Well, I'm back. And a week late, I know, but I did warn that I might not be able to get this chapter out on time. Despite being bed-ridden with a nasty cold, my spirits are fairly high because while on vacation I was offered a job that has a set schedule. Which means, my time will be much more organized and as a result, I'll be able to write more. But that's all I'm saying for now lol.
Also, a lot of people are having questions about the Eternium and theories/concepts behind it. For obvious reasons, I can't explain everything to do with it, but rest assured it does NOT make Harry all powerful...currently. Enjoy!
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Chapter 19: The Spy and the Snake
A week had passed since Harry, Hermione, Fred, George, and Tom had arrived back at the camp. There wasn't been a single person who hadn't been affected by their return; the injured had benefitted amazingly from the Twins' potions, the healthy reveled in Tom's fantastic cooking, and those in the Order cheered at Harry and Hermione's story of the events that transpired at Azkaban Isle.
"So now we can add 'Legendary Beast-Slayer' to 'The Boy Who Lived'," laughed Tonks after hearing the story for the third time.
Harry, Hermione, Tonks, Mad-Eye, Kingsley, and Remus (who was all better thanks to some of the potions Fred and George brought) were all having a butterbeer in Tonks and Remus' tent one night after a long day of war plans and talk.
"Please don't?" asked Harry nicely. "It's bad enough having one title, I'm not sure I could handle another."
"Oh, I don't know," smiled Hermione. "It does have a nice ring to it."
"Cheers, darlin'," grinned Tonks, toasting Hermione.
"You've awfully quiet throughout all of this, Alastor," commented Kingsley. "Care to tell us why?"
"He's just upset that he can't find any flaws in Harry's attack plan," smiled Remus.
"Hmph," grunted Moody, taking a swing from his hip flask. "Can't a man just enjoy some drink and pleasurable company in silence?"
"Since when do you enjoy 'pleasurable company'?" asked Tonks.
"War does that to a man," responded Moody.
"Yeah, well, it's getting late, and I have to return to my post," sighed Kingsley, getting up.
"They still have you watching the PM?" asked Tonks, looking up at him.
"Yeah," replied Kingsley, gathering his effects. "I feel bad for the poor bastard, he's getting a worse rap than Fudge did and he isn't even to blame for any of this."
"Muggles," grunted Moody. "So oblivious to everything that happens around them."
"Aren't we all?" asked Hermione.
"Touche," replied Moody, getting up. "I should go too, I have guard duty."
"We'll be off then as well," added Harry. "I'm sure you still have some 'catching up' to do."
"And you don't?" chuckled Remus, causing Hermione to blush slightly.
"Come now darling, what the children decide to do isn't really any of our business, now is it?" asked Tonks, grinning.
"Perhaps not," smiled Remus.
"We'll be around," nodded Hermione as she and Harry left the tent.
"It's nice to be able to sit back and relax for a little bit, even with everything that's happening in the outside world," said Harry, as he and Hermione walked over to one of the smaller campfires.
"Yeah," sighed Hermione as they sat down. "It's hard to believe anyone could relax at all, but I suppose you have to be able in times like these."
"Why do you say that?" asked Harry.
"Well, for everyone here, they know we all could be dead by sunrise," said Hermione. "So every joke, every smile, every butterbeer...it all becomes a little celebration."
"Because tonight could be their last night," finished Harry, gazing at the jumping cinders.
"Right," nodded Hermione, leaning against him.
"You two look awful cozy," smiled Ron, coming over to them, Luna following slowly behind him, leaning on a crutch for support.
"Good to see you mate," said Harry, returning the smile. "How are you feeling, Luna?"
"A lot better, thanks to Fred and George," she said as Ron helped her to a seat next to Hermione. "Still very sore, though."
"I can believe that," nodded Harry. "We all really owe them so much."
"And yet, they're under the delusion that they'll owe you until the end of time, Harry," smiled Hermione.
"I'll have to figure out some way to remedy that," laughed Harry.
"So what do you all imagine doing after the war is over?" asked Luna.
"I'll probably go and try to see a professional quidditch match," said Ron with almost no hesitation. "Do something to get back into the flow of a normal world."
"I - I haven't really given it much thought," said Hermione. "I'm concentrating on making sure Harry and I get that far."
"True enough," said Ron.
"I think I'd give a good portion of my money to some orphanages," said Harry, causing Hermione, Ron, and Luna to turn and look at him.
"Really?" asked Luna.
"Yeah," replied Harry. "I mean, after all of this, I feel like even though we're in the middle of a war, there are kids out there who have it worse than we do...and besides, it'd be a little insurance to make sure another Voldemort doesn't show up."
"That's really good of you," smiled Hermione.
"Aye, mate," nodded Ron.
"How are you doing Hermione?" asked Luna. "Any news on your parents?"
"No," sighed Hermione, gazing into the fire. "No word yet."
"I suppose we'd know if something happened?" asked Ron.
"Voldemort would probably parade their dead bodies down Diagon Alley for us to see if they were dead," sighed Harry. At Hermione's stricken look, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Sorry luv, didn't mean to make you think about that."
Hermione said nothing, just continued to stare into the fire.
"How are the students doing?" asked Ron.
"Much better, thanks to your brothers," said Harry, not letting go of Hermione. "No one's died since we came back."
"That's good to hear," said Ron. "Fred and George must be thrilled."
"Actually, I think they're spending most of their time advertising their products or trying to find students to test new ones on," commented Luna thoughtfully.
"They're what?" asked Hermione, turning to face her blond-haired friend.
"It's true," chuckled Luna lightly. "It seems to be helping morale...the students who are doing the testing are getting paid, and the ones who aren't get to watch and have a good laugh."
"You should see this one new thing they have, Hermione," said Ron giddily. "It's like this spray you're supposed to put on the bottom of your shoes, and I don't know how it works, but it's supposed to make you hover and you're supposed to be able to walk on the air and - "
"Slow down Ronald," smiled Luna, interrupting Ron. "You're going to pass out from lack of oxygen."
"Sorry," said Ron sheepishly. "Anyway, it made this one bloke's feet the size of beater bats. It actually worked on a different kid, but the moment he tried to take a step forward he fell flat on his arse."
"Never a dull moment with Fred and George, eh?" chuckled Harry.
"Miss Lovegood," called Madam Pomfrey from a few yards a way. "It's time for your potion."
"I suppose it is," sighed Luna, as Ron got to his feet to help her stand. "Sorry to cut our conversation short."
"Not at all," smiled Hermione. "Just get better."
"I'll do my best," said Luna, returning the smile as she and Ron walked off towards the nurse.
"Mind if we go for a walk?" asked Harry.
"Not at all," said Hermione, getting up.
They walked for a little ways away from the camp before Harry rounded on Hermione and pressed her against a tree, crushing his lips to hers.
"What was that for?" asked Hermione breathlessly once Harry pulled away, her arms snaking around his neck.
"For being you," replied Harry huskily, leaning his forehead against hers. "I'm so scared that something's going to happen to you...and what with all these dreams I've been having..."
"What dreams?" asked Hermione.
"Dreams of you disappearing...or dying," said Harry. "When I fell into that pit at Azkaban, I had one before I woke up."
"Harry..." consoled Hermione, holding him tightly.
"You mean the world to me," whispered Harry. "I need you in my life."
Hermione pressed her lips to his passionately, the two of them leaning into each other, trying to make as much contact as humanly possible.
"Hermione," breathed Harry, sliding his hand up her side, along the inside of her shirt.
"Harry...I want you," whispered Hermione, her eyes dark with lust.
Harry stared at her for a moment before lifting her shirt up and over her head, cupping one of her breasts with his right hand as their lips reunited.
"You're wearing entirely too much clothing," said Hermione softly. "Off with it."
"Hermione," breathed Harry as she ran one of her hands down his stomach to the top of his trousers. "If we keep going like this, I might not be able to stop."
"Good," grinned Hermione seductively. She had her hands on the button of Harry's pants when a scream from the direction of the camp reached their ears.
"Shit," hissed Harry, quickly grabbing Hermione's shirt from the grass and waiting for her to put it on before they both sprinted off towards the camp.
They arrived to find a mass of students gathered, forming a circular clearing in the middle of the crowd. Harry could make out Remus, Tonks, and Moody standing in the middle of it, but nothing else.
"Nev, what's going on?" asked Harry as he and Ginny came over to them.
"A spy," replied Neville. "Moody caught him and dragged him back to camp.
"What was the scream?" asked Hermione.
"He tried to pull a wand, but Moody was too fast," replied Ginny. "Hermione..."
"Hm?" asked Hermione.
"Your shirt is inside-out."
Hermione instantly turned beet red and, muttering a simple charm, reversed her top.
"Who is it?" asked Harry. Turning his attention back to the matter at hand. When Ginny and Neville shared a wary look but didn't answer, he began fighting his way through the crowd.
"Harry..." said Hermione hesitantly, but it was for naught. Harry broke through into the clearing and strode over to the man laying curled up on the ground. Without saying a word to any of the adults, he reached down and threw back the hood covering the man's face.
"You son of a bitch!" roared Harry, drawing his fist back and striking Peter Pettigrew across the face.
"Harry!" exclaimed Remus, pulling him off the quivering man.
"Let go of me!" yelled Harry, wrestling out of Remus' grasp.
"Harry..." whimpered Pettigrew, blood running from his nose. "I didn't have a choice..."
"I bet you bloody didn't," spat Harry. "Take him somewhere where I can interrogate him."
"Harry, I'm not sure if you should be doing that," said Tonks carefully, casting a charm to stop the blood.
"Well I am," countered Harry. "Bring him."
Moody and Remus grabbed Pettigrew around the shoulders and dragged him through the crowd, over to Moody's tent, Harry, Hermione, and Tonks following behind them.
"Get McGonagal," said Harry once they were inside. "She should be present."
Tonks nodded wordlessly and ran off get the Headmistress.
"So," said Harry, casting a silencing charm on the tent and conjuring a steel chair for Pettigrew to sit in. "What brings you by, Peter?"
"Harry, please," whimpered Pettigrew, as he was forced into the chair by Moody, tying him to it with anti-magic ropes.
"I asked you a question, Peter," said Harry dangerously. "What were you sent out here for?"
"The...the dark lord wanted to know the condition of the camp," he replied nervously.
"So he knows where we are, then?" asked Harry, as Tonks came back with McGonagal in tow.
"H-he knows you're in the forest," replied Pettigrew. "He can't put it on a map because you made it Unplottable, but he knows you're in here."
"So how did you find us?" asked Moody.
"The charms don't work as well against animals that know what they're doing," muttered Peter. "If I transformed, I could get past the cloaking charms..."
"How did you find him?" asked Harry, looking at Moody.
"Saw him," said Moody, pointing at his eye. "I'd recognise that rat a hundred leagues away."
"So what does the Dark Lord intend to do about us?" asked Harry.
"He doesn't know that you've gotten supplies," whimpered Peter. "He's waiting until you're so weak you can't fight or sustain the magical barriers around this place."
"Good," said Harry. "And the prisoners at the castle? What condition are they in?"
"He's trying to brainwash the students into following him," said Peter. "I don't think he's having much success, given the amount of Crucio's that have been fired off."
"And the teachers?" asked Harry.
"What teachers?" asked Pettigrew.
"Trelawny and Slughorn," said McGonagal, from her place in the corner. "Where are they, Peter?"
"I don't know...I know nothing of any adults being captured..."
"Are you lying to me, Peter?" asked Harry. "I'm sure Mad-Eye has some very persuasive means of getting information from you."
Moody grinned menacingly at this.
"No!" shrieked Pettigrew. "I swear! We didn't capture any teachers! They must be in hiding."
Harry considered him for a moment.
"Very well," nodded Harry. "How big is his army right now?"
"I-I don't know..."
Harry drew his wand and fired a curse at Pettigrew's feet, missing by mere inches and scorching the grass where it hit.
"Fif-fifteen hundred!" exclaimed Peter desperately.
"Fifteen hundred?" asked Harry quietly, turning to face Peter properly.
"Roughly...and another two thousand spread out over the isles," replied Peter. "He has enough power to take over the continent...if he wanted to."
"So why doesn't he?" asked Remus.
"He doesn't want to spread himself out too thin," replied Pettigrew. "From what I've heard, he wants the majority of his troops here when he fights you, Harry."
"Sounds like he's scared of me," said Harry, kneeling down in front of Pettigrew and staring him in the eyes. "What do you think, Peter? Are you scared of me?"
"I-I..."
"You owe me a life debt, Peter," whispered Harry dangerously. "Why would Voldemort tell you all of this knowing that?"
"H-he doesn't know it," stammered Peter.
"Oh really?" asked Harry. "And why not?"
"He never asked."
"He never asked why you came back to him in the first place?" asked Harry, arching an eyebrow. "Forgive me if I seem a little skeptical."
"You heard him that night in the graveyard," whispered Peter. "He said himself that I went back to him out of fear."
"And so what happens when you don't go back to him tonight?" asked Harry. Peter remained silent. "Is he going to send someone after you? Or someone to replace you?"
"No human who doesn't already know where this place is could find it," said Remus. "The wards are too strong."
"Tell me Peter," said Harry, turning back to his prisoner. "Will Voldemort send Nagini after you?"
The widening of Pettigrew's eyes was enough for Harry.
"Send out patrols," said Harry. "If that snake is in the forest, it needs to be caught and brought here immediately."
"Why?" asked Tonks.
Harry quickly cast a Deafening Charm on Pettigrew and turned so his lips weren't visible.
"Because it's a horcrux," replied Harry seriously.
"I'll have all the Order members in the camp searching," said McGonagal. "Alastor, you're in charge, make sure they report back to you every twenty minutes with updates."
"Roger that," said Moody, quickly departing from the tent.
"Peter," said Harry, turning back to him and removing the charm. "Listen to me very carefully." Pettigrew whimpered as Harry leaned over so they were eye-to-eye, their noses almost touching. "You have a long way to go before you're home free. You betrayed us, so we don't like you. You just betrayed Voldemort, so he probably won't like you too much either. If you have any hopes of living to see Christmas, you better be able to help us when it matters the most. Understand?"
Pettigrew nodded almost imperceptibly.
"Good," said Harry. "Now then, unless there's anything else?"
"It's fine, Harry," nodded Remus. "We'll finish up in here."
"Thank you," smiled Harry, he and Hermione departing a moment later.
"What's going on?" asked Ron, coming up to him with Luna by his side. "I heard something about Peter Pettigrew getting captured?"
"It's true," said Harry. "I just finished interrogating him."
"I want to see him," said Ron, making a move towards Moody's tent, put Harry put an arm out to stop him.
"It won't do any good," sighed Harry. "We got all we can from him, and I punched him hard enough for both of us."
"You did?" asked Ron, brightening slightly.
"I gave him a bloody nose," smiled Harry.
"Good on you, mate," chuckled Ron. "I suppose that makes it a little better then."
"We have a much bigger problem than I anticipated though," said Harry.
"What?" asked Ron.
"Voldemort's army," sighed Harry.
"What about it?" asked Ron.
"C'mon," said Harry, motioning for them to follow. "We shouldn't talk about this here."
Harry led them a little ways away from the camp, not wanting to go too far so as to not make Luna walk too much, and for fear of being overheard by Nagini.
"Voldemort is thirty-five hundred strong," said Harry in a low voice.
"What?!" hissed Ron, keeping his voice low.
"Apparently he could move on the continent if he wanted to, but he's saving most of them for the battle against Harry," said Hermione.
"Oh my," whispered Luna.
"I don't know how we could fight against that many people," said Harry, shaking his head. "I mean, we have maybe a hundred people here capable of fighting, the Ministry might be able to provide another two hundred if we're lucky..."
"Well we do have the element of surprise," said Hermione. "Voldemort thinks we're suffering...he might not compensate enough for us being ready to fight."
"That's true," said Ron. "And we could attack too, instead of waiting to defend, I'm sure that'd help also."
"No..." said Harry thoughtfully. "We'd have to invade Hogwarts to make it a meaningful attack...and the halls are too narrow and probably filled with traps now. We'd get mowed down before we even knew what was coming."
"True," sighed Ron.
"Hey guys!" called Neville, running to get to them. "Come quick! They caught Nagini!"
"That was fast," commented Harry. "Ron, can you help Luna get back?"
"Sure mate, go on ahead," nodded Ron, putting an arm around Luna.
"Thanks," smiled Harry, and he and Hermione sprinted off towards the camp.
"Where is it?" asked Harry, running into Moody's tent. Remus, Tonks, McGonagal, and Moody were all still present, thought Pettigrew was nowhere in sight now. Smiling, Moody pointed at the cage in the back, which was holding a hissing Nagini.
"One of the younger lads found her," said Moody, grinning. "Sent for help and Remus got there and caged her."
"Wonderful," smiled Harry, walking over to the cage. He stood in front of it and looked at the snake, which was regarding him carefully.
"Try getting information from her, Harry," said Hermione from behind him.
"Hello, Nagini," hissed Harry. The snake's eyes widened at him. "What are you doing so far from your master?"
"I'm right here, Potter," the snake hissed back, it's eyes suddenly turning blood red.
"Tom...how nice of you to stop by," hissed Harry. "You must feel so incompetent now having lost two spies in one night."
"Your arrogance is astounding," hissed the snake. "But what do you intend to do with your prisoners? Trade them for students I'm torturing up at the school?"
"Prisoners?" asked Harry with a laugh. "Hardly. Why on earth would I hold prisoners that won't tell me information?"
"Seems a little foolish, doesn't it, Potter?" asked the snake. "Why destroy your only bartering chips?"
"You mean to tell me you place a value on Pettigrew's head?" asked Harry. "Don't make me for a fool, Tom."
"Given how your father acted just before I killed him, I assumed the trait had passed along."
"Then you forget how you've failed to kill me...what, five times now?" countered Harry.
"Touche," hissed the snake. "Yet you seem to think you can win against me?"
"You've given me no proof otherwise," retorted Harry.
"Perhaps I should kill the mudblood, then," said the snake, and without warning it threw itself against the front of the cage, fangs bared. "How about I kill her right in front of you, Potter? A nice slow, painful death. Think you'll be able to beat me then?"
"You will not harm her," said Harry through gritted teeth.
"Ah, touched a nerve, have I?" hissed the snake with a hint of mirth. "Well, I'm growing bored of this conversation. If you want to trade your hostages for some of my students, bring them out to the edge of the forest whenever you want. One of my death eaters is sure to see you and then we can have a nice peaceable exchange. Or if you want to kill them, I'm sure we can mutually work something out where I kill the mudblood's parents too."
"I'll think about it," replied Harry furiously.
"You do that."
And without another word, Nagini's eyes returned to yellow.
"Someone please remove her," said Harry, motioning to the cage. "We can't have this conversation where she could hear it."
"I'll do it," said Remus, walking over to the cage and carrying it out of the tent.
"Snakes can't understand English, Harry, only Parseltongue," said Hermione.
"Snakes can't," replied Harry. "Voldemort can."
"What?" asked Tonks.
"I'll explain when Remus gets back," said Harry.
"Alright, she's in a safe spot," said Remus, re-entering the tent a moment later. "What's going on?"
"We can't kill her," said Harry, turning to face them. "Not yet."
"What?" asked Hermione. "Why not?"
"Voldemort knows that she's captive," he replied. "I was just talking to him."
"What?" asked McGonagal.
"He knows that we have her and Pettigrew as prisoner," said Harry. "And he knows we value the lives of the students up at the school...so he proposed a trade."
"Obviously we can't do that," said Tonks.
"I know," replied Harry. "But he's threatened to kill Hermione's parents if we kill either Nagini or Pettigrew."
"Oh god..." whispered Hermione.
"This may actually work to our advantage," said Harry thoughtfully. "He wants us to bring Nagini and Pettigrew to the edge of the forest. He apparently has patrols, so one of them will see us and alert him, bringing him out with his death eaters."
"We could catch them in a crossfire if we position ourselves correctly," said Tonks.
"Right," nodded Harry. "And when he and I start battling, you could kill Nagini while his attention is diverted."
"Exactly," nodded Tonks.
"We still need to figure out how to get more troops,' said Harry. "Right now, we don't have enough to deal with fifteen hundred, let alone another two grand."
"I...I might have an idea," said Remus. "We're thinking of finishing this soon?"
"As soon as I get this bloody quest finished," replied Harry, holding up the bracelet.
"I might be able to get us some troops," said Remus thoughtfully. "Though I'd have to leave now...it'll take some convincing."
"Who?" asked Harry and Hermione at the same time.
"An old friend of mine who has a lot of influence," said Remus. "Trust me on this one Harry."
"Alright," he nodded. "Leave as soon as you can and make the effort to go get them."
"Thank you," said Remus, making for the entrance to the tent.
"Remus?" asked Harry. "How many?"
"A thousand, if we're lucky," he answered.
"Go get 'em," smiled Harry, and Remus left.
"So what now?" asked Tonks.
"Now...I try and figure out the last bloody part of this quest," said Harry.
"Um, Harry?" asked Hermione, peeking outside the tent. "You might want to come and have a look at this."
"What is it?" he asked, walking over to the tent flap and peering out.
Two dozen centaurs were standing in a circle around the gathered students, weapons drawn.
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An action packed chapter! And I'm sorry to leave you with a cliffhanger, but don't worry, all will be explained next time.
For this installment's little bit of wisdom, I give you a quote that is used by many poker players. It was originally said by Amarillo Slim, and then quoted against in the movie Rounders.
You can shear a sheep many times, but skin him only once.
Apply it to what you will in life, but it really does apply to so many different things. Anyways, sorry
for the extra week it to me to get this out, and I hope you all enjoyed it. Don't forget to review!