Ch: 27-31
Chapter Twenty Seven
Harry trudged up after dinner to the Headmasters office. He waited at the Gargoyle as Dumbledore had conveniently forgotten to give him the password. So he waited, and waited, and waited until he felt as if he could punch that old coot straight on his crooked nose. But Dumbledore would probably let him and then smile his benign smile and twinkle his eyes while saying that anger isn't good for him.
"Ah, Mr. Riddle." Came a cheery voice from down the hall. Harry turned to see Albus Dumbledore, the acclaimed Headmaster of Hogwarts, Defeater of Lord Grindelwald, Master of Light and Transfiguration magic, Head of the Order of Phoenix…wearing a dress. But not just any dress but a pink, floral one with a large frill at the neck.
"Ok…ay," Harry said slowly. Dumbledore just beamed at him before turning to the Gargoyle.
"Abra Kedabra Alackazam Flying Goblins!" Dumbledore said and the Gargoyle…if possible looked embarrassed at the password as it jumped aside.
"Please do come up." Dumbledore said. Harry obliged and followed Dumbledore up the narrow steps and into his office. It looked the same as it did 2 days ago so Harry didn't have a close look but he noticed that Fawkes wasn't present.
"Sit down. I insist." Dumbledore offered. Harry sat, wondering what the hell was going on with Dumbledore.
"Now, as you may recall I asked that you brief me on what you think is happening every two days or so." Dumbledore said. He stroked his beard and turned his periwinkle gaze on Harry. "I would like to hear about what happened in the Slytherin Common room. I am most interested as is Professor Moon in why there was a full-fledged battle going on. I am also aware of the Cruticas Curse being used at least once down there and I would like to know who did it."
"And what makes you think I'll tell you Headmaster?" Harry inquired, green eyes flashing at the challenge.
"I think you will." Dumbledore said. "And please, call me Albus."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Is it a regular occurrence to let your students call you by your first name?"
"No, and please do not divert from the subject matter at hand." Dumbl-Albus said.
"Very well Albus." Harry said. "There was a slight conflict of ideas that night. Nothing more."
Albus sighed. "You call a large duel between an entire house made up of 90 people, a conflict of ideas?"
"Well…" Harry hesitated. Albus smiled.
"I think it was more than a conflict of ideas, do you not agree Harry?" Albus said as he opened his drawer. He pulled out a bag of Lemon drops and plucked one from within the bag and into his mouth. He offered the bag to Harry, who shook his head as a negative.
"It was a conflict of ideas." Harry stated. At Albus' reproachful gaze Harry went on. "Just a…large conflict of idea's. One where talking could offer no more resolution."
"Very well." Albus folded his hands in together. "I will accept that for now."
Harry felt as if the matter had been dropped only temporarily but was lifted from his thoughts when Albus continued asking questions.
"So, who cast the Cruciatus?" Albus asked. Harry shrugged.
"Don't remember." He lied. Albus gave him a piercing glance and Harry returned it. Both held the stare for the moment, and if rehearsed, both looked away at the same time.
"Enough of this dreary business then!" Albus suddenly said out happily. His eyes twinkled and he swiveled in his chair to touch a silver object with a dial that spun in random patterns. He touched it and it quivered, and then lay still. He turned back to Harry.
"So, how are your classes?" Albus questioned.
"All right." Harry said.
Albus frowned. "Ah, turn that look upside down or you might be stuck with it."
Harry just gave him a look that plainly said. 'You're nutters!'
"Does anyone know of the little nightclub fiasco?" Albus asked. Harry nodded.
"Well, obviously Lily does, and I have a faint inkling that two others do as well but they can be trusted with it." Harry said firmly.
Albus nodded, clearly happy with the answer. "I have heard a few whispers from the Gryffindor tower that you are a Death Eater. Are you sure that you don't want to release that knowledge to the school and public. It will benefit us all as it will give the community hope and dash any unsettling rumors present that are circulating."
"Would it be wise to present Tom with such knowledge. He might take on Hogwarts to get to me? I can take care of myself but I don't think that the rest of the students would be able to hold out from a full fledged attack." Harry said, worried at the idea.
"He would not attack a place where you reside as well as I. I am not unaware of the fact that for some reason Lord Voldemort fears me." Albus said, he blues eyes gleaming in speculation. "To attack us both would be suicidal."
"Okay. Do whatever you want. You usually do anyway." Harry muttered the last part. Albus caught it but showed no indication of hearing it while inside he was confused. The boy became more of an enigma everyday.
"Well, I think it is time for departure. Good Night Harry." Albus said. Harry stood and headed for the door. Just as he was about to leave he stopped and turned around.
"You know Albus, when you wear a dress it might be of interest for your sake and everyone else's sake if you put on some underpants."
Albus blinked.
Harry walked back to the Slytherin Common Room. His meeting with Albus had gone well enough and Harry was amazed that Albus hadn't pressed on or tried Legilimency against him. He reached the Slytherin entrance and muttered the password. Nothing happened.
Harry frowned and muttered the password again. And again and again.
"LeStrange!" Harry hissed. That little bastard must have changed the password. Harry growled in anger and suddenly stopped. He had heard a scuffling noise, if just for a split second. Harry whirled around, wand out, ready to defend and attack.
Nobody was there. Harry scratched his head, confused all of a sudden. He quickly waved his wand and muttered. "Aquarius!"
A large stream of water whipped from his wand and up and down the hall. Harry aimed his wand everywhere and soon enough a splashing noise was heard as the water hit something in mid air. An invisible person was watching him.
"Finite Incanterum!" Harry muttered as he pointed his wand at the figure. It was a large person and very fat if the water had anything to tell him. The figure quivered but nothing happened. So if it wasn't a spell, then it was an…Invisibility Cloak!
"Accio Invisibility Cloak!" Harry whispered and a soaring silver piece of cloth flew from the hall and into his hand to reveal James Potter, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew. James was also holding a piece of parchment in his hand. Harry, realizing what it was quickly waved his wand and the paper was ripped from his grasp and right into Harry's hand.
"Hello Potter." Harry said calmly. "Black, Rat-boy," he nodded towards Sirius and Peter
"Why you…!" Peter growled out. Harry raised his eyebrow at Peter.
"Wow. So the rat does have some balls. Hmm, well I guess I owe Bellatrix 2 galleons." He murmured. Sirius snarled out in anger at the name of his cousin.
"You're friends with that stupid bitch!" he hissed, his blue eyes flashing while fingering his wand.
"Ya think? I mean, I've only been sitting next to her at meals since I've been here." Harry shot back sarcastically. He examined the invisibility cloak in his hands. It was his one that he would get in the future.
"Mm, nice." He said as he examined it.
"Give it back!" James snapped. He held his wand up but with a careless flick, it came soaring out of his hands.
"Okay." Harry shrugged and chucked it back at James. James caught it and looked at Harry in disbelief. Harry knew how rare these cloaks were and if an enemy of his had willingly given his back he too would have looked as surprised as James did.
"And the parchment." Sirius said. Harry looked at it. It was blank but Harry reconsigned the Marauders map.
"Mm. I wonder what's hidden in this." Harry murmured and tapped his wand on it.
"Finite Incanterum." He muttered. He could always activate it with the password but then that would show James, Sirius and Peter that he knew about the map and lead to questions that he want left unanswered.
The map remained blank and Harry put on a confused face as he pretended to think hard.
"Revelio!" he commanded but still the map remained blank. Harry pretended to frown as James snorted at his attempts. Peter was snickering quietly as well and Sirius was watching with a smirk.
"Invia-Revelio Finite Multpilicus!" Harry muttered. The parchment glowed and Harry saw words began to write on it.
Mr. Padfoot would like for Mr. Riddle to stop being a sleazebag and go back to the Snake Den
Mr. Prongs agrees and would like to mention how worthless you are at revealing spells.
Mr. Moony suggest that you hand over the map and leave
Mr. Wormtail agrees with the rest but thinks that a shower may be necessary
Harry let out a slow chuckle as he read the words and James started laughing. Harry shook his head in amusement and tapped the parchment again.
"Metanga!" He mumbled and a black, arcane light shifted from his wand tip and speeded all over the map. Sirius gave a startled cry when the map started to reveal itself.
Messer's Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs proudly present the Marauders Map.
Harry watched as the Hogwarts castle appeared on it. He scanned it and saw that Lily was in the Ravenclaw dorm, Bellatrix and Narcissa were in the Slytherin Common room with the LeStrange twins and Nott and Remus was in the Gryffindor Common room. He tried to look for himself and while he could see a James Potter, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew near the Slytherin Entrance, he found only a Harry with no last name. Harry frowned and poked his figure. The figure shifted but still, only Harry was displayed. Harry grinned. This took care of one problem. The Marauders couldn't see his last name. As a precaution, Harry raised his wand and muttered. "Confsudo est Harry."
If the map ever got around to producing his real name, it would automatically appear blank thanks to the strong Confundus Charm on it. Before he gave it back, he confounded the Slytherin entrance just after he took a look at it. The password was Death to the Mudblood.
"Thanks Potter!" Harry said cheerfully and gave back the map. Humming, he went up to the entrance and leaving a confused James behind.
"What the hell was that?" Sirius asked in disbelief as Harry left. James said nothing but examined his Map. It looked all right and it was working fine but when James tried to seek out Harry Riddle, there was no dot that matched that name.
"He confounded our map!" James said in shock. Peter growled, but ruined the effect by going off in a fit of coughs.
"Damn him!" Sirius growled. "Stupid Slytherin!"
"First he stole Lily, then he wrecked my map!" James said in anger. "That's it! No more Mr. Nice Wizard, it's time he got pranked, full Marauder style.
Sirius grinned and Peter looked excited. Then, the door opened and an unknown person was chucked out, right on top of Peter. Peter squeaked in fear and Sirius and James hauled the body off. They turned it around and saw that it was Rodolphus LeStrange, with bruises and cuts over his face.
"He's not…" Sirius trailed off. Despite that it was a Slytherin, Sirius didn't actually want anyone dead. James examined Rodolphus.
"Nah, just stunned." James said, relief in his voice. Peter finally found his voice and spoke up.
"What just happened? I mean one moment I'm standing here, the next a body gets chucked on…AHH!" Peter gave another scream as another body fell on him. Sirius and James exchanged exasperated glances and dragged yet another person off Peter. After a look at the beaten up Slytherin (Rabastan LeStrange), James spoke up.
"Maybe we should leave." James offered tentatively. He didn't want to get squashed like Peter, who was struggling to get up after having two 80kg bodies thrown on his small 50kg frame.
"And miss out on what's going on?" Sirius said. "Never!" Peter hesitated, and then shrugged.
"I'm leaving guys. That last guy really hurt!" Peter turned on his heel and was about to leave when another body hit him.
"Oh for God's sake!" James said and yanked the fallen Slytherin off. Beneath the hexes and curse marks, lay the face of Nott.
"I'm outta here!" Peter said and positively fled the scene, not wanting to be hit by flying Slytherins. Sirius and James looked at the Slytherins, then the fleeing Peter, then the entrance to the common room, where Harry was standing. In the background, Sirius could see his two cousins, Bellatrix and Narcissa looking smug as well as Snivellius and that Zabini chick.
"Oh." Harry said in surprise. "You two still here?" he asked. He was holding his wand and James sweated.
"We-We were just leaving." James offered weakly and grabbed Sirius and dragged him down the dungeon and up the stairs. Both were wondering what the hell was going on.
Harry walked in the common room with the newly acquired password. Seething with anger, he strode in the Common room where Rodolphus LeStrange, Rabastan LeStrange, and Nott. Briefly, Harry wondered if Nott had a first name as he whirled upon them in anger.
"Ah, Riddle. How do you like our new password? I think it suits us." Rodolphus LeStrange said smoothly. He smirked at the angry look on Harry's face. "What's the matter Riddle? Are you a Mudblood as well? Is that why the password has made you so angry?"
"I'm a Half-blood actually." Harry answered. Drawing his wand out in a blur he aimed it at Rodolphus. "My mother was a Muggle-born. I suggest you apologies."
Rodolphus sneered and next to him Rabastan and Nott drew their wands.
"She was a Mudblood? Does that mean she's dead? All the better. One less Mudblood to be cleansed off. Fucking Muggles, spawn like Rabbits. Soon…" Rodolphus never finished that sentence as Harry had heard enough.
"Antere!" Harry muttered. The pounding curse smashed into Rodolphus' face and began working its purpose in life. Pounding stuff in. Harry smirked and dodged a bright yellow streak of magic from Nott and reflected a curse back to Rabastan. From the other side of the room Bellatrix and Narcissa jumped up and leveled their wands at the other Slytherins in the room, who had started drawing their wands out.
"Now, we won't have any of that, will we?" Narcissa said in a calm voice with undercurrents of danger.
"We better not or you'll find yourself waking up tomorrow hanging upside down in the Great Hall with daisies growing from your armpits." Bellatrix added. Narcissa looked at her oddly and Bellatrix shifted.
"What?" she said.
"That was a very…elegant threat." Snape said. Narcissa looked over her shoulder to see Snape and Zabini standing there.
"What do you mean, elegant?" Bellatrix asked.
"I think he means stupid, but knowing Severus he didn't want to sound like a commoner." Zabini said off-handily.
"Hey!"
Harry flicked his wand and Nott smashed into a wall. He jabbed it at Rabastan and he fell over, boils and rashes on his face. Opening the Common Room door he banished Rodolphus out of the common room.
"AHH!" Harry heard a scream from outside but ignored it.
"Harry, what are you doing?" Bellatrix asked, blinking her violet eyes in confusion.
"What does it look like?" Harry retorted.
"Well, why are you doing it then?" Bellatrix asked again.
"Just teaching them a lesson." Harry said innocently. He waved his wand and Rabastan flew from the ground and hovered in front of Harry.
"Stupid…Mudblood…Mother!" Rabastan hissed. Harry growled.
"Stupefy!" Harry cast and Rabastan went slack. With a careful flick of his wand, he too was launched out of the common room. After a final flick, Nott was gone. Harry walked to the door. He saw James Potter and Sirius Black looking at the bodies while Peter ran down the hall.
"Oh." Harry started in surprise. "You two still here?" James paled and stuttered out an excuse while dragging a reluctant Sirius Black down the hall and away from the Slytherin Common room.
"That was weird." Harry murmured and walked back in. Most of the Slytherins had left while they could and only Bellatrix, Narcissa, Snape and Zabini were here.
"Making a scene again?" Narcissa commented. Harry frowned.
"No one insults my Mother." There was silence after the coldness in Harry's voice had seeped into the room until Zabini yawned and looked at her watch.
"Well, I'm going to head up. G'night everyone." She headed back to her room and Harry checked his own watch. It was 9:00pm.
"I'm going to head up to bed as well." Harry said.
"Good night Harry." Bellatrix said. Narcissa nodded her own farewells.
"Night Riddle." Snape said in an oily voice. Harry just nodded and walked to his dorm. The first thing he did was open his trunk. In there lay the remains of his innocence. A Photo Album, A Firebolt, A invisibility cloak, the Marauders Map, several years worth of textbooks and letters to his friends.
Harry looked over them. He remembered when he had gotten them and when he had read them. Oh, how he missed Ron and Hermione. But he had new friends now. A chance for a better future and most importantly, a chance to live a normal life.
He looked at a picture of his parents wedding day. They looked so happy, yet Harry after seeing Lily when she was happy, saw what others didn't. While her body was strong, her spirit was broken. Her eyes were dull and lifeless in the photo.
Harry made an oath then and there. He would not let her become like that. He would do anything in his power to keep her eyes never looking so dead.
Chapter Twenty Eight
Parseltongue:
Curses Extremely
Powerful Curses (Either powerful magic or powerful emotion) or extremely loud voices
Harry slowly drifted into the land of awake-people. He rubbed his eyes, which had gone bleary and looked around. For a moment he thought he was back at Privet Drive but as he observed his surroundings, he heaved a great sigh of relief as he realized that he was still in the Slytherin Prefect room that was given to him. He grabbed his wand and muttered. "Tempus," A grey smoke rose from his wand and formed the time, which was currently 3:23 am in the morning.
Harry yawned and looked out the window. Though he was in a dungeon, the window was charmed to show what the outside windows showed in one of the towers. Hogwarts lay dark and drab, the usual cheer and bustle gone as the castles occupants had settled down for sleep. Harry rose up and walked to the window. The ground was misty and the Forbidden Forest was silent save for a few creaking branches. He sat at the window for a few minutes before yawning again. Harry walked back to his bed, intending to go to sleep when he stumbled on something on the floor and almost tripped. Regaining his balance in time Harry raised his wand.
"Lumos!" Harry muttered and a bright glow at the end of his wand lit the room, casting shadows and creating light. Harry looked where he had tripped and noticed that his trunk was lying inconspicuous on the floor. Harry frowned and dragged the trunk up to his bed.
This trunk could cause all sorts of problems if it got released and the contents bought to public. Hell, he could go to Azkaban for inappropriate time travel using unorthodox methods. Damn, he sounded like a dictionary. Harry grinned.
Maybe Hermione had rubbed off on him after all. Harry's grin faded and he stared thoughtfully at the trunk. He opened it and the lid swung open with a creak. Harry stared inside. There was his entire stack of Hogwarts books from his previous years. There were several stacks of letters from his friends, his Firebolt (Which had been sent to him by Headmaster Dumbledore after Harry's 5th year), His Invisibility cloak, the Marauders map and his photo Album that he had received from his first friend.
He dumped everything inside the trunk in a pile and flicked his wand. The floor in front of him glowed red, indicating that the floor had just been charmed fireproof. Picking up his stack of books, he threw them all in a pile on the ground.
"Incendio!" Harry cast and a splatter of flames lit up Harry's old textbooks. Since they hadn't been made yet it was a danger to own them. Besides, it's not as if they were useful to him since he already knew the information that was inside them. The books went up in a ball of flames and sizzled down to ashes. Next went the letters, and Harry had a bit of trouble burning them. They represented his friends and some of the best times in his life.
"Incendio!" They too went up in smoke as the flames ate away at them quickly. Soon, there was nothing but ashes left in the blue flames.
Then came the hardest thing to do. His Cloak, Album and Map. He chucked the map in the small fire first and watched in a morbid fascination as one of his remaining links of his father disappeared. Of course, James Potter was still alive today but that James was not his father. Harry preferred to refer to James and his father as two different people. And they were in a sense of mind. From what Harry had heard, James mellowed out in his 7th year but now with Harry here, there may never be a chance for James to self improve.
He turned his wand to the cloak and hesitated. While there was a risk of it being recognized as a replica of James cloak, it was a powerful magical item and was extremely useful. Not to mention rare and valuable. He hesitated, before putting it back. Waving his wand a couple of times, Harry muttered spells. The cloak shimmered and expanded as well as gaining several unique marks and even a small stain. Harry put away his cloak satisfied. Now no one would recognize it.
Harry turned to his Firebolt. Unfortunately, it had to go. It was too much of a risk. Harry smiled fondly as he remembered the Quidditch games he had played on that thing. He aimed his wand.
"Incendio," Harry cast softly. The splatter of flames absorbed the broom and the wood started crackling under the flames. Within 2 minutes of setting it alight, the once superb broom was nothing more than a pile of tinder.
Now came the hardest thing to destroy, his photo Album. Since his first year Harry's photo Album had been a source of comfort to him. It had reminded him of what he had lost and sometime when he was feeling down he would go to his dorm and look at them, just to see the proud expressions on his parent's faces. Harry hesitated and with a snap, closed the album and put it back in his trunk. Concentrating, Harry scrunched up his face.
"Lissidiuma et secretia tryino!" Harry muttered. His wand glowed and a pale, silvery light which was not unlike the contents of a Pensieve, flowed from his wand and onto his battered trunk. The trunk glowed, and suddenly spouted 4 new padlocks and an iron casing that was 2 inches thick. Harry smirked. The charm he had just used was an advanced locking charm. Very reliable, it would take even the best curse breaker at least ½ -hour to break in.
"Pitara uebec quennisenco!" Harry said and a bright flash lit the room. A bright dot appeared on the iron casing his trunk was now enveloped in. Slowly, it began to move the metal, curving in an arc while leaving a small golden line in its wake. More dots appeared and they began to move before a series of complicated curves were put together to form a small carving of a snake. Harry grinned at his success. This spell was a password figurine spell. In order for this trunk to open, you had to say a password.
Harry cleared his throat and tapped the little carving. The snake opened its eyes and started moving around. Harry had animated the snake because it would be much easier to say the password in Parseltongue. Sure, he could speak it without the snake, but he found it easier to speak to a moving snake then just a bunch of squiggly lines.
Harry tried to think of a password for his trunk. It would be in Parseltongue so no one but he could access it. His emerald eyes glanced on his photo album and Harry smiled sadly as he remembered some very sound advice that was once given towards him.
Harry tapped the snake with his wand and hissed out. "It does not do good to dwell on dreams and forget to live,"
The snake glowed an airy blue color and faded, only to reappear with a blue outline. Harry looked thoughtful as he put away his trunk. He lay down and stared at the ceiling with his hands behind his head. His password had stirred up thoughts that he had been trying to repress and Harry drifted back asleep with thoughts of Ron, Hermione and all his other friends that he missed.
He awoke the next morning feeling well rested. He conjured a black robe to wear and put on his battle cloak. He had an uneasy feeling today so he strapped in both wands to his holster and trudged down the stairs. As usual, Narcissa and Bellatrix were waiting for him. He said nothing as the two argued their way into the Great Hall. Today was Friday so it meant that he had Double DADA first. Harry had opted not to do Potions, Divination, Herbology or Astronomy. He admitted that he sucked at Potions and probably couldn't even make a Milo right. Divination…well, Harry wasn't that dumb to pick it again. Herbology and Astronomy didn't interest him at all so he stuck with Care of Magical Creature, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Charms and Transfiguration. That left him with a lot of free periods and he had one coming up right after the DADA class.
Lily sat down at her usual spot at the Slytherin table. People were used to seeing her there now, and rarely paid any more attention towards it. As usual, Rodolphus made a few snide remarks but nothing to out of the ordinary. Then, forces greater than any god decided to show up. The Government.
The doors slammed open as 12 Aurors walked in accompanied by a greying man. The man looked extremely familiar and it wasn't until Harry had a better look did he recognize him. Bartholomew Crouch. The Head of the Department of Law Enforcement. Harry had the sneaking suspicion that it wasn't good news for him that he was here and he was right.
Albus frowned briefly before covering it up with a cheery smile. His eyes twinkled as he stood.
"Mr. Crouch. Welcome back to Hogwarts!" Albus said in a happy voice, as if all of life's problems were solved.
Inwardly he was groaning and wondering what the maniac wanted now. One might be shocked at the hostility Albus showed Barty Crouch but Albus didn't like him. Crouch's methods skated on the thin line between insanity. He ordered the Dementors kiss whenever he could and was all too happy to let Aurors kill their suspects during capture and interrogation. Sometimes, a suspect would be innocent and Crouch would shrug and say that it was a casualty of war. Not a person high on Albus' respect list.
"No time for pleasantries," Crouch said. He was younger looking yet at the same time; he held a look of strain upon him that his older version never projected. "I'm here to question a new student of yours. He goes by the name of…" Crouch looked briefly on an official scroll. "One Harry Riddle."
Low murmurs filled the hall as people started whispering to each other. Next to him, Lily stiffened and leaned forward.
"What do you think this is about?" she whispered in his ear. Harry narrowed his eyes.
"Either nightclub or Burke." Harry answered softly. Narcissa and Bellatrix were looking at him speculatively.
"Well Riddle, once again you have managed to get yourself knee deep in shit." Narcissa muttered. Harry glared at her.
"Well, it's true." Bellatrix mumbled and stifled a chuckle when Harry sighed.
"May I inquire what you wish to speak with Mr. Riddle about?" Albus asked cheerfully.
"No you may not." Crouch replied curtly. He gestured to 2 Aurors at his side. "Take him into custody."
"Take him into Custody." Said Crouch. Lily froze in shock.
"What?" Snape said loudly. Even James Potter was in a state of shock. He may not have liked Riddle and hell, he still doesn't but even he knew that Riddle was opposed to Voldemort.
"You can't do that!" Lily said angrily.
"Watch me little girl." Crouch sneered. Harry stood up. He looked menacing and angry.
"Watch your mouth Crouch!" He snapped, his emerald eyes glinting. As the two Aurors approached cautiously, with their wands trained on Harry, Albus boomed out to Crouch.
"He is my student and I am the Head of the Wizengamot!" Albus had no twinkle in his eye and he strode angrily down the hall. Many students shivered at the angry expression on Dumbledore's face. Harry knew from personal experience that an angry Dumbledore looked just as menacing as Voldemort did.
"You have no say in this until his trial!" Crouch shouted. He wasn't as intimidated as the students were but still…Albus Dumbledore is considered the most powerful wizard alive.
"On what charges!" Albus asked. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Miss Evans clutch her wand. Harry was standing there with an odd smile on his face. The 2 Auror's were being extremely cautious and were leveling their wands at Harry while the other 10 Auror's were scanning the hall.
"Use of Dark Arts and Murder." One of the Aurors said pompously. Harry snorted.
"Against Death Eaters. I hardly think that I should be arrested for that. Seems slightly hypocritical if you ask me, coming from you," Harry sneered.
"Harry Riddle. You are under arrest for the use of Dark Arts and the Murder of 3 Wizards. You have the right to…" One Auror began.
"Three. I could have sworn it was seven." Harry muttered thoughtfully. The Auror glared at him.
"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say may be used in your trial through memory replaying charms. You have the right to an Attorney. You will be kept in the holding cell in Azkaban prison for a period of 2 weeks before your trial. Do you understand these rights?" The Auror finished. Several Aurors shifted, expecting a resistance. They all resisted, after all.
"Yes, I understand my rights." Harry said in a bored tone.
Crouch sneered. "Glad to see that we won't have any problems then Riddle!"
"Actually, now that you mention it…" Harry trailed off. "I do have one problem. You see I don't like Dementors. In fact, I despise them. So, I'm afraid that I will have to refuse your invitation."
"Really?" Crouch mocked. "Guards, arrest this boy."
"Don't call me a boy!" Harry snarled out. With a quick flick, he launched a stunner at one of the Auror's coming towards him. He quickly rolled to the side and waved his wand in a quick sweep. The other was blown to the back of the hall.
"Foolish boy!" Crouch thundered. Albus stayed silent. "Do you think that you can defeat 10 Aurors by yourself?"
"He's not alone!" Lily growled and rose to stand beside Harry.
"So be it!" Couch yelled. The Auror's got into formation and set into a dueling stance. Harry adopted his own, holding his wand out lazily in front of him while Lily poised in a defensive stance, ready to block.
"This is going to be interesting." Narcissa murmured.
Chapter Twenty Nine
"Miss Evans, I presume." Couch sneered. "I'm glad you have decided to stand up. I need to interrogate you and Mr. Riddle on the murders of one Mr. Vernon Dursley and one Petunia Evans."
Lily paled and Harry snorted.
"Who?" He asked. Crouch glared.
"You know exactly who!" He shouted, his face going red. Harry would almost have passed him off as a double of Fudge, but he knew what Couch was capable of, politically and magically.
"I'm afraid I don't." Harry replied coolly. "Now, are you going to keep standing there and making an idiot out yourself or are you going to leave."
"SHOW ME SOME RESPECT BOY!" Crouch boomed out in an angry voice. "You lot and your Dark Arts are evil! You should all be killed!" He ranted.
Harry stared wide-eyed at his ranting. Turning to Lily he muttered. "How the hell did he get pass the Psychological evaluation when he applied for Auror's course?"
An Auror nearby snorted and Harry grinned as Crouch glowered even more.
"Mr. Crouch, I think you should leave." Albus said firmly. His blue eyes were twinkling just a little bit and Harry knew he had something up his sleeve.
"I think he should get his head checked!" Lily said out loud. Bellatrix, from the Slytherin table broke out in laughter and Narcissa gave a wry grin. Even James Potter from the Gryffindor table smirked.
"I don't think the spells would get past his thick head Lily." Harry said in a patronizing voice. "Or they would have tried by now." Lily giggled. One or two of the Aurors snorted.
"THAT'S IT! ARREST THESE TWO!" Crouch shouted, apparently sick of the smart arse comments. The Auror's shifted, but two came forward. They weren't the ones who had been blasted before, Harry noted as they appeared. They appeared to be grumbling with each other.
"I can't believe we're arresting kids!" One of them mumbled. Harry squinted closely. The voice sounded very familiar and Harry took in the wild hair and brown eyes before his partner snorted.
"Shut it Potter and do your job!"
Ah, so this was James dad.
"You are hereby under arrest and…" The pompous Auror started before Harry waved it off.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." He mumbled. "Heard it before." The Auror glared and the Senior Potter laughed. Lily also noticed the similarities.
"You wouldn't be related to James Potter, would you?" She asked curiously.
"He's my son." The Elder Potter introduced. "I'm Edward Potter, 2nd Class Auror, 3rd Rank." Harry was impressed with his status.
There were a total of 5 classes in the Auror Squadron. 5th class being the last and 1st class being the first. In these ranks there were 9 ranks, 9th rank being last and 1st rank being first. When you get promoted, you rise a rank, or sometimes two if the Commanding Wizard was feeling generous. After you pass the 1st rank, you raise a class. For instance, if a 5th class, 2nd rank were promoted, he would become a 5th class, 1st rank. If he were promoted again, he would become a 4th Class, 9th rank.
2nd class was a hard class to achieve. Veterans of many battles usually resided in this class and had command over small units of men. The truly great Aurors were 1st class. Alastor Moody was a 1st class, 1st rank Auror. His days in the Grindelwald war had given him a lot of experience in magical warfare so when Voldemort began his Dark Crusade, Moody was one of the most experienced Auror's around.
"Wow! You must be good!" Lily exclaimed. Edward Potter scratched his head.
"I'd like to think so." He said. The other Auror growled. Albus and Crouch were still arguing.
"You're here to make arrests, not friends." He spat out. Edward sighed.
"Sorry." He said to Harry. "It's nothing personal."
"I should say the same thing." Harry said and bought his wand up, directly at Edwards chin. He felt a jab on his stomach and glanced down. Edwards's wand lay nestled between the folds of his robes; its tip directly pointed at his heart.
Next to him Lily also raised her wand and pointed it at the pompous Auror who liked hearing his own voice.
"Multiplicus Stupefy!" Lily said, and a hail of scarlet beams rained down on the Auror, who had managed to summon a weak shield. The shield broke and the Auror was hit by 4 Stunners and crumpled like a heap.
"You might want to get that checked out." Lily drawled. At Harry's look she shrugged.
"What? I've been practicing."
"Listen here Albus. I am in control of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. I have the right to arrest your students." Crouch argued, his brow glistening with sweat.
"And do they have a right for a trial, like they should?" Albus replied, his eyes hard. "Do not look so surprised, do you think I do not know of the convicts sent to Azkaban without trial? As Chief Warlock of Wizengamot, They and myself are entitled to a trial."
"We don't have the time for a trial!" Crouch snarled. "They had Dark Marks, so therefore they were guilty."
"What if they were under the Imperious?" Dumbledore questioned.
Crouch opened his mouth but was cut off as a bright flash flared and an Auror dropped.
"GET THEM!" He shouted.
Harry eyed the wand. "Well shit." He said.
"You're telling me." Edward said as he gingerly took in the Wand at his neck.
"LET GO OF MY FATHER!" Shouted someone and Harry saw a blur of black race at him. He quickly backed off and rolled to the left, away from Edward and James, whose curse scorched the ground where he had just been. He jumped to his feet and quickly sidestepped a curse.
"Expelliarmus!" Harry muttered. Edward jabbed the air and the disarming curse arced over his head as if drawn by a magnetic field.
"Reducto!" Edward said, and Harry flicked his wand, sending the curse spiraling towards an Auror who was coming up on him. The Auror crashed into the ground, hitting her head with a loud thud.
"Incendio!" Edward muttered.
"Aquarius!" Harry muttered back.
The flames and water met in the air and fizzled out. Harry laughed as he spun around and flicked his wand, sending 3 Aurors into the wall. He muttered a charm, and felt the impact of a spell being blocked behind him. He turned and saw not Edward, who was just watching but another Auror glaring at him.
"STUPEFY!" The Auror yelled. Harry casually waved his wand and the red beam dispelled, leaving nothing but faint traces of magic still clamoring in the air.
"INCENDIO!" The Auror shouted. Harry rolled his eyes and flicked his wand. A bronze dome formed around Harry, glittering like a thousand diamonds. The flames splattered on it and disappeared.
"SILPORMO!" The Auror tried next. Harry's eyes flashed as the spell rocketed off his shield and spiraled back towards its caster. The Auror shouted a shield but his curse continued and hit him, knocking him out. Harry quickly glanced at Lily and saw she had downed two Aurors and was working on 2 more.
"Flammere Ioblous!" Harry cast and a large fireball pelted out of his wand and into an Auror attacking Lily. He gave a cry of pain, but it was silenced as he was drenched by water and stunned. Lily winked at him and turned back to the remaining Auror. Harry turned back to Edward.
"So, going to stop going easy on me?" Harry said and settled in a formal stance.
"No." Edward replied and bowed. Harry bowed as well and raised his wand. He frowned in concentration and muttered a long Latin phrase. Edward was also muttering and after a while, a clear pink dome erupted from both their wands and settled in a 10 meter radius circle." They glanced at each other and settled into dueling positions.
As they gazed into each other, Harry felt a small tingle in the back of his head. He smirked and clamped down on the tendril of thought, before throwing it out. Edward looked briefly surprised before raising his wand and launching spells with ferocity.
Harry parried a curse away and ducked a wave of fire. He quickly weaved a ward on himself and dodged curses until it stabilized.
"Tormenta!" Harry sent back. Edward frowned and blocked it.
"Ablivioro!" Edward muttered, and a golden spear-like shard of magic pierced the air.
Harry quickly summoned a table (the Ravenclaw table to be more exact) and the spear impaled itself on the table, before humming. The humming kept getting higher before the spear buckled and exploded. The table was incinerated and Harry felt a wave of heat travel through the air. Edward mumbled something else and a black ball of iron sprang from his wand and shot off at Harry.
Harry raised his wand and the ball hit the tip of it before shattering into shards of metal. He waved his wand and it buckled as a bright orange spell zoomed to Edward.
Edward leveled his wand and muttered something and Harry's curse started glowing blue, before slowing down and stopping. It started to cackle and the blue replaced the original orange color as the curse slowly turned to ice and dropped to ground, shattering into a thousand pieces.
"Wow." Harry mumbled. "I have to learn how to do that."
"Accelerato!" Edward cast and his body blurred as it moved in speeds not meant for human. But this spell was very draining so Harry doubted he could keep it up for long.
"Rodio Mentre!" Harry muttered, and swirling magical energies began to surround him, leaving faint wisps of tendrils cackling in the air. He felt hyped up, as if nothing could beat him now. He had just enhanced his power, temporary, but useful, though tomorrow he was going to feel like crap.
"Stupefy! Stupefy! Stupefy! Stupefy! Stupefy! Stupefy!" Harry said and smirked. The spells lanced through the air. Edward growled and flicked his wand. Four of the curses were batted away like tennis balls and dissolved into the perimeter shield but two zoomed pass and it was only because Edward had very good reflexes plus the speed enhancement charm that he was able to dodge.
"Izicus!" Edward muttered, and a white mist spread onto the ground under Harry's feet, turning it to ice. Harry tried to jump out of the way, but tripped. He swore.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" Harry said and he floated off the ice and above the hex that had been aimed for his head. He jumped down and quickly muttered another spell, then jumped up…and up… and up to almost 5 meters, missing the sapphire mist that spread out below him. Harry sent a gust of wind, blowing the mist away and landed back on his feet.
He sent a cheering charm at Edward, who was caught unaware and began to laugh loudly. Still laughing, Edward sent forth a cleaning charm, and Harry gagged as a soupy flavor filled his mouth. Both muttered Finite Incanterum and readied themselves for another onslaught when…
"ENOUGH!" Came a booming voice.
Albus watched amused as Harry and Edward Potter dueled. Both were very good and he could see some of the Ravenclaw students taking notes. He knew Edward from teaching him at Hogwarts in the 30's, then serving with him for two years at the Threat of Grindelwald. Edward was still a novice Auror when Albus defeated Grindelwald but he had seen a few battles.
"ENOUGH!" Shouted Crouch. He was going purple. Edward and Harry stopped, but remained ready to spring back into action.
"What was that spell you did?" Edward asked. "The orange one."
"Ah. That was a magical suppresser. If it hits you, your magic is slowly drained away for a day if you don't drink the Antidote potion or perform a 2-minute counter charm." Harry explained.
"Oh. What's it called?" Edward inquired.
"The Suppressor Charm." Harry answered back, and rubbed his head. The Power-boosting spell was slowly draining away and he was beginning to feel the effects.
"And the incantation?" Edward asked while his breathing slowed down as well as his muscles as his Speed Enhancer was wasted away.
"Magicalus deu Sporomilo." Harry recited and panted as a wave of fatigue swept over him. More than it normally should from doing that charm. "What was that counter?"
"The Curse freezer?" Edward guessed. At Harry's nod he went on. "Well, it's a tricky piece of transfiguration. Incantation is Izicus Politi."
"You are not here to trade dueling notes!" Crouch roared. Albus chose to intervene.
"This is a place of learning Mr. Crouch. I do believe that they are learning from each other." Albus offered.
"I want him arrested!" Crouch shouted and turned to his Auror's, who were slowly recovering. Edward was the only Senior Auror here and the rest were rookies. Lily was bound in iron ropes and the minute Harry saw her he growled out loud.
"Accio!" He said and Lily was dragged from her place and next to Harry. After tearing the ropes away, he summoned her wand and handed it to her.
"Ready?" He whispered, an eye on the Auror's who were slowly drawing near.
"No." Lily muttered back. "But it doesn't look like they care."
Harry smiled grimly and gripped her hand. "Taken out by our own side. How embarrassing. Still, don't give up."
"You, stop your muttering." Crouch said. Dumbledore sighed at the man's stupidity.
"I can't seem to find your records anywhere." Crouch went on. "The only thing close to Harry Riddle is one Tom Marvolo Riddle and one Lucy Riddle back in 1910 and 1940. Are you related?"
"Hell no!" Harry burst out. "Thank God I'm not related to Tom."
"Do you know where I might be able to find Tom to ask him about your name?" Crouch sneered.
"Not unless you want to die." Harry snapped back.
"Are you threatening me?" Crouch narrowed his eyes.
"Do you know who Tom is?" Harry challenged.
Crouch hesitated and Harry smirked. Ignoring a wave of tiredness, he flicked his wand up; the Auror's tensed and raised their wands as well. But all Harry did was write out Tom Marvolo Riddle in the air with flickering flames. Waving his wand, it broke apart, letter-by-letter and slowly formed a line that sent shivers down many peoples spines.
I am Lord Voldemort
Chapter Thirty
There was a stunned silence in the hall. Albus was looking pensive, as usual. Crouch was staring almost slack jawed at Harry and Lily was filing her nails, looking bored.
"Voldemort was born Tom Marvolo Riddle. His Mother was the Heir of Slytherin and his father was a Muggle who abandoned his wife as soon as he found out about Magic."
"He's a half blood!" Edward said, shocked. "Wait a minute, I think I remember him! He was a 1st year while I was a 7th. He was a little skinny kid, black hair and pale eyes. He was also very shy as well. That's Voldemort?"
"Yep." Lily said. "All in one."
"Of course, after his Dark Rituals, he isn't very recognizable." Harry explained. "And he hates the name Riddle."
"So, you're saying you're related to Him." One of the Auror's said. Edward rolled his eyes.
"He said he wasn't you idiot." Edward mumbled.
"So you're another wizarding Riddle, or is it a fake name?" Crouch asked. He was looking quite interested and Harry could see traces of the patient yet ruthless politician in there.
"It's a fake name. Well, Riddle is anyway." Harry explained. Hell, if he was going to go to Azkaban, why bother lying about his damn name? Not that he would tell them the truth about his real name.
"Lying to a Ministry Official is a criminal offence." Another Auror said.
"So arrest me." Harry said flatly. The Auror hesitated when Albus raised his hand.
"I do not feel if that is a prudent idea." He said quietly. "Harry has been introduced here as an idea of mine. He is my responsibility and I will take account his mistakes."
"So, we arrest Professor Dumbledore now?" The Auror said, confused.
"NO!" Lily shrieked. "Arrest me. It's all my fault, I did everything you accuse me of."
"What! So we arrest her then?" The Auror said once again, looking baffled. Edward snickered behind his hand.
"She's lying through her teeth. It was all my idea." Harry said. The Auror's were looking confused and Crouch was beginning to get angry.
"Do not try to cover for me. I will take the blame." Albus said cheerfully. "Let me go pack my Lemon Drops then I will be ready to go."
"Once I pack my clothes, you can take me." Lily said nonchalantly.
"I'm good to go now." Harry reminded them. His green eyes were shining, as were Lily's and Albus' were twinkling like an alarm system going off.
"Do you know your eyes twinkle like a Muggle Alarm System going off?" Lily asked Albus.
Harry snorted and stifled his laughter. "Great minds think alike." He muttered.
"No I did not, Thank you for informing me though." Albus replied back.
"I wonder if we can get window seats in Azkaban?" Harry mused. "Though it's not like Azkaban can hold us anyway."
"That's correct." Albus nodded thoughtfully.
"WHAT!" Crouch shouted, having just about enough of the Slytherin's lip. "I can understand about Albus breaking out of Azkaban. He did kill Grindelwald, but your nothing more than a child! Killed or dueled any Dark Lords lately? I didn't think so!"
"Well…I can't really remember." Harry hesitated. Lily sighed.
"Well there was the Death Eater attack on Hogwarts express, the Duel in the Slytherin Common room, the pricks from Gryffindor…Twice! And let's not forget when you first got here and then the bloody nightclub!"
Edward gasped. "You were at the nightclub!" he said excitedly. "Of course! It all makes sense. A redheaded witch, that would be you Miss Evans, and a black haired boy!"
"You're the one who fought off Lord You-Know-Who!" Another Auror said in awe. He took a shaky step backwards, as if scared Harry would grow horns and a tail and stab him with a pitchfork.
Crouch was also a little startled…like calling Snape happy, actually.
"You! I knew it! You're nothing but a mini-Dark Lord! I know for a fact that you used illegal Dark magic at the club."
"Then Arrest me." Harry said mildly. "Anyone want to try?" The Auror's shifted and Edward grinned.
"I wouldn't mind having another shot at it." Edward said, and laughed at the horrified gazes of his colleagues.
Narcissa and Bellatrix just stared at the way Headmaster Dumbledore, Harry and Lily were bantering. They weren't too surprised about the revelation of the Nightclub duel, Narcissa already knew it from earlier and Bellatrix had suspected more than once they had been involved.
"Bloody idiot." Narcissa muttered.
Bellatrix giggled. "Well, it is a bit funny."
James on the other hand, was more than a little angry that his father was getting on so well with Riddle…or whoever he was.
"Bloody hell!" Sirius whispered. "He dueled Voldemort!"
"I remember it being all over the papers! My Mother was really excited that someone was standing up to him." Peter murmured.
"I told you to leave him alone. He could have easily killed you." Remus said calmly.
"How did you know?" James asked.
Remus shrugged. "I didn't. But I could smell Magic…Dark and Light off his scent, which is very unusual. The magic clouds anything that could trace back to him."
"I just want to know where he learnt to duel like that." Sirius muttered. "That duel with Mr. Potter was awesome! I knew your father was an Auror, but you never said he was so good Prongs."
"I've never seen him duel seriously before." James muttered.
"So, am I being arrested?" Harry inquired. "Because if I'm not then I want to get to bed. I'm feeling very tired." Truthfully, Harry was feeling downright exhausted. He had a faint inkling that his magical reserves were down, and if Edward were to attack then unless he killed the Auror, he would not be able to hold him off.
"I'd like to leave as well." Lily said.
"I have a very nice lemon drop waiting for me that I must attend to." Albus said and smiled.
Crouch remained stoic. "Arrest Harry Riddle, Lily Evans and take Albus Dumbledore into Custody."
Bellatrix gasped. "He can't do that…can he?"
Narcissa smiled grimly. "Unfortunately, he can. And Harry is exhausted. With all the dueling his done over the past week, no wonder."
James frowned. "That's not right. They can't arrest Dumbledore, Riddle and Evans." He mumbled.
"You're telling me." Remus said. "Harry's done nothing wrong except to protect us and the school. And to try to arrest Dumbledore"
"Wow. You're Dad looks pissed." Sirius voiced and Peter nodded in agreement.
Edward was indeed looking angry. A fact that Harry picked up.
"So Mr. Potter." Harry asked as he raised his wand and braced himself against the wave of exhaustion. "Care to continue?"
Edward frowned. "Something's wrong." he said.
Albus was not smiling. "Arrest me!" He said in an eerie calm voice. Crouch nodded.
"For aiding a fugitive." He said smuggle and pressed a button. The Great Hall doors swung open and five Unspeakables walked in, most looking unhappy.
"Get them."
"You will regret this Crouch!" Albus warned.
"Shit." Lily mumbled while backing away from six Auror's with their wands trained on her. She raised her wand and growled. "I am so going to kick Crouch's arse after this!"
"This isn't right." Edward said quietly. "Crouch may be a bit mad, but he would never resort to this"
"Imperius?" Harry asked.
"Maybe." Edward said and noticed Harry Flinching.
"What's wrong?" He asked in concern.
"I'm exhausted. Too much dueling." Harry said and gasped as a short pain lanced through his head.
"Callibigium Medicimia!" Edward muttered, and a warm glow shifted through Harry, leaving him energized and revitalized.
"I think that your magical channels were unprepared for the amount of magic you were using." Edward said. "They were just tired, but that charm should make them all better. Other than that, your magic is fine."
"Good." Harry said and smiled. "Much better thanks."
"Auror Team Nightshade, report in NOW!" Edward suddenly shouted. Only three Auror's came.
"Reporting in Sir." One of them said, a woman with black hair and blue eyes.
"I believe that the rest of our squad as well as Crouch are under Imperius. Orders are to subdue them."
"At once Commander." The Woman said again and caught Harry's eye. "I'm Melissa Potter, this gits my husband. 3rd class, 6th rank."
"I'm Harry." Harry offered. He turned to the other two Auror's, only to see blank eyes.
"Um, Potter and Potter? I think we have a problem." Harry said hesitantly.
"What's going on?" James asked in disbelief. His parents had just raised their wands at their own teammates. Surely Riddle couldn't be controlling Mum and Dad. He noticed the blank look in the Auror's eyes and swiveled in his seat and looked at Crouch. He also had a blank look.
"SHIT!" he yelled. As all the students turned to him, he pointed to Crouch.
"THEY'RE UNDER THE IMPERIUS!"
Albus heard the yell and moved quickly, springing forward and swiveling his wand across. His blue eyes hard, he launched himself at the Unspeakables, moving far quicker than a man his age should. He flicked his wand and a molten beam of gold flashed out and entrapped the now helpless man in a bubble of golden goo-like magic. He muttered a charm and jumped over a spell and waved his wand with a crimson beam pouring out and splattering on two more. They gurgled and fell over, victims of a stunning curse that would take them two hours to get out of.
Three Unspeakables began launching spells and Albus conjured a brightly colored shield with mixed hues of red, green, yellow and blue. The spells bounced off like they were toothpicks and Albus gave once last warning.
"This is your last chance to stop this unethical attack Crouch." He warned, his voice hard and power laced his voice like venom.
Crouch was scared. He knew that he stood no chance against Dumbledore AND Riddle. He opened his mouth to call off the attack when…
Attack them…Kill them…They are traitors…They betrayed us…They must die!!!
"GET THEM! IF THEY RESIST, THEN KILL THEM!" Crouch boomed out. He pressed the button again, and ten more Auror's walked through the door and split up, all with only one thought in their head.
Destroy the Traitors
Narcissa and Bellatrix quickly turned to their table. "All right, everybody up! NOW!" Narcissa screamed. Startled that the usually quite girl was screaming, most stood. Rodolphus didn't.
"Listen LeStrange, I don't like you and you don't like me but we're about to be in the middle of a battle with the guy who defeated Grindelwald, the guy who dueled the Dark Lord and 30 Aurors who are under attack!"
Rodolphus paled and jumped up. "Hierarchy, retreat to the Common Room!"
Bellatrix yelled out. "Everybody back! Get out of the Hall!"
James jumped up and ran forward with his parents were backing up under the hostile gazes of two of their Auror's.
"Mum! Dad!" he yelled.
"Get out of here James!" His Mum yelled.
"Look out!" James yelled and mother ducked a waved of molten black flames. His father launched himself forward and started dueling with the Auror while stunning him while Riddle flicked his wand and started dueling with the other one.
"Leave James! Please!" His mother yelled. James nodded slowly then ran out the doors, as the last of students were running out.
"CALL FOR RE-ENFORCEMENTS!" Melissa yelled. James nodded as he ran out and slammed the doors.
"Now the shit really hits the fan." Melissa muttered, and ran forward to help her husband.
Miles away, a figure with Red eyes smirked. While he couldn't penetrate Hogwarts, the Aurors could. Smiling maliciously, he sent a new command to Crouch.
"Kill them. Kill them All."
And in a brightly lit castle, flashes of light and screamed curses and hexes could be heard with one voice shouting above them all.
"KILL THEM ALL!"
Chapter Thirty One
Harry spun around and batted away a curse with little effort.
"Stupefy!" He muttered. His curse was deflected and several more were sent his way.
"Astempte!" He muttered, and a bronze colored dome formed around him, deflecting all curses.
"Multiplicus Stupefy!" Harry cast and a rain of scarlet beams honed in on the possessed Auror. The Auror yelled out in shock as seven Stunners hit his chest and the sheer force of the spell threw him back. Harry was not playing anymore.
Albus weaved out from the curses path and transfigured a nearby goblet into a majestic looking eagle. The eagle swooped and flew into the path of a curse headed for him while Albus sent a loop of flames around an Unspeakable and yanked him off the ground and into the ceiling, leaving him to fall down. His blue eyes hardened and he sent a powerful crimson spell at an Auror who was cornering Lily. The Auror dropped like a fly.
"Leave Child." Albus commanded and Lily nodded, gave a brief look at Harry, who noticed her and jerked his head towards the doors, then slipped out the half open doors.
Edward and Melissa Potter were very good Partners. Every move they did stopped a curse or attacked an opponent for the other. Edward would shatter a table leg and Melissa would summon a goblet. Moments later the table would collapse on an Auror's leg and the goblet would smash hard into an Unspeakables head.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Melissa muttered and an Unspeakable fell, petrified. His partner revived him and Melissa groaned.
"We have to inflict serious damage to them Edward, or we'll never win."
Edward nodded grimly. "May they forgive us." He murmured.
Harry hurled at thunderbolt at one Unspeakable and sent a lance of ice at another. Both hit their intended targets and they dropped like ants.
"CRUCIO!" Someone screamed. Harry quickly ducked. He jerked around and saw two Unspeakable with a look of hatred and malice in their eyes.
"Death Eaters…" Harry hissed out hatefully. The men smirked.
Albus sidestepped and whipped his wand. If only the rest of the staff were here but he had sent them out to the Ministry for a lecture on new Educational Requirements for NEWT exams. He banished one Auror into a table and slashed his wand at another, who fell as a Concussion Spell hit her. They were thinning out now, and only 14 remained.
Edward gaped at the figure in front of him. It was Nott, a fellow Auror and a Death Eater with the Dark Mark on his exposed arm.
"Why?" Edward asked. Nott grinned.
"Power." He said simply and leveled his wand.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" He bellowed and a green jet of light jetted past Edward…and hit Melissa in the back.
"NOOOOOO!" Shouted Edward and in the Gryffindor Tower, Sirius clutched James hand and Peter let out a sob while the rest of the tower looked on in pity as they stared at the map which had just shown the dot of Melissa Potter flickering, then fade off with the dot of Nott with a speech bubble saying, 'Avada Kedavra!'
Harry heard Edwards yell and glanced over to see the slack body of Melissa Potter, 3rd Class 6th rank Auror fall. Edward dove forward in rage and started dueling madly.
"One down, three to go." One of the men snickered and Harry's rage increased. These bastards were going to die.
Albus watched in grief as Melissa fell. He was a friend with the spunky witch, having taught her. He let a tear fall before turning to the rest of the Auror's. They were all Death Eaters. They were all going to pay. He glanced at Harry and green eyes met blue with the same determination and anger. For once, Albus felt sorry for the Death Eaters. Harry would show no mercy…and either would Albus.
At the Ministry of Magic Auror division, Alastor Moody was relaxing…or as close as relaxing he could get. The mood was soft and calm. There hadn't been a raid for a while and while others were relaxing, Alastor was wondering what would happen next. An owl landing on his desk interrupted him from his musings. He picked up the note and scanned it then jumped to his feat.
"HIGGINS! SMITH! JEFFERSON! ASSEMBLE YOUR TEAMS! HOGWARTS IS UNDER ATTACK BY IMPERIO'ED AUROR TEAMS!" Moody roared. The Auror office started in a buzz of activity then quieted as a loud gong ran through it. On the Potters desk, Melissa Potter's indicator slowly went from healthy to Death. Alastor froze, and then jumped up.
"NOW PEOPLE! NOW!!!" He roared and grabbed his wand. Aurors jumped up and gathered their equipment, many crying on having mournful looks on their faces. Another gong ran throughout the room as Edward Potters indicator changed from Pissed Off to Death. Alastor froze again and a tear fell down his face.
"NO MERCY!" A younger recruit, an apprentice under Edward shouted in rage.
"NO MERCY!" The whole room roared, a roar that was heard throughout the whole Ministry building.
"ALL AUROR TEAMS RELOCATE TO HOGWARTS!" Alastor yelled. "AND I MEAN EVERYONE!
And somewhere else a red-eyed figure chuckled. Behind him stood six entire legions of Death Eaters of 20 men and women per legion. They were his shock troops and in front were Neal Wellington, Commander of the Death Eater Shock troops, one of the seven of his Inner circle.
"Today we will kill Albus Dumbledore!" the figure roared. "And we will rule the world!"
The Death Eaters cheered and they all grabbed a portkey that would take them to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Lord Voldemort smiled and flexed his bony white arm. His latest ritual had left him stronger than ever.
"Good Luck my Lord." Neal whispered in awe. Voldemort smiled. Neal was an excellent and loyal man and Voldemort considered him like a son.
"Thank you Neal. When we win, I will personally make sure you are known throughout the world."
"I live to serve you Master, not the World." Neal said and bowed. Voldemort grabbed Neal's chin and caressed his face.
"Call me Lord Voldemort." Neal was shocked at the honor he received but nodded reverently and disappeared as his portkey activated.
"Soon the old man will be dead." Voldemort whispered to himself. "And so will that little brat who dares mock my last name!" He grabbed a Portkey and disappeared.
Edward panted as he dodged a killing curse.
"CRUCIO!" Edward screamed and Nott jumped back. Edward continued sending out Crucio's until he was drained and tired. His wand was ripped out from his grasp and he fell to the ground.
"Goodbye Potter," Nott drawled. "Croitoso!"
The last thing Edward saw was a flash of silver and the beautiful features of his wife laying next to him before his neck was sliced.
James collapsed in tears and Sirius let out his own sob. Peter was already crying and Remus had tears falling down his face. Slowly, the Gryffindor table moved in and just held the four mourning teenagers, comforting them.
"AVADA KEDVRA!" The traitorous Auror yelled. Harry dodged the Killing curse and jabbed his wand.
"Crucio!" he snarled out. The Auror dodged and Harry kicked him in the jaw as he rolled forward, content of the crack as his jaw snapped and he was knocked unconscious.
"STUPEFY!" Another Auror yelled and Harry ducked. Spinning his wand he banished the Auror into the crowd of 'innocent Aurors', one who were being forced to. There was only Nott, an Unspeakable dueling with Dumbledore and the last Death Eater/Auror in front of him. After a quick wave of his wand, the Auror fell.
Nott smirked as the Riddle boy came forward. Raising his wand, he yelled. "AVADA KEDAVRA!" in glee. Riddle's eyes widened and Nott laughed as the curse honed in…and missed as the boy rolled under it and leveled his wand at Nott.
"NO!" Nott cried but it was too late.
"FLAMMERE CREAXTUS!" Harry roared. Out of his wand came an arc of black, molten flames that enveloped Nott. Nott screamed and thrashed and dropped to the ground. Harry watched as Nott burned alive and the air became home to the acrid smell of flesh burning.
"Burn in hell Bastard!" Harry whispered. Nott gave one final cry, before his burnt face became slack. Harry released the curse and stepped over the mangled and burnt corpse of Nott.
"Are you okay Albus?" He asked quietly. Albus sighed.
"More have been slain. How many more must die?" he asked, his blue eyes shining in sadness.
"Too many." Harry whispered and, surprising himself, reached forward and hugged the elderly Headmaster, who started then hugged back with all his strength. And any misgivings that Harry had with the Future Dumbledore passed and were forgotten as two soldiers mourned the fate of their friends together.
"Well, doesn't this look cozy." Came a mocking voice from the doors. Harry and Albus stiffened and they both whirled around. Standing in the hallway was Lord Voldemort and over 100 Death Eaters.
"SHIT!" Sirius yelled, breaking James out of his stupor. He missed his parents already, his Mums smiling face and his Dad's laugh.
"James, you need to look at this." Sirius said in a serious tone. He sounded scared. James stood, as well as Remus and Peter and looked on the Map at what Sirius was looking at. There were hundreds of dots, all labeled but the one that stood out the most was Tom Marvolo Riddle, who was standing in the entrance hall.
"Oh no. Get all the houses together, NOW!" James yelled. Four Gryffindor students nodded and ran out the door.
"Everybody!" James yelled to the silent common room. "Follow me." And he marched out the Common Room, determined to make a last stand.
"Tom." Albus said in a calm voice.
Lord Voldemort laughed mockingly. "Scared Albus." He sneered. "You should be."
"I am not scared of Death Tom." Albus said calmly. "There are many things worst than death in life. You never could see that."
"And we plan on introducing those things to you very shortly." Harry said, his green eyes glinting with rage.
"I remember you." Lord Voldemort said. "You got lucky once. Don't think it will happen again. You can not comprehend the power I have and soon I…"
"MASTER! AURORS BY THE DOZEN FLOODING THE GROUNDS!" A Death Eater shouted, sprinting up to the Great Hall.
"Go and Kill them all. I will take care of Dumbledore." Lord Voldemort instructed.
The Death Eaters filed out and soon the hall was empty except for Lord Voldemort, Albus and Harry. The three strongest wizards on the planet.
Alastor Moody saw black figures pouring out of Hogwarts. "Here they come." He growled. They were outnumbered. He took a small device out of his pocket and spun it before tapping it twice. He pocketed the device and drew his wand.
"No mercy!" He growled. The Team Commanders nodded and gathered their squad.
James was talking rapidly to Narcissa Black, Bellatrix Black, Lily Evans and Frank and Alice soon to be Longbottom.
"We need to help them." James said urgently.
Lily nodded. "I think Ravenclaw will help."
"So will Hufflepuff." Alice said. Narcissa squirmed.
"OH COME ON!" Sirius shouted.
"Shut it Sirius!" Bellatrix shouted. "Do you know what would happen to us when mother and Father find out? It would be easier to die by a Death Eater than face their torture."
"We're dead either way." Narcissa said. She gripped her wand. "If the Death Eaters storm this castle then we all die, regardless of family."
"Fine, I'm in." Bellatrix sighed. She signaled Snape and Zabini. "So are they. But the Hierarchy won't get involved."
"Okay, here's the plan." James said. He looked at the map. All the dots were outside with several others. He saw a few Auror names and grinned.
"The Auror's are here!" he said gleefully.
"Great!" Lily said. "Now, we need to get those lower than 5th year out of the castle."
"I know a way!" Remus said suddenly. "The Honeydukes passage."
"Great idea!" Sirius said.
"Okay, so Peter, Zabini and Alice. You…"
Five minutes later a group of students walked out of the room of requirement, all knowing their tasks.
In the Ministry of Magic Atrium, The Department of Mysteries, The Auror Headquarters and practically every department, a magical siren started going off. People dropped what they were doing and ran to the message boards, huge boards on the wall. Slowly, words began to form.
Hogwarts under attack.