Chapter 11 - Fallout
Battlefront: War For The Throne?
In this, the fifth installment of the Battlefront series of special reporting brought to you by Diagon Daily's covert journalist division, we investigate the growing rumors swirling around the open war being waged by two extrajudicial factions, Harry Potter's Bearers of the Light and the Death Eaters of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. As the death toll and collateral damage continues to mount the wizarding community must consider just what it is that this battle is about. In this issue we examine the elusive and often mysterious Bearers of the Light.
Michael Debura, former Light Bearer operative, recently quit the quasi-secret army led by the Chosen One and Miss Hermione Granger following several near death experiences. As an attendee of at least one high level meeting involving routine operations of the Light Bearers, Mr. Debura is in an unique position to give us hereunto scarce insight into The-Boy-Who-Lived's war against You-Know-Who.
Light Bearer meetings are not meetings of consultation or mutual consent, but are instead quite hierarchical according to Mr. Debura. Shockingly, Mr. Potter once even compared the Light Bearer organization to a muggle army in terms of power structure. However, even more shocking is that the Chosen One apparently doesn't sit atop this private army of mostly muggle born mages. Miss Granger, herself a muggle born and long time associate of Mr. Potter, who is now rumored to be engaged to the Boy-Who-Lived, is known to dominate Light Bearer operational meetings. Miss Granger, a witch of modest means, has combined a sharp intellect and questionable ethics to vault herself to power. Now apparently in command of a private army held together with the reputation of the Chosen One will she merely be content to end the threat to the muggle born community posed by You-Know-Who or will she seek to take His place and impose her own agenda on the world of magic? (For Miss Granger's position on House Elf liberation, her pro-werewolf agenda, her ties to the giant community, and her advocacy for dangerous dark beasts, see page 15)
As an editorial aside this newspaper is extremely disturbed by the Ministry's lackluster response to the widening conflict. Internal Ministry sources have hinted at a deep divide developing between those who think that the Chosen One is indeed the only one who can save us from You-Know-Who and doubters who believe that the enigmatic Albus Dumbledore may have fabricated the prophecy from the start. Ultimately we may never discover the truth until a Dark Lord…or even a Dark Lady, has clutched our nation in their icy grip…
With a disgusted snort Narcissa Malfoy tossed the worthless rag aside and reached for the crystal goblet of fine red wine that she'd managed to get delivered to what she had begun to refer to as her prison. She couldn't believe that Lucius had gotten their home obliterated by that stupid Potter brat. Lucius had promised her that she'd never be inconvenienced by his little "activities" back when he joined the fight against mudbloods all those years ago. Of course she'd never give voice to her displeasure at this late date, but it was simply maddening to be deprived of her conveniences. What good was money if you were stuck in a tiny house unable to enjoy a single knut of it?
Wine glass in hand Narcissa strolled idly around the room, looking out of the windows one at a time into the darkening evening. The outside was just as nondescript as the inside of her secluded cage. After a while she slumped down into one of the plush chairs next to the fireplace and thumbed though a few of her scarce books. The loathsome place wouldn't be so dreadful if only it weren't so unimaginably boring. The nerve of Lucius, shutting her away in such a drab little hut for weeks without so much as even dropping by. Narcissa thought angrily that he should spent less time catering to his mighty "lord" and more time thinking about his wife.
As the evening drug into night Narcissa went through the same tedious routine that had become her life. She used to go to socials, balls, dinners, meetings, and all the other high society functions that befitted a woman of her class. She used to talk of history and politics with other important members of the magical world. Now all she could do was listen to her own thoughts and frankly that didn't entertain for very long. With a little huff she wrapped her evening robes tight and rummaged around the pantry for a snack. Lucius would be sleeping on the couch for a month, no a year when this was finally over, Narcissa decided. She eyed a half-eaten chocolate cake. Quaint muggle ingredient, chocolate, but very tasty. Maybe she'd pass the time by getting fat. That would teach Lucius a lesson.
Wine and cake was definitely a good combination, or at least that's what Narcissa decided after her third slice. A gust of wind caused the windows to creak and the house to shudder slightly. Narcissa reached for her wine when the house shuddered again, more violently, enough that the liquid in her glass rippled noticeably. A wet heavy feeling settled down on her shoulders and some kind of commotion broke out from elsewhere in the house.
"Lady Malfoy, Lady Malfoy," a strained voiced shouted. A moment later a pale looking man in green robes adorned with the Malfoy family crest appeared at the doorway.
"What's going on," Narcissa asked, clutching her robe tightly around her in fright. "Is it the Ministry?"
"It's Potter," the wizard replied. More green cloaked wizards rushed into the room. The night was suddenly lit up with confirmation of what was going on. Narcissa could see the giant silver outline of the Light Mark hovering above them in a mocking rebuff to the infamous Dark Mark.
"We've got to get you out of here Lady Malfoy," the wizard insisted. Several bright flashes accompanied by the sharp crack of lightening tore through the atmosphere outside the former safe house. "We've sent messenger charms but our security detail can't hold off a wizard of Potter's caliber for very long. We're not sure how far the dispersion and anti-apparation wards extend, but it's further than I've ever seen before."
"But, but, Potter's just a stupid child," Narcissa said hollowly as she allowed herself to be shuffled out toward the rear exit by the cordon of grim faced wizards. Lucius had assured her repeatedly that a silly half blood from such a trashy family as the Potters could never be a serious threat. The prophecy was just one of Dumbledore's lies to sooth the mudbloods wasn't it?
"Where's my wand?" Narcissa asked dumbly. She stumbled slightly and then winced when strong hands lifted her by the arms to carry her so she could keep pace. It had been years since she'd had to cast a spell in anything approaching a hostile situation.
"All right men, prepare for an acceleration charm, we've got to get out of here," the lead wizard whispered tersely. They managed to get within a dozen paces of the back door when it blew inward with a shower of splinters. Not waiting to spot their foe, the wizards let loose with a barrage of deadly curses.
Narcissa was thrust backwards so that the green cloaked wizards could form a human shield between their charge and the attackers. Icy wind rushed in through the doorway and the magical lights that illuminated the hallway dimmed drastically. Narcissa couldn't tell what was happening, but the wizards in the front suddenly screamed and dropped their wands. This was wrong, all wrong, she was a pureblood, this couldn't happen to her, Lucius had promised.
Abandoning their stricken comrades the green cloaks wheeled and tried to return back the way they had come. They stopped short before they had barely taken a step when that doorway also blackened from a mysterious presence. Narcissa quivered as the wizards on both sides of her screamed and dropped their wands just like the others had. She looked intently at the blackness enveloping the doorway and the long claw like tendrils that seemed to be emanating from it. The dark figure took form and Narcissa decided that her eyes must have been playing tricks on her. She hadn't seen this boy in person for a long time now, but there was no mistaking the lightening bolt shaped scar on his forehead.
"Potter," Narcissa shrieked incoherently. She turned and ran directly into a bushy haired young witch.
"Tell the others that when we come for you there is no escape," the bushy haired girl said with a deadly calm voice.
"Go, tell your master that we have all of his family now," Harry added as he towered over the cowering forms of the green cloaked wizards. They had ceased rolling in the floor but none of them had made even the slightest move toward their wands. "All those who serve Voldemort will feel the pain that they have caused others; the terror."
Ropes shot out, dragging Narcissa toward Harry and binding her tightly. The heavy wet feeling disappeared a moment after she went limp in Harry's arms and a second later they vanished leaving the green cloaked wizards feeling very afraid. The only problem for them, as they lay sprawled in the middle of the battered cottage, was who exactly were they more afraid of.
The whirling colors of portkey travel jolted to a halt in front of a far less appealing and far more formidable sight. Before Narcissa's overwhelmed senses stood a massive black obsidian stone tower reaching up into the sky. On each of the four corners of the tower was a half arch that jutted away from the central structure much like a flower's leaves fall away from the stem. Atop these strange structures was a rather large flat surface, but from the bottom of the tower Narcissa could not get a true appreciation for the design of the building nor was she much inclined to ponder architecture at that moment.
The thick black gates of the sprawling fortress were already standing open bravely, as if the keepers were completely confident that no attack would be forthcoming against them. With all the wards set up by Hermione and the secret nature of the location that was probably a safe assumption to make.
Narcissa tried to struggle for a moment but fell still when it finally penetrated into her consciousness that such efforts were futile. Her captors were taking her deeper into the labyrinth like corridors of a most fearsome structure that she had only read about in some vague books from the ancient goblin wars. Had she been in a calmer state of mind undoubtedly far more terrifying histories associated with magical buildings would have been recalled.
The deeper into the structure they went the fewer people they encountered along the way. All of them gave the familiar fist to heart salute of wizard solidarity, but some looked apprehensively at the pair floating the obviously terrified blonde witch toward the "conscious" holding cells. Most prisoners were kept in petrified stasis except for the potentially valuable ones like Narcissa. Narcissa finally did something that she had wanted to do for what seemed like ages; she blacked out.
"Oi, oi, oi," Ron's excited voice called out, trying to get their attention. "You got her!"
"Don't you two have school?" Harry asked jokingly, despite the situation. "An all O student like you shouldn't be skiving."
"I couldn't miss the capture of Lady Ferret," Ron replied. Luna arched an eyebrow inquisitively but still seemed less enthused than Ron.
"Ron promised to make it up later," Luna said, batting her eyes fondly in Ron's direction. Ron's grades were actually some of the best at Hogwarts, stunningly enough, under the dual influence of Luna and his own determination after being caught under the Imperious curse the previous term. Harry suspected that he was even trying to master Occlumency in his own belabored way. Unfortunately, the time when Harry or Hermione could help him advance his magical abilities was long since past. They barely were able to sleep between battles and the endless management requirements of the Light Bearers.
"So shall we wake her back up for a bit?" Hermione asked, tapping her foot impatiently and chewing her lip like she often did when slightly annoyed or in deep thought.
Harry pointed his wand at Narcissa's prone form and shot out an innervating charm. The aging witch groaned slightly and thrashed about as she regained consciousness. She rolled away, startled, when she realized who was standing over her.
"Where am I? What are you going to do to me? I haven't done anything; you can't hold me like this. Just wait until Lucius finds out, you'll be sorry-" Narcissa babbled out.
"Shut up, we've not done anything to you…yet," Harry said, cutting her off.
"And in case you haven't noticed, we could care less about Lucius. We want his master," Hermione added nastily.
"So, here's the deal, tell us what you know," Harry said, looking into her eyes. Narcissa's mind was weak and unresisting to his probes whether due to terror or simply because she was a rather weak witch.
"I'll not tell you anything, go ahead and torture me. That's what you people do now isn't it? Torture people?" Narcissa spat defiantly.
"Yeah, we're real mean," Hermione said, voice dripping with dry humor. "Don't worry your highness, we won't waste our time torturing you. However, if you're uncooperative perhaps I'll portkey back to Hogwarts and get Draco to come for a visit."
Narcissa paled at the implied threat. "Please, no, I'll talk, but I don't know anything, honestly, nothing at all. Lucius doesn't even visit me anymore, the Dark Lord will kill us all if we betray him, he knows, he always knows."
"I always know too," Hermione said darkly, leaning in close and looking Narcissa directly in the eyes.
"She really doesn't know anything," Hermione said to Harry via their link. "I can't believe we went to so much trouble for someone so worthless."
"Not entirely worthless," Harry replied. "We've got all of Malfoy's immediate family now. Surely that's got to at least make him hesitate."
"I wouldn't count on it. Malfoy's devotion to the Dark Lord transcends familial ties," Hermione said doubtfully.
"Perhaps on the outside he acts that way, but no one can discard their own family entirely, not even someone like Malfoy," Harry insisted.
"We're leaving you here for now," Hermione said coldly to Narcissa. "Since you're so useless I suppose we might as well suspend you in petrified stasis until we can decide what to do with you. I'm sure after we've destroyed Voldemort and his Death Eaters survivors like you will get some kind of trial."
"Y-You can't," Narcissa stammered. "The Dark Lord is supreme, Lucius will come for me…"
Harry and Hermione's cloaks billowed around them; their eyes glinted dangerously. "The prophecy will favor me in the end," Harry said simply with a humorless smile. He almost enjoyed Hermione's new terror policy and it certainly seemed to work. Psychological advantages were surprisingly useful, especially against the less dedicated and weaker servants of Voldemort.
"You two are getting bloody creepy, you know that don't you?" Ron said once they'd slammed the doors to Narcissa's cell shut and started to head back to the entrance. They needed to get away from the inhibiting wards before they could leave their improvised prison. "I know you've been mad ever since they killed Moody, but you can't let it keep getting to you like that."
"It could've been Luna," Harry snapped. "How would you feel then? Besides, we told you already, it's just an act to make our enemies more likely to surrender or tell us what we want to know. Voldemort has made it so far partially because everyone's too scared to unite against him. We need that same kind of terror to prevent people from joining him against us."
Ron opened his mouth, then shut it again, but Harry could tell that no one was convinced that it was just an act. Hermione stared ahead, deep in thought, and they continued the rest of the way back in silence except for Luna who started whistling her favorite quiddich song.
Back at Hogwarts the atmosphere around the four teens lightened considerably. Despite the dark medieval look of the castle it was a welcoming homey environment. First years were studying their transfiguration in the common room when they came after portkey arrival.
"Daddy's got a new edition of the Quibbler out," Luna said excitedly when they met up with her out in the hallway. Her portkey had a different destination than Harry, Hermione, and Ron's.
Harry took a look at the headline story, which was difficult to do since Luna was holding it sideways. Predictably, it was far different from the Diagon Daily or even the Daily Prophet.
Ministry Abdicates Public Defense to Chosen One and Light Bearers
Unnamed Ministry sources have revealed exclusive new details into Fudge's battle strategy that have thus far been withheld from the public. According to a person within the command structure of the Ministry's consolidated defense force the Minister of Magic has restricted auror activity to defense of Ministry main line interests only. Shockingly, civilians who are most vulnerable to the Dark Lord's wrath have been left to fend for themselves. Unsubstantiated rumor from the "other side" reveals the possibility that the Dark Lord views the Light Bearers and their leader, Harry Potter, as a greater threat than government enforcers as well…
"Not bad," Harry said. "I just hope that your dad doesn't get targeted over this."
"Daddy will be fine, he's had people upset with him before," Luna said vaguely. Somehow Harry didn't see the correlation between random wizards and Voldemort, but he didn't feel like pressing the issue with Luna. Her father had been given emergency portkeys and the means to contact the Light Bearers so it wasn't like he was totally defenseless.
"Finally, what took so long?" Ginny asked when they entered the room. Harry closed the door behind him, the tiny troll shaking its fist at him merrily, and took a seat next to Hermione.
"Narcissa," Ron said, grinning. "Bloody nutter she was, too."
"Well, while you guys were out doing that Remus sent us an owl," Ginny said.
"All ready?" Hermione said, suddenly more interested in what was going on around her than on whatever she had been thinking about. "Have you read it? Has he made any progress?"
"Er, yes and no?" Ginny said hesitantly. "To be honest I don't really understand it. Apparently he's met with some of the local guilds and had success with a few of them, but the national authority refuses to make any deals."
Hermione took the long scrolls of parchment and skimmed over them quickly. "This is pretty much what I expected," she said after a while. "Looks like we've got some tentative support from the New England area guilds, but the Southern and Western guilds largely oppose getting involved."
"What about their national government. It could draw them together to support us if it wanted to couldn't it," Harry asked.
"Well, in theory," Hermione said hesitantly. "In reality though it can't do much without a great deal of support from the local guilds. Remus has been in talks with one of their oldest leaders, uh… some guy named Willis Van Devanter. The response has been pretty unenthusiastic."
"So we're still on our own," Ron broke in heatedly.
"Not exactly," Hermione smirked. "Remember the fractious nature of their guild system? Some of those guilds might be willing to help on their own. Remus is ending talks with the national authority so he can concentrate on the New England guilds."
"Well, I've got charms tomorrow," Ginny said. She got up, yawned, and stretched tiredly. "I just stayed up to make sure you guys got Remus' letter."
"We should all get some sleep," Ron agreed. He looked pointedly at Harry and Hermione who were still flipping through Remus' letter. Remus, or perhaps Tonks, had made sure to include detailed accounts of everything that they'd done on their mission. On further thought Harry was sure that Tonks and her auror background was responsible for all the notations. Some of the script even appeared to be in her handwriting.
"Oh, I suppose," Hermione said, shuffling Remus' letter into a file. It wasn't like there was much else that they could get done anyway.
The next few weeks passed by quickly for Harry and Hermione. Dozens of prisoners flowed into Middle Yard from their raids on pureblood supporters of Voldemort. As a result anyone even remotely connected with the Dark Lord or his supporters had gone into hiding. Additionally, Voldemort had virtually ceased his attacks on the Ministry and instead focused on the Light Bearers. Some of the twin's less secreted bases were destroyed and the number of refugees increased at least three fold.
Despite the risks of having more Death Eaters piggyback on someone's portkey, Grimmauld Place was reopened to those who needed to hide from Voldemort. The Quibbler's assertion that the Ministry had stopped defending the general public seemed to be all too true. Reports from people visiting Diagon Alley indicated that the place was virtually disserted. Patrons who absolutely had to visit hurried about with wands drawn and the businesses that had dared to remain open, like Gringotts, maintained heavy security. Emergency portkeys were scattered about all over so that people could evacuate at an instant notice but it was likely that such measures would be pointless if Voldemort attacked. Portkey dispersion wards would be erected before anyone would know to leave and then it would be too late.
Surprisingly, Hogwarts continued on with relatively little disruption despite the war going on all around it. The most obvious deviation from the normal routine of the school came during the winter holidays. Instead of returning home like the students normally did everyone signed up to stay at the castle.
"So are you guys coming to the special feast Dumbledore decided to throw?" Ron asked. Since everyone was staying the Headmaster had decided to throw a big celebration like the one most families enjoyed during the season. It was a big contrast to the usual informal meals eaten with the just the staff and maybe a couple of other students.
"I think Hermione wanted to spend some time with her parents," Harry replied. He flicked his wand idly about as he looked for any ambient spells. Another side effect of all the students staying at Hogwarts with no classes was a drastic upswing in the amount of pranks. Magic and children really didn't mix sometimes.
"You just don't want to sprout tentacles at the table again," Ron smirked. Harry had already fallen victim to some of the twin's special prank stuff that had been smuggled into the school via owls. Of course Ron suspected that Harry had allowed it to happen though since he had always quickly dispelled the effects of the various pranks effortlessly.
"You and Luna should come with us," Harry said. "I'm sure your Mum would love to see you. She's going to come over to help Dobby and Winky with the food."
"We'll be there," Ron replied happily. Not only would he get to see his mother, but also he could get away from the perilous prefect job. Even though his Light Bearer work took priority he was still on the receiving end of a castle full of students with too much time on their hands.
"Aren't you going to ask me too?" Neville interjected.
"I thought Ginny already did," Ron said slyly. Neville grinned sheepishly and nodded that she had.
"Of course you're welcome too Neville," Harry said with mock exasperation.
"Maybe you can show us some of your new techniques," Ron added. "All Ginny talks about is how you've vanquished three avatars."
Neville flushed furiously. "Well, it wasn't me really, it was the whole team," he stammered. "Besides, one of those was sheer luck and the other one was really weak. I think Hermione had already knocked him around pretty good."
"A victory is still a victory," Harry replied. "Doesn't matter how you win, it's the result that matters."
The panel swung inward as Hermione, Ginny, Luna, and several other people streamed through as they returned from their various activities. Most of them were chattering excitedly about the feast or the holidays. The festive feeling that Dumbledore was fostering had enabled most people to forget about the war going on all around them.
"I'm ready to go Harry, if you are," Hermione called out.
They spent a few minutes waiting for Ginny and Luna to change their clothes. Instead of doing it the quick way with a switching spell they went back up to their rooms and became mysteriously indecisive as girls often do when it comes to their wardrobe.
Eventually, everyone was properly attired and ready to latch on to Harry's portkey back to Grimmauld Place. Of course, they could have all used their individual portkeys, but Hermione insisted that they only use one when they were all traveling together for safety's sake.
The first thing Harry noticed when they arrived was that Grimmauld Place seemed to be in surprisingly good shape. The charred holes and gashes that had covered virtually ever surface in the house had been repaired. Several sections of paneling gave away the fact that they were new by being slightly brighter than the others. The second thing he noticed was the sharp pop next to them as Dobby arrived to check on whom had entered the premises.
"Harry Potter sir, and Missus" Dobby exclaimed happily, although ignoring everyone else in his delight as seeing Harry and Hermione again. "Dobby is hoping everything is pleasing Harry Potter sir. Dobby and Winky has been working to get Harry Potter's house back to rights."
"I can already tell you've both done an amazing job," Harry reassured him. Dobby visibly relaxed, but Harry could tell that he was still nervous about working for him. The little elf beckoned for them to follow him to the dining room where the feast was already waiting.
The Weasley clan minus Percy, Bill, and Charlie, who were all absent for their own reasons, was present of course. Fleur was off at Hogwarts visiting Bill so she wasn't around either. Hermione's parents were there too and Harry was pleased to see that the eccentric Mr. Lovegood had joined them as well. However, the biggest surprise was to see the Dursleys sitting around the table, talking politely, if somewhat nervously, with everyone else. Harry eyed Vernon suspiciously but didn't make any comment as he and Hermione took their seats near the middle of the table.
Molly, or maybe it was Winky and Dobby, had really outdone themselves with this banquet. Nearly every kind of delicious food imaginable was there and in heaping portions. After a few awkward moments of passing the various dishes around the atmosphere settled pleasantly and the discussion remained mundane. Harry was relieved to enjoy a peaceful family meal, even if inwardly they were all feeling the heavy burden of the conflict surrounding them.
"Poor Molly," Hermione said wistfully. "She looks so sad around these sorts of occasions."
"Well, she doesn't get to see her kids very often," Harry replied. Molly's usual joyous demeanor did seem to be forced these days.
Hermione laughed at something Mr. Lovegood said before continuing. "Its not just that. She's afraid that they're going to die. Maybe all of them." Hermione said heavily. "Then there's Percy. Sent his sweater back again this year apparently…"
"I try not to look into people's minds," Harry admonished gently.
"I wasn't trying to exactly," Hermione said, blushing slightly. "Her mind is practically screaming out her problems right now."
"I didn't really notice," Harry said diplomatically, "But your mind is more disciplined than mine."
"Harry dear, will you?" Molly asked. Harry blinked and refocused his wandering attention.
"Er, will I what?" He asked sheepishly.
"I was asking if you and Hermione were going to stay the night too." Molly repeated. Apparently everyone else had already agreed while he and Hermione had been concentrating on their own conversation. Harry felt Hermione kick herself mentally for becoming overly engrossed. They rarely ever go so wrapped up in their own minds that they ignored what was going on around them, especially since their relationship had come out and made it unnecessary to display affection only in their minds.
"Sure," Hermione answered quickly. "We've been meaning to take a break now for a while."
Harry nodded in agreement and summoned a tray of pastries with a flick of his wand. Molly only frowned and the twins looked devastated that Harry didn't get reprimanded for "careless" magic use like they would have been for doing something similar.
After desert was finished Harry and Hermione excused themselves so that they could go view the library. Fortunately, the library was one of the least damaged rooms because Hermione's guardian statues and spells had thwarted the Death Eaters who attempted to penetrate it.
"Wow, they really wrecked some havoc didn't they?" Harry asked rhetorically when they surveyed the library. Several people who were camping out in the library to ease the cramped spaces of Grimmauld Place watched them curiously.
"I wonder why Dobby hasn't cleaned these up yet?" Harry mused. A wide path had been created by shoving the shattered remains of the stone guardians off to either side of the door, but nothing had been removed.
"House elves don't disturb their master's magic," Hermione said, as if it were common knowledge. Harry made a mental note to ask her to recommend some of the books she read during fourth year when she founded her elfish welfare society.
Harry banished all the rubble, repairing nearby shelves, and then stepped back so Hermione could work freely. The bushy haired witch smiled broadly at Harry as she conjured up two small black stone blocks to act as the base. Next, she employed an advanced form of transfiguration similar to the spell that Professor McGonagall used to create the magical chessboard that guarded the Sorcerer's Stone during first year. The two stones wiggled like a semi-fluid substance, growing and morphing until they re-solidified as two fearsome looking black knights. They turned and marched to opposite sides of the doorway where the old guardians had stood. Their eyes glowed red for a moment when they finished freezing in place until their services would be required.
Meanwhile Harry decided to renew the spells guarding the room with something more powerful than the previous defenses. He drew a series of complicated spell forms in green flames on the double door entrance to the chamber. Spells that would inflict physical damage in addition to mental and also guard the entire house against intrusion, not just the library. When he noticed Hermione nodding with appreciation that he had mastered the technique so well.
"Come on," Harry said with a grin, "lets tour the second floor for a while."
Hermione captured his hand in her own as they walked up the stairs to the densely packed space on the second floor. The first floor of the library had a large open space between the books out of necessity. Space was required for the large rectangular table so that a person could do research comfortably. The second floor on the other hand dedicated all available space toward storage.
"I guess we really did cull all the good books last year," Harry said after they'd gone past a couple of shelves. Of course that wasn't entirely true, there were several interesting books left, but they weren't terribly useful to anyone at the moment because they didn't deal with combat suitable magic.
"Honestly Harry," Hermione said with mock exasperation. "You get a pretty girl alone and you're thinking of books? I really have been an awful influence."
"Maybe I've just forgotten what to do because it's been so long since we got to be alone for a while?" Harry suggested.
"Here's a hint," Hermione replied, kissing him gently on the lips. Harry drew her closer to him and returned her kiss eagerly.
All the background noise faded away until just the two of them were left. Hermione's wild hair seemed to engulf the two of them when they came into such close proximity. Grimmauld Place remained slightly on the cool side all the time, but especially in the winter. Their natural heat combined as they embraced in the narrow space between bookshelves created a truly blissful experience.
"I wish we could stay like this forever," Hermione murmured after a while. They had moved from kissing to just simply holding each other and then back to kissing.
"Me too, I love you so much Hermione, I wish we could just go away and be together like normal people," Harry replied wistfully.
"I know Harry, that's what I want too," Hermione replied. "I want us to have the family that you never had."
Harry hugged her a little tighter; unable to express in words how much she had come to mean to him. Hermione buried her face in his chest for a moment before backing off.
"We should probably get back to our friends," Hermione said softly. "They'll be wondering what happened to us."
"I suppose, who knows when we'll all have a chance to sit down and relax together again," Harry replied. Hermione flicked her wand and several books came floating down from the nearby shelves.
"What?" she said with a giggle when Harry raised an eyebrow. "We should look like we accomplished something shouldn't we?"
"If you say so," Harry replied with a laugh. He plucked the books out of Hermione's grip before using his free arm to wrap around her narrow frame. No one even looked at them oddly anymore as they left the library. The hallways of Grimmauld Place were starting to get dark as the short winter day marched on toward night. The gloom didn't do much to hide the familiar bulk of Vernon Dursely though.
"What does he want?" Hermione asked with irritation. The Dursleys usually went out of their way to avoid Harry and by extension Hermione too.
"I, uh, wanted to talk boy…er, Harry," Vernon mumbled. The big man seemed to be supremely uncomfortable. For the first time Harry noticed Petunia and Dudley lurking down the hall.
Harry sighed. "What is it Vernon?"
"I-I know that we've not been the…best, uh, guardians since we took you in," Vernon said painfully. His face was all screwed up with concentration and nervousness.
Harry felt his own blood starting to get a little warm at what could only be construed as the greatest understatement of all time. He felt Hermione's hand grip his arm soothingly.
"And when those Death fellows broke in here you still saved us, you saved Petunia and Dudley," Vernon continued, his voice heavy with emotion. "Being here in this frea…uh this place for so long now I gather that we muddles, er, muggles, aren't thought of so highly, but you're still protecting us…"
Harry felt his body going slightly numb as he realized where his uncle was going with his tortured speech. Never, ever, at any time, had he considered that such a thing as this might happen.
"You put yourself between us and those guys, and I guess we were wrong about you," Vernon said, starting to speak faster until he was nearly running all his words together. "I just wanted to say that we're sorry, Petunia and Dudley and me, we're sorry and we hope you can forgive us someday."
"We really are Harry," Petunia said softly. She had approached, along with Dudley, during Vernon's speech. "I guess I was just resentful of my sister. I know that doesn't make it all right, but I never imagined that it was like this, I didn't realize what she died fighting against…"
"I'm used to being hated for what my parents did," Harry said with a sneer. "Did you think that I'd start liking you because you finally woke up to the real world?"
Vernon shrank back from Harry. Even in muggle clothes the young wizard had become an intimidating presence despite his almost frail stature.
"The nerve of you people," Hermione finally spoke up sharply. "Bringing up something like this, asking for forgiveness as if you cared. You're just afraid that Harry will wake up one morning and decide to return all the misery you heaped on him. You realize that you're at his mercy even more than he was ever at yours."
"N-n-no, I didn't mean it that way," Vernon said, waving his hands frantically. Petunia looked horrified.
"Didn't anyone tell you? Some wizards can read minds," Hermione said sinisterly.
"However," Harry broke in roughly, "despite the self serving motives of your apology, which was long overdue by the way, I'm glad you at least made it. Maybe someday the pain at how you treated an orphan boy will fade enough…but not today. Don't worry about your safety, I've protected you all this time, did you really think I'd throw you out now?"
Hermione quickly maneuvered Harry away from the shaken Dursleys and headed toward the main room. She was a little surprised at how charitable Harry had been toward them. From what he had showed her about his life under the Dursleys Hermione didn't know if she could have been that mild had she been in his place.
"Come on Harry, forget about them and let's get back to everyone else. I'm sure the twins have cooked up something fun," Hermione said gently. Harry nodded and tried to shove all the latent anger towards the Dursleys back into the corner of his mind from whence it had resurfaced.
True to Hermione's prediction the gathering in the main room of Grimmauld Place was rather light hearted. Of course, with the twins providing entertainment unnatural transfigurations were to be expected. Neville, a favorite target, had the head of a donkey unceremoniously attached to his rear.
"How do you get rid of this bloody thing?" Neville asked indignantly. He waved his wand again, presumably performing some silent spell designed to banish the head, which was now braying loudly.
"It's permanent until the timer runs out," Fred laughed.
"We've named them Jack on the Arse," George added, holding up a vial of brown gel. "Only ten sickles, excellent for parties, pranks, or maybe just that boss you can't stand."
"You can stand up for five hours can't you Neville ole chum?" Fred said, still laughing, as he slapped the poor fellow on the back. Neville groaned dejectedly and determinedly avoided looking at a giggling Ginny.
"Honestly, you boys," Hermione huffed with mock annoyance. She flicked her wand lazily and the donkey head popped out of existence, leaving only a bunch of loose hairs behind.
"Hermione!" Fred and George exclaimed.
"How-"
"in the bloody-"
"hell did you-"
"banish it?" they asked, their faces masks of bewilderment.
"Like this," Harry said. He gestured toward the two red heads with his wand and they grew loudly braying donkey heads identical to the one Neville had.
"Seriously, you two have got to come work with us," Fred said, ignoring the noise from the conjured donkey's head.
"Wasting your talents, that's what you're doing," George added. Hermione rolled her eyes and restored them to their usual form.
Harry grabbed a butter beer from a tray that had been left for them by Dobby and handed Hermione one too. She kicked off her shoes and curled up next to him on the sofa, bushy hair cascading everywhere. Harry noticed that Luna had somehow found her way under Ron's arm. The blonde had been laughing the entire time, but somehow Harry suspected that she could have banished the twin's prank too, had she wanted to.
"So what's in those books?" Neville asked after the laughter had died down.
"Not sure exactly," Hermione said. "The potion book had some interesting defensive potions in it that I'm going to study later."
"We could really use something new like the armor you guys made," Neville said. "It would really make people feel better."
"Neville!" Ginny said sharply.
"What?" Harry asked. He could feel concern radiating off of Hermione too. "Is something wrong?"
Neville grimaced, slightly before explaining. "It's just that, well, there's been some talk that the end
may be closer than we think, and I don't mean the end of V-v-, You-Know-Who, I mean the end of us."
"You really think we'll lose?" Harry asked hollowly.
"Don't be ridiculous," Hermione said, but her lips were drawn into a thin line. "We've not lost as long as Harry is still alive, you know that."
"It's just that, the avatars are so strong, and now there's all those werewolves. Who knows what he'll throw at us next." Ginny said softly.
"So when can we expect people to quit?" Hermione asked, her voice filling with hostility.
"I didn't mean that-," Neville sputtered.
"No one's obligated to stay," Harry said calmly, with an almost Dumbledore like tone. "It isn't me who they're fighting for after all, but themselves."
As if summoned a small silver bird swooped in, interrupting their conversation as it hovered around Harry. He plucked the messenger charm out of the air and opened it to find Dumbledore's flowing script.
"There's trouble," Hermione said instantly, reading the message over Harry's shoulder. "Dobby!"
"Yes Missus?" Dobby asked, instantly answering her summons.
"Tell everyone that we're going back to Hogwarts immediately," Hermione said briskly. "And tell them to get ready, Voldemort may be on the attack again."
Neville opened his mouth, then closed it again as if unsure what to say. Ron looked at him and shrugged, activating his own portkey back to Hogwarts. A few moments later the teens were reassembled from their various arrival destinations and standing in front of the stairway to the Headmaster's office.
"Ah, excellent, you are all here," Dumbledore said when they entered into the inner part of his office. A tall dark figure was standing off to the side.
"This is pointless," Snape growled. "There's nothing they can do about it."
"Severus has discovered that Voldemort plans to attack the dwarfish city of Hollow Dome in the Himalayan Mountains," Dumbledore said, ignoring the pale looking potion master.
"Why would he do that?" Hermione asked. "He's never attacked on a large scale outside of England before. Not like this."
"I would expect such a feeble minded question from Potter, but not you Granger," Snape sneered. "It seems that your little slash and burn techniques have been effective in denying the Dark Lord the resources his army needs."
"So he wants the dwarves' gold," Hermione filled in. "He doesn't want to provoke the goblins, they're too strong, so he picks on a race that can't even use much magic."
"Bravo," Snape said, voice filled with mockery.
"We've got to help them," Harry decided instantly. "We can't let Voldemort destroy them, let alone get a hold of their wealth."
"No, certainly not, but how," Dumbledore said. "The Ministry has locked down the country, no portkeys in or out."
Unlike anti-apparation spells, that guarded a specific area, portkey dispersion fields also prevented any portkey from crossing their boundary in addition to establishing a destination point within the field itself. Thus a ring of dispersion fields could essentially create a pocket of space where no portkey could penetrate in or out of whilst leaving the interior still available to portkey travel.
"Well, Harry and I can apparate there," Hermione replied.
"Impossible," Snape snorted. "No one can apparate that far."
"Of course not," Hermione snapped, irritated at Snape's constant challenges to everything she said. "We'll make a series of apparation jumps."
"You'd be unconscious from fatigue before you even got there," Snape insisted.
"Look," Harry interjected roughly. "Let us worry about getting there. Hermione says we can do it, we can do it. We're a lot stronger now than you realize."
Snape rolled his eyes derisively, but refrained from making anymore comments.
"You can't go without us," Ron said suddenly. "You need backup on something as dangerous as this. Like Hermione is always pointing out, you're our only hope Harry. We can't risk you like this."
"There's no choice," Harry replied. "Other than Hermione only Dumbledore could make it and he can't leave Hogwarts. He's the only one that can command the castle's defenses to help us in case Voldemort attacks here directly."
"Quite correct," Dumbledore agreed. "I'm afraid that Harry is right, either he and Hermione goes or no one does. Unfortunately despite the risks to Harry we also can't afford to let Voldemort gain the dwarves' treasure. Either way we stand to take on irreparable losses."
"When is this attack taking place?" Hermione asked suddenly.
"Dumbledore looked grim. "You may or may not get there ahead of Voldemort's avatars if you leave right now."
"You're just telling us this now?" Harry asked incredulously. He drew his wand and conjured his protective clothing.
"Just remember," Hermione added as she drew her wand too, "while we're gone be especially careful. Only protect our most vital interests, which means no support to muggles. It would be too easy for Voldemort to trap you."
Ron nodded as they activated their portkeys and vanished. His pride was slightly injured, but he knew that they were right. In the end it had come down to Harry and Hermione to bail out almost every mission that had even run afoul of Voldemort's most powerful wizards. Only Neville's team of the Light Bearer's strongest wizards had been able to prevail against Voldemort's elite and then only when the numbers were heavily in their favor. They might repel Death Eaters, but if Voldemort personally decided to squash them they wouldn't have any choice except to retreat.
"Dobby!" Harry yelled out. The little elf appeared instantly. "Hermione and I are leaving England to help the dwarves so if Grimmauld Place comes under attack again don't try to defend it, get everyone out."
"Yes Harry Potter sir, Dobby understands," Dobby replied.
"Dobby, please go to Hogwarts and have someone explain the situation to you so you can inform my parents. I don't want them to be worried," Hermione added.
"Yes Missus," Dobby said. He bowed slightly and then cracked away.
"Here Harry, drink this," Hermione said. "It's a rejuvenation potion, but since we aren't exhausted it should boost physical strength some. Apparation like this will tax our bodies more than our reserve of magic."
To the outside observer it would have appeared as merely a flickering mirage moving across the countryside. Harry and Hermione leapt dozens of miles with every apparation as they moved south, then over water, then again overland toward the dwarves' underground city that was secreted away in the mountains.
With sudden violence a truly massive anti-apparation ward network arrested their progress. The dwarves might not be warriors, but apparently they had some measures in place to deter wizard incursions.
Harry glanced at Hermione and as one they transformed into their animagus forms. They were slower in their bird forms, but it was the fastest mode of transport left available. Acceleration charms would be dangerous to use over such a long distance.
"I wonder how the avatars are getting here?" Harry asked.
"Probably with brooms," Hermione replied. "I doubt these wards took them by surprise."
"I wonder why the dwarves didn't tell us about them," Harry said.
"I doubt they ever considered that a place like this would become a target," Hermione speculated. "Or maybe they were just reluctant to give up their privacy."
"There," Harry said after they'd been flying for some time. "That's the entrance right below the peak of that mountain."
They circled as they descended, wary of any ambush, but there was no sign of Voldemort's minions. When they were almost on the ground they morphed back and dropped the remaining distance to the ground. A dwarf immediately sprang from his cover and approached them.
"Who approaches the realm of the dwarves?" he asked.
"Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, in fulfillment of the treaty between the dwarves and those known as the Bearers of the Light," Harry replied. "We have reason to believe that an attack on Hollow Dome is imminent."
"Hurry, get below and warn your people," Hermione urged. "They need to be prepared to evacuate. We think that Voldemort wants to grab your resources and wealth to help support his war."
"Hermione, they're here," Harry said, pointing at the dark shapes circling above. The dwarf, who had been looking skeptical, now practically fell over himself to run toward the tunnel entrance. Harry and Hermione drew wands warily. The last thing the dwarf saw as he scrambled into the tunnel was two tall figures standing silently as a semi-circle of dark monsters, eight of the most powerful avatars, approached them ominously.
Harry crossed his wand over Hermione's and drew out the full extent of his power. Tiny tendrils of lightening flickered along his wand to meet the small tongues of fire from Hermione's power.
Snow was falling heavily in Hogsmeade when the sharp cracks of apparation sounded all around the village. Concerned people looked anxiously outside and see their worst nightmare coming alive. The shock of dozens of black robed Death Eaters standing scattered around the streets hadn't even been realized before the heavy feeling of anti-apparation spells blanketed the village. In the center of the village, surrounded by a circle of wizards, was one tall pale figure with glowing red eyes. Lord Voldemort had come to Hogsmeade.
Author's Note:
Thanks for all the reviews, please keep them coming, they are much appreciated. I have already planned out a sequel in broad terms so the only thing that I need to be able to write it is sufficient time. I anticipate having enough time over the summer to write it up hopefully and right now it looks like most people support me waiting to post any sequel until its finished. I'll let out more details later if necessary, probably after school is out at the end of May.
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