothea, you can fangirl over the boy later. We've a task to do. Better get going lass."

The girl, Dorothea immediately nodded and took out a clipboard and a quill as Mr. Blane started waving his instruments around Harry's box.

The first instrument, which looked like a metal detector, immediately started producing a beeping sound as a blue light indicator started blinking. The man frowned and switched off the instrument before trying again, only to be greeted by the same result again.

He took out another instrument and tried poking the box and frowned.

"Mr. Potter. Can you kindly explain me why my instruments can make no sense of the wards and enchantments that you've put on this box?" Mr. Blake asked.

Harry raised an eyebrow at him. "There can be several reasons Mr. Blane. Like, your instrument could be faulty. Or the ward detection charms could've grown old on it. Or—"

"The instrument is in perfect condition Mr. Potter." Mr. Blane interrupted.

"— It could be my Confoundus charm messing with your instruments." Harry completed, ignoring the man who had interrupted him.

"Confoundus charm? You mean to tell us that you weaved a confoundus charm on your whole ward-scheme, a skill that only the most advanced warders can perform on these boxes?"

"Yes."

"Prospectus! You're a kid. Fully qualified warders take months of practice to do this."

"But I have done it sir. You can check it." Harry said, suppressing a grin. He wondered what would be Letus Blane's reaction if he came to know the work Harry had performed on the latch

"Unfortunately, we've been instructed to avoid doing anything to the box that will affect the champions' work in any way or form." He said with a sigh. "I was actually looking forward to see what all you did to this box, but your confoundus is messing with my detectors. Nevertheless, the fact that you can weave an enchantment on the ward speaks volumes regarding your skill in the art."

"Sir, we still need to confirm whether there is anything lethal and if all boxes are warded in the exact same way." Dorothea reminded the man.

"Call the judges. They will decide what we should do." Dorothea nodded and ran off towards the judges table and soon returned with the four heads of institutes trailing behind her.

Dumbledore gave his standard, grandfatherly smile before asking, "Letus, Dorothea said that there is some problem with this box?"

"Yes Headmaster. Potter has weaved a confoundus charm on the wards he put up. My sensors are unable to detect anything and would be unable to do so till the charm is removed... which we don't have the permission to do. We can't manually perform any detection charms either till we are sure that they won't mess with the wards that Potter has put."

"I will check it with a little trick I have then..." Dumbledore waved his wand and stared at the box. Harry immediately realized that the wand-waving was a ruse because Dumbledore didn't wish for the greater public to know that he had mage-sight... for some reason.

Harry saw Dumbledore's eyes widen for a brief moment before they started twinkling in amusement.

"I must say that this is fine work Mr. Potter... Excellent work. This is the work that I won't even expect from the best of Warders especially considering that you've done the work in technically, less than twenty minutes." Dumbledore complimented before turning to the judges.

"And you all have my word that there is nothing lethal put up and all boxes are warded in the same way." He said and the judges nodded before going back to their chairs.

Harry saw Karkaroff telling Krum something by pointing at Harry and making a X sign with his fingers before, Sirius told him something and Karkaroff hurried away hastily.

Ten minutes later, the boxes from the champions were levitated into the four rooms.

"Now Champions, your boxes have been placed into the rooms by the curse-breakers. Now, as for which rooms you have to go in, Mr. Krum, you've Room Number one. Mr. Diggory, Number two." Dumbledore's voice boomed as he gave instructions and Krum and Cedric took their places in front of their respective rooms. "Mr. Potter, you have room number three while Miss Delacour, you've room number four."

The two of them took their respective places too, about thirty yards away from the room.

"At the first whistle, Miss Delacour will start her work. Ten minutes later, the second whistle will be blown and Mr. Krum and Mr. Potter will begin. At the sound of the canon, Mr. Diggory will begin. From the time the canon is sounded, you all will have seventy-five minutes to break through the wards that you'll face. There are wards on these rooms as we have told you. There are four tables in each room and on each table a box has been placed. Three that your fellow champions have warded and one that has been warded by one of us heads of institutes. Each box has a coin in it which you have to take for yourself after breaking through the wards on the box. Total points will be calculated according to what you retrieve from the room, provided you can break into it." Dumbledore instructed.

"I wish you all luck. Miss Delacour, prepare yourself." He added before sitting down on his seat.

A minute later the whistle was blown and Fleur walked towards the room and started waving her wand in patterns of detection charms. After nearly five minutes, she fired her first spell and began dismantling the wards methodologically.

When three minutes were left for Harry's task to begin, he used his mage sight to look at the wards that were put up on his room. A standard shield charm, An anti-jinx shield, An anti-hex shield, Elemental shields of all kinds, An anti-thief ward, Anti-intrusion ward and a repulsion force-field. Along With them, for some absurd reason the warders had also put up anti-animal ward and an anti pest ward.

There were a few other standard wards too which people usually put on their homes in the wizarding world... the normal wizards and witches atleast. The homes of the Sacred 28 usually had much more dangerous and lethal in variety. He knew for a fact that if someone tried to step in his own home without invitation, no trace of their body would never be found. Here, there was nothing that could permanently harm a person in any way or form. Even if he just walked into the wards without doing anything, he would merely be stunned and be put in a full body-bind before being flung away several meters.

The only problem was that the wards were connected with a ward-stone... making them much more stable and harder to break. He could see the patterns connecting in the wards. The gaps and the small holes they had left in the ward-scheme.

He blinked his eyes and stopped looking with his mage-sight. If used for a long time, that thing still gave him blinding headaches. He closed his eyes, analyzing what to do. He could tear through those wards within seconds with some of the spells he knew. But, that risked damaging the structure itself which was just temporarily built with no reinforcing magic.

He could also do it like Fleur was doing... Methodologically dismantling the wards. But, that will waste his time.

If this had been a real life situation, he would just put on his invisibility cloak and walk through the door, completely unharmed. His cloak was no mere cloak but a deathly hallow after all! But, here he had no wish to reveal that fact neither did he want to cheat in the tournament by using a highly-magical artifact to aid him.

That left him with one option. Finding the Nexus point in the wards, dismantling the charm wards before firing blasting curses and power spells to break through the shield-wards that the warders had put up.

A Nexus point was a point that formed when wards were connected to a ward-stone. Temporary wards and wards that drew magic from the Ley-lines didn't have this feature. It was the point all wards were connected through and were supplied the main power from. It was the greatest weakness in a ward-stone connected ward scheme. Most charm wards, which could be dismantled by a counter-charm, could be easily broken through if one worked on them from the nexus point... extremely easily. The problem was finding the Nexus point itself. Usually it was a tough task for normal wizards as there was no method to find the nexus point bar the mage-sight. Even with mage sight, it was nearly impossible to find the nexus point in a ward scheme because it was just a dot, size of a shirt button.

The point could be anywhere, even at the top of the building.

But, if Harry found it, it would require a lot less time and less power to break through the wards.

'Okay. Plan A is nexus point. If I don't find it by the time the canon is sounded, Plan B is to tear through the wards in three spells instead of a single one... hopefully there won't be any damage to the structure.' Harry thought to himself. He seriously doubted that the structure would even survive contact with a simple Bombarda Maxima, let alone the advanced blasting spells. He had no wish for the whole structure to collapse under any circumstances. The idiots should've carved runes to reinforce the structure but, they hadn't! He was sure that in case the structure collapsed, he would be disqualified.

Seconds later, the whistle was blown and Krum and Harry hurried forward and started their work. Harry reactivated his mage sight and started looking for the nexus point while simultaneously casting detection charms to ensure that he hadn't missed anything. He started circling the room instead of standing in one place like Krum and Fleur were doing. It took him nearly four minutes to find the nexus point which was located at the back of the room, four feet above the ground... thankfully.

Harry immediately started shooting counter-charms for the wards. The first few wards fell faster than a castle of cards. Harry was deactivating the repulsion ward when the canon was blown and Diggory ran forward towards his own room.

Two minutes later, Harry was almost done with the charm-wards when a large booming noise came from his right just before a small shockwave of magic was released.

Harry turned and saw that Fleur Delacour had been successful in breaking through her room's wards and was already on her way in.

Harry turned back to his own work, not rushing with his task. This was a delicate process. Fleur had done it before him because she had ten minutes extra as compared to him.

About three minutes later, Harry stepped back and yelled, "CONFRINGO MAXIMA" A blasting curse left his wand and impacted the Nexus point. He now had to destroy the shield-wards. Thankfully, he just had to ensure that he didn't fire extra spells once the shields broke. There was no reason to worry about damaging the structure if a spell was more powerful than necessary as he was hitting the nexus point in the wards. Any extra power would be dissipated instead of hitting the structure.

"CONFRINGO MAXIMA" He shouted again and his blasting curse impacted the nexus point once again. By now, the shields had weakened considerably. He shot the same spell one more time and was rewarded with a huge boom and a shockwave as the ward fell.

Harry immediately went back to the front of the room and entered inside. The room had nothing special except for four tables which had a box on them and a chair at the center of the room which had a pair of dragon-hide gloves on it. Underneath the chair was a crystal stone the size of a Quaffle... the ward stone that powered the wards that he had just destroyed.

The walls were white washed and there was a clock on one of the walls showing how much time was left. Currently the clock showed that he had 67 minutes left. Harry looked at the chair with his mage-sight and immediately saw that there was a mild stunner-ward around the dragon-hide gloves. Harry smirked and deactivated the ward with a simple counter-charm and picked the gloves.

It was a fine trap but, all the champions were being extra careful especially due to the trap Cedric had fallen into in the first task. Everyone was bound to check the gloves before picking them up... hopefully.

He put the gloves on and started looking at the chests before stopping at the one which had the Triwizard Tournament symbol on it. This was the box that had been warded by one of the Headmasters... or Madame Maxime.

He suddenly felt a compulsion to ignore the box and go to another one. He immediately tightened his occlumency to the fullest and activated mage sight again. He was already feeling the beginning of a migraine setting in due to the excessive use of mage-sight.

What he saw left him gaping. Wards on the box had been weaved with such a beauty that he could hardly discern where one ward connected to the other. He waved his wand and performed a detection charm and came up with nothing. He smirked and shot an over powered Finite Incantetam at the box, immediately deactivating the confoundus charm that had been put up. He tried the detection charm again and felt information fill his senses.

There were several standard and advanced shield-wards on the box, a couple of which he didn't even recognize even by his mage sight. He did another few detection charms and concluded that this was perhaps the most complex ward-scheme he had came across on an object. And, only one man could do this work: Albus Dumbledore. He had weaved compulsion charms, notice-me-not charms and several other types of deceptions.

Harry immediately set to work, dismantling whatever Dumbledore had put up. He had also pulled his Occlumency shields to the fullest to avoid the compulsion charms that he had put up. As Harry deactivated a ward meant to give him a electric shock, a chime sounded, signaling that he had one hour left for the task to end.

Harry continued his work, not caring about the time. He couldn't rush especially through this.

Finally Harry breath a sigh of relief as he deactivated all the wards on the box. He extended his hand to open the latch but, he stopped short. He activated his mage-sight once more to check if there were any wards left on the box. Thankfully, there weren't. He opened the latch and picked the coin inside. On the coin there was a something carved: A.P.W.B.D

The initials of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. That man had a seriously long name. He usually wrote Albus P.W.B Dumbledore but there wasn't enough space on the coin. Harry pocketed the coin and looked at the clock which showed that he had forty-three minutes left. He had taken about twenty-five minutes to break through the wards that Dumbledore had put up... but it was worth the experience and the thirty-five points he would get.

He immediately hurried to the table where Cedric's box was kept and performed a detection charm on it. The boy had put nothing more than basic protections that most trunk-vendors put on cheap safe boxes.

Harry waved his wand and deactivated every single ward within two minutes. He gave a final check to confirm that no wards were left anywhere on the box before opening it and pocketing the coin.

He next went to Krum's table. His box had the Durmstrang crest carved on it. Harry waved his wand on it to see what the boy had put up on his box. The wards on his box, while not lethal were definitely... not good for ones health. A ward to break bones, one which would boil the toucher's blood, one that would cause severe burns, a Greek-nightmare curse, a temporary-blinding curse, a seizures-inducing ward, a scorching ward, a mild-torture curse that would make him feel like his skin was on fire and a few others that weren't pleasant in any way.

But, his shields were standard. And, he had done nothing to reinforce the box beyond a pesky unbreakable charm... which could be removed with a simple Finite. Harry did just that and tore through the box and the wards within a second. The box was reduced to splinters which Harry immediately burned to ashes. He picked up the coin which had fallen on the ground and pocketed it too.

He looked at the time and saw that he had forty minutes left. And a box to dismantle the wards on.

He moved to the last table and saw the Beauxbatons crest on the box. It had been warded by Fleur Delacour. He started performing detection charms on the box before giving a customary glance with his mage-sight at the box. It was good work to say atleast. The box was charmed in several ways. It had more charms than curses and ward-shields. It was good work. She also had done a couple of rune-wards.

It was good work but not anywhere near what Harry and Dumbledore had done. But, certainly better than Krum's and Diggory's.

Harry first destroyed the ward shields with a couple of spells before he started to counter the dozens of charms the girl had put on the box. It took seven minutes and he was done. He opened the box and went to take the coin but his senses tingled a moment before his fingers touched the coin.

He retracted his hand instantly and cast detection charms on the coin. It had a stunning and a petrification jinx on it.

Damn. He would be lying on the floor now if his senses hadn't warned him.

He countered the jinx and picked the coin up before walking out of the room. He came out of the room and raised his hand to the crowd, signaling that he had completed the task.

No one else had came out yet. Harry looked at the mirrors which showed the champions. All of them were working on some box or the other. Harry just sighed and waited.

---

Chapter 46: Marriage Proposal and Worrying Prospects

Ch.46 Marriage Proposal and Worrying Prospects

24th February 1995

Quidditch Pitch

Harry conjured a chair in the middle of the Quidditch pitch and sat down on it after handing the judges the four coins he had collected from the boxes. He looked at the big screens that showed what the champions were currently up to.

Diggory was working on what looked to be Krum's box. All the other boxes in his room were still untouched it seemed.

On the other hand, Fleur was working on the box with the Triwizard insignia on it... the teacher's box. Harry could also make out two open boxes and another box with his symbol on it, meaning that she had already broken through the wards on Krum's and Diggory's boxes.

Viktor Krum too had two open boxes and was working on the third box which had the Beauxbatons academy's symbol on it while Harry's box was still locked. That meant he had broken through the Teacher's box along with Diggory's.

Harry looked at the clock which showed that the champions still had twenty minutes left for the task. And from the looks of it, it looked like Krum was leading among the three followed by Fleur. Cedric had no hopes to even come third in this round it seemed. He was still working on Krum's box and three boxes were still left: One from the teachers, Fleur's, and his own.

Fleur opened the teacher's box at the twelve-minute mark and cast a detection charm before removing a coin.

Suddenly, all the screens that were showing Fleur, zoomed in and showed the initials on the coin: I.K.- Igor Karkaroff.

Harry saw several people rise to their feet and cheer for the Beauxbatons champion (though no noise penetrated through the wards) as Fleur pocketed the coin and moved to Harry's box before starting to wave her wand over it before frowning.

Harry smirked and turned to the screens showing Krum and Cedric. They were still stuck on the boxes they were working on when Harry had first come out of the room.

When seven minutes were left, Krum broke through the wards on Fleur's box and went to pick the coin up but moments later, he fell on the ground, as stiff as a board. It seemed that he had fallen for Fleur's trap. But, Harry doubted if Fleur would get the points for Krum failing to get her coin as technically Krum had done the task. The worst part was that Karkaroff was likely to protest against any decision that wasn't in his champion's favor. But, there was also the fact that Krum hadn't bothered to pick the dragon-hide gloves on the chair for some reason, which would act against Krum.

Harry decided to just wait and watch.

A couple of curse breakers and Healer Wynter immediately rushed into Krum's room and began checking him before enervating him and freeing him from the body-bind. The screen showed Krum groaning before shakily getting to his feet before being escorted out by the healer and the curse-breakers. Harry could see that Krum was talking animatedly with the officials but could only guess what Krum was on about.

As soon as he exited the room, he jogged towards the Judge's table and began speaking with them. A few moments later, Karkaroff too got to his feet and started shouting something at them but they were too far away for Harry to hear. Harry didn't even bother to cast a listening charm as he knew it was probably about Fleur putting a trap on the coin and it being unfair.

And, Sirius would tell him what happened, once the task ended on his two-way mirror.

Harry looked back at the screens and to his surprise, saw that Cedric had opened Krum's box and taken out the coin from it.

Four minutes later, a gong rang followed by Bagman announcing that the time was up.

Harry was extremely pleased to see that no champion had managed to breach the wards on his box. He was in the lead in this round too. He had received 130 points. Fleur, it seemed had received at least ninety-five points or 105 if the judges decided that Krum had failed. Krum had received at least seventy points or eighty-five if the judges ruled in his favor... which seemed unlikely judging from Karkaroff's expressions. Cedric had received thirty-five points.

"Please come out of the rooms, champions!" Bagman's voice boomed.

After fifteen minutes of calculating points and everything, including a small fight between Karkaroff and Maxime, Bagman stood up once again before putting his wand to his throat.

"Attention everyone! The final points have been calculated by us judges. So, without further adieu, here are the points: In the first place, once again we have Mr. Harry Potter who managed to break through each and every ward in record time. Also, none of the champions managed to break through his wards."

The crowd rose to their feet and cheered loudly., signifying someone had taken down the silencing dome.

"So, Mr. Potter receives one hundred and thirty points. He is followed by Miss Delacour who receives one hundred and five points. There was a little disagreement between the judges if she should receive the ten points for Mr. Krum's failure to take the coin or not. But, our esteemed judges ruled in her favor. So, as a result, Mr. Krum has received seventy points."

Cue, cheering from the audience.

"Last, but not least, Mr. Diggory has received thirty-five points for breaking through the wards put up on the room and the wards on Mr. Krum's box. Give them all a huge round of applause dear audience!" Bagman half-yelled. His tone was as excited as a five-year-old's in a candy factory.

"Now, the final points! In the first place, we've Harry Potter with three hundred and twenty-eight points! He is followed by Miss Delacour with 240 points! They are followed by Viktor Krum who has a total of one hundred and ninety-five points. Finally, we have Cedric Diggory with eighty-three points! Give all our champions a huge round of applause audience!"

The audience cheered so loudly that even the residents of Hogsmeade heard it. Once the cheering subsided, Bagman cleared his throat.

"The third and final task will take place at dusk on the twenty-fourth of June," continued Bagman. "The champions will be notified of what is coming precisely one month beforehand. Thank you all for your support of the champions."

---

27th February 1995

Potions Classroom, Hogwarts

Harry sat beside Hermione in his least favorite class of Hogwarts: Potions.

It wasn't that he disliked the subject. No, he disliked... in fact, hated the teacher who taught the subject at Hogwarts- Severus Snape.

Severus Snape was a bitter man who hated Harry with every fiber of his being. He was a Death Eater to boot too. He hated Harry for the demise of his master and had spent three years making Harry's life hell at Hogwarts. As of now, Severus Snape was staying as far away from Harry as possible. This had of course happened after Harry had nearly paved a path to send the man to Azkaban at the end of his third year.

Oh, and Snape also hated Harry because of James Potter. Apparently, he was still pissed that James Potter, the guy who bullied him at school also got the girl Snape crushed on: Harry's mother, Lily Potter.

And, he took out the anger of his failure on Harry for his first three years of schooling.

Anyhow, Harry currently was sitting beside Hermione brewing a wit-sharpening potion. The worse part was, it was a double-potions class and he had to tolerate Snape's stupid face for two whole lessons and bear him breathing down everyone's neck while taking points from Gryffindor.

Another problem was that Parkinson and Malfoy were trying to sabotage Harry's potion from behind and glaring daggers at his back. Parkinson had tried to taunt Harry regarding him being declared the hottest man of Britain by the Teen Witch Weekly magazine. They also had printed a picture of a half-naked Harry on the front page. Harry had replied to Parkinson's jab by saying that if she didn't like his face why was she carrying his photo around especially when Malfoy was with her.

That had left her stuttering in front of everyone.

Harry and Hermione submitted their potion several minutes before the period ended and had begun packing up. When Snape said, "Potter, come here please."

Harry raised his eyebrow but compiled nonetheless giving Hermione a gesture to go ahead with her packing.

Harry moved to the corner of the room Snape had gestured to. Snape came nearer and waved his wand. Harry felt a privacy dome go up around them.

"Yes?" Harry asked curtly.

Snape narrowed his eyes at Harry. "It seems all the press attention you have been getting lately has inflated your already overly large head, Potter. You might be laboring under the delusion that the entire wizarding world is impressed with you. But I don't care how many times your picture appears in the papers or how much you accomplish. To me, Potter, you are nothing but a nasty little boy who considers rules to be beneath him."

"And you seem under the delusion that I care what a death eater thinks," Harry replied with narrowed eyes.

"I give you fair warning, Potter," Snape continued in a softer and more dangerous voice, "pint-sized celebrity or not you will hold your tongue in my class and if I catch you breaking into my office one more time—"

"I haven't been anywhere near your office Professor. No one in their sane mind would be in your office without a very good reason." Harry sassed.

"Don't lie to me," Snape hissed, his fathomless black eyes boring into Harry's vibrant green ones. "Boomslang skin. Gillyweed. Lacewing flies. All come from my private stores, and I know who stole them."

"Sorry? Do you think I stole Gillyweed that I used in the second task from you? Sorry to break your delusions, but I am rich enough to buy a batch of Gillyweed from anywhere in the world and do not need to steal from you of all people."

"Don't. Lie. To. Me. Potter."

"If you want proof that I ordered Gillyweed, I can show you the bill of me buying ten batches of Gillyweed from the store Professor," Harry replied.

"And the Boomslang skin? Lacewing flies? What about them Potter? I trust you know what they are used for?"

"Polyjuice Potion," Harry answered knowing there was only one potion where those two ingredients were used together.

"Correct. And do not tell me you have not brewed the potion before... in your second year... am I, wrong Potter?" Snape said in a dangerous tone. "Didn't you friend, Miss Granger break into my office two years ago and stole the very same ingredients?"

"I don't seem to recall anything of such sort Professor," Harry replied in an uncaring tone.

Snape's eyes flashed. He plunged a hand into the inside of his black robes. For one wild moment, Harry thought Snape was about to pull out his wand to curse him and Harry prepared himself for an attack— then he saw that Snape had drawn out a small crystal bottle of a completely clear potion.

"Do you know what this is, Potter?" Snape said, his eyes glittering dangerously again.

"All I can see is a clear liquid which could be several things ranging from water to Veritaserum. Though, I am inclined to believe that it is Veritaserum judging from your... track record." Harry replied.

"It is Veritaserum — a Truth Potion so powerful that three drops would have you spilling your innermost secrets for this entire class to hear," said Snape viciously. "Now, the use of this potion is controlled by very strict Ministry guidelines. But unless you watch your step, you might just find that my hand slips" — he shook the crystal bottle slightly — "right over your evening pumpkin juice. And then, Potter... then we'll find out whether you've been in my office or not."

"You seem under several delusions today sir. You think that you could get away with feeding the heir of two Most Noble and Most Ancient houses the truth potion. Perhaps you should do it... it would get you the place you deserve Snape: Azkaban." Harry sneered. "Now, unless you have any proof of your baseless accusations, I am going back. Also, if you blame me again for anything without proper proof, I will make sure that you face grave consequences for it."

Saying so, Harry whirled around and went back to his seat and opened a book. He was using occlumency to control his anger. How dare Snape accuse him of stealing? Okay, he may not be entirely innocent as he had stolen potion ingredients in his second year to make the Polyjuice potion. It took Harry a few minutes to completely calm down.

He started thinking rationally. Someone had stolen ingredients for the Polyjuice potion from Snape's office and framed him for it by taking Gillyweed too along with the potion ingredients.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the dungeon door.

"Enter," said Snape in his usual voice. The class looked around as the door opened. Professor Karkaroff came in. Everyone watched him as he walked up toward Snape's desk. He was twisting his finger around his goatee and looking agitated. "We need to talk," said Karkaroff abruptly when he had reached Snape. He seemed so determined that nobody should hear what he was saying that he was barely opening his lips; it was as though he were a rather poor ventriloquist.

Harry discreetly and wandlessly cast a listening charm to clearly hear what the two men were talking.

"I'll talk to you after my lesson, Karkaroff," Snape muttered, but Karkaroff interrupted him.

"I want to talk now, while you can't slip off, Severus. You've been avoiding me."

"After the lesson," Snape snapped.

Karkaroff hovered behind Snape's desk for the rest of the double period. He seemed intent on preventing Snape from slipping away at the end of class.

Harry whispered in Hermione's ear, "After the bell rings, you continue ahead. Do not wait for me. I have some important work."

"Why?"

"Will tell you later Hermione," Harry replied.

When the bell rang five minutes later, the class started moving noisily towards the door while Harry cast an invisibility charm and silencing charm on himself before donning his invisibility cloak. It was to ensure that Snape nor Karkaroff could either see him or detect him.

Seconds later, Harry was thankful that he had donned his cloak because Snape locked the door and cast a detection charm before putting up a privacy ward on the door.

"What's so urgent?" Snape hissed at Karkaroff.

"This," said Karkaroff before he pulled up the left-hand sleeve of his robe and showed Snape the dark mark on his inner forearm. It looked clearer than Harry had seen in the photos that Lord Greengrass had shown him.

"Well?" said Karkaroff, still making every effort not to move his lips. "Do you see? It's never been this clear, never since—"

"Put it away!" snarled Snape.

"But you must have noticed —" Karkaroff began in an agitated voice.

"I have noticed it Karkaroff. And so have others. But, it means nothing. The dark lord died on Halloween thirteen years ago at Potter's hand. He is not returning!"

"Then what does this mean Severus? We all felt the pain from the mark thirteen years ago on Halloween night and the dark mark faded. Now, it is darkening again!" Karkaroff hissed.

Snape sighed noisily. "We've had this conversation before Igor. If you're so scared then flee."

"Flee? FLEE?" Karkaroff let out a bitter laugh. "You know Severus that if he wants he will find me anyways and kill me. Listen to me, Severus. We both are traitors to his cause. I gave away names of his inner circle to secure my finger while you were vouched for by Dumbledore that you were a spy. He will kill us both if he returns Severus."

"He will know my true alliance if he returns," Snape replied promptly.

"Then so be it."

"The dark lord, in case he returns, he would need the members of his inner circle who are currently free. He is not a fool to go about killing us for the actions we committed to save ourselves. Most of his inner circle is in Azkaban and out of them, some have already died due to the dementors Karkaroff."

Karkaroff didn't answer.

Snape wasn't wrong. Some of the dark lord's most fanatic followers had succumbed to the dementors over the last thirteen years: Carrow senior, Alexander Gibbon, Yaxley senior, The Lees, Aston Wilkes, and his son, and most recently, Augustus Rookwood. Rookwood had died a couple of weeks ago in Azkaban. He was one of Voldemort's most fanatical and useful supporters right up with Bellatrix Lestrange. He was an excellent duelist, a ruthless killer, and had experience with rarer branches of magic due to him being the assistant head of the Department of Mysteries before being detained.

"If you have nothing else to bother me with, please leave my classroom. I have a class coming." Snape said curtly.

Karkaroff turned on his heel and strode out of the dungeon. He looked both worried and angry.

Harry apparated straight to the Gryffindor dorms and gathered his things for the next class. He also needed to talk to Helga and Salazar about this.

---

15th March 1995

Room of requirement, Hogwarts

"Imperio. Dance Susan." Harry ordered putting the Imperious curse on his girlfriend before starting a melodic tune with a wave of his wand. Susan started slowly dancing but her moments weren't smooth, signifying that she was fighting the curse.

"She's fighting it," Daphne whispered. Harry nodded in agreement and decided to give her a more outrageous command.

"Turn around and spank yourself."

Daphne choked on her spit beside Harry and gave him an incredulous look. This was the most outrageous command Harry had given to either of the girls in the past two days since they had started practicing the art to throw off the imperious curse. Till now, Harry was giving simple commands like jump, dance, do cartwheels, walking on hands, etc.

Susan hesitantly turned around. Her hand quivered in mid-air. Harry thought that she had it when Susan's hand came down and spanked her butt cheek.

Harry sighed and ended the curse. Susan blinked and came out of the trance before muttering to herself.

"You did good Susan. You almost threw it off. I think you will have it down by the end of the week." Harry said patting Susan's shoulder as she came back to sit down next to him on the couch.

"Now my chance!" Daphne exclaimed before bouncing to the center of the room.

"You sound awfully cheerful for someone who is about to be put under the imperious curse, Daphne," Harry said dryly.

"I almost threw it off yesterday! I might be successful today." Daphne replied and prepared herself by taking deep breaths.

She wasn't wrong as she had almost thrown it off the previous day. Harry had told her to do cartwheels and she had resisted mid-way causing her to fall face-first onto the unforgiving ground.

"I'm ready," Daphne told Harry.

"Imperio. Dance Daphne."

Daphne moved a little at first, her movements jerky before beginning to move fluidly.

Harry frowned. Something was wrong.

Daphne started to move towards the couch while still dancing to an imaginary tone.

'Stop.' Harry commanded mentally but nothing happened. Daphne continued moving towards him while dancing in what would be called an extremely seductive manner. She closed the distance between herself and Harry and sat down on Harry's lap and began wriggling before rubbing herself against him.

Harry slapped her arse. "Cheeky minx. But congratulations on throwing off the curse."

"What? She threw it off?" Susan asked.

"Yes. I commanded her to stop but she didn't. With the imperious curse, you don't need to speak out loud." Harry told her.

"So I am the only one who can not throw it off yet," Susan said with a sigh.

"Don't be disappointed, Susan. Daphne and I are much well versed in Occlumency than you're. Daphne has started with level five while you are still at level four. I am almost a master Occlumens as I almost have it down. I will finish it by April end at the latest."

"Must be fun." Daphne mused. "You know, bending magic to your will. Like just concentrating on what you want to do and doing it. Manipulating elements to your will and all. You must already be able to do some things, can't you?"

"Several. Multiple conjurations of different things, illusion magic, flight without support, etc." Harry replied.

"Can you show us a few things?" Susan asked.

Harry just gave a nod and stood up before waving his wand. Everything in the room bar the couch the girls were sitting on went to the corners of a room. Harry dramatically spread his arms and his cloak started billowing moments before Harry levitated into the air. He shot a grin at his girlfriends moments before his body started multiplying and began flying in different directions. A few seconds later Susan and Daphne looked in awe as they were surrounded by a few scores of Harrys floating in a dome formation around the two of them.

(AN: Think of Doctor Strange during his fight against Thanos on Titan in Avengers Infinity war.)

"Fucking hell. This is awesome." Susan muttered under her breath.

All of the Harrys shot a grin at her before they asked, "Guess who is real?"

Daphne and Susan looked around as the voice came from every Harry who was in the room.

"Damn you, Potter. Come down before I start shooting curses at you all." Daphne said twirling her wand in her hand.

"Boo." A voice said from behind Daphne and she jumped high in the air in fright, screaming shrilly.

Harry started rolling on the floor with laughter as Daphne realized what he had done. She glared at him as the Harrys forming the dome disappeared. Even Susan started snickering even though she too had screamed when Harry had scared her from behind.

"Harry, you prat!" Daphne said while still glaring at him. Harry sobered up a bit.

"Ok, ok. I will not laugh." Harry said before he let out a snort.

Daphne shot a stinging hex at Harry which Harry redirected wandlessly at the floor before wrapping his arms around Daphne and pulling her into his lap and tickling her and Susan joined him.

---

16th March 1995

Great Hall, Hogwarts

Harry sat at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall beside Ron while Hermione was sitting in front of him across the table. He chewed on a pancake as he skimmed through the Daily Prophet.

There was not much of use in there apart from the potions section which had an article about an improvement in the potency of the high-degree-burns slave. A Potions master had invented a new recipe that reduced the cost as well as healed the burn faster than the one that was being used before. St. Mungo's hospital and many other institutes had contracted the potions master to use the recipe.

"Monsieur Potter." A melodic voice called from behind Harry and he turned around to see Fleur Delacour standing behind him wearing her blue Beauxbatons uniform. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry could see several boys looking at Fleur with an enthralled look on their faces.

"Miss Delacour. What can I do for you on this fine day."

"I 'ave a letter from my father for you. I on the behalf of my family invite you for dinner this Saturday. We hope you will accept our invitation for dinner." Saying so, she handed Harry a royal purple-colored envelope. The envelope had a grand-looking crest on it. The crest had the letter 'D' written elegantly in the middle and various patterns surrounded it.

"Thank you, Miss Delacour," Harry said with a nod as custom dictated.

"We all hope you accept our invitation. We will await your letter." Fleur said before turning around and walking back to the Ravenclaw table.

"Harry, why is Fleur inviting you for dinner with her family?" Hermione asked.

"Cause Harry saved her during the lake task, didn't he. They probably want to thank him." Ron said in between mouthfuls of food.

"Ronald, finish your food before eating!" Hermione admonished. "That is disgusting."

Harry ignored them and opened the envelope and removed the parchment inside. Harry immediately recognized that the parchment was made of vellum, a hand-made paper that was several times costlier than normal parchment. It was only used on rare occasions which were deemed as important to a family. Harry opened the parchment and read the words on it written in an elegant script.

Dear Monsieur Potter,

I am Sebastian Delacour, father of Fleur Delacour. First, I would like to thank you for saving my daughter,

Fleur during the first round of the second task when her life was in mortal peril under the lake.

Words fall short to thank you for what you have done for me and my family.

As a gesture of my gratitude,

I humbly invite you to dine with the Delacour Family on the 18th of March, Saturday at 7.30 in the evening.

The Headmistress of Beauxbatons has allowed us to arrange the dinner in the Beauxbatons carriage so you do not have any problems.

We sincerely hope you join me and my family.

Thank you once again,

Sebastian Delacour

Lord of House Delacour

Harry folded the letter and put it back in the envelope, deciding to write the reply letter after the classes ended for the day. He was of course going to accept the invitation as he had no reason to decline. And, it would be considered a big insult against House Delacour if he declined.

House Delacour was one of the richest families in France. While the Hierarchy system and the Noble-house system had ended in France with the French revolution, their name still carried a lot of weight in their country. Magical Britain and some other countries still followed the Noble-house and Hierarchy system in their legislative bodies while some countries like France, the Magical USA, etc. followed democracy.

But, the family's wealth that they had gathered for centuries was still intact, and not to mention their reputation gave them importance despite losing the Hereditary seat they had on their legislative bodies. They may not have a vote but they still had a lot of wealth and influence in France.

Also, Sebastian Delacour was the head-hit wizard of French DMLE. His word carried a lot of influence.

And, now he owed Harry for saving his daughter. While Harry had not thought of all this while saving Fleur and had done it selflessly, the implications and results the action had were something that would come to benefit greatly when needed in the future. Especially with the warning signs of Lord Voldemort rising.

---

20th March 1995

Beauxbatons Carriage, Hogwarts grounds

Harry knocked on the carriage door of the Beauxbatons carriage at exactly one minute to half-past seven. He was dressed immaculately in formal robes which bore the Potter and Black crest. His heir rings were visible on his fingers in which he also held a bouquet which he would give to Lord Delacour as a gesture of appreciation. The door to the carriage opened to reveal Madame Maxime standing there.

"Monsieur Potter. I trust you're here to see the Delacours?"

"Yes, Madame Maxime."

"Very well, I shall lead you to them and take my leave to eat dinner with my students in the Great Hall." She said before leading him inside the carriage.

From the outside, the carriage looked no bigger than a small truck but, it was as big as the whole Gryffindor common room from the inside and had two staircases leading above, probably to the student dorms. Their common area had several comfortable couches, several chairs, study tables, a bookshelf full of books on various subjects, and a huge fireplace. The room also had several doors which led to different areas of importance... or so Harry assumed.

Madame Maxime led him to a huge, grand-looking mahogany door and knocked. Fleur opened the door and bowed to Madame Maxime.

"Fleur, I have your guest here. Give Sebastian my regards." Madame Maxime told Fleur in French.

"Oui Madame," Fleur replied.

Madame Maxime gave her a nod before turning to Harry. "Have a good time Monsieur Potter."

Saying so, she left the carriage. Harry turned to Fleur and smiled at her. "Harry, please come in," Fleur said informally.

"Thank you, Fleur," Harry replied similarly and stepped into the room. The first thing he felt was a powerful wave of Veela Allure. Thankfully, he was very well versed in the mind arts and shrugged the allure off, preventive himself from turning into a drooling mess.

Then he saw the occupants of the room. First, he recognized the little girl whom Fleur had pulled out of the lake. Next, he laid eyes on perhaps the most beautiful woman he had seen in his life, whom Harry assumed to be Fleur's mother. Fleur's mother looked like an older version of Fleur with her silvery-blonde hair, aristocratic face, and an hourglass figure. The most alluring part of her face were her eyes though. They were of no definite color. Colors were swirling in her eyes making it look like she had a rainbow in her eyes.

Beside her, stood an intimidating man. Harry was almost reminded of Lucius Malfoy when he saw the man. He had the same proud look and his hair was similarly styled as Malfoy's. But his eyes were much more welcoming. Harry also knew for a fact that this man was loads more dangerous than Lucius.

"Lord Delacour." Harry greeted, stepping forward and shaking hands with the said person.

"Heir Potter-Black." He replied with a curt nod.

Harry turned to the Lady and kissed her knuckles. "Lady Delacour, charmed."

She smiled and gave him a nod. Harry then turned to the little girl who was trying to contain her excitement... and was failing miserably.

Harry knelt at the girl's height and kissed her knuckles too. Gabrielle squealed in delight and Harry felt an extremely powerful wave of allure being released from the young girl. He ignored it and said in French, "Gabrielle Delacour. I see the talk of your beauty is absolutely right."

At that, Harry could swear he saw a galaxy of stars shine in the little girl's eyes.

(AN: From now, till the scene ends, ASSUME that the conversations are taking place in the French language.)

"Don't encourage her." A melodic female voice spoke from Harry's left. "My youngest is enough trouble already. And she has just started her Veela-maturity a couple of days ago. Also, if you feel her allure spiking, please don't hold it against her as it is something that she cannot control. Her maturity has just begun unexpectedly and her allure will be uncontrollable for a few weeks at least. All young Veelas go through this at the start of their maturity."

"Understandable Lady Delacour."

"You shouldn't be so uptight about the titles Monsieur Potter. Please call me Apolline." The Delacour matriarch said melodiously.

"Then please call me Harry. You both are elder to me."

"Very well, Harry. And you can call me Sebastian. Why are you standing? Please let us all sit down."

The five took a seat around a circular table. Fleur sat on Harry's left and Apolline Delacour sat at Harry's right. Gabrielle, who was still looking at Harry with starry eyes, sat opposite him, between Fleur and her father.

"Harry, first and foremost, I would like to thank you for saving my daughter's life in the lake during the second task." Sebastian Delacour said.

"I just did what was right Sebastian. I would've done it for anyone." Harry replied.

"Still... Thank you for saving her." Apolline said.

Harry gave her a nod and all of them engaged in light conversation as starters started getting served. The Delacour family had pulled out all stops while deciding the menu it seemed because the food was something that would be seen only at highly important dinner parties amongst the elite.

Harry had started to suspect that the Delacour parents had something much more important to discuss than thanking him for saving their daughter. He still enjoyed the conversation though. The Delacour ladies had a sharp tongue it seemed, judging from the witty replies that they were giving during the discussions on myriad topics ranging from Quidditch to international politics.

After desert, Lord Delacour asked Gabrielle to go to her Fleur's room in the carriage. (Fleur had a private suite in the carriage... a privilege of being the Beauxbatons champion.)

"Harry, there is something of great importance we would like to discuss with you." Sebastian Delacour said after Gabrielle closed the door behind her.

Harry's suspicion had proven true. The meeting was not just a gesture of gratitude from the Delacour family but something more.

"Speak what is on your mind, sir."

"I was wondering if it would be possible for a union between our families Heir Potter-Black."

Harry nearly choked at the sentence that Sebastian Delacour had used. He was asking for a betrothal between Fleur and himself.

"Might I ask... what brought this... idea into your head lord Delacour," Harry asked in a silky voice, one he reserved when talking to politicians.

"Certainly. You see Harry, you are a very rare and special person and only a couple of years younger than Fleur here. You're powerful, both magically and politically. You've done things that most adults would shudder to even face. You're handsome. You're brave. You're rich. What else would a father look for to find a suitable match for her daughter?"

Harry narrowed his eyes. "With all due respect Lord Delacour, it seems like you're more interested in my fame and wealth—"

"No, no. You get me wrong, child. I was just saying that you could keep my daughter happy and I couldn't find a better match for her than you. I have no interest in your fame and wealth Harry. I am rich enough to run France for a year without becoming broke. And I am pretty famous for being the Head-hit wizard for the French DMLE and, that is not to mention the power the name Delacour carries in France. Of course, it is not as powerful as it was before the French revolution... but, still pretty useful."

"I already have a girlfriend, Lord Delacour. And our guardians have already agreed to sign a contract that will be signed this summer." Harry added.

"And you have two titles to fill, out of which, I can assure you that your girlfriend, Susan Bones will take up none as she has to take up the seat as Lady Bones unless she wishes for House Bones to die out." Lord Delacour countered with a raised eyebrow.

Damn. He had done his homework before coming.

"You do realize that if you want your daughter to marry me, she will have to share me with two other women?" Harry asked the man.

"Mr. Potter." Apolline Delacour interrupted the conversation. "We know that already. And Fleur has no problem with it. We Veela have no problem with being in a relationship with either of the genders. Veelas are bisexual by nature... but we do prefer men more."

Harry looked at Fleur who nodded in agreement.

"And in addition, it is hard for a Veela to find a worthy male lover who is immune to her allure." Apolline Delacour continued. "The most important characteristic we looked for in you was that you did not fall to Fleur's allure. And neither did you fall under the influence of three Veelas who were in this room. Since Gabrielle started her maturity a few days ago, even Sebastian has been wearing a special Necklace that dampens the effect of the allure on him."

In response, Sebastian pulled out a necklace that had been hidden by his robes so far and showed it to Harry. It was a beautiful necklace with a platinum chain and it had a blue crystal attached to it which was glowing faintly.

"Look Harry, I am not saying that you agree to this immediately. It is not like we are going to force you into this." Sebastian Delacour said in a soft voice. "We... we are just asking you to consider it. You need a Lady for two houses or they will die with you. We need a worthy man for Fleur. You see, she is already of age and the older families have already started trying to get her hand. To put it quite frankly, most of those are pigs who are neither powerful nor have a good mental forte."

"And Veela look for both of this in men Harry. It is in our nature... and there is nothing we can do about it." Apolline added. "We do not want to be forced into giving Fleur to someone who won't be able to handle her and keep her because she is a Veela. As Sebastian said, several older families are trying to push us into signing a betrothal for Fleur with their families. And we, as parents have to do something to secure our little flower."

"Yes. See Harry. We are not telling you to make this decision right now. And we advise you not to. I tell you? Date Fleur. She is here at Hogwarts till June end and not going anywhere. And, she still has one year left at Beauxbatons Academy after this tournament ends. We have time till her NEWT results come. Then the pressure to find a suitable groom for Fleur will increase exponentially especially from the French Noble houses who are still very traditional." Sebastian Delacour concluded.

"And what do you think about this Fleur?" I asked, looking into Fleur's eyes.

"Harry... I always liked you since you defeated me in the dueling tournament. I guess it was my Veela Heritage that attracted me to you at that time." She said in French before delicately brushing a few strands of her silvery-blonde hair out of her face with her fingers and tucking it behind her ear. "I was pleasantly surprised that you did not react my allure... not even the slightest glaze or... stuttering like most boys do. To be frank, you are the first boy near my age with whom I held a decent conversation without feeling uncomfortable."

Fleur took a deep breath and continued, "To be frank, I always wanted to meet you in person to see what was so special about you... When I saw you at the tournament, I was pretty confident that I would easily defeat you if we crossed wands. Heck, I thought that none were a match for me in this tournament because of the training I had gone through under the best instructors France could provide. But, that rapidly changed the moment I saw you duel. And then... and then you even defeated me and won the tournament. It was a humbling experience of sorts for me, you know? Losing to someone younger than yourself. Then there is this tournament where you prove yourself to be superior to every other champion despite being younger than us and being unwillingly entered into the tournament. And then in the lake-task, you proved that you're a good person too, Harry Potter. And it is not like we are marrying right away. If in case, things don't work out between us, there will be no repercussions anyways." Fleur said.

Harry could tell whatever she was saying were her thoughts due to her expressions and what she spoke. She had not prepared it beforehand. So, Harry contemplated what to do.

"I would have to talk to Susan about this." Harry finally said after nearly a minute of silence. "And then we will see what to do."

"I have no problem with that Harry," Fleur said.

"And neither do we. Tell Fleur what you decide and we leave it to you kids to do as you see fit now." Sebastian Delacour agreed as his wife nodded in agreement to his statement.

---

20th March 1995

Chamber of Secrets, Hogwarts

Harry sat in the Ritual Chamber located in the chamber of secrets as he drew yet another ritual circle on the floor. This was going to be a relatively simple ritual that would increase his sensitivity towards magic.

While the other rituals and his occlumency had made Harry pretty aware of how the magic around him was, this ritual would give him the ability to sense any trace of magic in the air or his surroundings. If he trained in this art properly, he would be able to go as far as to feel what the magic did and distinguish magical signatures. It could also enable him to know the magical passwords on locks, portkeys, etc.

The best part was that he would also be able to sense magical beings in his immediate vicinity immediately after this ritual and Salazar had informed him that if he honed the skill enough, he would be able to sense the magical signature of a person and be able to tell who they were even without looking at them.

That was when it had clicked to Harry. Dumbledore always knew who was outside his door. This was how he did it. He felt the magic of the person approaching his door and distinguished their magical signatures before calling them out moments before they knocked at the door.

Harry finished drawing the ritual circle and stood up before he looked at Salazar and Helga. Salazar gave him an approving nod first and Helga followed a few seconds later.

"The ritual circle has been drawn perfectly. You can do the ritual when the clock strikes one." Helga said and Harry nodded.

"Oh, by the way, Dumbledore is currently talking to Professor Sprout and Hagrid about planting the Labyrinth plant seedlings on the Quidditch pitch soon as they have to be ready for the third task"

"They are making a maze?" Harry asked the two founders.

"Yes, and you know about the Labyrinth plant, don't you?" Helga said giving Harry an expectant look.

"Of course I do. Labyrinth plants are a rare variety of plants originating from Greece. They are extremely magic-resistant and are semi-sentimental. They are used in magical mazes as they can change their layout according to the person who enters the vicinity. They are extremely unpredictable and some varieties can shoot vines that grab the person walking near them."

"Correct. And they take a long time to germinate but once they do, they grow rapidly." Helga said with a nod.

"Oh, and now Dumbledore is asking Hagrid how the Skrewts are coming along as he says that they will be placed in the maze with... a couple of acromantula, boggarts, a troll... and now he is speaking about an animal being imported... from Egypt... A female Sphinx who will ask the champions riddles to go past her near the center of the maze."

"So that is easy... I have to answer a riddle and get past her. That isn't tough."

"Might I remind you that if you accept the challenge and then fail to answer the riddle, the sphinx will attack? That is in their nature."

"If it comes to that, I will have to subdue or kill her, unfortunately. I am not risking my life to entertain a Sphinx."

"Fair enough. And it is almost time to activate the ritual. Two minutes left."

Harry nodded and stepped into the ritual circle and laid down on the ground. At exactly 1 PM, Harry chanted in Latin and, the ritual circle glowed.

---

27th May 1995

Quidditch Field, Hogwarts

Harry leisurely walked down onto the Quidditch field at 9 PM. He had been informed by professor McGonagall that he had to be present at the Quidditch Pitch at 9 PM sharp as the champions would be given instructions for the third task.

He arrived to see that Krum and Fleur were already there and so was Ludo Bagman.

As soon as Fleur saw Harry arrive, she beamed at him and Harry smiled back in response.

The relationship between Harry and Fleur was going well. They were dating for more than two months now. Daphne and Susan had accepted Fleur into their little group of lovers too, even though there was now a little friendly competition that had started between the three. The relationship that they were having was kept under wraps and no one except them knew the truth about it. As far as the world was concerned, Harry Potter was dating Susan Bones while Daphne and Fleur were single. And, Harry preferred that the status should be kept as it was, at least till the contracts were signed. He didn't want the girls, especially Daphne to get into trouble due to being in a relationship with him. The relationship between Harry and Daphne would be kept secret, preferably till they graduated from Hogwarts or were of age at least.

As for Harry and Fleur's relationship, they had decided to keep it a secret till Fleur gave her NEWTs and graduated from Beauxbatons, given that they agreed to sign the Betrothal contract making Fleur either the future Lady Black or the future Lady Potter.

Also, the four of them had decided that their group won't be expanding further and, Harry wholeheartedly agreed to the sentiment. Three girls were more than enough trouble for him. And, now he didn't need more wives to fill the Lady position of his houses as the British law dictated. Also, the future of House Bones would be secured once Harry and Susan signed the line-continuation contract in the summer.

"Hello there!" Bagman called in an overly-cheerful voice.

"Good evening Mr. Bagman." Harry greeted back politely and stood beside Fleur and engaged Fleur and Krum in a conversation

Nearly a minute later, their conversation was interrupted by a scandalized voice saying, "What've they done to it?"

Harry turned and saw Cedric Diggory glaring at the hedges that had been grown on the Quidditch field. The hedges were about three feet tall at the moment and they were yet to start working their magic. The shifting and trapping begin once the Labyrinth plants reached thirteen feet of height from the ground level.

"Well, what d'you think?" asked Bagman happily as Cedric came near where the champions were standing. "Growing nicely, aren't they? Give them a month and Hagrid'll have them twenty feet high. Don't worry," he added, grinning, spotting the less-than-happy expressions on Cedric's face, "you'll have your Quidditch field back to normal once the task is over!"

Then, Bagman continued as if he were talking to a bunch of five-year-old children. "Now, can any of you guess what we're making here?"

"Maze," grunted Krum after a few seconds of incredulous silence.

"That's right!" said Bagman, like he was surprised that one of the champions had guessed what it was. "A Maze! The third task's really very straightforward. The Triwizard Cup will be placed in the center of the maze. The first champion to touch it will receive full marks and win the tournament."

"We simply 'ave to get through the maze?" asked Fleur.

"There will be obstacles," said Bagman happily, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Hagrid is providing several creatures... then there will be spells that must be broken... all that sort of thing, you know. Now, the champion who is leading on points will get a head start into the maze." Bagman grinned at Harry at the statement. "Then Ms. Delacour will enter... then, Mr. Krum finally followed by Mr. Diggory. But you'll all be in with a fighting chance, depending on how well you get past the obstacles. Should be fun, eh?"

Cedric looked torn between feeling scared shitless and hopeless. Harry understood why he was feeling that. He was scared, knowing what type of creatures Hagrid liked and hopeless as he would enter the last in the maze and subsequently have the least chance of winning. Poor boy.

"Very well," Bagman said after a few moments "if you haven't got any questions, we'll go back up to the castle, shall we, it's a bit chilly..."

Harry resisted the urge to strangle the man. He had called everyone down here for speaking two simple sentences? He could've just told them in the castle or made Dumbledore announce it at dinner in the Great Hall.

"Harry, can I have a word?" Fleur asked and Harry nodded.

They walked together towards the Beauxbatons carriage but, instead of going in, Fleur led Harry towards the boundary of the forbidden forest.

"Harry, I just wanted to ask what—" Harry stopped her short as he pulled her behind himself and palmed his wand. The reason was that branches had rustled behind Fleur and Harry had experience with the sort of things that lurked in the forest.

Even Fleur became alert instantly and took out her wand.

Suddenly a man staggered out from behind a tall oak. For a moment, Harry didn't recognize him... then he realized it was Mr. Crouch.

He looked as though he had been traveling for days. The knees of his robes were ripped and bloody, his face scratched; he was unshaven and gray with exhaustion. His neat hair and mustache were both in need of a wash and a trim. His strange appearance, however, was nothing to the way he was behaving. Muttering and gesticulating, Mr. Crouch appeared to be talking to someone that he alone could see.

"Crouch?" Harry asked raising his wand. The man may be an asshole but he currently looked like he required immediate medical attention.

"He is a Head of Department in your ministry, isn't he?" Fleur asked Harry.

"No. He was fired." Harry replied before cautiously walking near Crouch.

"Po-Pott-Po." Mr. Crouch's eyes were bulging as he spoke the words. Then, he stood staring at the tree, muttering soundlessly at it. Then he staggered sideways and fell to his knees.

Harry immediately hurried forward and Fleur followed.

"What's wrong with him?" Fleur asked looking at the man who was muttering to the tree.

"Dumbledore!" gasped Mr. Crouch suddenly. He reached out and seized a handful of Harry's robes, dragging him closer, though his eyes were staring over Harry's head. "I need... see... Dumbledore..."

"Alright, come with me," Harry said but before he could help the man up Crouch started to say something again. His eyes were glazing in and out of focus.

'Imperious curse' Harry realized with a start. Someone had put Barty Crouch under the imperious curse.

"Warn... Dumbledore..." Crouch gasped.

Harry immediately sent a Legilimency probe at Crouch to gather what the man was speaking about but was blocked by a void of nothingness.

Harry immediately retreated.

Someone had put up a mind shield of some sort on Crouch. That was the only reason why he felt a void in Crouch's mind. No person was capable of performing Occlumency to block a Legilimency probe while under the influence of the imperious curse even if he or she were trying to fight it.

"Harry... he is under—"

"Imperious. We need to take him to Dumbledore." Harry said. There were only two ways to pull someone out of an imperious curse: One: to kill the caster and two: to influence the victim and his mind enough to break through the curse.

Harry didn't know who had cast the curse and he had no experience or training with the latter. He couldn't do it without damaging Crouch's mind at least. This would need a trained mind healer.

"Fleur, grab Crouch's arm," Harry said before gripping the man's right forearm tightly. Fleur did the same with the left forearm.

"HEDWIG!" Harry yelled and the phoenix arrived in a flash of flames before Harry grabbed Hedwig's tail feathers and all of them vanished in a swirl of rich purple flames.

Chapter 47: The Murder of Mr. Crouch

Ch.47 The Murder of Mr. Crouch

27th May 1995

Headmaster's office, Hogwarts

A second later the flames started receding and Dumbledore's office started coming into view. Harry suddenly saw a beam of red light coming at them and instinctively erected a shield and retaliated with a disarming hex even before the flames. As the flames died, Harry exactly saw who exactly had shot the spell at him: Alastor Moody... who went flying back as Harry's disarmer hit him and his wand soared towards Harry who caught it instinctively with his seeker reflexes.

"Alastor! Harry... Ms. Delacour and Barty!" Dumbledore sputtered grasping his wand tightly. "Alastor, there are no hostiles. Put your wand back." He added, giving a sideways glance at the DADA professor who had another wand in his hand.

"What's happening!?" A voice demanded frantically. Harry looked and saw Fudge peeking out from beneath the Headmaster's desk.

"Get up Cornelius. I am sure that Mr. Potter and Ms. Delacour would explain what is happening here. And Barty, what are you doing here?"

Crouch gasped wide-eyed. "Du-Dumbledore. Yo-you must hear me out! All my fault I-I did a stupid mistake! Stupid stupid m-m-is-mistake," He stuttered before his eyes glazed and turned around and started talking to an imaginary person, "Yes Weatherby. Yes, whatever help the ministry may need, I will be available. Now you may go. If there is anything owl me."

"What the devil is happening?" Fudge half-yelled. "Barty! Barty! Crouch!"

"Minister, calm yourself. I think Mr. Crouch is under the imperious curse."

"I-Imperious curse?" Fudge stuttered as Moody stunned Crouch who was still muttering to 'Weatherby'. We all looked at him in shock.

"What? He is under the imperious curse! He may attack us. Constant Vigilance!" Moody replied, his wand still pointed at the stunned figure of Crouch.

"Mr. Potter, Ms. Delacour, can you please tell us what exactly happened?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, as you know that Mr. Bagman had called the champion to the Quidditch pitch at 9.00 PM for briefing us about the third task. After that, Fleur wished to have a word with me and I escorted her towards the Beauxbatons carriage so we could talk. Before we could begin, I heard a rustling from the forbidden forest, and moments later Mr. Crouch stumbled out." Harry said.

"Then he asked for you. His speech was sort of incoherent and his eyes were glazing in and out of focus. Fleur and I both recognized the symptoms of the Imperious being fought. So, I immediately called Hedwig and she brought us to you."

"Hedwig?" Fudge asked.

"My phoenix... the white one sitting next to Fawkes," Harry replied and Hedwig trilled in agreement.

"Ah, er, Headmaster, can you do something about Barty? Like, break him out of the curse?" Fudge asked.

"I am afraid, that breaking the curse would take a specialist. I might be able to break the curse but, I cannot assure that there will be no damage to his mind. The mind, after all, is a delicate thing. And, we are dealing with an Imperious curse here so all bets are off." Dumbledore replied.

So, even Dumbledore hadn't mastered the method. But, to be frank, the art of breaking an Imperious through Legilimency required a lot of experience with Mind-healing... which was a mastery course in its own in the medical field. The healers with that mastery charged the highest fees too.

I caught Dumbledore's eye and sent a Legilimency-message to him. 'Someone has put up an artificial mind shield on Crouch. I cannot read his mind.'

The worse part was that the healer would have to break through the enchantment on Crouch's mind first before he or she could proceed to dismantle the Imperious. It made the procedure all the more risky and complicated.

Dumbledore showed no outward reaction but, Harry could see the wizened Headmaster's eyes becoming more alert. "We must immediately take Barty to St. Mungo's," Dumbledore said in a grave tone. "Cornelius, please arrange an auror guard for him as soon as possible. The one who put Barty under the imperious curse might attack him again. It will be prudent to arrange security for Barty."

"Yes," Moody grunted. "Barty was the head of DMLE at the height of the blood-war and capable enough to throw off the imperious completely. Someone who could successfully put him under the curse must be a powerful dark wizard. He or she may attack him again."

Dumbledore and Harry shared a look, knowing there was only one person capable enough to do it apart from them: Lord Voldemort.

"Very well," Dumbledore said. "Cornelius, arrange for the security while Alastor and I will take Barty to St. Mungo's and ensure that he is safe till the auror detail arrives. Tell Amelia that a couple of Hit-wizards would be appreciated too."

"Yes, right away," Fudge said and hurried to the floo before flooing to the ministry.

Dumbledore turned to us. "Mr. Potter, Ms. Delacour, I request you both to go back to the Gryffindor tower and Beauxbatons carriage respectively, and stay there until the morning. Any talk, letter, or other things can wait till then. And, please do not discuss what happened here openly as it may soon turn into a DMLE investigation. And, you both know what that means."

"Yes, Headmaster Dumbledore," Fleur replied while Harry gave a nod.

Dumbledore waved his wand and a parchment appeared with something already written on it but, before Harry could read it, the parchment rolled itself. "Fawkes, take this letter along with Ms. Delacour to the Beauxbatons carriage. The letter is for Olympe."

Fawkes trilled and flew off his perch before taking the letter from Dumbledore's hand in his beak and coming to sit on Fleur's shoulder. A second later, the two vanished in a ball of flames.

"I'll take your leave, sir," Harry said and extended his arm on which Hedwig settled herself. Harry walked towards the door as Moody patted him.

"You have good reflexes lad. You'll make a mighty fine hit-wizard one day if you pursue the career," Moody praised. Harry smiled at him and went out of the room, leaving Crouch in the hands of Dumbledore and Moody.

---

27th May 1995

Riddle Manor, Little Hangleton

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN CROUCH ESCAPED!" Tom Riddle roared at the cowering servant.

"M-my lord! H-he fought the curse and knocked me down with a vase when m-my b-back was turned."

"Crucio!"

The man writhed in pain due to the torture curse that his lord put him under.

"Rookwood!" Voldemort called, lifting the torture curse. "Rookwood! Where is he?"

Suddenly, the door opened and the man in question rushed in and kneeled. "My Lord, our spy has sent a word. Barty Crouch went to Hogwarts."

"Hogwarts... did he?"

"No Master. Our spy says that he was found by Potter and the Beauxbatons champion. Crouch was still fighting the imperious. So, Potter took him to Dumbledore from where he was taken to St. Mungos. As far as he is aware, Crouch hasn't given away anything yet. Also, Fudge has arranged a security detail for the man. Six Aurors and two hit-wizards on rotation. So at any given time, there will be a hit-wizard and three Aurors present there."

"Excellent. I want Crouch dead before dawn. Both of you see to it that he is dead. And, do not, I repeat, DO NOT fire the dark mark under any circumstances."

"Yes, Milord. I assure you that Barty Crouch will be dead before dawn." Rookwood said. "Are we to kill the Aurors and Hitwiz—"

"No. Killing Crouch will cause a panic as it is. If you kill the security as well, there may be even greater consequences. We do not want to be revealed before I return to my body. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Master."

"Good. Do not fail me this time... or the consequences will be... grave."

"Yes, Master."

---

28th May 1995

Chamber of Secrets, Hogwarts

Harry waved his wand and a dozen knives materialized in mid-air before shooting towards the dummy at high velocity. Harry whirled around and shot a gouging curse followed by a severing curse at another before deflecting a barrage of bone breakers and blasting curses. He spun out of the way of a green-colored blasting curse(meant to signify Avada Kedavra) before exploding the dummy's head with the head-exploding curse... a curse from the Black family Grimoire which was as lethal as a killing curse... only with more gore.

Harry ducked under a blood-boiling curse before returning fire with an organ-liquefying curse followed by a rotting curse. The dummy shielded against the first but the rotting curse tore through the shield and impacted it straight on its chest. Harry tilted his head as he felt a stunner coming at his head from behind. The curse harmlessly whizzed past his ear. Harry whirled around and fired a rib-crusher at the dummy, taking it down too.

If someone knew what type of spells Harry was practicing, he would be labeled as a dark wizard in an instant.

As Harry put the last dummy down, Salazar called. "Harry! Come fast!"

Harry apparated straight to the study where Salazar's and Helga's portraits were. "What happened?"

"Barty Crouch has been found murdered in his room at Saint Mungos. His security detail was found stunned at the site. From what we know so far, two men had done it before proceeding to murder Crouch with a killing curse."

"What? Damn. Voldemort?"

"Most likely yes, Crouch has been killed on orders of Tom by his followers. But, there was no Dark Mark cast."

"They must've wanted to maintain anonymity," Helga said with a worried expression.

"I must inform this to Dumbledore immediately," Harry said.

"Yes. But, become presentable before you go," Salazar said.

Harry nodded and used a drying and cleaning charm before transfiguring his exercise clothes into a robe. He also applied a sweet-scent charm to his clothes followed by a wrinkle-removing charm.

After checking his attire, he summoned the marauder's map and saw that Dumbledore was in his office. So, Harry apparated straight in front of the Gargoyle guarding Dumbledore's office and said, "Cockroach cluster."

The Gargoyle sprang to life and jumped aside. Harry hurried through the gap in the walls and stepped onto the foot of a spiral stone staircase, which moved slowly upward as the doors closed behind him, taking him up to a polished oak door with a brass door knocker. He knocked at the door and pushed the door open.

His eyes immediately found Dumbledore who was holding some weird trinkets in his hands. He had a startled expression on his face.

"Harry, my boy, I am a little busy. This—"

"Barty Crouch has been murdered," Harry said without preamble. Dumbledore blinked in shock before composing himself.

"Yes, he has been. I do not know how you came to know of this so soon, but if you're here to ask me if I have any clue, I don't. I am going there to investigate right now. I request you to wait here till I return. Till then, see these," Dumbledore said with a wave of his wand. Suddenly, a cabinet opened, and a pensive soared out of it before setting itself on the headmaster's desk.

"See if you find anything peculiar and tell me once I return," saying so, Dumbledore disapparated silently.

"Well, that went well," Harry muttered before hurrying to the pensive and putting his head in it.

He felt the sensation of memory viewing. Dumbledore's office gave an almighty lurch - Harry was thrown forward and pitched headfirst into the memory; it was like being sucked into a dark whirlpool. He arrived in what Harry recognized as courtroom nine. The place where high-level criminal cases took place.

[AN: Most of the following is taken from the canon- Ch.30 of GOF- with minuscule changes. I still implore you to read it though.]

The room was dimly lit, for there were no windows, merely torches in brackets such as the ones that illuminated the walls of Hogwarts. Harry saw that rows and rows of witches and wizards were seated around every wall on what seemed to be benches rising in levels. The Wizengamot seemed to be filled. Harry also saw the empty seats of Potter and Black families. He recognized several faces and some he didn't. For example, there was some man in the Greengrass seat and not Cyrus.

An empty chair stood in the very center of the room. The chair where criminals were tied down.

The Wizengamot seemed to be waiting for something, all of their faces seemed to be pointing in one direction, and none of them were talking to one another. There was no joy there. Only stoniness and an air of anticipation and tension.

He looked next to him and saw Dumbledore sitting in the Chief Warlock's seat.

The door in the corner of the dungeon opened and people entered - first a few Aurors, then a man in chains flanked by two dementors, and then again followed by Aurors.

'Fucking hell. How high profile case is this?' Harry asked himself.

The watching crowd recoiled slightly as the dementors placed the man in the chained chair and glided back out of the room. The door swung shut behind them. Harry looked down at the man now sitting in the chair and saw that it was Karkaroff. Igor Karkaroff.

Unlike Dumbledore, Karkaroff looked much younger; his hair and goatee were black. He was not dressed in sleek furs but thin and ragged robes. He was shaking. Even as Harry watched, the chains on the arms of the chair glowed suddenly gold and snaked their way up Karkaroff's arms, binding him there.

"Igor Karkaroff," said a curt voice to Harry's left. Harry looked around and saw Mr. Crouch standing up in the middle of the bench beside him. Crouch's hair was dark, his face was much less lined, he looked fit and alert. "You have been brought from Azkaban to present evidence to the Ministry of Magic. You have given us to understand that you have important information for us."

Damn. He was seeing the death eater trials that took place thirteen years ago.

Karkaroff straightened himself as best he could, tightly bound to the chair. "I have, sir," he said, and although his voice was very scared, Harry could still hear the familiar unctuous note in it. "I wish to be of use to the Ministry. I wish to help. I - I know that the Ministry is trying to - to round up the last of the Dark Lord's supporters. I am eager to assist in any way I can..."

There was a murmur around the benches. Some of the wizards and witches were surveying Karkaroff with interest, others with pronounced mistrust. Then Harry heard, quite distinctly, from Dumbledore's other side, a familiar, growling voice saying, "Filth."

Harry leaned forward so that he could see past Dumbledore. Mad-Eye Moody was sitting there - except that there was a very noticeable difference in his appearance. He did not have his magical eye, but two normal ones. Both were looking down upon Karkaroff, and both were narrowed in intense dislike.

"Crouch is going to let him out," Moody breathed quietly to Dumbledore. "He's done a deal with him. Took me six months to track him down, and Crouch is going to let him go if he's got enough new names. Let's hear his information, I say, and throw him straight back to the dementors." Dumbledore made a small noise of dissent through his long, crooked nose.

"Ah, I was forgetting... you don't like the dementors, do you, Albus?" said Moody with a sardonic smile.

"No," said Dumbledore calmly, "I'm afraid I don't. I have long felt the Ministry is wrong to ally itself with such creatures."

"But for filth like this . . ." Moody said softly.

"You say you have names for us, Karkaroff," said Mr. Crouch. "Let us hear them, please."

"You must understand," said Karkaroff hurriedly, "that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named operated always in the greatest secrecy... He preferred that we, I mean to say, his supporters - and I regret now, very deeply, that I ever counted myself among them—"

"Get on with it," sneered Moody.

"—We never knew the names of every one of our fellows - He alone knew exactly who we all were—"

"Which was a wise move, wasn't it, as it prevented someone like you, Karkaroff, from turning all of them in," muttered Moody.

"Yet you say you have some names for us?" said Mr. Crouch.

"I - I do," said Karkaroff breathlessly. "And these were important supporters, mark you. People I saw with my own eyes doing his bidding. I give this information as a sign that I fully and totally renounce him, and am filled with remorse so deep I can barely—"

"These names are?" said Mr. Crouch sharply.

Karkaroff drew a deep breath.

"There was Antonin Dolohov," he said. "I - I saw him torture countless Muggles and - and non-supporters of the Dark Lord."

"And helped him do it," murmured Moody.

"We have already apprehended Dolohov," said Crouch. "He was caught shortly after yourself."

"Indeed?" said Karkaroff, his eyes widening. "I - I am delighted to hear it!" But he didn't look it. Harry could tell that this news had come as a real blow to him. One of his names was worthless.

"Any others?" said Crouch coldly.

"Why, yes... there was Rosier," said Karkaroff hurriedly. "Evan Rosier."

"Rosier is dead," said Crouch. "He was caught shortly after you were too. He preferred to fight rather than come quietly and was killed in the struggle."

"Took a bit of me with him, though," whispered Moody to Harry's right. Harry looked around at him once more and saw him indicating the large chunk out of his nose to Dumbledore.

"No - no more than Rosier deserved!" said Karkaroff, a real note of panic in his voice now. Harry could see that he was starting to worry that none of his information would be of any use to the Ministry. Karkaroff's eyes darted toward the door in the corner, behind which the dementors undoubtedly still stood, waiting.

"Any more?" said Crouch.

"Yes!" said Karkaroff. "There was Travers - he helped murder the McKinnons! Mulciber - he specialized in the Imperius Curse, forced countless people to do horrific things! Rookwood, who was a spy, and passed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named useful information from inside the Ministry itself!" Harry could tell that this time, Karkaroff had struck gold. The watching crowd was all murmuring together.

"Rookwood?" said Mr. Crouch, nodding to a witch sitting in front of him, who began scribbling upon her piece of parchment. "Augustus Rookwood of the Department of Mysteries?"

"The very same," said Karkaroff eagerly. "I believe he used a network of well-placed wizards, both inside the Ministry and out, to collect information—"

"But Travers and Mulciber we have," said Mr. Crouch. "Very well, Karkaroff, if that is all, you will be returned to Azkaban while we decide—"

"Not yet!" cried Karkaroff, looking quite desperate. "Wait, I have more!"

Harry could see him sweating in the torchlight, his white skin contrasting strongly with the black of his hair and beard. "Snape!" he shouted. "Severus Snape!"

Harry leaned forward in interest. Finally, Snivellus. He may get something here.

"Snape has been cleared by this council," said Crouch disdainfully. "He has been vouched for by Albus Dumbledore."

"No!" shouted Karkaroff, straining at the chains that bound him to the chair. "I assure you! Severus Snape is a Death Eater!"

Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. "I have given evidence already on this matter," he said calmly. "Severus Snape was indeed a Death Eater. However, he rejoined our side before Lord Voldemort's downfall and turned spy for us, at great personal risk. He is now no more a Death Eater than I am." Harry turned to look at Mad-Eye Moody. He was wearing a look of deep skepticism behind Dumbledore's back.

Harry had a similar opinion to Moody and Karkaroff: Snape was a death eater despite whatever he had led Dumbledore to believe and deserved nothing less than Azkaban.

"Very well, Karkaroff," Crouch said coldly, "you have been of assistance. I shall review your case. You will return to Azkaban in the meantime..." Mr. Crouch's voice faded. Harry looked around; the dungeon was dissolving as though it were made of smoke; everything was fading; he could see only his own body - all else was swirling darkness... And then, the dungeon returned.

Harry was sitting in a different seat, still on the highest bench, but now to the left side of Mr. Crouch. The atmosphere seemed quite different: relaxed, even cheerful. The witches and wizards all around the walls were talking to one another, almost as though they were at some sort of sporting event. Harry noticed a witch halfway up the rows of benches opposite. She had short blonde hair, was wearing magenta robes, and was sucking the end of an acid-green quill. It was, unmistakably, a younger Rita Skeeter. Harry looked around; Dumbledore was sitting beside him again, wearing different robes. Mr. Crouch looked more tired and somehow fiercer, gaunter... Harry understood. It was a different memory, a different day... a different trial. The door in the corner opened, and Ludo Bagman walked into the room.

This time, he was only escorted by four Aurors.

"Ludovic Bagman, you have been brought here in front of the Council of Magical Law to answer charges relating to the activities of the Death Eaters," said Mr. Crouch. "We have heard the evidence against you, and are about to reach our verdict. Do you have anything to add to your testimony before we pronounce judgment?"

Ludo Bagman. Harry was confused about the man. The best opinion Harry had about the man was that he was an idiot. He bore no dark mark on his arm and neither was he powerful or skilled enough to be one. He had barely scraped an acceptable in wand-subjects in his owls. But, the man was a Quidditch prodigy. One of the best beaters the country had seen.

"Only," said Bagman, smiling awkwardly, "well - I know I've been a bit of an idiot—"

So even Bagman himself admitted it.

"You never spoke a truer word, boy," someone muttered dryly to Dumbledore behind Harry. He looked around and saw Moody sitting there again. "If I didn't know he'd always been dim, I'd have said some of those Bludgers had permanently affected his brain..."

"Ludovic Bagman, you were caught passing information to Lord Voldemort's supporters," said Mr. Crouch. "For this, I suggest a term of imprisonment in Azkaban lasting no less than -" But there was an angry outcry from the surrounding benches. Several of the witches and wizards around the walls stood up, shaking their heads, and even their fists, at Mr. Crouch.

"But I've told you, I had no idea!" Bagman called earnestly over the crowd's babble, his round blue eyes widening. "None at all! Old Rookwood was a friend of my dad's . . . never crossed my mind he was in with You-Know-Who! I thought I was collecting information for our side! And Rookwood kept talking about getting me a job in the Ministry later on... once my Quidditch days are over, you know... I mean, I can't keep getting hit by Bludgers for the rest of my life, can I?"

There were titters from the crowd. "It will be put to the vote," said Mr. Crouch coldly. He turned to the right-hand side of the dungeon. "The jury will please raise their hands . . . those in favor of imprisonment..."

Harry looked toward the right-hand side of the dungeon. Not one person raised their hand. Many of the witches and wizards around the walls began to clap. One of the witches on the jury stood up. "Yes?" barked Crouch. "We'd just like to congratulate Mr. Bagman on his splendid performance for England in the Quidditch match against Turkey last Saturday," the witch said breathlessly. Mr. Crouch looked furious. The dungeon was ringing with applause now. Bagman got to his feet and bowed, beaming.

"Despicable," Mr. Crouch spat at Dumbledore, sitting down as Bagman walked out of the dungeon. "Rookwood get him a job indeed... The day Ludo Bagman joins us will be a sad day indeed for the Ministry..."

Harry sneered. Coming from the man who had put an innocent person, an Heir of house Black, no less in Azkaban without a trial was ludicrous that he was tempted to laugh.

And the dungeon dissolved again. When it had returned, Harry looked around. He and Dumbledore were still sitting beside Mr. Crouch, but the atmosphere could not have been more different. There was total silence, broken only by the dry sobs of a frail, wispy-looking witch in the seat next to Mr. Crouch. She was clutching a handkerchief to her mouth with trembling hands. Harry looked up at Crouch and saw that he looked gaunter and grayer than ever before. A nerve was twitching in his temple.

"Bring them in," he said, and his voice echoed through the silent dungeon.

The door in the corner opened yet again. A dozen Aurors, followed by Six dementors entered this time, flanking a group of four people. Harry saw the people in the crowd turn to look up at Mr. Crouch. A few of them whispered to one another.

The dementors placed each of the four people in the four chairs with chained arms that now stood on the dungeon floor. There was a thickset man who stared blankly up at Crouch; a thinner and more nervous-looking man, whose eyes were darting around the crowd; a woman with thick, shining dark hair and heavily hooded eyes, who was sitting in the chained chair as though it were a throne; and a boy in his late teens, who looked nothing short of petrified. He was shivering, his straw-colored hair all over his face, his freckled skin milk-white.

Harry caught his breath. He was witnessing the greatest death-eater trial to take place. The trial of Bellatrix Lestrange, Rodolphus Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange and Barty Crouch... Junior.

The wispy little witch beside Crouch began to rock backward and forward in her seat, whimpering into her handkerchief. Crouch stood up. He looked down upon the four in front of him, and there was pure hatred in his face. "You have been brought here before the Council of Magical Law," he said clearly, "so that we may pass judgment on you, for a crime so heinous—"

"Father," said the boy with the straw-colored hair. "Father... please..."

"— that we have rarely heard the like of it within this court," said Crouch, speaking more loudly, drowning out his son's voice.

"We have heard the evidence against you. The four of you stand accused of capturing an Auror - Frank Longbottom - and subjecting him to the Cruciatus Curse, believing him to have knowledge of the present whereabouts of your exiled master, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named—"

"Father, I didn't!" shrieked Crouch Junior. "I didn't, I swear it. Father, don't send me back to the dementors—"

"You are further accused," bellowed Mr. Crouch, "of using the Cruciatus Curse on Frank Longbottom's wife, when he would not give you information. You planned to restore He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named to power and to resume the lives of violence you presumably led while he was strong. I now ask the jury -"

"Mother! Mother, stop him. Mother, I didn't do it, it wasn't me!"

"I now ask the jury," shouted Mr. Crouch, "to raise their hands if they believe, as I do, that these crimes deserve a life sentence in Azkaban!" In unison, the witches and wizards along the right-hand side of the dungeon raised their hands. The crowd around the walls began to clap as it had for Bagman, their faces full of savage triumph. The boy began to scream.

"No! Mother, no! I didn't do it, I didn't do it, I didn't know! Don't send me there, don't let him!" The dementors were gliding back into the room.

The boys' three companions rose quietly from their seats; Bellatrix Lestrange nee Black, the most feared witch in Britain, calmly looked up to Crouch and called, "The Dark Lord will rise again, Crouch. Throw us into Azkaban; we will wait. He will rise again and will come for us, he will reward us beyond any of his other supporters. We alone were faithful. We alone tried to find him!"

The sureness in her voice was undeniable. Harry understood why exactly Bellatrix was called the Dark lord's most loyal. She was a fitting Dark Lady. The right hand of Lord Voldemort.

"Take them away!" Crouch roared at the dementors, spit flying from his mouth. "Take them away, and may they rot there!"

"Father! Father, I wasn't involved! No! No! Father, please!" Crouch Junior shrieked.

"I think. Harry, it is time to return to my office," said a quiet voice in Harry's ear.

Harry started. He looked around. Then he looked on his other side. An Albus Dumbledore was sitting on his right, watching Crouch's son being dragged away by the dementors - and there was an Albus Dumbledore on his left, looking right at him.

"Come," said the Dumbledore on his left, and he put his hand under Harry's elbow. Harry felt himself rising into the air; the dungeon dissolved around him; for a moment, all was blackness, and then he felt as though he had done a slow-motion somersault, suddenly landing flat on his feet, in what seemed like the dazzling light of Dumbledore's sunlit office.

[BACK TO ORIGINALITY]

"So, what did you get from the memories."

"I completely agree with Karkaroff on the fact that Snape is a death eater," Harry replied.

Dumbledore sighed, "Anything apart from that Harry?"

"Nothing much. It did show what type of person Crouch was. He put his own son and several people in prison without even giving him an attorney for defense as the law dictates. He broke several laws and rights despite whatever type of person they were. The people were put in Azkaban first Also, he liberated Karkaroff in exchange for information."

"That is technically a gray area Harry," Dumbledore said. "As the saying goes, everything is fair in Love and War. And, these people were arrested when the country was in a state of emergency. So, putting them in Azkaban was legal. And, there was a defense attorney who was there... just in name. He sat there quietly through most trials not speaking a word as Crouch instructed. Some death eaters though hired private lawyers and bribed Bagnold and Wizengamot members to gain by pleading imperious. As for Karkaroff... that was illegal."

Harry nodded. "Also, it showed the loyalty that the Lestranges held for Voldemort. They had enough gold to hire lawyers and bribe their way out."

"Yes, that too."

"But, can you tell me—"

"What do these memories have to do with Barty's murder? To be honest, I have no idea. I was trying to find the same. These were the most prominent Death Eater trials... I was checking if I could find something in these memories. I just showed you these for a second opinion."

"If I had to suspect on basis of these trials, I would say the best suspect you would have is Bagman as all the rest are in Azkaban and Karkaroff would be sort of buddy-buddy with him. But, it is neither here nor there as Bagman is an idiot. And we both know that apart from us only Lord Voldemort is capable enough to put an imperious powerful enough to control Crouch."

"Not necessarily, but, yes. Mr. Mulciber was also skilled with the curse as you undoubtedly heard from Karkaroff and so was Augustus Rookwood, Bellatrix Lestrange, and Antonio Dolohov. But, they are all in Azkaban or dead."

"Professor..."

"Ah, yes. I got a little... anyway, I am also worried about the disappearance of Bertha Jorkins. Despite whatever people may say, Bertha had an excellent memory and was quite nosy. Her disappearance raises alarm bells. The years of Voldemort's ascent to power were marked with disappearances. Bertha Jorkins has vanished without a trace in the place where Voldemort was certainly known to be last. Her disappearance and the murder of Barty Crouch are definitely linked. The problem is that Cornelius is ignoring my prompting. I haven't told him of our true suspicions yet."

Harry snorted. "He would probably label us as insane if we tell him Voldemort's coming back. He got scared by a few spells and a little fire yesterday night despite being in presence of yourself and Mad-eye. He is unfit to be in the war."

"He still has almost a year and half of his term left. But, till then, Lord Voldemort would be back."

"Yes," Harry said leaning back in his chair.

Neither Dumbledore nor Harry spoke for a while. Dumbledore was gazing across the room, and, every now and then, placing his wand tip to his temple and adding another shining silver thought to the seething mass within the Pensive.

"Sir, any leads on the Horcruxes?"

"None so far. But, I suspect he may have hidden one at Hogwarts."

"You're searching for a needle in the world's largest haystack, sir. You do realize that Hogwarts is the most magical place in Europe and houses several thousand magical artifacts. Out of those, anything could be a Horcrux. Another problem is, that we have no means of pinpointing it. We need to perform the soul-checking charm on each and every artifact present in Hogwarts which is impractical."

"Well, you aren't wrong. Hogwarts is a big place, let's start making it smaller. Which do you think is the place where Tom is most likely to hide a Horcrux in Hogwarts? Or let me ask you, if you were Tom, where would you hide it?"

"Someplace only I could access... The Chamber of Secrets."

Dumbledore nodded. "Right in one, The chamber of secrets. A place that signifies something he is most proud of: being a descendant from Slytherin. A place that can only be accessed by a Parselmouth. It is the ideal place to hide a Horcrux."

"You want me to take you to the chamber of secrets? Like right now?"

"Yes, if it is alright with you."

"Well, okay. Let us go." Harry replied despite knowing that there was no Horcrux down there. He had checked it. Dumbledore would find nothing there. But, it was still better to confirm. Harry didn't need to worry about Dumbledore finding Salazar and Helga's chambers either as it was locked. The outer study though... he would see that.

So, a few minutes later, Harry and Dumbledore found themselves in the second floor's girls' bathroom. 'OPEN' Harry hissed and The sink slid open revealing the path to the chamber of secrets.

"Well, it looks like we have to jump. See you down!" Dumbledore said and jumped in the pipe before Harry could say anything. Harry could hear Dumbledore whooping in joy as he slid down the pipe.

"You can come now, Harry!" Dumbledore called

Harry rolled his eyes and hissed 'Stairs' A staircase appeared and Harry descended the steps. At the bottom of the stairs, he saw an amused Dumbledore waiting for him.

"You could've told me that there was a provision for stairs."

"You jumped before I could say anything. And, I can tell you had fun sliding down the pipe, Professor." Harry said in a deadpan voice. Dumbledore just chuckled in response.

"Shall we?" Dumbledore said, gesturing to the way out. Harry nodded and led him towards the chamber door and hissed at the door to open it.

"Marvelous. The fabled chamber of secrets." Dumbledore walked into the chamber and Harry followed. Their steps echoed through the huge room eerily. Dumbledore examined the motifs statue around the chamber and the runes drawn on the pillars and the walls.

"This room..." Dumbledore softly said, "it would survive even the most potent curses and spells. Even Fiendfyre won't burn these down."

"Yes, they won't."

Dumbledore turned to Harry when he said the statement. "You've tried?"

"This is where I practice, Headmaster. Let me tell you an interesting thing. This room was specifically made to house students in case every protection on Hogwarts failed. In case the wards of Hogwarts fall, there would be a new set of wards getting erected automatically on this room making it, perhaps the safest place on Earth. The Basilisk was also an added protection but, Tom Riddle used her for his misdeeds and corrupted her. There are secret passageways from each common room that leads here. The head elf is tasked to open the passages and lead the students here in case the wards fall under attack."

"Fascinating," Dumbledore whistled. "How do you know this?"

"There is a small Library too, sir. There are a few books there. One of those books had this information. But, regretfully, it is written in Parselscript. Only Parselmouths can read it."

"Am I to assume that this Library is the source of your increased knowledge since the past two years?"

"No. Well, all my knowledge of parselmagic does come from the library, but, all the rest is mainly learned from the Potter and Black Libraries."

"Parselmagic... what do you know in that? Because what you know from here, Tom likely knows that too."

"The applications of Parselmagic are mainly in the fields of warding and most importantly healing. There are only a handful of spells that can be useful in battle from there. My favorite is this," Harry said with a wave of his wand and almost inaudible hiss. A silver shield appeared over his left forearm. Harry moved his hand and the shield moved with it.

"Tom used this in a battle... our first faceoff. It withstood several of my spells before cracking. Protected him several times. It withstands both physical and magical attacks." Dumbledore said.

"Yes, correct. Now, shall we explore, professor?"

"Certainly."

An hour and a half later, Harry and Dumbledore returned to the Headmaster's office and sat in their chairs. They had found nothing there... no Horcrux or anything. But, now it was confirmed that there was no Horcrux in the chamber for sure. Another thing of note was that Dumbledore had read all the book titles and declared that he had read all of those except the Parseltongue ones and a book on battle transfiguration... which Dumbledore was a master of already.

"Tea?" Dumbledore asked as he sat behind his desk with a sigh and a slight noise of his joints cracking. Harry nodded in response and Dumbledore tapped his wand on a kettle. A minute later, Harry had a nice, steaming cup of tea in his hands.

"Harry, please be careful from now on. You're a capable wizard, no doubt, but, there is a reason that Lord Voldemort is so feared. The things happening right now are eerily similar to what happened when both Gellert Grindelwald and Tom Riddle began their rise to power. Mysterious disappearances, high-profile murders, small terrorist attacks... all of that. That coupled with the fact that you were entered in the Triwizard tournament is a concerning fact. I believe that Lord Voldemort wishes to... to... kill you and proclaim that he has risen again."

"I am in danger... like always. Nothing new for me. The only difference is, this time I am prepared."

Dumbledore waved his wand and a book came soaring towards him. It was a thin book. He looked at Harry and said in a grave tone, "This book contains some of the most dangerous and interesting spells in the world. Most of these spells are known to only two people in the world currently. These spells were invented by us... Gellert Grindelwald and I in our post-education years with the dreams of world domination."

Harry showed no reaction to it.

"You aren't surprised by this?" Dumbledore asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No. Gellert Grindelwald visited his great aunt, Bathilda Bagshot when you were nineteen, barely out of school with a shitload of glory and achievements but held back from achieving your dreams due to family problems. Then you met Grindelwald and you both instantly became friends because of your impressive intellect, knowledge, power, and similar views. You both had the power and a wish to overthrow the statute of secrecy and rule muggles because of your bitter experiences with them. Grindelwald's Mother was killed by his father when he came to know that she was a witch. Grindelwald ran to safety but never forgot it. Your sister suffered due to muggles and your father went to Azkaban for killing the said muggles. So, you began plotting. But, your sister's death put a wrench in your plans as it caused a rift between yourself and Grindelwald merely a few months later. Grindelwald fled while you mourned."

"You know all this... and yet..."

"It doesn't matter what mistakes you did in your youth. What matters is the man you are now professor. And the fact that you aren't vying for world domination despite possessing the elder wand is a testament to how much you've changed. You even gave me my cloak back despite dreaming of uniting the deathly hallows for years."

Dumbledore stiffened. "You know... you know that I possess the elder wand and haven't tried to claim it."

"Obviously. The wand, for the moment, is the best in your hands. I may take my legacy when I feel it is necessary but not now. I have a nice wand which is also made of elder wood."

"And when will you feel it is necessary?"

"When you're too old or I desperately need it," Harry said with a shrug. "Technically, if I disarm you right now and do a small procedure to bind the hallow to myself, no one will ever be able to claim the wand for themselves again... except for my children. But, I will wait."

"So, it is true that the hallows work the best for the main Peverell line," Dumbledore asked.

Harry shook his head. "No. Technically, anyone with a drop of Peverell can do it if they know the procedure... a procedure which can only be found in the Potter Family Grimoire."

"What added properties do the hallows have when bonded?" Dumbledore asked.

"The cloak can hide someone completely. I can walk through any ward unharmed while wearing the cloak. Not a single thing would be capable of detecting me under it. The wand on, apart from making the spells more potent and powerful... as it does anyways would become completely untraceable. Any magic cast by it, any ward erected by it would not be detected by magical means. Also, the wand gains the ability to undo any spell and bend magic to the wielder's intent as level seven Occlumens do."

"And the stone?"

"Ability to summon an army of semi-corporal ghosts which can physically harm and hit people, unlike normal ghosts. They are similar to what Peeves is but more powerful. Also, easy way to make Inferni."

Dumbledore took a deep breath. "Very well, back to the topic, I want you to learn every spell in this book. But, exercise caution when you use these in real battles. Some of these are so destructive that casting them around allies will result in their as well as the enemies' death."

Harry just nodded in response.

---

29th May 1995

Room of Requirement Hogwarts

Harry sat on a couch with his three girlfriends sitting in front of him. The three girls were worried seeing Harry's grave expression.

"Okay... er... I do not know how to start this subtly but, based on several events since the last one year... I have a strong suspicion that Voldemort is rising again."

"WHAT?" Susan asked while Daphne showed no reaction. Fleur looked confused.

"Wasn't he the one who fell at your hand when you were a year old?" Fleur asked in confusion.

"Yes... that is what the records say. But, Voldemort put certain... measures in place to prevent dying in case his body is destroyed as it happened thirteen years ago. And I am afraid, he is now coming back."

"What proof do you have?" Susan asked.

"The dark mark on death eaters' arm is darkening since the world cup," Daphne replied instead of Harry.

"Yes. And the dark mark was cast for the first time since Voldemort's fall. There have been disappearances and murders too. Bertha Jorkins disappeared mysteriously. Barty Crouch was murdered yesterday after his auror detail was found stunned. Even Dumbledore and Daphne's father believes this."

"Then the DMLE must be—"

"The DMLE, despite being headed by your aunt still falls under Fudge as he is the Minister of Magic. And, Fudge is a moronic spineless coward. He is ignoring the threat already. He is the biggest threat to Britain if Voldemort returns."

"So, what do we do?"

"First, Fleur, if you want to reconsider the relationship between us... cause these two are going to be in the line of fire against Voldemort, my girlfriends or not. You, on the other hand, can stay out of the way. Being my girlfriend will put you in danger."

"And ruin my life? Please non. Harry, I am a capable witch. I have no fear, dark lord or not. And, what is the guarantee that once he returns, the war won't spill to France? Also, I still have a whole year left at Beauxbatons. Till then many things will change if Voldemort returns. So, no."

"Then, we begin training. To protect ourselves. To protect our families. And this, our little world."

Notes:

To all who are interested, there's a Haphne Discord server around. There is new story prompts, mayhem, author discussion, movie nights, and bunnies. If that hasn't piqued your interest, I'm on there as well so if you want to talk to me that'd be one way to do it. Also, we're pretty cool people in there and are pretty open to all types of shippers. In case I've finally gotten you interested, here's the link: discord . gg / pKSdvJQvhU [Remove the space]

I am also on the Pertemis server, a PJO server where I also have my own update channel and along with other famous authors. Link: discord . gg / YEEsa87B [Remove the space]

Along with this, I am also on another server known as the veiled realm which isn't for any particular fandom as we discuss everything in there. Link: discord . gg / EpPH3vTa [Remove the space]

Hope to see you soon!

.

Also, my update speed is going to take a massive hit from now because of exams and all. I am not abandoning the story, but my updates will be less frequent than in 2022. I will still TRY to update once a month though.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy new year in advance. I hope the new year brings prosperity to your life and you all stay fit and happy.

Stay Happy! Stay safe! Keep Smiling! Keep reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 48: The third task

 

48. The Third Task

10th June 1995

Chamber of Secrets, Hogwarts

Harry snapped the book in his hand with a sharp snap and groaned in frustration. All the tomes in the grand library of the House Black were of no use when it came to Horcruxes... well, at least beyond the normal material that he had already found through Salazar and Helga along with the books in the chamber.

As far as everything was concerned, there was a way to make Horcruxes and a way to destroy them. But, there was not a single way to detect them or locate them!

Harry had scoured through the whole libraries in the Chamber and the Potter family and was in the process of going through the books that House Black had. So far, he had found two ways to make a Horcrux, four ways to protect sanity while making a Horcrux, a way to remerge the soul, five ways to destroy a Horcrux but, not a single fucking way to detect if an object was a Horcrux or not! There wasn't even a spell to detect if there was a Horcrux in one's general vicinity!

Dumbledore suspected that there was a Horcrux of Voldemort at Hogwarts. Hogwarts was HUGE with thousands, if not millions of magical artifacts! It was of a little solace that Voldemort wouldn't have taken a random pebble and converted it into a Horcrux before tossing it into the black lake. And, that was only because a Horcrux had to be retrievable if one wished to use it.

It was frustrating, to be honest.

Even Salazar and Helga had little knowledge of Horcruxes.

It had its roots in soul magic which was an obscure art in itself. Combine that with all the shit it goes into making a soul container, the obscurity of the subject was astronomical.

It was a testament to Voldemort's resourcefulness and prodigious mind that he had managed to create one of the foul things when he was sixteen! And then also managed to split his soul into a total of seven parts (that is if Dumbledore's assumption was correct). On top of all that, he had still managed to retain his magic, his control, and his sanity.

According to most sources, the splitting of one's soul made the person lose his sanity, magical control, or magical power. It depended on a person's control of how much or what they would lose. Voldemort had retained his power and magical control completely. He was also as sane as he could be, considering he was a dark lord. He may be labeled as a madman but he was no more insane than Albus Dumbledore was... perhaps, Voldemort was the saner one amongst the two.

"Harry, you should seriously take a break now, dear." Helga's portrait said. "You should go for a walk or a flight in the sunlight outside or spend some time with your lovely ladies! It will do you no good being cooped up behind a book in this underground chamber. Go out, child. It will freshen your mind."

"You damn well know that we have to find a solution to this Horcrux problem! Voldemort is practically immortal till we find these abominations and destroy them! And, he is coming back to power!"

"Harry! Stop it!" Salazar said in a cold voice. "You're running yourself ragged between all the training and research. It is doing your mind no good. You're on since the last fortnight when you came to know that Crouch was murdered."

"But I need to find a way, don't I? Six soul containers in the whole of Europe... perhaps even the world. Voldemort has already made his first move. A murder in open daylight!"

"Let your headmaster do the Horcrux work, Harry. Dumbledore is working on it and he knows Tom Riddle better than you do. He was the one who brought him to the wizarding world and taught him Transfiguration for seven years. He will find something. You should not be doing all this and instead, be spending time with your friends and perhaps be preparing for the next task coming up in two weeks."

"What other spells could I learn to get through that maze? You know that I can burn the whole thing to the ground or just fly over it if needed. Or even apparate to the center. I know more spells than the whole NEWT students combined. Tell me what more I could do."

"Go take your firebolt for a spin," Helga suggested.

"Quidditch pitch is off-limits to all the students."

"I know. The room of requirement isn't. Put it to a Quidditch field configuration and fly around for a bit. It will freshen you up child. And leave this Horcrux finding till the summer. We'll keep researching, but you leave it for now. Please, Harry. I implore you."

Harry sighed and nodded.

"That's like a good boy. Now, I don't want you worrying about this. Am. I. Understood?"

Harry nodded in defeat knowing Helga won't budge on the matter. And he didn't fancy an angry Helga Hufflepuff after him.

---

June 18th, 1995

Room of Requirement, Hogwarts

Harry and Fleur looked on as Daphne and Susan dueled each other with grace similar to that of Aurors. The two girls were now on the level that was expected of Junior Aurors. He was sure both could take on his sister Tonks and likely come out on the top. Both were powerful witches who were taking their training seriously. Harry felt that Susan was the most determined of the three once she had heard that the murderer of her parents was returning to power again. Determination pushed her to better herself every day. She would've left Daphne behind, had it not been for the Slytherin girl's own talents and previous training under the tutelage of her father, Lord Greengrass. She knew more spells than Susan, most of which were frowned upon by the normal public.

Also, Daphne had no hesitation to use dangerous spells either. She was ruthless in a fight. Susan was still hesitant to use some of the more... dangerous and painful spells that would kill in an extremely cruel way. She preferred to incapacitate rather than outright kill an opponent, even if the said opponent was a dummy. Her fighting style was much like her aunt's, just a little softer. She preferred tamer, spells, and creative defenses usually consisting of transfiguration as compared to powerful curses and shields which was Daphne's style.

Fleur, on the other hand, was much better than Daphne and Susan in magical combat. Her fighting level was comparable to senior Aurors or junior hit-witches. She would likely hold her own against the likes of Alastor Moody, Amelia Bones, and Bellatrix Lestrange even if she would be eventually overpowered due to their experience.

Harry himself was nearing the level of Albus Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort. He only fell short in the sheer level of experience the two had and their spell repertoire. His power and skills were damn near the two Titans. He was sure he could win against all others, bar the dark lord and the Headmaster. Achieving the last step of Occlumency had a lot in regards to closing the distance between the power and skills of Voldemort and Dumbledore. His magic flowed much more freely than it ever did and bent to his will. He could do damn near whatever he wished to with magic as long as it didn't violate the fundamental laws of magic.

His Transfiguration and Charms showed the most difference. They were more potent, stayed for longer, and could be performed faster. His curses, hexes, and jinxes traveled at faster speeds and were tougher to shield against. Most importantly, he could now gather magical energy from the air around him and convert it into elemental attacks, usually lightning to strike his opponent. It had limited uses but was damn useful in an all-out fight.

Harry enervated Susan who had finally fallen to a bone-crusher and stupefy from Daphne. "Hold still." He said when Susan moaned in pain before hissing and waving his wand.

A second later, a purple glow surrounded Susan's arm and she yelled, "OUCH, FUCK!" before panting. She slowly flexed her fingers.

"See? As good as new!" Harry said cheerfully before helping Susan up and handing her a small vial filled with pepper-up potion and tossing one to Daphne as well. It was half-dose each. Both the girls promptly drowned it and shook their heads rapidly as steam came out of their ears.

"Okay girls. Today I am going to be teaching you a new spell. This spell that I am going to teach you is something that is generally considered an extremely dark spell by several ministries. Fiendfyre."

Susan choked on her spit, hearing the spell she was going to learn. Harry ignored it and continued, "As you all undoubtedly know, Fiendfyre is one of the most destructive and dangerous spells known to the wizarding world. They are also known as flames of hell as they are all-consuming. The flames can destroy anything if it is held for a sufficient amount of time. It leaves behind no trace of what it has destroyed save for the ashes. No enchantment or ward can truly hold against it."

"Then why isn't it used to break through wards? If it can destroy wards, it would be very simple to break through them with Fiendfyre." Daphne asked with a frown.

Instead of Harry, Fleur answered her question. "It can. But potent and powerful wards would need a long time to burn through. I don't think any wizard has the power to keep up a raging inferno of Fiendfyre for such a long time... say two hours at least if the wards are well laid."

"Yes, and by well-laid wards, Fleur means wards that usually our types of families have... Most Noble and Most Ancient houses. If someone wants to break through our normal wards with Fiendfyre, they would have to continuously keep the fire up at full power for two to three hours. Not even Dumbledore or Voldemort have that much power to spare. And in case we go under war-wards, triple the time. A place like Hogwarts on the other hand would take some 15 hours while at Normal power and more than a week while under war-wards. And the area which would need to be covered by Fiendfyre would be HUGE considering the size of Hogwarts and our mansions. So, it is inadvisable to break wards by Fiendfyre. There are several better spells and faster methods to break through wards." Harry explained.

"Oui. Hogwarts wards are the most impressive I have ever seen. And they aren't even at full power!" Fleur said.

"Just how powerful can those wards be?"

"At full power? Well, there is a reason Hogwarts is referred to as the safest place on Earth. Under the fully powered war-wards, Hogwarts would make places like Nurmengard prison seem like mediocre work by a NEWT student."

"Nurmengard prison is ICW's top-grade prison... right?" Susan asked

"Yep. The place which houses Gellert Grindelwald and the worst prisoners on the planet." Harry said with a nod.

"It was said to be Grindelwald's best work. He along with several ward-masters had made the wards on the prison and enchanted it brick-by-brick. It is said to be impenetrable." Fleur said with an awed voice.

"It isn't." Harry broke her fangirling over the impressive work that Grindelwald had done. She had an odd fascination with powerful places and things. "My Grandfather, Charlus Potter, and Arcturus Black led a siege on Nurmengard castle in 1944 to break out the prisoners that Grindelwald had taken. It was one of the major downfalls that the knights of Walpurgis faced straight up there with the butchering in Leningrad in December 1942."

"My great-aunt was one of the prisoners who was broken out by Arcturus Black... and that was where their love story began," Daphne added a little dreamily.

"Yeah, um can we start the practice?" Harry asked.

"Harry, are you sure you want to teach us that?" Fleur asked. "Controlling the spell is tough and the spell is extremely dangerous. There are similar versions of it... you know, the water version, the—"

"Yes, I know those. It has a variation with each element: The water version known as 'Aegaeon's Fury'; The earth version known as 'Terror of Terra'; and the air version known as 'Wrath of Njord'." Harry replied promptly, listing off the names of some of the most dangerous spells in the wizarding world.

"But, it is best to learn to cast and control the flames of hell first. You seriously don't want to do the 'Terror of Terra' or 'The wrath of Njord' first? Fiendfyre may be the most destructive of the four but it is the easiest to control and the easiest to subdue. The Earth version is very tough to start and difficult to destroy while the air one is impossible to control or stop even if it is the least deadly. The Aegaeon's Fury may be easier to control and bend to your will, even easier than Fiendfyre but, it is near impossible to stop it in case one of you loses control at the peak of the spell... a risk I am unwilling to take in such an enclosed space."

"So, you can... put Fiendfyre out easily?"

"Put it out in seconds? No. Take control over it? Yes, I can take control of it within seconds in case it gets out of control, unlike the other spells. All the spells I mentioned are semi-sentient. To control it, you've to impose your will on the spell or it will get out of hand. In case, the spell gets out of control, a third party can chime in and take control of the spell. Fiendfyre is the easiest to take control of in such a manner because it is the least sentient of the four followed by air, water, and Earth. The Terror of Terra spell, if it gets out of hand, is damn destructive and toughest to regain control over."

Susan frowned. "Is it possible to snatch the control of the spell from the caster who is controlling it?"

Harry smiled, recalling that he had asked the same question to Salazar and Helga when he had been taught the spell. "Theoretically, yes. You need to impose your own will upon the spell and overpower the will of the spell itself and the one who is in control. But, no one has been able to do it to date." Harry said with a shrug.

"Let's get to work, girls. Dinner is in an hour and a half and I don't want us to be missed there. And I want all three of you to learn the spell before we pack up for the day."

"Oui. And we won't be able to meet next week because of the third task." Fleur said with a nod.

Harry scoffed. "I don't know why you're insisting on doing so much work. After all, the winner is clear: Me."

Fleur stuck her nose in the air and said, "You'll see that when I'll hold the cup in front of you and wave my victory in your face."

"Oh, aren't you cute?"

"I am not cute, I am hot!" She said in mock indignation.

"Yes, my hot witch," Harry said with a grin.

"Stop it you two! Can we begin?" Susan interrupted.

"Yes, of course. Susan, let us start with you. Okay, before that, I will demonstrate it once. Move to the side, girls." Harry said, taking his wand out. Once the girls moved to the side, he slashed his wand in the air and said. "FIENDFYRE".

Hot, blistering flames poured out of Harry's wand. He immediately willed it into the form of a wolf, a stag, and a dog before sending them to the dummies in the room as a tribute to the Marauders. The dummies were reduced to ashes within a second before Harry made them take a trip around the room and snuffed them out.

"You all will only be doing one animal at a time." He warned and the girls immediately nodded.

Harry smiled and gestured to Susan to come and stand in the open space. He noticed that she and the girls' skins were tinged red and they were sweating due to the heat that had just been produced. He ignored it, knowing it was a part of the learning process.

"Now, first, calm your mind completely." He instructed. "Then, push your magic to the tip of your wand and collect it before willing it into the fire... a fire which would like nothing more to devour everything in its part and then say, 'Fiendfyre'. Once you successfully cast it, fire will spew like a normal Incendio from your wand but once it is sufficiently big, it will start fighting you for control. You need to do it to stay under control. You control the fire. You're its mistress. Fair warning, the bigger the fire grows, the more it will fight. Anyways, once you get the fire under control properly, will it into a shape without making it spread. Once you gain the desired shape, make it obey your will to move. Do not get distracted. Let's try it now."

And they began.

---

24th June 1995

Quidditch Pitch Hogwarts

Harry stood in front of the maze looking over the horizon where the sun was setting. Fleur stood next to him and so did Cedric and Krum. A light breeze blew through the pitch making it a pleasant moment had it not been for the amount of noise that the crowd was making by cheering for the champions.

Huge Mirrors were placed at several places around the field for the crowd to view the champions' progress through the maze.

Harry ignored them, trying to run through all the spells he had specifically designated for different creatures that were in the maze. He reckoned that Hagrid would be having the time of his life, seeing some of the exotic creatures that had been brought to Hogwarts for the tournament in the past few days.

His mind jumped back to the trip he and his girlfriends had made four days ago to the forbidden forest to kill some Acromantula spiders to gather their venom for a poison immunity ritual that they had performed on the 21st of June, the summer solstice. It was good that Fleur could do at least the basic rituals like the poison immunity ritual. She, unfortunately, couldn't do the more complex rituals due to her Veela heritage as they would be counterproductive.

Anyways, the girls had done their first ritual that day. It provided them immunity from most poisons and speeded up their healing by a minor level. Harry was now relieved that he didn't need to worry about the girls getting poisoned by someone to kill them.

He looked at the crowd and saw Remus cheering for him along with the Weasley parents in the stands. The three had arrived in the morning along with the parents of the other champions to meet them in accordance with Tradition. Even Sirius had been present but he was currently on the Judges' table, conversing with Bagman.

Harry patted the places where his weapons were just for the sake of confirmation. He had two knives laced with the special poison that Salazar had invented, his two wands, a potions bag with necessary first aid potions. He was also wearing his basilisk hide vest along with his battle robes proudly displaying the Potter banner for the world to see. He waited as the sun set below the horizon.

Hagrid, Professor Moody, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Flitwick along with a few Aurors came walking into the stadium and approached the champions. They were wearing large, red, luminous stars on their hats, all except Hagrid, who had his on the back of his moleskin vest.

"We are going to be patrolling the outside of the maze," said Professor McGonagall to the champions. "If you get into difficulty, and wish to be rescued, send red sparks into the air, and one of us will come and get you, do you understand?" The champions nodded.

"Off you go, then!" said Bagman brightly to the four patrollers appearing from behind them.

"Good luck. Harry," Hagrid whispered, and the party walked away in different directions, to station themselves around the maze.

Bagman now pointed his wand at his throat, muttered, "Sonorus," and his magically magnified voice echoed into the stands. "Ladies and gentlemen, the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin! Let me remind you how the points currently stand! In the first place, we've got Harry Potter with three hundred and twenty-eight points!"

The cheers and applause from the audience sent birds from the Forbidden Forest fluttering into the darkening sky.

"He is followed by Miss Delacour with 240 points! They are followed by Viktor Krum who has a total of one hundred and ninety-five points. Finally, we have Cedric Diggory with eighty-three points!" The cheers were probably being heard in the whole of Scotland by now.

"In this final task, our champions would be making their way through the maze, filled with Myriad traps and creatures that the Champions have to make their way through. The first to reach the Triwizard cup, which has been placed in the maze earlier this day, wins the Triwizard championship! This is the final moment we all have been waiting for since last October! So, without further adieu, let us begin!"

The stands exploded once more into cheers.

"First, Mr. Potter will enter the maze! So... on my whistle, Harry!" said Bagman. "Three - two - one -" He gave a short blast on his whistle, and Harry hurried into the maze.

The towering hedges cast black shadows across the path, they had been enchanted so that the sound of the surrounding crowd was silenced the moment he entered the maze. Harry flicked his wand and an orb of light started hoovering a few feet away from him, casting light onto the path ahead. He cast a detection charm, to check for traps on the path. There were none so far, so he started walking ahead.

After about fifty yards, he reached a fork. He had no clue what lay ahead because as far as his detection spell went, he couldn't sense anything, bar the vines on each path. So, he chose the left path.

His chosen path seemed completely deserted. He turned right, and hurried on, holding his wand at the ready, trying to see as far ahead as possible. Still, there was nothing in sight. He couldn't detect anything either.

Harry kept looking behind him. The old feeling that he was being watched was upon him. The maze was growing darker with every passing minute as the sky overhead deepened to navy. He reached a second fork. "Point Me," he whispered to his wand, holding it flat in his palm. The wand spun around once and pointed toward his right, into a solid hedge. That way was north, and he knew that he needed to go northwest for the center of the maze. The best he could do was to take the left fork and go right again as soon as possible. The path ahead was empty too, and when Harry reached a right turn and took it, he again found his way unblocked.

The lack of obstacles was unnerving him. Surely he should have met something by now? It felt as though the maze were luring him into a false sense of security. It had been nearly twenty minutes but he was yet to encounter something. The worst he had faced was an overinsistent vine that was trying to grab his leg.

Then he heard movement right behind him. He held out his wand, ready to attack, but he saw that it was Fleur, who had just hurried out of a path on the right-hand side. She looked severely shaken. The sleeve of her robe was smoking. "Hagrid's Blast-Ended Skrewts!" she hissed. "Those creatures are enormous - I only just got away!"

Harry blinked. "You're already this far in the maze?"

"Oui. I entered 3 minutes after you, Krum seven, while Diggory is yet to enter." She said.

"How did you catch up so fast?"

She smiled mischievously "Just followed your footsteps, Mon Cheri. But lost them a couple of turns ahead, where I stumbled upon your friend's pet. See, fate made us meet again"

"Cheater."

She maturely stuck her tongue out at Harry.

"Now, you go there," He said pointing to a fork. "No cheating."

Fleur pouted but nodded before going in the said direction. Harry may love his girlfriend but this was a competition where both were competing seriously.

Harry hurried off again, in the direction away from the sneaky Veela. Then, as he turned a corner, he saw... a dementor gliding toward him. Twelve feet tall, its face was hidden by its hood, its rotting, scabbed hands outstretched, it advanced, sensing its way blindly toward him. Harry could hear its rattling breath; he felt clammy coldness stealing over him, but knew what he had to do...

He summoned his happiest thought- his meeting with his mother and said, "Expecto Patronum" His Hebridean Black dragon flew at the dementor, which fell back and tripped over the hem of its robes... Harry had never seen a dementor stumble.

A boggart. Harry realized.

Advancing in the wake of his silver Patronus, "Riddikulus!" There was a loud crack, and the shape-shifter exploded in a wisp of smoke.

First obstacle. Yay!

Left... right... left again... Twice he found himself facing dead ends. He did the Four-Point Spell again and found that he was going too far east. He turned back, took a right turn, and saw an odd golden mist floating ahead of him.

Harry cast a detection spell at the mist and smirked at the result. An enchantment that would turn the victim's world upside-down. Literally. Harry recognized the enchantment which was used as a prank enchantment more than anything else. It was a mixture of an illusion and Confoundus charm which would make the victim think that the world had turned upside down.

Harry steeled his occlumency and walked through the mist. He hardly felt any change as he walked through. The illusion and Confoundus charm were rendered ineffective against his occlumency. He could've dismantled the enchantment with ease but... bah, what was the fun in that?

He started walking ahead through the seemingly endless maze. He was seriously contemplating his plan to just fly over the edges to the center of the maze. The worse part was that he was bored out of his mind. Where were the obstacles? He knew that Fleur had faced one of Hagrid's Screwts', and he had faced a boggart and an enchanted mist so far. There had to be something more.

Where were the Runespoor, the sphinx, and all the other creatures that had been imported?

He met nothing for ten minutes but kept running into dead ends. Twice he took the same wrong turning. Finally, he found a new route and started to jog along it, his light orb making his shadow flicker and distort on the hedge walls. Then he rounded another corner and found himself facing a Blast-Ended Skrewt.

Fleur was right - it was enormous. Ten feet long, it looked more like a giant scorpion than anything. Its long stinger was curled over its back. Its thick armor glinted in the light from Harry's orb.

He immediately cast a powerful severing curse at the armor to chop the monster in half. The spell hit the Skrewt's armor and was deflected off onto the hedge causing severe damage to it.

Harry blinked. Just what the hell was that armor made of? Goblin steel?

The Skrewt issued a blast of fire from its end and flew forward toward him. He immediately cast a banishing charm at the creature and sent it flying back. He wasted no time and immediately blasted it with a jet of water from his wand and encased the Skrewt in it before willing the water to freeze. The water solidified into ice, trapping the creature in it.

Suddenly there was a feminine scream from somewhere to his right. A jet of red sparks was shot into the sky a moment later.

Fleur Delacour was out of the race for the cup. It was the boys now.

He knew she'd be safe between Moody, McGonagall, Flitwick, Hagrid, and the Aurors so he continued ahead. His competitive side was screaming for him to win while a part of him was screaming to just apparate or fly to the center of the maze so that the boring task could end. He suppressed the latter and jogged ahead. He would not cheat.

Every so often he hit more dead ends, but the increasing darkness made him feel sure he was getting near the heart of the maze. Then, as he strode down a long, straight path, he saw movement once again at the end of it. It was some big creature.

Harry walked ahead towards it and saw a majestic sphinx. It had the body of an over-large lion: great clawed paws and a long yellowish tail ending in a brown tuft. Its head, however, was that of a woman. She turned her long, almond-shaped eyes upon Harry as he approached. He raised his wand, hesitating. She was not crouching as if to spring, but pacing from side to side of the path, blocking his progress. Then she spoke, in a deep, hoarse voice. "You are very near your goal. The quickest way is past me."

"So... so will you move, please?" asked Harry, knowing what the answer was going to be.

"No," she said, continuing to pace. "Not unless you can answer my riddle. Answer on your first guess - I let you pass. Answer wrongly - I attack. Remain silent - I will let you walk away from me unscathed."

"Okay," he said. "Can I hear the riddle?" The sphinx sat down upon her hind legs, in the very middle of the path, and recited:

"First think of the person who lives in disguise,

Who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies.

Next, tell me what's always the last thing to mend,

The middle of middle and end of the end?

And finally, give me the sound often heard

During the search for a hard-to-find word.

Now string them together, and answer me this,

Which creature would you be unwilling to kiss?"

'Okay.' Harry thought. 'First two lines mean a spy for sure... the last thing to mend, middle of middle and end of end... m-i-d-d-l-e! The letter D! And... er... wait, sound before a hard-to-find word, 'er'!'

"Spy-d-er, Spider!" He told the sphinx. The sphinx smiled broadly. She got up, stretched her front legs, and then moved aside for him to pass.

"Thanks!" said Harry, and he dashed forward.

He had to be close now, he had to be... His wand was telling him he was bang on the course... Harry broke into a run.

He had a choice of paths up ahead. "Point Me!" he whispered again to his wand, and it spun around and pointed him to the right-hand one. He dashed up this one and saw light ahead. The Triwizard Cup was gleaming on a plinth a hundred yards away. Suddenly a dark figure hurtled out onto the path in front of him.

It was a huge Acromantula. Harry didn't even wait and slashed his wand through the air and a yellow curse shot from it at the spider, cleaving it in half.

Harry cast a detection spell on the area and found no traps. This task was just long and tedious instead of challenging.

He walked forward towards the pedestal where the gleaming Triwizard cup sat proudly waiting to be picked up. He didn't.

Instead, he waved his wand over it, checking it for traps. There was nothing too suspicious about it. An anti-summoning, an unbreakable charm, a light rune which was making it glow, an enchantment to print the name of the winner on it automatically, and a portkey charm... which was probably meant to take him to the stage.

It was easy enough. He had won.

He touched the cup and felt the expected jerk behind his navel. His feet had left the ground. The Triwizard Cup pulled him onward in a howl of wind and swirling color.

Harry felt his feet slam into the ground. He immediately felt a wave of disorientation hit him. Suddenly he felt an incoming stunner from behind and ducked out of the way. His feeling of disorientation was increasing by the second. He just knew two things: He was no longer at Hogwarts and he was under attack.

He unleashed a barrage of deadly curses in the direction from where the spell had come from. A scream was heard just as a stunner hit Harry's chest from his left. Thankfully, his vest protected him from the spell. He turned to the place where the spell had come from, tightening his occlumency as much as he could, trying to lessen the disorientation that was increasing by the second.

He erected a shield to stop a barrage of stunners, disarmers, and bone breakers that came from his behind this time. There were more than three attackers. He immediately tried to apparate out but couldn't. He was under powerful wards.

He let out a powerful roar and unleashed a firestorm which was a lesser version of Fiendfyre. Had he been less disoriented or nauseous, he would've unleashed the flames of hell on them. But, he was not sure if he could control them in this state.

His head felt like it was splitting apart and burning at the same time. His gut was clenching uncomfortably and his dinner was trying to come out.

He erected a dome shield as he felt attacks coming from two more directions before grunting in pain as he felt his headache increase to exponential levels. He jabbed his wand towards the ground which rumbled before earthen spikes shot out in all directions around him. His shield broke and he deflected another stunner from his left before shooting an acid-blood curse in the assailant's direction. From the scream that followed, he knew he had hit true.

He felt his firestorm being put out by someone. He could see a man's visage in the light produced by his fire and shot a silent killing curse at the man. The last thing he saw was the man being hit with the green light as he felt a stunner connect with his head.

---

Harry groaned as he came back to consciousness. The first thing he noticed was that he had been bound by ropes... magic restraining ropes. Second, he was in a dark and overgrown graveyard; the black outline of a small church was visible beyond a large yew tree to his right. A hill rose above him to his left. Harry could just make out the outline of a fine old house on the hillside.

Also, he had been tied to a headstone. The bonds were quite tight and unbreakable. He also had a wad of cloth stuffed in his mouth.

In front of him, two men, one of whom was holding a bundle of robes in his hand stood in front of a huge stone cauldron a little distance away from where he was tied. The cauldron looked large enough to fit Hagrid in it. A large fire was lit under the cauldron. The liquid in the cauldron seemed to be heating very fast. The surface began not only to bubble but to send out fiery sparks, as though it were on fire. Steam was thickening, blurring the outline of the men tending to the potion in it.

He looked at the bundle of robes, trying to discern what it was. As he looked at it, his famous lightning bolt scar itched. It wasn't as bad as the pain he felt in his scar through his first year at Hogwarts. Heck, it was nowhere near that intensity either. Just a mild itch.

But, he understood perfectly well what it was... or precisely who it was. Lord Voldemort.

He suddenly hears noises at his feet. He looked down and saw a gigantic snake slithering through the grass, circling the headstone where he was tied. It was magical for sure. Harry could tell that by just looking at it.

Harry then heard the high, cold voice that had haunted his nightmares as a child. "Hurry!"

The whole surface of the potion was alight with sparks now. It might have been encrusted with diamonds.

"It is ready. Master." A gravelly voice said.

"Now..." ordered Voldemort in a cold voice

The man holding the Dark Lord pulled open the bundle of robes, revealing what was inside them, and Harry let out a yell that was strangled in the wad of material blocking his mouth.

It was hairless and scaly-looking, a dark, raw, reddish-black toddler. Its arms and legs were thin and feeble, and its face - no child alive ever had a face like that - flat and snakelike, with gleaming red eyes. It was the most hideous thing he had seen.

For one moment, Harry saw the evil, flat face illuminated in the sparks dancing on the surface of the potion. And then the man lowered the creature into the cauldron; there was a hiss, and it vanished below the surface; Harry heard its frail body hit the bottom with a soft thud. 'Let it drown,' Harry thought desperately, 'please... let it drown...'

Then, the man began speaking. His voice shook; he seemed frightened beyond his wits. He raised his wand, closed his eyes, and spoke to the night. "Bone of the father, unknowingly given, you will renew your son!"

The surface of the grave at Harry's feet cracked. Horrified, Harry watched as a fine trickle of dust rose into the air at the man's command and fell softly into the cauldron. The diamond surface of the water broke and hissed; it sent sparks in all directions and turned a vivid, poisonous-looking blue. The men then pulled a long, thin, shining silver dagger from inside his cloak. His voice broke into petrified sobs. "Flesh - of the servant - w-willingly given - you will - revive - your master. "

He stretched his right hand out in front of him. He gripped the dagger very tightly in his left hand and swung it upward. Harry watched with wide eyes as the man cut his hand off and screamed in pain. The potion had turned a burning red; the light of it shone brightly in the darkness of the night.

The second man rubbed his hands gleefully. The man who had cut his arm turned to Harry and came towards him with a new silver knife in his hands.

As the man came forward, Harry recognized with a start who the man was: Walden MacNair.

"B-blood of the enemy… forcibly taken... you will... resurrect your foe."

Harry could do nothing to prevent it, he was tied too tightly. . .. Squinting down, struggling hopelessly at the ropes binding him, he saw the shining silver dagger shaking in MacNair's remaining hand. He felt its point penetrate the crook of his right arm and blood seeping down the sleeve of his torn robes. MacNair, still panting with pain, rumbled in his pocket for a glass vial and held it to Harry's cut, so that a dribble of blood fell into it. He staggered back to the cauldron with Harry's blood. He poured it inside. The liquid within turned, instantly, a blinding white.

MacNair, his job done, dropped to his knees beside the cauldron, then slumped sideways and lay on the ground, cradling the bleeding stump of his arm, gasping and sobbing. The cauldron was simmering, sending its diamond sparks in all directions, so blindingly bright that it turned all else to velvety blackness. Nothing happened...

'Let it have drowned.' Harry prayed, 'let the ritual have gone wrong...'

And then, suddenly, the sparks emanating from the cauldron were extinguished. A surge of white steam billowed thickly from the cauldron instead, obliterating everything in front of Harry, so that he couldn't see the men or anything but vapor hanging in the air.

Harry held his breath, hoping that the ritual failed and Voldemort died... it would save him a lot of trouble if that happened.

His hopes were completely dashed a moment later as through the mist in front of him, he saw, with an icy surge of terror, the dark outline of a man, tall and skeletally thin, rising slowly from inside the cauldron. "Robe me," said the high, cold voice from behind the steam.

The second man moved to provide Voldemort with his robe. He stepped out of the cauldron, staring at Harry . . . and Harry stared back into the face that had haunted his nightmares for three years. Whiter than a skull, with wide, livid scarlet eyes and a nose that was flat as a snake with slits for nostrils...

Lord Voldemort, the one who orphaned him, his arch-nemesis had risen again.

Notes:

To all who are interested, there's a Haphne Discord server around. There are new story prompts, mayhem, author discussion, movie nights, and bunnies. If that hasn't piqued your interest, I'm on there as well so if you want to talk to me that'd be one way to do it. Also, we're pretty cool people there and are pretty open to all types of shippers. In case I've finally gotten you interested, here's the link: discord . gg / pKSdvJQvhU [Remove the space]

I am also on the Pertemis server which is a PJO server where I also have my update channel along with some other famous authors. Link: discord . gg / Bv8NpYhXe6 [Remove the space]

.

Stay Happy! Stay safe! Keep Smiling! Keep reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 49: DISCORD SERVER ANNOUNCEMENT

DISCORD SERVER ANNOUNCEMENT
(PLEASE READ)

Dearest readers!

It is my immense pleasure to announce that I have launched my very own Discord Server: House of HPfanfictioner66.

I have created it with the help of my two very good friends. I really hope to see you all there and have fun with you all. There, you can communicate with me, ask me questions regarding my fics, give your own theories, and even... wait, why should I tell you everything here? Come over and check it all out yourself!

Discord Server Invite Link: https://discord.gg/4qfP3fxdQ4

Chapter 50: Battle of Little Hangleton

Ch. 49 Battle of Little Hangleton

24th June 1995

Little Hangleton Graveyard

Voldemort looked away from Harry and began examining his own body. His hands were like large, pale spiders; his long white fingers caressed his own chest, his arms, his face; the red eyes, whose pupils were slits, like a cat's, gleamed still more brightly through the darkness. He held up his hands and flexed the fingers, his expression rapt and exultant. He took not the slightest notice of MacNair, who lay twitching and bleeding on the ground, nor of the great snake, which had slithered back into sight and was circling Harry again, hissing.

Harry remembered what Dumbledore had told him about Lord Voldemort three years ago after the Philosopher's stone fiasco. 'Lord Voldemort shows just as little mercy to his followers as his enemies.'

He put a hand in the pocket of his robes and took out a wand before giving it a flick as if trying it out. He scowled before glaring at Harry. Harry would've smirked in response if not for the gag on his mouth. He had broken Voldemort's wand when Pettigrew had been found and threw it in the fire. It was likely that Voldemort was using a wand that didn't suit him. But, to be frank, a semi-compatible wand would hardly matter to someone of Voldemort's caliber, but it would definitely give Harry some edge.

The second man kneeled at Voldemort's feet and kissed the hem of his robes.

"Master," He said reverently.

"Augustus, your arm please," Voldemort said and Harry blinked in shock. Augustus? Augustus Rookwood? The man had died in Azkaban a few months ago!

Rookwood held his left arm out and rolled his left sleeve up to his elbow. Even in the little light, Harry could clearly see the dark mark on the man's pale skin: a vivid greenish-black tattoo - a skull with a snake protruding from its mouth.

"It is back," Voldemort said softly, mirroring Harry's thoughts. "they will all have noticed it... and now, we shall see... now we shall know..." He pressed his long white forefinger to the brand on Rookwood's arm. The man screamed in pain and... pleasure as the mark was touched.

With a look of cruel satisfaction on his face, Voldemort straightened up, threw back his head, and stared around at the dark graveyard. "How many will be brave enough to return when they feel it?" he whispered, his gleaming red eyes fixed upon the stars. "And how many will be foolish enough to stay away?"

He looked down at Harry again, a cruel smile twisting his snakelike face before coming closer. Harry saw him discreetly waving his wand and erecting a privacy dome.

"You stand, Harry Potter, upon the remains of my late father," he hissed softly. "A Muggle and a fool... very like your dear mother. But they both had their uses, did they not? Your mother died to defend you as a child... and I killed my father, and see how useful he has proved himself, in death..." Voldemort laughed again. Up and down he paced, careful to remain in the confines of his privacy dome, looking all around him as he walked, and the snake continued to circle in the grass.

"You see that house upon the hillside, Potter? My father lived there. My mother, a witch who lived here in this village, fell in love with him. But he abandoned her when she told him what she was... He didn't like magic, my father... He left her and returned to his Muggle parents before I was even born, Potter. And she died giving birth to me, leaving me to be raised in a Muggle orphanage... but I vowed to find him... I revenged myself upon him, that fool who gave me his name... Tom Riddle..."

Still, he paced, his red eyes darting from grave to grave. "Listen to me, reliving family history..." he said quietly, "why, I am growing quite sentimental... But look, Harry! My true family returns..."

The air was suddenly full of the swishing of cloaks. Between graves, behind the yew tree, in every shadowy space, wizards were Apparating. All of them were hooded and masked. And one by one they moved forward... slowly, cautiously, as though they could hardly believe their eyes Voldemort stood in silence, waiting for them. Then one of the Death Eaters fell to his knees, crawled toward Voldemort, and kissed the hem of his black robes. "Master... Master..." he murmured.

The Death Eaters behind him did the same; each of them approached Voldemort on their knees and kissed his robes, before backing away and standing up, forming a silent circle, which enclosed Tom Riddle's grave, Harry, Voldemort, and the sobbing and twitching heap that was MacNair. Yet they left gaps in the circle, as though waiting for more people.

Voldemort, however, did not seem to expect more. He looked around at the hooded faces, and though there was no wind rustling seemed to run around the circle, as though it had shivered.

"Welcome, Death Eaters," said Voldemort quietly. "Thirteen years... thirteen years since last we met. Yet you answer my call as though it were yesterday, we are still united under the Dark Mark, then! Or are we?"

He put back his terrible face and sniffed, his slit-like nostrils widening. "I smell guilt," he said. "There is a stench of guilt upon the air." A second shiver ran around the circle, as though each member of it longed, but did not dare to step back from him. "I see you all, whole and healthy, with your powers intact - such prompt appearances! And I ask myself... why did this band of wizards never come to the aid of their master, to whom they swore eternal loyalty?"

No one spoke. No one moved except MacNair, who was upon the ground, still sobbing over his bleeding arm. "And I answer myself," whispered Voldemort, "they must have believed me broken, they thought I was gone. They slipped back among my enemies, and they pleaded innocence, ignorance, and bewitchment..."

Harry was getting seriously bored by the monologue but had nothing better to do. He was tied to a fucking headstone by magic-restraining ropes and gagged. Tom Riddle continued his monologue, expressing his disappointment in his followers. He even placed Avery Senior under the cruciatus for a whole minute when he had suddenly flung himself in Voldemort's feet, begging for forgiveness.

Harry ideally noted how much control Voldemort truly had over his Death Eaters. No one dared move a muscle when he walked near or spoke. No one moved a bit when he Crucioed Avery and the man screamed in pain neither did someone move to help MacNair who was bleeding out on the ground

"—repayment before I forgive you. MacNair here has already paid some of it, haven't you, MacNair?" Voldemort asked rhetorically. "And Lord Voldemort rewards his helpers..."

Voldemort raised his wand again and whirled it through the air. A streak of what looked like molten silver hung shining in the wand's wake. Momentarily shapeless, it writhed and then formed itself into a gleaming replica of a human hand, bright as moonlight, which soared downward and fixed itself upon the man's wrist.

Harry recognized the spell immediately. It was a Parselmagic spell invented by Salazar for giving Godric Gryffindor two fingers that he had lost. It was present in the outer library of the chamber as well. The problem with the spell was that the one who made it could control it to a certain degree if needed or fix certain functions.

MacNair's sobbing stopped abruptly. His breathing harsh and ragged, he raised his head and stared in disbelief at the silver hand, now attached seamlessly to his arm, as though he were wearing a dazzling glove. He flexed the shining fingers, then, trembling, picked up a small twig on the ground and crushed it into powder. "My Lord," he whispered. "Master... it is beautiful... thank you... thank you..." He scrambled forward on his knees and kissed the hem of Voldemort's robes.

"May your loyalty never waver again, Walden," Voldemort ordered.

"Never, my lord!" He stood up and took his place in the circle, staring at his powerful new hand, his face still shining with tears. Voldemort now approached the man on his right.

"Lucius, my slippery friend," he whispered, halting before him. "I am told that you have not renounced the old ways, though to the world you present a respectable face. You are still ready to take the lead in a spot of Muggle-torture, I believe? Yet you never tried to find me, Lucius... Your exploits at the Quidditch World Cup were fun, I daresay... even if they were unsuccessful... but might not your energies have been better directed toward finding and aiding your master?"

"My Lord, I was constantly on the alert," came Lucius Malfoy's voice swiftly from beneath the hood. "Had there been any sign from you, any whisper of your whereabouts, I would have been at your side immediately, nothing could have prevented me -"

"And yet you ran from my Mark when a faithful Death Eater sent it into the sky last summer?" said Voldemort lazily, and Malfoy stopped talking abruptly. "Yes, I know all about that, Lucius... You have disappointed me... I expect more faithful service in the future."

"Of course, my Lord, of course... You are merciful, thank you..." Voldemort moved on, and stopped, staring at the space - large enough for two people - that separated Malfoy and the next man.

"The Lestranges should stand here," said Voldemort quietly. "But they are entombed in Azkaban. They were faithful. They went to Azkaban rather than renounce me... The Lestranges will be honored beyond their dreams when Azkaban is broken open. The dementors will join us... they are our natural allies... we will recall the banished giants... I shall have all my devoted servants returned to me, and an army of creatures whom all fear..."

Harry would've rubbed his hands in glee had they not been tied. Voldemort was giving away his plans like candy on Halloween!

Voldemort addressed the Death Eaters one by one and Harry noted all of their names in his mind. It was vital information. He had to know his enemies especially in a war

He finally stopped before addressing Rookwood and looked behind the man. For the first time, Harry, and the Death Eaters it seemed, noticed six figures lying on the ground with a white blanket covering them.

"My loyal servants, who answered my call when I needed it the most... all of whom were martyred trying to secure my return... It is due to their sacrifice that I stand here today... along with Augustus's impressive enchantments, MacNair's sacrifice, and the aid of one of my most loyal servants who made it all possible. He is at Hogwarts, that faithful servant, and it was through his efforts that our young friend arrived here tonight..."

Heads snapped in Harry's direction.

"Yes," said Voldemort, a grin curling his lipless mouth as the eyes of the circle flashed in Harry's direction. "Harry Potter has kindly joined us for my rebirthing party. One might go so far as to call him my guest of honor."

With a flick of his wand, he removed Harry's gag who breathed in deeply.

"Master, we crave to know... we beg you to tell us... how you have achieved this... this miracle... how you managed to return to us..." Lucius Malfoy said, giving Harry time to adjust his bearings.

"Ah, what a story it is, Lucius," said Voldemort. "And it begins - and ends - with my young friend here." He walked lazily over to stand next to Harry so that the eyes of the whole circle were upon the two of them. The snake continued to circle. "You know, of course, that they have called this boy my downfall?" Voldemort said softly, his red eyes upon Harry, "You all know that on the night I lost my powers and my body, I tried to kill him. His mother died in the attempt to save him - and unwittingly provided him with a protection I admit I had not foreseen... I could not touch the boy." Voldemort raised one of his long white fingers and put it very close to Harry's cheek. "His mother left upon him the traces of her sacrifice... This is old magic, I should have remembered it, I was foolish to overlook it... but no matter. I can touch him now."

Harry felt the cold tip of the long white finger touch him, "Pervert." He muttered before saying out loud, "But, the fact remains, you got outwitted by a mere muggleborn. How does it feel to be outwitted by someone whom you considered a low-life?"

"I admit, I made a mistake in not recognizing the sacrificial magic that your mother performed that night and I paid for it... but you, Harry Potter, have been a thorn in my side for the past four years."

"My pleasure," Harry mocked and Voldemort seemed amused rather than angry at his jabs.

"For a person who is tied, restrained, and surrounded by enemies, you seem overly confident, Harry Potter... Though, then again, I will give it to you that you are a capable wizard. Much better than I anticipated when I saw you in your first year! Indeed, a fully corporeal Patronus at thirteen, Under-18 world dueling champion, the one who single-handedly caught eleven of my Death Eaters without a scratch, Chimera slayer, the youngest winner of Order of Merlin: First class, killer of assassins, and as of moments ago, the winner of the fabled Triwizard Tournament." Voldemort said, glancing at the Triwizard cup that was lying a few meters away.

"For an ex-wraith, you seem to be pretty up to date with the news," Harry noted.

"So, I am going to give you an offer that I, Lord Voldemort, have never given to anyone. Join my ranks as my second-in-command!" He declared grandly.

Harry blinked in shock. Okay, this was an unexpected turn of events. Something he had never anticipated in the wildest of his dreams.

"Think carefully, Harry Potter. You are the first and probably the last person to receive such an offer, that too twice that too, at such a young age!"

"A most wonderful offer," Harry said with sarcasm dripping from his tone. "But, I'll have to decline it."

"A pity and waste of such potential when I would kill you then," Voldemort told Harry before turning to his Death Eaters. "You see my friends? The defiance of this fool who dares stand in front of Lord Voldemort?"

The Death Eaters laughed in unison, but Harry could hear the hesitation in it. He smirked. "We've met thrice till date and I remember you losing every time, Voldemort."

Voldemort turned to him, his red eyes narrowing as his slit-like nostrils flared. "You dare intone my name?" He hissed.

"What, Voldemort? French for the word Flight from Death and a stupid anagram for To—" Harry moved his mouth to speak further but no sound came from it. Voldemort had used a silencing charm on him.

"I miscalculated, my friends, I admit it. My curse was deflected by the woman's foolish sacrifice, and it rebounded upon me. Aaah... pain beyond pain, my friends; nothing could have prepared me for it..." The dark Lord started to monologue again, telling about his pitiful condition once he was ripped from his body thirteen years ago on Halloween night. He told them how he survived by possessing snakes. Finally, he came to the events in Harry's first year.

"Then... four years ago... the means for my return seemed assured. A wizard - young, foolish, and gullible wandered across my path in the forest I had made my home. Oh, he seemed the very chance I had been dreaming of... for he was a teacher at Dumbledore's school... he was easy to bend to my will... he brought me back to this country, and after a while, I took possession of his body, to supervise him closely as he carried out my orders. But my plan failed. I did not manage to steal the Philosopher's Stone. I was not to be assured immortal life. I was thwarted... thwarted, once again, by Harry Potter..."

Silence once more; nothing was stirring, not even the leaves on the yew tree. The Death Eaters were quite motionless, the glittering eyes in their masks fixed upon Voldemort and Harry.

"The servant died when I left his body, and I was left as weak as ever I had been," Voldemort continued. "I returned to my hiding place far away, and I will not pretend to you that I didn't then fear that I might never regain my powers... Yes, that was perhaps my darkest hour... I could not hope that I would be sent another wizard to possess... and I had given up hope, now, that any of my Death Eaters cared what had become of me."

One or two of the Death Eaters in the circle moved uncomfortably, but Voldemort took no notice.

"And then, not even a year ago, when I had almost abandoned hope, it happened at last... a servant returned to me. MacNair here. My faithful servant. He came to search for me on the leads given by Peter Pettigrew, or Wormtail as we called him... my spy in Dumbledore's Order. MacNair met him in the ministry holding cell, where Pettigrew gave him all the information he had gathered over thirteen years in hiding. Wormtail is yet another of my loyal servants who is in Azkaban by the actions of Harry Potter." He said, glancing at Harry.

Harry, on the other hand, was feeling enraged. He should've killed the rat.

"MacNair acted on the information and immediately came to find me in the forests where Wormtail told him that I could be. After a month and a half of continuously searching, he finally found me! And, I started scheming. We decided to travel back to England first. But the journey back to me was not smooth, was it, MacNair? For, hungry one night, on the edge of the very forest where he had found me, he foolishly stopped at an inn for some food... and who should he meet there, but one Bertha Jorkins, a witch from the Ministry of Magic. " Voldemort narrated.

"Now see the way that fate favors Lord Voldemort. MacNair here convinced Bertha Jorkins to accompany him on a nighttime stroll. He overpowered her and brought her to me. And Bertha Jorkins proved to be a gift beyond my wildest dreams... with a little persuasion she became a veritable mine of information. She told me that the Triwizard Tournament would be played at Hogwarts this year. She told me that she knew of a faithful Death Eater who would be only too willing to help me if I could only contact him. She told me many things... but the means I used to break the Memory Charm upon her were powerful, and when I had extracted all useful information from her, her mind and body were both damaged beyond repair. She had now served her purpose. I could not possess her. I disposed of her."

Voldemort smiled his terrible smile, his red eyes blank and pitiless.

"MacNair, with my instructions, was able to provide me a rudimentary body of my own, a body I would be able to inhabit while awaiting the essential ingredients for true rebirth... a spell or two of my own invention... a little help from my dear Nagini," Voldemort's red eyes fell upon the continually circling snake,

"A potion concocted from unicorn blood, and the snake venom Nagini provided... I was soon returned to an almost human form, and strong enough to travel. There was no hope of stealing the Philosopher's Stone anymore, for I knew that Dumbledore would have seen to it that it was destroyed. But I was willing to embrace mortal life again, before chasing immortality. I set my sights lower... I would settle for my old body back again, and my old strength."

"I knew that to achieve this - it is an old piece of Dark Magic, the potion that revived me tonight - I would need three powerful ingredients. Well, one of them was already at hand, was it not, MacNair? Flesh given by a servant... My father's bone, which naturally meant that we would have to come here, where he was buried. But the blood of a foe... the hardest part to obtain was that." He said, before fixing his eyes upon Harry.

"MacNair would have had me use any wizard, would you not, MacNair? Any wizard who had hated me... as so many of them still do. But I knew the one I must use if I was to rise again, more powerful than I had been when I had fallen. I wanted Harry Potter's blood. I wanted the blood of the one who had stripped me of power thirteen years ago... for the lingering protection his mother once gave him would then reside in my veins too..."

Harry showed no reaction. His mother's protection was something that no one knew the potential of. But, Harry did know one thing. It laid equally in his magic, his blood, and his soul. That was what Harry and the Founders had theorized at least. The best, Harry estimated, was that Voldemort would not burn as he did in Harry's first year by a simple touch... which was a touch disappointing as Harry wanted to do it to Voldemort.

"But, how to get him? Potter was better protected than the greatest of treasures in the highest-security vaults of Gringotts. Dumbledore always ensured that. I was not yet strong enough to attempt to kidnap amid a horde of Ministry wizards when he went to the world cup or fight him myself in that form. And then, the boy would return to Hogwarts, where he is under the crooked nose of that Muggle-loving fool from morning until night. So how could I take him?"

"Why... by using Bertha Jorkins's information, of course! I went and rescued one of my faithful servants who had been locked away in his own mind and placed him at Hogwarts. He entered Potter's name in the goblet of fire. Potter, though used it as a perfect opportunity to showcase that by killing a Chimera. Then there was the whole assassination attempt carried out by someone on Potter at the ministry of magic as his award ceremony started. He killed several of the attackers single-handedly and was seen subduing Fiendfyre. That was when I decided, a normal trap for Potter won't do... I needed a specialist. Who better than Augustus, whose knowledge of magics is only second to me here..."

"So, I concocted yet another plan. MacNair went to the ministry and arranged matters which led him to go to Azkaban for a prison check to check on the werewolves inmates there. He confounded and obliviated the warden there and released Rookwood while replacing him with a golem... a replica of Augustus's body made by me which would give a result similar to that of a dead wizard when checked by magic. And so, Augustus Rookwood died for the world, but in reality, he came back to serve me and aid me to reach my previous power and herald the wizarding world into a new age!"

Harry had to admit that Voldemort knew how to make a speech. If he had been a teacher, he could've held even the most mischievous class in control better than Snape and McGonagall combined.

"Of course," Voldemort continued. "Even after Augustus was freed, he took a month to recover, and then, our work began. We laid wards... wards that would make Gringotts jealous. We even invented a special portkey ward... the ward which played a vital role in the capture of Harry Potter. The ward was meant to knock him out immediately. At least created with the intention that anyone portkeying in would be knocked out and petrified immediately. Unfortunately, when the rigged portkey, which was rigged by my spy at Hogwarts, brought Potter here, he fought the effect of the ward... likely the protection his mudblood mother put on him." Voldemort continued, shooting a look at Harry at the fighting part.

Harry immediately understood that Voldemort knew of his advanced occlumency. No person could've fought it without level seven occlumency for as long as Harry did. But, he doubted his theory, not believing it to be a possibility. He was still underestimating Harry.

'Good for me.' Harry thought to himself.

"Now, he would've been successful and I dare say, escaped successfully as soon as he came here. But, of course, I had backups. First, I had made the ward in such a way that it would continue knocking how many ever people came with the portkey till they were properly unconscious. It continued affecting the boy, fighting the protection bit by bit. I also had the foresight to have a backup in numbers to subdue Potter. Unfortunately, while they were successful, we lost five another of our comrades to Potter's wand. For that, I applaud you, Harry Potter." Here, Voldemort gave mocking applause while looking at Harry.

Harry understood what he was doing. He was proving to his Death Eaters that, despite all of Harry's accomplishments, Voldemort was still better. He was the top dog. He was asserting that he was the best.

Harry decided, that he would have to change that.

"So, Harry Potter. For the last time, I ask, will you join my forces. Your other options are of course... I torture you till you say yes and in case you still refuse... death. What do you say?"

Harry felt the silencing ward being removed.

"Fuck off." He replied.

"Crucio."

Harry immediately felt that his bones were on fire and knives were stabbing all over his body. It was pain beyond what he had ever experienced. But, through sheer will and mental strength, he overpowered through it and resisted the urge to scream. He just grunted.

The next moment, Voldemort lifted the curse. It was thankfully brief and won't affect him. Now, Harry needed to goad Voldemort into a fight and think of an escape plan.

Voldemort smirked coldly "What do you—"

He was cut short by a bark of laughter from Harry. Harry gave Voldemort a predatory look while grinning maniacally.

"Have you already lost your sanity from a single cruciatus, Potter?" Voldemort asked with amusement.

"No... I just love your fear Voldemort... you reek of fear and cowardice... And I love this fear."

"YOU DARE POTTER?"

"You are so afraid of facing me that you have me here, tied, unarmed, helpless, and surrounded by your men... and yet, and yet you are torturing me, trying to weaken me so when you kill me, I can't fight back and defeat you again," Harry said, making sure that everyone in the graveyard heard him. "And, I love this fear from you."

"You are afraid that I will make your curse rebound again like I did, thirteen years ago... you are afraid of facing me... and I love your fear. The great dark lord, trembling against the might of a fourteen-year-old." Harry laughed again mockingly. "See Death Eaters! Look at your mighty master! Afraid of me! Afraid to face a fourteen-year-old like a true wizard... Your master is nothing but a coward."

"Release him, MacNair," Voldemort hissed, his red eyes burning with fury. Harry could smell the magic from Voldemort.

"W-What M-master?"

"You heard me! Release Potter! I want to put this insolent boy in his place." Voldemort ordered, glaring at the man. A moment later, he turned to Harry as MacNair scrambled to untie him.

"After today, the world shall only talk about how you challenged me... and lost so badly, that you begged for death, and I, being a merciful Lord... gave it. You shall regret challenging me, Potter." He hissed.

Harry withheld his smirk. Now, he would be untied and have a chance to escape from here, hopefully after beating Voldemort up a bit and causing damage to his forces. Killing him would do no good at the moment because of the Horcruxes. At least, human Voldemort would be more manageable than spirit Voldemort. Harry decided to just intimidate Voldemort, scare the shit out of his followers, kill a few of them before escaping with his life intact somehow.

Skepticism among the ranks of death eaters and diminishing their trust in Voldemort's abilities could be a vital point for the war. After all, who would follow a leader who got beaten up by a fourteen-year-old willingly? Also, a blow to Voldemort's inner circle would cause a shift in his favor.

Also, Harry knew he couldn't face all the inner-circle Death Eaters and Voldemort at the same time. Voldemort was a Titan of Magic and a ruthless killer and his Death Eaters, especially most of the inner circle were no slouches in combat. And he had no idea of the limits of Voldemort's ritualistic body.

MacNair untied the ropes binding Harry to the gravestone and he immediately felt the sensation of his magic tingling through his body. He took a second to stabilize his magic throughout his body and shook off all remaining traces of the ward's magic from his mind. Next, he wandlessly applied a healing charm and numbing charm on his body. The cut that had been made to take his blood, started to heal and the sleeve repaired itself.

Out of the corner of his eyes, He saw the Death Eaters had closed ranks, forming a tighter circle around him and Voldemort so that the gaps where the missing Death Eaters should have stood were filled.

He mentally grinned. Deflecting Voldemort's curses on them would be fun.

"Give the boy his wand, MacNair," Voldemort ordered, now standing a respectable distance away for a duel. Harry mentally noted that it was a little more than the official distance before official duels began in International Dueling Championships.

"No need, Voldemort. I'll do it myself." Harry said before wandlessly summoning his wand to his hand. Voldemort raised his non-existent eyebrows at the display of wandless magic. Harry, on the other hand, relished in the feeling of being reunited with his wand as it thrummed with magic, ready for the fight to come. He opened his eyes, which were the glowing emerald green of the killing curse, and swished his wand through the air discreetly conjuring invisible butterflies.

He walked a little towards his right so that he was facing Voldemort properly.

"Let us match, the powers of the great Harry Potter, versus the power of Lord Voldemort. I presume you've been taught how to duel, Harry?"

"I am the under-18 international dueling champion, you idiot. I know how to duel." Harry replied dryly as Voldemort's slit-like nostrils flared.

"We bow to each other. Harry," said Voldemort, bending a little, but keeping his snakelike face upturned to Harry. "Come, the niceties must be observed... Dumbledore would like you to show manners... Bow to death, Harry..."

The Death Eaters were laughing again. Voldemort's lipless mouth was smiling.

"I don't bow to a low life like you, Voldemort," Harry simply replied.

"IMPERIO! Bow to me!"

Harry felt the imperious curse wash over him, more powerful than he had ever experienced. A lesser wizard would have succumbed to it but not Harry. He just flipped Voldemort the bird in response.

The laughing from the Death Eaters stopped abruptly. No one had expected Harry to shrug off the imperious curse from the dark lord in less than a second.

Voldemort became even more enraged at that and intoned, "I SAID BOW!" An invisible force leaped out of Voldemort's wand towards Harry. Harry felt the power behind it and instantly nullified it wordlessly. He was not going to bow to Voldemort, come what may. He won't give Voldemort the satisfaction.

"Now, if your pathetic attempts to make me bow are over, shall we duel?" Harry asked in a calm and inquisitive tone.

"CRUCIO!" Voldemort roared. Harry intercepted the Cruciatus in the nick of time with an invisible butterfly near to his chest and stood still, looking at Voldemort. To all, it looked like he had been hit with the cruciatus and yet was standing as if nothing had happened. Even Voldemort's eyes widened.

"Ouch," Harry said just to be nice.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" This time, Voldemort shot a killing curse. Harry knew he had intimidated Voldemort by now. As the killing curse sped towards him, he brought yet another invisible butterfly to intercept the spell, similar to how he had intercepted the cruciatus. The poor butterfly died instantly. But the job had been done.

Harry could see the fear in Voldemort's red eyes. He was afraid of Harry.

Harry grinned.

"Zero out of three. My turn now." Harry said and slashed his wand, shooting three curses in a single. A gouging curse followed by a heart-exploding curse and finally a blood-acid curse. Voldemort flicked his wand and erected a shield to stop the curses. Three gongs resonated throughout the graveyard as Harry's spells impacted the shield.

"Impressive, Potter. I see you have learned some tricks. Now, let me show you true power." Saying so, Voldemort flicked his wand shooting a torrent of hot flames towards Harry who met it with a huge ball of water, extinguishing the flames. He flicked his wand again, turning the water into ice spikes which shot at Voldemort who vaporized the ice spikes into steam with a single movement of his wand before shooting two spells in Harry's direction.

Harry deflected the spells, though none hit the Death Eaters behind him. Pity.

He started shooting spells at Voldemort in rapid succession. "Piercio, Conlido, Expelliarmus, Fio Extrailis, Frascia, Confringo, Os Fragmentum, Brazo Sanguis, Defodio."

Voldemort gracefully deflected the first three spells before erecting a shield to stop the Entrail-Extracting curse. The next moment, the shield was shattered as Harry's shield-breaker and the Blasting curse impacted it. Voldemort barely dodged the bone-breaker aimed at his neck before deflecting the blood-boiling curse and the gouging spell. The Gouging spell hit the ground leaving a small crater while the blood-boiling curse rushed towards where Augustus Rookwood was standing who unfortunately was quick enough to shield against it.

Voldemort jabbed his wand in Harry's direction, shooting a black colored spell at Harry who recognized it as a spell that would burn him inside out. He immediately deflected the spell out of the way and shot a wordless killing curse at Voldemort. From behind him, he heard a small boom followed by a blood-curling scream. He didn't bother to look behind as he knew that one of the Death Eaters was killed by the deflected spell.

Voldemort meanwhile intercepted Harry's killing curse by raising a wall of dirt in front of him.

"My, my Harry. Such Dark spells... what would Dumbledore say?"

"He would say, 'Pity it didn't hit Voldemort.'" Harry replied before brandishing his wand in Voldemort's direction. The ground at Voldemort's feet rumbled and the Dark Lord flew up in the air in the nick of time as a huge Serpent head made of soil emerged from where he was the next moment, its jaws snapping at him. Voldemort looked down and shot two blasting curses at the mud-creation, destroying it before shooting an orange-colored spell in Harry's direction... or where Harry was a moment ago.

Voldemort blinked in confusion for a moment as his curse hit the ground, and melted a small crater in the ground. A second later, he instinctively raised a powerful silvery shield as spells rained down upon him from above. Voldemort looked up and saw that Harry too was floating in the air, shooting spells at him.

He roared and launched a flurry of spells at Harry who dodged and deflected it before launching a shockwave in Voldemort's direction. Voldemort immediately shielded against the shockwave before returning fire.

Harry's magic thrummed as he battled Voldemort in mid-air. It was the deadliest and toughest fight he had ever been in. He was being pushed to his limits as he kept up with Voldemort who was incredibly fast. Voldemort's ritualistic body was much faster than humanly possible as he dodged and shot powerful spells. Harry also noticed the Death Eaters below had erected bunker shields to protect themselves and their companions from the spell-fire.

Voldemort shot four powerful blasting curses in Harry's direction. Harry just flew out of the way and allowed the spells to sail harmlessly past him. He brandished his wand like a whip and a whip of lightning flew at Voldemort and wrapped around his torso. The man was unaffected by it and in a blink of an eye, he converted the whip wrapped around him into two Black mambas which flew towards Harry, slithering in mid-air.

Harry responded by cutting each snake into three pieces with a single spell and transfiguring each into a metal spike before banishing the spikes at Voldemort. Voldemort moved his wand in a circle and the six spikes melted to form a metal shield and intercepted Harry's Confringo which had followed.

Voldemort whipped his wand and a dozen arrows flew towards Harry who burnt them all to ashes with a gust of flames before shooting a severing curse, a bone breaker, and a skin melting curse while wandlessly sending a banishing charm at Voldemort. Voldemort deflected the three curses but the wandless banishing charm from Harry caught Voldemort in the shoulder and he was sent sprawling onto the ground.

Voldemort hissed in pain before rolling out of the way as a killing curse hit the ground where he was a few milliseconds ago. He immediately jumped to his feet and ducked under a peach-colored curse unknown to him before erecting a shield, stopping the next set of spells shot at him.

Harry too landed on the ground and dodged as Voldemort shot some nasty spells in his direction. Harry started to gather the magic from the air and slashed his wand downwards shooting a powerful bolt of lightning at the Dark Lord.

Voldemort immediately raised an elemental shield to stop the bolt of lightning but, the sheer power behind it sent him skidding a couple of feet back. But, the shield held. He dropped it and shot a Coma curse followed by an organ-melting curse.

Harry deflected them with ease before shooting a Reducto at Voldemort. The spell clashed with a lung-shredding curse from Voldemort and both were deflected towards the circle of Death Eaters around the two. The spells hit the bunker shields that had been put up by the Death Eaters, protecting them from death.

Voldemort roared and shot tendrils of lightning at Harry. The spell was made to hit multiple opponents at once but he had directed all of it towards Harry.

Harry swung his wand like a lasso, redirecting the lethal lightning thrown at him towards some of the surrounding Death Eaters while amplifying it with the magical energy in the air. The lightning tore through a shield and impacted two of the Death Eaters, one of whom was Walden MacNair, killing them instantly. Two more shield charms cracked but there wasn't enough juice in the spell left to kill the Death Eaters behind it.

Harry didn't have time to celebrate victory as he had to dive to the side to avoid a cruciatus curse. he rolled to his feet and barely avoided a bone-breaker that would have broken his wand arm. He immediately shot a fireball at Voldemort who deflected it to a side where it went off with a small boom.

Voldemort shot a cutting curse, a bone breaker, a coma curse, a conjunctivitis curse, and a Sledgehammer curse in his direction. Harry deflected them all except the Sledgehammer curse which hit Harry in the chest and sent him flying backward.

Harry rolled out of the way of a severing curse and got to his feet again, wincing in pain. Had it not been for his armor, he would've been out of commission now. He erected a shield to protect himself from the next curses Voldemort was firing. He waved his wand and chanted in Greek under his breath before jabbing his wand in the Dark Lord in front of him. The smell of ozone filled the graveyard.

Voldemort's eyes widened and he jumped out of the way, flying several feet just as a huge bolt of lightning dropped from the sky, creating a huge crater in the ground where Voldemort had stood not a second ago. He rolled to his feet.

"Enough of your games Potter!" Voldemort roared before swinging his wand around in an elaborate fashion. Harry could feel the magic saturating in the air. "MORTUI RESURGANT VOCO INFERI" Voldemort intoned jabbing his wand towards the ground.

Harry's eyes widened as he realized what Voldemort was doing. The ground rumbled and several graves were blasted open.

"OUR LORD HAS RAISED INFERI! SHIELD YOURSELF!" Rookwood ordered the Death Eaters and most of them immediately covered themselves with a Dome Shield.

Almost eerily, like shown in horror films, skeletal hands raised from the graves and zombie-like bodies crawled out of their graves. They had pale white skin and white orbs for eyes. Their bones were visible clearly. The Inferi, dozens of them, started crawling towards Harry.

"PROTEGO DIABOLICA!" Harry roared, swinging his wand in a circular motion above his head. A circle of Eldritch blue flames sprang out at the feet of the Death Eaters forming the circle. They had widened the gap to let the Inferi pass. Just as the first Inferi were about to enter the circle, the flames sprang up, burning them to ashes as soon as it touched them. Most of the Death Eaters had enough time to protect themselves from the fire due to the shield and jumped back. Except one who had failed to erect the shield and was burnt by the flames as soon as they touched him. The woman shouted shrilly as she was turned to ashes.

"NO!" A man's shout was heard as the woman turned to ashes. Harry couldn't see who the man was under the mask but he assumed that he was likely the husband or something of the woman who had died. "AVADA KEDAVRA!" The man roared and the sickly green light of the killing curse sped towards Harry. He raised an eyebrow and intercepted the spell with another invisible butterfly before shooting a killing curse of his own at the man.

The killing curse tore through the dome shield and hit the man square in the chest, killing him instantly.

A moment later, Harry heard clapping. He turned to see Voldemort applauding him.

"Bravo Harry. I am impressed, I must say... Such power... and knowledge at such a young age. I offer you again, for the last time. Join me. The things we would achieve together..."

"I am sorry, but the destruction of the world is not something I would count as an achievement," Harry replied dryly. The eldritch blue ring of fire that Harry had conjured was casting an eerie glow around the graveyard. The flames were over four feet in height. Outside it, the Death Eaters were fighting the Inferi. Some were trying to unsuccessfully fight the fire that Harry had started.

The spell was one of a kind. It was invented by Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald and was known as the boundary of allies. Only those, meaning the caster no harm could pass through the flames unscathed. If an enemy tried to pass them, they would be burnt to ashes as soon as the flames touched them. Also, it was a failproof way to protect one against Inferi.

"So be it. FIENDFYRE."

A Fiery ball started forming in front of Voldemort which swirled around gathering power. A second later he blew it towards Harry and it started turning into a huge serpent. It roared at Harry before lunging, only to be repelled by a wall of water. Harry jabbed his wand and immediately the water started engulfing the fiery serpent. The two wizards started trying their level best to overpower the other's elemental spell. It was now a battle of pure power, nothing more.

But, Harry had other tricks up his sleeve.

As the fire and water battled for dominance, Harry wandlessly shot a bone-breaker at Voldemort. The man's eyes widened and he tried to move out of the way but the spell caught him in the left shoulder. Voldemort hissed in pain.

The best part? The injury had cost him some concentration, allowing Harry to overpower the Fiendfyre which was reducing rapidly. A second later, it was completely extinguished. Harry jabbed his wand and the water shot at high speed towards the Dark Lord, with enough force to penetrate a brick wall.

Voldemort slashed his wand and the water just stopped in its tracks before evaporating into the air. Voldemort then proceeded to shoot spells at Harry at rapid speeds, faster than Harry had ever seen before. Each spell seemed to start where the previous one finished.

With a single wave of his wand, a wall of dirt rose to intercept the spells. It took a mere second for the wall to be destroyed under the onslaught from Voldemort. But, by then, the gravestones around the graveyard had been ripped from the ground and were in the path of the spells, intercepting the spells and reducing the stones to debris. Harry waved his wand and the pieces of the gravestones were flung at Voldemort, who instantly created a force field of sorts, reducing the debris to dust.

Harry jabbed his wand at the sky and a red beam shot from it, curving in the mid-air before splitting into thirteen different beams and rained down towards Voldemort. All the beams would have hit him from all his sides had he not erected a mage dome around himself. The beams of red light, curved towards Voldemort, coming at him from all directions before slamming into the golden dome with a mighty gong. The mage dome cracked severely before shattering.

Harry immediately started shooting spells at Voldemort trying to injure him as much he could so that he could cause some more damage to the Death Eaters before escaping to safety. He reckoned that the Trophy might work or he would have to break through the wards with raw power. There had been enough show of power for the night. Now he needed to injure Voldemort and escape. Killing him would just be counter-productive especially now since the Death Eaters had seen their Lord. He needed a distraction. Something big and powerful.

He shot yet another blasting curse at Voldemort before jabbing his wand towards the ground. "TERRORO TERRANUS!" He intoned.

The ground rumbled again, far worse than it had when Voldemort created Inferi. Harry wondered for a moment what the muggles were thinking of the seismic shocks they were likely experiencing.

Figures rose from the ground and started to take shape. A rhino, a wolf, a stag, and a Dinosaur... albeit a small one. He clamped down his will on the spell, preventing it from going haywire, and willed them to attack Voldemort. The creatures charged at the Dark Lord who immediately started shooting blasting curses towards them, barely damaging them.

Harry, on the other hand, willed the flames surrounding them to reduce in height so that he could look around. He could clearly see the Triwizard cup gleaming in the distance. There were no Inferi or death eaters between Harry and the cup. He just needed to run to it and grab it as the cup was enchanted against summoning. If the portkey was allowed to pass through the wards to come in, it could be used to go out as well. Dumbledore's spell should have been layered by Voldemort's... so Dumbledore's would be still active!

He looked back at Voldemort who had destroyed Harry's Dinosaur and Rhino and was fighting the wolf while evading the stag. Harry shot an Expelliarmus followed by an arrow burning with black flames arrow at Voldemort. It was a spell from the Black family Grimoire. If it pierced the body, the fire would spread and start burning the internal organs of the body. Of course, if the arrow was removed, the fire would go out... but even the shortest period of it being in the body could cause damage that would put most on the back foot for quite some time.

Voldemort dodged the Expelliarmus by twisting out of the way, but the arrow still pierced the Dark Lord's abdomen... where the liver was supposed to be. A moment later Voldemort screamed in agony.

Harry immediately receded a part of the flames and rushed towards the Triwizard cup while shooting killing curses where the Death Eaters were fighting the last of the Inferi behind shields.

"KILL POTTER!" Voldemort yelled in a pained voice. Before the Death Eaters could react, Harry moved his wand in an Eight number motion and jabbed it. A blackish smoke poured out of it, filling the graveyard rapidly, obscuring the vision of the Death Eaters. Harry simultaneously was conjuring more and more butterflies to intercept the spells the Death Eaters were shooting at him. A second later, he lunged for the trophy and simultaneously shot a greenish spark at the smoke.

As the world spun around, Harry saw the smoke being lit up in green fire and engulfing the graveyard.

Notes:

Dearest readers!

It is my immense pleasure to announce that I have launched my very own Discord Server: House of HPfanfictioner66.

I have created it with the help of my two very good friends. I really hope to see you all there and have fun with you all. There, you can communicate with me, ask me questions regarding my fics, give your own theories, and even... wait, why should I tell you everything here? Come over and check it all out yourself!

Discord Server Invite Link: discord . gg / 4qfP3fxdQ4[Remove the spaces please]

I will love it if you guys come on my server and interact with me there. If you have some of your own theory or wish to see something in this fic as the journey progresses, you can tell it to me on the discord server.

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A heartfelt thank you to my friend Varmaji for beta-ing this chapter.

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Stay Happy! Stay safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 51: Immediate Aftermath and Planning

Ch 50. Immediate Aftermath and Planning

Harry felt himself slam flat into the ground; his face was pressed into the grass; the smell of it filled his nostrils. All the breath seemed to have been knocked out of him; his head was swimming so badly he felt as though the ground beneath him were swaying like the deck of a ship. The adrenaline was wearing off, and the pain of his injuries started to catch up with him. His chest hurt like a bitch. He had probably broken a few ribs. The pain of the cruciatus also caught up as he loosened his Occlumency shields a bit. He had tightly bit down the pain till now.

Holding it any longer would've been a bad idea. The longer he held the pain, the worse it would bite him when he released it. An advanced Occlumency technique blocked a few pain receptors in one's mind to reduce the pain one was feeling, significantly for a temporary time until the shields were dropped. Then, it hurt twice as worse.

Then a pair of hands seized him roughly and turned him over. "Harry! Harry!"

He opened his eyes.

He was looking up at the starry sky, and Albus Dumbledore was crouched over him. The dark shadows of a crowd of people pressed in around them, pushing nearer; Harry felt the ground beneath his head reverberating with their footsteps.

He had come back to the edge of the maze. He could see the stands rising above him, the shapes of people moving in them, the stars above. The stands were empty, devoid of any audience. The people moving around were mainly Aurors.

He raised his free hand and seized Dumbledore's wrist, while Dumbledore's face swam in and out of focus. "He's back," Harry whispered. "He's back. Voldemort."

"What's going on? What's happened? Harry? Harry, are you alright?" The voice of Amelia Bones sounded but Harry ignored it. He had given the main part of the information to the best person he could give it to.

Dumbledore bent down, and with extraordinary strength for a man so old and thin, raised Harry from the ground and set -him on his feet. Harry swayed. His head was pounding.

A pain shot through his left leg. He had also injured his leg somehow during the duel.

"Everything later, Harry needs to go to the hospital wing. He is injured... and is suffering from severe magical exhaustion. I'll take him to the hospital wing. Rest all can wait." Dumbledore declared in a tone of steel.

"I'll take Harry, Dumbledore, I'll take him—" The voice of Alastor Moody sounded.

Harry frowned. 'Why was Moody volunteering when Dumbledore of all people had him?'

"No, I would prefer—"

"Dumbledore, the Aurors are here and so is the press. You need to handle them," Moody reasoned.

Harry frowned. Alastor Moody was the head of the hit-wizard squad at the height of the war. And a well-respected figure throughout the wizarding world. Even the press would refrain from doing things once he said no. Yes, Dumbledore did carry more weight than him but Moody, McGonagall, and Amelia Bones could handle anyone without a problem.

This could not be Moody. Not from the tales he had heard of the man.

Harry tugged at Dumbledore's sleeve and softly wheezed out, "There is a Death Eater... at Hogwarts... helping Voldemort. Him."

Moody or the fake-Moody apparently, heard him and his eyes widened. A fraction of a second, he whipped his wand out and yelled, "AVAD—"

Before Harry could do anything, there was a sizzle of magic from right beside him and a red beam of light hit Moody square in his chest, and he went flying thirty meters back and his wand flew out of his hands as well.

Harry glanced at Dumbledore, who was still holding him steady with one hand and holding his wand in another. His eyes were glowing electric blue orbs. He gave a flick of his wand and Moody was bound in chains.

"Minerva, take this one, whoever he is, to your office and keep him stunned and in chains till I come back. Amelia, accompany her and send the rest of your Aurors back for now." Dumbledore ordered.

"Dumbledore, you cannot order me to send my Aurors away! They are here for—"

"According to 19F section 129 of the Wizengamot charter, you will find that I can. And please understand Amelia, this matter is much bigger than you can even imagine at the moment. Come, Harry." Dumbledore said, and even without looking back, he led Harry forward towards the castle. As soon as they were out of the Quidditch pitch, Dumbledore looked around and Harry felt his world lurch and overturn.

Suddenly, Harry found himself in a familiar room with several beds and whitewashed walls. He had been side-along apparated to the hospital wing by Dumbledore.

"Poppy! Poppy!"

"What— Headmaster, Potter... what in the name of Merlin happened!?"

"Quickly, Poppy. Pain relief potions." Dumbledore said and led Harry to a bed.

Harry, on the other hand, seeing he was safe now, sent his wand to the chamber of secrets. If his wand was checked for some absurd reason, the Aurors shouldn't find the wand he had used to fight Voldemort and his death eaters. Cause if they did, he would be sent to Azkaban for sure for the usage of the killing curse multiple times.

He still had his other wand with him, which he had used to practice spells a few days ago. It would show much tamer spells than he had used in the graveyard if they used Priori Incantetam.

As he sent his wand back, he felt a lurch in his gut, signifying his spectacularly low magical reserves.

"Professor, Voldemort... he is back. The war..."

"Begins," Dumbledore completed softly. "I will handle it here. We will talk more tomorrow but rest assured, I believe you and will start taking the necessary steps. We will talk more in detail once you are healed, child. Your health is the most important. Don't stress yourself."

"Memory... of the fight," Harry wheezed out as consciousness threatened to leave him. He was exhausted, both physically and magically. Whatever little energy he had left was now gone.

Dumbledore immediately placed his wand at Harry's temple and Harry felt the memory extracting charm wash over him. He immediately remembered the things that had happened from the moment he touched the portkey to the moment Dumbledore rushed to him and pulled him up in vivid detail and pushed it.

Dumbledore withdrew a silvery strand and placed it in a conjured vial.

"Don't... show... any... anyone sir. Only... you." Harry managed to say before blacking out completely.

---

26th June 1995

Hogwarts Hospital Wing

Harry slowly came back to consciousness and blinked his eyes open, only to see the familiar ceiling of the Hospital wing of Hogwarts. He looked around to see if there was anyone there.

"Harry! Madame Pomfrey, Harry is awake!" The unmistakable voice of the Weasley Matriarch said. A moment later, Madame Pomfrey was over him, waving her wand in complicated patterns over Harry.

"Water," Harry croaked.

"Yes, child. Wait," Madame Pomfrey said before helping him sit up and offering him a glass of water. Harry slowly sipped it, soothing his dry throat.

He looked at himself and saw that his leg was in a cast and bandages were wrapped around his torso. He smelled of potions.

Then, for the first time, he looked around the hospital wing. Judging from the sunlight, Harry guessed that it was noon. There was another man in a bed in one corner of the room. With a start, Harry realized who it was.

Alastor Moody. The man looked emancipated as if he had been starved for months. His hair was cut unevenly in several places. On his bedside, a wooden leg and his famous eye were kept along with a wand. He was asleep at the moment.

Harry drained the glass of water and looked at Madame Pomfrey.

"Welcome to the world of the living, Potter. I must admit that this time, your injuries were terrible, breaking all of your previous records. A severely depleted magical core, three broken ribs, multiple hairline fractures throughout the body, broken leg, concussion, severe bruising, and cruciatus exposure. I am surprised that you were even conscious when you came back and I am also surprised that you've woken up so early."

"Hmm... well, so what is the verdict for now?" Harry asked.

"No magic for the next two days and after that, minimal magic usage for the next five days. You had severely exhausted your magic. A little more and you would've likely damaged your core permanently. Also, a potion course for a week to heal everything. Oh, and you are forbidden to leave the hospital wing for the next two days as well."

"I am sorry, but I need to see Dumbledore, Madame Pomfrey to discuss matters of at most importance."

"And we can discuss it later as well, my boy, once you are healed. You will do no one favors by dragging yourself out in this state." Dumbledore's voice sounded. "And, I can bring you up to speed, right now, just so you know what has happened in the last forty hours since you came back."

"I have been asleep for more than a day and a half!?"

"Yes, Mr. Potter. And Headmaster, I would appreciate it if you let me treat my patient before chatting with him. Potions, Potter." Madame Pomfrey said sternly and Dumbledore backed down, giving Harry a pitying look.

Harry understood why that pitying look was given as Madame Pomfrey levitated a whole tray full of different vials filled with potions in front of Harry. And, Harry recognized all of them and also knew they tasted bad... puke-worthy bad.

"In the order from left to right, Potter. You need to take all. And after you have food, I have another six vials of potion ready for you. Go on."

Harry grimaced before picking up the first vial and uncorking it. He pinched his nose and downed the whole vial in one go before gagging at the aftertaste left in his mouth. One done, several more to go.

After finishing the potions, Madame Pomfrey allowed Dumbledore to talk to Harry. Molly Weasley had left the room, at Dumbledore's request.

Dumbledore conjured a plush armchair with a wave of his wand and sat down on it before waving his wand and raising a privacy dome. He turned to look at Harry and gave him a soft smile. "Before you start firing questions at me, I will tell you whatever has happened in the last forty hours first. Then, you can ask whatever you wish."

Harry gave him a nod noticing, Dumbledore seemed to be tired and there were dark circles under his eyes, signifying he hadn't slept adequately.

"Very well. So, once you touched the Triwizard Cup, and failed to return to the edge of the maze as you were supposed to, people panicked. Immediately, a message was sent to the Aurors that you were missing and students were sent back to their dorms so that the Aurors could investigate in peace along with the judges. That was when Karkaroff suddenly screamed before excusing himself. His whereabouts are still unknown, and I think he has fled to protect himself against Voldemort's wrath. A minute later, Severus came running to me, and informed me that his dark mark had come completely alive and he had been summoned by Lord Voldemort." Dumbledore said in a grave tone.

"That was when I knew things were wrong. Very very wrong. And, Lord Voldemort had returned." Dumbledore said. "I tried to use Fawkes to flame to your location but he couldn't take me, likely due to Tom making it a point to have anti-phoenix wards in the graveyard. But, anyways, then you came back, horribly injured... and yet, victorious in your first real duel against Lord Voldemort. I must compliment you, Harry. Witnessing the memory of the fight was awe-inspiring. Your display of magic and combat was beyond spectacular."

"Thank you, sir. But, what happened after I left consciousness."

"Alright, so what happened after I left you under Poppy's care... well, I went to Minerva's office where I found Barty Crouch Junior in chains. He had Polyjuiced himself to look like Alastor and this had been the case since the term started."

"But he is dead!"

"I am coming to that part, my boy. So, I asked Severus to bring me some Veritaserum, the truth potion and fed it to Crouch Junior before enervating him. Under its influence, he revealed how his father and mother had freed him from Azkaban." Dumbledore said before launching into a tale of how Mrs. Crouch, couldn't bear to see her child imprisoned and convinced Crouch to replace her with Barty as she was sick. After that, Crouch senior placed his son under the imperious and kept him hidden for more than a decade.

Also, Barty Crouch junior threw off the curse at the world cup and shot the dark mark into the air. His father saved him again by blaming Winky. A few days later, Voldemort and MacNair came and freed him of his Father's influence, and later, Barty Crouch Jr. tortured and killed his father.

Then, together, MacNair, Voldemort, and Crouch made a plan to subdue and replace Moody to get into Hogwarts, based on Bertha Jorkins' information. They subdued Moody and Crouch kept moody prisoner in his own trunk, sedated and under the imperious since then. At Hogwarts, Barty Crouch was the one who put Harry's name in the Goblet of fire and put the grand plan to bring Harry to Voldemort in motion and allow his rebirth.

On the day of the final task, Augustus Rookwood had replaced Crouch briefly when the portkey was to be carried into the maze and tampered with it before going back to his master. And that had led to the portkey being cleverly redirected to the graveyard through the wards of Hogwarts.

"So... Crouches are the main reason why Voldemort was reborn?"

"You can say that, yes."

"Where is he now?"

"I will tell you. So, his confession and plans were heard by myself, Severus, Minerva, and Amelia. Amelia was beyond enraged, to say the least. Anyways, we stunned Barty Crouch and I went to rescue Moody, leaving Minerva on guard while Amelia went to the ministry to inform Fudge what she had witnessed." At the name of the minister, Dumbledore's face darkened.

"After taking poor Alastor to the Hospital Wing, I went to see the memory you had given me in my office. It was very informational to Voldemort's plans. When I returned, there was a ruckus. Cornelius had seen it fit to administer the Dementor's kiss to Barty before being questioned by the Wizengamot."

"HE DESTROYED THE EVIDENCE!" Harry yelled in outrage.

"Yes, he did. And he even refused to believe that Lord Voldemort has returned claiming that such a thing was prosperous."

"He outright refused to believe it?"

"Yes. Cornelius refuses to believe such a thing and, according to my sources, is now under the misconception that I wish to overthrow him by spreading fear."

"That's stupid! And what about Crouch's testimony under Veritaserum? He can't dismiss that!"

"Cornelius believes that Crouch was a lunatic and was imagining it all. He said that under Veritaserum a person says only what the said person believes to be the truth... and well, he is not wrong in that part but he is using this in a wrong situation. He even refused to see the memory that you had provided saying that memories could be faked or you could've seen a Boggart."

"Boggart? I have fucking killed a Chimera and he thinks that I saw a boggart!? And if it was a Boggart, what about my injuries? Madame Pomfrey gave a long list, didn't she?"

"As I said, he refuses to see what I wanted to show him. Severus literally went and shoved his left arm in Cornelius's face, showing him the dark mark... that just put Cornelius against me more, I believe. He also believes, in his own words that 'It seems to me that you are all determined to start a panic that will destabilize everything we have worked for these last thirteen years. As I said, he has made a crackpot tale in his head that I want to overthrow him. He fails to see anything in his hunger for power. Me threatening him that if he continues on this part, he will go down as the worst minister in history only made him believe his own theory more. He also believes that we have joined hands to overthrow him."

"He is a moron. He will put the world on the line in his hunger for the post of the minister!" Harry exclaimed. "We need to remove him immediately."

"Yes and no. We need to remove him but, I believe that it would be counterproductive to do it right now. It will just serve to destabilize the ministry and may lead to Lord Voldemort taking over it which would be bad."

"But Fudge-"

"Will be kept in office till he has exhausted his use. Right now, let him be for a few months in the office. If we kick him out right now, it is possible that someone unwanted may take the position of the minister of magic."

"Between us, I think that we can influence the vote in our favor easily," Harry said.

Dumbledore chuckled. "You underestimate Lord Voldemort, Harry. If he gets the wind that we are planning Fudge's fall, which he would, he would throw gold and threats around to bend the vote as he wishes and elect someone who would be one of his. Fudge will need to be removed and replaced swiftly as possible in a situation when no one would dare to doubt our word."

"Kindly elaborate, sir."

"Well, you do realize that Cornelius would do his utmost best to discredit us and remove us from a position of power... well the latter for me anyways as he can't touch your position."

"I own the Prophet and I can stop that with a single letter, but do continue with the line you are on," Harry replied, intrigued.

"So, Cornelius will discredit us and remove me from my position as the Chief warlock and Supreme Mugwump. He will lead a campaign of sorts to prove that we are lying and spreading fear to destabilize the country. He'll put things up like we are going senile and are deranged. And, most of the public, even Wizengamot and ICW will take his word as it is... well, the more believable alternative as much as I hate to admit that fact. And many people in ICW and Wizengamot would jump at the chance to remove me and take the position of the supreme mugwump or the chief warlock."

"A dark lord who died thirteen years ago, returning from dead does sound a little absurd, to be honest." Harry mused. "And the public will believe him as they are... well, they have a sheep ideology. They will stick their heads in the sand and ignore what is in front of them until it is too late."

"True. And what would happen if we bring Voldemort out in the open, after months of being proclaimed as liars? What would happen when it would be proved that we were right all along?"

Harry's eyes widened and he gaped at the sheer brilliance of Dumbledore's long-term plan.

"Genius." He breathed. "It would make the public think a thousand times before ever doubting our word again. And people will start trying to curry some favor back because, well, we are the only ones who can fight Voldemort. And, our immediate next statement that Fudge is unfit for office would be a verdict instead of an opinion. And the name we will put forth..."

"Will be elected as the new minister without question." Dumbledore completed. "No one will object to it, trying to get back on our good sides. And, from what I am planning, we would make it so sudden that Voldemort would hardly be able to do anything or pull strings. It will be under an emergency session. If we do that now, it will take time due to all the official procedures that we will have to go through for a new minister and, Voldemort will be able to influence the vote heavily and may turn it in favor of the candidate he wants in the office."

"Professor, if I didn't know better, I would say you are a dark lord in disguise planning to take over the world."

Dumbledore smiled. "While I assure you that I don't plan to take on the world, I will remind you that I am many things including one of the most seasoned politicians in the world. One doesn't hold two of the most powerful offices without being well versed in politics. I know to manipulate things better than anyone could ever do it." He simply stated.

"But sir, if we go down this path, Voldemort will also have the time to sway groups of creatures like the werewolf packs, Giants, and worst of all, dementors to his side. And also rebuild his army. A competent minister could prevent that and we could strike fast." Harry said.

Dumbledore shook his head. "It only looks good as an idea but in practicality, it will be an impossible task. The wizards are used to superiority and power. Most would see negotiating with such creatures as beneath them and a foolish endeavor as well. And Lord Voldemort would offer them more than the ministry could. Also, killing Lord Voldemort before we destroy his Horcruxes will be counter-productive. And, keep in mind that it also gives us time to build a force."

Harry sighed. When Dumbledore put it like that...

"So what do we do?"

"That, my boy, is an excellent question and one which will take a few hours to explain. Right now, all you need to know is that I am reassembling the Order of the Phoenix and gathering members. We will discuss more of this in detail two days from now. Give me a little time to sort things out properly, Harry. It hasn't even been two days since this happened. We will discuss this in my office two days from now, post-lunch. I have freed up my schedule for this already."

"Sir, before you go, I have one more question. You have planned this all out well, but what will he do when the killings start? Sudden disappearances like they happened before all the major civil wars in magical history happened? Grindelwald did the same, Voldemort did the same in his first rise to power." Harry asked. "There will be a panic and things could go haywire."

"Harry, you did a number on Lord Voldemort and his forces. A blow that Voldemort never expected. He is short on manpower. He is scared. He will lay low and gather his forces until he thinks he is powerful enough before coming out in the open. Severus has confirmed as much. At the moment, several death eaters and Tom himself are being healed. And you killed a total of fourteen death eaters that night. Fourteen out of which nine were of his inner circle in the last war. A major blow. He will regather his forces before coming in open... and from my vague plan which I have made, we will force him out in the open when the time is ripe. When we ourselves are prepared to handle the outbreak of the civil war and open warfare."

"I am seriously curious now. What is your plan?"

"The prophecy." Dumbledore gave a two-word answer.

"The one to vanquish the dark lord approaches... that prophecy."

"Yes."

"Can you elaborate, sir?" Harry requested.

"To put it simply, Tom now holds us both in the same regard. He fears us, and I think, he fears you more than he fears me. I saw the fear in his eyes when you dueled him in the graveyard. Matching him, spell to spell despite being much less experienced and younger than Tom. He saw your power and your knowledge that day. When he fought me for the first time on the battlefield, he knew I was much more experienced and knowledgeable than him and expected a challenge... something he would have never dreamed of from a fifteen-year-old child. And some things you did in there, have even left me astounded. If you don't mind me asking, how did you do it?"

Harry blinked. "You need to be a little more specific there, sir."

"My apologies. How did you survive getting hit by the killing curse again?"

Harry grinned. "I would've demonstrated but unfortunately, Madame Pomfrey has forbidden me from doing magic. So now, to put it simply, the curse only looked like it hit me. It didn't hit me in reality."

"How?"

"Disillusioned, conjured butterflies. I intercepted the curses with them."

"Marvelous," Dumbledore breathed, his eyes twinkling. Harry knew he would appreciate the sheer brilliance of it, being the highest authority in the field of transfiguration in the world. "Conjured animals, despite not having souls, are pseudo-living beings with magic as their life force. The killing curse works to extinguish the life force of the thing it touches, given that it has one. So, conjured animals can stop the killing curse! This is... brilliant."

Harry smiled in response and nodded. He hadn't given it that much thought, but what Dumbledore was saying made perfect sense.

"You won't mind if I copy the trick, do you?" Dumbledore asked eagerly.

"Not at all, sir."

"Thank you. I will leave you to rest now... and unless I am mistaken, your godfather, whom I had forcibly sent to rest, is rushing here towards the hospital wing at the moment."

On cue, the door of the hospital wing was pushed open and Sirius entered the hospital wing at a brisk pace before rushing towards Harry as Dumbledore stood up.

"Pup! How are you, kiddo?"

"Much better now, Sirius."

"I will take your leave, now. Get well soon, Harry," Dumbledore said before leaving Harry with Sirius.

---

28th June 1995

Hogwarts headmaster office

Harry ascended the moving staircase leading to the Headmaster's office and knocked at the door. He was there to discuss what Dumbledore had planned for the future. He had a folder with him that contained several plans that Salazar, Helga, and himself had made for the war along with information on each inner circle death eater.

Harry was happy to be finally free of Madame Pomfrey's care at the moment. He had spent more than enough time being confined to the hospital bed being allowed to get up only for bathroom visits. He was grateful for the constant company of Susan, Hedwig, Hermione, and Ron throughout the previous two days. Even Fleur, Diggory, and Krum had visited him once. Fleur would've stayed but that would mean potentially exposing their relationship to the Hogwarts rumor mill... which was a dangerous prospect at the moment considering Lord Voldemort's return. Daphne had been in contact with him through Susan and was yet to meet him for the same reason.

He was mostly healed but was still forbidden from doing any powerful magic at least till the end of the month. He still had to take potions for a few more days, but thankfully there were only two he needed to take, twice a day.

"Come in, Harry." Dumbledore's voice sounded from behind the door. Harry pushed the door open and entered the Headmaster's office. Hedwig, who was on Harry's shoulder immediately took flight and landed on Fawkes's perch, next to the said phoenix, and cooed. Fawkes sang back in response.

Dumbledore smiled at the display before gesturing Harry to sit on the chair in front of his desk.

"Good Afternoon, Professor."

"Afternoon, Harry. How are you feeling?"

"Pretty good now, sir."

"What's in your hand?" Dumbledore asked inquisitively, eyeing the folder in Harry's hand.

"A folder containing my research on Death Eaters, Voldemort's tactics in the last war, and a few other things that I hope could be of some help to us."

"You have researched?"

"Know thy enemy, Professor," Harry simply replied.

"Very well. But before we begin..." Dumbledore said and waved his wand. Immediately, the portraits in the room froze and the floo locked itself. Harry felt wards go up around the room.

Their conversation wouldn't go beyond the room now.

"So, you wished to know things," Dumbledore said. "Normally, I would be reluctant to share and discuss such things with someone as young as yourself because I firmly believe that children have no place in a war. But, considering you are going to be at the center of the war regardless, I am putting utmost confidence in you, and in this war, we will be partners having equal leverage. Making decisions together unlike I did before. Experience and youth together. It is something, I have never done before. So, I wish for you to realize the trust I am putting in you."

Harry nodded. "Thank you, sir, for the trust."

"Alright, what do you wish to know first?" Dumbledore asked.

"What have you started doing regarding the main war that will come?"

"As I said two days ago, I have recalled the member of the Phoenix, which, this time around, we both will head. You will be my co-captain of sorts as you say it these days. We are the only ones who have successfully fought Lord Voldemort to a standstill."

"And we are the only two people in Britain who have a phoenix. Fitting to be leaders of a group called the order of the phoenix, ain't it?" Harry quipped.

Dumbledore's lips quirked up. "So, yes. They have been recalled. I plan to recruit more as well. Currently, I have asked Arthur, Kingsley, and your godfather to spread the word to the people they would trust. I want your help with it as well. Especially for the Greengrass Family and Amelia. Amelia had refused to join the order last time around, saying that she was a part of the Hit witch force and... well, she is an abider of rules and won't join a vigilante militant organization. And well, Lord and Lady Greengrass have already contacted you."

"Fair enough. I will convince Amelia. But the question is, where will we be situated? Like our Head Quarters? We can't make use of Hogwarts or some public place. It should be a stronghold, close enough to all main places of Wizarding Britain: The Ministry, Diagon Alley, and St. Mungo's Hospital at least."

"I believe I have found the perfect place. The black townhouse of London." Dumbledore replied.

Harry choked. "You want to use that... you wish to use Grimmauld place for the Head Quarters?"

"Yes. I have asked Sirius a few hours ago, and might I add, after a similar reaction to yourself, he agreed to let the Order use the place."

"Professor, that building, has not been used in thirteen years. And, it is the property of the Blacks. I shudder to think what all we will find in there."

"We can deal with it, Harry. But think. The Black townhouse has excellent wards. It is standing since before the war against Grindelwald. And, I will add a Fidelius charm to it as well. That, combined with the wards that the house already has, the house will become be a fortress. And it has five floors and two levels of basement. A perfect place to set a Head Quarters."

"Fair enough. I will add a few as well then. Family wards and Parseltongue wards."

"All the better then, I feel," Dumbledore replied with a shrug.

"What else have you planned?"

"I am convinced Madame Maxime to go with Hagrid and act as an envoy for the Giants. They will set out soon after the school year ends and undertake the endeavor. On the other hand, Remus will be contacting his werewolf friends and spread the word to not join forces of Lord Voldemort."

"Hagrid and Madame Maxime... as in the headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy?" Harry asked skeptically.

"Yes, the very same."

Harry shook his head. "I won't even ask how you got her to act to your orders, sir. But, can you tell me how many useful members of the order we actually have till now?"

"What do you mean by useful, Harry? Everyone brings in their own set of expertise or some sort of importance to the cause."

"I meant useful in combat. When Voldemort attacks in open, we will need proper people to protect the civilians and capture or kill the death eaters. Not everyone can do it, you know?"

"All members of the order are fully qualified adult witches and wizards, Harry," Dumbledore stated.

"Really? I can bet my vault that Susan, Daphne, or Fleur could easily take on some of the members of your order, sir. And that is based on the members you had in the last war when it ended. Death Eaters are ruthless killers and many of your Order members won't know any combat spells beyond OWL level DADA syllabus. And even if they know more, knowing spells doesn't do it. You need to know how to use them, have speed and accuracy. And that doesn't come without practice. Tell me sir, how many members you have, who are not Aurors or hit wizards in service and practice some sort of dueling regularly?"

Dumbledore's silence was all Harry needed to know.

"So, sir, I propose that this time around, we organize practice sessions for everyone. So they can hold their own against Voldemort's forces."

Dumbledore mulled over it for a few minutes before agreeing. "Okay, in this first Order meeting, which will be held in a few days, you can bring this point up. If someone challenges you, well, I trust you to respond appropriately."

"Alright, sir. Now, do tell me your plan to draw out Voldemort once we are ready?"

"I showed you the prophecy which foretold Voldemort's fall at your hands, right? Well, now he has seen your power, he will want to know what the full prophecy is. You have scared him, Harry. Now, he will do everything in his power to know what the prophecy foretold. A copy of the prophecy, along with every other prophecy ever made, is placed in a place called the Hall of Prophecies in Department of Mysteries."

"So, you want to lure him there?"

"Correct. The prophecy can only be picked by the one it concerns. Now, as far as I know, Tom, he will try to lay a trap for you there. Only you can pick the prophecy up apart from him. Tom will put a guard to inform him as soon as you are seen in there. He would make such circumstances to compel you to go there for the prophecy and then he will strike along with his forces and try to finish you off once and for all. We will be laying a counter trap for him by moving his timetable around and leaving him with no other option than to confront you, or shall I say, us along with the order if he wants the prophecy." Dumbledore laid out his plan with a smile.

"And that will be the moment when ministry officials would witness Voldemort alive and kicking," Harry said, linking Dumbledore's previous plan to his latest one.

"Precisely," Dumbledore said cheerfully. "And then, we replace the minister with someone from the order and make some crucial orders pass after that, so the mistakes we made in the last war aren't repeated. This will limit Lord Voldemort vastly. We need to keep Lord Voldemort alive until we find and destroy all his Horcruxes. Five Horcruxes that could be anywhere in the whole of Europe."

"True. Any lead on the Horcruxes?"

"None so far. But, I have a list of places we should check for the Horcruxes. They all are wild guesses, even by my standards. It is likely that we will be unsuccessful in finding anything in those places."

"A chance is a chance. Even if we find one of those things there, the effort would be worth it." Harry replied.

"I agree."

"What has been Fudge up to? And I heard you gave a speech in the great hall concerning Voldemort's return yesterday at dinner?"

"So far, Cornelius is still planning. His drama will begin once the school year ends and when the word spreads... which will be in a week. And yes, I did give a speech about Lord Voldemort's return and the fact that you fought him. I am guessing that Miss Bones informed you of this?"

"No, Hermione did, repeating your words in vivid detail," Harry replied. "And thank you for asking them to leave me alone as well."

"Ah, Miss Granger. We will need to ensure her safety as well as she is a muggleborn and would be an easy target for Lord Voldemort. In the last war, he picked off relatives and close friends of those who opposed him as revenge."

"I have already informed her that I will be coming over to her place for dinner the very day we return to London. She has already written to her parents about it." Harry informed. "And I believe that the Weasleys will have good wards, given Bill is a curse-breaker for Gringotts."

"They are decent, but inadequate for someone who bears close relations with both of us. I will be insisting they move to Grimmauld place once the Fidelius there is laid there and the place is livable. Sirius has agreed to it as well."

"So, you wish to make it a Head Quarters as well as a safe house for the Order members. A wise decision. Who else will be staying there?"

"Sirius and you, if you both approve as I think it will be the safest for you to stay under the Fidelius Charm even if you can take care of yourself. In case, anyone else feels that their wards are inadequate, they too would be able to stay there until a better ward scheme is laid on their houses."

"Hmmm... but we need to lay the wards there. I believe it would be the most beneficial if you hold the Fidelius, Sirius holds the main wards as Lord Black, while I hold my own set of wards. So, a three-layer of security for maximum safety."

"Fair enough. You want me to be the secret keeper?"

"Yes. The secret will be safest with you. And, you will be more accessible than me whilst I will be at Hogwarts."

"Fair enough. So, I will be the secret keeper for the house. But, we need to go there first and start the warding and all. Also, make the place a bit decent, if its condition is as deplorable as Sirius and you are saying."

"It is worse, but okay. We can go on Friday evening once my classes are over. By then, I will be completely healed and all. So, I can help in the warding and stuff."

"I think you've been told to rest till Sunday at least," Dumbledore reminded

"Bah, Madame Pomfrey worries too much. And five days is more than enough for me to recover."

Dumbledore nodded before freezing and narrowing his eyes. "You've dabbled into ritualistic magic." He stated.

"I have," Harry replied, finding no reason to lie to the man. He already knew it or strongly suspected it.

"Then, I would warn you from dabbling too far into them. While beneficial, they are dangerous. Also, have a grip on what you sacrifice, Harry. Some rituals have a high price." Dumbledore warned. "I have done a few myself, some in recent years to keep my body up despite my age, but I was much older than you when I did my first ritual."

"I am aware, sir. The worse I have sacrificed till now is my blood. I have not dabbled into... the more complicated and demanding ones." Harry said with a grimace. Some rituals, while giving a hell of benefits to someone, had a high price. The more the benefits, the more was the sacrifice. They were one of the reasons, along with the Horcruxes, that Voldemort was a snake-human hybrid instead of a proper human.

"Then it is good. Don't go on that path, child. They are alluring. Be careful with them. Same with other, more esoteric forms of magic like blood magic and advanced combat magic... the so-called dark arts. While no magic in itself is corrupting, it is the sense of power that corrupts. I have gone through it but was sensible enough to pull back just in time before I became what Tom is today. I don't wish for you to go through the same."

"Yes, sir. I will be careful. Always am."

"Good. So, be ready on Friday evening. I will inform Sirius as well that we will be visiting Grimmauld Place on Friday, post Lunch."

"Alright sir, anything else?" Harry asked.

"Yes," Dumbledore said, before rummaging through a drawer in his desk and removing a leather bag. "Your winnings of the Triwizard tournament. Ten-thousand Galleons. Minister Fudge left it with me to give it to you. There should've been a proper presentation ceremony but, given the circumstances in which you returned..."

"Thank you, sir," Harry replied, accepting the bag. It had a nice expansion and lightweight charm on it.

"You are most welcome. And, I never congratulated you on winning. So, congratulations, my boy."

"Thank you once again, sir. If that's all, I will take my leave now. I have a few more preparations to make as well. If you want anything, send me a call via Fawkes. I will do the same with Hedwig."

"That is an excellent idea. I'll send for you if I remember anything important. Have a good day, Harry."

"Same to you, sir. Bye, Fawkes. Come, Hed." Harry said, and Hedwig flew to his shoulder before teleporting him away in a flash of flames to the chamber of secrets, where Salazar and Helga were waiting for him to know what had been discussed.

Notes:

AND... DONE!
Hope you all liked it.
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To all those who wished for a competent Fudge, and avoided the Umbridge drama, I am sorry, but I won't be doing it. I hate that toad too much to not make her suffer in my fic. SHE. WILL. SUFFER.

But, now the timeline will change completely and deviate from canon by a huge margin, especially from Christmas of 1995. Cause that will be where my plot twist comes in!

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One small request, please stop pestering me and asking me for updates, especially till April end.

Why? Because I have exams. I can write 1000 words in an hour usually but now, the problem is that my priorities are my studies. As much as I love writing stories, my exams take precedence. I will not abandon this story or my HP story. Just, my updates could come any time till the end of April. Then, I will be free from exam burden and start writing every day again and update regularly as I used to. I will not abandon this story.

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Also, I have recently published a Haphne Fluff one-shot. It is named, 'Loved Ones, Skipping stones and Ice-cream.' Check it in my profile.

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Next Chapter: The Order of the Phoenix
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Dearest readers!

It is my immense pleasure to announce that I have launched my very own Discord Server: House of HPfanfictioner66.

I have created it with the help of my two very good friends. I really hope to see you all there and have fun with you all. There, you can communicate with me, ask me questions regarding my fics, give your own theories, and even... wait, why should I tell you everything here? Come over and check it all out yourself!

Discord Server Invite Link: discord . gg / 4qfP3fxdQ4[Remove the spaces please]

I will love it if you guys come on my server and interact with me there. If you have some of your own theory or wish to see something in this fic as the journey progresses, you can tell it to me on the discord server.

(If you are wondering if I am going to post this message in every story, I am. I want as many of you there so we all can interact with one another.)

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Stay Happy! Stay safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 52: Preparations Begin

Ch.51 Preparations Begin

29th February 1995

Gryffindor Tower, Hogwarts

"Hey, you two! Wait up!" Harry called and the devil pranksters of Hogwarts, the Weasley twins turned towards him.

"Harrykins!" They said in unison. "What can we do for you!"

"Not here. In private." Harry said and the two shared a look.

"Lead the way!" The twin on the left said.

Harry led them out of the tower, into an abandoned classroom nearby and gestured them to go in. Harry entered himself and closed the door before throwing up privacy wards around the room and turned to the twins... who were looking extremely serious for a change.

"What happened, Harry?" One of them asked with concern.

"I heard you both want to open a joke shop," Harry said without preamble. "I have seen some of your products and liked them a lot. And, I wish to help you open the shop."

They shared another look before nodding. "How will you help us, though?"

"Money, of course. I know you both want funding to open your shop, which your mother would never give to you. But, I can. Fifteen hundred Galleons. Five hundred right now, right here and the rest after you show me an itinerary of at least a hundred different products which you would be selling." Harry said.

The twins' eyes lit up like shining stars before gaining a business-type façade. "What do you want in exchange?" They asked.

"You're smarter than people give you credit for. I assume you both have heard of Lord Voldemort's return?" Harry asked and they flinched at the name. "Well, to help in the war, I want you both to come up with a few inventions exclusively for me and... a group of people who would help fight Voldemort and his forces."

"Can we join this group?" The question immediately followed. "Anything for fighting you-know-who."

"That decision does not lie with me. But, I reckon you will be in close contact with the group even if you would not directly be a part of it." Harry said mysteriously.

"What do you mean?"

"You will find out soon, likely from your parents," Harry replied with a shrug. "But, what do you think of my offer?"

"Done!" They declared.

"Give us examples of what you want to make!" Twin one said.

"We will get on with it." Twin two continued.

"Immediately!" They finished in sync.

"Err... yeah, something like smoke bombs, things to cause distractions, maybe some kind of a ball which turns into a net to trap death eaters in it... "

"Understood!"

"You will get—"

"— what you asked for!"

"Lovely. Here are your five hundred galleons. Give me the list of products and I will give you the rest of it. Oh, and one more thing." Harry said, holding the bag of Galleons in his hand.

"Yes?" They asked.

"Every product that goes on your shelves, at least until Voldemort is defeated, would be approved by me first. I don't want things falling into the hands of Death Eaters." Harry said firmly. "Am I clear?"

"Absolutely!" They replied in unison.

"Superb. Here." Harry said, giving them the bag of galleons. "Do me proud and I will let you meet Padfoot and Moony."

The twins' eyes widened on hearing that, but Harry had strolled out of the room before they could say anything.

---

30th June 1995

London

Harry, Sirius, and Dumbledore appeared into existence with barely a pop on a patch of unkempt grass in the middle of a small square in a muggle. They were completely invisible, bar Sirius, whose form was shimmering a bit. Harry and Dumbledore, on the other hand, had covered themselves under perfect disillusionment charms that they were completely invisible to the naked eye.

Harry looked around. The grimy fronts of the surrounding houses were not welcoming; some of them had broken windows, glimmering dully in the light from the streetlamps, paint was peeling from many of the doors, and heaps of rubbish lay outside several sets of front steps.

They walked together from the patch of grass, across the road, and onto the pavement slowly becoming visible yet still under a notice-me-not charm.

The muffled pounding of a stereo was coming from an upper window in the nearest house. A pungent smell of rotting rubbish came from the pile of bulging bin-bags just inside the broken gate.

All in all, it was a neighborhood where the Dursleys wouldn't have stepped in. Sirius led them to perhaps the worst house of them all. On a battered door, was the number Twelve written in peeling golden letters. Its black paint was shabby and scratched. The silver door knocker was in the form of a twisted serpent. There was no keyhole or letterbox.

Harry would've thought it was some type of shack, had he not felt the powerful magic emitting from the house. Harry activated his mage sight to look at the wards and immediately resisted the urge to gape at them. The wards were in need of dire repair but still looked powerful enough to repel an attack for quite some amount of time. Harry couldn't help but imagine the power of the wards once the three of them were done with them. It would indeed be a fortress that would hold against even the stronger level of attacks. Add the Fidelius charm to that... with Albus Dumbledore as the secret keeper, it would probably become the safest place on Earth.

Sirius pulled out his wand and tapped the door once and pressed his Lord's ring on it. Harry heard many loud, metallic clicks and what sounded like the clatter of a chain. The door creaked open and a cloud of dust came out. Dumbledore's hand went into his pocket and the cloud of dust vanished. Harry and he shared a look as Sirius pushed the door open.

They stepped over the threshold into the almost total darkness of the hall. Harry could smell damp, dust, and an awful rotting smell; the place had the feeling of a derelict building. The only light was through the sunlight streaming into the house from the open main door.

As they stepped inside completely, the doors closed behind them, cutting off the little sunlight streaming in, and the darkness in the hall became complete. Harry waved his wand, and orbs of white light emerged from his wand, acting like light bulbs. The light fell over the peeling wallpaper and threadbare carpet of a long, gloomy hallway, where a cobwebby chandelier glimmered overhead and age-blackened portraits hung crooked on the walls.

"Well, this is certainly a wonderful home," Harry said sarcastically, looking at his footsteps which had been made due to the displaced layer of dirt on the floor.

Dumbledore flicked his wand and the dirt around them rose and vanished. Suddenly there was a crash next to them and Harry just saw that Sirius had knocked over an umbrella stand (which looked like it was made of a troll's leg) before a horrible, earsplitting, bloodcurdling screeching feminine voice came from somewhere in the next room.

"Filth! Scum! By-products of dirt and vileness! Half-breeds, mutants, freaks, begone from this place! How dare you befoul the house of my fathers—"

Harry raised his wand and hurried into the room along with Dumbledore and Sirius, who had a look of loathing on his face for some reason. As Harry entered the room, he saw the source of the horrible screeching. It was a life-size portrait of an old woman in a black cap. The old woman was drooling, her eyes were rolling, the yellowing skin of her face stretched taut as she screamed, and all along the hall behind them, the other portraits awoke and began to yell too.

Harry jabbed and swung his wand around and the noises were shut down as a silencing ward was applied to all the portraits.

The woman in the portrait continued moving her mouth until she realized that no sound was coming out of her and glared at Harry, frothing at her mouth.

"Hello, Mother." Sirius greeted coldly. "I would say it is a pleasure to see you, but it isn't."

"Walburga Black?" Harry asked, remembering how much Sirius hated her.

"Yes. The most unpleasant bitch you will ever meet." Sirius replied. The woman in the portrait, who was Sirius's mother, continued frothing and snarling like a mad dog, looking like she wanted to say a few unpleasant things to Sirius.

Harry rolled his eyes at her and turned to the two men with him. "We need to—"

Harry stopped short as a pop sounded right in front of them and the ugliest looking house-elf Harry had ever seen appeared in front of them. Except for the filthy rag tied like a loincloth around its middle, it was completely naked. It looked very old. Its skin seemed to be several times too big for it and though it was bald like all house-elves, there was a quantity of white hair growing out of its large, batlike ears. Its eyes were a bloodshot and watery gray, and its fleshy nose was large and rather snout-like.

"Blood traitor master dares show his face. And intruder silences mistress's portrait! BEGONE FROM THE HOUSE OF BLACKS!" The elf shouted and snapped his fingers but before anything could happen, Harry intercepted it with a shield and banished the elf across the room, into a wall.

"You dare attack the Lord and Heir Black, elf?" Harry said, putting power into his voice. The elf had just attacked Sirius, who was his master. There was no predicting what the elf could do to compromise things to go against Sirius.

"Filthy blood traitor master shows his face! And his mudblood companion attacks Kreacher!" The elf said hysterically before snapping his fingers again. This time, Dumbledore intercepted it with another shield and stunned it immediately.

"That was Kreacher. He was very unpleasant when I was a kid. He is yet to change, as I can see." Sirius said in a voice of restrained loathing.

Harry turned to him. "Is there anything remotely pleasant in this... house?"

"Not as far as I remember." Sirius put in bluntly.

"It needs... work," Dumbledore said. "We can easily make this a safe place for the order. And we need to start ward work immediately if we wish to be back to Hogwarts by dinner. First, Sirius, you need to repower the wards and start repairing them. After that Harry will start on additional wards while I will start on the Fidelius charm."

"What should we do with Kreacher?" Harry asked, gesturing to the stunned elf lying on the floor.

"Death," Sirius replied. "The damned elf tormented me enough as a kid. It is old and deranged. Killing it would be mercy now."

"Sirius, you cannot just kill off an innocent house-elf, my boy. House-elves are meant to follow the orders of their masters. You cannot kill it regardless of how much you hate him. It is not a death eater, Sirius."

"Dumbledore, you don't know this little shit. He'll spy on us for Death Eaters! He practically worshipped the path Bellatrix walked on. And he is a black elf. Any Black can call him to their aid."

"Then the best alternative is that you give him clothes," Harry suggested. "Free him from the service of House Black."

"I can't. He knows too many secrets of House Black and is vindictive. If I free him, House Black won't like the repercussions." Sirius replied.

"Sirius, but—"

"Professor, respectfully, it is Sirius's decision as Lord Black," Harry said, interrupting Dumbledore. "It is his elf and we saw how it just behaved. He doesn't recognize Sirius as his master. He will go against him as Dobby did in my second year."

Dumbledore reluctantly nodded and Sirius smiled in triumph, looking at the portrait of his late mother.

Harry shook his head. There was too much bad blood between the two. "So, anyway, as I was saying, we need to clean up this house. I will call some elves to do it. Dobby!"

A second later, Dobby appeared with a pop in front of them, looking expectantly at Harry. "Yes, Master Harry?"

"I need you to bring a couple of dozen house-elves and clean this place up. All magical articles should be handled with care and if they are cursed, you should deposit them in a trunk separately, making sure not to touch them. Can you do that?" Dobby looked around and scrunched his nose in disgust.

"Yes, Master Harry! But Dobby bes needing permission from professor Dumbledore to borrow elves from Hogwarts!"

"You can, Dobby."

"Thank you, Headmaster, sir," Dobby said and popped away only to return a few moments later with two dozen elves.

Harry looked at them and Dumbledore. "Well, let's get working!"

---

5th July 1995

Hermione's House, Chelsea

Harry appeared without a sound behind a huge tree and started walking down the street leisurely, wearing a dark blue Armani suit that he had transfigured before leaving. He wouldn't have dressed in such attire had he not known of the area Hermione lived in. Even from the address, Harry could tell that she was rich. Not comparable to his wealth, of course, considering he was the heir to both the Black and Potter family, but pretty rich to live a luxurious, posh life.

He looked around at the houses. Calling them a house would be an insult. They were all bigger than the manor Harry had resided in last summer at Somerset. That is, of course not considering the fact that wizarding houses were bigger on the inside. Harry walked towards the gates of the home that Hermione lived in and pressed the doorbell and spoke clearly into the speaker that was above the button, "Hey, Hermione. It is me, Harry Potter. Please open the gate."

There was no response, but the gates automatically swung open to admit Harry a few seconds later.

Harry walked down the path, leading to the main door of the bungalow. On both sides of the perfectly leveled and cemented path, a garden of sorts was planted with several flowering plants, adding beauty to the house. The house itself was a beautiful red-bricked home that was three-story high with huge windows and everything.

As Harry climbed the steps, the huge double doors of the house were pulled open and Hermione stood there dressed in casual clothes, and behind her were her parents, wearing semi-formal attire. Now, Harry felt overdressed.

Hermione smiled at him. "Harry! Welc—" She stopped short as Harry pointed his wand at her neck.

"What spell did Ronald Weasley attempt when we first met each other, aboard the Hogwarts express?" Harry asked.

Hermione looked completely baffled before replying, "Well, it wasn't really a spell, was it? But he did attempt to turn his rat yellow with a poem that Fred and George had given him. Why do you ask?"

"I am sorry for the rather unfriendly behavior," Harry said, putting his wand back into his holster. "But it was a security measure considering the most recent events."

A look of realization flitted across Hermione's face. "Ah, so even I should ask you a question... hmmm... which book did Professor Snape confiscate from you back in our first year?"

"Quidditch through the ages." Harry promptly replied. "And the next time you do that, have your wand out. But, it is good to see you."

Harry turned to Hermione's parents who were standing, looking completely shocked. "Doctor and Doctor Granger. Thank you for receiving me. This is for you." Harry greeted while wandlessly conjuring a beautiful bouquet. He simultaneously sent a Legilimency probe at both of them to check if they were under the imperious or were imposters. It was rather easy to distinguish muggles from witches and wizards by peaking into their minds.

Fortunately, they both were clean.

"Err... thank you, dear. Please come in. Why are you standing out?" Mrs. Granger said, accepting the bouquet and gesturing him inside. Harry followed them inside their hall which was rather large with plentiful lighting and several paintings on the walls which looked beautiful and yet meaningless to Harry. But, it had a homey feeling to it.

"Why did you come wearing a suit, Harry?" Hermione whispered as she walked next to him. "Who told you it was a formal dinner?"

"Uh," Harry said lamely, "if you don't like it, is this okay?" He asked, wandlessly transfiguring his suit into a casual t-shirt and a pair of black jeans.

"Much better," Hermione said with a relieved sigh.

"Wow," Mrs. Granger breathed suddenly. "You changed your clothes in a blink of an eye. Is that magical clothing?"

"No, ma'am. It is normal clothing that I transfigured into this. It will stay like this for a few hours before reverting to its original form." Harry replied.

"Magic, so cool and all, eh?" Hermione's dad said. "And so conventional! You all can just have a pair of jeans and a shirt and transfigure it into anything you wish. Saves so much on clothing and all."

"Dad, this is Harry we are talking about. Not everyone can do magic as he can. He makes it look easy. I am pretty sure that such a thing will not come for us before the NEWTS." Hermione said.

"No, it won't," Harry admitted. "What comes for NEWTS is just basic things you need to know to survive in a magical community and get a decent job. If you need to go really deep into a subject, you will need to pursue a mastery course. I am pretty sure that McGonagall can do what I did. And so can Snape or Sirius."

"Not without a wand," Hermione argued.

"Well, that's me being me," Harry replied with a smirk and she huffed.

"Are you going to teach me how to do wandless magic, ever?" She asked.

"As I said, you first need to master non-verbal magic, Hermione. You still say your spells out loud."

"I just can't get it! It is tough. I don't know how you did it. And don't you say that you're Harry Potter!" She warned just as Harry opened his mouth to say exactly that.

"You will get it soon. I promise. It is in the sixth and seventh-year curriculum. So, I am sure the brightest witch of our age will get it down by the end of this summer." Harry said with a grin.

"What do you mean? You get more marks than me and I am not allowed to use magic in the summer!"

"Well, I said witch, didn't I?" Harry asked with a grin.

"I thought it would be Susan now," Hermione teased.

"She ain't that much into academics. She hates theory. So, you are still retaining the position."

Hermione chuckled. "Okay, what about my other question though? I can't use magic in the summer."

"Well, that is what I am here to talk about," Harry said with a nod.

"You know, you're behaving all secretive since last few days... since he returned," Hermione said.

"All in good time, Hermione."

"What are you both talking about?" Mr. Granger asked, interrupting their conversation.

Harry looked at Hermione and she shook her head. "We just got home a couple of hours ago. I thought I'd wait for you before telling them." Hermione replied to his unasked question.

Harry turned to her parents. "Then you might want to sit down for this." He said gravely. Hermione's parents exchanged a look before gesturing towards the couch where they all settled down.

"You tell, Hermione," Harry said sitting on the supremely comfortable couch. "I will add if you miss something."

Hermione gave him a nod and patiently began explaining everything about Voldemort to her parents with Harry giving inputs in between.

"So, let me get this straight," Mr. Granger said exasperatedly. "A madman terrorist who was thought to be dead, returned to life using some sort of magic. Your ministry refuses to believe you on the topic of his return. You all are going to be plunged into a civil war with you at the center of it because you defeated him as a baby and once again a few days ago." He said the last part while looking at Harry.

"Yes, Doctor Granger," Harry replied.

"And my daughter is going to be in danger as well because she is your friend?"

"Not exactly. Hermione would be in danger regardless of my friendship with her because she is a muggleborn... the group that Lord Voldemort wishes to eliminate... along with muggles. I admit that being my friend puts her in the limelight and in more danger, but it will also provide her a layer of protection."

"How will it protect her?" Hermione's mum asked with a frown.

"Any attack on her will be an attack on House Potter and House Black as she is under my protection. To put it simply, if someone even touches her, it would give me free rein to destroy their whole family and family name by declaring a blood feud on them. At the end of it, the whole lineage will be finished and all their property would be mine. And this is a big thing in the wizarding world. A line that no sane person will dare to cross."

"But if they do..." Mr. Granger began but Harry interrupted before he could speak further.

"That is why I am here today, sir. To protect you both and offer a proposal to Hermione. First, for you both, I have this," Harry said, producing two boxes and handing them to Hermione's parents. They opened it to find two necklaces in them. Mr. Granger's was thicker than his wife's with a blue gemstone instead of red.

"A necklace?" Mrs. Granger asked incredulously.

"It is magical, of course. If any wizard or witch comes in a fifty feet range with the intent to harm you, you both will immediately be teleported away to a safe house of mine within a blink of an eye. Also, the chain cannot be removed once by anyone except the wearer."

"Wow... so we will be safe in case this dark lord's cronies attack us," Mr. Granger said. "But, won't it be better if we just leave from here till you deal with this problem?"

"Dad!"

"No, listen to me. We can just flee Britain, we can—"

"Go where?" Harry asked, interrupting Hermione's dad.

"Out of England!"

"To where though? If Voldemort wants her dead, he will find you all even if you go to some remote island. There are many magical ways of finding someone and locating them anywhere in the world. Voldemort can just apparate in there and kill you if he wishes. And he will be desperate to strike a blow against me right now, considering I have killed fourteen of his death eaters a week ago. You will be safest in England as we all are near and come to help in seconds in case something happens. Also, my protection won't extend outside the boundaries of magical Britain, sir."

"Can't you put up some protections to make us undetectable? Like this necklace detects people wanting to harm us, can't you just give us something like that to obscure us from being located?" Mrs. Granger asked.

"Nothing is perfect, ma'am. And the more advanced wards will fry every electronic item in here. If you are willing to live a no-technology life and stay here till Voldemort is dead, we can consider that option. That will mean not going out of your house though and breaking all contacts with the outside world."

"That is not possible, I am afraid." Mr. Granger admitted. "We are doctors and we can't do that. Also, we can't just be sitting at home, for god knows how long, that too without electronic devices."

"So, this is the safest option, sir," Harry said. "I will put a few basic wards on the property, which won't interfere with the electronic items. Hermione, on the other hand, comes with me to a safe house that Dumbledore and I have set up. She will also receive advanced magical training there. She will be under the safest wards in the whole of Britain."

"Where is this safe house?" Mrs. Granger asked.

Harry narrowed his eyes and sent another Legilimency probe to confirm she wasn't under control or a witch under disguise. She was clean and only worried for Hermione's safety. "I can't tell you that."

"Can't or won't?"

"Can't. I literally can not tell you or anyone. Only Dumbledore can."

"Fidelius charm?" Hermione asked with a knowing glint in her eyes.

"Along with a shitload of other things, yes," Harry replied. "It is probably even safer than even Hogwarts at the moment."

"Oh," Hermione said before turning to her parents. "I have to go, mum, dad. It is necessary."

"But you just got here!" Hermione's dad exclaimed. "You can't just go away!"

"I am sorry, dad. But, it is for all of our safety. I need to go... and I will write letters as well." Hermione said.

"That won't be necessary. I have something here for you." Harry said, removing two mirrors from his mole-skin pouch. "These are communication mirrors. You can communicate with them like a video call. You just need to say her name in the mirror."

"Thank you." Mr. Granger said, accepting the mirror. " Are you sure you want to go, pumpkin?"

"Yes, dad. As Harry said, I will be the safest with them. And you have the portkeys."

"But, you just got here... we can't let you just go after seeing you for the first time since Easter." Mrs. Granger said worriedly. "Can't we both come with you? Like not for long, just a couple of days!"

"I am afraid that you can't. The wards on the safehouse will not accept you and those were laid long before the time my great-grandfather was born. So, we can't do anything in that regard." Harry replied. "But, I promise that I'll make sure that Hermione stays in touch with you both and, in addition, I will organize a trip for you abroad for a week during Christmas so Hermione can come with you." He added.

"You don't need to organize that, son," Hermione's dad said. "But, the trip is a good idea."

"I'll just say that you should go out of Europe then. But, you need to let Hermione come with me now."

"Alright." Mrs. Granger relented after a few moments before looking at her husband who nodded as well.

"Thank you. You all enjoy dinner and talk while I will lay the basic protection wards on the property and make sure that the ministry is not alerted by me performing magic here."

"Harry, we have invited you for dinner. We can't—"

"I will insist, ma'am. Spend some family time before I whisk her away till Christmas. I'll lay the wards on this property, finish a small work before coming to pick her up in a couple of hours." Harry said, standing up and apparating away without a sound.

Two hours later, true to his word, Harry apparated back to the front gate of the Grangers before ringing the doorbell and entering. When he reached inside the hall, Hermione was standing ready with her trunk and cat. Harry smiled at her before looking at her parents. "Thank you for agreeing to let her come, Mr. and Mrs. Granger."

"How are you going to go... wherever you are going?"

"I will teleport her," Harry replied with a wave of his wand, and Hermione's trunk and the cat disappeared.

"What did you just do?" Hermione asked with a frown.

"I sent them ahead so I don't have to carry extra weight while apparating," Harry replied. "Are you ready Hermione?"

"Yes, wait for a tick," she said before hugging her parents and whispering something to them. She came to stand next to Harry.

"Take my arm and hold tight. I assume you are apparating for the first time?" Harry asked and Hermione nodded in response. "Then this might be tough and unpleasant."

Harry then turned to Hermione's parents. "Bye, Mr. and Mrs. Granger. Have a good day."

"Ready Hermione? 3...2...1," and Harry and Hermione disappeared with a barely audible pop from the Granger house.

---

5th July 1995

London

Harry and Hermione appeared on a sidewalk next to a busy road with several people around them, yet completely undetected. No one even spared them a glance as Hermione heaved heavily, suffering from the effects of side-along apparation.

Harry waited till she was alright.

"That was even worse than the portkey!" She exclaimed in a hushed whisper once she regained her bearings.

"It is better if you apparate on your own," Harry agreed.

"I didn't say it in front of my parents, but it is illegal to apparate until you get a license." She stated.

"Illegal. Says the girl who set a teacher on fire, stole from the same teacher, and brewed a regulated potion in an out-of-order girl's bathroom." Harry reminded her and Hermione blushed. "And since when has something as pesky as rules stopped us?"

"Well, whatever." Hermione huffed. "Why are we near the Leaky Cauldron?"

"I need to pick something which is not exactly legal. I gave an order while you were having dinner." Harry replied.

Hermione just shook her head in exasperation. "What are you picking?"

"Wands."

"Wands? What is illegal about that?" Hermione asked with a frown.

"It is a grey area. Technically, only Aurors, Hit-wizards, and Unspeakables are allowed to carry more than one wand, but it is nowhere said that there is a punishment if a civilian is found with more than a single wand."

"So, you are picking a wand for yourself? Can I have one as well?"

"I already have two wands. I am picking several dozen for you and some others."

"Who else?"

"Not here. You will know it soon though." Harry said before pushing pulling her to one side.

"What?"

"Wait," Harry said and tapped his wand on her forehead before doing the same with himself. Their features changed.

"I put a glamor charm on us. Nothing more." He replied before Hermione could ask. "Let's go." He added as he pulled her towards the Leaky Cauldron

The pair of teenagers walked down Diagon Alley in the direction of Gringotts until Harry stirred Hermione to their left.

"Harry, why are we going into Knockturn Alley?" Hermione hissed.

"Cause that's where I have to collect my order from. Now, walk normally, don't fidget." He whispered and entered Knockturn Alley.

They walked down a few shops before entering one titled, "The Collector's Alcove". The shop was filled with all kinds of things ranging from books, trunks, glass balls, mirrors, cauldrons, and other weird objects.

A bell tingled in the shop and a man appeared a moment later in front of the two. The man was pale and had white hair and a goatee. He was neither fat nor thin... just average. The most notable thing about the man was his pale yellow eyes and a lip-ring on his lower lip.

"Mr. Collector, I am here for the order I placed an hour ago. Do you have the items ready?" Harry asked in a voice that was not his. Hermione realized that he must have done a voice-altering charm on himself.

"Right away, sir." The man said in a deep voice. "Sixty old wands and an equal number of wand holsters, expanded pouches, and knives. Your total comes to six-hundred and thirty Galleons."

"Settle for six hundred and you have a deal," Harry said. The man contemplated for a moment before nodding.

"Excellent. Here are five-hundred Galleons..." Harry said, tossing a pouch at him which he produced from his moleskin before producing another pouch and bringing out galleons in stacks of ten from it. Once the total came to six hundred, the collector nodded and walked a distance away before levitating a trunk from behind a shelf filled with crystal balls.

Harry opened the trunk and checked its contents before nodding and shrinking the trunk. "Thank you. I expect this to be kept under wraps."

"Of course." The Collector said. Harry gave him another nod before leading Hermione out of the shop and then Knockturn Alley. As they entered back into Diagon, Hermione sighed in relief.

"Knockturn isn't as bad as you think," Harry chuckled. "It just gets a bad name due to some, not exactly legal items being sold there which goes against Ministry rules. Some things you will find only in there."

"That's... cool I guess," Hermione said. "But I have also heard there is a red-light area in there... and some other things."

"Those are the deeper parts, yes. I have never been there. Just the first few shops where semi-legal things are sold."

Hermione hummed. "Now where are we going?"

"Safehouse. Take my arm, we are apparating again."

"Do we need to do that again?"

"Well, not exactly, the place is a mile and a half from here. We can walk."

"Let's apparate," Hermione said instantly. "I am not walking so much right now that too after walking Diagon Alley."

Harry smirked and held out his arm. Hermione took it and they apparated again.

Seconds later, the two found themselves standing in the middle of a familiar small and shabby square. Tall, dilapidated houses looked down on them from every side.

Hermione looked around and frowned. "Where is Number twelve?" She asked and Harry smirked once more.

"Here," Harry said, pulling a piece of parchment out from his pocket, "Read quickly and memorize."

Hermione looked down at the piece of paper. The narrow handwriting was vaguely familiar but she couldn't place it. It said:

The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London.

"What's the Ord—"

"Not here," Harry hissed. "Wait till we're inside!" He pulled the piece of parchment out of Hermione's hand and set fire to it wandlessly.

As the message curled into flames and floated to the ground, Hermione looked around at the houses again. They were standing outside number eleven; she looked to the left and saw number ten; to the right, however, was still number thirteen.

"Think about what you've just memorized," said Harry quietly before doing the same himself. Number twelve Grimmauld Place appeared before his eyes as Hermione gasped next to him.

"Come," Harry said and led the girl towards the door. Harry pulled out his wand and tapped the door once before many loud, metallic clicks and the clatter of a chain sounded. The door creaked open.

"Get in quick," Harry said and Hermione entered, shivering as she passed the door. Harry followed and locked the door behind them.

"Harry, Hermione, is that you?" Mrs. Weasley's voice sounded before she appeared from down the hall.

"Yes, Mrs. Weasley. It's us."

"Come in dears, we were just cleaning up after dinner." She said beaming at them.

Harry and Hermione walked down the corridor. The place was nothing like it was a few days ago. The floor was carpeted without a speck of dust, the wallpaper had been removed and the walls had been repainted. The chandelier was clean and gleaming while the disgusting objects that were previously present, like the heads of house-elves and the mad portraits, were no longer to be found around the house. The moth-eaten curtains and drapes were replaced by new curtains of lighter colors giving the house a better feel. Also, the old lamps had been cleaned and their magic had been redone, making them burn brighter, providing more light.

However, the house still had things that signified that it was a House of the Blacks. The objects like the chandelier and the candelabras were shaped like serpents. The achievements of the previous members of the house Black were prominently displayed: The Orders of Merlin that the previous blacks had earned, a photo of Arcturus Black receiving the title of Baron alongside Charlus Potter, etc. Even a copy of Harry's Order of Merlin First class certificate was amongst them.

Harry and Hermione followed Mrs. Weasley into the kitchen. The kitchen was almost unrecognizable from what it had been before. Every surface now shone; Copper pots and pans had been burnished to a rosy glow; the wooden tabletop gleamed; the goblets and plates in the cabinets glinted in the light from a merrily blazing fire.

"What is this place?" Hermione asked, looking around the table where all the Weasleys, including Charlie and Bill, were seated with the Tonks family and Remus.

"This is the London townhouse of my family," Sirius's voice sounded from behind Hermione and Harry where he stood, leaning on the doorframe. "And, as of today, the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix."

"But what is it?" Hermione asked with bewilderment

"Order of the Phoenix," Mr. Weasley said. "was a secret society that Dumbledore formed during the first war against you-know-who. We fought against his forces, foiled their plans, and protected people during attacks. We acted from the shadows for the most part, of course. informed Dumbledore of the return of He-who-must-not-be-named, he immediately reassembled the order."

"Wow. I want to join as well," Hermione said with excitement.

"Absolutely not! The order is only for wizards and witches of age, and who have graduated from school." Mrs. Weasley yelled.

"Except Harry, that is," Nymphadora Tonks supplied.

There was an instant uproar from the Weasley twins and Ron.

"Hang on!" interrupted George loudly.

"How come Harry gets to be a part of the order?" said Fred angrily.

"He is not even of age!"

"'You're too young and still have school, you're not in the Order,'" said Fred, in a high-pitched voice that sounded uncannily like his mother's. "Harry's not even Fifteen!"

"If Harry is there, then why can't Hermione and I join as well?" Ron asked. "We've always been together."

Harry let out a loud bang from his wand and instantly everyone quietened down. He looked at the twins and Ron with steel in his eyes. "Thank you for voicing your concerns. I am in the order because I am the only one beside Dumbledore who has fought Lord Voldemort to a standstill."

The people around the table shuddered at the name.

"I fought the man, whose mere name makes you tremble and injured him while killing fourteen of his Death Eaters. He is coming after me regardless of the fact I am fourteen. And, as for you all, the age thing was not my call. You all, while not the Members of the Order of the Phoenix, will be kept up to date with general things as you are here. We won't tell you everything due to security reasons but, we will give you a general overview." Harry assured. "Also, you all will be taught to duel while we are here." He added, looking at their sad faces and they instantly perked up.

Mrs. Weasley on the other hand whirled around at him. "Absolutely not! I have tolerated you being in the order, Harry because Dumbledore said it and the fact that he is after you. But I won't allow any more kids to be a part of this war! You all are kids! Fourteen and fifteen for Merlin's sake! You all should be worrying about school and homework! Not a war!" She hollered.

"Molly..." Mr. Weasley tried to say but was cut off by his wife.

"No, Arthur. You know how war is. I can't let children be a part of it. War is no place for children."

"And they won't, Mrs. Weasley." Harry cut in. "As long as we can help it. But, they need to be prepared. They need to know how to defend themselves. Voldemort doesn't care whether a person is a hundred years old, ten years old, or only a year old. He tried to kill me when I was a year old. What makes you think he will leave them because they are not seventeen?" Harry asked and Mrs. Weasley remained silent.

"I am not saying that they will go on missions or anything," Harry added. "But, what if it is a Hogsmeade weekend and Death Eaters attack all of a sudden? They need to know how to defend themselves is all I am saying. And along with them, you all adults will be trained as well to bring up your fighting skills."

"What?" It was Andromeda Tonks who fired the question. "Why do we need to train? Like we all are fully qualified witches and wizards. We can handle ourselves and duel."

"Would you like to test that theory?" Harry asked and she blinked.

"Excuse me?"

"Would you like to test that theory, Aunt Andromeda? That you can handle yourself because you have NEWTS? Because I am pretty sure that if you face your own sister, you will be mincemeat." Harry asked and Andromeda flinched at the reminder of Bellatrix Lestrange.

"That's what I thought. Now, let us clean up dinner and go to bed. For you adult lot, there is the first meeting tomorrow evening at seven. Don't be late." Saying so, Harry walked out of the room.

"You know," Andromeda said, looking at Sirius. "I got reminded of Grandfather by the way he spoke, admittedly with a lot less cursing."

---

Notes:

AND... DONE!

Hope you all liked it.

I was originally going to add one more scene to this chapter but I hit a sort of am hitting a writer's block there. So, I decided to end the chapter here and put that in the next chapter(about 2.5k words cut and pasted) which will now be kept as it is till my exams are over. The next chapter will be in April... I guess.

So, please wait till then!

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A huge thank you to I_amaSWITCHbot for Betaing this chapter.

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It is my immense pleasure to announce that this story has reached a total of 6,000 followers! Thank you all for the love you shower on my story.

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Dearest readers!

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Discord Server Invite Link: discord . gg / 4qfP3fxdQ4[Remove the spaces please]

I will love it if you guys come on my server and interact with me there. If you have some of your own theory or wish to see something in this fic as the journey progresses, you can tell it to me on the discord server.

(If you are wondering if I am going to post this message in every story, I am. I want as many of you there so we all can interact with one another.)

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Stay Happy! Stay safe! Keep Smiling! Keep reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 53: Order of the Phoenix

Ch.52 Order of the Phoenix

6th July 1995

Number 12 Grimmauld Place

Harry sat on a plush armchair at the head of the dinner table in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place which had been expanded to accommodate the members of the Order of the Phoenix who were arriving one by one. Some were already present there like Sirius, Mr. Weasley, Bill, Charlie, the Tonks family, an old man named Dedalus Diggle, whom Harry remembered from his first visit to Diagon Alley. Mad-eye Moody and Kingsley Shacklebolt were also seated on one side of the table next to Nymphadora and another lady named Emily Vance, a hit-witch.

Many were yet to arrive as there were still fifteen minutes left for the meeting time.

The doorbell sounded again and a minute later, Lord and Lady Greengrass entered the room. They glanced around the room, taking in who all were there before taking a seat next to Andromeda Tonks.

More people trickled in, all of them working in different fields. A witch worked as a Healer from St. Mungo's, two old wizards working in the Magical reversal squad for the ministry and their wives. Two more Hit-wizards from the ministry. There was also a friend of Bill's who worked for Gringotts. After him, a man named Elphias Doge and his wife entered with another man named Sturgis Podmore. They were followed by a hit-witch named Hestia Jones, a friend of Nymphadora with a couple of more people from the auror forces, and a crook named Mundungus Fletcher who was admitted on Dumbledore's insistence as the man was well known in the shadier parts of the wizarding world. All in all, it was a pretty diverse group.

Finally, at two minutes to seven, the main group entered: Dumbledore, McGonagall, Flitwick, and Snape followed by Mrs. Weasley who closed the door behind her. Harry discreetly jabbed his wand, erecting a privacy ward on the door. Dumbledore looked around and beamed at everyone. He walked around the table and stood near the empty seat next to Harry at the head of the table.

"Thank you all for coming here at such short notice." Dumbledore began. "As you have undoubtedly been informed, Lord Voldemort returned a few days ago." At this, several people shuddered and flinched. "Harry Potter here witnessed his return and dueled Lord Voldemort in front of his Death Eaters, fighting him to a standstill, injuring him and killing his death eaters before returning via the cup portkey that had taken him there."

Many people looked in awe towards Harry, but he remained as impassive as ever.

"Now, I informed the minister of this, but in his hunger for power and cowardice, he refused to believe me. So, it leaves us no option other than to operate in secrecy until Lord Voldemort is revealed to the world, seen red-handed." Dumbledore said, spreading his arms wide. "And once he is, we will be playing a vital role in protecting innocents and foiling his plans. Now, Severus, please tell us what is happening amongst the forces of the Dark Lord, at the moment." Dumbledore ordered before taking his seat.

Snape stood up. "Headmaster, the dark lord is scheming at the moment as and mainly trying to recruit more people after... what Potter did to him and his forces." He said as if the words were poison in his mouth.

Harry smirked at the man.

Dumbledore had insisted that Snape should be in the order as he was a vital part of it as the spy in the Dark Lord's forces. Harry and Sirius were against it but Dumbledore had put his foot down saying Snape had his complete trust.

On the other hand, the Daily Prophet had begun to become a pain in the ass. A few days ago, there was an article proclaiming the mysterious disappearance of fourteen respectable purebloods and highlighting their contributions to society, and declaring an award for any person who could find them. While this was still alright, the very morning, there was an article printed on the front page of the Prophet titled: Dumbledore- Daft or Dangerous? The article was nothing but a character assassination and the idea of it was along the lines of what Fudge had been thinking... that Dumbledore was plotting to overthrow the Ministry by causing unrest among the public by proclaiming the return of a dead man or had gone insane.

The article also subtly jabbed at Harry being an attention-seeker, addled-brained individual. He had half a mind to bring his wrath upon the daily prophet reporter, a lady named Chole Adgate who was from a minor pureblood family. Harry could've easily destroyed her but didn't deem it worthy of wasting his time on her when he had bigger problems to worry about. Also, Dumbledore's plan was sound in regards to them proving the whole media wrong and Harry liked it.

"Potter killed fourteen of his death eaters, nine of whom were a part of the Dark Lord's inner circle. He also horribly injured several, including the Dark Lord himself. The worst of his injuries was a burnt, rotting liver which would've had a severe effect on him, had it not been for Rookwood."

"Wait, wait," Hestia Jones interrupted. "Augustus Rookwood is dead. I saw his body at Azkaban."

"No, he isn't," Harry said, speaking for the first time since the meeting began. "Voldemort removed him from Azkaban and faked his death with the help of Walden MacNair, and they, along with Barty Crouch Junior, helped Voldemort return to a body."

"What? How? Can we get a few more details?" Sturgis Podmore asked.

Harry glanced at Dumbledore who gave him a subtle nod. Harry nodded at the group before explaining what Voldemort had told him of the plan of his return. People gasped as the revelations were made.

"So, Azkaban is no longer safe," Lord Greengrass said gravely.

"And he plans to recruit the dementors to his side," Remus added. "Those... are just the worst..." Sirius shuddered next to him, remembering his time at Azkaban.

"How many of you can perform a fully corporeal Patronus, kindly raise your hands," Harry said after a moment of grim silence, and a little more than half the people in the room raised their hands. Harry pursed his lips. That just won't do.

"Continue, Snape," He said to the man who scowled.

"I am still your professor, you—"

"We are not at school. You are in my house as far as I am concerned." Harry snapped. "Continue your damned report."

Snape took a deep breath and glared at Harry before continuing. "So, as I was saying, the dark lord is concentrating on recruiting and rebuilding his forces. He has already sent a few envoys and recalled everyone who was previously in his service, bar Karkaroff. He also plans to free his most loyal from Azkaban as soon as possible. He has also instructed everyone to steer clear of Potter, saying that Potter will fall only by his hand. No one is allowed to harm him unless directly confronted or they will suffer his wrath."

Several people glanced at Harry at the statement.

"What about the death eaters themselves?" Sirius asked. "Undoubtedly you and your buddies talk with each other."

Snape clenched his jaw. "Many... are scared... and revengeful. They want to put Potter in his place but well, they can't. Many are contemplating fleeing the country but they know it is useless as the Dark Lord can find them anywhere. Also, Rookwood has become the Dark Lord's right hand at the moment, surpassing Lucius's, who is now second. But that will change once again once he frees the rest of his Death Eaters."

"Aye, Bellatrix Lestrange, Dolohov, Rabastan and Rodolphus Lestrange, Travers and that nasty lot. His most loyal lot." Moody said. Snape nodded in agreement.

"What are we going to do? To fight him, you know?" one of the healers from St. Mungos asked.

"Ah, Charlotte. That is what we are here to discuss. First, we have the ministry, but leave that to me for now. We just need to make sure that Fudge doesn't get wind of what we are doing. As for the other matters, we do need to discuss each matter and who will be doing what. First, we need to keep abreast of what is happening at the ministry. For that, we will need everyone who works there." Dumbledore said.

"What do we need to do?" Nymphadora asked.

"Just keep your eyes and ears open, lass. And Constant Vigilance!" Moody said. Tonks grumbled but nodded, undoubtedly hating the words Constant Vigilance by now.

"As Alastor said, you just need to see and hear what goes around. A lot of information can be gathered by simply observing those around you." Dumbledore said serenely before turning to Remus.

"Remus, when will you be contacting werewolf packs?"

"Soon, Headmaster. I have already sent out letters to them. But, I am afraid that Fernier Greyback will prove to be a greater influence than me because of his threats to eradicate the packs if they don't join him."

"We must try what we can, my boy. Even a small pack swayed not to join Voldemort will be a success on our part." Dumbledore said. "On another note, I have already sent Hagrid and Madame Maxime as an envoy to the Giants along with gifts. So, that part is already covered."

"Giants," Moody muttered. "Ruddy hard to kill. I remember Grindelwald using them. I was a mere rookie back then and most of the Aurors and hit-wizards ran away at their sight. Potter's Grandfather didn't run though, and single-handedly killed them all with ruthless precision."

"Yes, using heavy transfigured objects like swords and spears and banishing them at vital points is the only way to kill them." Harry nodded in agreement.

People muttered and nodded.

"Very well... we also need to recruit. We need more members." Dumbledore said. "So, whoever you can trust and gather, you should ask them to contact me via owl."

"What other things can we do, Headmaster?" Lady Greengrass asked.

"For now, keep your eyes and ears open. Try to spread the word of Lord Voldemort's return." Dumbledore said.

"And raise the wards on your houses. Make them stronger. If you need any help with securing your homes, tell us. We have two Gringotts curse breakers amongst us. Professor Flitwick, Dumbledore, and I are also pretty well versed in the art of warding. We will come and check your wards and add to them if necessary." Harry said, looking around the table.

"Quite arrogant of you, kid. You may be Harry Potter, but do you want us to believe that you are as skilled as Gringotts curse breakers and Dumbledore in the obscure magic of warding? Something not even taught at Hogwarts till your seventh year?" One of the ministry workers snorted.

"Yes, he is," Bill Weasley declared. "During the second task of the Triwizard, he warded his box so tightly that we took nearly five hours with the senior team of curse breakers to break all the wards on it. And he did the warding in like ten minutes. We had never seen some of the wards he used. Even the most senior team at Gringotts were baffled."

"Where did you get the box? I thought it was only for the champions?" Harry frowned.

"The Diggory bloke never touched your box. So, we took it for inspection as none of the other two champions were able to break your wards. It was an experience breaking them." Bill's friend said. "The head goblin was all for recruiting you with the highest paying package possible until he came to know you were fourteen. Now, he is going to wait for three years before sending that job offer to you."

Harry raised an eyebrow but said nothing on the matter before turning to the guy who had questioned him. "Now, if you are satisfied with the assessment of my skills, I have another matter to bring up. We all need to train."

"Train?" Emily Vance asked.

"Yep, train in the art of combat."

"Why? And who would do that?" Emily Vance asked.

"Well, you are a hit-witch and do fieldwork. But many here have either no experience in it or are rusty by sitting behind desks in the past thirteen years. We will be fighting Death Eaters. Fighting for protecting innocents and your own families. We cannot afford mistakes. That is why the Order must prepare itself for the fights to come."

There were murmurs around the table but before anyone could say anything, Dumbledore spoke. "Harry is correct. Most of the war veterans are rusty while several of us here have never been on a battlefield or faced Death Eaters." He said. "And yes, even the younger Aurors. Fighting Death Eaters is vastly different from fighting petty criminals and miscreants." He added.

All around the table, the ones who had fought the first war nodded in agreement.

"But who will train us? Like, who will train the hit-wizards and hit-witches in here? We are pretty much at the top of the fighting order here." One of the Hit-wizards snorted. "So, we train them?"

Dumbledore chuckled. "No, Michael. I remember you had excellent scores in Defense and Transfiguration and I have no doubt that you are capable with a wand, you won't be leading the practices. We have Alastor and Filius here. Filius is a master duelist and one of the best instructors on the planet while Alastor has trained some of the most capable hit-wizards and Aurors to have ever graced the halls of the ministry. Minerva will also lend them a hand in teaching when she is free. I would've done it myself as well, but I don't have so much time. So, Minerva, Alastor, and Filius, I trust you handle this. "

Flitwick chuckled. "I am afraid you are still missing the best of us all, Albus. If you are busy, there is one more in this room much more capable with a wand than any of us." He declared before casting a look at Harry. "I think Mr. Potter here can give us three a run for our money in a three on one fight and even win. He should take part in their training as well."

"Harry, what do you say?" Dumbledore asked.

"I will assist them in any way I can," Harry replied with a shrug. "But the question is when will we do it? Most of them here have jobs and all. They don't have all day free and we can't stand there and teach in groups for the whole day. Maybe two batches at the best."

"Maybe every Sunday we can come together to practice for a couple of hours?" Someone suggested.

Harry snorted. "If you think a couple of hours of practice a week is sufficient, you are delusional. The Death Eaters won't play around now once Voldemort tells them to kill. And just wait till he has broken his most loyal out of Azkaban. The Lestranges, Dolohov, Rosier, Travers, Carrows, Selwyn family, and the lot. The training needs to be at least four times a week. I'd say alternate days will be the best."

"Potter is right," Moody grunted. "We need to train. Even I do. Crouch bested me and had I not been useful to them, I would be dead by now. This is war and we need to be prepared the best we can."

There was muttering as several people in the group nodded and agreed with Moody.

"Can we arrange a session every alternate evening?" Kingsley Shacklebolt asked. "Like... before dinner maybe?"

"But everyone cannot be accommodated at that time," One of the Healers from St. Mungo's said with concern. "Like, I have an evening shift from the fifteenth of this month at the hospital. Even if I want to, I can't come here to practice."

"Okay, how many of us here can come at this time, or let us say 8 PM to 10 PM every alternate day, to practice, raise your hands please," Sirius said before raising his own hand. Along with him, several hands went up.

Harry could see that there were about a total of seventy-five percent of the group who could make it at the time that had been called for.

"We can do two batches as well if it is possible. Some like me can come at any time of the day... if that is not a problem. We can divide the whole order into two batches." Lady Greengrass suggested.

"An excellent idea," Dumbledore agreed. "What do you say, Harry?"

"I will be free almost the whole day," Harry shrugged. "And it will be more beneficial if we do it in batches. Handling a smaller group will be more efficient and productive."

"Yes, I think I can manage from nine to eleven in the morning as well at least when I don't have muggleborn introduction duty," McGonagall said.

"Wait, wait," Arthur Weasley interrupted. "I have two questions. One, where will we practice?"

"Down in the basement," Sirius replied. "It is a big space and already warded to withstand spell-fire."

"Okay, and what will happen once Hogwarts starts? This will all be good till September. What will happen once the term begins? Because, Harry, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Flitwick won't be able to come here for four hours every alternate day, once in the morning and once in the evening."

Harry blinked. He had not considered that, but he did have a solution to it. He immediately looked at Dumbledore and sent a Legilimency message to Dumbledore.

'Time-turner? We can use it to be at Hogwarts and come here at the same time.' He suggested to the Headmaster.

'Excellent idea, my boy. I have one in my office at Hogwarts.' He sent back before turning to the group.

"Leave that to me, Arthur. There won't be any disruption in it even once Hogwarts starts." Dumbledore assured. "So, today's session concludes that Lord Voldemort has risen and we need to spread the word as discreetly as possible, at least until Cornelius sees the error of his ways. More recruitment will be needed. And there will be training sessions every alternate day, in two batches. One at nine in the morning and one at eight in the evening. Before leaving, just give your name to... Sirius, will you take time preferences as everyone leaves, my boy?"

"Of course, Headmaster. Before leaving, just tell me which batch you want and I'll note it down. If you're comfortable with both, wait for some time till all the ones with the preference are done so we can balance the batches." Sirius said before summoning a quill and two rolls of parchment.

"Excellent. And when will it start?" Dumbledore asked, looking at Harry, Alastor Moody, and the two Hogwarts professors. They shared a look.

"Day-after?" Moody asked. "So, we can make a basic plan for the sessions?"

"I am fine with it," Flitwick said while Harry and McGonagall nodded.

"Alright, so the first session will be on the eighth of July at 9 AM and the evening one at 8 PM, for two hours each. Thank you all, you will be informed when the next meeting is soon."

"Wait, wait! I have something for everyone!" Harry declared before bringing out the trunk of wands he had brought from Knockturn Alley and enlarging it on the table. "If you are wondering, what is in this, there are second-hand wands. Along with wand holsters and a few other things. I think it will be prudent for everyone to have some proper equipment and a secondary wand."

"Carrying two wands is illegal for a civilian," Kingsley said.

"But, yet, there is no punishment if a civilian is found with two wands. And you are literally sitting in a meeting of a vigilante military group, Shacklebolt. And by what I am planning, so will be the Head of DMLE in the next meeting. Don't teach me 'illegal'." Harry snorted, making air quotes.

"Wait, you are going to bring Amelia Bones here?" Nymphadora asked.

"I am meeting her tomorrow, Tonks," Harry replied.

"She didn't join last time, saying she won't break rules... even though we had her brother with us... a good man, Edgar." Elphias Doge said.

"Leave her to me, sir," Harry assured. "I will convince her. Having her amongst us will be a huge boon, considering her capability and her position."

"Fair enough." the man conceded before getting up and stretching. "Now, I already have a secondary wand, so I won't be taking one from this pile. But if you kids need help, tell me. If not, I'll go home. I need to have dinner."

"No, Mr. Doge. We'll handle it. Those who have secondary wands can leave after giving their batch preference... and taking expanded pouches, a knife, and your own Order communication Medallion which will inform you of meeting times or emergencies and something that only you will be able to see and use. Sirius will tell you how to use it when you collect it."

The medallion was basically a Necklace with the phoenix-shaped pendant created by Dumbledore. He used it in the first war and an albeit different variant during the Grindelwald war as well. It had several charms which would help people communicate with short messages and alert the person that a message had been received by becoming hot. It also had an inbuilt portkey to another safe house which Dumbledore had already stocked medical potions. It had enough security to house people for a short amount of time even if it was under attack.

"Why a knife?" Someone asked.

"Extra precaution. Knives are useful." Moody grunted. "I have three knives on myself right now with four extra wands."

Harry turned and ogled at the man. That was just overkill. Even he only had a single knife and an extra wand.

"Well," Albus Dumbledore said, "Thank you for coming. Once you collect what is needed, you all can leave. Have a good day."

"And if anyone wishes, they can stay for dinner!" Molly Weasley declared while beaming at all those around. "I will start making dinner."

"Err, Molly, we have house-elves here," Sirius said.

"Nonsense," She said. "I am perfectly fine with doing it. Now, how many will eat here?"

---

7th July 1995

Bones Manor

Harry appeared in a flash of flames and gracefully stepped out of the floo-place at Bones manor before vanishing the soot on him with a flick of his finger. He looked around and saw he was in a posh parlor, similar to the one at the Greengrass manor, albeit with a little less grandiose. He shivered as he felt a magical tingle wash over him which persisted for a second before vanishing. He immediately recognized what it was.

Amelia Bones had already activated her war-wards.

Harry mentally applauded her. The wards were powerful and protective enough to judge even those who were invited. Harry shuddered to think what they would've done to someone who wasn't invited. But, then again, they were nothing compared to those at Grimmauld Place. But they were Harry's. They won't judge him. Here, if he was hostile, the wards would likely try to tear him to shreds in seconds... try to.

The door at the end of the parlor opened, and Amelia entered holding her wand at the ready. "What did I ask you at the ministry ball while dancing with you?" She asked, pointing her wand at him.

"You asked how was it going between myself and Susan. And proceeded to ask if we had sex or not." Harry replied.

Amelia nodded and put her wand back before eyeing Harry. "You should also ask me something to make sure I am not an imposter."

"Had you been an imposter in place of Amelia Bones, you would have been torn to shreds the second you would've stepped inside these wards. War wards have been raised by you. Anyone with the intent to harm a member of House Bones won't survive these." Harry replied nonchalantly. "Though it is lovely to see you, Amelia. Sirius sends his regards."

"I half expected him to come with you," Amelia stated.

"No, this is a meeting between the two of us to discuss Voldemort and the ministry. Sirius, well, he is in another meeting right now."

Amelia nodded, "Well, then let us go to my office to discuss whatever you want. You can even give me memories of things to support yourself if you want. I have a pensive there."

"Excellent," Harry said and followed Amelia Bones to her office while looking around searching for Susan.

"Susan is at Hannah's place. Hannah Abbott. She will be back by dinnertime." Amelia said before pushing open an ornate door. "Before you go in, please remove all your wands and weapons and deposit them in this tray." She said, picking up the tray on the table next to the door and presenting it to Harry.

"Why?" Harry asked with narrowed eyes.

"Well, in 1706, one of my ancestors was assassinated in this very office. The person didn't make it out alive, but the damage was done. Since then, no one can go into this office with a weapon unless they are a member of House Bones. There is a ward on the room to prevent it."

Harry felt the magic at the door and nodded. Amelia was telling the truth. He removed his wands and the knife and kept them in the tray before placing a protective dome on the tray and sticking it to the table.

"Was that really necessary?"

"Yes. No one should pick it up without my permission. Can we go now?"

"Yes, come in." She said, Harry passed the threshold and entered the room. There were already three people there and Harry instantly recognized one of them as Rufus Scrimgeour, head of the hit-wizard squad at the ministry. There was a Lady, who looked as old as Amelia with him and a person wearing a long, bluish-grey cloak with a hood on that hid his face with a shadow charm. Harry recognized the uniform as the unspeakable uniform.

Amelia wasn't pulling punches when he had written it was a matter concerning Voldemort.

"I hope you don't mind a couple of extra people." Amelia Bones said as she closed the door behind him.

"I mind, but I will let it go," Harry said and conjured a plush armchair wandlessly and sat down on it.

"Wait, how did you get a wand in?" Amelia half-yelled in panic, pointing her wand at him.

"I don't need a wand to do magic, Madame Bones. Now, take your seat and we can begin the meeting with three uncalled people." He replied glaring at her. Amelia gulped and went to her seat behind the desk.

"You are an Archmage," The unspeakable said. Harry couldn't discern his voice. It sounded both male, female, and robotic at the same time. Harry could only tell that it was a male due to the build. He activated his mage sight to try and see through the shadow enchantment but failed.

"I am sorry, but who are you, Mr. Unspeakable?"

"My name is Saul Croaker, head of the Department of Mysteries, British branch."

"Saul Croaker, hmm... one of the foremost authorities on chrono-magic in the world. It is a pleasure to meet you."

Croaker stiffened. "How did you know that? People never know what we study bar the other Unspeakables!" Harry immediately felt a Legilimency probe come at his mind-shields and batted it away.

"I know a lot of things, Croaker. Information on different types of magic that will make you spooks drool. And next time you try to read my mind, your Unspeakables won't be able to find your body. Consider this my final warning." He said coldly as Croaker staggered back.

"Croaker!" Amelia exclaimed. "I told you not to antagonize him. Must you always disregard what I say!? A Legilimency on a minor! are you out of your fucking mind!"

"Yeah, whatever. The kid's got powerful shields. Batted my probe away like it was nothing. Now, why did you call us here on such an urgent notice?" He asked, trying to change the topic.

"Harry wished to discuss the return of Lord Voldemort with me and what Fudge is doing. I think we all read yesterday's paper and what it wrote." Amelia informed after glaring at Croaker for a few moments. "But the fact remains, despite whatever Fudge may proclaim, Lord Voldemort has returned. Harry witnessed his return and fought him as far as I know..."

"Are you perhaps even responsible for the disappearance of the fourteen people that was reported a few days ago? Some of them claimed imperious in the first war... and most were associated with death eaters in some way or the other." The other woman in the room asked.

"They are not missing. They are dead. They were with Voldemort in the graveyard. They all fell to my wand or were subjected to death due to redirected spells during my fight with Voldemort." Harry stated.

"You say, that you-know-who returned. But how is it possible? You killed him thirteen years ago. Dead men do not return to life!" The other woman in the room hissed.

"Then do show me his dead body, Ms..."

"Weaver. Mary Weaver. Head of Investigations department of DMLE. " she introduced herself. "What do you mean by 'show me the dead body'?"

"Well, if he died thirteen years ago, where is his body? If a person dies, there should be something like his blood, body parts... So, that is what I am asking for."

"You-know-who's body was obliterated in the explosion in Godric's Hollow. The whole floor of your house was destroyed in the backlash of magic."

"Bullshit. And nothing happened to me, a baby in a crib, a few feet away when the whole floor was destroyed?" Harry snapped.

"Like—"

"Wait, let me stop you there, Weaver. The question isn't if it is possible. There are several ways to cheat death with magic. Obscure, dangerous, and untested. But, very much existent." Saul Croaker said. "My question is how. What did he use?"

"A potion and a ritual. I don't know what was in the potion but three ingredients were the bone of the father, flesh of the servant, and blood of the enemy. He used my blood to return." Harry replied.

"No, no. That is a body-giving ritual. It can be used to give ghosts a body if needed, provided the ghost is magically powerful enough and manages to possess a rudimentary, weak-willed body. It also needs the bone marrow of a wizard, the amoebic fluid of a seven-month pregnant lady, unicorn blood, vampire fang, phoenix ash... and a few other components."

Everyone felt sick on hearing what Croaker said. Even Harry hadn't known the exact details of what was in the potion as Salazar and Helga had refused to speak of it as it was disgusting to an absurd degree and irrelevant now that it had been carried out.

"Moving on," Amelia declared. "Can we see the memory of the fight? It would give us names of the death eaters and information. Even if the minister prevents us from doing anything right now, we can act discreetly and the information will definitely be useful when he comes out in the open. That is why I brought them here." She added, pointing at the other three adults in the room.

Harry pursed his lips and contemplated what to do.

"I will give you the memory on two conditions. One, no legal action would be taken against me. And two, you will swear that you won't disclose the details of what exactly happened without my permission to anyone in any form."

"Why should we do that? Like, why will we take legal actions against you?" Scrimgeour asked.

"With Fudge acting the way he is, I don't wish to take any risks, Mr. Scrimgeour," Harry stated. "The information in the memory is sensitive and can be used against me if taken out of context. So, the vow."

"And if we don't?" Weaver challenged with a raised eyebrow.

"You won't remember anything of all this," Harry stated. "Not even Croaker. So, do not tempt me, Miss Weaver."

"Weaver! We are here to take Potter as an ally. Not fight him. Behave!" Amelia barked.

"Funny. I was here for the same, albeit to Amelia only. But, I am not averse to you three coming in."

"Excuse me?" Amelia asked, turning to him again.

"The vows first, my dear Madame Bones."

"We will take the vows if that is what you want. A standard secrecy vow along with a promise to take no actions against you regarding whatever you did on the 24th of June 1995. Will that be acceptable?" Croaker asked.

"Yes."

A couple of minutes later everyone had made their vows and Harry gave his memory of the fight to them. Amelia put it in the pensive and the four adults plunged in a moment later and so did Harry... just to witness their reactions.

They did not disappoint, to say the least, except Croaker who was making notes throughout the memory, without making a single noise. The rest were exclaiming, cursing, and shrieking throughout the fight. Amelia, Rufus Scrimgeour, and Weaver were openly gaping at the fight within the first minute.

Once the memory was over, all the five came back into Amelia's office.

"That was the most awe-inspiring duel I have ever seen!" Scrimgeour breathed after a minute of silence.

"Thank you, Mr. Scrimgeour," Harry said quietly.

"Shows us how hopelessly outmatched we are..." Amelia said softly. "We never stand a chance... they never stood a chance..."

Her eyes were tearing up.

"Who, Amelia?" Harry asked

"Edgar... he never stood a chance..." She said as a tear rolled down her cheek. "Seeing him in action... Seeing him actually fighting with all he has... It is eye-opening. He just toyed with us all this time..."

"What do you mean by toying with us?" Weaver asked.

"You didn't see the first war at the front lines, Weaver," Amelia said, wiping off her tears and looking her dead in the eye. "I was a hit-witch at the front lines during the war. I faced him once, you know. With a team... It was twenty-three against one and we forced him to flee with his six death eaters including Bellatrix Lestrange... or so I thought till now. He had fought us for seven minutes... and killed twelve before going away, taking two of his Death Eaters that we would've captured if he had not intervened." She said, "Heck, we would've captured all the six bastards or killed them, but we considered it a Victory that we forced him to flee... When I got the news of my Brother's death, till now I wished that I was there... I thought I would've held him off long enough along with the rest of the Bones family, six of us, for the hit-wizards to arrive... seeing him fight with all he has... he is so fast. I couldn't distinguish where one spell ended and the other began."

"Yes, he is insanely fast," Weaver agreed. "How did you keep up?" She asked, looking at Harry.

"Mind Arts," Croaker replied instead of Harry in a knowing tone. "When you achieve a level of mastery in Occlumency, you can perceive things faster than a normal human can."

Amelia frowned. "Croaker, I am a level five. I can't do that."

"But Potter is Level Seven. So is the Dark Lord and so is Dumbledore. All of them are masters of mind-arts, at least occlumency. Am I right, Potter?"

"Yes," Harry replied.

"So, like if we all achieve it..." Scrimgeour said, trailing off.

Croaker snorted. "It is not easy, Scrimgeour. It takes years of patient practice and dedication."

"Potter is fifteen," Scrimgeour scoffed.

"That he is," Croaker agreed.

"Well?" Scrimgeour snapped, looking at Harry.

"Well, what?" Harry asked with bewilderment.

"Tell us how you do it?" the man snapped.

"What makes you think you can demand anything of me, Scrimgeour?" Harry asked with narrowed eyes.

"The ministry has—"

"No right to poke their noses in the secrets of Most Noble and Most Ancient Houses and you will do well to remember that," Harry said with steel in his tone. "Head hit the wizard or the Minister of Magic, I don't care. If you try to demand anything outside your powers, you will be at the wrong end of my wand, Scrimgeour. Don't go down the path Fudge is currently on."

"And what are you doing with regards to Fudge?" Weaver asked.

"When he is kicked out of office, it will be in such a disgrace that no mother in Britain will name their child Cornelius after that," Harry stated. "He will be marked as the worst Minister of Magic in the history of magical Britain."

"But what about right now? See kid, you faced you-know-who. The minister is denying his return and is refusing to fund or prepare the hit-wizards and auror corps. If he is replaced, we can get funding and start preparing. Can't you just..." Weaver trailed off waving her hands dramatically.

"What? Go and overthrow him by force? That is the most terrible idea I've heard all year." Harry said dryly.

"Well, between you and Dumbledore, I am sure you can just impeach him. I'll help as well." Amelia said.

"That will take a long procedure and time, Amelia. And there is a risk that Voldemort will place one of his as the minister. When we replace Fudge, it will be swift and brutal... and to be honest, I planned for you to take his seat."

"Me?"

"Yes, you. Who better than you, Amelia, to lead the country during a war? Everyone knows you hate Death Eaters. Everyone knows you are a decent but ruthless person. You are a capable witch. That is why I came here to offer you something, which now, as these three are present, I will extend the offer to them as well." Harry said.

Scrimgeour frowned. "What offer?"

"An offer to join the Order of the Phoenix," Harry stated.

"Dumbledore's group?" Scrimgeour asked.

"Yes," Amelia answered. "Edgar was a part of it... back in the first war. I had been offered to join as well, but I had declined."

"We are offering you again, Amelia. You joining us will give us a huge boost of power against Voldemort. And I am not talking about your skills with a wand only. Your position as the Head of DMLE, your connections, reagent Bones... and all that. Think, what you and your Aurors can't do without breaking protocols and you being put in front of the martial court of the ICW, we, the other members of the Order of the Phoenix can."

"Illegal military groups are forbidden not only by the British Ministry of Magic but the ICW as well," Amelia stated.

Harry snorted. "And see the irony. The bloody Supreme Mugwump is leading the group. See, Amelia. We cannot leave this country to the ministry. The last time Dumbledore did that, Death Eaters were pardoned under the imperious excuse by Crouch and Bagnold. We won't be doing the same again. This time, we are not letting innocents suffer. This time, the order will be fighting independently against Voldemort's Forces and not help the ministry as they did in the last war. The corruption that the ministry has will see Voldemort win like he almost did thirteen years ago."

"He isn't wrong," Croaker said, giving his input. "It was only due to the Potter miracle as I call it that the wizarding world didn't fall to you-know-who. I can join hands with you, but if it conflicts with my oaths as an unspeakable, I will choose that and not what the order wants. I don't have a death wish."

"Fair enough," Harry said. "I know there are stringent oaths for you guys to not reveal the secrets of the department."

"Yes, there are."

"What about you three?" Harry asked.

"What if we decline?" Weaver asked.

"I'll make you take an oath of silence to not mention any information to anyone of what you were told in this meeting without my permission, nothing more. If you refuse, well, I will obliviate your memory of this meeting."

"Then, I will take the oath," Scrimgeour said. "I am afraid that I prefer to do things legally rather than your way. But, if you need help, I'll give it if it is within my reach to do so." He declared before taking the oath.

Harry nodded, "I will respect your decision, Mr. Scrimgeour," he said before turning to the two ladies.

"I will join, if Amelia does," Weaver said before looking at Amelia who was fiddling with a quill in her hands.

"Amelia, the ministry, even if you or Scrimgeour may disagree, is a piece of shit which would become the reason for the fall of the world if we don't take actions to counteract Voldemort and prevent the ministry from doing stupid things. If you join us, it will be much smoother and easier to do the latter."

She closed her eyes before nodding. "Alright. I'll join the order," She said. "I'll join you all in Edgar's memory. This time no Death Eater will go scot-free. And I hope you will kill the Bastard."

"I will, for the same reason. I lost my parents to him too." Harry replied.

"Well then, I am in as well," Weaver piped up.

"Superb, Mr. Scrimgeour, do you wish to change your mind?"

He muttered under his breath, "Damn Amelia, you as well? Breaking laws and all?"

"It is, as Dumbledore says, for the greater good," Amelia said.

"Or, I'll say, Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men." Harry chimed in. "Some of them have to be thrown out of the window to do what is right... And one must do what is right rather than what is easy, Mr. Scrimgeour."

"Alright, I'll join," Scrimgeour grumbled and Harry grinned in triumph.

"Superb," Harry said, clapping his hands. "Tomorrow, the order is going to have its first practice session where we'll practice dueling and stuff and provide help to people who need it. These are going to be held every alternate day for two hours. If you all will join, it will be excellent."

"Err... Harry, I think we will decline the practice session for now, but can Susan be included in those sessions?"

"I will be taking separate sessions for all the underage kids in the order. You both are even welcome to stay at the safe house, which is under Fidelius and a shit ton of wards. It is certainly better than leaving Susan alone when you go to work."

"Then I can just drop off Susan there. She'll get your and your friends' company over the summer which will be good for her... I can always bring her back here at night to sleep." She said contemplatively.

"It is your wish, Amelia. But I did recommend you to shift there permanently. You have a big target on your back already. Why compromise your safety by staying alone at night?"

"You think anyone can breach these wards?" Amelia asked with genuine curiosity.

"Nothing is infallible, Amelia. I think I can breach through these wards if I have sufficient time, and if I can do it, so can Voldemort. They are powerful but those over the safehouse are even better. Also, there will at least be a few people present there, all of whom are capable witches and wizards."

"I will consider it," Amelia said after a few moments. "I will give you your answer tomorrow when I come to drop Susan off at this safe house. Speaking of which, where is it?"

Harry took out a slip of parchment that Dumbledore had written on and handed it to her. "Read and memorize it," He said.

"That's Dumbledore's handwriting," Amelia said after reading the address and giving it to Weaver. "He is the secret keeper."

"Yep," Harry affirmed.

"Nice," Amelia said.

Harry waited until everyone had read it before taking the parchment back and putting it safely into his moleskin pouch.

"If everything is done, I will take your leave. Have a good day." Croaker said and turned to leave before he whirled back "But, when is the meeting?"

"Someone will inform you. Once you get there, you will receive an artifact to communicate with a couple of other basic things." Harry replied.

"Alright. Good night everyone." Croaker said.

"I'll leave as well, goodbye everyone," Scrimgeour said before following Croaker out of the room.

Amelia looked at Harry and Weaver. "Will you two like to stay for dinner? Susan will come home in a few minutes. I am sure we can dine in fifteen-twenty minutes."

"Well, I haven't cooked dinner, so I will accept your offer," Weaver said with a grin.

"And I will have to decline. But, I'll wait till Susan comes and meet her before leaving," Harry declared.

"Fair enough."

---

8th July 1995

Number 12 Grimmauld Place

"Alright you lot, gather around," Alastor Moody called gruffly and the twenty-three people in the room immediately paid attention to him. "I am going to run you through basic auror drills first. Some of you," He said, pointing to eight people who were standing in a separate group apart from the general public, "may be familiar with it, but you are going to do it as well."

"Is that really necessary?" One of the men whined and Moody instantly shot a stinging hex at him, which hit the man square in the chest.

"CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" Moody roared. "That is what I taught you at Auror school, didn't I, Smith? ANSWER ME!"

"Sorry sir, won't happen ag— OUCH!" He shouted as a punching jinx impacted his gut, courtesy of Harry who had wandlessly shot the jinx. The man doubled over in pain, clutching his stomach.

"No, you aren't," Harry stated. "You eight, you are going to give everyone a demo with me. Six Aurors and two hit-wizards, you think you are great with a wand and can stand against Death Eaters cause you have a shiny batch? I'll show you how wrong you are. You eight against me, alone. Let us see how you fare."

"See kid—" one began but was cut off by Harry.

"Come on, I won't use a wand. Eight fully trained witches and wizards against one fourteen-year-old kid, No need to be scared. It is just a simple demo. Clear the space please so we can duel." Harry challenged and everyone else moved away, giving the nine witches and wizards a place to stand and fight. The room itself was very big, specially prepared for this purpose. It had additional wards, cushioning charms, and everything so people could duel here.

"Ooh, I am very excited to see this," Flitwick declared with a smile. "I bet twenty galleons on Harry winning. Anyone wants to take it up?"

No one responded though some were contemplating it. After a few moments, four people in the group did take him up on the bet and Flitwick looked very happy with that.

Soon, Harry stood on one side, facing the eight witches and wizards who were shooting each other looks. They all had wands in their hands and were preparing themselves. Harry, on the other hand, was standing with his arms behind his back looking completely calm.

"Moody, the countdown please,"

"Lad, there is no countdown in a real fight," Moody grunted.

"Well, let's not be so harsh on them," Harry said. "Countdown, please."

"Well, 3...2...1, GO!"

Immediately the Aurors and the hit wizards shot stunners at him with rapid speed. As the barrage of spells headed towards him, Harry stood completely still not moving a muscle. The group thought he was a goner until Harry just disappeared from his place just before the spells reached him.

A fraction of a second later, the whole group was knocked off their feet, disarmed, and stunned in one go. They hadn't even noticed when Harry had appeared behind them and shot a single spell to take them all out.

Harry smirked, mentally thanking Dumbledore for the ingenious spell. Dumbledore had christened it the ten-pin bowler spell. It was extremely useful to subdue multiple opponents at once. It was quick and efficient, but its only drawback was that it could be easily shielded against if any of the opponents was quick enough. It was one of Dumbledore's favorite spells to be used in battle.

Stunned silence filled the room as people looked between Harry and the eight wizards and witches lying on the floor. The whole duel had lasted for a grand total of one second.

Flitwick broke the silence by turning to the ones who had bet against Harry and said, "Pay up!"

Harry shot his mentor a grin before enervating the downed group. They groaned as they woke up before realizing what had happened.

"You cheated!" One exclaimed. "We didn't know apparition was allowed!"

"A war has no rules, you idiot. If you all had been my real opponents on the battlefield, you would've been dead. Get up! And follow what Moody says!" Harry roared and the group scrambled to their feet.

"Alright, so we'll be practicing dodging first," Moody grunted as he limped to the center of the room. "You cannot shield against every spell. There would be some spells you won't recognize. Some you would've never seen. If such a spell comes your way, it is better to dodge than shield against it. I'll put you into pairs. one will shoot stunners, disarmers, or any minor jinxes or hexes which are non-lethal at the other, who will dodge them. After five minutes, they will switch."

Some grumbled but followed through Moody's orders nonetheless. None wanted a repeat of what Harry had just done to the Eight Aurors and hit-wizards.

---

11th July 1995

Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire

Lucius Malfoy sat in his study nursing a glass of fire whiskey after a tiring day of running the Dark Lord's errands. He had been sent to recruit heavily in the past few days for the Dark Lord's forces ever since the injured death eaters, those who were alive anyways, had been healed. Several Death Eaters and the dark lord himself had been severely injured in the graveyard during the Dark Lord's duel with Harry Potter.

When Potter had confronted him two years ago, catching him off-guard and had threatened him, he had been scared. Now, he was bloody terrified of him.

Seeing the boy, a fourteen-year-old, go toe-on-toe with the Dark Lord himself had been terrifying. Till that day, Lucius thought that the old fool, Dumbledore, was the only one who could pose a challenge to the Dark Lord. And then, Potter had just stood against him, survived the killing curse, and taken the cruciatus without as much as a flinch before dueling one of the most dangerous wizards to walk on the face of the Earth while surrounded by several wizards, and admittedly came out on the top.

Fourteen. Fourteen Death Eaters had fallen to the boy's wand that day, either directly or indirectly.

A part of him was glad that he had sworn a vow not to harm the boy two years ago, even if it was against his wishes. Perhaps he could be of some use to Potter and survive this war, regardless of its outcome. He was one of the top Death Eaters amongst the ranks of the Dark Lord. If the Dark Lord won, it would be good for Lucius anyways. If he lost, he would be praised for being a spy for Potter.

It was an absolute win.

"Hello, Lucius," A smooth voice said, startling him. He immediately whirled around, pointing his wand at the invader, a curse on his lips, only for the wand to rip itself out of his hands even before he could utter a syllable.

He gulped seeing who it was.

"Hello, Lucius. That wasn't very nice, was it?" Harry Potter asked, twirling Lucius's wand in his hand.

"How-how did you get in, Potter?" Lucius demanded as a bead of sweat rolled down his forehead. "How did you get in without me knowing?"

The wards on the Malfoy manor were no joke. They were protected with some of the best wards money could buy. As the Lord, Lucius should've detected any person entering his manor, with or without his permission.

Harry smiled. "I have my ways, Lucius. May I take a seat?" he asked, sitting down on a chair, without waiting for permission.

"Ah, comfortable furniture you've got here, even if the room is a bit too gaudy for my tastes," He stated, comfortably lounging in the armchair.

"W-what do you want, Potter?"

"Many things. Sit down Malfoy. You've got a lot of work to do for me unless you wish to harm me by your inactions," Harry ordered with a smirk, reminding the man of the vow he had sworn.

Malfoy promptly sat down on the chair he was sitting on before.

"Good, now let us get down to business," Harry said. "Two years ago, you swore an unbreakable vow to me that you will not harm me in any way or form. Now, your master has returned... you were there in the graveyard to answer his call, weren't you?"

"Yes, I was. But I didn't fire a single spell at you. I only shielded myself against the spells that were flying around, I swear!"

"Yes, you didn't. You wouldn't be alive otherwise if you had fired the spell at me." Harry agreed.

"And, once your gag was removed, I even bought you time to catch your breath by questioning the dark lord," Lucius added quickly. "I am on your side, Heir Potter-Black." He said reverently.

Harry raised his eyebrows. "You are on no one's side but your own right now, Lucius. Trying to find a balance between your master and the oath and hoping to go scot-free regardless of the outcome of the war. Did you think you could butter me up and get in my good graces, Malfoy? Well, you are wrong, but well, I do have use of you."

"I am not a huge fan of the Dark Lord, even if I believe in his cause, I assure you," Lucius replied smoothly. "But he will be the end of the world with the madness he is displaying of late."

"Madness? Do tell."

"The dark lord... he is actively moving all his Death Eaters to recruit more people to the cause or run his errands. Even the slightest failures result in us being tortured under the cruciatus curse. Also, he is obsessed with finding out all about you. He has been questioning several people, whom you may have come in contact with to tell him all they know about you, including my son, Draco... He came out trembling and crying after suffering the cruciatus curse... that moment, I lost all respect for the Dark Lord," Lucius lied smoothly about the last part. Draco had just been kicked out of the room in reality and none of the heirs had been put under the cruciatus.

Currying Potter's favor was vital for him and his family to survive this war.

"Hmmm... what else?" Harry asked.

"The Dark Lord is trying to find a wand that suits him," He replied truthfully. "He says that if he had a compatible wand, the outcome of the duel would've been a lot different than it was that day. Over the past few days, he has tried over a hundred wands, but none so far have suited him. As of the moment, he is using my father's wand, Aspen, Dragon Heartstring, twelve and a quarter inches, which suited him the best amongst all of them."

"Alright, what else is he planning?"

"MacNair and two others have been sent abroad to converse with the giants. Envoys have been sent to the werewolf pack as well along with vampires. We all have been tasked to either recruit or gain information. Seven of his who work in the ministry have been told to get maps and stuff of every important location in the wizarding world. The ministry itself, St Mungo's, Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, Azkaban, and even a few international places like ICW headquarters, high-security prisons all over the world, Foreign ministries... and likes. I suspect, he would find all those of Britain but none of the international places."

"Interesting..." Harry mused.

"He and Rookwood... they are constantly planning something for the past few days it seems. Something big but none others are aware of it... They both are going to go somewhere soon though, once everything settles for an important mission. But what it is, I have no idea."

"If you are lying, it may harm me, Lucius," Harry said but nothing happened.

"I am not," He said firmly.

"Good. Now, any other development, even the smallest details... you should inform me immediately."

"How? I tried to owl you, a week ago. The owl flew around my head before refusing to take the letter."

"By this," Harry said, giving him a small pocket diary. "press your wand to a page and say what you wish to inform. I will get the message."

Lucius examined the diary before asking, "Where did you buy this from?"

"Enchanted it myself. Now, you will inform me of every small detail of what Voldemort is planning, am I understood? Anything that you don't communicate could potentially harm me."

"Of course."

"Good, I'll show myself out. Take care Lucius, because even a single mistake would cost you your life." Harry said before walking out of the room with a pop. Lucius followed him a moment later but found him already gone, much to his shock.

Notes:

And... DONE!

Hope you all liked the chapter. The next chapter will likely cover till the return to Hogwarts for the fifth... unless I get a brainwave and put something else in it. I would've actually updated the PJO fic instead of this, but I've hit writer's block there... so, here we are!

Also, a big thank you to I_amaSWITCHbot for betaing this chapter!

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Dearest readers!

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(If you are wondering if I am going to post this message in every story, I am. I want as many of you there so we all can interact with one another.)

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Also, I have my own channel on the discord server known as Emerald Library. I recommend that you join the server and there, you won't only have access to me, but several other big authors who have their channels on the Emerald Library.

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Stay Happy! Stay safe! Keep smiling! Keep reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 54: Meetings, OWLS and Soul Searching

Ch.53 Meetings, OWLS and Soul Searching

13th July 1995

12 Grimmauld Place, London

Harry found himself seated at the head of the dining table in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place again, waiting for all the members of the Order of the Phoenix to arrive for the second meeting of the group. There were about ten minutes left for the meeting to begin and people were slowly trickling in one by one. Many people were asking for Dumbledore.

Why? Because he had been fired from both the ICW and the Wizengamot. The whole world had heard this news in the morning papers. The Prophet had half of the morning edition dedicated to the man and how he was going barmy and failing in his duties. They were applauding the ministry and Wizengamot for taking timely action before 'Dumbledore led the world to ruin.' Prophet's words, not his.

Harry, along with several other Lords, including Sirius and Cyrus, had stormed the ministry after breakfast to demand answers for why an emergency meeting had been called without them being notified.

Apparently, Fudge had called an emergency session of the Wizengamot at 2 AM of all times. The Quorum was barely achieved and Fudge called for the vote of firing the Chief Warlock. Seventy-eight percent of those voted to fire Dumbledore. The rest of the Wizengamot, including Dumbledore, were absent. Several Lords were furious that no notification had been given for the emergency meeting and had gone to the ministry as soon as they had seen the news in the prophet. But, as per the law, the firing of Dumbledore was legal as more than 66% of members present had voted for it.

It was clearly a scheme cooked up by Fudge. He was doing everything in his power to reduce Dumbledore's influence. And he was doing this when Dumbledore or any other person wasn't present to oppose him in the political arena.

When the emergency session had been called, Dumbledore had gone for the ICW conference in Los Angeles, where he was fired from his position as the Supreme Mugwump when he gave the speech of Lord Voldemort's return. Those who were jealous of Dumbledore's power had taken Fudge's propaganda in stride and used it to fire him, claiming he was gone senile and spreading needless fear to undermine authority.

At exactly a minute before Seven, which was the time for the meeting to begin, the doors of the kitchen opened again and Dumbledore entered, looking as cheerful as ever as if nothing had happened.

"Good evening to you all. Is everyone, including our new members present?" Dumbledore greeted, striding across the room before standing next to Harry.

"Yes... everyone is here, Headmaster," Mr. Weasley said, looking around the room.

"Excellent, then we can begin," Dumbledore declared before taking his seat.

"Professor," Hestia Jones called. "We heard... The prophet said that you have been fired from your positions."

"Yes, I have," Dumbledore said in a completely unbothered tone. "And I had been anticipating this move for days, Miss Jones."

"And you have no problem with it?" One of the members asked incredulously.

"I have no problems as long as they do not take me off the chocolate frog cards. They are a much more accurate version of the deeds of a person than these political positions."

"But- but they can't just fire you like that!" Mrs. Weasley shrieked.

"I am afraid that they have, Molly. Do not worry. This gives me more time to concentrate on Lord Voldemort than spend time doing a load of paperwork which I loathe doing." He replied serenely.

"But it will also cost us a lot of political clout that you carried," Augusta Longbottom said, leaning forward, making her presence known.

She had joined the order a few days ago… a day after Harry had convinced Amelia, Scrimgeour, and Weaver. It was Sirius who had gone to meet her and had successfully convinced her to be a part of the group.

Augusta Longbottom, despite her age, was still as sharp as she had been when Charlus Potter had led the Dragon Legion against Grindelwald's forces. And her tongue had grown sharper as she gathered Political acumen in the Wizengamot. Many on the body feared and respected her. She was a woman not to be trifled with. Everyone knew that.

She had also agreed to let Neville join them in training sessions, the first of which was going to be held soon for those who were underage.

"Ah, Augusta. First and foremost, I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new members, Augusta Longbottom, Amelia Bones, Rufus Scrimgeour, Mary Weaver, Amos and Ashley Diggory, Christine Taylor, Oliver Wood, and finally, Saul Croaker." His announcement was met with polite applause by most while some shot looks varying from shock to fear at Croaker, who was sitting on a chair next to Scrimgeour in complete Unspeakable uniform with his hood and everything on.

"For those who don't know, Croaker is the head of the Department of Mysteries," Harry added. "He is an Unspeakable and prefers to be in his uniform."

"So, I think we should—" Dumbledore began but stopped short as a buzzing noise emerged from his pocket. He removed an odd-looking piece of contraception before smiling widely and standing up.

"Excuse me, Ladies and Gentlemen. I'll be back in a moment with someone. Harry, Sirius, can you open the wards for a minute?"

Harry frowned at the sudden request but nodded and so did Sirius.

"I'll be right back then," Dumbledore said before apparating away.

Nearly forty seconds later, Harry and Sirius felt Dumbledore and another man entering the wards… with something weird that the wards were having trouble recognizing. The wards were telling him that several living beings had entered, though it couldn't be detected what they were except for the fact that they were not human.

Harry stood up nonetheless and prepared himself by pointing his wand at the door of the kitchen. A few seconds later, the door opened again and Dumbledore entered, followed by another old man who looked only a couple of decades younger than the Headmaster himself.

The man had white hair but was sporting a clean shave. He had hazel eyes which looked around the room taking in everything at a single glance. He carried a suitcase in his left hand.

He looked at Harry and he raised his hands in a universal motion of surrender before saying, "I mean you no harm. Please put your wand down, kid."

Harry raised his eyebrow. "The wards say otherwise. You have brought several creatures of some sort into the property and in a way that beyond their entry, the wards are unable to detect what or where they are."

The man blinked before gaining an impressed look. "Then you certainly have ingenious wards on this property to even detect that something is in this suitcase."

"Your suitcase… what is in it, Mister…"

"Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Newton Scamander. Though you may call me Newt."

Harry sucked in a sharp breath at the man's identity as several gasps echoed around the table.

Newt Scamander, the world's foremost Magilogist and the foremost authority on magical creatures. That meant… "Your fabled creature suitcase. That is what the wards detected." Harry breathed and lowered his wand.

Scamander beamed. "You are interested in magical creatures, kid?"

"Magical creatures are fascinating but I am more interested in the enchantments layered in your suitcase. It makes a whole habitat for several rare and highly magical creatures."

"Harry is much more interested in those things where wand waving and doing work is required than what you do, Newton."

"Of course, many of them prefer charms and transfiguration rather than working with the sheer beauty of nature," Scamander said. "But, if you wish, I'll show you the trunk on the inside once this meeting is over."

"Thank you, sir," Harry replied sincerely. This would probably be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Newt Scamander was rumored to have some of the rarest creatures from around the world in his suitcase including a few species of dragons and a Nundu.

"Please take a seat Newton," Dumbledore said. "We will be beginning the meeting."

"Of course, professor," Newt said before sitting down next to Kingsley Shacklebolt while Dumbledore strode back to his seat.

"I think we should hear the reports first. First, does anyone wish to share some important information they may have gained?"

"Apart from Fudge kicking you out of the Wizengamot using underhand methods, nothing big." Augusta Longbottom snarked.

"My dear Augusta, they didn't kick me off the Wizengamot. Only my position as the Chief Warlock was taken away. I still hold a position in the body due to my Order of Merlin and my house seat." Dumbledore reminded her. "And I am certain that this change will be temporary. What do you think will happen when Lord Voldemort is revealed to the world?"

"Those shit stains would come back begging you to retake your positions, of course," She answered.

"Precisely. My removal at this moment gives me time to work peacefully behind the scenes. Also, I am free to concentrate on more concerning matters than doing paperwork. I see this as an absolute win."

"And what of the fact that they are dragging your name through the mud, Headmaster?" Kingsley asked. "Fudge and his undersecretary have been in close contact with the Daily Prophet. Only a few days ago she visited their office with a bunch of Auror guards who are basically Fudge's lackeys."

"It means they are controlling the media by force," Lord Greengrass growled.

"Of course they are," Amelia snorted. "Most of the public will believe whatever the prophet says, regardless of how fake it is."

"All this is okay," Croaker interrupted. "Dumbledore is powerful enough to handle anything put his way politically, regardless of his positions being taken away, and will regain it all back as soon as He-who-must-not-be-named is revealed to the world. I have a greater concern. Some people have been lurking outside the Department of Mysteries for the past four days. They are under invisibility cloaks and masking spells. I suspect that they are Death Eaters."

Harry and Dumbledore shared a look, knowing what it exactly was.

"Have they tried to do anything so far?" Harry questioned.

"Not yet. They are observing, I reckon."

"But what are they after?" Newt Scamander asked. "There are various things in the department of Mysteries, which could be disastrous if they fall in Voldemort's hands."

"Yes, things like time turners could spell disaster if they fall in Death Eaters' hands," Amelia agreed.

"Hide them," Harry declared. "Put those things under wards or something. Maybe put them all in a room and put it under the Fidelius Charm."

"I have already moved a few items to a secure and warded room deep in the department, accessible only to a selected few Unspeakables."

"Could Rookwood access it by breaking in?" Harry questioned.

"Rookwood was one of the most capable Unspeakables the DOM has ever seen. Had he not been a Death Eater, he would be the Head of DOM now instead of me. So, if he has sufficient time, he should be able to find and break in… but, given enough time."

"That is not good enough then," Dumbledore interrupted. "Put it under Fidelius, Mr. Croaker, and ward it more if possible."

"Well, fair enough. Extra precautions never go amiss," Croaker relented.

"But what is he after?" Molly Weasley asked.

"I have an idea but I am not sure," Dumbledore replied. "I think we should have a guard at the DOM to make sure Death Eaters don't make a move."

"Respectfully, I'll ask that you don't. We are keeping a close eye on the people who lurk outside."

"That is in the morning. What at night?" Harry challenged. "You all go home at seven-thirty, leaving the department empty. If Death Eaters break in, none of you would be able to respond in time."

"I have a suggestion," Amelia said. "What if we do things legally? An auror or hit wizard guard outside the department at night?"

"Won't that look suspicious?" Bill Weasley asked. "Placing a sudden patrol at night."

"Not if Fudge orders it," Amelia replied. "We just need to convince him that Dumbledore might want to steal something from the Ministry. He will immediately order a 24/7 patrol throughout the ministry. That way, even the records can be protected. They do have a lot of valuable information about where everyone lives… well almost everyone bar the Manors of the Sacred twenty-eight."

"A brilliant idea," Harry said with a grin. "Playing on Fudge's paranoia. I like it."

"It is a sound suggestion and it will also save the Order's time," Dumbledore agreed. "But who will fill Cornelius's ears?"

"Leave that to me, Professor," Harry said. "I have an excellent person to suggest this to the minister."

"Who?" Someone asked.

"That is for me to know and you to find out," Harry replied mysteriously. "I, on the other hand, would like to give a report on how the whole Order is progressing with regards to practice."

Several people shifted in their seats.

"Do tell," Dumbledore said, noting the reactions around the table.

Before Harry could say anything, Moody growled, "Most of the lot is shit who don't know one end of the wand from the other. The old guard was so much better! The Potters! Longbottoms! Edgar Bones! Prewett twins! McKinnon siblings! This new crop is shit Dumbledore. Even the Aurors and hit wizards! I don't know what has been happening in the academy. Even most of the old guard is completely rusted!"

"Calm down, Alastor," McGonagall said firmly. "They are not as bad as you are saying. They are just inexperienced."

"Inexperienced my arse," He muttered.

"Harry, what do you say?" Dumbledore asked.

"It is not bad as moody is saying, but work is required. Most don't know anything beyond the basic NEWT DADA curriculum… some even less. They have never shot a spell to protect or attack in their life. They are either vastly inexperienced or rusty. We are still playing catch-up to Hogwarts syllabus in some cases if you ask me."

"Really?"

"Yes. To be perfectly honest, they aren't bad for an average citizen or even an Auror. They… I find that they aren't quick. Quickness is what matters during duels and fighting. Moody has been running drills but many find physical exercise beneath them despite getting their asses handed to them by a fifteen-year-old."

"Not every fifteen-year-old is you, Potter," One snapped. "You're a different case!"

Harry snorted. "We will see in the next session when I bring a couple of my friends to face you lazy asses."

"Why you—"

"So," Dumbledore interrupted before it could devolve into a fight. "How long will they take to be ready to go to the battlefield if needed and face Death Eaters?"

Harry pursed his lips. "Sir, I will be completely honest and say that I have a feeling that if I train my friends… the under seventeen lot whom you have excluded from the order, they will be ready by Christmas at the latest to take down Death Eaters. Heck, I am sure Susan and Daphne will be ready before school starts. We three have been training together once a week since our third year and it only increased at the start of this calendar year."

"How good is Susan?" Amelia asked, leaning forward.

"Good enough to defeat most of the Aurors and new hit-wizards… bar the best ones like Shaklebolt. And she would give even Shacklebolt here a run for his money right now."

Amelia raised her eyebrows. "Really?"

"Yep," Harry replied, popping the p. "So is Daphne. Both the girls are terrific with a wand. You can test her. I am sure she'll make you proud."

"You are going to train everyone?" Amos asked. "Can Cedric join? My boy is good, but practice never goes amiss."

"Of course he can, Mr. Diggory. Anyone above 13 and still at Hogwarts can join."

"Excellent. I'll send him over when you call for them."

"No problem, Mister Diggory."

"Excuse me, are we completely going to ignore the fact that he is calling us incompetent?" One witch said, jabbing her finger in Harry's direction.

"Because you are incompetent," Moody growled, shutting every protest up.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "What does this mean for the order, Harry? Do give me a clearer idea on when we will be ready."

Harry sighed. "If you ask for every single member of the order, I have no idea. But we can have a decent fight force ready by Halloween at the latest consisting mainly of the old guard, Hit-Wizards, and Aurors. A better number would be ready by Christmas…. To at least face death eaters and not, hopefully, die."

"What Potter is not saying is that they are all wimps, Albus," Moody snapped. "They only use bloody stunners even in practice duels and are unenthusiastic to even learn! I wonder how they will face the Death Eaters who throw unforgivables around like candy."

"They are telling us to use dangerous spells, Headmaster!" One shouted. "Spells which would kill if misaimed! Some of it is borderline dark magic! We never used them in the last war and we did win."

There were noises of agreement across the table. Harry pursed his lips. Despite all Moody, Flitwick and he told them, many were unwilling to use anything more than stunners and disarmers. Heck, they didn't even use a Diffindo as they were afraid that they would cut someone's neck. They classified anything not taught at Hogwarts as dark magic.

Also, they were unwilling to learn things thinking they knew enough. They thought exercise and practice were beneath them, especially those who had been raised in magical households throughout their lives.

"You didn't win the war that time," Harry said dryly. "You didn't do shit. It was my parents who won the war. You were losing badly from what I know. It was only due to the fact that Voldemort… STOP FLINCHING AT THE NAME YOU FUCKING COWARDS!" Harry roared as many people flinched again at the name. It was getting irritating.

"How can I expect you all to even face him if you flinch at his mere name?" Harry said in a cold tone and his voice filled the whole room.

"Harry isn't wrong," Dumbledore said. "We need to take Death Eaters out of a fight by at least incapacitating them."

"I agree," Lord Greengrass said. "It is either them or you and your family."

"I implore you all to listen to what Alastor, Harry, and Filius tell you. It is vital for us to win this war and make sure Lord Voldemort doesn't take over the wizarding world. Harry is also correct in saying that we were indeed on the brink of losing last time. We had lost many of our ranks and a year more and Britain would've fallen to Voldemort. I am unwilling to let this happen again. This time, we are an active resistance. We actively work to ensure that the world is safe!" Dumbledore said.

There were murmurs around the table.

"We are all going to face dark and difficult times ahead. Many of you in this room have already suffered directly or indirectly at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Many of your families have been torn asunder. Many others have been as well who aren't in this room or this world. I refuse to let it happen again. I won't tell you what to do now. To those who wish to be an active part of this resistance against the Dark forces, you can continue the training sessions. But, if you do, you need to do what they tell you to. That's all."

Silence reigned over the table as Dumbledore finished. No one spoke for a minute. Then Snape drawled, "I would like to make my report on what is happening within the Dark Lord's forces right now if you allow."

"Do tell, Severus," Dumbledore said.

"The dark lord is actively moving all his Death Eaters to recruit more people or creatures to his cause or to run his errands. He is unforgiving of favors and is using the cruciatus quite liberally. Even the slightest failures result in Death Eaters being tortured under the cruciatus curse. Also, he is obsessed with finding out all about Potter." Snape said, spitting the last word. "He has been questioning several people, including me, whom Potter may have come in contact with. He is forcing everyone to tell him all they know about this brat."

"Oh, and what did you say, Snivellous?" Harry asked, twirling his wand in his hands.

"Harry, enough. Severus, anything else of importance?"

"The Dark Lord is trying to find a wand that suits him as his previous one was snapped by Potter when Pettigrew was caught. He blames his failure to kill Potter in the graveyard on the unfit wand he was wielding. He says that if he had a compatible wand, the outcome of the duel would've been a lot different than it was that day. Over the past week, he has tried over a hundred wands, but none so far have suited him. Currently, he is using the most compatible wand he found, but I do not know of its composition." Snape replied with a shrug.

"Aspen, Dragon Heartstring, twelve and a quarter inches. The wand of Arbaxus Malfoy." Harry supplied. "That is the wand he's using."

"How do you know that, Potter?" Snape snapped.

"I am Harry Potter. Continue with your report."

"No…. that is the crux of the information I have. And as Croaker said, the Dark Lord has ordered a few of his Death Eaters to keep an eye on the DOM." Snape replied.

"Pathetic. I'll give you more. Voldemort has sent envoys to the giants, Werewolves, and Vampires already. He plans to recruit them all to his cause. Some of his Death Eaters have been tasked to infiltrate the ministry and get maps and information on all important places in Britain and around the world. The Ministries of Magic, St Mungo's, Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, Azkaban, ICW headquarters, high-security prisons all over the world… all of it."

Many around the table sucked in a sharp breath.

"Does he wish to attack all these locations?" Hestia Jones asked.

"Most likely. All are of the importance of one form or another to the world and thus, to him."

"That is concerning," Dumbledore mused. "Very concerning. Amelia, how prepared will your Aurors be if any of these places are attacked?"

"Well, they should be able to handle a small force but if Voldemort himself is with them… all bets are off."

"Then prepare them the best you can," Harry said. "Do a few training exercises or something to keep them in shape."

Amelia sighed before nodding. She knew that most of the new lot would've to be put under complete training to prepare them to fight Death Eaters… At least her Aurors. Hit-wizards would be good to go with a few training exercises. But the new Aurors who had taken a position in the last decade… they were useless. Fudge had massively cut the budget for Auror force and as a result, the new crop was hardly trained to deal with anything more than common thugs.

"Also, Harry, do be careful when you step out of this home. I don't think it'll be long before Cornelius turns his attention to you and tries to frame you or something so that you are expelled from Hogwarts."

Harry snorted. "He'll try. And if he succeeds, well, just take me as an apprentice. The ministry can't snap my wand if I am under an apprenticeship unless I commit a heinous crime and am tried in front of the Wizengamot. So, expelling me from Hogwarts won't do shit."

"True. But as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure."

"Of course. If you wish, I would give my OWLs in the first week of August."

"A good idea… Harry, tell me, do you have a problem with taking Lordship of House Potter early?"

Harry blinked. "No, sir. But I can only take Lordship when I am seventeen."

"Not necessarily. You can officially vote on the Wizengamot once you are seventeen. But, the Lordship as such can be obtained early in your case."

"But how?"

"Well, in 1673, a law has been passed that, if a there is a sole surviving member of a house of the Sacred 28, the member can obtain the Lordship or the Ladyship of the house if he or she has; one, an emancipation, which is something you got by achieving an Order of Merlin. Second, the person must have at least five OWLs and at least one of them must be in a core, wand-related subject, that is charms, transfiguration, or DADA. Something I am sure you'll achieve easily."

"Of course," Harry nodded. "Are there any more conditions?"

"The person must not have any life-threatening disease… which you won't… and a criminal record shouldn't exist either. So, you are clean to achieve it."

"Cool… just recheck the law, won't you, sir? We don't want to miss something."

"Of course," Dumbledore agreed. "You should begin preparing for your exams in the meanwhile. While I am sure you will perform brilliantly even if you give the exams right now, I wouldn't want anything less than perfection from you."

"Yes, sir."

"Excellent. Once you achieve your OWLs, even if they expel you from the school, they can't snap your wand. Now, does someone wish to add anything?"

"If Potter gives his OWLs in the summer, will he attend my sixth-year class?" McGonagall asked.

"Yes, Minerva, he will." Dumbledore replied and McGonagall nodded in satisfaction before shooting Harry a look that screamed, 'You better be in my sixth-year class next September, Potter, or else…'

Harry gulped and gave her a nod. While he was sure he would receive nothing less than an O, McGonagall was still terrifying.

---

15th July 1995

12 Grimmauld Place, London

Harry stood in a corner of the room tapping his foot impatiently, waiting for his girlfriend, Daphne to arrive with her little sister. It was the first training session that he was going to take for his friends. His inner circle.

When he had told Dumbledore that his friends would be able to face Death Eaters by Christmas, he wasn't lying. He intended to prepare them as such, even if they wouldn't be his first preference to take into battle when compared to the Order of the Phoenix. But, he knew they had to be ready.

Sooner or later, everyone would have to fight for their lives and battle Voldemort's forces. A single attack during a Hogsmeade weekend would ensure that.

Finally, the door opened and Daphne and Astoria jogged in.

"I am so sorry!" Daphne exclaimed, closing the door. "This midget caused the delay,"

"Hey!" Astoria exclaimed at being called a midget and glared at her sister.

"No problem. Come and we'll start." Harry replied before walking to the center as the two girls went and stood next to Hermione and Susan.

There were a total of ten people in front of Harry. First were the Weasleys: Ron, Ginny, and the twins. Next to them, Cedric stood with Neville Longbottom. Next to him, there were Susan, Hermione, Astoria, and Daphne.

Harry smiled at them.

"Welcome, everyone. As you know, you all are here to learn to protect yourself in case something happens… that is partially true. I have gathered you all to teach you how to fight. Fight for your and your family's life. To fight Death Eaters and forces that threaten our world. As you all know, Lord Voldemort is alive and kicking once more. It won't be long before an open war breaks out. Many of your parents don't wish for you all to be in this war." Harry informed, looking everyone in the eye.

"But I say differently! You all, regardless of your age or your parents' wishes, are going to be plunged into the war, sooner or later. You need to know how to fight. You need to know how to protect yourself and take down Death Eaters. To protect yourself, your friends, and your family. But, being on the battlefield is dangerous. Whoever wishes to stay out of it, can leave the room right now." Harry declared, gesturing to the door.

No one moved a muscle.

"You are here to learn the true power of magic," Harry started, slowly drifting forward. "The might you can truly hold within your wands. I will teach you how to blast a wall into pieces, how to tear your enemies apart, how to cast a shield so powerful that spells will simply bounce off of it. I am going to teach you to kill and to survive. If anyone doesn't wish to learn it, the door is still open."

No one moved and Harry smiled. "Then, we will begin, right here, right now. None of the things I am teaching you should fall on your parent's ears. Why? Simply because they disapprove of their children being taught to fight for their lives. Any parent will want their children safe. But, in a war, that is not practical. Is everyone with me?"

"YES!" They exclaimed as one and Harry smiled.

"Excellent. Let us begin. First, I wish to get down all the basic spells so that you can cast them perfectly. And I call a spell perfectly cast, only when it is silent and without wand movement. So, we are going to perfect the disarming charm and the stunning spell today. After that is done, I'll teach you a powerful cutting curse. And in the end, if time permits, I'll get you all through some basic practices. Now, here, I know Susan and Daphne can do all four perfectly. I have taught them. And I assume you know it as well, Cedric."

"I can cast both spells silently. But which cutting curse are you talking about?"

"Lacero," Harry replied.

"Yeah, I learned that for the tournament," Cedric replied. "Useful spell."

"So, you three can go to a side and practice dueling while I teach them to cast spells. I'll come to you in a few minutes." They nodded and walked off to the side before beginning to speak in hushed tones.

"As for you all, show me your disarming spell on the dummy," Harry said, pointing to the dummy that stood a little distance away with a wooden stick in its hand.

Hermione walked and stood in the circle first before pointing her wand at the dummy and shouting, "EXPELLIARMUS!"

A red beam of light shot from her wand and impacted the dummy, throwing it back as the wand flew towards Hermione who ducked under it before turning to Harry who nodded at her before gesturing to Ginny to take her place.

Ginny too, performed the charm perfectly like Hermione but with wand moments. Harry also noted that her spell was more powerful than Hermione's.

"Fred, you next," Harry said and Fred replaced Ginny before shooting a silent Expelliarmus at the dummy, disarming and throwing it back.

Harry frowned. "If you can do the spell silently, why are you doing wand movements?" Harry asked.

"Err… cause they taught us that way?" Fred replied.

"Do it again but just point and cast. Don't make wand movements. Only a few spells need wand movements to perform and Expelliarmus is definitely not one of them."

"Alright," He said, before pointing and shooting the spell. The dummy got disarmed but wasn't knocked off its feet.

"George, do the same if you can," Harry said, and true to his assumption, George too managed a silent disarmer but it just pushed the dummy back a few inches.

"Alright, you two, practice with those two dummies there and make your spell powerful enough to throw the dummy back. Let me show you a perfect disarming charm. George, can you move?"

"Yeah, sure."

Harry stood in front of the dummy before pointing his wand at it and shooting an Expelliarmus at it. The beam of red light hit the dummy and its wand was ripped out of its hands and came flying towards him.

Harry caught the wand in his free hand as the Dummy slammed into the wall a few feet away.

"That is what an Expelliarmus is capable of doing. But, knocking it off its feet, throwing it a few feet back will also suffice" Harry said to them. "Ron, you next. You both, go and perfect it."

The twins nodded and went to practice with the dummies. Harry turned to Ron who had taken his place in the marked circle in front of the Dummy.

"Expelliarmus!" Ron said and the dummy was disarmed. But Harry cringed at the spell. The wand movements were exaggerated, and the spell was weak. He would need a little work.

"Neville, your turn."

The boy in question gulped and shakily came to stand in the circle. He pointed his wand at the dummy. His arm was shaking.

"Expelliarmus," a pale red light shot from his wand and impacted the dummy. But the dummy's wand never left its hand.

"I am useless," He muttered.

Harry flicked his wand and transfigured the dummy into a replica of Bellatrix Lestrange before animating it and providing a sound.

"Aww… ickle baby Neville can't even do a disarming spell…" She taunted making a babyface before grinning evilly.

Neville looked at the dummy with shock before rage clouded his eyes. He gripped his wand so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He gritted his teeth.

"Is Lil Neville afraid of me?" She laughed. "Is he—"

"EXPELLIARMUS!" Neville roared. A bright red light shot from his wand and hit the transfigured Bellatrix Lestrange, ripping the wand arm off and smashing the dummy into the wall.

Harry's eyes widened before he ducked under the arm that had come flying at him.

"You will pay, bitch!" Neville roared before pointing his wand at the dummy. "Crucio!"

Harry's eyes widened as Neville shot the torture curse at the dummy. A perfect cruciatus curse on the first try. He had not expected it in his wildest dreams.

Harry immediately disarmed Neville, knocking him off his feet, careful not to hurt him before rushing to him.

"Neville, calm down!"

"Leave me, Harry! LET ME TORTURE THE BITCH! SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO MY PARENTS! LEAVE ME DAMN IT! LET ME GET JUSTICE!" Neville shouted, shaking with rage.

"CALM DOWN! Nev, this is not real. This isn't Bellatrix." Harry said, shaking him. "Look at me. That is not her. It was a dummy." Harry said before reverting the dummy to its original form. "A dummy. It is not real, Nev."

Neville looked at the Dummy, still breathing harshly. He was clenching his fists and his nails digging into his palm.

"Dobby, bring me a calming draught," Harry said and a moment later Dobby popped in with a vial of the asked potion. Harry took it from the house-elf before making Neville drink it.

A few moments later, he visibly calmed and opened his fists. Harry could see that he had injured himself and waved his wand, healing the boy's hands. "You good now, Nev?" Harry asked.

He nodded.

"Excellently cast. I can't believe you got the cruciatus down on the first try. And the disarmer was a killer one."

He looked at Harry incredulously. "Are you complimenting me for casting an unforgivable?"

Harry smiled before getting up. "Gather around," He told everyone, as they stared at Neville.

"I would like to make one thing clear. There is nothing such as dark arts. Magic is magic. It is the intent that matters. Dark arts were merely a label of the ministry to make sure people stay away from the more powerful variety of spells and refrain from using them. A cutting curse to the neck and the killing curse has the same effect. The cruciatus was invented to be a medical spell to restart the heart.

Though, I recommend you put down your enemies as quickly as possible. And by putting them down, I do not necessarily mean to kill them."

"Then what does it mean?" Hermione asked with a frown.

"Anything that takes them out of the fight so that they can't fight that battle. Cutting off an arm or breaking it is also effective and so are spells like an advanced stunner… but it can be easily protected against by the simplest Protego or will be ineffective if it hits good quality protective clothing. Like the attire I wore during the third task, even the Lacero curse bounces off it harmlessly. But, that is basilisk hide… the best protective armor there is."

"From the one you killed in the chamber?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, and I wear a battle robe on top of it."

"The dragon legion's… that belonged to your grandfather, right?" Neville asked, surprising Harry again.

"Yes, the very same." He replied.

"You know, there is a saying in my and… even your family. Where a Potter goes, a Longbottom follows. Did you know that?"

Harry blinked. "No… no, I didn't."

Neville nodded before getting to his feet. "Understandable. My grandmother told this to me a couple of days ago… We have been allies for centuries. Our families have been, at least. I hope we can continue the tradition, Heir Potter."

"Of course, Heir Longbottom," Harry replied before grasping his arm and shaking it.

"What just happened?" Ron asked.

"They acknowledged the continuation of the Potter-Longbottom support alliance," Daphne replied. "It is not a public thing, I guess because even I heard about it for the first time now. It must be a family thing. But, then again, it is known that Potter and Longbottom families are friendly with each other. Hector Longbottom and Charlus Potter were both important members of the Dragon Legion… but the friendship between Charlus Potter and Arcturus Black was much greater as were their joint accomplishments. Your parents too were members of the Order of the Phoenix as far as I know."

"True," Neville said before turning to Harry. "Thank you for helping me out, Harry. And… sorry that I lost control."

"No problem. I can understand. But, you had to understand that you could do it. You are capable of doing it. I predicted that using your rage was the best way to bring out the magic."

"And it was damn powerful," Cedric agreed. "Your disarmer ripped off the dummy's arm."

"The whole dummy is badly damaged," Astoria added, pointing at the pieces of the dummy which had broken off due to Neville's spell.

"What I am wondering is how can Neville's spell be so underpowered if he could do that?" Susan asked. "The magic he did… the power behind it was on another level."

"His wand is hot due to the power he put," George said, picking up Neville's wand.

"Hot?" Harry frowned. His wand hadn't even gotten warm when he fought Voldemort. How did Neville get hot with two spells, regardless of how much he overpowered them?

"Yep, see." George handed him the wand and Harry examined it.

The wand wood was indeed hot. Harry looked at it closely and saw that cracks had formed on it. Not too damaging but unfitting for a wand.

"Neville, is this the wand you got from Ollivanders?" Harry asked.

"No, that is my dad's wand. His legacy."

"Neville… the reason for your performance… through school till now is this wand," Harry informed. "The wand chooses the wizard. Each wand has different compatibility with a person. The bond is special. Your father's wand won't yield the best result for you."

"But…"

"I don't think it is even debatable, Neville," Susan said. "Despite how great your father was, the wand was his. Using his wand won't make you better but rather hinder you. Even if you use Merlin's wand, it won't make you great."

"True," Cedric agreed. "You need your own wand."

"Put this in a safe or display as a remembrance to him. But, don't use it. It will hinder you. The wand's magic will resist yours."

"My grandmother won't approve," Neville said.

"I'll talk to her… or put McGonagall on it," Harry replied. "They are made of the same fabric. They'll deal with each other." Harry added.

"Fair enough. So… Do we go now?" Neville asked.

"I'll call Sirius, he'll go with you. Till then, I'll have fun with the rest." Harry replied before flicking his wand and sending a Patronus message to Sirius.

"Are you going to teach us the Patronus as well?" Hermione asked.

"Soon. First, you all need to get the basic spells down before moving onto something as complex as a Patronus charm." Harry replied and a moment later, there was a knock at the door. Harry waved his wand and the door swung open and Sirius entered.

"What's up, kids?" He asked, grinning at everyone around.

"You need to take Neville to Ollivanders and get him back. Go, Sirius." Harry said.

"What? No hi, no hello, no greetings? What am I? A dog?" Sirius asked in a mock hurt voice.

"Yes," Harry replied in a deadpan tone. "You are a dog Padfoot. Now, get going."

"Whatever. Come, Neville." Sirius said before side-along apparating Neville away.

Harry turned back to the rest and asked them to continue.

Astoria and Ginny were good as well.

"Superb, you all can at least do a disarming charm decently. Now, we need to perfect it so that you can do the spell with a mere thought. The disarming charm is one of the most useful spells you can probably hit your opponent with. Most wizards and witches do not carry a secondary wand. Being disarmed is as good as putting them out of the fight if you follow it up with a stunner." Harry said, looking at each one of them.

"So, what you all are going to do is that you will stand in front of the wall and start shooting Expelliarmus in rapid succession at it. After seven tries, try to do it without wand movements and speak softer. No need to shout the spell. Repeat seven times without wand movement once you get it down. After those seven, try to speak the spell in your mind instead of speaking it aloud."

"And we'll get it down?" Astoria asked. "Silent casting is sixth-year stuff. I have just passed my second year."

"I learned it at the end of my second year as well," Harry replied. "If you want, instead of seven, do it ten times. And you can do the spell pretty well already."

She nodded before standing in front of the wall with the others. And they began.

---

1st August 1995

Ministry of Magic, London

Harry walked down the atrium of the ministry of magic, dressed in normal robes with a small book bag slung over his shoulder. The bag didn't contain a lot of things. Only a few quills, two bottles of ink, the fifth-year textbooks for Transfiguration and History of Magic, a writing pad, a packet of sandwiches for lunch, and a bottle of water.

Harry usually would have just conjured the necessary things but the use of magic during theory examination was forbidden. And he couldn't conjure food.

His wands were secure in their holsters as he walked towards the golden gates beyond which the elevators were while keeping an eye on his surroundings in case Death Eaters decided to attack.

Harry walked the gates into the smaller hall beyond, where at least twenty lifts stood behind wrought golden grilles. He stepped into one of them along with two other wizards and a witch. One of them, a big, bearded wizard holding a large cardboard box stood next to him. The box was emitting rasping noises.

"What've you got there, Bob?" asked the witch, looking at the box.

"We're not sure," said the wizard seriously. "We thought it was a bog-standard chicken until it started breathing fire. Looks like a serious breach of the Ban on Experimental Breeding to me."

The lift started to descend before moving in all directions according to where the occupants wished to go.

Finally, after a few minutes, the automated voice declared, "Level two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters, and Wizengamot Administration Services. Also, the Wizarding Education Administration office."

Harry walked out of the lift into the hall and walked down to the WEA section, specifically to Griselda Marchbanks's office. He knocked at the door and Griselda Marchbanks's voice called, "Come in."

Harry pushed the door open and walked into a sufficiently large room. There was a large desk, behind which the old lady sat, looking as regal as ever tapping her fingers on the desk.

"Good Morning, ma'am," Harry greeted.

"Potter, take a seat. I am glad you are a bit early. One should always reach the examination hall before time. Good." She said, gesturing to the seat in front of her.

Harry gave her a nod before sitting on the indicated seat.

"So, you are giving your exams early," she stated. "I won't ask you for the reasons but I hope you are prepared."

"Of course ma'am. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't." Harry replied.

"Good. Today, you are giving your transfiguration and History of magic exam. At 10 AM sharp, your exam will begin. Three hours long, and a hundred marks. After that, you can have a break for one hour for lunch. At 2 PM, you will have your practical exam for transfiguration. Let me assure you, it doesn't take long. At 3 PM, you will start your history of magic exam, three hours long and a hundred marks. At six, you can go home." She informed him.

"What if I complete the paper early?" Harry asked.

"Usually, you have to sit till the time's up. But that is because there are forty-fifty people in the exam hall at the time when we take exams at Hogwarts. So, here I'll let you go or have your practicals early. I am not giving up on my lunch break for you though."

"Fair enough."

"Good. There are still fifteen minutes left. At five minutes to ten, I'll provide you with your answer sheet. You will get the paper at ten. Before that, I'll have to check you. So get up."

"Understood ma'am," Harry said before standing up. Marchbanks waved an antenna-like device at him which glowed green a few moments later.

"Clean of chits and magical cheating devices. Good. Show me your writing material." She ordered. Harry nodded and provided her with the said things.

"Potter, keep your quills back. We will provide you with it." She said giving him the quills back. "Rest all is proper. Now sit down peacefully. Also, no use of magic is allowed during theory exams."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Excellent." She said before checking her watch. At exactly five minutes to ten, she handed him his main answer sheet, which was a booklet of parchments stitched together and Harry filled his details on the first page. Finally, when the clock struck ten, he was handed his question paper.

Section I: Answer all ten questions of the following in one or two sentences:

Question one: Draw the wand movement of the spell used to vanish objects. (1m)

Question two: Who was the first wizard or witch to publish the fundamental law of transfiguration? (1m)

The list continued. Harry smiled and began writing the answer to the questions. The paper was a cakewalk for him, considering what all he knew of the subject.

He finished the theory paper and rechecked his answers. He looked at Madame Marchbanks who was reading a sheet of paper while occasionally glancing at him.

"Ma'am, I have finished," Harry declared.

"So soon? You still have more than forty minutes."

"Yes ma'am," Harry replied, sliding his paper towards her.

"Have you rechecked your answers?" Griselda Marchbanks asked

"Twice ma'am."

"Alright then. Go out, have a walk and come in fifteen minutes later for your practicals," she said gesturing to the door. "You can leave your things here."

Harry nodded and walked out of the door and sat down on the bench outside. He closed his eyes and relaxed.

The past few weeks have been demanding. Between his preparations for the OWL exams, training a bunch of people, and his own other level training, he was usually exhausted by the end of the day.

His friends were progressing well. The most surprised he had been was from Neville's progress. In less than a month, he had turned from a shy boy into a confident young man, ready to take the mantle of Lord Longbottom one day. The incident on the first day seemed to have snapped something inside the boy. He was now the first person to get a spell down, bar a few occasions where Hermione beat him to it. His spells were powerful and destructive. He used overpowered spells to hammer his opponent. Also, he was no longer clumsy but he still preferred shielding as compared to dodging.

Hermione, on the other hand, used perfect spell casting with a small range of spells that she had selected during a duel. Her spells were always perfect in every sense when she used them. Perfectly powered, perfectly cast. And she was quick. While this was a good point of hers, she had a journey to cover as far as dueling and fighting were concerned. Her methods were usually predictable and she tended to fall into a pattern while fighting. But she would get there eventually.

Ron was doing decently. He was better than before but he had a very long way to go before Harry could trust him to hold his own in a hostile situation.

Ron's sister, Ginny, was a little bomb. She was vicious to put it simply. One wouldn't want to get hit by her spells. She was quick on her feet and dodged spells gracefully. She preferred painful spells and hexes. She was definitely good.

The Weasley twins, on the other hand, were the best when paired. They complimented each other perfectly. They were very creative when it came to duels, using a variety of spells to get their way.

Astoria was good. Not as good as her sister but better than any third year would be when she went back to Hogwarts.

Cedric was excellent. He picked up spells quickly and could apply them. His spell choice was usually on the tamer side and he preferred transfiguration as compared to curses and hexes.

Susan and Daphne were on another level altogether. Harry could trust them to hold their own. Recently, he had taken them to the adult training session where each had dueled a hit-wizard and won. Harry had particularly enjoyed that and Moody had a field day. Both of their guardians were proud to hear the news.

On a happier note, Susan had moved into Grimmauld Place along with Amelia. Harry was gladful to spend some time with her, or Daphne when she was there and had a nice snogging session with them. It did wonders to relieve his stress. They had progressed their relationship as well, though they had not gone all the way yet.

A marriage contract had been signed with Daphne on his Birthday, along with a line continuation contract for Susan, making their future together official.

His watch chimed, signaling he should be getting ready to go in. A minute later, he knocked on the door again before entering the room.

"Right on time, Mr. Potter," Griselda Marchbanks said. "Come forward and do as I instruct."

Harry nodded and stepped forth before flicking his wand in his hand as his examiner removed a goblet from her bag before filling it with water.

"Mr. Potter, please convert this water into red wine," she said, gesturing to the water. Harry nodded and flicked his wand, doing as she had asked.

"Silent casting, I am impressed," she said, before taking a sip. "Tastes good as well. Excellent. Now, convert this quill into a steel knife. The blade should be eight to ten inches in length."

Harry flicked his wand again, transfiguring the quill into an ornate knife with a dragon-head hilt with intricate carving on it. Madame Marchbanks picked the knife up before examining it. Harry could tell that she was impressed.

"Excellent work, lad. The blade's sharp and the hilt is a work of art. Next, take that hedgehog and turn it into a pincushion." Harry nodded and performed as asked. Once satisfied, she said, "Now, show me the best work of transfiguration you can muster."

Harry rubbed his neck before flicking his wand again. A second later, a life-size marble statue of Griselda Marchbanks stood next to her.

"I'll have you know that flattery will get you nowhere, but I can't deny that you are getting full marks, boy. This is excellent work. Something I haven't seen in my century of teaching. Only Albus Dumbledore did something similar but it was in his NEWT exams, not OWLS. I am impressed."

"Thank you, ma'am," Harry said.

"You can go. Come back at quarter to two for your History exam."

---

12th August 1995

London, England

Harry and Dumbledore appeared in a narrow alleyway in a small town near London. It was a poor neighborhood as far as Harry could tell. The whole neighborhood was unkempt with trash laying around. The houses around were old and looked on the verge of falling. The road had a few potholes and grass had grown in them.

They walked a few meters and Dumbledore stopped in front of a run-down building. An extremely run-down building that would've made Grimmauld Place look like heaven even before they had cleaned it.

It had a bare courtyard that fronted a rather grim, square building surrounded by high railings. A set of Iron gates, locked with a metallic chain guarded the place. The only problem was that the place was in an extremely deplorable condition, looking like it was on the verge of falling.

"This is Voldemort's childhood home?" Harry asked, looking at the wizened Headmaster next to him.

He nodded in response. "Wool's Orphanage. This was where he was born as well on New year's eve in 1926. Merope Gaunt died in this very place soon after he was born."

"Are you sure this place is even safe to walk in? The structure looks like a breeze would crumble it." Harry asked.

"It certainly looks that way but I hope not. It would serve as an inconvenience to us as we search for a clue of a Horcrux… Tom may have hated this place, but it was his home for eleven years. He may have hidden a Horcrux here." Dumbledore said.

Harry and the headmaster had indeed come here in search of a Horcrux. Their first mission after they had searched the Chamber of secrets a few months ago. Dumbledore had just told him that they would be going Horcrux hunting the previous day when he had just returned to Grimmauld Place after completing his last OWL exam.

Harry nodded and walked with Dumbledore towards the rusted iron gate which was securely closed with an equally rusted chain and a lock.

"There are no magical protections here," Harry said, trying to feel a trace of magic on the gate.

"Not on the gate, at least." Dumbledore agreed before tapping the lock with his wand. The lock and the chains fell and the doors started to swing open. A couple of seconds later, there was a horrible noise as one of the hinges of the right gate gave away.

The two shared a look before entering through the gates. The courtyard was completely hidden with overgrown weeds and grass was covering any sight of a path. Harry had no idea of the animals among the grass and flicked his wrist and burned the grass away within a few seconds leaving an ash-filled path. Harry saw a couple of garden snakes slithering away as well.

"Excellent, let's go," Dumbledore said before walking to the orphanage door. Harry followed closely behind.

"I can't feel any magic here sir.," Harry said and Dumbledore nodded as he unlocked the rotting door and gave it a push. Instead of swinging open, the door fell down, kicking up a cloud of dust. The duo had to move out of the way a second later, as multiple pigeons flew out.

"I am more inclined to burn the whole place down with Fiendfyre," Harry said dryly.

"Let us move inside, Harry," Dumbledore said, ignoring Harry's comment, before banishing the door aside and stepping in. Harry followed again. The inside was no better than the outside. The place was simply deplorable. Dark peeling wallpapers which had been chewed upon by rats adorned the walls.

"We should begin our search, Harry. The sooner we can finish, and hopefully find a Horcrux, the better." Dumbledore said before waving his wand. Immediately, orbs of light floated out of his wand and the dust cleared.

"Professor, can you just step a few feet away?" Harry asked. Dumbledore raised an eyebrow before taking a few steps back. Harry nodded before he began waving his wand in an intricate pattern and hissed while spinning in a clockwise direction. A moment later, Dumbledore glowed a faint green while the floating orbs of light emitted green light for a second. But nothing else of note happened.

The Headmaster shivered. "What was that, Harry?" He asked.

"A Parselmagic spell, sir. It detects active magic around the caster. I could detect magic in only one place on the second floor."

"Are you sure it is infallible?" Dumbledore asked. "Can a ward prevent it from working? Or disrupt it?"

"Only a Fidelius charm, sir," Harry said. "Or my invisibility cloak."

"A handy spell then. It certainly saves our time. Then, lead the way." Dumbledore said and Harry climbed the stone steps with Dumbledore following him. Once on the second floor, he stopped.

"Somewhere from here, sir," Harry said.

"Then I know exactly where. Tom Riddle's room. Here." Dumbledore said, walking to the second nearest door. The door was bolted and he easily opened the bolt. But the door didn't budge.

Dumbledore tapped his wand on the door before frowning and trying again. This time, the door swung open.

Harry almost gaped at what he saw. The room was loads better than the rest of the orphanage. It looked free of pest infestation and dust. The room was in almost pristine condition if the old furniture and the cracks on the gloomy wall were ignored. But there were no cobwebs or such stuff that one would expect in a room that hadn't been used for decades.

Dumbledore closed his eyes and slowly hoovered his hand near the wall, not touching it. "Runic magic," He stated.

Harry frowned. He could feel magic and even discern its general intent. But he couldn't distinguish if it was done through wand magic or runes. "How do you know that, sir? How can you tell that it is runes and not just some sort of permanent maintenance charm?"

Dumbledore smiled. "You can sense magic, correct? And even tell its general intent, if I am to guess?"

Harry nodded.

"You have already progressed a lot then, my boy. As for sensing its origin, it takes practice, especially where Runes and charms are concerned. Blood magic and such is easy to tell… a lot easier than distinguishing if magic has been done through runes or charms. Even mage-sight can not do it. Both have a similar feel to them… similar, not the same. With practice, you will be able to distinguish between the two. There is no trick, I am afraid."

"Fair enough," Harry conceded. Despite learning all he had and progressing in fields of magic that several people hadn't even heard of, Harry couldn't deny that he lacked the experience that Dumbledore had. A century of magic was no joke. He still had a long way to go.

"Harry, be careful. If in danger, apparate away. Don't worry about me." Dumbledore said and Harry raised an eyebrow.

"You think I would leave you to face it alone?"

"Harry, despite all your prowess, you are still young and my student. I have to give you safety instructions. And what I said is an order. If you have no idea of what you are facing or are unsure you can't tackle it, apparate away. If I tell you to run, you run."

"You underestimate me, sir."

"Maybe. But, still."

"Alright. If I feel I can't handle it, I'll apparate away." Harry lied. He wasn't leaving the headmaster alone to face whatever Riddle had put.

"Thank you," Dumbledore said. "Let us begin checking. Be careful not to touch anything unless you make sure it is absolutely safe even if you are going to wear those wonderful gloves you have brought." Dumbledore said as Harry removed a pair of basilisk-hide gloves.

"You are going to wear them as well, professor." He said, tossing the pair to Dumbledore. "Basilisk-hide gloves."

"I was going to wear my Dragonhide ones but, this looks better," Dumbledore said as Harry removed another pair and wore them on his hand before flicking his wand in his hand.

"Let us begin then," Dumbledore declared and they started meticulously searching for a Horcrux.

---

12th August 1995

12 Grimmauld Place, London

Harry appeared in the hallway of Grimmauld Place without a single sound. Dumbledore and he had been unsuccessful in finding a Horcrux… or anything for that matter. The orphanage had nothing of note left, even in Tom Riddle's room.

Dumbledore reckoned that Voldemort hadn't removed the runes he had placed in his room to keep it in pristine condition when he had left and had simply locked the door with magic when he had left the orphanage in his seventh year.

It was quite ingenious of him to use runic arrays to maintain his room while he was away. Tom Riddle was definitely a very bright and hardworking student. He had carved Runes on every wall, likely without a wand due to ministry restrictions, and powered them without letting the ministry know he was doing magic in a completely muggle building.

"Harry?" Hermione's voice called as he passed the living room. Harry walked a couple of steps back and peeked in.

"Yeah?"

"Where had you gone all this while?" Hermione asked. "We asked Sirius but he said that he didn't know as well."

"It was a small searching mission. Dumbledore and I had gone to look for something but we were unfortunately unsuccessful."

"Oh," Hermione said. "And I suppose you won't say what it was?"

"Yes, sensitive information. Really sensitive information. Even the Order doesn't have a clue of it." Harry replied and Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"Well, fair enough. By the way, Susan told me that she is waiting for you in your room." She informed.

"Okay," Harry said before continuing.

"Don't do something I won't do, Harry!" Hermione called mischievously from behind.

"Fuck off," Harry said without turning back and made his way to his room.

He pushed the door open and was immediately hit with the sweet smell of roses. His room had been decorated a bit. A round table with candles had been set up in the middle with three seats surrounding the table. Daphne and Susan were nowhere to be seen but Harry knew they were in the room, waiting for him.

Harry entered the room and closed the door behind him. He removed his t-shirt, revealing the basilisk-hide vest he had worn underneath it before taking it off as well, giving the two hiding girls a show.

A couple of seconds later, he felt two pairs of arms touch him and roam over his body as the invisibility charm faded and Daphne and Susan appeared, standing next to him in a nice tight-fitting, low-cut, sleeveless dress. It showed their cleavage off and the dress ended above the knees, showing off their smooth legs.

Harry pulled them closer. "So, what's up?"

"Huh?" Susan asked, breaking out of her groping. "Oh right, we set up an impromptu date party for you as you completed your OWLs yesterday. A dinner date followed by some fun." She added suggestively.

"So," Daphne continued, trailing her fingers down his abs, "you should get ready… or I won't mind you like this."

"I won't either," Susan agreed.

"I would," Harry said with a smirk. "It would be unfair if I don't get a chance to ogle you while you ogle me."

"Prat. Go, change. You stink as well." Daphne huffed, wrinkling her nose.

"But, no need to wear a shirt if you don't want to," Susan added.

Harry grinned before going to the bathroom, shooting a wink at the girls as he closed the door.

Notes:

And... DONE!

Hope you all like it.

A huge thank you to Light Dark Mark for betaing the chapter.

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: My new chapter for my PJO fic, The Legend of the Son of Poseidon will be up in a few hours as well. I am waiting for it to be beta-ed at the moment.
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I have created it with the help of my two very good friends. I really hope to see you all there and have fun with you all. There, you can communicate with me, ask me questions regarding my fics, give your own theories, and even... wait, why should I tell you everything here? Come over and check it all out yourself!

Discord Server Invite Link: discord . gg / 4qfP3fxdQ4[Remove the spaces please]

I will love it if you guys come on my server and interact with me there. If you have some of your own theory or wish to see something in this fic as the journey progresses, you can tell it to me on the discord server.

(If you are wondering if I am going to post this message in every story, I am. I want as many of you there so we all can interact with one another.)

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Also, I have my own channel on the discord server known as Emerald Library. I recommend that you join the server and there, you won't only have access to me, but several other big authors who have their channels on the Emerald Library.

Discord Server Invite Link: discord . gg / jtAxRnH6Tk [Remove the spaces please]

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Do check out my other two fics as well from my profile. One is a Haphne one-shot and the other is a good length PJO fic which is also a WIP.

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 55: Lord Potter and Return to Hogwarts

Ch.54 Lord Potter and Return to Hogwarts

15th August 1995

12 Grimmauld Place, London

Harry was lounging in the living room of Grimmauld place reading a quidditch magazine and seeing how the teams were fairing. There were also advertisements for the new brooms in the markets: Nimbus 2004, Comet 790, Cleansweep 332, and most importantly, the Firebolt extreme which was going to be launched on September first.

The Firebolt Extreme Broom cost a fortune even if it was almost pocket change for Harry, considering his immense wealth. Though, he wasn't going to go around wasting money on a broom when he had a perfectly good one already. For the cost of a single Firebolt Extreme, he could likely supply the whole Gryffindor Quidditch team with Nimbus 2000s or even 2001s, which were much cheaper now as New Models had been launched in the market.

That was when the door of the house banged open. Harry immediately rushed into the hallway, with his wand in his hand only to Dumbeldore entering, looking enraged and actively controlling his temper.

"Sir, what happened?" Harry immediately asked.

"Please accompany me to your dueling room. I wish to blow off some steam." Dumbledore replied curtly. It was unlike him to sound so short. If the wards hadn't confirmed it was indeed Dumbledore, Harry would've attacked him by now.

But, still, Harry followed the headmaster into the basement, preparing himself for a fight. But instead, Dumbledore went for the dummies, destroying all of them with a single wave of his wand. The dummy started to repair themselves but Dumbledore hardly gave them time before attacking again with a multitude of spells. Powerful spells.

"Professor!" Harry exclaimed and the headmaster turned, his eyes glowing violently with storms of power. Harry could feel his magic saturating the air. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw the occupants of the house rush into the viewer's gallery. They would've come in but the wards were already up around the room.

"Duel me, sir," Harry said. "Let us have a dueling match."

"Time limit?" Dumbledore asked.

"Seven Minutes," Harry said, hoping it would be enough time for Dumbledore to blow his steam off.

Harry flicked his wand and the timer was set.

"WHAT ARE YOU BOTH DOING!?" Mrs. Weasley shrieked but both men ignored her.

"Are you ready?" Dumbledore asked and Harry nodded.

A moment later, the Headmaster sprung into action and so did Harry.

Their first spells crashed perfectly into each other before ricocheting off each other, onto the shield around the room.

Harry ducked under a Bludgeoner and swatted aside a blasting curse before responding by slashing his wand. A bolt of lightning shot towards the Headmaster who flicked his wand, redirecting the thunder onto the shield before jabbing his wand in Harry's direction while leaning out of the way of a bonebreaker that would've hit his wand arm.

Three fireballs shot forth from the death stick towards Harry who moved his wand in a circle before slashing it downwards.

The fireballs that were coming towards him, stopped in their tracks before forming a wall of fire, burning the dozen arrows Dumbledore had shot at him to ashes before the wall turned into a fire whip and attacked Dumbledore who merely extinguished the fire whip before responding with a cutting curse and a blasting curse, both of which Harry dodged and responded with a series of blasting curses.

Dumbledore pointed his wand at the ground and a small chunk of the dueling platform ripped out and floated before breaking into multiple smaller pieces which proceeded to expand from the size of a pebble to that of a football before intercepting the blasting curses and orbiting around Dumbledore.

The most impressive part was that even as the rocks were blasted apart, they stayed in orbit around Dumbledore and didn't hit him like one would've expected.

With the smallest movement of Dumbledore's wand, a cluster of pieces turned into metal spikes before shooting towards Harry who jabbed his wand, transfiguring them into birds which went to attack Dumbledore.

Dumbledore shot a severing curse, massacring the birds which were about to attack him before flicking his wand again. Two huge rocks raced towards Harry converting into leopards in mid-air before pouncing at him.

Harry reacted fast and reversed the transfiguration, turning the animals into rocks and a moment later, he hissed before rolling out of the way of a barrage of stunners and disarmers.

The Rocks were blasted to multiple pieces as his spell hit them before each glowed and converted into snakes which slithered towards the Headmaster.

Dumbledore once again shot a severing curse, trying to decapitate the snakes but the spell bounced off their skin. Dumbledore's eyes narrowed before he tried to vanish the snakes, only to fail again. He growled in frustration before a stream of flames shot from his wand while simultaneously, the rocks intercepted Harry's barrage of spells that ranged from simple jinxes to bone-breakers and powerful blasting spells.

The flames successfully burnt the snakes to ashes, leaving a charred ground. Dumbledore finally slashed his wand and all the pieces of rubble orbiting him shot towards Harry whose eyes widened before he erected a dome shield around himself. The rocks harmlessly bounced off the shield.

As soon as the barrage stopped, Harry jabbed his wand upwards and the dome exploded into a shockwave in all directions, sending the Headmaster flying.

As the man was about to hit the hard, unforgiving ground, the mattress appeared which safely caught the headmaster who deftly rolled to his feet before shielding against Harry's barrage of curses. A second later, Harry animated the mattress which was lying near Dumbledore's feet.

The said mattress leaped into the air before shooting towards Dumbledore who vanished the mattress with another movement of his wand. The headmaster proceeded to swing his wand like a lasso as Harry battered his mage shield with his powerful spells.

Just as the shield broke, the pieces of rubble around the room flew into the center and assembled themselves into the shape of a golem that ran towards Harry.

Harry gathered the magic in the room before slashing his wand downward and a humongous bolt of lightning shot from his wand, destroying the golem to dust.

A second later, Harry rolled out of the way as another barrage of stunners and less harmful spells which would take him out of the fight while not injuring him, flew above his head.

He hastily erected a shield, stopping the next few spells. It shattered with a well-placed shield breaker before a Bludgeoning curse rushed towards Harry's left shoulder.

Dumbledore thought he had scored a hit until Harry batted the spell away with a silver shield that appeared over his left forearm. A reverberating gong sounded as the spell hit the silver shield.

Harry moved his wand in a triangular motion and three powerful blasting spells shot from it. Dumbledore erected a full body shield and the spell hit it with another gong and reverberated off it in different directions.

Dumbledore dropped the shield but before he could do anything, a ringing voice sounded, signifying the end of the time limit.

Both the wizards lowered their wands. The silver shield on Harry's forearm dissipated as well.

The room looked like a war zone with deep scorch marks around. The air smelled of ozone and dust. Both the combatants were breathing harshly. A moment later Dumbledore flicked his wand, conjuring a soft mattress on the floor before dropping on it.

"Professor, what happened?" Harry asked softly as the shields around the room dropped and everyone rushed in.

"Cornelius… he is interfering at Hogwarts bringing in his crony as the Defense against the dark arts professor," Dumbledore all but growled.

"Who is it, headmaster? The new DADA teacher?"

"Dolores Umbridge," Dumbledore spat.

"The toad-faced, good for nothing undersecretary who has a permanent need of cough drops?" Harry asked.

Dumbledore's lips briefly quivered before he nodded grimly. "I don't know what that vile woman is being sent to do, but she is at least going to undermine our authority, Harry. Prove that we are off-our-rocker and lying to spread panic... The same propaganda that the Daily Prophet has been doing."

"I would like to see her try," Harry snorted. "And if she does, I'll show her exactly why Lord Voldemort fears us… at least me, cause I will be the one doing it." Harry added thoughtfully knowing Dumbledore won't go to extremes of torturing the vile toad.

"I do not wish for her to be in school," Dumbledore growled. "Let alone allowing her to try anything."

"Of course, alternatively an accident can befell her the first night in the castle but, the problem is—"

"If she dies, we will be the first one blamed. I know." Dumbledore finished Harry's sentence. "That is why I am enraged. I won't allow her to be near children. She is as vile as the Death Eaters… perhaps even worse."

"So, what should we do?" Harry asked. "We can have her assassinated in the ministry perhaps."

"Cornelius is waiting for a chance to put us under the bus. He is gathering every resource he has to undermine us. He has spent Galleons like knuts to cement his influence. Dolores Umbridge is coming to Hogwarts to control the school. It is her most important objective if I am to guess along with undermining my authority and trying to expel you and, if possible, get you out of the way so to speak."

"So… what should we do then?" Harry asked. "If we aren't murdering her, then what? Oh, wait… imperious…" Harry said as a light bulb went off in his head.

"Cornelius would take precautions against that as well, Harry. The imperious is pretty easy to detect. And if it comes out that we used an unforgivable… Fudge is going to have us kissed." Dumbledore sighed. "Cornelius is waiting for the smallest transgressions to put us in Azkaban… or out of his way… forever. We cannot take any risks in such a situation."

"Then what?" Harry snapped.

"I don't think there is something we can do without resorting to criminal activities, Harry. So, the best I'll do is urge you all to be cautious." Dumbledore said to all the Hogwarts students around. "Do not take risks around her and keep your interactions with her minimal. You, Harry, will drop DADA and give your NEWT exams. I hardly think there is a thing that Dolores Umbridge can teach you that a flobberworm can't."

"She can't be that bad," Hermione muttered.

"She got a Troll in her OWL DADA as far as I remember. But, Cornelius has forged her records to show she got an E in her NEWTS… a subject which she didn't even take." Dumbledore replied. "And due to a lack of candidates, there was hardly anything I could do."

Hermione gaped. "So, what are we supposed to do!? It is our OWL year, Headmaster!"

"Ms. Granger, I sincerely doubt that you would have any trouble passing on your own regardless of the person who teaches you. And, Harry can teach you anything that is needed for you to ace your OWLs. So…"

"What of the other students though, Dumbledore?" Andromeda asked. "Not everyone is as capable as Ms. Granger or has someone like Mr. Potter to teach them."

Suddenly Dumbledore grinned widely. "Thank you for the brilliant idea, Andromeda, my dear."

"Excuse me?"

"By your statement, a brilliant idea has come to my mind. While not ideal, it is the best we can use at the moment without breaking any laws."

"What are you trying to say, Headmaster?"

"Unity in the face of oppression," He replied. "Harry, under the guise of teaching DADA to students due to a pathetic teacher, I wish for you to unite Hogwarts."

There was silence for a moment before Harry raised an eyebrow and said, "Isn't Fudge under the impression that you wish to overthrow the ministry? This will look like a direct attempt to form an army of students to overthrow him."

"But he can't silence everyone in the army. You have to understand this, Harry. If Cornelius tells that it was an attempt to form an army to overthrow the ministry, the parents will question their wards and come to know that they just wished to learn DADA due to the pathetic teacher the ministry had provided. Immediately, all will be laid bare and Fudge will be fending off hundreds of angry parents. And, if someone gives an interview stating that the ministry wishes to weaken the wizards and it is a conspiracy to turn the wizarding world into a dictatorship under Cornelius Fudge…"

"Fudge would be mob lynched," Harry said in realization. "And so will his undersecretary."

"Precisely." Dumbledore agreed.

Everyone in the room was watching the interaction like a tennis match.

"Can you give us two a few minutes? I wish to talk with Dumbledore in private." Harry told them and they went out after a few mutters.

Harry turned to Dumbledore who had gotten back to his feet and vanished the mattress.

"It is not a foolproof plan," Harry stated.

"No plan can be fully foolproof, Harry."

"This is a shit plan."

"It is the best we can do while in the confines of the law. Study groups are not banned. If things go completely south, I am pretty sure we can overthrow the ministry by force."

"But when Fudge comes for us, he'll come with an Army of Aurors and hit-wizards when we aren't expecting it," Harry argued.

"Obviously. But, we have something they don't. Phoenixes. If needed, we can escape with our Phoenixes by flaming out. As simple as that." Dumbledore said. "After that, we overthrow the ministry or follow with our old plan of exposing Voldemort and regaining our positions. It is imperative that you keep your cloak and wand with you at all times this year."

"I always do, sir."

"If it comes to the push, we will become fugitives for a short time. We both know we are fighting a two-way war at the moment. If needed, we will crush the ministry before continuing with Voldemort."

"You know, you are well onto your way of becoming a Dark Lord and you're going to take me with you down that line."

"History is written by the victors, Harry. If Grindelwald would've won all those years ago, I would've gone down as a dark Lord who tried to oppose the greater good policy of the Great Gellert Grindelwald."

"Well, you aren't wrong."

"My point exactly. Be ready for a roller coaster of a year, Harry. Because it can be the defining year of your life."

"You know, Dark Lord Potter does have a great ring to it. Better than Dark Lord Dumbledore, at least."

The headmaster chuckled in response.

---

19th August 1995

12 Grimmauld Place, London

"Confringo!" Hermione yelled, shooting a blasting curse at Susan who swatted the spell aside before launching a volley of stunners and cutting curses at her.

Hermione immediately jabbed her wand, erecting a shield, stopping the barrage, but it held only for a few moments before she had to dive out of the way as the shield shattered with a well-placed reductor curse from Susan.

Hermione rolled to her feet before shooting a Lacero curse at the Bones Heiress who leaned out of the way, allowing the spell to pass harmlessly before jabbing her wand and sending a fireball at Hermione whose eyes widened and she erected a protego again to stop the spell before hitting the dirt as the fireball easily shattered her shield and continued on its path.

The fireball flew over her but, unfortunately for Hermione, Susan had anticipated the move and shot a stunner which hit Hermione, knocking her out cold.

The shields around the room went down and Harry walked in as Susan enervated Hermione who groggily opened her eyes before groaning.

"I lost… again." She muttered looking at the ceiling.

"But you are improving and that's what matters," Harry said, before helping her up. "Tell me, what mistake did you make?"

"I forgot that a normal Protego shield can't stop elemental spells." She said.

"And?"

"I should've dodged instead of relying on a shield." She sighed.

"Precisely. So you need to practice dodging. Both of you, rest for five minutes. After that, Susan, you pair up with Cedric and Hermione, you are with Neville." Harry said, gesturing to the two boys who were sitting in the 'viewing room' as they had named it, looking tired.

Cedric and Neville had dueled a few minutes ago the duel had lasted quite a while before Cedric had won.

Cedric was a good duelist but Neville was proving to be a powerhouse… a far cry from a near-squib that people assumed him to be. He was progressing at an astonishing pace. Harry was sure that Neville could not outduel anyone in Hogwarts below the sixth-year bar Susan, Daphne, and himself. Harry could now easily believe why Neville could've been the prophesied child.

Before Harry could call Ron and Astoria, who were the bottom two of their group to duel, a knock sounded. Harry waved his hand and the door opened to reveal Molly Weasley standing outside.

"Harry dear, you've got mail from the Ministry…. It just came through the mailbox and Sirius gave it to me to give it to you."

Harry raised an eyebrow before taking the letter from Mrs. Weasley. He tore open the ministry seal on it and unfolded the parchment inside before reading the contents.

ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL RESULT

Special Grades

Outstanding plus(O+)- for candidates scoring more than 100% in a field

Pass Grades

Outstanding(O)

Exceeds Expectation(E)

Average(A)

Fail Grades

Poor(P)

Dreadful(D)

Troll(T)

Harry James Potter has achieved:

Astronomy- Overall: O Theory: O Practicals: O

Ancient Runes- Overall: O+ Theory: O+ Practicals: O+*

Arithmancy- Overall: O+ Theory: O+ Practicals: NA

Care of Magical Creatures- Overall: O Theory: O Practicals: O

Charms- Overall: O+* Theory: O+ Practicals: O+*

Defense Against the Dark Arts- Overall: O+* Theory: O+* Practicals: O+*

Herbology- Overall: O Theory: O Practicals: O

History of Magic- Overall: O Theory: O Practicals: NA

Potions- Overall: O+ Theory: O+ Practicals: O+

Transfiguration- - Overall: O+* Theory: O+* Practicals: O+*

(*) symbol signifies that the marks have been the highest in the recorded history of the Examination.

Harry smiled faintly before putting the letter back in the envelope, making a mental note to make a few copies of the result. OWL results were important. Also, he needed to present them to Gringotts when he claimed the Lordship of House Potter.

"What's that, Harry?" Daphne asked.

"My OWL results," Harry replied.

"Ooh, can I see it? I have never seen an OWL result." Astoria asked excitedly and her sister raised an eyebrow.

"I have never seen an OWL result," Daphne mocked. "That's the best you could come up with, midget?"

Astoria stuck her tongue out in response before turning to Harry and giving him puppy dog eyes.

"Please Harry," she requested.

Before Harry could say anything, Hermione had walked up to him and plucked the result out of his hands.

"Oi!"

Hermione ignored Harry's protest and opened the result.

"How did you do, Harry?" Cedric asked.

"Pretty decently," Harry replied with a shrug.

"Decently?" Hermione asked incredulously. "If you say this is decent, I don't know what your bloody excellence will be then."

"What happened?" Susan asked.

"See for yourself," Hermione said before pointing her wand at the parchment and jabbing it.

A second later, an image of Harry's result was projected in the air in a holographic form.

"Bloody hell," Ron muttered. "Straight O's."

"I am more impressed by the fact that Harry broke so many records." Neville piped up.

"One, two, three…. Fucking hell. Nine records. And highest ever in Charms, Transfiguration, and DADA overall. Damn." Daphne grumbled.

"Who has the record of the highest in charms theory, I wonder…" Hermione mused pointing at the missing asterisk next to the O+ charms theory.

"Lily Evans," A squeaky voice piped up from the doorway. Harry turned and saw Flitwick, Dumbledore, and McGonagall standing there. "Lily Evans holds the record for the highest achieved score in Charms Theory for OWL exams. Why do you ask, Miss Granger?"

In response, Hermione turned the Holographic image towards them, showing them Harry's OWL results.

"Oh my," McGonagall whispered. "This is phenomenal."

"Unbelievable," Flitwick breathed. "This is the highest result I have ever seen…"

"Most impressive results, Harry," Dumbledore beamed. "You even broke my record for Ancient Runes Practical and Transfiguration."

"Thank you, professors," Harry replied, suppressing a blush. "Sir, you said that my mother holds the highest in charms theory…"

"Of course. She was the most brilliant student I've taught charms to… only surpassed by you now. What did you do in the practicals to get such high marks, Harry?"

"Ah, they told me to show them two charms of my choosing. I showed them the Patronus and fidelius charm." Harry shrugged nonchalantly.

"Impressive, Potter," McGonagall said. "Then, I'll expect to see you in my NEWT classes this year. You're not dropping transfiguration when you broke all the records in the subject."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Professor."

"Good. So, anyway, we're here to give you all your Hogwarts Book Lists and instructions for Mr. Potter for the sixth year. It is unprecedented that a student has skipped a whole year in all the subjects. So, Potter, a word after this if you please."

"Of course, Professor McGonagall."

McGonagall smiled before removing a stack of Letters from her pocket and handing them to everyone except Harry.

Harry meanwhile waited, tapping his foot impatiently and absent-mindedly putting the room back in order, knowing there won't be any more practice for the day.

"What's up with you, Ron?" asked Fred.

Ron did not answer. Harry looked around. Ron was standing very still with his mouth slightly open, gaping at his letter from Hogwarts.

"What's the matter?" said Fred impatiently, moving around Ron to look over his shoulder at the parchment. Fred's mouth fell open too. "Prefect?" he said, staring incredulously at the letter.

"Prefect?" George leaped forward, seized the envelope in Ron's other hand, and turned it upside down. Harry saw something scarlet and gold fall into George's palm.

"No way," said George in a hushed voice.

"There's been a mistake," said Fred, snatching the letter out of Ron's grasp and holding it up to the light as though checking for a watermark. "No one in their right mind would make Ron a prefect..."

The twins' heads turned in unison and both of them stared at Harry.

"We thought you would get it!" They said in unison.

Harry ignored the flash of resentment in his mind and shrugged nonchalantly before stating, "I have enough on my plate as it is. And I don't care about a school position."

A part of his mind said, Liar.

He ignored it. He may not have actively desired the position… heck, he didn't even remember that prefects were chosen in the fifth year. But, that didn't mean that he didn't feel bad about not getting the position.

Suddenly Susan and Daphne squealed while Hermione too let out a high pitch whoop. They all had Prefect batches in their hands. Cedric had one in his hand too… The Head Boy batch.

Harry suppressed his emotions through Occlumency. Damn it. Why was he feeling like this? It was just a stupid position.

Someone laid a hand on his shoulder. Harry turned and saw it was Dumbledore who gestured to him to come with him to a corner of the room. Harry did as he asked and moved out of the earshot of the group.

"You're wondering why you aren't a prefect," Dumbledore stated. It wasn't a question.

Harry took a deep breath and said, "I do… it is…"

"Unfair for someone as worthy as you to not receive something as trivial as a badge and a school position. You, the person whose magical knowledge and power are unmatched by any other student in the castle. You who went toe to toe with the most dangerous dark lord and came out on top."

Harry pursed his lips before nodding.

"You know, even I wasn't a Prefect… even if I was later the head boy," Dumbledore said. "And the reason for my rejection was much worse than yours."

"Why weren't you chosen, sir?"

"I nearly burnt my dormitory down in a fit of adolescent rage. It was fortunate that no other student was severely injured. But, my Head of House was enraged. So, I didn't get the position. You, on the other hand, aren't getting the badge, neither will you get the head boy badge on a technicality."

"Technicality?"

"You would've finished Hogwarts by this time next year, Harry. Your NEWT results would be in your hands. It is pointless for you to achieve the position if you are going to be an official Hogwarts student for only a single year. It is an unfortunate side-effect of skipping two whole years."

Harry frowned. "You wish for me to give my NEWTS this year when my friends are giving their OWLs?"

"Yes. And after that, you shall apprentice under me for the next two years and get a mastery."

"Apprenticeship?" Harry asked, his mouth dry.

"Yes. By the time your batch finishes Hogwarts, you shall be a fully qualified wizard and proficient enough to get a job at Hogwarts as a professor if you wish to."

"I… am not sure what to do, sir. After Hogwarts, I mean."

"That is what Minerva will speak to you about. Oh, and after Minerva finishes talking with you, I'll be taking you to Gringotts to get your position as Lord Potter."

Harry's eyes widened remembering that he had fulfilled all required conditions for his early ascension to Lord Potter.

This was turning out to be an important day full of ups and downs.

---

19th August 1995

Diagon Alley, London

Sirius, Harry, and Dumbledore appeared in the fireplace of the Leaky Cauldron in a flash of green flames before stepping out gracefully. Thankfully, no one paid them any heed as they were under glamor charms and a notice-me-not charm.

They walked to the backroom of the Leaky Cauldron where Dumbledore removed his wand and tapped the bricks, opening the entrance to Diagon Alley.

The Alley was still as glamorous as Harry had remembered it from the first time he had visited. The afternoon sun shone brightly on the whole alley, giving it a lively feel. People were running around going through their daily schedules. Harry could even see a few Hogwarts students moving around doing their shopping for the new school year.

Harry drank in the sight of the Alley, knowing it may never be the same again once Voldemort came out in the open. How many businesses would be shut down, how many families would be destroyed… no one knew.

The three walked to the prominent snowy-white building which towered over the other little shops. Gringotts.

The goblins outside bowed as they walked inside. Harry smiled briefly at the poem engraved beside the silver door before pushing them open, as he dropped his glamor charm but kept the notice-me-not charm active. Dumbledore and Sirius did the same beside him.

They walked through the marble hall towards the nearest teller.

"Good Afternoon," Harry greeted. "May your enemies fall and your gold overflow."

"May your gold overflow and your enemies fall, wizard. How may I help you?"

"I and my companions wish to meet with the Potter Family's account manager, Ragnok."

"You need to show—" The goblin stopped short as Harry showed him his heir ring. "Very well, wizard. Skull crusher, take them to Ragnok."

A Goblin came forward before leading them to the Potter accounts manager.

They knocked and entered the office where Ragnok looked up. "Heir Potter, Albus Dumbledore, Sirius Black. May your enemies fall and your gold overflow. What service do you want from me on this fine day?"

"May your gold overflow and your enemies fall, Ragnok," Harry greeted back. "As for the reason for our visit, I want to ascend to the positionṣ of Lord Potter."

Ragnok raised an eyebrow. "By the laws of your ministry, you cannot ascend to the position of Lord Potter until you are seventeen years of age. This is regardless of the fact that you're the last living member of House Potter."

"That would be the case had the Wizengamot Lordship Ascension Amendment of 1673 not passed for the last surviving heirs of the Sacred Twenty-Eight," Dumbledore replied. "According to which, if a last surviving member of a house which is a part of the Sacred Twenty-eight, and fulfills certain conditions, they are eligible to ascend to the position of Lordship."

Ragnok raised an eyebrow. "I will have to check it with the Gringotts legal team then. This is unprecedented… At least I have never heard of such a thing. So, I will consult with the legal team of Gringotts and confirm that we aren't breaking another policy that your ministry has leveled upon us."

"Sure," Dumbledore said.

"You all please wait till then. Refreshments will be served shortly," Ragnok said before walking out of the office.

The party of three waited in silence while sipping some beverages and reading a magazine in Dumbledore's case.

Nearly twenty minutes later, Ragnok came back followed by two other goblins dressed in tailored suits as compared to the normal Gringotts uniform.

"What you say is indeed correct. Your ministry has passed the law and given Gringotts the right to check the applicant's qualification. But, if those are found to be false, actions would be taken against the bank ranging from a simple fine to harsh penalties. So, we wish for you to provide all these documents listed here." Ragnok said, handing Harry a list. "Then we'll check their authentication."

"Fair enough," Harry replied before reading the list. He checked that he almost had everything. Almost.

"I do not have a birth certificate with me, Ragnok," Harry said. "I have the rest, though."

"A birth certificate is needed to ensure that you are indeed born as a Potter and not adopted through an adoption ritual. Only those born of blood in the family are eligible for this… Exception."

"Sirius… where is my birth certificate?" Harry asked.

"Err… I have no idea."

"Will a copy do, if we don't have the original?" Dumbledore asked all of a sudden.

"Yes," Ragnok replied. "As long as it is not faked, and mind you, it will be cross-checked."

"Of course," Dumbledore nodded.

"Sir, where are you getting the copy from?"

"Hogwarts. Your name has been down in our registry since birth. We need a Birth certificate of the student before we give admission. Lily and James had submitted it when you were barely a few months old. I'll go and get it. Can I use the floo?"

"Yes, if you pay three knuts for it," Ragnok replied without missing a beat. Dumbledore nodded before going to Hogwarts while Harry and Sirius waited. Ten minutes later, he was back with the required certificate and they submitted the documents.

The two suited goblins came ahead and began to examine the documents while giving Harry a form to fill along with the necessary writing equipment. It took barely five minutes for Harry to fill the form which Ragnok took and read through to confirm there were no discrepancies.

It took another fifteen minutes for the goblins to go through all the necessary documents. They filled a form themselves before handing it to the three wizards present.

"We all will be signing our names on this. But we need one more person as a witness. A wizard or witch." One of the suited Goblins said.

"I'll call one of our curse-breakers here to act as a witness if you wish," Ragnok said.

"I don't see a problem with it," Sirius replied.

"Wonderful," He said before pressing his hand on a device next to his desk and speaking into it in Goblin tongue.

A few minutes later, a knock sounded on the door and a Lady with auburn hair and blue eyes entered. She was dressed in work robes with her hair tied in a bun with a few loose strands hanging down her face.

She froze as she saw the occupants of the room. "H-headmaster D-Dumbledore, H-Harry Potter, Sirius Black." She stuttered. "Err… Hello. You may know me. I am Dorothea. Dorothea Starkey. I was there for the second task of the tournament. I checked yours, Mr. Potter. Do you remember me?" She asked hopefully

Harry gave her his political smile. "Of course I do, Ms. Starkey. And I am afraid I am in need of your help."

Her eyes lit up. "How can I help you, Mr. Potter?"

"Ms. Starkey. You've been called here to act as a witness to the accession of Harry Potter to his position as Lord Potter, two years earlier than the normal protocol. You will need to sign your name on this document after each one of us signs. Do you consent to act as a witness, Ms. Starkey?" One of the suited Goblins asked.

"Of course!"

"Excellent. First, Mr. Potter, sign here with this quill. It is a blood quill so it might be a touch uncomfortable." The suited Goblin instructed again, providing Harry a quill. Harry grimaced before taking it and signing his name with a flourish on the indicated place ignoring the mild itching on the back of his hands.

"Lord Black, sign here." He said, giving the document and the quill to Sirius who repeated Harry's actions. Finally, the suited goblin himself signed the document which glowed golden for a brief moment.

"It is official. Harry Potter can ascend to Lord Potter legally now." The Goblin declared. "You need to wear the Potter ring to finish the process." He added.

Ragnok took out a box and opened it before presenting it to Harry. "Wear this and you will officially be Lord Potter."

Harry sucked in a breath at the ring in the box. The Lord Ring of House Potter. His legacy.

It was a simple Mithril band with the top having the Potter crest, with Rubies for the eyes of the dragon. It was similar to the Heir ring, just with more grandeur. Along the band of the ring, the Potter Family motto was carved. Novissima Autem Inimica Destruetor Mors

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is Death.

Harry removed the Potter Heir ring from his finger before picking up the Lord Ring from the box and slowly sliding it onto his pinky finger. The ring suddenly resized and glowed as Harry's mind was filled with information on various properties around the world. He was instantly the master of wards of the properties.

He opened his eyes which were glowing a brilliant shade of emerald. A second later the magic settled. There was silence in the room for a moment before Dorothea clapped. When no one joined her, she stopped, looking embarrassed.

"Congratulations, Lord Potter," Ragnok declared.

"Thank you," Harry said with a nod.

"Now, you're officially Lord Potter. Mr. Dumbledore, Ms. Starkey, I would request you both to sign the witness column here." The suited goblin said and the two signed their names as witnesses. Then the other suited goblin and Ragnok did the same.

The document glowed brilliantly again before duplicating itself.

"It is official. Welcome back, Lord Potter."

---

1st September 1995

12 Grimmauld Place, London

Standing in the hallway of Grimmauld Place, Harry resisted the urge to bang his head on the wall that he was leaning upon. The Weasleys were running around in chaos, getting ready for Hogwarts.

Mrs. Weasley was hollering for the kids to get ready while the kids were still running around searching for their things. It had only worsened when Fred and George had bewitched their trunks to fly downstairs to save the bother of carrying them, with the result that they had hurtled straight into Ginny and knocked her down two flights of stairs into the hall.

Mrs. Weasley had gone ballistic and yelled at the twins so loudly that Harry was sure that the glass windows had rattled.

"Ginny, are you alright?" Hermione asked as the girl came and stood beside them.

"Okay. Mom patched me up." She replied.

"Come here," Harry called and Ginny walked to him. Harry waved his wand on her head before hissing and tapping it on her forehead.

Ginny shivered as she heard the Parseltongue chant before sighing in relief.

"What was that?"

"A Parselmagic healing spell," Harry replied. "Rather effective for smaller injuries."

She nodded before thanking him and sitting down on her trunk. Harry's trunk was in his pocket, shrunk down and perfectly safe. Harry had also added wards including a blood magic ward to secure his trunk this year.

Better be safe than sorry. His most important possessions were either with him at all times or in the Chamber of Secrets. But, his trunk did have a few important books that he was yet to read and his firebolt.

He had no idea of what he might face this year.

The Prophet had dragged his and Dumbledore's names through the mud throughout the summer. Harry had no doubt that many would think him to be a lunatic attention seeker and outright call him a liar. Harry, though, would just wait till Voldemort was revealed before rubbing it in all their faces.

"Where is PODMORE!" A voice roared, startling Harry.

"What's got Moody's panties in a twist?" Ginny asked.

"They are arranging a guard for us. To take us to King's cross." Harry said with a roll of his eyes. It had been decided in the last Order meeting that a guard of people would accompany them to King's Cross for safety. Harry had naturally called the idea a waste of time but he had been outvoted in the end by the other members.

"It was Mad-eye's idea," Harry added.

"It is most like him," said Hermione distractedly, looking at her watch. "But if we don't leave soon we're definitely going to miss the train..."

"You know that we all can apparate, right?" Harry whispered with amusement.

"The adults don't. You taught us illegally Harry. And to be used in emergencies."

"Missing the train does count as one," Harry retorted and Hermione huffed.

"WILL YOU LOT GET DOWN HERE NOW, PLEASE!" Mrs. Weasley bellowed.

"Harry, you're to come with me and Tonks," shouted Mrs. Weasley needlessly. Harry rolled his eyes again. If an attack happened, he would be the one protecting them and not the other way round, given Voldemort showed up… which seemed unlikely.

"Leave your trunk and your owl, Alastor's going to deal with the luggage… Oh, for heaven's sake, HURRY UP!" Mrs. Weasley shouted again, rattling Harry's eardrums.

Harry just sighed before falling her out.

---

1st September 1995

Hogwarts Express

Harry sat leisurely in the last compartment of the Hogwarts express, reading a book on the basics of Alchemy, a subject Salazar and Helga had recently started teaching him. It was a rather advanced book and Harry could understand why Alchemy as a subject was so rarely pursued.

With him, Neville, Luna, and Ginny were sitting. Neville was fiddling with his new plant, Mimbulus mimbletonia. Luna was reading the Quibbler upside down. And Ginny was reading her potions book.

Ron, Hermione, Susan, Daphne, and Cedric were in the prefect's meeting. Astoria was with her Slytherin Friends.

They did not turn up for nearly an hour, by which time the food trolley had already gone by. Harry, Ginny, and Neville had finished their Pumpkin Pasties and were busy swapping Chocolate Frog cards when the compartment door slid open and they walked in, accompanied by Crookshanks and a shrilly hooting Pigwidgeon in his cage.

"I'm starving," declared Ron, grabbing a Chocolate Frog from Harry and throwing himself into the seat next to him. He ripped open the wrapper, bit off the Frog's head, and leaned back with his eyes closed as though he had had a very exhausting morning.

"Well, there are two fifth-year prefects from each House," said Hermione, looking thoroughly disgruntled as she took her seat. "Boy and girl from each."

"And guess who's a Slytherin prefect?" said Ron, still with his eyes closed.

"Malfoy," replied Harry, already knowing the answer. Snape had insisted.

"Course," said Ron bitterly, stuffing the rest of the Frog into his mouth and taking another.

"Who's Hufflepuff?" Neville asked.

"Ernie Macmillan and Susan," said Ron thickly.

"And Anthony Goldstein and Padma Patil for Ravenclaw," said Hermione.

"Cedric is the Head Boy with a girl from Slytherin as the head girl," Ron said.

"Elizabeth Grace," Hermione said with distaste. "There was an Edward Grace who got off with the imperious excuse as far as I remember."

"One of her distant uncles," Harry replied.

"Why would Dumbledore make a possible Death Eater the Head Girl?"

"She is the top student in her year besides Diggory," Harry replied. "Dumbledore cannot show bias especially when someone is deserving. Don't worry, I'll deal with her tonight."

"Deal with her?" Susan asked.

"I am going to give a message. To the Slytherin House."

---

1st September 1995

Hogwarts Great Hall

Harry sat on the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall tapping his fingers on the table impatiently as the first-year students were sorted. The sorting hat had just given a rather ominous song, urging the school to unite in the face of danger and adversity.

Its last two paragraphs echoed in Harry's mind.

Oh, know the perils, read the signs,

The warning history shows,

For our, Hogwarts is in danger

From external, deadly foes

And we must unite inside her

Or we'll crumble from within.

I have told you, I have warned you.

Let the Sorting now begin!

The warning was absolutely true. Hogwarts was in danger from two external deadly foes: Lord Voldemort and the Ministry of magic.

And it had reiterated what Dumbledore wished for Harry to do. Unite the school.

Harry just had to wait for Umbridge to start throwing around her weight. Start her reign of oppression. Then Harry would strike in the shadows, bringing the school together and preparing the students to face what was to come. He had given instructions to everyone in his group on what to do and what not to do.

He knew this year was going to be a difficult one. At least the first term if they revealed Voldemort during Christmas as they were planning… it wasn't finalized yet but the plan was being made. So far, it was simple. Harry and Dumbledore would walk into the ministry during Christmas when most ministry workers were going to be on holiday and go to the Department of Mysteries in plain sight of Voldemort's spy. Pick up the prophecy, something they were going to instruct Croaker to change, placing a fake orb in exchange for the original.

They would pick it up and go out where the Death Eaters would be waiting to get the prophecy with, hopefully, Lord Voldemort himself.

Harry was broken out of his thoughts as Dumbledore stood up.

"To our newcomers," said Dumbledore in a ringing voice, his arms stretched wide and a beaming smile on his lips, "welcome! To our old hands — welcome back! There is a time for speech-making, but this is not it. Tuck in!"

There was an appreciative laugh and an outbreak of applause as Dumbledore sat down neatly and threw his long beard over his shoulder so as to keep it out of the way of his plate — for food had appeared out of nowhere, so that the five long tables were groaning under joints and pies and dishes of vegetables, bread, sauces, and flagons of pumpkin juice.

"Excellent," said Ron, with a kind of groan of longing, and he seized the nearest plate of chops and began piling them onto his plate, watched wistfully by Nearly Headless Nick.

Harry himself dug in, taking a plate of mashed potatoes and gravy. No need to waste a perfectly good feast by worrying about what was to come.

When all the students had finished eating and the noise level in the hall was starting to creep upward again, Dumbledore got to his feet once more. Talking ceased immediately as all turned to face the headmaster.

"Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices," said Dumbledore. "First years ought to know that the forest in the grounds is out of bounds to students — and a few of our older students ought to know by now too," Dumbledore said, looking around.

"Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is the four hundred and sixty-second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr. Filch's office door."

Harry rolled his eyes at that announcement. He was pretty sure that no one except the Weasley twins had ever checked that list.

"We have had two changes in staffing this year. We are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons; we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

There was a round of polite but fairly unenthusiastic applause during which Harry just remained still, not even bothering to clap.

Dumbledore continued, "Tryouts for the House Quidditch teams will take place on the —"

He suddenly broke off, looking inquiringly at Professor Umbridge. As she was not much taller standing than sitting, there was a moment when nobody understood why Dumbledore had stopped talking, but then Professor Umbridge said, "Hem, hem," and it became clear that she had got to her feet and was intending to make a speech.

Dumbledore only looked taken aback for a moment, then he sat back down smartly and looked alertly at Professor Umbridge as though he desired nothing better than to listen to her talk.

Other members of staff were not as adept at hiding their surprise. Professor Sprout's eyebrows had disappeared into her flyaway hair, and Professor McGonagall's mouth was as thin as Harry had ever seen it. No new teacher had ever interrupted Dumbledore before.

Many of the students were smirking; this woman obviously did not know how things were done at Hogwarts.

"Thank you, Headmaster," Professor Umbridge simpered, "for those kind words of welcome."

Her voice was high-pitched, breathy, and little-girlish and again, Harry felt a powerful rush of dislike that he could not explain to himself; all he knew was that he loathed everything about her, from her stupid voice to her fluffy pink cardigan.

She gave another little throat clearing cough ("Hem, hem") and continued: "Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say!" She smiled, revealing very pointed teeth. "And to see such happy little faces looking back at me!"

Harry glanced around. None of the faces he could see looked happy; on the contrary, they all looked rather taken aback at being addressed as though they were five years old.

"I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all, and I'm sure we'll be very good friends!" Students exchanged looks at this; some of them were barely concealing grins.

"I'll be her friend as long as I don't have to borrow that cardigan," Parvati whispered to Lavender, and both of them lapsed into silent giggles.

Professor Umbridge cleared her throat again ("Hem, hem"), but when she continued, some of the breathiness had vanished from her voice. She sounded much more businesslike and now her words had a dull learned-by-heart sound to them.

"The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. The rare gifts with which you were born may come to nothing if not nurtured and honed by careful instruction. The ancient skills unique to the Wizarding community must be passed down through the generations lest we lose them forever. The treasure trove of magical knowledge amassed by our ancestors must be guarded, replenished, and polished by those who have been called to the noble profession of teaching."

Professor Umbridge paused here and made a little bow to her fellow staff members, none of whom bowed back. Professor McGonagall's dark eyebrows had contracted so that she looked positively hawklike, and Harry distinctly saw her exchange a significant glance with Professor Sprout as Umbridge gave another little "Hem, hem" and went on with her speech.

"Every headmaster and headmistress of Hogwarts has brought something new to the weighty task of governing this historic school, and that is as it should be, for without progress there will be stagnation and decay. There again, progress for progress's sake must be discouraged, for our tried and tested traditions often require no tinkering. A balance, then, between old and new, between permanence and change, between tradition and innovation..."

Harry found his attentiveness ebbing, as though his brain was slipping in and out of tune. The quiet that always filled the Hall when Dumbledore was speaking was breaking up as students put their heads together, whispering and giggling. Over at the Ravenclaw table, Cho Chang was chatting animatedly with her friends.

A few seats along from Cho, Luna Lovegood had got out The Quibbler again. Meanwhile, at the Hufflepuff table, Ernie Macmillan was one of the few still staring at Professor Umbridge, but he was glassy-eyed and Harry was sure he was only pretending to listen in an attempt to live up to the new prefect's badge gleaming on his chest.

Umbridge did not seem to notice the restlessness of her audience. Harry had the impression that a full-scale riot could have broken out under her nose and she would have plowed on with her speech. The teachers, however, were still listening very attentively, and Hermione seemed to be drinking in eveṣry word Umbridge spoke, though judging by her expression, they were not at all to her taste.

"...because some changes will be for the better, while others will come, in the fullness of time, to be recognized as errors of judgment. Meanwhile, some old habits will be retained, and rightly so, whereas others, outmoded and outworn, must be abandoned. Let us move forward, then, into a new era of openness, effectiveness, and accountability, intent on preserving what ought to be preserved, perfecting what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited."

She sat down. Dumbledore clapped. The staff followed his lead, though Harry noticed that several of them brought their hands together only once or twice before stopping. A few students joined in, but most had been taken unawares by the end of the speech, not having listened to more than a few words of it, and before they could start applauding properly, Dumbledore had stood up again.

"Thank you very much, Professor Umbridge, that was most illuminating," he said, bowing to her. "Now — as I was saying, Quidditch tryouts will be held . . ."

Harry turned to Hermione and said one word. "Summarize."

"The ministry is interfering at Hogwarts," Hermione replied simply.

Harry snorted. "Tell me something I don't know."

---

1st September 1995

Gryffindor Tower, Hogwarts

Whispers and a variety of looks ranging from fear to hostility were thrown at Harry's way as he made his way to the Gryffindor tower.

He, of course, ignored them all.

The Gryffindor common room looked as welcoming as ever, a cozy circular tower room full of dilapidated squashy armchairs and rickety old tables. A fire was crackling merrily in the grate and a few people were warming their hands before going up to their dormitories; on the other side of the room Fred and George Weasley were pinning something up on the noticeboard. Harry waved good night to them and headed straight for the door to the boys' dormitories; he was not in much of a mood for talking at the moment. Neville followed him.

Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan had reached the dormitory first and were in the process of covering the walls beside their beds with posters and photographs. They had been talking as Harry pushed open the door but stopped abruptly the moment they saw him.

"Good Evening," he greeted smoothly, moving across to his own trunk and opening it.

"Hey, Harry," said Dean, who was putting on a pair of pajamas in the West Ham colors. "Good holiday?"

"Not bad," Harry replied. "You?"

"Yeah, it was okay," chuckled Dean. "Better than Seamus's anyway, he was just telling me."

Harry raised his eyebrow at the boy.

"Why, what happened, Seamus?" Neville asked as he placed his Mimbulus mimbletonia tenderly on his bedside cabinet.

Seamus did not answer immediately; he was making rather a meal of ensuring that his poster of the Kenmare Kestrels Quidditch team was quite straight. Then he said, with his back still turned to Harry, "Me mam didn't want me to come back."

Harry rolled his eyes already having spotted a sheep that was following the Daily Prophet. He wondered how long it would take for Seamus to eat his words when Voldemort was revealed.

"Let me guess… the Daily Prophet?" Harry said dryly. "She believes I am a… what was that… An attention-seeking liar with fame gone into my head and Dumbledore is a senile old fool who has gone bonkers."

Seamus looked up at him. "Yeah, something like that."

Harry rolled his eyes again. "And… what should I do in that regard?"

"Look... what happened that night of the third task?"

"I told you all what happened, months ago. Lord Voldemort used a ritual to return to his body and summoned his Death Eaters. I fought them before escaping."

"You expect me to believe that?" Seamus snorted.

"And you think the disappearance of fourteen upstanding purebloods on the day of the third task was a coincidence? Many of whom had pleaded the imperious?" Harry snorted back.

Seamus just sneered before turning to Ron who had just entered the room. "You believe all the rubbish he's come out with about You-Know-Who, do you, you reckon he's telling the truth?"

Ron raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, I do!"

"Then you're mad too," said Seamus in disgust.

"Yeah? Well unfortunately for you, pal, I'm also a prefect!" said Ron, jabbing himself in the chest with a finger. "So unless you want detention, watch your mouth!"

Harry smirked as Seamus turned on his heel with a noise of contempt, vaulted into bed, and pulled the hangings shut with such violence that they were ripped from the bed and fell in a dusty pile to the floor.

"Anyone else's parents have a problem with me?" Harry asked.

"My parents are Muggles, mate," said Dean, shrugging. "They don't know nothing about no deaths at Hogwarts, because I'm not stupid enough to tell them."

"You don't know my mother, she'll weasel anything out of anyone!" Seamus snapped at him. "Anyway, your parents don't get the Daily Prophet, they don't know our headmaster's been sacked from the Wizengamot and the International Confederation of Wizards because he's losing his marbles —"

"My gran says that's rubbish," piped up Neville. "She says it's the Daily Prophet that's going downhill, not Dumbledore. She's canceled our subscription. We believe Harry," he said simply. He climbed into bed and pulled the covers up to his chin.

"If you don't mind, I'll be sleeping now. Seamus, if you wish to cause problems with me, get out right now." Harry said before shutting his covers and raising a simple parseltongue ward to keep people away.

A moment later, he apparated to the Chamber of secrets without a single sound.

"All the best, Harry," Salazar said as he shrugged off his cloak before wearing his battle robes. He had worn his vest before he even left Grimmauld Place. "You will have to show power and ruthlessness to scare the house into submission. Pure power. I'll be watching."

"Of course."

"Make sure to lock wards once you enter. So, the word of what you are doing can't travel out and invoke the sanction before leaving the room."

"Alright," Harry said, picking up the time turner.

"All the best, dear," Helga said.

"Thank you both," Harry replied before turning the time-turner once, going back an hour. He removed the Time turner and kept it back in its place before applying an invisibility charm on himself apparating again, straight to the Slytherin Common room.

Notes:

AND… DONE!

Hope you enjoyed it.
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HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 56: Playing with Power

Ch.54 Playing with Power

Harry appeared, silently and invisibly in the Slytherin Common room and sat down in the middle of the common room, on the chair he knew the top of the Slytherin Hierarchy occupied.

The Slytherin common room was a long, low underground room with rough stone walls and ceiling from which round, greenish lamps were hanging on chains. A fire was crackling under an elaborately carved mantelpiece ahead of him.

It was the same as he remembered when he had visited the room in his second year with Ron under the Polyjuice potion and questioned Malfoy while disguised as Crabbe while Ron became Goyle.

Harry shook his head fondly at the memories and looked around more before performing a detection spell. No one had arrived yet.

Harry took out the Marauder's map from his moleskin pouch and activated it. Lines spread on it and he saw that all of the students were concentrated in the Great Hall.

Perfect time to start doing his work.

He cut his palm and allowed blood to pool in his hand before levitating the acquired blood and healing his wound. The blood split up into twenty-one equal parts, each consisting of only a few drops of blood.

Harry took his wand out and touched one of them with his wand tip before he moved his wand in a complicated pattern while hissing. The blood glowed brightly and Harry jabbed his wand. Immediately, the blood converted into a small snake no longer than Harry's palm.

The snake took the color of the carpet, camouflaging itself before slithering ahead towards the Boy's Dormitory. He repeated the procedure with the rest of the snakes and send them away in all directions. Finally, when three parts remained, Harry combined them and formed a bigger snake. The Master snake.

The spell was an ingenious design of Harry, with a couple of tips from Salazar. He had combined blood magic and parselmagic to form the perfect method of spying where the portraits were absent, namely, in the common rooms and dormitories.

The snakes would look out for words like dark lord, mission, kill, etc. If any of them were uttered, the memory would go to the master snake who would then report to Harry with the memory of the conversation. The memory the snake construct would give, could be viewed either by legilimency or by Pensive. The spell would only last for thirteen months though. Harry would have to renew the spell when he returned to Hogwarts next year.

Harry wandlessly performed a tempus charm which informed him he had been in the room for about twenty minutes already.

Harry looked back at the map again and saw Umbridge walk back to the staff table as Dumbledore walked to the speaking podium again.

'It won't take long for the Slytherins to arrive now that the toad's speech is over,' Harry mused to himself before going to stand in a corner of the room, a position from where he could view the whole room without a problem.

The Marauders map showed that the students had moved out of the Great Hall and were making their way towards their respective House areas. Harry could see himself walking next to Neville, up the moving staircases.

Harry put the map back in his pouch as the first Slytherin students entered the passage leading to the wall behind which the common room entrance was.

Hardly a few moments later, the wall slid open and a bunch of fourth-year boys entered, followed by a few sixth-year girls.

Harry waited patiently for people to come in, while occasionally keeping an eye on Nott and his ilk. Many were surrounding him already, talking in hushed whispers. They were speaking in riddles but Harry could make out that Malfoy was about to say something to everyone regarding Voldemort. He was currently surrounded by Crabbe, Goyle, the Carrow siblings, Marcus Flint(who had failed his NEWTs again), and a couple of others.

In the middle of the room, the head girl, Elizabeth Grace was seated along with a few other senior students. The only junior near her was Blaise Zabini. From what he had heard of the boy, he was a quintessential Slytherin who was interested in making connections and staying in the shadows. Her mother, the infamous Black Widow, who had gone through several husbands already had trained him well it seemed.

Soon, Daphne and Draco entered the common room followed by the firsties who were looking around in wonder. Harry smiled faintly at the kids, even if no one could see him yet.

"Welcome," Daphne said. "To the Slytherin Common Room. The first thing you must remember is that the password to the common room changes every month. The Password will be displayed on the notice board along with other important notices. So, make sure to check it occasionally."

"And, do not tell the password to any outsiders or bring an outsider in here. If you do… be prepared for the consequences."

"Also, what happens in Slytherin, stays in Slytherin. You shall resolve all your issues here in the common room itself. Outside these walls, we are a united force. We Slytherins stand as one. Any issues will be resolved here either by words or if things escalate, the dueling pit."

"Also, be careful whom you associate with. I wish you heed to my words carefully or the coming times will be… difficult for you."

"Thank you, Malfoy, Greengrass, that will be enough for now." Grace interrupted smoothly before standing up. "I will take over now. Welcome firsties. As the two prefects said, we are a united force. And, needless to say, every force has some rules, and a hierarchy to be followed. There is always a top order. For now, the top order is us. What we say goes. You do not question us when we give an explicit order. And if you do, the consequence will be severe until you redeem yourself."

Grace was moving around, intimidating the new students. "Now, if you wish to ask me who I am, I am Elizabeth Grace, Primary Heiress to the Ancient and Noble House of Grace. I am the Head Girl as well and the one who is the current leader of Slytherin house. If you wish to ask me, how did I become the leader of Slytherin, let me tell you it is a combination of pure magical power, political power, connections, cunning, and intelligence. Now, there are many… customs we observe here. The first one you will witness right about now." Grace said before moving to the absolute center of the empty space.

She flicked her hand and her wand shot into her palm. "Anyone who challenges my authority in the House of Slytherin may step forward and challenge me to the duel to the seat of power as custom dictates. We duel and if I lose, the challenger shall gain my position as the Leader of Slytherin. If the challenger loses though…" she trailed off, taking a moment to grin predatorily. "They shall be censured from the house for the whole year. Now, who wishes to challenge me?" She asked, twirling her wand.

No one moved a muscle in the Slytherin room apart from the firsties who were looking around, hoping for someone to challenge her.

"Good," Grace began but Harry interrupted her.

"I challenge you!" Harry said, his voice booming around the room. Many looked scared at the sudden sound but Grace was unfazed. Harry had to give her that she was truly a leader. But he wished to see what her reaction would be when he revealed himself.

"Oh, we have a victim, oh, sorry, a challenger." She mocked and some of her cronies laughed while the others smirked. Harry liked the control she had on Slytherin. "So, step forward whoever you are. Show me your face!"

Harry walked forward as his Disillusionment charm faded. "Here I am," He said and many people screamed at the sudden appearance. "For those who don't know who I am," Harry said, ignoring the screams and startled looks, "I am Lord Harry James Potter, the Lord of Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, Heir of Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. The winner of Order of Merlin First class, winner of the Triwizard tournament, and most famously known as the boy-who-lived."

Even Grace paled before composing herself. "Po-potter what in the name of Salazar are you doing here! I shall—"

"Do nothing if you wish to see tomorrow's sun." Harry completed, barely sparing her a glance.

"Potter! You—" Malfoy began but was stopped short as he was transformed into a ferret, courtesy of Harry.

"Sit down, everyone. I wish to give Slytherin House a… warning."

"Potter, you can't—"

Harry sighed, "Miss Grace, I do not have all day. Please cooperate before I need to do it the hard way, something which you won't enjoy. I do not wish to humble you in front of the whole house. We both know you don't stand a chance when it comes to a battle between us in any field."

"How did you get in!" One boy demanded. "Who even gave you the password Potter? Now get the fuck out before we curse yo— AHHHH!" The boy screamed shrilly as his wand was ripped out of his hand, and the bones in his hand broke.

Many in the room noted Harry had not even used his wand and their fear for the boy steadily increased.

"None of you are in the position to threaten me," Harry said coldly, his voice echoing through the room. "And as for how I got in, the Heir of Slytherin doesn't need a password to enter." He said, hissing the last word and many shivered.

"Potter, I respectfully ask you to leave." The head girl said diplomatically. "Before I fetch professor Snape and use my powers as the head girl," she added, trying to threaten him subtly.

"Ah, dear old Professor Snape," Harry grinned. "Go on Miss Grace, call him. Go, go. Hurry up. Don't waste my time." Harry said and the girl ran to the door and tried to open the entrance but failed. She tried again, only to get the same result.

"What happened, almighty head girl?" Harry mocked. "Can't get out of your own common room?"

"What have you done?" She demanded turning to him, her wand pointed in his direction.

"I have simply locked you all in. No one can get in, no one can go out." Harry replied calmly. "Now, you all have two options. Listen to me peacefully or…" Harry flicked his wand in his hand. "I'll make you listen."

"Potter, you cannot threaten students," Elizabeth Grace hissed, clutching her wand tightly.

"Well, newsflash, I just did."

"Potter, I am warning you. Don't make me remove you from here by force!" She threatened as the other Slytherin students looked at them silently and some had fear in their eyes.

Harry raised an eyebrow before snorting. "You think you stand a chance against me… well, go ahead."

"CONFRINGO!" The head girl shouted, shooting the potent blasting curse at Harry. The curse was very dangerous in such close quarters, especially with so many children around. Harry's eyes narrowed before he swatted the spell away, which raced towards a third-year girl whom Harry knew was the Head Girl's younger sister.

Her eyes widened and she shouted, "NOOO!" before closing her eyes.

The spell impacted the young girl who winced in pain. "OUCH!"

Elizabeth opened her eyes and slumped, falling to her knees in relief, seeing her sister alive and unharmed.

Harry scowled. He wasn't so cruel as to redirect the curse the girl had used. If that curse had hit, the body of the younger girl would've been blown to shreds. So, Harry had cleverly changed the spell to an over-powered stinging hex.

"Get up, Grace." He hissed. "And next time you throw such a spell around, do look who all are around."

"But-but you re-redirected the spell… how is she al-alive?" She stuttered.

"Who said that the spell remained the same after I redirected it?" Harry asked.

"That's not possible."

"Perhaps for someone as incapable as you. Not me. Now, are you willing to listen? Or shall I persuade you all more?" Harry asked as he disarmed the girl with a wave of his hand before turning to the common room.

"As I said, I am here to give you all a… warning," Harry said, as his voice rang clear. With a wave of his wand, he healed the boy whose hand he had broken and undid the transfiguration on Malfoy.

"POTTER! YOU DARE! MY FATHER WILL HEAR ABOUT THIS!" Malfoy roared, as soon as he was turned back. "I WILL—" He stopped as Harry wandlessly lifted Malfoy in the air, choking him. Malfoy tried to grasp at the invisible force choking his throat. He kicked his legs futilely in the air, clawing at his neck. Tears clouded Malfoy's eyes.

"You were saying something, Malfoy."

"P-ple-please." He choked.

"Please what?" Harry asked as he tightened the force of Malfoy's throat.

"I a-am S-sorry."

Harry let go of the magic and Malfoy crumpled to the floor gasping for breath. Harry looked around, seeing the faces of the other members of Slytherin. Many looked scared, some looked curious while some looked like they wanted to do nothing more than to kill him but were holding themselves back.

"Now, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, I am here to give you all a warning. All of us here know that the one who calls himself Lord Voldemort returned to the land of living last June." There were shrieks and flinches at the name but Harry ignored them. "Some of you will refuse to believe me and I am sure several of you here know that I am right. To those who don't believe me, fuck you. And those who do believe me despite not having a clue, thank you."

Harry was walking around, giving people significant glances.

"So, whatever you believe, don't believe or know, the fact remains that Voldemort has returned and Wizarding Britain will soon be plunged into war despite whatever the fool Fudge says. Now, I am not a fool to believe that all of you support him. I know many of you don't. But the fact remains that the highest recruitment he does is from this house. Many of your relatives or parents are serving him even right now or have served him in the past." Harry said before pausing to analyze everyone

"A select few of you lost a relative or a parent at my hands on the 24th of June in the duel between myself and Lord Voldemort. They served him and suffered the consequences. Anyone who will serve him, will meet the same." Harry declared as his eyes glowed. "I do not care who you are. I do not care for your reasons. But, if you support him… if you bear his mark… I promise you that you shall not survive this war."

Many flinched.

"I know some of your parents or relatives are serving him. So, I, in front of this whole house assembly, am giving everyone an offer. An offer to save you and your families without me gaining anything of note. I offer you safety from Voldemort and this war, given you swear an unbreakable vow of neutrality at the very minimum. A vow that you will never support Voldemort in any way or form. You can approach me directly and we will talk. You can write me a letter, pass me a note… any way in which you can communicate with me." Harry declared. "We will arrange a meeting and discuss the arrangement further. If you agree to it, I promise you all safety from both sides of this war."

"How do we believe you?" one asked.

"You have my word as Lord Potter," Harry replied. "And of course, that means you need to trust my word for it."

"What's in it for you?" Another asked.

"Apart from preventing people from joining Voldemort, nothing much. The finer details will be discussed when we meet in person."

"What if we… are forced to join?" One of the Carrow twins asked.

"That is my offer. You come to me, and I will ensure your safety. You will not be made to serve him. I'll protect you and not even ask you to fight for me. But, if you take the mark, I will end you myself. And this is not a threat. This is a promise."

Many shivered at his tone.

"Am I understood?"

Most students nodded hastily.

"That is all, oh, and before I go…" Harry said before hissing in Parseltongue. Suddenly everyone in the room except Harry glowed with a greenish hue and shivered.

"Now, you cannot talk about what happened here today to anyone without my permission… and if you wish to speak to anyone, you need to come to me. Goodnight, Slytherins. And remember my promise. Join him and no one will ever find your remains." Harry said before apparating away without a single sound.

---

2nd September 1995

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Harry, Ron, and Neville walked down from the boy's dormitory together to the common room. Seamus had dressed at top speed in the morning before running away and Dean had followed him out of the room.

"What's the matter?" asked Hermione five minutes later, catching up with them halfway across the common room as they all headed toward breakfast. "You look absolutely — oh for heaven's sake."

She was staring at the common room notice board, where a large new sign had been put up.

GALLONS OF GALLEONS!

Pocket money failing to keep pace with your outgoings?

Like to earn a little extra gold?

Contact Fred and George Weasley,

Gryffindor common room, for simple,

part-time, virtually painless jobs

(WE REGRET THAT ALL WORK IS UNDERTAKEN AT THE APPLICANT'S OWN RISK)

"They are the limit," said Hermione grimly, taking down the sign, which Fred and George had pinned up over a poster giving the date of the first Hogsmeade weekend in October. "We'll have to talk to them, Ron."

Ron looked positively alarmed. "Why?"

"Because we're prefects!" said Hermione, as they climbed out through the portrait hole. "It's up to us to stop this kind of thing!"

Ron said nothing; Harry could tell from his glum expression that the prospect of stopping Fred and George from doing exactly what they liked was not one that he found inviting.

"Leave them be, Hermione," Harry said, rolling his eyes.

"Just because you have invested in their little business, doesn't mean I'll let them continue on your word!"

"I won't really interfere with your duties but remember that they are developing a lot of products exclusively for us."

"That is not the point!" Hermione snapped, as they walked down a flight of stairs lined with portraits of old witches and wizards, all of whom ignored them, being engrossed in their own conversation.

"Whatever. Make sure that you don't create strife between the group, am I understood?"

"I am not a fool, Harry."

"Believe me, I know you aren't. But that is not the point."

"Whatever," Hermione waved off.

"Anyway, did anything interesting happen last night with you girls, Hermione?"

"Beyond Parvati and Lavender refusing to believe that Voldemort is back, nothing much." She said gloomily.

"Seamus was the same."

"To be honest, I don't care about them. When Voldemort comes to put an end to their family, they will regret not heeding my words." Harry said. They had reached the foot of the marble staircase. A line of fourth-year Ravenclaws was crossing the entrance hall; they caught sight of Harry and hurried to form a tighter group, as though frightened he might attack stragglers.

Harry rolled his eyes and followed the Ravenclaws into the Great Hall. Looking instinctively at the staff table as they entered. Professor Grubbly-Plank was chatting to Professor Sinistra, the Astronomy teacher. Flitwick and McGonagall were eating breakfast in peace while Snape was talking with Umbridge. As soon as he had entered, Umbridge's pudgy eyes had focused upon him before she turned back to chatting with Snape.

Soon after Harry began his breakfast, a tall black girl with long, braided hair marched up to Harry. "Hi, Angelina."

"Hi," she said briskly, "Good summer?" And without waiting for an answer, "Listen, I've been made Gryffindor Quidditch Captain."

"Nice one," said Harry, grinning at her; he suspected Angelina's pep talks might not be as long-winded as Oliver Wood's had been, which could only be an improvement.

"Yeah, well, we need a new Keeper now Oliver's left. Tryouts are on Friday at five o'clock and I want the whole team there, all right? Then we can see how the new person will fit in."

"Okay," said Harry, and she smiled at him and departed.

"I'd forgotten Wood had left," said Hermione vaguely, sitting down beside Ron and pulling a plate of toast toward her. "I suppose that will make quite a difference to the team?"

"I s'pose," said Harry, taking the bench opposite. "He was a great Keeper… Puddlemore has hired him already as a trial keeper last I heard."

"Nice," Ron mused.

With a whoosh and a clatter, hundreds of owls came soaring in through the upper windows. They descended all over the Hall, bringing letters and packages to their owners and showering the breakfasters with droplets of water; it was clearly raining hard outside.

A barn owl dropped a sodden Daily Prophet in front of Harry while another did the same for Hermione.

Harry wandlessly dried the pages, making them crisp like they were fresh out of the printing press before opening them.

"What are you still getting that for?" Neville asked irritably as Hermione paid for her paper. Harry didn't do it because he had taken the monthly subscription for the paper not wanting the hassle of paying every day.

"It's best to know what the enemy is saying," said Harry darkly, and he unfurled the newspaper before levitating it wandlessly as it began flipping through headlines while eating breakfast. Hermione on the other hand, disappeared behind the, not emerging until Harry and Ron had finished eating.

"Nothing," Hermione said, rolling up the newspaper and laying it down by her plate. "Nothing about you or Dumbledore or anything."

Professor McGonagall was now moving along the table handing out schedules.

"Look at today!" groaned Ron. "History of Magic, Double Potions, Divination, and Double Defense Against the Dark Arts... Binns, Snape, Trelawney, and that Umbridge woman all in one day! I wish Fred and George'd hurry up and get those Skiving Snackboxes sorted…"

"Do mine ears deceive me?" said Fred, arriving with George and squeezing onto the bench beside Harry. "Hogwarts prefects surely don't wish to skive off lessons?"

"Look what we've got today," said Ron grumpily, shoving his schedule under Fred's nose. "That's the worst Monday I've ever seen."

"Fair point, little bro," said Fred, scanning the column. "You can have a bit of Nosebleed Nougat cheap if you like."

Harry ignored them in favor of scanning his own timetable and memorizing it. His Monday was much better than the Fifth year's.

Just Double charms in the morning before lunch, and Double Arithmancy in the afternoon. He had the first period free right now and two periods free after Lunch. He also noticed that he had at least a period free every day and all his lectures now were double lectures… which was good considering they got more time to study continuously. His busiest was Wednesday when he had Double Ancient Runes followed by Double Transfiguration after Lunch with Double Potions.

Yes, Harry had indeed taken Double Potions. Apparently, Snape taught something there or so he had heard. Also, he needed to keep an eye on the man.

He turned back to his friends who were still talking about the joke shop.

"I mean, do we really need N.E.W.T.s? But we didn't think Mum could take us leaving school early, not on top of Percy turning out to be the world's biggest prat." George said.

Percy Weasley had turned out to be one of the biggest regrets of the Weasley Family when he had left the house, saying to his parents that they were nuts to believe Harry and Dumbledore and said that he supported the minister. He had rapidly risen through the ranks in the ministry as well and now was the assistant undersecretary to Fudge.

"We're not going to waste our last year here, though," said Fred, looking affectionately around at the Great Hall. "We're going to use it to do a bit of market research, find out exactly what the average Hogwarts student requires from his joke shop, carefully evaluate the results of our research, and then produce the products to fit the demand."

"Excellent," Harry said. "It is one of the most vital aspects of a business. You both will not make me regret investing in you guys."

"Of course. We will prove to be your best investment, Lord Potter," George curtsied.

"You shall never regret investing in our business."

"Good. Now, get going you all while I chill."

"Wait, why do you get to chill?" Hermione asked.

"Cause I have the first period free!" Harry replied cheerfully as a wave of groans of the word 'so unfair' followed.

---

1st September 1995

Great Hall, Hogwarts

Harry walked into the Great Hall for dinner with Ron and Hermione, who were informing him just what a sham Defense Against the Dark Arts class was. Umbridge didn't intend to teach anyone anything regarding Defense. She had just told everyone to read books authored by Wilbert Slinkhart, who according to her was an expert in Defense Against the Dark arts. The fun part was that the same book had been assigned to all seven years.

The book, as far as Harry had glanced through, was complete utter shit. Harry doubted that Slinkhart had ever been in a duel or a remotely life-threatening situation. Harry was pretty sure that Lockhart's books were better… they at least gave entertainment to the reader.

Hermione had also shown him the course aims that Umbridge had given them… which basically said nothing about learning spells.

"The woman ignored me when I raised my hand to ask her about it… she ignored me throughout the class!" Hermione exclaimed, waving her hands around in agitation.

"So… you all just sat there quietly in the class reading that shitty book?"

"No, after a few minutes, we were more interested in Hermione who didn't lower her hand throughout the class while Umbridge ignored her," Ron replied, as they made their way to the Gryffindor table.

"Well, I had fun today. We had a water fight at the end of charms class as Flitwick finished teaching everyone the Aqua-Eructo charm. Arithmancy was fairly boring, where Professor Vector made us revise the OWL curriculum… which is what we are going to be doing in the next class as well. She insists on the basics being strong before we progress forward."

"And you found that useless?" Hermione asked with raised eyebrows.

"Boring, not useless." Harry corrected. "It was the right way to go but for me, it was boring. But the good part is, we don't have homework in Arithmancy this week. For charms, it is just a ten-inch essay on the Aqua-Eructo charm… which I already finished a couple of hours ago."

"Lucky you. We have a ton of homework," Ron muttered.

"Poor you," Harry said sympathetically as he pulled a plate of kidney pie towards himself before loading his plate. He was rather hungry, especially considering he had spent the last one hour in the chamber meticulously making the elixir of rejuvenation… which was still brewing. The elixir was similar to the pepper-up potion but tons more effective and much harder and expensive to make.

"Hem, hem." An irritating high-pitched, girly voice coughed behind him. Harry resisted the urge to groan and kept down his cutlery before turning to Umbridge who was standing behind him wearing the horrendous pink cardigan.

"How may I help you?" Harry asked in a forcibly polite tone.

"Hem, Hem. I am here to inform you that you will be serving detention with me for a whole week, starting tomorrow evening in my office." She said in her sickly sweet tone and Harry could see the triumph in her pudgy eyes.

"And why… would I be serving detention with you?" Harry asked slowly.

"For not attending my class, Mr. Potter."

"And why would I attend your class?" Harry asked as if talking to a particularly dumb child.

Umbridge gave him a sickly sweet smile before giggling(a sound which made Harry cringe)"Did you perhaps forget Mr. Potter, that Defense Against the Dark Arts is a Mandatory subject until OWLS?"

"I know that Defense Against the Dark Arts is a mandatory subject till OWL levels but, I still do not get your point."

Umbridge grew irritated, "Mr. Potter! Don't play dumb with me!" She snapped. By now, most of the students in the Great Hall were paying attention to their little confrontation.

Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw McGonagall move to get up but Dumbledore stopped her with a shake of his head, telling her to wait before turning his attention back to them with amusement in his eyes. That was when Harry felt a charm settle near them… a listening charm. Dumbledore was clearly looking for entertainment.

"Madame Umbridge, I am merely failing to understand your point. You are yet to explain why I should attend the Defense Against the Dark Arts class."

"Mr. Potter, you are yet to attempt your OWLS and you must attend the class!" Umbridge snapped. "And that is why-"

"But, who told you I am yet to give my OWLS, Madame Umbridge?" Harry questioned.

Umbridge sputtered. "Wha- What? You can't have given your OWLs yet Mr. Potter! Do not lie to me!"

Harry raised an eyebrow but before he could retort, his head of house arrived.

"Is there a problem here?" McGonagall asked sharply. Harry quickly glanced at Dumbledore who winked at him.

"Yes," Umbridge replied curtly. "Mr. Potter here failed to attend my class today. So, I came here to assign him detention but here he is, back-answering and lying to my face."

"But why would Potter attend your class, Professor Umbridge?" McGonagall asked and Harry resisted the urge to grin.

"Excuse me?" Umbridge asked, apparently not believing her ears.

"I asked, why would Potter attend your class?" McGonagall repeated.

"Because-because it is a rule that every student, despite whoever they are, must attend every class of the seven core subjects, namely Astronomy, History of Magic, Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Herbology, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Am I wrong, Deputy Headmistress?"

"You are absolutely correct, Dolores. But, I still fail to understand why Potter should have attended your class."

"Potter is yet to give his OWLs!" Umbridge snapped.

"Potter has already given his OWLs and achieved the highest marks in the history of Defense Against the Dark Arts!" McGonagall finally snapped back.

"What?"

"Potter has given OWLs for every Subject and is now officially in his sixth year, Dolores. And has got straight O's in each and every subject, breaking all records for DADA, transfigurations, and Charms. Did you not read the note that was attached to the fifth-year student list? Did you not see Potter's result attached to it with the ministry stamp? Or are you simply incompetent?"

"Madame Umbridge here is a perfect representation of the ministry incompetency, Professor McGonagall."

Umbridge sputtered before turning red with anger. "What is this nonsense? How could Potter have already gotten his OWLs?"

"He gave it through the department of education of the ministry. You can confirm this fact with Griselda Marchbanks, Dolores."

"Cornelius would never allow that!" She shouted.

Harry grinned like a shark who had smelled blood. "Are you trying to say that the minister is actively interfering in the education of students and not allowing them to progress, Madame Umbridge? Are you saying that Cornelius Fudge is actively working to stop progress and good education at Hogwarts?"

His voice was heard throughout the Great Hall. More whispers followed a moment later.

Umbridge looked around and realized what had just happened. Harry had expertly twisted her words. She turned purple with anger before giving Harry a stink eye and stomping out of the hall.

Harry felt a Legilimency probe and turned in its direction only to see Dumbledore raise a toast to him.

---

3rd September 1995

British Ministry of Magic, London

Cornelius Oswal Fudge, the British minister of magic, sat in his office clutching his bowler hat while fuming at the latest report Dolores had given him.

All the bad business had started at the end of the third task when the Potter boy had returned with the trophy claiming that He-who-must-not-be-named had returned. What an absurd notion! Dead men do not return to life like that! It was a known fact that there existed no magic which could reawaken the dead. Every wizard child learned that through the stories in 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard'.

So, it was simply impossible that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had returned from the dead.

At first, he had thought that it was a publicity stunt by the Boy-who-lived. He had carried out several publicity stunts himself to stay in the public eye but never something so absurd. But, when Dumbledore and the boy(even if he was yet to talk to Potter yet) had insisted upon the fact that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had returned, despite him ordering them to cease the tomfoolery, he was sure something more was afoot.

When he had outright refused to believe the tale, Dumbledore had threatened him.

It didn't take him long to piece two and two together and sniff Dumbledore's motive behind spreading the rumors of the return of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

Dumbledore wanted to overthrow the ministry. And Harry Potter was supporting him to do that. They were seeking to ruin the Utopia he had carefully created in the past several years! He had led the country efficiently since Bagnold had resigned a couple of years after He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named fell to Potter's hand.

And now, Dumbledore was seeking to overthrow that with the aid of Harry Potter.

He essentially was the only one standing in the path of Dumbledore and Harry Potter who were aiming to take over the world. Two people who were the greatest magical names the world had heard in the past century. And he, Cornelius Fudge, the greatest minister of magic of magical Britain who had ushered the country into an era of peace, was the only one standing in their way to overthrowing the peace of the magical community.

And so far, he was successful. He had removed Dumbledore from the position of the Chief Warlock and even the Supreme Mugwump, lessening his influence greatly. His smear campaign was quite successful as well. He had to use underhand methods to beat the Daily Prophets editor and journalists into submission to the ministry, something which definitely had proven its worth now.

But, Potter's and Dumbledore's main base, their seat of power was still untouched. Hogwarts.

The castle was the place where Dumbledore had influenced generations of wizards and would continue doing so in the future.

It was only logical that if he wanted to stop Dumbledore, he needed to break him at his powerbase. He needed to reduce his influence. And for this task, he had sent his most trusted Undersecretary, Dolores Umbridge, an upstanding, loyal woman who served him with all she had.

Dolores was initially reluctant to go and teach as she hated children but, finally agreed, sensing the gravity of the matter. She had also suggested a few plans which initially had looked excellent but when he had given it a deeper thought, he had shot them down.

One of her plans was to send dementors after the Potter boy and, as he was proficient in the Patronus charm he would use it to defend himself against the dementors and break the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the International Statute of Secrecy. They could use it to expel Potter from Hogwarts and snap his wand.

It was a brilliant plan till he had remembered that Potter had a permit to use magic outside school signed by him. He had also remembered just how ruthless Potter was with his words in the Wizengamot and how much power and influence he wielded. If he expelled Potter without a proper trial, the public would lynch him to death. And if Potter was presented in front of the Wizengamot, he would tear the ministry's and his reputation to shreds with his words.

So, in the end, he had sent Dolores to Hogwarts, making her the new DADA professor. Her main task was to reduce Potter and Dumbledore's powerbase at Hogwarts by any means possible and keep an eye on anything that she can get to put the two in trouble. Their influence on the students needed to be reduced or he may have a whole generation of witches and wizards against him.

Dolores had informed him on her very first day there that Potter had failed to attend her class and she was going to go and punish the brat by putting him in detention for a week in front of the Great Hall. The whole school would know just what a troublemaker Potter was.

He had gone home with a smug grin on his face as his plans fell into place perfectly. But, when he had come back to the ministry today morning, and Floo called Dolores to ask her if the plan was successful, she had informed him what a fiasco their plan had turned out to be.

The boy and Dumbledore had humiliated Dolores, making her look incompetent in front of everyone in the Great Hall. If that was not enough, Potter had twisted Dolores's words in a manner that reflected badly upon him.

"Are you trying to say that the minister is actively interfering in the education of students and not allowing them to progress, Madame Umbridge? Are you saying that Cornelius Fudge is actively working to stop progress and good education at Hogwarts?" Were the boy's words.

He had to admit that Potter had an excellent way with words. To twist Dolores's angry exclamation of 'Cornelius won't allow that!' into such a plot… was staggering.

And that was still not considering the Boy's OWL results.

He had himself stormed the department of education and demanded Potter's OWL results. What he saw made him stagger and clutch his heart. Straight O's and O+'s with record-breaking results in nine fields. NINE!

It was beyond insane.

He had immediately gone to Marchbanks office where he was immediately cowed by the woman's glare for barging in even before he had begun his sentence. He had felt like a little boy who was giving his OWL practicals again.

That had taken the wind out of his sails. He had merely asked her if Potter had indeed appeared for his OWLs early.

In response, the lady had gushed about how brilliant of a student Potter was before scolding him for doubting the document that he had been presented by her juniors that too when it was adorned with her signature.

He had come back to his office thoroughly chastised and fuming at the turn of events. Potter was giving him no place to stand. He looked more untouchable than Dumbledore at the moment, especially when he didn't need to attend Dolores's class.

He needed to give Dolores some room and opportunity to confront the boy… He needed to do something as soon as possible… the question was what… How could he force Potter to attend Dolores's class?

It was time to set someone up to do some research for him.

He tapped his wand at a disc on his table and a few seconds later, Percival Weasley rushed in.

"How may I help you, sir?" He asked bowing low and Fudge explained what he exactly wanted.

It was time to begin breaking Dumbledore's and Potter's hold on the castle.

---

3rd September 1995

Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts

Albus Dumbledore sat in his office sucking a lemon drop as he waited for the four heads of the House to arrive for their traditional discussion on whether they were facing any problems with their house students or classes.

This year, he already knew a big problem. Dolores Umbridge, or as Harry had called her, the toad-face good for nothing Undersecretary who was in a permanent need of cough drops. It was an apt description for her unless one was willing to resort to proficiencies.

There was a knock at the door and the four heads of the house entered and took a seat in front of his desk.

"Good evening, everyone. Lemon drops?" He asked, proffering them the bowl full of the said candies. Only Pomona took one while the rest three shook their heads.

"Let us begin with Minerva. Minerva, how are your Gryffindors fairing and are there any problems?"

"The new Gryffindors are settling in well. The worst I have heard so far is a disagreement between Mr. Finnegan and Mr. Potter, Weasley and Longbottom, and another one between Ms. Granger versus Ms. Brown and Ms. Patil on the topic of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's return. It was verbal as far as I am aware." Minerva replied. "As for general problems… the Umbridge woman seems to be trouble."

"I agree with Minerva, Headmaster." Pomona chimed in.

"And have you seen the book she has assigned for DADA?" Filius asked, with a hint of anger in his tone. "She has prescribed the same useless book to all seven years! And don't get me started on exactly how useless the book is!"

"Her presence here is to cause trouble," Dumbledore scowled. "She has been sent here by Cornelius for that very task. I ask you all to be careful around her and urge the students, especially the muggleborns who complain to do the same."

Minerva pursed her lips. "Can't you do something about it, Albus?"

"My dear Minerva, if I could, I wouldn't have let her enter this castle, much less teach my students. Cornelius gained the approval of the Board of Governors to put her in this position along with the lack of applicants for the post."

"I do not like her, Albus," Filius growled.

"None of us do. And I doubt her existence in the world is for long, given what all happened to three out of the four teachers who taught DADA in the past four years."

"That is my only comfort that the curse on the DADA position will get rid of her," Filius replied.

"Or Potter will," Pomona said. "You witnessed the confrontation in the Great Hall yesterday, didn't you?"

"The ending statement by Harry was a master spell on his part," Filius complimented. "Calling her out and twisting her words in such a manner… was just wow."

"I concur. And Minerva helped as well." Dumbledore said with a chuckle.

"I would've gone sooner if you hadn't stopped me, Albus."

"There was a reason I stopped you, Minerva. I knew Harry would handle the woman well. And I sent you when I deemed it necessary. I was pretty sure that if I hadn't sent you, Harry might've declared an honor duel or something on her which would serve no purpose as you can't kill during an honor duel."

"True. It is good Potter is being kept away from her. I do not wish to witness what Potter would do to the woman and get in trouble for it." Filius said.

Dumbledore nodded, before saying, "Continuing on our original topic, do you have any concerns except Dolores Umbridge, Pomona?"

"Nothing beyond the ordinary. My Puffs are settling in well."

"Good. Filius?"

"Many Ravenclaws are scared of Harry and you, believing the shit the Prophet is spewing. Some do believe you both but many don't."

"That is sad to hear. Severus?"

"My Slytherins… are behaving most peculiarly. Many of them seemed to be… afraid for a lack of a better word. Of what? I have no concrete proof." Severus said, speaking for the first time since the meeting began.

"But you have theories."

"I do. Someone has threatened my House. Someone outside Slytherin. And I have a very strong suspicion who that someone is." Severus sneered.

"And who… do you think threatened them?" Dumbledore asked evenly.

"Potter, of course!" He spat. "I am sure of it! The brat has done something to them!"

"Severus! Stop blaming Potter for every single thing!" Minerva snapped. "You just said you had no concrete proof!"

"Ok, Thank You!" Dumbledore cut in before they could devolve into a fight. "Severus, investigate whatever that is but, do not, I repeat, DO NOT target Mr. Potter, lest he makes you regret it. We both know he is against you with a passion and is allowing your existence on my insistence." Dumbledore said and fixed Snape with a piercing glare, who nodded stiffly.

"Good. Keep an eye on Dolores all of you and keep her away from Harry as long as you can. Because even I am not sure what will happen if they clash."

They nodded and soon, the meeting was concluded.

As soon as they left, Dumbledore turned to Fawkes. "Fawkes, message Harry to meet me."

His familiar trilled before setting himself alight but Fawkes didn't teleport. A minute later, Harry Potter appeared in a flash of purple flames with his familiar, Hedwig in tow.

"You called, Professor?" Harry asked as Hedwig trilled and flew to sit next to Fawkes.

"Good evening, Harry. And yes, I did call you. Please have a seat."

"What's the matter, sir?" Harry asked, taking the seat Filius had occupied minutes earlier.

"Severus informed me that the members of House Slytherin are afraid of something or someone… and he blames you," Dumbledore informed.

"Snivellus blames me for every little thing. Your point is?"

"Did you do something to the Slytherins?" Dumbledore asked with a sigh.

"I did. I went and threatened them that if they join Voldemort and take the mark, I'll end them myself. I also gave them an option to swear a vow of Neutrality and I offered them protection from Lord Voldemort in return. Simple."

"Has anyone taken you up on that offer yet?"

"Not so far, but it hasn't even been forty-eight hours since I talked with them. Ought to give them some time."

"True. The fewer people who join Voldemort, the better."

"Is that all, sir? I was in the middle of doing my Runes homework."

"Oh, did anyone see you leave?"

"No one who would say something. I was with my friends in the room of requirement. And you know who they are."

"Ah, you do homework together now?"

"Yes. We help each other and everyone does homework for different subjects before copying each other's work and altering it a bit so they do not look the same." Harry replied bluntly.

Dumbledore chuckled. "And I suspect you don't get any help to… copy content?"

"I don't need to, sir. Capable enough to say it all myself."

Dumbledore frowned. "Say? Don't you mean, write?"

"Nah, I use a dicta quill to do homework." Harry grinned.

Dumbledore sighed before shaking his head, "Kids these days…"

"You are just disappointed you didn't get that idea when you were at Hogwarts," The boy laughed before flaming out with his phoenix.

Dumbledore shook his head in response before chuckling.

---

8th September 1995

Hogwarts School of witchcraft and Wizardry

Harry sat at the Gryffindor table having a plate full of bacon and eggs with a cup of coffee. Besides him, Ron was scarfing down food while Hermione was absentmindedly eating her breakfast and drinking tea while waiting for the Daily Prophet.

Even Harry was curious what was going to be so interesting in the Prophet today as Percy Weasley had written a letter to Ron the previous day hinting something big was about to happen concerning the ministry and Hogwarts. He had begun the letter by congratulating Ron on becoming a Prefect, a piece of news he had got from Fudge through Umbridge. Then, he had warned Ron about Harry.

In Percy's words, 'I must tell you, Ron, that nothing could put you in danger of losing your badge more than continued fraternization with that boy. Yes, I am sure you are surprised to hear this — no doubt you will say that Potter has always been Dumbledore's favorite — but I feel bound to tell you that Dumbledore may not be in charge at Hogwarts much longer and the people who count have a very different — and probably more accurate — view of Potters behavior. I shall say no more here, but if you look at the Daily Prophet tomorrow you will get a good idea of the way the wind is blowing — and see if you can spot yours truly!'

He had proceeded to call Umbridge a delightful woman and told Ron to butter her up and get in her good graces. He had reiterated that Dumbledore wasn't for long at Hogwarts and to stay away from Harry.

Ron had almost thrown the letter in the fire but Harry stopped him and sent the letter to Dumbledore to investigate it further. Percy had heavily hinted that the day's Prophet was going to declare something important.

That was when the Daily Prophets arrived.

The departing delivery owl had barely cleared the top of the milk jug when Hermione let out a huge gasp and flattened the newspaper to reveal a large photograph of Dolores Umbridge, smiling widely and blinking slowly at them from beneath the headline:

MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL REFORM

DOLORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED FIRST-EVER "HIGH INQUISITOR"

"In a surprise move, last night the Ministry of Magic passed new legislation giving itself an unprecedented level of control at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." 'The Minister has been growing uneasy about the goings-on at Hogwart for some time,' said Junior Assistant to the Minister, Percy Weasley. 'He is now responding to concerns voiced by anxious parents, who feel the school may be moving in a direction they do not approve.'

"This is not the first time in recent weeks Fudge has used new laws to effect improvements at the Wizarding school. As recently as August 30th Educational Decree Twenty-two was passed, to ensure that, in the event of the current headmaster being unable to provide a candidate for a teaching post, the Ministry should select an appropriate person. "

'That's how Dolores Umbridge came to be appointed to the teaching staff at Hogwarts,' said Weasley last night. 'Dumbledore couldn't find anyone, so the Minister put in Umbridge and of course, she's been an immediate success, totally revolutionizing the teaching of Defense Against the Dark Arts and providing the Minister with on-the-ground feedback about what's really happening at Hogwarts.'

Harry raised his eyebrows at the little statement before continuing to read ahead.

"It is this last function that the Ministry has now formalized with the passing of Educational Decree Twenty-three, which creates the new position of 'Hogwarts High Inquisitor.' "

'This is an exciting new phase in the Minister's plan to get to grips with what some are calling the "falling standards" at Hogwarts,' said Weasley. 'The Inquisitor will have powers to inspect her fellow educators and make sure that they are coming up to scratch. Professor Umbridge has been offered this position in addition to her own teaching post, and we are delighted to say that she has accepted.'

"The Ministry's new moves have received enthusiastic support from parents of students at Hogwarts."

'I feel much easier in my mind now that I know that Dumbledore is being subjected to fair and objective evaluation,' said Mr. Theseus Nott, 49, speaking from his mansion last night. 'Many of us with our children's best interests at heart have been concerned about some of Dumbledore's eccentric decisions in the last few years and will be glad to know that the Ministry is keeping an eye on the situation.'

"Among those 'eccentric decisions' are undoubtedly the controversial staff appointments previously described in this newspaper, which have included the hiring of werewolf Remus Lupin, half-giant Rubeus Hagrid, and delusional ex-Auror 'Mad-Eye' Moody.

"Rumors abound, of course, that Albus Dumbledore, once Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, is no longer up to the task of managing the prestigious school of Hogwarts. "

'I think the appointment of the Inquisitor is a first step toward ensuring that Hogwarts has a headmaster in whom we can all repose confidence,'' said a Ministry insider last night.

"Wizengamot elders Griselda Marchbanks and Tiberius Ogden have spoken in protest at the introduction of the post of Inquisitor to Hogwarts."

'Hogwarts is a school, not an outpost of Cornelius Fudge's office,' said Madam Marchbanks. 'This is a further disgusting attempt to discredit Albus Dumbledore.' (For a full account of Madam Marchbanks' alleged links to subversive goblin groups, turn to page 17)."

Harry stared incredulously at the paper. This was just… too much. Especially the last paragraph. They had defamed Griselda Marchbanks, one of the oldest members of the ministry and a respected Wizengamot member since the past century.

Harry gritted his teeth at the people who had spoken for the decree. When he would bring Fudge's fall, all of these would be tried as Death Eaters. Even Percy Weasley.

"So now we know how we ended up with Umbridge! Fudge passed this 'Educational Decree' and forced her on us! And now he's given her the power to inspect other teachers!" Hermione was breathing fast and her eyes were very bright. "I can't believe this. It's outrageous. . . ."

"I know it is," said Harry before he looked at Ron who was grinning.

"What?" said Harry and Hermione together, staring at him.

"Oh, I can't wait to see McGonagall inspected," said Ron happily. "Umbridge won't know what hit her."

Harry grinned too.

Trust Ron to find a good reason to smile and positivity even in bad situations.

But, the problem still existed. Dolores Umbridge was the new High Inquisitor. Harry needed to go to the chamber right now to inform Salazar and Helga of this development.

Harry, unfortunately, didn't have a free first period and went for Double transfiguration which was his first lecture for the day. Unfortunately, Umbridge wasn't there for entertainment.

As soon as the lecture ended, Harry went to the washroom before apparating straight to the chamber of secrets.

No sooner than he had entered the room, Salazar roared, "WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU FOR SO LONG!?"

Harry was taken aback by the fury in his voice but Helga snapped at him. "Salazar, don't shout at Harry. He had a class."

"Whatever, now you are here, go and kill Umbridge."

"What?"

"Go and kill the toad-faced bitch, Potter. I won't allow what is happening!" Salazar roared. "Go, I want the News of her death in ten minutes!"

"Salazar, calm down! Harry, don't you dare follow what he is saying." Helga said.

"I WON'T ALLOW THAT EVIL WOMAN TO HAVE POWER IN MY SCHOOL! YOU KNOW HOW SHE IS! A SADISTIC GOOD-FOR-NOTHING BITCH! YOU KNOW WHAT PLANS SHE TRIED TO GET PASSED IN THE WIZENGAMOT IN THE PAST YEARS! I WON'T ALLOW HER TO BE IN MY SCHOOL!"

"Salazar quit shouting and control yourself! I know you dislike her—"

Salazar scowled. "Understatement of the century."

Helga ignored him and continued, "—but you cannot kill her just like that. Harry will be the first one to be blamed if she dies."

"Then we must devise a plan that makes her death look completely accidental," Salazar chimed.

"Salazar, NO!"

"Excuse me," Harry cut in and they turned to him. "I would like to say something. Revenge, pain, and suffering spread out over a long time is better than a quick that for someone like Dolores Umbridge. If she wishes to bring a reign of terror to the school, I will make sure I will do worse to her."

Salazar was silent for a moment before he grinned. "Now that's what I call a plan. Tell me more."

"That is why I am here. To improve on it further."

"My expertise! Even better! Let's begin!" Salazar said happily. Helga just sighed in exasperation at the hate all three of them shared for the woman… for now, even she was going to help them and make sure they didn't plan something too obvious and get caught.

Notes:

AND... DONE!

Hope you all liked the chapter!

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Discord Server Invite Link: discord . gg / 4qfP3fxdQ4 [Remove the spaces please]

I will love it if you guys come on my server and interact with me there. If you have some of your own theory or wish to see something in this fic as the journey progresses, you can tell it to me on the discord server.

(If you are wondering if I am going to post this message in every story, I am. I want as many of you there so we all can interact with one another.)

P.S. It is my great pleasure to announce that the discord server has 500+ members already, so please become a part of the growing community ASAP!

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Also, I have my own channel on the discord server known as Emerald Library. I recommend that you join the server and there, you won't only have access to me, but several other big authors who have their channels on the Emerald Library.

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 57: Dolores Umbridge

Ch.56 Dolores Umbridge

9th September 1995

Gryffindor Tower, Hogwarts

Harry woke up with a stretch, relishing in the popping noises his joints made. He had stayed up last night in the chamber with Salazar and Helga, planning on what all to do with Umbridge. Well, it was mostly him researching torture methods and stuff while Salazar commented on how to make it worse for Umbridge and Helga keeping him under control.

And, they had made the perfect series of spells to be cast on Umbridge so that her life would become utterly miserable for the rest of her existence.

He opened his curtains and saw that the rest were still sleeping. So, he quietly made his way to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

Once he came back, dressed in school robes, he saw that only Neville was up and taking out stuff from his trunk.

Harry wished him good morning before going to his trunk and taking out some parchment, a quill, and his transfiguration textbook before going to the desk next to his bed and laying the contents on it before taking the seat.

A couple of days prior, McGonagall had assigned them a twelve-inch essay on conjuration of inanimate objects. The submission date was still four days away, but it was best to get homework out of the way as soon as possible.

'Hermione is rubbing on me,' He thought to himself with amusement as he started his essay.

Harry, Ron, and Neville walked down the steps of their dormitory to the common room, discussing the Gryffindor quidditch team. They were halfway across the sunlit common room when they noticed the addition to the room that had already attracted the attention of a small group of people.

A large sign had been affixed to the Gryffindor notice board, so large that it covered everything else on there — the lists of secondhand spell books for sale, the regular reminders of school rules from Argus Filch, the Quidditch team training schedule, the offers to barter certain Chocolate Frog cards for others, the Weasleys' new advertisement for testers, the dates of the Hogsmeade weekends, and the lost-and-found notices.

The new sign was printed in large black letters and there was a highly official-looking seal at the bottom beside a neat and curly signature.

— By Order Of —

The High Inquisitor of Hogwarts

All students below the age of sixteen studying at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are henceforth required to attend the Defense Against the Dark Arts class regardless of passing the said year. It is a compulsory subject for everyone from ages eleven to sixteen

The above is in accordance with

Educational Decree Number Three.

Signed

Dolores Jane Umbridge

High Inquisitor

"I can't believe that she passed a degree solely for you to attend her class, Harry," Neville said, reading the notice.

"She got desperate, it seems," Harry said, rereading the degree, looking for a loophole. Unfortunately, it was a pretty simple one and didn't have a loophole unless he somehow aged himself by a year.

He flicked his wand, summoning a parchment and a quill before writing in a neat script,

Did you know about Educational Decree Number Three? -HP

"Hedwig," He called and his beautiful familiar appeared in a flash of flames, gaining the attention of many students. The first-year kids gawked at the phoenix.

"Take this to Dumbledore. Make sure no one is around when he reads it." He whispered. Hedwig trilled and took the note before disappearing in a flash of flames.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Neville wave to someone, gesturing to them to come over. I turned to see who it was and saw it was only Hermione, who was hurrying towards them.

Hermione's eyes slid rapidly down the notice. Her expression became stony. "This is to get you in her class," She hissed. "That is why she was so quiet during the first one and didn't let any of us speak."

"And she has a class today," Ron stated.

"And, unfortunately, none of the sixth-year classes clash with it," Harry added. "So, I must attend."

"Put her in her place like you did during Sirius's trial," Hermione suggested.

"I had something planned for her but, let us see if I need to increase the severity of what I was going to do. For now—" Harry stopped short as a small burst of flame ignited in front of him and a slip of parchment appeared.

Harry instantly recognized the handwriting as Dumbledore's

No. Be careful of her. I am pretty sure she has some sort of plan to get you in trouble. Cornelius and she didn't like that you had already passed your OWLs and no way in which Umbridge could keep an eye on you. So, they passed the decree made specifically to target you. I trust you to keep yourself and your friends out of trouble. I do not wish for you to get in trouble needlessly.

-AD

Harry read the note twice before burning it to ash.

"What did he say?" Hermione asked in a hushed tone.

"Stay out of trouble in her class and tell you all to do the same. She is here to cause us trouble and we need to be careful. Anyways, I am famished. Let us go get breakfast."

---

9th September 1995

Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom

When Harry and his friends entered the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom they found Professor Umbridge already seated at the teacher's desk, wearing the fluffy pink cardigan and the black velvet bow on top of her head that she always wore. Harry was again reminded forcibly of a large fly perched unwisely on top of an even larger toad.

Harry noticed that the board was filled with the course aims Hermione had shown him.

"Well, good afternoon!" she said when finally the whole class had sat down.

A few people mumbled "Good afternoon," in reply.

"Tut, tut," said Professor Umbridge. "As I said last time, that won't do, now, will it? I would like you, please, to reply 'Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge.' One more time, please. Good afternoon, class!"

"Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge," they chanted back at her. Harry remained defiantly quiet.

"Wands away," she instructed them all smilingly, and Harry noticed that some people who had been hopeful enough to take them out sadly returned them to their bags. He hadn't even bothered to do it, knowing Umbridge was more incompetent than Lockhart. "As we finished chapter one last lesson, I would like you all to turn to page nineteen today and commence chapter two, 'Common Defensive Theories and Their Derivation.' There will be no need to talk."

Still smiling her wide, self-satisfied smile, she sat down at her desk. The class gave an audible sigh as it turned, as one, to page nineteen.

Harry, too, removed the slinkhart book from his bag… or what looked to be the Slinkhart book at least. Harry had glamored the cover page of 'A Beginners Guide to Alchemy Vol. 2 by Nicholas Flammel' to look like Slinkhart's book.

It broke Harry's heart to cover such a priceless book by the name of such a shitty book. But, it was necessary. He wasn't going to waste his time sitting in class reading the good-for-nothing Slinkhart's book.

Hermione had not even bothered to open her copy of Defensive Magical Theory. She was staring fixedly at Professor Umbridge with her hand in the air.

Most in the class were staring at her instead of reading the book.

He looked at her questioningly, but she merely shook her head slightly to indicate that she was not about to answer questions, and continued to stare at Professor Umbridge, who was looking just as resolutely in another direction.

When more than ninety percent of the class were staring at Hermione rather than at their books, Professor Umbridge seemed to decide that she could ignore the situation no longer. "Did you want to ask something about the chapter, dear?" she asked Hermione, as though she had only just noticed her.

"Not about the chapter, no," said Hermione.

"Well, we're reading just now," said Professor Umbridge, showing her small, pointed teeth. "If you have other queries we can deal with them at the end of class."

"I've got a query about your course aims," said Hermione. "Of course, I wished to ask it during the last class but you ignored me throughout the class, professor."

"I must not have seen you, dear. But first, can I know your name?"

"Hermione Granger,"

"Well, Miss Granger, I think the course aims are perfectly clear if you read them through carefully," said Professor Umbridge in a voice of determined sweetness.

"Well, I don't," said Hermione bluntly. "There's nothing written up there about using defensive spells."

There was a short silence in which many members of the class turned their heads to frown at the three-course aims still written on the blackboard.

"Using defensive spells?" Professor Umbridge repeated with a little laugh. "Why, I can't imagine any situation arising in my classroom that would require you to use a defensive spell, Miss Granger. You surely aren't expecting to be attacked during class?"

"We're not going to use magic?" Ron ejaculated loudly and Harry stomped his foot.

"Students raise their hands when they wish to speak in my class, Mr. — ?"

"Weasley," said Ron, thrusting his hand into the air.

Professor Umbridge, smiling still more widely, turned her back on him. Harry and Hermione immediately raised their hands too. Professor Umbridge's pouchy eyes lingered on Harry for a moment before she addressed Hermione.

"Yes, Miss Granger? You wanted to ask something else?"

"Yes," said Hermione. "Surely the whole point of Defense Against the Dark Arts is to practice defensive spells"

"Are you a Ministry-trained educational expert, Miss Granger?" asked Professor Umbridge in her falsely sweet voice.

"No, but —"

"Well then, I'm afraid you are not qualified to decide what the 'whole point' of any class is. Wizards much older and cleverer than you have devised our new program of study. You will be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk-free way —"

"And how do you propose to teach us the material needed when there will be no use of spells? You do realize that—"

"Hand, Mr. Potter!" sang Umbridge.

"— We also have a practical part for DADA in—."

"Hand, Mr. Potter!"

"—our OWL exams. Or did the experts—"

"Hand, Mr. Potter!" She shrieked.

"—At the ministry forget a vital part of the examination, displaying—"

"Hand, Mr. Potter!"

"—A perfect example of incompetency of the ministry?"

Umbridge was breathing heavily, her face red in anger. She looked around at the class which was already whispering amongst themselves.

"It is the view of the Ministry that a theoretical knowledge will be more than sufficient to get you through your examination, which, after all, is what school is all about." She replied. "As long as you have studied the theory hard enough, there is no reason why you should not be able to perform the spells under carefully controlled examination conditions."

"Without ever practicing them before?" said Parvati incredulously.

"Hand!"

Parvati thrust her hand up and said, "Are you telling us that the first time we'll get to do the spells will be during our exam?"

"I repeat, as long as you have studied the theory hard enough —"

"And what good's theory going to be in the real world?" asked Harry loudly enough for his voice to be heard throughout the class.

Professor Umbridge looked up. "This is school, Mr. Potter, not the real world," she hissed.

"In the words of Griselda Marchbanks, a ministry expert, school is the place where the foundations of the real world are built. It is one of the mottos of the Wizarding Education Administration. And as you are teaching things as per ministry experts, shouldn't you be including that?" Harry asked.

"It is also the view of ministry experts that such content for school children is too dangerous."

"Are you saying that the ministry wishes to keep us unprepared for what is waiting out there?"

"There is nothing waiting out there, Mr. Potter."

"Surely you are not suggesting that the role of the auror and hit-wizard forces are unneeded as there is nothing out there?"

"I… am not saying anything like that, Mr. Potter," She said with a simpering laugh. "I was simply asking you, who do you imagine would want to attack children like yourselves?"

"In my view, there are several dangerous people who have it out for me."

"Ten points from Gryffindor, Mr. Potter."

The classroom was silent and still. Everyone was staring at either Umbridge or Harry. Harry raised an eyebrow at Umbridge.

"Now, let me make a few things quite plain. Professor Umbridge stood up and leaned toward them, her stubby fingered hands splayed on her desk. "You have been told that a certain Dark wizard has returned from the dead. This is a lie."

"Who even mentioned Voldemort?" Harry asked loudly, causing several students to shriek. He wandlessly applied a mild silencing charm on Umbridge to stop her from interrupting him. It would wear off within a minute or by loud shouting.

"I was talking about the attacks during the Quidditch World Cup and the Ministry Award Ceremony last year. I surely wonder why the topic was brought up when the ministry firmly denies it? Does the ministry wish to curb the freedom of speech by proclaiming at every possible moment that a fact they don't like is a lie?"

"DETENTION POTTER!" Umbridge shouted, breaking the silencing spell with her irritating voice. Her face had turned purple in rage.

"Today evening. Five o'clock. My office. I repeat this is a lie." She shrieked. "The Ministry of Magic guarantees that you are not in danger from any Dark wizard. And now, you will kindly continue your reading. Without. Any. Questions."

The class whispered amongst itself again.

She had just proved Harry's point.

---

9th September 1995

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Harry made his way through the corridors, walking towards Umbridge's office.

Word of what he had said during the DADA class had spread like wildfire through the school. People were already wondering about what the ministry was up to. Theories too had popped up, ranging from Fudge wanting to be a new dark lord and wishing to enslave all wizards, to the fact that Harry was telling the truth about Voldemort's return and Fudge was his servant.

It certainly did crop up doubts in the minds of students. Of course, several still believed that Harry was lying about Voldemort's return but Harry didn't care about them.

At exactly five, He knocked at the door to Umbridge's office.

"Come in."

Harry pushed the door open and immediately looked around the office.

He had known this office under three of its previous occupants. In the days when Gilderoy Lockhart had lived here, it had been plastered in beaming portraits of its owner. When Lupin had occupied it, it was likely you would meet some fascinating Dark creature in a cage or tank if you came to call. In the impostor Moody's days, it had been packed with various instruments and artifacts for the detection of wrongdoing and concealment.

Now, however, it looked totally unrecognizable. The surfaces had all been draped in lacy pink covers and cloths. There were several vases full of dried flowers, each residing on its own doily, and on one of the walls was a collection of ornamental pink plates, each decorated with a large technicolor kitten wearing a different bow around its neck.

It was too much pink.

"Good evening, Mr. Potter."

Harry looked at Umbridge who was wearing a luridly flowered set of robes that blended only too well with the tablecloth on the desk behind her.

Harry gave her a nod, not saying anything, mentally revising everything he had to do. For this, he had even learned two new spells, one from the Black family grimoire and one from the book, Magick Most Evile.

"Well, sit down," she said, pointing toward a small table draped in lace beside which she had drawn up a straight-backed chair. A piece of blank parchment lay on the table, apparently waiting for him.

Harry took a seat while discreetly waving his wand, erecting privacy and silencing wards around the room. Another wave and all portraits froze.

Umbridge was completely unaware of what Harry was doing.

"Now, Mr. Potter, for detention you are—"

"No," Harry said firmly.

"Excuse me?"

"I am not doing anything u say, Umbridge," Harry clarified.

Her bulging eyes narrowed, "Mr. Potter, I am afraid you do not have an option. This is your punishment for spreading evil, nasty, attention-seeking stories."

Harry smothered his temper before smiling fakely, "I am afraid, Madame Umbridge, that you are the one who is about to be punished, not me."

"I beg your pardon?"

Harry stood up and waved his wand in an elaborate motion around the room, casting a charm to destroy any spying devices and locking down means of communication, including floo, before pointing his wand at Umbridge.

"What are you doing, Potter?" She asked, glancing around the room fearfully as windows and the Floo grate closed with a clang. She immediately began scrambling for her handbag where she kept her wand.

"Ensuring that the sound of your screams doesn't go out of this room," Harry replied, before petrifying the woman from neck-down.

"Stop this Potter! I will have you exp—AHHHHH!"

Dolores Umbridge screamed in agony, a blood-curdling announcement of the indescribable pain. It was as if she could feel the marrow in her bones begin to melt, fire spreading through her joints, yet at the same time, she felt as if frostbite was creeping through her veins as her blood ran cold.

Harry ignored her screaming for a moment and looked around the horrendous pink monstrosity that was her office. It was too much pink and too many kittens, who were all frozen in place, courtesy of Harry.

He ended the torture spell on Umbridge and turned to her. She was trembling from head to toe. Harry wondered what would happen to Umbridge if he tried the cruciatus on her, given she was shaking so badly after a much milder torture curse that he had just put her under.

"I-I w-will have you e-expelled Potter! I-I will s-see you in A-Azkaban."

Harry tutted and reapplied the torture curse on her, making her scream in agony once more. He held it for half a minute before ending it.

"Now, Dolores, this was nothing personal till you passed the decree this morning forcing me to attend the sham of your class and proclaiming I spread… evil, nasty, attention-seeking lies. Those were your words, weren't they, Dolores?"

Umbridge kept shaking in her seat, trying to say something but failed to.

"Now, let me make one thing very clear. Despite whatever your beloved Cornelius says, Voldemort has returned. Deny it all you want, but when Voldemort comes out… remember, I will make you all pay for each slander you threw at me. You and your precious minister will be tried for treason and executed. Understand this Umbridge, the ministry is a mere bug when competing with the likes of myself, Dumbledore, and Voldemort. If you go against us, we will crush you like an annoying bug which you are."

Harry walked around the table as he talked while simultaneously inspecting the office. So far, he had hardly seen anything of note that he had not expected.

"I will tell this to Cornelius! He will have you in front of the Wizengamot and throw you into Azkaban for this, Potter!" Umbridge shouted gleefully despite her position. "The authors would likely be on their way to arrest you!"

"Through your cat portraits which act as communication through the castle and to the ministry? Or the device under your desk that you just pressed, calling for help?" Harry asked with a smirk, enjoying as Umbridge paled.

"Yes, I know about those. I disabled them long before I started torturing you. The recording orb fitted in your handbag was also a good way to gather any proof if I did something, but I caught it and disabled it as well. So, no one is coming and you are at my mercy now."

Umbridge turned white as a sheet.

"W-what d-do you want from me?"

"Well, your cooperation is appreciated but actually unneeded. But, since you are cooperating, tell me, why did Fudge send you here?"

"He was unhappy at how things were being run at Hogwarts. So, he sent me to inspect it and take the necessary steps- AHHHH!"

Umbridge screamed again as she felt every bone in her arms break.

"I tried to give you a chance. Now, I will take what I need." Harry said slowly before pointing his wand at her. "Legilimens"

Harry was met with a mild resistance moments before he overpowered it and dwelled it in the mind of the vile woman. Immediately her surface thoughts were felt by Harry first along with her feelings. Her feelings were dominated by that of agony and a grim satisfaction. And, she was planning to expose Harry to Fudge and have him kissed as soon as he left the room

Harry smirked. As if he would let the bitch remember the interrogation and torture.

He dwelled deeper, searching further. Her memories flashed into his mind.

She and Fudge were sitting in the office for the minister of magic.

"Dolores, we need to do something about the Potter boy. I already got Dumbledore ousted from his positions. But there is nothing I can do to touch Potter as his positions are hereditary."

"Minister, we can send dementors after the boy."

Fudge shook his head, "I am not assassinating the boy, Dolores. And he is proficient in the Patronus charm as well."

"You misunderstand me, Minister. I am suggesting that once dementors attack Potter, he will defend himself using the Patronus charm. Then we can accuse him of underage sorcery and breaking the statute of secrecy. Have him tried in front of the Wizengamot and expel him from Hogwarts."

Fudge's eyes gleamed. "A brilliant idea Dolores. Expelling Potter from Hogwarts and trying him for a crime in front of the Wizengamot. It will cut his education off and reduce his influence in the Wizengamot. We'll even be able to snap his wand as the offense to underage sorcery dic…" Fudge trailed off, his face cycling through a storm of emotions.

"What happened, minister?"

"I just remembered that I have signed him a permit to do magic outside Hogwarts," Fudge whispered with horror. "If we… no, no, no! We cannot go down with this plan, Dolores. Potter will destroy us in the Wizengamot and he will not even bring up the dementor story."

"Then what should we do, minister?"

"We will do something, Dolores. We will find a way to stop Dumbledore and his schemes."

"Of course, minister."

The memory ended and Harry narrowed his eyes. The bitch had planned to send dementors after him and have him stand on trial… A part of him wished that they had gone ahead with the ridiculous. He would have loved destroying them at the trial.

He took a deep breath and looked back at Umbridge, who had her eyes clenched shut as she made noises of pain. Harry jabbed his wand at her and she became completely still with her eyes wide open, intending to get all the information out of her before leaving.

"Legilimens"

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9th September 1995

Headmaster's office, Hogwarts

Albus Dumbledore was sitting in his office, going through a book on soul magic, intending to research more about Voldemort's Horcruxes. It was a troubling book indeed. To think magic could be used in such abhorrent ways…

That was when the hairs on the back of his hand stood up as he felt a wave of magic, which he was innately familiar with… Harry Potter's magic.

The device next to his desk beeped signifying that the gargoyle had just been opened. A second later, the door to his office banged open with tremendous force and an enraged Harry stormed in.

"We are going to make her suffer the worst fates possible!" He raged without preamble as his magic flared. "I am going to make that bitch—"

"Harry, calm down! Take a deep breath and tell me what happened."

"Umbridge intends to torture students with BLOOD QUILLS!"

"What?" Dumbledore asked incredulously.

"You heard me, professor. She has brought blood quills that she would give to students… muggleborns whom she puts in detention. She has planned it. To make them suffer as they won't know it is illegal, and even if they do, they can hardly do anything about it!"

Immediately, Harry staggered back, despite his firm stand, as he felt a wave of magic emitting from Dumbledore who had risen from his seat, his eyes glowing dangerously. Sparks of fire were emitting from his fingers. The aura was so great that Harry was finding it difficult to breathe.

"Are you sure?" He growled in a whisper, yet his voice echoed off the walls of the office.

Harry calmed himself using Occlumency. Dumbledore's anger wasn't directed at him. It was at Umbridge.

"Yes. I got it all through Legilimency," Harry stated.

That was all he needed to know as a second later, he apparated out of the office. Harry followed barely a second later, knowing where he was going.

As Harry appeared in Umbridge's office, he saw Umbridge being slammed violently onto the wall behind her desk. The chair Harry had left her on had splintered due to the force.

Thankfully, Harry had put a dormancy ward on all spying devices and portraits or they would have had the auror force on their hands in minutes.

Dumbledore dragged her up the wall a moment later, choking her with his magical power.

Unfortunately, Umbridge was too out of it to even feel anything due to the combined effects of torture, Legilimency, memory modification, and the plethora of curses that Harry had put her under.

"Professor!" Harry shouted, erecting a shield between him and Umbridge. The Shield was barely formed before it shattered. Dumbledore jabbed his wand and Umbridge was pulled forward before being slammed into the wall again.

Harry looked incredulously at him before erecting an even stronger shield. This time it shattered the connection, making Umbridge slump to the floor.

"Harry, don't interrupt me! I will eradicate her for harming my students!"

"Professor, respectfully that is a really bad idea."

"She has brought a LEVEL SIX ILLEGAL ARTIFACT in a school full of children, intending to use it on them. I cannot allow it!"

"I have ensured it won't happen, sir! I erased her memory of what blood quills are and put a ward on the secret compartment she had them in so it cannot be accessed by her. I also worked a few curses on her after torturing her."

"What all did you do?" Dumbledore asked, suppressing his fury.

"Well, first I tortured her using a few pain spells and then used Legilimency on her to extract information. After that, I stunned her and started weaving curses on her."

"What sort of curses?"

"The Egyptian Nightmare curse, the Hallucination curse, the bad luck curse… a spell straight from the Black family grimoire, the depression curse, the bone pain curse, the Greek pain increasing curse, the revulsion curse… so everyone around her dislikes her instantly."

"She does that by her mere presence, I believe," Dumbledore snorted.

"Well, that is not wrong but as you know… people will hate her even more. By the end of this month, people will hate her so much that they will be ready to openly rebel against her. And I will propose the idea of a defense group."

"But what about torturing students? I cannot allow her to be near my students, Harry!"

"I will monitor her detentions through house-elves. If anything goes wrong, I will apparate in at a moment's notice and stop it. We cannot kill her, sir. Not unless we want to lose Hogwarts completely and become criminals on the run."

Dumbledore took a few harsh breaths, calming himself. Harry gave him the time.

"I am still against letting her stay in this school."

"And I am against her presence in the world. Once I am done with her, she will be begging to go through the veil of death… which she would be on the verge of being thrown in anyways for her crimes against Britain along with her beloved Cornelius Fudge."

Dumbledore took a few moments before nodding slowly, "Alright, I will accept but I need to work a little on the curses you put on her. First, reverse your memory-erasing charm for blood quills."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Reverse the spell, Harry. I have a plan far more sinister than yours."

"...Alright," Harry said as he walked towards the prone form of the vile woman and pointed his wand towards her before reversing the memory charm he had placed on her.

The good thing about memory charms was that they were notoriously hard to break through without damaging the victim's mind beyond repair for someone other than the caster of the spell. The caster of the spell could easily reverse it if they knew what exactly was to be done.

"Oh, and Harry, show me her blood quills," Dumbledore added as Harry finished reversing the curse. He gave Dumbledore a skeptical look before walking to a nearby cat portrait and tapping his wand on it. The portrait swung open and Harry removed the black box stored in the secret compartment behind it before handing the box to Dumbledore.

With a tap of the elder wand, the box opened, revealing three black quills inside.

"These will have her in Azkaban for at least 3 years, given she hasn't used them yet. If she has… seventy-two years, given that we have definite proof."

Harry snorted, "If she had used it on me, she would be in for the kiss, Headmaster."

"Too true. Torturing a Lord of a Most Noble and Most ancient house who is also the heir to another will have her facing the dementor's kiss. So… why didn't you let her use it?"

"She wanted to use it against me badly but decided against it cause I was no naïve muggleborn. She knew if she used it on me, I would have her executed before she could say lies. No, she intended to make me write lines with a normal quill and put me in detention with filch henceforth or do something else."

Dumbledore hummed before nodding. "Now, I request you not to disturb me for a few minutes. This is delicate work."

Saying so, he began waving his wand over the quills one by one.

After nearly three minutes, he walked towards Umbridge, who was still slumped against the wall, and conjured a knife before making a cut on her palm and collecting the blood that flowed. Dumbledore healed it before walking back to the desk and dropping a few drops of her blood on each quill. He vanished the knife and chanted a binding spell, making the first quill glow blood red. He repeated it for the other two as well before stepping back with a sinister grin on his face.

"You… Bonded the quill to her?" Harry asked him with a frown.

"I did a variation of the binding. Despite whoever writes with it, the ink used will be her blood instead of the writers."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "That will just make her suspicious and stop the person from writing."

"Well, that is the fun part which I am going to do now," Dumbledore said before walking back to Umbridge and pointing his wand at her and waving it in complicated patterns. A moment later, a pale orange light shot from the wand and hit Umbridge. It was followed by a bright purple spell that he performed twice. Harry didn't recognize either of the spells.

"What did you do, sir?" Harry asked curiously as Dumbledore stepped back.

"Not here. Let us put everything back together again and talk in my office."

"Of course, sir," Harry said before waving his wand and levitating Umbridge off the floor as Dumbledore repaired the chair and the cracks on the wall which he had slammed Umbridge onto. Harry proceeded to cast healing spells on Umbridge so that she didn't wake up to a broken back and several injuries.

It took five minutes before Harry and Dumbledore left Umbridge in her office, leaving her in a position that would make someone think she had merely fallen asleep while working and erased all traces and evidence of their presence.

They appeared back in the Headmaster's office before taking a seat.

"So, what did you do to her?"

"You didn't recognize the spells I cast?"

"No, I didn't."

"Good, I would've been worried about what all you were reading up on if you had recognized those spells, especially the purple one. The first spell was a curse that would increase her fear of being caught multiple times after the deed has been done. It has been known to lead to several cases of suicides in the past. The second spell I performed was an… obscure variation of the imperious curse and a blood oath. Extremely finicky to cast and requires a lot of raw magical power. It has no known counter spell… at least to anyone who is not me. Not even the death of the caster can reverse it."

"Where did you even find it?" Harry asked with bewilderment. Such a spell in the hands of Voldemort or any other dark lord would wreak havoc across the globe.

"The only known mention of the spell is in ICW's archive of most forbidden magicks ever invented. All instructions to cast the magicks in the archive were destroyed by the mages of ICW back in 1722 and anything added to the list since then meets a similar fate."

"That didn't answer my question," Harry said dryly.

Dumbledore sighed, "You are not letting this go till I tell you. Very well, Nicholas Flamel taught it to me along with the counter to the spell in the last year of my apprenticeship. And no, I am not going to teach it to you, yet. I will after you become my apprentice next year."

"Fair enough… but what did you… order her to do?"

"It will prevent her from thinking of any other punishment for detention except making the students write lines and not stop even if she is in pain. She will not destroy any evidence of her doings. Also, she won't report it to anyone… namely, Cornelius."

"So, you are essentially making her torture herself every time she wants to put a muggleborn in detention?"

"Precisely."

"Are you sure you aren't secretly a dark lord or something?"

Dumbledore just chuckled in response.

Notes:

AND... DONE! Hope you all like the fate Umbridge is going to suffer(her torment has just started btw)

A huge thanks to I_amaSWITCHbot for beta-ing this chapter for me.

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Chapter 58: The Seeds of Rebellion

Ch.57 The Seeds of Rebellion

1st October 1995

Number 12 Grimmauld Place, London

Harry lounged in his chair in the expanded kitchen of the black townhouse, right next to Dumbledore who was sucking contentedly on a lemon drop as they waited for everyone in the Order of the Phoenix to show up to the meeting.

All Order members who worked at Hogwarts, namely McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick, Pomona Sprout, Aurora Sinistra, and Septima Vector were already seated at the table. The latter three had been a recent addition to the Order of the Phoenix.

Along with them were Sirius, the of-age Weasleys(except Charlie), Kingsley Shacklebolt, Moody, and several others. Some, like Amelia, Tonks, Croaker, and Augusta Longbottom were yet to arrive.

Some like Remus and Podmore were not amongst them. Remus had gone to the werewolf packs while Podmore had been sent to Azkaban two days ago, caught lurking outside the Department of Mysteries under an invisibility cloak.

No one knew why he was there. Harry and Dumbledore suspected that the imperious was at play and were worried about the order's secrets getting to Voldemort. Thankfully, they had kept the biggest cards close to their chests, not telling the most important stuff and plans to the whole order. What the Order was aware of was mostly from the reports given by Snape and the fact that they too had sent envoys to Giants and werewolves.

Not a lot that Voldemort couldn't anticipate.

But, they still knew some important stuff like the names of Order members, the training they were going through, the prophecy guard by the Aurors, and the fact that Snape was a spy.

That was when the doors were pushed open and Amelia entered, followed by Croaker and Tonks. Both the ladies looked pale and traumatized while Croaker's face was still under the hood.

"Some… chocolate would be good," Croaker croaked.

Harry's eyes widened, piecing together what had happened. They were suffering from the effects of dementor exposure.

"DOBBY!" Harry shouted and the elf popped in barely a second later. "Bring me half a dozen bars of Honeydukes finest chocolate. GO!"

Dobby popped out instantly before coming back a minute later with the required chocolate. Harry instantly banished them towards the three, all of whom instantly tore the wrapper and dug in, sighing in relief as the chocolate worked its effects.

"What happened, Amy? Why did you go to Azkaban?" Sirius asked, shuddering slightly at the name of the dreaded prison.

"To interrogate Dodge while the Prison guard shifted. It was unofficial and we didn't have enough medallions to ward all the dementors away. So, Tonks and I used Patronus charms while Croaker interrogated him. But, the number of dementors that we were attracting were too many, so we still felt the effects."

"Thank you, Amelia. Please eat your chocolates while we wait for the last few people to arrive. When the meeting starts, we will ask you what you found. Until then, no one questions them." Dumbledore ordered.

Amelia and Tonks nodded in relief while Croaker didn't give any visible reaction.

Five minutes later, when the last of the Order members arrived, Dumbledore started the meeting.

"First, as we all know, our very own Sturgis Podmore was sent to Azkaban two days ago, caught outside the Department of Mysteries. Today, Amelia, Nymphadora, and Mr. Croaker went to Azkaban to ask him what had happened. Amelia?"

"Podmore didn't remember a thing. He had no memory of going to the Department of Mysteries. The last thing he remembered was walking out of his office and then, he was apprehended by Aurors near the entrance of the Department of Mysteries."

"Imperious," Dumbledore said gravely.

"Yes, but thankfully we had Croaker. He used Legilimency to unlock his memories. Thankfully, Podmore cooperated and he saw the memories. Croaker?"

"Yes, I did. Thankfully, whoever put Mr. Podmore under the imperious didn't ask him questions. Instead, ordered him to enter the Department of Mysteries under a disillusionment charm. As soon as he touched the door, our intruder's downfall struck and broke him out of the imperious while simultaneously stunning and petrifying him along with triggering the alarm charm, attracting the Aurors nearby."

"Did he see who put him under the imperious?"

"No, all he saw was a hand holding a wand appearing out of nowhere, and then, he was placed under the imperious."

"Damn," Harry cursed.

"What I am curious about is why wasn't he put under a trial?" Dedalus Diggle asked.

"It did," Amelia answered. "In front of a DMLE jury. Such trivial matters as trespassing don't demand the attention of the Wizengamot. The Jury consisted of myself, Scrimgeour, and Proudfoot, a Senior Auror. There was no proof of the imperious as the wards of the DOM broke it. If Proudfoot hadn't been there, we would've just fined Podmore and let him off. But, Proudfoot is one of Fudge's lackeys. Instead, we put him under the least punishment we could. Two weeks in Azkaban."

"It is sad that such a thing had to happen. Please make sure he doesn't suffer a lot under the dementors." Dumbledore requested.

"We have put him in the least security prison. Where the presence of dementors is very less. Croaker also gave him a small box of chocolates. The only reason we suffered so much was that our presence was unneeded in the prison and they were restless because of the change."

"That is kind of you. Thank you. Now…"

Harry zoned out from what Dumbledore was saying, rapidly re-analyzing Amelia's words.

"Amelia, you said that you snuck in and interrogated Podmore as the prison guard shifted. How much time were you interrogating him for?" Harry asked, unbestokenly interrupting the headmaster.

Amelia and Tonks shared a look. "About twelve to fifteen minutes I reckon before we had to move away and sneak out."

"And how often does the shift happen?"

"On the first of every month," She promptly replied.

"How many known Death Eaters are there in the prison right now?"

Amelia blinked. "I am… unsure of the exact number right now but I am aware of the fact that a total of fifty-seven men and women were accused of being Death Eaters at the end of the war. Now, out of them, some like Malfoy bought their way out. Some died in the prison while the rest are still alive and there."

"Give me an approximate number of how many Death Eaters are in Azkaban right now?"

"Somewhere between twenty and thirty, oh, sorry, add those eleven whom you captured at the World Cup… so, considering them, thirty to forty."

"Thirty to forty Death-Eaters spread through Azkaban and ten minutes…" Harry muttered, tapping his fingers on the table rapidly.

"What are you thinking about, Harry?" Dumbledore asked.

"Finishing off the Death Eaters in Azkaban," Harry replied.

"Excuse me?"

"Voldemort's most loyal, the Lestranges, Dolohov, Travers, Selwyn… all of them are there. Voldemort would free them sooner or later. What if we take them out before Voldemort can free them? It will be a massive blow to him… something that would tip the scales of ending this war and winning it heavily in our favor."

Dumbledore nodded contemplatively. "You want to kill them all off before they rejoin Voldemort… the idea certainly has merit bar the fact that they are currently residing behind the walls of Azkaban, which is a heavily fortified prison with heavy wards, even when Aurors or Dementors are not there. Not to mention, as soon as we kill an inmate, an alarm will be raised. An alarm tied to the life force of the occupants inside each cell will take at least a couple of minutes to dismantle. And we won't have that much time"

"Also, Dementors will swarm you as soon as they sense you intruding. That is what happened with us." Tonks said.

"Dementors will not be a problem, my dear Nymphadora."

"No, sir. They will be. We cannot use the Patronus charm. Our Patronuses are too distinctive. We cannot leave such staggering proof of our involvement in the death of so many people, even if they are prisoners and some of the worst criminals to walk on earth."

"Wait, Wait!" exclaimed someone in a scandalized tone. "Death Eaters or not, we can't just kill people! It is madness! If we murder them, we are no better than the Death Eaters!"

A wave of mutters passed down the table at the statement.

"Is it so?" Harry asked softly. "We all know that Voldemort is going to free them sooner or later to rebuild his army. They'll be out of Azkaban before you know it, and begin torturing and murdering innocents under Voldemort's banner."

Troubled expressions spread across the faces of those in the room. They knew he was right.

"If we let them go," he continued steadily, his voice loud in the now quiet room. "Every person they hurt, that they kill, will be blood on our hands!"

"Aye, Potter is right," Moody growled. "Better kill them before they kill you or other innocents! I agree. We should go to Azkaban and finish them off as soon as possible!"

"Why do we need to physically go and kill them?" Lady Greengrass asked. "Can't we just poison their food? A good quick-acting poison and they will be dead before help can arrive."

"No," Scrimgeour said, shaking his head. "Each cell has wards to prevent anything that can kill inmates, like poisoned food, from entering the cell. The idea behind Azkaban was to make inmates suffer as much as they could for their crimes. An easy death was something they didn't want to do. So, you cannot simply slip in poisoned food or even objects like blades."

"What if, instead of killing every Death Eater in the prison, we kill his most dangerous ones?" Sirius asked. "The Lestranges, Dolohov, Travers… all of his most dangerous and unhinged Death Eaters are locked in the high-security wing. Next to the cell I was kept in. What if we blow up the whole wing?"

"It is not easy to just blow up a whole section of Azkaban. In addition to the main wards that surround Azkaban as a whole, each floor has its own set of protection wards and so does each cell. Azkaban, in addition to the security that nature itself provides, has five levels of security. The Aurors, the dementors, and the three layers of nearly impenetrable wards." Croaker said. "Also, the walls of Azkaban are carved with an insane amount of strengthening runes. A point-blank Bombarda Maxima doesn't even cause a crack on the walls. Believe me."

"But it is certainly better than going and killing each Death Eater inmate," Amelia said. "We just need enough power to pull it off."

"I have an idea, professor. It is not… really good but it is an idea" Newt Scamander said.

"Yes, Newt?"

"I suggest we use the same method that Grindelwald used to overthrow the French Ministry and Beauxbatons in 1939 by punching through their wards before trapping them inside before massacring whoever didn't join him."

Dumbledore sucked in a sharp breath. "Obscurial ashes."

Scamander nodded grimly.

Harry scoffed, "Not to be insulting or anything, sir, but you do realize that you are asking us to use, perhaps the most illegal and rarest magical ingredient in the world? Even Basilisk venom and Phoenix tears are more available than Obscurial ashes."

"Well, you are not wrong, Mr. Potter. Procuring it is indeed the tough part of the process." Scamander agreed.

"And so is handling it and using it. Respectfully, it is an impossible and highly dangerous idea." Harry added.

"The procurement of the ash is not a problem, Mr. Potter. I have the ash. And not Obscurial ash but Obscurus ash. Not a lot but easily a hundred grams or so."

Harry gaped. Newt Scamander was in possession of Obscurus ashes?

"How? An Obscurus cannot exist outside the body of the host for long. And the few minutes that it exists after the death of its host… it just causes pure unadulterated destruction." Croaker asked, voicing Harry's question.

"Not if someone contains the obscurus at the moment of its separation. An Obscurus, as per my personal findings, can live for up to exactly fifty years outside a host body if contained in a proper unbreakable bubble made by alchemy."

"1936, you asked me to make a containment bubble… was it for the Obscurial, Newt?" Dumbledore asked, leaning forward.

"Yes. It was a Sudanese girl. I had meant to save her by separating the obscurus. She did survive, but not for long. And, I had the obscurus trapped in the containment bubble…. I still had it until it died in 1986, exactly 50 years after its separation, down to the exact minute. The shockwave was huge and spectacular but thankfully, the bubble held. In the end, it left the ashes."

"So, the ashes are nearly a decade old?" Sirius asked. "I won't claim to be an expert in such things but magical ingredients tend to lose their magical potency after a certain amount of time, depending from ingredient to ingredient and how they are preserved."

"What the mutt means to ask is that are the ashes still potent enough to feed the magic required to break through the wards of Azkaban and destroy a whole section of the prison?" Snape drawled.

Scamander looked baffled for a moment before shaking his head. "I don't know. I have never dared to open the containment bubble. For now, it is safely kept in a warded chest in my Gringotts vault."

"Then we would need to check it, even if I am reluctant to deal with something which is a higher version of Obscurial ashes. Obscurial ashes are highly volatile and need care to operate with. I can only guess how volatile the ashes of an Obscural could be."

"True," Newt agreed to Dumbledore's statements.

"Sir, I am still against this idea," Harry said. "Even if the ashes are potent enough, and we successfully make a device to its power to theoretically blow up the High-security wing in Azkaban… there is no saying what would happen once we take it there. Azkaban is a highly magical and trauma-filled island. Obscurials are known to go haywire for the lack of a better word in highly-emotional situations, especially bad ones. And each magical ingredient retains the properties of the original body somehow or the other. Like, Unicorn horn retains the soothing property of the unicorn and hence is an essential ingredient in calming drought."

"You mean to say that the ashes will become highly volatile in Azkaban and hence will throw off the calculations?" A healer from St. Mungo's asked.

"Yes, and I am afraid that instead of blowing up the wind, it might blow up the whole island of Azkaban, killing everyone on it, including the Aurors and us."

"Your concerns are not unfound, Harry. Theoretically, yes, it could happen. So, I would just say, let us take a week to think this out and present our suggestions in the next meeting. Also, a floor plan and ward plan of Azkaban will be much appreciated."

"I can get you that," Amelia said. "Or a copy of the floor plan at least. As for the wards, ask him." She said, jabbing her thumb at Croaker.

"It is a highly restricted DOM document," Croaker said.

"And you are the head of the DOM with Alpha access. Don't bullshit us, Croaker. Everything in the DOM happens at your discretion." Amelia scoffed.

"I never said I wouldn't bring it. I am just saying that it is not for everyone's eyes. I will show it only to the Headmaster and Mr. Potter."

Amelia pursed her lips before nodding.

"Very well then," Dumbledore said. "We will make a plan to finish off the Death Eater inmates in Azkaban in the next Order meeting. We still have a month's time to plan. I request you all mull over it and come up with an idea if possible. Now, moving on, Severus, what are the happenings amongst the Dark Lord's forces?"

"The Dark Lord and Rookwood recently returned back from their expedition… to wherever they had gone. The Dark Lord seems very gleeful as of late. None of us Death Eaters know what has gotten him so happy except for Rookwood that is."

"That is concerning. What else can you tell us, Severus?"

"The dark lord has asked me to brew a few potions. Nutrition potions, rejuvenation potions, and such... all potions meant to restore someone's health. He also has asked me to procure a few ingredients. Salamander blood, troll whiskers, vampire fangs, reem marrow, mermaid fins…"

Harry immediately understood what it was all for. Rituals. He had used them as well for healing and improving his body. But why would Voldemort want them when he already had a ritualistic body?

"None of the ingredients are hard to find," Lord Greengrass mused. "You would get them somewhere or the other in Knockturn Alley for the right price."

"If I am to guess, You-know-who wants quality as well, that is why he has told Severus, a world-renowned potions master, to buy the ingredients," Flitwick said.

"Yes, he has asked me to personally check the ingredients before buying them," Snape drawled.

"But, why does you-know-who want these potions and ingredients?" Hestia Jones asked.

"I do not know. The Dark Lord doesn't exactly share his plans with all of his Death Eaters." Snape snapped.

"Then what is the use of you being in the order, Snivellus?" Sirius asked with a smirk.

"Sirius," Dumbledore said with a warning in his tone. "Do not antagonize Severus."

Sirius pouted but stayed quiet.

"Alright, so before things get heated again, let us all wrap up for the day unless someone has something to add?"

"What about Podmore?"

"He will have to serve his sentence of two weeks," Dumbledore said mournfully. "And, speaking of which, Alastor, add imperious resistance to the training regimen. We do not want a repeat of what happened to Sturgis."

"Aye, I was thinking of the same," Moody grunted

"Imperious resistance? You are going to put us under the imperious!?" Florence Taylor, a junior auror, as far as Harry remembered, asked with incredulity.

"Last year, Barty Crouch Junior, in disguise of Moody, put a bunch of fourth years under the curse. We all faced it. And here you are, an aspiring Auror, being a wimp to learn it. Tell me, Auror Taylor, would you rather practice throwing off the curse or directly face it in real life when a Death Eater puts you under it and makes you dance to their whims."

The man recoiled before gulping.

"That is what I thought. I assure you that the conditions will be perfectly safe for you all. We will ensure that there are no lasting effects." Harry said before gesturing to Dumbledore to continue.

"Thank you, everyone. That will be all for today. We will meet next Sunday at the same time." Dumbledore declared, concluding the meeting.

---

6th October 1995

The Room of Requirements, Hogwarts

"Alright, everyone!" Harry called and his friends, who were practicing around the room, stopped. "Gather around. It is time for you all to learn a very essential magical technique that could probably save your life. Apparation."

Cedric frowned, "Fred, George, and I already know it. The ministry official taught us that last year."

Harry nodded. "Destination, Determination, and Deliberation. Then turn on your heel with your wand out… Yes, the shit ministry teaches. What I am going to teach you is something much more useful, faster, more silent, and less disorienting."

"Oh, superb. We hate the disorientation after apparation." Fred and George said.

"Now, there are two types of apparition. One is like the normal type that the ministry teaches everyone, that is, for everyday travel and stuff. The other, which is much less unknown, is called rapid apparation or battle-apparation. The difference between them is not a lot but the latter is much more rapid, silent, and untraceable but can only be used to travel within a radius of a hundred or so meters. Also, it is much safer and meant to get out of the way of spellfire. You can use the normal one as well, but this is a better alternative. First, I will teach you the normal kind of apparation… my kind of apparation and not the shit ministry teaches."

"But you cannot apparate in Hogwarts. It says so in Hogwarts- A History." Hermione chimed.

"We are in the Room of Requirement. We can apparate within the room without any problem. Now, let's start."

An hour later, Harry called them to stop. So far, only Cedric had properly gotten the first technique down. The twins were almost there, having apparated successfully twice but still having trouble doing it perfectly. The rest, on the other hand, were still standing in the same spot. Well, Daphne had apparated but reappeared in the same place she was standing. But, it was a fluke as she was unable to replicate it again.

Everyone had collapsed on the couches the room had produced.

"Good practice, everyone. We will continue this next time. Now, tomorrow is the first Hogsmeade weekend. Have you all spread the word about the study group for DADA?" Harry asked.

Dolores Umbridge, despite suffering from the effects of the several curses Harry had put on her, had not ceased trying to exert her authority on Hogwarts. Quite the contrary as she had passed a few more of her ridiculous decrees.

The only good news was that she was suffering rather badly. She had bags under her eyes and had lost weight. She jumped at the slightest of sounds. She also winced several times a day.

The other Hogwarts students had only added to her sufferings by being rebellious teenagers they were. The twins had already pranked her a few times in the past fortnight. Their skiving snack box invention was a hit in Hogwarts with more and more students using it to skive off DADA, History of Magic, and Divination. Someone had tried a nosebleed variety in Snape's class as well, but the greasy bat had fixed it with a wave of his wand.

But, back to Umbridge,

"Yes, we have," Neville said, while panting. "We also have told them that we will be meeting in a private room in the Three Broomsticks."

"Excellent! You all remember what to do, right? Ced, Hermione, Ron and Susan, you all are going to sit with me. Fred, George, Ginny, Neville, you all will sit in the audience."

"Got it, Captain!" Fred saluted and Harry rolled his eyes.

7th October 1995

Hogsmeade Village, Scotland

The morning of the first Hogwarts weekend dawned bright and clear, mirroring Harry's excited mood. Today was going to be the first step of a rebellion he was going to lead. A rebellion that would eventually result in a brighter, better future for the wizarding world, even after Voldemort was gone… at least that was the plan anyway.

Today, under the guise of a rebellion against Umbridge and a study group for DADA, Harry would make a network of capable witches and wizards that would not only help in the war against Voldemort but also, in future endeavors after Voldemort was gone for good.

After all, in the words of Salazar Slytherin, Students of today become the leaders of tomorrow. And all of them would be united as one under Harry's banner soon after the group was formed.

The Founders, Merlin, and Morgana all had worked for the betterment of the wizarding community and achieved their goals. He would too.

After having breakfast, most of the students from the third year and above started queuing up in an orderly manner in the ante-chamber in front of Professor McGonagall and Filch who checked that each person who went had the permission to go to Hogsmeade.

Susan came over and stood beside Harry after giving him a quick peck on his cheek.

When Harry reached Filch, the caretaker gave a great sniff as though trying to detect a whiff of something from Harry. Then he gave a curt nod that set his jowls aquiver again and Harry walked ahead wrinkling his nose.

He did not like Argus Filch at all. The man was almost as pathetic as Umbridge and had no right to be in a school of children, much less the premier institute of magic in the whole of Europe. Speaking of Umbridge and Filch, they seemed to have become good pals as of late with Filch worshiping Umbridge like a goddess while treating her as the best thing that had happened to Hogwarts.

There were still two hours left until the meeting as they left the castle and boarded the Thestral-drawn carriages.

"Go and enjoy your trip as you want. We'll meet in an hour and a half outside the three broomsticks." Harry told Ron and Hermione.

"Have fun, mate," Ron said, winking at Harry while Hermione grinned.

"Don't I always?" Harry asked rhetorically before jumping off the carriage as it stopped at the massive iron gates leading beyond which Hogsmeade laid. He helped Susan down followed by Ron and Hermione.

"Shall we go, Lord Potter?" Susan asked.

"We shall, Lady Bones," Harry replied, offering Susan his arm as Ron wolf-whistled behind their back.

The exclamation of pain that followed out of Ron's mouth a moment later was enough for Harry to know that Hermione had slapped the back of his head.

Harry smirked before leading Susan towards the village.

"Where do you want to go first?" Harry asked.

"Honeydukes. My stash of chocolate is over."

"Ouch, that sucks given your love for chocolate."

"Exactly, now, come on!" She said, pulling him towards the shop.

After an hour and a half of shopping, Harry and Susan walked toward the three broomsticks and found that Ron, Hermione, and Cedric were already standing there with bags in their hands.

Hermione waved at them as they neared before frowning. "Where are your bags? Didn't you buy anything?"

"Dobby!" Harry called and a second later, the elf appeared.

"Yes, Master Harry?"

"Take their bags to their dorms, won't you?"

"Of course, Master Harry sir!" The excitable elf said before snapping his fingers. The bags from their hands disappeared before Dobby bowed and popped away.

"Let's go in then," Hermione said, cracking her fingers and wringing them.

Together, they walked into the bar, which was already full of Hogwarts students bustling around. Some were having a late breakfast or just sitting together and chatting while drinking butterbeer or some other beverage from the pub.

Harry walked up to the counter where the owner of the bar, Madame Rosmerta was pouring a goblet of butterbeer while instructing one of her workers to serve it to table nineteen.

"Madame Rosemerta," Harry called with a smile. "I had owled you three days ago, booking a private room."

"Ah, Harry Potter, right? I have room nine prepared for you and your friends. Whom all should I send up?"

"Any Hogwarts student who asks for me or says that they are here for DADA study group." Harry replied.

"You are not going to be casting spells or anything, are you?" She asked skeptically.

"Of course not… beyond standard privacy charms. Would that be a problem?"

"No, feel free to cast privacy charms as long as you remove them before leaving."

"Thank you. Also, I would send someone to buy butterbeers for everyone who goes in. So, keep the packs of bottles ready and put it all on the tab, I will pay in the end with the charges for the room. We expect thirty to fifty people."

"Of course," She said, beaming before becoming worried. "But, I don't think the room will fit fifty people… not even half of it."

"Don't worry about it, ma'am. I will handle it." Harry replied.

"If you are sure."

"I am."

Madame Rosmerta nodded and handed him a key card. "Tap it at the doorknob and the door will unlock. Return it before leaving. Your room is on the first floor, on the left-hand side. You will see the room numbers on the door. Go in room nine only"

"Alright, ma'am. Thanks."

"My pleasure, Mr. Potter."

Harry turned around and gestured to his friends to follow him as he walked towards the stairs. On the way, his eyes met Daphne's who gave him a discreet nod.

Daphne won't be in the meeting. She would be standing outside the room under Harry's invisibility cloak, monitoring anyone who went in. If someone left the meeting mid-way, she would obliviate the person of the details of the meeting.

Harry unlocked the room by tapping the key card on the knob and entered. It was an empty room with a few chairs at the center of the room. The room had a window from which the Hogwarts castle could be seen.

Harry flicked his wand into his hands and cast detection charms around the room to check for charms. He found nothing beyond some permanent keep-clean enchantments, a temperature control ward, and a charm to muffle the noise from outside the room.

"The room's clean," He declared before waving his wand around the room, erecting privacy wards that he wanted. With another wave of his wand, the room expanded to thrice the size that it was. Once he was satisfied, he summoned a chair and sat down on it, right under the window, waiting for people to show up.

Hermione dragged a chair and sat beside him. "So, are you nervous?"

Harry raised an eyebrow, "Why would I be nervous? I have given speeches in front of the Wizengamot. These are school children."

"Oh, Harry. I have known you since we were eleven. You might've changed a lot since then… we all have. But, I still know you. You are nervous somewhere inside and that's why you are playing with your hair, like right now."

With a start, Harry realized that his hand was in his hair, as he tried to subconsciously pat the untameable mess down.

"Well… I am not nervous to talk to them. It is just the anticipation, I guess. The path that this meeting shall pave. This will turn out to be an important day not only for me but for many who are and will be in this room. It may only seem like we are making a study group… A defense group, however, you wish to put it. But, it will be the start of a butterfly effect and affect events in the future drastically, I feel."

"That is certainly one way to put it. You are this generation's Dumbledore, and today you are taking your first step to directly influence the masses, just as he did by becoming the transfiguration professor at Hogwarts. Teaching and influencing young minds… The same young minds who will be in positions of power in the future."

"You are too perceptive, Hermione. The brightest witch of our age indeed."

Hermione smiled. "And, believe me, I will always be by your side, Harry."

Harry gave her a nod, just as the door opened and Neville entered with Dean and Lavender, who were closely followed by Parvati and Padma Patil with Cho Chang and Harry noted with disgust, Marietta Edgecombe, the girl who bullied Luna.

They were followed by the Gryffindor Quidditch team, namely, Alicia, Katie, Angelina, Fred, and George along with Colin and Denis Creevy. A minute after they had come in, the door opened again and Luna walked in dreamily as if she had wandered in on accident.

With a flick of his wand, Harry conjured a dozen more chairs to accommodate the new entrants.

"Please have a seat. We still have fifteen minutes before we start the meeting." Hermione said with a welcoming smile.

Soon, several other students, ranging from third-years to seventh-years entered the room, all belonging to a mix of houses, bar Slytherin.

It was sad to see that Slytherins were refusing to stand united with Hogwarts. Daphne and Astoria were the only two Slytherins he had in his group, which was a moot point since he had asked them not to join the DADA group and maintain their cover unless a good number of Slytherins joined.

They hadn't, unfortunately when there were five minutes left for the meeting to begin, Harry did a quick headcount of the number of students in the room. There were forty-six students so far including himself.

"Ron, Cedric, can you please go and bring 60 bottles of butterbeer from Madame Rosmerta?" He whispered and they nodded before leaving the room together. Free beverages were a small investment that would ensure that most of the group(there might be an odd asshole or two in there) would stick till the end of the meeting to listen to what he had to say, just out of gratitude.

As for the extra bottles that would be left, he could take them with him after the meeting ended or share them with his main group which he had been training since summer.

Cedric and Ron came up levitating the packs of bottles a couple of minutes later and were followed by two Hufflepuffs whom Harry recognized as Zacharis Smith and Justin Finch Fletchy.

In the end, before a minute of the meeting began, four nervous-looking Hufflepuff Third years entered the room after knocking obediently on the door.

Harry smiled at them and told them to take a seat. When the clock ticked eleven-thirty, Harry stood up and called for attention.

"Hey, everyone. As we know, someone, namely Hermione here, had the brilliant idea to form a DADA study group as Umbridge doesn't teach us anything. But, before we begin, I have something for you all. Butterbeer!" He declared, waving his wand.

The bottles of butterbeer rose before zooming towards the crowd such that each bottle stopped in front of a person, levitating in the mid-air.

"Let us hear it for Harry Potter for the free drinks! CHEERS!" Fred cheered in a jovial tone and the crowd echoed his sentiments, cheering for Harry with a chorus of thank-yous and whistles.

Harry raised his bottle in acknowledgment before taking a sip as he waited for the crowd to quieten down.

"So, as I was saying, the current DADA professor, Umbridge, is not teaching us anything and instead, telling us to read the stupid Slinkhart book. At this rate, all of us will waste a year in DADA, learning nothing. I propose that we take matters into our hands and do it ourselves. Because, defense is not only important for academic prospects, but also in the light of recent events, namely the return of Voldemort."

The reaction was immediate and predictable. Cho's friend shrieked and slopped butterbeer down herself, Terry Boot gave a kind of involuntary twitch, Padma Patil shuddered, and others gasped or flinched.

"Where's the proof You-Know-Who's back?" said the blond Hufflepuff player in a rather aggressive voice.

"Who are you?" said Ron rather rudely.

"Zacharias Smith," said the boy, "and I think we've got the right to know exactly what makes him say You-Know-Who's back."

"I saw him rise. I dueled him. And as for the proof, I ask you, what will I get from lying about his return?"

"Fame? Attention?" Smith sneered.

Harry laughed. "You think I would want more attention moments after winning the Triwizard tournament. Why would I, Harry James Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, Heir Potter, Heir Black, winner of the World Dueling Championship, the youngest winner of Order of Merlin: First class, Chimera Slayer, and winner of the Triwizard Tournament need more glory, Mr. Smith?"

Smith opened his mouth before closing it.

"Also, let us take the events of the last fifteen months into account, shall we? The attacks at the Quidditch World Cup and the appearance of the dark mark… the symbol of Lord Voldemort for the first time in thirteen years. Then my unconsented inclusion in the Tournament. The attack at the ministry ball. A Death Eater, who was supposed to be dead, posing as Alastor Moody and teaching us DADA… Coincidence? I think not."

Silence enveloped the room as everyone contemplated Harry's words.

"You want more? A few days after the third task, the Daily Prophet reported the disappearance of fourteen purebloods, all last seen on the twenty-fourth of June, the day of the third task. See, you all can still choose to believe Fudge and ignore what is in front of you. I cannot change your way of thinking. What I can do is hope that you see sense and inform you that I am not wasting any more of my time convincing you all that Voldemort is back." Harry declared firmly. "He is back and whether you believe it or not, it will not change the fact."

He looked around the room looking each person who had come, in the eye.

"Now, back to the topic of the meeting, we all need to do something in regards to DADA. The past education in the field has been shaky even if Umbridge is the worst of all. Even if you disagree about Voldemort's return, you all have still got either your OWLS or NEWTS ahead of you, which, I must remind you, are very important for your future."

"Well said!" barked Ernie Macmillan, "Personally I think this, what we are doing, is really important, possibly more important than anything else we'll do this year, even with our O.W.L.s coming up!

Harry nodded at him in approval.

"I, personally, am at a loss to see why the Ministry has foisted such a useless teacher upon us at this critical period. Obviously, they are in denial about the return of You-Know-Who, but to give us a teacher who is trying to actively prevent us from using defensive spells that too when it is an essential part of the OWL curriculum." Neville wondered aloud, playing his part perfectly.

"Isn't it obvious?" Hermione asked. "Fudge has some agenda to keep us incompetent. Did you all see how flustered Umbridge got when Harry asked her if Cornelius Fudge was actively interfering in the education at Hogwarts? it is clear that Fudge is doing exactly that by making Umbridge the high inquisitor and passing all those stupid education decrees."

Whispers filled the room while Harry resisted the urge to smirk. Neville and Hermione had played their parts perfectly… Now, for Ginny.

As if on cue, Ginny spoke up. "And there are also those stupid inspections she does. I don't think she is even remotely competent to inspect someone like McGonagall or Flitwick."

There was a chorus of agreements from the crowd at that.

"Did you all see how McGonagall put her in place? It was glorious!" Someone asked loudly and many fifth-year students chuckled remembering the incident where McGonagall had treated Umbridge like a five-year-old and put the woman ruthlessly in her place. Harry almost wished that he was still in his fifth year and had gotten to attend the class, even if he had already seen Hermione's memory of the lecture.

Harry cleared his throat calling for attention again. "Now, I would like to ask, who all are with me to form the DADA group?"

"But, who'll teach us?" someone asked.

"Isn't it obvious? Potter will teach us. He is after all the most capable student and got the highest marks in the history of DADA OWLs surpassing even Dumbledore."

There was a wave of agreement from the group at the statement.

"Excuse me," Harry called loudly. "While I may be the main teacher, Cedric and your peers will also help you out. We all are nearly fifty people. I never expected so many to turn up here, but you all did. So, it is for the best if we all help each other out."

"Hear, Hear!"

"That aside," Cedric interrupted, "we also need to decide when to meet. There is no point in meeting less than once a week if we are doing this."

"Hang on," said Angelina, "we need to make sure this doesn't clash with our Quidditch practice."

"No," said Cho, "nor with ours."

"Nor ours," added Zacharias Smith.

"I'm sure we can find a night that suits everyone," Harry interrupted smoothly. "And it is best not to fix the day of our meetings or else, Umbridge might get suspicious and make some decree, trying to close our group."

"Once a week sounds cool," Lee Jordan said.

"But where would we meet?" a sixth-year Ravenclaw asked.

"Leave that to me," Harry replied. "I have a place on the seventh floor."

Harry was initially reluctant to give away something as spectacular as the Room of Requirement to the common masses but he eventually decided to share it. He would simply place an alert ward on the room which would inform him if someone used the room and then take necessary actions.

"Cool," Alicia said.

"Also, one very important thing. Under no circumstances, should a word about this reach Umbridge. I am going to pass around a parchment right now. Sign it and you will be an official part of the group and agree not to betray it or rat us out to anyone, especially Umbridge." Harry declared before producing a parchment.

Of course, the parchment was no ordinary one. Everyone who signed their names would be entering a contract, agreeing to the terms Harry had just laid out. If they betrayed him or the group, the consequences would be grave.

Fred reached out for the parchment and cheerfully put down his signature followed by George, but Harry noticed at once that several people looked less than happy at the prospect of putting their names on the list.

A quick Legilimency probe yielded that they were afraid that someone would find the list, namely Umbridge and they would be expelled.

"Alright," Harry called just as Lee finished signing the parchment. "I see some of you are worried about the list being found out. I assure you that I won't leave the list lying around and, I have this," He said, taking the parchment in his hand and tapping his wand against it.

The ink melted into the page, leaving it blank.

"Woah, the names were erased!" Dennis exclaimed.

"Not erased, merely hidden. They will reveal themselves if we give a password… or, accurately, I give the password." Harry said, before hissing and the signs appeared again.

"You are using Parseltongue!" Justin exclaimed and Harry rolled his eyes.

"Parseltongue is just a language like Mermish and Troll, Justin. And no, before you ask, this is a standard information hiding charm I used and put the password in Parseltongue. You can find the charm in the Advanced Guide of Charms by Hugh Fitzperus." Harry lied. In actuality, he had used an advanced parselmagic version of the spell. He was pretty sure that once the spell activated, even the Unspeakables would have a problem revealing what was written on the parchment

As a person signed their name on the parchment, Harry felt the tingle of magic, binding them to the contract.

In the end, all forty-nine of them had signed their names. Not a single person had backed out, even if Smith and Edgecombe looked on the verge of doing so.

In Harry's eyes, it was a very successful meeting.

Notes:

AND... DONE!

Thank you for all the love you are giving to my stories.

A huge Thank you to I_amaSWITCHbot for beta-ing this chapter for me.

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Thank you everyone else for your lovely compliments and all the love for the story.

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Also, do join my Discord server, House of HPfanfictioner66 where you can directly communicate with me, ask questions, etc. Hope to see you all lovely readers there soon

Link: discord . gg / 4qfP3fxdQ4 [Remove the spaces please]

Also, I have my own channel on the discord server known as Emerald Library. I recommend that you join the server and there, you won't only have access to me, but several other big authors who have their channels on the Emerald Library.

Link: discord . gg / jtAxRnH6Tk [Remove the spaces please]

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t the moment, I have four main stories. They are:

1. The Rise of the Last Potter: My Novel length Harry Potter fic which is already 300k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly.

2. The Legend of the Son of Poseidon: A Novel Length Percy Jackson fic which is already 250k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly

3. Loved Ones Skipping Stones and Ice-cream: A fluffy Haphne one-shot. It is completed obviously.

4. SECRETS: Another romantic one-shot I published recently. Complete as well.

(PLEASE READ THEM ALL)

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 59: The Dragon Legion Reborn

Ch.58 The Dragon Legion Reborn

9th October 1995

Gryffindor towers, Hogwarts

Harry woke up with a yawn and stretched lazily, releasing the kinks in his joints. The first streams of sunlight were already filtering through the curtains into the dorm. Usually, he was up before dawn but last night he had overstretched his limits of staying awake. First, the order meeting had gone on till late in the night as they discussed plans on how to storm Azkaban.

Then, the Hogwarts folks had used the time turner to go back five hours instead of the normal two or two and a half as they didn't want their absence from the school to be noted. After they had returned, Harry stayed with Dumbledore and told him about the meeting in the Three Broomsticks.

After leaving Dumbledore's office, he had apparated straight into the Chamber to meet Helga and Salazar and informed them of the order meeting that had just taken place, giving them each and every detail. They had brainstormed further, thinking of betterments to the raw plan that the order had formed.

Harry had also spent time doing complicated calculations in order to tweak the organ-failing-curse, to act slower than the standard version. The standard version took a total of thirty seconds to act unless the counter curse was performed in the first ten seconds, which would stop the curse. Harry tweaked the curse to take a total of six minutes to kill the victim and also changed the spell's matrix so that the counter-curse for standard curse would not save the victims.

Why lengthen the curse time? Simple, as soon as a prisoner died, alarms would start blaring through the prison, drawing the attention of the Aurors. And they had several prisoners to kill. Thirty-nine to be precise. They would need time.

Once he left, Harry had decided to try and tweak it even more later when he got time throughout the month. Even two or three minutes more would be precious for them to escape without being seen. He had needed to reuse the time turner for the third time that day to relive the evening as the spell tweaking had taken more than three hours. After going back to Gryffindor Tower, he did his homework and stayed up for as long as he could before going to bed.

Harry thanked his stars that he had the luxury to add two hours to his sleeping schedule as he had foregone the morning exercise and study session. He also had the first period free but he would probably use that time to fly around the Quidditch field.

He got out of bed and saw that Neville and Dean were already up.

"You woke up late today," Dean yawned.

"I was tired yesterday. So I decided to sleep in." Harry shrugged.

"I still think you're bonkers to wake up so early."

Harry rolled his eyes before gathering the required stuff to get ready for the Monday ahead of him.

When Harry went down from his dorms into the common room with Neville and Ron, he instantly noticed a crowd gathering near the notice board and the brand new sign that hung there.

"Oh no, not another one of her ridiculous decrees," Neville moaned.

"Let's see what it's about," Harry said before pushing through the crowd to read the notice.

— By Order Of —

The High Inquisitor of Hogwarts

All Student Organizations, Societies, Teams, Groups, and Clubs are henceforth disbanded. An Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students.

Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge).

No Student Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor.

Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled.

The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-four.

Signed

Dolores Jane Umbridge

High Inquisitor

Beside him, Neville and Ron paled.

"Harry," Neville began but Harry held a hand up stopping him before rereading the notice twice.

He smirked before pulling them aside and erecting a privacy dome.

"Harry?"

"Spread the word. No one must be in the Great Hall or classes today. Spread the word that Umbridge is seeking to expel as many students as she can."

"Who would believe that?" Ron asked incredulously.

"Everyone. After all, more than three people meet for classes, and the great hall for meals."

"But not everyone would listen to that. It is a common assumption that classes and meals won't be included in that!"

"In politics, assumption is very bad business Neville, and a deadly weapon. Also, we don't need everyone to believe it. A large part of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff would be enough."

"But Harry, this also means Umbridge has caught wind of—"

"Yes, I know. But that is not important. Just spread the word. Make sure that at least three-quarters of Gryffindors stay behind. I'll tell Ced and Susan to do the same for Hufflepuff. And try to get the word to the claws as well."

Saying so, Harry swished his wand, conjuring two pieces of parchment with the required messages on them. "Dobby!"

The elf appeared a moment later and Harry instructed him to take the messages to Cedric and Susan as Neville and Ron talked loudly in the common room making sure the group of second years and third years heard them.

"Ron!" Harry called and he came jogging to him. "Use your prefect powers to tell students that they are not to go to classes and meals. Say you are enforcing the latest decree by the High Inquisitor. Tell Hermione the same."

"Alright," Ron said before doing as Harry had asked.

Harry breathed deeply, centering his thoughts. If all went according to his plan, the decree would be scrapped by the end of the day.

"Fred!" Harry called as he descended down the steps.

"Yes, Harrykins?"

"Where's George?"

"Wearing his boots. He'll be down in a sec. Why?"

Harry gestured for him to come near before explaining the whole situation.

"Alright, we will spread the word more!" Fred said just as George came towards them.

"I also need you to bring food for the kids, alright? We can't let them go hungry. I would've called the elves but, it is better if you two do it."

"Alright," Fred said.

"Wait, what is happening?" George asked.

"Fred'll tell you. Get to work!" Harry said before jogging out of the common room. He would need help to implement what he wanted to. And he had two perfect people for that. Minerva McGonagall and Filius Flitwick.

And then, he had a letter to write. To Rita Skeeter. It was time to use the press to create pressure for the decree to be retracted, and hopefully, through Skeeter's poisonous quill… the position of the High Inquisitor as well.

---

9th October 1995

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Halfway through the third period, or when the students were supposed to be attending the third period, the Announcement system chimed.

"Hem, hem" Umbridge's irritating cough heralded the start of the announcement. "This is Professor Dolores Umbridge, High Inquisitor of Hogwarts speaking. All students who are currently not attending a class must report immediately to the Great Hall. I repeat, all students, who are currently not attending a class, must report immediately to the Great Hall. Failure to do so will result in immediate expulsion from the school."

Harry snapped his fingers, gaining all the Gryffindor prefects' attention, and gestured for them to start moving.

His plan, so far, was a massive success. Only a few odd Gryffindors had gone for classes and more than seventy percent of Hufflepuffs had stayed behind as well, heeding Cedric and Susan. So, it was almost forty-five to fifty percent of the school who hadn't attended classes, adding into consideration that even a decent number of Ravenclaws had gotten the message.

The Gryffindor house rushed through the corridors being led by prefects towards the Great Hall with Harry amongst them.

As soon as he entered the Great Hall, Harry spotted Umbridge standing in the front of the staff table. The four heads of the houses were there as well, along with Dumbledore.

Dumbledore and Umbridge's eyes instantly roamed around the gaggle of students. Dumbledore found Harry first and caught his eye, looking at him questioningly.

In response, Harry sent him a Legilimency message. 'Sit back and enjoy the drama'

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows slightly before his eyes twinkled.

That was when Harry felt the gaze of Dolores Umbridge on him. Despite her looking haggard, her cheeks sunken and her eyes bloodshot, her gaze was predatory and malicious.

In response, Harry smirked at her, throwing her off before promptly ignoring her and engaging in a conversation with Neville.

Ten minutes later, once everyone, or what looked to be everyone who hadn't attended the classes arrived, Umbridge took the podium.

"Hem, hem" She began in her usual annoying fashion. "Good Morning students. You all have been called here because it was noted that you all failed to attend the morning classes, both the first two and now it looks like you are bunking the third lecture of the day as well. Skipping classes is unacceptable. I do not know what tomfoolery prompted you to do this, but now, you all shall have detention with me this evening and every evening for this week for bunking classes."

Instantly, a tsunami of protests erupted from the gathered students who were protesting against the unfair punishment.

After letting the protest continue for a few moments and seeing that Umbridge was too incompetent to get the students to stop, Professor McGonagall stepped forth and let out a loud bang from her wand.

"SILENCE!" She shouted, silencing the hall. "Thank you. Now, can one of you step forth and perhaps explain why there was a mass bunk from classes today?"

That was when Harry stepped forth from his position directly in front of the professors, having wisely chosen his standing position before.

"Yes, Mr. Potter. Please enlighten us as to why you all performed a mass bunk." McGonagall said while Umbridge's eyes narrowed at him.

"It wasn't a mass bunk, professor," Harry replied.

"Then, what do you call half of the school not attending lectures, Potter?" Umbridge snapped shrilly.

"Following the rules, Professor Umbridge."

"Following— Following the rules? Have you perhaps fallen on your head, Potter?"

"Of course not."

"Then how is bunking class following the rules?" Umbridge yelled.

"This morning a new rule was implemented proclaiming, and I quote, All Student Organizations, Societies, Teams, Groups, and Clubs are henceforth disbanded. We were just following the new rule."

"That rule is for Organizations, societies, clubs, and such. Not Classes, you idiotic boy!"

"Quoting the text of educational decree number twenty-four, An Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students. Forgive me if I am wrong but more than three students meet in every lecture, hence falling under the definition of Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club as per the decree. And so do meals, common room activities, Quidditch, and such" Harry said calmly. "So, respectfully, it is not my fault that classes were taken to fall under the rule, but the incompetent idiot who worded the definition and the other idiots who approved it."

There was a wave of snickering from the students assembled as Umbridge sputtered, her face turning red.

"So, unfortunately, until the High Inquisitor, that is you, officially approves all the classes for each individual year and house, we cannot attend them in the fear of expulsion. We are only following the rules, ma'am."

"Mr. Potter is right, Dolores. They are only following the rules that you made." Dumbledore said, much to Umbridge's further annoyment. "So, five points to everyone who followed the decree diligently."

Suddenly, an avalanche of gems fell into the points Hourglasses of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff houses, instantly putting them in a massive lead against Slytherin and Ravenclaw, much to Snape's and, unfortunately, Professor Flitwick's indignation who had only got a handful of students not attending the lectures.

"And Dolores, it would be for the best if the decree is scrapped with immediate effect. We wouldn't want students missing the rest of the classes for the day and nor can we keep them hungry as meals too will fall under that definition that you have made." Dumbledore suggested, with firmness in his voice

Umbridge sputtered, even more, looking ready to lose her shit and shout at Dumbledore but she composed herself at the last moment, taking a deep breath.

"Alright, by my order, the Educational Decree number twenty-four is hereby suspended for the time being until a few things can be rectified." She replied stiffly, looking like she had swallowed a lemon and yet, looking like she wanted nothing more in the world than to disintegrate Harry and Dumbledore where they stood.

There was a wave of cheers from the students at the announcement, much to her further chagrin.

"Excellent!" Dumbledore said, beaming. "Students, now you all may return to your common rooms, or if you prefer, stay here as there are only a few minutes left before Lunchtime. You all must attend the afternoon and evening lectures after Lunch is over."

"Madame Umbridge," Harry said loudly, gaining her and the crowd's attention. "Should we also assume that the detention you gave us for following the rules is also revoked? It is just good to confirm things."

"Yes," Umbridge grounded out. "The detention is also revoked."

Harry grinned. "Wonderful. Thank you, Professors."

One part of the plan accomplished… now to twist the knife even further… but that was for Rita Skeeter to do. Not him.

---

9th October 1995

British Ministry of Magic, London

Cornelius Fudge slammed his fist on the desk, making Umbridge flinch violently at the sound.

"WHAT IS THIS DOLORES? YOU HAD ONE JOB!" He roared with fury, pointing to the evening prophet whose Headlines were clearly visible.

NEW EDUCATION DECREE BY MINISTRY FOR HOGWARTS REVOKED DUE TO MISTAKES

IS THE MINISTRY BEING A TYRANT TO CHILDREN?

WHAT IS THE TRUTH BEHIND THE POSITION OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR?

"M-Minister, I am not sure how this happened." She stuttered, wringing her hands nervously. "But I am sure that the Potter boy and Dumbledore are behind this!"

"Of course they are," Fudge scoffed. "You knew whom you were dealing with. I had clearly told you to be careful while dealing with them. And this mistake? This is a rookie mistake, Dolores, and an idiotic one at that!"

"I-I assure you I will amend it, Minister. I will—"

"Absolutely not!" He roared. "That decree is scrapped and let it remain so! It is a school, Dolores. They are children! You cannot revoke clubs and teams! Read this article. It is already calling us a tyrant. Skeeter even got some quotes from students. INCLUDING POTTER!"

He thrust the paper at Umbridge, pointing aggressively at the required part.

Lord Harry James Potter, the hero of the wizarding world, who is also a student at Hogwarts also gave his views regarding this. He says, "Despite whatever the Ministry has claimed, Dolores Umbridge is utterly incompetent as a teacher, especially for a subject which requires a great amount of competency as the Defense Against the Dark Arts. She is not fit to teach, and much less evaluate how things are run at Hogwarts, much less have so much power in the school. Also, I feel the intention of the ministry for interfering at Hogwarts is not exactly what they are telling them to be, but a lot more… malicious."

Hearing the strong words of the boy-who-lived, I requested him to elaborate his point. What he said shocked me to the core.

"Well, more than one alarming instance has taken place this year even before today's fiasco that suggests this. For instance, on the second day of the term, Dolores Umbridge stormed into the Great hall, demanding why I didn't attend the fifth-year class for DADA. When I, along with Professor McGonagall, explained to her why exactly I was not attending the class, which was because I had already passed my OWLs in the summer, finding no reason to hold myself back."

For our readers, I would add that Harry Potter did not only pass his OWLs but has aced them. He has broken records in more than one subject and has all O's and O+'s only. His results, straight from the office of Griselda Marchbank, have also been printed.

But instead of being impressed like we all are, Dolores Umbridge reacted in quite the opposite manner, giving a glimpse of what may be her true intentions, as Lord Potter narrates.

"Madame Umbridge, on hearing this, proclaimed that, and I quote, 'Cornelius(Minister Fudge) would never allow this!'. This statement was made by her in the great hall with several students present, no less. But, it did get me thinking. Why is the Minister actively interfering at Hogwarts and as Madame Umbridge said, restricting students from progressing and being the best witches and wizards they can be? It is certainly something to think about. After all, why would he want to keep young witches and wizards, who are the future of tomorrow, weak?"

It is indeed something to think about, dear readers. The Daily Prophet would keep you all up to date with whatever it will find!

But, for now, that is not all dear readers. Harry Potter had even more to say!

"The following week, just after Dolores Umbridge was made the high inquisitor, the Educational Decree number three was passed. A decree which indirectly only applied to me and forced me to attend the class for Defense Against the Dark Arts for the OWL year, whose exam I had already passed."

He continued by saying, "It was alright till I actually attended the class and realized that an hour and half of my life was going to be wasted every week, attending the class. All she did was asked us to put our wands away and read the stupid book that she has assigned. On top of it, she openly said that she won't allow us to practice magic. Now, correct me if I am wrong, but a subject like DADA cannot be studied by just reading books. Practice is vital for it. When we students questioned her regarding it, she was dismissive of our concerns saying that, and I quote, 'there is nothing out there in the real world, Mr. Potter, and nothing would attack us.' When I pointed out about the attacks at the ministry and the Quidditch World cup last year, she gave me detention."

I have myself interviewed several students to get to the roots of this matter and it turns out that everything Lord Potter says was indeed true. So, it does raise the question, as to why is the ministry doing what it is and also curbing the freedom of speech by handing out punishments for speaking the truth. It also puts a huge question mark on the issues which were raised by Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter and dismissed by the ministry. Could they be indeed telling the truth?

Umbridge clutched the paper tightly, crumpling it, making her picture self run away from the frame of the photo.

"Do you see, Dolores? Do you see what Potter has done with a single article in the prophet through Rita Skeeter? Our hard work of the past three months of smearing his name through subtle jabs and trying to prove him delusional are all gone to waste. WITH ONE ARTICLE!" Fudge fumed slamming his palm on the mahogany desk again, rattling the table lamp and other items on it.

"Yes, Minister. The Potter boy is trouble. I have been trying my best to—"

"Then try harder! Because whatever you are doing is clearly not working!" He snapped. "You do not understand Dolores. This is bigger than you think. Our efforts today will save the wizarding world tomorrow. There is a reason why I so desperately want to reduce Potter and Dumbledore's influence. Despite me being the Minister of magic their reputation and power surpass mine by a large margin individually. You need to do better, Dolores. It is essential."

Umbridge nodded obediently. "Yes, Minister. I will."

"Good," Fudge breathed. "Abandon that decree. Do not antagonize students but try to befriend them. Increase your influence in the castle if you cannot decrease theirs."

"But Minister, those children—"

"Yes, yes," Fudge interrupted. "I am well aware of your grievances with the children. But there ought to be some good ones in the castle. I have heard that Lucius Malfoy's son, Draco, is in the same year as Potter and they don't get along well. Use the boy and his friends. Bring them under your power and provide them the necessary means to get Potter in enough trouble to get expelled."

Umbridge beamed, "That is a brilliant idea, Minister! I will implement it immediately!"

Fudge shook his head. "No, Dolores. Wait for this blunder to cool down. Give it two-three weeks at least before passing any new decree. And yes, make sure to scrap this ridiculousness. I will try to mitigate the fallout in the meantime."

"As you say, Minister."

"Thank you. Now you should go back to Hogwarts." He suggested.

Once she left, he slumped into his chair and massaged his forehead trying to calm the raging headache. It was unbelievable how much trouble Potter had caused him with a single article and Skeeter had just added fuel to that fire.

For now, he had to run damage control. Percy Weasley, Merlin bless the boy, was already keeping the press at bay and had cleverly calmed them for the moment. But he would still have to answer them soon. Before the next day's Evening Prophet was published in fact.

He had a lot of work to do.

---

11th October 1995

The Room of Requirement, Hogwarts

Harry sat on a chair in the Room of Requirement, waiting for the DADA group to arrive. A few people were already there aside from the main group that he had trained over the summer. To pass time, he was flipping through one of the books that the room had provided, titled Self-Defensive Spellwork.

The book, while not having any new content for Harry, was actually pretty good for the students. It had all the basic spells for self-defense, that in Harry's opinion, every witch or wizard above seventeen years of age, must be able to perform.

"Whoa," said Dean, staring around, impressed after he entered. "What is this place?"

"Have a seat, Dean. I'll explain once everyone's here. No need to go over the same thing multiple times."

"Alright," Dean said, still looking around the room.

Ten minutes later, at a couple of minutes after half-past seven, Harry willed the doors of the room to shut and lock themselves, ordering it to be impossible to be seen by anyone outside. He had kept a constant eye on the map, despite the fact that he had set repulsion wards keyed specifically to Filch and Umbridge around the whole area.

He stood up from his seat and went to the center of the area where everyone was seated on cushions.

"Good evening everyone. I see you have found this place—"

"It's fantastic!" said Cho, and several people murmured their agreement.

"Hey, Harry, what's this stuff?" asked Dean from the rear of the room, indicating the Sneakoscopes and the Foe-Glass.

"Dark Detectors," said Harry. "Basically they all show when Dark wizards or enemies are around, but you don't want to rely on them too much, they can be fooled quite easily…" He gazed for a moment into the cracked Foe-Glass; shadowy figures were moving around inside it, though none was recognizable. He turned his back on it.

"So— Yes, Hermione?"

"I think we ought to elect a leader," said Hermione.

"Harry Potter's the leader," said a Hufflepuff girl, Perkins or something, at once, looking at Hermione as though she were mad. Harry could see a faint blush on the girl's cheeks and he resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

Fangirls

"Yes, but I think we ought to vote on it properly," said Hermione, unperturbed. "It makes it formal and it gives him authority. So — everyone who thinks Harry ought to be our leader?"

Everybody put up their hands, even Zacharias Smith and Edgecombe, though they did it very half-heartedly.

"Thank you. Now, as— Yes, Luna?" He asked with exasperation as she raised her hand, interrupting him again.

"Shouldn't our group have a name?" She asked dreamily. "A name to the group would promote unity and team spirit, don't you think, Harry Potter?"

"Can we be the Anti-Umbridge League?" said Angelina hopefully.

"Or the Ministry of Magic Are Morons Group?" suggested Fred.

"As fun as those names would be, let us keep a more sensible name," Harry said.

"How about the Dragon Legion?" Neville suggested from his seat and Harry's head whipped around to look at him.

"Wasn't that the group that led the rebellion against Grindelwald?" Some Ravenclaw girl asked.

"Yes," Harry agreed.

"And their leader was Baron Charlus Potter and Baron Arcturus Black. I am sure Harry is related to them somehow."

"Charlus Potter was my Grandfather," He replied. "And, I like that name. It signifies a lot."

"And it would be fitting, won't it?" Cedric asked rhetorically.

"All in favor?" Hermione asked and most of the hands went up. "That's a majority — motion passed!"

"Excellent," Harry said. "Anyone else has some idea or shall we start?"

When no one said anything Harry decided to continue.

"So, as I was saying, welcome to the first session of, as we have named ourselves, Dragon Legion. I have decided to start with the basics. Why? Because if you don't have the basics down, you cannot learn the advanced stuff. And believe me, some of the basic spells are the best. So, we will be starting with a pretty useful spell. The disarming charm, Expelliarmus."

"Oh please," said Zacharias Smith, rolling his eyes and folding his arms. "I don't think Expelliarmus is exactly going to help us against Death Eaters, do you?"

"Oh, it is. Most witches and wizards and by most, I mean more than ninety-five percent are utterly useless without a wand. Once disarmed, they cannot do magic and thus, anything. Also, if you think you can do the spell perfectly, Smith, why don't you come here in the center and demonstrate it against me?"

Smith suddenly lost all the confidence he had, looking around nervously.

"I will let you go first. I won't even move a muscle while you shoot the spell." Harry assured.

Smith nodded reluctantly and walked to the center of the room, his wand held tightly in his hand. Harry stood in front of him without a care.

"Demonstrate, Smith."

"Expelliarmus!"

A red beam of light flew from his wand towards Harry. To the boy's credit, his spell was indeed good and would've disarmed Harry if it hit him properly. Just disarmed. But Harry was not going to let that happen either. He just concentrated on the incoming magic and dissipated it as it hit him. It was a tough technique but it was certainly useful for such small shows of power.

"Decent," Harry said. "It would've disarmed most people. But it wasn't a true Expelliarmus. Let me show you the real spell."

Saying so, Harry just flicked his wand and the red beam flew at Smith, hitting him squarely on his chest, disarming him, and throwing him backward by a good fifteen feet.

As Smith landed with a thud on the floor, Harry caught his wand in his free hand.

"That is what a proper Expelliarmus looks like. Silent, fast, effective, and with the ability to throw your opponent off their feet." Harry lectured. "Now, while it is a basic second-year spell and can be defended against by a simple Protego shield, it doesn't mean that it is useless in a fight. Quite the contrary, in fact. If you combine the right spells and make a spell chain, it will take your opponent down with ease. In a duel, it doesn't matter how impressive or advanced your spells are. What matters is how efficiently you use them. And this goes for all spells."

Saying so, Harry walked to Smith and helped him to his feet, and applied a pain relief charm on him.

"Thank you," He said stiffly.

"No problem. Now, as I said, we will get the basics down first for everyone in this room. I hope you all cooperate with me and we can get all the basic, must-know spells down by the end of this month, that is in three or four sessions. I plan to move on to the advanced type of spells in November. But before that, you all must be perfect with the basic spells. What do I mean by perfect? A perfect spell is a spell cast silently, without wand motion, and sufficiently powered to get the desired result. Are you all with me?"

"YES!" The crowd shouted.

"Thank you. Now, I suppose some of you might already know about silent casting, namely, the seventh years. It is supposed to be in the sixth year syllabus as well, but I don't think Umbridge herself knows how to do that, much less teach."

Many in the crowd snickered at that as the seventh years nodded.

"Then I want you all to work on your speed of casting. Try to cast the spell as rapidly as you can against your partner, while your partner dodges the spells."

"Dodging?" A seventh-year Hufflepuff asked.

"Yes, dodging a spell is the best thing you can do in a duel to defend yourself. If the spell doesn't hit you, it goes useless. As simple as that. And, it doesn't take magic to dodge, saving you precious power and allowing you room for more spells. Now get into pairs, please. Try to partner against someone who is in the same year as you, but preferably from a different house. Quickly. Move it, people!"

It took everyone a couple of minutes to get a partner and stand in positions, so no one was crowding or running around. Harry was pleased to see that most had followed his instructions well.

"Now as for what to do," Harry said, walking between the space formed by the two lines of students. "First, the people standing at my left side will fire Expelliarmus at their opponents. Five times. Aloud, with wand movement, while their opponent will dodge and try not to get disarmed. Then their opponents will do the same. Once their five spells are over, you all will start again. But, this time, no wand movements. Say the spells aloud and cast but do not do the half-circle wand motion for the spell. Seven times. Then the students on the right side will cast. Am I understood?"

Everyone nodded at that.

"Cool. If you or your partner can't get it right, repeat this round till they get it. Once both of you have, move on to the third part. The silent casting. By casting the spell so many times, your magic will be accustomed to firing the spell. So, in this round, you would not do the wand motion nor would you say the spell aloud. You will point your wand at your opponent and cast. Say the spell in your mind. Not aloud. Repeat ten times. Then your opponent will do the same. This round will be repeated till you both get the spell down perfectly. Any questions?"

They all shook their heads.

"Excellent. Now, Cedric and Hermione will help you all, and so will I. We will be going around correcting you if you are doing something wrong. Also, I hope you all know the spell. It is second-year material and we all are third-years and above. Cause if you don't, Merlin help you. It is a quarter to eight right now. I want you all to get this spell down in half an hour as it is a fairly simple spell. After that, we will move on to the stunning spell, Stupefy. But that is for later. Begin!"

An hour and a half later, Harry delightfully slumped on a chair in the common room with a delighted smile on his face. The Dragon Legion's first meeting had been a massive success with every single person in the group mastering the disarming and stunning spell. Silently at that.

Harry had lost count of how many people had told him that it was the best DADA class they had ever attended and looked forward to the next session.

As they left, Harry handed them all a coin. A coin that would show the timing and date of the next meeting and could be used to relay short messages. Whenever something updated, the coin would heat up, alerting all the members to what was happening.

"Well, that was fun," Susan said, collapsing next to him. "What is your take on it?"

"They're good," Harry stated

"No, Harry. While they may be good, you are a great teacher. And that is what makes all the difference." Daphne said, appearing from underneath her invisibility cloak.

He shrugged nonchalantly as Susan jumped.

"You were here the whole time?" She asked.

"Yep. I won't be in every session but since today was the first session, I wanted to see it." Daphne said before taking the seat to Harry's left.

Harry leaned back and willed the seats to merge into a comfortable couch and the room obeyed.

The girls were startled as their seats merged into a couch before they smirked.

"Oooh… someone wants to be naughty," Susan whispered, nipping Harry's ear.

Harry just smirked.

---

31st October 1995

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Harry Potter could say that he was having a good month, scratch that, a great month. Even Halloween, the day of his parent's death anniversary did little to dampen the elation and the anticipation he was feeling.

Through the four sessions he had taken so far of the Dragon Legion, with the latest one having ended half an hour ago, he could proclaim that the group was progressing wonderfully. Everyone had mastered the basic defensive spells like the Protego charm, the stunning spell, petrification jinx, the banishing charm, Incendio and Aguamenti charms, and the explosion hex, Expulso. They all could cast silently and without wand movements now. Their progress was becoming better with each session. Harry couldn't have been happier as a teacher.

And then, there was anticipation for the first of November. The plan to storm Azkaban and kill the Death Eaters was ready.

Tomorrow, they would levy a huge blow to Voldemort and his forces by killing off his most loyal followers. The day was very important for Harry and the Order of the Phoenix. This was going to be their first move in the war against Voldemort. And a move, which might win them the war.

They had made a lot of preparations for tomorrow to ensure their mission was a success. If anything went wrong, the order had made two fallback plans as well.

As he got ready for bed, smothering his anticipation of what was going to happen the next day, Fawkes flamed into his dormitory and squawked urgently, hoovering in the mid-air.

"Dumbledore wants to see me urgently?" Harry asked and the phoenix nodded.

"Alright, take me to him," Harry said, and immediately Fawkes flew on his shoulder and flamed him straight to Dumbledore's office.

As soon as Harry opened his eyes, he saw Dumbledore was panicking and pale.

"Sir?"

"Harry, Azkaban. Azkaban has been broken into. Voldemort has freed all his Death Eaters!"

Notes:

AND… DONE!

Hope you all liked the chapter. I updated a week earlier, celebrating 7000+ followers on my fic. Thank you for all the love you have given me and my stories. I hope to continue doing so in the future

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Thank you everyone else for your lovely compliments and all the love for the story.

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Chapter 60: Profiting from Peril

Ch.59 Profiting from Peril

31st October 1995

Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts

"What?" Harry asked, staring incredulously at the Headmaster.

"Voldemort has broken into Azkaban and freed his Death Eaters. The Aurors in the prison along with the warden have been killed. All the dementors have joined him as well."

Harry breathed deeply, trying to calm his raging inferno of emotions. A month of rigorous planning had gone to waste. Complete utter waste. And worse of all, the most dangerous Death Eaters were free. Voldemort's most loyal, most lethal followers were by his side once again, ready to wreak havoc across the wizarding world.

"What… what do we do now, professor?" Harry asked.

Dumbledore sighed. "We are doing all we can, my boy. Training the Order members, readying ourselves, making plans, and whatnot. I would say that we are better prepared for this war than we were in the last one. Much better prepared. All we can do is proceed as we were going to a month ago. The Azkaban raid was never in the initial plan, was it? It was just an addition, which, unfortunately, failed. This was a win on Tom's part and a loss on ours. A loss whose consequences we were prepared to bear a month ago as well."

Harry slowly nodded, finding wisdom in Dumbledore's words. A month ago, they had almost resigned themselves to the fact that Voldemort was going to, sooner or later, break his Death Eaters out of Azkaban. The security lapse during shift change time was information they had accidentally stumbled upon and acted on.

"Sir, when are we going for the prophecy? To lure Voldemort to the ministry and expose him?"

"I am thinking that we should wait for at least a month. Tom has just made a big move on Azkaban and freed his Death Eaters. As far as I know him, he won't move to perform a big move, and a dangerous one at that so soon. He will bide his time and rebuild his force to what it was before the end of the last war, now that he has his best death eaters at his side again."

"So, we will move for the prophecy in December?" Harry asked for confirmation.

"Yes. Near Christmas, I would advise. The ministry would be empty and no innocent bystanders would be caught in the crossfire between our and Voldemort's forces. On the night of the boxing day or the day after that should be good for the task."

"Yes, the ministry would be empty near midnight, especially for Christmas. And we can't do it before yule because of the ministry ball anyway."

"True. And, this will give time for the Death Eaters who have been freed from Azkaban to heal enough to go into battle but they won't be able to at full strength."

"And thus, it will be easier for us to finish them off," Harry said, completing the line of thought.

"Precisely."

"You do realize that the plan is based on a lot of assumptions, out of which the biggest assumption is that Voldemort would actually come to the ministry to get the prophecy orb from me as soon as he is informed of it by his Death Eater."

"It is not an assumption, Harry. It is a scheme hatched on a very much educated guess."

"A guess nonetheless. We are assuming literally everything here, sir. From the very fact that Voldemort will come to take the orb to the fact that the ministry employees will come on time to see Voldemort. Also, we are assuming that as soon as Voldemort would see them, he would not slaughter them and instead flee from there. Or even perhaps, flee before they all can see him."

"That is what we will be there for, Harry. To ensure that everything happens on time and that he doesn't kill anyone from the witnesses before being forced to flee. And this is war, Harry. The best you can do is prepare and improvise as it goes on. The final result is in neither party's hand."

Harry took a deep breath before nodding. "Alright. I will use this situation to our advantage in the meantime. To discredit Fudge and turn more people to our side."

"Then, I will inform the Order of this development in the meantime. You do not need to attend this meeting. Plan on how you are going to discredit Cornelius and spread the word. Use your words like weapons, Harry. And I know that Miss Skeeter would do the rest." Harry nodded. That was the plan he had formed.

"Alright sir, see you later!"

"Oh, Harry!" He shouted, just as Harry called Hedwig mentally and the phoenix flamed on his shoulder.

"Yes?" Harry asked.

"This Sunday evening, I want you to meet me in the wonderful room of requirements that you use. It is time that some of my knowledge is passed to you in time. I will teach you a few things… things which I intended to teach you once your apprenticeship began."

"Alright, sir. Anything else?"

"No. You may leave. Good night, Harry."

"Good night, sir," Harry said, before flaming away.

---

1st November 1995

The Great Hall, Hogwarts

The next morning, the Great Hall was in a state of uproar as the News on the front page of the Daily Prophet spread rapidly through the school.

MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN!

DEATH EATERS WHO ONCE SERVED HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED FREE!

In a ground-shaking announcement, the Ministry of Magic reported that Azkaban, the supposedly inescapable prison, witnessed a mass breakout late evening last night as the country celebrated Halloween. That is right, dear readers! The Death Eaters who once served He-Who-Must-Not-beNamed are free and walking amongst us once again!

Out of the many escaped convicts, readers may recognize names such as Bellatrix and Rudolphus Lestrange, the Carrow twins, Antonin Dolohov, Matthew Travers, and Charles Selwyn. All of them were convicted of heinous crimes ranging from arson to torture and killing, all under the banner of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

In her statement last night, Madame Amelia Bones, Head of DMLE  informed the Daily Prophet that not only did a mass breakout happen but during it, all the Aurors stationed to protect the prison were ruthlessly killed along with a few prisoners. No eyewitnesses were left to give an account of who led the mass breakout. The DMLE is certain that the breakout was led and performed by outside help, not by the prisoners themselves.

This is indeed worrying news dear readers. But, what is even more worrying is the fact that Dementors have also abandoned the prison. You read it right! Dementors, the soul-sucking demons whom we entrusted to guard the prison, no longer do so! In the past, prominent authorities, including ex-chief warlock, Albus Dumbledore had raised concerns about the demons guarding the prison but were brushed aside by the Ministry of Magic.

Now, it seems that their worries have indeed been proven true!

While there is no concrete proof that the Dementors have turned against us, it certainly seems to be the case given the current circumstances.

Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for magic, however, said, "This is certainly a grave incident. One of the worst that my administration has faced. But I assure you all that we will have the situation under control soon and there is absolutely no need to worry. But, till then, I beg the magical community to remain vigilant. These criminals are highly dangerous and on no account should they be approached.  Please cooperate with us in light of this perilous event and you shall be safe."

In addition, Minister Fudge is offering a reward of 2,500 Galleons for anyone who provides information on the whereabouts of the escaped inmates, leading to their capture.

The Muggle Prime Minister and relevant authorities have also been informed of how dangerous these convicts are.

We at the Daily Prophet urge everyone to be cautious and alert for their own safety while we keep you updated on the latest happenings regarding this situation.

For the full list of escaped convicts and more information regarding them, turn to page 3

For more Information on Dementors and Azkaban Prison, turn to page 5

For more information on Death Eaters and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, turn to page 2.

Harry quickly flipped through the pages to read what had been published. It wasn't of much importance to him, except for the full list of escaped convicts which the prophet had published, along with their photos and the crimes for which they were in Azkaban. Harry noted that a total of Fifty-seven inmates had escaped, some of whom were nothing more than petty criminals before with no relation to Death Eater activities previously.

So, Voldemort had likely persuaded the prisoners who weren't already Death Eaters to join him. Those who refused had been killed along with the Aurors.

But the fact was, Fifty-seven more Death Eaters had joined or re-joined Voldemort's rank. The Order of the Phoenix was already outnumbered. Of course, most of the order consisted of high-level fighters by now. Several members would give Death Eaters like Bellatrix Lestrange and Dolohov a challenge or in a few cases, even defeat them.

For now, he had one important task. Taking out his moleskin pouch, Harry removed a Galleon from it before tapping his wand on it, calling an Emergency meeting for The Dragon Legion.

---

1st November 1995

The Room of Requirements, Hogwarts

Harry once again lounged in the Room of Requirement, waiting for the members of the Dragon Legion to arrive. Most had arrived much earlier today than usual. The tension in the air was thick enough to be cut with a knife. Some, including Susan and Neville, were seething looking at the group with a fire in their eyes.

Hearing that the murderers/tormentors of their parents were free had ignited their fury. Neville, on reading the news had set the Daily Prophet in his hands aflame in the Great Hall. Susan, on the other hand, had her magic swirling all around her. Harry had pulled them aside and told them to blow off their steam in the Room of Requirements, right before the classes began. Thankfully, the fifth years had their first period free.

In the room of requirement, the two had unleashed their wrath on poor unsuspecting dummies by tearing them apart. Thankfully, it did calm them down enough to get their emotions under control for the rest of the day. Seeing them tear apart dummies, Harry realized how remarkably alike they were. All orphans (technically anyways as Neville's parents were alive but as good as dead) who had lost their parents to Lord Voldemort or his followers. All three were the last remaining heirs to their respective Most Noble and Most Ancient Houses. And powerful magically to boot. Heck, their birthdays weren't much farther from each other, all falling within a week's time.

When the last member of the Dragon Legion arrived, Harry willed the door to close and lock itself after doing the customary check for any intruders in the group. He stood up and cleared his throat, interrupting conversations about the hottest topic in Hogwarts at the moment: The Death Eater escape.

"Good Evening. As you can see, I have called an emergency meeting, whose topic you might have already guessed." Harry said grimly, making people around the room nod in agreement. "But just to be clear, today's meeting is called in light of the mass breakout from Azkaban. A total of fifty-seven prisoners have been broken out. Out of them, some were High-profile prisoners. Dangerous individuals who are a part of Voldemort's inner circle. His most loyal, his most ruthless, and most dangerous Death Eaters."

Many flinched at the name but the reaction was much more subdued than it was a month ago.

"In addition to this, the Dementors have abandoned the prison. I now feel that it should be clear, to those who doubted the fact that Voldemort had returned, that what I told was no lies as the ministry is insistent on saying. Dumbledore and I had warned Fudge, having predicted such a possibility back in June. He decided to ignore us and still does. I feel that now it is high time that he should've listened. But he didn't, increasing the danger Voldemort poses exponentially."

"What do you mean?" A third-year Gryffindor asked.

"Simply the fact that the ministry refuses to prepare for war is a huge threat to the country. The ministry will be massively underprepared when he strikes which may lead to the Ministry's downfall. Even if Fudge is sacked from his position as soon as Voldemort comes out into the open, the ministry is fucked already."

The tension in the room seemed to increase with his words.

"Now, it falls to us to prepare ourselves for the war if we intend to make it through it alive. Many of you," Harry said, pointing at the group of seventh-years, "Are going to be out in the real world in a few months. And, we all will one day. We are the future of this country. What is happening now will directly affect our futures when we are adults. It is up to you to decide if you want to step out and raise a family in a world ruled by Voldemort, or a free world."

Harry looked around the room meeting everyone's eyes. "From today onward, I will increase your training. Training for you to survive and fight. I will be teaching you spells not only to defend yourself but those which could be potentially lethal under certain circumstances or at least, grievously injured. Your workload will increase. I'll give you things to read up on. And you must do it as if it is homework. We'll also meet twice a week from now on."

Angelina cleared her throat, "Harry, I hope you will keep Quidditch Practices—"

"Quidditch practice? Quidditch PRACTICE?" Harry roared, making her flinch. "We are in the middle of a fucking war, Johnson, and you care about the stupid Quidditch cup?"

"I agree," Justin Finch-Fletchley said. "This is more important than Quidditch or anything else. If we don't learn, we might be killed, which is something I would like to actively avoid."

"Thank you, Justin. Now, as I was saying, if anyone has a problem with this, you are free to leave this room."

No one moved a muscle. Not even Smith or Edgecombe.

"Good," Harry said after a minute's pause. "Now, as I said, we will meet at least twice a week from now on. Schedule everything else around the sessions. I will start by teaching you an advanced shield, right now, namely, the Protego Aegis. It won't be tough to learn as you all can do the Protego shield perfectly by now. Rest of the session, once everyone gets it down, we will work on improving accuracy, speed, and dodging."

A sixth-year Ravenclaw raised her hand. "Yes, Miss Ashley?"

"I was wondering if you could tell us what all we will cover in the near future. If you tell us the spells, we will read up on them and be better prepared. Thus, we will waste less time and learn more."

"Well, I was going to touch upon this at the end, but now is as good a time as any, I suppose. For the record, I will be giving you a couple of spells at the end of every session from now on which I would ask you to read up on before the next session so you are prepared. As for what all I aim to cover, off the top of my head, two shield charms, the piercing hex, the bone-breaker curse, a couple of cutting curses, a few standard counter-curses, a powerful version of the stunner, and of course, the Patronus charm which I will take at the end of this month." Many perked up at that and Harry smirked.

"Let's begin."

---

5th November 1995

Room of Requirements, Hogwarts

Dumbledore pushed the ornate doors of the room of requirements open and Harry followed him inside, only to arrive in an open ground. Harry recognized the scenery well enough to know that it was the open area near both the black lake and the forbidden forest. In the distance, he could see Hagrid's hut as well.

"You configured it like Hogwarts, sir," Harry stated as the doors closed behind him.

"Indeed. This was the place I used to practice magic when I was your age, Harry. Ah, the old memories it brings back! Back in my sixth year, I tried a fire spell once and nearly set the forbidden forest on fire. Thankfully, I knew a powerful water spell and immediately doused the flames before they could spread and burn the whole forest to ashes. Unfortunately, my Potions professor, Professor Cambrick, witnessed it and put me in detention for a month." Dumbledore chuckled.

Harry smiled as well, imagining what Dumbledore might've looked like being scolded when he was sixteen.

"I, unfortunately, didn't have this wonderful room at my beck and call as you do back in my day. I didn't know about its existence until a few months ago."

"Yes, this room is rather useful," Harry agreed. "What are you going to teach me, sir?"

"If you want me to classify it into a field, I would say battle magic. I will be teaching you a few spells today. Spells that would make an average wizard tired by just using them… if they can master the spell that is. Some of what I am going to teach you are the spells that Gellert and I made foolishly when we had dreams to conquer the world. They are meant for slaughter and nothing else. And, I will request you to keep these to yourself. Do not teach this to anyone. Even to Ms. Greengrass or Ms. Bones who are your girlfriends."

Harry froze. "How do you know about Daphne and me?"

Very few people apart from their families knew that Daphne was a part of Harry and Susan's relationship. Namely, only Hermione, Neville, Cedric, and Ron all of whom Harry had sworn to secrecy.

Dumbledore chuckled. "Harry, I am first and foremost, a teacher. You will be shocked to know how much I can interpret about children from the smallest of things. I have spent more than eight decades teaching my boy. I can recognize two teenagers in love easily despite how much you try to hide it."

"Ah… err…" Harry stammered.

"Nurture them, Harry. I made the mistake of never finding love after losing my first one. You make sure that you do not make the same mistake that I did. Love is a wonderful thing, Harry. It is magic on its own. And you have two wonderful-wonderful ladies loving you. I see how they look at you.

Cherish them. You do not know how many would kill to be in your place." "Of course, sir." Harry nodded.

"Alright, let us begin. The first spell I am going to teach you is called the Ray of disintegration. It is a powerful, very powerful blasting curse of sorts which will reduce any sizable object to nothing more than atoms."

"Atoms?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Atoms," Dumbledore confirmed. "The more power you put in the spell, the more matter it is capable of disintegrating. I would demonstrate the spell first. If you would be so kind to cast the terror of terra spell and form a construct for me to demonstrate the spell upon."

"Of course, sir," Harry said, walking a little distance away before turning to face the Headmaster who was ready with the elder wand clutched in his hand.

"Terroro Terranus!" Harry intoned, jabbing his wand towards the ground channeling his magic, making the power of the Earth submit to him. The ground rumbled and cracked before a Rhinoceros made of dirt rose from the ground. The construct was as tall as Harry and much wider. With a flick of his wand, it started running towards Dumbledore.

The wizened headmaster immediately sprung into action, waving his wand in an intricate pattern and jabbing it at the construct, shouting, "Ekriksi Aposyntheto!"

Harry sucked in a sharp breath, as a golden beam of light surrounded by a spiral of the same golden energy shot from the elder wand and impacted the Golem, creating a golden explosion, nearly blinding him and making him stumble back. When the light cleared, only small pinpricks of small golden light could be seen floating down to the ground and disappearing.

There was no sign of the fact that a huge Rhinoceros construct had just stood there a moment ago.

Dumbledore took a moment before smiling. "Powerful, isn't it?"

"Very much so, yes." Harry agreed. "The only spell remotely capable of stopping it is the mage shield. It cannot be stopped till all its power runs out. To do so, it will penetrate through several objects if needed as well. I know this spell."

"You do?"

"Yes. It was a part of the Potter Family Grimoire. My great-great Grandfather, William Potter, had gotten the spell from somewhere and noted it down. He called it the destroyer beam. I recognized it when you intoned the spell."

"Ah, this saves us precious time. The next spell I wanted to teach you is this," Dumbledore said, as a dummy popped up a little distance away. "It is an elemental spell. Watch closely."

Dumbledore waved his wand again, and intoned, "Ternus Fulgur Percutiens!"

As the air got saturated with magic, a dark cloud formed over the dummy a moment later, and three bolts of eldritch purple rained down on the dummy with a deafening clap, reducing it to ashes and rubble.

"Wow," Harry breathed. "That was not normal lightning."

"No, it wasn't," Dumbledore agreed. "It has more… force for the lack of a better word than electricity making it more destructive than electric. Do you know this spell?"

"No, sir."

"Excellent!" Dumbledore beamed. "Let me teach you then. We'll follow it with a special spike producing spell."

"A spike producing spell?" Harry asked. "That is conjuration, sir."

"Ah, that is not what you think it is. Instead of you conjuring the spikes directly, it will be the spell that does it, so to speak. A ring of magic will be formed through which spikes will shoot upon your enemies at a high velocity similar to how those muggle firearms shoot bullets rapidly."

"Machine guns?" Harry asked.

"If that is what they are called, yes. And there is one more specialty about these spikes. Unlike normal conjured spikes, they cannot be turned back on their caster. If the opponent tries to do any magic on them, they'll turn to dust. This spell was invented by Pernell Flamel, and you're the fourth person in the world to know about it."

"Interesting."

"Indeed. Let us start with the lightning spell. We'll move to the spike spell later"

---

11th November 1995

Hogsmeade Village, Scotland

The mood in the castle had changed drastically over the past few days. There was only one topic of conversation in the corridors now: the escaped Death Eaters. Rumors were running rampant around the school ranging from the Death Eaters being spotted in Hogsmeade to them, impersonating students in school.

Those who came from Wizarding families had grown up hearing the names of these Death Eaters spoken with almost as much fear as Voldemort's; the crimes they had committed during the days of Voldemort's reign of terror were legendary. There were relatives of their victims among the Hogwarts students, who now found themselves the unwilling objects of a gruesome sort of reflected fame as they walked the corridors.

Harry was the target of renewed mutterings. Some of the idiots who had refused to believe him were coming to their senses slowly and realizing that he and Dumbledore were indeed telling the truth. It seemed that in their confusion and fear, they had finally turned to the only explanation available to them, the one that Harry and Dumbledore had been expounding since June.

It was not only the students' mood that had changed. It was now quite common to come across two or three teachers conversing in low, urgent whispers in the corridors, breaking off their conversations the moment they saw students approaching.

"They obviously can't talk freely in the staffroom anymore," said Hermione in a low voice, as she, Harry, and Ron passed Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, and Sprout huddled together near the carriages. "Not with Umbridge there."

Indeed. Umbridge had passed one more of her ridiculous decrees proclaiming that the Teachers were forbidden to give the students any information that did not directly pertain to the subjects they taught.

This latest decree had been the subject of a great number of jokes among the students. Lee Jordan had pointed out to Umbridge that by the terms of the new rule she was not allowed to tell Fred and George off for playing Exploding Snap in the back of the class.

She had given him detention for a week for that, but it was worth it, considering that Jordan would be writing with the blood quills that would use Umbridge's blood and carving lines in her skin, causing pain to her.

Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Susan boarded a Thestral-pulled carriage which took them to the gates of Hogwarts.

Hogsmeade was a sight to be seen. The town was covered with fresh snow, which decorated the streets and the rooftops as well. Students and citizens could be found milling around, wearing thick clothes and sweaters to protect themselves from the cold.

Harry, on the other hand, was comfortably walking around in a normal, cyan-colored robe, courtesy of heating charms. Susan, Hermione, and Ron were in the same boat as him, all wearing normal clothes instead of several thick sweaters. Neville hadn't come with them, instead choosing to do an extra credit project for Herbology with Professor Sprout. Same with Daphne who was doing it for Runes instead of Herbology. Cedric was going to go on a date with Cho, and the Twins had gone to Gringotts for their business which was already flourishing. Ginny and Astoria were with their respective friends.

Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Susan were going to spend the day together roaming around Hogsmeade before going to three broomsticks for Lunch and later, a private meeting with Rita Skeeter and Luna Lovegood.

Harry knew that the editor of the prophet was too scared to publish something so blatantly against the ministry as an interview with him.

So, they had elected to go with the Quibbler, the magazine run by Luna's father.

Harry had gone as far as to buy all shares of Quibbler available on the market, which had come laughably cheap. The stock value of the Quibbler was going to quadruple at the very least once his interview was published… likely even more.

At exactly half-past two in the afternoon, Harry, Susan, Ron, and Hermione went up to the private room reserved in the name of Rita Skeeter. Harry knocked on the door before entering.

Rita Skeeter was sitting on a chair, wearing a lemon-colored robe with matching spectacles and a handbag. She looked horrendous.

"Good Afternoon, Rita. Don't you look wonderful?" He greeted, making the reporter beam.

"Oh, you're a flatterer, Harry. Welcome. Please have a seat. And you all must be his friends!" "Yes," Hermione nodded.

"And you Susan! I have heard so much about you! You're Harry's Girlfriend, right?"

Susan raised an eyebrow before nodding. "Yes, I am."

"Oh, so would you mind telling me—"

"Yes, she would mind," Harry interrupted. "Your interview is with me. Not with Susan. You do remember our deal, don't you?"

"How could I forget?" Rita replied stiffly.

"Good," Harry said. "Now, shall we start the interview?"

"Yes, Of course."

"Harry, we need to wait for Luna," Hermione reminded.

"She is right outside the door humming a song," Harry said, as he wandlessly opened the door, revealing Luna staring dreamily, humming a song to herself. A moment later, she skipped inside and took a seat beside Harry.

"So, you want me to interview you about the recent Death Eater escape, I assume?" Rita asked.

"Yes, it will be a part of it."

She frowned. "What is the main topic of the interview then?"

"The return of Dark Lord Voldemort," Harry replied, making the reporter flinch violently.

"The prophet would never print such a thing," She stated.

"You mean the Prophet won't print it because Fudge won't let them," said Hermione irritably.

Rita gave Hermione a long, hard look. Then, leaning forward across the table toward her, she said in a business-like tone, "All right, Fudge is leaning on the Prophet, but it comes to the same thing. They won't print a story that shows Harry in a good light. You were not there during the first war, girl. People do not want to believe that you-know-who is back. And it is absurd. Dead men do not just return to life."

"So the Daily Prophet exists to tell people what they want to hear, does it?" said Hermione scathingly.

"Isn't it your responsibility to report the truth?"

"The Prophet exists to sell itself, you silly girl," Skeeter snapped.

"My dad thinks it's an awful paper," said Luna, chipping into the conversation unexpectedly. She gazed at Rita with her enormous, protuberant, slightly mad eyes. "He publishes important stories that he thinks the public needs to know. He doesn't care about making money."

Rita looked disparagingly at her. "I'm guessing your father runs some stupid little village newsletter?" she said. "'Twenty-five Ways to Mingle with Muggles' and the dates of the next Bring-and-Fly Sale?"

"No," said Luna, "he's the editor of The Quibbler."

Rita snorted loudly. "That rag? I won't use it as manure for my non-existent garden."

"Well, I do not care what you think of the Quibbler, Rita," Harry interrupted. "The thing is, as the Prophet won't publish the article I want it to. So, the Quibbler will."

Her head whipped towards him. "The Quibbler!" she said, cackling. "You think people will take you seriously if the article's published in The Quibbler?"

"Some people won't," Harry shrugged. "But the Daily Prophet's version of the Azkaban breakout had some gaping holes in it. I think a lot of people are wondering whether there isn't a better explanation of what happened. Also, remember who is giving this information. My fame, as annoying as it is, has some wonderful advantages."

Rita snorted, "Fame is a fickle thing, Harry. I have lost count of how many famous personalities I have ruined with my quill. You should be grateful to the stars that I am not ruining yours."

"Well then, let me satisfy your urge to ruin someone's reputation. It just won't be me."

She looked at him inquisitively. "Let us assume for a moment that I write it. What will I get in return?"

"A promotion as soon as Cuffe is fired for aiding Fudge in high treason by the means of the Daily Prophet."

Rita looked shocked for a moment before grinning. "I am listening."

---

19th November 1995

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Harry looked at the latest notice nailed on the notice board before laughing uproariously.

— By Order Of —

The High Inquisitor of Hogwarts

Any student found in possession of the magazine The Quibbler will be expelled.

The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-seven.

Signed:

Dolores Jane Umbridge

High Inquisitor

"What has gotten you so happy?" Hermione asked as she walked toward him.

"Umbridge just ensured that everyone in Hogwarts will now read the article. She banned it."

"What? How?" Ron asked incredulously.

"Oh Ron, don't you see?" Hermione breathed. "If she could have done one thing to make absolutely sure that every single person in this school will read your interview, it was banning it! If you tell a group of rebellious teenagers not to do something without a very solid reason, they would be tempted to do it more!"

"And well, I am putting your brothers on selling the Quibbler. Disguised copies at a small profit." Harry winked.

— — —

It seemed that Harry's assumption was bang on. By evening that day, though Harry had not seen so much as a corner of The Quibbler anywhere in the school, yet the whole place seemed to be quoting the interview at each other. Harry heard them whispering about it as they queued up outside classes, discussing it over lunch and in the back of lessons, while Hermione even reported that every occupant of the cubicles in the girls' toilets had been talking about it when she nipped in there before Ancient Runes.

"And then they spotted me, and obviously they know I know you, so they were bombarding me with questions," Hermione told Harry, her eyes shining, "and Harry, I think they believe you, I really do, I think you've finally got them convinced! And they now think that Fudge is up to something as well!"

Meanwhile, Professor Umbridge was stalking the school, stopping students at random and demanding that they turn out their books and pockets. Harry knew she was looking for copies of The Quibbler, but he was several steps ahead of her. The pages carrying Harry's interview had been bewitched to resemble extracts from textbooks if anyone but themselves read it, or else wiped magically blank until they wanted to peruse it again. It seemed that every single person in the school had read it.

As the doors of the Room of Requirement closed, Harry turned to speak to the Dragon Legion and to give them instructions, however before he could speak, the twins called for attention.

"Before we begin today's session," Fred announced.

"We must acknowledge something," George continued.

"Our very own Harry Potter—"

"— gave an interview which—"

"— The Quibbler published—"

"— Thanks to Luna Lovegood!"

"SO, THREE CHEERS FOR HARRY AND LUNA! HIP-HIP HURRAY!" They shouted together and the group mirrored the cheer.

Poor Luna blushed heavily, being unused to such a thing. "Daddy said he has never sold so many copies. We are reprinting already."

At that, another cheer went up.

"Thank you, Thank you," Harry said, spreading his arms. "Now, today we are going to start a very important spell. Namely, the Patronus charm."

If it was possible, the group became even more excited.

"Now, Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk on this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places. They glory in decay and despair. They drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them. Get too near a Dementor, and every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself... soulless and evil. You will be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life." Harry said, repeating the explanation Helga had given him.

"There is only one spell that truly works against them. The Patronus charm. It is a projection of extremely positive thoughts, like happiness or love. Most relate it to happiness, but love is the most powerful emotion there is. So powerful that the Ancient Greeks personified it as a goddess, Aphrodite. If cast perfectly, the Patronus takes the form of a guardian, most likely an animal. If not, it is a wispy shield of sorts. Let me give you a demonstration. Expecto Patronum!"

The Great Hebridean Black Dragon Patronus shot from his wand bathing the room in its silver light. The dragon roared to the heavens soundlessly, flying around the room before fading a minute later, snapping the attention of the transfixed students back to Harry.

"That was a fully corporeal Patronus. A true Patronus. For each person, the Patronus is different and you cannot choose the form it takes." Harry informed, walking around the room. "Now, I want you all to close your eyes and try to select your happiest memory. A memory in which you were happy beyond what you have ever felt. A memory through which you felt immense love for someone, be it your family or your girlfriend. Remember, the memory here is the most important thing."

The group followed his instruction. Harry glanced quickly to his left where he knew Daphne and Astoria were seated behind an illusion of a wall placed on a glass partition. They could hear and see clearly from their side.

This was the first spell he was going to teach his inner circle and the Dragon Legion together.

He waited for a minute before clearing his throat. "If you have found a memory, please go and stand in position."

Harry waited for everyone to take positions before beginning his instructions again.

"Now, the Patronus is a complex spell. It demands a high level of concentration and a powerful memory along with quite some magical power. The incantation is Expecto Patronum and the wand movement is this," Harry said, drawing the wand movement, which was similar to an inverted 'Z' sign in the air with a flagrate spell.

"Now, the Patronus is one of the spells which you cannot do silently. The incantation has to be spoken and the wand movement used. Now, I want you all to immerse yourself in the memory you have chosen. Once you feel it, you cast the spell. Remember, immerse yourself in the memory. Remember the feelings you felt. Feelings are very important. Try again and again till you get it, even if I don't expect you all to master it today. Begin."

As he gave the command, a few tried to do the spell only to fail miserably. Harry looked around waiting for others to try. To his pride, Susan successfully produced a wispy shield. It wasn't corporeal but at least it got results.

A minute later, Hermione managed to replicate her success to a lesser degree. But it was still better than the rest. They were followed by Cedric who managed to produce a puff of silver light from his wand.

"Good work so far," Harry encouraged. "Continue!"

An hour later, Harry decided that it was time to pack up for the day. He looked around the room.

Quite a few members had succeeded in producing a weak shield. Susan's Golden retriever Patronus was running around the room chasing Cedric's Badger and Luna's Jackalope. They were the only three who had successfully cast the charm so far. Hermione and the twins were near with a bright shield and yet did not have a corporeal Patronus. Ron and Ginny were in a similar state to the other Legion members.

Surprisingly, Neville was utterly failing. Harry immediately hurried to him, feeling bad for not having noticed it before.

"Nev?"

"Huh? Hey Harry. I am unable to do it. Sorry." He said, his eyes downcast.

"Hey, hey. Now, don't feel like that. Let me help you. What is the memory you have?"

"Gaining yours and our group's friendship. That is my happiest memory," he replied and Harry felt touched. He smiled.

"Well, err… well, it is not powerful enough I guess… let us create one for you then."

"What?"

"Close your eyes," Harry instructed before beginning in a mystical voice, "Imagine you and your parents are on a picnic. Just imagine. You and your father are playing a game of catch as your mother sits and watches you both, laughing heartily. You can see the love brimming in her eyes. The grin on your father's face. Feel the happiness. The love they have… and now, do it."

"Expecto Patronum," Neville intoned, waving his wand through the air. A bright silver light glowed from his wand and started taking shape. First legs, followed by wings and finally, the head formed and a Pegasus flew around the room.

"Well done," Harry praised. "Good job, Nev."

"Thank you," Neville whispered.

"Anytime, mate. Alright, everyone! That is enough for today!" He declared, walking to the center of the room. "You all did wonderfully. Especially Luna, Susan, Neville, and Cedric. Please give them a round of applause."

Once the clapping calmed down, Harry spoke again. "Now, those who failed to do it, I suggest you try to pick a better memory or try to immerse yourself more. You need to feel the feelings in it. And, we will continue next time we meet. Good job, all! And good night!"

Slowly, the room emptied till only Harry and his inner circle were left. A moment later, Daphne and Astoria emerged with huge smiles on their faces.

"We both did it!" Astoria exclaimed happily.

"Superb! Show us!" Harry asked.

"Daphne, you go first."

"Alright," Daphne said before taking a deep breath. "Expecto Patronum."

A beautiful silvery fox flew out of her wand and prowled around the room. Everyone cheered.

"Now me! Expecto Patronum!" Astoria said excitedly and a moment later, a small fluffy bunny flew out of her wand.

"Oooh, A bunny! It is so cute!" Susan squealed as the Patronus ran around her.

Harry grinned. It was a very successful session.

---

19th November 1995

Gryffindor Dorms, Hogwarts

After finishing his tasks for the night, Harry got ready for bed. He pulled his curtains apart and the first thing he saw was a note stuck to his pillow. He immediately cast detection charms on it but they came up negative. Assured that it was not a trap, Harry picked it up and read it.

Remember the offer you made us at the start of the year in the Slytherin common room?

I, Theodore Nott, as well as Hestia and Flora Carrow wish to hear your offer further. We will come unarmed.

With Best wishes

TN, FC, and HC.

Notes:

AND… DONE!

Hope you all liked the chapter and how I have shifted the canon timeline. Soon, it will diverge completely.

A huge thanks to I_amaSWITCHbot and Ultimate_Gamer for betaing the chapter.

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Also, do join my Discord server, House of HPfanfictioner66 where you can directly communicate with me, ask questions, etc. Hope to see you all lovely readers there soon Link: discord . gg / 4qfP3fxdQ4 [Remove the spaces please]

I have my own channel on the discord server known as Emerald Library. I recommend that you join the server and there, you won't only have access to me, but several other big authors who have their channels on the Emerald Library. Link: discord . gg / jtAxRnH6Tk [Remove the spaces please]

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At the moment, I have four main stories. They are:

1. The Rise of the Last Potter: My Novel length Harry Potter fic which is already 300k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly.

2. The Legend of the Son of Poseidon: A Novel Length Percy Jackson fic which is already 250k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly

3. Loved Ones Skipping Stones and Ice-cream: A fluffy Haphne one-shot. It is completed obviously.

4. SECRETS: Another romantic one-shot I published recently. Complete as well.

(PLEASE READ THEM ALL)

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 61: Deals and Holidays

Ch.60 Deals and Holidays

21st November 1995

Abandoned classroom, Hogwarts

Harry knocked and pushed the door of an abandoned classroom open before entering the room. The three occupants of the room, three Slytherins, namely Hestia Carrow, Flora Carrow, and Theodore Nott instantly turned and looked at him.

Flora and Hestia Carrow were clearly identical twins. They had dark brown hair, dark bluish-black eyes, and were of rather short stature. Nott, on the other hand, had mousy-brown hair, and black eyes while being only a couple of inches shorter than Harry, who was already an impressive 5'11, thanks to the rituals he had done.

From the corner of his eyes, Harry saw three wands clearly laid on the teacher's desk as a sign of the fact that they were unarmed. It was not that Harry was worried about them attacking him, but this was quite a good gesture on their part.

"Good evening, Mr. Nott, Ms. Carrows."

"Evening, Potter," Nott replied stiffly.

"Mind if I raise privacy wards so that we aren't interrupted?"

"No, no. Please, go ahead."

With a wave of Harry's wand, the door of the classroom closed and was locked before privacy enchantments, ranging from a silencing charm to a notice-me-not ward went up. With another flick, a table and four chairs appeared in the center of the room.

"Have a seat," Harry said, taking a seat himself, and gesturing to them to follow.

"Let us cut the chase short, Potter," Hestia Carrow began without preamble. "You offered us a way to get out of this war if we needed to. We accept your offer. Tell us your terms."

"Straight to the point, I see. But first, tell me what led you all to come to this decision? Your parents, and relatives are in Voldemort's inner circle. And you are the first ones to come to me and accept the offer. So, I am quite curious to know what led you to do this."

"Because we do not want to become killers and murders. I do not wish to go down the path my father did and neither does Hestia or Flora." Nott said. "Potter… we have seen them over the summer… They are monsters. I witnessed gruesome acts being committed by the dark lord. I want no part of it. Also, these acts weren't even on enemies. They were his Death Eaters or innocent muggles."

"Fair enough… I am willing to help you and I shall keep my word. Now, as I can understand, you are the Heir of House Nott. And you two hold no position as far as House Carrow is concerned."

"That is correct," Hestia said nervously.

Harry turned to Nott. "House Nott is a Noble and Most Ancient House, holding three votes. In the event of your father's demise, the responsibility of the House will fall to you."

"Yes," Nott agreed.

"Superb," Harry said. "In the event of the House falling in your hands, you will make an Alliance with House Black on the Wizengamot. Your votes will be ours to command until the duration that you are Lord Nott or the Head of the House. In exchange, I will give you a way out of the war and transport you to a safe house till the end of the war. A safe house in America. Fully furnished and warded apartment in the Salem shopping district, a completely magical neighborhood. I will get you into contact with a special person who will forge your documents and stuff, enabling you to go there and complete your education until the war is over. Do you accept these terms and conditions?"

Nott sucked in a sharp breath. "You mean I have to leave Hogwarts? And Britain?"

"Yes. It is obvious that if you're at Hogwarts, Voldemort would stop at nothing to ensure your loyalty or kill you for defecting. If you are at Hogwarts, someone or the other would tell him that. So, it is in your best interest to leave the country, unless, of course, you want to fight against Voldemort."

Nott shook his head. "I have no intentions to fight with him or against him. I just want to live and complete my education. Get a good job and settle down."

"Then, you have only one option," Harry shrugged.

"Can I think about it for a few minutes?"

"Obviously. Just don't leave the room."

"Thanks," He said, slumping in his chair.

"What about us?" Flora asked. "We have no political power. A lot of people would need to die if we were to inherit the house. We are a part of the cadet branch of the Carrow family. Far in the line of inheritance."

Harry hummed contemplatively.

"We have a little money in our vaults. A few thousand Galleons. We will somehow manage if you want that in exchange. But, get us out. Before Christmas. We are, under no circumstances, going home for Christmas." Hestia declared pleadingly.

"No, I am not taking the money. Let me think for a moment. The Christmas thing complicates it a bit… wait, can't you just stay at Hogwarts?"

Flora and Hestia shared a look before nodding. "We can say we are staying for OWL preparations. But, we will have to go home in summer… which we don't want to."

"How do you feel about going muggle?"

"Muggle?" Flora asked with disgust.

"Now, to be blunt, you have no resources. No political power, no money, and you are average students. If you go to the muggle world, one, no one will suspect you, two pureblood girls who were raised to hate anything remotely muggle, to be in the muggle world. Two, forging documents in the muggle world is very cheap and easy. A couple of hundred Galleons and you both will have a new identity along with a good fake degree of some sort."

"But… we don't know anything about the muggle world!"

"You will learn. Muggleborns adjust here in the magical world. So will you in the muggle world." Harry said dismissively. "And it is either this or…"

"Or?"

"Well, you choose a side in the conflict. With Voldemort or against Voldemort. If you go against him, I will arrange for someone to take you in… some magical family whom I trust. You can continue your studies and stuff at Hogwarts itself. But it will be infinitely more dangerous. Your dear relatives might come and attack you to kill you for betraying them."

"Potter, what if I take them in my house, which you are giving me?" Nott interrupted.

"First thing, I am not giving you the house, Nott." Harry said irritatedly, hearing his words "I am offering you one of my properties to stay in till the duration of the war without paying rent. The house will be mine even if you stay there."

"Yes, yes, that is what I meant. Sorry. But, instead of arranging all this, what if I take them in? I will even pay you. We Notts are very rich. I am sure I can afford it. State your price." Nott declared.

"Theo you don't have to." Hestia protested immediately.

"Yes, we can't accept this!"

"Shut up you two. It is my decision." He hissed. "State your price, Potter."

"I do not want any price. The one who would forge their documents would." Harry replied magnanimously. "The price to forge magical documents is much higher than muggle ones. For both of them, you would need about five or six thousand Galleons. Plus, tuition fees and other charges for their education. And your education as well."

"Done. If you want, I'll even pay you the rent. Just—"

"No need for rent. As long as you don't damage anything, I am fine." Harry said. "And if you damage my property, you are paying for its repairs."

"Of course. That is quite understandable," He said amiably

"You want nothing else, Potter?" Flora asked, biting her lip.

"Why would I? I just do not wish to bear any expense without something in return. Nott here will be bearing all your expenses. You give your OWLs here and board the train home for the summer. But, instead of reaching King's Cross, you reach Knockturn Alley and from there, MACUSA Headquarters in New York." Harry informed.

"Nice," Nott breathed. "Are you sure no one will be able to find us there?"

"There is nothing absolute, but I can say that the chances of you being found are very minuscule."

"Alright. Thank you."

"Oh, of course, If you do not want to go to America, you have the options of China, Japan, South Africa, Brazil, and… no, that's it. America, China, Japan, South Africa, and Brazil."

They blinked.

"What?" Nott asked with confusion.

"If you do not want to go to America, my same offer extends to the countries I mentioned. It doesn't make a difference to me. I suggested it because I personally found it to be the best option for you all."

"No, let us stick with America," Nott said. "I at least know a little about the community and the workings there unlike the other countries you mentioned."

"Excellent. As soon as you become Lord Nott, one of my chosen regents will take your seat in the Wizengamot."

"Also, I forgot one small thing. I have a brother… younger brother." Nott said.

"How old is he?"

"Ten. He would've come to Hogwarts next year. So…"

"You want me to ensure that he comes with you?" Harry asked.

"Yes. I cannot leave him behind."

"I see no problem with it as long as you're paying for everything. My house there is big. It can accommodate ten more people if you want to. You just pay for the identity forging and stuff. I am arranging and paying for only you in exchange for the Wizengamot votes. And of course, waving off full house rent till the war ends."

"Thank you," He nodded. "But, you do realize that in your plan, my father still needs to die. If that doesn't happen…"

"You are taking the prospect of the death of your father rather… well," Harry said, raising his eyebrows.

"Frankly, I do not give two fucks whether the bastard dies or not. As long as I don't have to see him again, I am fine."

"Alright. I won't pry. Give me till the new year to sort everything out. We will meet again on the first day of the second term. I will give you all the details like where to collect things and stuff from and whom to contact. Just give me the list of names you want to take with you. Once the work is done, you will have to pay the person in cash though."

"Not a problem. I am willing to pay the whole amount in knuts if it means getting out of here."

Harry's lips quirked up. "Study well for your exams all of you. Having legit OWLs with just your name and the school changed will be easier than forging the documents together. We will meet in the new year again. Till then, Mr. Nott. Miss Carrows."

"Thank you, Potter," Hestia said, breathing a sigh of relief.

"Thank your friend, not me. He is the one paying for you." Harry replied before walking out of the room after taking down the charms he had laid on it. The Slytherins followed him soon after, as he followed their moments on the marauder's map.

Instead of going to the Gryffindor tower, Harry walked to the room of requirements as he watched the Slytherins go to the dungeons. Once the Slytherins went in, straight up to their dorms, Harry put the map back into his moke skin pouch after wiping it clean with the words, 'Mischief managed'.

He paced thrice in front of the room of requirements and the door appeared, which he pushed open and entered only to see Daphne and Susan in a heated snogging session. Harry closed the door and willed the room to lock as he walked in.

"Starting without me, I see," Harry said, startling them out of the heated smooching.

"Harry," Daphne breathed as Susan got off her. Daphne's honey-blonde hair was tousled, her outer uniform robe lying on the couch next to her, leaving her in her white shirt and black pants. Susan, on the other hand, had her shirt open, revealing her heaving bra-clad breasts and bountiful cleavage. In Harry's eyes, it was a very beautiful site.

"How did it go?" Susan asked, unbothered by her attire.

"It went well. I now have three more votes under my control, courtesy of Nott."

"Awesome. What about the Carrows?"

"They had nothing of importance to offer me. But Nott was benevolent enough to say that he would pay for their expenses. So, no loss there."

"No profit either," Daphne pointed out. "But the Nott move was good. You have three extra votes now in your pocket for as long as Nott lives. And it came cheap. You bought House Notts political power from him for basically three-thousand galleons… even less."

"Nah, more. House rent should also be considered, you know."

Daphne scoffed. "The house was uninhabited. You said so yourself. So you weren't getting rent anyway and had to manage it from your own pocket. And now, you won't have to pay for its upkeep as Nott will manage that."

"True," Harry agreed, plopping himself between his two girlfriends… future wife and mistress now actually, that their betrothal contracts were finalized. Daphne was set to become Lady Potter and Susan had the line continuation contract as well.

The future looked bright if the dark cloud named Voldemort hovering over them was ignored.

---

29th November 1995

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

— By Order Of —

The Ministry of Magic

The High Inquisitor reserves the right to select a special group of students at her own discretion who would help her maintain proper conduct and decorum in the School. The group of students, henceforth known as the Inquisitorial Squad, would reserve the right to dock points and hold power over prefects.

The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-eight.

Signed:

Dolores Jane Umbridge

High Inquisitor

"What?" Hermione muttered incredulously, staring at the newest sign displayed in the Gryffindor common room. "She cannot do this! It is a blatant insult of the prefect position and the respect we have earned."

"And we all know who she is going to select for this. Malfoy and his cronies. Slimy snakes." Ron fumed.

"Ron…" Harry said in a warning tone and he rolled his eyes.

"I didn't include Daphne and Astoria in that. The rest of them." He said before turning back to the sign. "We should do something about this shit."

"Umbridge is barely for one month in this world. After that, all of this is going to be scrapped." Harry stated. "Why bother scheming?"

"Why not? Don't you want the satisfaction of ruining yet another decree, Harry?" Hermione asked innocently.

"You make a really good point. Let us do it. But what to do is the question. My idea was to give the squad hell, making them regret ever supporting Umbridge."

"Can't you just ensure that no one joins this group?" Neville asked.

"That will mean getting the squad in one place, confronting them, convincing them, and ensuring that they all resign. Too much work for something irrelevant." Harry said dismissively.

"Yes, we have the Dragon Legion on our side. An army in front of her squad. We will win, hands down." Hermione agreed thoughtfully. "But they still hold legal powers."

"And we hold magical power. They won't know what curses would hit them before they could dock points. Spread the word. Give the Inquisitorial squad hell. Any member should regret ever joining the group. And tell them not to be seen. The hood masking charm I have taught the Legion last week should do along with the voice-altering charm. Wait till the end of classes before beginning. And stick to non-lethal, school kids stuff. No bone-breakers and curses."

"Fair enough. So, by giving them hell, you want them to resign from the position?"

"Yes, that is the plan. I ain't going out of my way to gather them and warn them. Just make the message clear. If you are a part of the squad, you shall not be able to live in peace until you resign."

"Sure enough. I will tell the twins and the other Gryffindors." Ron volunteered.

"I will help," Neville added before going to inform the chasers, Angelina, Katie, and Alicia.

Harry saw them all nod in agreement before Neville moved to the Creevey brothers. Ron, on the other hand, informed the twins who had gotten sinister smirks on their faces before they bounded off happily to their dorms.

"Guess we'll see some of their products in action today," Harry muttered.

"It is fun, isn't it? Breaking the rules and rebelling against the ministry." Hermione breathed, making Harry chuckle.

"Only if your eleven-year-old version could hear this come from your mouth."

Hermione chuckled. "I would've been scandalized if someone ever said that I would be breaking rules and having fun doing it till a few years ago. I blame you for corrupting me, Harry Potter."

"Woah, wait. I did no such things. The scandalous accusations you levy on me hurt my heart, Hermione." Harry said dramatically.

"Fuck off," She replied, making Harry gasp and clutch his heart.

"Oh my god! Hermione Granger just cursed. The world's probably ending."

Hermione just rolled her eyes. "Let us go for breakfast. I am famished."

"Let's wait for Ron at least. He will be—"

"I am here, I am here!" Ron said coming back to their side. "Let us go for breakfast. I am hungry."

"Tell me something I don't know," Hermione muttered before she pushed open the portrait door and they exited the common room, bidding the fat lady goodbye and proceeding to the Great Hall for breakfast.

Unfortunately, their journey to the Breakfast was intercepted by Malfoy and his goons at the doors of Great Hall, no less. That unfortunately meant that they couldn't just hex the three and proceed.

"Oh, looky looky. What do we have here? Potty, Weasel, and the bookworm."

Harry sighed. "What do you want, Malfoy?"

"Afraid I'm going to have to dock a few points from Gryffindor," He drawled. "Let's see… Five points for questioning me, Potter. Five from you Weasel because your shirt is untucked. Five from you Granger because your hair's a nest. Another ten because I don't like you, Potter. And ten from Granger because she is a mudbl—" Malfoy choked in mid-sentence as Harry wandlessly squeezed his throat.

"I think you forgot the little lesson I imparted on you in your common room at the start of the room and you need a repeat of it," Harry hissed, making Malfoy pale as he tried to gasp for air, clawing at the invisible hand grasping his throat.

"And, let me make one thing painfully clear to you. If you do not resign from this little squad of yours till Lunch, what I did in the common room to you will seem like a child's play in front of what I'll do to you and your mates if you do not comply. So, resign or be ready for hell." Harry said, before releasing Malfoy, who collapsed on his knees.

"POTTER! What do you think you're doing?" Dolores Umbridge shouted, walking across the hall as fast as her stubby legs could carry her.

"I am doing nothing, ma'am. Malfoy here choked rather violently on his spit while speaking. If you don't believe me, ask him. Isn't it true, Malfoy?"

The pale boy just nodded vigorously, making Harry smile.

"Now if you would clear our way, Professor. We have got to go to eat breakfast." Harry said, gesturing to Umbridge to move to one side.

She gritted her teeth before whirling and storming back to the staff table. Harry smirked before wandlessly shoving Goyle out of the way as he made his way to the Gryffindor table, sparing a customary glance at the points' hourglasses. Gryffindor and Hufflepuff were still in a comfortable lead against Slytherin and Ravenclaw with Slytherin being at the last despite the visible point reduction by the Inquisitorial Squad, courtesy of the Education Decree fiasco.

"Noticed, have you?" said Fred's voice. He and George had just come down the marble staircase and joined Harry, Ron, and Hermione, on the hourglasses.

"Malfoy just docked us all about fifty points," Ron seethed as they watched several more stones fly upward from the Gryffindor hourglass. "But Harry put him in his place."

"Yeah, Montague tried to do us," said George.

"What do you mean, 'tried'?"

"He never managed to get all the words out, due to the fact that we forced him headfirst into that Vanishing Cabinet on the first floor."

"But you'll get into terrible trouble!" Hermione hissed.

"Not until Montague reappears, and that could take weeks, I dunno where we sent him," said Fred coolly.

"Where is this vanishing cabinet?" Harry asked.

"First floor."

"Where on the first floor? Take me to the cabinet now."

"What happened, mate? What's got your knickers in a twist?" Ron asked, munching on a spoonful of eggs.

"A vanishing cabinet always comes in pairs. It can be used to transport things or even people from one cabinet to another if the user knows the right spell. We need to destroy it."

"What about Montague?" Hermione whispered as Harry got up, picking up two hurriedly-made bacon sandwiches with him.

"We'll retrieve him if possible and obliviate his memories," Harry replied, gesturing to Hermione to remain seated as Fred and George stood up. Hermione complied and remained seated as the twins led Harry out of the Great Hall to the first floor where the cabinet was situated.

Harry dusted his hands, brushing the crumbs of bread off, before examining the cabinet in front of him.

"Secure the corridor. Make sure no one comes here. I need some time to examine it before destroying this."

"Aye, sir," they saluted before marching off to do the work, making Harry roll his eyes. With a flick of his wrist, his wand shot into his hands and he waved it over the cabinet, casting detection charms over it.

The results made him frown. The cabinet was indeed a vanishing cabinet with powerful enchantments. But many of those enchantments were broken. Not faded. Broken. It was troubling, especially for Montague. Harry now had no idea where he had gone. Teleportation enchantments, especially without a closely-knit and monitored network(like floo) were one hell of a tricky thing. Montague could've technically ended up anywhere in the world even if anywhere beyond Scotland was a minuscule probability.

And the problem was that there was no way of tracking him without some use of blood magic for which Harry would need some of Montague's blood, a commodity that he didn't have.

He studied the panels of the cabinet closely, taking in the runes carved on the mahogany wood. Some runes had been scratched off and two of the panels were missing with one cracked. This had resulted in the linking rune, which linked it to its counterpart, being damaged and nonfunctional. But the protection Runes on the cabinet were intact, making sure that it couldn't be destroyed by simple means like a Bombarda or an Incendio spell.

Harry rechecked everything once more before stepping back.

Montague had likely appeared somewhere already and there was no way Harry could bring him back through the cabinet. Also, the cabinet was a danger to students and the castle, even in its current condition. And if someone, namely Voldemort, found its counterpart and repaired it, it might give way to a Death Eater invasion in the castle, a big no-no in Harry's eyes.

Harry waved his wand, temporarily disabling the fire safety ward in the area before flicking his wand in the cabinet's direction. Acid Green flames rushed out of his wand, enveloping the artifact. It pained Harry to destroy such a wonderful artifact even if it was broken, but it was for the best. And he could always make one himself… he probably would. A vanishing cabinet would make an excellent Runes or Charms extra credit project for the NEWTS… a compulsory thing that he needed to submit for every subject.

His arm buckled slightly as a shockwave emitted from the cabinet, signifying that its protection runes had been overloaded, a moment before it started to burn. A moment later, Harry ended the flame and watched as the cabinet burned down to ashes.

With a wave of his wand, the ashes vanished and with another, the soot on the walls and floor cleared, leaving no evidence that a cabinet, a powerful artifact at that, had stood here minutes ago.

"You burned it to ashes…" Fred moaned.

"Yes, I did. And next time, don't shove people into magical artifacts. Just stun them and hex them or something. This is dangerous. Montague could've died and you would've been sent to Azkaban if the word that you were responsible got out." Harry growled.

"Where's Montague?" George asked, gulping.

"Somewhere. The teleportation sequence was intact but the destination linking one wasn't. He has been teleported somewhere in one piece but it could be anywhere from a toilet in the castle to a Dragon's nest."

"So… you have no idea where he is?"

"No."

"Shit."

"Try to see if he pops up somewhere in the castle… or wait," Harry said, removing the marauder's map. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good. Come on you two. Help me search for him." Harry said, as lines spread on the parchment, revealing the map of Hogwarts.

Harry frantically searched through the names in the castle, looking for Montague, praying that he was in fact, inside the castle and not somewhere unknown.

"There!" George shouted, pointing at the boy's washroom on the fourth floor. The dot labeled as Henry Montague was clearly visible there.

"Let's go," Harry said, running towards the washroom, only to stop short as he sensed a ward a few meters ahead. Standard privacy wards and a protective shield ward.

"Not bad for an amateur in warding," Harry said, looking at the twins who beamed. "But I am destroying it."

With a jab of his wand, a blue light shot out of his wand, impacting the enchantments and destroying them.

"Let's go," He said, sparing a glance at the map. Montague had not moved an inch from where he was, it seemed.

The three rushed up the stairs to the fourth-floor washroom.

"Montague?" Harry asked, only to get a muffled response, sounding like a muffled scream of help from a nearby cubicle. Harry pushed the door open but the cubicle was empty.

"Montague?" Harry asked, looking around before spotting a mop of black hair in the toilet.

"Shit. He is stuck inside!"

"Oops," Fred winced. "Can you get him out?"

"Yeah, but it is going to be a bit disgusting," Harry said, before getting to work.

---

30th November 1995

Room of Requirements, Hogwarts

"Good evening, everyone. Before we begin, I would like to congratulate you all on the excellent job you all did today in regards to the Inquisitorial Squad. No one went overboard with their hexing and yet, caused enough damage and humiliation to make a good number of members resign from the job Umbridge gave them, and most importantly, none of you got caught!"

A cheer went up at Harry's statement.

They had done a good job indeed. Several Slytherins had gone to the Hospital wing in hilarious conditions. Some had antlers sprouting from their heads, some were walking upside down or backward, some had vividly colored beards or fur growing uncontrollably on their bodies and whatnot.

A couple even had broken bones or such from incorrect spells or falling, but nothing that would be worrying or result in anything more than a week's detention.

The cherry on the cake was that Umbridge was absolutely fuming at the resignation of so many students from her little group. The message to the school had been clear. Support Umbridge only if you want to suffer. Some dunderheads were yet to understand the message but Harry was sure they would soon.

As the cheering subsided, Harry continued, "A few still persist or are yet to get the message. So, continue the mission till every support Umbridge has in the school is utterly destroyed. And make sure it happens within a couple of days so we don't have to bear their tyranny any more than necessary. And make sure that you aren't seen."

Everyone nodded in unison at that.

"Very well. Now, as for what we are doing today. Today, we shall revise everything we have learned till now. From Expelliarmus to the Patronus charm. I know quite a few of you are yet to get a corporeal Patronus but, I am sorry as I can't afford to spend more time on it. Practice on your own and if you need help, come personally to me. Now, let us revise."

"What else will you teach us after this?" Someone asked.

"Nothing today. It is just revision," Harry replied. "And from the next session, a good part of it will be dedicated to fighting. I have taught you several spells till now and so, we can move on to actually using them in a fight properly. Remember. You can know ten times more spells than your opponent does but if you don't know how to use them, it is useless."

"So, will we have duels with each other? Proper duels?" A fourth-year Hufflepuff asked excitedly.

"No. You will have fights. Dueling and fights, while similar, have one difference. Rules. In a real fight, there are no rules. There is no do-over. No second chances, warnings, or such. It can be a two-on-one, three-on-one, or a whole army against one. It is not fair. So, you need to learn to deal with such situations. Where you are outnumbered, where you are in a trap, yadda yadda yadda. So, make sure, everything you've learned is perfect. If it isn't, you have the chance today."

Harry gazed at every person in the room, meeting their eyes.

"Also, we will be starting spell-chaining next session. Now, what is spell chaining? Well, it is an over-glorified name for fast spell casting. The idea of it is that you practice casting a series of spells in rapid succession. The practice will make it mechanical, so you do not have to think about what spell you would have to shoot next, making the casting faster and evenly powered. So, make a list of three to five offensive spells you like. If not, I will give you my own, which is Bludgeoner followed by the piercing hex, Reducto, Expelliarmus, and Stupefy. For now, begin revision. Disarmer first!"

---

23rd December 1995

London

With a stretch, Harry rose from his seat as the Hogwarts express started slowing to a stop. With a wave of his wand, his trunk flew off the rack, shrinking in the mid-air, before landing in his hand. He pocketed it before turning to his friends, who were doing the same except for Hermione, who was going to carry her truck in its normal state as she had no one to unshrink it for her. But, she had applied a feather-light charm on it, making it easy for her to travel with it.

She was going to Italy for a vacation with her parents this Christmas. Harry, Daphne, Susan and their families on the other hand were going to France. The Delacour mansion to be precise. Fleur's parents had invited all of them to their mansion, wishing to meet everyone and finalize the betrothal contract with Harry.

And the good news was, they were going straight from King's Cross to The Ministry of Magic to take a portkey to France. They weren't going to be there for long. Only till the evening of the twenty-sixth after which they would return to Britain… only to take it by storm if things went according to the plan.

Harry bid Hermione and the Weasleys goodbye before taking Susan's hand and side-along apparating her straight to the British Ministry of Magic where Sirius and Amelia were going to be waiting for them. The Greengrass family was coming by a separate portkey because of the international portkey travel rules by which only four wizards or witches could use a Portkey to traverse international borders in a single trip, irrespective of whoever they were. If more people were there, they needed to take another Portkey.

Without a single sound, the two of them appeared in a corner of the atrium before they started walking towards the golden lifts as Harry slowly faded the notice-me-not charm on them. As they passed through the atrium, many people, who noticed Harry started whispering amongst themselves. Harry ignored them and pushed the button, summoning the lift.

"Evening, Nymphadora," Harry greeted, making her jump as she stepped out of the lift, reading a file.

Her hair circled from one color to another before settling back on pink. "Hey, Harry. Fancy meeting you here."

"Yes, I am going to your boss's office. Wanna come?"

"Nah, I need to go to the Alley for work. Have fun in France!" She waved as Harry and Susan entered the lift and the gates began to close.

They got out on the second level where the DMLE offices were, proceeding straight to Amelia's office. Susan knocked and pushed the door open only to reveal not only Amelia and Sirius but also Fudge present in the office.

"Potter," Fudge growled as soon as he saw him.

"Cornelius. An utter displeasure to see your sorry ass. Are you here to plead for your mistakes and tell me that you finally believe that Voldemort is back and help you salvage the situation?"

Fudge scowled. "I will fall before I believe your and Dumbledore's lies, Potter. Remember. I wouldn't let you and Dumbledore succeed in your schemes. Take this as a warning. The moment I get enough proof of your wretched schemes, I will bring the full might of the ministry on you, boy. I will not let Dumbledore and you succeed in ruining the peace I have heralded for a decade."

Harry shrugged. "If that is your wish. You will fall before you are forced to believe the truth staring at your face. Now, why are you here?"

"Ministry business which is none of your concerns. And Amelia, after you return from your break, we shall discuss a few details of your employment." He said before proceeding to leave but was stopped by Harry laying a firm hand on his shoulder before making the minister turn to face him.

"I do not appreciate what you did, Fudge. Threaten her or anyone I consider family again, and I will bring the wrath of House Potter-Black on you. And believe me, when I say, it won't be pretty for you, Minister of Magic or not. Cause I swear, if you even try to touch a hair or anyone I consider my friend or family, I will make you regret being born." Harry hissed, sending shivers down Fudge's spine.

Harry pushed the minister away before turning to Amelia. "If he threatens you again, just tell me and I will make sure that this buffoon faces the wrath of House Potter and Black."

Amelia raised an eyebrow. "While I appreciate your concern, I assure you that help won't be needed if anyone threatens me. I am the Regent of House Bones, a house of equal standing to yours."

"So, Fudge, this means you're fucked. Now get out of here," Sirius said cheerfully, pushing the man out of the door and closing it.

"Well… that was something," Susan said, looking at them.

"Fudge has been very annoying as of late," Amelia said. "Before you both came, he was trying to persuade me to change the one in charge of DMLE in my five-day absence."

"From whom to whom?"

"I have chosen Shacklebolt for the position. He was trying to persuade me to give it to Percy Weasley of all people. I refused."

Harry scrunched his nose at the mention of Percy Weasley. He was still one of the biggest centers of pain to the Weasley family and especially Molly. She still burst into tears if someone mentioned him.

"Well, we have our portkey in half an hour. You kids can freshen up if you want and I have told Dobby to prepare some sandwiches. You must be hungry." Sirius said.

"Food would be good," Harry agreed. "And some coffee."

"Then it is coming right up, courtesy of the awesome Sirius Black " Sirius replied, clapping his hands and two plates of sandwiches appeared on Amelia's desk. "Amelia will arrange the coffee."

"What happened? Your dramatics ran out at an unexpected request?"

"Nah, my awesome food summoning powers are limited to food. Not drinks!" Sirius said with an incorrigible grin.

---

23rd December 1995

The Minister's Office, British Ministry of Magic

With a harsh bang, Cornelius Fudge slammed the door of his office shut before walking to his desk and leaning on it, breathing heavily.

He couldn't believe the nerve of Potter! The boy had dared to threaten him inside his own Ministry! The boy, a measly fifteen-year-old child threatening the Minister of Magic! Dumbledore was one thing but this… this was different regardless of who the boy was!

And what a threat it was! The boy had threatened to destroy him as if he was a measly nobody instead of the Minister of Magic! And that was not to get started on the horrendous power the boy had exerted on him, making him feel like he was being crushed and suffocated to death by his sheer magical power.

He conceded that he shouldn't have threatened Amelia Bones of all people, but Potter had simply gone overboard, threatening him while crushing him with his unfathomable power!

No child… hell, no one should be allowed to have such power!

With a yell of rage, he swept all the items off his desk, causing an avalanche of paper and items on the floor, mixing the meticulously arranged items and even ruining some important documents.

But he didn't care for that.

He had a bigger fish to fry. Namely, how in the name of Merlin was he supposed to face them and stop them from taking over magical Britain if both Potter and Dumbledore could crush him with a mere thought?

No… no! Something had to be done! But, what!?

In frustration, Fudge kicked his desk before howling in pain and clutching his foot as pain shot through it.

'Just wonderful,' He thought sarcastically to himself as he leaped around, clutching his foot in pain.

---

23rd December 1995

Ministry of Magic, France

Harry, Sirius, Susan, and Amelia appeared in a swirl of colors at the portkey arrival point in France.

"Portkey from Britain. Please deposit your portkey in the box before proceeding to the security checks. The French ministry wishes you a pleasant day." The automated female voice announced.

Amelia threw the teacup without a care in the box before leading the way through the door towards the security checks. Two French hit-wizards checked them and their belongings for any illegal artifacts and items. Finding nothing they told them to proceed ahead, before wishing them a good day.

Harry walked to the desk, where the witch who had asked him for an autograph for her daughter about a year and a half ago when he had come to France for the dueling tournament, was seated.

Her eyes widened as she saw him.

"Monsieur Potter," She breathed.

"Madame," Harry greeted before giving her his papers which she accepted after composing herself.

"All seems to be in order," She said, handing the documents back.

"Thank you. Have a good day."

"You too, monsieur Potter."

Harry went out of the room and he was immediately engulfed in a tight, near rib-cracking hug by someone small with blonde hair, chattering in rapid french, half of which Harry couldn't make out despite his translation charm being active.

"Gabby, let the poor boy breathe." Appoline Delacour said, with amusement shining in her eyes. Gabrielle broke the hug, giving Harry an innocent, toothy grin.

"Hi Gabrielle," Harry said, holding her by her shoulders. "Look at you! You've grown!" He added in French, making the little veela beam.

"I missed you so much! I was so excited since papa told me that you are coming to stay!" She said, jumping in excitement.

"It is good to hear," Harry said with a smile before turning to look at Apolline. "Now, let me introduce you to my companions. This is Susan, this is her aunt and the head of British DMLE Amelia Bones, and this is my godfather, Sirius Black."

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Delacour," Susan said.

The Delacour matriarch returned her warm smile. "Nice to meet you as well, dear. And please, call me Apolline. Sebastian and Fleur will be with us shortly. Sebastian got called for some work and Fleur, ever the daddy's girl, went with him. They were supposed to be back a few minutes ago, but I hope you understand that a five-ten minute delay in Sebastian's line of work is nothing significant."

"True," Amelia agreed. "And we need to wait for the Greengrasses anyway. Their Portkey's due in twenty minutes. Plus the security check."

"We are here, we are here!" Sebastian called as he jogged towards them, Fleur following behind him briskly with a smile on her face.

"Sorry for the delay, everyone," Sebastian said. "Got held up a bit. Hello, Madame Bones!"

"Monsieur Delacour, it is good to see you as well," Amelia greeted back with a smile.

"You two know each other?" Sirius asked, looking between the two.

"Of course, we do. We both are heads of DMLE for our respective governments and the relations of France and Britain are rather close." Amelia replied, rolling her eyes. "We know each other from the past… what? Eight years?"

"Nine. Well, almost nine. I first met you a few days after my ascension to the Head of DMLE. I will complete my nine years in the coming February." Sebastian replied.

"That is impressive," Susan offered.

"Oui, but your Aunt has been serving for more than twelve years, Susan. She is in line for running for the longest term as the Head of DMLE for any government. The highest is eighteen years." Fleur chimed in.

"Actually, she is not in that position for long," Harry whispered conspiratorially. "She is going to get promoted to the Minister of Magic in a few days."

"Wait," Sebastian Delacour called, frowning. "How… how can you say that, Harry?"

"Cause I am going to make her the minister. Simple as that. And Dumbledore will support me along with the Daily Prophet and The Quibbler."

Speaking of the Quibbler, the sales of the last two editions of the magazine had been phenomenal. The share value of the paper had gone up by five-hundred and twenty percent. From a rag of the magazine, it had turned to become the latest gossip of the wizarding world. In the latest edition, it had published a list of safety measures against homes being attacked, along with a list of safety protocols. The most important thing? Xenoliphus Lovegood had managed to get a former Hit-wizard who fought in the First war to give these tips.

"But… What of Fudge?"

Harry looked around before shaking his head. "We should talk about it once we get to the house. Such talk is better to have in the privacy of our homes."

"Fair enough, let us wait for the Greengrasses then."

---

24th December 1995

Delacour Château , France

Harry woke up with a lazy stretch in a comfy, unknown bed. Thankfully, he knew exactly where he was. Château Delacour, France. The home of the Delacour family for generations.

The Château was one of the most beautiful houses he had ever seen. Calling it a house was an insult, as it was nothing short of a small castle. A small, beautiful castle made of white marble and surrounded by lush greenery, full of plants, both mundane and magical. They also had a stable full of Abraxan Horses which Sebastian was very proud of. The Château was luxurious, much like homes of British Purebloods, and brimming with magic.

Yes, every brick of the house was enchanted during the French Revolution in the late 1700s and it stood till this day, looking as grand as the day it was made. The wards around the property were nothing to scoff at either. Not as great as Hogwarts or what he had laid on Grimmauld Place, but definitely on par with his home in Somerset… just more powerful as they covered a greater area.

He sat up with a yawn, looking around his room. The clock(an ancient one that once belonged to some muggle king) showed that it was a little before seven in the morning. Harry wandlessly summoned his wand before casting a teeth-cleaning and mouth-freshening charm on himself before getting up from the bed and going to the huge window.

Even despite it being winter, the temperature and weather inside the house were perfect, thanks to the temperature and weather control wards. Outside, the lush greenery could be seen as the sprinklers sprung to life, spraying water to the plants just as the clock chimed seven. Harry could see why Fleur despised Britain's weather so much if she woke to this every single day. Harry just looked at the scenery for a few minutes, enjoying the site before going to the ensuite bathroom to get ready for the day.

After showering, Harry came out of the bathroom, shirtless while drying his hair with a fluffy white towel and was greeted by a wolf whistle.

Fleur Delacour was sitting on his bed, wearing a baby blue night dress, admiring his body.

Harry smiled at her. "Bonjour, Fleur"

She sauntered forward, before putting her arms around Harry's neck. "Oui, Bonjour, 'arry,"

The husky voice and the French accent to his name sent tingles down Harry's spine.

"I was comeeng to wake you," Fleur whispered, her french accent, purposefully thick.

Harry grabbed her by the waist before pulling her near. "I would've liked that. A shame I got up early." He whispered back in her ear, making Fleur shiver slightly.

"Oui. And I deedn't get to welcome you properly yesterday."

"You have the chance now," Harry whispered, and Fleur smashed her lips to his, kissing him passionately, her hands exploring every inch of his bare back.

Harry's hands weren't idle either as they too roamed up and down Fleur's body while he backed her towards the dressing table.

Fleur's tongue sought entrance and he allowed it before wrestling it for dominance as the back of Fleur's leg hit the dressing table. Wandlessly, Harry pushed away the sparse contents on it before grabbing Fleur's bountiful backside and propping her on the table, inadvertently, breaking the heated kiss.

Fleur looked at him with half-lidded eyes before grabbing his head roughly, and pulling him into another kiss, as she wrapped her legs around his waist.

Harry's hand slithered up her stomach onto her breasts, squeezing it, making Fleur moan into his mouth, pulling him even tighter, as if trying to mold their body into one.

Harry broke the kiss, his lips trailing down in a heated trail to Fleur's long slender neck, peppering kisses down the way before sucking on her collarbone, making the girl moan.

"Harry— AHHHH!" A voice shouted from the doorway, startling the couple out of their activity. And Harry turned and saw Gabrielle standing there with her back to them, covering her face with her hands.

"Gabby!" Fleur exclaimed in a scandalized tone. "What are you doing here?"

"I just came to wake Harry. Mama said to wake everyone as we have places to go. I came here first and saw you both like this!" She exclaimed in French, still not turning.

With a wave of his hand, Harry summoned a shirt from his bag and put it over his torso before tapping it with his finger, resulting in the shirt getting buttoned and properly tucked in his pants. In the meantime, Fleur got off the dressing table and straightened her night dress.

"You can turn Gabrielle. We are decent… we were anyway even before you came."

"You weren't wearing a shirt," She argued, making Harry shrug. "Anyway, mama told you to get ready. I am going to go and wake your friends. Breakfast is at eight-thirty. Be down in time. Bye!"

She said, before running away giggling.

"That midget is going to tell everyone stories," Fleur scowled, making Harry snicker.

"I am going to sign a marriage contract with you, tomorrow. Finding us in a heated kiss is nothing, to be honest."

"Oh, you don't know Gabby. She is going to make stories up regarding what we were doing. Little brat."

"Well, we have forty minutes… where were we?"

Fleur rolled her eyes. "My mood is ruined by her. And I need to get ready. See you later, Harry." She said before walking towards the door.

"You know, Fleur? I just noticed that I like your French accent better. Harry seems plain, coming from you."

Fleur turned to him with a smirk before giving him a saucy wink and walking out of the door, making Harry sigh.

Bloody annoying little sisters.

---

Notes:

AND... DONE!

Hope you all liked the chapter and how I have shifted the canon timeline. Soon, it will diverge completely.

A huge thanks to I_amaSWITCHbot and Ultimate_Gamer for betaing the chapter.

.

Also, do join my Discord server, House of HPfanfictioner66 where you can directly communicate with me, ask questions, etc. Hope to see you all lovely readers there soon Link: discord . gg / 4qfP3fxdQ4 [Remove the spaces please]

I have my own channel on the discord server known as Emerald Library. I recommend that you join the server and there, you won't only have access to me, but several other big authors who have their channels on the Emerald Library. Link: discord . gg / jtAxRnH6Tk [Remove the spaces please]

I also invite you all to join the Harry Potter Cord Server, one of the biggest servers for Potterheads out there! Hang out with thousands of witches and wizards online, and participate in the immersive House Cup! Link: discord . gg / pottercord [Remove the spaces please]

.

At the moment, I have four main stories. They are:

1. The Rise of the Last Potter: My Novel length Harry Potter fic which is already 300k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly.

2. The Legend of the Son of Poseidon: A Novel Length Percy Jackson fic which is already 250k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly

3. Loved Ones Skipping Stones and Ice-cream: A fluffy Haphne one-shot. It is completed obviously.

4. SECRETS: Another romantic one-shot I published recently. Complete as well.

(PLEASE READ THEM ALL)

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 62: A Date and a Meeting

Notes:

AND... DONE!

Hope you all liked the chapter and how I have shifted the canon timeline. Soon, it will diverge completely.

A huge thanks to I_amaSWITCHbot and Ultimate_Gamer for betaing the chapter.

Also, I am sorry I am updating a week late. Those who are on my server already know that it is because I had a bunch of exams in the past two weeks and thus I couldn't find time to write. Heck, I just came back after giving one a couple of hours ago. Originally, this chapter was going to be longer as well but it was turning too long and thus I have cut it and the Battle of DOM will be in the next chapter.

.

Well, that's all. Thank you everyone for showering so much love on my story.

.

Also, do join my Discord server, House of HPfanfictioner66 where you can directly communicate with me, ask questions, etc. Hope to see you all lovely readers there soon Link: discord . gg / 4qfP3fxdQ4 [Remove the spaces please]

I have my own channel on the discord server known as Emerald Library. I recommend that you join the server and there, you won't only have access to me, but several other big authors who have their channels on the Emerald Library. Link: discord . gg / jtAxRnH6Tk [Remove the spaces please]

I also invite you all to join the Harry Potter Cord Server, one of the biggest servers for Potterheads out there! Hang out with thousands of witches and wizards online, and participate in the immersive House Cup! Link: discord . gg / pottercord [Remove the spaces please]

.

At the moment, I have four main stories. They are:

1. The Rise of the Last Potter: My Novel length Harry Potter fic which is already 300k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly.

2. The Legend of the Son of Poseidon: A Novel Length Percy Jackson fic which is already 250k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly

3. Loved Ones Skipping Stones and Ice-cream: A fluffy Haphne one-shot. It is completed obviously.

4. SECRETS: Another romantic one-shot I published recently. Complete as well.

(PLEASE READ THEM ALL)

.

Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Ch.61 A Date and a Meeting

26th December 1995

France

Harry slid on his watch, an expensive Rolex watch with a silver Oyster-type band with a brilliant blue dial dotted with golden markings and silver hands that ticked, showing the precise time wherever Harry went. It was not only expensive but also enchanted with runes drawn on its back. On top of it, the watch was brand new. A gift from Amelia on that very morning in fact when they had opened their Christmas presents together.

And he loved the present. Watches were admittedly like a guilty pleasure for him. He simply loved watches, especially enchanted ones. Of course, there were other material things he loved, like broomsticks for example, but already having the best broom in the market reduced the excitement to buy a new broom to almost nothing. News, if the Quidditch Fortnight was to be believed, was that the bolt brand- the creators of firebolt, was making a new broom model which would be even better than the firebolt and be released in a year. But, nothing had been confirmed. For now, the newest broom in the market was the Nimbus 2005 and the Arrow Extreme, both of which were inferior to the firebolt.

So, for now, Harry had no interest in brooms unless he decided to enchant one himself and make it superior to even the firebolt.

'Now, that is an idea. Creating a broom for the NEWT project. A broom that is better than the best broom on the market. With a patent, I could likely sell the design for a good couple of million Galleons if it is better than the firebolt. Maybe even more.' Harry thought to himself as he adjusted his Dark-navy blue tuxedo, making sure he looked the best he could.

It was something Salazar had hammered in him. Appearance matters. Especially in important events and when courting a lady. He had to look his best and dress according to the occasion, whether he cared about it or not. And, for the record, he cared about today's occasion, considering he was going on a date with his fiancée, Fleur Delacour.

In lieu of the occasion, Harry had booked reservations for a dinner cruise, one which would be along the Seine aboard a cruise ship, while they enjoyed their meal and admired riverfront sights like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the Louvre simultaneously.

Harry gave himself a mental nod and rechecked his wands before walking out of the room, his black dragon-hide, formal boots clicking on the floor.

As he descended the stairs, his attention was drawn to Susan as she wolf-whistled, looking at him. He smirked and walked down the last few steps, where the whole party, except for Fleur, were sitting, all wearing warm clothes and lounging on the sofas.

"Looking sharp, pup," Sirius, who was sitting next to Amelia, commented, looking up from the game they were playing.

"Thank you."

"You know, I quite like your hair in its natural form rather than this… how did you manage to get it settled?" Daphne asked.

"The Sleekeasy hair potion and fifteen minutes of vigorous work."

"This looks much better than the bird's nest you have," Astoria commented, earning a stink eye from her sister.

"Harry looks nice. Fleur's in for a treat." Gabrielle said with a huge smile, making Harry's eye twitch. True to Fleur's assumption, the little minx had made up stories, making Harry and Fleur a target of everyone's incessant teasing and also placing Harry under the watch of one Sebastian Delacour, regardless of the fact that Fleur was his fiancée already.

"Where's Fleur?" Harry asked, looking around.

"Fleur's getting ready," Apolline replied. "She will be down soon. Be patient."

"Ah, cool."

"Is that the watch I gifted you today?" Amelia asked, likely noticing the watch.

"Yep. It is wonderful. Thank you."

"You're most welcome. Have a seat while you wait for her. A lady, after all, always takes her time to look her best."

"Oui," Apolline agreed. "And you are still twenty minutes early than your reservation time anyway."

Harry nodded and conjured an armchair with the flick of his finger before taking the seat.

"So, what are the plans for tonight?" Fleur's father asked casually.

"A nice cruise dinner down the Seine is the plan and then, whatever Fleur wants."

"A decent enough thing for a date, I suppose," He commented, making Harry bristle. While it wasn't the most romantic of date ideas it was still better than decent enough.

"Well, I am quite excited to hear what you did for Apolline then," Harry asked with a smile.

"Oh, I proposed to her on top of the Eiffel tower while using special fireworks to write, 'Will you marry me, Apolline?' In the air. It was Magnifique. And none of the muggles even suspected it one bit." Sebastian Delacour boasted, making Harry glance at Apolline, who was blushing madly.

Harry gave him an impressed nod, tipping an imaginary hat to him. It was one hell of a way to propose.

Before Harry could ponder over it more, he heard footsteps descending the steps and he turned. He had to forcibly stop his jaw from dropping at the sight he saw.

Fleur was descending the steps, looking like a Goddess floating down from heaven. She was wearing a dark sequin navy-blue gown, similar to the gray-satin one she had worn at the yule ball a year ago but looking much more ethereal than she had then. It was a sleeveless, one-shouldered gown that hugged her body perfectly, highlighting her drool-worthy figure. A slit started from a little above her knee, showing off her long legs.

She caught his eyes, and a smile bloomed on Fleur's face and her blue eyes sparkled.

Without even thinking, Harry walked forward towards her, receiving her at the bottom of the steps.

As she stepped down from the last step onto the floor, Harry noticed that she looked about half-inch taller than him rather than her usual height which was a few inches shorter than his. She was a little above five feet, six inches while Harry was almost six feet. Harry glanced at her feet and saw the reason for this anomaly. Heels. Pencil heels.

"'Arry, you look 'andsome," She said, her French accent purposefully thick.

"And I am still searching for words to describe your beauty, Fleur," Harry replied, making her beam.

"Oh, don't you two look absolutely adorable?" Sirius asked, with an incorrigible grin on his face. "It is like you two are just made for each other!"

"Thank you, Sirius," Fleur replied.

"Oh, you two look lovely. This calls for photos!" Apolline declared, getting up and producing a magical camera out of nowhere.

"Now, come here, at this side, you two. We must have lovely pictures"

Harry licked his dry lips and moved to the decorative wall as Apolline instructed and placed an arm around Fleur's waist, posing for the camera.

What followed could be described as a photo session, one almost as extensive as the session after the wand weighing ceremony for the Triwizard Tournament, albeit with fewer people and more poses.

By the end of it, his cheeks had begun to ache due to the continuous smiling. Fleur, seemingly reading his thoughts, reminded her mother that they had reservations for the cruise and needed to get there on time and led him through the grand door of the manor, into the garden outside.

"You cannot apparate through the wards?" Harry asked Fleur, as they entered the elaborate garden of the Delacour Chateau.

"Non, only my papa can do that. Maman and I can't apparate out. We can apparate within the house, though."

"Ah, cool," Harry said, nodding contemplatively. He had only taken a customary glance at the wards of the house and hadn't done in-depth looking to know such things.

"You didn't say how we are getting there, Harry," She implored.

Harry gave her a weird look and she elaborated, "To the dinner cruise, Harry. It is in Paris."

"We will apparate, of course."

"Apparate to Paris?" Fleur asked with incredulity lacing her voice.

"Yes, apparate to Paris."

"That is halfway across the country! Hundreds of kilometers."

"Yes, I know. Don't worry, we will get there fine."

Fleur nodded. "We would have to make multiple jumps."

"Nah, too boring and time-consuming. We shall do it in a single jump." Harry said and Fleur looked at him with narrowed eyes, making him smirk. Fleur huffed before walking with him wordlessly. As they walked out of the gates, Harry felt the prickle of magic, signifying they had crossed the wards.

They walked a few more feet before Harry stopped and removed his wand before waving it over himself and Fleur.

"Notice-me-not charms. Hold my arm tightly."

Once Fleur tightened her grip, Harry closed his eyes, visualizing his destination, before willing his magic to envelope them and apparating.

Without a sound, the two teens appeared in the alcove of a shop. Fleur drew a deep breath in, recovering from the rather strange apparating experience of apparating. Usually, it felt like being shoved through a thin tube and the world turning upside down. This… It was much smoother. Still not completely comfortable, but loads better than the normal one. She looked around, taking in her new surroundings.

They had appeared in a place hustling and bustling with Muggles. The faint sound of flowing water could be heard in the distance. Fleur's eyes caught the sight of the Eiffel tower, highlighted by its yellow lights, shining brightly in the night, prominently visible above the rest of the city.

"Welcome to Paris," Harry said with a smirk. "Hope you enjoyed your ride."

Fleur chuckled softly, still looking around the nightlife of the city. "It is wonderful. I have never seen the city at night. It looks so… lively."

"It certainly is something," Harry agreed. "Though, I did tour the city after kicking your ass at the World Dueling League."

"You had to mention that, didn't you?" She scowled.

"It gives me immense pleasure to rub that in. You were so confident you were going to defeat the leetle boy, weren't you?"

"Must you hold that against me forever? And at that time, you were a leetle boy. You still are." She added, gesturing to their height difference.

"You are wearing pencil heels."

In response, Fleur maturely stuck her tongue out making Harry roll his eyes.

"Shall we get going? We have to walk a bit to the cruise."

"Oui. Let's go."

Hand in hand, Harry led Fleur to the destination where a huge, pure white cruise ship, having three floors mil give a clear, unobstructed view of the sites along the Seine was decked. The words: Bateaux Magnifique was painted in large, black letters on the side.

The couple walked up to the entrance, where two men in identical black suits stood. They waited for the family of four ahead of them to go in before walking forward.

"Bonjour Monsieur. Mademoiselle." One of them greeted the two with a smile and a slight bow.

"Bonjour. We have a reservation under the name of Harry Potter." Harry said in French.

"One second, Monsieur." The other man said, consulting a ledger. "A premium table for two, am I correct, Monsieur?"

"En effet."

The man quickly gestured and a raven-head girl, who looked barely out of college, came rushing forward. She wore a tight, black skirt with a white shirt and a black, buttoned vest.

The man quickly whispered to her and she too bowed with a radiant smile. "This way, Monsieur, Mademoiselle." She said before leading them to the deck.

"Welcome to Bateaux Magnifique, the premium dinner cruise of Paris. We are glad to have you both here with us." She said as she led them across the deck, to a lift.

Pressing the button, the lift's doors slid open and she gestured to them to go in before following them and pressing the number 2. The elevator moved up and a few moments later, opened on the top most floor, revealing a posh room, having a wide corridor with several Hogwarts-Express-like cabins with elaborate sliding doors just with elaborate dining arrangements instead of a train compartment.

Several of them were clearly meant for only two occupants, while some were moderate-sized, likely with the ability to fit six to seven people. At the end were two huge cabins inside which two huge, rectangular tables covered in white cloth could be seen, likely having the capacity to seat a dozen people or more.

There were a total of twenty-eight such rooms on the whole floor, most of which were open while a couple likely had occupants within if the closed doors and figures behind the translucent glass window with floral designs were any indication.

With a customary glance around the room, Harry noted the exits and other doors on the floor. It was a habit he was trying to cultivate. War was on the horizon and he needed to be careful especially with Voldemort out for his blood.

As they exited the lift, the girl led them to their table.

"Your table, Monsieur. Hope you both enjoy our meal and services."

"Merci," Harry said and the girl departed. Moving around the table, Harry pulled a chair out for Fleur.

"Thank you, 'arry," Fleur curtsied as she gracefully sat down on her chair.

"Anything for my lady," Harry replied as he moved to sit in his chair, opposite Fleur.

There was a minute of awkward silence between them as neither knew what to say. The ship was yet to move for at least a good ten-twelve minutes at least and Harry had nothing in mind that he could bring up with Fleur.

"So, Harry… You never told me what you want to do after Hogwarts. You are going to give your NEWTS in a few months. What after that?"

"I will be staying at Hogwarts even after appearing for my NEWTS. I shall be apprenticing under Albus Dumbledore."

Fleur gave him an impressed nod at that. "As far as I know, he has never taken an Apprentice. Taught as a teacher? Yes. But never an apprentice."

"Well, yes, but that is not exactly true. He has hand-trained Minerva McGonagall in the art of Transfiguration, specifically, battle transfiguration. But it wasn't an official apprenticeship as she already had achieved mastery in the subject. But Dumbledore… taught her more."

"You mean the deputy headmistress of your school?"

"Yes. Her."

"So, he is training her to be his successor?"

"For Hogwarts? Likely. Once Dumbledore retires, McGonagall would undoubtedly be the one to succeed him as the Headmistress. No contest. Professor Flitwick would become the Deputy."

"Shouldn't Flitwick be the headmaster? No offense but he is very well known in both the dueling ring and the Charms communities. His articles are frequently published as well. He is one of the highest authorities on charms there is in the whole of Europe."

"McGonagall is equally famous in Transfiguration circles and the only reason she isn't one of the highest on the list is that she is foreshadowed by Dumbledore. Dumbledore's unmatched in his transfiguration skills. He has a Grand Sorcerer title on top of it. Also, she has the most years as far as teaching is concerned only topped by, once again, Albus Dumbledore."

"Well, Dumbledore is the most powerful wizard in the world. Most studied as well with mastery in Transfiguration, charms, runes, Arithmancy, Potions, Alchemy, Care of Magical creatures, History, and… DADA as well, I think."

"Oh, not in DADA. He has an honorary one, yes. But not an official mastery. He received the honorary one for defeating Grindelwald. His history one is honorary as well. But, despite that, it doesn't matter. He has Seven achieved masteries and hence, the fabled title of Grand Sorcerer. You do know the levels, don't you?"

"Oui. Master for one and two masteries, which is the highest most wizards and witches achieve. Then comes Mage for three or more masteries. Sorcerer for five and above. Grand Sorcerer for seven and above… which goes to ten. From ten, it is labeled as supreme Sorcerer but no one has ever achieved it. Heck, hardly anyone has even achieved a sorcerer title in the past four centuries since the ranking system was introduced. Dumbledore is the only person to achieve Grand Sorcerer after Nicholas and Perenell Flamel."

"Correct, indeed."

"But you didn't answer. What after Hogwarts. Once you achieve these masteries."

"I would have to manage my finances and, along with it, Wizengamot. Two of the richest houses in Britain will be under my control. For now, Goblins manage my finances but they take a rather substantial commission to do it. So, I'll soon take it over. And, if I am ever interested in doing some job… not to brag but I'll easily get into most of them without even trying."

"True. So you're going to do finance management and the Wizengamot."

"And explore more magic when I get the time. Managing estates and politicking is a rather heavy job."

"Oui, I know. My Maman does it for the Delacour estate. She is rather skilled in finance and enjoys it. If not that, she does free-lance enchanting. She has a charms mastery and a runes degree."

"The one-year course instead of the mastery one?" Harry asked.

A degree in a subject was a special one-year long course of the said subject under an ICW certified master. It wasn't a mastery but rather an advanced study course of the subject. It wasn't much but it gave you better job opportunities and opened a lot of doors, so to speak. A certified ICW charms mastery and Runes Degree would probably get you a job in most places where enchanting was needed, like broom companies and Gringotts.

"Oui. That one. I have been pursuing a charms mastery for the past two years. And will follow up with a degree in Runes and Arithmancy after Beauxbatons."

"Whom do you wish to do it under? The degrees?"

"There are quite a few people for the degree one. It will be very easy to do it. And… I am thinking of coming to Britain… you know? After this school year ends."

Harry raised his eyebrow. "What of your mastery? Not that I mind but, mastery is a three-year course."

"Last six months are mostly self-study and projects. And I have already completed two years. Six more months for Beauxbatons to end. Thanks to my Maman tutoring me alongside, I am quite ahead of the syllabus than Madame Forestier expects. So it might just be that I will give my mastery exam in front of the panel before my NEWT results come in!" She squealed, with a huge smile framing her face.

"Impressive," Harry whistled. "A mastery at eighteen if you properly give your presentation in front of the panel. That panel is a tough one though. Do you know who all sit on the charms panel?"

"Oui. Madame Forestier, who is my current teacher. Mrs. Sudha Patel from India's Nalanda University, Agatha Hurst from Salem Institute, Nicholas Aetós from Greece, Angelo Bianchi from Italy, Mr. Amani from South Africa, and of course, your professor Filius Flitwick from Hogwarts."

Harry nodded in agreement. The panel consisted of masters who had dedicated their lives to the advancement of the subject. They were the most revered and the highest authorities in the field. There were always seven spots on the table for seven witches and wizards. For getting a mastery, the student had to present themselves in front of a panel consisting of five of the seven masters.

What would follow, were a project presentation, an interview, and a demonstration of whatever the panel asked the student for. If the student passed their expectations, they were conferred the mastery of the said subject. If they failed, they could retake the exam after a period of six months and it continued till the candidate either gave up or achieved the mastery.

"Yes. But Madame Forestier won't be on the panel for you. It will be five of the other six."

"Oui. She won't be allowed to judge me as she is my teacher."

"I really wish you luck then. If you pass, you will be one of the youngest charms masters in the world."

"Oui. Sixth youngest in history." She said, sticking her nose in the air.

"What after it? Like, after the mastery and the two degrees?"

"I am keeping my options open. I don't… really have a preference as to where I should work. I love enchanting. But, I love dueling as well. My degrees and mastery would make me a perfect choice for warding and curse-breaking professions as well, but I don't quite fancy breaking into old tombs, riddled with traps and whatnot. And, you showed me that I wasn't exactly good at warding or ward-breaking in the Triwizard." She added with a slight grimace making Harry chuckle.

"I assure you that you aren't as bad as you think, Princess. I am just too good at that stuff. I have access to knowledge that would make the most accomplished Curse-breakers green with envy. So, it was quite unfair for you all to face me in that round. And I can attest that your wards on the box were the most difficult ones I faced amongst the champions. The coin almost got me."

"I couldn't even figure out what you had put on the box, much less break it!" She scoffed. "And you say I almost got you."

"You did. If I had just picked it up, I would've gotten stunned. And, as for you not figuring it out… it was meant to be that way, you—" Harry stopped as a chime sounded through the ship.

"Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen. We welcome you to Bateaux Magnifique, the premium dinner cruise of Paris. We hope you have an enjoyable evening with us. Thank you." The announcement sounded and a moment later, the soft music began to play. At the same time, the cruise ship started as well, beginning their journey along the Seine.

"You were saying?" Fleur asked.

"Ah, yes. The wards. The reason you couldn't discern them was that I had weaved a Confoundus charm on top of the whole ward scheme. So, it would throw off detection charms of all kinds. I am guessing that your charms showed that something was there but didn't show you what that something was."

"Oui…" Fleur agreed with a frown. "I didn't know that was possible. How do you counter it?"

"There are two ways. One, a very overpowered Finite Incantatem, or, two, you unweave the ward from the main scheme, dissecting its intent, which should be easy as it is usually applied at the end and the fact you know what it does. And then neutralize. That thing would probably be done in three or four seconds if you have practice." Harry replied, omitting the fact that he had put an additional shield ward on the charm as well, protecting it from being directly hit.

"I know how to do it but am not well-practiced. I still failed… I had expected to be the best in that field… you know? Amongst the four of us."

"You were still the best amongst the three schools. If it wasn't for my inclusion, you would've won. And, if it is any consolation, Bill Weasley, one of the curse breakers at Gringotts told me that it took their team of most senior curse-breakers five hours to break through the wards. You had a few minutes. So, no need to feel sad. As I said, me being in that round was unfair for you all. We Potters were expert warders through generations and the knowledge accumulated by us is unparalleled. The Blacks have invented their own share of wards as well. "

"Fair enough… you would teach me… won't you?"

"Once we marry, of course. You will be a Potter then and the Grimoire will accept you."

"No, no. I meant normal things. You are far too advanced in the field of warding than I am."

"Of course, whatever you want. If you had approached me the day I arrived, I would've given you some of my special tricks."

"Special tricks?"

Harry smirked. "Sometimes, the textbook ways or the ways taught are too lengthy, even in mastery course. Too methodological, I would say. Most of the casting depends on the power of the mind and the intent behind it. When you do it methodologically, it is lengthy, takes more time to learn, and is not as effective as what you do with pure intent magic."

"Sometimes, I feel, you put too much into the mind arts. Like it is the most vital branch of magic."

"It is. Well, not mind arts, per se but rather, a disciplined and organized mind. The mind is the most powerful and vital aspect of our bodies. It is the mind which commands your body and magic. Mind is the center and the reason for all casting. It is obvious that it is the most important. Do you want proof? Then, all the powerful wizards and witches you can name are a master of the mind arts. Grindelwald. Dumbledore. Voldemort. Everyone."

"What about you?"

"Me as well. Level seven in both Occlumency and Legilimency. The things you can do after mastering level six are staggering in both. For example, I can memorize things at a glance. Literally, a glance. It took me less than half an hour to memorize the whole of the NEWT textbooks that Hogwarts recommends. Verbatim."

"That seems like cheating. Even I take two to three reads to memorize something. And proper reading, I mean. I also know Occlumency. A level five. There is no further progress as far as I know though…"

"There is. It takes a lot of concentration and practice. Two more levels. Believe me, Level five to six is the toughest jump. It took me eight months of everyday practice to achieve it. Even more, maybe. And I practiced every morning and before bed."

"You do study a lot, don't you?"

"Yes… I do. This is a welcome vacation. I hadn't had one in ages." Harry moaned just as a knock sounded on the door.

"Enter."

A waiter pushed the door open before smiling at them, two black leather-bound menu books in his hands.

"Monsieur, Mademoiselle." He greeted, laying the menu books on the table. "If you need anything, feel free to press the bell and a waiter will be made available to check on your desire." He added, pointing to the fancy doorbell button near the window before stepping out and closing the door.

Harry ran his fingers on the smooth leather before opening the menu and scanning through it.

"Fruit de mers to start as a common starter?" Fleur asked, making Harry shrug.

"I don't mind."

"And we order something different for the main course according to our wishes."

"Fair. If you've decided, should I call the waiter?"

In response, Fleur pressed the bell herself and the waiter appeared a moment later.

"Yes, sir?"

"One plate of Fruit de mers for starters. Followed by Coeur de Rumsteak with a sauce foie gras and steamed rice and haricots verts for myself. And for the lady…"

"Cabieau on lettuce with a dressing of lemon and white sauce. Alongside small tomatoes and a bit of carrot rapé." Fleur replied, making the waiter nod as he rapidly noted what they said on a small notepad.

"Of course. Anything else?"

"That is all for now, thank you."

---

27th December 1995

Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, London

The floo in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place flared Green and a moment later, Harry stepped out of it, vanishing the soot on his clothes with a flick of his finger. As the soot disappeared, he looked around the room, where a handful of people were already present.

Namely Dumbledore, Mad-eye Moody, Andromeda Tonks, Nymphadora Tonks, Flitwick, McGonagall, Snape, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Rufus Scrimgeour, Alegron Croaker, Emily Vance, and Hestia Jones.

"Good evening, Harry. Did you have a good trip, my boy?"

"Yes, sir. It was a welcome break for me and France was delightful. Where's Sirius? He just went through a minute before me."

"Here, here," A voice called from the doorway as Sirius came in back with Remus and Molly.

"Let's begin," Moody grunted.

"Amelia is coming, Mad-eye. Let us wait for her. And Susan as well."

"Arthur and Bill too. They are getting the plans from upstairs." Molly added

"We will wait for them. And, I am afraid, I wouldn't allow Susan to join," Dumbledore stated, directing the last part at Harry.

"I am aware, sir. She is just coming through the floo and will go to her room."

On cue, the floo flared green once more and Susan stepped out.

"Hello everyone."

"Good evening, Miss Bones. I hope you had a wonderful vacation."

"It was wonderful, headmaster," she said, beaming.

"Good to hear that. It has been years since I last had a nice vacation and went on a trip to just enjoy it. Alas… anyway, Miss Bones, I would have to request you to leave the room."

"Ah, a meeting. Have fun, I guess. See you all." She said, before pecking Harry on the cheek and going toward the door. She stopped at the entrance of the kitchen, and side-stepped, allowing Mr. Weasley and Bill to come in while greeting them, before leaving the room.

A moment later, the floo flared green once more and Amelia stepped out.

"Oh, I am not late, am I?" She asked, looking around.

"No, just on time. Come, have a seat so we can begin." Moody said, a touch impatient and Amelia swiftly took the empty seat beside Sirius.

"Alright. Good evening everyone. You all must be wondering why I have called you all here. That too specifically you all, instead of the whole Order. The answer is simple. We are going to carry out a plan that Harry and I have been making since the return of Voldemort. A plan to expose his return to the greater wizarding world and cause damage to his forces and use all the consequences of the event to overthrow Cornelius and his administration, all in one single, swift move."

"You mean to say that you have had a plan in the works by yourself?" Remus asked.

"Yes, we did. Not everything is shared with the order. The last time we did, Azkaban was broken out a few hours before we had planned to strike. We are not making the same mistake again." Harry said firmly. "Also, we have been dropping hints all over, some time or the other. But the exact details of it will be shared now. You all are gathered here because you are our most trustworthy people and because we might need you to give input in this plan."

Nods were shared around the table.

"So, first of all, what we are going to do to lure Voldemort out. We will be doing so, by the means of a prophecy in the Department of mysteries that Voldemort is after."

"Prophecy?" McGonagall asked sharply.

"Yes, a prophecy foretelling his downfall. The very same thing that forced him to come after me and my family fourteen years ago. He wishes to know its full contents. At that time, he knew only a few lines, and now, he wants to know all of its contents."

"You mean to say that you-know-who is after something as willy-nilly as a prophecy, and it is the reason that Lily and James are dead?" McGonagall questioned almost unbelievingly.

"I know it sounds unbelievable. But, both Dumbledore here and Voldemort believe in this Prophecy. And I am being forced to believe it, but that is not important right now. What is important is that Voldemort wants to obtain this prophecy, which is stored in a glass orb in the Hall of Prophecies inside the Department of Mysteries… or he thinks so at least. The Prophecy orb has already been replaced by a fake one, thanks to Croaker. But Voldemort doesn't know this and wants the orb to hear the prophecy."

"He can just send someone to pick the orb, can't he?" Remus questioned.

"He can't. A prophecy orb can only be picked by the subjects it concerns. And, while we are at it, I would like to add, divination is one of the most obscure arts we study and not willy-nilly." Croaker said, scathingly.

"Alright, we aren't going into that," Dumbledore interrupted before McGonagall could retort.

"How long have you two known this?" Amelia asked, looking between Harry and Dumbledore. "How long have you two known that he is after this orb in Croaker's department?"

"Amelia, my dear, that is not important—"

"Answer my bloody question, headmaster!" She snapped.

"Since Croaker said Death Eaters were lurking outside the DOM. We told you all that he wanted something in the department. Just not what." Harry said placatingly.

"Bullshit. You told us we might be. You said you were not sure." Amelia growled. "I thought you trusted us…"

"We do. If we didn't, Dumbledore and I would've just gone to the Department and done our thing. Not called this meeting." Harry growled back, incensed by her tone. "Do you think that Dumbledore and I can't handle a few Death Eaters and force Voldemort to come out? I single-handedly killed fourteen of his men while dueling Voldemort. Fourteen."

"Harry, Amelia, please. We are not here to fight."

"I am not fighting, Headmaster. I am upset. You could've told us—"

"That there is a prophecy concerning me and Voldemort that Voldemort wants to get his hands on?" Harry asked. "What difference would it have made?"

Amelia breathed heavily, clenching her fist on the table. "The fact that there is a prophecy—"

"Makes no difference. I am going to kill him, a stupid prophecy or not. I will avenge my parents. I don't care that there is a prophecy. For me, the prophecy is a weapon against Voldemort. A weapon to lure him out into the open and kick the ministry in its behind. I never put much stock in it. I know Voldemort is coming after me, regardless. I am too big of a pain in his ass for him to leave untouched. If anything, the prophecy is just a confirmation that I will avenge my parents."

"That is not my point. I am just telling you that you should've shared it… with at least someone. Sirius, me… someone."

"Amelia… Harry did tell me." Sirius said, making Amelia's head whip toward him.

"You knew?"

"I did… sort of. He never told me the contents of it. Said that it was useless and a hazard to know."

"I am sorry to interrupt but you can solve your family matters afterward, lass. We are here for something important." Moody grunted, banging his staff on the floor, both his eyes fixed piercingly on Amelia, making her nod with reluctance but Harry knew the topic wasn't over.

He would've to make matters right with Amelia after this meeting.

"Thank you, Alastor. Now, as for the plan, it is simple. Near midnight tomorrow, Harry and I will be going to the Department of Mysteries to pick up the orb. Severus will relay our plans to Voldemort, making him send Death Eaters to retrieve the Prophecy orb or come himself. If he does, he will be revealed. If he doesn't, we will defeat his Death Eaters and force him to come if he wishes to obtain the prophecy. Anyway, once he arrives, we will give a signal and the ministry will be alerted of an emergency, making them come to the spot and witness Voldemort in the flesh."

"After that?"

"Seeing so many, Voldemort will flee. He won't take the ministry with me and Dumbledore both present at the scene."

"Why not just defeat and kill him or capture him? You both have fought him to a standstill. If you two go against him alone, he is a dead man walking!" Hestia Jones asked.

"The thing is that it is not easy. One, Voldemort is not a slouch and I reckon, even on the defensive, he would give us a tough fight. And two, even if we capture Voldemort, he will escape. He is too powerful to be contained by some measly cell in Azkaban. Sirius escaped Azkaban and so did Barty Crouch Junior and Augustus Rookwood."

"Then Nurmengard. Dumbledore put Grindelwald there, didn't he? And he has been there for the last fifty years." Amelia stated. "Also, if you cannot capture him, kill him. Simple."

"It isn't simple, actually. Quite the opposite." Dumbledore said grimly. "We cannot kill him till we know how he survived on Halloween all those years ago and take steps to prevent the same from happening again. Cause if we don't, we will simply be worsening our situation."

"Albus is correct," Flitwick agreed. "All this is being caused by most of us thinking he was dead on Halloween. We need to ensure that if we kill him this time, he will die once and for all."

"Also, Voldemort would just flee if he felt that he was in danger of losing. Do you think he will remain in a losing battle? No, he won't. He will flee as soon as he sees the ministry. He won't confront Harry and me with the whole Auror and Hit-wizard force present. He has done that in the past as well while fighting me alone." Dumbledore recalled. "This time, I have Harry. So, our prime objective is to cause damage to his forces, and if possible, Voldemort himself, while revealing his existence to the world so people are no longer in the dark."

"I still feel you are holding something from us. The two of you."

"Maybe," Harry shrugged unrepentantly. "I know you don't like it. But some things… the fewer people who know it, the better."

"The boy is right, lass. This is war. You can never be sure, a trustworthy person or not. You never know when they might break, especially under duress. And, the enemy we face is a master Legilimens and a very powerful and dark wizard to boot. You may be great with a wand and stuff but you won't stand against him. I agree with Potter and Dumbledore. A few things are best concealed. I have seen what revealing schemes can do. I have seen that even your most trusted could betray you under duress and in life-threatening situations. Tell me, lass. Your niece, Potter's girlfriend. If her life is on the line, will you or will you not give the order away for her?"

Amelia gulped as Moody's eyes pierced her once more. Sometimes, it was easy to forget that Amelia was hand-trained by Alastor Moody from the moment she had joined the Auror academy.

"Speak up, lass. I know you but I want an answer from you. Whom will you choose?"

"Susan."

"Exactly."

"But so would he," She added, pointing at Harry. "Wouldn't you, Harry?"

"I would," Harry replied without hesitation. "To save Susan… or any one of you for that matter, I would."

"See?"

"Amelia, the difference is that Harry is a level seven Occlumens. He. Can. Lie. He can lie to Voldemort without being found out. He can lie under veritaserum. You cannot! Voldemort will rip the information out of your mind and you would be helpless. We won't." Dumbledore explained. "The thing is, that we have greater issues at hand. We will share what we need to when the time is right. And, right now, in less than thirty hours, we are about to turn the wizarding world on its head. Less than thirty hours. So, I beg of you to sit back and comply for now. Please. Harry and you can resolve the issues later as a family. Not in this meeting."

"Yes, headmaster," Amelia replied stiffly.

"Good. Now, as I was saying, late tomorrow evening, a meeting of the whole order will be called, mere hours before we go to the ministry. At that time, Severus will go and inform Lord Voldemort of our plans to retrieve the Prophecy, so we can be sure that he will come to the Department and ambush us to get the prophecy. But what they won't know, would be that Harry and I won't be alone. Some of you will be with us, standing by, ready to come in, hard on the Death Eaters as soon as we signal. Some will be given other important works."

"Now, first, let us begin with what we need to do before the attack. First, Croaker, empty all important things that could be destroyed." Harry said.

"You know, I am rather displeased with the fact that out of all places you could fight in, you are choosing my department to trash." Croaker said sullenly.

"It is the only place which Voldemort is watching right now. We don't have another option. Also, it is a possibility that only the hall of prophecies would be a warzone. And the ministry Atrium. We are giving you twenty-four hours, Croaker which is more than enough time to move stuff. Also, no person, including you, should be seen in the Department after Eight-thirty. Nine at the latest."

"Alright."

"Amelia, make sure the Aurors and Hit-wizards on duty are Kingsley, Nymphadora, Scrimgeour. Stay clear of level nine after 10 PM, till we signal you to come in. Once we do, Scrimgeour, you must go secure the ministry by activating anti-apparition and portkey wards all over the ministry, especially the atrium while Kingsley and Tonks, you two, raise the alarm. An emergency Level Seven alarm."

At that, all ministry employees in the room choked on their spits.

"A level seven emergency. Do you know what it fucking means?" Tonks asked incredulously.

"All hands on board and the crisis is national."

Tonks took a calming breath. "Harry, if a single step goes wrong, we two will be administered a Dementor's kiss by the martial court! Do you realize—"

"I do. I ain't shitting around. The whole ministry will need to see Voldemort in the flesh, fighting Dumbledore and me. And, this is the only way to bring them all in."

"Wait, you said you will make Voldemort flee… not capture, not kill. Flee. If wards are on him, he won't be able to flee." Amelia pointed out.

"Do you remember the 16th of December, 1976, my dear Amelia?" Dumbledore asked. Amelia opened her mouth before closing it and shaking her head

"The ministry ambush," Moody breathed, shuddering slightly. "She was in St. Mungo's… not with us. And the greater details weren't released to the public or even the ministry employees."

"Oh, that was one big nightmare…" Sirius moaned.

"Wait… what are you talking about?" Bill asked.

"December sixteen, 1976… was the date of a covert operation between the Order of the Phoenix and the DMLE… a select few members of us anyway, to bring down Death Eaters. What we didn't account for was for… Voldemort. We had organized a special occasion, calling many suspected Death Eaters to the atrium of the Ministry of magic. Many were there. The Lestranges, Malfoys, Notts, Selwyns, and other so-called upstanding members of the society. It was unlawful doing it… we had no proof and yet, we had planned to arrest them by laying a surprise ambush. A surprise Ambush on some of the most prominent purebloods at that time." Sirius said, rubbing his palms nervously.

"How come I never knew about this?" Amelia asked.

"It was all buried. No one outside the people present that day knew of it and no one dared speak of it. What happened was a couple of minutes into the so-called 'Program', we Aurors, hit wizards and members of the order… open fired on the crowd filled with suspects… and some innocents as well, including Dumbledore."

"Even I didn't know of it and was caught by surprise when the attack started," Dumbledore admitted. "If I hadn't seen some of my most trusted, firing on suspects, that too non-lethal spells, I would've assumed it to be a death-eater ambush."

"What happened?"

"Voldemort happened… with his trained Death Eaters. We had steps… the wards and the floo locked down and as soon as that happened, we attacked. Some, including my cousin, Bellatrix, were somehow ready. They cast Shields, stopping our stunners and other spells. As we continued the barrage… the thing we didn't think was possible, happened. Voldemort, apparated straight through the wards of the ministry, tearing through them, and had it not been for Dumbledore that day, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"But… Why did no one say anything?" Hestia Jones asked.

"Both sides were guilty. We, for breaking the laws. And they had been saved by Voldemort, a mass murderer, and were seen fighting by his side. The press was also ruthlessly suppressed and quite a few, obliviated. Thankfully, there weren't many deaths to cover up on either side as the Death Eaters fled as soon as the wards broke and Voldemort followed after them, after trading a few spells with Dumbledore, keeping him busy till the Death Eaters fled. But, it was still a nightmare."

"You mean to say that Voldemort can appear straight through the ministry wards?"

"If he wants to, yes," Sirius replied while Dumbledore shook his head.

"He didn't exactly apparate into the wards. He apparated just outside them, bypassed them by his unique smoke method and destroyed them from the inside, which is always easier, and came into the middle of the atrium." Dumbledore informed. "But that doesn't mean that he cannot apparate out if he wishes to. He is certainly powerful enough to do it with raw power. Or, he has his ingenious smoke method."

"What is this smoke method?" Nymphadora asked.

"Voldemort has this method where he can turn himself into smoke somehow," Moody grunted. "A pure, black fog, which he has been seen using in the past to appear from the sky in the middle of a battle, despite anti-apparition wards."

"But it isn't useful if there is a shield-ward though. Only anti-apparition wards." Sirius added helpfully.

"That is some… relief. But the ministry has almost no wards over the atrium as it is a public space. The rest of it, including individual departments, do, but not the atrium." Bill said.

"True," Dumbledore agreed. "It is one of the shortcomings of the ministry layout, but, nonetheless, a justifiable one. It is public property and not a private one."

"So, anyway. Continuing our plan, we know Voldemort will flee one way or the other. There is no way to keep him captured and killing him is a bad idea. Even if we capture him, there is no way he is going to be held. The ministry and ICW are too much in deep shit to be sure that Voldemort will be kept locked up till we can find a way to kill him off permanently."

"What… Do you mean?"

"If he kills himself in prison before we destroy whatever means of immortality he has… he will return. He can survive as a spirit. Similar to a ghost but with much more malice and power. He can possess people. He possessed Quirrell back in my first year for a brief period of time, trying to obtain the Philosopher's stone. He failed, but escaped as a spirit, just passing through the ceiling like a ghost."

"Another one of the things you haven't told us about," Amelia grumbled while Sirius too, shot him a serious look.

Harry ran a hand through his hair. He did need to share quite a few things with his new… family. One that now included Amelia and probably the Greengrasses and the Delacours as well… barring Astoria and Gabrielle maybe.

"Alright, you can discuss that later. So, after Voldemort flees, comes the most important part of the operation. Amelia, you are going to arrest Cornelius Fudge on the charges of High Treason against the state."

"What?"

Harry grinned. Now came the best part of their plan and his personal favorite.

Chapter 63: Battle for the Prophecy

Notes:

Okay, before we start this chapter, I have a very IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT to make. Last year, on this very day, i.e. the 17th of July 2021, I had published the first two chapters of this story.

So yes, today is the first anniversary of this story! My baby is one-year-old!

One year, 62 chapters, 6.3k+ favorites, 7.7k+ follows, 2.7k+ reviews, and a staggering amount of love from you all! Seeing all this has made me immensely proud of myself and thankful to you all. Please keep reviewing and follows and favorite it if you haven't already!

I thank you all once again, from the bottom of my heart for supporting me in this journey and I hope to keep delivering you awesome content in the future.

This chapter is dedicated to you all!

Now, enjoy the chapter! :)

Ch.62 Battle for the Prophecy

27th December 1995

Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, London

Half an hour after the meeting ended, Harry walked down the corridor to Amelia's room before knocking firmly on the door.

"Come in," Her voice sounded from within. Harry pushed the door open and stepped into the room.

"Harry? What do you want at this time?" She asked as soon as he laid eyes upon her.

She was reading an official-looking black file, one which Harry had seen Kingsley handing her after the meeting had ended. She was wearing a green nightie and a pair of frameless square glasses adorned her face. Admittedly, it was rare to see her wearing glasses. She only wore them when she had to do some serious reading. Otherwise, she preferred her rather famous monocle.

A glass of scotch whiskey rested on the bedside table with a freshly opened bottle beside it.

"I… wished to talk with you," Harry replied nervously. Give him dark wizards, he had no problem. But he was nervous as this was a much more delicate matter. A couple of years down the line, Amelia would be very important to him in all ways. She was Susan's only family by blood and would likely be Sirius's wife soon, seeing how serious they were. In Remus's opinion, this was, by far, the longest relationship Sirius had, having lasted for more than a year already. His previous record was Marlene McKinnon, which had lasted just short of three months during their sixth year at Hogwarts.

So, Amelia would technically be his… aunt-in-law and the wife of his godfather thus, the Lady Black, surpassing him in the position and authority as Heir Black. Not to mention, a very important ally on the Wizengamot as she would be the Lady of House Black as well as the Minister of Magic. To be fair, his relationship with Amelia would be through more paths than his direct relationship with Susan. Thus, building a good relationship with Amelia as a family was vital for Harry in more ways than one.

Amelia raised her eyebrows, peering at him from the top of her glasses before closing the file she was reading and putting it on the pillow beside her.

"Come in, then," She said, folding her legs, making space for him to sit.

Harry looked around the room as he walked in, closing the door behind him. The room was very… Amelia-ish for the lack of a better word. It was neat and tidy. On a study desk, a bunch of files and parchment were neatly stacked along with two small photo frames, one containing a wizarding picture having four people, three adults, and one cute baby, and the other having a picture of Amelia and Susan.

Amelia caught Harry's gaze and said, "Those two are Susan's parents and the baby in their hand is Susan… when she wasn't even a year old. It was the last photo we took as a family, mere days before they two were murdered in Diagon Alley by Death Eaters."

Her voice was emotionless, but Harry knew it held a hurricane of emotions underneath it.

"Anyhow, what did you want, Harry?"

"Where's Sirius? I expected him to be here." Harry commented as he sat on the Queen-sized bed in front of Amelia, still inspecting the room.

"In his own room, I guess. Why would he be here?"

Harry turned to her and raised his eyebrows in incredulity, making Amelia's cheeks redden.

"As in, we don't sleep together for now… as you kids are here, you know? Wouldn't want to be walked in by you young lot."

Harry chuckled with amusement. "No one is innocent in this house and there are silencing charms. But, anyway. I wanted to talk to you."

"To me or Sirius?"

"If you both had been here… I guess it would've been better but, no problem." Harry mused, fidgeting with the Potter Lord ring on his finger. "You were more urgent to talk to."

He would've usually controlled his emotions in an iron grip with occlumency, but, for a heart-to-heart conversation, Occlumency kinda defeated the purpose as it suppressed the most important element of such a talk. Emotions.

"What do you want to talk about?" Amelia asked slowly, noting his nervousness with a glance.

"Us… the family we are going to be a part of. You, me, Sirius, Susan… all of us."

"You aren't behaving much like that, are you? Having secrets, not sharing anything, going into danger, facing danger, combating a dark lord… All by yourself. You don't need us anyway."

Harry winced at that before sighing. "I concede your point, Amelia… It was just that I never considered most of the things important… Like, it was the past for me. Bygones, you know? I never gave them much thought unless it was necessary. And… I am really sorry for that. I should've shared it with you all, told you more… and everything."

Amelia shook her head and sighed. "Harry… I am not blaming you. It is just that, I was expecting you to be free with me… with us. Like a family should be. We've known each other for more than two years now and even teamed up together for things. I am now dating your godfather. You are dating Susan, who is my niece by relation and daughter in all but name. I hoped you would be more open with us. And consider me your family."

"I do consider you my family, Amelia. Really do."

"No… you don't, Harry. You never come to us with your problems, you never share your feelings or what is happening with you. Sirius told me that you didn't even approach him for help while you were in the Triwizard, telling him in certain terms that you would handle the tournament yourself and didn't need help. See, I am not telling you that you were incapable. Heck, you are definitely more capable than both Sirius and I combined. But… you were about to face Death-defying tasks. At least… you should've gone to him or Remus… or any adult to talk about it."

"About what? I knew I was capable of dealing with those tasks, Amelia. You do know that I could've obliterated the dragon, the chimera, the wards, and the whole maze with nothing more than a single spell?" Harry asked, confusion evident in his voice. While he wasn't aware of a couple of awesome, powerful spells back then, he still had spells like Fiendfyre and other elemental spells in his arsenal.

"I am not talking about that," She sighed. "Harry, it is just that, I am the head of DMLE. I have seen people face one near-death situation and leave their job. Heck, we all go through counseling with mind healers at appropriate times as and when ordered or felt like there is a need. Even I have been through it. And, it is a protocol to go through it especially after an auror or hit-wizard has killed another person in whatever circumstances it might have been. And, after every near-death or dangerous situation as well, as the senior team leader of I deem so. You, on the other hand, have been through a dozen near-death situations and have a body count more than my WHOLE Auror department COMBINED!"

Harry winced again. It wasn't like he hadn't had those types of sessions with Helga but how could he tell that to Amelia? Helga was a superb counselor. And, in Harry's opinion, better than any other mind healer could be.

"Amelia—"

"Tell me, Harry. How many near-death situations have you been in that I am not aware of? Be honest."

"That depends on how you define it."

"Harry, do not fuck with me. I know that both of us understand what I mean."

"Okay, at the end of my first year at Hogwarts, I faced Voldemort and it qualifies as a near-death situation. Oh, there was also this troll that had broken in, and Ron and I took care of it. In my second year, Ron and I went into the forbidden forest in the nest of Acromantula Spiders to investigate more about Slytherin's monster after Fudge carted off Hagrid to Azkaban and Dumbledore was fired. At the end of the year, Ron and I went into the chamber of secrets and I fought Slytherin's basilisk and a shade of Voldemort, defeating them both and nearly dying in the process." Harry said, omitting the fact that he had actually died and came back.

Amelia peered at him curiously before voicing her thoughts. "And none of this stuff gives you nightmares? Makes you break into a cold sweat? No Anxiety attacks? No PTSD?"

"Not any longer. I have pushed myself to be better, stronger, and faster every single day after the incident in the chamber of secrets to cope with what happened. I vowed not to be weak or helpless anymore. I took up quite a few things in the muggle world as well during the vacation before my third year. Swimming, Krav maga…, and heavy reading on top of it. I was always exhausted by the end of the day and my mind was too busy to reflect on those events. By the time I returned to Hogwarts, the memories no longer troubled me."

"But therapy is different. I might not be a mind healer but I am sure that what you did is not healthy. What—"

"I also had that therapy you are talking about. Quite a few sessions with a mind-healer. She also introduced me to Occlumency as well. She helped me start it and rise to stage three. After that, I worked by myself."

"Who was she?"

"I cannot reveal her name, unfortunately."

She scoffed. "Another one of your secrets, isn't it? Or you're making this up to keep me off your back."

"I am not," Harry snapped, allowing his frustration to finally overcome his measured calm. She was prying too much now and he needed her to back off. "I have had sessions, and I can swear that on my honor, but I cannot tell you her name due to a confidentiality contract! And, you do not need to know every single minute detail of my life. I am sharing what I can, but now you are being too confrontational! You are not my mother, Madame Bones."

Amelia immediately recoiled as if struck and backstepped her arguments. "I understand that I am not your mother, Harry. Neither am I trying to replace her, but… we are close, aren't we? You do trust me… At least like an Aunt or something?"

Harry nodded, before chuckling bitterly. "You know, I never had the best of relations with my aunt? Or Uncle? Or any adult for that matter? I have mentors, and adults whom I trust, you included, but this is all new to me. I am not used to sharing things with anyone, especially adults."

"Do you feel… insecure with adults?"

"No, it is not insecurity but more of a 'keeping things close to my chest' thing and the fact that before I was twelve, I had no adults in my life to share my problems with. I was used to being on my own and coping with my own problems. And… I promise I would henceforth be more forthcoming to you all about things which I can share safely with you all."

"You can share safely," She repeated, drumming her fingers against her knee.

"Yes. I am really sorry, but, some things… they are safest—"

"If not shared. Yes. But you can share with Dumbledore."

"Actually, it was Dumbledore who shared it with me, not the other way round."

Amelia hummed before nodding slowly.

"Do Susan and Daphne know these secrets though? And Fleur?"

"Susan and Daphne know quite a few things as we three spend a lot of time together. So do Hermione and Ron, as we were together in most of the things I went through, even before Susan and Daphne came into my life. They all know a lot but still, not every single thing. They don't know the contents of the prophecy or the reason for Voldemort's survival either."

"You know, you are going to be married to Susan, Fleur, and Daphne? Secrets are bad in a marriage or even a relationship as strong as you four share… Susan, Daphne, and you, especially."

"They know that I have a few things I have not shared with them… a few, I might never, at least until Voldemort is dealt with."

"But, you do know how he survived, don't you? The exact details of his immortality? Something you brushed off nonchalantly at the meeting."

"Yes, I do. And that secret is one Dumbledore and I will take to our graves. We are trying to deal with the measures as we get leads to how and where he has safe-guarded them. Those… measures are the reason why Dumbledore and I are not killing or capturing him. If we kill him, he will return. If we capture him, he might commit suicide and return. So, it is best that we keep him in a body rather than take risks."

"What of the Death Eaters? Is there—"

"They'll die or be prosecuted. What happened in '81, would not happen again. Death Eaters, any of them, won't go scot-free. I promise. Also, that is one of the reasons I am pushing you to be the minister of magic. There is no one who hates Death Eaters as much as you do."

"Alright... And what of the prophecy? Are you taking it to your grave as well?"

Harry shook his head. "Voldemort is after it and only Dumbledore and I know the full contents of it. It is the safest if it is not disclosed until Voldemort is dealt with. One day, I will tell you. But, I am not drawing his attention to you if he comes to know that you know the prophecy."

"If you deem it so. Not that I like it, but if you are so insistent, it must be dangerous to know it. But, if you ever want to share something, anything, I am here for you, Harry. So is Sirius. And the Delacour's and so is the Greengrass family as well. Any problem in the world, do not hesitate to come to us. We'll fight against the whole world to help you, child."

"Thank you," Harry said with a soft smile, as his eyes became moist. "And… I am sorry for all its worth."

"And… me too. I overreacted to the situation."

"No… it was a bit warranted… I should've behaved more as a family than as…"

Harry trailed off, unable to find the right words as to how he had behaved. What he had done was not conscious. It was just a mix of the circumstances… and stuff.

"It is not your fault, Harry," Amelia said, scooting closer to Harry. "It is a teenager thing, I would say. A phase of age and puberty. Teenagers think you are invincible. And so do powerful and rich people. And you, Harry, are all three."

Her eyes had a slight smile to them as she elaborated, "A teen, and one of the most powerful and richest wizards in the world. Your name inspires awe in the masses. You think that you can handle everything yourself and, I won't say you can't, but sometimes… and I say this as an adult who has been through this phase you are at right now, you need family. You lose your way, you forget who you are, and get enamored by things that lead you astray. If you ever feel lost, just look into the eyes of the people you love and they will tell you exactly who you are and guide you to do what is the best. They will always stand by you even when the world's against you."

Harry just nodded as a lone tear rolled down his cheek.

No one had given this assurance to him before. No adult had said such words to him, even if they might have meant it. He knew Sirius, Remus, Amelia, and the others would be at his side, even if things ever went south. But, Amelia had put those feelings into words. And… It was a whole different feeling.

Amelia ruffled Harry's head placing a kiss on his forehead.

"Despite everything you are capable of, you are still a fifteen-year-old. You should've never been thrust into this shit. Voldemort, the Death Eater, the politics… When I was fifteen, I was worried about Homework and exams. Not all this. You all, your whole generation grew up too fast. I don't know about all others but you, Susan, and your whole group… I see how you all do things. All of you are a force to reckon with. A force perhaps better than even my Auror and Hitwizards squads."

She gave a teary chuckle before continuing, "It seemed like yesterday that I dropped Susan on the Hogwarts express, worried how she would cope with Hogwarts and the fact that, how pressured she would feel due to me being the Head of DMLE. And, imagine my surprise when last summer, I saw her blow my department's fucking Head Auror off his feet, defeating him in a duel fair and square. I didn't know if I should be proud of the fact that my little girl is so good or humiliated by the fact that my Head Auror got his ass handed to him by a fifteen-year-old girl who is yet to give her OWLs."

Harry chuckled as well, remembering the look on Amelia's face that day as Susan successfully hit Kingsley with a bludgeoner, sending him flying across the dueling room and stunning him before he could regain his wits. Harry had never felt prouder as a teacher. He would've even been prouder had Daphne defeated Moody that day, but the grizzled ex-Hitwizard proved why he was feared and renowned across the world when he defeated Daphne without her getting a single hit on him, even if she lasted several minutes against him, earning Moody's praise, which in itself had many others in the room jealous of her.

"I don't know about you, but I was certainly very proud. She's my student and girlfriend, after all."

"I want to duel her someday… test myself against you kids. The level of dueling you all display regularly would've gotten you into the Hitwizard force with open arms. Your name is already held with awe in my department, especially after the stunts you pulled last year."

"Well, it seems like I am famous."

"Understatement of the century," Amelia snorted.

"It is," Harry smiled, wiping his cheek. "Good night, Amelia. I think we should rest. We are going to have a few long days starting tomorrow, especially you."

"You lot are forcing me to run for the minister and do all the hard work," She moaned.

"There is no one better than you. No one else in the ministry hates Death Eaters with a passion like you do. Remember how we teamed up to get Snape in Azkaban back in my third year."

"I more remember you trying to woo me and flirting with me," She recalled making Harry chuckle.

"You totally missed a big opportunity. I am the most eligible bachelor in Britain, you know?"

"And modest too," Amelia added sarcastically.

"Of course. I didn't mention the winner of the teen witch weekly's most charming smile award, did I?" Harry asked, giving her a charming smile.

"Go to sleep, kid," Amelia said, rolling her eyes.

"Of course," Harry said magnanimously as he stood up and walked to the door.

"Good night and dream about me!" He called before he turned, just as a pillow sailed past him. A moment later, he apparated to his room, laughing his ass off as Amelia's frustrated cry echoed through the corridor.

---

28th December 1995

British Ministry of Magic, London

Without a nary sound, Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore appeared in the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic, almost near midnight. Most of the ministry was deserted, bar a few employees of the vital departments, namely the Auror Force, Hit wizard force, and the Magic-reversal squad who were the ever-working departments. The rest had gone home, making the huge building seem deserted.

Their footsteps echoed through the Atrium, as they walked forward towards the Golden grilles, passing the Statue of Magical Brethren.

Harry glanced at the statue and smirked, knowing that it was likely that the damned thing wouldn't survive the night if a duel took place in the Atrium between them and Voldemort. He never liked the statue anyway.

As he walked, Harry eyed the shimmering forms that moved in their path, a moment before which their disillusionment charms faded, to reveal two rather young Aurors standing there.

"Professor Dumbledore, Mr. Potter, is there a problem?" One of the Aurors asked with concern, stepping forward without a wand in his hand.

Harry didn't pause in his stride, as he whipped out his wand and fired two lilac-colored beams at the Aurors, both of which hit them square on their chests, making their eyes glaze.

"You both will return home and return to the ministry only when the emergency is sounded or tomorrow morning," Harry ordered and the Aurors nodded in unison.

The curse he had just fired on them was a lower version of the Imperious Curse. The difference was, that it only worked for the order given immediately instead of the full-time control the Imperious bestowed. Also, it was easier to throw off but undetectable except to a Master Legilimens.

Harry immediately followed it up with a memory modifying charm as the two Aurors turned toward the fireplaces to floo home.

As they disappeared in a flash of green flames, Dumbledore sighed sadly. "It is sad to see how the standards of the academy have dropped after Alastor retired from teaching there. Back then, he made sure that every Auror and Hitwizard at least got some training to resist the Imperious. They would've thrown this off easily."

"That is certainly a concern. But, nonetheless, let's go. We have a prophecy to retrieve." Harry said as he pressed the button to call the lift.

Harry ideally noted that one of the lifts was on Level Nine. Only two lifts were operational at this time instead of the usual sixteen. The golden grills of the other lift clanked open, the noise echoing almost eerily in the dead silence of the Atrium.

Harry pressed the number nine button, the grilles closed with a bang, and the lift began to descend, jangling and rattling. These things were noisy as hell.

"Department of Mysteries," The cool female voice declared before the lift doors opened with a bang. The corridor in front of them was deserted and there was no sign of Death Eaters so far.

"Come on, Harry. Let's get on with it," Dumbledore said, his voice echoing eerily through the corridor.

Harry walked forward, following a step behind the ancient headmaster, whose midnight-blue, star-studded robes fluttered as he walked. Harry had learned of the fact that, despite his rather eccentric designed robe, it was no less effective than his own intimidating, black Dragon-legion battle-robed. Both their robes were riddled with heavy enchantments and blood magic.

And that was not to mention the vests they were wearing underneath it. Dumbledore's was made of Dragon hide from a Ukrainian Ironbelly, which was the best dragon hide for armors and other protective clothing. Harry's was made of Basilisk hide, of course.

The headmaster had even forgone his spectacles today, taking a special potion that would help him see perfectly for the next few hours. He was unfortunately too old for the eyesight-correction ritual to work on his eyes anymore. He had already done it once, which had gotten rid of his spectacles for more than seventy years before his age had struck.

Dumbledore stopped a few feet away from the plain black doors, beyond which the Department of Mysteries lay. He waved his wand over the pitch-black doors and gave it an impressed nod.

"The wards were recently dismantled before being put together again as they were. The work of a master warder, undoubtedly. One, with an intricate knowledge of these wards likely."

"Rookwood," Harry stated. "Should I tear through these or do you want to do the honors?"

Dumbledore smiled. "Let me. It has been quite some time since I did this. Step back."

Harry stepped back as asked and Dumbledore took a deep breath before slashing the Elder Wand in a downward motion. A pale blue beam of light shot from his wand impacting the black door, and tearing through the wards in a flash of light. Harry could feel the hair on his neck stand up from the sheer magical power Dumbledore had put into the spell.

They were not the best, to be honest. Just a weak resistance compared to what was ahead.

"Steel your Occlumency," Dumbledore said, before pushing the door open and entering. Harry followed behind him, entering a large, circular room. Everything in here was black including the floor and ceiling — identical, unmarked, handle-less black doors were set at intervals all around the black walls, interspersed with branches of candles whose flames burned blue, their cool, shimmering light reflected in the shining marble floor so that it looked as though there was dark water underfoot.

As he walked a couple of steps into the room, the door swung shut behind him. The walls and floor shimmered for a few moments as Harry felt his mind shields get hit, before returning to as it was. Ideally, it would give massive disorientation to the entrant, looking like the walls were rotating and so was the floor, confounding them unless they were keyed into the wards… or were master Occlumens like Harry and Dumbledore.

Harry counted the rooms, starting from the left of the door he had entered through. He walked toward the fifth door which led to the Hall of Prophecies waved his wand over the door finding that the wards had been torn through here as well. But, not mended. It was a brute and hasty work rather than the clean job at the entrance. Only the locking charm was there along with a recently applied alert ward.

Harry jabbed his wand, shooting a pink beam at it and the door swung open. He had purposefully triggered the alarm ward in doing so.

They entered a room filled with towering alleys of shelves, on which thousands of orbs, all shimmering with ethereal blue wispy light in them glowed almost eerily in the darkness.

The orbs of Prophecy.

"Row Ninety-four, Harry."

Harry looked up to the nearest shelf in front of him, displaying the number Fifty-three, written in bold, silver numbers. On the shelf to its right was the number fifty-four.

"This way then," Harry declared, walking ahead, purposefully making his footsteps loud. He could already sense the magic from the awaiting Death Eaters, all of whom were grouped under invisibility cloaks, with a disillusionment charm on, along with silencing and scent masking charms.

Dumbledore followed behind him, humming merrily to himself.

"Row ninety-seven," Harry declared, as they reached the concerned row, where the prophecy cough fake prophecy cough was placed.

"Down here," Dumbledore said, leading the way, deeper into the row. Harry curiously glanced at the yellow labels underneath each orb, reading the names with veiled interest. He didn't know most of them but he did happen to glance at one that caught his interest.

N.Y.T to A.O.B

Gellert Grindelwald

And Charlus Potter

He raised his eyebrow, but continued ahead, following Dumbledore to somewhere in the middle of the perhaps never-ending row.

"Here," Dumbledore declared. "The prophecy that was recited fifteen years ago concerning you and Voldemort."

S.P.T. to A.P.W.B.D.

The Dark Lord

and (?) Harry Potter

"Are you serious? They didn't write Voldemort here either. The Dark Lord." He mocked as he felt Death Eaters closing around them slowly. Dumbledore undoubtedly felt it too if the slight tightening of his hand on Harry's shoulder was any indication.

Dumbledore chuckled. "Pick up the orb, Harry. Only you can do it. Curious wards on them. If anyone bar the concerned parties of the prophecy pick it up, they shall have a curse of madness inflicted on them along with short-term paralysis."

"Ow, that's harsh," Harry said as we walked forward and picked the prophecy orb slowly, making sure there was nothing on it that would harm him.

And then, from right behind them, a drawling voice said, "Very good, Potter. Now turn around, nice and slowly, and give that to me."

"Good evening, Rookwood. Out for a nighttime stroll with your death eater buddies, I presume?" Harry asked, turning to the source of the voice as Black, mask-clad figures emerged from all around them, removing their invisibility cloaks, blocking their way from every direction, even sideways, which had already been blocked by the humongous shelves.

All had their wands pointed straight at Harry and Dumbledore.

It was good that the space between them was wide. Enough for three lanes of traffic to pass through, actually. Harry had no doubt that the room had a ridiculous amount of expansion enchantments on it.

"Shut your mouth Potter, and hand the orb to me."

Harry tutted, "Now—"

"Enough with the games, Rookwood! Accio Prophecy!" A harsh female voice said from the midst of the shadowy figures to Harry's left.

The orb didn't even budge from Harry's hand.

"Bellatrix, is that you?" Harry asked loudly. "Wait, there's too little lighting."

With that, Harry bathed the whole room in light, revealing them all properly.

The Death Eaters tightened their grasp on their wands, pointing them straight at Harry and Dumbledore.

"Ah, thank you, Harry. This is much better. Good evening to you all." Dumbledore greeted with a beaming smile.

"Enough with the games. Give us the orb or—"

"Your father will hear about this?" Harry quipped with a chuckle. "Malfoy, come up with better threats. Heck, the pathetic son of yours makes better threats."

Bellatrix cackled loudly at that, almost making Harry cringe at the sound as she emerged from the shadows.

That was when Harry got a first good look at the most feared witch in Britain. She had ebony hair, shining with streaks of white in the light. A few strands of her hair partially obscured her face, veiling her heavy-lidded eyes and the strong Aristocratic jaw. Her face was gaunt and sunken due to Azkaban but yet, her dark purple eyes reflected her fanatic madness. Harry had no doubt that before her imprisonment, Bellatrix would've been a beautiful, sought-after witch both for her looks and talents.

Harry also noted that she was the only Death Eater not wearing a mask.

"Enough, Potter," Rookwood snapped. "Give us the orb"

"Oh, you mean this very fragile glass sphere that can break with a wee tip of my hand?" Harry asked, tipping the glass orb dangerously.

"Ooh, itsy bitsy baby Potter knows how to play!" Bellatrix cooed in a baby voice.

"Don't be insane, Potter. You both are surrounded and outnumbered more than twenty-five to one." Malfoy warned.

"I was outnumbered something like thirty to one in that graveyard against Voldemort and you all. And I killed fourteen of your buddies. Do you really think that the number was a threat? Puh-lease."

"Lucius, return home to your wife. You can't defeat the two of us. We'll let you get out without any bloodshed." Dumbledore offered.

"Not without the prophecy," Rookwood declared.

"You are more insane than Bellatrix and your pathetic Dark Lord Voldemort combined if you think that I'll give a smelly old sock to you, much less this orb."

"Potter, you both are outnumbered, and kill you before you can get your wands out."

Harry snorted. "Only pathetic wizards like your master truly need a wand. Not us."

"Crucio." Bellatrix snapped, firing the cruciatus curse at Harry without any warning.

Harry whirled around wandlessly intercepting the unforgivable curse with his invisible-butterfly shield, right before it hit his chest.

Bellatrix's eyes went wide as Harry laughed uproariously in response as opposed to the screams of unbearable agony she expected. To her, it seemed that her curse had hit Harry head-on, and he was still under it.

"You might want to try that again, Bella. That didn't even tickle. I expected better from the right hand of Voldemort. Oh wait, that is Rookwood now, isn't it. Did Voldemort throw ickle Bella away for someone better?" Harry taunted, using the same baby voice as Bellatrix.

Bellatrix's dark purple eyes glowed with fury at that statement, a deranged expression forming on her face. The tightening of her grip on her wand was the only warning Harry had as she slashed her wand at him shooting a dark puce beam at her wand.

Harry wasted no time in bringing up another butterfly to intercept the curse, having absolutely no desire to get hit with it. She had just shot the Sarx Sapisma curse at him. A Greek flesh rotting curse which was absolutely horrendous to get hit by.

"That wasn't very nice, Bella," Harry tutted.

Before Bellatrix could react, possibly in a more violent way, the man beside her lunged at her, holding her back. "He is our lord's to deal with, Bella! Not yours. The Dark Lord wants to deal with him personally."

"I will kill him for our lord!" She shrieked

Harry tutted, "Have you no shame, Bellatrix? A Black bowing to someone. Pathetic. Your Grandfather should've killed you after disowning you."

"What do you know of being a Black you filthy Half-blooded bastard!"

"Considering I am the Heir of House Black, a lot. And, I haven't sullied its name by bowing to a pathetic worm as you have."

"Enough! Give the orb here, Potter!" The man beside her growled, holding Bellatrix back as she frothed like a mad dog, itching to curse Harry.

"Sorry, but who are you?"

"Rudolphus Lestrange, I believe," Dumbledore said serenely. "It is quite difficult to tell under the mask but I recognize his voice. How are you, Rudolphus, dear boy?"

"I will be better when I kill you, Dumbledore," He spat.

"Forgive my lack of humbleness but I do not think that you are capable enough to do it, my boy. I believe you tried before in 1978, at Hogsmeade, I believe."

Instead of answering, Rudolphus turned his wand on Harry. "EXPELLIARMUS!"

It was a good trick on his part. Unfortunately, he was dealing with Harry Potter who just leaned a bit, allowing the spell to soar harmlessly past him, hitting a shelf and fizzling out.

"ATTACK!" Rookwood shouted and Harry instantly whipped his wand out, producing a dome shield, immediately protecting him and dumbledore against the barrage of spells from all around them. The spells clashed against the shield, reverberating with a gong as they fizzled out.

"I take this side you take the others," Dumbledore said, moving to stand behind Harry making their backs face each other, the Elder Wand held almost nonchalantly in his hand. As another wave of spells hit Harry's shield, making it shimmer, Dumbledore gave the cue.

"NOW!"

As the shield absorbed the third wave of spells and shattered, both Dumbledore and Harry slashed their wands in sync, causing a devastating shockwave of thunder and air to move towards the enemy. Most would've perished as soon as the lightning-infused shockwave would've hit them even if they shielded, but the Death eaters turned out to be more competent than expected, as most of them erected powerful, wide area shields to protect themselves and their comrades. The shields overlapping gave them a good defense even if their shields still shattered and the Death Eaters were thrown back violently.

Yet, none of them perished.

But that wasn't the main plan anyway.

As the Death Eaters were thrown back, the lights that Harry had made went out, plunging the department back into near darkness as pearly-white figures unfurled into the air and floated there, their voices echoing from who knew what long-dead past amid the torrent of crashing glass orbs and splintered wood which was now raining down upon the floor, courtesy of Harry and Dumbledore's spell.

"Lumos Maxima!" A death eater shouted, lighting the place back, ignoring the chaos of voices reciting prophecies.

"WHERE ARE THEY!?" Someone yelled.

"THEY DISAPPEARED!"

"CALM DOWN!" Rookwood shouted, stopping the Death Eaters. "They couldn't have gone far. Spread out and look for them. And get that damn orb by whatever means possible! And stay in groups of three! Go!"

Just as the groups of Death Eaters began to spread out, a voice shouted from above gaining their attention.

"Looking for me, fuckers?"

Harry Potter was floating above them in mid-air, his wand held loosely in his hand, with a smirk on his face.

The death eaters wasted no time in firing spells at him, only for all spells to pass harmlessly through his body.

"It's an illusi—" A Death Eater shouted, only to stop mid-syllable as he gurgled on his own blood, courtesy of a pierced neck.

"What the fuck?" The Death Eater next to him cried, only to slump to the floor a moment later, courtesy of a killing curse.

The Death Eaters, or the more intelligent ones anyway, immediately shot a barrage of spells in the direction the Killing curse had come from, only to stop as two of their companions standing behind them were beheaded.

"Shields!" Rookwood ordered just as the fifth Death Eater went down, a gaping hole in his chest.

The Death Eaters immediately deployed shields of various sorts but no spell came at them.

"What happened? Where are they?" Someone whispered, though her voice could be heard throughout the corridor in the dead silence.

"Jugson, come back here, we need to organize! We'll split into pairs again and search, and don't forget, don't kill Potter. He's our lord's to finish. You can kill Dumbledore if possible. Bellatrix, Dolohov, Rodolphus, you take the left. Crabbe, Rabastan, Goyle, Carrows, go right. Jugson, you and your family, along with Schwein's team, the door straight ahead. Selwyn and Avery, through here along with Adelberg and his team! Ivanov, you and your friends take that corridor. Malfoy, over there with Travers, Nott, and Dmitriev's team. Mulciber, Kozlov, and the rest come with me!" Rookwood ordered.

Harry, who heard the orders from his vantage spot, raised his eyebrows. It was undeniable that Rookwood had a good strategic mind. He had paired the powerful ones together in small groups and the less skilled ones together in a big group, the biggest being his own, with him being the only competent Death Eater.

The biggest challenge would undoubtedly be the Rodolphus-Bellatrix-Dolohov group. Bellatrix was the most feared witch in Britain for a reason and her husband was no slouch. Dolohov, on the other hand, was a four-time International Dueling champion, having authored several books on Dueling. His dueling stance was one of the favorites for young duelists around the world for the high stability it provided while dueling, and the ability to have a very balanced offensive and defensive. It wasn't idle while super-fast casting though as it hindered rapid body moments. But it gave you a standing ground against a slightly superior opponent while on the defensive.

But what was troubling him were the names he was unfamiliar with. Dmitriev, Schwein, Ivanov, Kozlov, and Adelberg. They were not British for sure. It sounded German or Russian to Harry. The question was, what were they doing here? Was Voldemort recruiting overseas? Or, were they assassin groups like the ones that had attacked him at the Order of Merlin award ceremony?

The latter seemed more plausible as Rookwood used the term team. So, they were likely assassin teams. Complete unknowns. Harry would have to be careful.

"Also, watch your backs. We don't know where they will attack from!" Dolohov shouted as the groups began to part, spreading in all directions.

Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes at that. What was the use of it if they were already alerting both himself and Dumbledore to the fact that they would be watching their six so they couldn't sneak attack from behind?

As the group disappeared through the corridors made by the towering shelves, Harry put his hand on his ear, pushing magic into the enchanted earpiece he was wearing.

'Professor, you take Malfoy's group, I'll take Rookwood's. Send the signal once you dispose of them and we will begin moving out as the order comes in. Voldemort would move to stop us as we had planned. Oh, and don't kill Malfoy. Capture him. To make it look real—'

'I will capture a few more Death Eaters instead of killing them. Sounds fair,' Dumbledore replied through the link. 'Good luck, Harry.'

Harry smiled before removing his hand from his ear. It was a great invention of his, one he had already decided to use for his charms project for Mastery. He would do something else for NEWT's extra credit work.

This was a device he had made taking inspiration from muggle earpieces. The only difference was that they didn't need its user to speak out loud. It was all telepathic. And, it worked only in a short range of one kilometer. And, only one connection could be made. Harry was still trying to figure a way to make it work for multiple people but had no success in that direction so far.

With a twitch of his wand, he flew into the air, following Rookwood's group, completely invisible. Harry immediately counted fourteen Death Eaters in addition to Rookwood, who were moving swiftly, yet cautiously, with their wands out.

"Aspida Prostasia" Harry hissed softly and felt the magic of the spell cover his left forearm. It was a parselmagic spell invented by Herpo the foul, the Greek dark wizard, who ironically also was the first creator of a Horcrux. The spell formed a powerful magical buckler shield of sorts that could stop both magical and physical attacks and didn't need constant power to maintain or move. It moved with the body part it was applied on. It was usually a brilliant silver shield but for now, it was invisible due to the disillusionment charm Harry had applied to himself.

With barely a thought, Harry flew forward, overtaking the Death Eaters and landing in front of them before waving his wand in a wide arc, sending a wide area severing curse at the Death Eaters, hoping to decapacitate them by catching them off-guard.

As the curse sailed towards the Death Eaters, Harry dropped the disillusionment charm before rapidly firing two Confrigos at them, as Rookwood erected a shield to protect himself and his team from the severing curse. The shield exploded as the curse met it, fizzling out in the process, but the power behind it sent Rookwood stumbling as the Confrigos sped at the left and right flanks of the group.

A wizard from the right flank managed to deflect it onto the shelf, making it fizzle out due to the wards on it, while the left flank was hit head-on, making a Death Eater explode into a gory mass of blood and organs while sending a huge chunk of the group flying back.

"FIENDFYRE!" Rookwood roared from his spot on the floor, making the cursed flames spew out of his wand, taking the shape of a seven feet tall fiery wolf, which rushed towards Harry, intending to devour him whole.

Harry accumulated his magic at the tip of his wand, and waved it at the incoming construct, filling it with his intent. The wolf lost its shape, turning into a gush of flames that swirled around Harry, taking the shape of a Snake.

"RETREAT!" Rookwood yelled, running for his life as he saw Harry Potter effortlessly wrestle the control of his fiendfyre away and manipulate it to his whims.

With a jab of his wand, the snake lunged towards Rookwood and the other fleeing Death Eaters, consuming two idiots who were busy staring at the flames almost immediately, before continuing its crusade of destruction. As it consumed three more Death Eaters, not leaving even ashes behind, its path was interrupted by a tall wall of thick, solid steel, courtesy of Rookwood who had regained his wits and threw some object at it which had expanded into the wall, buying himself and the rest of his group some reprieve.

With a twitch of Harry's wand, the fiery snake reared back and smashed into the steel wall. While doing so, Harry noticed that the wall had various runes glowing on it and immediately suppressed the fire, knowing it was a waste of time to melt through the wall or transfigure it. The Death Eaters had come prepared for him in advance, it seemed.

With a last glance at the wall, he sped through the corridors, taking flight again, pursuing more Death Eaters. That was when he felt his phoenix pendant heat up. Within a minute or so, the Order of the Phoenix would storm in. And, in five, Kingsley would raise the wards on the atrium, and in another ten he would raise the emergency, signifying that the ministry to the danger. Around seventeen minutes before Lord Voldemort would be revealed to the world if all went according to their plan.

He soared towards the next set of Death Eaters, which turned out to be the Jugson family along with the Schwein person and his team.

Before they could see him, he jabbed his wand, making liters of water shoot down from his wand onto the group, submerging them in a dome of water in the blink of an eye.

Harry hardly gave them time to comprehend as he shot a powerful bolt of lightning, electrocuting them to death within seconds. As their bodies stilled, Harry vanished the water and shot piercing curses through their throats, to ensure that they were all dead. He was in no mood to run a medical scan on them to ensure they were dead or waste his time.

That was when he picked up the sounds of people from the end of the room. The rest of the Order was here.

"IT'S A TRAP BY DUMBLEDORE AND POTTER! THEY HAVE AN ARMY! RU—" A booming voice sounded through the whole room from somewhere before it abruptly devolved into gurgling and went silent.

Harry performed a detection charm and flew towards the next group of Death Eaters, which ironically was Rookwood's again, or what was left of it. With a wave of his wand, a dozen flaming arrows flew at the Death Eaters, killing two of them instantly, and injuring three.

"RUN! I'll hold him off!" Rookwood ordered, shooting a bludgeoner at Harry, followed by two bone breakers, and a blood-boiling curse.

Harry deflected the Bludgeoner and took the bone-breakers head-on onto his silver shield. Both spells fizzled out and Harry continued his path toward the ground, knowing that the blood-boiling curse was too off the mark to hit him.

As Harry landed on the ground, he deflected a piercing curse with his shield before sending a gouging curse at Rookwood, who deflected it onto a shelf, where it fizzled out before erecting a shield, protecting himself from the war-hammer curse Harry shot at him, followed by a bone-breaker and a Bombarda Maxima.

The last spell broke the shield, and the remaining energy of it hit Rookwood straight on his chest, sending the man flying back several meters, but not taking him out. Harry immediately shot a killing curse at him, but he rolled out of the way before casting a banishing charm on himself to get out of the way of a Reductor curse aimed at his chest.

"Fulminis Maxima!" Rookwood yelled, shooting a bolt of lightning at Harry who fizzled the spell out with a flick of his wand before conjuring a spear and banishing it at Rookwood but was intercepted by yet another shield.

Harry growled and transfigured the rubble around him into snakes which lunged at Rookwood who killed the snakes with a severing curse, a millisecond before a war-hammer curse hit Rookwood in the abdomen, sending him flying down two rows.

As Harry hurried forward, his senses picked up a group of six approaching right about the turn. The distance between them was too little to cast properly thus, he turned into his Animagus form and pounced on the Death Eaters as soon as they rounded the corner.

Of all the things the Death Eaters had expected as they turned back to save Rookwood from Potter, a three-hundred kilogram cat pouncing was not one of them.

Harry's claws ripped through the chest of the first Death Eater and he leaped onto the next one tearing into her abdomen with his fangs just before headbutting the third Death Eater sending him sprawling onto the floor.

Harry turned back into his human form, dodging a cutting curse at almost point-blank range due to his feline reflexes just as the sword of Gryffindor materialized in his hands and he slashed two of the Death Eaters on their chests drawing blood before lunging forward and stabbing the one sprawled on the ground.

Before he could do anything more, one of the bulky Death Eaters slammed him physically onto a shelf, holding him by his throat as the sword of Gryffindor dropped to the floor.

The man holding him was seven feet tall and extremely muscular and had lifted Harry nearly nine feet off the ground with sheer strength.

"Ich werde dich töten!" He growled, choking Harry.

Harry didn't care what the man had said as he wandlessly summoned a dagger from his waist holster and jabbed it in the man's neck with a yell while simultaneously driving his knee into the man's groin making him drop Harry to the floor as he stumbled back, gurgling on his blood.

Harry wandlessly banished him across the corridor, making him slam into the opposite shelf as he heaved, trying to catch his breath. His senses tingled and he jumped out of the way as a bone crusher curse shot past him, fizzling out against the shelf as he whirled around and blasted off the head of the offender.

As the body of the Death Eater fell to the floor, Harry looked around checking for more enemies before slumping against the shelf, breathing deeply as he massaged his neck lightly. His magic was already healing him but whoever the man was… he was strong as hell.

And he was still alive, even if holding on to the last vestiges of his life.

Harry wandlessly twisted the knife before summoning it back, making the giant of the man slump to the floor. With a flick of his finger, the blood on him and the dagger vanished. The others were already dead, courtesy of the basilisk venom and the fatal wounds.

Without a backward glance, he hurried forward, back to Rookwood. But, when he reached the place, Rookwood was no longer there.

'Harry, we need to get going. The Death Eaters have begun to flee.' Dumbledore's voice sounded through the earpiece.

'Okay,' Harry replied before flying back into the air, shooting towards the exit, where he could already see heavy spell fire taking place.

On the way, he saw the bound forms of a few Death Eaters and the body of a couple of others. Up ahead, he saw Dumbledore already moving towards the door, his wand moving like a baton, yanking a Death Eater off his feet before banishing him on the path of a killing curse shot at Hestia Jones. The Death Eater intercepted the curse aimed for Jones, killing him before his dead body crashed into one of the two Death Eaters fighting Sirius.

Harry landed right beside Dumbledore, falling in stride with the man as they walked out of the hall of prophecies together, back into the huge circular room, which was now a warzone as spells flew around between order members and Death Eaters. Hestia Jones was fighting against Nott, Moody was facing off against whom Harry assumed to be Rowle and one of the Travers, and Sirius was fighting against the Carrow senior. and his daughter, who was now on the floor courtesy of her brother, whom Dumbledore had banished at her.

Two masked Death Eaters were furiously battling McGonagall while Flitwick faced off against the Lestrange brothers.

Many others from the order were nowhere to be seen but Harry assumed that they were still in the Hall of prophecies or somewhere around the department.

Harry saw Bellatrix fighting Bill and her sister, Andromeda, holding her own against them as she laughed maniacally. He could see Flitwick's teaching in her as she moved and battled the two men. The minimal moments to dodge a spell, the calculative deflection, the slight twirl of her wand as she deflected the spells sending them spiraling away… it was the same tricks Flitwick had taught him. He could see those same reflections when he battled Moody and Amelia.

With a jab of his wand, an unsuspecting Nott was impaled with a spear through his heart, killing him instantly as Dumbledore bound the Carrow twins in tight metallic chains before they could get up to fight Sirius.

"POTTER AND DUMBLEDORE ARE HERE!" The Death Eater nearest to them shouted a moment before he got hit by a piercing curse between his eyes, courtesy of Dumbledore, who grimaced slightly as blood sprouted like a fountain from the Death Eater's forehead onto them.

There were yells; two of the Death Eaters ran for it, abandoning their respective fights with Remus and Emily Vance, scrabbling like monkeys up the stone steps opposite of the room but got hit in the back with a blasting curse by Harry, throwing them out of the circular room and making them crash on the steps leading to the lift with a sickening crunch.

"NO!" Bill's yell suddenly filled the room followed by Bellatrix's mad cackle. Harry turned just in time to see Andromeda Tonks slump lifelessly on the floor, her eyes blank as her wand rolled out of his hands.

Before Bellatrix could turn her wand on Bill, Harry roared and slashed his wand, shooting a dark purple beam at her.

Bellatrix though, was enough distance away to dodge the heart exploding curse before deflecting the gouging curse and the organ melting curse onto the wall, still cackling insanely, enjoying the fight. It was only when Harry shot the killing curse at her, that she conjured a granite wall, intercepting it, and grew serious.

She banished the fragments as the rock exploded, transfiguring them into daggers. Without another thought, Harry just vanished the projectiles, shooting a spiraling red light at her. Bellatrix dove out of the way, the beam hitting the floor and shaking the room.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Bellatrix shot another killing curse at Harry, and one of his invisible butterflies consumed it yet again.

With a swish of his wand, Harry ripped chunks out of the floor, using one of them to intercept a potent blasting curse while transfiguring the rest into spikes and sending it at Bellatrix. In defense, Bellatrix conjured a wall, stopping the spikes, making Harry smirk as he waved his wand, transfiguring the block into a leopard which leaped onto the woman sending her straight onto the floor.

But Bellatrix proved to be even better than he had thought. With blinding speed, she whipped out her dagger, a curved, extremely sharp dagger, and plunged it into the leopard's jugular, just before the leopard could rip her throat out. She pulled out the knife and banished the leopard's body away and rolled out of the way as a pink-colored curse impacted the floor next to her, melting a small crater on the polished stone floor into a bubbling mess.

She leaped to her feet, ducking under a severing curse from Bill who had regained his wits after witnessing Andromeda's death.

That was when it happened. Bellatrix threw a metal ball into the air, which exploded in a bright light a moment later.

"Accio orb!" She said, but even blinded, Harry caught the orb in his hand and deflected a curse away.

"FIENDFYRE!" Two voices shouted from behind Harry, who whirled around, blinking the spots out of his eyes, and saw Rookwood and Dolohov casting the cursed flames once again as they appeared from the Hall of Prophecies, but this time, instead of a single one, they had cast together making it nearly four times more dangerous. Dumbledore, who had been helping Flitwick and McGonagall subdue their opponents, turned to face the flames, waving his wand in an intricate pattern, directing them away from Hestia Jones and Sirius, before fighting the flames.

"FIENDFYRE!" Bellatrix shouted as well seeing what was happening, directing the flames towards Bill and Remus instead of Harry.

Harry instantly threw a wave of magic at the fire, imposing its will on it but unlike Rookwood, Bellatrix fought back against his will, doing her best to keep the flame under her control. Nearly half a minute later, Harry successfully wrestled control out of her hands and extinguished the flames, not wanting to take a chance as Dumbledore was still trying to subdue Rookwood's and Dolohov's fiendfyre.

The Death Eaters were already fleeing if they could and the rest were captured, horribly injured, or dead.

Harry threw a skull-crushing curse at Bellatrix who deflected it as she retreated towards the door. With a slash of his wand, the air around him compressed into near-solid spears and shot at Bellatrix. Absolutely lethal in nature, completely invisible, and near impossible to stop or detect. Once they hit something, the air pressure released itself, making a destructive blast of air. Bellatrix's eyes widened and she erected a bronze colored, shimmering round shield, apparently sensing it.

The air spears hit the shield with a mighty gong, making Bellatrix stumble, just as a powerful breeze flowed through the chamber, making the nearby people stumble back and Harry's robes flutter.

Bellatrix didn't wait as she turned on her heel and rushed off into the corridor leading to the lifts. Harry pointed his wand at the shield and shot a puce beam at it, breaking the shield before hurrying after Bellatrix, shooting a cutting curse at her back.

She deflected the curse over her shoulder and aimed one at Harry, which he dodged without breaking stride as he continued attacking Bellatrix who laughed maniacally as she deflected the spell again before erecting yet another shield as she just slid into the lift with the other death eaters just before the golden grilles closed and the lift jangled as it moved away.

Harry cursed under his breath as he jammed the button to call the other lift pressing it rapidly.

A couple of moments later, the grilles slid open and Harry slid in, punching the button that said, 'Atrium'

The doors closed and he started to rise. Harry immediately removed a vial containing a blue liquid from his pocket before gulping the liquid down. The elixir of rejuvenation. It worked both as multiple healing potions as well as a pepper-up potion of sorts, but was much more efficient, being made by alchemy. It worked to restore the body to top health when one was suffering from superficial injuries and/or exhaustion.

Harry was by no means exhausted, but he might need it. It was better not to take a risk as he was going to duel Voldemort shortly.

Harry vanished the small bottle as he desperately looked at the moving floors on the display.

Even before the grilles were fully open, he forced his way out of the lift, as he witnessed Bellatrix and her accompanying Death Eaters were almost halfway to the telephone booth which was the lift that opened in the muggle world. The anti-apparition wards and the portkey wards were up. The ministry was in lockdown. The only way in was through the floo and the muggle entrance. Though, the muggle entrance was also the only way out as it was originally made as a failsafe to escape the ministry if they were trapped.

'Confringo Maxima!' He thought and the destructive beam shot forth from his wand at the running Death Eaters.

Bellatrix whirled around, somehow sensing the magic, and blocked it with a shield, making her skid back several feet as Harry's curse impacted her shield.

"NOW!" She yelled and the other Death Eaters whirled around and simultaneously cast powerful blasting and cutting curses at Harry, who just slashed his wand, deflecting all the curses around the atrium, making them fizzle out against the walls and the tiles.

Nine against one. Well, time to give them a taste of true power.

With a wave of his wand, the Statue of Magical Brethren behind the Death Eaters got animated. The wizard and witch leaped off the pedestal onto the nearest death eater while the house elf and the goblin charged at the other Death Eaters. The Centaur on the other hand galloped across the Atrium, taking the curses shot at Harry, sustaining minimal damage though, courtesy of the enchantments on it.

With a jab of his wand, a killing curse shot at the back of the unsuspecting Death Eater who was busy battling the goblin.

Suddenly, as the Death Eater crumpled to the ground, Harry felt the fake orb stir in his pocket and immediately slashed his wand canceling the spell, throwing Lestrange on her butt.

Without wasting a second, Harry immediately shot an eldritch purple curse at her. The slow death curse would render the victim comatose for some time, as their organs began to fail before they would finally succumb to Death. He followed it with a Heart-exploding curse and a Confringo.

Bellatrix, proving her worth as the most feared witch in Britain, deftly rolled out of the way and jumped to her feet, deflecting a Reducto making it go sailing over her head. Any visages of her maniacal laughter were now absent, her face a mask of concentration and alertness. Her purple eyes burned with a fury of revenge as they bore into Harry.

Harry, unperturbed by it, deflected a bone-breaking curse with his shield as he waved his wand, shooting two spears at the statues of the witch and wizard beating their respective Death Eaters to pulp. Each statue caught a spear before plunging them into the Death Eaters, killing them. They removed the spears and charged onto Bellatrix who shot two curses at them, blasting them across the Atrium, making a great deal of noise as the metal statues crashed on the walls. With a jab of her wand, ropes shot at them, trapping the two metal statues.

She turned back to look at her comrades, only to find them dead and Harry Potter standing across the hall, with a smirk on his face. Their bodies lay sprawled upon the ground, blood seeping from their wounds, and their eyes rolled into their heads. The remnants of the goblin, centaur, and elf statues were also scattered across the floor.

Bellatrix met Harry's stare, her wand clutched tightly in her hands. Without waiting, she attacked, shooting spells, whichever flashed into her mind at Harry, who didn't even raise his wand. She realized a second too late what had happened as a dark gray curse shot at her unexpectedly, from her right while her barrage of spells passed harmlessly through Potter.

Bellatrix knew it was futile to dodge or deflect that spell given its nature and it was too late to shield now. The gray spell came at her like a grim reaper stalking his prey.

That was when a golden circular shield appeared, barely a couple of inches away from her body, just a fraction of a second before the gray beam of light slammed into it. The shield and the spell exploded, throwing her onto her back.

Belatedly, Bellatrix realized what had happened as the Dark Mark on her forearm burned.

Her Lord had himself come to save her.

Harry realized the same as his fabled scar gave an itch to Voldemort's presence.

"Come out. I see you have come to save your loyal bitch." Harry called just as a figure in dark, black smoke flew around a grinning Bellatrix and landed near her, the figure emerging from within as the smoke clung to his body and formed his pitch black robes.

Tall, thin, and black-hooded, his terrible snakelike face white and gaunt, his scarlet, slit-pupils eyes glaring at him. Lord Voldemort had appeared in the middle of the hall, rather dramatically if one might add, his wand pointing at Harry who just rolled his eyes in response, suppressing a grin from blooming over his face.

The plan had been a success.

"Master, I am sorry, I could not get the prophecy from Potter! I was fighting my blood-traitor sister!" sobbed Bellatrix, flinging herself down at Voldemort's feet as he paced slowly nearer, his eyes roving over the dead bodies. "Master, you should know—"

"Be quiet, Bella," said Voldemort dangerously. "I shall deal with you in a moment. Do you think I have entered the Ministry of Magic to hear your sniveling apologies?"

"Well, hear them. You might not get a chance later." Harry advised but Voldemort ignored it.

"I have to say to you, Potter. You are being quite a thorn in my side."

"Believe me, I take immense pleasure in doing it. Ruining your day makes mine, believe it or not."

"Oh, I do not doubt it. Now, give me the prophecy, or I will pry it from your dead body."

Harry's laughter echoed through the atrium at that. "You seriously can't come up with something new, can you? You have tried to kill me… four times now? And each time you've failed."

"This time, I won't," He replied confidently. "I would not deny that you are great, Potter. But you are no match to what I can put forth against you. Last time, I made the mistake of underestimating you and was still unused to my new body. This time, I'll make you pay."

"Master," Bellatrix interrupted urgently. "Even he—"

"Be quiet, Bella! Go back. I'll deal with you later." Voldemort said, before whipping his wand, shooting a powerful golden beam of light at the ceiling, shattering the recently erected wards with an almighty bang.

Harry didn't even bother to stop him from doing so. Voldemort was here and he was going to fight him regardless.

"But, Master—"

Voldemort didn't wait, shoving a coin on her, making her disappear in a swirl as the portkey activated.

"Now that she is out of the way, let's—" Voldemort stopped as the lift behind Harry dinged and Dumbledore strolled out of it, barely sparing a glance around the atrium.

"Good evening, Tom."

"Dumbledore!"

"Yes, it is me. I am quite pleased that you remember me. Although I must say, it was quite foolish of you to come here tonight, Tom."

"Was it, though? Will it be when it shall end in both of your deaths?"

"We both know that you cannot take me and Harry at the same time. And the Aurors are on their way."

"By which time, you both shall be dead and I, gone."

"You couldn't take one of us in a one-on-one fight throughout your existence. How do you propose to face the two of us alone? Your reign ends here and today."

Voldemort smirked at that. "Did you seriously think I would've come unprepared, Potter? When I knew you both were here? Do you think I am a fool to reveal myself after months of secrecy without prior preparation?" He asked softly.

"Oh, I did see your tricks. The warded wall, the flash bang orb, the assassin groups. None stopped us. Neither will they now. You can employ all the tricks against us that you want. This ends here and now." Harry replied, bluffing at the last part.

Voldemort gave a booming laugh at that. "Are you so naive to think that the war that I have planned for years will end in one night? Do you think that my ascend to power can be stopped by a simple scheme by an old man and a boy? I, who has dwelled deeper into magic than any other wizard on Earth?"

"And yet, you lost to me in the graveyard, didn't you?"

"You are a fool, Harry Potter. People learn from their mistakes and I learned from mine. We meet here six months later and you think I would've confronted both Dumbledore and you by myself?"

"I cannot see anyone other than us here, Tom. All your Death Eaters are either in chains or dead, except for dear Bellatrix whom you just sent away."

"That is where you are wrong, Dumbledore. I have a new friend now."

"You? Having a friend?" Harry asked incredulously. "The Voldemort I know would never share power. You were friendless even at the Orphanage and at Hogwarts. Nothing but a reject. Even your parents didn't want you."

Voldemort smiled humorlessly. "If you think that your petty little taunts are going to affect me, they aren't. And, I see Dumbledore has been telling you of my history."

"Yes, we do tend to put an effort into knowing our enemy."

"Do you, now? Because, if you do, you have no idea what you are going to be up against."

"Really? What have you brought? Another group of assassins? One of your death eaters whom you hand trained?"

"Neither, Harry Potter. Whom I have brought is just a friend," Voldemort said, hissing the last word in Parseltongue, making Harry narrow his eyes.

A swirl of colors, signifying a portkey travel appeared beside him, which cleared to reveal a new arrival in the middle of the ruined atrium.

It was an old man with brilliant white, spiked hair who stood in front of them, wearing a full aristocratic, formal attire, with a white undershirt, tie, vest, a matching pant piece and an outer cloak included. A thin white mustache framed his wrinkled face.

Harry could feel the power in the atrium rise with his arrival. The man was no ordinary wizard.

His wand was held nonchalantly in his hand while the other hand was in his pocket. Around his neck hung a silver chain with the symbol of the Deathly Hallows attached to it.

The man smiled as he opened his eyes, revealing his mismatched, cat-like, heterochromatic eyes, one blue, one brown, both glowing with power. He glanced around the atrium, his eyes lingering on Harry before it dropped down to his chest where the symbol of the Dragon legion was stitched. His gaze lingered there before the wizard turned to Dumbledore.

Harry glanced at Dumbledore, only to see that he was staring at the new arrival, his face pale as he clutched the Elder wand tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white. Yet his eyes were glowing with fury trying to squash the new arrival to pulp with his stare.

"Albus," The man greeted, spreading his arms.

"Oh, how rude of me! Let me introduce you both to my new friend and ally, Gellert Grindelwald."

Notes:

AND… DONE!

Hope you all liked the chapter and the plot twist. ;)

A huge thanks to Ultimate_Gamer for betaing this chapter. Also, to my friend Adrien for helping me at certain points.

I know many questions will be revolving in your mind. Where did Grindelwald come from? Wasn't he in prison? Why is he supporting Voldemort as Voldemort is not the sharing type?

All will be answered as the story progresses.

Also, yes. I did use a Thor Love and Thunder reference. If you ever feel lost, just look into the eyes of the people you love and they will tell you exactly who you are.

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Also, do join my Discord server, House of HPfanfictioner66 where you can directly communicate with me, ask questions, etc. Hope to see you all lovely readers there soon Link: discord . gg / 4qfP3fxdQ4 [Remove the spaces please]

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At the moment, I have four main stories. They are:

1. The Rise of the Last Potter: My Novel length Harry Potter fic which is already 300k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly.

2. The Legend of the Son of Poseidon: A Novel Length Percy Jackson fic which is already 250k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly

3. Loved Ones Skipping Stones and Ice-cream: A fluffy Haphne one-shot. It is completed obviously.

4. SECRETS: Another romantic one-shot I published recently. Complete as well.

(PLEASE READ THEM ALL)

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 64: The Titans of Magic

Notes:

PLEASE READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTE AT THE END.

Ch.63 The Titans of Magic

Harry's breath hitched in his throat as he witnessed the man who had brought most of Europe to its knees standing shoulder to shoulder with the most dangerous wizard in centuries.

The worst Dark Lords in modern history, Gellert Grindelwald and Lord Voldemort had banded together.

Dumbledore's words echoed in his mind. 'Gellert Grindelwald is an exceptional wizard who wielded great power and skills. Tom possesses the same. But, the difference between them is that Gellert Grindelwald was more dangerous as a Dark Lord while Tom is more dangerous on the battlefield.'

Only God knew what destruction they would wreak on the world together.

"Gellert," Dumbledore said, his blue eyes hardening as sparks flew from his wand, drawing Grindelwald's attention to it.

"Albus, my old friend. You never write. You never visit. I was so hurt. So, I decided to visit you myself." The man said cheerily, even though his voice echoed through the silence of the atrium with an almost sinister edge to it.

'Perhaps all dark lords have a few screws loose.'

"And here I am, standing in front of you to reclaim what was rightfully mine."

'Or not. He is here for the Elder Wand.'

"I won't let you," Dumbledore whispered. "I defeated you once, I will do it again. Whatever it takes."

"We'll see, old friend. We'll see." Grindelwald said before his eyes zeroed on Harry. "The grandson of the fabled Charlus Potter… and arguably even more famous than the man himself. I have waited to meet you for a long time, Harry Potter. Especially since you wore that symbol."

"The symbol of the Dragon Legion?" Harry asked rhetorically. "That is a legacy, Grindelwald. The symbol of the power of Potters. The reason that our enemies tremble on their knees when facing us. And I intend to continue that. My Grandfather was the butcher of Walpurgis. I shall be the butcher of Grindelwald."

The man let out a booming laugh. "You respect your heritage and live up to it. Very good, Potter. If I wasn't impressed with you when you killed the assassins my men sent after you in this very place, I certainly am now. A man of power who lives by his heritage. But let me tell you something. Despite everything you know... everything you have painstakingly accomplished, you are but a child playing the game of adults. I respect your power and dedication. But, against me, you stand no chance."

Harry filed away the fact that the assassination on him was done by Grindelwald's cronies. It meant he had resources and networks in prison as well… which was staggering. If he could arrange an assassination attack in the middle of the ministry while locked up in the most secure prison in the world, Harry shuddered to think what he would do now that he was free.

And not to mention, had teamed up with Voldemort.

"That is quite a threat... coming from the mouth of an old, defeated Dark Lord." Harry drawled.

A faint ripple of irritation made its way on Grindelwald's face. "Is that what I am called these days? No, Harry Potter. I was not a Dark Lord. Neither I am one now. I was and am a revolutionary whose ideas were not appreciated by weak-minded wizards and witches. I wished for us magical beings to be free. Free of hiding. Free of oppression. Free to roam around as we like and not hide in the shadows, being careful of our every move so that the muggles don't get a wind of us. I didn't wish for power. I yearned for the freedom of magical beings. I just wished for magic… to reign supreme."

Harry felt a chill go through his bones as he heard Grindelwald speak passionately of his goals. The power which had enthralled masses and led them to flock to Grindelwald like sheep.

"Had you wished for magic to prosper, you wouldn't have killed the legions of witches and wizards that you did. And, had you actually researched muggles, rather than starting a war against them like an imbecile." Harry spat. "They have bombs with the power to wipe out the existence of whole magical cities in seconds. What do you think would've happened if we attacked them? One bomb and a whole colony of witches and wizards would be wiped out just because an idiot thought that he was too good to not showcase his powers openly as the law said."

"Mind your tongue, boy. When I had started my mission, the best muggles used were bullets that could be stopped by a simple shield and their guns summoned before they could process what was happening. Had I been successful they wouldn't have advanced to the level they have today. And, it is still not too late. I still say that we should stop them before they advance further. Let us join—"

"And you lost me at that," Harry interrupted, glancing at his watch. He had no inclination to hear Grindelwald's drivel that would've followed. "I am not going to join you or your buddy Voldemort. Seriously, murdering my family and then offering me to join your side is really an off-putting pitch."

"Trying to make Potter join is futile. I have tried before. He fails to see where true power lies." Voldemort drawled from the side.

"Remind me, what happened the last time we fought?"

"You fled in terror after creating a distraction," Voldemort sneered.

"Did I? Did I flee after killing fourteen of your lackeys and injuring you?" Harry whispered, his vibrant green eyes staring into Voldemort's blood-red ones.

"Then it seems we have nothing left to say to each other, Potter," Voldemort growled.

"Yes, let us get on with it," Grindelwald said, impatience brimming through his voice as he eyed the wand in Dumbledore's hand again. The Elder Wand, the stick of destiny… Grindelwald's former companion. "Come, Albus, are you ready for a rematch?"

"I do not wish but you are forcing my hand. Last time, I was merciful, letting you live your life. This time, I won't make that mistake again seeing it has come to stab me in the back. Fifty years later."

"I told you that day to kill me. You didn't listen. What do you say, Albus? You and your protégé against me and my new friend here. Let us have a rematch. Let us see… who is superior!"

In sync, all four of them shot a spell at the one in front of them.

Harry's and Grindelwald's spells clashed in the mid-air, exploding in a light show of flames.

Voldemort and Dumbledore deflected each other's spells before Voldemort shot a Killing Curse at Dumbledore.

The Headmaster gave the tiniest flick of his wand and the head of the witch flew in the path of the curse, exploding into fragments on impact.

Grindelwald too leaped into the fray by shooting what Harry recognized as a lung-shredding curse at Dumbledore as he dodged Harry's skull-crusher curse.

Harry deflected the lung-shredding curse away from Dumbledore before slashing his wand in an upward arc as he felt his magic respond to his will. Every piece of rubble in the atrium levitated and turned into a spike before shooting at high speeds at the two Dark Lords from all directions.

Grindelwald roared as a wave of magic shot forth from his wand and disintegrated the incoming spikes into dust which was swept away by a breeze to a side.

"You want to play with power, boy? Let's see." Grindelwald growled before a spiraling pink beam of energy shot at Harry who just ducked under it, shooting a gouging curse at Grindelwald.

With a twirl of Grindelwald's wand, the curse was batted straight onto a wall, leaving a small crater in it just as Grindelwald shielded against a blasting curse.

"You are good. Better than your grandfather was," Grindelwald commented with a maniacal grin as he chopped Harry's lightning whip in half, dissipating it as he moved out of the way of a killing curse that would've caught him in the hip.

The killing curse hit the water in the fountain behind Grindelwald, causing a huge wave of water to rise from it.

Besides Harry, Dumbledore who had been trading spells with Voldemort, used the opportunity to manipulate the wave to encompass Voldemort in a gigantic sphere of water, trapping him in it as the water swirled around.

Without waiting a second, Harry wandlessly erected a shimmering round bronze-colored shield, intercepting the blasting curse Grindelwald shot at him.

The curse clashed into the shield with a reverberating gong just as a cackling bolt of lightning shot from Harry's wand at the water sphere Dumbledore had trapped Voldemort in.

Just before the bolt hit the water and electrocuted Voldemort, a shimmering blue shield stopped the bolt and Dumbledore stumbled back a step as the water sphere broke with a jab of Grindelwald's wand, dropping a sloping wet Voldemort to the floor.

But before the water could clash on the floor, Grindelwald waved his wand in an S shape, and the water shot at Harry and Dumbledore, the wave freezing into ice spikes in mid-air.

Burning red flames poured out of Harry's wand in response, building into a wall in front of Harry and the Headmaster, devouring the incoming spikes. With a flick of his wand, the flames rose, twisting into the form of a snake before lunging at Voldemort, while Dumbledore shot a spear of compressed air at Grindelwald.

Grindelwald shielded while Voldemort shot a spell at the fiery-red serpent. The spell hit the serpent in the neck, snuffing out a healthy amount of its flames.

With a thought, Harry turned the remaining flames into a whip that shot at Voldemort. Just as the whip wrapped around him, Voldemort's body glowed with a light purple hue. A moment later, the whip wrapping around him was cut and the parts turned into a serpent which shot at Harry as his robes fluttered with the wind.

Harry deflected the incoming serpents on the volley of spells Grindelwald had chosen to shoot at Dumbledore, blocking the spells and killing the serpents, allowing Dumbledore a chance to get an upper hand as the headmaster shot a cyan-colored curse at Grindelwald followed by a blasting curse and a severing curse.

It proved to be futile as Grindelwald just apparated a couple of feet right to where he originally was, allowing the spells to fly harmlessly past him before shooting a spell at Dumbledore who had just sent Voldemort skidding back a couple of feet with a powerful shockwave which Voldemort had shielded against.

Voldemort turned his attention to Harry and shot a Gouging curse at him.

Harry smoothly side-stepped the curse and shot a Bludgeoner at Voldemort followed by a cutting curse and a bone-crushing curse, aimed at his neck.

In a single motion of Voldemort's wand, all the curses were deflected away from him as he returned fire with a bone-melting curse followed by a killing curse.

Harry deflected the first and intercepted the second with a butterfly as he always did, allowing the conjured construct to take the curse for him. Ducking under a severing curse, Harry gathered the magic in the air before slashing his wand through the air, shooting a powerful lightning bolt at his adversary.

A crackling bolt of lightning raced toward Voldemort once again, who erected a silver shield that covered his whole body from the front. The bolt impacted it with an eerie gong and Voldemort skidded several feet back. But, the shield held.

Out of the corner of his eye, Harry could see bright flashes of light as Dumbledore battled his old foe, matching him spell to spell. The air hummed with the deadly magic flashing around as curses met each other in mid-air, exploding in a spectacle of light and power.

But none of the four waited, not wishing to give their opponents a single moment of reprieve. The four Titans of magic battled furiously, each spell aimed to horrifically injure, incapacitate, or kill. Even Dumbledore, a man known for mercy showed exactly why he was feared on the battlefield as he threw around spells that would make an average wizard fall on his knees with the sheer power behind it.

Their spells were inflicting enough damage to blast through enchanted rocks and leave deep gauges on shielded walls. Had this building been muggle, it would've collapsed by now with the amount of damage that would've been inflicted on it.

Harry ducked underneath a seizure-inducing curse and deflected a paralysis curse before shooting a silent killing curse followed by a series of rapidly shot-cutting curses at Voldemort.

Voldemort was forced to drop the shield he was hiding behind and conjure a marble block to stop the killing curse. As the block exploded, Voldemort conjured another shield to protect himself from the barrage of cutting curses.

Harry shot a powerful blasting curse at the shield, before transfiguring the rubble of the exploded marble block into daggers, flinging them at Voldemort. The shield cracked predictably under the blasting curse leaving Voldemort unprotected against the daggers.

At the last moment possible, Voldemort turned into black smoke, allowing the daggers to pass through harmlessly before solidifying again into a proper human form.

He moved his wand in a circular motion and a spear of dark purple light shot from his wand at Harry who deflected it onto the stone wall. The part where the spell hit, sizzled, melting the stone as it overpowered the protective runes on it.

With a jab of his wand, a pulverization beam shot from Harry's wand and Voldemort responded with a Confringo Maxima. The two beams met in mid-air, sending crackling beams of energy all around as it pushed both Harry and Voldemort back.

Albus Dumbledore, on the other hand, unwove the daggers of compressed air shot at him by Grindelwald causing gales of wind to buffet through the Atrium. He brandished his wand like a whip and dozens of flaming steel spikes appeared out of thin air and shot at Grindelwald in blurs of orange-gray light.

Grindelwald vanished and once again appeared a few feet away, allowing the spikes to soar harmlessly through the air. He wasted no time and shot a killing curse at Dumbledore, who took a leaf from Grindelwald's book and apparated out of the way as well, allowing the killing curse to hit the golden grills of an empty lift behind.

Voldemort conjured a meter-long whip of lightning which arced with cackling blue electricity and sent it at Harry, batting a blasting curse away in the mid-air with it.

Harry caught the lightning whip with the tip of his wand before swishing his wand through the air and arcs of blue lightning raced towards Voldemort.

Voldemort apparated and reappeared, standing on the plinth in the middle of the pool where so recently the Statue of magical Brethren had stood. The arcs of electricity hit the floor where Voldemort had just stood, cracking the tiles and melting them.

Voldemort swished his wand and the water in the pool rose high before taking the shape of a serpent and lunging at Harry.

Harry concentrated his magic at the tip of his wand before jabbing in with a slight grunt as he felt the veins in his hand burn slightly due to the concentration of magic

A beam of orange energy shot from his wand and hit the water construct, tearing it apart as most of the water vaporized while the remaining bit exploded in a fine mist.

Harry sidestepped a severing curse and deflected an organ-melting curse away.

"Ternus Fulgur Percutiens!" Harry intoned, tilting his head as a bone-breaker whizzed past his left ear, clipping his left shoulder, and cracking his bone.

A moment later, a huge dark cloud formed over Voldemort's head, making him look up. His eyes widened and he apparated away once more, just as three bolts of cursed purple lightning rained down, hitting the huge, articulately designed pool instead with a deafening bang.

Voldemort reappeared in front of the cracked tiles again, firing yet another killing curse at Harry who conjured a marble block in the path of the curse. As the block exploded with a bang, Harry flicked his wand, transfiguring the rubble into knives even before they hit the floor and banishing them at Voldemort.

The Dark Lord just erected a shield in response, allowing the daggers to bounce off harmlessly. But, Harry was relentless. With another flick of his wrist, the knives levitated again and began attacking Voldemort from all directions, forcing him to erect a dome shield. Yet, instead of bouncing off, this time the knives kept relentlessly stabbing the shield.

Besides them, the duel between Dumbledore and Grindelwald had devolved into a battle of pure power and will as Dumbledore's Blue beam clashed against Grindelwald's orange one in a spell lock. The point of the spell lock emitted tendrils of different colored energy, crashing onto the floor or the walls. Between the two men, innumerable corpses of animals laid amidst the ruined tiles and the craters on the floor.

With a wave of his wand, the shield dropped as an inferno of flames surrounded him, devouring the knives before taking the form of a Seven-headed Hydra and lunging at Harry.

"Hedwig!" Harry yelled, and she appeared in a blaze of purple flames over his head.

She gave a screech, and dove into the incoming flames, making Harry smirk. A moment later, the heads of the fiery Hydra trashed as they began to recede back into its body until it was just the figure of a glowing Phoenix.

Harry glanced at Voldemort who was looking at the scene with wide, fear-filled eyes. Beside him, even Grindelwald forcibly dropped the spell lock with Dumbledore and apparated next to Voldemort before casting a mage shield, instructing Voldemort to do the same, just as Hedwig screeched and flapped her wings.

What followed was an avalanche of power and pure destruction. Balls of untamable fire, arcs of pure lightning, and tempests of wind raced at Grindelwald and Voldemort who cowered under their shields, pouring power into them. Had it not been for that double-layered mage shield, they would've been eradicated under the power of the attack. It was one of the reasons phoenixes were so revered in the magical world and the reason that even the most vicious Dragons never attacked Phoenixes. It was also sometimes termed as a Phoenix's last weapon, its fiery wrath.

The lightning addition was just Hedwig being Hedwig... Harry's most special girl and his familiar.

In all this commotion, Harry took the opportunity to erect an anti-disapparition and anti-portkey ward all over the atrium. It wouldn't last much, but would certainly be a nasty surprise for Voldemort and Grindelwald if they tried to apparate away from a spell.

There was a shockwave as the mage shield was blasted apart under the assault and the two dark lords were sent flying back just as Hedwig burned up and fell to the ground small, wrinkled, and flightless.

Unfortunately, it also meant the assault had ended.

Harry summoned Hedwig to him and put her carefully in his pocket as Dumbledore brandished his wand, sending a glowing red spell at where Voldemort and Grindelwald had fallen.

Before the spell could hit them, Voldemort erected a shield and the spell clashed against it with an eerie gong.

Dumbledore shot yet another spell at the shield but it held as Voldemort got to his feet before helping Grindelwald up.

He glanced at the floor between them where the floor had been annihilated, giving a clear view of the floor below. The tiles were melted or cracked in many places.

The pool where the statue of Magical Brethren once stood had been reduced to a melted glob of metal, all the magical enchantments protecting it, destroyed.

The smell of ozone and chartered corpses burned their nostrils.

Another spell hit Voldemort's shield, making it flicker.

Voldemort looked at Harry and Dumbledore, his red eyes burning with hatred.

With a roar, Voldemort dropped the shield and a wave of arrows, glowing eerily with purplish black energy shot toward Harry and Dumbledore.

The flesh destroying arrows. It was excruciatingly painful to be hit with at best, fatal at worst. It was not something you would want to touch.

A score of birds flew from Dumbledore's wand, putting themselves in the path of the incoming arrows. The birds perfectly intercepted the arrows and fell to the floor, dead. Their feathers fell off and their flesh began to rot in a gruesome sight. In seconds, all that was left of them were their skeletons.

Harry batted away a brain-exploding curse from Grindelwald before yanking his wand upward.

In sync, all the cracked tiles in the atrium were ripped apart and hurled towards the dark lords, turning into spears and blades in mid-flight.

Harry felt a strain against the wards he had just erected and smirked, knowing that one of them had tried to apparate out of the way. A moment later, a huge wall of blue flames rose, devouring the weapons before they could reach Voldemort or Grindelwald.

Protego Diabolica. Grindelwald's signature spell which devoured anything physical, living or nonliving, which intended to harm its wielder.

Suddenly, Harry felt a pain in his gut.

The wards he had just erected had been shattered with brutality.

He concentrated on the magic brimming in the air. The magical energy the fight had just radiated was enormous and brimming in the air. The echoes of spells cast were still lingering in the air. With a snap of his wand, the magic responded to his pull, crashing into the wall of eldritch blue flames, smothering them.

The fire fought back, trying to regain its dominance. But, all was futile under the might of the sheer magic Harry had gathered.

The flames subsided to reveal Voldemort and Grindelwald standing there.

Before either Harry or Dumbledore could do anything more, the ground underneath him rumbled and the tiles under their feet began to crack. A moment later, they were pushed aside as thick green vines erupted from beneath them.

Before the vines could grab him, Harry flew a few feet upward, as he erected a huge shield protecting both himself and Dumbledore from spells that Voldemort and Grindelwald had chosen to barrage them with.

Vines had started to wrap around Dumbledore's ankles as he kept the rest at bay with cutting curses followed by gusts of flames.

It was the Hydra-vine spell. Cut off one vine without burning it and two more shall take its place.

"Protego Diabolica!" Eldritch blue flames spewed from Harry's wand, enveloping both the vines and Dumbledore.

A second later, he swirled the flames around him, lifting them up, revealing an ashen ground with Dumbledore standing in between it.

Harry felt a tug in his gut as his shield reached its breaking point. Just as it shattered, Harry turned the flames on the dark lords.

Grindelwald's eyes widened and he banished Voldemort behind, stepping forth to face the flames himself. With a roar to the heavens, Grindelwald jabbed his wand at the flames.

Harry's wand vibrated in his hand as Grindelwald forced the power of his spell. A bid to suppress them.

Harry knew he was too late to do anything now and let the spell go, shooting a blasting curse at Grindelwald. Grindelwald compressed the flames into a ball and extinguished them, before letting out a shockwave of magic all around the atrium.

As Harry and Dumbledore were thrown on their backs, the blasting curse hit Grindelwald, sending him flying back just as the glasses around the atrium exploded into fragments.

Harry got to his feet and was shocked to see Grindelwald still intact, albeit wincing in pain on the ground.

Suddenly, the shards of glasses all around him rose and moved towards Voldemort. For a second, he thought it was Dumbledore, but the notion was discarded as he saw Dumbledore look at the floating shards as well.

Their eyes met and they immediately turned to look at Voldemort, who was standing on his knees, his arms held above his bald head as the glass shards swirled around him, grouping like a swarm of bees. With a jab, the shards shot forth forcing Dumbledore and Harry to shield themselves.

Harry opened his eyes and saw that the glass shards had impacted their shields and turned to fine glass dust due to the force behind them. The fine glass dust, he and Dumbledore were currently knee-deep in.

"You dare use my own spells against me, Potter?" A booming voice roared.

Harry saw Gellert Grindelwald had gotten to his feet, his eyes burning with hatred. His inner vest, shirt, and tie had been burnt to shreds, revealing the armor glowing with runes underneath them.

'That's how he is in one piece.' Harry thought morbidly.

"Why? Can't I?" Harry asked, stepping forward as the glass dust vanished.

In response, Grindelwald snapped his wand, firing a lavender-colored curse at him. Harry gathered some magic at the tip of his wand and moved his wand like he was wielding a ping pong paddle and the curse was redirected straight at Voldemort, who erected a hasty shield but still got blasted back, his robes smoldering.

Grindelwald's wand-tip glowed again but before he could fire a spell, the fireplaces all around the atrium lit up with green flames, and scores of ministry wizards flooded into the atrium from the floo network.

The ministry members were here.

Harry saw many people shriek and take cover behind Aurors as they saw Voldemort rise to his feet and glare at them.

Voldemort turned his eyes on Harry and Dumbledore.

"Till we meet again." He said, before disappearing in a plume of black smoke.

"Farewell," Grindelwald replied as well, before apparating away, leaving Harry and Dumbledore in the middle of the ruined atrium, now filled with scores of wizards and witches, all reeling from what they had just witnessed.

"He was there!" shouted a scarlet-robed man with a ponytail yelled. "I saw him, Mr. Fudge, I swear, it was You-Know-Who with another man!"

"I know, Williamson, I know, I saw them too!" gibbered Fudge, who was wearing pajamas under his pinstriped cloak and was gasping as though he had just run miles. "Merlin's beard — here — here! — in the Ministry of Magic! Great heavens above — it doesn't seem possible — my word — how can this be?"

"You should know Fudge, shouldn't you?" Harry snarled, stepping forward.

Fudge took a step back, bumping into the man behind him.

"P-Potter?"

"Yes, it's Harry Potter, Cornelius," Dumbledore replied, making Fudge's head snapped toward him along with many other newcomers. "But you didn't answer his question. You already knew Voldemort was going to be here tonight. Or did your master not include you in his meeting?"

"W-what are you on about?" Fudge sputtered before he crumpled to the floor, making people jump.

"Madame Bones, arrest this traitor. The one who sold this country out to Voldemort."

"What do you think you are doing, Potter?" Someone shouted before Amelia could step in.

"Cornelius Fudge betrayed the country to Voldemort, you blithering idiot!" Harry growled, not caring who it was. "He purposefully denied his return and stopped all attempts to prepare the country against the threat. He was with Voldemort all along. He wanted to give his master the world on a silver platter! So, that is why, I, Lord Harry James Potter, charge Cornelius Fudge with high treason against the state, along with all his immediate undersecretaries who aided him to do so!"

Pandemonium broke but quietened down in an instant with a bang of Dumbledore's wand.

"Quiet! Do you all realize what has happened? The man you all just saw with Lord Voldemort was Gellert Grindelwald. Two of the most dangerous dark lords the world has ever seen are now fighting together against us, aiming to disrupt the peace we've had for the past decade!" Dumbledore's voice boomed through the atrium.

"Not even a few minutes ago you all saw the proof, with your own eyes, that Harry and I have been telling you the truth for the past six months. We had warned the world of Voldemort's return but this man, Cornelius Fudge, stopped it all by discrediting us, and proclaiming that Harry and I were liars, attention seekers, and delusional individuals. He purposefully stopped investigations and did all he could to ensure that people remained unprepared for what was to come! He and his whole team assured the world that what we were telling was a lie! And, he was successful."

Dumbledore took a deep breath. "We have no more time to waste. Cornelius Fudge has successfully stalled the world enough for his masters! It is time to take action and prepare ourselves! We are facing a threat like we have never before. Two of the most dangerous dark lords are, here again, threatening the world. We all saw the horrors that Lord Voldemort spread. Some, even what Grindelwald did. This is not the time to dally! We must prepare and take quick actions!"

Whispers broke out in the atrium as Amelia stepped forward and cuffed Fudge before stunning Percy, who had moved to stop her.

"Aurors, go arrest Undersecretary Umbridge," Amelia ordered quietly.

"If you proceed downstairs into the Department of Mysteries, Amelia, you would find several Death Eaters in chains along with some of my Order members standing guard over them," Dumbledore added. "And, call the Wizengamot. This war just got a lot more complicated."

Notes:

AND… DONE! Hope you liked the chapter and the fight.

NOTE 1: The next chapter MIGHT get delayed by a week. I have an exam on the 10th of August and then, on the 11th and likely 12th, I will be out of station due to personal reasons. I am not saying that I won't update… I MIGHT or MIGHT NOT. It depends on the time I get to write the chapter.

NOTE 2: I have published a new fic named, 'AGENT POTTER: The Wizard of W.A.N.D'. It can be found in my profile. Do check it out!

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A huge thanks to I_amaSWITCHbot and Ultimate Gamer for betaing this chapter.

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Also, being a Potterhead, how can I forget that today is the 31st of July which is the 42nd Birthday of Harry James Potter! Wishing all Potterheads a very happy fandom birthday!

[Also, fun fact. It is JK Rowling's Birthday as well. Yes, JKR gave Harry the same Birthday as she had(minus the year of birth).]

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Also, join my server, House of HPfanfictioner66, to interact with me directly, and also, I will be posting the pictures of the characters there, so you all can get an idea of how they look.

Link: discord . gg / 4qfP3fxdQ4 [Remove the spaces please]

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As of this moment, I have five main stories. They are:

1. The Rise of the Last Potter My Novel length Harry Potter fic which is already 300k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly.

2. The Legend of the Son of Poseidon: A Novel Length Percy Jackson fic which is already 250k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly

3. Loved Ones Skipping Stones and Ice-cream: A fluffy Haphne one-shot. It is completed obviously.

4. SECRETS: Another romantic one-shot I published recently. Complete as well.

5. Agent Potter: The Wizard of W.A.N.D. - My new, spy!Harry fanfic which I implore you all to read!

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 65: Plans in motion

Ch.64 Plans in motion

29th December 1995

Atrium of British Ministry of Magic, London

“Noo!” A sharp wail of despair tore through the air as Nymphadora Tonks collapsed next to the body of her mother which was covered by a white satin sheet.

“Mom. Mom. MOM!” She shouted, trying to shake her mother awake but she didn’t break her slumber. She never would.

Flashes of his time with the woman he had called Aunt flashed through Harry’s mind before he clamped them down.

He couldn’t afford to weep here. Not now. He needed to be strong for both Nymphadora and the whole country.

“Mum, mum… please you cannot do—”

“Nymphadora,” Sirius said softly, kneeling next to the sobbing girl. “Come here, kid.”

She didn’t budge as she continued to hug her deceased mother while sobbing, trying to make her regain consciousness.

“Nymphadora, it will be okay. She wouldn’t want you to cry.”

“Why did she have to be the one killed, Sirius? Why?” She sobbed.

Harry forcibly tore his eyes away from the scene as Nymphadora sobbed over her mother’s body, her hair flickering through a rainbow of colors while Sirius tried to console her.

Around the atrium, the other ministry employees barely gave them a passing look as they continued to move around, doing their duties while whispering to each other.

“Potter and Dumbledore—”

“I saw you-know-who standing right there along with the old man—”

“—kept it all under wraps on orders from you-know-who.”

“Grindelwald, the old dark lord whom Dumbledore defeated—”

“—telling the truth all along.”

“— Aurors were going to be disbanded by Fudge—”

“Fudge was serving you-know-who all along—”

“I am fleeing Britain with my wife and child—”

“Harry,” A voice cut through the whispers echoing in Harry’s ears.

“Professor. How is it going?” Harry asked as chunks of stone flew back into the wall to his left, repairing it.

“Cornelius Fudge and the other Death Eaters we faced down in the Department of Mysteries have been secured. The Death Eaters are going to be administered the somnous potion till they can stand trial once and for all before being executed.” Dumbledore replied as he stared mournfully at Nymphadora crying over Andromeda’s body.

“And the Wizengamot?”

“Emergency meeting at ten tomorrow morning. I even talked to the media and have requested them to stay away from the Black family today to give them time to mourn. Details will be all over the Prophet tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you.” He replied sincerely as Nymphadora’s sob punctuated his reply.

“There have been concerns for the damages sustained. Some are calling us to pay for these repairs. Not that anyone would have the guts to say it to our faces, obviously.”

Harry hummed lightly as he glanced around the Atrium. Even with the clean-up halfway through, the Atrium looked deplorable. Chunks of concrete and stone from the floor and the walls were missing. Not a single glass stood in the whole Atrium. The once pristine entrance to the ministry was now nothing but a shell of its former glory. 

The most visible of damage was the hole in the middle of the atrium that showed the floor below. And that was not to mention the molten tiles and stones that had now solidified unevenly all over the place.

Harry watched dispassionately as the rubble of two collapsed floo fireplaces were levitated away, clearing the space. The fireplaces would have to be re-enchanted and connected to the Floo Network of the main ministry for them to be functional again.

“Unhand me this instant!” A high-pitched scream of rage echoed through the Atrium, making heads turn. “I am the undersecretary for the Minister of magic! I will have your jobs for this! I will—”

A beam of red light hit her back and she slumped. Only the Aurors holding her had kept her from hitting the floor.

“Looks like Dolores is finally getting what she deserves,” Dumbledore commented as they watched a stupefied Umbridge being dragged away into one of the elevators by the team of Aurors.

“Well, everything went as we planned. Except for Grindelwald showing up out of the blue. I am quite curious as to how no one has noticed his absence from the prison so far. He escaped from the most secure prison in the world. Someone should’ve noticed his absence. And that is not to mention, that he arranged an assassination attack on me while sitting in his cell, locked behind the highest security in the world. Even sending a normal letter without its contents being known should’ve been impossible, much less arranging an assassination attempt on one of the most famous figures in the world.”

“True. But, unfortunately, I have no idea as to how he did it. Gellert was always resourceful. And intelligent. He had taught himself all magic that he could learn. There was barely a field of magic he didn’t teach himself or was knowledgeable about. You know, he loathed plants and herbology as a whole. But, his knowledge of the subject was enough to teach a NEWT class. Theoretical knowledge, of course.”

“Why do you think he joined Voldemort? People like them… or at least, Voldemort would never share an iota of power with anyone. Especially, not when he has to share it equally. Grindelwald would settle for nothing less than equal power to Voldemort in decision-making. And, that is not to mention, he might bring in his Knights.”

“I think the reason for Tom going to Grindelwald is rather simple. Desperation. Desperation makes people do things they would never do. Tom was desperate. He was weak from his thirteen-year death stint, influentially speaking of course. And, He still couldn’t face you and me alone. So he needed to balance the power in some way. Whom better than a former, much successful Dark Lord whom the world had bowed to in terror?”

“Okay…” Harry drawled uncertainly. “But what of Grindelwald? A partnership has to be both ways. Grindelwald… you know him better, but why would he team up with someone like Voldemort ? Like, come on. If the man could arrange an assassination on me while sitting in his prison cell, he can surely arrange a prison break to save himself.”

Dumbledore ran his hand through his beard before sighing defeatedly as his shoulders slumped. “I… really cannot fathom why he did what he did. The best I can speculate is that he wanted revenge on me or wants the Elder Wand back. But, that doesn’t make complete sense. Not with the prison break theory you posed.”

“Is it possible that he was planning an uprising all along? Waiting for the right opportunity to strike?”

“He had fifty years, Harry. Fifty. It has been a very long time, Harry, even with his magical power cut off by the wards of the cell, he was far from helpless it seems, if the evidence is anything to go by.”

Harry pursed his lips. If Dumbledore couldn’t guess why Grindelwald joined hands with Voldemort, only one person could give him that answer. Grindelwald himself. 

So, it was fruitless. For the time being anyway. 

“What of the ICW?”

The moment the news of Grindelwald’s return to power reached the ears of foreign ministries, the ICW was going to be in some deep shit. Some really deep shit. 

“I am expecting a letter, summoning me back to its halls by today noon,” Dumbledore said, glancing at his pocket watch. “And a full ICW council by tomorrow morning if I have to predict, with the session being led by nations like France and the United States. If I had to predict, I would be back as the Supreme Mugwump by this time tomorrow.”

Harry glanced at his wristwatch. Quarter to two in the morning. While most of Magical Britain slept, a shitstorm had erupted in the heart of the country. Harry could only imagine the chaos that would follow in a few hours when the Daily Prophets would be delivered to almost every house in Britain.

Harry looked back at Andromeda’s dead body before averting his eyes, laying them back on Dumbledore. 

“What are the casualties?”

“Only Mrs. Tonks for the Order. There have been injuries, of course, but nothing to be concerned about much. Everyone should be back on their feet by the time the term starts. The main problem is that a few of the Death Eaters… and likely, the Knights of Walpurgis who participated in the fight have escaped.”

“Sir… do you really think that—”

“The Knights of Walpurgis may be an old thing. But, Grindelwald supporters are rather substantial in several parts of the world. And, not all of his men from the time of his reign are dead. Many still live. Some of them might have been a part of the enemies we fought today.”

“Likely,” Harry nodded, remembering the brute man who had tried to choke him while shouting proficiencies in what he had assumed to be German.

“Do you think we should kill the Death Eaters we captured? Voldemort and Grindelwald might already be planning to free them.”

“Their trial will be held before the end of this week, Harry. We will push for their execution and I do not think there would be much opposition to the motion. The Death Eaters sympathizers might vote against it but it should not be enough.”

“Two-thirds for execution, right?” Harry asked.

“Indeed. A two-thirds majority is always needed for decisions like impeachment and execution.”

“And what if the motion fails?”

“It won’t,” Dumbledore replied. “I will call in favors if needed. But, every vital motion we plan to put forth in tomorrow’s emergency session will be passed.”

Harry licked his dry lips. “Well, if you are sure.”

“I am, Harry. We will make the motion pass.”

---

29th December 1995

British DMLE Holding Cells, London

Cornelius Fudge sat despondently in his holding cell, banging his head on the wall as he cursed himself for his stupidity.

Potter and Dumbledore had been telling the truth all along. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had indeed returned from the dead.

How he wished he had heeded them. If he had, he wouldn’t be here, sitting under the crushing weight of the guilt he felt for his admittedly stupid actions.

But he hadn’t heeded to them and, now here he was, in a holding cell for the DMLE, under arrest for High Treason against the state. High Treason . The highest degree of crime there was, placed even above serial killing. And that not to mention the accusation of being in league with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named of all people.

He was many things, but he was not a Death Eater. Never. 

All he had done was to do what he thought was the right course of action. He had seen a plot that had never existed and believed himself to be the savior of magical Britain.

And now, he had been deemed a criminal of the highest order. If proven guilty, he would be executed by sundown on the very day of his trial.

It was all so unfair.

“Good Morning, Cornelius,” A serene voice greeted, making his eyes snap open.

Albus Dumbledore stood before him, wearing the midnight blue, star-studded robes he had worn when battling the two Dark Lords alongside Potter. But, they were noticeably cleaner and mended as compared to when he had last seen him.

“Dumbledore,” Cornelius breathed. “I— I am— I do not know what to say.”

Dumbledore smiled at him faintly, as his silver beard reflected in the minimal lighting of the cell. With a wave of his wand, the holding cell expanded and a plush armchair appeared next to Dumbledore.

“An apology might be an excellent way to start,” He stated as he took a seat on the armchair, looking down at Fudge who sat on the floor, leaning against the cell’s stone wall.

The man averted his eyes. “I think my mistakes are beyond an apology, Du— Headmaster.”

“Good. At least you understand the gravity of the situation we find ourselves in. You especially, dear boy.”

He didn’t even have the energy to put on a self-deprecating smile. “High Treason. The highest crime in the eyes of the law.”

“Indeed.”

“But I am no Death Eater. I swear, I never supported him . What I did… was…” Fudge trailed off, unable to put his thoughts into words as his voice broke into a muffled sob.

“I am aware that you are not a Death Eater. Your actions were born out of fear and the irrational urge to avoid the truth, fruitlessly hoping that by ignoring it, the truth would become… a lie.”

Fudge closed his eyes, hoping the wall would swallow him. Or the ground would erupt and kill him. Anything.

Nothing happened.

“I hope you are aware that you will be in front of the Wizengamot in a few hours from now, standing trial for your crimes. If proven guilty—”

“I will be executed by sundown. I am aware. I… just want you to know that I am— I am willing to do anything to make amends for my mistakes. If I could turn time back—” His voice broke as he adamantly refused to meet Dumbledore’s eyes. Or look at him for that matter.

How could he? He had single-handedly brought doom on Britain if not the whole world by his actions. He had not been alive to witness Grindelwald’s war but had heard enough of the atrocities committed. And that was not to mention He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. The Dark Lord’s mere name was enough to make every cell of his body cower in terror.

And he had wronged the very man whom even He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named feared. The man, who was sitting right in front of him.

Dumbledore sighed. “Unfortunately, it is not possible to turn back time in the way you wish. But what you can do is make amends.”

Fudge perked up instantly, his eyes moving to Dumbledore’s solemn face. A flame of hope ignited in his heart. A hope to correct his blunder or at least, run damage control.

“Anything,” He breathed. “I am ready. Just tell me.”

“I hear that you have amassed quite a wealth in your years as the Minister, both with your salary… and other means.”

Fudge flinched.

“Yes,” Dumbledore continued. “But, you have no immediate family, so to speak. No wife, no children, no next of kin. In this case, upon your death, your fortune will be sealed in Gringotts for a while, until ultimately being confiscated by the Goblins after a quarter century of the Fudge name being wiped out. Unless of course, you have made a will in which case, the fortune would be distributed to the concerned parties.”

Fudge nodded, eagerness brimming in his eyes. He had no family, so to speak. The closest family he had were his second and third cousins, who he had little to no relation with. He had not bothered to make a will either.

“I would donate every single knut of it to the ministry if it means that it will— that it will lighten the impact of my mistakes.”

Dumbledore just nodded in assent.

“It might also help to reduce your sentence from execution to permanent exile. Unfortunately, you are out of the office for the time being in the light of the charges you face.”

Fudge averted his eyes once more. His position as the minister was far from his thoughts right now, being completely eclipsed by the weight of his mistakes.

If he had just listened to Dumbledore and taken the steps he was asked to take…

“I have no desire for a position of power any longer. My mistakes prove that I am incapable of holding any office, much less of the Minister of Magic.”

“You were not a bad Minister, Cornelius. You just made an error of judgment. A grave one, but just an error nonetheless.”

Trust Dumbledore to make me feel better and worse at the same time .

“I— is there anything else that I can do?”

“Do not resist the motion to permanently dismantle your administration. I do not know if you will be asked to defend against it, but if you are, do not resist. Because passing the motion to elect a minister right there on the spot is extremely vital for us in this war. And, Lord Voldemort may interfere with its results if there is any delay in the election.”

Dumbledore’s tone left no doubt as to how grave the situation was.

“I agree. I will not defend my impeachment, even if I am asked to. And, I will even accept any and all punishment the Wizengamot council feels fit to levy on me.”

“That is all I ask. The donation, your willingness to accept and make amends for your mistake, hopefully along with your answers under the truth serum, as a trial for high treason demands, might just push the case in your favor a bit. And by that, I mean a permanent exile instead of a lifetime of prison or worse, your outright execution.” Dumbledore said as he got up from his chair.

With a flick of his wand, the chair he had sat on vanished into nothingness as the room began to shrank to its original size.

Fudge grimaced, as his accommodations were restored. A part of him wished that Dumbledore would’ve left the chair and the expansion charms on. But, he didn’t have any right to ask anything from the headmaster. Not in light of his recent actions.

“I will try to push for treason rather than high treason for your cooperation, Cornelius. And remember, just because someone stumbles and loses their way, doesn't mean they're lost forever. You making an effort to amend your mistakes make you a better man than most. I wish you luck for the trial.”

“Headmaster,” Fudge called as Dumbledore turned to leave.

“Yes?”

“I… do not know if I will see tomorrow’s sun. I have no idea what is going to happen. But, if I don’t live… I have two last requests to make of you.”

Dumbledore continued to stare inquisitively at him.

“Defeat them. Vo— You— you-k— Voldemort and Grindelwald. Don’t let them win. And… and please tell Mr. Potter that I am sorry for my actions against him for all its worth.”

Dumbledore just smiled before disapparating from his cell.

Fudge didn’t even bother to wonder how Dumbledore had done what he just did as he leaned back against the wall of the cell, staring into nothingness as he awaited his fate.

---

29th September 1995

Courtroom Twelve. British Ministry of Magic.

Pandemonium.

That was the only word that could describe the atmosphere of courtroom twelve of the ministry of magic as Harry walked into the place. Even the members of the Wizengamot had formed their own small groups and were discussing in rapid, hushed tones about the crisis that the country faced.

All around the courtroom, men and women in blood-red uniforms stood alert, with their wands in their hands. A huge part of the force was concentrated near the public gallery where witches and wizards had gathered in hordes to witness the proceedings of the courtroom. In both the corners above the courtroom floor, more than a score of journalists and cameramen occupied the media boxes along with two Aurors in each box.

In other words, the security was tight . The public in the viewing gallery was even divested off their wands and all other magical items bar the clothes they wore on their body and their boots. Even Wizengamot members, including himself, had been probed with three different security detectors before entering the chambers.

Thankfully, he had been informed of the security beforehand and had only carried his wands with him aside from the robes he had worn and the Basilisk-hide vest underneath it.

The security wizard outside had been about to raise a fuss about the armor and the secondary wand but Scrimgeour and Kingsley had swooped in and let him through, following behind him.

Even now, Kingsley stood right beside him while Scrimgeour had taken off to see the security. For now.

After the events of the night, Amelia had insisted on providing him, Sirius, and Dumbledore with security for the duration of the trial. Dumbledore and him because of them fighting Voldemort and Grindelwald and Sirius because he was a target to get to Harry.

Suddenly, the conversations around him became even more hushed as people stopped and stared at him as he walked in. The topics of the conversation instantly diverted to him.

“Harry Potter—”

“He fought them with—”

“—Our savior.”

“—Will defeat you know who like he did all—”

“ —is the chosen one.”

Harry walked faster to his seat, unwilling to talk with the other members for now. Especially in the overly positive light the prophet had painted him in, on the first page of the morning’s newspaper, no less.

Kingsley followed obediently behind him, looking around for threats.

“Harry,” Cyrus Greengrass greeted gravely as he walked into the Most Noble and Most Ancient row of seats.

“Cyrus,” Harry sighed.

“Grindelwald… where did Grindelwald come from?” He whispered.

“I have no idea. Neither does Dumbledore. We will tell you all more in the next order meeting.” Harry assured, making Lord Greengrass nod.

“Also, I am sorry to hear about Andromeda. I know that she was a close part of the Black family.”

Harry just gave him a nod and went to the Potter seat before sitting down. Kingsley stepped up beside his table and immediately tapped a rune in the middle of the metal disk, the size of a muggle CD that was present on the table.

The disk glowed with yellow light as Kingsley stepped back. A moment later, a dome of glowing yellow energy formed all around Harry and shimmered for a few moments before becoming transparent.

Portable 360-degree protective dome shields. Quite useful in high-profile Wizengamot sessions like these. If someone attacked a person protected by the shield, the shield would take the first couple or so spells before shattering, but giving the security enough time to move in. They had been created during the Grindelwald war in 1945 and had been removed from storage for the trial. Well, their improved versions had been anyway.

The problem with them was that the discs had to be fixed in a place while in use. And not to mention, fairly expensive. And that was not to mention, once the shield broke, the runes on the disc happened to burn out, making it only a one-time use article.

And that was why people didn’t roam around carrying one in their pockets or had several installed around their homes.

“Harry, I will be sitting right behind you. But, do not move out of the radius of this shield. Anything you want to speak can be spoken from here and heard from here.”

“Thank you, Kingsley,” Harry said, taking a thin cardboard file out of an enchanted pocket in his robes and placing the file on his desk.

Opening it, he skimmed through the pages, revising what was written on the pages by Dumbledore. His finger moved across the neat flowing script, down the page. He hadn’t had the time to read all of it thoroughly yet but knew its contents fairly well. The pointers were just for reference today. 

Also, reading it gave him some work to do rather than staving off people’s stares and whispers. He also ignored the flashes of yellow lights as people began to take their seats and activated the safety shields.

Aurors were continuously milling around, secrecy sensors and other devices whirling or blinking in their hands while they kept an eye on everyone.

What drew his eyes was when a gaggle of Aurors and Hitwizards entered through the doors, surrounding someone. Raising himself a bit, he saw the occupants of the circle.

Amelia, Sirius, Dumbledore, Susan, Augusta Longbottom, and Griselda Marchbanks, who happened to be the current Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot since Dumbledore was removed from his positions.

He had no clue as to what Augusta Longbottom was doing with the party but waved it off as he saw her conversing in rapid tones with Dumbledore and Amelia.

After another look, Harry returned to his reading as he turned to the next page of notes. His right leg began to bounce as he skimmed through the rest of it, once and for all.

“Hey, Harry,” A voice called, breaking Harry’s attention.

He stopped his foot from bouncing as he turned to see his girlfriend.  “Susan.”

With a glance around the courtroom, he saw that Dumbledore was seated next to Griselda Marchbanks instead of his normal seat and both of them were chatting with Augusta Longbottom.

Amelia had taken the seat of Fudge already. Nothing illegal as the Head of DMLE was in charge of the ministerial duties in absence of the Minister of Magic. Especially in cases like these.

Half a dozen Aurors surrounded the party, keeping just out of earshot. Sirius, on the other hand, had already taken his seat on the chair of Lord Black, his gray eyes looking stoically everywhere. Connie Hammer stood behind his chair, a few feet away, looking alert.

Harry suspected that more than half the auror force and Hitwizard force were running on nothing but pepper-ups and caffeine like he was.

Susan leaned forward, coming closer to his desk, almost touching the dome shield. “Do you think there is going to be an attack today?”

Harry moistened his lips, as he continued to look around the courtroom. “I don’t think so. Not with this much security. Half the Auror and Hitwizard force is here. Plus both Dumbledore and I are here. Even Voldemort isn’t insane enough to attack here.”

Susan hummed before looking up at him again. “Also, where’s Daphne?” 

Harry glanced to his right where Lord Greengrass sat, chatting with Lord Albertos.

“I don’t think he brought her with him today. Plus, she is just the Heiress and her presence isn’t really necessary for a public proceeding like this unless the lord of the family deigns so.”

Susan rolled her eyes. “Don’t justify. Ask Cyrus where’s Daphne.”

“You can do it yourself,” Harry muttered.

“Well, you are nearer.”

Harry sighed and turned to Cyrus.

“Cyrus,” Harry called, gaining the other Lord’s attention. “Why isn’t Daphne with you today? I expected her to be here.”

“I told Daphne to stay at the manor because even Astoria was demanding to come with me. They are a handful together and really not something I wished to handle during a Wizengamot meeting.” Cyrus replied. “I asked them both to stay at home. Daphne will hear the proceedings on the wireless if she wishes.”

“Cool,” Harry nodded. He had personally seen how quarrelsome they both could be with each other, especially Astoria, and it definitely wasn’t something to do in such a high-profile session.

“By the way, you read the Prophet today, didn’t you? Because I feel you might just want to base off some of your influence today on those articles.”

Harry wrinkled his nose. “ The chosen one. ”

Cyrus’s lips quirked. “Just a thing to add to that long list of names. You already had the savior’s title.”

“I do not care for the names and titles the Prophet gives me. I have my official titles as Lord Potter and as Heir Black. If I want to add, I will put the Order of Merlin, First Class in. The rest… I simply do not care for their existence.”

Cyrus gave him a full-blown grin before his eyes flickered past his right shoulder and he gave a customary nod of greeting. Harry’s head turned and he saw Augusta Longbottom and Sirius walking down the row toward them. Hestia Jones was following them, wearing her blood-red Auror robes. She was Sirius’s security detail for the day.

Augusta Longbottom’s sharp, hawk-like brown eyes roved over the Wizengamot once before she paused and took her seat beside Susan. Sirius on the other hand, continued, giving each one of them a nod of greeting as he walked down to the end of the row to the Black seat. The only seat that remained unoccupied was the Selwyn seat between Lord Albertos and Sirius.

Harry wrenched his eyes from the Lords and turned to Susan and found her already roped into a conversation by Augusta Longbottom. Having nothing to do, he turned his eyes back to the file lying on his desk.

“Members of the Wizengamot,” Marchbank’s amplified voice boomed through the courtroom. “We shall begin the meeting at ten, sharp. Please take your seats.”

Harry glanced at his watch. Not even two minutes to ten. All he needed to do was wait.

He proceeded to look around the courtroom. Witches and wizards were walking up and down the rows, proceeding to take their seats. The public gallery was filled to the brim with witches and wizards who had come to witness what was happening. 

The Aurors, though, were unmistakable even in the crowded public gallery.

Speaking of security, Kingsley was seated on a chair right behind him. He was tapping his wand against his leg, as his eyes continued to dart around with unnerving alertness. Scrimgeour stood, leaning against the wall to Harry’s left, near the Longbottom seat while Hestia Jones stood near Sirius, covering the right of the row.

Directly in front of him, Griselda Marchbanks was seated with Amelia to her left and Dumbledore to her right, making Harry raise his eyebrow. Dumbledore should be in the Order of Merlin row. Not in the front. But then again, he was Dumbledore.

Flashes of yellow light reflected on the shining tiles of the circular chamber as the shields were activated. The Wizengamot was in full attendance, except for the members who were behind bars or dead. 

A gong reverberated through the chamber a minute later as Harry felt a prickle of magic on his skin. The doors of the chamber locked themselves and so did the public gallery and the media gallery.

“The doors have been sealed,” Griselda Marchbanks announced. “I, Griselda Marchbanks, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, call the Emergency Wizengamot session of twenty-ninth December 1995 to order. Let the session begin.”

Notes:

AND… DONE!
Hope you all enjoyed the chapter! As for the rather short length of it, as you all know that I am facing a writer’s block at the moment and it is a bit tough to let the creativity flow onto the paper. But, I have done my best.
A huge thanks to I_amaSWITCHbot for betaing this chapter.
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Also, join my server, House of HPfanfictioner66, to interact with me directly, and also, I will be posting pictures of the characters there, so you all can get an idea of how they look.
Link: discord . gg / 4qfP3fxdQ4 [Remove the spaces please]
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As of this moment, I have five main stories. They are:
1. The Rise of the Last Potter: My Novel length Harry Potter fic which is already 300k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly.
2. The Legend of the Son of Poseidon: A Novel Length Percy Jackson fic which is already 250k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly
3. Loved Ones Skipping Stones and Ice-cream: A fluffy Haphne one-shot. It is completed obviously.
4. SECRETS: Another romantic one-shot I published recently. Complete as well.
5. Agent Potter: The Wizard of W.A.N.D. - My new spy!Harry fanfic which I implore you all to read!
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HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 66: The Fall of Cornelius Fudge

Notes:

This chapter is published in the loving memory of Robbie Coltrane, who was famously known to play our beloved Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter films. Hagrid is the most loved character in the Harry Potter universe (I have never seen a Hagrid Bashing fic, and neither do I hope to ever see one) and I am pretty sure that we all now associate Robbie Coltrane's face whenever Hagrid is mentioned. May his soul rest in peace and his legacy remain immortal.

I was going to publish this chapter next week as I was falling short on time, creativity, and energy to write but seeing the news of Robbie Coltrane's passing, I knew that I must dedicate this chapter to him and publish it today. So, I did.

To Robbie Coltrane, our beloved Rubeus Hagrid.

Ch.65 The Fall of Cornelius Fudge

29th December 1995

Courtroom twelve, British Ministry of Magic

"The first of many points of today's agenda shall be the return of the Dark Lords, Gellert Grindelwald, and the one who calls himself Voldemort," Griselda Marchbank's voice drifted through the courtroom, eliciting squeaks and high-pitched screams of terror amongst the members of the Wizengamot and the audience.

'They are so scared of his very name. How will they ever stand up against him?'

"ORDER IN THE COURTROOM!" Marchbank boomed, her voice reverberating through the chamber. Harry could feel his armrests vibrate as she shouted.

'She certainly has a hell of a voice despite being nearly two centuries old. And that's saying something.'

She took a deep breath, her eyes glaring at every person present. "As of this moment, seeing the circumstances we… the world finds itself in, we, Ladies and Gentlemen, are in a state of war worse than we were in fifteen years ago. In the early hours of today morning, our very own Lord Potter and Albus Dumbledore dueled the two dark lords and their men alongside several members of wizarding Britain in this very building. I now ask the Interim Minister of Magic, Amelia Bones to give us a deeper insight into the situation."

Amelia stood up and cleared her throat loudly, making every eye in the room turn to her.

"Between midnight and 0200 hours in the morning, a fight between several witches and wizards broke out in the Department of Mysteries resulting in the capture of sixty-seven terrorists and the deaths of forty-nine people, out of which, one was a civilian, namely Andromeda Tonks nee Black."

Eyes turned to Sirius at the proclamation, who just bowed his head before looking at Amelia to continue.

"All the aforementioned terrorists were found with the dark mark branded on their skins. But, as we—"

"Objection!" A voice boomed from behind making Harry turn.

Lord Jugson was on his feet with his wand pointed straight up in the air, glowing with a red light.

"You are recognized, Lord Jugson," Marchbank's said, allowing the interruption.

"Thank you, Chief Warlock. I would like to point this fact out to the court that the dark mark is not a concrete sign of being a terrorist or loyalty of a person to anyone. Many members of this very council bore the mark which they took under the Imperius curse placed on them by Lord Voldemort. We all—"

"I would like to add the fact that many who pleaded the imperius fourteen years ago are amongst the terrorists captured as of a few hours ago confirmed to be acting of their own free will and free of any mind control." Amelia swiftly intervened. "This has also led us to believe—"

"A most worrying fact, Madame Bones, I am sure of it. But the objection was on the basis of calling them terrorists because they had the Dark Mark branded on their arms by a psychotic wizard fifteen years ago against their will. You can call them terrorists because they instigated an armed conflict, attacking—"

"Spare us the shit, Jugson!" Sirius stood up, intervening in an agitated fashion. "Those fuckers are Death Eaters serving Voldemort, all acting on their free will. End of the topic."

"Lord Black, I would ask you to mind your language within these chambers," Marchbanks said drolly.

"I think Lord Black isn't in his right mind after losing his cousin."

"And I do not think you are in your right mind Jugson after your sons and their wives were arrested yesterday for being a part of the group who attacked the ministry. Sit down before I rip off your sleeve to check if you are a Death Eater!"

"Lord Black, kindly refrain from threatening other members of the Wizengamot," Griselda Marchbanks warned with steel in her voice. "Also, I bring this discussion to an end. Both of you sit back in your seats."

"Yes, yes, Chief Warlock," Sirius replied, shooting a last look at Jugson before taking his seat.

"Thank you, gentlemen. Now, Madame Bones, please continue."

"As I was saying, all those captured or recaptured in a few cases are being held at a secure facility of the DMLE under sedation and will stand trial as soon as possible. A fair trial, which I propose to be done with the use of Veritaserum on every single suspect." Amelia declared.

A wave of murmurs steadily grew within the chambers at the proposed idea, some voicing their support for it, some opposing it.

"This is outrageous! Today you use Veritaserum to question purebloods and tomorrow someone will use them on purebloods and force them to spill out family secrets! Our treasured grimoires! Magical practices!" Someone shouted over the murmurs, making themselves heard.

"Just throw the bastards to death! Why even use the potion?" Another yelled

"SILENCE!" Marchbanks ordered, firing purple firecrackers from her wand. "This is a courtroom, ladies and gentlemen. I expect you all to maintain decorum in this room. If you can't, you are welcome to leave and if you don't, you will be removed by force. One more person speaking out of turn is going to get kicked out of the courtroom. That is final."

Marchbanks proceeded to glare at every member of the Wizengamot with fire in her eyes which were aiming to burn them all to ashes at the slightest provocation.

"Now, as I saw it, Madame Bones was merely proposing the idea to use Veritaserum on the captured witches and wizards to ensure there is no error in justice this time around."

"All I aimed to achieve is that no innocent like Sirius Black will go to Azkaban nor will a criminal like Lucius Malfoy roam free by making excuses," Amelia clarified. "What better way to do it than allow the use of Veritaserum?"

"Yes, Lord Carrow?" Marchbanks said as wands were raised high in the air, each member vying to give their opinion.

"I can understand what you are saying, Madame Bones and it is quite a novel idea. But one full of flaws as I see it. Today, you use it for criminal trials and quite fairly so. But, in a few years, this might be used to exploit purebloods to spill their family secrets or give out the magics that we treasure. I am sure you wouldn't wish for your niece to be entangled in a web of fake cases and be forced to spill a few family secrets in the future, would you?"

Susan narrowed her eyes and went to stand up, but Harry hissed at her to remain seated. "Let your aunt handle it, Sue. Don't."

"Are you threatening the House of Bones, Lord Carrow?" Amelia demanded, her eyes alight with fury.

"No, Madame Bones. I am just presenting a hypothetical situation in which the use of Veritaserum in trials might be misused. It was just an example. I assure you that House Carrow has no quarrel with your House. I am just trying to show you the other side of the coin."

"Thank you very much, Lord Carrow, for the clarification. Lord Jones, you may speak."

"Thank you, Chief Warlock. In my opinion about this particular topic, I strongly feel that it is our responsibility as the members of the Wizengamot that a situation like Lord Carrow graciously described shouldn't arise. That is what we are here for, aren't we? To ensure that justice is rendered impartially and correctly?"

"A sentiment I quite agree with," Dumbledore spoke up, allowing himself to be heard for the first time since the trial began. "Chief Warlock, if I may?"

Griselda Marchbanks gave Dumbledore a curt nod, allowing him to speak.

"Justice, as I say, should be absolute," His serene voice was met with absolute silence as he stood up from his seat and turned to face the crowd. "It is a shame on us wizard kind that criminals can go scot-free by lying their way through the trial and making excuses of the imperious curse when we have so many ways to detect lies and also make a person tell the truth. We have a truth serum, a potion that induces such a powerful compulsion, to tell the truth, that no one can lie under it. Then, why not use it?"

Dumbledore spread his arms to the crowd, his beard fluttering slightly due to an invisible wind. His eyes were devoid of the customary twinkle that the world was accustomed to seeing and instead, set in stone with determination, glimmering softly even in the bright lighting of the room.

"Amelia's idea is quite sound," He continued quietly. "Today, we all know that mistakes— grave mistakes— had been made after the first fall of Lord Voldemort. Innocents, like Lord Black, had been thrown in prison while criminals roamed free and became upstanding members of the society. I find me asking myself, 'Is this how I want this war to go as well? By letting criminals walk free or innocents be jailed?'"

Dumbledore paused meaningfully, looking each member of the Wizengamot in the eye.

"So, in my humble opinion, we should try the criminals that myself, along with Lord Potter and our friends captured in the Department of Mysteries, under Veritaserum, even if there is a little doubt about their true motives."

"Thank you, Headmaster Dumbledore and Lord Jones. I believe that we have heard sufficient facts about both sides of the argument. If anyone has anything to add though, please do."

No one raised their wands to speak up.

Harry hadn't expected them to. Not after Dumbledore had spoken in favor of it.

After the great fiasco that had been up for the past six months, there were a few in the world who would question Dumbledore's judgment. Even Harry's own for that matter but unlike Dumbledore, Harry's name hadn't been dragged through the mud, and neither had he been as vocal as Dumbledore had been on Voldemort's return. Not on the public stage anyway.

"Now, I propose that we immediately put this to vote. A trial under Veritaserum for all those captured down in the Department of Mysteries… and if I might add to it, all Death Eaters who are captured henceforth, attacking innocents or such. All those in favor of this proposition, kindly tap your wands twice on your tables."

Harry drew his wand from his sleeve before tapping his desk twice with it. The desk glowed green.

"And those against, please tap your wand four times," Marchbanks added.

All around the room, desks glowed either red or green as people tapped their wands on their desks to cast their votes.

'That might be close. But all of the Most Noble and Most Ancient Houses have voted for it. So, it is going to be in our favor.'

Marchbanks paused for a moment before clearing her throat.

"The motion is passed, with sixty-six percent of votes by the Wizengamot. The Death Eaters will now be tried under the influence of Veritaserum." Marchbanks declared, banging her hammer.

A light round of applause rose before dying down within moments.

"The trials will be held en masse for them all, the day after tomorrow. A notice regarding the same will be sent out soon. Now, since that is out of the way, we have a bigger problem. Namely, the charge of high treason against Cornelius Fudge by Lord Potter under the reasons of, I quote, 'purposeful sabotage of national security, suppression of freedom of speech and the freedom of media, wiping and sabotage of evidence, and supporting terrorists against the nation.'"

Marchbanks paused meaningfully, allowing everyone present to take in the charges.

"In such a situation, as we are aware, Mr. Fudge has been dismissed from office for the time being and Madame Bones is the interim minister while Rufus Scrimgeour, the head of the hit wizard force, is the interim Head of the DMLE. Now, we must determine whether Mr. Fudge is guilty of high treason or not. Bring him in!"

Murmurs spread across the room as Fudge was led into the room in chains, wearing a pinstripe cloak over his pajamas, his head bowed low in shame.

The Aurors gestured him to the chair at the center of the room and he sat down on it without an iota of protest. The iron chains immediately leaped up and bound him.

"Cornelius Oswald Fudge," Marchbanks said, leaning over her desk. "Standing trial for high treason against the nation of Magical Britain. Interrogators: Griselda Marchbanks, Chief Warlock. Amelia Serphina Bones, interim minister of magic. Albus Dumbledore, Order of Merlin- First Class. Prosecutor, Lord Harry James Potter. Now, before we begin, do you have an attorney for defense? In case you do not have one and wish for an attorney, the state will provide one."

"N-no. I will fight my own case, which admittedly, I don't have much to say for myself after my disastrous actions." He admitted, making people raise their eyebrows.

"Then, how do you plead, Cornelius Fudge?"

Fudge looked up toward the Wizengamot and for the first time, Harry noticed that his eyes were red.

Taking a ragged breath, he cleared his throat. "Ch-Chief Warlock. I— I never knew. I th-thought that it was a plan by Lord Potter and Albus Dumbledore to usurp the ministry and its power. It was a grave misjudgment, I admit. And, for that, I am prepared to face any punishment the Wizengamot deems fit to levy on me."

'You can take the man out of politics but never the politician out of the man.' Harry mused as Fudge addressed the Wizengamot, looking perfectly repentant for his action, yet maintaining the fact that everything he did was not on purpose but a misjudgment.

"But I wish to make one thing very clear," Fudge continued over the slight murmurs that were beginning to arise. "I, in no form, have ever supported He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. I am not a sympathizer to his cause, and neither am I a Death Eater. You all must understand. It was near impossible for me, or anyone for that matter, to believe a tale about a dead man returning to life!"

"While I agree that a proclamation like that might sound a bit hard to believe, but it came from Lord Potter and Albus Dumbledore, whom, I must add, have always been highly respected and trustworthy members of the society. And, not to mention, regarded amongst the greatest users of magic in the world."

Fudge smiled humorlessly. "I do not deny that Madame Bones. As I said, it was a grave misjudgment on my part. I looked at it as a ploy by them to usurp the ministry and… my position. I became deluded by the notion. I believed that they were making up a situation to create panic and take over the country. After all, the other two of the greatest magic users tried to do the same, and are trying once again, aren't they?"

Outrage murmurings broke throughout the chamber at the proclamation, making Marchbanks bang her gavel loudly and call for order.

"As I already said, it was a grave misjudgment on my part. Nothing more, nothing less." Fudge repeated. "And I am ready to confirm the same under Veritaserum and take an oath to prove it. I was not, am not, and will not ever be a Death Eater or a supporter of You-know-who."

Harry cleared his throat loudly at that and raised his wand in the air, drawing the court's attention to him.

"Yes, Lord Potter?"

"Thank you, Chief Warlock. Now, with your permission, I wish to pose a few questions to the accused, as I believe I should have, seeing I am the prosecutor today."

Marchbanks paused for a moment before nodding. "Permitted."

Harry nodded briskly before looking straight at Fudge. "Mister Fudge. Now, let us assume for a moment that you never internationally supported Voldemort—"

Shrieks and gasps filled the courtroom at the name making Harry pause briefly.

"—and thought that Professor Dumbledore and I were plotting against you based on our statements. But then, as I am informed, you were made aware of the fact that Barty Crouch Junior, a convicted Death Eater had impersonated Alastor Moody at Hogwarts, instead of choosing to interrogate him, you straight away destroyed the evidence in the form of a dementor's kiss, no less. Please inform the court of the reasons for the action."

"The man was deranged and dangerous," Fudge reasoned.

"And bound," Harry added. "Not to mention, stunned and under a full body-bind hex. And under the guard of Minerva McGonagall and Amelia Bones, whom, I might add, are quite accomplished witches themselves." Harry listed off, ticking his fingers. "So, for the life of me, I cannot understand why you chose to terminate him permanently that too after being informed of the things he had spoken under the influence of the truth potion."

"The truth potion only reveals what a person believes. There was hardly a doubt that Crouch Junior was a madman. I admit, it was not the right decision to have him kissed right away but I had taken the call that I felt was the best in the situation."

"So, another misjudgment on your part," Harry prompted.

"Yes," Fudge admitted.

"You know, Mister Fudge? There are an awful lot of misjudgments happening. Once is happenstance. Twice is a coincidence. Three times is enemy action. So, I do not know what to believe now."

"I just wish to clarify one thing. That I am not a Death Eater, or a sympathizer and my actions were born of paranoia and delusions rather than being an enemy action. That is all. I plead guilty to everything else." Fudge said, making Harry pause.

"So, you plead guilty to the suppression of freedom of speech and the freedom of the media along with wiping and sabotage of evidence?"

"Yes, I do," Fudge admitted, his eyes downcast.

"And the torture of children?" Harry asked, making his head snap up.

"Excuse me?"

"Lord Potter?" Marchbanks asked, making Amelia clear her throat.

"If I might, after Dolores Umbridge was arrested, my Aurors searched her office and found quite a few things. Including parchments on which lines were written in blood with a blood quill. Lines written by students during detentions under Umbridge."

Pandemonium broke as outraged gasps sounded and people rose to their feet, demanding Umbridge's head along with Fudge's.

"SILENCE!" Marchbanks shouted, blasting purple firecrackers from her wand.

The pandemonium refused to cease as Lords roared themselves hoarse calling for Umbridge's execution.

Then, Dumbledore got to his feet, the elder wand in his hand. As Dumbledore raised it above his head, multicolored firecrackers burst from it with an unearthly boom, making people, including Harry, clutch their ears.

"SILENCE! I understand your outrage, members of Wizengamot. But this is no way to deal with it!"

"Thank you, Albus," Marchbanks said, rubbing her ear. "Now, might I know what this is about? And when were you going to bring this to my notice, Amelia?"

"At the trial of Dolores Umbridge, ma'am."

"And how do you, Lord Potter, know of this? After all, the findings of the DMLE are to stay with the DMLE." She asked, sending Harry a glare.

"It is almost as if I go to Hogwarts, Madame Marchbanks," Harry replied dryly.

"Cut the cheek, boy. Give me a straight answer." Marchbanks snapped.

"I go to Hogwarts and many of the students put into detention were my friends or acquaintances," Harry repeated patiently.

"So you knew of it and did nothing?" Marchbanks demanded in outrage, making Harry narrow his eyes at her.

"Who said I didn't do anything?" Harry questioned over the rapidly rising volume of murmurs, quietening them down.

"Lord Potter, I am warning you. Do not take that tone with me. Now, what did you do?"

"Made sure that the Blood Quills didn't use the blood of the students. I altered the enchantments on it."

"A level six illegal artifact and you tampered with it?" Marchbanks clarified.

"Might I remind you that my actions are not on trial here, Madame Marchbanks? I did what I did for the safety of myself and my fellow students. But her intent, in this case, was clear. To torture students into submission, and perhaps, by extension, alienate them from the authority figures in Magical Britain driving them to Voldemort." He replied evenly as gasps sounded again through the court. "And I believe that Cornelius Fudge ordered her to do so under orders from his master. I ask the court to move onto Veritaserum questioning immediately without wasting further time."

Marchbanks nodded before gesturing to the Aurors to feed Fudge Veritaserum.

A rather short Auror in scarlet robes walked forward immediately with a small vial of clear liquid in his hand before asking Fudge to open his mouth before administering three drops of the potion to him.

In a moment, Fudge's eyes went blank as he sat straighter.

"Cornelius Fudge, can you hear me?" Marchbanks asked.

"Yes, I can," He replied in an emotionless, near-robotic voice.

"Excellent. Lord Potter?"

"Cornelius Fudge, were you or were you not informed of Voldemort's return on the night of the twenty-fourth of June?"

"I was."

"Did you, or did you not hear the testimony of Barty Crouch Junior under Veritaserum?"

"I did not. I received the transcript of the questioning written by a legal dictaquill through Amelia Bones."

"So, you agree that the testimonial couldn't have been tampered with in any way or form?"

"Yes, I agree."

"Then why did you execute Barty Crouch Junior through the means of the Dementor's kiss?"

"Because he was a deranged murderer known for heinous crimes and I felt that I would sleep easier knowing that he was no longer a threat."

"Didn't you think that the decision should've fallen to the Wizengamot?"

"I did it because of my responsibility as the Minister of Magic. I did what I thought to be the best to protect the country."

Harry's jaw twitched. He had expected something of a revelation at the question along the lines of Fudge doing it because he was scared and/or didn't want any secrets to be spilled. Or, perhaps, wiped the evidence to forestall a panic that he thought Dumbledore was going to spread.

"Very well. So, do you or do you not support the terrorist known as Lord Voldemort?"

Shrieks sounded in the courtroom just before Fudge replied in a resolute no.

"Could you repeat the last answer, Mr. Fudge?" Marchbanks asked.

"No, I have never supported He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in any way or form consciously."

"Lord Potter, continue."

"Then did you, or did you not use your power and position to bend the media to your will and report what you wanted?"

"I did. I wished to discredit Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter so that no one believed the lies, or in the current case, the truth that they spoke. No one in the Daily Prophet wished to go against Potter but agreed to defame Dumbledore under threats from myself"

"Chief Warlock, point to be noted that the accused has admitted to being guilty of suppression of freedom of media. Along with purposeful defamation of Albus Dumbledore." Harry pointed out.

"Duly noted."

"Now, Minister Fudge. Tell us why did you send Dolores Umbridge to Hogwarts?"

"To suppress the freedom and reign Dumbledore and you have in the school. I believed that you were forming an army at the school to take over the ministry by force. So, Dolores Umbridge was sent to ensure that no one made the mistake of revolting against the ministry in any way possible."

"Did that include torture of school children to have her way?"

"I never gave Madame Umbridge any specific instructions. I trusted her judgment to do the best. She has, after all, served me for more than a decade. I just authorized whatever she forwarded to me. I—" Fudge's voice faltered. "I saw-wear that I-I never knew ab-about her torturing st-students."

'This shouldn't happen under the influence of Veritaserum. It is wearing off.'

"Auror put one more drop of the potion on his tongue," Marchbanks ordered, noticing the same.

A few seconds later, Fudge's eyes glazed over again, staring blankly at the Wizengamot.

"Can you hear me, Cornelius Fudge?"

"Yes," He replied in an emotionless voice.

"So," Harry continued. "You were not aware of Dolores Umbridge torturing students?"

"I was aware that she was restricting the students with her whole power and the power of the ministry behind her. That is what she told me. And I knew of the decrees and saw no harm in passing them for her, giving her power to undermine the authority at Hogwarts and weed out Dumbledore's influence. I even threatened the Board of Governors to comply with my wishes."

"That is an abuse of power, I believe. Another charge to be levied on Mister Fudge." Harry declared.

"Noted."

"That is all, I believe unless, of course, I ask him what other crimes he has committed knowingly."

"I have taken several bribes from people to pass different laws and regulations," Fudge spoke up before someone could stop him. "I have purposefully misled and overruled investigations against many of my friends. I have also redirected funds and donations to the ministry to my personal account at Gringotts. I have also passed laws which would favor me like the minister not having to pay taxes."

Stunned silence filled the room before Harry broke the silence in a bored drawl. "Add money laundering to that as well, Madame Marchbanks. Along with grave abuse of power. Now, if I may ask, who were these friends of yours, Fudge?"

"Many, including Lucius Malfoy, Nott, Gibbons, Avery, Goyle, Crabbe, Jugson, Crouch, and a few others who had been caught for petty crimes and such. They paid me to keep their freedom and consequently, I let them go with mild to no punishment."

"All of these names, if I heard correctly, are the Death Eaters who pleaded the Imperius Curse. Also, excusing criminals of their crimes on bribes is a sabotage of National security, I believe. Not to mention, accepting bribes is in itself, a punishable offense."

Fudge remained silent, staring blankly at the Wizengamot.

"Noted. Lord Potter, is that all?"

"Yes," Harry nodded. "I suppose we can move on to the punishments for his crimes."

"Very well, this court finds Cornelius Fudge is found guilty of the following charges: Suppression of freedom of speech and the freedom of media, wiping and sabotage of evidence, sabotage of national security, and multiple counts of money laundering, abuse of power, and bribery. He is declared innocent on the charge of supporting terrorists against the nation." Marchbanks declared with pursed lips.

"Now, according to the law, Mr. Fudge should get… more than two hundred years in prison, considering we do not know the exact count. But the main charge was high treason, which shall warrant immediate execution. So, everyone in favor of clearing the accused of the charge of high treason, tap your wands on your tables."

Around the chamber, tables glowed, registering their vote.

"And all those who find Cornelius Fudge guilty of high treason, tap your wands now."

Several tables glowed, including Harry's own, registering his vote.

Marchbanks waited for a minute before clearing her throat. "In the favor of charging Mr. Fudge with high treason, we have seventy-nine percent of votes. Cornelius Fudge is found guilty of high treason against the state. As per the law of Section E clause four, all of his assets now belong to the state and Mister Fudge shall be executed at sundown today."

As Marchbanks said this, she picked up the eagle-feather quill on her table and snapped it in half before putting it back down on the table.

"Take him away."

Notes:

And… DONE! Hope you liked the chapter. I know there wasn't anything new that happened in here, but this chapter was important to what I have planned NEXT. (Did you think the Wizengamot session ended with Fudge's trial? Well, it didn't!)

And if you're wondering why I got Fudge executed despite the… remorse arc I put in the previous chapter, it is because, despite his remorse, his actions did grave harm. Not only that but even in canon (same with this story), Cornelius Fudge was a nasty, corrupted piece of shit. His actions were, in my opinion, the greatest reason for the fall of the ministry in the seventh book.

Tbh, it is not much. Either he was going to prison for the rest of his life, or he was going to be executed. I chose to get him executed.

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A huge thanks to GenesisWolfGaming, Luls, and I_amaSWITCHbot for betaing the chapter at very very short notice (I legit finished WRITING this chapter six hours ago)

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Thank you all for your comments and the love you are showering on the story!

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Also, join my server, House of HPfanfictioner66, to interact with me directly, and also, I will be posting pictures of the characters there, so you all can get an idea of how they look. I will also post descriptions and stuff for reference.

ALSO, the server has crossed 1k users already! Please join!

Link: discord . gg / 4qfP3fxdQ4 [Remove the spaces please]

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As of this moment, I have five main stories. They are:

1. The Rise of the Last Potter: My Novel length Harry Potter fic which is already 300k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly.

2. The Legend of the Son of Poseidon: A Novel Length Percy Jackson fic which is already 250k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly

3. Loved Ones Skipping Stones and Ice-cream: A fluffy Haphne one-shot. It is completed obviously.

4. SECRETS: Another romantic one-shot I published recently. Complete as well.

5. Agent Potter: The Wizard of W.A.N.D. - My new spy!Harry fanfic which I implore you all to read!

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 67: Parabellum

Ch.66 Parabellum

29th December 1995

Courtroom Twelve, British Ministry of Magic

"And, with eighty-nine percent of the votes, I declare Amelia Seraphina Bones as the new Minister of Magic." Marchbanks' voice boomed through the chamber before it was drowned under thunderous applause from the members of the Wizengamot.

Up on his chair, Harry smirked slightly as he continued to clap his hands in light applause for the woman standing on the stage in the center of the courtroom alongside Pius Thicknesse and Tiberius Ogden.

Sirius, Madame Longbottom, Lord Greengrass, and a few other members of the Order had passed the motion to hold immediate elections for a permanent Minister of Magic. Once the motion had been passed, Dumbledore himself had stood up and recommended Amelia's name which Harry had immediately backed up, followed by Lord Greengrass.

A moment later, Carrow had suggested Pius Thicknesse for the position, backed up by Jugson and Lord Rosier. A lady from the Order of Merlin seats had suggested Ogden's name and was backed up by Odgen's friends, Lord Fenwick and Lady Dearborn.

The three had given a short speech before the voting began. Needless to say, Amelia won both because of her prepared speech, her reputation, and the ones who had backed her name.

Harry noted carefully that Ogden gave a slight bow and a friendly smile to Amelia before returning to his seat while Pius Thicknesse stormed back, a thunderous expression on his face.

'Undoubtedly one of Voldemort's or his supporters,' Harry mused, drumming his fingers on his table.

"Members of Wizengamot," Amelia addressed. "Thank you for the trust you have shown in me. promise to lead the ministry with my full integrity in these turbulent times. I, Amelia Seraphina Bones, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of the Minister of Magic of magical Britain, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend magic and the magical beings of Britain."

The last part was carefully read off a piece of parchment Marchbanks had handed to her.

Applause filled the hall as Amelia took Fudge's ring and slipped it on her left hand, affirming that she was now the Minister of Magic until her term ended.

As the applause died out, Amelia smiled grimly. "Now, for some concerning matters that must immediately be addressed. There is no fixed Head of DMLE at this moment as I have taken the office of the Minister of Magic. And it falls amongst my responsibility as the minister to elect one now. I hereby declare ex-hit wizard Alastor Moody as my Head of DMLE."

Harry choked on his spit.

That had not been a part of the plan. Or even thought of.

But it was a Brilliant move. Capital B is fully deserved.

Alastor Moody as the Head of the DMLE would make every Death Eater tremble. His reputation as the most dangerous hit wizard was, after all, unmatched by anyone, including Amelia Bones or Rufus Scrimgeour combined.

Murmurs filled the courtroom at the declaration before it turned into applause.

"Thank you. A more detailed list of the actions that my administration will take shall be declared soon. Our top priority will be to protect citizens of Magical Britain and ensure that the terrorists are caught and serve their appropriate punishment." She added before taking the seat beside Marchbanks.

"Thank you, Minister Bones. Now, I think that it is long overdue to break for Lunch. We shall take a ninety-minute break and reconvene at— Quarter past three."

With a bang of her gavel, the Aurors moved to ensure everyone left the courtroom in an orderly manner while the doors opened.

With a crack of his joints, Harry rose from his seat before kicking his legs around slightly to get the blood flowing. Some of the procession had taken too long, especially the motion to raise election and what followed after.

With a tap of his wand on the disc, the shield around him deactivated in a flash of yellow light.

"Come, Harry. Let's congratulate auntie." Susan said, grabbing his arm, making Harry blink as he was pulled down the stairs by Susan toward her aunt.

On the way, Sirius and Lord Greengrass shot him an amused look, making Harry roll his eyes.

Despite his external amusement, one thing remained. He, and the whole magical world, was at war.

---

29th December 1995

Headmaster Office, Hogwarts

With a stifled yawn, Harry sank into the plush armchair in Dumbledore's office before massaging his head, trying to soothe the headache that he had developed through the day. And it had been one long day.

Across him, Dumbledore sat in his chair, looking as tired as Harry.

"Lemon drop, Harry?"

"A pepper-up potion should be better," Harry murmured, taking one of the candies and popping it into his mouth while Dumbledore did the same.

"I find that taking a pepper-up before bed is more detrimental than useful," He said serenely while sucking on the lemon drop.

Harry sighed before looking back at the Headmaster. "Sir, why didn't you take back your position as the Chief Warlock today?"

"Harry, having Gellert on the loose, alongside Voldemort complicates matters. You might be wise and powerful beyond your years but you didn't see the war that Gellert had waged. Even at the height of his power, Voldemort was limited to the British Isles apart from a few instances. Gellert Grindelwald had made the world tremble. He once almost razed Paris to the ground, Harry. And would've been successful in wiping Paris off the map in its entirety had it not been for Nicholas and Perenell Flamel's intervention."

"I have heard of that. He manipulated his Protego Diabolica to act like Fiendfyre, didn't he?"

"The other way round. Fiendfyre, I believe, was the core spell but that hardly matters. As of now, Harry, the whole magical world, across the globe is in a state of panic. Several nations have declared national emergencies while every magical fighting force is on high alert. The ICW meeting, as you know, has been scheduled for tomorrow, at ten-thirty, British time in ICW HeadQuarters in Geneva. And my presence on the international stage takes precedence."

"I am assuming that it is going to be a long day for you tomorrow as well."

"Both of us actually. You, my boy, are coming with me alongside Amelia, and a guard of Aurors." Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling as tirelessly as ever.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me, Harry."

"But why?"

"Because the world needs to see its heroes standing side by side," Dumbledore replied with a grimace. "We just went toe to toe with Grindelwald and Voldemort, Harry. The world knows it and is already proclaiming us as its saviors."

With a wave of Dumbledore's wand, a newspaper flew from somewhere and landed in front of Harry, prompting him to pick it up.

It was the morning paper of 'The New York Ghost'. On its front page was a photo of Dumbledore and Harry standing side by side as they fought Grindelwald and Voldemort.

'This one is still better than the Prophet's who did nothing but sing our praises.' Harry mused as he skimmed through the text. It did praise his and Dumbledore's efforts and their willingness to stand on the side of the truth despite what the 'Corrupt government and newspapers of Magical Britain' proclaimed. But it was still a good report as compared to… whatever the Prophet had printed.

"Similar articles have been printed in newspapers across the world," Dumbledore added. "A bit different in a few, but every one of them has a paragraph dedicated to us. In such a situation, I feel that your presence alongside my own would be beneficial to let us say… establish control over the rampaging panic the world is in."

"And you will be reclaiming the position of the Supreme Mugwump, I assume?"

"I don't think I would get the option to refuse, Harry. The current Supreme Mugwump has resigned as of two hours ago following the news of Grindelwald's escape from the most secure prison in the world and the ICW having no clue of it."

"Seems a bit suspicious, doesn't it? No one knew about the escape of the worst prisoner in the world until he revealed himself to the world on his terms? We do not even know when he escaped."

"It does indeed," Dumbledore nodded. "This couldn't be possible without inside help. Lord Voldemort, while, is indeed capable of breaking into the prison, but escaping with Gellert Grindelwald in tow without the whole ICW war wizard squad being alerted is something that even he couldn't do. Gellert was the most secure prisoner in the world, Harry. The enchantments on his chains, cell, and the whole prison were modified by the greatest wizards and witches to walk on earth, including myself and the Flamels. Not even a bird could enter the prison without alerting the wardens."

"And yet, Voldemort did and escaped with the most secure prisoner in the world. First Azkaban and the Nurmengard Castle. The worst and the most secure prisons in the world were raided by Voldemort successfully. What's next?"

"Indeed," Dumbledore agreed, stroking his beard.

"Sir, you fought against Grindelwald and defeated him… How bad do you think the situation can turn out to be?"

"The one we currently find ourselves in? A Magical World War at the minimum. At the worst, annihilation of muggles and muggle-borns alongside a good part of the magical community."

Harry gulped ever so slightly at the grave tone. He had prepared for Voldemort. Studied each of his techniques and duels. But the addition of Grindelwald was worrying. There was no telling what the two monsters could do together. The mission at first had been simple. Find Voldemort's Horcruxes and destroy them before going for Voldemort. Harry had been sure that under the combined might of the headmaster and himself, Voldemort would be crushed.

Now… Grindelwald was there to balance the scale out. Even tip it in the other side's favor if the number of witches and wizards who supported Grindelwald's ideology were anything to go by. The hatred for Muggles was something common in every magical community across the world.

"Harry," Dumbledore called, snapping him out of his thoughts. "This wand… Grindelwald is back to reclaim it. A few months back, you told me that you could bind the wand to yourself, and then, no one would be capable of using it, bar you and your children. So, I urge you to take this wand from me."

Harry pursed his lips as Dumbledore laid the Death Stick on the desk between them.

"Not now, professor. I have told you before. The wand is the safest in your hands as of now. Hold on to it."

"Harry, this is the most powerful wand in the world. I have experienced its power. It is no joke. It is capable of bending the laws. It is capable of making an above-average magical practitioner into a titan of magic. In your hands, it would do wonders."

"Sir, the problem is that if I am killed, the wand will go to my killer with probably the same power I would wield it with. I theorize so, at least. Right now, it is a better-than-average wand in my eyes. Powerful, yes. But its potential is still locked. Once I unlock it with the Peverell blood, and in case I am killed, the wand might go into the hands of the killer with its unlocked potential rather than as it is now."

"But you said that binding the wand to yourself—"

"What I meant was that disarming me won't cut it once I bind the wand to myself. Or even defeating me. I must be killed."

"And you're afraid that if Voldemort or Grindelwald kills you then…"

"They would be more powerful than ever. Or so I think. Sir, if it had been possible to forever bind the wand to a bloodline, we Peverells would've done it long ago, I feel."

"And this is all assumption?"

"Of a sort. The binding ritual for the hallows is merely a modified version of the standard binding ritual. And the hallows are artifacts of immeasurable potential. Nothing is concrete. I can just tell you this. If I take that wand from you, and then bind it to myself, I won't lose that wand unless I am killed. But, it is possible that the power of the wand, once I am killed, won't get locked back to the state it is in right now. It might. It might not. But, the binding is not absolute."

Dumbledore nodded grimly before taking his wand back.

"Someday though, you would've to take it. I am an old man, Harry. And I would sleep in peace knowing that the successor of this wand, and my mantle is you rather than someone else."

"Someday, professor. For now, the wand is the safest in your hands. It will balance out the negatives of your age, giving you an edge in the coming battle. Plus, you have held the wand for almost fifty years. You know of its power and know how to wield it. When I feel it is necessary, I will take the wand. Today is not the day."

"Very well. But, do not let the wand fall into the hands of either Voldemort or Grindelwald, Harry. Destroy it if needed. Do anything. But don't let it fall into their hands."

"I understand," Harry nodded grimly. "Whatever it takes."

---

30th December 1995

ICW HeadQuarters, Geneva

Footsteps echoed across the gleaming marble floor as the British contingent made their way toward the ICW chambers where the emergency session was to be held. Harry glanced at his watch.

Twelve minutes to the meeting.

The British contingent was going to be the last one to arrive in the hall.

As the guards at the door, both wearing dark navy blue uniforms pulled the ornate doors open, allowing sounds of chatter to fill the corridor.

Amelia passed the threshold first followed by Dumbledore, Harry, and the rest of the group, consisting of three hit wizards and the new Head of Foreign Affairs, Katherine Morton. She had succeeded Percy Weasley a few months ago when he had been promoted to the Junior undersecretary of the Minister of Magic.

The chatter around the hall began to cease as the diplomats saw who had entered the hall. Almost all eyes in the hall were trained on Dumbledore and Harry.

Harry too, decided to take a look around the ornate chamber and its occupants as he fell in step with Dumbledore.

He recognized a few faces. Most, he didn't.

He felt a gentle Legilimency probe on his mind and turned to Dumbledore.

'The contingent in the immediate center is the Indian Contingent. The Indian Minister is the one in the off-white colored clothing while beside him sits his Foreign Affairs Minister. They are surrounded by India's fabled Shakti Council.'

Harry's breath hitched.

The Shakti Council. India's deadliest defense force, and if the whispers were to be believed, the world's deadliest magical force. It consisted of only twenty-four witches and wizards. Twelve Masters. Twelve Apprentices. Trained in every form of battle magic there was along with muggle fighting.

And, they usually worked in teams. There were four of them present in the chamber right there and all were masters if their age was anything to go by.

'World's Deadliest Force.' Harry sent back.

'Even if it is a tad debatable, but, yes. In the country with the most magical population in the world, they play quite a role in maintaining national peace and security, especially from some of India's neighbors and cults formed within the country. Had it not been for them, several Dark Lords or similar terrorist cults would've plagued the world, especially the Asian countries.'

'Can one of us take them down if it comes to it? Because if we can, so could Grindelwald or Voldemort.'

'The whole force at once? A big no. Half of it? Quite Debatable. A fourth of it? Definitely.' Dumbledore replied. 'Each Witch and Wizard in the force, at least the masters, have Alastor's level of skills and experience at the minimum if not more. So, even twelve Alastor Moodys is something that I would be reluctant to face at once.'

Harry gave him a mental nod as his eyes moved on to the next contingent of wizards and witches.

'The Chinese minister for foreign affairs and their Head of Law enforcement, General Lutkin. Not the most cooperative bunch around, but I believe that they would pledge their support if they think that they'll benefit from it. Next up, we have the French Contingent. Minister Jean-Claude is in conversation with the Japanese Minister of Magical Defense.'

'Where's the Japanese Contingent?'

'Three rows up, toward the extreme right. Those girls with the staves are quite deadly.'

Harry's eyes moved toward the mentioned girls, all of whom were standing near the wall, holding staves in their hands. Not wands but staves.

'Their attacks will hold more power than intricacies. Also, the possibility of transfiguration remains limited to basic conjuration unless they are exceptionally well trained.' Harry mused before jumping back in a fraction of a second to stop himself from bumping into Amelia, who had stopped all of á sudden.

"Headmaster, I think you should sit at the center," Amelia said briskly, looking at the arrangement of seats.

"Quite the contrary, Amelia. I am afraid that I will soon have to get up. You sit at the center while Miss Morton might sit next to you along with Harry. The rest can sit on the three chairs behind us."

Amelia nodded and took her seat before the rest followed.

"Professor, how many do you think will pitch their support against Grindelwald and Voldemort? Twenty years ago, when Voldemort was on the rise, only a few countries of the ICW had given their support to Britain and that too wasn't much as far as fighting or manpower was concerned."

Dumbledore ran his hand through his beard before glancing around the chamber.

"The French are definitely going to pitch their full support against Grindelwald. So is the United States." He said in a quiet voice. "Italy might or might not give their full support but will provide namesake help. Same with China and Japan to some extent. The help from the Japanese is debatable because of the United States supporting the fight against Grindelwald."

"What of India and other Asian countries?" Harry asked. "They have unparalleled manpower and their magical techniques are a little different as compared to western countries"

"The boundaries of magical Asia are not quite as defined as their muggle counterparts. For instance, magicals don't recognize Pakistan or Bangladesh as a country officially. There are… let us say cults in those areas that don't support the Indian Government but they still fall under the Indian Jurisdiction. Sri Lanka, while its own country, will follow India's footsteps as they always have."

"So, all depends on India? What do you think they'll do?"

"India is the crown of Magical Asia, Harry. It is rightfully called the most powerful magical country in the world. And, this is all based on the sheer manpower they have. India has more witches and wizards than all of Europe and America combined. It is a blessing that they do not interfere much with western countries, leaving us to our own devices."

"So, what will they do?" Harry reiterated before Dumbledore could begin rambling. It was something the headmaster tended to do when he was lost in his thoughts, or, lecturing.

"If I am to guess, they'll do what they did in the thirties. They'll provide the ICW with the service of their Healers and Obliviators. India seldom sends its forces to fight outside the Indian subcontinent as the muggles call it. Meaning, not outside Magical India and its immediate neighbors. This is, of course, considering that Voldemort or Grindelwald don't directly attack India."

"If they do?"

"It would be foolish. Gellert knows that and so does Tom. India is a country you do not provoke into a fight. As for its neighbors, Nepal won't fight. Myanmar and Bhutan are not countries of importance having only a handful of witches and wizards. Magical parts of Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Afghanistan are ruled by an Asian magical terrorist cult and will likely throw in their support with Voldemort and Grindelwald if they happen to strike a deal."

Harry pursed his lips. "What of Russia?"

"Russia, or more appropriately, the Magical Soviet Union might just be the first country to fall to Grindelwald and Voldemort. A considerable part of their population, especially the old families, support Grindelwald's ideology and would love Voldemort's even more." Dumbledore replied darkly, his eyes flitting up the rows. "Case in point, Durmstrang only accepts purebloods and, to a stretch, half-bloods from reputed families."

Harry gave him a small nod, glancing at the Russian contingent, who sat amongst the council wearing emotionless looks.

"What of African countries?" Amelia piped up from Harry's left, making his head snap toward her. "They are too… let us say, resourceless magical nations with next to no government, bar the countries of Egypt, South Africa, Madagascar, and to a debatable extent, Libya. And not to mention, the African Black market is rather infamous in the magical world."

"It won't matter what they do, Amelia. The African magical world is too chaotic for Voldemort or Grindelwald to take control of and at the same time, the black market there is a gold mine for them. But there is hardly anything we can do to stop that. What we can do the best is to be on the lookout for an Obscurus. There have been a staggering number of Obscurials, however, relative, have popped up in African countries."

"And Grindelwald has an obsession with Obscurials," Harry added grimly. "The last dozen of them have all popped up in African countries even if there has been no such case in the past half a decade or so."

"Those and Nundus. Even if all enclosures are highly protected, Nundu cubs do come to the black market occasionally."

"Also, we might have to work on getting one ourselves. Because the only two antidotes to the Nundu breath are phoenix tears and a concoction of Nundu blood."

"I think we should end this discussion for now," Dumbledore intervened before Harry could say more. "We will discuss more in the confines of the next order meeting."

Harry's eyes instantly flitted to scan his immediate surroundings before he turned to meet Dumbledore's eyes.

'Someone just tried to penetrate my privacy ward. They were unsuccessful, but it is best if we don't take chances.' Dumbledore said mentally.

'Who?'

'No idea. But it came from behind us. Don't look.'

Harry obeyed the order without question. In political matters, he preferred to follow the Headmaster's lead. Yes, Harry was trained by Salazar Slytherin in political matters but nothing compared to half a century of experience in such a field. In front of Dumbledore, Harry was an amateur at best as far as politics was concerned.

Magic, Harry considered himself a passable equal to Dumbledore in most fields, and perhaps even surpassed him in a few. Warding for instance. Of course, in some fields, Harry was barely a novice as compared to the wizened headmaster. Alchemy and Spell creation were the most notable of them. In both, he was far behind what he would consider being a mastery even in the remotest sense.

Suddenly, a chime sounded through the room and everyone quietened down before quickly moving to their seats. A minute later, the doors to the chamber opened and Constance Murjibi, the supreme mugwump, or more precisely, the former Supreme Mugwump strode in.

"Why is he here? He stepped down yesterday." Harry muttered, eyeing the grim-faced man.

"The session can not begin without a Supreme Mugwump, Harry. He will just begin the session and hand over the office." Dumbledore replied as he rose from his seat and so did everyone else in the chamber. Harry hastily followed their lead.

Of all his political lessons, ICW proceeding traditions weren't one of them. He had never thought that he would've to face the ICW so soon.

"Please be seated," the man said in a deep voice, reminding Harry of Kingsley. "I call the 1338th session of the International Confederation of Wizards to order. This is an Emergency meeting of the Head of Magical nations to discuss the return of the Dark Lord Grindelwald and the one who calls himself Voldemort."

There was not a single flinch at the name in the chamber.

Voldemort had never been a huge threat outside Britain. Yes, he had slaughtered legions of witches and wizards. But none of his actions were international like Grindelwald's had been. For the rest of the world, Grindelwald was the biggest threat. But for Britain, it was Voldemort who made them tremble.

"During my command as the Supreme Mugwump, Gellert Grindelwald, the most secure prisoner till then, escaped from the highest tower of Nurmengard without us even getting the slightest clue of his escape until he revealed himself at the British Ministry of Magic. For this, I take full responsibility and step down from my post."

There wasn't a single whisper at that pronouncement. Not even the slightest movement.

'This is too eerily quiet. The Wizengamot would've been in an uproar in such a situation, despite knowing what was going to happen.'

"Given the recent events, I put forth the name of my predecessor, Albus Dumbledore to take back the post of the Supreme Mugwump, if he accepts and the confederation finds it fit to vote him back in."

At this, some gave minute nods as Dumbledore rose from his seat and smoothly strode forward to stand in the center of the chamber, a few feet away from the dais where Murjibi stood.

He clasped his hands in front and he serenely gazed at the confederation, awaiting their vote.

"All those in favor of voting my chosen candidate to the position of the Supreme Mugwump, please raise your wands with a green light. One vote per country."

Amelia raised her wand, the tip glowing a bright green, almost similar to the killing curse, even if the light on Amelia's wand was due to a simple Lumos charm.

The man at the dais tapped his wand once on his desk before speaking again. "And those against, please raise your wands with a red light."

No one moved this time. Not a single wand was raised. Murjibi waited for several moments before tapping his wand.

"Very well. We have sixty-two percent votes in favor of Albus Dumbledore while the rest thirty-eight have abstained. I hand over the stage to the new Supreme Mugwump, Albus Dumbledore."

Light applause flitted through the chamber, as Dumbledore bowed before ascending the dais to shake hands with Murjibi before taking his place.

"Thank you, Mister Murjibi," He said. "I, Albus Dumbledore, solemnly swear to exercise in all loyalty, discretion, and conscience, the functions entrusted to me as Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards. To discharge these functions and regulate my conduct with the interests of the International Confederation of Wizards only in view and not to seek or accept instructions regarding the performance of my duties from any government or other authority external to the organization."

At the last word, all the witches and wizards rose to their feet, their wands held high, lit with white light.

Everyone stood still for a moment before applauding and taking back their seats.

Some traditions of the ICW, Harry decided, were weird to say the very least. The oath was standard but standing up with wands lit to acknowledge it, was not.

"Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen. I must say, it is good to be back here amongst the members of this council and standing back at the dais of the Supreme Mugwump, especially after the circumstances I was voted out in."

Some shuffled in their seats at the statement while others continued to look stonily at the Headmaster.

"Nevertheless, we are here and the circumstances we find ourselves in are quite dire. And we, ladies and gentlemen, are at war."

Notes:

And… DONE! I hope that you all liked it.

So, things, as you can see, have changed drastically from canon. The major change in the plotline is the inclusion of Grindelwald as an Antagonist. Now, as for changes in this chapter, Amelia Bones is the Minister of Magic instead of Scrimgeour. Moody will replace Amelia as the Head of DMLE(which I hadn't planned before and got a brainwave while writing). Griselda Marchbanks is the Chief Warlock and Dumbledore hasn't taken back his position. But, he is back as the Supreme Mugwump.

Now, as we are talking about this, you would've noticed that I stay close to canon events for this fic. It won't be applicable anymore and the divergence of events will be a lot. So, please read things in detail henceforth.

That being said, right now, we are still in what you might call Harry's second term of the fifth year(according to canon… just after the attack on Arthur Weasley) but in my fic, it is his sixth as he gave his OWLs a year early. He will do the same with his NEWTs to begin apprenticing under Dumbledore as the sixth year(canonically again) starts.

Oh, and a small spoiler for the next chapter. Hagrid's going to make an appearance. I wanted to include that scene in this chapter but it wasn't possible. But, you will see your beloved Hagrid in the next chapter… and maybe someone else as well ;).

ALSO, IMPORTANT POINT:

Some of you might already be preparing to berate me for Harry not taking the wand. Lemme simplify it here. His reasons were:

Dumbledore is a damn powerful wizard in his own right but old. When you give him the Elder Wand, he gets an advantage over Grindelwald while Harry balances Voldemort out.

Harry fears that if he is killed after doing the ritual on the wand, the victor of the wand will receive the death stick in its unlocked/upgraded form which would spell disaster in hands of Grindelwald or Voldemort. Right now, Elder wand is the most powerful wand in the world but not a nuclear-level weapon if you get the analogy.

It is a sign of trust Harry shows in his mentor.

It is my story and I do as I want. (LOL:D)

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Thank you I_amaSWITCHbot for betaing this chapter.

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Also, please join my server, House of HP66, to interact with me directly, and also, I will be posting pictures of the characters there, so you all can get an idea of how they look. I will also post descriptions and stuff for reference.

ALSO, the server has crossed 1000 users already! Join fast!

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As of this moment, I have five main stories. They are:

1. The Rise of the Last Potter: My Novel length Harry Potter fic which is already 300k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly.

2. The Legend of the Son of Poseidon: A Novel Length Percy Jackson fic which is already 250k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly

3. Loved Ones Skipping Stones and Ice-cream: A fluffy Haphne one-shot. It is completed obviously.

4. SECRETS: Another romantic one-shot I published recently. Complete as well.

5. Agent Potter: The Wizard of W.A.N.D. - My new spy!Harry fanfic which I implore you all to read!

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 68: End of Christmas Holidays

Ch.67 End of Christmas Holidays

1st January 1996

Number 12, Grimmauld Place, London

Dark, rosy-orange light streamed through the glass of the window as the sun set over the horizon, behind the buildings of Muggle London.

Harry Potter sat on his desk, twirling a quill in his hand thoughtfully. On the desk in front of him, a piece of parchment lay in the center, filled with what most muggles would think to be gibberish. To the right of the parchment, his Arithmancy textbook laid open, serving as a paperweight for the stack of parchments kept at the corner of the desk.

Apparently, saving the world didn't save you from horrendous homework.

Or so McGonagall had firmly told him.

A scowl formed on his lips as he crossed out the line he had just written, remembering Vector's penchant for detailed steps for the smallest of questions.

A knock sounded on the door, breaking him out of his thoughts.

"Come in," Harry said and Bill Weasley poked his head in.

"Harry, they are waiting for you downstairs. The meeting is about to begin."

Harry cursed under his breath as he looked at the time before scrambling out of his chair and moving straight to the door.

He followed Bill down the stairs to the kitchen where the Order meeting was to be held.

Pushing the door to the kitchen open, Harry stopped short as he saw the number of occupants in the room.

Every single person of the Order of the Phoenix, alongside their kids were assembled in the kitchen which had been expanded to the size of the Gryffindor common room.

Before today, Harry was the only person below the age of seventeen allowed in the Order meetings. But today, everyone was there, including Astoria, who was standing next to Ginny.

"'Arry!" A gruff, cheerful voice boomed across the room.

Harry turned and his eyes widened.

"What happened to you?" Harry demanded.

Hagrid's left eye had been reduced to a puffy slit amid a mass of purple-and-black bruises. There were many cuts on his face and hands, some being freshly closed, courtesy of Madame Pomfrey standing next to him. In his hands was a large, raw, bloody, green-tinged steak slightly larger than the average car tire.

Dragon steak. Welsh Green's to be specific.

"Nuthin'!" Hagrid replied defensively, making many in the room glare at him.

"That is not nothing," Hermione huffed. "Did you get into a fight with giants, Hagrid?"

"Not exactly," Hagrid replied, wincing slightly as a spiraling beam of orange light wrapped around his ribs. "It is a long story,"

"While I appreciate your concern for Hagrid, I think we should start the meeting which I have called you all here for," Dumbledore said from the head of the table, casting a worried glance at Hagrid. "He is in capable hands."

Harry gave him a nod just before Mrs. Weasley spoke up.

"Headmaster, do you think it is wise for the children to be—"

"Molly, they need to know what's going on. I think they've earned that much privilege. Each of them is a senior member of Harry's Dragon Legion and quite capable with a wand. While I do not fancy sending children to fight a war, and actively despise it, the day when they will be in the fight of their lives is inevitable. While they won't be sent to the front lines ever, there is a huge chance that they will have to fight to defend themselves. And thus, they need to know what is going on."

"You took Harry to fight—"

"I think you are taking an exception amongst the exceptional cases here, Molly," Dumbledore replied calmly. "Harry here is simply put, one of the few equals to the likes of Grindelwald and Voldemort. And, Voldemort was going to come after him, regardless of whatever we did. Harry stands for the greatest failure in his existence, and now, his greatest enemy. It is frankly, quite foolish to think that Harry would've been left alone, adult or not."

Mrs. Weasley harrumphed before sitting back in her seat.

"So, I would like to start this meeting by wishing everyone here a very happy New year."

There were a few, mainly the Hogwarts students who responded to the sentiment but the rest remained quiet, just replying with nods.

"As you might be aware, Lord Voldemort has joined hands with Gellert Grindelwald. We now face the greatest threat we could imagine. Two of the worst, and most powerful dark lords, united under a single banner working to disrupt everything we stand for."

"But how strong will their forces be, professor? The order pretty much destroyed most of the death eaters in the battle of the Department of Mysteries." Charlie asked, making several, including Harry and Dumbledore, shake their heads.

"What we faced was an assault force, likely sent to weaken Harry and me. There were a few high-ranking death eaters in them and the rest were likely mercenaries or such. Maybe a few of Grindelwald. But, it would be quite foolish to say that we decimated a huge part of their forces."

"Sir, how many do you think they have?" Hermione asked. "Harry finished off fourteen of Voldemort's inner circle in the graveyard. A few days ago, nearly forty death eaters in total were either captured or dead. How many more death eaters would Voldemort have?"

"Numbers? I am not certain. He has very few high-ranking Death Eaters left. Rookwood, Bellatrix, and Rabastan being the most senior of them."

"Wait, Rookwood and Lestrange escaped?"

"Indeed. Augustus Rookwood had some sort of portkey that pierced through the wards of the Department of Mysteries. And Dumbledore had tied and petrified Lestrange and Rookwood together, so they both escaped, right under Moody's nose." Sirius replied with a grimace, making mad-eye growl.

Harry grimaced. Rookwood had been turning out to be a bigger threat than he anticipated.

"Next time I am just beheading the bastards," Moody growled.

"Anyhow, that is not the point. Voldemort still has numbers. Henchmen, we could say. But, numbers are powerful. And that is not to mention, whatever Grindelwald has, alongside the creatures they will recruit."

"He certainly has a thumpin' number of Giants," Hagrid said sadly. "Dozens of clans. Maxime, bless her soul, could only convince three groups to remain neutral and a small clan to join us. Six giants. One is mah half brother. The rest… we had to flee. The Death Eaters had 'lready been there."

"At least you convinced one group," Remus said with distaste. "The werewolves are firmly on the other side. Alongside dementors."

"What of other magical creatures? Vampires, Veela, Banshees, and all of those?" Astoria asked.

"This has been discussed before but for you children, envoys have been sent to talk to them. The problem with most of these clans is that they are not united and are scattered across the world. Not to mention, there are several clans, or specifically, courts of vampires, whose sole purpose is to wipe wizardkind out. All those… are going to be impossible to convince. One small promise of blood and they'll be after us."

"Vampires though, shouldn't be much of a problem," Charlie said. "They can't stand sunlight. So, they need to attack at night. And if they do, a Lumos solem—"

"Would be an irritant," Hagrid said. "Lumos Solem ain't real sunlight. Only real sun harms those ruddy things."

"Hagrid's right," Harry said. "Lumos Solem is a mere replica of sunlight, which is to say, a bright, yellowish light. It will irritate a vampire but not actively harm it as sunlight does. But, there are spells to handle them. Obscure and difficult to do, but available."

"Like the Arrows of Apollo," Bill said all of a sudden. "A Greek spell we found in one of the tombs."

"Indeed. Or the Sunbeam arrow, as it is referred to. Same spell, different name." Dumbledore said slowly.

"But it is damn tough to cast. And not to mention, draining and dangerous. The goblin and the witch who were supervising the trial of the spell had to undergo serious medical treatment for burns and their eyes despite standing several feet away from where the aim of the spell was."

"Obviously," Harry replied dryly. "That spell has enough power to bathe the whole of Hogwarts and a good part of Hogsmeade in light for some moments. And enough heat to melt metal. Vampires will fall like a house of cards if cast on them. But there are less dangerous options."

"A wooden stake through their heart can also kill a vampire," Charlie said.

"I didn't know this was a vampire hunting class," Snape drawled from the corner he was sitting in. His black eyes glittered in the light of the torches as he leaned forward. "The dark lords are making plans already. And, as the Headmaster said, they have no shortage of manpower, despite so many of them falling to our wands."

Snape, Harry mused, always had the uncanny ability to quieten any room, drawing attention to himself as he spoke. A quality in which he superseded every professor at Hogwarts, including McGonagall.

"Grindelwald has amassed an army. Most are the descendants of his old followers who still believe in his doctrine. Fenrir Greyback has returned to the Dark Lord's ranks alongside his army of werewolves. And the Dark Lord has more plans. Many, which he won't share with any, bar his closest, which, admittedly, is only Rookwood and Bellatrix."

Snape's eyes roved around the room, taking in every person.

"What I know is that they plan to conquer the world together. No place is off their list. And, I also have a hunch that the Russian ministry might already have fallen, or will soon fall officially."

"Russia was always full of people who believed in the Grindelwald ideology," Newt Scamander muttered. "A huge credit for it, of course, goes to Durmstrang and its pureblood beliefs. Of course, Russia is rather infamous for giving only the purebloods jobs at their ministry. The muggleborns are usually left to their own devices."

"Also, it won't come as a surprise to me if Grindelwald has been operating in secret all these years. He planned an assassination attempt on Harry while sitting in the most secure prison in the world." Sirius said grimly. "And not to mention the number of ICW personnel who have been missing since the day Grindelwald revealed himself… alongside dozens of inmates. That is not counting the ones who were found dead, both inmates and ICW war wizards."

Now, that had been a BIG piece of news in the past few days. ICW's most trusted wizards, who guarded the Nurmengard prison, were working for Grindelwald and helped him and the prisoners escape the prison by killing their colleagues.

So, the worst prisoners were now free, and actively working against the world governments under the Dark Lord Grindelwald and Voldemort.

"But why wait fifty years?" Ron asked. "Don't get me wrong, but if I was Grindelwald, I wouldn't be sitting in prison for half a century, biding my time. A few years, maybe. Maybe even a decade or so. Not fifty years."

"I find myself agreeing with him," Hestia Jones said, as she sat stiffly in her chair, her neck wrapped in a neck brace while her new cane lay next to her.

"I think that question doesn't matter now. What does matter is that we are horribly outnumbered." Flitwick said. "Unless, of course, we take into consideration the fighting forces that ministries around the world have…. Some of which might be compromised."

"A most worrying prospect."

"How many do you think are compromised within our ministry?" Amelia asked.

"A good number, undoubtedly."

"How do we weed them out?"

"By this point, it is near impossible to do what you speak of, Amelia," Harry said. "The best you can do is set up a security surveillance ward at the entrances to the ministry which will detect disguises, mind control, and people under invisibility cloaks, alongside an Auror detail who will check the entrants for the dark mark."

"So… that should be quite a cleanout," Amelia said.

"It will weed those out with the dark mark until the word of the purge gets out and many will simply not return or return after taking measures against the detection."

"Indeed," Dumbledore said. "But it will be an excellent step to take."

"I believe even the members of the Auror, and the Hit wizard departments should be checked. No one should escape the scanning." Scrimgeour said. "Heck, they should be checked first alongside department heads."

"I agree, lad. We had a few death-eater bastards in the force last war. It cost us a lot." Moody growled, his magical eye spinning wildly.

"When are the executions going to take place?" Nymphadora's voice rang out from the door, making everyone look at her.

Gone was the cheerful, bubbly Auror that everyone was used to. Her hair was stark white, contrasting sharply against her dark black eyes, which were so familiar to the ones that Bellatrix possessed. Her posture was stiff, and her muscles tense, while her jaw was set sharply. And she looked taller.

'A slight change of facial and hair features and she will look just like Bellatrix. The family resemblance is there, as clear as day.'

"I asked, when are the executions taking place?" She repeated, breaking the pregnant silence that had settled across the room.

"In two days," Amelia replied after a moment. "It is being kept under wraps at the—"

"Excellent. I wish to personally be there on that day to escort the Death Eaters to their deaths. Kingsley, I am returning to work."

"Auror Tonks, are you sure that it is—"

"Yes, I am sure," She replied stiffly. "My mother needs to be avenged and escorting a dozen bastards to the gates of death seems a good way to start."

"Auror Tonks, I am afraid I am not deeming you fit to return until you pass your mental evaluation and fitness test. That is a mandatory procedure after such a traumatic—"

"I am completely fine," Tonks snapped, "I do not need a—"

"Lass," Moody interrupted. "Standard procedure doesn't change. We all know how you loved your mother. And believe me, when I say, you are not fine. I have taught you, lass."

"Mad-eye—"

"No arguments."

Tonks glared at the old Auror before turning on her heel and storming off.

"I will look after her," Susan said immediately, before following Tonks out of the room.

---

1st January 1996

Number 12, Grimmauld Place, London

Susan POV

I followed Tonks out of the kitchen, straight to the basement of the house. Tonks had changed since her mother's death. A change, which I wasn't sure was healthy for her.

Tonks was no longer the clumsy, cheerful, happy-go-lucky witch I used to know. She was now just… different. She walked straight for one and her hair no longer changed colors. Her bubbly attitude had all but vanished since the day her mother had died.

Now she was filled with an emotion I had barely experienced.

Rage.

As I entered the Dueling room, I winced at the loud sound of the bangshot that issued from Tonks's wand, slamming a dummy brutally against the wall. A moment later, the dummy was ripped in half before being burned to a crisp.

"Tonks," I said softly, making her whirl around, her glowing wand pointed straight at me.

"Leave me alone," She said stiffly, lowering her wand a tad.

"I am not here to talk," I said, eyeing her wand. "Just here to help you blow off some steam."

"See, no offense, I don't want to hurt you even by mistake. Just… leave me alone."

I took my wand out and took a deep breath, concentrating on what I wanted. Waving my wand in a gamma-sign motion, I willed my jumper to turn into a dueling robe.

The jumper's shape changed, slowly elongating into a cloak. Its red color turned to a pitch black while its lettering merged into the color.

But the material remained unchanged. I was now wearing a robe made of wool.

I sighed. Such mundane bits of transfiguration was not my cup of tea.

With another wave of my wand, the material changed into silk, yet retaining the wool's thickness.

Passable for a dueling robe.

"What are you doing?"

"Come Tonks. Let's duel."

"Susan, I will say this once. Get the hell out of here."

"No," I replied, stepping a few steps back. "Defend yourself!"

A stunner left my wand, rushing toward Tonks. With almost unbelievable quickness, she swatted the spell out of the way, giving me an irritated look.

"You ain't Mad-eye Moo—"

She stopped short as she jumped out of the way of a bone-breaker.

"Are you insane!?"

"Fight!" I replied, flinging a blasting curse at her. This time, she twisted out of the way and returned fire, making me duck under a stunner.

I felt a triumphant grin form on my face as I immediately returned fire at the metamorphmagus.

Blowing off a little steam should calm her down. It had done the trick for me when I heard about the mass breakout from Azkaban a couple of months back. Hopefully, it would calm Tonks down enough to talk to me and see reason.

With a twist of my wand, a bolt of lightning shot toward Tonks who summoned a nearby dummy to protect herself before stepping into the offensive.

Multi-colored spells rained down on me, making me shield. The spells clashed against the shield, with eerie bangs just before the shield broke like shattered glass, making me sharply twist out of the way. Only Harry's training kept me from being stunned, disarmed, or hexed as Tonks relentlessly attacked me.

A slight burning smell wafted to my nose but I ignored it as I shot a ball of fire at Tonks which she promptly extinguished, before shooting a spiraling beam of fire at me.

I slashed my wand upwards, disintegrating the spiraling beam of fire into sparks before quickly shooting a flock of birds at Tonks.

As the birds were about to claw at Tonks, she waved her wand, turning the birds into knives and banishing them at me.

"Evansco," I whispered, verbalizing my first spell in the duel to vanish the incoming projectiles before slashing my wand diagonally.

A hail of flaming arrows shot at Tonks, making her shield, just as each arrow exploded with a bang, making both of us wince.

The putrid smell of smoke filled the room, making me wrinkle my nose as I swatted aside a disarmer and a blasting curse, making them fizzle out against the wall.

I jabbed my wand at Tonks, sending a gust of flames towards her, which she doused with water, making steam envelop the room.

"JUST WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON IN HERE!?" Molly Weasley's voice suddenly reverberated through the room, making us stop in our tracks, my spell dying on my lips.

Suddenly, the steam in the room cleared and the temperature returned to normal, revealing the Weasley matriarch, standing there with her hands on her hips, glaring at us.

"Just what do you think you are doing girls?" She questioned in a high-pitched voice, making me wince.

"Dueling, can't you see?" Tonks replied flippantly.

"And why is that?"

"I didn't know that dueling was forbidden in the dueling room," Tonks said sarcastically. "Or that it was off-limits to a daughter of House Black."

"Daughter of House Black or not, you shouldn't have dueled without someone else present! What if you would've gotten injured?"

"I will have you know that I am a fully qualified Auror," Tonks replied with a huff. "Supervision is something I hardly think is necessary."

"That is not what I meant," Mrs. Weasley said irritably. "While you are sparring, wherever you do it, you must have a third person present to supervise you. If Susan gets injured, you can heal her immediately as you have the training, Nymphadora. But, what if you get injured? I don't know how much Harry has taught Susan, but I am assuming that she isn't qualified enough to heal you in case of a grievous injury or any injury you can't treat yourself."

I remained quiet, knowing what she was saying was the truth. Mrs. Weasley might be overbearing but she did have a point. If Tonks was injured due to one of my spells, I might be unable to heal or stabilize her till help arrived. I only knew a handful of healing spells that, in Harry's words, every good witch or wizard must know.

But nothing more, bar a few healing spells that I had picked up here or there, which admittedly, were highly limited in their action.

"So, young lady, next time you duel, you would do so under the supervision of a third person. Am I understood?"

Tonks sniffed, before giving a nod.

"Good. Now, please come down for dinner."

"So soon? The meeting's over?"

"Dumbledore and Amelia got called to the ministry for some international work moments after you left. Someone has come from America to talk with them. So Dumbledore adjourned the meeting."

"Oh," I said.

"The rest are waiting for you to come for dinner. Come along now. You two can practice later."

---

2nd January 1995

Headmaster's office, Hogwarts

The floo flared green and Harry Potter stepped into the headmaster's office, only to be greeted by the sight of all the professors of Hogwarts assembled in the room.

"Professors," Harry said slowly, looking at each one of them. The only people missing amongst the faculty were Madame Hooch and Trelawny.

"Good evening, Harry. I am sorry to call you on such urgent notice, but a problem has arisen." Dumbledore said, making Harry raise an eyebrow. "You see when Madame Umbridge was fired, we found ourselves short of a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. And I am unfortunately unable to find a replacement at such short notice."

Harry frowned. "I am sure that one of the Order members will be available, sir."

"Unfortunately, that is not the case. I had thought of having Alastor as the replacement, but now he is the head of the DMLE, and thus, unavailable. Same is the case with most Aurors and hit wizards who have been called on duty, or recalled, in some cases like Sirius's."

"He has yet to accept the offer."

"And yet, he has already declined mine to fill in the DADA position. Remus cannot come back, the board of governors won't let him. The other order members are simply not as capable as I want them to be, to teach the students."

"And what do you want me to do, sir?" Harry asked slowly, getting a whiff of what Dumbledore was about to ask.

"You taught the Dragon Legion, Harry. Quite admirably, if I might add, if the reports my colleagues have given me is any indication."

"And, am I right in guessing that you wish me to fill in the position as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"

"Indeed."

"You do realize that I neither have an Honors, nor a mastery, or even my NEWTs for the subject, sir?" Harry asked.

Dumbledore gave him a look that shouted 'Don't give me that crap.'

"I will be taking you as an apprentice, and apprenticeship, most of the time also consists of taking lectures instead of the professor for lower grades. If you accept, you will only teach the first to fourth years while I or other professors will take the students from the fifth year and above for Defense Against the Dark Arts."

Harry raised an eyebrow before looking around the room for Snape, whom he found sulking in the corner of the room. "Doesn't Snape want this position?"

Snape sneered while Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.

"Severus wished for the position, but, at the moment, we are precariously out of potion masters to fill his position. And I have been unable to contact Horace Slughorn. But, of course, if you decline, I would have to give Severus the role and go on the hunt for a new Potion's master as, in my opinion, DADA is more important than potions in current circumstances."

At this, Snape's head snapped towards Dumbledore. Harry eyed the potion master's hopeful look for a moment, before replying, "Yes, I will accept the position."

Dumbledore smiled while Snape glared murderously at Harry.

"Thank you. The curriculum will be provided to you by Professor McGonagall. If you need any help, feel free to approach me or one of the other professors."

"I will… but, I have a few requests if I am to take this position."

"Typical of you, Potter to ask for privileges despite—"

"Severus, let us hear Mr. Potter out first," McGonagall snapped.

"Thank you, professor. As I was saying, I would request you all to let me teach the students as I deem fit, rather than a rigid curriculum."

"Mr. Potter, I would like to inform you that you have to cover particular topics in each year. For instance, third years focus primarily on magical creatures and cover a small part of the introduction to curses. The first years on the other hand are limited to a preliminary introduction and jinxes. You cannot teach the first years to defend against curses."

"But I can teach them a shield to protect themselves against jinxes, which might also protect them against a few curses," Harry debated.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Harry, just remember to consider their capabilities and age group while teaching. You cannot teach a first-year a Protego shield. But, you can teach it to the third years or even the second years, at a push."

"True," Harry conceded. No first-year would be capable of producing a full-fledged protego. But, there were easier shields to use. Less effective, but existing. "I will see what I can do."

"Thank you. Anything else?"

"Exemption from homework," He said immediately. "I won't have the time to do the teaching in addition to homework and all the other stuff."

Dumbledore contemplated for a moment before nodding. "But, only on the condition that you would continue to do well in the class tests, Harry."

At that, Harry gave him a dry look.

"Not that you would have a problem with it," Dumbledore added.

"Thank you."

"Are you done or do you have more demands, Potter?" Snape sneered.

"No, I am quite done, thank you."

"Then welcome to the team, Professor Potter. Your first class shall be day-after-tomorrow. Good luck, Harry.

Notes:

AND… DONE!

Yes, quite a surprise to see Harry as Professor Potter, isn't it? It came to me as a brainwave as well while I wrote this chapter. Now, to explain a few things about it:

It is going to be a short stint. Only six months to be precise(according to the story line).

Harry is only going to teach the 1st year to the 4th year. Years 5th, 6th, and 7th will be taught by Dumbledore primarily.

I am just gonna dedicate a couple of scenes or so to it, not more. It is not really important to the storyline and the war will take precedence over the trivial scenes. But, as I always say, trivial scenes are what makes any story an interesting read. The little details are lovely and they control the flow of the story like nothing else. It cannot be all war-fight-war, can it?

Now, as the war is mentioned, I would just like to put it here that the war part in this fic is going to be interesting AF. It will heat up and I will try to get the flavor of a real war here instead of what happened in canon in the sixth and seventh books… which admittedly was limited in my opinion.

Grindelwald and Voldemort together, I feel, already gives an interesting twist to the war. TBH, I have never seen such a situation in any fic where the two Dark Lords, Voldemort and Grindelwald join hands to wage war against the world governments. So, I hope you all can feel what is going to come. You all are in for a wild ride of story-telling!

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Also, please join my server, House of HP66, to interact with me directly, and also, I will be posting pictures of the characters there, so you all can get an idea of how they look. I will also post descriptions and stuff for reference.

ALSO, the server has crossed 1000 users already! Join fast!

Link: discord . gg / 4qfP3fxdQ4 [Remove the spaces please]

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As of this moment, I have five main stories. They are:

1. The Rise of the Last Potter: My Novel length Harry Potter fic which is already 300k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly.

2. The Legend of the Son of Poseidon: A Novel Length Percy Jackson fic which is already 250k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly

3. Loved Ones Skipping Stones and Ice-cream: A fluffy Haphne one-shot. It is completed obviously.

4. SECRETS: Another romantic one-shot I published recently. Complete as well.

5. Agent Potter: The Wizard of W.A.N.D. - My new spy!Harry fanfic which I implore you all to read!

.

Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 69: Professor Potter

Ch. 68 Professor Potter

3rd January 1996

Great Hall, Hogwarts

"Good evening, students of Hogwarts," Dumbledore's voice boomed, as the ancient Headmaster stood on the dais in front of the staff table, with a serene smile on his face. "Firstly, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas Holiday and wish you a very happy new year."

A hush fell across the hall as students waited for him to speak further.

"Now, many of you might have heard or read about what happened in the ministry of magic a few days ago. For those who might be unaware, Lord Voldemort and Gellert Grindelwald publicly revealed themselves in the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic. Myself, alongside Harry Potter and a few brave members of the society, fought them and successfully thwarted them from raiding and conquering the ministry."

Not a single person in the Great Hall moved. Everyone had held their breaths, listening to every word Dumbledore spoke.

"But, they were merely thwarted. Not defeated. Lord Voldemort, Gellert Grindelwald, and their followers are at large again. They seek to disrupt our society and everything we stand for. So, taking recent events into account, security around Hogwarts has been drastically increased."

The silence seemed to tauten and strain as Dumbledore spoke.

"I cannot emphasize strongly enough how dangerous the present situation is, and how much care each of us at Hogwarts must take to ensure that we remain safe. The castle's magical fortifications have been strengthened, and we are protected in new and more powerful ways, but we must still guard scrupulously against carelessness on the part of any student or member of staff."

Dumbledore gave every single student in the hall a measured look, his eyes lingering on the Slytherins and the Weasley twins for a moment longer than most.

"I urge you, therefore, to abide by any security restrictions that your teachers might impose upon you, however irksome you might find them — in particular, the rule that you are not to be out of bed after hours. I implore you, should you notice anything strange or suspicious within or outside the castle, to report it to a member of staff immediately. I trust you to conduct yourselves, always, with the utmost regard for your own and others' safety."

Dumbledore's eyes swept around the assembled students one last time before he smiled once more.

"On a happier note, Madame Umbridge, due to certain circumstances, namely her action of High Treason against the state, would no longer be capable of teaching classes."

Harry's lips curled into a smile at that.

'Great riddance'

"So, as a result, we have a few changes in the staff. I, personally, shall be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts to the fifth year and above. As for the first to fourth years, I am pleased to announce that we have a new member of staff, who is also a student. Professor Potter!"

Harry stood up and gave a short bow as hushed whispers and scattered applause filled the Hall.

Many were looking at him with varied expressions on their faces. Some showed excitement, some were puzzled and a handful of students glared at him. Malfoy in particular was giving him a hate-filled glare as if Harry had killed his father… which probably was the exact reason the ferret was glaring at him.

Dumbledore waited for a moment before clearing his throat, making a hush fall over the hall again. "I expect you all to give him the same respect as you would give me or another Professor. While in classes, Professor Potter will have the same powers as another professor on this table has."

With a sweeping look at the hall, he finally said, "Now, I think I have held you off long enough. A feast awaits you. Chop, chop!"

The noise level in the Great Hall rose dramatically as Dumbledore turned back and reclaimed his seat just as platters full of food filled the table.

"So, Harry," Flitwick called. "Have you prepared your lesson plans?"

"Not really," Harry replied carelessly, as he served himself a helping of mashed potatoes. "Professor McGonagall gave me the lesson plans Moody, or the imposter anyway, had planned for the first four years. I will largely follow that, with a few of my own lessons, of course. But I assure you, no single student of mine will have an iota of problems with Defense against the Dark Arts next term."

"You plan to cover material worth two terms in a single one?" Sinistra asked. "Because, as far as I know, Umbridge didn't teach anything."

"I might borrow a few lectures from Binns," Harry said. "History of Magic hardly needs any prior knowledge, even if you take it up directly in the fifth year."

'And no one pays attention to the ghost anyway. Even Hermione drowses off at times.'

"Students would definitely prefer attending your class rather than Binns," Flitwick mused. "If what I have heard of your Dragon Legion is any indication."

A proud feeling bloomed in Harry's chest. "Thank you, Professor Flitwick. Speaking of which, would you be comfortable taking a class or two, if I ever request you to?"

"Of… what? First to fourth years or—"

"The Dragon legion," Harry said. "It is usually me who teaches them, along with Hermione, Cedric, and Susan. But all of us might get really busy soon, with the OWLS and NEWTS coming up."

"I would say that it would be an honor to do so," Flitwick grinned. "You know, I was once a part of the original Dragon Legion?"

"I do," Harry smiled. "You joined toward the end of it."

"Indeed. A mighty fine warrior, your grandfather, and Arcturus Black. And that is not to mention the others who led the Legion. It is seldom that I encounter witches and wizards of their caliber in both wit and integrity."

Harry smiled but said nothing as he continued to eat.

"Nevertheless, if you need any help with teaching, either the Dragon Legion or your classes, do not hesitate to approach me, Harry."

"Of course, sir."

An hour later, the feast ended as the deserts disappeared off the table and the students began to shuffle back to their dormitories. Snape too, walked away from the staff table, a scowl marring his face.

"Harry, will you be going back to your dorms or—"

"Oh, heavens, no. Professor Dumbledore saw it fit to give me living quarters within the castle. The dorm might not be the best place for me to carry out my Professor duties alongside the apprenticeship under Dumbledore."

"What of your NEWTS?" Vector asked.

"I will be sitting for NEWTS at the end of the year with the seventh-years. Professor Dumbledore got special permission for me to get my NEWTS early. I will be the youngest person in history to sit for NEWTS."

"Another achievement to the list, Mr. Potter," Flitwick said. "But then again, Academic excellence pales in comparison to defeating Dark Lords, doesn't it?"

The teachers chuckled while Harry just gave the professor a smile.

"I think we all should retire for the night," McGonagall said. "We all have lectures to give tomorrow and in Mr. Potter's case, even attend."

"True," Flitwick agreed. "I have second years in the morning and I need to arrange pineapples for the lecture. So, I need to go to the kitchens. Good night everyone."

Soon, everyone went their own ways. As Harry walked to his quarters, he found himself face-to-face with Draco Malfoy and a bunch of Slytherins on the first floor landing of the moving staircase, waiting for him.

"How can I help you?" Harry asked, his eyes flitting to the wands they were clutching in their hands.

Malfoy glanced around - Harry knew he was checking for signs of the other teachers - then he looked back at Harry and said in a low voice, "You're dead, Potter. You will pay for what you did to my father."

"Ah, the late Lucius Malfoy," Harry drawled with a smirk.

Malfoy looked angrier than Harry had ever seen him; he felt a kind of detached satisfaction at the sight of his pale, pointed face contorted with rage.

Behind him, his cohorts were also looking pissed but no one dared to raise their wands.

"For all it is worth, I am sorry for the death of your parents," Harry said in a low voice. "But I warned you all at the start of the year. Anyone who serves Voldemort will suffer the consequences. I warned you all. So, do not blame me. Your parents were nothing but terrorists but I hope you can be better. If you aren't, well, you shall be joining them sooner or later."

Angry hisses sounded from the group in front of him but he was unfazed.

"You're going to pay," said Malfoy in a voice barely louder than a whisper. "I'm going to make you pay for what you've done to my father… To all of our parents. We couldn't save them, but we will avenge them."

Harry smiled mirthlessly. "You all think you are a threat to me. Let me inform you that you are not. I have stared at Voldemort and Grindelwald in the eye and dueled them. I have drawn their blood. So, if you raise your wands against me, or take their mark, I will end you. That, my friends, is a promise in the name of Potters. So, decide what you want to do. And choose wisely. Now, I suggest you all go back to your rooms."

---

4th January 1996

Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom, Hogwarts

The idle chatter and hushed whispers of students drifted through the closed door adjoining the DADA classroom to Harry's new office. Harry took a deep breath before pulling the door open and entering the classroom.

The chatter ceased, and silence descended on the classroom as students took in his presence.

The class consisting of fourth-year Ravenclaws and Gryffindors, thankfully, seemed to be in full attendance.

A part of Harry was completely unsurprised. Whispers of his legend had followed him through Hogwarts at every waking moment since he had returned. His fight with Voldemort and Grindelwald had apparently raised his status quo to greater heights than ever before.

And, most importantly, the students were incredibly excited to study under the 'Legendary Harry Potter, the fighter of Dark Lords'.

His fame was irritating, sometimes. Even though Helga and Salazar had helped him come to terms with that aspect of his life, his rise to greater fame was becoming more and more irritating by the day. The sheer number of people sending him letters was staggering.

Thankfully, his appeal to Sirius's godfatherly nature saved him from dealing with that particular problem. He didn't think that Susan, Daphne, or Fleur would like the piles of marriage proposals and other suggestive things people were sending him.

Harry's footsteps echoed in the dead silence of the class as students gazed at him. Colin Creevy, amongst many others, was at the edge of their seat.

'No need to be nervous, Potter. Treat it like it's just another Dragon Legion meeting.' Harry thought to himself, as his gaze swept around the class, taking in the familiar faces from the dragon legion, ignoring Creevy.

"A very good morning to you all," Harry smiled as he greeted the class. "Now, I am afraid that we would not be needing books much within the class. Especially not that book. You can do whatever you wish to do with it. What I will be giving you now, will be a list of books I expect you all to note down for reference. I will also be giving the main topics which I will be covering in this term. Anyone slacking in homework, or classwork, will be removed from my class."

He cast a serious look around the class, as students sat up straighter.

"Now, please note what I say."

The class scrambled for their quills as Harry paused for a moment.

He had been following McGonagall's advice so far. Give the class a glimpse of what was to be covered before getting on with a demonstration to excite them, before beginning the work.

"First, the syllabus. Curses, counter curses, detection of cursed objects, protection against harmful spells, applications of charms and transfiguration in defense, and non-verbal casting. Now—" Harry stopped short as a hand shot up. "Yes, miss—"

"Wenlock, sir. Griselda Wenlock." The Ravenclaw girl introduced. "Isn't the applications of charms and transfiguration in defense chapter a part of the fifth-year syllabus? And non-verbal casting, a part of the sixth year?"

Harry's lips curled into a distasteful frown. A rigid syllabus was the last thing he wanted to follow. He couldn't afford to get more rigid than he was already. Curses wouldn't be the only thing they would need to face a Death Eater if they came across one.

"Traditionally, yes, they are. But, as the headmaster said at the feast, we are living in perilous times. A Death Eater won't attack you by limiting himself to the fourth-year syllabus spells because you haven't studied beyond that level. They will be aiming to put you down. In such circumstances, a wholesome education is better to defend yourself. And those two topics aren't as hard as you might think. If you wish to know, ask some of your fellow classmates."

The girl looked ready to say more but hesitated, seeing people nod and grin at the statement. A moment later, she retook her seat.

"Now, as I was saying, the full list of reference books will be posted by the next class on the notice board outside. But, I will personally recommend 'Confronting the Faceless' and 'Standard curses and counter curses' by Professor R.S. Lutkins. The former is a bit advanced, so read it for additional reference."

People hastily scribbled down the names as Harry had spoken.

"Now, parchments, quills, and books away. Only wands are needed now."

A huge deal of scrambling ensued as people removed their bags and put the parchments, quills, and the book back before taking their wands.

"The Defense Against the Dark Arts is a subject you are taught in order to defend yourself against any peril that you might face, be it a magical creature, a wizard, or merely some cursed item. But, before you can defend yourself, you must know what you are facing."

Harry glanced around the class and was content to see that the students were paying attention.

"A huge part of the dangers you might face as a wizard are curses. There are two major categories of curses. One is the enchantment curses that are applied to an object, much like any other enchantment. But they are meant to cause harm to anyone who comes in contact with the object. If you take up a job as a curse-breaker, you will face such cursed objects frequently. There are methods to detect these curses and counter them as needed."

"Now, what I shall demonstrate is a standard blasting curse, the Reductor curse. Does anyone know its incantation?"

Quite a few hands rose at the question. Harry pointed at Colin, who looked like he was quivering with excitement.

"Reducto, Professor."

"Indeed. Take five points, Mr. Creevy. Class, I want you to watch carefully now." Harry instructed, summoning a dummy from his office. "I am about to demonstrate the Reductor curse on this Dummy. Reducto"

A bright orange light surged forth from his wand, and hit the dummy with an echoing bang, reducing it to splinters, and making many students gasp and take a few steps back.

A ringing silence filled the room for a brief moment before Harry cleared his throat and began to speak. "The Reductor curse is an explosive curse, much like the exploding jinx, Expulso. But as you are aware, the effect of curses is, as per the book definition, greater than a jinx or a hex. The same applies to the Reductor curse, which is more potent than the exploding jinx. Can someone tell me the primary difference they saw between the two?"

Harry looked around the class, waiting for someone to raise their hand. He pointed to a Ravenclaw boy who had raised his hand alongside some members of the Dragon Legion.

"Sir, Expulso always produced fire and a huge bang as it impacted. The reductor curse didn't have any fire or flash."

"Indeed. The exploding jinx does produce a blast of fire as it impacts, while the reductor curse just blasts the target apart. Furthermore, the reductor curse takes a few milliseconds after impact to go off, making the damage deeper, while the exploding jinx goes off on contact. Now, I have a question for you all. If I fire a reductor curse at you right now, how will you defend yourself? Miss Wenlock."

"By shielding, sir."

"And which shield shall you use?" Harry prompted.

"A Protego shield, sir," She replied. "Or the Aegis Protego."

"The Aegis Protego would indeed defend you against a Reductor curse. So would a Protego. And so would a mage shield. A bunker shield. And so would scutum protego, amongst others. Which would you use when?" Harry prodded, testing the girl's knowledge. She wasn't a part of the Dragon Legion and yet seemed ahead of the syllabus.

"It… depends, sir. For a lower curse, like a reductor curse, a Protego or Aegis Protego would provide a sufficient defense."

'A little like Hermione, then. Bookworm.'

"A verbatim answer from the standard book of spells grade four. Not bad. Take three points." Harry said, making her face fall a tad. "Any other method to protect yourself?"

A few hands went up, and Harry called upon Luna, who also had raised her hand while staring outside the window.

"Dodge the spell, Professor Potter. The spell cannot hit you if you are not in its path," she replied in her near-ethereal voice.

"Indeed. Highly effective protection against most curses is to simply dodge them if you can. Even the killing curse cannot kill you if it doesn't hit you." He let that sink in before continuing his lecture. "Of course, that doesn't mean you should be reliant on dodging. A skilled enough spellcaster will know where to cast spells, in order to limit you and take you out if they see you dodging too much. Yes?"

"Sir, but what about wide-area spells?" A student, whom Harry identified as Bruce Stebbins from the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, asked.

"Dodging is ineffective against those, obviously. Shielding is preferable against them. Or, nullifying the spell, which, admittedly, is quite advanced. Now, can you suggest any other method, Mr. Stebbins?"

The student who had asked the question hesitated for a moment before replying.

"Summoning something in its way. Or conjuring an obstacle."

"Crude, but effective," Harry agreed. "Though, I wouldn't prefer to do it against the Reductor curse. Can you tell me why, Mister Stebbins?"

"Because… the destroyed object will hit you?"

"Indeed. The shards of the object you would summon in the path of a reductor curse will hit you rather violently. But yet, it is a highly effective method against several curses, especially the Unforgivable Curses. Take five points, Mr. Stebbins. Anyone else? No, Mr. Creevy, you've already answered. Yes, Miss Weasley."

"Curse deflection, sir."

"Precisely. Curse deflection is another advanced method. Five points. Now, we shall practice this spell. The wand movement is on the board. I want you all to learn this spell by the end of this hour. After that, we will work on the Protego shield." Harry instructed, and a wave of excitement passed through the class.

"Now, get up and step out of your desk. Take your bags as well. Quickly."

As students scrambled to comply with his instruction, Harry flicked his wrist, bringing his Ebony wand out. With a sweep of his wand, the desks were transported into the adjacent classroom next door.

The students gasped, probably thinking he had vanished those desks.

'Not a bad conclusion. But I don't want McGonagall pissed at me, do I?'

With a flick of Harry's wand, the splinters of the dummy flew together, repairing the dummy before the dummy began to multiply rapidly until there was a dummy for every person in the class.

"Begin!"

Two hours later, Harry collapsed tiredly in a chair in his office. The first class had been mentally exhausting. It was perhaps a blessing in disguise that the group had a handful of Dragon Legion members who were competent enough to follow his directions and already knew the spells he had taught. Especially the shield charm.

Every single student had got the Reductor curse down within the first hour of practice. But the Protego shield, on the other hand, was not something every student could do by the end of the class.

'Perhaps this is not as bad as I am making it out to be,' Harry mused. 'Four-fifth of the class did produce a perfect protego by the end of it, and the rest had a flimsy shield as well. Not everyone's learning speed is the same, after all.'

Regardless, Harry was not sorry that he had given the students who had failed to produce the shield a good amount of homework. The rest, who were successful, had only been told to read up on the two spells he had taught, alongside a few other topics he had planned to cover in the following class.

There was a knock at the door, making Harry sigh softly before he straightened up and flicked his wand, opening the door.

A group of four Ravenclaw students, including Luna, stood outside the class.

"May we come in, Harry?" Luna questioned, skipping inside the room, and making him raise an eyebrow.

"You should refer to me as Professor, Luna. If the deputy headmistress saw you referring to me by name in my office, she would put both of us in detention."

Luna's eyes glimmered in the light of his office as she sat on the chair across from him, her smile unwavering. "But I am not here to see you in your capacity as the DADA Professor but rather in your capacity as Harry Potter, the leader of the Dragon Legion. Though, in that case, I should be referring to you as my lord."

Harry coughed. "Harry's fine."

Harry glanced at the door and added, "You three can come in, though."

"Thank you, sir," Griselda Wenlock said, eyeing Luna, who was humming some song while looking around Harry's albeit spartan office. "We wished to talk to you about the Dragon Legion."

"What about it?" Harry asked patiently.

"We three," Wenlock said, pointing to herself and the two students standing behind her. "Wish to join the legion, sir."

"And why's that, Miss Wenlock?"

The girl seemed to hesitate, so her partner replied instead of her. "We saw that the students in your club are rather advanced as compared to us in DADA. They were casting non-verbal spells and—"

"Yes, I am aware that they are far ahead of the school syllabus, Mr. Wilson. And there's a reason for it. We do not care about school studies. I am preparing them for what's out there. Do you know the origins of the Dragon Legion?"

"It was founded by Charlus Potter—" Wenlock said, before hesitating briefly. "Your grandfather in the war against Grindelwald and his men, the Knights of Walpurgis."

"Indeed. The new one has a similar function. Simple dedication to schoolwork isn't going to cut it. Also, I am afraid that the skills of the Dragon Legion are far more than those of fourth-year students. You will be lagging. Had you been a sixth or seventh-year student, I would've considered it. I am sorry, I cannot take you three into the Dragon Legion."

"But sir, we will work really hard. We understand—"

"Miss Wenlock, you are six months behind already. That is akin to missing two years of Hogwarts education and expecting to catch up. But, for those who wish to learn more, I will see if we can do something. I suggest you talk with the Head of your house and the deputy headmistress. I am sure that they will arrange a dueling club or something similar for the others who aren't a part of the Dragon Legion."

The boy behind Wenlock wrinkled his nose. "Like Lockhart's dueling club?"

"Yes, but with more… competency than Lockhart."

The two girls look a little offended at the competency part while Luna continued humming under her breath.

"Anyhow, I would advise you to practice the spells I teach in the class. I will be focusing primarily on spells you can use in combat. Like the Reductor curse and the Protego shield. Two simple spells but extremely effective. You can also look up the list of spells permitted in the Under-Thirteen and Under-fifteen categories of the Japanese Dueling Circuit."

"Ooh, the Under-thirteen have some good spells. Safe but very effective." Luna piped up all of a sudden, startling Harry.

"How do you know?" The boy asked.

"Daddy and I went to see the league two years ago when we were in Japan looking for crumpled-horn snorkacks. We didn't find those, but the league was fun to see!"

"Right," Harry said. "Anyhow, I suggest you take this up with the head of your house. He will advise you on what can be done."

"Sir, isn't there any chance of getting into the Dragon Legion?"

"No, Miss Wenlock. You will be unable to catch up if you join now." He replied, making the girl nod in defeat.

"Thank you, professor. We will check the things you recommended. And we will talk with Professor Flitwick as well."

Harry smiled before dismissing them.

Luna, too, got up and skipped outside behind her friends, making Harry shake his head.

---

5th January 1996

The Chamber of Secrets, Hogwarts

"I am back!" Harry's voice echoed through the chamber, as he greeted loudly, waking the two portraits up from their slumber.

"How was your teaching experience so far, my dear?" Helga asked as Harry hurried towards the bubbling concoction in the golden Cauldron in the corner of the room.

"It was good," Harry said, as he noted the time on the watch next to it before picking a small coin made of pure silver. "Tiresome, but good. The rigidity of the syllabus is a pain in the ass."

"You will get used to it," Salazar said dismissively. "Also, you did good work— can you not do that while I am talking to you!?"

"I have to," Harry replied, as he continued filing the silver coin to collect the fine silver powder. "Freshly powdered silver is necessary for this concoction. It has to be added in six minutes from now."

"I don't even understand why you are making the elixir of stasis. You have a phoenix companion and, not to mention, enhanced healing."

Hedwig chirped from her perch nearby.

"It is not for me," He replied shortly, as he continued to file the coin. "If someone gets badly injured, this will help them to stay put till we can administer proper medical help. Three milliliters and they will stabilize, despite the grievousness of their wounds."

"True, but it is ridiculously expensive to make it."

"If it saves even one life, it is worth it. And, it is not like I am short on money."

"Indeed," Helga agreed. "A person's life is much more important than money. How many days till the elixir is ready?"

"Well, most of it is almost over. I need to add moon fern, which I will harvest tonight from the Astronomy tower. It is a blessing that it grows so fast. Some student might've stumbled across it, had it been there for any longer."

"Moon fern harvested under the full moon. Indeed." Helga said. "And then you are going to make it rest for a week in a light-less room before adding a dash of Dragon blood to it and reheating and stirring."

"Yes," He replied. "That reminds me that I've got to buy the Dragon blood. Both for this elixir and the enchantment-rejuvenation runes for my vests."

Salazar rolled his eyes. "That is three runes you've to draw. A small vial of blood will do. Which you have."

"Yes, but you never know when you might need it. Dragon blood is a valuable commodity in most alchemical potions. And not to mention, runes drawn by dragon blood are very potent."

Salazar sighed. "Now that you don't have much to learn, you are obsessing over these alchemical potions."

"Well, I have nothing else to do. I cannot be flinging spells around all day, can I?"

Harry smirked as he weighed the silver powder he had collected before using a small spoon to remove a small portion. He tapped the spoon slightly, making a little of the taken silver fall back into the vessel before grinning.

'Perfect.'

"Let him be, Salazar. He is doing something unlike you! And you have the attention and patience of a toddler, anyway. Thank god Harry isn't like that!"

"Well, it takes annoyingly long for these things! And there are other magics that can do the same, if not more. A parselmagic stasis charm cast can produce the same results. Blood magic will also have the same effect. Why waste time making an elixir?"

"First, it is practice. Second, I cannot be everywhere to cast those spells. And most importantly, I do not think that me performing blood magic or parselmagic in the open would be appreciated. Especially the former." Harry replied.

"Plebeians," Salazar sniffed. "And complete idiots. Branding some of the most protective magic as dark."

"Blood magic does have a darker side," Harry said quietly, as he emptied the silver powder into the bubbling purple concoction in the golden cauldron. "Bloodline control, slavery, Blood-curses and whatnot."

Their heads snapped towards Harry while Helga narrowed her eyes.

"The Blacks weren't the most cheery bunch around," He shrugged, answering the unasked question. "Their practice and knowledge in blood magic was extensive. They have special books on how to use Blood Magic for all the wrong purposes. Fortunately, they, too, have little on Necromancy and soul magic. The latter is practically non-existent."

"Thank lord for small mercies," Salazar breathed. "But you do know of blood magic's… darker uses. Have you—"

"Never used them. But I know how to. And I've also devised a way to prevent those within certain boundaries."

"The blood ward you were working on," Helga said in realization. "I am impressed."

"Blood magic could potentially overpower Fidelius. In theory, anyway. So, I took measures such that tracking a person by blood magic will not work within the boundaries of—." Harry's voice struck in his throat. "Order's safe house."

"Indeed. That is good." Salazar nodded. "I was planning to introduce those to you later. Perhaps once you were of age. Alongside the studies into Necromancy and soul magic."

The emphasis on the word 'studies' left no doubt in Harry's mind that everything they were going to teach was strictly theoretical, and he was never to use those spells. They had done the same for his studies on Inferius creation. His knowledge in these fields was to prevent those magics from being used against him rather than him using the magics for his own purposes.

"Can't we begin early?" Harry asked. "My studies into curing—"

"No, Harry. We might start next year. But not now. You have more things to worry about. Believe me, some of the contents in those will give you nightmares. It is—" Helga shuddered.

"Gruesome. To see magic get corrupted like this is just… Let us leave it at that. Believe me, once you know, you will wish that you had never asked." Salazar completed Helga's thoughts.

Harry nodded before glancing at his watch.

"I have got to go. I have third-year Slytherins and claws post lunch."

"Indeed. What do you plan to cover?"

Harry's lips curled into a grim smile. "Why Helga? The very topic we were discussing moments ago. Inferi."

---

5th January 1996

Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom, Hogwarts

"I hope the portion that we will be covering is clear to you all. A lot of creatures will be for self-study this term as we are short on time, thanks to your previous professor. But, we will be covering a few things which are not in the traditional syllabus, as you might've noticed."

The students nodded eagerly.

"But to defend against something, you must know what it is and which spells can be useful against it. We will be focusing on creatures that will definitely harm you if you face one. Infernus is one of them. Now, who can tell me what an Infernus is?"

Not a single student responded, remaining silent, as they looked around for someone to answer.

"I know it was mentioned in the Ministry guide published yesterday, and you all know of it," He prodded.

"Sir, is it true that you-know-who will use Infernies?" A brunette-haired girl asked in a high-pitched voice, nearly making Harry wince.

"The correct term, I believe, is Inferi," Harry corrected gently. "And yes. He used them in the last war. So did Grindelwald. It is best if you're aware of how to defend yourself against them. But what is an Infernus, young lady?"

"A… I believe that Infernus is very close to the muggle concept of zombies."

'I had told the same to Sal and Helga.'

"Indeed," Harry agreed, holding back a smile. "It is almost a perfect match. But, for those who don't know, explain."

"Dead bodies who have been brought back to life… but not completely. They are mindless and infect those whom they bite. The bitten people then convert into—"

"That's enough, thank you," Harry interrupted swiftly. "Take five points. To perfect her answer, the Inferius is a corpse that has been reanimated by a wizard through a branch of magic known as Necromancy. It is not alive; it is merely used like a puppet to do the wizard's bidding. Its bite is infectious and if bitten, the wound will be infected and the person would die before becoming an Infernus itself after a short amount of time unless measures are taken, namely, amputation of the bitten part."

As he spoke, the chalk wrote the important points on the blackboard by itself.

"Now, who knows how to combat an Infernus? Yes, Miss Greengrass?"

"Fire, professor. The Inferi abhor fire and even a simple fire-making charm will repel them."

"True. Take ten points for a perfect answer." Harry said, making Astoria beam. "A notable thing about the use of Inferi is that they will be in groups whenever they are used. Hordes even. A single Infernus is rather easy to protect against. But in larger numbers, they pose a great threat. Fire can be used to repel them and keep them at a distance. But normal fire-making charms will not kill them."

"Sir, if fire cannot kill them, what can?" A Ravenclaw girl questioned.

"Inferi are incredibly hard to kill… or, more appropriately, destroy. The Inferi are animated dead bodies in a sense. They are already dead. If you ever face one, or a horde, run. Use fire to repel them. Make them lose you. Anything. Because destroying them is beyond your capabilities."

A boy from Slytherin raised his hand and Harry gestured for him to speak. The boy stood up and asked, "Sir, but there are ways to destroy an Infernus. Like advanced fire spells."

'Fiendfyre. I don't think Dumbledore would appreciate me even naming the spell to them.'

"I never said there aren't. But those are beyond your level. Much beyond." Harry replied sternly. "I know the spells you speak of. And believe me when I say this. Even if you can miraculously produce those fires, the fire will kill you before the Inferi does."

The boy nodded in agreement before sitting down.

"But do not worry. I will give you means to hold them back substantially till you can get to a safe place. You can reliably use many spells against an Infernus that are not fire-based. Blasting jinxes and blasting curses are the most prominent spells that can be used. A banishing charm will also throw an Infernus away from you if it gets too close. And I will be teaching you the blasting jinx today. Can someone give me the incantation for it?"

"Expulso, sir," Someone piped up from the back of the class.

"Yes, take five points. The exploding jinx, or the blasting jinx, as it is aptly named, is one of the more powerful jinxes which is frequently used by both the auror force and duelers. Its incantation, as was rightly said, is Expulso. Now, I shall demonstrate the spell. Till then, copy down whatever I've written." Harry said before moving out of the room to his office to get the dummy.

He could've easily summoned or conjured one, but he needed to give the students a little time to write. Most had not even touched their quills when he was speaking.

He had decided to cover a blasting type of spell for each class of his, even the firsties. Even if it wasn't the best to teach them such a dangerous spell in the very beginning, he knew that blasting jinxes and curses were extremely useful when facing any enemy. It was like a blunt war hammer that could, if sufficiently powered, deal with most things.

Proper spells were better in a duel but firing a blasting curse was perhaps something that would down most dangers a student might face. Or at least slow an enemy down. Be it a death eater or Inferi. Hitting an enemy with a blasting curse was certainly better than hitting them with some jinx which could be batted away with ease.

He waited for a minute before levitating the dummy to the corner of the room and walking back into the class.

The scattered whispers ceased almost immediately as Harry walked in.

"You've written it down, good, good," Harry said absently as he placed the dummy in the corner of the room made to demonstrate spells. "Pay close attention, class. Expulso!"

An orange beam shot from his wand, before detonating with a sizable blast of fire, throwing the dummy onto the wall with a sickening crack.

Harry fired a flame-freezing charm at the dummy a moment later, so it wouldn't burn down completely, and yet, leave a visible fire burning on its chest.

With a flick of his wand, the dummy was levitated to the center of the class for the students to see the prominent cracks on the torso and its aflame chest.

"You can see what my spell did to the dummy, class. It is extremely dangerous to use and should only be used in real danger or controlled situations. This is not a spell you use in a schoolyard fight. If I see anyone firing exploding jinxes around, I guarantee that your punishment won't be kind." Harry warned, making his eyes glow.

Many shivered.

"Now, the wand movement for the spell is on the board. You all will be firing the spell at the dummy. Carefully. The wand movement is on the board." Harry said, as the dummy repaired and duplicated itself. "Now, put your books and parchment away. It is time for some practice."

Notes:

AND… DONE!

Firstly, I would like to wish a very Happy New Year to all my readers. May 2023 bring happiness and success to your lives!

I also hope that you all liked this chapter. I know that it didn't have much to add to the plot, but I promise that there will be plot-heavy chapters soon. I feel that the last few chapters were incredibly plot-heavy, and there needs to be a chapter like this to balance it out.

The next chapter will cover the greater wizarding war and what moves Grindelwald and Voldemort will pull to start their reign of terror across the globe.

An important note is to keep checking the dates as the plot progresses, so things don't feel abrupt when I take a small time leap.

For instance, the next chapter will have scenes set in February 1996, when 5 weeks would've passed since the Dark Lords were revealed to the world. I am not taking BIG time leaps by any means, but a few weeks, I feel, is justifiable.

Also, a small leap is long overdue as chapters 62 to 68 are all set within less than 10 days(27th Dec. 1995 to 5th Jan 1996).

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A huge thanks to Mezox and Ultimate Gamer for betaing this chapter.

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Thank you for your reviews and support!

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Also, join my server, House of HP66, to interact with me directly, and see the pictures of the characters there, so you all can get an idea of how they look. I will also post descriptions and stuff for reference.

ALSO, the server has crossed 1000 users already! Join fast!

Link: discord . gg / 4qfP3fxdQ4 [Remove the spaces please]

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As of this moment, I have five main stories. They are:

1. The Rise of the Last Potter: My Novel length Harry Potter fic which is already 300k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly.

2. The Legend of the Son of Poseidon: A Novel Length Percy Jackson fic which is already 250k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly

3. Loved Ones Skipping Stones and Ice-cream: A fluffy Haphne one-shot. It is completed obviously.

4. SECRETS: Another romantic one-shot I published recently. Complete as well.

5. Agent Potter: The Wizard of W.A.N.D. - My new spy!Harry fanfic which I implore you all to read!

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 70: The War Knocks

Ch.69 The War Knocks

18th January 1996

The Great Hall, Hogwarts

The flutter of wings filled the Great Hall as hundreds of owls of all shapes and sizes streamed into the room and circled overhead, searching for their owners. A few moments later, as Harry spooned scrambled eggs into his mouth, a tawny owl landed directly in front of him, nearly knocking over his goblet of juice.

"Thank you," Harry told the owl, as he freed the Daily prophet tied to its leg with a tap of his finger before unfurling the paper.

DEATH EATERS ATTACK MOSCOW! RUSSIAN MINISTER'S RESIDENCE BURNED TO THE GROUND!

In a shocking turn of events yesterday, the Russian Minister of Magic, Aleksandar Oblansk's place of residence was attacked by a party of wizards and witches clad in black robes and silver masks, much akin to the regalia of the followers of He-who-must-not-be-named. The attack took place at midnight, as per Russian authorities.

Thankfully, Minister Oblansk was not at his home at the time of the attack, but his family was. His nine-year-old daughter, and twelve-year-old son, alongside his mother and wife, perished in the attack, alongside a party of Russian Aurors guarding the mansion. We offer our sincerest condolences to him. May the deceased rest in peace.

The Russian authorities have maintained silence on the greater details of this event, as they carry out their investigations, but according to sources, a symbol was left floating over the mansion. A triangular sign, with a line passing through its center, with a skull symbol in the middle, with a snake prodding from its mouth. Analysts at the Daily Prophet reported that the symbol seen is a mix of the symbols of Grindelwald and the dark mark of He-who-must-not-be-named.

Harry stopped reading as he saw the photo of the green symbol in the sky above an aflame mansion. The Daily Prophet was indeed correct. The two dark lords had combined their symbols. The symbol of the Deathly Hallows and the dark mark merged into one… with the dark mark replacing the resurrection stone in the symbol of the Deathly Hallows.

'Scare Tactics. And so it begins.'

He sent a glance at the head table, only to see that Dumbledore was not present at the table, his seat glaringly empty. Besides the seat, McGonagall was reading some sort of letter, a cup of steaming tea in her hands.

"Harry," Hermione called. "Moscow was attacked."

"I read," Harry replied gravely. "This is only the beginning. Scare tactics to convince the world leaders into submission or… to delay their actions against the Dark Lords."

"Auntie is permanently moving in with Sirius," Susan's voice sounded, making Harry turn back to face her. Susan stood behind him, wearing school robes, a letter clutched in her hand.

"That's good," Harry agreed. "I don't know why Amelia was being adamant about periodically visiting the Bones Manor. Sirius and Amelia are practically married."

"Well, at least you didn't walk in on them," Susan murmured, making Harry snort.

"Poor you," He said dryly, making Susan give him the bird. "But seriously, it's good that she is moving in permanently."

"Yes," Susan agreed as she sat between him and Neville. "Anything interesting in the paper?"

'A lot more than interesting.'

"Here," Neville said, offering her the paper.

"The death eaters are being unusually quiet, though," Ron said thoughtfully. "This is the first move they made in three weeks since the duel at the ministry. And it was… small."

"How can you be so insensitive, Ronald?" Hermione growled. "Almost a dozen people died!"

"No, I mean, come on! The last war wasn't this quiet. There were attacks every day. Kidnappings, deaths, muggle hunts, and whatnot. And now? They're uncannily silent. Especially You-know-who. This should be Grindelwald's doing. He was the one with ties to Russia. You-know-who is completely silent."

'He has a point. Voldemort might be planning something big. Or just regathering his forces after the loss at the Ministry.'

"What is your take on this attack, Harry?" Susan asked.

"It is a message, as I said. A warning to every world leader. Stand in their way and… there will be consequences. Minister Oblansk did make a speech a few days ago against Grindelwald and permitted his Aurors the use of lethal force against Death Eaters."

"He did?" Neville asked.

"Yes, it was in the papers," Hermione responded easily as she flipped through the pages. "What— Can you believe it!? Mundungus was convicted yesterday for attempted theft by posing as an infernus of all things in Knockturn Alley."

"Mundungus Fletcher?" Ron asked in a low voice. "The guy in the Order that mom hates?"

"The very same. He is a crook. I guess Dumbledore will wiggle his freedom after a few weeks."

"Why would he do—"

"Mundungus is a low life," Harry replied, as he wandlessly erected a privacy charm around the group. "He keeps his ears in all the dark corners of Wizarding Britain. And no one gives him a second glance."

"Still. He's a crook."

"And Snape's a Death Eater," Harry replied, looking at the potion's master, who was busy eating his breakfast.

"True. Slimy git. Do you reckon he is truly on our side?"

"Dumbledore seems to trust him. Harry doesn't." Hermione replied. "But Harry and Snape have had it out for each other since the first potions class."

"Don't blame me for the fact that Snape's a petty man-child," Harry groused. "And a greasy bug with an over-inflated self-worth."

Susan and Ron snorted while Hermione rolled her eyes and went back to reading her paper. Neville smiled before continuing to eat his breakfast.

"Oh, yesterday the Brazilian Quidditch player, Edson —"

"Edson Nascimento?" Ron asked, perking up.

"—yes. He passed away from Dragon Flu. He had a severe case, it seems."

"What? Noo! He was one of the best keepers in the history of Quidditch!" Ron moaned. "A legend! He has the unbeaten record of the highest goals saved in a Quidditch match!"

"He… does," Hermione confirmed as she read the article. "A hundred and seventy-nine goals. Against Bulgaria."

"1927," Ron supplied. "That is when he made the record. In the Moses Stadium, South Africa."

"If you studied that much for OWLS, you would probably beat Harry's record," Hermione teased.

"If the paper's on Quidditch History, I am losing hands down to Ron. Probably everyone is." Harry laughed.

"Hey! That's a great idea! Is there a paper on Quidditch?" Ron asked.

"No," Susan snickered. "But if you lose to Hufflepuff, I will tell auntie to make it an OWL's subject."

"Don't even think about it, Ron," Harry warned. "Or I will give you to Alicia and Katie to deal with."

"I won't even think of it!" Ron shuddered, throwing his hands up.

"And you, Missy, are being a naughty girl."

"Oooh, what are you gonna do? Spa—" Susan stopped short as no noise came from her mouth. A moment later, she glared at Harry.

"Not me," Harry said.

"It was me," Hermione said. "And you better control your mouth when in public. You and Harry can be as kinky as you want behind closed doors."

Susan flipped her off, making Hermione respond in kind.

"Girls," Harry said. "Play nice. We need to go to class now. I have a fourth-year Gryffindor Slytherin class."

"What are you teaching them today?" Hermione asked inquisitively.

"I have decided to start with the use of transfiguration for Defense. Basic conju— ow!" Harry yelped as Susan pinched him hard on the thigh, glaring at him.

"What?"

She gestured to her mouth and moved her lips soundlessly.

"You can cast it yourself, you know," Harry said, wandlessly casting a finite on her.

"And you, mister, should be a responsible boyfriend," Susan growled in response before getting off the table and storming back to the Hufflepuff table.

"What the hell?"

"Must be her time of the month," Ron said with a mouthful of food.

"Ronald!" Hermione admonished, "You are an insensitive prick."

"What?"

Hermione huffed. "Boys."

Ron, Harry, and Neville just shared a confused look as Hermione, too, got up and shifted to sit beside Parvati and Lavender.

---

24th January 1996

Myshkin, Russia

Gellert Grindelwald walked through the small town of Myshkin, of the Myshkinsky District in Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia. The town had a small population of around a thousand people, mostly consisting of muggles. A handful, barely half a dozen magical families, resided here, and only one of them was of prominence.

The Fedorovs. Oblansk's greatest supporters.

They were close to the point that a young fellow from the same family was Oblank's Undersecretary at the Ministry.

'Oblansk is causing me problems. But not for long. I shall have my due soon. I shall have Russia back.'

Grindelwald pulled his cloak tighter as he strode ahead, his eyes darting around, taking in the sights of the small town. The huge church that stood in the center of the town square made him pause in his tracks.

Flashes of long-gone screams echoed in his ears as he closed his eyes.

FLASHBACK START

13th April 1889

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR, old-day Russia)

Feminine Screams filled the air as a girl, barely older than ten, was dragged through the mud by villagers wielding pitchforks and sticks. Torches burned eerily in the night as she was dragged to the center of the town square before being violently kicked to the ground at the feet of the priest.

"Ved'ma!" The priest snarled, and the villagers repeated it as a chant.

Ved'ma. Witch.

"Burn her!"

"Devil Spawn!"

"Ved'ma!"

Shouts of the villagers echoed eerily in the night before stopping at once as the priest held up his hand, his black eyes glinting evilly in the torchlight.

"You have been judged before God and found guilty. You are a witch. A sorceress. Lucifer's mistress herself." The priest said in a low, menacing whisper, his gravelly voice echoing through the night. "For your sins, you will burn this night and suffer the flames of eternal hellfire."

The priest banged his cane as the girl tried to scramble away while the villagers chanted slurs.

"I am INNOCENT!" She shrieked as she scuttled back before she was kicked by a villager, forcing her onto the ground.

Suddenly, a wave of magic escaped her, throwing the priest back.

Silence reigned for a moment before the priest stood up again, his eyes mad beyond belief.

"The devil has sent such a devil spawn," He sneered. "You are an abomination in the Devil's grip. BURN HER!"

The villager hauled the girl up, and she began kicking and screaming before she was pushed onto a wooden stake, and restrained.

"NO! I AM INNOCENT!" She screamed as she struggled in the grips. Drops of blood ran down her face as tears leaked from her heterochromatic eyes.

"Shut up, witch!" A lady snarled, backhanding her across her face. "Devil spawn."

"Ved'ma!"

"Suffer in hellfire!"

The shouting faded in the girl's ears as she caught a movement from the corner of her eyes. A little boy, no older than six, had come out from behind a hut, his eyes scared. Her gaze caught his identical Heterochromatic ones as he moved forward toward her.

The girl shook her head with a pleading look, making him freeze in his tracks.

'Go,' She mouthed at the boy, making him back, fear and worry in his eyes.

She turned to the villagers with a defiant snarl on her face as she spat a mouthful of blood, no longer struggling in her restraints. "YOU MAY BURN ME TONIGHT. BUT YOU WON'T BURN MY SPIRIT. YOU CALL ME THE DEVIL SPAWN BUT YOU ALL ARE THE TRUE DEVILS! I WILL BE AVENGED! YOU VILE FILTH SHAN'T LIVE FOR LONG!"

"The Devil ne'er has sent his spawn. You shall return to him. I shall send you back," The priest growled. "BURN HER!"

The girl was drenched by the villagers in a bluish liquid, but she just shook her head, snarling at them, as she tried to free herself once more.

A villager stepped forth, with a burning torch in his hands, and handed it to the priest who took it before throwing it at the girl.

Her screams echoed through the night as she was cruelly set aflame. The vile smell of burning flesh burned through the sky.

Six-year-old Gellert Grindelwald watched from his hiding spot, his eyes blurry with tears, as his elder sister, Galina Grindelwald was burned at stake by muggles, her screams and last image seared in his mind, as he stood there watching helplessly.

FLASHBACK ENDS

Gellert Grindelwald opened his eyes again to the present, standing in front of the blue-domed, marble-walled church.

Hate burned in his eyes as his magic itched for release.

'For Galina. For Wizardkind. For Freedom. For the Greater Good.'

His wand, the one he wielded in his youth and recently re-acquired, slipped into his palm, thrumming with magic.

"Ignis Diabolica."

And with the whisper, Myshkin burned faster than its muggle inhabitants could scream.

---

27th January 1996

Number 12 Grimmauld Place, London

Eerie silence rang through Grimmauld Place as Harry sat sipping his cup of tea, awaiting the last of the Order Members to arrive. Several newspapers were scattered across the table, reporting the first attacks of the two Dark Lords.

Russia was in a state of peril, barely holding on to the reign of its free administrative powers. It was the first to feel the combined wrath of Lord Voldemort and Grindelwald. Starting with the burning of Oblansk's house, they followed on to burn a whole town in the country to ashes.

Not even a single living being or standing structure was found in the town once Grindelwald was done with it. All that remained were ashes. Within minutes, a whole town had been wiped out by Gellert Grindelwald, who had just stayed long enough for the Russian Aurors to catch a glimpse of him as the eldritch flames had subsided.

Dumbledore had identified that as Grindelwald's most dangerous work. His spell, Ignis Diabolica, to be precise. Worse than even Fiendfyre in ways more than one. Tiring to cast and maintain even for someone of their caliber.

After the burning of the town, what followed were a few scattered attacks all over Russia, especially on the houses of prominent Russian Parliament members who supported the Minister.

Harry felt a hand cover his own and squeeze it reassuringly. He moved his head slightly and smiled at Fleur before entwining his hand with hers.

Fleur, Gabrielle, and their mother moved to live in Grimmauld Place. Sebastian had felt that it was unsafe for his family to be in France any longer. Both France and Beauxbatons had fallen to Grindelwald in the past. So had Durmstrang and Russia. In Sebastian's words, Hogwarts was the safest with Harry and Dumbledore in the school.

Gabrielle would be enrolling into Hogwarts next year. Fleur would give her NEWTS with Harry and continue her mastery if she so desired, under Flitwick. It was all decided by the Delacour Patriarch.

"What are you thinking about?" Fleur asked softly.

"Russia," Harry sighed deeply. "It won't be long before it falls to Grindelwald and Voldemort."

"If you think about it, Russia was always doomed to fall," Fleur sniffed. "Too many Grindelwald supporters and muggle haters in the country, thanks to Durmstrang. I just shudder to think what shall happen when the war spills into France."

"You're worried about your father," Harry stated plainly. "Do not worry. He has the emergency beacon. If he is in danger, it will take seconds for him to notify Dumbledore and me."

"You might not be fast enough to reach him in time, 'Arry." She said, looking away, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "You have to travel to France. I know that if it is at the Delacour Chateau, you will save him quite easily. The wards are state-of-art, and my father is a fantastic duelist. Together, they will hold even Grindelwald or Voldemort at bay for a few minutes. Enough for you to get into the manor. You are keyed into our wards, and you know the secret passageway. But if it is at the ministry, you will have to tear down one of the best wards in France to get to my father."

"Not really. To enter, they will have to tear through the wards before erecting their own. I will have to tear those down to get in… which might be for better as temporary wards are weak."

"But they would've been erected by two of the most powerful wizards on Earth. I don't know if I should be more worried or less." She said, making Harry shrug before his eyes drifted to Dumbledore, who had gotten to his feet.

"Good Morning, Order members. You might be wondering why I insisted on meeting in the morning today, taking you away from your busy schedules. Some were unable to join us as they couldn't get off work. But they will be updated on the proceedings of the meeting." Dumbledore declared. "What I have called you here for, are the recent attacks all over Russia."

"We cannot interfere in Russian affairs, Professor," Amelia spoke up in a tight voice. "It is outside our jurisdiction."

"I am not saying that we should be interfering." Dumbledore said, in a tone that suggested that it was temporary. It won't matter in a few months, once the whole world was at war. Dumbledore was seen as a savior around the world and so was Harry himself.

"I am more worried about there being no action across Britain. Voldemort has been quiet. From my sources, it was Grindelwald and his knights who attacked the Russian provinces. It was Grindelwald himself who burned the town of Myshkin to ashes."

"It could be because of the losses he recently bore in his ranks. We did a number on his Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries." Sirius said thoughtfully.

"To be frank, if we really count the number we captured or killed there, the number of the known Death Eaters and Imperius excuse ones from the last war was sixteen. British citizens amongst the identified, captured or dead did amount to a good twenty-nine, but most of them were teenagers or barely adults when the first war ended." Kingsley said. "You could say that there were around twenty to twenty-five war veterans amongst the ones at the Department of Mysteries. The rest were junior Death Eaters or foreigners."

'That's new. The DMLE was still collaborating with the witnesses last I heard. Now they have tallied the final numbers after a whole month, it seems.' Harry mused as he looked around. Amelia, the Aurors, and the hit wizards looked entirely unsurprised by the information, and so did Dumbledore.

"So, about two-thirds of the attacking force," Harry concluded. "Fine, we got about thirty of Voldemort's Death Eaters down. So—"

"Actually, we got only about twenty-three," Kingsley interrupted. "Rookwood, Bellatrix, Rabastan, Dolohov, and the Selwyns got away. Not sure about the last one, as it was a statement from Mundungus, who claimed to have fought them. Only the youngest Selwyn's presence was confirmed. The rest went unconfirmed."

The crook's name was spoken with an ugly sneer on Kingsley's lips, making Harry grimace. Mundungus was… difficult, to say the least. His recent actions had led many to question the thief's already questionable inclusion in the order. No one, not even Dumbledore, was in a hurry to get him out of the DMLE custody anytime soon.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "All that aside, we have a worrying matter at hand. Severus, if you would."

Snape leaned forward from the shadows, a baleful expression on his face. "The dark lord plans to start muggle hunting soon. In his words, though, the Death Eaters are woefully inept or out of practice after their stint at the ministry. To whip them up in shape, raids will be organized, starting from glorious muggle hunting. Also, it will be used to re-instill confidence in the more willing. Lord Grindelwald, on the other hand, has gone international. He is recruiting overseas and plans to take back Russia. Durmstrang is next on his list, followed by the weaker Scandinavian countries."

"He wants Durmstrang as his fortress as he had in the original war," Amelia said, her jaw twitching.

"Correction, he had many fortresses, of which Durmstrang was just one," Dumbledore corrected with a grimace. "He even built a few castles, some of which remain hidden to date, if conspiracy theorists are to be believed. His most notable one was the Nurmengard castle. One of his greatest works amongst many."

Harry felt a pang in his heart as he began to realize that there was a hint of respect in Dumbledore's words.

A respect that he was beginning to mirror, as he researched deeper into Grindelwald as and when he got the time.

To put it simply, the man was a genius of nearly unmatched caliber. While Voldemort was a plain terrorist and a madman with high-magical powers and prowess, Grindelwald was much more like Dumbledore, and dare he say himself.

A Titan of magic with knowledge and work to mirror it.

He had created his first magical artifact at fourteen. A smoking pipe that, when smoked, would project the smoker's memories like a Pensieve, or more appropriately, a muggle projector. And, not to mention, his school records were staggering as well, and so was his reason for expulsion.

The actual reason that Grindelwald himself had given to Dumbledore.

In a nine-on-one duel, he had gravely injured a bunch of snooty pureblood students whose fathers were all Lords in the Russian Parliament. The Grindelwald family, on the other hand, had no such influence or power.

So, the Lords had come down on him, asking for Grindelwald's immediate arrest and execution for harming their heirs. They had been accompanied by a bunch of Russian Aurors to do so.

And then, Grindelwald, a sixteen-year-old, had proceeded to fight his way through the horde of Aurors, Lords, Teachers, and students, before grievously injuring the High master of Durmstrang to enable his escape that day.

And then, to escape Russia, he had come to Britain to live with his aunt, Bathilda Bagshot. That was where he met Dumbledore, fresh out of Hogwarts, and fell in love.

Yes, Grindelwald was a cruel murderer and a terrorist as well. A more appropriate word, as Grindelwald himself had put it, would be a revolutionist. But he was accomplished in magic in a way Voldemort never was or could be.

"So, he is going to use castles to house his forces. That doesn't bode well. Castles are notoriously hard to launch an offensive on as they are built to withstand assaults, both physically and magically." Bill said.

"But that is not our concern," Dumbledore said gravely. "For now, I am more worried about attacks across Britain which will start soon. And, we, alongside the Auror force, have to protect innocents as we did in the last war."

"How about we start hunting instead of defending, professor?" Tonks asked, leaning forward from the shadows.

The girl looked terrible and yet… dangerous. Her violet-black eyes glinted in the torchlight, and the shadows on her sunken, albino-pale face made her look menacing. Her hair was a shade of silvery blonde, almost indecipherable with white.

Harry grimaced. 'Even Fleur's silvery hair is blonder than Tonks' at this point. She is still mourning.'

"And where are you going to attack, Miss Tonks?" Dumbledore asked calmly. "As far as I know, we aren't aware of any major Death Eater hideouts."

"Snape would," Tonks all but growled.

"Most Death Eaters, those whom I am aware of, stay in a family property of their own. Meetings are held at either the Malfoy Manor or the Lestrange Manor, both of which are under intense wards laid by Lord Grindelwald and the Dark Lord. As for the two Dark Lords themselves, I am unaware of where they stay, but I do know that Rookwood usually goes with either of them, wherever they go. The Dark Lord is keeping Rookwood, Bellatrix, Dolohov, and Rabastan close. They are now the most elite amongst the Death Eater ranks."

"They always were," Harry scowled.

He didn't like relying on Snape for information. But, unfortunately, Lucius was gone. Harry half wished that he had broken the man out of custody himself or done something to prevent him from execution. But Fudge had taken them all down, giving the DMLE all of his knowledge about every single crime he knew about and had ignored. In the end, the evidence was too much for any man to escape scott-free.

And if he had broken Malfoy out, Harry knew that Voldemort wouldn't take him in without rampaging through his mind first to know how he had escaped. And Voldemort was too skilled in the mind arts to not detect a planted memory. He would even free obliviated memories through extreme pain if it served his purpose, regardless of Lucius's fate.

His spy would've been outed in minutes and killed. It simply wasn't worth freeing Lucius.

And now, he had to rely on Snape.

"So," Tonks drawled. "We wait and watch?"

"Be on guard for the attacks. They'll happen soon. We will be setting up a rotation of order members to be at prominent magical locations across Britain. Diagon Alley, Ministry of Magic, Hogsmeade, St. Mungo's, Clawhill market, New Avalon, and such." Dumbledore corrected. "As soon as they attack, we counter them with all we have, minus the unforgivable curses. They are still illegal, and we can't have you being sent to prison."

Harry found himself nodding. These were the biggest settlements or gatherings of wizards and witches across Britain on any given day. Diagon Alley, even on an off day, had a footfall of more than a hundred witches and wizards. Clawhill market was smaller but much like Hogsmeade. On a good day, it was packed.

A Death Eater attack was bound to happen sooner or later. And when it would happen, they would be ready.

"We can keep a single person for Clawhill and New Avalon," Bill suggested. "They are right next to each other."

"My Aurors are constantly patrolling these regions as well. Especially Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. If there is any attack, we will respond within minutes."

"That might be a few minutes too long, Amelia," Dumbledore replied gravely. "The Order of the Phoenix had always been the first response unit through the last war as well. We protected and defended civilians against Death Eaters. We saved and healed people. At times, things were all wrapped up by us even before the Auror force arrived."

Amelia winced before shaking her head resolutely. "Then we will try to make our responses faster. Moody's on it already. But how will you determine where an attack is happening?"

"We do have an inside source amongst the Death Eater Ranks. It shouldn't be too hard for us to know where the attacks are going to take place." Dumbledore replied before his lips quivered. "Also, similar to the Ministry, we have a special device that detects the use of magic across Britain, centered in muggle areas. A device that would only detect curses and hexes instead of normal magic."

Harry felt his eyebrows rise.

'Dumbledore basically hacked into the magical grid across Britain that was set up with the Ritual to establish the Statute of Secrecy.'

"You have duplicated the trace," Tonks said. "A trace to every wand in Britain."

"No. I have duplicated and enhanced the device the obliviation squad and Auror forces use to maintain the statute of secrecy. And that was something I made back in 1939. It is in my office and will soon be moved to Grimmauld Place. A watch will be set up to monitor the map all day. I will teach you, new members, how to use it to detect and scry what is happening."

"Wait," Amelia interrupted. "Scrying is an illegal activity in Britain, Dumbledore. You—"

"Cannot do anything about it because of two reasons. One, I am the Supreme Mugwump of the ICW. Actions done or sanctioned by me fall outside the British government's jurisdiction. Second, the artifact and its exclusive use by the Headmaster of Hogwarts was sanctioned by the orders of the Chief Warlock back in 1974." Dumbledore replied as if he was commenting on the weather.

But, his voice held an edge of authority to it. An authority that he wouldn't be questioned.

Harry had noticed the change in Dumbledore since the events of the Ministry a month ago. His voice held authority in addition to the respect he commanded with his mere presence. His presence was much like the war-veteran General he was instead of an eccentric old headmaster, even if the demeanor was still ever-present.

It somehow was something that made Dumbledore who he was.

But he was showing the side of him that the world trembled against. A Titan of magic with equal prowess in the political arena.

Salazar had once told Harry that Dumbledore would have ruled magical Britain, if not the whole magical world, without resorting to a single iota of violence had he wanted to. Such was the man's reputation and political skills.

Amelia sputtered. "That means you were sanctioning your own actions! That— that—"

"Is genius," Harry commented idly, ignoring Amelia. "Technically an abuse of power, but still, a great political move. If someone questions his actions, they will have to take it up in front of the Wizengamot. And most would lose that particular battle, thanks to all the loopholes."

Dumbledore smiled. "Indeed. Now, is there anything left to discuss?"

"Yes. How will we alert the members of the order as to where the attack is happening? Will we use our pendants or the Patronus charm?"

"Whatever is needed. Patroni take little time to travel long distances. The phoenix pendant is even faster but not always the best option in case of multiple attacks." Sirius replied. "We did the same during the last war."

"Indeed. Tell me, Sirius, do you still remember how to use the Map?" Dumbledore asked.

"I… do. Remus would know better, though." Sirius said, making Remus nod.

"Excellent. Then, both of you, come to my office this evening to retrieve the map. If that's all, we will be leaving. Nymphadora, Sirius, and Remus, please do the job I have entrusted you to do by today evening. I will send Fawkes to bring the copy of the schedule you have made by dinnertime. Have a good day, everyone."

---

3rd February 1996

Room of Requirements, Hogwarts

Loud gongs reverberated through the classroom as Hermione and Neville furiously clashed against Alicia, Katie, Colin, and Justin. Despite it being two on four, Hermione and Neville were holding their own quite comfortably against their opponents, even overpowering them.

Hermione's and Neville's styles complimented each other quite well. Neville used his spells, especially curses, against his opponents like a blunt sledgehammer. Hermione, on the other hand, used more intricate magic like transfiguration and charms to attack and defend as needed. Her movements were smooth and crisp, as she moved fluidly from deflecting a bone-breaker curse to sending a flock of birds at the party of four.

At the same time, four fireballs shot from Neville's wand, curving toward all of his opponents at once.

Justin and Alicia quickly shielded while Katie rolled out of the way, dodging the onslaught before burning the birds that turned toward her.

Colin, on the other hand, dove to the ground, allowing the fireball to soar harmlessly above him as deafening gongs rang out. But Hermione's birds dove toward the boy, making him scream shrilly as they pecked at him.

Alicia turned to vanish the birds to save her companion but regretted it a moment later as Neville's blasting curse shattered her already weakened shield and hit her, throwing Alicia across the central platform. Thankfully, Harry had made sure to cast a protection armor shield over each of the duelers, saving Alicia from breaking several bones.

"ALICIA OUT!" Harry declared loudly, stopping the girl from getting back up again.

The tide quickly turned in Hermione's and Neville's favor as their most powerful opponent was downed. Colin followed moments later, leaving them to deal with Katie and Justin, who went on the defensive, preferring to shield.

"Katie, you shield, I will attack," Justin said over the reverberating gongs against their shields. A moment later, Justin's shield shattered as Hermione's shield-breaker hit it, allowing Justin to take the offensive.

A blasting curse followed by a bone breaker and a piercing curse leaped from his wand, racing toward Hermione and Neville.

Hermione slashed her wand upward, ripping tiles out of the floor to intercept each curse before jabbing it.

The broken and cracked tiles shot toward Justin and Katie, enlarging as they neared.

"Protego Scutum!" Justin cried loudly, erecting a full-body shield.

Harry winced even before the tile pieces, all as large as a football, hit the shield, throwing Justin off his feet, onto the ground.

The Protego Scutum didn't protect against momentum. And Hermione had enlarged the debris, increasing both their size and weight. That was bound to happen.

Before Justin could get up, an Expelliarmus hit him, ripping his wand out of his hand.

"JUSTIN OUT!" Harry declared just moments before Katie shrieked and aborted as snakes flew at her from Hermione's wand.

"STOP! KATIE OUT!" Harry declared, making Hermione and Neville lower their wands. Neville grinned while Hermione wiped the sweat off her brow.

Applause filled the hall as Dragon Legion members clapped hard for the six.

"Good," Harry praised. "Great job, Hermione and Neville. Despite being outnumbered, you held your own well, complimenting each other and working in tandem. Alicia, next time consider the strength of your defense before aiding a teammate. It was a good sentiment, but it cost everyone. In saving one, you sacrificed all four."

Alicia, who had gingerly gotten to her feet, nodded.

"Colin, see what you are up against before you react. Justin, really good job on strategy, even if it didn't work. It might've if you knew your spells. Protego Scutum isn't made to absorb physical momentum. Aegis Scutum would've been a better option, even if it requires more power to keep up. Research more about the spells you frequently use, especially shields. Each shield is different. And Katie, what the hell!?"

"I got scared! I have a major phobia of reptiles, okay?" She said exasperatedly.

Harry sighed loudly, but before he could say anything, a glowing white spectral dog ran into the room through the floor.

It opened its mouth and spoke in Sirius's voice. "Lichfield, Wells, and Little Whinging are under attack! Go to Little Whinging!"

"I will accompany—"

"No," Harry said, as his battle robe appeared over his body. "Stay here, Hermione. I will be back. Continue this class."

And without a sound, he apparated straight to the neighborhood he had spent most of his childhood in.

Notes:

AND… DONE!

Whoo… the war begins. Interesting, isn't it? Tell me in the reviews.

Now, to clarify a couple of points.

Grindelwald is taking on the international front while Voldemort is handling Britain for now. They are building a powerbase as you can see. Russia is on the verge of collapse, holding on due to their minister, Oblansk. The rest of the countries are untouched… So far anyway ;)

Now, you might be wondering why I am building a backstory of Grindelwald. The answer is rather simple. Villain development arc.

.

Now… for some announcements. I don't know if you've already seen it, but I have a NEW FIC!

It is a HP-MCU (Harry Potter – Avengers) crossover named, 'Guardian of the Soul: Infinity Saga'.

Summary of fic: His Benefactor? A super powerful cosmic being. His job? To guard a stone that controls an essential aspect of existence. His name? Harry James Potter. After Harry's demise at the hands of Voldemort, he gets a chance at a new life in a new universe. But there's always a catch. Will Harry save the world, or will he die trying… again?

Excited!?

So, if you read the premise, PLEASE go and try the new fic out. Just go to my profile and scroll to see my stories. You will find it there. The first chap's already up while the 2nd one is ready and will be published next week (on 29th of Jan).

I hope you go and try it. If you do, I promise you will enjoy it very much.

.

Thank you for your reviews and support!

.

Also, join my server, House of HP66, to interact with me directly, and see the pictures of the characters there, so you all can get an idea of how they look. I will also post descriptions and stuff for reference.

Link: discord . gg / 4qfP3fxdQ4 [Remove the spaces please]

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As of this moment, I have six main stories. They are:

1. The Rise of the Last Potter: My Novel length Harry Potter fic which is already 300k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly.

2. The Legend of the Son of Poseidon: A Novel Length Percy Jackson fic which is already 250k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly

3. Loved Ones Skipping Stones and Ice-cream: A fluffy Haphne one-shot. It is completed obviously.

4. SECRETS: Another romantic one-shot I published recently. Complete as well.

5. Agent Potter: The Wizard of W.A.N.D. - My spy!Harry fanfic which I implore you all to read!

6. Guardian of the Soul: Infinity Saga – My newest fic. An HP–MCU crossover. Novel length, in progress.

.

Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 71: Behind Closed Doors

Ch.70 Behind Closed Doors

3rd February 1996

Little Whinging, Surrey, England

Harry soundlessly appeared on the street of Privet Drive. The neighborhood he had spent his childhood in was in flames. Burning in the heat of an inferno.

The old Dursley residence was aflame, fiendfyre devouring it. Figg's house had already been reduced to ashes.

His eyes wandered ahead, spotting the spellfire. With a single thought, the world around him warped.

Appearing at the other end of the street, he spotted familiar faces battling figures clad in black robes and silver masks.

'Death Eaters.'

Power coursed through his veins. Fury burned through his chest.

He recognized Sirius and Remus, as they dueled three Death Eaters together. A distance away Fleur was going up against another.

With a twitch of his wand, a blasting curse shot forth. The Death Eater's shield shattered with a bang.

Fleur, unfazed, slashed her wand. The man's chest tore open. Blood splattered on the tarmac as the body fell.

Harry's eyes were drawn ahead as screams sounded. Another house went up in flames.

'Number nine. The Robinsons. Petunia never liked them.'

Fleur turned, her silvery blonde hair flying wildly. Her eyes roved over, latching into his.

But Harry didn't wait to catch her eyes. Curses rained down from his wand. The three Death Eaters battling Sirius and Remus were caught off guard in an instant.

The first crumpled to the ground, his head separated off his shoulders.

"Potter's here!" Someone in the distance shouted.

The second Death Eater was blasted across the street. He crashed straight into Number four.

'His last fiery grave.'

Without waiting, Sirius and Remus downed the third Death Eater with a piercing curse.

"Protect the civilians. Save lives. GO!" Harry ordered, strolling forward.

A group of Death Eaters had just come out of Number Eight. Their masks were off. Their expressions were contorted with fear.

Suddenly, the car parked in front of Number Eight rose in the air, shooting toward Harry.

Without breaking his stride, an eldritch purple spear shot forth from Harry's wand.

His aim struck true. The spear intercepted the incoming car, reducing it to smithereens.

Small bits of metal fell to the ground with miniature clangs. It was all that remained of the car.

"APPARATE AWAY!"

'Can't have that.'

Magic burned through Harry's veins. A terrible hiss escaped his lips as he jabbed his wand toward the sky.

An invisible dome stretched over Privet Drive, stopping the Death Eaters from aparating away.

'An anti-travel ward. Parselmagic and Salazar Slytherin at their finest.'

Two heart-wrenching screams echoed through the place. Three Death-Eaters fell to the ground. Dead with body parts missing.

'Worst case possible of splinching. Ouch.'

The Death Eaters glanced at their fallen companions before looking at Harry.

"RUN!"

Harry swung his wand upwards with a roar.

The fire from the burning houses rose, leaving the houses extinguished. The flames twisted haphazardly, high above the ground.

Harry poured more effort into controlling the flames. With a grunt, he turned his wand sharply.

The flames coalesced into a flaming, miniature sun right over Privet Drive.

Sweat began to drip down Harry's face. Drops splattered against the tarmac, wetting it briefly before the water dried.

The Death Eaters were all gathering and running to save their lives by now.

'Time to end this.'

With a slash of Harry's wand, the flames rushed toward the fleeing figures.

That was when the wheel of fate shifted to save them. Harry's wards collapsed with a ground-shaking bang.

A ball of black smoke flew through the sky before diving into the heart of the flames

'Voldemort.'

The flames Harry had so tediously controlled, vanished into nothingness. Only its heat and roar lingered.

The black smoke hovered near the ground before taking the form of the Dark Lord. The smoke lingered around him, slowly forming his dark robes which contrasted sharply with his albino white skin.

Voldemort's red eyes glinted murderously.

"Harry Potter," He hissed.

In response, Harry uprooted and banished two street lamps at him.

With a lazy flick of Voldemort's wand, the street lamps vanished.

"Not today, Harry, I am afraid." He said, taking a lazy glance around at the carnage. "I just came here to stop you from murdering my followers."

"Oh, you are already scared of me. Good." Harry replied as the pops sounded all around.

The Death Eaters had apparated away.

A thin lipless smile curled onto Voldemort's face. "Your taunts mean little to me, Harry."

In response, Harry slashed his wand. A bolt of lightning shot at Voldemort.

He just raised his wand, erecting a shield in response.

"Not today, Harry," Voldemort tsked before jabbing his wand at the sky.

An eerie green triangle with the dark mark in its center appeared in the sky.

'Their new symbol.'

With a swipe of his wand, a ball of glowing red light shot at Voldemort.

Voldemort just smiled before disappearing in smoke. Harry's spell flew through thin air and hit the tarmac.

With an ear-shattering boom, the road was torn apart.

"Coward!"

Harry's shout was met with silence.

Dust and smoke filled the atmosphere. The only sound that came was Harry's heavy breathing and the silent crumbling of Privet Drive.

A breeze blew across the street, clearing Harry's vision.

A soft hand grabbed Harry's shoulders, making him turn.

"He ran away, 'Arry," Fleur said softly. "There's nothing you can do about it."

Harry nodded and Fleur pulled him into a hug.

A strange emotion was welling in Harry's chess.

"I never loved it here," He breathed against Fleur's neck. "I even hated it here. But it feels—"

Harry was cut short as his attention was drawn back to his surroundings.

Sirens of the police cars were blaring, coming closer.

"Sirius, can you take care of the cops?" Harry asked, looking at his Godfather, who was standing a little distance away.

Sirius had a thin cut on his cheek and the lower part of his robes were muddy. Remus's hand hung limply at his side as he scrambled across the street to check on Emily Vance who had emerged with the Piers from his destroyed house.

Memories of Harry hunting swirled in Harry's mind.

"The muggle Aurors? Sure." Sirius huffed, wiping his face. "I think you should get back to the Headquarters. You too, Fleur."

"Come, 'Arry," Fleur said softly. "They might need help somewhere."

With a last mournful glance, Harry grabbed Fleur's arm and twisted, apparating straight to Grimmauld Place.

3rd February 1996

Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, London

Several battered, half-tired people sat within the group assembled at the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix.

Harry looked around the table to see the damage.

Remus had his arm in a sling. The left side of Hestia's face and her left arm was covered with a burn salve. Daedalus Diggle had his head wrapped in bandages. Arthur was wincing in pain at the slightest movement.

And not to mention, a handful of members were entirely absent.

Some, like Amelia, Scrimgeour, Kingsley, and Moody were running damage control across the attacked areas to uphold the Statute of Secrecy.

Another dozen, who had fought were being treated for their injuries by the healer crew in the Order of the Phoenix.

The ones present, who had actually fought the Death Eaters barely an hour ago, were covered in soot, mud, or blood.

All three in Nymphadora's case, who was wearing a sick smile on her face as the blood of Death Eaters covered her robes alongside mud and soot.

From what Harry had heard, she had slaughtered three of them at Lichfield, not even giving them the courtesy of a quick death. She had left them to bleed out, as their skins rotted, and burning pain shot through their body, immobilizing them.

Harry had recognized the curse from its description. The Black family at its finest. Or worst, depending on what way one saw it.

A gruesome curse. While not holding the sheer pain or the unstoppability of a Cruciatus Curse, it was still one of the worst curses to get hit with. Death was often guaranteed once you fell victim to the curse.

A slow, painful death.

The effects of Andromeda's death were clearly visible on her daughter as days passed. Tonks' hatred toward the Death Eaters was growing by the day and it seemed that she was finally getting her revenge.

'But her mental state is not right. The Tonks I knew would never be wearing a smile after killing three people. She needs to see a therapist. I will talk to Sirius about it.'

"I hope everyone is here," Dumbledore began in a dead tone. "Today was the first attack by Voldemort on Britain. This is the first of many. As we know, he hit Lichfield, Wells, and Little Whinging. In these attacks, we, unfortunately, lost Sturgis Podmore."

Silence reigned over the table.

'Another of our numbers down.'

"Sturgis was a brave man who died fighting for what he believed in. To Sturgis."

"To Sturgis," Harry chanted back almost mechanically.

'I don't even have a glass to raise in his memory.'

"Now, onto concerning matters. We need Obliviators in our numbers. At least a few." Dumbledore said gravely. "The Statute of Secrecy is vital to be maintained. I am ashamed of myself that I didn't spot this sooner, despite having done the same in the first war."

"Everyone in the ministry is running haywire trying to sort through this," Arthur said. "I yelled instructions from the floo, only a few minutes ago myself. The Obliviator and the magical reversal squads are on it."

"That is not going to cut it. We need more people," Harry said. "We need people to work on damage control. The Order cannot do everything. We need hands on deck from the ministry. At all times."

"Indeed."

"Take the employees from useless departments like sports and games, creature department, and education department and put them on the field to run damage control. They just need to know three spells. Obliviate, Aguamenti, and Reparo. Nothing more."

"They need to agree to do it," Arthur said.

"They damn will if they value their jobs then," Harry snapped. "We are not telling them to fight. We need to maintain the Statute of Secrecy. That's it. The Order cannot put their resources into two things and neither can the Auror and Hitwizard forces. We fight the Death Eaters. We prevent them from killing people. We protect innocents. But we cannot do everything."

"That is correct," Sirius said. "With Voldemort and Grindelwald in play, we need to protect the Statute of Secrecy. But the order cannot do it."

"That is a sound idea, I believe. Take members from other departments and put them on Obliviator duty and tell them to run damage control after attacks. This was a relatively small attack. If they attack multiple locations… populated locations like London—"

"The DMLE will be understaffed to handle such a fallout. But the ministry has enough force to run damage control if trained. Voldemort seldom did wide-scale attacks at muggle locations in the last war. Grindelwald has no such qualms. He will burn down London just for the sake of it. And if it happens, we can control the fire and push it back but we won't be capable of handling the fall of the Statute of Secrecy at the same time."

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair before nodding. "Take this message to Amelia and Alastor as soon as—"

Dumbledore stopped short as there was a frantic banging on the door of the kitchen.

Harry and Dumbledore shared a look before Harry wandlessly opened the door, making Amelia burst in.

"Dumbledore, you need to see this," She said, hurrying toward the headmaster without a preamble. "The Queen has summoned us tomorrow morning on an urgent basis. The muggle Prime Minister just dropped this off at my office."

"Why would the Queen summon you?" Harry blurted. "She is—"

"While the first point of contact to the muggle government has always been the Prime Minister, the Queen is the reigning authority in matters of muggle-wizard relations. I last met her in '81." Dumbledore said, looking through the papers Amelia had given him.

"While we do not strictly fall under the crown, we still are British citizens, meaning, she is still our Queen in a sense even if the wizarding world is outside her legislative and executive jurisdiction. But if she summons us, we still need to answer. It is complicated." Amelia clarified.

"We need to be ready tomorrow," Dumbledore declared. "Wear your best dress, Amelia. We are meeting the Queen. And don't, by any chance, carry anything more than your wand or be late. In fact, report to my office at nine."

"I can come with you," Harry piped up. "I am muggle-raised and—"

"No, Harry. You are not coming. Because she specifically has asked for Amelia and me. Also, if you come, that will look like intimidation. The Queen might not interfere with us but she keeps up with the affairs of the wizarding world as she does with her own. It is her duty. She knows who the most powerful wizards are. You and me together? That sends a message that if need be, we have enough force to squash anything that she throws at us."

"That's okay," Harry said with a grimace.

'We can't fight two wars. Especially one against muggles when Grindelwald is in action. He will make it a full-out war between muggles and wizards which will only end up in destruction. War always does.'

"I am adjourning the meeting right here as I need to get going," Dumbledore declared as he stood up. "Everyone, I suggest that you go to bed and rest. Heal. Because this is just the beginning. Things are only going to worsen from here."

At the grim nods, Dumbledore turned to Harry. "Harry, my boy, you should return to Hogwarts."

"Yes, yes. I will."

"And, do me a favor. Take my fifth-year morning class tomorrow. And if need be, the other fifth-year class after lunch. I do not know how long the meeting with the Queen will last."

"Of course, Professor."

"Excellent. Good night everyone."

And with a pop, Dumbledore disapparated.

Harry looked over to Nymphadora who stretched lazily with a smile on her face. "Good night people. I am going to sleep."

There was a sense of satisfaction in her voice that Harry couldn't shake. A satisfaction that was giving him the creeps.

Tonks had enjoyed killing Death Eaters.

"Sirius, we need to talk," Harry said. "Now."

---

4th February 1996

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Whispers once more followed Harry as he walked through the corridors of the castle.

The news of the attacks had gotten out alongside the news that he had faced Voldemort again.

As Harry was on his way to the DADA classroom, he found himself face to face with a fuming Angelina Johnson.

"Angelina. How may—"

"When were you going to fucking tell me that you cannot play Quidditch?"

"Excuse me?" Harry asked with bewilderment.

"As a teacher, you can no longer participate as my seeker," she hissed.

"That's unfortunate but I didn't know," Harry coughed. "I should've seen that coming."

"That's not the fucking point, Potter. I let you get away with not coming to most practices. I let you get off with many things because you perform flawlessly in matches. Now where the fuck am I going to find a seeker in the MIDDLE OF THE MOTHERFUCKING SEASON!?"

"I— I will help you find my replacement, Ang—"

"Don't bullshit me, Potter. You know fucking well that you cannot help us in the practices now that you are a teacher. Didn't you care about—"

"No, I really don't care about Quidditch, Angelina," Harry snapped back. "It didn't even cross my mind when I took the position. But there is nothing we can do. I say, go to McGonagall and try to get permission for me to play."

"No, she refused!"

"What do you want me to do then, Angelina? I have more important things to worry about than Quidditch, as much as I hate to say it."

"I need YOU to get me YOUR replacement!"

'That is exactly what I said not even a minute ago.'

"Ginerva Weasley. She is good on a broom. I will lend her my firebolt for the match to win. Take her to practice."

"You sure?"

"She's our best bet, I guess," Harry shrugged. "Good on a broom. Decent reflexes. Lithe and light, which is perfect for a seeker. Plus, with my Firebolt's speed, she has a good chance of catching the snitch."

"She is gonna go up against Cho Chang. She is as experienced as you are. Maybe more, seeing you don't practice these days beyond a couple of days before a match."

"She'll do just fine. Ravenclaw's not the problem. You, Alicia, and Katie will crush them or at least minimize the margin by which we might lose. You know what? Tell Fred and George to take Cho out early."

"You're talking of rough-housing her."

"A bludger to the back won't be pretty. I would've recommended the Wronski Feint—"

"Your favorite."

"Yes, my favorite. It would take Cho out of the game. She rides a Comet and has a bad habit of tailing the other seeker."

"That was you. You have an eye for the snitch that no one does."

Harry felt a smile bloom on his face. "Well, that's true."

"Don't get too cocky."

"Just take her out, you'll be fine. Put one of the twins on her tail during the match and begin training Ginny. Now, if you don't mind, I've got a class to teach in less than two minutes. That too, the fifth year." Harry said hurriedly as he glanced at his watch.

"I thought you were—"

"Filling in for Dumbledore. He's out for work. Now bye!" Harry yelled as he began to rush up the stairs to his class.

As soon as he was out of the line of sight, he apparated mid-step, straight to his office.

Taking a measured breath, Harry straightened his robes before looking at his watch.

'One minute to the bell. I would've been late had I not apparated.'

With a look around the room, Harry walked to Dumbledore's cabinet and summoned his class planner for the fifth year.

It was disappointingly empty.

'Not that I can complain. I haven't written anything in mine either. Guess I would've to just ask someone.'

The loud ringing of the bell made him jerk up. Shoving the file back in place, Harry locked the cabinet before hurrying into the class.

"Good morning everyone," He said, walking into the class, making the Hufflepuffs and Slytherins look up. "Before you all ask, Headmaster Dumbledore cannot teach today due to some important work."

"What work?" Malfoy asked loudly.

"You can ask the headmaster in your next class, Mr. Malfoy. Now can someone— yes, Malfoy?"

"You are not qualified to teach this class," He sneered. "This is not—"

"If you have got a problem with me, Mr. Malfoy, you can take it up with the Deputy Headmistress," Harry said briskly. "Now, can somebody tell me what Professor Dumbledore has covered in the past classes?"

"We finished the shield spell and today we were going to begin learning non-verbal casting, sir. And we had to hand in the homework of its theory today." Megan Jones promptly replied.

Harry saw her cheeks turn pink as she spoke just as a few muffled groans sounded at the last part.

"Well, then please hand the homework in the next class to the Headmaster himself. Now, non-verbal casting. I assume that everyone is aware of the theory of the topic as I assume you all have done your homework."

"Yes, professor," people chimed.

"Excellent. Then we can get right down to the practicals. Form pairs and face each other."

With a flick of Harry's wand, the desks disappeared, being transported to the adjacent room and students began to form pairs.

"Does everyone know how to cast a simple stunner?"

"We learned it in the third year, Potter," Malfoy ejaculated loudly, making Harry turn.

"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy. It was a rhetorical question." Harry scoffed. "Now, why don't you get into your pair and face your opponent."

Malfoy sneered in response.

"Also," Harry added, narrowing his eyes. "It is Professor Potter."

Malfoy didn't reply, choosing to face Nott, who looked disappointed in his choice.

"Now, the students standing to the left will try to cast a non-verbal stunner at their opponents while the opponent shields using the Protego shield. That way, you will have a practice of both. Now, as to how to get on with non-verbal casting. It is simple. You break the casting down. First, try to perform a spell properly. Wand movement, incantation, all of it. Then after a couple of tries, you eliminate the wand movement and point and cast it. Once you get that down, you must begin to soften your incantations. Finally, you completely forgo saying the incantations."

"Sir, some of us already know how to cast non-verbal spells," Daphne said. "So—"

"Then you should practice more, Miss Greengrass. Pair up with someone who knows non-verbal casting as well. Go to the side and have a mock duel using curriculum spells."

Harry stressed the word 'curriculum spells' because he was well aware of the fact that if Susan and Daphne dueled while going all out, he would need a much bigger space to conduct the duel. Not to mention, he would need to actively witness it like a dueling referee.

Both the girls had progressed to the point that Harry was sure that they would get into the Hit-wizard squad if combat was the only basis. Fleur would definitely get in if she wanted to.

Daphne gave him a dry glare before giving Susan a look.

In the Slytherins, Daphne was by far the most competent. Same for Susan in Hufflepuff even if Cedric came close.

"I think we might need a little more space here, Harry. Spells are going to fly." Susan whispered as she brushed against him.

"Okay folks, those who know non-verbal casting, go to the other side of the classroom. Those who don't, stay on this side so I can help you." Harry ordered as he waved his wand, expanding the classroom.

Half of the Hufflepuff house, along with Daphne and Blaise Zabini from Slytherin moved to the other side of the classroom.

Harry looked carefully at Zabini, the son of the infamous Black Widow. He was the only person who seemed to know non-verbal casting and was not a part of the Dragon Legion.

Sparring him a last glance, Harry turned to the remaining students. "Well, what are you gawking at them for? Pair up."

An hour and a half later, the bell rang, signaling the end of the double-period DADA class.

"Okay, everyone. Pack up. Before you go, I have homework for you. I want you to practice doing a few charms nonverbally. The summoning charm, banishing charm, levitation, and if possible, the shield charm. Professor Dumbledore will be testing you on it in his next class. Am I understood? Good. Class dismissed."

People began to move out of the door just as the classroom began to shrink, reverting to its original size. Susan and Daphne, alongside many others, bid him goodbye or gave him a smile on their way out.

As Harry turned to leave the classroom and go back to his office, a voice behind him rang out. "Potter, a word please."

Harry turned only to see Blaise Zabini standing behind him, his book bag slung over a shoulder. His wand was nowhere in sight.

Harry gave the boy a moment to start before clearing his throat. "Zabini. Did you have a doubt about the lesson?"

The boy raised an eyebrow before shaking his head. "I think we both know that is not the case. I have been doing spells non-verbally since the Christmas break. No, I wish to talk to you about something else."

Harry gave him a nod before walking to the door that connected his office to the classroom.

"Come through," Harry said, inviting the boy into his office and closing the door behind him.

As Zabini looked around, a glint of caution shining in his eyes, Harry calmly sat on the edge of his desk.

"How may I help you?"

Zabini flicked his wrist, bringing forward his wand.

"May I erect a privacy charm?" He asked, almost hurriedly as he watched Harry's fingers twitch.

Harry's eyes narrowed.

"You may," Harry replied and patiently watched the boy weave a few privacy spells, some rather advanced, over the room.

"I don't recognize the last spell," Harry said, as he watched the walls flash with a slight purple hue. Reaching out with his magic, Harry sought its intent.

'A ward-protection spell. Similar to the one I do in parseltongue but much weaker.'

"I would be greatly worried if you did," Zabini replied easily, putting his wand away, showing he was unarmed.

"It is a ward shield though. An extra armor so that enchantments cannot be dismantled easily. Overkill in such a case." Harry added, making Zabini give him a stink eye.

A moment later, he seemed to compose himself.

'Occlumency. Nothing I wouldn't have expected.'

"See, I have no quarrel with you or Dumbledore. I didn't interfere with you and we barely have shared a word in all our years at Hogwarts."

"Indeed. So, what do you want?"

"I don't. My mother does."

'His mother. Oh, Merlin.'

"I am not marrying her," Harry said instantly. "She—"

"She doesn't want to marry you, Potter," Zabini replied with an exaggerated roll of his eyes. "She isn't into young boys by her own admission, especially someone her son's age. And she won't risk doing anything to you of all people. You marry her and you die, my mother's going to end up kissed by dementors or lynched to death before she could say a word."

Harry hummed contemplatively for a moment, allowing the statement to linger.

"Then what does she want?"

"The thing you offered all the Slytherins in our common room."

The air grew cooler as Harry leaned forward. A part of him was itching to try Legilimency on the boy but he knew that it wasn't a viable option.

"How does your mother know of my offer?" He asked edgily.

There was no way the secrecy spell invented by Salazar was bypassed.

"She doesn't know about it. I got a letter from her this morning to contact you and ask you if you would be willing to have a meeting with her. You or Dumbledore either, I mean. She seeks the protection of House Zabini from the conflict that is going on. Namely, Grindelwald and Voldemort. That goes exactly hand in hand with the offer you made."

'Well, he seems genuine enough. His mother, though, is like the Lucius Malfoy of Italy. Too dangerous to be dealt with unless you have considerable leverage.'

"Well?" Blaise asked impatiently at the pause.

"Tell her to meet me this Sunday. Location of her choosing, but within Britain. Oh, and lunchtime."

The boy raised an eyebrow.

"You're leaving the location for us to decide?"

"Take it as an olive branch from my side. I am dictating the time you dictate the place. Also, despite whatever you think your mother can do, I can do more."

"I do not particularly think seduction might be your strong suit," Zabini said with a wry laugh. "But you don't need to worry about that."

Harry tutted. "Are you going to take it or—"

"I will," Zabini said with a nod. "And… Thank you for hearing her out. It is seldom that my mother will seek help instead of strong-arming someone to have a deal."

"You're welcome."

"Then I shall inform you of the place as soon as my mother reverts. See you around, Potter."

---

6th February 1996

Lestrange Manor, Britain

"You're late, Severus," a high, clear voice rang out from the head of the table.

The room was full of silent people, sitting at a long and ornate table. The room's usual furniture had been pushed carelessly up against the walls. Illumination came from a roaring fire beneath a handsome marble mantelpiece surmounted by a gilded mirror.

"My apologies, my Lord. Dumbledore held me up. I came as fast as I could." He breathed.

"Do not make this a habit, Severus," Voldemort hissed, leaning forward from the shadows. "I let you away with a lot. Your tardiness though is annoying."

"You are most generous, my Lord. And I assure you that it won't happen again."

"Make sure it doesn't. Now, find yourself a seat."

Snape hastily took the nearest seat, right beside Avery.

"Now, I need reports, Severus. What are Potter and Dumbledore up to?"

"My Lord, Potter claims to have made you flee from a fight with him."

"Our Lord chose not to engage after saving his men," Bellatrix hissed.

"His words, not mine, Bellatrix." Snape Drawled.

"My Lord—"

"No Bella," Lord Voldemort hissed firmly, his red eyes glaring at Bellatrix. "You are not allowed to go after the boy. He will kill you. Any of you. I have seen what the boy is capable of. He is mine and only mine. Severus, continue."

"Nothing more than that, my Lord. The Order plans to run interference in case of attacks, as usual. And as I am pained to say it, this time, they are in a much better position. They are preparing for attacks. Medical supplies are being hoarded. Dumbledore is thinking of recruiting internationally."

"Is he now?" Voldemort asked silkily, stroking his new wand.

Yew. Runespoor and Dragon Heartstrings. Thirteen inches.

It was as good as his old wand from Ollivanders had been. Perhaps slightly better, owing to the change of the core.

"Very well. Anything else I should be aware of, Severus?"

"Not that I am aware of, my Lord."

"Very well. When will the giants be ready, MacNair?"

Snape nearly rolled his eyes.

Walden MacNair's younger brother, Wilfred, wasn't nearly as capable as he thought he was. He didn't have the contacts his elder brother had, for one.

But that was good. Good for the Order of the Phoenix. MacNair's incompetence had prevented the giants from being brought to Britain thus far.

And with Lucius and Nott gone, neither did the Death Eaters have enough capital to make things flow in the black-market channels.

"Decently, my Lord. They should be in Britain by the end of this month. The first week of March at the latest in case of delays."

But that won't be the case for long, it seemed.

"I do not like delays, Wilfred." The Dark Lord hissed.

"I apologize, my Lord. But there is little I can do. With Lucius gone—"

"No excuses! Do whatever it takes! I want the giants here by the end of this month."

"I will try my best, my Lord."

"Indeed. Now, Yaxley, have you found any willing benefactors for our cause? Or do I need to rely on Grindelwald for funding?" The Dark Lord hissed.

"No— no, of course not, my Lord. I have found a few willing benefactors. The Rosier Family, or what remains of it is willing to fund us. Even old Jugson is prepared to do anything for our cause after the death of his family. Lord Carrow, on the other hand, has a few demands or so he says."

"Then negotiate. We need funds, Yaxley. Use whatever means necessary. Our most willing benefactors are dead, and their accounts were frozen by the ministry."

"Your wish is my command, my Lord."

"It is my command, Yaxley," Voldemort sneered. "See that you fulfill my command."

"Of course, my Lord."

"Dolohov. What luck do you have with recruitment?"

"I have a total of twenty-three wizards and witches ready to join our cause. That is all I could manage in the past month."

"Only twenty-three?" Voldemort hissed.

"People are more scared of Potter and Dumbledore as compared to you, My Lord. Especially after so many of ours were executed after the ministry attack. They do not believe that—"

"That I am still powerful enough as I was. My name doesn't carry the same weight that it used to. They rely on their saviors to save them." Voldemort said softly, his red eyes glinting murderously in the darkness of the room. "And we must remind them. Remind them of the power of Lord Voldemort!"

"Where shall we attack, my Lord?" Bellatrix's excited voice echoed through the room, sending a shiver down Snape's spine.

Dumbledore would need to hear about this.

---

11th February 1996

Guerriero Di Lupo Restaurant, London

Harry subconsciously fiddled with his bow tie and tux as he looked at the restaurant in front of him.

He was here to meet Anastasia Zabini, The Contessa of Sicily, and arguably the most powerful woman in magical Italy, as far as the political arena was concerned.

She was much like the Lucius Malfoy of Italy minus the Death Eater part. Politically influential and having contacts that money couldn't possibly buy.

But that was not to say that she was clean.

Oh no, that would be a gross underestimation of a woman.

She had gone through eight husbands in the past decade. Eight.

Out of them, seven had died in mysterious circumstances. Most, including Harry, suspected that Anastasia Zabini herself had murdered them to gain their fortunes. But not a shred of proof had ever been found against her.

Blaise's father had died in 1982, succumbing to a long-standing blood curse in the Zabini family line. After his death, Anastasia had all but vanished from the surface of the earth for a year and a half. That was until the fateful convention of the Italian Parliament in 1984. The day she took the Zabini seat, as the Contessa of Sicily.

After that, there had been no looking back for the woman. She had proceeded to dominate the parliament and gain an ear to the Minister of Italy within a scant few weeks. And then, she had married man after man, all of whom suffered unexplainable fates, leaving Anastasia their fortune.

Not over-the-top alone but eight such fortunes? Now that was something.

Anatasia Zabini was rich enough to make most pure-blood families look like paupers in front of her wealth. Even the Black fortune didn't come close to the sheer money she had.

Anatasia Zabini, as much as Harry hated to admit it, was a consummate Slytherin. A person whom even Salazar Slytherin respected for her Slytheriness.

The fact that she had single-handedly quadrupled the Zabini fortune in the past decade, despite the extravagant lifestyle she lived, and the bribes, funding and whatnot were a testament to her sheer skills as far as politics and finance were concerned.

Had it been anyone else, Harry was sure they would've been put under investigation or worse, been jailed. But not a single finger had been ever raised against Anastasia Zabini. On paper, the woman was as clean as she could be.

And she had asked for a talk with him, having come all the way from Sicily to meet him.

That was not to mention the place of the meeting. She had invited Harry to have lunch in a muggle restaurant in London of all places.

A Michelin Star Italian Restaurant.

'Vernon would go bonkers if he was invited here.' Harry mused as he walked toward the door with a last glance at the Silver-Black Rolls Royce parked right outside the place.

The doorman bowed and pulled the door open for Harry to enter.

"Mr. Potter," A smooth cultured voice greeted as soon as he stepped foot into the place. "Miss Zabini is waiting for you. This way please."

Harry's eyes lingered for a moment on the suit-clad man before roving around the rather posh, yet empty restaurant.

Only a single customer was sitting at a table in the center of the place.

A beautiful lady, dressed in an expensive black gown with a heavy diamond necklace adorning her neck.

'Anastasia Zabini. Contessa of Sicily.'

The necklace glittered as she rose to her feet seeing him approach.

"Lady Zabini," Harry said with a smile as she extended her hand, making Harry kiss the air above her knuckles. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Lord Potter," She smiled, a hint of her pearly white teeth glinting in the light of the place. "And the pleasure is all mine. You are a celebrity amongst us."

Her voice sent goosebumps pricking down Harry's neck before Harry smothered it, giving a slight laugh in response.

"You know, I was quite surprised when I got to know of this destination," Harry commented as he took a seat at the table across from her.

"Oh, I own this place," She said nonchalantly as she gestured to someone behind Harry.

Harry's hand went to his wand as he turned to see who it was. A moment later, he relaxed as he saw muggle waiters hurrying in their direction, carrying the starters and other foodstuffs.

'Rich to the point of insanity. A restaurant like this, especially in the heart of London won't come cheap.' Harry mused as he waited for the waiters to serve the food.

"Thank you," Harry told the man as everything was served. The man smiled and backed away from the table before rapidly disappearing from sight.

"I hope the place and choice of cuisine are to your liking, Lord Potter."

"Let it be known that you are an excellent hostess, Lady Zabini," Harry said, raising a glass to her. "Now, how may I help you?"

"Straight to the point, I see," She said, almost disappointedly. "Very well. I am here to make you an offer you can't refuse."

"An offer. Most interesting. What do you have in mind?"

"House Zabini seeks your protection from the two dark lords who are currently at large," She said amiably before taking a bite of the salad-type dish that had been served.

"I know of it. Blaise told me as much. But why?"

She frowned. "Why do you mean why? Isn't it obvious?"

"Ma'am, please don't think that I do not know of the power your family has. You have wealth, influence, connections, and power. You are the Contessa of Sicily. You have the Auror force of Italy at your beck and call."

Anatasia scoffed in an unladylike manner. "Do you think that any Auror could hold their own against Grindelwald?"

"A small force could stall him long enough for you to escape to safety in one of your villas or castles." Harry reasoned dismissively.

"That isn't going to work. If it would, I would've already done it. No measure is safe enough against men like them. Gods amongst men. To face them… you need another like them. Someone powerful enough to lay waste to armies. Like you or Dumbledore."

"And?" Harry drawled.

"I want you to come and protect me if the Death Eaters or the Knights ever attack my home. Also, added protection in the form of wards or anything else you might see fit."

"So, if Death Eaters attack, you expect me to come running—"

"And protect me and my son, yes. Also, I require you to extend your protection to him at Hogwarts. The boy is in Slytherin. I do not want him harmed."

"That is quite an ask. You essentially want me to be your son's bodyguard."

"Not a bodyguard, but extend your protection to him if needed. I am not sure how safe my son is at Hogwarts. But he is stubborn and wishes to continue there." She explained.

"And might I ask, what is in it for me?"

"Anything you ask." She said, leaning forward. "Money, information, houses, contacts— you name it. I am a woman of great resources, Mr. Potter. Resources that could topple governments. Information that could bring ruin to the most influential families. As a small gesture, let me start now."

She brought her small handbag out and parted the pearl handles before removing a scroll.

Harry's eyebrows rose as he took the proffered scroll and unfurled it.

"These are Gringotts' vault transfer papers. A money vault, number one thousand two fifty of the Diagon Alley branch. Whose latest audited value, which was done yesterday is—"

"A quarter million Galleons," She replied with a smile. "That is a small funding for the Order of the Phoenix. And this is just the beginning. Agree to my terms and you have the full support of Anastasia Zabini, that is me, behind you."

"That is quite a lucrative deal," Harry said, as he kept the parchment back on the table and picked up his cutlery.

"Your point is?"

"What you are offering seems too good to be true to me. And such things tend to make me suspicious. You are offering me anything and everything I want, in exchange for protection for you and your son. Something you can arrange for yourself if you really want."

"It is not going to be enough if they come for me," She practically hissed. "With Grindelwald's inclusion in all of this, things have changed drastically. I wouldn't be sitting here if just Tom Riddle was my problem."

Harry's head snapped up at that.

She knew Voldemort's real name.

"Oh yes. I know his name. It isn't hard to find if you know where to look. Especially since Dumbledore tried to have it published twice and failed due to the unexpected assassinations of the editor of the papers. Tom Riddle is someone who won't go against me unless I do something to him. He never expanded his reach past Magical Britannia. It is Grindelwald who is the real threat to me."

"He killed much of your family in the war. I know." Harry conceded.

"Much?" She scoffed. "He is the one practically responsible for Blaise and me being the last of the Zabinis. If Blaise and I die, it will be the end of the Zabini name. Please, Mr. Potter. I come to you, not as the Contessa of Sicily, but as a mother."

The word seemed to reverberate through the room.

"I understand," Harry said, making her smile sadly.

"Then I think we both will be mutually beneficial to one another. You do your best to protect me and I throw my full support behind you, given, of course, it is reasonable."

"You have got yourself a deal then, I suppose. I will send you the portkeys and the emergency beacon. Add me to your wards, won't you?"

She nodded before looking up sharply. "Speaking of wards, I also wish for you and Dumbledore to ward my houses— at least two of our primary residences to the best of your capacity. One is here in Britain and the other is the Zabini castle in Italy. No need to do the rest."

"Excuse me?"

"Wards, Mr. Potter. To protect where we stay. And we will stay indoors as much as possible. The wards just need to be powerful enough to give you time to reach me and—"

"Respectfully, you've enough money to get the world's best warding team to do your warding," Harry said. "Why do you want me to do this stuff?"

"That's already done," she waved dismissively. "I took Europe's best warding team and gave them the job about eight months ago. In fact, I hired them as soon as Dumbledore gave his statement in front of the Confederation. I knew what was coming."

"That's good to hear," Harry vocalized.

"But with Grindelwald's inclusion, as I said, I feel highly unsafe. Grindelwald is the one responsible for Blaise and me being the last of the Zabini family. You must understand the gravity of the situation the Zabini family is in. No sort of protection is enough against him. You need to ward my properties. I know you and Dumbledore both are masters of warding."

"Alright," Harry said after a moment of consideration. "Then I will look over your wards and add anything I might see fit. I will protect Blaise and you against the Death Eaters when necessary. Is that all?"

"For the wards, I don't only want you to look over them. I want you to add Parselmagic wards over our property alongside the Fidelius charm."

"Excuse me?"

"The warding on the box in the Triwizard tournament. It had wards in a language that the best of curse breakers couldn't crack it for hours. A warding which you did in less than ten minutes. And you are a known Parselmouth. Also, you demonstrated a Fidelius charm for your OWLs. I know that you can do it. I am asking you for the best protection there is."

Harry's eye twitched.

She was playing now. Negotiating. Something he didn't like.

"And you are going to give everything as promised. Contacts. Money. Anything I ask for."

"I have conditions on them." She added almost hesitantly, making Harry narrow his eyes further.

"Those conditions better be reasonable or the complete offer is off the table. And I will do the favor of pointing Grindelwald in your direction. You don't play politics with me."

Harry made a wind blow through the restaurant, as the lights flickered overhead.

"I know, I know. Just— see, I don't want Blaise or myself being dragged into the field. I won't raise my wand unless it is in self-protection."

"Done." Harry waved off.

"This offer ends from both sides once Grindelwald and Voldemort die or are captured."

"Obviously."

"The sums of money, beyond what I've given you right now, would need reasoning. A reasonable need. I won't allow you to mooch off my fortune for yourself. I am giving this money to act against Grindelwald and Voldemort."

"I need amends on that one. First, I will not share any plan I have with you. You won't be getting secrets from my side that way."

"I would at least need a vague reason or hint as to why you need the money. I am open to swearing a secrecy oath if it cannot be done without it. Also, do not pretend that you cannot fund it yourself. The Potter and Black fortune together are much more than mine." She scoffed.

"Indeed. We will come back to that when needed."

"Okay. Also, if I get something done for you… something not exactly legal, you do not ask me how I did it."

Harry raised his eyebrows before nodding in assent.

"Fair enough."

"That's all then. Do you have anything to ask of me?"

"Do you have any information right now about the other side?" Harry enquired, taking the last bite of his starter.

"Not much. But I can give you some things that governments around the world have hidden in the past few weeks. And I do have some heavy inner information on it."

"Really?"

"Yes. And we have three more courses to go." She said with a grin, as she clinked her wine glass twice with her knife, making three waiters hurry toward the table.

Harry was in for a long talk. And just maybe, he had made a very beneficial deal for himself.

Notes:

AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!

A huge thanks to Mughil and Ultimate Gamer for betaing the chapter.

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That's all! Thank you for your reviews!

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Also, join my server, House of HP66, to interact with me directly, and see the pictures of the characters there, so you all can get an idea of how they look. I will also post descriptions and stuff for reference.

Link: discord . gg / 4qfP3fxdQ4 [Remove the spaces please]

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As of this moment, I have six main stories. They are:

1. The Rise of the Last Potter: My Novel length Harry Potter fic which is already 300k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly.

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3. Loved Ones Skipping Stones and Ice-cream: A fluffy Haphne one-shot. It is completed obviously.

4. SECRETS: Another romantic one-shot I published recently. Complete as well.

5. Agent Potter: The Wizard of W.A.N.D. - My spy!Harry fanfic which I implore you all to read!

6. Guardian of the Soul: Infinity Saga – My newest fic. An HP–MCU crossover. Novel length, in progress.

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Chapter 72: The Calm Before the Storm

Ch.71 The Calm Before the Storm

16th February 1996

Room of Requirements, Hogwarts

"Harry, can I have a moment of your time?" Hermione's sharp voice cut through Harry's concentration, like a hot knife through butter.

Pulling his quill away from the parchment, Harry looked up to see his friend, who was standing in front of him with a huge scroll in her arms, making Harry blink.

"You've been working on something?" Harry asked, tilting his head. "Or is it just OWLs stress? Because if it is, I hate to tell you that you will get an EE in all subjects without even studying."

Hermione's bushy hair looked like it had seen better days. There were slight dark circles under her eyes which looked slightly bloodshot.

"I've been working on something," she said briskly, as she waved her wand, making the books on his table levitate away, stacking them neatly on a chair to the side.

"Hey," Harry said indignantly. "I am working on something."

"Alchemy. I saw." She said with a slight smirk as her eyes darted to the parchment Harry was writing on.

Harry frowned. "There is no way you can understand what I've written. Not to brag but this is advanced alchemy and a single page of what I am doing."

"I don't understand it. Not all of it." She said, leaning over to read the parchment. "But I can tell that you're working on Alchemy. It is the only thing that uses potion ingredients, runes, arithmancy, and charms as one to work."

Silence reigned for a tick, as Harry stared at Hermione.

"I also saw the book title," She added, making Harry snort. "But I bet I can deduce something out of what you were writing."

"Be my guest," Harry said, as he pushed his chair back, allowing Hermione to walk around the table to look at the parchment Harry had been working on.

Leaning closer, she frowned at the parchment, her eyes darting over everything Harry had written.

"I can read most of the runes," she muttered, trailing her finger over the runic cluster Harry had roughly drawn. "This is the arithmetic breakdown for the episkey charm if I am not wrong. And I can see that you've written down the properties of moonfern— or it could be dittany?"

"Dittany," Harry confirmed with a smile.

"Okay. Then this is something related to healing. I cannot tell what you're aiming to do. I would need to read your whole work for that. But I reckon you're trying to create a powerful healing elixir."

"Recreating the Elixir of Life," Harry corrected, making Hermione quirk an eyebrow.

"The Philosopher's Stone? I didn't know it had healing properties." Hermione blinked.

"I am not creating the stone— Just the elixir." Harry corrected, running a hand through his hair. "My hypothesis was that it was a healing elixir powerful enough to cure any and all ailments of the body, preventing a natural death."

"Any luck?"

"Not a single bit," Harry sighed mournfully.

He had tried it all but he was hitting a block when it came to handling more than five problems at a time.

Alchemy was tricky like that.

"You'll figure it out," Hermione said, poking his arm. "Now— I wanted to show you this. Wanted a second opinion on it."

"Yes?"

Hermione spread the huge role of parchment in her hand over Harry's desk in response, making him blink at its sheer size.

"Where did you even find such a big piece of parchment?" Harry muttered as he stood up to get a better look at the huge size of parchment she had worked upon.

The huge space was neatly divided into two segments, one filled with arithmetic formulas, written in Hermione's tiny, neat handwriting while the other half had geometric shapes with runes placed upon them, creating immaculate runic clusters.

"That's quite some work," Harry said, looking over his shoulder at Hermione who shrugged in response.

"Took me two weeks to get this done. It is something to help protect Hogwarts. I need you to check if I've gotten everything right. Or— give suggestions if any."

Harry nodded briskly as he turned back to the huge parchment in order to do what Hermione had asked of him.

The feathers of his quill trailed down the arithmetic formulas while his eyes darted to check the runes she had drawn.

As he read more of it, his eyes widened and his breath hitched in his throat. "Hermione—"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you the purpose. These are my runic designs to animate huge stone statues," she breathed, excitement coloring her tone. "Permanently. Of course, you should've already figured that out though. You know, with you being Harry Potter and all."

Hermione's giggle seemed like music to his ears as relief spread through Harry's chest, his doubts proving to be unfounded.

"Oh, of course." Harry realized a moment later that relief in his voice was evident, as he saw Hermione frown.

"You thought of this to be something else," she stated, narrowing her eyes. "What did you think this was?"

"Um—" Harry said as he contemplated his options.

"Well?" Hermione demanded, her fingers drumming on his table as she leaned to look right in his eyes.

"The runic designs you've made are also used as a part of something else," Harry sighed, finding no reason to lie to Hermione. "An Inferi creation ritual to be precise. To create what many call to be true Inferi."

Hermione took a step back, her eyes going wide in horror. "Blimey. I never knew that Necromancy used runes," She breathed before frowning again. "And— Inferi creation is a spell, as far as I know from reading about them. Of course, the spell wasn't given but it was clearly stated that it was a spell."

"It is," Harry replied, his jaw twitching. "Mortui Resurgant Voco Inferi."

"What?" Hermione asked incredulously.

Harry grinned.

"The spell, Hermione. Mortui Resurgant Voco Inferi. It is a spell that most who create Inferi use. But they're not Inferi. Not truly. More like animated dead bodies bidding to a command. Think animation charm on a dead body instead of an object— with added viciousness. But they just follow the command of the wizard or witch who performed the spell. Once the spell ends, it is game over for an Inferi."

"And– And what are these true Inferi then?" Hermione prodded.

"They're creatures of magic. Sentient like animals but with one single purpose that they're programmed for. They are alive and don't need constant commands from their creator. There's a reason why it is called necromancy. Giving life to something long dead."

"Oh."

"Also, the true Inferi are more resilient to magic than the ones created by the spell. Vicious. Harder to kill even. And their bite is poisonous. Abominations created by magic, really."

"And I was halfway doing that?" She asked, her voice sounding aghast.

"Not really. There are some elements to it but it is different, as you said. You are enchanting an object by runes. Of course, while you can use a simple animation charm to do your bidding— Transfiguration and charms at their finest, really. But with runes—"

"I am trying to make them stronger. Invulnerable as possible and—" her breath hitched. "Semi-sentient with the purpose to protect."

Hermione's jaw twitched as she gazed mournfully at the piece of parchment on the table.

"I shouldn't go ahead with this idea, should I?"

"Of course, you should. Just because it is similar to something doesn't mean it is the same, does it? This seems like a rather good project."

"I was thinking of making some of these for Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. For, you know? Additional protection in case the Death Eaters attack here."

Harry smiled, not having the heart to tell her that each and every suit of armor in the castle was designed to do just that in case Hogwarts was ever attacked. A single command phrase would activate them, known only to the headmaster and their deputy. Of course, Helga and Salazar had given it to Harry as well, should he ever need it.

But it was not a bad call to do so with what was happening all over the world.

A part of Harry really despised the fact that Gellert Grindelwald of all people had joined Voldemort's movement. The man was proving to be a headache of epic proportions to not only him but the whole world.

After burning Myshkin, Grindelwald had not stopped, proceeding to burn a lot more places around Russia. The only relief for now was that Grindelwald was sticking to muggle regions for now, which was not much to say. People were still being killed daily under his orders.

Over the past week, three more villages of muggle Russia had been attacked. One had suffered the fate of Myshkin while the other two muggle towns had been raided by his knights causing a great loss of life.

Salazar reckoned that Russia would fall before February was out and Harry was inclined to agree with him. Already protests supporting Grindelwald and opposing the government had begun in parts of Russia.

How people could support someone like Grindelwald was beyond Harry. But then again, Dark Lords always had supporters.

"You should really try to do it," Harry said, breaking out of his thoughts. "How do you plan on carving the runes?"

"The same way we normally do it?" Hermione frowned. "The carving charm."

Harry shook his head. "If you really want the enchanting to be effective, the carving has to be done with special tools. There is a reason why premium enchanted items are so expensive and long-lasting, unlike simple items with charms and such."

"You mean to say that I would've to carve every rune by hand?"

"Well, if you want it to be as effective as I think, yes. Especially if you want to use it for protection because runes drawn with a carving charm have a vital flaw—"

"They can be erased with a simple repairing charm if it is done wrong," Hermione said mechanically, as her eyes drifted over the paper. "And anybody can render the carving ineffective with one single spell. So it has to be done with an enchanted tool that will…"

Hermione trailed off while Harry just nodded in response as he joined his fingertips and stared at her imploringly.

"There's gotta be like a hundred runes here," She whispered. "And to do them by hand is going to be a pain. Ughh."

"Well, you might not have to do it by hand. You just have to use a tool instead of a carving charm." Harry prompted with an amused smile, making her head snap up.

"What?"

"Instead of a carving charm to carve runes directly, you use a carefully controlled levitation charm on the carving tool and carve the rock as you wish. Of course, it requires practice and not to mention, control and precision, but it can be done." Harry said slowly, his amusement increasing as he saw the look on Hermione's face.

"You mean to say that it will make a little difference if I carve it by hand or by the levitation charm on the tool." She huffed.

"No, it will. You just need practice," Harry snickered. "With enough practice, it will be a piece of cake. You need to try, Hermione. I am sure the brightest witch of our age can get it down before she is like— hmm, one-tenth way through these designs."

Harry's smile widened at Hermione's narrowed eyes, looking at him suspiciously.

"You know how to do it, don't you?" She asked rhetorically.

"I am Harry Potter," Harry shrugged. "Now, I will lend you my rune-carving kit. Careful, I just have one and it is expensive even by my standards. Dobby!"

A pop sounded a fraction of a second later, announcing Dobby's arrival.

"Can you please get me my Rune-carving kit, Dobby? It will be on my table."

"Yes, Master Harry Potter sir," he replied, eagerly nodding his head before popping away.

"You say it is expensive," Hermione said slowly. "How expensive are we talking about?"

Dobby popped in again, with a wooden box in his hand, and handed it to Harry.

"You might want to see yourself," Harry said, opening the case and presenting it to Hermione.

Resting atop soft, crimson velvet, a dozen carving tools displayed their gleaming edges, casting a brilliant shine upon the golden and silver metals of the tools. Harry heard Hermione's breath hitch.

"Is that—"

"Pure gold and platinum tools. Diamond cut edges with real diamond dust. It will cut through rock like melted butter."

Hermione continued to stare at the case in her hand dumbfounded.

"So, don't lose any one of those," Harry added after a moment of stunned silence.

"Is this—" Hermione trailed off, not taking her eyes off the toolset. "The most expensive type of rune carving set out there?"

Harry snorted. "It doesn't even come close. The most expensive ones— the ones that the world's costliest enchanters use are tools made of pure mithril and enchanted to the teeth, so to speak. In comparison, this is just a standard kit."

"Do you have those—"

"Of course not," Harry scoffed. "That mithril set? It costs thrice as much as a Firebolt for one single tool. It is mithril, after all. But the enchanting it does? It stays as it was the day it was crafted. Forever. It is used to create the most powerful magical objects and tether wards that are meant to last for generations."

"Understandable," Hermione muttered. "So, these runic circles. Are they— okay to go?"

Harry hummed in response as he ran his eyes over the extensive diagram.

"The one for strength is perfect. Unbreakability and durability are— right as well. Good job. The animation runes, tricky. Which animal is this for, again?"

"Any animal I make out of rocks?" Hermione asked.

"Not really. For instance, if you give it the shape of a— say, dinosaur, it will work differently than a rhino, whose horn will be a lethal weapon of attack. The one you've written goes for running around mostly. The more intricate details are lacking."

"Oh," she sighed softly. "So what will this work for?"

"Something shaped like a horse? Depends on the size too. A centaur-shaped one though, would have the possibility of much more added functionality if you make that. Like, holding a weapon."

"Of course. So, should I make a human-like structure?"

"No. Use stuff with more bulk like elephants or rhinos," Harry advised thoughtfully. "Instead of programming them to attack, they can be used as sacrifices to take spell fire from the enemy. Or better yet, just use the runes to make it stronger and, if possible, heavier. Then, anyone can animate them as and when needed. It is certainly less work than what you're planning to do."

"That's, I guess, more practical," Hermione frowned. "I will try to make some like you asked."

"Indeed. I will check these designs properly. Make the horses, designed to intercept spell fire and enchant the other stone statues with added protection. Those will be animated to attack or defend, as and when needed."

"Right," Hermione nodded. "So, this is right for the horses though, isn't it?"

"I just started it, Hermione," Harry shook his head. "Give me an hour to check over it."

---

18th February 1996

Number 12 Grimmauld Place, London

A hush spread over the table as Dumbledore stood at the head of the table silently, allowing the members of the Order to process what he had just said.

"Are you sure, Albus?" Flitwick squeaked. "Oblansk was one of the staunchest opposers of the Grindelwald ideology amongst— everyone. Why would he— why would he withdraw his support against them?"

"It is possible that someone is impersonating him," Sirius suggested. "Or he's under the Imperius."

Dumbledore nodded his head. "Minister Oblansk, as far as I know, worked as the head of Russia's foreign affairs before he ascended to the post of the Minister of Magic. It is improbable that he would pull such an act, after vocally opposing Gellert."

"Plus, he has not made any public appearances in recent days," Harry added. "The effects of an Imperious would've been caught by anyone close to Oblansk or a competent Hit-wizard if he had. This gives credence to the theory."

"Indeed," Dumbledore nodded. "Though, polyjuice is out of the question. The missive sent to the ICW was sealed with his signature and seal, as they ought to be. Magical signatures, as we know, are impossible to forge. And I checked the magical seal and signature myself. They're legitimate."

"He could also be threatened," Moody growled. "His family was attacked a few weeks ago, wasn't it? It is possible that Grindelwald is holding one of his family members hostage. Or all of it."

A wave of murmurs rushed through the room as people nodded in assent.

"That is beside the point right now," Harry declared. "We can assume that magical Russia has effectively fallen to Grindelwald. All the resources Russia had are now Grindelwald's and by extension, Voldemort's."

"That includes the Auror force, Russia's treasury, its votes, and not to mention, the criminals Russia had," Augusta Longbottom said, looking grimly over the top of her glasses. "And the ICW won't move a muscle as there is no concrete evidence that Russia has been taken over by a foreign power."

"I cannot even order an investigation into the matter as there has been no technical change in the government. It is still Oblansk's administration and all we have are theories." Dumbledore sighed, looking every day of his age. "And, Russia has also closed its borders off. It will be in the papers in a couple of days."

"Russia was never a clean house," Fleur said, running a thumb over the edge of the table and flicking imaginary dust off. "It was bound to fall sooner or later."

"With the pureblood supremacy rampant in the country, I wouldn't expect anything less," Bill scowled.

"What worries me are the criminals. The resources and money we can manage against. But the criminals in Russia? Those are hardened bastards. Gang wars are not uncommon there. And Oblansk had put three of the biggest gangs behind bars during his tenure."

"And now they're all out there," Scamander muttered darkly. "They've heavy numbers, professor. At least, Grindelwald does."

"So does the Dark Lord now," Snape drawled, his sharp voice holding an unusual edge to it. "The Dark Lord has recalled Greyback to his ranks."

Every single person in the room sat up straighter at that statement, their eyes now alert and fearful.

The tension and wariness in the air seemed to increase, if that had been possible.

Fenrir Greyback was the most notorious and savage werewolf to have ever walked on the planet. He was a wanted man in every single magical country in Europe, dead or alive. He had turned countless wizards into werewolves over the past three decades, including Remus Lupin.

He was a savage beast of a man, who had made it his mission to turn as many people into werewolves as he could.

And those he targeted were usually children, something Harry actively despised about the werewolf. Remus had been one of those targets. Greyback had turned him when he was five-years old.

He was the monster, mothers told their children to get them to sleep.

"When are they expected?" Amelia asked through gritted teeth as her knuckles turned white from clenching her goblet.

"Within a fortnight," Snape informed, his dark eyes glinting. "So are the giants. Wilfred Macnair has been tasked to bring the giants to Britain, as I mentioned in the last meeting. And Fenrir Greyback is on his way— from wherever the mutt is."

"I will keep my Aurors on alert," Amelia said. "Moody, I want a squadron of your best on them."

Moody just grunted in response, his magical eye spinning in its socket.

Alastor Moody was undoubtedly proving that he was the man for the job as the new head of the DMLE. Since he had taken up the post, the record of the Auror and Hitwizard force had gone up.

Rumor was that he was mercilessly beating the Aurors and Hitwizard squads back into shape to the point that he was the most hated person in the ministry right now.

But there was no doubt the man had been effective. The crime so far, had remained down despite Voldemort's return.

The Aurors had even raided Knockturn Alley twice in the past couple of months, catching a sizable amount of crooks and illegal dealers who had failed to escape in time.

They still didn't have anything on the Death Eaters but Moody was, as usual, remaining vigilant.

He had introduced 24/7 Auror presence over all places that might be attacked alongside patrols and other security measures. For instance, a vast majority of the ministry entrances had also been sealed under Moody's orders. Only the highest officials, like Amelia and himself, were allowed to floo in. The rest had to use the main entrance where they were screened before being allowed to enter.

But it was not only Moody who was remaining vigilant, it seemed.

Everyone, by now, was on edge.

Gringotts had lines that people had to wait in for as long as five hours or so Bill had said. The already extensive security of Gringotts, had been increased. Now, every single person was being thoroughly screened before being let into the bank.

Even smaller establishments like the Daily Prophet were running routine checks on their employees.

"Shuffle the lookout schedule for all places as well," Harry said on a whim. "A thorough shuffle. Plus, prepare safe-houses for the Order in case anyone needs to go into hiding or we need to help someone."

"I get the safe house factor," Arthur said slowly. "But why the shuffle, Harry?"

Harry shrugged. "It is a security measure. So no one is bought out easily."

"You think we can be bought?" Scrimgeour scoffed.

"If not bought, you can be persuaded. By means that you would not like." Harry said, leveling Scrimgeour with a look, who remained silent.

"The safe houses. What do we do about that? We are not funded exactly."

"I have two," Moody grunted, lightly tapping his staff on the ground. "And you— Bones, Potter, Black, Greengrass, and Longbottom shouldn't have a lack of houses, I guess."

Lord Greengrass nodded. "I have a home in Southampton which has been unused for years. There's one in Bristol as well, but it will need work. A lot of work."

"I offer you the Longbottom retreat in Preston. It is ready to use as a safe house." Augusta said, drawing herself higher.

"I don't have access to the properties of House Potter yet," Harry said apologetically, making Lord Greengrass and Augusta Longbottom frown.

"Why is that? You're Lord Potter."

"I will have access to the properties once I am seventeen, apparently. Or so Gringotts tells me. I have a list of the properties and everything. But I am unable to access those, unfortunately." Harry moaned. "But the Blacks have a small house in Derby. Sirius and I can offer that as yet another safe house."

"Should we really risk that?" Molly Weasley mused aloud. "No offense, but the Blacks of the old were known for less than pleasant things, I feel."

"You're not wrong," Sirius nodded. "But between the elves and Harry, we can make it safe for even a child, I am sure."

"Sounds about right," Amelia mused. "Also, I have a home in the States and one in Brazil, if we ever need a safe house away from Europe."

"The Burrow can also be used as a safe house," Arthur offered. "William has finished upgrading our wards and the Burrow is ready to use for the Order in its full capacity. At least till the children come back from Hogwarts. After which— we shall be moving back in there."

"Moving back?" Sirius frowned.

"It has been far too long, Sirius. We would like to return home now. No offense, but Arthur and I feel that we are overstaying your welcome. It will be especially tedious once all the kids are here." Molly said. "We will return to the Burrow once the children are back. Till then— and even after that, the Burrow is open to any order member to use as a safe house."

"That is quite generous of you," Dumbledore said. "I can offer my old house as a safe house. I live at Hogwarts year-round anyway, seldom visiting it. And it has excellent wards. All the safe houses need to be well-warded, though. Bill, I am giving you the responsibility to make sure they're safe enough."

"Yes, professor."

"Sirius, you are to shuffle the lookout schedules. Amelia, Alastor, keep the Auror force and Hit-wizard squadron on alert in case Voldemort decides to attack. Also, the Magical Reversal and Obliviation squads should be prepared to handle any aftermath of the damage. The Statute of Secrecy cannot collapse."

The three nodded solemnly.

"Severus, try to get more information on Greyback's movements. I will use my contacts to stall them and, if possible, end them. Same for the giants. You too try to do the same, Amos. Use your contacts to see if you can get anything." Dumbledore said.

"I can try that as well. So many werewolves will always leave tracks. Not to mention, giants." Harry offered, making a note to write to Anatasia Zabini.

If anyone could get that information easily, it was her.

"See to it that we get the information before they arrive in Britain. We should at least be aware of the fact that they're here before they attack."

"They'll likely attack on the fifth of next month," Newt Scamander suddenly said. "It is a full moon. And that is when werewolves transform."

"Fifth of March is a full moon," Amos Diggory nodded in agreement, his eyes wide. "And this attack will be at night when people are asleep."

"And I reckon it won't just be a single attack," Moody said. "Giants. Werewolves. Dementors."

"Dementors have remained unused so far," Harry nodded. "Their absence from the battlefield is almost uncanny."

"They're going to attack multiple locations at once. Where will they attack though, is the main question." Amelia said.

"One will be the muggle world. It is easy to repel dementors if someone knows a Patronus Charm. And they won't be used with giants and werewolves. I don't think Voldemort has manpower either, in terms of witches and wizards to attack. So it will be a creature attack."

"We would need to be ready. Even before that. Voldemort would not lay low for long. Keep an eye out for small attacks. They will soon increase." Dumbledore said, stroking his beard. "And we will need to be ready."

Notes:

AND… DONE! I hope you all liked the chapter.

A huge thanks to Mughil and Nanu for betaing the chapter!

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That's all! Thank you for your reviews!

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Also, join my server, House of HP66, to interact with me directly, and see the pictures of the characters there, so you all can get an idea of how they look. I will also post descriptions and stuff for reference.

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As of this moment, I have six main stories. They are:

1. The Rise of the Last Potter: My Novel length Harry Potter fic which is already 400k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly.

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3. Loved Ones Skipping Stones and Ice-cream: A fluffy Haphne one-shot. It is completed obviously.

4. SECRETS: Another romantic one-shot I published recently. Complete as well.

5. Agent Potter: The Wizard of W.A.N.D. - My spy!Harry fanfic which I implore you all to read!

6. Guardian of the Soul: Infinity Saga – My newest fic. An HP–MCU crossover. Novel length, in progress.

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Chapter 73: A World Aflame

Ch.72 A World Aflame

28th February 1996

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

The crumpled newspaper in Harry's hand caught flames, eliciting shrieks from nearby students who scuttled away from him.

"Harry!" Hermione said, a gush of water erupting from the wand, extinguishing the Daily Prophet.

"I am sorry," he muttered. "Sorry."

With a wave of his wand, the mess vanished alongside the soggy toast and the water-addled tea.

"Mr. Potter," McGonagall hurried down the Gryffindor table. "Are you alright?"

Harry looked at his red, raw hands and nodded.

'Nothing that wouldn't heal itself within an hour.'

"Let me see that," McGonagall wrenched his hand toward herself. "Episkey."

Fresh skin stretched over his hand, its color returning to a normal white shade.

"Thank you, professor. I was quite capable of doing it myself." Harry said, as skin stretched over the palm of his other palm.

"Occasionally, we all need help, Mr. Potter," McGonagall sighed, eyeing his hands. "The Headmaster has requested your presence in his office at your earliest convenience."

Harry nodded standing from his seat, ignoring the whispers around him as he strode out of the hall, his robes flapping behind him.

Turning the corner, he twisted sharply allowing the world to wrap around him.

The world swirled back to clarity and Harry found himself in front of a familiar stone gargoyle.

"Fizzing Whizzbee."

The gargoyle sprang to life and leapt aside; the wall behind it split in two to reveal a stone staircase that was moving continuously upward like a spiral escalator.

Harry stepped onto the stairs, the walls closing behind him with a thud.

"Come in, Harry," Dumbledore's voice called from within, just before Harry pushed the polished oak doors open.

Fawkes trilled in welcome as Dumbledore sat behind his desk, peering at him through his half-moon glasses.

"Professor," Harry greeted as he walked forward to the mahogany desk. "You wished to see me?"

In response, Dumbledore silently pushed a newspaper forward.

"I read this in the Prophet a minute ago," Harry said, glancing at the image of the new Dark Mark floating above the wreckage of what once used to be the ICW headquarters in Russia.

Grindelwald and his followers had attacked the place in broad daylight and proceeded to murder more than fifty witches and wizards that had been present there. These included foreign diplomats, Russian Lords, the ICW security squadron, Russian Aurors, and the staff of the place amongst a handful of civilians.

"I know you did," Dumbledore said. "This is just the Russian newspaper. Their reporting of the events."

"Does it have anything new?" Harry asked, taking a seat across the headmaster.

Dumbledore shook his head.

"Quite the opposite in fact. It has the bare minimum about anything concerning the murders, or any deeds done by Grindelwald. It rather focuses on the corruption of the people working there and the ICW being against Russia, if you would believe it."

"The Russian media's compromised. Wonderful." Harry muttered. "And now Russia has no official contact with the greater wizarding world with the ICW Headquarters turned to ash and its borders closed."

"Indeed. That is not all. Gellert is back to his old way of recruiting followers."

"Join him or die?"

"Indeed," Dumbledore said, producing a small glass vial from his robes. Writhing white fumes swirled within the glass vial, clinging to its surface.

A memory.

Dumbledore pushed the vial toward Harry, who picked it up, swirling the white fumes within.

"You can use my pensive if you wish to," Dumbledore gestured to the cabinet at the side. "I will get caught up with my pending paperwork till then."

Harry gave the man a nod, eyeing the ICW logo stamped across a variety of parchments on Dumbledore's desk before rising from his seat.

"Have fun, Professor," He said.

Walking to the pensive cabinet, Harry opened the cabinet with a tap of his finger, revealing the shallow stone basin within. The liquid in the pensive glowed brightly, casting shadows across Harry's face. With a tilt of his hand, Harry poured the memory into the basin, allowing the silver substance to swirl in the bowl.

Grindelwald stared back from the bottom, his heterochromatic eyes glowing as the liquid took a bluish tinge.

'Whatever happened is not going to be pleasant,' Harry grimaced.

With a deep breath, Harry plunged his face within and Dumbledore's office gave an almighty lurch. Harry was thrown forward, as he dropped into the memory.

Abruptly, Harry's descent ended and Harry found himself landing on his feet on hard tarmac. In front of a magnificent building stood, made of dark granite stones. A pair of imposing gates guarded the building, as walls twice his height spanned around the place.

Adorning the archway of the imposing gates, thick golden words gleamed in the sunlight.

Международная конфедерация волшебников

'The International Confederation of Wizards. The ICW Headquarters of Russia.'

A stout man with tousled sandy-brown hair walked past Harry toward the gates where he was stopped by two wizards, wearing thick black robes.

The ICW security.

"Dobroye utro," the man greeted, passing his briefcase to the first wizard, who checked its contents manually while the other probed the man with secrecy sensors.

A distance away, two more men in black robes sat, leaning against their wooden staves glaring at anyone who passed by.

"Ash wood. Unicorn hair. Ten and a quarter inches. Da?" The security wizard questioned, handing the wand back to the man.

"Da," the man assured, taking his wand back and pocketing it.

"Dobryi den, sare," the wizards saluted, opening a smaller gate and allowing the man inside.

Harry followed, passing through as the wizards around him continued to stare around the place with their beady black eyes.

Suddenly the ground rumbled.

A sizzling flash surrounded the atmosphere as an ear-shattering bang echoed, making everything go dark for a moment, causing Harry to wince.

Screams erupted around as footsteps thundered around.

A moment later, the darkness faded, to give way to what was happening around.

Gellert Grindelwald stood in the center of the compound while dozens of black cloaked, masked figures surrounded the area, their robes fluttering in the wind, their wands aloft.

At Grindelwald's feet, the four ICW security wizards laid unconscious, their staves broken a short distance away.

"Dobroye utro, moi dorogie druzya!" Grindelwald said, his voice booming around the place.

Harry tapped his finger to his ear, applying the translation charm on himself to understand what Grindelwald was saying in Russian.

"My name is Gellert Grindelwald. You might've heard of me." He said, his heterochromatic eyes roving around where people had stopped in their tracks in fear. "The world labels me as a Dark Lord. But I—"

Grindelwald stopped short as half a dozen men in blood red robes stepped through the doors of the building, their eyes widening.

'Russian Aurors. Or some part of the ICW maybe considering Russia has turned.'

Barely two spells made their way toward Grindelwald before all of their wands were ripped out of their hands, the spells fizzling out over an invisible barrier before they could touch the dark lord.

Grindelwald smiled.

With a lazy wave of his wand, ropes erupted from the ground, tying the men in red robes.

"I am not your enemy, my friends," He continued, his voice echoing in the faint din of terror. "I do not stand against wizards and witches or anyone who has magic. Neither do I stand against the muggles— the no-majs. I do not hate any race, be it muggle or magical."

Grindelwald's proclamation was met with a loud scoff from one of the red-robed wizards.

Grindelwald's eye flickered to the bound man, his wand still dangling lazily between his fingers.

"But I do believe those with magic are rare souls. Worthier than those without." Gridelwald continued, gazing around as more people gathered around, herded by his acolytes.

Some of them were perplexed, some afraid and a few looked at the man with adoration.

"You, my friends, are the rare souls! The worthiest amongst all! Magic bloomed in us because we have a higher purpose!" Grindelwald declared, spreading his arms as his robes fluttered in the wind. "And yet, we hide. Hide from muggles who seek nothing but destruction and violence! And you, my friends, are barely aware of their weapons. Their power. Their barbarity— but let me show you."

He swished his wand, making silvery-white smoke billow out of its tip, fogging up the place. A moment later, the fog swirled into images and sound erupted all around.

Tanks rolled through the air, firing upon invisible foes, making the wizards and witches shriek. Planes flew overhead dropping bombs as phantom blasts erupted around the place. The illusions changed to show a muggle open firing on a crowd, killing dozens, making the smoke turn red.

A moment later, the visuals vanished, the smoke curling into the center, right above Grindelwald's head.

Harry held his breath as the visual changed, showing a small city. A moment later, an ear-shattering boom echoed, rattling the windows of the ICW Headquarters as the city in the illusion was enveloped in flames, a mushroom of fire and smoke forming above it.

'The nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.'

A moment later, the visuals cleared, and the smoke drifted away, revealing the horrified faces of wizards and witches all around.

"My friends," Grindelwald said softly after a moment. "This is but a glimpse of what they can do. A glimpse from my memory fifty years ago. They've advanced by leaps and bounds since then! Their weapons become more destructive by the day! And they are capable of causing carnage that no wizard has ever dreamed of! They are the enemy. I urge you all! We must take action. We must fulfill our purpose or we will be no more!"

Grindelwald paused, his wand pointed at the ground.

He stared straight onto the assembled wizards and witches, before turning on his heel in a circle, as blue flames erupted all around him, a few feet away from the assembled people, making them take a step back.

'Protego Diabolica. Grindelwald's favorite spell.'

"My friends, join me. Join me to save ourselves! Join me so that your children can live to see a future. A greater wizarding world. Join me." Grindelwald boomed. "Step through these flames and I would know that you truly support the supremacy of magic! That you wish for the greater good of wizardkind!"

Grindelwald spread his arms welcomingly.

"Join me, my friends. By my side, we shall make sure that magic reigns supreme! No longer would we live in fear of muggles!"

A couple scurried out of the crowd, through the ring of fire and knelt at Grindelwald's feet, their heads bowed.

Grindelwald wordlessly brought his hand forward, a golden ring glinting on his finger.

Harry walked closer to see the ring as the man reverently kissed it. Etched upon the crown of the ring was the symbol of Grindelwald— the sign of the Deathly hallows.

Grindelwald moved his hand, allowing the woman to kiss it, making him smile.

"Lord Grindelwald, it is an honor— my father served you and died in your service after you were captured. It has always been my dream…"

The man trailed off, his head bowing.

"Say no more," Grindelwald said softly. "Go on. One of mine will find you later."

They stood up, their hands clasping together as they gave him a deep bow before disappearing with a loud crack.

Grindelwald turned again to the crowd, a grin curling on his lips as he saw a few staring hesitantly at the flames.

"If you truly support me, the flames shan't harm a hair on you," he said. "It only exists to end my enemies. Not my friends and allies."

A woman, who looked barely out of school, stepped through the flames slowly, the blue flames curling around her.

Slowly, she stepped through toward Grindelwald, her feet uneasy as her heels clicked on the tarmac.

"Did it harm you, my dear?" He asked, cupping her cheek.

"No—no, it didn't even tickle," The woman breathed, pulling herself up. "I will support you— Lord Grindelwald."

The Dark Lord nodded.

"Go on. One of mine will find you soon."

The woman took a brief moment to nod, her eyes flicking past Grindelwald's shoulder as a few men drew their wands.

"Don't worry. They won't do a thing." Grindelwald whispered as the woman's mouth opened.

One of the men pointed his wand pointing at Grindelwald's back, his arm trembling.

Grindelwald, despite having his back to the man, smiled knowingly, his fingers curling around his wand.

"Go on, my girl," He whispered.

"AVADA—" Before the man could complete the spell, the flames leaped at both him and his companion, consuming them as they shrieked in agony.

The woman disapparated a moment later, as their scream died, leaving not even ash in its wake as the flames receded to the circle.

A hubbub spread, as people tried to flee from the premises.

Instead of running through the gate, the people were repelled by an invisible barrier which forced them back.

"I am afraid that is not productive," Grindelwald said loudly, his accent slipping through.

'Wonder why he switched to English out of the blue.'

"Gentlemen, and ladies, here I come, proposing something. A chance for magic to survive. And yet, you flee like cowards? That is not done, I am afraid. But I will give you another chance. Join me and save the magical kind."

'Why bother when he's going to kill them off in the end anyhow?'

Men continued to bang at the invisible barrier, poking it with their wands as a few spells fizzled out in thin air.

Grindelwald paid them little heed to them as he turned to the few who were standing at the edge of the flames before beckoning them forward.

Several of the men stepped through, unharmed by the flames and joined Grindelwald's side.

Grindelwald just gave them a nod, eyeing past the flames as more people began to hesitate before taking a step through.

"Join me, my friends," he repeated, his voice thrumming through the air before he whispered something to those who had come through the flames.

A series of cracks tore through the cackle of flames as the center of the ring of fire cleared, leaving Grindelwald standing alone at the center.

He tilted his head at the rest of them.

"Anyone else?"

A man pushed through the crowd, abandoning his attempts to break through the shield, his wand held aloft.

"You're a criminal, Grindelwald," The man spat. "A murderer."

"Some things are necessary for the greater good," Grindelwald said. "I wouldn't expect a politician like yourself to understand, Mr. Gabris."

With a jab of his wand the flames consumed the man but no screams sounded as the flames receded.

Another man stepped into the flames only to scream as the fire consumed him whole.

'Idiot. He probably thought Grindelwald was bluffing about his spell.'

Grindelwald waited for a few more minutes, speaking about the cruelty of muggles and the need for magic to flourish until he convinced quite a few.

"I think I will make this easier for you all now," Grindelwald said as three of his new followers disapparated with a loud pop. Grindelwald's acolytes followed, disapparating away.

Grindelwald smiled coldly at the wizards, his heterochromatic eyes glowing.

A moment later, the blue flames exploded out as everything swirled to black, just as Harry was repelled out of the memory.

Harry stepped away from the pensive, blinking out the bright blue flames just as Dumbledore's office came back into view.

Dumbledore looked up sharply from his work as Harry took a step back from the pensive and closed the cabinet with a snap.

The portraits around the walls jerked awake for a moment, before mumbling under their breath and going back to sleep.

Harry noticed that quite a few occupants of the portraits were missing while Fawkes was nowhere to be seen in the office.

"Harry," Dumbledore gestured to the seat in front of him. "Did you see the memory?"

"I did— though, how did you get the memory?" Harry asked, picking a stripped red candy from the bowl on the desk as he sat. "Everyone present on the scene died or joined Grindelwald."

"A memory orb that was retrieved from the scene by Russian Aurors," Dumbledore said, lines deepening on his face. "Most might be supporting Gellert— but I still have a few friends there."

"That is good," Harry nodded, thoughtfully sucking on the candy. "But more and more people are joining Grindelwald— It certainly is tempting when he describes it, isn't it?"

Dumbledore closed his eyes, giving a jerky nod.

"Gellert was always an excellent orator, Harry. Powerful, skilled, charismatic. Much like Tom Riddle— the only difference is that Gellert remained who he was but Tom became Voldemort."

"The Horcruxes. They changed him." Harry grimaced.

'Soul magic is one of the trickiest and perhaps most unforgiving magic in the world.' Salazar had explained. 'If done absolutely right, it would do wonders no other magic could— but a single misstep would lead to dastardly consequences. That is what happened to Riddle. I would strongly suggest you stay only at theory for this branch of magic.'

"A change that I feel worked in our favor somewhat, if I reflect upon it," Dumbledore broke in. "Tom would've been a much greater threat than Voldemort."

"Except the whole immortal thing, of course," Harry muttered. "I would've probably killed him in the graveyard if not for the whole Horcrux thing."

"Had that been the case, I am guessing you would've never encountered him again after he fell in '81."

Harry gazed past Dumbledore, into the cloudy dark sky outside.

"Sometimes I wish it had all ended, you know?" He said. "That I— well, lived a normal life without his shadow in the background. I wish I would never have to do all these things."

"So do all who live to see such times, Harry," Dumbledore said sadly. "But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."

Harry nodded.

It was fate, written before he had even been born.

"Are we anywhere with the Horcruxes?" Harry asked.

"I am trying, Harry. But I have no ideas where Tom could've hidden something like a Horcrux. I am actively looking into his past to get any idea where Tom could hide a Horcrux."

"His past?"

"As far as I knew Tom, he was not a person who would settle for anything less than the best he could get. He was prideful. He wouldn't have deemed anything less than something of great importance to make a Horcrux. Or hidden it in a place of lesser value to him."

"So we just need to find these places."

"We should revisit the chamber," Dumbledore leaned back in his chair. "If there is anywhere he would have felt safe enough to hide a Horcrux, it would be the Chamber of Secrets. It is a place of great importance to him."

"We already checked the chamber, Professor. We went over the whole place." Harry reminded.

"We could have missed something," Dumbledore insisted. "Tom could've put some kind of wards to hide it from notice in case someone stumbled over the chamber. Think, Harry. The chamber is a place he thought only he could access and. It is a reminder of his heritage. A symbol of superiority of Salazar Slytherin and his lineage."

Harry gave a jerky nod.

'I have checked the chamber a dozen times over. There is nothing of Tom Riddle's there. '

"Let us check again this weekend. It won't do any harm, would it? Because, I cannot think of any other place he could've hidden it. The Slytherin common room is too exposed. Most parts of the castle are. The Chamber of Secrets though—"

"Is not a place any person could go— except Tom. Or that's what he thought." Harry completed with a sigh.

"Precisely." Dumbledore nodded.

"And if we don't find anything there— again?" Harry asked.

"Then we rule the chamber out," Dumbledore picked a candy from his bowl. "And we work on other leads. Dig into the past of Tom Riddle and hope we find the right ones as fast as we can."

---

2nd March 1996

Gryffindor Tower, Hogwarts

Flames flickered in the fireplace burning magically with everlasting sandalwood at the bottom. Harry poked the flames with a stick, in a futile attempt to lower the heat.

"This is stupid," Harry threw a glare at Hermione. "Just let me use magic."

Hermione sat on the burgundy couch, her legs folded as she eyed him through the rim of the butterbeer bottle.

"Come on mate— I bet Hermione that you could do this. There are chocolate frogs on the line." Ron moaned.

"I will buy you new ones," Harry offered. "But I have no idea how to do this without magic."

"A wand won't always solve your problems, Harry," Hermione giggled.

"Yes they won't," A deep laugh rumbled beside Harry, making Harry tear his eyes toward Ron.

Ron's heterochromatic eyes glared hatefully at Harry, his red hair turning white as his face sharpened.

A thin white mustache grew above his lips as they curled into a mocking smirk.

"Grindelwald," Harry's wand slipped into his hands. "What did you do to Ron?"

"Nothing, Harry," A high pitched hiss tore through the air making Harry's head snap toward the voice.

Hermione sneered at him, her red eyes glowing balefully, as her skin turned paler. Her nose shrank into slits and her bushy hair fell away to reveal a pale bald head.

Voldemort sneered at him.

"Not even with everything you know, you can defeat us, Harry." Parseltongue slipped out of Voldemort's lips. "For everything you know, we know more. There is no power the Dark Lord knows not."

Grindelwald's rumbling laugh rang through the common room as the place began to shake.

Fire exploded out of the fireplace and Harry felt the searing heat burn through his body.

He flinched upright with a gasp only to get a mouthful of water.

A second later, the watery assault stopped as Harry sputtered, water dripping down his face onto a blurry red surface.

"Harry," Hermione's voice tore through his water-addled senses as he wiped the water off his face.

The Gryffindor common room swam into view as Ron's freckled face hoovered over him.

Harry could feel the cool dampness of the water seeping down his robes and dripping down his chin.

"You alright there, mate?" Ron's face was screwed up in a frown, his eyebrows forming a deep vee.

Harry breathed in gulps of air as his heart hammered against his chest.

"What's happening?" He croaked as his wand slipped into his hand.

Steam curled off his robes, warming him as the cold vanished.

'Better.'

Hermione stepped forward, pulling Ron back.

"Harry, are you alright?" Hermione asked softly, kneeling at his side. "You fell asleep. Then—"

"You were having a nightmare. You called our names— Then said Grindelwald before you began to hiss." Ron cut in. "I tried to shake you awake but well, you didn't respond. So, Hermione doused you with water."

Harry glanced at Hermione, who sat by his side, her lip quivering.

"It was just a stupid nightmare," Harry muttered.

"Harry— are you sure you are alright?" Hermione bit her lip. "From the past few days you have been behaving weirdly. The other day you set the paper on fire and burnt yourself. You have exceptional control over your magic and yet—"

Hermione trailed off, her brown eyes brimming with worry.

"And today, you dozed off unexpectedly and had a nightmare," Ron finished.

"I am just tired, that's all," Harry sighed. "Nothing to worry about."

"Harry," Hermione shook her head. "Talk to us. Something is bothering you. Something you are not telling us."

Harry pinched his forehead.

"Dobby!"

A pop rang through the common room as the elf appeared, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"How may Dobby help Harry Potter sir?" Dobby asked, bowing low.

"There's an envelope on my desk," Harry said. "Bring it to me please."

The elf popped away immediately before returning a moment later with a peach colored paper envelope in his arms.

"This all is what is happening in Russia since the ICW Headquarters were burned to the ground," Harry thrusted the folder into Hermione's hand. "It makes me sick that I cannot do anything about it."

"You cannot help everyone, Harry," Hermione patted his arm. "You cannot be everywhere. And to resolve whatever is happening in Russia, you would need a force of Aurors and Hitwizards behind you. And with Russia closing off its borders it is illegal."

"Hermione, in the past two days, Grindelwald and his Acolytes have killed over three hundred people, muggles and magicals included. Towns and villages have been burnt to the ground or emptied. And their Auror force is not lifting a finger beyond feeding Hippogriff shit to the ICW."

"What do you mean?" Ron asked.

"The official statement from Russia to the ICW for the attacks is that the Russian Aurors are investigating the matter and they are taking countermeasures to prevent more such incidents." Harry scowled. "They clearly told the ICW that they need no outside interference but help will be requested if needed."

Hermione tilted her head. "Why would they do that?"

"Most in the Russian Ministry are Grindelwald supporters, having little to no love for muggles," Harry pointed out. "And those who voiced their displeasure were killed by Grindelwald's Acolytes alongside their families bar the children. Dozens of magical children have been orphaned over the past two days."

"Why let the children live? They would seek revenge for their parents, won't they?"

"Not if they are conditioned to serve Grindelwald," Hermione responded, a hand covering her mouth. "It is like Hitler Youth."

"Worse," Harry grimaced. "These children will be trained and conditioned to be the perfect soldiers for Grindelwald. That is what he tried to do by taking over Durmstrang all those years ago. Fortunately, his rule there didn't last too long."

"That's horrible," Hermione gasped.

"Why do you think Grindelwald's the most feared dark lord in centuries, Hermione?" Harry pinched his eyes. "Why do you think it caused a worldwide panic when the news of his escape got out? I tell you, had it not been for Dumbledore and I facing them both off at the ministry and causing them to flee, it would've been much worse."

"People would've been scared shitless," Ron deduced. "Right now, they are looking up to you and Dumbledore to defeat Grindelwald and Voldemort."

"It seems so, yes."

"What of the muggles in Russia?" Hermione said suddenly. "They must've gotten wind of something being wrong by now with all the deaths."

Harry shook his head. "No, quite the contrary. Grindelwald has put muggle leaders under the Imperius, or so is the intel. So, the muggles themselves are covering it up."

"Bloody hell," Ron muttered. "That's bad."

"And this, my friend, is just the beginning."

Chapter 74: Attacks Across Isles

Ch.73 Attacks Across Isles

4th March 1996

Chamber of Secrets, Hogwarts

A loud metallic clang rang through the study, making Harry wince.

Hedwig let out a loud squawk, flapping her wings around. With a flash of fire, she disappeared from her perch.

"Yes, yes, deafen me," Salazar scowled, rubbing his ear. "You would like that, wouldn't you?"

"Salazar," Helga's lips drew into a thin line. "He's working."

"On a plate," Salazar eyed the metal plate distastefully. "A plate, meant for eating food, not being used as a shield."

"It wouldn't matter," Harry placed the plate back on the table. "Not with the runes and charms I am putting on it. More metal would just be redundant."

"Any wizard worth his salt would tear through it with a few spells," Salazar scoffed. "You will need something substantial to make it akin to the wall Rookwood had thrown."

"I am not trying to make a wall." Seven runes flared over the edge of the plate. "Just something that holds for a few seconds."

"Sometimes, a few seconds is all you need," Helga peered through her portrait. "And it will be easier to make a dozen of these than ward one heavily enough to stop Fiendfyre."

"I am making one for every member of the legion," Harry muttered, weaving a strand of magic around the plate. "And a few extras."

"You should ask for help," Salazar said. "Maybe one of your pretty girlfriends. You said they were brilliant."

"Susan's not great at runes," Harry pushed his hair out of his eyes. "Fleur could probably do it without help. Daphne would need the runic layout at least— and learn some spells."

"You had them concentrating on dueling," Salazar said. "To defend themselves."

"That's why they had first approached me," A smile flickered on Harry's lips. "They wished to learn dueling. Daphne did at least."

"I assume they've come far," Helga said. "Farther than any of your other classmates."

"Yes," Harry frowned. "You should know though."

"We have not exactly seen them fight," Salazar sneered. "You don't put up portraits in the Room of Requirements, do you? And we did hate to reveal ourselves to half of hogwarts. But we have at times spied on your duels."

Harry nodded as a sky-blue light gleamed across the plate.

With a swish of his wand, the dinner plate shrunk to the size of a sickle.

"Perfect," he muttered. "Ta-da!"

"It is not remotely impressive to the things you've made," Salazar cast a glance across the room where various enchanted objects lay scattered. "But good work. Do try to put it to use unlike most of these."

Harry shrugged. "I still need to submit things for my NEWTs. These will come in handy, I reckon. Worse comes to worse, I will pull something to satisfy them."

"It is your NEWT project, Harry," Helga chided. "And you are not submitting a subpar project."

Harry dropped the sickle-sized plate on the table, looking up to stare at Helga.

"Which of these is subpar?" He waved his arm around exasperatedly. "The only thing remotely so is the color changing torch. And I modified it to shoot fire like a flamethrower recently."

"He isn't wrong, Helga," a smirk flickered on Salazar's lips.

"I was not talking about what all he has made here," Helga's lips drew into a thin line. "Him pulling something to satisfy them, would be subpar. Not for them, maybe. But for someone of Harry's caliber, it will be unimpressive."

"I will see what I will be submitting," Harry sighed, shaking his head. "I had ideas, but didn't have time to work on most of them. And right now, I have bigger things to worry about. Like Voldemort preparing for his first big blow."

"Werewolves, giants, and dementors," Salazar said. "And you still don't know where the attacks will be happening. You're at a disadvantage."

"Voldemort is keeping his cards close," Harry ran his fingers through his hair. "I reckon only Rookwood knows of his true plans."

"It seems Augustus Rookwood is proving to be a thorn," Helga noted. "An unexpected one. He is an intelligent man and a bad enemy to have."

"It came as a shock to many when he was revealed to be a Death Eater by Karkaroff," Salazar steepled his fingers. "It was fortunate that Rookwood was at the Ministry and had no time to prepare. If he did—"

"He would've disappeared. And probably Voldemort would have returned sooner." Harry grimaced. "That would've been bad."

"Horrendous, really," Salazar agreed. "Britain was losing the war quite terribly before you happened."

"You know?" Harry said absently. "When I knew Voldemort had returned, I thought it would be easy to take him down this time— between Dumbledore and me, Voldemort would've been blown to pieces. Then he brought out Grindelwald out of nowhere."

"It balanced the scales," Helga blew her hair out of her face. "Maybe, made it even worse for the world as a whole. Grindelwald never dabbled in horrendous magic like Voldemort did. But he nearly brought the whole of Europe to its knees on his own."

"Grindelwald and Voldemort fought different fights— one of wizarding supremacy and freedom from muggles, and another for blood-supremacy." Harry began to draw runes on another plate. "Muggles, for us are… well, a different species for us, innit? A little above wild animals. And our history with them has always been tumultuous. Thus not many were averse to the ideas that Grindelwald put forth. Voldemort, though, targeted muggleborns and half-bloods. Now, that's a whole different thing."

"Indeed," Salazar nodded. "But now, their war is no longer against muggles or muggleborns. It is against Dumbledore and you, Harry. A struggle of power, with the whole world caught in between."

"And tomorrow, Voldemort is going to tug."

---

5th March 1996

Room of Requirement, Hogwarts

The gaggle of students quietened as a series of bangs echoed through the room from Hermione's wand.

A few thumps sounded as the last of silver arrows pierced through wooden targets.

"Everyone, Harry wants to say something," She announced, stepping away from the podium. "Something very important."

Harry gave Hermione a look, who glared back firmly.

Harry slipped onto the platform with a sigh.

"Members of the Legion," Harry spoke. "I— Hermione thinks there is something you all should know. Dumbledore and I strongly suspect that Voldemort is going to attack Britain tonight."

Through the room, several people gasped or flinched.

"We do not know where the attacks are going to happen," Harry's eyes roamed around the room. "But they will."

"How can you be sure?" Smith asked.

"Today is the night of the full moon," Harry grimaced. "And, Fenrir Greyback, if you know who he is, was spotted in Britain two days ago."

Some of the members blanched, evidently recognizing the name.

"You want us to fight Greyback?" One of the Ravenclaws yelled.

"Heavens no," Harry shook his head frantically. "I do not want you to fight at all unless it is to protect yourself. And against someone like Greyback? Most of you will be dead before you know it."

"Then why are you telling us all this?" Cho asked. "Not that we don't appreciate it. But it's just that this should have a better purpose."

Harry glanced at Hermione who strode forward.

"Because we can make a difference," her voice cut through the room with the sharpness of a dagger. "Voldemort has an army of magical beasts— werewolves, dementors, giants. Harry has been training you all for close to six months now. It is for something like this— attacks where the Order and the Auror force might fall short. Short to not fight— but protect civilians. We do not need to fight. But we can save lives."

"Wait," Justin waved his hand. "If we're not going to fight, how would we, I dunno, protect others?"

"The werewolves and the giants are not the biggest threats," Cedric replied. "The dementors are. Their presence would debilitate the crowd. Trapping them in nightmares, rendering them helpless; thus, an easy target to be picked apart."

"Quite right," Hermione cleared her throat. "That's why I think we can help. Most of us can cast a corporeal patronus; a spell which most adults, including Aurors, cannot do. With the patronus, the dementors will flee, enabling people to escape."

Murmurs filled the air.

"I need to clarify something," Harry declared loudly. "Firstly, this is entirely voluntary. If you don't wish to take part, you shouldn't. Secondly, only students in the fifth year or above are permitted to go."

A canopy of protests erupted from the younger members, Ginny and Colin being the loudest.

"Silence!" A shimmer of magic spread through the room quelling all noise. "There's no room for negotiation here. Only fifth years and above will be allowed. The rest will stay at Hogwarts to defend it from within. And even for those who choose to go, strict rules will apply."

"What sort of rules?" Ernie interjected. "You said there are no rules in a fight."

Macmillan flinched as Harry narrowed his eyes at him.

"You're mixing two very different things there, Macmillan. These rules are meant to keep you safe."

Macmillan nodded, shrinking slightly under Harry's gaze.

"As for the rules," Harry's gaze swept through the room. "You will all be in groups. You are not to engage the enemy— except the dementors unless you have no option. You have two jobs. Keep the dementors away and help the crowd flee to safety. I repeat, do not engage unless you have no choice. And if Voldemort or Grindelwald arrive, you flee."

Dean raised his hand. "What if we have a really good shot? At the werewolves or giants, I mean."

"No," Harry growled. "You are not going there to kill, Dean. You are meant to save civilians. Nothing more. Leave those to the Order and the Aurors."

Dean nodded.

"If you do not follow even one of these rules, believe me, I will bar you from the legion," Harry flared his magic and a breeze ripped through the room. "And I am not kidding. If you go under the banner of the Legion, you are my responsibility. And I tend to take those seriously."

Harry swept a burning gaze through the room, making people nod their heads frantically.

Harry glanced at Ron who stepped forward.

"Right," Ron ran a hand through his hair. "We do not know where the attacks are going to happen. But Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley are definitely targets. The moonrise is early tonight— at seven-twenty. Two hours from now. We will divide ourselves into three to five teams— one team will go to Diagon, other at the gates of Hogwarts. The rest will wait here, ready to depart wherever we need more help— or some other location."

"Remember, we only engage dementors and help civilians flee," Hermione reminded. "That's our sole objective. The team leaders will have portkey controls and will send you back if you engage unnecessarily."

"You all are going under my command," Harry said. "Not to mention, without informing a single adult. We are sneaking out of the school. So, if any of you die, it will be on me. So don't take unnecessary risks for the sake of my sanity."

---

5th March 1996

Hogsmeade Village, Scotland

Faint shadows fell across the cobbled streets under the lights from shops in Hogsmeade.

"Mad-eye will skin us alive if we even think about a bathroom break," a man in a bright red robe said. "Hold it in."

"You are still here," The other man, clad in the same red robe pleaded. "It will take two minutes. Please Oxley."

"No," Oxley hissed. "Do your duty, Burton. I do not want problems. And you do not want to be suspended."

Burton shivered, twitching violently. "Please, mate. It is already giving me shivers. I cannot hold it in anymore."

Frost crept up the cobblestones. The lanterns around them flickered.

"That's— not your pee, Burton," Oxley drew his wand. "It's dementors! Call for backup!"

Burton collapsed, curling into a fetal position. A putrid liquid seeped through his trousers, pooling around him.

"No," Burton twitched violently. "GO AWAY! Go away!"

Several loud howls pierced through the air, drowning Burton's screams.

People screamed as dark specters drifted through the air, nearing the ground.

Oxley's breath misted over as he fumbled with his batch, tapping his wand over it.

"Come on— work," he muttered watching as the dementors floated closer. "Shit. Expecto— Expecto Patronum!"

A faint silvery mist exploded out of his wand, holding the dementor at bay.

Oxley held the shield, glancing frantically at his partner, who was lying on the street, shivering uncontrollably.

The people around were either running or in a catatonic state, like Burton.

Oxley watched as a dementor swooped in on a nearby lady and her son. The lady's eyes wide in horror. Her groceries rolled out on the street as she backed away, toward Madam Puddifoot's.

The dementor lowered its hood, making shivers run down Oxley's spine.

"NO!" He yelled as a golden mist left their mouth, getting sucked into the dementor's hood.

The faint shield faltered, disappearing into the fog. The dementor neared and horrendous memories swirled in front of Oxley's eyes.

He fell to the floor, scooting away from the dementor's bony white fingers.

Another swooped toward Burton, lowering his hood.

"I am sorry, Hayley," Oxley muttered, as the dementor neared, a tear escaping his eyes.

A bright, silver pegasus rammed into the dementor. The dementor screeched, fleeing away from the patronus.

Oxley looked up to see a score of bright, silver patronuses running through the night sky, brighter than the light of the full moon, driving the dark specters away.

Oxley breathed deeply, getting to his feet unsteadily. His fingers curled around his wand as he turned to look at his partner.

Burton laid on the ground, his eyes white and unseeing, still trembling.

"No," Oxley whispered. "Burton!"

The earth trembled and a roar shook the village.

"GIANTS!" Someone yelled.

Oxley's eyes went wide as he saw the humongous figures nearing in the silvery light of the patroni.

He saw a dark blur move from the corner of his eye.

Oxley erected a shield moments before a werewolf slammed into it. The man cursed, as the werewolf pawed at the shield, snarling ferociously.

The best frothed vicious black saliva, which dripped down his shield.

A purple bolt slammed into the animal's neck, and blood spouted like a fountain.

"Thank Merlin," Oxley breathed, staggering back.

"Are you all right?" Someone asked, making him turn.

A girl, in a Hufflepuff uniform stood there, her wand out, looking at him in concern.

"Thanks, kid," Oxley breathed. "You really shouldn't be here. Go to the castle."

The girl snorted, before her eyes latched into something in the distance.

Almost faster than Oxley's eyes could follow, a silvery blur shot from her wand.

Oxley watched as a silver spear pierced through a werewolf's chest, killing it in moments, its last howl still on its lips.

Before he could say something, the girl ran away, another spell flowing from her wand.

Suddenly, Oxley felt the hair on his arms prickle.

"What the—" Oxley muttered.

A moment later, a huge flash of lightning blinded him and a roar of agony wailed through Hogsmeade.

Looking ahead, a single figure floated in front of the giants, his wand out, cracking with tendrils of lightning.

Harry Potter had arrived.

---

5th March 1996

Diagon Alley

The ground shook and howls pierced the air. Three giants, each as tall as Gringotts, roared loudly, swinging their humongous spiked clubs.

People beneath screamed, scrambling away from the giants.

Silver patroni flitted amongst them, keeping the dementors at bay.

Meanwhile, a dozen Aurors shielded themselves against the werewolves emerging from Knockturn alley.

Albus Dumbledore weaved through the fleeing cloud, the Elder wand thrumming with power in his hand.

"Get away!" Dumbledore shouted and a nearby auror containing two werewolves scrambled away.

With a slash of his wand a silver curse tore through the two creatures.

"Go help the other Aurors," Dumbledore didn't break stride, his wand moving to erect a shield, repelling another werewolf.

A giant roared, smashing his club through the roof of Twitfit and tattling.

"Albus!" Alastor's voice rang out. "You need to kill the giants. My aurors can barely do anything to these bastards!"

Dumbledore watched as a dozen flashes of light slammed into a giant.

In response, the giant roared and smashed its club into Gringotts. A shimmer of magic stopped the club, making the giant stagger back.

The giant roared, and brought its club down on the building again.

This time, the club exploded in a shower of sparks.

'Very resilient and strong,' Dumbledore drew on his magic. 'But not very smart.'

The air around him swirled violently. The Elder wand sang between his fingers. With a slash of his hand, the air coalesced into a spear.

The chest of the first giant exploded in a shower of blood, raining down on the pristine walls of Gringotts.

"Bloody hell, Albus," Alastor muttered beside him.

The two giants stopped their destructive crusade to watch as their fellow giant fell to the ground, dead.

A moment later, a dozen green flashes slammed into the second giant, courtesy of the auror force.

The giant lurched back, his hand demolishing a building as he fell to a knee. A moment later, the giant roared loudly, shaking the alley as he got back to his feet.

Not even a dozen killing curses had brought down the creature.

The other giant roared, smashing through Twilfit and tattling in its entirety. It lumbered forward toward Knockturn Alley where the Aurors were holding werewolves at bay.

"Professor!" A voice called, making him turn. "Do you need help?"

Cedric Diggory, the head boy of Hogwarts stood there, his wand out. A dozen students followed behind him, their wands lit.

None looked injured as far as Dumbledore could tell, but a few were certainly tired.

"Mr. Diggory," Dumbledore breathed. "Harry sent you here, I presume?"

"Hermione forced him to do it," Cedric panted. "We handled the dementors, sir. We are keeping them at bay."

Dumbledore glanced at the giant who was still lumbering toward the auror force near the alley.

"Keep the dementors away," Dumbledore twirled his wand, his attention at the giant. "But stay out of sight. Go!"

As the children went away, Alastor following them, Dumbledore thrust his wand. "Ekriksi Aposyntheto!"

A golden spiral shot from his wand, bathing the alley in a golden light for a brief moment. The spell hit the giant's forehead. The whole head, and a large part of its chest exploded in a golden light and the giant collapsed, demolishing a few shops under his weight.

Dumbledore breathed heavily, sweat trickling down his forehead.

The last giant roared, smashing his club at the aurors below, who apparated away.

"You alright?" Moody grunted, erecting a shield as a werewolf pounced at an unsuspecting auror. With a jab of his wand, the wolf's chest exploded in a shower of gore.

"CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" Moody roared, hobbling forward. "Stebbins, be careful!"

Dumbledore shook his head, his eyes trained on the giant.

Raising his wand, Dumbledore took a deep breath. The air swirled around his wand once more forming a spear of compressed air. With a slash, the spear tore through the giant's sternum.

The giant looked down, staggering back.

Aurors scrambled out of the way as the giant fell upon the street, throwing up dust.

Dumbledore breathed in deeply, casting a glance around as the Aurors still fought the werewolf, trying to contain them.

This battle might've been won. But the war was still going on.

With a twist, Dumbledore apparated away.

---

5th March 1996

Hogsmeade Village

A silver glow fell on the dead bodies of the two giants on the ground, their bodies charred horrendously. Around the dead bodies, battles raged under the light of the patronuses while dark specters flitted around.

Harry floated in the sky, breathing heavily while a silvery golden retriever ran around him, keeping the dementors from nearing.

In front of him, three giants roared, trying to smash through the shield he had erected around them.

'The shield won't hold long,' Harry watched as the shield shimmered under the spiked club. 'I need to figure out a way to kill them. Bloody bastards are too resilient.'

A wolf patronus floated beside him.

"Harry, we need you!" Tonks' voice emerged from the wolf. "Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Portsmouth, and Bristol are all under attack by trolls, werewolves, and giants!"

Harry shook his head.

There was only one option left. He needed to defeat the giants here and go to help them.

A roar sounded from behind, making Harry turn.

A giant, much shorter than the ones he was fighting, was charging toward him. Hagrid followed, a few steps, armed with a crossbow, his umbrella at his side.

"GO GRAWP!" Hagrid yelled, seizing a werewolf by its throat and ripping the animal's head off with his bare hands. "PROTECT HOGWARTS!"

The small giant, Grawp, slammed into one of the large giants just as Harry's shield broke, tacking it to the ground.

The other two giants roared in challenge. Harry watched as the two giants pounced onto Grawp, hitting him with their clubs.

Grawp roared, continuing to hit the giant he had tackled with his bare fists.

'I can't intervene,' Harry sighed. 'It will kill Hagrid's friend and he will be devastated.'

Grawp punched the giant, uncaring of the abuse inflicted on him.

The other giants pulled Grawp away, punching him harshly.

Grawp roared in agony, while the downed giant slowly rose to his feet.

Harry aimed his wand, firing a rupturing curse. The curse hit true, and the giant clutched his eye, blood pouring between his fingers.

On the other hand, Grawp was wrestling two giants on his own… and losing.

Harry watched helplessly as Grawp was punched around, his face bloody.

"Hagrid!" Harry yelled. "Tell Grawp to flee. I am burning those giants!"

Hagrid yelled something in a language Harry didn't understand. But Grawp turned to him, his face morphing into a look.

A moment later, a spiked club caught him right in the face, throwing him down.

Blood pooled from his head, onto the ground below and the two giants roared in victory.

"Grawp! No!" Hagrid's distraught shout echoed through Hogsmeade.

Hagrid threw a werewolf away, sprinting toward the giants.

The giants looked at him, snarling in challenge.

'No,' Harry thrust his wand out. 'Not Hagrid.'

A wall of dirt erupted in front of the half giant, stopping him.

"LET ME GO!" Hagrid roared but Harry paid no heed to him.

Walls of dirt rose all around Hagrid, encasing him and trapping him.

'Sorry Hagrid,' Harry turned to the enemy giants, who were stomping on Grawp's body. 'But I will take your revenge for you.'

"IGNIS DIABOLICA!"

Notes:

AND… DONE!

Hope you all enjoyed the chapter!

I know I hadn't updated in a while. But I had been struggling to write for RoLP. I couldn't get ANYTHING down on paper. Even for this, I deleted about 1.5k words and restarted the chapter. I sincerely hope it was up to the mark.

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I am not getting into reviews for this chapter. But, I see too many reviews with the name, 'Guest'. Now, I appreciate you reviewing but please name yourself. I cannot reply properly with so many reviews having the same name.

If you don't want to login, at least give yourself a name. Anything but guest. This is so I can reply without hassle.

Thank you for the reviews.

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A huge thanks to Mughil and Nanu for betaing this chapter!

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I have also created a discord server with the help of my two very good friends. I really hope to see you all there and have fun with you all. There, you can communicate with me, ask me questions regarding my fics, look at the character images, get sneak peeks, give your own theories, and even... wait, why should I tell you everything here? Come over and check it all out yourself!

Discord Server Invite Link: discord . gg / 4qfP3fxdQ4 [Remove the spaces please]

I would love it if you guys came to my server and interacted with me there. If you have some of your own theory or wish to see something in this fic as the journey progresses, you can tell it to me on the discord server!

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As of this moment, I have six main stories. They are:

1. The Rise of the Last Potter: My Novel length Harry Potter fic which is already 400k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly.

2. The Legend of the Son of Poseidon: A Novel Length Percy Jackson fic which is already 400k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly

3. Loved Ones Skipping Stones and Ice-cream: A fluffy Haphne one-shot. It is completed obviously.

4. SECRETS: Another romantic one-shot I published recently. Complete as well.

5. Agent Potter: The Wizard of W.A.N.D. - My spy!Harry fanfic which I implore you all to read!

6. Guardian of the Soul: Infinity Saga – My newest fic. An HP–MCU crossover. Novel length, in progress.

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 75: Nearly Exhausting Exams

Ch.74 Nearly Exhausting Exams

6th March 1996

Great Hall, Hogwarts

Rays of sunlight poked through the cloudy, enchanted sky of the Great Hall. Hushed whispers flitted across the house tables.

Every single student had heard the roars from Hogsmeade. Or even seen the giants from a distance. They had definitely seen the flames.

Harry quietly walked into the great hall and took a seat at the nearly empty staff table. From the side, Snape sneered at him before returning to his breakfast. Harry ignored both the man and the whispers that rose with his presence, pouring himself a strong cup of tea.

"Harry," Aurora Sinistra, the Astronomy professor, leaned toward him. "What happened last night? I could see giants from the tower."

"There were attacks," Harry buttered a piece of toast and dropped it on his plate. "Giants, werewolves, and dementors."

"You were there," she said. "Was it you who made the dragon in the sky? The one with blue-purple flames?"

"Yes. There were too many giants," Harry replied. "And I had no time. My help was needed elsewhere."

The Astronomy professor put her hand over her mouth. "Multiple attacks?"

"Diagon, Hogsmeade, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Portsmouth, and Bristol," Harry listed off from memory. "Those are the ones I know. Dumbledore was at Diagon. I fought at Hogsmeade and Glasgow. But the attack in Portsmouth had already ended by the time I got there."

"How many casualties?" She gasped.

"No idea," Harry sighed. "The Auror office should release the official count by tomorrow. But it is bad. I heard that the whole area around Bellevue Crescent in Bristol was eradicated by Fiendfyre."

"That's horrible," Professor Sinistra looked down at her plate. "I am sorry."

Harry silently bit into his toast.

The slight flutter of wings drew their attention as dozens of owls soared through the great hall.

"The Daily Prophet is here," Professor Sinistra extended her arm, allowing a barn owl to swoop down on it.

She untied the newspaper and the owl flew away while another landed beside Harry's plate.

With a tap of his finger, the newspaper came free, unfurling into his hand.

The Wizarding World's Darkest Night
By Rita Skeeter

In a nightmarish turn of еvеnts, thе magical world was shakеn to its corе as thе dark forcеs of Hе-who-must-not-be-named unleashed unprеcеdеntеd chaos across Britain, leaving devastation in thеir wakе.

Diagon Allеy and Hogsmеadе, thе vеry heartbeats of our magical sociеty, borе thе brunt of this onslaught, facing the horrors of dementors alongsidе thе rеlеntlеss assault of giants and werewolves.

But in thе facе of such abominablе darknеss, two gallant hеroеs еmеrgеd, shining brightеr than thе most brilliant patronus. Nonе othеr than our beloved Boy Who Livеd, Harry Pottеr, and thе vеnеrablе Hеadmastеr of Hogwarts, Albus Dumblеdorе, stood resolute against thеse forcеs saving multiple lives.

In thе hеart of Diagon Allеy, Hеadmastеr Albus Dumblеdorе, lеd thе charge against the giants and managed to subdue thеm in a timеly fashion. Aurors on the other hand, led by Alastor Moody, suppressed the werewolves, trying to prevent more casualties.

The DMLE is yet to release an official number., but as per reports, around forty werewolves or more were taken in custody. And an equal number perished to the wands of the Aurors or Albus Dumbledore.

While the battle at Diagon Alley raged, a similar attack took place at the Hogsmeade village.

Onlookers confirmed that Harry Potter defended the village of Hogsmeade, burning multiple giants to crisp, saving several lives. Sources state that he was helped by some of his fellow students, whom he had hand trained. These students kept the dementors at bay with the brilliant use of patronus charms and helped the civilians to safety, shielding them from harm.

This, in turn, allowed the Hit-wizard and Auror force to engage the werewolves without worrying about the civilians.

Their bravery and skills saved a lot of lives last night. But in the chaos of the battle, still many witches and wizards perished, falling to the creatures of darkness.

Unfortunately, this is not where the story ends.

While the attacks on Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade drew out the Auror force and Hit-wizards, He-who-must-not-be-named struck ruthlessly in the muggle world.

Many muggle towns were attacked and destroyed as a result. The ministry's Auror force fell short to deal with so many attacks at once. Reports have poured in from Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Portsmouth, and Bristol, recounting a night of terror that had befallen the unsuspecting muggles.

Giants and werewolves were the prime attackers at these places. But reports suggest that even Fiendfyre was unleashed at some places like Bristol and Portsmouth, burning a great many muggles before being subdued.

A total count of casualties is yet to be released by the Auror office, but it is suspected to run in hundreds, muggles and wizards combined.

According to the minister's office, Minister Bones is already in talks with the muggle Prime Minister, trying to mitigate these incidents and protect the Statute of Secrecy.

Minister Bones was unavailable for comment along with much of the ministry. The Daily Prophet would keep you updated on any further happenings.

For more on the battle of Diagon Alley and battle of Hogsmeade, turn to page 2

For more on attacks in muggle cities He-who-must-not-be-named, turn to page 5

For more on international happenings and giant treaties, turn to page 4

For the ministry issued Public Safety Guide, turn to page 7.

'They still cannot use his name. Bloody cowards.' Harry turned the page with a scowl.

"They're saying the casualties are in hundreds," Sinistra murmured beside him. "And Gringotts has sealed its gates for the time-being. This means the goblins might seek revenge. That's bad."

Harry frowned. "Where did you read that?"

"The attack of Diagon Alley," Sinistra said. "In a public announcement, Gringotts officials have stated that the bank will be closed till further notice in order to inspect damages inflicted during the attacks. If any witch or wizard requires to withdraw money, they should do so from the side office, or one of the official branches of Gringotts around Britain."

"That means queues for money, not a goblin rebellion," Harry snorted. "The goblins won't act out. Not when they'll be crushed from both sides. War is bad for business, professor. They won't add fuel to the flames."

"So, they will sit out?" Sinistra frowned. "They did sit out last time around, if I remember. But during the Grindelwald war, some branches of Gringotts sided with him. Others declared neutrality."

"Those who supported Grindelwald were replaced by the dwarves and gnomes, weren't they?" Harry leafed through the paper. "Goblins lost their total monopoly over wizarding currency in one swoop. Now, they have to cooperate with the ICW and the other banks. The whole race bears the punishment for the actions of a few."

"That… is probably true," Sinistra shrugged. "I was never great at history. Not with Binns teaching."

"I stopped attending that class a while ago," Harry said. "Before I even attempted my OWLs. I had enough on my plate and wasting two hours a week in class is not my idea of fun."

"Indeed, indeed," Professor Sinistra muttered as her eyes were drawn toward the doors as Dumbledore swept in.

Harry noticed that the population of the great hall had increased drastically. By now, all tables were almost full of students eating breakfast, including most members of the dragon legion.

The Dragon Legion, much to Harry's pride, had done their work admirably, keeping the dementors at bay. Not to mention, the whole legion had returned alive, having stayed out of trouble for the most part.

There had been a few stray injuries, but nothing that needed to be worried about.

'At least none of them were bitten by a werewolf,' Harry cut into a piece of omelet. 'Or worse.'

Dumbledore climbed onto the podium and a hush fell over the hall.

"A very good morning to you all," Dumbledore smiled at them. "My apologies for interrupting breakfast, students, but some things must be acknowledged. As most of you already know, Hogsmeade and a myriad other places were attacked last night by the forces of Lord Voldemort. In face of such danger, a handful of students fought bravely alongside myself and Professor Potter. To all those who helped, I award twenty points each."

An avalanche of gems rained into the hourglasses of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff at once, while only twenty came into Slytherin.

Applause slowly rose, before people exploded into cheers. Harry watched as sparks shot from the Gryffindor table a moment later.

The sparks of red light swirled in the center of the hall before exploding into a roaring dragon.

A smile curled on Harry's face as he watched the animated dragon fade into sparks.

"Marvelous," Dumbledore beamed. "Thank you, Messrs Weasley, for those wonderful charms. Now, I have a few announcements that have to be made. Last night, Professor Flitwick McGonagall too joined the fight, alongside Professor Hagrid. While they are perfectly fine, they have elected to take a day's rest to recover from the fight. Even myself and Professor Potter were up all night. Thus, classes for the day are canceled."

A cheer rose while Harry leaned back in his chair.

'If I knew, I wouldn't have used the time turner to sleep,' Harry ran his fingers through his hair. 'But it gives me time to get something in for my NEWTS. The project submissions are only a month away. And Helga would have my hide if I submit something subpar. The pensive for the Ancient Runes project would take a day or two more. And then I have to prepare the pensive potion and Felix Felicis.'

"On a more grave note," Dumbledore's amplified voice cut through the noise of the hall like a knife. "In light of the recent attacks, it has been decided that Hogsmeade weekends will be canceled for the rest of the year."

Several protests broke out but immediately got silenced with a bang of Dumbledore's wand.

"You will follow as you're told," Dumbledore's voice was sharp as a rapier. "Your safety is paramount. In light of recent events, it is better to be safe than sorry. Alongside these changes, we will have an earlier curfew. Those timings will be conveyed to you by the head of your house. Good day."

Dumbledore turned, returning to his seat, ignoring the voices as they rose again.

Harry gave him a nod and drained his cup of tea.

"How have you been, Harry?" Dumbledore took a seat beside him tiredly. "Did you get some sleep?"

"A little," Harry shrugged.

"The joys of youth," Dumbledore sighed. "Only youngsters can look so refreshed after only a few hours of sleep. I certainly am not one."

Harry gave him a smile, his eyes flitting to Hagrid's empty seat.

"Do you think Hagrid is alright?" Harry asked. "He doesn't miss breakfast usually."

"He is mourning his brother, Harry," Dumbledore's voice turned sorrowful. "He brought him here from the mountains. He was the last of his family."

Harry's heart sank.

Putting his plate away, Harry pushed his seat back. "I will pay him a visit. You get some rest, Professor. We will talk later at the meeting tonight."

---

12th April 1996

Antechamber, Hogwarts

Dozens of eyes turned to Harry as the door creaked open. Harry strode into the room, gently setting four objects on a nearby table.

With a tap of his wand, a veil of magic covered the desk.

'Now they won't fall, even if someone tries.' Harry's eyes roamed around the room, taking in the various objects that the seventh years had made.

The group consisted of a small number of students— fifteen to be precise. The first batch that was appearing for the projects and practicals alongside Harry.

"Don't tell me you're presenting with us," Cedric groaned nearby, a cloak draped over his arm. "Is that a pensieve?"

"It is," Harry's lips curled into a grin. "And that's a vanishing cabinet. My projects for runes and arithmancy respectively."

"And that broom?" Cedric eyed the ornate mahogany broom at the side of the table. "Don't tell me you made a broom for charms."

"Yeah," Harry nodded. "I don't think it is as good as the new Firebolt, but it is way better than the Nimbuses."

"You're going to make us all look bad, you know?" Cedric snorted. "All I made is an invisibility cloak and a self playing violin."

Harry glanced at the violin sitting nearby and nodded.

"Invisibility cloak is definitely a great project," Harry hummed. "You will get an O if it works."

"It works," Cedric snorted. "I tested it. Are you doing something for Transfiguration?"

"Open challenge," Harry shrugged. "I hope they tell me to duel Dumbledore or McGonagall."

"What?"

"Transfiguration duel," Harry clarified. "You can only use transfiguration."

"And you want to challenge Dumbledore, the highest authority on Transfiguration in the world?" Cedric shook his head. "I didn't even know it was allowed."

"Open challenge is up to the instructors," Harry shrugged. "They can give you anything they want. If you fail to do it, you don't get project credits. If you pass, you get a straight outstanding. It won't really affect the outcome of your exam but project credits are essential for masteries. I want to get a mastery in Transfiguration but I couldn't think of a good enough project. Thus, the open challenge."

"So, all or nothing?" Cedric's eyes gleamed.

"Don't think about it," Harry warned him. "Not unless you know animagus transformation. You might do most of the other stuff, but if they ask you to transform into an animagus, you are screwed."

"Oh," Cedric winced. "Do you know anyone who has done that before?"

"I did, Mr. Diggory," McGonagall walked up to them. "So did his father, in fact, at my insistence. I was asked to transform into my Animagus form while James Potter was asked to showcase a series of elemental transfiguration. Both beyond NEWTS levels. Project is just extra credit for the charms, defense and transfiguration. So, do not worry."

"You knew that my father was an Animagus?" Harry looked at her sharply.

McGonagall's lips curled into a smirk. "Come now, Mr. Potter. They are waiting for you. You'll be the first to present."

She strode into an adjoining room without waiting for a response.

"Good luck, Harry," Cedric beamed. "Not that you need it."

"Yeah, good luck to you too," Harry levitated the objects, and rushed through the door that McGonagall had gone through.

"Good evening, everyone," Harry swept a glance around the room as he entered.

Three Ministry officials sat in the center, while McGonagall stood with Professor Flitwick and Professor Vector at the side. Dumbledore sat in a corner, his hands folded into his lap.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as Harry walked in.

"Mr. Potter," Marchbanks leaned forward. "So we begin this year's NEWT projects and practicals with you. This is Professor Tofty and Professor Phoebus. Are you ready?"

Harry gently set his projects down and gave Marchbanks a nod.

"Very well," Marchbanks peered at a page through her spectacles. "Transfiguration, charms, defense, potions, runes, and arithmancy. Which subjects have you prepared a project for?"

"Everything except defense and transfiguration," Harry said. "In which, I would be up for an open challenge, ma'am."

"Confident, huh?" Professor Phoebus snorted. "Well, I don't think we even need to evaluate you in defense for all it is worth."

Harry gave him a smile before looking at Madame Marchbanks as she cleared her throat.

"And where's your potion, Mr. Potter?" Marchbanks gave a glance at the objects.

"Here," Harry produced a flask of pale golden liquid from his pocket and set it on the table.

"My word," Tofty gasped. "Is that Felix Felicis?"

"Freshly brewed," Harry grinned. "Feel free to take a sip."

"You haven't taken one, have you, young man?" Phoebus picked up the flask, swirling the contents.

"I think the enchantments on the door would've detected that," Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Students are not supposed to know that," Madame Marchbanks said. "But I suppose you detected them, Mr. Potter?"

"I did," Harry nodded.

"Very well," Marchbanks sighed. "What would you like to start with first?"

"I have done these projects," Harry waved his hand at the objects on the table. "Felix Felicis for potions. A pensieve for runes. A vanishing cabinet for arithmancy. And a broom for charms."

"What does the broom do?" Phoebus made a note on his pad.

"Fly?" Harry frowned.

"We have had self-sweeping brooms in the past," Marchbanks said. "We tend not to assume things when it comes to projects."

"Of course," Harry nodded.

"Why are the vanishing cabinets so small?" Tofty asked. "Will it transport humans or just objects?"

Harry waved his wand, and the cabinets set themselves on the floor before expanding to the size of broom cupboards.

"They will transport both, of course," Harry said. "Would you like a demonstration, Professor Tofty?"

"An animal, perhaps," Professor Tofty conjured a bunny that hopped toward Harry who deftly caught it. "If the rabbit appears in the other cabinet, we will consider the project working."

Harry petted the white patch on the bunny's head before placing it in the cabinet carefully. In a swift motion, Harry closed the doors, trapping the bunny inside.

A whoosh filled the room, and the doors of the other cabinet shook slightly.

With a flick of Harry's wand, both doors opened.

"Oh, bravo," Tofty clapped as the bunny hopped out, running away from the cabinet. "Brilliantly done, young man. The rabbit was in one piece and looked the same."

"Thank you," Harry smiled. "The project's written work is here."

Harry produced a small stack of files before sorting through them. "The cabinets— pensieve— Felix Felicis— and here's the broom."

Harry placed the files in front of the examiners. With a swish of Marchbank's wand, they were deposited on a side table in a pile.

"Do continue, Mr. Potter," Marchbanks tutted as Harry blinked at them. "We have other people to grade."

"Yes," Harry coughed. "This is the pensieve, ma'am. A fully functioning court pensieve."

"Play a memory for us, Mr. Potter," Marchbanks made a note on her pad.

Harry placed his wand at his temples, the memories of his first Quidditch match floating in front of his eyes.

A long silvery thread emerged from his temples as he pulled his wand.

With a flick of his wrist, the memory dropped into the clear liquid, which swirled into the picture of a green Quidditch field.

Harry ran his wand over the rim of the pensieve and a small circular shimmer rose over it. The shimmer swirled into the scene of a Quidditch field just as Madam Hooch released the quaffle into the air and cheers filled the room.

"Excellent, Mr. Potter," Marchbanks scribbled on her notepad. "Both sound and visual. Excellent. You can stop the memory."

Harry tapped his wand and the scene dissolved into thin air, the last cheers lingering in the air.

"The Felix Felicis will be tested to ensure later that it is genuine and made by you," Marchbanks said. "Now, the broom, if you will, Mr. Potter. Albus, expand the room for him."

Dumbledore beamed at Harry as he stood and waved the Elder Wand. The room groaned, expanding in length and height rapidly.

Harry swung his leg over the broom and kicked off. He hovered a few feet off the ground for a few moments before leaning forward.

The broom shot forth, covering the length of the room in seconds, before turning the broom around sharply.

"Not bad, not bad," Marchbanks made another note. "We won't ask you to do anything more in here. But the broom flies and stops well enough. Now, get down, please."

Harry landed in front of the examiners and placed the broom back on the table.

"Very well," Marchbanks said. "We will continue with the practicals before moving on to the… open challenges in defense and Transfiguration. Professor Tofty?"

"Mr. Potter," The plump man placed a goblet on the desk. "Turn this goblet into a raven, please."

With a wave of Harry's wand, the goblet melted into a pitch-black raven that flew around the room.

"Excellent," The man made a note. "Now please conjure any piece of furniture you can."

Harry concentrated and waved his wand. A beautiful mahogany dining table appeared, with a variety of crockery laid on it alongside a pot of steaming tea. Six armchairs with plush royal-purple backs surrounded the table.

Professor Tofty clapped his hands while Phoebus's eyes disappeared into his white hair.

Marchbanks said nothing, scribbling illegibly on her notepad.

"I think it is safe to say we do not need to ask anything more for Transfiguration," Marchbanks commented. "Let's do defense."

She removed a bottle filled with a blood-red liquid.

'Blood.' Harry adjusted his grip on his wand. 'She is going to ask me to cast the blood-boiling curse.'

Instead, the blood began to bubble in the bottle and Madame Marchbanks looked at him expectantly.

"That's a blood boiling curse, Madame Marchbanks," Harry said.

"Then please counter it, Mr. Potter," Marchbanks said.

Harry waved his wand and the blood stopped bubbling immediately.

"Silent and efficient," Marchbanks made a note again. "Please show me a full-body shield."

A golden veil of magic rose in front of Harry, covering him from head to toe.

"A mage shield," Marchbanks muttered. "But nothing I didn't expect. Drop the shield and cast the bubble head charm. Followed by the doubling charm on this goblet."

Harry gave her a nod and performed the needed charms.

"Outstanding, lad," Phoebus said. "Now, for the… open challenges. You want to pursue a mastery in both, I suppose?"

"Yes sir," Harry nodded. "I already have a few offers."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled from the side, as he kept sucking on a lemon drop.

"Good good," Phoebus scribbled something. "Let us start with… Transfiguration. Madame Marchbanks?"

"Animagus transformation," She said.

Harry took a deep breath. A moment later, his muscles ripped, and fur grew on his body. His hands turned to paws and his teeth grew. A roar shook the room as Harry stalked forward in his sabretooth form.

"A tiger of some sort," Professor Tofty beamed. "You can turn back, Mr. Potter."

Harry turned back into his human form, blinking as the sensations of being an animal faded.

"Excellent Mr. Potter," Marchbanks said. "Now as for defense—"

A swan patronus burst through the door, flying toward Dumbledore.

"Albus!" A female voice Harry didn't recognize, emerged from the patronus. "Our wards are under attack by Grindelwald! I am doing all I can to strengthen them, but I won't hold him for long. Your phoenix can get through though! Come quickly."

All the twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes vanished as he glanced toward Harry.

"Madame Marchbanks," Harry said, moving toward Dumbledore. "I think going against the greatest dark lord of all time should suffice as my open challenge. If it doesn't— well, I don't know what will. Let's go, Professor."

A screech rang through the room as Fawkes appeared in a flash of fire and grabbed Harry and Dumbledore by his talons.

"You know where to go," Dumbledore said and with a ringing screech, Harry and Dumbledore vanished from the room in a flash of fire.

Notes:

AND… DONE! I hope you all liked the chapter.

A huge thanks to Mughil and Nanu for betaing this chapter!

On another note, do check out my new Drabble, A Bundle of Bunnies! It's something I wrote specially for Halloween. It is small, cute and fluffy.

Thank you for your reviews and especially naming yourself even as guests. I appreciate it.

Please try out my other stories. They're all on my profile and I hope you all will enjoy those too. If you're exclusively into Harry Potter, I strongly recommend Agent Potter: Wizard of W.A.N.D. It is my Spy!Harry fic.

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I have also created a discord server with the help of my two very good friends. I really hope to see you all there and have fun with you all. There, you can communicate with me, ask me questions regarding my fics, look at the character images, get sneak peeks, give your own theories, and even... wait, why should I tell you everything here? Come over and check it all out yourself!

Discord Server Invite Link: discord . gg / 4qfP3fxdQ4 [Remove the spaces please]

I would love it if you guys came to my server and interacted with me there. If you have some of your own theory or wish to see something in this fic as the journey progresses, you can tell it to me on the discord server!

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 76: The Terror of Europe

Ch.75 The Terror of Europe

Fawkes' sharp talons dug into his shoulder and heat washed over his skin, prickling the hair on his arms. Red and orange flames swirled around him as the phoenix song rang in his ears.

His feet slammed into the hard ground and the flames cleared. Harry blinked the spots away, only for a bright flash of light to sear his eyes.

"What the hell?" He shielded his eyes.

Multi-colored jets of light smashed against an invisible dome, creating bright, colorful ripples where they hit.

"Albus, dieu merci, tu es là!" A lady stood behind them, her wand trained toward the sky. "Grindelwald et ses Acolytes nous ont encerclé!"

A flash of blue struck the top of the dome and the barrier trembled. White ripples ran down its length, like waves in the Black Lake.

The lady spat a few words and the ripples smoothened away for a moment, only for more spells to slam into the wards.

"How many?" Harry squinted at the dark figures beyond the line of the perfectly cut bushes and trees.

"Their numbers don't matter. Our problem is Grindelwald," the lady's blue eyes flashed in Harry's direction. She tossed her brunette hair over her shoulder. "You're Harry Potter."

"I am," Harry replied.

A loud gong rang and the barrier shook, sending crimson ripples over the wards. Behind the lady, the windows of the chateau rattled.

'That's bad.' Harry flicked his wand into his hand. 'Grindelwald's attacking the wards hard enough to create magical backlash.'

"Je l'ai trouvée!" A shout drew Harry's attention. A man stood on the balcony on the second floor, waving a short spear at them.

"Apportes-la ici!" The woman yelled and the man leaped off the balcony, pointing his spear toward them.

Instead of falling, he flew toward them, landing smoothly, right next to the woman.

"Je l'ai," the man muttered. "ça marche toujours."

"That's good." The woman replied in English, glancing toward Harry.

The man turned around, a surprised look flitting over his face. "Je ne m'attendais pas à ce que tu l'ammène aussi, Albus."

"Harry was around when I received the Patronus." Dumbledore's eyes flicked between Harry and the man. "I found it in your best interests if he came along too." Dumbledore glanced up as the barrier trembled again, purple and blue ripples cascading down its length. "We might need to hurry. The wards, as brilliant as they are, won't hold for long."

"You should drop the wards." Harry suggested to the woman who was strengthening the barrier. "And once they enter, re-establish every ward you can to stop them from going out. We will handle it from here." Harry turned to Dumbledore. "Professor, you keep Grindelwald busy. I will take out his acolytes— The Knights of Walpurgis."

"Sounds fair." Dumbledore drew the Elder Wand.

Harry looked at the Hallow for a second before pulling out his Invisibility cloak.

"Let's give them an invisible enemy." Harry smirked, draping the cloak over himself. "Whenever you all are ready."

Dumbledore glanced at the lady who took a shaky breath and nodded. Her wand glowed a brilliant aquamarine and the ripples around them disappeared.

Spells crashed into the bushes and the trees, blowing holes in the neatly trimmed garden.

The woman's eyes darkened.

"Ils paieront," she scowled at the nearing cloaked figures.

Harry felt the hairs on his skin prickle as a shimmer of magic rose around the house.

'They have put up their own wards to stop us from escaping.' Harry's eyes latched onto the figure in the center, who was walking toward them with his hands shoved in his pockets.

"Ah, Albus," Grindelwald's heterochromatic eyes glinted as he neared. "I should've expected you to be here. I sensed something was amiss when the wards dropped."

"Gellert," Dumbledore took a step forward, stepping in between the couple and Grindelwald. "Go back with your followers. You won't find a victory here."

"I am not here to fight," Grindelwald's gaze flicked past Dumbledore's shoulder to the couple standing behind him. "I just need something from them." He smiled at the couple. "And of course, you both are still welcome to join me, Monsieur and Madame Flamel."

Harry's head whipped to the couple.

'Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel,' Harry felt dread well up in his chest. 'Grindelwald wants the Philosopher's stone. But Dumbledore told me that they destroyed it.'

"The stone is no more, Grindelwald," Nicholas Flamel spat, shifting the spear in his hand. "We destroyed it four years ago alongside every instruction to make one. You won't get anything from us."

"I am not here for the stone, I am afraid," Grindelwald shook his head. "It would've undoubtedly been an excellent artifact to have. But neither do I fear death nor am I desperate for gold. That's for my… British friend, I am afraid."

Harry watched the Knights of Walpurgis move, slowly surrounding them from all sides.

'Can't have that.' With a glance at Dumbledore and the Flamels, he moved away from them, stepping outside the loose ring Grindelwald's men had formed.

"Enough games, Gellert," Dumbledore declared. "Get out of here."

"Albus, you're surrounded by some of my best." Grindelwald spread his arms, his wand hanging loosely between his fingers. "You're in no position to make threats. But I promise I will be on my way if you just let me get what I want, old friend."

"I remember you said something similar to me before," Dumbledore's mustache twitched. "Something about the wand being all the superiority you needed. You asked me to join you or die. We both know how that went down, don't we?"

Grindelwald's eyes burned, his fingers curling around his wand.

"How can I forget?" Grindelwald's nostrils flared. "But even with Monsieur and Madame Flamel by your side, your chances of defeating me are slim. The wand in your hand will make as little a difference as it did for me all those years ago."

"We will have to see about that," Dumbledore's wand moved in the blink of an eye.

A bright flash of lightning flashed across the grounds only to burst apart against a bronze shield.

Harry took a deep breath, the ozone tingling in his nose, and pointed his wand to the ground.

"So be it," Grindelwald's bronze shield faded away. "Kill—"

The ground rumbled.

A smirk tugged at Perenelle Flamel's lips as she twirled her wand, allowing the wards to rise back all around the property.

Beneath his cloak, Harry tugged his wand upward and Grindelwald's eyes widened.

"NO!"

Glinting gray spikes shot up from the ground while a gust of wind from Grindelwald's wand ripped through the field, throwing several of his followers back.

The cloaked figures went sprawling back, the tips of the steel spikes barely grazing them.

Two spurts of blood blew up in the distance, the red liquid splattering against the ruined lawn. Harry bit back a curse as he saw the rest of Grindelwald's men roll to safety.

'Grindelwald saved most of them from the first blow,' Harry waved his wand in a circle underneath his cloak, pouring more magic into the ground. 'But I am not giving up.'

"No," Grindelwald went to save his men again, only to be forced to raise a shield as Dumbledore and Perenelle Flamel fired a barrage of curses at him.

"SHIELD YOURSELF!" Grindelwald roared over the gong of spells hammering into his shield. "Be wary of the ground!"

Harry twirled his wand underneath his cloak and more metal spikes shot up to impale the acolytes. Raw screams of pain tore from the throats of several cloaked figures, as they reacted, but not in time. Spiked poked through the limbs or torsos of the Knights. Their blood rolled down the steel, pooling on the ground.

'They're injured but still alive,' Harry let his magic feel the spikes. Closing his eyes, he curled his fingers tighter around his wand. 'Die.'

Screams of pain rattled his ears, drowning out the gong of spells being exchanged between Grindelwald and the Flamels. The smell of burning flesh wafted through the air and Harry stopped his spell, opening his eyes.

Charred bodies hung on the spikes, their eyes unseeing, their last screams having died on their tongue.

Only three of Grindelwald's Knights remained alive and unharmed.

"RUN!" Grindelwald roared at them, batting away a pink curse. "GET OUT OF HERE."

Beside Dumbledore, Nicholas spun his spear, a beam of yellow flying from its tip toward the nearest man. The silver shimmer rose in front of the man, only for the beam to shatter through it, punching a hole in his chest.

Red, viscous blood spurted, splattering across the green grass and the man crumpled to the ground, his arms flopping about.

His companions edged away toward the boundary of the wards, a golden shimmer materializing around them. A yellow spell from Nicholas' spear ricocheted off the shield, tearing a chunk of the bushes on the far side of the lawn.

'They are not important now.' Harry's gaze moved across the lawn toward Grindelwald.

The Dark Lord's wand moved in a bluish blur, bursting any spell that came at him to sparks.

'I've never seen a defense like that.' Harry aimed his wand at Grindelwald's back as the dark lord defended himself against Dumbledore and Perenelle. 'But let's see if it can stop the killing curse.'

Multicolored sparks rained around Grindelwald's feet as Dumbledore and Perenelle barraged him with spells while Nicholas attacked the retreating followers.

"Avada Kedavra," Green light burst from Harry's wand, soaring toward Grindelwald's undefended back.

Grindelwald threw himself to the ground, the light of the killing curse shining over his robes as it sailed over him.

The curse struck the marble wall of the chateau, blasting a hole through it.

A golden dome rose around him as a bolt of lightning arced toward him from Dumbledore's wand. Electricity cracked down the golden dome as Grindelwald slowly rose to his feet, a hand on his back.

His heterochromatic eyes narrowed as they ran across the lawn.

As another spell splashed against the golden dome, Grindelwald spun around, magic roaring from his wand.

Around the lawn, spikes crumbled to dust and the bodies of the Knights fell to the ground, splashing into puddles of their own blood. Dumbledore and the Flamels stumbled back while the soles of Harry's feet tingled as magic washed all around him.

'He can't find me under the cloak.' A smirk tugged at Harry's lips. 'But if Dumbledore and I fight him alongside the Flamels, we can kill him today.'

Grindelwald's eyes shone as he turned to face Dumbledore again. "You found the second hallow, didn't you?" Grindelwald breathed as a blasting curse burst against his shield. "The Cloak of Invisibility passed down Ignotus's line."

Dumbledore's arm froze mid-cast while the Flamels raised their eyebrows.

"It is with the Potter boy, isn't it?" Grindelwald's golden shield faded away. "And he is here, hiding under it. Two hallows, so close together." He looked around, his eyes glinting. "Come out, Potter!"

'Under the cloak, I cannot fight him properly,' Harry observed Grindelwald as the man looked around the lawn with crazed eyes. 'A single spell will give my position away. And he cannot use the cloak anyway.'

Harry pulled the cloak off himself, stuffing it back into the moke-skin pouch.

"No, let me see it," Grindelwald stepped forward, only to dance away as a spell flashed past his ear.

"Sorry," Harry pointed his wand at Grindelwald. "But if you want to see the cloak, throw down your wand and surrender. I will even let you touch it once you're in chains."

Grindelwald paused, his eyes rising to meet Harry's own.

Harry felt a slight tug at his waist and flicked his wand, ripping apart Grindelwald's summoning spell like a cobweb.

"That won't work," Harry said. "If you want to see the cloak, throw your wand down. I promise I'll show it to you."

"That is not an offer I can take, Mr. Potter." Grindelwald shook his head, raising his wand, its tip glowing a faint purple. "How about you give me the cloak and I will… leave from here, sparing all of you."

"I am not sure if you noticed, but between all of us, you're out-numbered, out-powered, and out-skilled." Harry waved at the Flamels and Dumbledore who stood behind Grindelwald. "Not to mention, the moment you try to break the wards or escape, Dumbledore and I will blast you to pieces. Surrender."

Grindelwald's fingers tightened around his wand as he looked around. Dumbledore and Perenelle raised their wands while Nicholas pointed his spear at him.

"I see," Grindelwald murmured, turning back to meet Harry's eyes. "But you see, young man? I am a man of many talents."

A second wand slipped from Grindelwald's sleeve into his left hand, a smirk curling on his face. A black shimmer billowed from both his wands, creeping toward the corpses of his followers. The grass and shrubs shriveled and blackened, crumbling to dust as the magic rolled over it.

Harry felt bile rise in his throat. The temperature plummeted and goosebumps erupted over his skin, the smell of rotting eggs making his head spin.

'What is this magic?' Harry tightened his mental shields, his focus ebbing back into place. 'This is bad. Whatever it is, is beyond unnatural. I have to stop him.'

He raised his wand. "AVADA KEDAVRA!"

A wall of blackened dirt rose in its way and swallowed the curse.

Around the lawn, the black shimmer touched the corpses of the Knights, seeping in through their skin. Their veins turned black their skins rotting as the bodies twitched. The blood flowed back into their wounds, forming a mass of black lumps over their skin.

"Gellert, STOP!" Dumbledore roared, his face pale. "Stop this madness!"

A spell arced toward Grindelwald but he waved his wand in a blue shimmer, bursting the spell to sparks.

"It is too late, Albus," Grindelwald glanced at Harry. "If I cannot get the cloak, I need to take what I am here for. Have fun dealing with these."

The eyes of the corpses melted away, revealing burning pits of white fire. They opened their mouths, their jaws stretching and their skin tearing to reveal unnatural, sharp teeth.

'They are Inferi, but they are not,' Harry swallowed the bile that rose within his throat.

A blinding yellow beam of magic shot toward Grindelwald from Nicholas' spear.

"STOP THIS, GRINDELWALD!" He roared as Grindelwald moved out of the way of the curse.

The golden beam speared into a rising corpse, throwing it to the ground. A few drops of inky, black-colored blood flowed out of its wound, sizzling on the ground, melting the stones it touched. Not even a second later the wound closed and the corpse rose back to its feet.

'They're not normal at all,' Three of the corpses took a step toward Harry, their sharp teeth glinting in the glow of the white flames inside their skulls. 'Inferi don't just heal. I need to destroy them once and for all.'

Harry pictured Voldemort's sneering face, allowing the hate he felt to well up in his mind.

"Fiendfyre!" Angry red-orange flames spewed from Harry's wand, drowning the nearing corpses in a sea of flames.

Grindelwald met Harry's eyes through the swirling flames, a smile tugging at his lips. He turned around to look at Dumbledore and the Flamels who were pushing back the rest of the corpses.

'Grindelwald might turn these flames at them,' Harry followed Grindelwald's gaze.

With a grunt, Harry pulled back the flames, extinguishing them.

The corpses screeched, smoke curling off their blackened skins. The white fire in their eyes glowed brighter, as they waddled forward.

'That's impossible,' Harry slashed his wand. Chains rose from the ground and wrapped around the corpses. 'Not even Horcruxes can survive Fiendfyre. Nothing can.'

"It won't work," Grindelwald's voice rang, followed by the snap of the conjured metal chains.

Harry took a step back as the three corpses clawed their way forward, leaving the metal chains in tatters.

"DON'T LET THEM BITE YOU!" Nicholas screamed, pushing back one of the corpses with a spell from his spear. "They are the Draugr. If they bite you, you will turn into them! Contain them!"

Harry flicked his wand, and a thick wall of steel formed between him and the nearing corpses— the Draugrs.

"You seem to know a lot about them, Monsieur Flamel," Grindelwald flicked his wand and the spear flew out of Nicholas's hand.

A Draugr leaped at the Alchemist, sinking its teeth into his calf.

Nicholas' scream was drowned by Perenelle's shrill one as she blasted away the corpse, making her way toward her husband.

"Perenelle, NO!" Dumbledore pulled her back, banishing Nicholas away from them with a flick of his wand.

"Kill me!" Nicholas Flamel raised his head as blackness crept up his veins and his skin began to rot. "Please, Albus."

Dumbledore raised a trembling hand, a wave of magic blasting away the Draugrs nearing them.

"Please, Albus," Nicholas croaked, pushing himself up by his elbows, the skin on his arms darkening. "Quickly."

Dumbledore closed his eyes and jabbed his wand.

A burst of white lightning hit the ancient Alchemist, blowing a hole in his chest. Nicholas Flamel gurgled and fell to the ground, a mixture of black and red blood pouring from the wound, sizzling on the ground.

"NO!" Perenelle struggled against Dumbledore's grip while the Headmaster averted his eyes.

Harry's eyes slid from Nicholas's dead form to Grindelwald, who stood in the center of the lawn with a twisted smile on his lips.

"It is tough, isn't it, Albus?" Grindelwald said and Dumbledore's eyes snapped open. "Choosing between what is easy and what is right."

Around the field, the Draugrs stood still, their claws digging into the blackened dirt.

"You monster!" Perenelle roared, a curse arcing from her wand toward Grindelwald.

He swatted the curse away, the smile on his face turning into a grimace. "For all it is worth, I didn't want to do this, Madame Flamel." Grindelwald said. "I would never wish to spill magical blood, let alone of someone as talented and pioneering as your late husband."

Perenelle let loose another curse at the dark lord who raised a shield, blocking it.

"You have my deepest condolences and apologies," Grindelwald continued as the corpses around the field screeched, clawing their way forward. "I would've stayed but I am on a tight schedule. Don't let these get out of here, will you, Albus? I won't have control over them for long."

The spear that Nicholas Flamel had been wielding leaped into Grindelwald's hand. The tip of the spear glowed and Grindelwald slowly rose into the air.

Harry's attention was drawn back to the corpses as the wall he had conjured, melted into a puddle, white flames washing over the bubbling metal.

'They can breathe fire and survive fiendfyre.' Harry backed away. 'And they can heal from wounds and rip metal chains. I need to destroy them completely.'

"Ekriski Aposyntheto!" A golden beam of magic spiraled from Harry's wand and hit the nearest Draugr.

In a brilliant flash of golden light, the corpse was blasted to pinpricks of golden light.

Harry staggered back while the other two Draugrs were thrown back several feet. In the distance, Grindelwald landed on the balcony and disappeared into the Chateau.

'I can't let him take what he wants.' Harry breathed deeply, waving his wand over himself. With a thought, he rose into the air. 'He cannot escape without coming back out though.'

Looking down, he saw Dumbledore protecting Mrs. Flamel from the nearing corpses while she feebly helped, tears flowing down her cheeks.

'I cannot blast every single one of the Draugrs with the destroyer beam. I will pass out before I kill half of them.' Harry flicked his wand.

The corpses screeched as several of them were pulled closer together, their claws digging into the blackened ground. Flames spewed from their mouths, melting the pebbles.

Harry held them together, keeping himself steady in the air.

"Ekriski Aposyntheto!" He roared and the golden spell spiraled down toward the small pile of writhing Draugrs.

In a brilliant flash, the beam tore through several of the corpses. Dust rose while peebles rained around the lawn. Golden sparks shone in the dust, casting a glow on the Draugrs that were left.

Out of the corner of his eye, Harry caught movement through the windows in the Chateau. Barely a moment later, the side wall of the chateau exploded in a shower of marble and Grindelwald flew out of it, the spear in his hand.

Without a second thought, Harry pushed himself forward, flying in his path, spells soaring from his wand.

Grindelwald twisted in mid-air and swung the spear, its tip glowing a brilliant blue. Harry's spells curved out of the way, blasting into the Chateau behind Grindelwald.

"You replicated Voldemort's flying spell," Grindelwald raised an eyebrow as he hovered in the air. "Unaided flight is an impressive feat. One Albus and I never achieved. Thankfully, now I have other means."

"What did you take, Grindelwald?" Harry growled. "What did you steal?"

"That's for me to know and for you to find out," Grindelwald grinned.

Harry slashed his wand, a pale-yellow spell streaming from his wand. Grindelwald spun the spear, batting the spell away.

"You should be more worried about the Draugrs, Potter," Grindelwald looked to his left. "Albus cannot fend them forever and neither can he escape. And I don't have enough control over them now."

"You used necromancy to reanimate constructs you don't even have control over?" Harry blinked.

"Draugrs are the restless dead, dear boy. They can be set on a path but eventually, they will go free with a single purpose in mind." Grindelwald grimaced. "To kill everything that is not them and turn them into Draugrs."

"You're insane," Harry said. "If they get out of here, the world will be doomed."

"Perhaps I have faith in Albus and you," Grindelwald tilted his head. "And as you told me, I had no other option. I couldn't defeat Albus with the Elder wand in my hand. I certainly can't now, since he has the Elder wand and you are here with the Cloak of Invisibility."

"Let's settle this here then," Harry glanced sideways, checking on Dumbledore who was still fending off the Draugrs, trapping them in cages. "You and me instead of you and Dumbledore."

"I am afraid you'll have to go and help Albus, dear boy." Grindelwald waved the spear in Dumbledore's direction. "And while I admit that you're good— much better than I had been when I was twice your age… you're not in my league yet, dear boy."

Harry scowled, firing a bolt of lightning at Grindelwald who swung the spear again, blocking it. The spear's tip flashed and a stream of yellow flew at Harry, battering across the shield he raised.

A wand slipped into Grindelwald's left hand.

"Dual wielding," Harry flicked his phoenix feather wand into his hand. "Let's dance."

Spells curved from both his wands toward Grindelwald, who floated higher in the air, avoiding them. Another beam shot from the spear toward Harry who twisted out of its way.

Arcs of purple lightning flashed from Grindelwald's wand only to splash against a silver shimmer. Another beam from the spear slammed into the shield, cracking it like a mirror. The faint remainder of the spell clipped Harry on the shoulder.

A hiss escaped Harry's lips as a trickle of blood began to soak his shirt.

"I draw first blood," Grindelwald batted away a curse. "Now, goodbye."

Dozens of sharp silver needles shot toward Harry who flew out of its way. The needles burst against the wards behind Harry, and cracks spread.

A beam shot upward from Grindelwald's wand and with a tremendous bang, the wards shattered.

"Until next time, Mr. Potter," He waved his wand and disappeared with a sharp crack.

"Bloody hell," Harry cursed as his last spell blew the roof of the chateau to pieces.

With a last glance, he flew back toward Dumbledore.

The Hogwarts headmaster had conjured humongous metal containers. Screeches rang from within as Dumbledore layered the container with enchantments, sweat dripping down his forehead.

"Professor," Harry greeted, his gaze slipping toward Perenelle, who was crying beside her husband's body. "I am sorry for your loss."

Dumbledore gave a jerky nod, continuing his work on the container.

"Shouldn't we destroy them?" Harry frowned. "They can rip through steel."

"The Department of Mysteries will be examining them," Dumbledore said, his voice dull. "There has been enough death for a day."

Harry flinched. 'Nicholas Flamel was to him what he is to me. He had to kill his mentor to save him from a fate worse than death.'

Harry looked at Perenelle who was still sobbing over her husband's dead body. With a glance at Dumbledore, Harry walked toward her.

"Madame Flamel, I am sorry for your loss." Harry said softly.

Perenelle whirled around to face him, her eyes burning.

"Sorry?" She whispered, tears streaming down her cheek. "That's all you can say?"

She rose to her feet, her fingers curling into fists. Her eyes darkened as she stepped nearer.

"You could've saved him," she spat. "You could've given him the cloak and let him go! But you didn't!" She jabbed her finger into Harry's chest. "You chose your cloak over my husband! How dare you come here and say that you're sorry?"

Harry closed his eyes, squashing the flair of annoyance. "Madame Flamel, I am sorry I didn't save your husband in time. I should've stayed with you all instead of going around to kill the Knights."

Perenelle turned on her heel and stormed off to the Chateau, banishing away the debris in her way with a wave of her hand.

Harry turned around to look at Dumbledore who didn't meet his eyes. He stood stone-faced in front of the metal container, his wand clutched in his hand.

"You did what was right, Professor," Harry said. "You saved him from a fate worse than death."

Dumbledore didn't reply.

'They are both reeling from Nicholas Flamel's death,' Harry turned to look at the body of the fallen Alchemist. 'But I need to find out what Grindelwald took from them. And I need to do it before it is too late.'

Chapter 77: A Wife's Grief

Ch.76 A Wife's Grief

12th April 1996

Flamel Chateau, France

Wizards and witches in deep navy robes swarmed around the ruined lawn.

"Monsieur Potter," a French Auror cleared his throat. "I will need you to describe the events again in your own words."

"Look, mate. I told you all I had to. Not once but twice." Harry scowled. "If you have more problems, take it up with Sebastien Delacour or Albus Dumbledore. I just fought Grindelwald and his men. I am in no mood for this shit."

Harry turned on his heel and stalked toward the Flamel Chateau, entering through the hole in the wall.

"Reparo," Harry waved his hand and a few of the debris flew back into place, leaving a smaller hole in the wall.

'I destroyed it with the killing curse.' Harry winced. 'That's not going to get repaired.'

Harry walked into the Chateau, his eyes searching for Perenelle Flamel. She was nowhere to be seen. Harry waved his wand and a blue shimmer spread from its tip, racing through the Chateau. A moment later, Harry felt it respond and he walked up the marble staircase to the first floor.

Before he could go further, the door of a room slammed open, Perenelle emerging from within.

"Oh, it's you." She wiped her tears away. "I— I apologize for earlier. It wasn't your fault."

"It's alright, Madame—"

"It should've been me instead of Nicholas." Fresh tears flowed down her cheeks. "I was the one who didn't listen to him. It should've been me. He always kept saying that we should go away! Run off into the sunset and live our remaining life in comfort. But I wanted to keep this home. I was stupid and selfish."

"Madame Flamel," Harry shifted uncomfortably. "What has happened has happened. But I don't think you're safe here anymore. I have a… friend who lives in France. We can go there."

"It doesn't matter if I am unsafe." Perenelle sniffed. "Grindelwald took all I had. What do I have left? At least—"

Harry grasped her arm.

"Madame Flamel, your husband wouldn't want you to die." Harry said. "Don't let his death be in vain."

"You do not understand."

"Madame Flamel, I lost everything I had when I was just a year old. I grew up with no one to call family." Harry gave her a penetrating look. "I know you grieve for your husband. But let's be a little practical here. We need to leave. You're not safe here."

Perenelle nodded weakly.

"And—" Harry grimaced. "This might not be the best time to ask you this, but do you have any clue what Grindelwald stole?"

"This Chateau has many things," she muttered. "Even if we don't have the stone anymore, we have a lot of different things. Books, potion ingredients, money, Elixirs, artifacts, and even—"

All color drained out of Perenelle's face.

"And?" Harry prompted.

"Merde." Perenelle gasped. "Mr. Potter, you must fetch Albus right now!"

"Of course," Harry flicked his wand and his dragon patronus flew out, vanishing through the wall.

Turning to Perenelle, he saw her hurrying up the stairs, two steps at a time.

"Wait up!" Harry ran after her but she didn't stop, bursting through a set of doors in near panic.

"MERDE! MERDE! MERDE!" Perenelle's curses rang through the house just as Harry burst into the room. "CONTACT THE MINISTRIES!"

The room looked like a workplace and library. Its walls were lined with shelves filled with scrolls of parchments and old, leather-bound books. In the center of the room, behind a posh mahogany desk, a safe was built, its doors ripped off the hinges. And all its contents were missing.

"Madame—"

She turned to him. "Potter, you need to go and contact whomever you can. Tell them every ward scheme I've built after the first Grindelwald war has been compromised. These include the French and American ministry buildings and several of Grindelwald's old strongholds which were seized." She paled further. "They also include the whole of Beauxbatons and a part of Durmstrang's wards. Run!"

"Calm down," another dragon patronus flew from Harry's wand. "Go to Sebastien Delacour. Beauxbatons and the French Ministry's ward schemes are compromised. Grindelwald might be preparing to attack them as we speak. Take immediate security measures."

The dragon soared through the ceiling in a trail of white mist just as Dumbledore appeared through the chateau doors.

"Harry?" His blue eyes followed the white trail left behind by the patronus. "What happened?"

"We found what Grindelwald stole, professor." Harry replied, his voice echoing down the Chateau. "He was here to steal the ward schemes Mrs. Flamel created for various places. The French and American Ministries, Beauxbatons, Durmstrang, and Grindelwald's old strongholds are compromised."

The color drained out of Dumbledore's face. "Oh, dear."

"Don't worry, I have sent a message to the French Ministry." Harry added. "But you need to get hold of the ICW as soon as possible."

"I will get going." Dumbledore drew his wand, a phoenix patronus bursting forth from it and soaring out of the window. "Take Perenelle somewhere safe, Harry. I will have the house sealed. Bill and his friends are already on the way. Take care of her."

Fawkes flew into the room from the hole in the roof and grasped Dumbledore by the shoulder. Together, they vanished in a flash of flames.

"Potter, you're not taking this seriously enough," Perenelle grasped his elbow. "You do not understand the consequences this could have. On top of it, he has Nicholas's spear."

"Madame Flamel," Harry sighed. "We have already alerted the needed authorities. Grindelwald isn't going to act right at this moment. Even with the ward schemes with him, he would require a couple of days to study them. And not to mention, he isn't exactly in shape to start tearing wards down."

"That is a part of the problem Potter, but not the whole problem." Perenelle's eyes darkened. "Nicholas's spear is a very powerful magical artifact. It tore through your shield, didn't it?"

"It was a little surprising," Harry admitted. "But—"

"That is what it is meant to do, Potter." Perenelle's grasp tightened. "If Grindelwald figures how to use it properly, he could tear through any of these ward schemes within minutes. You don't need to take security measures, Potter. You need to evacuate these places."

Harry closed his eyes. "Right. One problem at a time. First, what can this spear do exactly?"

"It has three main functions." Perenelle said impatiently. "It enables the user to fly, it can create a very powerful shield around the user and it can fire a single spell that Nicholas named the tear-through beam. The spell is a combination of a cutting curse and a shield breaker. This spell grows more powerful with the more magic you pour into it."

"In the hands of someone like Grindelwald, it could prove very dangerous," Harry cursed under his breath. "Alright, I will warn them about this too. Is there anything else?"

"Yes. Evacuate the schools first. Grindelwald has devolved into a monster now. No sane man would ever have performed Draugr's creation." Perenelle Flamel drew herself up. "If Nicholas and I valued one thing the most, it was children because we couldn't have any of our own. That was why we built the school. And I will not let anything happen to the students there."

"Yes—" Perenelle disappeared with a pop. "Shit. Hedwig!"

Hedwig appeared in a swirl of purple flames and landed on the railing, cocking her head.

"Hed, I need you to take me to Beauxbatons. Right now."

Hedwig cooed and flew to Harry's shoulder, and they disappeared in a swirl of purple flames.

---

12th April 1996

ICW Chambers, Paris, France

The chatter of the dozens of ministers rose through the place, echoing against the walls of the chamber.

"SILENCE!" Purple sparks burst from Dumbledore's wand with the sound of a cannon blast. "Kindly maintain decorum!"

The room quietened and Dumbledore's eyes scanned through the assembled crowd.

"Ministers, today we have lost a great man," he said. "Nicholas Flamel has contributed more to the world of magic than anyone else has. And Grindelwald didn't stop there, choosing to steal from the man and what he stole now poses a great threat to all of the wizarding world."

"Senor Dumbledore," a female voice called. "Why did Nicholas Flamel have these ward schemes? Beauxbatons, we understand because he was its founder. What of the rest?"

"His wife, Perenelle Flamel was the one of the lead warders of all these places, Liliana." Dumbledore replied. "But that is not our cause of concern."

"Yes, our nation is in danger!" The Head of MACUSA stepped forward. "If the ministry is compromised, Grindelwald might just waltz in and take control. We still remember the last war. How he and his men infiltrated our ranks and caused destruction like nothing we have witnessed."

"We all know how dangerous the man is." The Indian Minister stepped forward. "Grindelwald has set his sights on the whole world. He sent his knights to the Andaman Islands where our Shakti Council fought and apprehended two of them while the rest were killed in the skirmish."

"His men have already captured control over Malta," The Italian Minister shot to her feet again. "Well, officially Russia did. What does the Confederation aim to do?"

"About Malta or Russia?" Someone yelled.

"Malta, of course!" The Italian Minister scowled. "As long as we get Malta back, we will have no problems."

"If the ICW sends a force to acquire Malta back for you, it would mean declaring war on Russia." The German Minister stroked his goatee. "Are we sure that's the wisest course of action post the sanctions we have already imposed on Russia?"

"If Grindelwald has taken control—"

"Of which we have no proof," the German Minister cut in. "Grindelwald hasn't declared himself the tsar of Russia as far as I am aware."

Arguing broke out in the chamber at that, a few in support of the German Minister while most were against.

"SILENCE!" Dumbledore roared. "We have a crisis at hand, gentlemen. Let us not quarrel with each other." Dumbledore's eyes darkened as he looked at the German Minister. "Besides, I am inclined to agree with Minister Gottbroom. The ICW cannot mobilize an army to support a single nation when both nations are a part of the ICW. Thus far, Russia has only declared its rule on Malta. No other nation yet has come under its attack."

"You cannot be serious, Dumbledore." Amelia rose to her feet. "Russia invaded another country and took control over it— Grindelwald or not."

"Minister Bones, Britain is welcome to support Italy," Dumbledore spread his arms. "But the ICW as an organization cannot act on this. It is not the function of the ICW to be partial in a conflict between two countries. Any country is welcome to support Italy and help them win back Malta."

"But the ICW won't lift a finger?"

"We have already imposed sanctions on Russia, Minister Anaxandridas." Dumbledore replied. "That's all we can legally do as specified by the founding charter of the ICW."

"And what of your support, Supreme Mugwump?" Minister Anaxandridas raised an eyebrow. "You defeated Grindelwald before. And it is my understanding that Britain's infamous Dark Lord, Voldemort, is back and whenever he attacks, you respond personally."

"If you call me for help, I shall come unless I am preoccupied elsewhere." Dumbledore responded. "Gellert Grindelwald poses a threat to the world now more than ever. Today, Harry Potter and I almost had him but to escape, he created Draugrs— necromantic constructs much more dangerous than your regular Inferi."

Murmurs spread.

"So, Grindelwald is insane, we get it." Someone from the back stood up on their seat. "He nearly burned down the whole of Paris in the last war. He has already burned a few cities in the past few months. What is the ICW doing to stop him?"

"The ICW has issued an international manhunt for Grindelwald," Dumbledore said. "And the same for Lord Voldemort. The ICW has also dispatched teams of security wizards at every office of the ICW who can be summoned if aid is required. Now, if you would, sir, please get off the chair."

The person thankfully listened and got off the chair.

"The ICW should be doing more." The minister of Kenya said.

"That's what we are here for, Minister." Dumbledore said. "First, the schools should be evacuated and rewarded for the safety of the students. The ICW will be redirecting some of its forces to France and America till their ministry buildings are rewarded or shifted for additional security, if they accept, of course."

"I accept on behalf of the MACUSA," The American representative said.

"So does France."

"Then it is decided." Dumbledore said. "Please come to my office for the paperwork. And as for the old strongholds of Grindelwald around the world… the confederation must come to a decision." Dumbledore's eyes roamed around the room. "Sooner or later, he will come to reclaim what was his. And we must decide what we must do."

---

12th April 1996

Beauxbatons École de magie

Harry appeared in a flash of purple flames in front of a set of majestic gates made of steel. In its center, the logo of Beauxbatons was carved, thrumming with magic. A wall several feet high stretched in both directions as far as his eye could see, in addition to the wards he could sense enveloping the school.

"Hedwig, take me to Madame Flamel," Harry said but the phoenix shook her head.

'Phoenix wards?' Harry frowned. 'Well, whatever.'

Raising his hand, Harry knocked at the doors with the knocker provided and waited.

After a minute, Harry noticed a figure nearing the gates and waved.

"Harry Potter?" The man frowned as he neared. "Is something the matter?"

"Yes, Madame Flamel has come here a few seconds back." Harry said. "I must get to her."

"Madame Flamel?" The man's eyebrows rose. "How do I know what you're saying is true? How do I even know you are Harry Potter?"

"Expecto Patronum," his dragon patronus flew around him. "See? That's my patronus. This is my wand. And that is my phoenix." Hedwig trilled and landed on Harry's shoulder. "What else do you need as proof?"

The man regarded Harry with a scrutinizing gaze before acknowledging his presence with a nod. With a flick of his wand, the gates creaked open.

Harry stepped through the threshold, and the gates immediately swung shut behind him.

The sprawling grounds of Beauxbatons stretched before him, adorned with impeccably manicured gardens and elegant architecture. Hedwig remained perched on his shoulder, her feathers glinting in the soft light.

The large man gestured for Harry to follow as they walked along a cobblestone path flanked by towering topiaries. The air carried a hint of floral fragrance, as Harry walked toward the castle.

They approached the main entrance of the Beauxbatons castle which was adorned with intricate carvings and magical symbols. The massive double doors swung open, revealing a grand foyer adorned with magical tapestries and gleaming chandeliers.

"I do not know where Madame Flamel is," the man frowned.

"Then take me to the headmistress's office." Harry said.

The man nodded and began leading him through a labyrinth of corridors, all adorned with magical portraits and beautiful paintings. The school reflected a glint of beauty and elegance that Hogwarts somewhere lacked.

Students in the corridor looked at them, whispering to each other as Harry passed.

"Harry?" A loud voice called and he turned. Gabrielle stood there with her friends, a bag clutched in her hands. "Harry, what happened? Did something happen to mama or papa?"

"No, your parents are absolutely fine, Gabby." Harry said. "We will talk later. I am here—"

"À l'attention des étudiants." A voice rang through the walls. "Veuillez retourner dans vos dortoirs jusqu'à nouvel ordre. Tous les cours sont annulés."

More whispers spread down the corridors as students began to move.

"Let's get going." Harry patted Gabrielle's head and followed the man up the mahogany stairs, so similar to the Flamel's home, avoiding the students moving in either direction.

Soon they arrived at a tall, domed door.

"The headmistress's office, Mr. Potter." The man said and Harry knocked at the doors.

"Thank you," Harry told the man as the door swung open.

Both Olympe Maxime and Perenelle Flamel were inside the office much to Harry's relief.

"Potter?" Madame Olympe frowned. "What are you doing here?"

"I am here because of her," Harry pointed at Madame Flamel who was pacing across the carpet. "She apparated away even though I had sent a message to the French ministry."

"I haven't received the message yet," the headmistress frowned.

"I just sent it a few minutes back." Harry sighed.

"You must send the students home immediately, Olympe." Perenelle said. "I will redo the wards. I—"

"Mrs. Flamel, you are in no condition to redo the wards right now." Harry interrupted her. "Neither mentally nor magically. You just faced off against Grindelwald and lost your husband."

Madame Maxime gasped. "Nicholas is dead?"

Perenelle gave a nod, her eyes darkening. "He is. But I will not let his legacy die. Grindelwald could be preparing to launch an attack as we speak!"

Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Madame Flamel—"

"You won't stop me, Harry Potter."

"I am not stopping you, I am just asking you to calm down." Harry said. "I am here. Dumbledore is talking with the ICW and alerting all the needed authorities. French aurors are probably on their way. I understand what you might be going through, but we must do this in a calm, orderly fashion."

"So we must send the students home?" Madame Maxime frowned.

"That will be the best course of action for now." Harry nodded. "Prepare their ride home and send letters to their parents."

"I must talk with the French ministry before this happens," Madame Maxime's eyes flicked between Harry and Perenelle. "Mathéo will help you with anything that's needed."

Perenelle got to her feet. "We should be doing this immediately. Grindelwald could be here any minute."

"If Grindelwald comes, I am standing here." Harry said. "If he wants to get to the students he will have to go through me, Madame Flamel. The students will leave tomorrow after breakfast. Alright? We must arrange security for the travel too."

"You both are making decisions here." Madame Maxime frowned. "Must I remind you that I am the headmistress of the school?"

"And I am the founder of this school." Perenelle drew herself up. "I think Potter's idea is sound. The school is in danger. Make it happen."

Madame Maxime pursed her lips.

"I am terribly sorry if I overstepped my boundaries, Madame Maxime. But we are talking about Grindelwald here." Harry said. "This is the best course of action."

"I cannot do this so fast." Madame Maxime frowned. "It is already evening."

"Get me a list of whatever you need." Perenelle ordered. "The safety of the children comes first. They will be leaving for home tomorrow."

"I will talk to the ministry then." Madame Maxime stood up, towering over Harry and Perenelle.

"Can I use your floo?" Harry asked. "I must inform Hogwarts and the Order. With me and Dumbledore away, Hogwarts is vulnerable and so is Britain."

"Feel free." Madame Maxime nodded.

"Thank you." Harry dug into his pouch and removed two potion vials as Madame Maxime went out of the room, Mathéo standing guard. "Madame Flamel, please drink this."

"I am calm." She pushed away the vial. "I do not need a calming draught."

"Please, for me." Harry said. "Because if you do not, I will make you drink it."

She glared at him. "Potter—"

"Madame Flamel." Harry glared back. "Drink"

She pursed her lips and uncorked the vial, drinking it. Her eyes closed and she sighed.

Harry drank a pepper-up potion and steam billowed out of his ears.

"You stay here please. I will talk to Professor McGonagall and Sirius." Harry said. "Please don't run away this time. Professor Dumbledore asked me to take care of you. Please don't make this harder for me."

"I will try not to," she nodded.

"Thank you."

Notes:

AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!

So, the problem thickens with Grindelwald stealing ward schemes and Nicholas's spear. Beauxbatons and Durmstrang might be in trouble. What will Grindelwald do next?

I saw many comments upon Perenelle's reaction to, well, her husband's death. I was depicting the stages of grief by the reaction. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.

And anyhow, Perenelle just lost her husband of six freaking CENTURIES. She is not going to be in the right state of mind, is she?
.

Thank you for all your reviews!

A huge thank you to Mughil, Nanu, and Anax for betaing this chapter!
.

Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!
HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 78: The Greater Good

Ch.77 The Greater Good

14th April 1996

Finland

Snow drifted through the sky, settling on the dark spires that rose above the snowy cliffs. Clouds rumbled over the castle, dark blurs flitting between them.

"Herr Grindelwald, our ally approaches."

Grindelwald smiled, tucking a hand in the pocket of his waistcoat, the silver ring on his finger glinting.

The dark blurs descended in columns of black fog which writhed and faded away, revealing the Death Eaters clad in black robes and silver masks. A pair of red eyes shone next to Grindelwald as a bone-white face appeared, the fog settling around him, forming a black robe.

"Guten Tag." Grindelwald smiled. "Lovely day, isn't it?"

Voldemort sneered. "I thought we were here to win your castles back, not exchange pleasantries, Lord Grindelwald."

"A man more inclined to work than his fellow men." Grindelwald sighed. "The folly of youth today."

"You really sound like the old man, Dumbledore." A high voice had Grindelwald turning.

Snowflakes sunk into her raven locks, her hooded violet eyes glaring at Grindelwald unflinchingly behind an etched silver mask.

"I am an old man too, dear Bellatrix." Grindelwald smiled. "And it was me whom Albus learned this from, not the other way round. Now, Herr Voldemort. Are you and your men ready?"

"They are." Voldemort dipped his head. "Augustus, Dolohov?"

The two men in silver masks stepped forward, drawing their wands from their robes.

"Help my men take down the wards on this castle." Grindelwald removed a silver pocket watch from his waistcoat. "We should be prepared for resistance as always."

"Bella?"

"My Lord?" The witch knelt at Voldemort's feet.

"Help Lord Grindelwald's knights to take over the castle once the wards are down."

"As you wish, my lord." She kissed the hem of Voldemort's robes, joining the group of witches and wizards waiting on the side with their wands drawn.

"How many castles did you have?" Voldemort's red eyes latched onto the shimmering wards as they began to unravel.

"Several." Grindelwald closed his eyes. "So many that I barely remember the number. Each and every place I conquered, I had either built or enchanted a castle as a relic and a place for my followers. But once I was defeated, the ministries and the ICW seized them all." A ripple of magic melted the snow at Grindelwald's feet. "Locked them away because they were too scared of the wrong person. Too short-sighted."

The snow around his feet turned to steam, drifting away.

"I heard they even sold some of them to the muggles." A smirk curled up on Voldemort's lips. "Or more appropriately, gifted them to them after stripping all traces of magic from them."

Grindelwald opened his eyes, the clouds over them darkening. The cold melted away, and the winds picked up, rustling through Grindelwald's cloak. The snow swirled around the mountain.

"I will take them back. I will set the world right." A wand slipped into Grindelwald's hand.

A brilliant flash of light tore through the air and hit the shimmering wards with a tremendous bang. The mountain trembled, snow sliding off it, crashing down toward the muggle villages below.

Voldemort drew his own white wand, a frown creasing his bald forehead. "I expected Aurors here by now, since the wards are down."

"Oh, they have their security in place." Grindelwald's eyes hardened like shards of ice.

A loud roar shook the mountain and three big blurs flew out of the castle, casting a shadow over the two dark lords.

"Dragons." Voldemort tilted his head. "Kill them!"

"No," Grindelwald flicked his wand, erecting a massive shield as a spiked, black dragon breathed fire at his followers. "Stun them! Subdue them!"

Voldemort watched as the flames licked the silver shield and faded away without harming any of the followers. Stunners arced toward the dragons as a silver dragon swooped down toward the assembled knights, its claws glinting in the sun.

"Help me subdue one, Herr Voldemort," Grindelwald shot a brilliant beam of crimson at the third, dark green-scaled dragon, which wobbled in the air. "My men cannot take all three of them."

The dragon flapped its wings, gusts of winds ripping past their robes, as it regained control.

"I didn't take you for someone who spares out of mercy." Voldemort slashed his wand and the dragon was sent hurtling back in the air, narrowly avoiding the towers of the castle.

"You are too short-sighted, my British friend." Another stunner hit the dragon in its face and the beast dropped, its claws digging into the mountain's side. "We get three free dragons with this."

Grindelwald flicked his wand, and the snow around the mountain rose, forming chains of which ice wrapped around the dragon, trapping it. The dragon roared, struggling against the chains, breathing fire at them.

The chains remained sturdy and unmelting.

"Now." Grindelwald said.

Two beams of brilliant crimson hit the dragon in the side and the beast slumped against the chains, stunned.

"I must admit, you make some interesting strategies." Voldemort turned to the remaining two dragons. One of them— a silver Swedish Short-Snout was airborne, breathing blue flames at a huge wall of steel alit with runes.

The black dragon was on the ground, its spiked tail screeching against the ground leaving a trail of sparks as it breathed fire.

Flashes of crimson lit the air as stunners streaked toward the dragons. Fire welled in the black dragon's throat, only to die out in a puff of black smoke as the dragon slumped onto the ground.

The Knights and Bellatrix immediately turned to the airborne dragon, shooting stunners at the creature. The dragon twisted out of their way, flying circles around the tower, rising higher and higher.

"It is going to attack." Voldemort said. "Swedish Short-Snouts are cunning. They will lure their prey into a false sense of security before snatching them up and devouring them."

"Then we attack it before it does." Grindelwald removed a long spear from his robes. "I suppose you don't need a broom to fly?"

Black smoke curled around Voldemort, wrapping around his waist. In a dark blur, he shot upward, Grindelwald following him.

The air grew colder and thinner, the castle below a dark patch among the snow capped mountains. Snow froze around Grindelwald's hair as he drifted through the sky, looking around for the dragon.

"I cannot see the beast." Voldemort's voice rang as the clouds darkened, his white face peeking out of it.

Grindelwald spun his spear, and the clouds parted with a gust of wind.

Immediately, blue flames shot toward the two of them, the head of the silver dragon emerging from the darkness.

A golden shield extended from Grindelwald's spear, swallowing the flames as a stunner struck the dragon in its face. The dragon fell, spiraling toward the ground before flapping its wings. Flashes of crimson soared upward, most missing the beast, disappearing into the sky above.

Voldemort slashed his wand and the dragon was thrown downward, Grindelwald's stunner missing it.

The death eaters and knights below shot more stunners, taking down the beast which crashed into the castle's walls.

Grindelwald smiled triumphantly, floating back to the ground, prodding the dragon with the butt of his spear.

With a flick of his wand, the bricks of the castle flew back into place.

"So, it is done?" Voldemort appeared next to him, the black fog settling into his robes. "The first castle has fallen back into your grasp?"

"It has." Grindelwald nodded. "There might be traps inside but there are no men. The ICW has abandoned most of the castles, focusing on the protection of the schools and ministries that Perenelle Flamel had warded. And wonderfully at that. I can still feel the traces of her magic on these walls, covering mine."

"So what next?" Voldemort asked. "I want to be done with this so you can keep your word."

Grindelwald sighed. "Patience, Herr Voldemort. Britain will be yours as I promised when we shook hands on our partnership. We will liberate the magical world as we dreamed. The time for Britain will come. First, we must do what we can."

Grindelwald clapped his hands and one of his men appeared next to him with a snap.

"Secure the dragons and bring in an expert on them. Let the curse-breaker look over this castle as you all secure it. Herr Voldemort and I will go and secure the rest of my old strongholds."

"What are we taking next?"

"My favorite." Grindelwald's eyes glinted sharper than the tip of the spear he held. "My old cage and what was once the ICW's most guarded place. Nurmengard."

---

14th April 1996

Grimmauld Place, London

Soft footsteps echoed through the silent halls of Grimmauld as Fleur walked down the stairs, her silver blonde hair hanging loosely around her face.

"Bonjour." A soft voice had Fleur's eyes snapping open.

Sharp blue eyes glinted above the rim of a steaming tea cup as the lady sitting at the table watched her silently. Her brunette hair was tied in a tight bun, a golden stick sprouting from it unlike Fleur's loose hair.

"Bonjour." Fleur straightened, brushing her hair out of her face. "Bonjour, Madame Flamel. I am Fleur Delacour… I studied at Beauxbatons."

Perenelle nodded, keeping her tea cup down. "I am aware. I saw you and your family come in during the meeting yesterday."

"I am sorry for what happened to your husband." Fleur shifted. "I didn't know you were staying here."

"Albus insisted." Perenelle's blue eyes turned sharper, her lips tugging upward. "And so did your boyfriend, apparently."

"Oh," Fleur said. "Harry told me about the fight but not the fact that you were staying here."

"It must've slipped my mind." Harry appeared through the kitchen door and Fleur jumped. "Morning, Madame Flamel. I hope you haven't had any trouble staying here."

"For the first time in years I have woken up to quietness instead of a loud crash or a boom." Perenelle chuckled sadly, stared at the cup in her hand. "Nicholas used to wake up early to do his experiments. He always said that early morning was the best time to think. But he was clumsy— and many of his experiments blew up until he perfected them."

A tear slipped down Perenelle's cheek. Fleur conjured a handkerchief and handed it to her.

"Thank you dear." Perenelle dabbed her eyes. "I am sorry, it's just been hard."

"It's understandable." Harry walked around the kitchen, tapping the kettle with his wand. "You lost your husband whom you had been together with for the past six centuries. How can it be easy?"

"I am still sorry for going off on you." Perenelle shifted. "I wasn't thinking straight. I don't blame you for his death, dear boy."

"All is forgiven." Harry waved her off. "This is war, Madame Flamel. You're not the first victim of it and you are not going to be the last."

"Oui." Fleur's eyes darkened, faint flames licking her fingers. "I worry about papa every day. I worry about Harry. About Gabby and my mother. I wish I could end it all."

"Grindelwald is out of your league." Perenelle closed her eyes. "He was out of my league. Had it not been for both Harry and Albus coming to our rescue, even I would've been dead… which might have been better, perhaps."

"No." Harry cut in, his voice sharper than the sword of Gryffindor. "Had you died, we would've never known what exactly Grindelwald stole. We wouldn't have known of his plans. You being alive will save a lot of lives."

"What is being done about it?" Perenelle asked. "About Grindelwald's old strongholds and the other places since he hasn't attacked yet as you predicted?"

"The ICW decided that most of the old castles weren't worth protecting as the ministries and the schools were." Harry ran a hand through his hair. "They've left traps, hoping Grindelwald would be caught in it."

"He won't." Perenelle scoffed. "He won't be Gellert Grindelwald if he was caught in traps placed by ministries."

"What we can hope for then is that a few of his men would be caught in those traps." Harry shrugged. "I've heard they have even put dragons in a few places to attack as soon as the wards go down."

"What about Nurmengard?" Fleur asked. "It was his main castle, non?"

"There is not much left to protect there." Harry's voice turned grim. "The ICW war wizards and the inmates are already with Grindelwald and Voldemort… or dead. The prison is effectively empty and abandoned, no more useful than Azkaban is."

"You can't let him retake that castle." Perenelle exclaimed. "It was—"

"Madame Flamel, protecting the castle was a waste of money, time, and lives." Harry shook his head. "Yes, its every brick is drowned in Grindelwald's magic. It is perhaps one of the greatest magical castles made in modern day. But it serves no purpose now. Even if Grindelwald retakes it… there is nothing we can do."

"Potter, the castle is the only thing capable of holding someone like Albus or you." Perenelle said. "Destroy it."

"I do not think he will bother imprisoning Dumbledore or me." Harry said darkly. "He won't make the mistake Dumbledore made."

Fleur looked away while Perenelle stared into her empty tea cup.

"He isn't wrong." A gruff voice called from the doorway, followed by the thunk of the wooden leg. Moody's magical eye roved around the room. "Potter, tell your elf to prepare us some bloody breakfast."

Moody dropped into the seat beside Perenelle, removing his wand from his cloak.

"Put that wand back in your cloak before you find it rammed up your rear, boy." Perenelle's eyes flashed.

"What is he doing?" Fleur whispered to Harry as Moody raised his wand toward Perenelle's neck.

"How do I know—"

"When I first saw you, you had been hit by an ever-bleeding curse in the back." Perenelle cut him off. "You had lost a lot of blood. When you woke up, you nearly hexed Dorea Black."

Moody leaned back and nodded. "You all should be doing this. Constant vigilance!"

Fleur's eyebrows rose and she tossed her hair over her shoulder.

"Unlike you, Moody, I can sense magic." Harry grinned. "And this is a house warded by Dumbledore and me in addition to all those ancient Blacks. You cannot get in if you have hostile intentions."

"The wards are very powerful." Perenelle agreed. "I have seen better but they're good. And dangerous. But… so were the wards on our house."

"They held Grindelwald and his followers at bay for several minutes until we arrived." Harry said. "And they would've held for longer too, had I not told you to drop them. But there were problems. For starters, your house was in the middle of nowhere and you were battling outside the walls. This house is in the middle of London. Not to mention, they'd have to breach both the wards and the door to get in. That is, if they get through the Fidelius— something held by Dumbledore of all people."

"That's ten times the trouble." Perenelle nodded. "All things considered, this is a very safe house."

"We could use someone like you in the Order, you know?" Harry said. "Maybe even at Hogwarts. I am not continuing next year."

"You are not?" Fleur turned to him.

"I would be concentrating on the legion more." Harry sipped his tea. "Also, I do not want the curse on the position to get me. Not until I can find what's causing it anyway."

"Wait, there's a curse?" Fleur's eyes widened.

"It is said there is." Harry said as a plate filled with buttered toasts, eggs, and slices of apple appeared in front of everyone. "It usually takes a year to strike. It struck Umbridge early."

"Such a curse would take a lot of power." Moody grunted. "But in the past twenty years or more, no defense professor has stayed at the school for more than a year. Something always happens. It is said it doesn't hit the good professors that bad but the bad ones?"

"Umbridge was so bad that the curse didn't let her stay for more than a few months and ended up in her being kissed by a dementor." Harry nodded. "Remus just got outed as a werewolf and he resigned but Lockhart got obliviated through his own actions and is now in Saint Mungo's permanent damage ward."

"But it has never been proven that the curse exists." Moody said.

"I cannot feel any magic creeping up on me either." Harry nodded. "Neither has Dumbledore. It may be that we are actually good but I'd rather not risk it. Not with the war going on."

"If either of you die, all hope will be lost." Perenelle nodded. "With Grindelwald and Voldemort together, you must be very careful."

"The term is still a good few months away." Harry glanced at the clock. "I must get going. I have a third year class in an hour and I need to get ready for them."

"What are you teaching them?" Moody asked. "Curses and shields?"

"I covered a few basic spells in all my classes." Harry drained his cup of tea. "A shield, Expelliarmus, the basic stunner, Expulso… They won't be taking down death eaters by any means. But if they are attacked, they won't go down without a fight if they have a wand."

"Decent." Moody spread marmalade on his toast. "Teach them to attack at the feet rather than the torsos. A blasting curse at the feet means you are going to be injured unless you apparate away or shield. It is not ideal but if it saves your life…"

"Yeah," Harry nodded. "I shall get ready now. You three have fun."

"I am going to sleep soon." Moody yawned. "Long night at the ministry and I have to go back in the evening."

"Did something happen?" Harry frowned, glancing at the map.

"Skirmishes in Knockturn Alley." The scars on Moody's face rippled as he scowled. "And there was a Death Eater snatching. Two shopkeepers are missing and their shops were burned down under the dark mark."

"Right." Harry sighed. "Nothing of much concern, I'd say."

"Still, bad news." Moody grumbled. "People are scared shitless. They always are."

Harry nodded, glancing at Fleur. "Alright, I am going to go and get ready. Fleur, do you want me to talk to Dumbledore to let you sit with the seventh years?"

"Non, I can study on my own." Fleur said. "Plus our lectures have almost come to an end at Beauxbatons. Only two weeks of lectures were remaining until we went for self-studies for our NEWTS."

"If you need help, just ask." Harry shrugged. "I can get you any professor you want from Hogwarts. Or someone here will help you."

"What I need to do is finish my mastery in charms." Fleur told him. "Madame Forestier cannot teach me any longer and I have nearly a year of the course remaining. If you can put in a word with master Flitwick…"

"I can teach you, if you'd accept." Perenelle offered softly. "I am not as good as my husband was but I have a mastery in charms myself. I am a Grand Sorcerer."

Fleur's eyes widened and lit up.

"Well, why don't you two talk out the details? I will get going." Harry said. "Good day, fellas."

---

3rd May 1996

Hogwarts Castle

Waves of the great lake washed across the rocks, leaving them bright and shiny. Hedwig's soft trills rang as she flew around in circles over the lake.

"Well, this is grim and all." Susan's voice cut over the sound of waves. "Grindelwald is rampaging through the continent like a herd of hippogriffs."

A piece of newspaper with Grindelwald's smiling face drifted into the water, sinking beneath the waves and disappearing.

It was a cutting from the morning's newspaper. Shortly after the attack on the Flamel Chateau, Grindelwald and Voldemort had teamed up to reacquire several of Grindelwald's old strongholds across northern Europe.

The castle in Finland was the first to go, followed by Nurmengard the very same day. And they hadn't stopped there, going around the continent— Italy, Estonia, Romania, Macedonia… resulting in twelve out of twenty-nine strongholds falling back into Grindelwald's hands.

They had tried for three more— The Montesi Castle in Italy, the Durmstrang Castle, and the Cesky Sternberk Castle in Czech. The first two had been rebuffed, with heavy casualties on both sides.

But the Cesky Sternberk Castle in Czech was a whole different story. It had seen one of the worst fights in the world, with the Czech ministry bringing in the muggle military to attack Grindelwald and Voldemort.

How they had done it was beyond Harry's comprehension. They had blatantly broken the statute. The only people aware of the magical world were supposed to be the heads of the state— prime ministers and presidents. Not the military.

But the Czech ministry had done it— either through cooperation or as Dumbledore suspected, the Imperius.

Of course, it wouldn't matter considering what had happened in the end.

A few of Grindelwald's men had perished, being caught unprepared to face a muggle army. But once they were aware, between Grindelwald and Voldemort it resulted in a complete, utter slaughter.

Both Fiendfyre and Ignis Diabolica had been unleashed, reducing muggles, magicals, tanks, and the castle itself to nothing but ashes.

Rumor was that about eighty-percent of Czech's Auror force had been killed on that day alongside a battalion of muggle soldiers.

All for not even ten of Grindelwald's men.

All the effort hadn't even been worth the number.

"Twelve castles in two weeks with casualties running in hundreds." Harry muttered. "And we are sitting on our arses doing nothing."

"Why aren't they raiding the castles?" Susan frowned. "You know where they are. You can do the same thing Grindelwald did."

"If we do that, we will be struck in a loop." Harry said. "If they wanted the castles, they would've secured them by any and all means possible. They didn't. The castles are nothing but a place for Grindelwald and his followers to stay. By winning them back, we win nothing. They are simply not worth the risk until we know for sure that attacking one will be a considerable blow to him and his forces."

"Like your grandfather and the Dragon Legion storming the Nurmengard castle?" Susan's eyebrows formed a deep vee. "They freed a lot of Grindelwald's opposers and killed a handful of his followers."

"Yes." Harry nodded. "And it benefited them greatly. Right now the castles are practically empty. There are no people there. There's nothing Grindelwald holds dear or deems important. It is just an empty castle. We don't even know if he has done anything other than rework the wards around them."

"But once it becomes… more, you will go and attack it?" Susan bit her lip.

"If it leads to disrupting Grindelwald's operations, yes." Harry nodded. "Right now we are playing defense, Susan. Half the world is still in shock, so to speak. They're distributing pamphlets on how to protect yourself if your house is attacked."

"Like the one we received from the British ministry? Run, hide, call the Aurors."

"Yes." Harry nodded.

"It was bullshit."

"Not necessarily if you've a place to hide within your home." Harry flicked a stone into the water. "A room with heavily reinforced and enchanted walls that could withstand Fiendfyre. Hiding under the bed will result in you being turned to ashes before you know it."

"So like a panic room. We have one of those." Susan nodded. "At Bones Manor. But now we live with you."

Harry hummed, watching a tentacle of the giant squid break the surface of the lake before disappearing.

"Harry, what do you think about us hunting the Death Eaters down?" Susan asked after a few moments. "We know a few of them. Between you, Daphne, Fleur, and I…"

"It could be a slaughter?" Harry gave her a thin smile. "Then how'd we be any different than the Death Eaters? Killing in battle, when you know the other person is going to kill you is one thing. Killing in cold blood?"

"Auntie Amelia says that in war you've to make tough choices, Harry." Susan's eyes darkened. "If you don't, they'll walk all over you and your family."

Harry sighed. "Then tell me this, Susan. Are you ready to bestow the same fate on another child that the Death Eaters gave you. To orphan them because their parents opposed us?"

Susan flinched.

"It seems right at first glance." Harry continued. "To be the bringers of justice. To give the Death Eaters a taste of their own medicine. You're right. Between us all, it will be a slaughter. Yes, in war, tough choices need to be made. We are already killing them on the battlefield if they appear. We will be raiding their strongholds in the future."

"See? I get your point, Harry." Susan grimaced. "I can say things like this because I've never killed a human being. Werewolf, yes. But it was a beast about to kill a child."

"Killing to protect is easy… easier." Harry amended. "You can justify it. Even to yourself and to the court. But going to a house, tearing away its wards and breaking in to kill a parent? That's a whole different thing. The child, despite the crimes of their parents, is innocent."

"Then we capture them." Susan said. "We can do that too, can't we? Capture them and have them tried at the ministry."

"That's a better idea." Harry nodded. "Gather intel and capture Death Eaters. Maybe even set a trail to lead them into a trap. But… we'd be doing it illegally. Not that anyone will actually dare to move against me but—"

"Who says we have to let them know it is us?" Susan smirked. "Masks work well enough. Tie them in ropes and leave them in the ministry atrium with the dark marks on display."

"That's brilliant."

"No one will know." Susan nodded. "We can use polyjuice or transfiguration to hide our faces."

"Simplicity itself." Harry smiled. "And I believe we will have an adult willing to help already. A powerful and very capable witch who just lost a lot to Grindelwald."

"Tonks?" Susan frowned.

"No." Harry shook his head. "Perenelle Flamel."

Notes:

AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!

A huge thanks to Mughil for betaing this chapter.

.

Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 79: A Grand Game

 

Ch.78 A Grand Game

30th May 1996

Examination Hall, Hogwarts

The scratch of quills and the rustle of papers drifted through the hall, punctuated by the sound of occasional footsteps of Professor Tofty and Flitwick. Harry dipped his quill and continued to write, his brows furrowed in concentration.

"Parchment, professor." Fleur's voice rang from the side of the hall and Professor Tofty hurried toward her, handing her a small booklet of parchments. "Merci."

The students of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang had been provided the option to either give their NEWTs and OWLs from Hogwarts or one of the ministries. Fleur and a few of her friends had chosen to give it from Hogwarts. Victor Krum had done the same, choosing to give his exams from Hogwarts alongside the other Triwizard champions.

While neither school had fallen yet— Durmstrang barely making it through—Grindelwald had made no further attempts to capture them even though they were abandoned. The ministries had decided that the school would remain closed until the wards were redone— by multiple warders, no less, who would all be obliviated later in order to ensure complete secrecy and security.

Grindelwald himself, on the other hand, had been strangely non-violent for the past week. He had staged attacks on more or less every single castle that had once been his— except those actively used by the ministries and Beauxbatons, attempting to win them back. And he had successfully recaptured sixteen of his old strongholds.

According to sources though, he was making no big effort toward them or to ensure that they weren't taken back. It was puzzling, to say the least. Either they were mere decoys, or Grindelwald was playing the game of cat and mouse. Waiting for ministries to try and take back the castles, only for him to stop them, reducing any and all resistance against him.

Fortunately, the ministries had not taken the bait yet. Harry had heard that some politicians were getting twitchy, pushing to reclaim the strongholds.

But while Grindelwald had been non-violent, he hadn't been quiet. He was recruiting. From public speeches and grand visuals to displays of power and blatant threats, the dark lord had done it all. Though, like the last war, he let many escape, when they refused to walk through the flames of Protego Diabolica.

This was quite the opposite of what he had done at the ICW headquarters a few months back, and a few days after announcing his return. Dumbledore had explained that Grindelwald didn't harm witches and wizards unless they opposed him. His goals, however convoluted, were pure freedom for wizardkind and, to a stretch, subversion of muggles. So, unlike Voldemort, who killed indiscriminately, Grindelwald didn't.

And this tactic had been effective. In the past week, nearly a hundred witches and wizards had joined Grindelwald's ranks, despite the whole world knowing of his crimes and the fact that he was a wanted criminal of the highest order.

A kill-at-sight order had been issued by the ICW for both Grindelwald and Voldemort, with a reward of a million galleons for Grindelwald and a hundred thousand galleons for Voldemort.

A part of Harry had found it hilarious when Voldemort was clearly labeled as the equivalent of a minor dark lord to Grindelwald. While it was true— Grindelwald had conquered half of Europe and terrorized America while Voldemort had failed to take over Britain; it would've been a massive blow to Voldemort's pride.

Speaking of Voldemort, the terror of the British Isles… was missing.

The last time he had been seen was during the attack on the Montesi Castle in Italy, fighting alongside Grindelwald before fleeing when they had lost too many men. Snape had reported that since then, the Dark Lord had put Rookwood in charge of operations and disappeared.

To where or to do what? They didn't know.

It was something that worried Harry the most. Voldemort wasn't someone who would get his own hands dirty. He only took to the battlefield or diplomatic missions when he could not trust anyone else to do the work to perfection. Which was why it was concerning.

Voldemort was planning something. Whether it was for Grindelwald or himself, Harry wasn't sure. But he was going to be ready.

The OWLs and NEWTs had thrown a slight wrench in his efforts as most of the Dragon Legion, including his own inner circle had become busy with exams. And considering it was everyone's OWL or NEWT year, there was nothing Harry could do.

And not to mention, he too had to give it a final revision. Helga and Salazar would never tolerate anything less than straight O's in the NEWT year. While Harry was certain he had aced the practicals/projects part, he had to still study theory.

Which sucked, considering he knew concepts of magics in much more depth than NEWTs could ever cover. What was asked in NEWTs was something Harry had learned in his third year itself and remembered it all, having near-perfect recall due to his Occlumency.

The problem lay in the way the answers had to be written. According to most sources, a majority of NEWT paper-checkers corrected the papers in what Hermione dubbed to be 'the textbook way'. Which meant they needed the answers nearly verbatim from the textbooks assigned. And while Harry knew the concepts, the word-to-word definitions needed work.

With a sigh, he continued to write the answers and fill the booklet of parchment he had been given.

Grindelwald and Voldemort could wait for a couple of days till his exams were over. It was not like they were going anywhere.

---

12th June 1996

Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts

Long flames licked the edge of the torches, casting a yellow glow within the room. Silver trinkets whirled on top of tables, a few emitting smoke or different colored lights. On the center table, a stone basin was placed, its contents rippling with silver waves, blurry images visible beneath them.

"The cup of Hufflepuff." Harry's hand curled into a fist. "And the locket of Slytherin."

The last word almost came out as a hiss from his lips.

"Indeed." Dumbledore nodded. "Tom seems to have chosen the artifacts of the four founders to house his soul… or at least two of them, which he found."

"They were priceless artifacts. A cup that could increase the potency of any healing potion by tenfold. A locket that could protect the mind of the wearer from even the Imperius." Harry's eyes glowed with rage. "And he turned them into Horcruxes."

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. "I confess myself surprised, Harry. I didn't know they had those capabilities; let alone existed. The only artifacts from the founders I was aware of, were the diadem of Ravenclaw and the sword of Godric Gryffindor— which you now possess."

"There's the hat." Harry glanced at the sorting hat. "Amongst other things."

"I suppose you found out about this in the chamber?" Dumbledore hummed.

"They were mentioned in a book. A book written by Rowena Ravenclaw on enchanting." Harry lied. "The hat was actually Gryffindor's artifact. It was meant to store any and everything its wearer wanted and act as a sheath for his sword. Well, after he died, the others made it… more."

"Remarkable." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "And what of Ravenclaw's lost Diadem? Did it truly grant great wisdom to its wearer?"

"It didn't." Harry rolled his eyes slightly. "But it gave the user the ability of perfect recall alongside the ability to understand, read, and speak any language."

"Interesting." Dumbledore nodded. "And concerning. The diadem has been lost since Rowena Ravenclaw's death. But if someone could've found it…"

"It would be Tom Riddle." Harry pinched his eyes. "Unless the diadem itself was destroyed somehow."

"Well, for now, we know of two Horcruxes." Dumbledore said. "The locket of Slytherin and the cup of Hufflepuff. And we must find them."

"Indeed. Where did you get this memory from?" Harry asked. "And what happened to Mrs. Smith?"

"I got this memory from an elf in the ministry's creature custody a few days ago." Dumbledore winced slightly. "Hokey… was convicted for the murder of her mistress, Hepzibah Smith."

Harry frowned. "That's impossible. The elf magic—"

"Would prevent her from doing such a thing." Dumbledore agreed. "But Hokey confessed to the murder. When I visited her, well, I searched her mind. Her memories had been greatly altered. I had to… break through them and peel away the layers of magic to get this memory from her."

"Did she… survive, professor?"

Dumbledore closed his eyes. "She did. But I suspect it won't be for long that she is in the world. Not at the age she is."

Harry leaned back. "Well, back to the matter of the Horcruxes. How do we find them now that we know what they are? I suppose we can't just summon them to us?"

"I don't think they could be summoned." Dumbledore smiled mirthlessly. "Or people would've found them long ago."

"True. But they didn't have something you do." Harry glanced pointedly at the wand lying on the table.

"The Elder Wand." Dumbledore picked it up. "Accio locket of Slytherin!"

The two of them waited in silence for several moments. Harry waved his wand to open the window just in case.

"Alas, it didn't work." Dumbledore stated after a few minutes.

"Perhaps it is being… trapped?" Harry frowned. "By a closed room, preventing it from reaching us?"

"I'd have felt a tug at my magic had that been the case." Dumbledore shook his head. "I am quite sensitive to magic, unlike most wizards."

Harry hummed. "Maybe a locator spell?"

"Point me, locket of Slytherin." Dumbledore held the elder wand on the flat of his palm.

The tip glowed briefly, before dying out.

"So, he hasn't missed anything." Harry growled.

"Lord Voldemort is not someone who would've made such silly mistakes, my boy." Dumbledore pushed his wand into his sleeve. "He was a brilliant wizard with a few peers. Most who met him, only saw greatness in him."

"But you knew he was rotten." Harry's eyes darkened.

"I showed you my first meeting with Tom Riddle. The matron did report some concerning details." Dumbledore's gaze grew distant. "Had I turned back that day—"

"You had no way of knowing. You are no seer, professor." Harry cut him off. "Yes, it would've saved us quite a lot of trouble had you not admitted Riddle into Hogwarts. But you had no way of knowing. What you could've done though, was kill Grindelwald or sign an order of execution for him. Now that is a mistake you can take the blame for."

Dumbledore hung his head. "I won't make that mistake again. Not this time. We will finish them off for good. And make sure they cannot return… Gellert won't be a problem in the returning part, I suppose. But Lord Voldemort is."

"Are you sure he won't get motivated and make a Horcrux of his own?" Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Would you?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.

Harry paused. "Not… really. Cutting off a part of my soul is…" Harry shuddered.

"A perversion of magic." Dumbledore nodded. "Gellert won't do it either as far as I know him. Gellert has morals, Harry. And a code. He doesn't seek power but he seeks change. Voldemort merely wants a throne at the top of the world for himself."

"Could Grindelwald be persuaded otherwise then?" Harry asked. "To turn his back on Voldemort?"

"If Gellert has sided with Voldemort, it means that he has a plan, Harry." Dumbledore sighed. "And unlike me, he is a seer."

"You told me that the visions he gets, he has no control over them." Harry frowned.

"Indeed. But the man I knew would never join Voldemort. Not without a very good reason… something that he could justify for himself as the greater good." Dumbledore peered at Harry atop his spectacles. "And these actions might have been motivated by one of his visions. And he has had no shortage of time to plan, has he? For all we know, he has been planning something a lot bigger since the day I put him in Nurmengard."

Harry leaned back in his chair. "Then we must be ready for anything."

"We must not only be ready, Harry. We must be a step ahead. We are in a grand game of chess. And right now, we are losing."

---

15th June 1996

Grindelwald's stronghold, Siberia

Several loud cracks rang through the quietness of the dark room. A single candle flickered by the windowsill, its light glinting against the silver buttons of Grindelwald's waistcoat.

"Guten Tag," a smile curled on his lips. "How do we fair, Mitmenschen?"

"Most of ze recruits are promeeseeng." A melodious female voice rang through the room, the flame of the candle rising higher with her words. "Ze ones who were a part of ze Aurors and the war weezards are going to be ze jewels of our force, Herr Grindelwald."

"Excellent, Madame Tremblay." Grindelwald's eyes remained on the flame. "How soon can we begin?"

"Monsieur Hansen's and Madame Agard's teams are ready." She looked at the two who stepped forward. "Monsieur Nyberg and Meyer's teams will be ready by ze end of ze week."

"Hansen, Agard." Grindelwald turned. "Are your teams ready?"

"They are, Lord Grindelwald." Hansen bowed while Agard gave a curt nod.

"And what of the dragons we captured?" Grindelwald turned to a short woman who was standing away from the group.

"Heavily sedated and in isolation, Herr Grindelwald. Your men—" She sneered at the two men standing at the center. "—have done all kinds of things to them that makes them unpredictably wild and angry. Potions, charms, blood magic, and whatnot."

"Peace, my dear Fabrizia." Grindelwald smiled. "What is being done, is for the greater good."

"They are dragons, Herr Grindelwald. Creatures of magic. Magic, which is being altered by wizards." Her eyes darkened. "Surely you—"

"I do see, my dear Fabrizia." Grindelwald walked to her and patted her back. "But when we use them to conquer the obstacles in our path, they will be the biggest threat for our enemies. They'll be the first ones to be harmed. This is to protect them and ensure they attack our enemies and not our allies."

Fabrizia huffed but said nothing. "Then what are my orders, Herr Grindelwald?"

"Make sure that they are in optimum health and ready to be unleashed." Grindelwald smiled. "And Fabrizia, I promise these dragons will have a free home like they used to in the ancient times. They won't be chained and trapped to keep them away from unworthy muggle eyes. For when magic reigns supreme, it won't have to cower and hide. It will run glorious for all to witness."

Fabrizia smiled and bowed. "They'll be ready, Herr Grindelwald."

"Excellent." Grindelwald nodded, turning back to the group as a whole. "You all are my Verkünder. My inner guard. My generals. We have one single purpose. To ensure magic reigns supreme. To ensure that magic has to no longer hide in the shadows. And soon. Very soon, we will rebegin the journey I left off in the last war."

"And what of your British friend, Herr Grindelwald?" A man stepped forth from the shadows, his blood-red eyes glinting like the silver canines in his mouth. "The one who champions not magic but purity of blood? A man who neither shares your ideals or your drive, who only has ambition to sit atop a throne, even if the whole world lies dead at his feet?"

"Lord Voldemort is a necessary evil, I am afraid, Count Silas." Grindelwald frowned. "Our foes are not as weak as they were in the last war. Yes, there were great men. But they didn't have mammoths fighting for them. There was only one who could challenge me and he sat away in his castle till the last second until it was all but necessary for them."

"Dumbledore, your old friend. I am aware." Silas' eyes glinted.

"Indeed." Grindelwald nodded. "That is no longer the case. And there is a new player in the game. A young boy who is more powerful now than I was when I was twice his age. The one who vanquished Lord Voldemort when he was a year old."

"Surely you don't buy into that, Herr Grindelwald, do you?" A woman snorted. "A child stopping the killing curse by himself?"

"No, it was most likely one of his parents— both of whom were brilliant, I might add." Grindelwald agreed. "But it doesn't discount the fact that the boy is powerful. Powerful and skilled enough to hold me at bay for several minutes without taking a hit. I need Lord Voldemort to keep them busy in Britain so they cannot interfere with my plans here."

"And what eef they… come to stop us?" Tremblay questioned.

"Then, my dear Madame Tremblay," Grindelwald said, giving her a piercing stare. "You retreat. You live to fight another day. Because Albus is not as forgiving as he was in the past and the Potter boy is as ruthless as his grandfather, Charlus Potter."

"Very well." She nodded.

"Prepare and plan for any eventuality." Grindelwald said. "Those lacking vision, will resist us. Will resist change. But you've to show them otherwise. You've to show them that those who want magic to reign supreme… reign supreme."

---

14th June 1996

Room of Requirements, Hogwarts

"Good evening." Harry's voice rang over the chatter of the room, and everyone turned, ceasing their conversations. "So, how were everyone's exams?"

He received a mixed response, with some replying enthusiastically while some grumbled and a few waved him off.

"Right." He said dryly, before turning to the youngest group of students. "What about you folks? How was Defense?"

"Great, professor!" Colin Creevy chirped while Ginny nodded beside him.

"It went well, Harry." Luna said dreamily. "You were an excellent teacher and taught us way more than whatever came in the exam."

"Brilliant."

"I still feel you could've given us hints." Ginny muttered. "Gone and seen the paper."

"I am not going to leak the papers, Ginny." Harry rolled his eyes. "Not for you. Not for anyone."

"Yes, that's cheating." Hermione agreed. "Also, you would not learn if you were handed the papers."

"Can we stop this talk about exams?" Ron asked irritatedly. "We've had enough of them for our lifetime."

"Well, then we can begin today's session." Harry clapped his hands. "Today, I have a few special guests with me."

A door appeared, and Fleur waltzed in, followed by Viktor, and Cedric.

"The Triwizard champions." Harry motioned for them to join him on the podium. "You all know who we are. You all saw what we faced. Fleur, Krum, and Cedric are some of the most skilled witches and wizards of our age. And today, you'll be facing us."

The room shifted with a snap of Harry's fingers. Bookshelves and dark spell detectors vanished, the padded floor turned into rough ground and a huge house rose up in the middle.

"We will be Death Eaters." With a wave of Harry's wand, the robes of the Triwizard champions turned into black robes, and silver masks appeared on their faces. "We will attack your home. And you have to survive in any way you can."

"Hold up a second!" Seamus blurted. "Even you will attack?"

"You can think of me as Lord Voldemort." Harry replied and a lot of students flinched. "Because, if he comes to you, you must defend yourself enough to run away. Also, this is not the only scenario we will be running. We'll have Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, a London street and everything. If you can fight on varying terrain, you should be good."

"But don't Death Eaters attack in hordes?" Katie asked. "Don't get me wrong, you four are great and all. But numbers…"

"Oh, we will have numbers." Harry grinned. "I've got a few people to help me, you know? Some very skilled members of society including but not limited to Aurors and Hitwizards. Even Professor Dumbledore has agreed to help me out with the last session."

Murmurs and whispers spread across the room at that.

Harry cleared his throat and held up his hand. "My objective here is to have you as prepared as I can before we leave for summer break. Why? Because I know there will be attacks over the summer. I know some of our families will be targeted. Susan's aunt is the Minister of Magic. Many of your parents work for the ministry, and some even hold seats in the Wizengamot. So, you must be alert and ready."

There were grim nods around the room. A good portion of the Dragon Legion belonged to well-to-do families. While a good portion were muggleborn, it didn't discount the fact that they too were at risk for being muggleborn and thus, a target for Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

"We have a little over a week before we leave for our summer breaks." Harry continued. "Exams are over and there are no classes. The Quidditch season will be over on the sixteenth, which is in two days. So, we have time. Ample time to get you ready in case of an attack."

Dean raised his hand. "Will you call us to help if there's an attack somewhere? To, you know, fight against the Death Eaters?"

Many eyes turned back to Harry, shining with eagerness.

Harry's jaw twitched. "It wouldn't be my first call. BUT—" Harry glared at them, quelling their protests. "I will not discount the fact that as a group, you all are capable. You fought against them before. You stayed on the side-lines, but you fought. It is something that no one can overlook. Heck, several of you are more capable than a few of the Aurors I've seen."

"So, you will call us?" Seamus blurted.

"If I feel it is needed, I will." Harry declared. "You all won't be the first ones I call. Not even the second one. But if I have no other option, the Dragon Legion will be called upon. Your primary objective will be to mitigate losses and protect civilians like you did back in March."

Cheers spread amongst the group, most looking satisfied that they could play a role in protecting the world.

Harry put his wand to his throat. "But I will only call upon those who perform well this week. I will assess you. I will test you. And I will ensure you are ready. Am I understood?"

"YES!"

"Then, let us begin."

Notes:

AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!

Yes, there is more to Grindelwald's plans than mere chaos. A thing to understand about Grindelwald is that he is not some megalomaniac who wants to rule the world. Does he want a throne? Maybe. Is that all he wants? No.

Grindelwald's main motto is for magic to reign supreme. To get dominion over muggles and not live in fear of them. Voldemort is a necessary evil for him. An answer to Dumbledore and Harry's duo. A balance of the scales on both sides, so to speak.

While Voldemort is not a footnote by any means, he is still a chess-piece in a bigger game of Grindelwald. Or so he intends. And even right now, Grindelwald's army and influence stretches far more than Voldemort's does. Let us not forget that Grindelwald was influential enough to arrange an assassination attempt on Harry Potter of all people while sitting in the most secure prison in the world. He is not your typical cartoon villain like Voldemort is. Yes, he has his flaws, his obsession with the hallows for one. But he has a purpose. A clear defined purpose which doesn't limit to world dominion.

.

Thank you for all your reviews.

A huge thank you to Mughil, Nanu for betaing this chapter!

.

Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 80: Opening Moves

 

Ch.79 Opening Moves

18th June 1996

Room of Requirements, Hogwarts

Whispers flitted amongst the members of the Dragon Legion as Flitwick and McGonagall swept in, followed by Fleur, who went to stand beside Victor and Cedric at the side while McGonagall and Flitwick took the center stage alongside Harry.

"Yes, as I said, two of the very best in their fields have joined us today." Harry announced. "Today's session will largely focus on the very effective use of transfiguration and charms in protecting yourself against an attack. Now, I have taught this to you before. I have, I believe, hammered conjuration techniques into your head in order to use whenever you see a green spell."

Harry's gaze swept around the room as everyone nodded in agreement. He had, after all, spent a week teaching them nothing but to conjure marble slabs and rocks to intercept spells of all kinds. He had also specially altered the blasting hex to appear green instead of the usual orange, so it looked similar to the shade of the killing curse.

It had been done to ensure that none of them froze when they saw the curse being used. After all, Death Eaters loved to use the killing curse and most people froze in their tracks when they saw it. Also, not everyone could control conjured animals as he could. It was an advanced technique in conjuration taught in the seventh year. It also needed concentration to be pulled off— which in high-pressure situations might not be the best tool to rely on.

In Helga's words, conjuring a marble block was much more reliable and safer unless you were a master of transfiguration and could perform the technique in your sleep.

"Professor McGonagall?" Harry gestured to her and McGonagall nodded.

"Today, Filius and I intend to show you all how to use basic transfiguration and simple charms to great effect in order to take down an opponent— sometimes, even multiple. You will also be learning how to protect yourself against these techniques, which is just as important."

"I am sure Mr. Potter has taught you a few of them." Flitwick squeaked. "Especially conjuration and a handful of advanced elemental charms. But he hasn't taught you to turn your own house into a trap for anyone attacking."

Harry raised an eyebrow while Flitwick gave a grin reminiscent of the goblins.

"Indeed." McGonagall nodded. "Filius has once in the past saved his own life by doing so. I, too, have defended the homes of some of my friends by turning the very room against the attacker. And I speak of simple spells. Spells that a third-year could potentially do. And we will be demonstrating this."

"You all have nothing for the rest of the day." Harry added. "We will be going on till the night. Yes. The whole day. I cannot stress enough how useful this can be. And I do not want to hear any whining or crying. You all will do this if you want to keep yourself safe and others safe."

"Thank you, Potter." McGonagall nodded. "We have taught most of you for nearly half a decade or more now. I believe you all have a grasp of the basics, or at least what might be needed to do what we demonstrate. First, I will be going."

Harry closed his eyes and the room shifted, the floor turning muddy while a moderate-sized house rose in front of them. A second later, the walls of the house turned transparent showing everything within.

"Transfiguration is the art of turning one object into another." McGonagall stepped toward the house. "Tell me, what all can you use effectively to defend yourself by using transfiguration? And how?"

Hermione's hand shot up.

"Yes, Miss Granger?"

"We can turn the tables and couches into animals, professor," she said promptly. "They can be used to attack any intruder or even intercept spells."

"Not bad. What else? Yes, Mister Creevy?"

"We can turn the sofa to stone and take cover behind it," he said.

"An excellent suggestion," McGonagall smiled. "But one with a fundamental flaw. Who can tell me what it is? You."

"The couch can be used to attack him," Cho said. "Transfigured or animated to attack him."

"And how can you prevent that?" Harry stepped forth, cutting through the discussion. "Sorry, professor."

McGonagall gave him a disapproving frown before turning to the rest.

"An anti-transfiguration charm, of course." Ernie replied. "But it uses runes to work."

"That is not what the runes are for." Hermione corrected. "The anti-transfiguration charm will work like any other charm till it is removed or fades. The runes are to ensure that it cannot be easily removed and lasts longer."

"Exactly." Harry said.

"Very good. Now, I suppose we should get on with the demonstration." McGonagall drew her wand. "I shall go into the house and defend myself by only employing basic transfiguration. Mr. Potter, if you will?"

"Fleur, Cedric, and Viktor will attack you." Harry nodded. "Whenever you are ready, professor."

McGonagall turned and walked into the house, her eyes darting around the surroundings with each step.

"Watch carefully now." Harry said. "You all can go closer if you'd like. The walls are present despite being see-through. Watch carefully what she does. What all of them do."

The members nodded, inching closer to the house, leaving the path to the door clear for the attackers to go in.

Harry glanced at McGonagall, who nodded. "Three— two— one. Go."

Krum moved first, taking the lead as he stalked toward the door followed by the other two. With a flick of his wand, the wooden door burst to pieces with a bang, scattering across the house.

McGonagall glanced at the broken pieces with a look that suggested she did not like the fact that Krum had made a mess. With a wave of her wand, the pieces rose and shot forward, turning into huge spikes— oddly reminiscent of needles in mid-air.

Krum raised a shield while Cedric dove to the floor avoiding the projectiles while Fleur shifted away from the doorframe, staying outside the house.

A stunner flashed past McGonagall's hips as she waved her wand again. The flower vase next to the door turned into a cat, and leaped onto Krum's arm, digging his nails into him before leaping toward his face while Krum shielded himself with his hands.

Before he could pull the feline off, long chains wrapped around his legs and he fell onto Cedric who was getting to his feet.

Both of them collapsed to the floor in a heap.

Harry facepalmed, watching as the chains trapped them completely, wrapping around them, ensuring they couldn't use their wands.

There was a difference between someone being good and their opponent just being embarrassingly bad. This, Harry decided, was the latter.

'I had expected McGonagall to win.' Harry grimaced. 'Just not this easily.'

Fleur darted out from behind the wall, and shot a series of spells at McGonagall, who levitated a cushion in the way, transfiguring it to solid steel to intercept the spells. The steel cushion shot across the room, turning into a flock of ravens on the way.

Fleur thrust her wand, a stream of fire bursting from the tip of her wand, burning the birds to ashes. McGonagall flicked her wand and the table on which the flower vase had been turned into a wolf which snarled and leaped at Fleur who rolled out of the way.

McGonagall turned her wand on the couch, the two remaining cushions turning into a pair of daggers, which multiplied a moment later, just as Fleur undid the transfiguration on the wolf. She wasn't given a moment's reprieve as the daggers sliced through the air toward her.

The table rose, the daggers embedded in the wood with loud thunks. A second later, the table and daggers turned to iron chains, leaping forward to wrap around Fleur.

With a yell, a wave of bluish-orange flames burst out, pulverizing the chains. From the haze of the fire, a pair of bludgeoners flew.

The couch leaped up, intercepting both the spells with ease before turning into a lion and running toward Fleur only to be torn apart by a gouging curse to its face.

Harry watched as Fleur's eyes darkened, the blue irises turning black.

'The restraints just came off.' Harry winced.

A stream of colors burst from Fleur's wand curving toward McGonagall, only to burst against a wall of marble, which blew to dust a moment later.

McGonagall looked unfazed by the turn of events as she swatted a curse away but Harry saw her body tense.

'And this just turned interesting.' Harry glanced at the members of the legion whose eyes were fixed on the two women.

McGonagall waved her wand in a wide arc and the ornaments around the room came alive, turning into cats of all shapes and sizes in the blink of an eye. Fleur's eyes widened as they ran toward her before narrowing.

Fleur stepped back, sweeping her wand across the room and fire poured out of its tip, running over the floor like flooding water, burning the cats alive before the fire continued toward McGonagall.

The transfiguration professor thrust her wand forward, slashing it downward as Harry felt a wave of magic roar.

"Elemental transfiguration." Harry breathed.

A tidal wave of water burst like a tsunami over the room, smashing Fleur against the wall, bursting through the windows, into the room of requirements.

Harry flicked his wand and the water vanished, pieces of glass flying back.

The house disappeared and Fleur slumped to the ground, unconscious and wet while Cedric and Krum coughed. Before Harry could step forward, McGonagall was already by Fleur's side, checking on her to see if she was alright.

With an absent wave of his hand, everyone who had become wet due to McGonagall's spell, dried, their clothes steaming.

"Is she—"

Fleur gasped awake, looking around wildly.

"Nothing much, Potter. Just a slight concussion." McGonagall said briskly.

She flicked her wand and the chains trapping Krum and Cedric vanished. "Why don't you two get her to Madame Pomfrey. It is best if she is examined by her than me."

"I am fine." Fleur said.

"No, you are not." Professor McGonagall gave her a severe look and Fleur wilted. "Diggory, Mr. Krum?"

The two obeyed without question, taking Fleur to the hospital wing immediately.

"Now," McGonagall said, turning to the rest of the dragon legion. "I believe that you couldn't have had a better demonstration. Can anyone tell by what all types of transfiguration I applied from the start to the end?"

---

27th June 1996

Grimmauld Place, London

Bright sunlight glinted off the silver cups and silver spoons on the table. Swirls of steam curled off their rims as Harry blew them away before taking a sip. Fleur and Daphne sat beside him, while Susan stood at the kitchen counter, buttering a piece of toast.

Across the table, Perenelle sat, looking at them speculatively as she consulted a book she had summoned moments ago out of nowhere.

"Potter, what you are looking to do is vigilantism." Perenelle pushed the book forth. "And you will be violating a minimum of nine laws."

"I do not think the Wizengamot or the ministry will be eager to prosecute us." Harry said dryly. "You have to realize that I am no ordinary citizen. I am Harry Potter."

"And rules don't apply to you?" Perenelle raised an eyebrow.

"No, but whoever thinks to oppose a single move against the Death Eaters is being labeled as a sympathizer or worse." Daphne said. "And Harry can influence what is printed in the Prophet to a vast degree.

"I could've stopped the slander against me last year." Harry added. "But, the sole reason I didn't is because—"

"You'd be labeled the sole voice of truth. Doing right by the world when everyone says you're wrong." Daphne said. "So, next time you do something unconventional or say something hard to believe, people will think thrice before going against you."

"Politics is not a game of days but decades." Perenelle nodded. "Especially in the wizarding world. But that is not my point."

"Then what is?"

"You can make it all legal instead." Perenelle said. "Why break laws and suffer punishment when you can do it and have the law award you instead?"

"And how can we do that?" Susan blinked.

"Have your aunt organize a manhunt." Perenelle leaned back. "If anyone brings in a Death Eater— a person bearing Voldemort's or Grindelwald's mark, to the ministry, or their information leads to one's capture, they will be rewarded."

"And if that happens, taking into consideration our plan, we will be heroes." Daphne's eyes glinted sharply.

"But the Ministry won't have that kind of funds, would they?" Fleur frowned. "To put out rewards for every Death Eater they bring in?"

"I don't think they will." Susan agreed. "I'd have to ask auntie… but it is unlikely, yes."

"We have the funds though." Daphne said. "Or Harry does."

"The money from Mrs. Zabini." Harry nodded. "I still have a part of her original funds left."

"You can just ask her to directly fund this." Daphne snorted. "After all, you are protecting her precious Blaise and warded her home for her. Plus, they are loaded. Heck, even without the Zabini fortune, Anastasia Zabini herself is rich enough to fund this whole hunt with practically pocket change."

"A slight exaggeration, but that she is." Perenelle agreed.

"I still have about seventy-thousand galleons of her first quarter-million left." Harry said. "Money isn't going to be a problem but the manhunt is. Because Amelia cannot pass that law. The Wizengamot has to."

Fleur raised an eyebrow. "It shouldn't be too hard for you, mon cher, should it?"

"Not hard, but long." Harry said. "It would take a minimum of three to five sessions to do this. Which means at least three months."

"Not if you have it drafted and pass the law during an emergency session." Daphne said. "Madam Bones can call the session, Dumbledore can present the bill and you and your godfather can approve. You just need to convince Dumbledore that what we are going to do is right. And then the Wizengamot."

"Dumbledore will not approve. Not readily." Harry said. "Even if we intend to capture rather than kill, there is always a possibility of casualties considering we will be breaking into homes. Not all of those inside will be Death Eaters."

"We will do our research." Susan said. "First, take down the worst of the bastards. Get the correct information. And it is not like we only have to attack their homes to get them. We can follow them, lure them out, or even lay a trap. We just have to know how to and with whom to. I doubt that the old inner circle will fall for any of those tricks. But the henchmen?"

"They will." Harry nodded.

"A simple spell done under a proper disillusionment charm will lead to them going down. Most of them." Fleur said. "There would be a very few capable of avoiding all of us."

"But it won't work for long." Perenelle pointed out. "Once a few disappear— or get into the ministry clutches, they will be wary."

"We can start with trickery." Susan said. "Once they grow wary, we move on to following them and hunting them down when the opportunity arises. They will have to get out of their houses at some point or another."

"That they will." Perenelle agreed. "We will have quite some work to do, without any doubt."

"But the question is how will we get the information?" Daphne asked. "It is not like there's a list lying somewhere."

"No, but we can get names." Perenelle said. "And when looking for criminals, we must examine the dregs of the society."

"Knockturn Alley." Susan said. "We will go there tonight th—"

"No." Perenelle's voice was as sharp as the crack of a whip. "You will not. I cannot allow it."

"And why's that?"

"Knockturn Alley is bad during the day, worst during the night." Harry said. "Especially the deeper parts. Not even Aurors venture there unless they have a full squad to go in with. If they see a pretty girl roaming in the alley, it is likely that she won't be seen again."

"So, who will?"

"Potter and I." Perenelle said. "It is not the first time I will do such a thing and I pity the poor soul who tries to intimidate him."

"We can fight." Susan protested.

"That is why you will be going to take down Death Eaters." Perenelle said. "Also, we need ears above the ground. Once the information— the names are found, we will need details. Where to find them, where they go… we all cannot get onto running Knockturn Alley rounds, can we?"

"Right." Fleur shot a glare at Susan, quelling her protest. "So you and Harry will go to gather intel on the names. Then we follow them, keep a lookout… and then take them down?"

"Exactly." Harry said.

"And if we are successful here, we can even move for Grindelwald." Perenelle's eyes darkened. "Take his people down and get information from them."

"That would need us to go international." Harry pointed out. "Where my influence doesn't extend beyond a certain limit."

"That is something to discuss later, I suppose." Perenelle conceded. "First, Death Eaters. The Knights can wait for a while. Grindelwald will have to surface properly sooner or later, and you can face his men en masse."

"That is probably the best we can do for now, I suppose." Harry sighed. "Let's begin tonight."

---

30th June 1996

Little Hangleton, Britain

A flock of ravens flew in the pinkish-orange sky, disappearing amongst the canopy of trees in the distance. A few cars drove down the road as muggles went about their daily work without a care.

In the graveyard a little distance away, two men appeared out of nowhere with a slight crack.

"Is this where…" Dumbledore shuddered. "Necromancy."

"This is where he was resurrected, yes." Harry glanced around. "They cleaned up pretty well but the echoes stay, don't they?"

"Indeed." Dumbledore whispered, looking up to the crumbling house in the distance. "And it seems that Tom has abandoned this house now that he has no use for it. Though, I can still feel the remnants of the wards that had once been and the magic that was once cast."

"It was a brutal battle." Harry shrugged. "Lots of death, elemental magic, necromancy… you name it. But that is not what matters."

"The Horcrux, yes." Dumbledore said. "From what I gathered from the tales, the daughter of Gaunts— Tom's mother eloped with a rich muggle in her town."

"Tom Riddle Senior." Harry wrinkled his nose, glancing at the grave he had been tied to. "Bone of his father."

"Yes." Dumbledore said.

"We should check this house for the Horcrux too." Harry said. "Though, I do not think Voldemort's foolish enough to keep it here even if it had once been here."

"He wouldn't be." Dumbledore agreed. "Neither would he store something as precious as his soul in the muggle house of his father who abandoned his mother."

"Right." Harry said. "But the house of his ancestors could be a worthy place."

"The Gaunts were all but knut-less by the time of Tom's birth." Dumbledore said. "But yes. It should be, in his eyes, worthier than anything muggle."

"But the ministry records don't detail where it was?" Harry frowned.

"Morfin Gaunt, the last of them, was arrested for the murder of the Riddles in Little Hangleton too." Dumbledore said. "But it doesn't say exactly where the house was."

"I am going out on a limb here to say that it was Voldemort who did it." Harry commented.

"That is likely, my boy." Dumbledore waved his wand and magic rustled through the graveyard. "It seems there is nothing in the graveyard, at least."

"Then we check the Riddle house first and then search for the Gaunt house." Harry declared. "Hopefully, we will have a Horcrux down by the end of the day."

"Let's hope for the best." Dumbledore nodded. "Shall we?"

Notes:

AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!

So, yes. Harry and Dumbledore are onto the Horcrux. Very very close. And not only are they close to the Horcrux but also something else… if you get my hint. On the other hand, our heroes have decided to no longer remain on the defense and will be pulling moves to regain their place in the game.

Also, yes. McGonagall is a badass. No one compares to her. I have been wanting to write a McGonagall battle for quite a while. And it was fun. :D

.

Thank you for all your reviews!

A huge thank you to Mughil and Nanu for betaing this chapter!

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 81: The Deathly Hallows

Ch.80 The Deathly Hallows

30th June 1996

Little Hangleton, Britain

Lightning lanced across the night sky, the rumble of thunder echoing through the quaint muggle town below. The wind rustled through the leaves and branches of trees, tugging at Harry's robes as he followed Dumbledore down the cobblestone road.

The tip of the Elder Wand peeked from Dumbledore's sleeve, glowing a faint yellow as he walked, leaving a slight trail in its wake.

"You know, you could transfigure your suit into something more… inconspicuous," Harry said, watching a group of teenagers snicker as Dumbledore passed by them.

"Where is the fun in that, my boy?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled merrily. "Plus, Pomona always says that yellow looks rather delightful on me."

"Maybe a better shade might," Harry muttered.

"Alas, everyone's a critic." Dumbledore sighed. "I—"

The Headmaster stopped short, frowning deeply. Harry tilted his head and flicked his wand into his hand. A faint sheen of magic ran down the area around them, sinking harmlessly into the ground.

"Professor, is something the matter?" Harry asked as Dumbledore began to walk around the area, the Elder Wand glowing in his hand.

"I am not certain." Dumbledore closed his eyes and held out his hand. "I felt… something. But it has vanished now and my detection spells are coming up blank. Almost… too blank."

Harry walked nearer to Dumbledore's side, watching the Hogwarts headmaster carefully.

'There's nothing here,' a whisper welled in his mind, sounding like a serpentine hiss. 'It—'

Harry pinched himself and clamped down on his Occlumency shields, squashing the voice in his mind.

A voice that had not been his own.

"Oh yes, there's something here." Harry turned to Dumbledore, who was waving his wand in complicated motions. "It wants me to go away, but it is very subtle. Now that I have my shields completely up, it has even stopped prodding."

"And yet, I cannot feel any trace of magic," Dumbledore said. "Not even the echoes of the spells we cast."

"You can feel echoes of spells?" Harry blinked. "I can only feel when magic is being cast or is actively working— like wards."

"It is very much possible to feel echoes of spells, my boy." Dumbledore tilted his head and closed his eyes as if trying to listen to something. "Even the weakest and simplest of spells, say the levitation charm, will leave a trace for a while after it is cast. Admittedly, a short while, but the trace that can be picked if one is sensitive enough to feel magic."

"And magic has been cast here by us only moments ago," Harry said softly. "And yet you cannot feel anything from it. It means there's some enchantment or a ward hiding the magic around this area." Harry twisted his wand and the area around them glowed brightly, a breeze rustling down the road. "…And yet, all detection spells are coming up empty. This one should've shown something."

"Do you have any spells in Parselmagic that might do something like this, Harry?" Dumbledore waved his hand, another ripple of magic running down the area. "It is one of the few branches of magic I am completely unaware of whereas Tom has mastered it."

"The closest I know of something like that is a spell that redirects detection spells, giving false information to the caster. Or, layering a confundus on the ward scheme to fool detection spells." Harry's forehead creased. "But ensuring no magic is felt despite the magic being present and active? That is… another matter entirely. I do not think it should even be possible."

Dumbledore's jaw twitched, a frown marring his face.

"Yet, it lies in front of us, very much possible." The headmaster stroked his long beard. "Few know this, but even as a young boy in his third year, Tom was brilliant at Arithmancy and far ahead of his peers. He must've designed this enchantment by himself to hide his Horcrux."

The temperature dropped and goosebumps rose on Harry's arms.

"And if I am not mistaken, that Horcrux is very much sentient, and as of now, scared." Dumbledore smiled

"What do we do then?" Harry flicked his wand, trying yet another spell, which came up empty again as if there was nothing there. "If the Horcrux somehow reaches Voldemort… he would be on his way probably with Grindelwald in tow. And I am not exactly keen for a fight between all of us in a muggle town. A muggle town that Voldemort probably hates."

"No, I imagine you aren't." Dumbledore walked closer to the side of the road, hoovering his hand near the trunk of a tall, withering tree. "Tell me, Harry. Are you carrying your invisibility cloak?"

"I always am." Harry pulled out the silvery cloak from the pouch on his hip. "You want me to go through the wards under it?"

"You've said before that it allows you to bypass any enchantment or ward without worrying about being detected." Dumbledore gave him a minute shrug. "And, I want you to go in and try and figure out the wards. As you might know, it is often easier to discern wards from the inside than from the outside. Though, do not proceed ahead without me— or, Merlin forbid, do anything dangerous."

"Understood." Harry draped the cloak over himself. "Wish me luck."

Taking a deep breath, he slowly walked forward, his steps measured. As he crossed the tall tree over which Dumbledore had been hovering his hand, the world rippled.

A moss-veiled cobblestoned path appeared, splitting into two up ahead. A weather-beaten shack stood in between the path, surrounded by encroaching wild weeds and rotting tree trunks.

'This is the worst place I've ever been in.' Harry turned around to see Dumbledore still standing a few feet away, outside the wards with a puzzled and concerned expression on his face. 'Right, the wards. Dumbledore cannot see me.'

Harry reached out with his senses, allowing his magic to touch his surroundings. Immediately, he felt the hairs on his skin prickle.

'A trigger ward that was meant to… set off something.' Harry frowned, pushing his magic into the enchantment he felt. 'Whatever it triggers is around the shack. And it will only be set off if a wizard or witch steps on it— a parselmagic spell. This is Voldemort's work.'

Harry allowed magic to lift him off his feet hoovering a few inches off the ground and took off the invisibility cloak before stowing it back into his pouch. 'Time to get to work.'

A whisper drifted to his ears, calling him to the shack. Harry shook his head, tightening his shields, and the whispers ceased, stopping their prodding.

'The Horcrux is very much sentient. One equally bad as the diary if not worse.'

A spell leaped from his wand and the air between him and Dumbledore shimmered, a deep gong reverberating through the place.

Dumbledore took a step back on the other side before raising his wand, nodding.

'He cannot see me but he can feel the ripples in magic. He knows I have begun my work.' A smile curled on Harry's lips and his wand glowed a brilliant blue.

Harry hissed in parseltongue and a beam of magic slammed into the wards, creating whorls that turned into a cyclone of sparks as the wards strained. On the other side, Dumbledore thrust his wand like a sword into the center of it.

A brilliant flash of white lit up the town of Little Hangleton as the wards burst with an ear-piercing bang, louder than a thunderclap.

Harry felt his senses go numb for a moment before they returned in full form as he was thrown several feet backward, barely maintaining his balance in the air. Spots of white danced in his eyes and his ears rang.

Tugging at his magic, he pointed his wand at his face and a moment later he felt his clarity return, as if someone had woken him from sleep by dunking him in ice-cold water.

"Harry?" Dumbledore stepped toward him.

"Shit." Harry twisted around to see the ground around the rumble.

"The Ministry will be on their way soon." Dumbledore winced as a serpentine head made of rocks broke out of the ground, followed by six others. "Can you get a few wards up while I deal with the…" Dumbledore squinted at the rising form of the serpent. "Hydra construct?"

"I can, Professor." Harry turned around and rose higher into the air, his robes flapping.

Thunder boomed in the sky above while Harry waved his wand, a haze rising back around the house. 'Repello Muggletum, Domus Protego, Salvio Hexia, Repello Incium, Fianto Duri.'

One after the other, the charms rose, intertwining all around the shack.

Below him, spells sliced through the Hydra, reducing its head to rubble one after the other. Dumbledore waved his wand and the stones vanished before they could fly back and then shot a purple curse that smashed through the serpent's last head, crushing it to dust that he vanished too.

"Good work," Dumbledore commented as Harry returned to the ground, glancing at his golden pocket watch. "Those protections ought to keep the Aurors away once they arrive. Which, given their usual response time, should be within a minute. That is, if Tom doesn't show up first."

"We must hurry." He agreed. "It is unlikely since he hasn't shown up yet, but we must not take chances."

"For all his intellect, Tom was equally hubristic." Dumbledore walked toward the shack, his sharp blue eyes scanning their path. "He would've never thought that this place would've been found, let alone its protections have fallen short."

"I am not taking the chance," Harry declared, marching toward the door, avoiding the pieces of rocks that littered the ground, courtesy of Dumbledore destroying the snake.

As they neared the dilapidated shack, the air turned pungent and colder. The grass around the shack had withered to dust and black mold grew over the crumbling walls.

All that was left of the door was a rotting piece of wood that barely clung to its hinges, a dead snake nailed in its center.

"There's a curse on the door." Harry ran his wand down the door's length. "One that would inflict pain and nightmares if touched."

"Then we must remove the curse and proceed." Dumbledore raised his wand. "Allow me."

"Sorry, I have a better solution." Harry slashed his wand, reducing the crumbling wall next to the door to dust. "Tom, as you said, was hubristic in his own work."

"Indeed." Dumbledore gave him a soft smile. "This is it, Harry. One of Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes. Do you have the sword?"

In a flash of silver, the sword of Gryffindor appeared in Harry's hand. "I always do, Professor. Are you sure it'd be capable of destroying a Horcrux?"

"It is made of goblin steel. One which has absorbed basilisk venom." Dumbledore stepped through the hole, the tip of his wand glowing. "I am positive."

"Fair enough." The wood under Harry's foot creaked dangerously as he followed the Headmaster. "Is it bad that I am more afraid of falling through the floor than any of the traps Voldemort has set?"

"Just fly, Harry," Dumbledore said absently as balls of light flew from his wand, lighting up the room.

A second later, a wave of magic roared from the Elder Wand, clearing all the dust from the floor and removing the pungent, rotting odor from the house. The Headmaster closed his eyes and walked forward, his hand stretched out as if he was grasping at an invisible threat.

"I can feel Tom's magic," he whispered. "It is scared… afraid… angry."

"Where?"

"Everywhere." Dumbledore's eyes flew open. "The house is saturated with his magic even after my attempt to cleanse it. It wants to fight us but it can't. It is doing its best to misdirect."

Harry felt a chill down his spine as a whisper flitted through the walls, and foreign magic twisted and stabbed at his mind. Beside him, Dumbledore winced, his blue eyes glowing with pain.

"There, Harry," he grunted, pointing at a patch on the floor a few feet away. "That's where he is."

The presence stabbing at Harry's mind retreated before he thrust his wand forward, yanking it upward. The floorboards were ripped apart, revealing a small box, a little bigger than Harry's palm. With a flick of his wand, it rose from the ground, the runes carved all over it flaring.

Harry's wand circled the box, its tip aglow with a rainbow of colors as he got to work.

"Anything of note?" Dumbledore's voice rang from behind him.

"The box is warded, as expected. Very tightly warded with more torture wards layered on it than any tomb in Egypt."

"That's saying something," Dumbledore commented. "Can you—"

Harry swung the sword of Gryffindor, chopping the top of the lid in a brilliant burst of purple light. The box fell to the floor, crumbling to dust and leaving behind a golden ring with a dark gemstone on its crown. The band of gold glinted in the light of the orbs hanging in the air.

The Horcrux.

"Oh my," Dumbledore breathed, his voice awed. "I cannot believe it."

Harry turned to see Dumbledore's eyes fixed on the ring— the Horcrux that lay on the ground.

"Yes, we found the Horcrux." Harry pursed his lips.

The gold band shone brighter and Harry saw a snitch fluttering in his mind. Harry squashed the temptation to reach out and grab the ring, grinding it out beneath his heel like the last crackling coals of a campfire.

"By Merlin," Dumbledore brushed past him walking toward the ring. "It is the last hallow."

"The what?" Harry blurted.

"The Resurrection Stone," Dumbledore whispered, inching closer to the ring. "I could see Ariana again."

"Professor?" Harry called out. "You might not want to touch the ring."

Dumbledore knelt next to the Horcrux, his eyes fixed on the ring like a child's eyes on candy.

"I am going to see Ariana again."

"Professor, what are you doing? HEADMASTER?"

Dumbledore stretched out his hand.

"No. Expelliarmus!"

The beam of crimson roared from Harry's wand striking Dumbledore in the chest before he could touch the ring. The Headmaster was flung back, his silvery white hair and beard flailing as he was smashed against the brick wall of the house, breaking through it.

Harry felt a sharp stab at his mental shields as the Horcrux turned on him. Voldemort's serpentine whispers rang in his ears.

"No," he growled, pulling on his magic to protect himself.

The sword of Gryffindor weighed down in his hands as if someone was trying to tug it free from his grasp. Pulling it up, Harry brought it down on the ring with all his might, cleaving through the golden band.

A deafening explosion of magic ripped through the shack, sending shards of wood in all directions. A piercing, pain-filled screech rang over the cracking of the walls as a dark specter rose from the ring.

The grotesque specter writhed, its form twisted and contorted in agony, and the stench of decay and death filled the house.

With a final, gut-wrenching wail, the specter was torn into swirling motes of black smoke that dissipated, leaving the echoes of screams in its wake. The two pieces of the gold ring remained, lying on either side of the sword of Gryffindor.

Harry collapsed to his knees, feeling bile claw up his throat. His head throbbed and an inexplicable pull tugged at his magic, urging him toward the left, where Dumbledore was.

Dust fell onto his face from the ceiling as cracks began to spread.

'No.' Harry raised his wand, his arm trembling.

"Reparo." Harry croaked. "Reparo Maxima. Fortis. Fortis."

The cracks sealed and the house around him stopped trembling as the foundations were repaired. All that remained were two huge holes in the wall— one that Harry had made to enter and the other that Dumbledore had been thrown through.

Harry hauled himself to his feet, stumbling toward Dumbledore.

"Professor?" He stepped over the debris of the wall.

Dumbledore lay on the ground, dust coating his clothes and skin. Blood trickled from multiple cuts on his arms and face.

His breathing was shallow little grimaces flashing on his face with every breath.

"Enervate," Harry murmured.

Dumbledore flinched awake, gasping for breath.

"Professor? Are you alright?" Harry knelt next to him.

"Harry? Is it… what happened?" Dumbledore said hoarsely, trying to sit up.

"You were enthralled by the ring." Harry gave him a disapproving frown. "I hit you with a disarming hex before you could touch it. There was probably a very nasty curse on the ring. Or worse, the Horcrux might've tried to possess you like it did to Ginny."

"I was foolish." Dumbledore sighed, closing his eyes. "I saw the stone… and I—"

"Lay still," Harry barked as Dumbledore's face scrunched in pain. "You have broken ribs. And multiple lacerations."

"Harry… it can wait." Dumbledore grabbed his wrist, stilling the wand. "You need to take it."

"The stone?"

"And the wand." Dumbledore turned to his right where the Elder Wand lay against the mud.

Harry's magic tugged as soon as he laid eyes on the deathstick, the wand calling to him.

"If I take it…" Harry whispered. "We don't know what will happen."

"You must, Harry. Voldemort might be on his way."

Harry nodded, holding out his hand; the Elder Wand shot forth, slamming into his hand. He felt a thrill shoot through his body as the air warmed around him, the Elder Wand bonding with his magic. Power surged through his arm like an electric current and his form glowed.

A moment later, it all vanished and the Elder Wand thrummed in his hands, ready to be used.

'Heal.' Harry pointed his wand at Dumbledore and the Headmaster let out a loud gasp as his wounds were healed and his ribs snapped back into place.

"Go, get the stone too." Dumbledore breathed. "Be careful; here might still be something left of the protections."

Harry nodded and turned around, walking back into the shack, and pocketed his own wand and holding the Elder Wand ready.

The ring lay on the ground, next to the sword of Gryffindor, the stone glinting at its crown. No whispers rose in Harry's mind as he walked closer to it. The only sound in the room was the creaking of the floorboards beneath his weight.

With a thought, the sword of Gryffindor vanished, leaving a deep gash in the floor. Harry flicked the Elder Wand, the magic flowing easier and faster than ever, leaping to bid his command to examine the magic on the ring.

'The Egyptian rotting curse.' Harry flinched. 'Thank Merlin, Dumbledore didn't touch it. Or he would've been breathing his last breaths right now. But it also means that I have to destroy it.'

Harry thrust the Elder Wand forward, a gust of red flames leaping from its tip, devouring the golden band. With a mere thought, the fire stopped, leaving behind a red-hot stone.

'Bloody hell. The wand makes even Fiendfyre so easy to control.' Harry glanced at the long wand in his hand, then at the red-hot stone on the pile of ash. 'Time to take the third hallow.'

With a flick of his wand, the stone rose, and steam billowed from it as it cooled down. Harry held out his hand and the stone dropped in his palm.

He waited with bated breath for something to happen. The Elder Wand thrummed in his hand and the stone felt ice cold but nothing happened. The Hallows remained as they were.

'So they are nothing but powerful magical objects created by the Peverell brothers and not death.' Harry let out a sigh and slipped the stone into his pouch. 'Time to get going I suppose.'

He turned around to see Dumbledore standing by the hole in the wall, looking disappointed.

"Let's go home, Professor." Grasping Dumbledore's arm, Harry twisted on his spot and they vanished from the scene, leaving the Gaunt shack a crumbling ruin that it had been.

---

1st July 1996

Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts

The clock chimed, the enchanted baby phoenix popping out twice from the grandfather clock on the wall. The moon hung outside the window behind the Headmaster's chair, its silver light glinting off the trinkets that whirled and smoked around the office.

"Today was an eventful night, wouldn't you say, Harry?" Dumbledore asked.

"You almost got killed by an Egyptian withering curse," Harry said. "I'd say so."

"And the three hallows were found and united for the first time in history." Dumbledore smiled. "An achievement like none other. In addition, a piece of Tom's soul was destroyed. One could argue that it was a very successful night."

"The hallows turned out to be a sham." Harry snorted. "Yes, the wand is powerful beyond measure; I have never had more ease casting magic. But… it is nothing more."

"I always suspected that the Peverells were rather gifted wizards who created these objects." Dumbledore leaned back in his chair. "Or even just one of the brothers, whose tale was exaggerated into a legend that we know of today."

"Seems like it." Harry sighed. "I had somehow hoped that they would be more, you know?"

"Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. Magic is a curious thing, Harry." Dumbledore gave him a piercing stare. "For all we know, you are yet to discover their true power."

"The Master of Death?"

"The hallows as depicted in the story, Harry, represent the three aspects of death." The Headmaster ran a hand through his beard. "The wand represents its power— both terrible and liberating. The stone represents the sorrow it brings and the longing it leaves. And the cloak represents its inevitability. Death cannot be stopped or predicted. And yet, it always comes."

"Thus, if you own all three hallows and master their power— in a way, you control all aspects of death." Harry massaged his temples. "And the brothers, I suppose, represent the ways one greets death— like a warrior, like freedom, or like an old friend."

"Indeed." Dumbledore smiled. "They might be a lesson on philosophy but they might also have a grain of truth in it. A grain of truth that might change all that we know. And after all, even magic knows only the boundaries that their casters set upon them."

"Right." Harry shook his head, pulling the Elder Wand out of his sleeve and laying it on the table. "Onto… more important matters, I suppose. Do you want it back, Professor?"

"I am afraid that it is now your burden, Harry," Dumbledore said gently. "I shall suffice with my old companion. It has always served me well and its handle is rather more comfortable than the Elder Wand's ever was."

"It is similar to my original wand," Harry murmured. "But, a lot more powerful. I can feel it thrumming and calling to me. I am afraid that Grindelwald will know the very second we meet again that there is a new master of the Elder Wand"

"A little over a year ago, you told me that there was a small ritual you could do to ensure the wand never separated from your line." Dumbledore clasped his hand. "Something you found in your family grimoire."

"A blood-binding ritual." Harry supplied. "It is a mere variation, but should suffice unless I am killed— which would be ending my line itself, thus continuing the cycle that the wand has always been in. But I will still do it once I get back home."

"It is always better to be safe than sorry, Harry." Dumbledore nodded. "As you and I both have demonstrated in the past, there are ways more than killing to win the wand. A simple spell catching you off-guard might have the wand falling into the wrong hands. Something I'd avoid, especially with both Gellert and Tom on the loose."

"Of course, Professor." Harry nodded. "Speaking of wrong hands… what do you wish to do with the stone, sir?"

Dumbledore stilled, a gleam of longing burning in his eyes.

"The stone… since my sister died, it has been my greatest temptation," Dumbledore whispered. "I have yearned to speak to her for years. To ask for her forgiveness. To hear her voice just one more time. And today, that is what Tom's soul used to get a hold of me. My temptation."

"You can do it." Harry retrieved the stone from his pouch, its edges glinting in the light of the room. "If you want to. Call your sister. Call anyone you wish."

Dumbledore stared at the stone for a long moment, little trembles running down his arm while Harry waited.

"No." Dumbledore looked away. "I cannot. It is selfish of the living to drag the dead from their eternal rest. It is a perversion of magic, Harry. I cannot do it in good conscience."

"So be it." Harry picked the stone up and dropped it back into his pouch. "Good night, Professor. Get some rest and a few potions. You might need it."

Dumbledore nodded as Harry rose from his seat and turned to leave.

"Harry?"

"Yes?"

"Will you—" Dumbledore hesitated. "Will you call your parents with the stone? To… talk to them one more time?"

"I don't know, Professor," Harry said quietly. "I know I will bind the stone to me. But… calling them? I don't want to cling to the shadows and flee reality. And yet—"

"You want to meet them. You have the power in your hand." Dumbledore nodded. "I understand."

"If they are nothing more than powerful, enchanted objects, I reckon that they'd be nothing but echoes," Harry said. "An embodiment of how I imagine them to be."

"If." Dumbledore repeated quietly. "Unless you try it out, we might never be sure. And somehow, I find it more comforting to not know than to know for this once."

"So do I, Professor," Harry said. "So do I."

Notes:

AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter.

Yes, Harry has control over all the Deathly Hallows now. But is he the Master of Death or are the hallows nothing but powerful artifacts? That is something that remains to be seen.

And yes, I didn't have Dumbledore go down the path that he did in canon because it would've been cheap and unfathomable, especially with an equally powerful wizard around, one who was not as obsessed with the hallows as Dumbledore and Grindelwald were.

Speaking of which, it is three Horcruxes down (considering the diary and Harry himself), and thus a huge win for the good guys. Four more remain: The cup, the locket, the diadem, and Nagini.

As for neither Dumbledore nor Harry not using the stone for now… we will see more on that in the next chapter.

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Thank you for all your reviews!

A huge thanks to Mughal, Dark Knight, and Anax for betaing this chapter.

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 82: Fight Back

Ch.81 Fight Back

1st July 1996

Grimmauld Place, London

A small obsidian stone glinted against Harry's pale palm as he stared upon it, breathing in the room's silence.

"Mon dieu." Fleur gently nudged the stone, her eyes wide. "I have never felt any magic like this. It is like… like a sea of grief… a storm of sorrow that swirls with clouds of anger thundering over it."

Fleur's lower lips quivered and she stepped back, away from the stone in Harry's palm.

"Is it really the Resurrection Stone?" A skeptical frown flitted across Daphne's face. "The Hallows are a children's story, Harry. What are the chances that the story is actually being true?"

"Even stories stem from a modicum of truth at times," Harry said quietly. "The stone may or may not be a gift from Death. But they are real. And from the aura I feel from it, that is the Resurrection Stone. I am not sure if it can truly call upon the souls of the dead though. It goes against magic's nature to get back what's dead."

"You didn't use the stone?" Susan asked softly, her hand trembling. "You didn't try to call your parents? To talk to them?"

"I reckon that they would be nothing more than echoes of my own thoughts." Harry closed his fist around the stone. "There's no magic that can truly call back the dead, Susan. At least not without a great price."

"Are you sure?" Susan's eyes trailed up to meet his. "There is nothing like the Resurrection Stone or the hallows either. Don't you want to see if it works? And above all, see your parents again?"

"That may not be such a good idea," Daphne said sharply. "In the story, the second brother went insane and killed himself to be reunited with his lover after using the stone. As Harry said, a great price. Magical objects tend to be dangerous for a reason, Susan. The more powerful they are, the more dangerous they can be if used wrong."

"And the stone might really be just an artifact created by some enchanter." Fleur ran her fingers through her locks. "Honestly, that may be safer than it being capable of… well, disobeying the magic of nature"

"What I'm more interested in is that if the stone is real, that means that the wand and the cloak are too." Daphne bit her lip. "I don't know about the cloak but the wand might be a really—"

She paused as Harry flicked the Elder Wand into his hand and held it up for her to see. Fleur gasped softly, stumbling back, while Daphne blinked at it in bemusement.

"That is your wand, isn't it? Not the… wand from the story? Please tell me it isn't the wand from the story, Harry." Daphne pleaded.

"It is the Elder Wand." Harry's lips curved as he watched the three of them goggle. "And you want to know something else?"

"You gotta be kidding me," Daphne muttered. "Don't you dare tell me that you've the cloak— you do, don't you? The Invisibility Cloak that you always have with you. That's the cloak from your story. No other Invisibility Cloak could last so long."

"Exactly."

"Bloody hell." Daphne sat down on the bed. "Bloody fucking hell. You united the hallows."

"Does this mean you're the Master of Death?" Susan asked quietly. "Do you feel anything different, Harry?"

"Beyond a connection with the hallows, I feel nothing else." Harry shook his head. "I've always had the cloak. It's a family heirloom. I got the stone and the wand yesterday. The stone was a part of the ring which I burned down. And the wand… it was Dumbledore's."

Daphne's and Susan's heads snapped up, their eyes widening while Fleur arched an eyebrow.

"Don't worry, he's alright. It was a near call yesterday, as I told you." Harry said. "The horcrux got to him but thankfully I saw it in time. It was compelling him to put on the cursed ring that would've resulted in a horrible death. Before he could put it on, I hit him with an Expelliarmus and won the wand accidentally."

"Next time, take us too, mon amour." Fleur wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulder. "That way we could help if anything goes wrong."

"You all are helping me with the Death Eater problem, Fleur." Harry dropped the stone in his pouch. "The horcrux hunt is dangerous. And above all, the horcruxes are dangerous. They are a part of Voldemort at the end."

"It nearly got to Professor Dumbledore," Susan scoffed. "Of course they are dangerous. But that doesn't mean—"

"Are we seriously glossing over the fact that Harry has the three hallows?" Daphne interrupted. "Which includes the most powerful wand in the world? The wand, I am sure people have killed for, throughout history."

"I am pretty sure two of the worst dark lords are out to kill me anyway." Harry smiled humorlessly. "But yes, if Grindelwald comes to know that I've united all the hallows he will flip." His smile broadened into a grin. "And I will enjoy it."

"I am not sure if pissing off Grindelwald is a really good idea," Fleur muttered.

"His symbol." Susan put her hand on her mouth. "It's the symbol of the Deathly Hallows that the believers of the story wear. Like Luna's father."

"He has been after the hallows his whole life. This wand—" Harry waved the Elder Wand in front of their eyes. "Once belonged to him."

"And Dumbledore won it from him," Daphne deduced. "His duel of Berlin."

"Yep."

"And now it belongs to you," Fleur stated. "Grindelwald will be coming for it if he knows you have it. Coming to kill you and reclaim the wand. Harry… When Grindelwald wants someone dead, they do not survive. Believe me."

"He has tried it in the past already. Before we even knew he was in the game, Fleur." Harry shrugged. "He's coming for me any which way. As I said, I already have two of the most feared and terrible dark lords in history out to kill me. It makes no difference, the wand or not."

"If anything it will help you fight them better." Daphne pointed out. "Every little thing counts. Every spell, every move, every wand. And you've the most powerful one of them all."

"Which also means he cannot lose to them at any cost," Susan said. "If he's disarmed—"

"Unless I am killed, it won't make a difference." Harry raised his hand. "I did a small blood ritual to bind all the three hallows to me. Until my bloodline dies out, the hallows will not work properly for another. It ensures that if I am disarmed or defeated in any way less than being killed, the wand will still be mine. Privileges of blood binding."

"And if you die?" Fleur said fiercely. "Grindelwald will kill you for that wand, Harry. He is… you know what he is, mon amour."

"If Harry dies, we have already lost, Fleur." Susan put her face in her hands. "Dumbledore will never be able to hold them both."

"That's true." Daphne agreed. "The only reason Grindelwald and Voldemort haven't taken over Britain is that both Harry and Dumbledore stand in their way here. Outside the Isles, the situation is very different. Aurors are being slaughtered by hordes. A couple of countries have fallen and magical nations have lost territories which have now been taken over by Grindelwald."

"We intend to turn the tables soon," Harry said. "Our mission isn't the only one I will be undertaking. The Order intends to do its own thing."

"The Order is taking the fight to Grindelwald?" Daphne blinked. "I thought it was a response team."

"We are." Harry pursed his lips. "But we are no longer limited to Britain now. The countries of the ICW entered talks on sharing military power and helping each other in January. Now, a few select forces have been put on the list of shared military powers. The Order of the Phoenix being one of them."

"Wait, what?" Susan's mouth hung open. "You all are an independent military power now?"

"An extension of the British Auror force," Harry corrected. "A team whose sole purpose is to stop Grindelwald and Voldemort alongside their followers, which now even include a handful of smaller dark lords who have joined them."

"Other dark lords?"

"There are a few. There's always some dark lord or the other in every country. Most are classified as high-priority criminals until they do something unforgivably big." Harry shrugged. "And many of them have joined Grindelwald's cause in a bid to further their own. They are his acolytes now technically, but yes. It has been kept very hush-hush. We apparently even finished one off in the Department of Mysteries."

"Fuck," Susan cursed. "And we didn't even realize it."

"Dumbledore became suspicious of the numbers they had with them," Harry said. "And most weren't matching the wands for hire list of the ICW. So he dug further and came up with a bunch of dark wizards— mafia wizards or should I say, who had been on the ICW's watchlist for a while. There was no way Grindelwald would've accumulated such numbers either."

"But that wasn't the case for the other dark lords," Daphne whispered. "And he brought them into the fray."

"Now more so than others. Why go to all the trouble recruiting and training when you can have a ready-made force of dark wizards to call upon."

"And what do we have on our side?" Fleur asked worriedly. "We are but a handful of people."

"Fleur, all the Auror and Hitwizard forces in the world are against Grindelwald and Voldemort. Well, almost all." Susan turned to her. "Then there is the Order of the Phoenix and similar smaller groups to oppose him, if I am to guess."

"They've sprung up," Harry informed. "Some have already been slaughtered, especially in Russia. Word is one of those groups there managed to burn one of his strongholds down and killed several of his acolytes. He took his revenge, of course."

"He killed them all." Susan's eyes met his and Harry inclined his head.

"All of this aside, we are still on with our plan?" Daphne looked around. "Tomorrow night's?"

"Of course we are," Harry said. "Get Perenelle for the wards. Two of the places are old households and I want to slip in and out undetected."

"The houses are the easy part, Harry," Susan said. "We need to get to the Ministry, past the Auror guard. And my aunt does not know about this."

"Why can't we tell her?" Fleur frowned.

"Plausible deniability and all," Harry answered. "She will likely go on trial after the war to justify every single action she passed stating the reason for the war. Bagnold went on trial, and so did Crouch because he was the head of the DMLE."

"Nothing will happen to her if that happens, will it?" Susan bit her lips.

"I will ensure that the worse comes to worse, she'll only lose her job," Harry said. "Wartime ministers seldom keep their jobs after a war anyway. Even if they do, they only complete the term before retiring or losing the next election."

"So no telling anyone about this?" Daphne asked.

"Only Dumbledore and Sirius know," Harry said. "No one else will. Except either of you want to tell your parents."

"I'll make do." Daphne pursed her lips. "My mom would never allow me."

"Neither would my papa," Fleur agreed. "Let's start preparing. We have our jobs. I'll inform Madame Flamel that we are ready."

"Let's get going then," Harry said. "Get whatever you need and meet me in the study. We'll go over the plans once more."

---

2nd July 1996

Grimmauld Place, London

"I apologize for my lateness," Dumbledore swept into the room, a bag held in his hand. "Sirius, I need you to set a table for these portkeys. They are international portkeys to all the countries that have agreed to the International Protection Act. I need them to be carefully labeled, my boy. In a safe place where they can't be stolen."

"How many countries are there?" Bill asked as Sirius took the bag to the side, Remus following him.

"Currently? Twenty-nine countries have agreed to this. Another fourteen are still considering and six are pushing for the Protection Act."

"It's never going to pass," Amelia snorted. "If they have nothing to give in return, the other countries will not help them. We do not have the resources to spare."

"MACUSA is considering their plea, Amelia." Dumbledore sighed, taking a seat. "So are the Japanese ministry and New Atlantis."

"New Atlantis has a force of wizards that I could count on my fingers." Amelia rolled her eyes. "It's an island nation for Merlin's sake."

"An island nation only having wizards," Dumbledore said while Harry leafed through a file.

"They've pledged their trident force to the cause." Harry plucked a parchment from it. "And they've recently made— some Solon Dimitriou, their strategos."

"That is a name that I know now," Moody grunted. "Hell of a wizard, that man."

"He does have a lot of medals." Harry put the file away. "Anyhow, with these international portkeys here, we would need someone of our own at the Ministry to monitor the messages and relay them to us. Cut the chain of communication short."

"Perkins and I are on it." Arthur leaned forward while a man waved at them from the side of the kitchen. "The system is being set up. We also have Tonks with us in case we need someone to fill in for us."

Harry's eyes flicked to Nymphadora, who stood by the door, playing with the hoops in her cloak. Her silvery-blonde, almost white hair hung down her face like a curtain, her eyes the usual steely gray of the Black family.

In the recent weeks, she had improved considerably thanks to the mind healers she had been seeing. While she still had bouts of grief, they were far and few in between. She had even been allowed back in the Auror office with a desk job rather than fieldwork.

"So, now we're an international response team?" Hestia frowned.

"We are an official branch of the British DMLE," Harry said. "And we've been pledged to international aid and defense under the International Protection Act."

"And which other forces are with us?" Cedric asked. "Just curious."

"The prominent ones are the French Le Mystérieux, The Brazilian flying squad, Japan's… I can't pronounce this name." Harry frowned.

"Ken no madou shi." Kingsley supplied from across the table. "Literally translates to sword mages. They are a special variety of fighters. The closer they get, the more dangerous they are."

"Right." Harry flipped the page. "So, yes. It is a mix of skills from all around the world, honestly. We are not getting all Aurors. Some have gotten creative. Like, Romania is giving their Dragon Rangers— a subdivision of their Magical Creature Control Department."

"Those people are good at what they do," Charlie chimed in. "I have a few friends in the department and I have worked with them a few times over the years. They are the type of people who know what they're doing."

"What I am more interested in knowing is, what is Grindelwald's status?" Perenelle cleared her throat. "While international cooperation is great and all, it is a response to the action he is committing. What is he doing? And how many governments have fallen to him?"

"Four at least," Harry replied. "Russia is his biggest. He has captured Bering and Diomede islands which were MACUSA-protected lands and threw up his own wards. Plus, word is that Lithuania is also supporting him."

"As of yesterday, Krakov in Poland has allied with Voldemort under their combined banner."

People around the room paled.

"Wait, Krakov as in—"

"The Vampire Clan of Poland, yes." Dumbledore nodded. "They've thrown in their support. They are at official war with Poland as of a few hours ago for violating multiple policies and treaties. If Grindelwald backs out of the alliance, the whole nation of vampires will be razed to the ground."

"That's concerning." Harry chewed his lip. "They might have already begun to feed."

"We don't know that yet," Dumbledore said. "But it is only a matter of time before they move to open warfare, I am afraid. Poland has already requested aid. They are woefully inept to handle both at once."

"They need vampire hunters," Charlie said.

"They are ridiculously expensive," Moody grunted. "They need pest control. Rampaging Fiendfyre or something to burn those bastards to the ground the moment they attack."

"Krakov's might not be so easy to deal with. Their variety can turn to smoke." Amos Diggory glanced around. "While Fiendfyre would work against them, if they have sufficient warning, they will escape. They are the third most dangerous clan in the world after Dracula's and Count Yvonne's, both of whom have remained peaceful for decades."

"We can set vampires against vampires," Harry suggested. "Ally with Dracula himself."

"Harry, Dracula will kill you the moment you show up on his doorstep with that offer. He has long since distanced himself from humans and let us not rouse him," Dumbledore said warningly. "And under no circumstances can we incite war with him. He is as dangerous as Voldemort is, despite having laid low for decades at this point."

"He didn't even fight in the first war with Grindelwald, did he?" Hestia frowned. "I remember some of it from my NEWTs."

"He didn't raise a finger beyond sending back both the sides' envoys back with a very, very stern warning," Amos said. "It is said that the envoys didn't recover for the rest of their lives."

"What about the other one then?" Someone asked.

"The ICW will never go for it." Amelia shook her head. "Also, getting them to fight their own species for us may not be a good idea and give them a deal we don't want to in their treaties."

"Then we need to find some other option," Perenelle said. "Because Poland will be overrun in days. ICW can respond here and strike back."

"MACUSA is pushing to free Diomede and Bering from his control." Dumbledore shook his head. "If my instincts are not wrong, it will be the first move in international war from our side. And once that happens, there'll be no looking back."

---

2nd July 1996

British Isles, Great Britannia

Dark, worn stone bricks glimmered in the flash of lightning above, rivulets of water running down the roof of the house. Susan and Daphne trudged down a cobblestoned pathway, surrounded by a small, trimmed garden. A faint sheen of magic covered their heads, their dark cloaks flapping against their ankles in the wind.

"Why is the weather here always so dreadful?" Fleur muttered, tugging her cloak closer, the hem steaming as the water dried off with a wave of her wand. "If Flint isn't here, I am burning the place to the ground."

Harry snorted, carefully stepping onto the porch, the floorboard creaking slightly beneath his weight.

"Careful." The tip of his wand flashed, glinting against the owl-shaped door knocker. "Nothing on the door except for the ringing charm on the knocker. And it is locked with a strong self-locking and anti-burglary charms. Very standard, like the wards we disabled."

Harry let his magic flow down the length of the wand, feeling the magic over the lock, ripping it away like a cobweb. The door clicked open, its hinges squeaking in the silence of the night.

"Silence the hinges." Perenelle flicked her wand and the door swung open soundlessly. "Dry your clothes and clean your shoes. We are leaving no proof behind that could be traced back to us."

"There's a charm on the floor," Harry said. "Linking to the lamps. Wear your glasses to see, I will cut the connection." He pushed a pair of old glasses up his nose, his vision lighting up like it was the middle of the day. "These are brilliant, Fleur."

"Merci." Fleur inclined her head, watching as the dull glow of the lamps died. "Do we split?"

"Pairs," Harry said. "Susan and Perenelle, Daphne with you. I will go alone. Stun, immobilize, and bind anyone you find. If they attack you lethally—"

"We know, Harry," Daphne muttered from beneath her hood. "No risks."

"I will go up the stairs. If you find the elf, take it out." Harry nodded. "If you are in trouble, don't be afraid to yell for help. I will too— if I need help."

"Let's disillusion ourselves and get going." Perenelle waved her wand over herself, fading away from their view. "No detection charms, alright?"

Through his glasses, Harry could see a bluish outline of Perenelle as she trudged forward, Susan following her.

"These glasses are good," Daphne muttered, fading into a blue outline before walking away with Fleur in the opposite direction where Susan and Perenelle were going.

With a glance around him, Harry waved the Elder Wand, channeling his will to disappear from view. Magic washed over him like a trickle of ice-cold water over his head. With another wave, his feet rose from the ground, and he flew up the stairs of the house, straining his ears.

With a jab of his wand, the first door clicked, revealing an empty, bare bedroom containing only a few bags and boxes stacked in a corner.

'Nothing.' Harry retreated out, going to the second door that swung open with a slight push, revealing a bathroom. 'Who puts a bathroom behind such a door? Idiots.'

A faint flash of crimson caught his eyes from downstairs, followed by another. No other sounds emerged from within and Harry felt his heart drum against his chest.

'That's the way Susan had gone.' Harry shook his head. 'She's with Perenelle. She'll be safe. And if it was the Flints they would've raised a racket or there would've been a fight.'

He pushed the third door, only to find it locked. He pushed magic through his fingers and the door clicked open.

The smell of roses and sandalwood hit his nose, followed by soft snores. Harry crept in, his eyes roaming around the room. Marcus Flint, Slytherin's old Quidditch captain lay on the bed, a girl curled up next to her, both snuggled under the covers.

'Stupefy. Stupefy.' Two beams of crimson leaped from his wand, hitting both of them. Flint's snores ceased and he walked around the bed, lifting the covers. With a flick of his wand, Marcus' left hand shot out, revealing the dark mark burned onto his hand.

His eyes flicked to the girl next to him and he paused.

Shooting another pair of stunners he shot a full body bind curse at them and walked out of the room. After a quick peek into the room next door, which turned out to be a study, he walked back down the stairs.

Fleur and Daphne stood in the hall, a house elf at their feet, completely visible. Perenelle and Susan were levitating a pair of bodies out of a room.

"Hey," Harry let his disillusionment fade as their wands shot toward him, all of their tips glowing. "It's me. Can one of you come up here? I need one of you to check something."

"What?" Fleur drifted up the stairs. "Is it some—"

"There's a girl in the room with Flint." Harry shifted. "I have stunned them both but I need you to check if she has the dark mark and maybe, conjure her a robe.

Fleur pulled down her hood, beaming at him. With a peck on his lips, she walked into the room and Harry turned away.

"She has the mark," Fleur declared. "And a ring. Harry, you might want to see this ring. She's clothed, don't worry."

"Thank you." Harry walked up to Fleur, who was holding the girl's wrist, a silver ring with the emblem of the Deathly Hallows glinting on it. "She's one of Grindelwald's. This is good. Pull your hood up."

Magic leaped from his wand and the girl floated in the air, her ring shooting into Harry's palm. A moment later, her eyes flew open and she let out a scream that rang through the house as Harry twisted his wand.

With a wave, she was sent flying onto the wall of the room as the bed floated out of the way and Harry neared her. She struggled against his magic but Harry kept her pinned to the wall.

"What's your name?" He barked.

She looked around fearfully, her gaze flicking worriedly to Flint before going to the cabinet that had been by the bed.

'The wand.' Harry held out his palm and the drawers flew open, a thin wand slapping into his hand.

The door behind them slammed open and Daphne and Susan ran in, pausing as they laid eyes upon the scene.

"Dogwood." Harry declared, turning back to the girl. "You're very loyal, aren't you? Loyal to whom, is the question."

"Please don't do anything," the girl pleaded. "Take whatever you want. Please, just let him go."

Harry's eyes flicked to Marcus. "We will let him live if you tell us what we want."

"Anything," she declared, her eyes going to the door as Perenelle walked in.

"Tell me about Grindelwald." Harry sat on the bed where she had been sleeping, pointing his wand at Flint's neck. "Tell me everything."

"I've only met him once when he recruited me." The girl's lips quivered, her eyes wide in terror. "He promised—"

"I don't care what he promised. What are his plans?" Harry asked harshly.

"I don't know, I swear!" The girl gulped. "We only get called when one of his mitmenschen summons us."

"Do they summon you through this ring?" Harry held up the ring she had been wearing.

"Yes. Yes, they do." The girl bobbed her head. "He said it will only work for me. When the ring heats up, I have to say the phrase 'for the greater good' and it takes me to wherever they are."

"What else?"

"I have only been summoned once when they attacked some castle. I don't even know where it was," she whimpered. "Please—"

"How did he recruit you?" Harry cut in. "You are British. You should've gone to Voldemort."

The girl flinched at the name and Harry raised an eyebrow.

"I was a gift. You-know-who said that he would give Grindelwald some of his promising recruits as a show of friendship. Marcus took his mark and I went with Grindelwald."

"Interesting. Who else was with you?"

"I recognized a few housemates." Words spilled from her mouth. "I don't know all of them. I know— I know a few. There was Dixon and Dunn— they were a year above me at Hogwarts. I think there was someone named Harper."

The girl gulped.

"Who else?" Perenelle stepped forward. "Give me names, girl."

"Wilkes. Amanda Wilkes." The girl scrunched her eyes shut as if it had pained her to give the name. "And Arthur Runcorn."

"Good, good. Who else?"

"Please, I don't know anyone else. I saw a few faces but I don't know who they were. I—"

"Legilimens." Harry hammered into her memories, images flashing past her eyes. A force tried to push him back but he powered past it, breaking into a pool of visuals.

Faces flashed past his eyes, including Grindelwald's and Voldemort's. Harry walked through her mind, watching her memories like a television show, pulling what was necessary, to himself. He dove deeper, flicking past inessential things, until he arrived at her Hogwarts years.

With a thought, he pulled back, dropping his spell. The girl collapsed to the ground with a ringing thud, bleeding from her nose, and remained unmoving.

"What did you get?" Perenelle nudged the girl with her foot. "Anything useful?"

"A few faces. I would need to ask Dumbledore or someone who they are. And we would need a pensieve."

"That can be arranged." Perenelle nodded.

"Let's wrap up here then." Daphne winced. "Anything else we need from here?"

"A little of her blood." Harry examined the ring in his hand. "It might lead us somewhere. Hopefully, straight to Grindelwald."

 

Notes:

AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!

I do not have a lot to write in the AN today. So, I will just say that if you haven't tried out my other stories, please do so by visiting my profile.

One of my longer pieces, Agent Potter: Wizard of WAND is even nearing its completion, and every single fic is worth a read. I also have a few short stories for bite-size enjoyment if you like such content.

Thank you for all your reviews!

A huge thanks to Mughil, Nanu, and ShadowCheck for betaing this chapter.

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 83: MACUSA's Troubles

Ch.82 MACUSA's Troubles

6th July 1996

Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts

Sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows, glinting against the silver instruments in the room. Fawkes rested atop his perch, his head tucked beneath his red and gold wings, fast asleep. The headmaster sat behind his desk, holding a slim ring in front of his face, examining it with a golden monocle, like a jeweler determining the worth of a diamond.

"That is some marvelous enchanting there, Harry. But then again, nothing I wouldn't expect from Gellert." Dumbledore slid the ring back, slipping the monocle into his coat. "This has some of the most complex blood magic I have ever seen. And something akin to a portkey enchantment—one whose destination can be changed by another. It is one step beyond Tom's Dark Mark."

"What's important is that now we have a way straight into Grindelwald's forces," Harry said. "If we both go in, we can take Grindelwald by surprise and be done with him once and for all. The only problem is that the ring will only carry one person— the wearer who is keyed in through blood magic."

"And while you could fool the wearer enchantment with the blood of the person you obtained this from, you can't manipulate it further without compromising the other enchantments." Dumbledore leaned back. "I see."

"Exactly. But I can replicate it." Harry pulled out a box from his pocket, opening it to reveal a pair of bronze rings. "I recreated the portkey enchantment that Grindelwald made. The only part I cannot figure out is how to bypass the wards like Grindelwald's ring should. If I do that, I can go to his camp and call you at the right moment through the ring."

"Harry, the blood magic on the ring is forming a bond with another," Dumbledore sighed. "And a rope cannot be tied only at one end when making a bridge. You need access to the other end too."

"The other end, which is in Grindelwald's possession." Harry pursed his lips. "We need an alternative, Professor. You or I can't take Grindelwald and his acolytes alone. It would be suicide. But together? That's a whole different story."

"Indeed." Dumbledore inclined his head. "Perhaps it is a flawed outlook. We could use it to surveil Gellert's forces. Spies turn wars, Harry."

"Like Snape is much help," Harry muttered. "Even if we do go down that path, who would be insane enough to do it?"

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, wrinkles marring his forehead as he stared at his hands.

The clock on the wall chirped, a tiny Fawkes popping in and out of the small mahogany door. The phoenix on the perch opened a beady eye to stare at it, before going back to sleep, tucking his head under his wing.

"I… do not know, Harry," Dumbledore sighed. "Many men are brave. But bravery to the point of insanity to do what's for good is seldom found."

"So, what now?"

"Hold on to the ring for me," Dumbledore said. "If there is a way, we will find one."

"What if I hold on to it with a vial of polyjuice potion?" Harry suggested. "They're not going to check every single goon who shows up, are they? And if they do, well, I'd love to see them try."

"And what of your escape?" Dumbledore asked. "You'll be neck deep in the enemy territory and probably under permanent wards designed by Gellert, in the middle of an army of his followers, facing him."

"I'll find a way." Harry shrugged. "And I have my cloak. No wards can stop me, professor."

Dumbledore's eyes suddenly twinkled, and his lips curved into a smile. "That's our way in, Harry."

"The cloak?" Harry frowned. "You cannot use it to its fullest potential."

"I know, Harry. But you can." Dumbledore picked up the ring. "Instead of you, it will be me who will go when Gellert comes calling. And once I am there, you can follow."

"He'll sniff you out. He knows you," Harry argued. "If you're found—"

"I know how to hide, my boy. Gellert may be a master of magic. But there's one field I always excelled at, even over him."

"Transfiguration."

"Precisely. I just need to hide in the shadows for long enough."

"That could work," Harry licked his lips, his heart twisting into a knot. "Are you sure, though, Professor?"

"It is a risk you were willing to take."

"I am younger, and I have the hallows, sir." Harry pursed his lips. "I have a way to escape when I need to. You don't. Not with Grindelwald and Voldemort having warded against phoenixes everywhere they go."

"I am not afraid, Harry. You will be there to back me up." Dumbledore smiled. "It could be a great opportunity. One we will only get once. If Gellert escapes—"

"He'll know how we reached him and never use the rings again." Harry slumped in his chair. "But if we succeed, it will be half the battle. We would only have to deal with Voldemort."

"Along with his Horcruxes," Dumbledore reminded him. "I believe there's someone we can consult. Someone Tom trusted in his childhood. A man I need to find."

"A Death Eater of his?"

"No, an old colleague of mine." Dumbledore picked up an odd-looking, bronze device whose tip spun, the globe below it glowing. "We might obtain a clearer picture of Tom's intentions and even the hiding places of his Horcruxes."

"But we know what they are. Or probably are." Harry gave him a frown. "Can't we locate them directly?"

"If we could, I would already have done so, Harry." Dumbledore waved at the books behind him. "Alas, there is no such way or magic that could find what are perhaps the greatest secrets of a soul. The soul is a mysterious thing, Harry. And Horcruxes are soul magic at its most obscure and most abominable form."

"We will just have to keep looking then."

"That we will, Harry. That we will."

---

9th July 1996

Grimmauld Place, London

A shrill whistle pierced through the air, and Harry jerked awake, his hands clutching his bedsheet. Susan flinched next to him, wincing and pulling the pillow around the back of her head, covering her ears.

"What in Merlin's name is that thing?" Susan sat up, the covers falling off her body, moonlight shining against the curve of her pale skin as she heaved. "And why the hell isn't it stopping?"

"Because it's meant to wake everyone up if needed." Harry threw off his covers and got off the bed, his clothes leaping onto him, followed by his cloak. "That's the new alarm that was installed by Mr. Weasley to support the Order's new position. It means someone is under attack beyond Britain's borders and calling for help."

Susan leaped out of bed, tying her hair into a bun. "I'm coming with you."

"No, you aren't." Harry pushed the Elder Wand into his holster. "You are going to call Daphne on the mirror and make sure that if there's an attack in Britain, I am informed. And even be ready to deal with it just in case."

"If there is one, should I get the Legion?" Susan frowned. "Because with the Order gone—"

"The whole Order won't be gone." Harry pulled on his boots. "Only half of our numbers would respond, and one of us— Dumbledore or I would stay back just in case. The Legion is always the last option to be called upon. See you later."

Harry vanished from the room, reappearing in the kitchen right in front of Sirius, who let out a startled yelp.

"Merlin's balls, Harry. Make some noise when you apparate. Don't appear out of thin air."

"Sorry." Harry turned around to the table where the portkeys were. "Who's calling for help?"

"MACUSA, of course," Amelia said. "They are scared shitless of Grindelwald. And he is hell-bent on crushing them under his heel."

"Right." Harry glanced around the room. "Is everyone here?"

"We are fifteen of us," Mrs. Weasley said after doing a headcount. "That's not counting Amelia and I. The Headmaster is on his way too."

"This will do." Harry strode toward a glowing portkey, plucking it from the table. "Everyone, hold on."

"Wait for us!" Fred and George appeared through the doorway, buttoning their Dragon Legion robes, the dragon emblem glinting in the light of the room. "We can help."

"Absolutely not!" Molly screeched, bustling across the room, brandishing her wand. "You have no business—"

Behind Fred and George, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione appeared, dressed similarly, and Molly glared at all of them, stopping them short.

"No, go to Susan. She's in my room," Harry said over Molly's shoulder. "In case Voldemort attacks—"

"Why is Susan in your room?" Amelia whirled around at him, her eyes narrowed.

Harry felt his heart clench, a pain twisting beneath his ribs. "That's a great question. One I will answer later. Right now, we have to go."

Sirius guffawed loudly, thumping Harry on the shoulder as he held out the glowing rope. Harry glared at him before turning to the other Order members.

"What are you all waiting for? Let's go." Fingers curled around the rope, a faint glow spreading up their arms. "Ready? To the call of arms."

Harry felt a tug beneath his navel and the wind screamed in his ears, bodies pressing against him from both sides as the world whirled in a rainbow of colors. A moment later, his feet slammed into the ground and he stumbled as Hestia bumped into him, clutching her head.

"It's Britain!" A man yelled. "They responded."

A man twisted away from a group of wizards and witches dressed in dark navy, muttering something to them before striding across the room toward them.

"The Order of the Phoenix." The man gave a short bow as the group disappeared in a swirl of colors behind him. "Your help is much appreciated. Allies are—"

"Right, what's happening?" Harry cut in, stepping forward. The man's eyes flicked to his forehead and widened. "And who is in charge here?"

"I am in charge, Mr. Potter." The man held out his hand. "Commander Jenkins, head of MACUSA's National Protection Service. And I am very glad you responded. Gellert Grindelwald has attacked us on three fronts at once: Isle Royale, Montague, and Saipan."

"They are island states of the United MACUSA," Sirius frowned. "You are not bound to protect them."

"Grindelwald is a threat every nation should be protected against. He is here to rip our peace to shreds and our world with it." Jenkins scowled.

"What's the status of these places, and where's Grindelwald?"

"We have to assume that he has already taken over Montague, as our guys are no longer in contact," Jenkins told Harry. "The last message they sent was, 'It is Grindelwald, we need help.' before all connections were lost."

"Harry, you are the only one who can fight him," Bill said.

"And I will." Harry looked at the man in front of him. "Which place is more important for you? Where would Grindelwald be attacking?"

The man hesitated and a feeling of uneasiness rose in Harry's mind as he met his eyes.

"Merlin be damned, this is not the time for secrets," Harry raised his wand. "Legilimens."

A faint resistance rose, but Harry crushed it to dust, pushing through the uneasiness, anger, and fear that rose. Scenes flashed in front of his eyes— a white building formed, parting to reveal the faces of children glancing up at him from hospital beds, their eyes fearful and gleaming with tears before being torn up by a storm of purple and blue magic that rose from them.

Harry stumbled back, his fingers curling up tighter around his wand.

"A hospital full of Obscurials," he whispered, and Sirius and Bill's heads snapped to look at him. "Are you all fucking nuts?"

The man's face tightened, his eyes hardening. "Now, look here—"

"I don't have time for you." Harry ripped away Jenkins' wand, sending it rolling across the hall. "The words should've been out of your mouth the moment I showed up. We cannot give Grindelwald a dozen Obscurials on a silver platter. Sirius, get them to Isle Royale. I am going to Saipan to clean up this mess. And someone go back to Headquarters and get me, Scamander."

Harry took a deep breath, and a flash of purple fire washed over him. Hedwig's talons dug into his shoulder as he vanished from the hall.

---

9th July 1996

Saipan, United States

Spells flashed in the distance. A line of wizards and witches stood behind a shimmering silver shield, fighting the storm of magic. Harry felt the magic thrum, the chaos running through the soil beneath his feet, the stench of death lingering in the air.

"Hedwig, go and calm the kids down if needed," Harry muttered. "I will make sure they don't get to the building, come what may."

Hedwig cooed and fluttered away, disappearing through a window in the building behind him. Glancing over his shoulder, Harry strode forward, his knuckles white against his wand. An itch rose from his left sleeve, where he had kept the Elder Wand, as it thrummed with power, wanting to be used.

'Not yet.' Harry pushed the temptation down. 'Not unless necessary. These are mere henchmen.'

A yellow curse flashed from his wand, tearing through a pair of wizards, shattering their shields. The faces of the MACUSA Aurors around him lit up with hope as Harry strode past them, the spells of the enemy bouncing off a white wall of magic, back onto them.

"Men of Grindelwald!" Harry poured magic into the shield, strengthening it. "I will give you one single change. Get lost."

In response, a bolt of lightning shot from a witch's wand, hammering against his shield, sparks of electricity falling to the ground.

"So be it." A spell sliced through the air and she fell to the ground, her eyes blank.

Around him, spells flew as the MACUSA Aurors fought back, flashes of red and blue flying toward Grindelwald's Acolytes.

'These are rookie spells,' Harry grimaced. 'Time to end this lot once and for all.'

Harry poured his hatred for Voldemort and Grindelwald through his wand, and flames buffeted, taking the form of a hazy dragon that burned through the men nearest to him. Flames swirled, swooping across the field as the Aurors and Acolytes backed away from it.

A crack rang through the field, and Harry felt a tug on his spell. A moment later, the flames guttered away, vanishing into the air, leaving charred bones behind, lying on the ground. Gellert Grindelwald stood between the smoking ruins of his followers, his heterochromatic eyes glowing while his wand rested by his thigh, held loosely between his fingers.

Behind him, a line of red-robed, hooded witches and wizards stood, their hands in their pockets.

"Harry Potter." Grindelwald inclined his head. "We meet again. Sooner than I had expected. Though, I must say it is a bother to have you here, that too, standing with them."

"Sorry for ruining your plans," Harry drawled, letting his shield fade into motes of white light. "Now, feel free to go back to whichever hole you came from today."

"I am afraid that is not possible." Grindelwald's eyes hardened. "Especially from here. Because I am not here to conquer or convince. I am not here to take out those who stand in the way of the greater good. Today, I am here to liberate the children of magic whom your allies have imprisoned without fault."

Harry threw a glance at the Aurors behind him, resisting the urge to scowl.

"You are not getting the children, Grindelwald." Harry drew himself up. "I will not let them be a part of your schemes so you can use them for your own gain."

"The children would be better off with me than they would be with them," Grindelwald spat, waving his wand at the Aurors, who flinched. "Do you even know what they are doing with them, Potter? Children of magic are being violated. They are being used for the gains of men in a false bid for power."

"And I will ensure that won't continue," Harry said. "Scamander is on his way. By tomorrow morning, the children will be free of this place, from MACUSA, and from you. Safe from being used by anyone for conquering the world."

"My goals are beyond a throne atop the world." Grindelwald frowned. "All I wish for is the greater good, dear boy. I want a new dawn for the world. A better world where mother magic shall flourish and those blessed by her gift shall live freely and without fear. A world where children won't be used as experiments by governments to further their own cause. And if I have to conquer the world to do so, so be it."

"And to do so, you will have to go through me."

"It will turn out to be no better for you than the last time we fought." Grindelwald raised his arms. "But if that is your choice, who am I to deny it?"

He raised his wand to the sky, and the clouds darkened, the light of the setting sun vanishing into darkness before Harry could react. The sky rumbled, and Harry tensed for a moment until Grindelwald gave him an apologetic look.

"Unfortunately for you, dear boy, I have made a promise to myself. I have to act for the greater good. And the good of the children of magic."

"I am not letting you pass, Grindelwald," Harry kept an eye on the sky. "You will have to go through me."

Grindelwald waved his hand, and the followers behind him lowered their hoods, their blood-red eyes glowing in the darkness, their pearly white canines bared.

'Vampires.'

"Is this what you are going to do every time we meet? Throw over glorified dead bodies at me?" Harry raised his wand. "Are you too afraid to face me yourself?"

"The last time we did that, I drew first blood and won, dear boy," he chuckled. "It is not worth my time. If we meet again, perhaps I will oblige you personally. Not today."

The vampire to Grindelwald's left prowled forward, a smile curling on his lips.

"For the first time in centuries, Lord Vlad, you and your kin can feed on the blood of wizards freely and fairly. I hope you can relish it."

"We will." The silky voice of the vampire grated against Harry's ears. "You can fulfill your mission for the greater good."

"For the greater good," Grindelwald repeated, turning to Harry. "You still have a choice, though. You needn't support them. I give you my word that I will not harm the children."

'Hedwig,' Harry felt a warmth in his chest. 'Take the children away. Somewhere safe. Somewhere no one can harm them.'

He heard faint music in his ears and smiled.

'Now I just need to buy time.'

"How about a counter?" Harry said. "I walk away with the kids and let you take this land? No one will harm them. But no one would use them either. You say you want to protect the children of magic? Prove it."

"I have nothing to prove to you," Grindelwald said.

"Then you are just another dark lord who wants nothing but his own gain. No different than Voldemort." Harry snorted. "You are a fraud."

"You cannot provoke me, dear boy. I have gathered the patience of decades in my cell."

"It is exactly where you belong."

"Once my dawn brightens the world, I shall gladly take it back. I have spilled too much magical blood, dear boy. But sacrifices are essential for the greater good."

"You will not have your dawn."

"No man or magic can stop the tide that's already coming. Weaken it, delay it, but not stop it. The dawn is coming, Harry Potter. It always was. You are as much a part of it as I am."

Harry's forehead creased. "What do you mean?"

Grindelwald smiled mysteriously. "Perhaps you will live long enough to find out. Feed, my friends."

The vampires dissolved into motes of dark mist, the fog rolling over the ground toward Harry and the Aurors while Grindelwald disappeared with a crack to the edge of the hospital's wards.

'Hedwig, hurry.' Harry flicked his wand, sending Vlad spinning to the ground, the black mist around the vampire fading away.

The creature lunged in a blur of red and Harry disapparated, appearing amidst the swirling mist, looking at Grindelwald, who was working on the wards in the distance. The Aurors were already falling as vampires appeared, their teeth sinking into their necks, draining the blood of MACUSA's men.

'If Hedwig can't do it in time, I will have to stop Grindelwald. To do that, I need to deal with the vampires first or they will kill all of them.'

Harry let the Elder Wand slip into his palm as the mist around him rose.

'Death conquers all, even what's already dead.'

Magic roared from the tip of his wand, crushing the nearest vampire to smoke, its bones crumbling to ash. Harry spun his wand, pulling up the smoke and thrusting his wand, sending vampires falling near Vlad's feet. The vampire looked at him in surprise, his red eyes wide.

The Aurors stumbled back, breathing a sigh of relief, before raining fire on the vampires. Vlad raised a hand, a red shield stretching in front of him and his men, protecting them from the assault.

"I do not know what magic this is," Vlad said, meeting Harry's eyes. "But you shall die for your insolence, mortal."

Harry raised the Elder Wand, pouring magic through its wood. "I would've stopped to fight, but unfortunately for you, I'm on a tight schedule."

Razor-sharp threads of magic roared from the tip of the wand, bursting through the wall of red, piercing the vampires through their hearts, who began to crumble to dust while Vlad watched in horror, grasping for his men.

"You had no business here. But now, you are my enemy." Harry slashed his wand, conjuring and banishing a wooden stake that pierced through the vampire's chest.

Vlad fell to the ground, the glow in his red eyes dying away like the embers of a campfire.

A second later, the phoenix song rang in his ears, warmth curling in his chest like a summer breeze as the image of the Hogwarts castle flashed through Harry's mind.

'Yes. Hedwig did it. Time to deal with Grindelwald.'

The hospital behind him shook, and he twisted to see the walls crumble, the earth beneath his feet shaking while thunder rumbled in the sky.

Harry pushed the Elder Wand back into his sleeve, taking a deep breath and tapping the ring on his finger.

'Time to trap Grindelwald.'

With a crack, the dark lord appeared in front of him, his eyes glowing with rage as he swung his wand. Across the field, MACUSA's Aurors crumbled, their necks twisted at odd angles, leaving only the two of them behind.

"So be it, Harry Potter." Grindelwald's knuckles whitened. "Today, you die."

"We will see about that, Gellert." Dumbledore appeared behind the man, and a shimmer of magic spread, tingling down Harry's skin. "Once and for all, hopefully."

Notes:

AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!

So, yes. I ended it on a little cliff-hanger. And I am a terrible tease. Next chapter, will Dumbledore and Harry take down Grindelwald, or will he escape again? If they defeat him, what would be the consequences? And how would MACUSA react to their Obscurial children being stolen?

Stay tuned to find out!

A huge thanks to ShadowCheck, Nanu Mughil, and Zaby for betaing this chapter.

You can also join my discord server where you will find plenty of sneak peeks and character images and a lot of other stuff.

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 84: Mors Vincit Omnia

Notes:

This chapter is dedicated in the fond memory of Dame Margaret Natalie Smith AKA Maggie Smith, our beloved Professor Minerva McGonagall who has passed onto her next great adventure. May her soul rest in peace.

Ch.83 Mors Vincit Omnia

Grindelwald tucked his hand beneath the silver-buttoned pocket of his waistcoat, his heterochromatic eyes darting between Harry and Dumbledore.

"I foresaw this moment," he said, a slight smile curving his lips. "Us three, amidst ruins, bodies strewn behind the boy and me, trapped. It happened as you always said it does, Albus. What you try to avoid, you create. And I did just that."

"Then you should also have foreseen that the wise course was to surrender," Harry said, flicking his wand.

Chains of iron and bronze erupted from the ground, lunging at Grindelwald. The chains were shredded to bits, small pieces of metal falling around Grindelwald's dark boots. "Visions only show what must happen, child. What follows and precedes can change. It is the freedom of human will that decrees all in the end."

"And I don't suppose you have the will to surrender, do you?" Harry mustered a wry grin. "Because it would make this a lot easier."

"No."

A bolt of white lightning smashed against the blue shimmer rising from Grindelwald's wand, a wave of water enveloping him from the other side.

"Break the shield, Harry," Dumbledore's voice rang through the crack of the spell. "I will drown him. It will end it once and for all."

Sparks of electricity fell to the ground as the spell crumpled, and a purple curse lanced through the swirling waters, bursting against the shield. 'More.' Harry hurled flashes of pink and purple that lit the water up, the curses hammering against the shield, the blue shimmer growing lighter. 'Come on.'

A golden glow spun through the hazy waters from within, and a spear burst through it, sending a yellow curse slicing toward Dumbledore.

The headmaster batted it away, his hold on the water breaking. Before the water could fall, Grindelwald seized hold of it, hurling it at Harry, shards of ice freezing within its stream.

A tongue of fire wrapped around it, melting the ice and evaporating the water as a yellow curse whizzed past Harry's ear.

He growled, his wand blurring through the air, a rainbow of curses lighting up the space as they crashed against a golden shield that rose from the spear.

'Flamel's spear.' Harry's heart twisted. 'I need to take it away if I want to kill Grindelwald.'

"You like my new spear, Albus?" Grindelwald flicked his wand, deflecting an orange curse, holding his shield up against Harry. "I made some changes that—"

His voice trailed off, and he stared at the wand in Dumbledore's hand, his mouth twisting soundlessly.

'This is the time.'

Harry felt hope surge through his veins, drowned under the hate he tugged up. He aimed his wand at Grindelwald's unprotected side.

"Avada Kedavra."

The beam of green burst through the golden shield, and Grindelwald whirled around, raising his spear to intercept the curse. The weapon splintered, shards of golden light peeking through Grindelwald's fingers before bursting.

A golden wave rolled across the field, sending Harry and Dumbledore stumbling. Grindelwald soared past Dumbledore, crashing into the remains of the hospital, smoke rising in the wind. The acrid smell of burning flesh filled the air around them, as he coughed, and pushed himself to his feet. He looked around and darted toward the hospital where Grindelwald lay among the debris.

Blood trickled down the stones from the missing fingers, a deep gash running up Grindelwald's torn sleeve. A golden shard was stuck beneath his ribs, blood dripping down its edge. A cough tore out of the dark lord's throat as he struggled to his feet, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"Avada Kedavra!" Harry roared.

Grindelwald flicked his hand, and a chunk of cement flew in the way, swallowing the green light and bursting to dust. With a flick, droplets of blood from his arm swirled to form a bubble around the dark lord. Dumbledore hurled spells at the shield, only for them to burst against the film of golden red, a few bouncing away and tearing through the debris on the ground.

'Blood magic. That shield needs to be broken.'

"You thought it'd be so easy, Albus, did you?" Grindelwald's eyes brimmed with fury. "Where's the wand? What did you do with it?"

"It is in a place where you could never take it from." A smile curled on Dumbledore's lips. "You'll never get the Elder Wand, Gellert. Or any of the Hallows."

Grindelwald twisted around to look at Harry, squinting through the whorls and sparks that cascaded down the shield, the bubble of magic wobbling as Harry's spell burst against it.

"Nope, this is the wand I got from Ollivander's years ago." Harry waved his wand before sending a sizzling purple curse that gonged against the shield, sending Grindelwald stumbling a step back within. "Admit it or not, your dream of getting the Hallows will never be fulfilled."

Grindelwald looked between them and hung his head. A sad smile curved on his lips, and his grasp on his wand tightened. "I believe you. But if my dreams cannot be fulfilled, my purpose will be. I'll not be defeated here today."

'He's going to run.'

Harry hissed, a green dome rising across the field as Grindelwald raised his wand to the sky, stones rising and enlarging to protect his chest from spells. A bolt of gold lightning shot from his wand, bursting across the green dome, and Grindelwald narrowed his eyes.

"A most clever spell." Grindelwald banished the rocks floating around him and transfigured them into bronze spears that cleaved through the air, only to vanish with a jab of Harry's wand. "One of the language of serpents, no doubt."

"It means you cannot escape today, Gellert." Dumbledore twisted his wand, a golden beam shattering against Grindelwald's blood shield. "Even your shield will break sooner or later."

Grindelwald sighed, running his wand along his left hand. The skin knitted together, and the blood from the missing fingers staunched.

"It will. But by the time you both chip it away, you'll be tired, and I, healed and ready." Grindelwald smiled. "I told you. I will not be defeated here."

"Well, let's see if your shield stops this," Harry sneered. "Avada Kedavra."

The killing curse passed through the shield as if it wasn't there, and another stone rose and burst to dust that scattered at Grindelwald's feet.

"Hate is the weapon of children, such as Tom Riddle and yourself, Harry Potter. To kill me wouldn't be the end of the idea I have sown." Grindelwald spread his hands. "My ambitions are greater than that of one man. They are for the greater good."

"We'll see about that once you're dead."

"For that, you'd have to kill me," he chuckled. "And I won't die here."

A ring of hazy orange flames sprung up around the shield, the heat prickling their skin, and Harry smirked. "Come out of the shield, Grindelwald. Or you will die of the heatwave very soon. It will only grow hotter and hotter until you either die or come out."

Grindelwald jabbed his wand, and the flames sputtered for a moment before springing up again.

He frowned before smiling. "You're full of wonders, Harry Potter. A spell that doesn't burn but dries and warm—a common household charm expanded and powered ingeniously. Most wonderful. Did you make it yourself?"

"Maybe, maybe not."

"Petulant," Grindelwald sighed, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Unfortunately for you, you have an enemy. And the enemy of an enemy… is my friend."

Harry looked up as a dark blur smashed through his green dome, landing beside Grindelwald, the dark mist turning to black robes and a head of pale skin, a bone-white wand clutched in his thin, skeletal fingers.

Sharp cracks and pops rang across the clearing, and dark-robed figures appeared, their silver masks gleaming. Harry turned his head, narrowing his eyes, while Dumbledore looked at them with a carefully blank face.

"And with that, Albus," Grindelwald grinned, "the hunters become the hunted." He turned to Harry. "Now, what do you say, Mr. Potter? Ready to surrender? Because there's no way for you to escape today."

Harry glanced at Dumbledore, his heart hammering in his chest. Dumbledore gave a single jerky nod, his eyes hardening.

"Well," Harry drawled, "we'll just have to carve a path through you all then."

Grindelwald chuckled with amusement. "And how do you plan to do that? Against all of us?"

"By being what you always dreamt to be." The Elder Wand slipped back into Harry's hands, and Grindelwald's eyes widened. "The master of the Hallows."

"SHIELDS!" Grindelwald roared as flames poured from the Elder Wand and lunged at them, smashing into barriers of all sorts that sprung up.

Grindelwald's and Voldemort's magic pushed against the flames, trying to keep it away from their followers. The headmaster sprang into action beside Harry, waving his wand in a wide arc, a shimmer rising again, the wards holding the Death Eaters in.

Debris around the field rose and turned to sharp spears, tearing through the air toward the Death Eaters.

Voldemort disappeared in a gust of smoke and reappeared in front of the weapons, vanishing them, snarling in anger. "AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Harry swatted the killing curse away and pushed magic down the Elder Wand, the flames enveloping the right flank of the Death Eaters. Their screams were drowned in the fire, and Harry felt the wand thrum in his hand as they were reduced to ashes.

As the inferno raged, the headmaster stepped closer to Harry, his wand a blur of blue as he dueled Grindelwald. Voldemort soared over the flames, struggling to contain them.

'I can hit him while he's busy.' Harry absently deflected a stray curse, his eyes fixed on Voldemort.

"Professor, watch my back and don't let them escape," Harry said. "I am going to deal with Voldemort."

Harry raised his wand and poured everything he had into the clouds, a storm gathering above them. The Elder Wand thrummed, and the flames swirled, throwing everything into a haze of orange.

"POTTER, YOU DO NOT DESERVE TO WIELD THAT WAND!" Grindelwald's voice rang out over the crackling flames. A wave of magic burst, clearing a path between them and Grindelwald, whose eyes were burning with hatred.

'I just need a moment.' He kept his eyes trained on Voldemort.

Spells rained down on him, but Dumbledore stepped in front, his wand slashing through the air. The curses veered away, tearing through the surroundings but leaving them untouched. A spell shot toward Grindelwald, who raised a shield.

"ENOUGH!" Grindelwald stepped forward; his eyes blazing. "You win today, Albus. But you won't—"

A bolt of golden and black lightning cracked in the sky and crashed down toward Voldemort with a thunderous roar. The lightning tore through a flimsy shield that rose and struck the Dark Lord in mid-air, smashing him into the ground.

The earth beneath their feet trembled, and the fire dwindled as a screech rang over the dying crackle of the flames. A vortex of dark tendrils seeped out of the ground, turning into a serpentine skull.

"Voldemort's soul," Dumbledore breathed.

With another screech, the dark specter flew up, vanishing amongst the fire, shattering through the wards, and disappearing into the sky.

'Had the horcruxes not been there, Voldemort would've been killed for good.' Harry felt a pang beneath his ribs. 'Time to get Grindelwald.'

Harry dragged up power and raised an aching arm, a swirl of blue and purple magic bursting from the Elder Wand. The spell smashed against a shimmer of silver magic, a deep gong piercing through the air, sending the Dark Lord skidding.

"No." Grindelwald deflected a bolt of lightning from Dumbledore into the ground. "Zufluchtsort!"

Portkeys activated, and the Death Eaters and Grindelwald disappeared, leaving Harry and Dumbledore upon the ruins of the island.

"COWARD!" A wave of magic rippled through the clearing, debris bursting to dust, a cloud of white dust emerging from it.

"Harry, you—you killed Voldemort," Dumbledore breathed. "You destroyed his body. What was the spell?"

"I don't know. It was the wand that did it. I wanted a lightning bolt to hit Voldemort. The wand… it made it something else."

Dumbledore's eyebrows rose. "Most fascinating."

"Yeah, had it not been for the horcruxes, we would've won," Harry panted. "And the exertion would've been worth it."

He sat down in the debris-strewn mud, exhaustion hitting him like a bludgeoning hex. Sweat dripped down his forehead, and his head spun.

"Harry? Are you alright? Harry?"

He gave a feeble nod, taking deep breaths. "Just very… tired. Last lightning spell… took a lot out of me."

"Understandable, my boy." Dumbledore patted his shoulder. "Come, I will take you to Hogwarts. Where you can rest."

Harry's eyes widened. "Shit. I just left a bunch of obscurials with a phoenix and nothing else. I took them away from here. Of course, Scamander is also probably on his way."

"Where?"

"The Chamber of Secrets."

---

Dumbledore appeared with a sharp crack in the chamber of secrets, watching as a dozen eyes stared up at him, backing away.

"I mean you no harm, children." Dumbledore held onto Harry, giving them a warm smile. "I am a wizard, much like yourselves."

"What's with the funny accent?" A boy who seemed the oldest among them stepped forward, darkness bubbling on his skin. "And why do we believe you?"

Dumbledore conjured a chair and allowed Harry to sit on it, his eyes growing concerned for a moment as Harry winced.

"And what did you do to him?" Darkness bled in the boy's eyes, and he stopped forward only to pause as Harry raised a hand.

"I was… fighting the one… who attacked the… hospital." Harry heaved. "It… took a… lot. I'm tired."

"Are you like us?"

Harry nodded, slumping back.

"My name's Albus Dumbledore. I am the headmaster of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. If I may ask, what's your name?"

"Ethan." The boy looked around wearily. "Where did this bird bring us?"

"Well, it's a safe place in the castle."

"Castle?" A little girl asked with wide eyes. "Like the ones of princesses?"

"A castle of magic," Dumbledore smiled at her, glancing at Harry. "First we should get our friend here to the hospital wing. He's—"

"You're one of them." Ethan hissed, tendrils of dark energy crawling up his arms. "You want to take us to another hospital and do the same thing they did with us!"

"Not at—" Dumbledore erected a shield, absorbing the tendrils of magic that leaped at him. Harry's eyes shot open, and he hurled himself to his feet.

"ENOUGH!" He yelled. "Enou—" A cough tore out of his chest, his ribs paining. "I—"

"Harry, don't exert yourself. You'll make the exhaustion worse." Dumbledore chided. "Sit back, my boy." The headmaster turned to Ethan. "I mean none of you any harm, Ethan. I mean no harm to you or your companions."

"That's what they said. That's what all of them said!"

A vortex of darkness burst out of Ethan, and Dumbledore threw up another shield, protecting himself and Harry as the obscurial magic hammered over the shield. The chamber rumbled, runes on the walls glowing as Ethan's magic slammed into pillars and across Salazar's face.

"Will the Chamber give out?"

"Unlikely." Harry drew his wand, holding it in his hand. "I don't think I should do any more magic though. If it comes down—"

"I am not harming the children, Harry. Most aren't even Hogwarts age." Dumbledore's eyes turned hard. "But I will subdue Ethan if he tries to harm you while you're defenseless."

A trill rang through the darkness and purple lightning flickered, Harry's eyes widening.

"I think I am championed already."

A bolt of lightning cracked, and the dark tendrils of obscurial magic were sucked away into a glass jar that trembled. Harry looked up to see Newt Scamander standing, the jar clutched in his hand while Ethan twitched on the ground.

"Ethan!" A couple of other children rushed to the boy's side while Hedwig flew over their heads, perching atop Salazar's stone face.

"What did you do?" A girl screamed. "You— you—"

"Maybe we should listen to them." Another boy tugged at the girl's arm, pulling her back.

"Harry, get out of here." Dumbledore whispered. "You're in no condition to fight."

"Professor—"

"Fawkes."

In a rush of fire, Harry was taken away from the chamber, and thrown onto something soft, his head hitting a pillow. Fawkes trilled and disappeared, leaving Harry in the room.

Darkness swam in his vision, and sleep overtook him. Within moments, Harry was fast asleep.

Notes:

AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the fight and the chapter.

Yes, I know it was a somewhat shorter chapter but a very important one. It is, after all the one which will start the fall of the dominos. :) Also, it took me a fair bit of effort to get this chapter down on paper, with me banging my head for over two weeks, figuring the details out.

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Thank you for all your reviews!

A huge thank you to Mughil and Tulayb for betaing this chapter.

To interact directly with me and my readers, find character images, and get snippets of chapters, join my discord server. It is a community of over 2k members, growing rapidly.

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 85: Meetings and Opportunities

Notes:

Also, before I forget, I now have a BRAND NEW Harry Potter fanfic, BLACK DAWN! The first chapter is already up on FFN and AO3, just head to my profile and you'll find it there.

Black Dawn summary: On the night of Halloween 1981, a butterfly flapped its wings, and the world changed. Albus Dumbledore made a different decision, impacting the fate of two of the greatest houses of wizarding Britain, and the dominos began to tumble. For instead of the Dursleys, it was Lord Arcturus Black who took Harry in as his own.

I hope you all will give it a read.

Ch.84 Meetings and Opportunities

10th July 1996

Ministry of Magic, Britain

The pure white tip of the eagle-feather quill scratched across the parchment, the feather occasionally brushing against Amelia's chin. Her golden monocle gleamed, its glint falling over the stack of parchment on her desk. The image of the ruins of a massive building, torn, with bodies piled in heaps around it shone on the front page of the Daily Prophet on the edge of her desk.

A knock interrupted her, and she looked up as the door opened and Penelope Clearwater peeked in, her eyes furious.

"Yes?"

"Minister, there's… someone from MACUSA demanding to see you. Immediately." Penelope scowled, and Amelia raised an eyebrow.

"Well then, let him in. I don't have all day."

Penelope nodded and held the door open, glaring at the man who stormed in, his dark blue cloak billowing behind him. He slammed a file upon Amelia's desk, rattling the things on it. The Daily Prophet tumbled off the desk, falling upon Amelia's feet below.

"Minister Bones—"

"You better have an explanation for slamming a file on my desk, Jacobs," Amelia put her quill back, eyeing the droplets of ink that had splattered on the parchment. "And the tone."

"Explanation? EXPLANATION!? It is you who should be explaining why the children of my country were kidnapped by the force you sent!" Jacobs burst, spittle flying from his mouth. "I want the citizens of my country returned, right now!"

"Jacobs, I suggest that you calm down."

"Calm down? CALM DOWN?" He roared. "Albus Dumbledore took a dozen children out of a MACUSA controlled hospital and—"

"You mean they liberated the children from a prison." Amelia felt a wave of rage well in her chest as she rose from her seat, her tone sharp as a knife. "A prison where their powers were being experimented with and they were used as tools, turned into living weapons? Is that the hospital you're talking about, Jacobs?"

He took a step back, his face twisting in fury. "You Brits have no right to interfere with the operations of—"

Amelia's fist hammered onto her desk, thin cracks spreading on the glass. "No, Jacobs. You had no right to do what you did."

"They were Obscurials."

"They were children who were hurt for their whole life." Amelia snapped. "You should have protected them instead of using them and trying to turn them into weapons."

"MACUSA only acted in the best interest of the witches and wizards of Magical America." Jacobs drew himself up, anger brimming in his eyes. "We had to do all we could to combat your dark lords and the other threats that Europe spawns, thanks to the rampant dark magic! You hide behind your secrets and ancient texts while we scramble for scraps to defend ourselves!"

"How typical," Amelia scoffed. "Calling what you are not privy to as Dark Magic. You've no idea what dark magic is, Jacobs. You've barely even seen any true dark magic."

"Which makes the Obscurials all the more needed. Not even Grindelwald wanted to face an Obscurial on a rampage, Bones. It means they have enough power to take him out if needed."

"If needed? YOU'RE TALKING OF CHILDREN!" Amelia thundered, a breeze ruffling through the office, and the enchanted window behind her rattled. "Children, Jacobs. Have you no shame? You'll sacrifice—"

"A life in front of a million is no calculation, Minister. And it is not the age that matters. It is power." Jacobs balled his fist. "After all, you yourself drafted Harry Potter, a child, into the International Protection Act, no?"

"No, he isn't. Not officially. He chose to follow the Order of the Phoenix on his own accord when he heard Grindelwald was on the field." Amelia raised an eyebrow. "Also, the children you were holding were untrained and trapped, given no choice of their own. Harry, on the other hand, is a legal adult in the eyes of the ministry and one of the most powerful wizards on the planet with skills to match."

"That it may be, but my point still stands. He acted under the International Protection Act and so did Albus Dumbledore. And they took our citizens away, effectively kidnapping them."

"And what you were doing to the children was classified as a violation of Wizard rights," Amelia snapped.

"And you do not have the power to take action against it!"

"No, we don't," Amelia's voice turned frosty. "But the ICW does. The one who liberated the children was the Supreme Mugwump of the ICW, after all."

"Who will face international justice, regardless of who he is!"

"Empty threat, Jacobs," Amelia snorted. "You try to drag Albus Dumbledore in front of ICW, you will be the one who will come under fire, not him."

"But, my dear minister Bones, it wasn't Albus Dumbledore who was the first on the site." He smirked. "It was Harry Potter. It was his phoenix who took the obscurial children away."

"You'll have better luck with Dumbledore, Jacobs." Amelia rolled her eyes. "If you accuse Dumbledore, he might just have you admit you were wrong and call it a day. But Harry Potter? I know he'll not rest until he has sanctions imposed on the whole of MACUSA. Believe me, the last person who tried to politically suppress him ended up on the wrong side of a dementor with the whole Wizengamot voting in its favor and declaring him, my predecessor as the Minister of Magic, a traitor."

"He doesn't have that kind of pull in the ICW."

"He would still do it. The best course of action, I would suggest, is to keep your head down and stay the hell away from him. I know Harry Potter well."

"I would suppose you would." Something ugly gleamed in Jacobs' eyes. "But do you really know him?"

Amelia frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"He's dating your niece, your ward, isn't he?" Jacobs smirked as Amelia nodded. "Well, your niece isn't the only one Potter's dating. There's another girl."

"Daphne Greengrass," Amelia said.

Jacobs looked startled, his eyes widening.

"Oh, yes, I know," Amelia laughed. "You thought you could exploit it, didn't you? Have me turn against Harry and take away the support he might garner from Britain in the ICW."

"Why are you supporting him!? He's cheating on your niece, who might as well be your daughter as you've raised her for her whole life."

"I wouldn't call what they are doing as cheating exactly." Amelia rolled her eyes. "Potter has more than one house to take care of. He's just doing his duties as a future lord. Now, if you're quite done, some of us have better things to do than blackmail each other with the shenanigans of children."

Jacobs spluttered in indignation.

"Now, I suggest you get the hell out of my office before you embarrass yourself further," Amelia said. "Penelope? Escort this gentleman out, please. And ensure he doesn't come back, would you?"

---

11th July 1996

Grimmauld Place, London

Harry studied the grain of the table between his fingers, his foot tapping impatiently under it. The slight crackle of the fire and the murmur of voices drifted to his ears. He heard the door creak and glanced up to see Dumbledore standing at the door.

"Good evening, everyone." Dumbledore smiled at the assembled Order members. "We'll begin shortly once all members have arrived." His eyes flicked to Harry. "Harry, my boy, there's someone who wants to meet you in the meantime."

Harry frowned and looked toward the kitchen door, seeing a boy of around Astoria's age lingering outside, and shifting on his feet as he stole furious glances at the people assembled in the kitchen.

"Ethan." Harry rose from his chair. "How may I help you?"

"Err…" he nervously glanced around, gulping at the many eyes on him. "I just wanted to say sorry, man… sir. I… I shouldn't have lashed out— not after you and your bird saved our lives."

"It's alright," Harry waved his hand, glancing at Dumbledore, whose eyes twinkled. "Professor, why don't you brief them about what happened yesterday? I'll have a word with Ethan."

"Feel free."

Harry stepped out of the door, leading Ethan away toward the hall. The eyes of the portraits who remained turned toward them as Ethan's eyes darted around. nervously.

"So, Ethan, how've you been adjusting?"

He jumped slightly, turning to Harry. "The… new place is a lot better, thanks. I— are you sure you aren't angry or something? I attacked you, man."

Harry shook his head and patted his shoulder. "You were scared and in a dark, underground chamber with people you had never heard about before. Had I been in a similar position, I might've done the same."

Ethan frowned, but nodded, accepting it. "Sir—"

"Harry, please."

"Harry," Ethan licked his lips. "Can I ask what's exactly going on? I mean, I heard from the professor and Mr. Scamander, but they were vague at best. And I want to know what's going to happen to my friends. And me."

"Do you know what's going on out in the world, Ethan?" Harry asked.

"The hospital didn't let us watch TV, man. We don't know what's out there or where we even were."

"Right." Harry winced. "There's a man called Gellert Grindelwald who has been terrorizing the magical world at large for the past few months. We had put him away for a long time, but he broke out with the help of another. He's what we call a dark lord— the leader of magical terrorists. With me so far?"

"I guess."

"So, to suit his own purposes, he wanted to get you and your friends. We don't exactly know why he targeted you, but the last time he got his hands on an obscurial, he used him to tear apart a city and nearly break the statute of secrecy."

"I have heard about that before," Ethan said. "The Statute of Secrecy. It was what the doctors whispered about. But I don't know what it is. Not exactly."

"Well, it is an international law— it is the law for all witches and wizards to follow," Harry sighed. "It says that we cannot do magic in public or reveal our existence to the muggle— non-magical world. We stay separate, hidden from their eyes, and in doing so, remain a secret."

"But why?"

"Ever heard of the Salem witch trials? No?" He sighed. "Well, a few centuries ago, we were found by muggles. Let's just say that the muggles didn't take to our existence well."

Ethan's eyes darkened. "What did they do?"

"Killed us, of course. Muggles aren't very accepting of magic." Harry glanced at the boy. "As you might already know. Now, while a sufficiently trained wizard or witch can handle themselves, not all might be so lucky or skilled. Caught unprepared, it all but takes a stone to the head to knock someone out."

"And this Grindelwald fellow wants to start it again?"

"He wants to return the favor, so to speak. Conquer the muggle world and impose them under a magical rule— his rule, to be more precise."

"So, what's wrong with that?" Ethan demanded. "We should—"

"Ethan, we can't." Harry cut in. "I realize that Grindelwald, in some respects, may be correct. His agenda's tempting even. But humanity, be it magical or muggle, has never taken well to oppression, has it?"

"So, you are saying we might lose?"

"If we win, it won't be without heavy losses," Harry sighed. "Or without resistance. And once we win, how do you keep a population that's almost fifty times your size under your command? That too, all over the world? And that's not considering the fact about what the muggles will do if we push them too far and make them desperate."

"What can they do? We have magic!"

"They have nukes. They have missiles. They have weapons of mass destruction that can lay ruin to most magical places in the blink of an eye."

"Can't we prevent that?"

"Not everyone has the resources to defend themselves against heavy artillery, let alone missiles." Harry pursed his lips. "And I do not think anything can withstand nuclear bombs. Someplace like Hogwarts might be in for a chance, but it is a thin one at best."

"So you're afraid."

"We are wary, Ethan. Such a war could cause the extinction of magic as we know it. If it doesn't, it will be a massacre on both sides at the very least. Millions of innocents will die for the delusions of one man. Is that what you want?"

"I suppose not."

Harry patted his shoulder and gave him a nod. "As for you and your friends? We'll keep you safe, away from all the nastiness. We'll try to teach you magic at Hogwarts, at least those who are eleven or older."

"And those who aren't?" Ethan looked up, meeting his eyes.

"We'll figure something out." Harry shrugged. "We cannot keep you at Hogwarts for long. A few? Sure. But so many?"

"Why? Because we are a danger?"

"I won't say that your magic isn't volatile or even dangerous." Harry held up a hand, as Ethan's face darkened. "But with enough precaution and perhaps some healing, you can keep it under control, I'd say. If you can unleash it at will, you can keep it in too. Though it isn't the reason why your friends cannot stay. Just a fact that you all will need to take care of."

"Then what's the problem?"

"Hogwarts' Hospital Wing doesn't have the resources to keep you forever, Ethan. Madam Pomfrey can only do so much. Plus, Hogwarts is a school."

"So, where'll we go?"

"That, Ethan, is something you must ask the headmaster. I am, after all, just a student like you will be."

---

11th July 1996

Grimmauld Place, London

Harry pushed the kitchen door open, the voices of the Order members spilling out into the hallway, and Harry smothered a twinge of irritation and closed the door behind him.

"SILENCE!" Harry roared, and the room quietened. "What happened?"

"MACUSA has decided to call out the Order of the Phoenix, specifically Dumbledore and you in international court, for violating the new act." Sirius fumed. "They are saying that we kidnapped the citizens of their country."

Harry felt a brief stab at his heart, buried by a tide of anger at the American ministry. He glanced at Dumbledore, the headmaster's calm eyes meeting his, and Harry pushed the anger to a side, letting out a breath.

"Right. We'll deal with them there." Harry glanced at Dumbledore, who inclined his head in agreement. "What else do we have?"

Some of the Order members shared a look as Harry took his seat.

"We were discussing moving on Voldemort's forces while the bastard's down," Moody said after a moment. "The Aurors and the Order could take out a decent chunk of the remaining Death Eaters, crippling them."

Harry's eyes moved to Snape, who sat in the shadows, a sneer forming on his face as he met his gaze. "Snape? What are your buddies doing now that your master is bodiless again?"

"Harry, manners," Dumbledore chided, shooting Snape a glare as the Potion master scowled. "Despite the tone, Severus, could you answer Harry's question? I'm certain we'd like to know about the happenings within the ranks of Death Eaters and if there has been something from Gellert's side."

"The Death Eaters are hopeful that the dark lord will… return as he did in the graveyard," Snape drawled, shooting Harry a withering look. "Many have turned to Rookwood, who was instrumental in the return of the Dark Lord during the last time. And he has taken command."

"What about instructions? He must've told you all to do something." Arthur piped up. "Or sent them somewhere."

"I am unaware of any of the specifics. Rookwood has chosen to keep me away. The only instruction I have is to keep an eye on Dumbledore and Potter."

"So, you are bloody useless as always." Harry snorted, and Snape's eyes burned as he whirled around on him.

"I will not sit here and be insulted by the likes of you, Potter," Snape spat.

"Then stand there and be insulted." Sirius grinned. "No one likes you, Snivellus."

"Sirius, Harry. Please let us not provoke each other, shall we?" Dumbledore raised a finger. "Back to the matters at hand, we could certainly try to apprehend the Death Eaters whilst Lord Voldemort is down. But there's something else I fear."

"Grindelwald. But he won't divert his resources to Britain," Amelia said. "Without Voldemort here, Britain is a threat to him. He didn't dare touch us at the height of his power, thanks to you. Now we have Harry and you. If he comes here, he would be facing the ministry, the order, and you two. He wouldn't dare. Not alone."

Harry glanced at Dumbledore, whose face darkened, the wrinkles on his face deepening.

"Amelia, the way Gellert operates isn't one meant to cause terror amongst the masses, but rather to accomplish a goal or in some cases, make a statement." Dumbledore let out a tired sigh. "The infamous burning of Paris wasn't done to kill people. It was done because Gellert wished to make a statement when Louis, the French Minister of Magic at that time, called him some rather unpleasant words and indicated he was a man of words, not actions."

"Let's not forget that his Acolytes took over the castle of Ottoman and Beauxbatons while Paris was on fire," Harry said. "And they took over Beauxbatons without a single child being harmed."

"You sound impressed," Augusta Longbottom leaned forward, her eyes hard.

"I am of the opinion that whatever he did, however he did, he took over a school without spilling a drop of blood." He met Augusta's furious gaze. "Voldemort or his Death Eaters wouldn't have extended the same courtesy to Hogwarts, would they?"

Augusta nodded, her gaze still half furious, half conceding.

"I will put the Aurors on alert for now," Kingsley said. "The Order can take time to heal and get their strength back. I do not think that Grindelwald would be laying low. After all, his recent defeat would leave him with much ground to cover back."

"He might even try and make a point by attacking Britain, going by what he did in Paris," Molly said, her voice sharper than her kitchen knives. "The French minister then just made some comments. Harry injured him. That would leave him wanting to get back."

Harry felt the cold wood of the elder wood against his skin as he glanced at Dumbledore, who gave him a nod.

"I will put the Unspeakables onto the project of turning the magical detection grid sharper. They've already been designing a spell to detect offensive attacks, especially Unforgivables, but they've had little success."

"Bring Hogwarts in on it," Dumbledore said. "I am sure between Septima, Filius, Minerva, and Bathsheda, we can help. Maybe even our young minds from the Order could chime in."

"You're looking at it as a spell problem, sir." Harry leaned forward. "So are the Unspeakables, probably. The magic of the Unforgivables is volatile and somewhat imprecise due to the varied success of the spell being cast. But the problem is not with the spell."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "It is with the ward itself. While we cannot say if the Unspeakables haven't considered it, but I can say for certain they do not have the expertise that we can bring on board. Or specifically, Perenelle and Gringotts can."

Their eyes turned to Bill and Perenelle, who shared a look and nodded.

"We'll see what we can do, I suppose," Perenelle said. "A way to detect the casting of Unforgivables would be… useful."

There was a pause for a brief moment.

"So," Moody grunted. "How do we plan on taking down the Death Eaters?"

---

11th July 1996

Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts

"So," Harry glanced around the room as he stepped out of the floo. "We do have a lot of problems. Starting with MACUSA, followed by Voldemort, and Grindelwald, of course. I do not think Voldemort will stay without a body for long."

"He won't, of course." Dumbledore picked up a device from a stool and fiddled with it. "But it presents us with an opportunity. A rare one."

"We can act upon whatever crazy leads you have on his Horcruxes and investigate more freely than we had been."

"Indeed." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "But our window is rather short. Four days, if my guess is correct. Or nineteen, if we are lucky."

Harry's forehead creased, and he glanced at the calendar in the office. "A new moon is in four days. And then, the full moon."

"Not any full moon. The seventh of the year."

Harry felt blood freeze. "The most potent days for rituals after the solstices. The full moon's better but… the seventh new moon might have enough power to suffice."

"Precisely. Which is why Tom will undoubtedly attempt something if he has the chance and the adequate resources. But it is something we cannot leave to chance."

"We only have four days to act. Where do we need to go."

"I have a rather shrewd idea as to where one of the Horcruxes might be." Dumbledore picked up a pair of thick dragonhide gloves. "And there are a few things I wish to confirm from an old friend, in addition to offering him a job."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "A new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"

"Not exactly, I'm afraid." Dumbledore picked a quill from his desk, tapping it with his wand. "I did rather not risk either of us falling prey to the curse on the position. But the friend I speak of has some knowledge that only he can offer. First, to him, then MACUSA, and finally, to the Horcrux. Are you going to accompany me, Harry?"

"Of course," Harry raised a finger and frowned. "Why MACUSA though?"

Dumbledore's eyes hardened, and Harry felt the magic thrum in the office. "To send a message and end their unpleasantness once and for all. It has been some time since I reminded some people who I am, wouldn't you say?"

"Seems like I am going to have fun today."

"Indeed, we are, my boy. Indeed, we are. Now, if you would?"

Harry grasped the end of the quill and felt a tug behind his navel, and the headmaster's office disappeared in a swirl of colors.

Notes:

AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!

So, yes. The light side is moving upon the Death Eaters, while MACUSA has fucked up. Bad. As for what Voldemort is up to, let's just say that Dumbledore's shrewd ideas are usually correct. But how Voldemort accomplishes it, will be a sight to see… in the coming chapters, of course.

Also, some of you are thinking that Voldemort's dead. He's not. He still has his Horcruxes left, which Dumbledore and Harry will be dealing with in the coming few chapters. From the next chapter, we'll shift into the final gear, picking up pace and building to the final fight. We're in the last lap now.

.

Thank you for all your reviews!

A huge thank you to Mughil, Zaby, and Tulayb for betaing this chapter.

If you wish to have more detailed discussions, see character images, and stay in touch with me, join my discord server where you can chat directly with me. You can also find out more about BLACK DAWN there!

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 86: Aggressive Negotiations

Ch.85 Aggressive Negotiations

12th July 1996

Penryn, Cornwall

The slight crack of apparition rang down the empty alley, the heat of the afternoon sun prickling Harry's skin as he shielded his eyes with his hand.

"Where are we, professor? And who are we meeting?"

"A small town in Cornwall." Dumbledore transfigured his robes into a neat, orange suit, and Harry followed his lead, transfiguring his robes into a light blue shirt and black trousers with a wave of his hand. "As for who we are meeting, it is an old friend, one who was once upon a time regarded as one of the greatest professors to grace Hogwarts. Unfortunately, he retired two years after you were born."

Harry frowned, trying to recall the names he had heard from Salazar and Helga, or the other professors regarding their predecessors.

"Walker?" Harry asked. "He was the Runes professor before Bethesda."

"Alas, Professor Walker passed away a few years ago," Dumbledore said, striding down the street, past the quaint houses, some of which seemed empty. "But it was not him we are here to meet."

"Then Slughorn. Oh, dear Merlin." Harry sighed, feeling a twinge of annoyance lance through him.

"You know him?"

"By reputation, yes, I do. As a professor, as a master of potions, and a… collector, shall we say." Harry rolled his eyes. "He taught about three generations of students, probably even more than Professor McGonagall and Flitwick have."

"Indeed." Dumbledore smiled. "What else?"

"Oh, he's got connections like only a few others in the world. He tends to select… gems, cultivate them, and put them out in the world. A world in which he knows they'll flourish. He picks the brilliant, puts their names amongst the right circles, and grows his network."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Your parents were two such gems. Why? Lily was his favorite student, whom he couldn't stop singing praises about. If I recall well, your parents' first date ever was to his exclusive Slug Club."

"Really?" Harry felt his heart drum in his chest. "They got together at his club?"

"Officially, at least. Their relationship blossomed from there, and Horace was even a guest of honor at their wedding," Dumbledore said. "Oh, wards."

He deliberately set his foot beyond a block and ambled down the cobblestoned street, Harry following him, feeling the ward trigger beneath his feet.

"You set off his wards. Why?"

"It is impolite to go without informing, isn't it? Ours is just rather short notice." Dumbledore chortled, flicking his wand to open a gate. "Since you know who Horace is, I'd assume you know what you need to do?"

"Be an eye candy? Yay." Harry scowled, and the corners of Dumbledore's lips quivered. "What do we want from him anyway?"

"For him to resume his job as a professor and to tell us more about Tom Riddle." Dumbledore gave him a penetrating look over his glasses. "His relationship with Tom was much like the relationship between Minerva and yourself. He was his favorite student, and he was his favorite teacher. No one'd know as much as Tom as he would."

"And?"

"And… I am suspicious that if Tom ever had doubts about something tricky, Horace would've been the first person he would've asked."

"Horcruxes."

"Amongst other things," Dumbledore walked down a path carved through a neat lawn and knocked on the door, which creaked open slowly, already unlocked.

Harry pushed it open further, taking a step back as the ruins of a posh living room glared at him, droplets of blood trailing down the walls.

"What?" He hurried in, the Elder Wand dropping into his palm. "He was attacked?"

"It looks like it, yes." Dumbledore gathered a drop of blood trailing down the wall before sniffing it and tasting it.

"What in— that's gross!"

"Dragon blood." Dumbledore winked at him, glancing around the room, his eyes falling upon a plush armchair, which looked unharmed by the carnage around.

Harry raised an impressed eyebrow as Dumbledore carefully stepped through the broken shards of furniture and gave the armchair a sharp poke. The chair yelped sharply, turning to a stout, balding man, his blue eyes wide as he lay on the ground, his chest heaving.

"Good afternoon, Horace."

"Dumbledore! How did you know?"

"Do you wish for a list, Horace?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he helped Slughorn to his feet, patting his shoulder.

Slughorn rubbed his belly where Dumbledore had poked him, slowly turning to regard Harry. His eyes widened further, a flash of grief and excitement passing on his face.

"Merlin's beard. You're Harry Potter."

"If I wasn't, the world's making a humongous mistake, aren't they?" Harry plastered a smile on his lips. "Hello, Mr. Slughorn. I've heard a lot about you. And the transfiguration you just demonstrated? It was brilliant, especially since you did it on yourself, if I am assuming correctly."

"I did." His cheeks pinkened. "You're too kind, just like your mother. Lily was one of my best students ever. She was so good at potions that she'd have done some great things had she been—"

Slughorn's voice faltered, and he looked away, his eyes fixed at the cabinet in the far corner, upon which photo frames lay.

"I suppose we should put the house back together," Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Would you like my assistance?"

The potion master nodded, his eyes darting to the blood rolling down the walls. "You think it could be salvaged? Dragon Blood's expensive, and I used two pints to create this upholstery."

"The blood won't be at its full potency, but I wouldn't say it is unusable." Dumbledore waved his wand in a sweeping motion, and Harry felt the magic roll over the room.

The furniture flew back to its original places; ornaments reformed in midair, feathers zoomed into their cushions; torn books repaired themselves as they landed upon their shelves; oil lanterns soared onto side tables and reignited. A vast collection of splintered silver picture frames flew glittering across the room, whole and untarnished, upon a desk; rips, cracks, and holes disappeared.

Harry moved as the blood flew off walls, past him, into a crystal flask in Slughorn's hand, who corked and pocketed it.

"Is there a reason you did all of this, Mr. Slughorn?" Harry lifted his foot, and a small chip of glass flew back, mending itself to the chandelier above, which lit up, throwing light on the frames that hung on the wall. "Or that you're in someone else's house, in a muggle neighborhood?"

Slughorn examined the dragon blood in the light for a moment and grimaced, slipping the crystal flask into his pocket, and met Harry's gaze with heavy eyes.

"In times like this, a wizard like myself could be in demand of certain circles I do not wish to interact with. Including this one." He glanced at Dumbledore. "And the answer's no. Even this—" He waved a hand at Harry, who raised an eyebrow. "Will not convince me to come back. I am old, tired, and want to live a life of comfort for the rest of my time."

"Indeed." Dumbledore looked around the lavish room. "Still got your collection everywhere you go."

Slughorn's eyes moved to the glittering photo frames on a marble cabinet, and he sighed heavily. "A few things to remember about my good friends—and students. Good old days. If that's all, you can show yourself out, Dumbledore."

"I don't think we will, Mr. Slughorn." Harry sat on a velvet armchair, and Slughorn turned to him. "You see, he wants some answers."

Dumbledore's eyes gleamed over Slughorn's shoulder for a moment, and he nodded. "We are here for an old favorite of yours. Two, actually. First, Harry, here, wants to know more about his mother. She was a favorite of yours, wasn't she, Horace?"

Harry smothered the wave of surprise, smiling slightly at Slughorn, who seemed stunned.

"Lily… Lily," He breathed heavily, plopping himself onto an armchair, his eyes afar. "Where to begin? Lily… It is said that teachers should not have their favorites. But she was certainly mine. One of the brightest I have ever taught. Vivacious, you know. Charming girl. I used to tell her she ought to have been in my house. Very cheeky answers I used to get back too."

Harry smiled, feeling a warmth spread through his veins as he leaned forward. Slughorn glanced at him, a faint smile curving on his lips.

"You'll be in Gryffindor like her and your father, I suppose. It usually runs in families, bar the occasional surprise—like in the case of Sirius Black. All of them were brilliant, and I wouldn't have said no to having them in my house." Slughorn licked his lips, his eyes slightly misty. "Your mother was Muggle-born, of course. I Couldn't believe it when I found out. I thought she must have been a pureblood. She was so good."

"Why?" Harry felt a stab of anger and narrowed his eyes at Slughorn.

Slughorn looked down at him in surprise. "You mustn't think I'm prejudiced!" he said. "No, no, no! Haven't I just said your mother was one of my all-time favorite students? And there was Dirk Cresswell in the year after her too —now Head of the Goblin Liaison Office, of course —another Muggle-born, a very gifted student, who still gives me excellent inside information on the goings-on at Gringotts!"

"Wonderful," Harry said, glancing at Dumbledore. "Lovely as it is all to hear, we are here to ask you about something else."

"Harry… I'm not taking a job at Hogwarts. Taking a job at Hogwarts would be akin to declaring my allegiance to the Order of the Phoenix!"

"And what's wrong with that?" Harry rose from his seat.

"Oh, you look like Lily when she was furious. I don't like that," Slughorn muttered, gripping the leather armrests of the chair. "See—"

"You like Voldemort's cause, don't you? I'm not surprised. He was a student of yours, after all." Harry watched fear fill Slughorn's eyes. "He went by a different name back then. Tom Riddle."

Slughorn's eyes darted toward Dumbledore, who stood leisurely at the side, his hands behind his back, paying him no heed. The man's throat bobbed as he turned back to Harry, his eyes watery and red as he scooted back into the armchair.

"It is not like that!" Slughorn burst out as Harry took a step toward him. "I support no one! I am just an old man, who wants to live his life in peace, please. I do not want any part in a war!"

"Harry," Dumbledore said, his voice sharp as a knife. "Horace isn't at fault here. Not completely at least."

"But he's the reason Voldemort's not completely dead, isn't it?" Harry scowled. "The one who told him about Horcruxes."

The blood drained out of Slughorn's face, and he looked paler than Snape in the chandelier's light. "I— I—You—you mustn't assume that I knew what he'd become! I practically told him nothing!"

"But you told him something."

"I already told all I know to Dumbledore last year! I gave you the memory—"

"Horace, I know that the memory you gave me before was tampered with. Even if it was on the go, we both know you're capable enough to pull it, and I, capable of recognizing it." Dumbledore gave him a penetrating look over his spectacles. "It was a fine distinction, but one I recognized. You did not lie, but neither did you give the whole truth."

"See, Mr. Slughorn." Harry put his hands on the chair and leaned forward, nose to nose with Slughorn, staring directly into his eyes. "I do not wish for any unpleasantness. I do not want to hurt you or even scare you, for that matter. But you're stubborn when I need answers. The only reason you aren't in chains with me tearing your mind to shreds is because you were one of my mother's favorite teachers, and she was your favorite student. And I respect your dedication and resourcefulness enough. But my patience has a limit."

A bead of sweat trickled down Slughorn's forehead, and he heaved, his arms against his chest, trembling.

"Voldemort killed my parents. I returned the favor by killing him once as a baby and again, only a few days ago. But despite that, he lived, thanks to whatever you told him." Harry bit out, his voice merciless. "You had no clue what he would do when you told him that. But now you know what he is. Any further information you will withhold will only mean that every person he kills from now on will be blood on your hands. Tell us, and I will do everything to ensure that his death sticks around on the third time."

Slughorn nodded his heavy head, a tear slipping from his watery eyes. "Tom… Tom wanted to know if it was possible to split the soul… seven times. An arithmetically powerful number—the most powerful. He had some calculations, and I looked over them." Slughorn gulped, his eyes darting between Harry and Dumbledore. "I told him that despite his calculations being theoretically correct, the soul is a tricky concept, and I told him he shouldn't go down that path. He… He didn't listen."

Harry glanced at the headmaster, who inclined his head. Harry backed away and sat on his chair, watching Slughorn breathe a sigh of relief.

"What else?" Harry asked. "You arguably knew Tom Riddle the best. We have gathered a lot about him, but we'd like to confirm a few things. Maybe you can help us."

"He—Tom was always interested in the founders. In his eyes, they were the greatest wizards and witches ever. Greater than Merlin himself." Slughorn mumbled. "He once asked me about their items and their legend. The Diadem, the cup of Hufflepuff, the sword of Gryffindor… all of it. He wished to know if they were ever found… if someone owned them, and if they did, who they were."

Slughorn took a deep, shuddering breath. "I entertained him, thinking they were always simple questions of a curious boy. And he loved Hogwarts. Begged me to let him stay over the summer instead of sending him to the dreadful orphanage." Guilt clawed onto Slughorn's face. "Perhaps if I had let him stay… he wouldn't have grown into his hate of muggles."

Dumbledore hung his head and moved to lay a hand on Slughorn's shoulders, squeezing it.

"None of us could've truly anticipated what he went on to become. I saw the darkness in him, but I too let it fester instead of doing something, letting nature run its course. But in the end, despite whatever we might've done, it was his choices that defined him. Now, is there any place you think was important to him in the castle? A place where he could hide something?"

Slughorn twiddled his thumbs, frowning slightly. "He… I don't know. He was always interested in the founders. But the most I ever saw of him was in the common room or the library. He asked me once or twice about the secret rooms of the castle, some from myth and legend."

"Secret rooms." Harry felt his gut twist. "Oh, bloody hell."

"Harry?"

"Professor, I think I know where it is," Harry said, and met Dumbledore's eyes, sending a burst of Legilimency. 'The Room of Requirement. The castle's most powerful secret, created by Gryffindor and Ravenclaw.'

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, and he nodded. "We are most thankful for your assistance, Horace."

"Wait, what? We're done?" Slughorn blinked.

"We got what we were looking for, Horace. There's no need for further dramatics. We just needed to have you cooperate. You see? Lord Voldemort was defeated at Harry's hands only a couple of days ago. He, of course, didn't completely pass on, due to the little secret, which you will no longer remember."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm truly sorry, Horace."

Harry raised the Elder Wand at the potion's master. "Obliviate."

Slughorn's eyes turned blank, the tension leaving his shoulders. A few moments later, he frowned. "Lily… she was the best potioneer I had laid eyes on in a very long time. She had this intuitive grasp of the subject that I have only seen in a few others. A very few." He smiled at Harry. "Your mother was a brilliant witch."

"I know, sir." Harry nodded.

"Good, good," Slughorn said absently, frowning and turning to Dumbledore. "You were offering me my old position back… Any students you have there like her? If I am to be safe at Hogwarts, I might as well know about the standards now. It's been over a decade since I left."

"Oh, Horace, you'll be surprised to know." Dumbledore beamed. "Her son is more than her match for her brilliance, even if he doesn't appreciate the art as much as he does defense and transfiguration. But it is, perhaps for the best as Harry will be attending your lectures, that is if you decide to teach."

Slughorn looked between the two of them. "Perhaps I will."

"We can iron out the details later."

"I want my old office back. And a pay raise. A hefty one."

"I don't see why we couldn't accommodate that. We'll see you on September first."

---

12th July 1996

Washington DC, USA

A tall, glittering marble villa rose above the crest of the hill, the MACUSA flag waving tall and proud over its roof. Fountains and elaborate lawns surrounded the house, where black-robed wizards and witches milled, wands held in their hands.

"Was it strictly necessary to throw me under the bus to attend Slughorn's classes? I already have my NEWTs in potions. With an Outstanding at that."

"No, but it was a deal-breaker for a man of Horace's inclination." A spark of mischief hovered in Dumbledore's eyes. "And also a way to get you to keep up with an integral aspect of magic: potion. A good wizard should have a grasp of all the core branches, even if he doesn't particularly enjoy one."

"Well, forgive me, but from the first moment I sat foot in the class, my experience with potions has been horrible." Harry snorted. "But, now that we finally have a competent teacher, why not? I've heard good things about Slughorn as a professor. And you're finally firing Snape, so it's a win-win."

"I am not firing Professor Snape, Harry," Dumbledore sighed. "Merely giving him another position."

Harry froze in his tracks, his face twisting into an expression of horror.

"Snape as the DADA teacher!? Professor, you can't let him teach that! Hell, I won't let Snape be the one to take over DADA!"

"Peace, my boy." Dumbledore raised a hand. "Your feud with Professor Snape notwithstanding, he is best suited to teach defense, especially in times as trying as these. No one knows the methods of the Death Eaters better than him."

"And I would still take Lockhart over him. Hell, I would take Quirrel again, that too with Voldemort at the back of his head." Harry scoffed. "Respectfully, sir, this is a bad decision. Snape may be knowledgeable, but he doesn't have a clue about how to teach. And he's an asshole."

"I'm certain Professor Snape will do just fine," Dumbledore's voice turned stern. "And this discussion is over."

"For you, maybe," Harry muttered. "I'm not letting Snape take the subject after me."

Dumbledore said nothing, turning to the villa, eyeing the faint shimmer of wards that thrummed with power.

"Harry, if you may, we have something more prudent to deal with at hand. MACUSA."

"Isn't that the White Castle?" Harry narrowed his eyes. "The most secure place in America, and not to mention, the house of the Magical president of the United States? The direct magical counterpart of the White House?"

"Indeed it is."

"Right. And we are breaking in to threaten the president directly."

"We are. As unpleasant business goes, it is the quickest resolution to this." Dumbledore grimaced. "It wouldn't have been my first resort, but we are short on time, and I, short on patience for those who wish to harm children."

"Wonderful. Just wanted to confirm." Harry removed the Elder Wand from his robes. "Quietly?"

"Extremely so. I shall persuade the President, while you, Harry, can threaten him. If he doesn't resolve the conflict despite our efforts, I'm afraid we'll have to do the same we did with Horace and then let it play out in International court, where we'll be tried for our actions. Legally speaking, our actions violated the law."

"So did MACUSA's. And they broke more rules than we did." Harry scowled. "They broke the charter of wizard rights. That alone should get the case thrown out."

"That will get their claim thrown out. But that doesn't make our actions legal, my boy. We did what was right. Unfortunately, the law is blind to intentions at the best of times."

"So, what happens if we lose?"

"The children will be taken away from Britain and from under our watch to a place the ICW deems safe."

"And you think whatever they'll deem safe won't be safe enough." Harry snorted.

"The safest hands are always our own."

Harry nodded. "One way or another, I am not letting those children get back in their hands, Professor. I'll find out every dirty little secret that MACUSA's hiding and spill them if need be. I will politically destroy the country. I saw what they were doing with the children. I won't let it happen."

"Neither would I, Harry. Neither would I."

---

12th July 1996

The White Castle

A man stretched lazily, looking up from the stacks of work scattered over his desk, and waved a wand, the papers arranging themselves in neat files, and he put the pen away, pocketing his wand. "I think I'll retire to my quarters now, Jackson."

"Copy that," Jackson raised his wrist. "Thunderbird's heading to the nest. Thunderbird's heading to the nest."

The President sighed and rose from his seat, walking around his desk and out the door, Jackson ahead of him while four more dark-robed wizards and a witch joined him, forming a loose circle.

"Is this needed? I mean, for god's sake, this is my own house."

"President Lee, the Grindelwald protocol is in effect," Jackson said. "We have to assume you're in danger at all times as the First Wizard."

Lee just sighed and continued to make his way through the twisting corridors until he arrived at a set of closed doors. A dark robed officer pulled the door open, and Lee walked in, the rest of the service staying behind before the doors closed.

"Good evening, Lee." A voice sounded, and the President jumped, watching as a shimmer of blue magic covered the walls and the door.

Albus Dumbledore materialized from the shadows, his beard gleaming in the room's yellow light as he smiled, conjuring a chair for himself and taking a seat.

"Please, President Lee. Consider this your own home." A voice growled in his ear, and Lee spun around, meeting burning emerald eyes.

Fear lanced through him, and he took several steps back, his heart drumming in his chest.

"Lee, why don't you take a seat? And please do not bother. The secret service isn't joining us tonight." Dumbledore clasped his hands on his laps. "We must have a talk."

"About what?" He demanded.

"About the future of you and your country, of course. About how we plan to utterly destroy you and leave America only ashes of what it was." A vicious smile curled on Harry's lips. "But more importantly, how you can save it."

Notes:

AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!

So, yes, a lot of things have been set into motion! Next, we see Harry and Dumbledore carry out the Horcrux hunt!

As for the President intimidation, I've put it in Ch.87, instead of the next one. ;)

.

Thank you for all your reviews!

A huge thanks to Tulayb for betaing this chapter!

And, before I forget, I now have a BRAND-NEW Harry Potter fanfic, BLACK DAWN! The first two chapters are already up on FFN and AO3. Just head to my profile and you'll find it there.

Black Dawn summary: On the night of Halloween 1981, a butterfly flapped its wings, and the world changed. Albus Dumbledore made a different decision, impacting the fate of two of the greatest houses of wizarding Britain, and the dominos began to tumble. For instead of the Dursleys, it was Lord Arcturus Black who took Harry in as his own.

I hope you all will give it a read.

.

Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 87: A Soulful Destruction

Ch.86 A Soulful Destruction

12th July 1996

Malfoy Manor

The chirp of crickets filled the night as a snake slithered amongst the bushes and lunged, sinking its fangs into a tall blue neck. A shroud of beautiful feathers slumped to the ground, and Narcissa looked away.

A pop rang through the room, and a house-elf appeared, her face pained. "Mistress Narcissa, Mister Rookwood is calling for you and Mistress Bella in the living room."

"Thank you." The elf disappeared, and she scowled.

With a billow of her robe, she strode past the Blackwood furniture into the hall, where Rookwood stood, looking outside the window, his hands behind his back.

"Did another one of your peacocks get eaten, sister?" A high cackle rang in her ear as Bellatrix leaned over her shoulder. "Is itsy-bitsy Cissy sad?"

"Mind your own business, Bella," she hissed. "Rookwood, what do you want?"

"I need something from the two of you, Narcissa. Bellatrix, a few years ago, you opened a special vault. Give your sister its key. And Narcissa, you're to retrieve a cup from within."

Next to her, Bellatrix tensed, her fists clenching, the humor vanishing from her face. "How do you know about the cup? Only I—"

"Because Bellatrix, I gave it to you." Rookwood turned, a crooked smile on his lips. "And I need it back. For which, I require your sister, who I am sure will help."

Narcissa felt her heart pummel into her stomach as red eyes stared at her. Beside her, Bellatrix dropped to a knee, bowing low.

"My Lord! I knew you'd be back!" Bellatrix shrieked. "I knew it! I always believed!"

"I know you did, Bellatrix." Fingers caressed Bellatrix's cheek. "I know you did. But I need the cup I entrusted to you to regain my form. Rookwood's body fights my own, even if he doesn't wish to. It is unnatural for two souls to share a body. I need that cup."

"My sister will fetch it right away, master."

"Of course, she will. And Narcissa? Ensure nothing happens to the cup. I would be most displeased if anything happened to it. And your son won't like my displeasure now, will he?"

---

13th July 1996

London, Britain

The faint crack of apparition rang under the cliffs of chalk, ringing over the crash of waves that burst across the jagged rocks. The cold wind bit into Harry's skin, his feet sinking slightly into the moonlit sand below.

"Botany Bay?" Harry squinted. "We're in London?"

"Indeed, we are, my boy." Dumbledore tucked his fluttering beard into his belt, his eyes twinkling. "One of Charles Dickens' favorites. And mine."

"And Voldemort, if he's hidden one of his Horcruxes here." Harry trudged through the sand, following Dumbledore, whose silver hair and beard shone in the moonlight. "What's with this place for him though? I didn't think Voldemort was a beach person."

"After we went through the orphanage and found nothing, I did a little digging. My gut said that Tom would associate something with his orphanage life. It was where his journey started, after all," Dumbledore said, staring at the limestone cliffs above. "Tom was often mistreated by his muggle peers and bullied until he turned on them with his magic. I've told you about this. But, as I found, it was here that he took his first step to it."

"He turned the tables on the bullies." Harry frowned. "In front of muggles, on an open beach?"

"No, a cave, on that side of the cliffs. I came here over a week ago and found out where it was." Dumbledore stepped into the tide, saltwater drenching the hem of his robes. A little shiver rippled through his body, and he waved his wand, steam drifting from his boots and robes. "But I waited, both for you and the right opportunity if it presented itself. And it did."

"I'm glad." Harry floated over the high tide, and Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Last time we went after a Horcrux, you nearly cursed yourself. And you'll give yourself a cold this time." Harry dug into his pouch and tossed a Nimbus 2000 to Dumbledore. "Why swim when you can fly? I don't think Voldemort would've ever swam there."

"I suppose," Dumbledore flew beside him, toward the depression in the cliffs, where jagged rocks rose through the frothing sea. "And it has gotten far harder to reach this cave through the years than it was in Tom's time."

Harry dropped onto a small, flat rock, feeling the magic prickle his skin. He felt a tide of fear rise in his chest, an ominous feeling bubbling in his mind.

'No.' He crushed it beneath the walls of Occlumency, shrugging off the magic.

"Wards." Dumbledore laid a hand on his shoulder and nodded. "Ones to repel and prevent portkeys or apparition."

"If I was hiding a piece of my soul, I'd be a whole lot more lethal with the wards."

"While you might say that you forget that unexpected deaths would've drawn unwarranted attention, my boy." Dumbledore waved his wand, tracing faint ripples in the air. "Any person adventurous enough can get here, Harry. Even muggles."

"And mysterious deaths always attract attention. The kind you'd want to avoid if you are hiding something precious. Better turn them away."

"Indeed. I ventured only a little further, till the entrance there, where I found a huge boulder layered with wards, barring me entry."

"I'll deal with the wards then. I suppose we should've brought Perenelle too." Harry muttered, drawing the Elder Wand. "She's better at that than either of us."

"I'm certain she has forgotten more about wards than either of us know, Harry." Dumbledore smiled. "But I'd be hesitant to include her in this. Perenelle, for all her skills, is not a fighter. And I would hate to see anything happen to her."

"Fair enough." Harry ran his wand over the rocks and the boulder, feeling the magic thrum within them as strips of runes lit up on them, glowing blue and gold. "Blood wards. It requires a sacrifice to… no, wait. This isn't a sacrifice." Harry scowled. "This is a vow. A blood oath, cleverly hidden. Oh, that bastard."

"I suppose Tom wouldn't want anyone to get out with his treasure, even if they made their way through the traps alive."

"Oh no. That and more. Not only will the person who made the sacrifice be cursed, but their whole bloodline once he or she leaves."

"That's something I haven't heard of in decades," Dumbledore let out a heavy sigh. "Bloodline curses. They're obscure, tricky, and highly forbidden."

"Tell that to Voldemort, won't you?" Harry poured magic into the wood. "Stand back, professor."

Dumbledore tapped his wand on Harry's shoulder, and magic rippled over his body before Dumbledore stepped back. "A little extra protection for you, my boy. Let's not take any risks."

"Thanks," Harry muttered and twisted his wand.

'Unravel. Begone.'

White flames lanced across the boulder, burning the strips of runes and consuming the stone. They twisted and traveled like waves, enveloping the boulder, which sank in the flames, leaving the cave's mouth open as the spell dissolved into embers.

"What was that spell?" Dumbledore's astonished voice floated over his shoulder.

"It was a spell that the wand did, professor," Harry shrugged. "I just thought of what I wanted to do, and it made it happen."

"Impressive," Dumbledore murmured. "The wand's more in your hands than it was ever in mine. The power of the Peverell blood… Gellert and I had only theorized it, but seeing it— it is something beyond my wildest dreams. The cloak hides you from all. The wand does what you wish. And the stone… you haven't used the stone, have you, Harry?"

"Nope. Fleur and Daphne are certain it could be a trap. Like it was for the second brother. And they don't wish for me to risk it. The wand and the cloak are known quantities. But the stone— it is the only thing that somewhat defies death. The dead aren't meant to be summoned beyond the veil."

"A wise choice. Wiser than I would've made." A longing burned in Dumbledore's eyes. "Let's not dwell on it. We're running against time. We might not have long before Tom gets a body back. And it may be very soon if Gellert helps."

Harry nodded and trudged behind Dumbledore into the cave, keeping an eye on the uneven rocky path. The tip of Dumbledore's wand cast a glow on the moss-covered walls and roof of the cave, small puddles of seawater gleaming in the light.

"Careful, Harry." Dumbledore waved his wand, and a huge X gauged itself in the ground. "The cave may confuse us. Or seek to. Lost before we could even find what we came for."

"We could just blow the whole thing up in that case, Professor. And then dig through the dust to find the Horcrux."

"While a splendid last resort, it'd be rather inconvenient for either of us to do so. The latter part, especially." Dumbledore turned down a curve in the tunnel and the two of them arrived at a vast lake.

Green mist swirled, throwing tall shadows across the cave walls behind them, the water unnaturally still, in a way that sent shivers down Harry's spine.

"There." Dumbledore pointed toward the center of a lake, where a plinth rose, barely visible amongst the swirling green mist. "I must give it to Tom. He knows to pick his enchantments."

He walked around the lake, and Harry raised an eyebrow.

"We could fly across, you know?" Harry called after him. "I doubt there's anything scary enough in the lake to really stop us. Not unless he is holding a horde of dragons underneath. And I'm pretty sure there are no dragons who live underwater. Or like water, really."

Dumbledore smiled humorlessly. "While you're undoubtedly correct, I think Tom wouldn't leave the mist unless he had a reason. I think it is—"

"A trigger spell, I know. It's a Parselmagic ward. It is meant to hold something under stasis until breached. It was used in old times when guarding treasures. They usually held some creature— dragons, gryphons, or the parselmouth's favorite— snakes under stasis. The stasis breaks when the ward is triggered. Fortunately, I can redirect it."

Harry pointed his wand at the mist and hissed, the mist rolling away, clinging to the walls and ceiling of the cave, gathering as high as he could herd it. "See? Easy."

"Most effective." Dumbledore tugged his empty hand at the cold air, and a slimy copper chain rose from the water, pulling a boat up. "This was the way Lord Voldemort devised to cross the waters. Which, I think, should suffice as a backup now."

"I wouldn't trust anything Voldemort's enchanted, sir." Harry rose in the air, eyeing the pale bodies that were beneath the water. "Or advice going near the water."

He flew over the water, toward the small rocky plinth that rose in the center, a marble basin gleaming on it. Dumbledore landed beside him on the Nimbus before shrinking it and putting it back in his pocket.

Sparkling purple liquid shimmered in the shallow basin, a heart-shaped golden locket at its bottom. Harry's breath hitched in his throat as the serpentine S caught his eye.

"Salazar's locket."

"Submerged in a potion, which I recognize," A hint of trepidation filled Dumbledore's voice. "I suppose it is meant to be drunk."

"Or we could just fish the locket out, really. It is a shield ward. Won't let us put our hand in. We've got enough time to break through it." Harry conjured a long, metal hook. "Or do it the simpler way."

The hook bounced off the shield and Harry frowned.

"Tom's more resourceful than you give him credit for, my boy."

"So am I," Harry scowled, pointing his wand at the hook. "Confundo."

The hook sank into the potion, and Harry scooped the locket out, smirking at Dumbledore as he swayed the locket.

"Excellent. But we have another problem." Dumbledore gestured over his shoulder as pale hands broke out of the water's surface, which began to churn. "Lord Voldemort would never want someone to leave with his prized possessions, would he?"

Harry sighed as the Inferi swam out of the water and slipped the locket into his pouch.

"We've dealt with worse undead abominations, professor." Bright blue flames spewed out of his wand, reducing the nearest bodies to ashes. "This is almost disappointing."

---

13th July 1996

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

The crack of apparition rang through the quiet office, and Fawkes opened a beady eye and ruffled his feathers before going back to sleep. Harry removed the gloves and slumped onto one of the plush armchairs in front of him, while Dumbledore sat back on his throne-like chair, popping a sweet in his mouth.

"Sherbet Lemon, Harry?"

"No, I'm good. Maybe coffee." Harry yawned. "It is four in the morning. I need to sleep."

"You're young, my boy. I'm certain you'll survive." Dumbledore stroked his silver beard. "But I concur. We should sleep. After dealing with the Horcrux. I do not think it is wise to keep it for long."

Harry gave a tired nod, putting his glove back on, and retrieving the locket from the pouch. The gold and green locket gleamed in the office's light, the shine of the silver chain reflecting bright lines across Dumbledore's desk.

"Shiny," Harry dropped the locket on the desk. "Do you want to do the honors or—"

"Is it me or can you feel any magic from it, Harry?" Dumbledore tilted his head. "There's no magic in the locket. I can't feel anything like I felt with the ring."

Harry frowned and waved his wand over the locket, which glowed a dull gray.

"That's… correct. There's no magic." He picked up the locket and pried the two halves of the heart open, a thin strip of parchment tumbling onto Dumbledore's desk. "Definitely not a Horcrux. Just great."

Dumbledore unfolded the parchment, adjusting his spectacles. "To the Dark Lord," he read. "I know I'll be dead long before you read this but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more — R.A.B."

"R.A.B?" Harry scowled. "Whoever wrote such a long note and couldn't bother to write their whole name? Who's this idiot?"

"Someone brave and clever enough to do what we just did, Harry." Dumbledore stood from his seat and walked up to the bookshelf behind him. "Do what most men wouldn't even dare. If Tom ever found the person, they wouldn't ever be found again. And if they were, it'd be in a state I shudder to even imagine."

"So, who is this R.A.B? Because if we don't find R.A.B, we won't know if the Horcrux was actually destroyed. Or ever find the Horcrux if it wasn't."

Dumbledore pulled a heavy book and dropped it over his desk. "I imagine that whoever he or she was knew Tom personally. Or, at least, in a way that Tom would recognize their initials, without having to take guesses. Like, H.J.P. Or A.P.W.B.D."

"Anyone would recognize yours, professor," Harry snorted. "No one else has five initials."

Dumbledore smiled faintly, opening the book and flipping through lumps of pages as he sucked on his lemon drop.

"Is that the admittance book?" Harry peered across the upside-down pages. "Because I don't think it'd be easy to find a name amongst… what? Tens of thousands of students?"

"This is a subsection of the book. It contains the name and basic information of every student to have passed through these halls in the twentieth century only." Dumbledore smiled. "Thus, there are barely six thousand names in this book." Dumbledore's face fell. "The number would've been higher had two wars not decimated Britain's population in the latter half of the century. And this one will only result in more death."

"That is… a lot less than I expected," Harry muttered. "I would've thought that more students would've come in eighty-five years."

"It is unfortunate, my boy. The number of witches and wizards are not what they used to be. The magical— ah here— no, 1929." Dumbledore flipped through the book, skimming through the pages. "The magical world, as I was saying, is shrinking. Largely due to the constant conflicts. We had barely recovered from the losses of Gellert's war when Voldemort happened. Thankfully, he remained confined to Britain largely."

"Small mercy."

Dumbledore hummed, and Harry rose from his seat, stretching and cracking his knuckles. "We should do this—"

"Regulus Arcturus Black." Dumbledore cut in, his eyes twinkling. "R.A.B. Sirius believed that he had joined Voldemort before he went missing, presumed dead. And since he went missing…"

"There's a good chance he died in the cave," Harry muttered. "If he sank with the locket, I'd be pissed."

"We need to find out then."

"There's an easy way to find it. If there's anything that Regulus would've hidden, it would've been at Grimmauld Place. And when we cleaned it, we put it in a trunk and checked them. Except for the things a certain someone squirreled away." Harry scowled. "Sirius shouldn't have taken pity on the nasty bugger."

"Who might that be?"

"Kreacher!"

A sharp pop rang through the office, and Kreacher appeared, bowing slightly, giving Dumbledore a disdainful look. The Headmaster waved his wand and the portraits froze, curtains covering them.

"Kreacher." Harry glanced at Dumbledore who nodded. Harry dangled the locket in front of him and Kreacher's eyes went wide. "Do you recognize this?"

"Master Regulus's locket." Kreacher croaked, his skeletal thin fingers wrapping reverently around the locket. "Master Regulus made it. He—"

Kreacher shut his mouth with an audible click.

"I order you to talk, Kreacher. Hide nothing." Harry leaned forward. "What did Master Regulus do with the other locket? And where is it?"

---

13th July 1996

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

The broken pieces of an emerald locket lay on the ground, the sword of Gryffindor gleaming next to it. The lights in the room flickered back on, and Harry stumbled back, breathing heavily, feeling bile burn down his chest.

"That was… foul," Harry spat. "And to think there are more of these. It's sickening."

"Indeed, my boy. Indeed." Dumbledore took off his spectacles and rubbed his eyes. "There's one more which we've to find as soon as we can. And if your hunch is true, we're standing right where it should be."

"I tried asking the room to just give me the Horcrux. It didn't work," Harry muttered. "Probably because I didn't know what I was searching for. We don't know which Horcrux he has hidden here, and I can't ask the room for something I don't know."

Dumbledore pushed the spectacles up his nose, wrinkles creasing his forehead. "If Tom did hide a Horcrux in here, it would be someplace that couldn't be easily found."

"The room's a secret to most. The challenge is to configure the exact room that Voldemort did when he hid his Horcrux. Or, wish for the exact object. But, if the object isn't there, it'll just conjure replicas."

"Tom wouldn't have had a lot of time to hide the Horcrux here. He would've just needed a place to hide. What if we wanted the same? To hide something forbidden, which we never want to be found?"

"It could work. It could fail." Harry shrugged. "Worth a try, I reckon." Harry levitated the pieces of the locket into a bag. "If it doesn't work, we'll continue later. Preferably after we've had some sleep. Or use the time-turner to sleep. Either one."

Dumbledore nodded, and they walked out of the room, the door disappearing behind them.

"Well, here goes nothing," Harry muttered, pacing across the stretch of the wall.

'I need a place to hide a Horcrux. I don't want it to be found by anyone else. I need to hide it. I need to hide the Horcrux.'

The wall melted into a tall set of doors, and Dumbledore pushed them open. Mountains of objects stretched endlessly in the room, shafts of sunlight filtering through high windows, lighting up the alleys between them. Broken and graffitied furniture lined alleyways, and thousands of books could be seen.

Some winged catapults and Fanged Frisbees hoovered halfheartedly over the mountains of other forbidden items, There were chipped bottles of congealed potions, hats, jewels, cloaks; there were what looked like dragon eggshells, and corked bottles whose contents still shimmered.

Harry spotted a pile of rusting swords, upon which a heavy, bloodstained ax rested, raised like a flag.

"Bloody hell. Bloody fucking hell."

"For once, I'm right there with you, my boy. I am right there with you."

Notes:

AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!

So, the locket Horcrux is down and Voldemort has a need for the Cup. On the other hand, Harry and Dumbledore stand right outside the room with the tiara. Once they are accounted for, only Nagini remains, who lurks in the Malfoy manor, eating peacocks.

We're nearing the close of this very very soon. Of course, there's a thing or two to be done before I go to the final fight, so, not quite yet. Still this was a monumental couple of chapters, shifting the story into its final gear as we enter the last lap.

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To communicate with me and know more about my works, visit my discord server!

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 88: The Two Sides

Ch.87 The Two Sides

13th July 1996

Malfoy Manor

The afternoon sun hung high above the marble pillars of the manor that cast a broad shadow over the lawn. Black leather boots clicked down the cobblestoned path through the grass, a silver chain gleaming in the coat pocket as the long robe billowed.

The doors to the manor opened, and a lady stepped through, her heels clicking down the steps, her gray eyes filling with trepidation as he approached.

"Mrs. Malfoy," Grindelwald took her hand and kissed the back of her knuckles lightly, smiling at her. "Thank you for gracefully allowing me into your home."

"It is not like I had much of an option, Lord Grindelwald, did I?" She stepped aside. "Lord Voldemort is waiting for you in Lucius' office. Or what used to be his office."

"I didn't expect him to be back so soon after the Potter boy's rather… lethal attack." He frowned slightly. "But your sister was rather insistent that he's back and wishes to meet me at once. But regardless. Thank you for your hospitality. I'll find my way."

He removed his hat and stepped into the house.

"A word of warning, Lord Grindelwald," Narcissa called from behind, and he turned. "Lord Voldemort is with Rookwood. Not in body but in spirit. I thought you'd want to know."

His eyebrows rose, and a brief glint of disapproval flashed in his mismatched eyes. "I see."

"He intends to perform a ritual," she continued. "I do not know its specifics, Lord Grindelwald, but he has asked me and my sister to retrieve something from Gringotts— a cup he entrusted years ago to her."

"And why are you telling me this, Lady Malfoy?" He stepped closer to her. "I, for one, require absolute loyalty from those who follow my lead. And here you are, snitching on the one you've pledged yourself to."

Anger flashed across Narcissa's face, and she tugged her left sleeve up, exposing her forearm. "I am pledged to no one, you'll find, Lord Grindelwald. It was Lucius, my late husband, who had that idea. My husband… he ran for both sides. Had his fallbacks with the Potter boy. And he had him killed without a shred of consideration. Potter is no better than him."

"And you've no one else to turn to." Grindelwald smiled. "What do you intend to ask me for, Lady Malfoy? In exchange for your loyalty, of course."

"The safety of my son. Potter hates him. The Dark Lord has no sympathy for him. But you… You are said to value magic above all else. Magic that my son loves."

"Does he?"

"He has no intention of liking anything that comes from the Muggle world. He's resourceful, he's—"

"A child wanting to play the game of great men. His father was, I admit, a resourceful, sly serpent. But he pledged himself both to a basilisk and a dragon. Yet both recognized him for what he was. And he paid the price."

Narcissa gritted her teeth and clenched her fist. "I admit, Lucius made some horrendous choices. I do not wish to give Draco the choice."

"Oh?"

"I want you to allow us to go away. Someplace far from all this."

"My lady Malfoy… we intend to unite the world. And wherever we go, Potter and Albus will follow us like a moth to the flame. There'll be no place that you'll truly be away."

"I could be if you don't include us in your business. Hogwarts is a target for you. I know. While you might have never killed a child, the Dark Lord will have no qualms about doing so. He hasn't in the past, which also led to his downfall, coincidentally. And forged his greatest enemy."

"Quite." Grindelwald's face closed off. "Very well. I will consider helping you. But for that, I shall need to see the cup before you bring it to your Lord. The cup he needs for the ritual."

Color drained from Narcissa's face, and she shook her head vigorously.

"Is there a problem? I thought a mother would do anything for the safety of her child." Grindelwald leaned closer. "And you will have the cup in your hands. All you have to do is get it to me. I shan't be even all that far when you fetch it."

"Bellatrix will be."

"It is a way you must find for yourself, I'm afraid. When you leave for Gringotts, send me a message with this ring." He removed a silver ring from his pocket and thrust it into her hand. "I shall see you at the entrance of the…" He frowned slightly. "What was the other alley next to Diagon? Albus quite never liked it."

"Knockturn. Knockturn Alley."

"Ah, yes. Entrance of Knockturn Alley. Good day, Lady Malfoy."

He turned and vanished into the corridor to the left, leaving Narcissa standing there, her heart drumming in her chest, as her hands trembled.

A moment later, she took a deep breath and went back in, striding through the living room, and pulling a small statue to the left. A panel opened on the floor.

"Lucius, for this once, don't disappoint me," she muttered.

---

13th July 1996

Grimmauld Place, London

The members of the Order sat around the long table with Dumbledore at its head, who sucked merrily on a lemon drop, a cup of tea steaming in front of him.

"Is that everyone?" Harry looked around before turning to Sirius. "Where's Amelia?"

"On the way from the ministry. She might've gotten held up." Sirius shrugged. "She is usually late nowadays. And Moody isn't here either. Nor Shacklebolt."

"Neither would be coming today, I am afraid." Dumbledore stood from his seat. "They shall be at the ministry, and later be brought up to speed about the meeting. I'm afraid that we have to start without Amelia. Some of our numbers have the night shift tonight."

Arthur Weasley, Hestia Jones, and a few others nodded around the table, some sighing.

"First order of business," Harry cleared his throat. "I need a few people today. Charlie, the twins, Fleur, Sirius, Tonks, Daphne, Susan, and all those who work or have worked at Gringotts' curse-breaking division from here."

"Daphne?" Lord Greengrass raised an eyebrow. "May I ask why?"

"Daphne and Susan know how to cast containment wards and are a dab hand at even identifying enchantments. We will pair them up with adults, don't worry. And Dumbledore and I will be with them."

"Where will you be going?" Mrs. Weasley glanced at her sons. "If I can ask."

"Hogwarts, Molly," Dumbledore said. "There's nothing much to worry about. Just something Harry and I have found and wish to sort out. But we're afraid that it may be too much of a task to do alone. And there may be cursed items there."

"We'll be there, professor," Bill said. "If it is related to curse-breaking, we'll even bring our equipment."

"It is more about dark object detection and recognition instead of curse-breaking, strictly speaking. I advise that you and your friends bring protective gloves and detection probes, my boy. Harry and I will handle the… curse-breaking part, if any."

Harry inclined his head, before twitching as he felt the ward around the house thrum, the floo in the kitchen flaring with green flames. Amelia stepped through, dusting the soot off her robes, giving a raised eyebrow to Dumbledore and him.

"What did you two do?"

"You might have to be a little more specific, Amelia." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Harry and I have been up to a lot in the past several hours until this morning, when he insisted that we rest."

Amelia eyed their faces as if trying to detect a clue from them. "Well, MACUSA has backed off and even issued an apology for 'any of the distress that had been caused'. Apparently, the order came from the president himself."

"That's excellent news. A lot of unpleasantness would've been abound had they pursued the case to get the children back into their clutches." Dumbledore's eyes hardened. "And had they gone to war, I'd have responded, with Harry by my side, which would've been devastating to world politics in times such as these."

Harry nodded absently, remembering their conversation with the American president.

FLASHBACK

"How did you get in here!? Get the hell out of my office!"

"I would hate to waste all the trouble that we had to go through in the past five minutes, my dear boy," Dumbledore folded his arms on his lap. "And I strongly wish to put the unpleasantness you've been trying to create behind us."

"This is a shakedown! How dare you threaten America? How dare you threaten me?" Lee burst out, glaring at them. "You think that I'll roll over because you have a bit more magic than me? You. Are. Wrong!"

Harry noted that the president didn't even have his wand out, as his arms trembled.

"Please, Lee. Harry and I are quite modestly a few leagues above you when it comes to magic," Dumbledore said. "You are, by your admission in the past, an average wizard at best, incomparable to the mages of Europe.

"To the dark mages of Europe. Men, who, like the two of you, hoard magic—dark, illegal magic, and preach it as family secrets. You, too, hide behind the persona of a leader of light, Dumbledore. But we've seen you cast the forbidden magics on our very soil. Use it as you wish, and twist the world to your will. But I'm not afraid of it. I will see the world set right!"

"Merlin, did he just say all of that?" Harry looked at Dumbledore over Lee's shoulder. "Because that's the biggest dollop of bullshit I've heard, I reckon."

Lee whirled around on him. "Boy, you've no idea of magic then. The magic you Europeans twist, calling them usual, powerful spells, and celebrating those who can perform them! You pervade it in truth. And the more you pervade, the more spells you can do. I swore an oath to stamp it all out when I took the oath of office. Get the ICW to act and equalize the good magic for all!"

"How did that turn out for you in there?" Harry snorted. "The magic you call dark magic is just magic out of your grasp. You've not even seen real dark magic, Lee. You see something that can harm and call it dark. You see something out of your grasp—"

"Oh, I have seen dark magic. What do you think those wretched Obscurials were? Dark creatures lur—"

"The Obscurial is a condition festered because of the need for protection in the young when those in power neglect to do that duty." Dumbledore barked. "You failed to provide your citizens with protection! And then, when you finally found those children, you treated them like experiments. "

Dumbledore got to his feet, and the lights in the room flickered, the air turning colder. Lee flinched, backing away toward a bookcase, only to freeze as Harry apparated behind him, pointing his wand at the president's neck.

"No running, Lee," Harry whispered. "You committed crimes against children. And the one thing that everyone knows about Albus Dumbledore is that he protects them fiercely. You'll pay for every torture, every experiment those poor children had to go through."

"I am the President of MACUSA! I'll bring the ICW and my Auror force down on your heads for this!" He clenched his fists, trembling in fearful defiance. "If you don't leave right now…"

"You're not the first head of state to threaten me, nor will you be the last, I think," Harry said. "I've been threatened by government officials before, by Aurors, and by the public. The last head of state who did that was impeached as a disgrace and then sentenced to death."

"Fudge. You had a perfectly capable man removed for not believing the word of a child, which you are. You not only had him removed, but executed, perfectly aware of his innocence, and then installed a stooge of your own in his place. You think—"

"I dare you to say that to Amelia's face," Harry cut in. "And Lee, think. For six months, Fudge reigned through the papers, calling me names and disgracing Dumbledore. In six days, I had him executed, despite, in your own words, his innocence. He was not unpopular. He—"

"I—"

Harry waved his hand, and no words came from Lee's mouth.

"As I was saying, he wasn't unpopular. He could've wiggled his way out easily had it been anyone else. But he was against me. Now, there's you. You knew what was happening. You ordered it to happen. Experiment on those children to advance magical weapons through the Obscurial powers or replicate them in spells to gain an edge against the rest of the world."

The color drained out of his face, and Harry smirked viciously.

"Oh, yes. I know about that part too. The rest of the world thinks you were studying them for a cure or to make them into soldiers. Living weapons. But I know more. And I have proof." Harry waved his hand and removed the silencing charm. "Now you may speak."

"You are lying!" Lee burst out. "You have no proof! The only truth is that you kidnapped American children and took them away, overstepping your bounds and violating the treaty! The International Protection Act was but a sham to allow you two to gain free military reign over the world!"

"To fight Grindelwald!" Harry snapped.

"That's what we were doing! Even Grindelwald wouldn't have faced an Obscurial on rampage. And before you preach about children not being in war, look in the fucking mirror!" Lee took deep breaths. "A few Obscurials whom everybody forgot would've been—"

He was yanked back, and Dumbledore towered over him, his blue eyes hardened to a deadly sapphire, the magic rolling in waves across the room.

"Would've been what, Lee?" Dumbledore's voice boomed in a deadly silence.

"Would— would have— would have been perfect to fight him. Like secret agents." He stuttered out. "No one could get to their families or friends and turn them."

"That's what you say now. But those weren't the words you were going to say, were you?"

President Lee looked between Harry and Dumbledore, his eyes darting to the door as if calculating his chances of escape. Harry caught the flicker of desperation and gave him a sharp prod in the back with his wand.

"You can't run," Harry said. "And trust me, lying will only make things worse for you."

"I..." Lee stammered, his voice trembling now. He glanced at Dumbledore's piercing gaze, then at Harry's unrelenting wand tip. His resolve crumbled, and he slumped slightly. "Fine. Yes, I said they could be weapons. But it wasn't meant to be like this—like you think! The Obscurials... Theyṣ were accidents, tragedies even, but tragedies we could use. You don't understand the threats we face here! The ICW, the European powers, you all—"

Dumbledore raised a hand, silencing him. "And those tragedies, as you call them, were children. Children who were suffering, abused, and ignored. Children who were failed by their guardians, their communities, and you. You speak of threats as if they justify your horrors. But no threat, no fear, no ambition could ever justify what you were doing in that place."

The lights in the office dimmed further, shadows flickering ominously across the walls as Dumbledore's magic filled the space, suffocating it. Lee sank against the bookshelf, his legs giving out beneath him.

"Dumbledore—please—"

"No," Dumbledore's voice came out almost as a growl. "You had a duty. The children— abused, scared children who were in need of protection. And that protection fell to you and your government. And instead of protecting them, you tried to experiment on them. Further abuse them to study and replicate their powers. You even killed a handful of children in that pursuit, did you not?"

"When the ICW gets this proof that we have, you'll be lucky if your trial lasts a day. You'll be very lucky if the whole of MACUSA isn't sanctioned and the ICW doesn't roll in to introduce its own rule. And that is what we'll be pushing for."

"You—" Lee swallowed hard, his voice barely audible. "You can't go public with this. You'll destroy everything!"

"It is not us who pursued the case after we took the children away. It was you." Harry snorted. "Believe me, Lee. If you so much as whisper about taking the children back again, we'll know. And we'll ruin you, and we won't rest till every person in your government who supported the hospital idea is behind bars. The only one in your corner right now is the ICW. This proof drops, it is you against us, Grindelwald, and the ICW."

"And have no doubt, Lee. If I have to, I'll pull every string needed to keep those children safe and in Britain, where none can harm them." Dumbledore declared.

"We'll also ensure that MACUSA burns. I mean, how hard will it be after such a scandal to be alienated?" Harry mused. "All then we've to do is wait for Grindelwald to take advantage of it. All that the two of us need to do is sit back and watch as he rolls over you because the only two people in the world who can stop him are the two of us."

Lee flinched.

"Think about it, President Lee. We won't remind you again. If you decide to even look toward the children the wrong way, we'll ensure that the world will know what all you have done. America will be done for. Good day."

Harry removed the feather portkey from his pocket and offered it to Dumbledore, who gave Lee one last piercing look before the two of them disappeared in a flash of blue, leaving the president trembling.

FLASHBACK END

"So, what did you two do?" Amelia raised an eyebrow. "You didn't threaten someone high up in their government in our government's name, did you?"

"Please, Amelia, look at whom you're talking to." Harry glanced at Dumbledore. "Do you think we would ever go out and threaten some mere official in MACUSA in your name? Please."

"Harry, if you had your way, you would go and—" She stopped mid-sentence, looking between the two. "Dear Merlin, you two threatened the bloody president, didn't you? Please tell me you didn't walk into that White Castle of theirs and then have words with Lee."

"We didn't walk in," Harry said. "We broke in."

"What?" Amelia blurted as murmurs spread across the table.

"Seemed more efficient than some useless powerplay where he would've made us wait or tried to talk his way through, threatening us back." Harry shrugged. "And it scared him. Then we had words, telling him what would happen if he pursued that case of his. He complied. And no, we didn't even use your or Britain's name. Ours was enough."

"Small mercy," Amelia muttered, taking her seat next to Sirius. "Please, next time you want to threaten someone, at least inform me beforehand or immediately so I don't look surprised when they drop things off suddenly on my desk, including a vast apology sent on a polite howler."

"I will try my best." Harry rolled his eyes. "But no promises."

Dumbledore cleared his throat, and the table quietened. "The actions of MACUSA aside, I believe we have a rather more important and grievous matter at hand. Severus?"

Snape stood up slowly, his dark, beady eyes running over the gathered Order members, and he sneered at Harry.

"We don't have all day, Snivellus." Harry scowled back. "Get on with it."

"The Dark Lord plans for a revival on the night of the fifteenth, two days from now, the day of the new moon." Snape glared at him. "He is currently inhabiting Rookwood's body, not dissimilar to how he did with Quirinus a few years ago. I believe he intends to take over Rookwood completely or sacrifice him to create a new body for himself, with the aid of a special cup he has asked Bellatrix to bring to him from a special vault he had her open years ago."

"Special vault?" Amelia asked. "We should alert Gringotts. Tell them to lock the vault down. Dumbledore, we could issue the order to get the vault closed, effective immediately. It'd take only an hour or two to have it going with the two of our signs."

Harry and Dumbledore shared a look, as Harry felt excitement brim in his chest.

"Will the goblins hand the contents over to the Ministry?" Harry asked.

"No." Amelia frowned. "They'll close the vault and render it inaccessible, but that's it. They don't hand over any continent until the vault owners and inheritors are alive. It is a goblin policy."

"Then we can't," Harry said. "We need to let that cup get out."

"Potter, once the cup is clear of the Alley, it will go straight to the Dark Lord." Snape sneered. "I'd advise that it may be for the best if—"

"No, Severus, Harry's correct. Amelia, under no circumstances must we lock that vault down unless the cup is handed to us by the goblins first. Which they won't do."

"We could set up an ambush. Get the cup and Lestrange." Sirius suggested. "The Order and Aurors. She'd be down before she could understand what was happening. We get the cup, we prevent Voldemort from getting back his body. And then, we take out the remaining Death Eaters and whatever's left of Rookwood. It is a win-win for us."

"It is still a risk," Amelia said. "If Bellatrix slips through— or even the cup reaches Voldemort, he would get a new body."

"Amelia, just because you stop one route, doesn't mean he won't explore the rest. He's made about three to four tries before he succeeded last time." Harry rubbed his face. "But… I would prefer if he uses the cup or that cup is destroyed before it reaches him."

"What's so special about the cup?" Someone asked.

"That's what we want to know," Harry lied. "But that cup seems like something I read a while back. And I'd rather not risk Voldemort still having a method so easy or make him desperate to do something stupid."

"But we don't know when Bellatrix's going to go for the cup," Arthur said. "Do we?"

"It will be on the fifteenth itself," Snape replied. "Exactly when, I don't know. But it will be done. Perhaps as late as they can go, or when the crowd is at its peak, to slip amongst the other patrons."

"I'll post a squad to patrol the Alley as soon as I get back. Harry, I want you to be ready to get down there as soon as you get the signal."

"Alright. Maybe Professor Dumbledore could accompany me too."

"Both of you for only Bellatrix?" Amelia raised an eyebrow.

"I wish for no more mistakes, Amelia. No more mistakes." Dumbledore rose to his feet. "Remus, Hestia, Dedalus, Molly, and whoever else works in the Alley, I request you to keep your eyes open for the next few days. And those whom we asked to come to Hogwarts, kindly come there in an hour. For the rest, I advise you to be prepared. Good day."

He swept out of the room, and Harry followed him, as the noise in the kitchen rose, murmurs spreading around the room.

With a pop, the two of them apparated away.

---

13th July 1996

Malfoy Manor

"Lord Grindelwald, welcome." A gravelly hiss cut through the silence of the room as Rookwood stood, his crimson, slit-like eyes gleaming in the dimly lit study. "Firewhiskey?"

"No, thank you," Grindelwald sat on an armchair. "I see you've taken on… another's body. One whom you called your loyal friend."

"Augustus will be liberated once I regain my body and magic, which I am arranging for as we speak. I will carry the ritual out on the night of the new moon, the seventh of the year."

"The full moon will be better."

"I cannot wait. Potter and Dumbledore will have free rein in Britain without my presence. And the wretched Bones woman will descend on my forces like a vulture."

"Of that, I have little doubt," Grindelwald muttered. "Now, I assume you need my… aid for the ritual?"

"I need your aid to keep Potter and Dumbledore away from my ritual. The last time he was there, he took down so many of my followers that I am still making up for it. The ministry debacle was no better."

"Yes, you had to summon me to save your hide, despite having planned otherwise. A hasty, unneeded decision, which I regret."

"You would've preferred that I died then? The most powerful supporter you have— the only one who could face their likes alone? Don't play me a fool, Grindelwald."

"It did throw subtlety and discretion out of our window, all for the want of a prophecy and a plan to take out Potter," Grindelwald said. "I had predicted that the boy was more resourceful and powerful than you gave him credit for. I told you that only you could kill him, and yet you sacrificed your forces."

"I will have my revenge for that!" The crimson eyes burned. "But for now, I must regain my body. You merely have to ensure that the Potter boy or Dumbledore doesn't interfere in it. I suspect they'd know of the seventh new moon already. The fools may suspect that I would use the full moon, which might be better, but I have no desire to delay and give them free rein. So, tell me, Grindelwald. Will you support me as we had agreed?"

"I suppose I would." He wrinkled his nose. "The magics you employ are perverted, but for a greater good, I will help you perform them."

"For the Greater Good. And our rule that follows."

---

 

Notes:

AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!

So, yes, both sides prepare for each other, all hinged upon Lord Voldemort, who is clueless of the fact that his Horcruxes are being hunted, and destroyed by Harry and Dumbledore.

The final showdown nears for both parties, and all that is left are two Horcruxes and a battle that decides it all. Or, is it?

Do let me know your thoughts!

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Thank you for all your reviews (and there were quite a few of thos)!

A huge thank you to Mughil and Nanu for betaing the chapter!

You can join the discord server through the link in my bio.

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66

Chapter 89: For the Want of a Crown

 

Ch. 88 For the Want of a Crown

13th July 1996

Grimmauld Place, London

The gray clouds drifted overhead, a slight drizzle falling over the city of London, trailing down Harry's windowpanes. He lightly tapped his window with his finger, and the water steamed away, only for more droplets to patter down the glass as thunder rumbled in the sky.

"Mon amour, I was thinking that we should all move to France once this is over." Harry turned to see Fleur, standing by the door, dressed in protective robes, her ward-breaking kit in her hand. "This English weather of yours is horrible."

"It is a charm." Harry snorted. "Though you don't need to worry about it. We're flooing straight to Hogwarts and our work is indoors. We need to find whatever Voldemort's hidden there. And be very careful while doing so. It'll undoubtedly have some nasty curses protecting it."

"Oui, we will be careful." Fleur nodded, placing her kit on the table next to the door. "But before we leave, I want to talk about something else, mon coeur."

Harry inclined his head, turning away from the window, watching Fleur shift her weight from one leg to another, biting her lip. "You can talk about anything you want, Fleur. I'm not going to bite." A mischievous smile curved on his lips. "Not unless you ask me to."

Fleur gave him a half smile, shuffling closer. "I— I was thinking about the future, mon amour. Once this war is over, you, Daphne, Susan, and I will be a family. And a family will need a home. A home for us… and our children."

Harry sobered and nodded. "Sure. I'm not planning to live here anyway. Grimmauld Place is very safe, yes. But not someplace I'd raise my family in." Harry glanced around the room. "It isn't bad, but it isn't home either. It can always be a safe house, but not a home. The only reason we're here is because, short of Hogwarts, maybe, including it, this is the safest place in the world right now."

"Oui, I know. But I was thinking about our home after all this is over. Where we can settle down for the rest of our lives."

"I don't think we'll be short of houses to choose from. And you girls can choose amongst yourselves where you wish to live. I've got quite a few houses, and even if you all want something better, we can buy a new house. We're not short of money."

"Oui, oui. But I was thinking… I was thinking that maybe we could move to France. We can get a nice chateau by a river or a lake, where we can do all sorts of things. And have perfect summers instead of this."

She gestured to the window, and Harry chuckled, walking up to her, sliding an arm around her slim waist.

"I suppose it is rather very inconvenient, having rain in the summer," Harry said. "But all I have is here, in Britain. Sirius, Amelia, my friends, Hogwarts… everything."

"We can always floo over when we wish," Fleur suggested. "We could set an international floo from our home. Between my papa and you, it'd be quick and easy. Plus, Daphne would love it, non?"

"France? I suppose she will." Harry mused. "She speaks French well, even without the translation charm."

"Oui." Fleur's eyes sparkled. "She learned even better with my incentives since I came to know of it. And Susan joined in to help her to perfect my English."

Harry snorted, knowing exactly what the incentives were and how they were given, much to Susan's… pleasure.

"Think about it, mon amour?" Fleur leaned against his arm, fluttering her eyelashes. "We do not need to move away immediately. But we cannot live here forever. Once the war's over, Sirius and Amelia will be raising a family too. They are still young and have lots to look forward to."

"As far as I know, Sirius can't. That is why I am his heir." Harry grimaced. "If he can now, that's well and good. But till it happens… well, it is only Susan and I for Amelia and Sirius."

Fleur winced slightly, tucking her hair behind her ear. "It is sad, non? How two such wonderful people might not get what they want because of a wrong decision someone else made?"

"It sucks, really." Harry nodded, squeezing her waist. "As for your question, we'll talk about it. All four of us, together. It is a big decision, changing countries. Susan wants a career like her aunt, and Daphne knows she'll be taking over her father's businesses." Harry rubbed little circles on her arm. "Plus, we're all on the Wizengamot. I've already taken my seats, and Susan would take hers in a year from now— maybe two if she sits out till she graduates. Daphne would take the Greengrass seat when her father retires."

"I know. The thing is that I…" Fleur fidgeted in his arms. "I might too. Madame Flamel asked me if I'd like to help her out with more than charms. And learn more than magic from her." Fleur looked up at him with wide blue eyes. "She's asked me if I'd give her a hand in managing the estate and the businesses."

Harry's head whipped around to her. "The Flamel estate?"

"Oui." Fleur bobbed her head. "She has many businesses and no one to help manage the boards. Madame Perenelle said that she can't ask your headmaster, and has no one else to turn to for help. At least one she knows. "

"And she needs a successor. Someone smart, skilled, and powerful," Harry said and beamed at her, causing Fleur to flush.

"She didn't say successor, mon coeur. But if I do well and impress her…" Fleur trailed off.

"You'd be the inheritor of the biggest fortune and set of businesses in the world," Harry whispered. "If you get the Flamel businesses— or even a part of them, you'd blow us out of the water. Rich and influential as we are, the Flamel estate is ten times that of any family in Britain. It'd be a very big responsibility."

"Oui." Fleur shifted. "But I'll understand if you all say no. I thought I'd talk to you first— you have the most share in responsibilities, mon coeur. Not to mention the fame. While it is a big decision, it is the biggest for you."

"It is," Harry said, nodding. "I had thought we'd move to Potter Manor— after whatever renovations and changes we feel like making to it. But you girls are all equally a part of this. I am guessing that Perenelle would like to have you in France?"

"I don't know." Fleur sighed. "But in case I do get a business, which I will from my Papa at least, if not Madame Perenelle too, there would be problems if I lived here in Britain. For one, I'll miss out on all the advantages the French Ministry of Affairs gives to business owners. Not to mention, the taxes will be—" She frowned. "How do you say Cauchemar?"

"You looked that up?"

"Non, I knew." Fleur shook her head. "When I was younger, I told my Maman that I wanted to sell the cups I had enchanted… to open my business and earn money. My Maman told me to research it all. We didn't go ahead on it, beyond selling a few to our friends— but I learned."

"That's impressive." Harry gave her a broad grin before pulling her closer and kissing her cheek. "If you want to do this, we'll find a way for you. I don't know what the laws are in Britain for businesses. But laws are meant to be bent and used as advantages rather than obstacles." Harry squeezed her shoulder. "But if you're asking me what I would say to moving to France, I've no answer for you right now. It is not a no, but it isn't a yes either."

"I understand, mon coeur. I didn't expect you to say anything. Whatever we decide, it doesn't happen immediately. We've some time, and frankly, more problems to worry about."

"That we do." Harry agreed. "We'll talk with Susan and Daphne too about this once we get back from Hogwarts today. It is a decision for all of us, and a rather important one."

"Oui."

"And, Fleur? Whatever problems arise, we'll come up with a way to solve them. Together."

---

13th July 1996

Room of Hidden Things, Hogwarts

"Bloody hell," Susan whispered as she craned her head to look through the mountains of things that towered before them. "Where does the room even fucking end?"

"Language, Miss Bones." Dumbledore strode past her, pulling long, brightly colored protective gloves onto his hands. "But yes, it is a rather vast room, one which has gathered things for as long as Hogwarts has stood." He surveyed the gathered Order members, his eyes boring into each one of them. "I would advise extreme caution today, my friends. Always stay in pairs, and be prepared to even defend or attack your partner if needed."

"What are we looking for, Professor?" Bill frowned, eyeing the pile of weapons and the blood-stained axe atop them. "Because this seems to have all sorts of things, some of which we wouldn't even find in the worst of tombs."

"Most things here are contraband, hidden by Hogwarts students through the years. Or maybe even elves, who found these things lying around, forgotten." Harry sighed. "It has potions, poisons, weapons, cursed objects, prank items, books, jewels, treasures, and Merlin knows what. Be careful while handling even the most mundane thing here. If you can, begin separating the very valuable things. If not, find the worst item you can, and call Dumbledore, Perenelle, or me."

"That's vague, innit?" Tonks pushed her way forward. "We don't even know what we're looking for."

"We do not know what exactly we're looking for, Miss Tonks," Dumbledore said. "Potentially, Harry and I believe that it is a tiara— a rather beautiful crown, which once belonged to Rowena Ravenclaw herself."

"The Diadem of Ravenclaw," someone whispered.

"Indeed," Dumbledore said. "But I'm afraid that it is a guess. I urge you all to be careful, and as Alastor would say, employ constant vigilance."

"Voldemort hid something here. Something that allows him to live, despite me destroying his body twice in fifteen years. Professor Dumbledore and I have encountered another such object before— and it nearly killed him the last time we did."

Dumbledore nodded. "Had it not been for Harry disarming me and slamming me through a wall, I would've died from a very nasty withering curse. You see? It had a compulsion on it. A very strong one that I couldn't overcome. We're looking for another such item today. Something very foul and very cursed— one beyond anything any of you might've encountered or heard of."

"Please do not touch it, use it, destroy it, or even interact with it," Harry added. "We just need it to be found. And once it is, we will personally deal with it. We have the means and ways to destroy it. The rest of you, don't."

"Wait, once you destroy this, Voldemort dies?" Tonks' eyes burned with a fierce hope that it stung Harry's heart.

"Probably not. It is not out of the realm of possibilities, as he doesn't have a body right now. If we're lucky, which I am certain we won't be, it may kill him. But if it doesn't, destroying the item will ensure that the next time he dies, he'll stay dead for good."

"Not the worst thing I've heard," Sirius said. "As long as there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Now, what are the teams?"

"One detector, one protector," Harry said. "This is a very high-risk thing we're doing here, and it might be as dangerous as facing Voldemort himself in a battle, albeit a sneakier version, whom you won't see till he kills you or your partner. You may be capable of doing both, but I don't care. Protectors touch nothing except their wands and fire at the first sign of trouble."

A series of faint affirmatives rippled through the gathered order members, and Harry nodded.

"Seven teams. Susan, go with Dumbledore. Daphne is with me. Tonks and Fleur. Bill and Sirius. Remus and Professor Flitwick. Professor McGonagall and Fred and George— yes, you three together, and sorry for this professor, but they do have a talent with cursed objects and enchantments."

"One prank or joke from them and all three of you will be in detention for the rest of the year, Mr. Potter." She pursed her lips, giving Harry and the twins a glare.

Harry shifted, while Fred and George grinned broadly. "You're forgetting, professor—"

"—We're no longer at Hogwarts!"

McGonagall gave them a slight smile, the gleam in her eyes suggesting that their not being at Hogwarts wouldn't even hinder her. The twins gulped, sharing a look, while Dumbledore let out a little chuckle beside Harry.

"Right," Harry said. "Fred, George, don't upset her. The last team is, of course— Hestia and Perenelle." Harry glanced at Hestia Jones and Perenelle, who nodded. "You both can start right here, and the rest will begin digging into the deeper piles. If you find something, yell with a Sonorous and send up red sparks. Let's spread out."

The Order members moved through the room, disappearing in the rows of mountains that rose high above, their footsteps fading as Daphne fell in step with Harry, drawing her wand.

"Did you try summoning it?" Daphne asked in a low voice. "Or, just manipulating the room for it?"

"Yep. Didn't work," Harry said, his eyes flicking up as a fanged frisbee went spinning between the piles. "Dumbledore and I tried everything from locator spells to revealing spells. Nothing worked. Voldemort probably put a confundus on it, or something similar, which is fooling the room— and our spells."

"Not even the wand works?" Daphne prodded, and Harry shook his head. "It does anything you will it to, I thought."

"It does pretty much everything, yes." Harry's voice dropped to a whisper. "But the thing is that Horcruxes are a different breed of magic. You know that I do say there's only magic, nothing light or dark. But Horcruxes? They're an abomination. They're like dementors, but worse."

Daphne gulped involuntarily, grasping her wand tightly, before nodding. "Let's find it then and destroy it. I suppose Fiendfyre works?"

"It does. But unless you are absolutely sure that you can control it at your lowest, don't use them. Heightened emotions and fear can make those flames even worse than they already are. And being in a magic-saturated place like Hogwarts means it'll expand very fast and very soon."

Harry eyed a huge dagger sticking from a pile and pulled it out with a flick of his wand, letting it hover at his eye level. "Cursed dagger. Nasty to get even nicked by. And made of goblin silver to boot. Do you want one?"

"Seriously?" Daphne raised an eyebrow. "I thought we were hunting down a fragment of Voldemort's soul. Not hoarding treasures."

"Finders keepers." Harry stuck the dagger back in between two brooms and shrugged. "There's no reason we cannot take something we like, as long as it is not harmful."

"It's a cursed dagger, Harry."

"The curse will keep a wound bleeding— and make sure it burns like insane. But that's only if someone's cut by it." Harry snorted. "Anyhow, we'll see about the treasures later."

Daphne tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her blue eyes running through the towering piles of forgotten and hidden things that had accumulated in the room. "So, what's the plan once we find it? I suppose even you wouldn't be unleashing Fiendfyre?"

"Not unless absolutely needed. I have the Sword of Gryffindor. It can destroy it with ease— basilisk venom, you see?"

"Ah," Daphne said. "So, we just have to find it and then, you cleave it in half… given there are no additional protections on it."

"There will be," Harry snorted. "Voldemort doesn't do anything by halves. He probably layered it with every dark curse he could think of, just like the one Dumbledore and I dealt with before. There could be blood magic, compulsions, maybe even something lethal." He cast her a sharp glance. "If I tell you to run, Daphne—"

"I won't."

Harry sighed. He had expected as much.

"I know what we're dealing with," she continued. "You've trained me for stuff like this and I know what's at stake. You may be the Chosen One, Harry, but that doesn't mean you have to do everything alone."

Harry's eye twitched. "I never said I did."

Daphne arched her brow. "Oh? So that's why you tried to keep Fleur, Susan, and me out of your Horcrux hunt?"

He hesitated, then shook his head. "That wasn't because I didn't want your help. That was because I didn't want you three anywhere near something this dangerous."

"And yet here we are." Daphne rolled her eyes.

"If we went through this alone— Dumbledore and I, it would've taken weeks. And it is time we don't have." Harry picked out a golden quill, frowning at it before turning it to crisp, its ashes falling at his feet. "Voldemort's using a Horcrux to have his rebirth. If we take this one, he'll be down to one when he's reborn— his snake."

"Do you plan on ending it?" Daphne asked quietly. "Like, really end it?"

"If I get the chance, I'll take it. Grindelwald and Voldemort together are a nightmare. But if one of them goes down, the other will likely follow soon or reach for alternatives. Alternatives that either of them doesn't have." Harry smiled. "So, yes, it is coming to a head. We've foiled Grindelwald enough and depleted his forces. Voldemort, even more so. If he's no longer immortal, he'll be a way easier target."

"And you're planning on interrupting the rebirth, too, I suppose?" Daphne's wand twitched as a pixie went fluttering past her, vanishing into a cabinet, and shaking it. Dust fell from its edges, stinging Harry's nose, while Daphne sneezed.

"Bloody pixies," Harry muttered, clearing the dust with a wave of his wand. "Snape doesn't know where it is yet. Once we know, we might. Wards aren't going to be a problem if we have an army on our side, too. Once we get in, we could catch them unaware and smash through their ranks, getting Voldemort's snake before going for him."

"What if Grindelwald intervenes?"

"That might be a problem, especially if they call a retreat and run. If it is to death… we would have a greater chance." Harry frowned at a crown nearby, prodding it with his wand, its edges glowing a faint blue before he levitated it.

Daphne's breath hitched. "Is that—"

"No. Not this one." Harry sighed and flung a Reductor curse at the crown, shattering it to dust with a soft bang. "It was enchanted, but not in a lethal way. The enchantment was to protect the wearer from nightmares."

"So, why'd you destroy it?" Daphne's forehead creased/

"Just to ensure some magic wasn't fooling my senses. Had it remained intact, that's when I would've been worried. Let's keep going."

"What if the Horcrux is buried in one of these piles?" She moved around a crushed, half-melted Cauldron. "Like, truly hidden?"

"We should've felt its magic then. And if it is, we'd have to dig even deeper, which is something I am not particularly enthused about."

A crash echoed through the chamber, and they both whirled around sharply. Somewhere in the depths of the room, someone had knocked something over.

"What was that?" Harry murmured. "EVERYTHING ALRIGHT?"

His voice rang through the room, echoing faintly, before being drowned by a bang, as something metallic clanged against the ceiling in the distance, falling back down. Harry winced as the noise tore at his ears, while Daphne shoved her fingers in her ears.

Someone cursed loudly, followed by Sirius' muffled voice calling out, "All good! Just enchanted armor attacking— US! HELP! There are too many!"

"Fuck." Harry ran, his footsteps thundering on the floor as he twisted and turned between the piles, reaching toward the sound of metal.

Bill and Sirius stood back to back, a dome of magic wavering around them as multiple armors hammered it with their spears and swords, smashing their fists into the dome.

"This place is going to be the death of someone," Daphne scowled. "Reducto!"

The arm of the nearest armor exploded into dust, and some of them turned to them, raising their spears. Behind them, Sirius shot a wild spell, and an armor crumpled with a horrible crunch that screeched in Harry's bones.

"Bloody hell." Harry shoved Daphne behind him and raised the Elder Wand, pouring magic down its length, flooding the armors with it. They glowed with a golden haze, freezing in their tracks as Harry seized them.

'Mine!' He snarled, tugging the enchantment into his control. As one, the armors straightened, saluting him, as the haze seeped into their metal.

"Wow," Daphne breathed.

"Bloody ancient pieces of shit." Sirius kicked the nearest armor with a scowl. "Good one, Harry."

Footsteps echoed through the aisles and Harry turned, seeing three teams of Order members pour toward them for different, their wands out. They stopped in the clearing, looking at each other, their chests heaving.

"Are you alright?" Susan looked over at Harry and then Daphne, who gave her a nod. "We heard crashes and screeches. It was quite the ruckus."

"It was Sirius… and Bill." Harry watched Perenelle kneel by Bill's side, healing a large gash on his forearm. "Did any of you find something?"

"Bad stuff or good stuff?" The twins grinned. "Because we—"

"You're returning all that you've pocketed, Messrs Weasley. This is not a place to take ideas for your shop— which, while wonderful, will not be selling things that have been stolen."

The twins gave her a wide-eyed look. "You've seen our shop!?"

"I have."

The twins goggled comically, falling to the floor and clutching their hearts, causing snickers to erupt among some of the Order members.

"What's happening?" Fleur drifted over to them, looking at the twins and McGonagall, who was glaring at them.

"Comedy." Harry rolled his eyes, looking around at the group, seeing most of them there. He frowned and did a head count, his heart pummeling in his chest. "Thirteen. Fourteen with me. We were fifteen! Someone's missing."

The laughter ceased, and people turned to look at their partners, while Fleur paled.

"Tonks." She whirled around. "She was right behind me when we heard you call for help."

"Me? I never called for help."

"Non, I heard your voice calling to me." Fleur stared at him. "You called my name."

Harry felt the blood drain out of his face, and he looked at Dumbledore, who gave him a grim nod, raising his wand, a blue haze spreading from it.

"There," Dumbledore said, moving through the piles, with the speed of someone a lot younger than him, and Harry followed, racing after him, till they ran around a pile to see Tonks standing against a tall cupboard.

A silver, jeweled tiara gleamed on her head as she smiled cruelly, and Harry felt his heart twist.

Nymphadora Tonks had found the Horcrux. Or more appropriately, the Horcrux had found her.

 

Notes:

AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!

Whew, I finally broke the author's block that had been plaguing me for the past three months and finally progressed in the fic, allowing me to publish new chapters. Sorry for the delay, but my muse for the fic had been MIA, but I finally found her.

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Thank you for all your reviews!

A huge thank you to Mughil and Nanu for betaing this chapter!

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