Disclaimer: The plot is mine, everything else belongs to JK. This story will NOT contain slash. Dark HG and time travel. First fic...so please flame. Gain strength through adversity and all that.
A/N- I decided to make one large chapter, rather than many small ones to get H/G into the past, sorry for the inconveinence.
Chapter 1: Forged In Fire
oooooooooo: Present
The room would be covered in darkness if not for the low, flickering light of the candle on the desk in the corner of the small spartan room. To the casual passerby it would seem that the only occupant of the room was the woman who sat in the chair, pouring over the ancient tome lying in front of her. Her face cast in the light showed only a single minded determination of one who knew that nine years of research, delving into the darkest secrets of magic, was reaching it's culmination. Checking through the theories and arithmantic calculations for what would be the seventh and final time, she once again reached the same conclusion that the previous six resuts had stated. The ritual was complete, and ready to be put into motion.
She glanced up at the movement in the doorway, "It's ready."
"Good, we are as prepared as can be expected." came the reply from the man who had just entered the room. His eyes focused not on the speaker, but the two prisoners nailed to the wall in a grotesque parody of a crucifiction. Each in the center of a runic field, drawn on the wall with the blood of their comrades.
Once the sacrifices were made, the runes would open the gateways of time. They would enter their own runic circles, which would guarantee that they would not move on to the afterworld. And once inside the circle they would cast the killing curse, and once their souls were free of the anchors chaining them to the mortal world, they would enter the gates.
Standing there now, on the brink of performing the most complex and powerful magic to ever be created, Harry and Ginevra Potter could only think of how it all started. Thirteen years, and so many decisive events to get here. To reach this one chance of victory.
oooooooooo: Thirteen Years Ago
Harry Potter was still reeling from the conversation with Ron's Auntie Muriel when Hermione took her seat. Vaguely sensing that he was being addressed, he was about to respond when a flash of silver caught his eye. There in the middle of the wedding reception stood a Patronus he had never seen previously. He did not have to wait long to discover who had conjured the lynx, as Kingsley Shacklebolt's booming voice rang out over the crowd as slow and clear as that of a death knell.
"The Ministry has fallen, Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming."
No sooner had the message been delivered, with the Patronus just starting to fade, were Harry and Hermione on their feet. Wands out, searching the crowd that seemed to have grown with a sudden multitude of pops and swirling black robes, for the face of their friend. It was a task that was proving to be daunting in the writhing mass of chaos that until moments before had been energetic, yet controlled.
"Ron, Ron!" the desperation in Hermione's voice was clearly evident, and almost as if that mere fact had summoned him, Ron was by their side. Wasting no time Hermione reached out to get a hold of them and started to turn on the spot. It was at that moment just before the sensation of being forced through a rubber tube overtook them that Harry saw a blur of white make contact with Hermione.
ooooooooooo
There was no questioning it, Ginevra Weasley was getting annoyed. She had spent the last half hour trying her hardest to get over to her 'Cousin Barny'. She had her dress cut low just for him, and she had seen the look on his face long before that bint Muriel ever opened her mouth. Which had the undesired effect of insuring everyone else was aware of it as well. So every time she finally begged off dancing with the extremely effective, "I'm tired." She would be no more than a meter closer when she would be intercepted by another...well let's say unappreciated dancing partner.
No more though, for she now had a direct path to her target. So it was when she was no more than five strides away from her unsuspecting prey, bearing down on him silently and with the look and gait of the greatest hunting cats in the world, that the spectre of a very real hunting cat entered everyones life that evening and brought true chaos with it. As soon as she heard that damning message she knew that she would never get that dance that she had been craving so poignantly. She knew that the three of them were going to be leaving once the wedding was over and had been wracking her mind in an attempt to come up with some way to join them. Exactly what they were doing was unknown to her at this point, and she truly doubted that they would included her unless she could find a way to take the decision out of their hands. With that thought foremost in her mind she made her choice and dashed forward closing the distance just as Harry and Hermione located Ron. Driving herself with the urgency of not wanting to be left behind she felt her hand close on Hermione's shoulder just in time to be pulled through a darkness that was at once repulsive to her, and oh so much more satisfying.
oooooooooo
As soon as two of the four refugees felt their feet come into contact with the unyeilding surface of the earth they had their wands drawn and pointing directly in the face of the person that had attached themselves to the trio as they had fled The Burrow. Only to be stopped dead in their tracks by the realisation that not only was the person not a Death Eater, but it was someone that they knew. It was painfully obvious that neither knew what to say due to the numerous amount of thoughts running through their minds. Indeed, it was all they could do to stand there in shock. However, the third member of the party who had just turned around was not afflicted with this problem.
"Ginny?" came the querilous tone of Ron, confusion etched into every aspect of his features. That look was soon replaced by rage as lightning flashed within the depths of his eyes. "What the bloody hell are you doing here?"
As the anger in his voice broke over her like a tsunami making landfall, it broke Harry and Hermione out of their trances and they quickly stored their wands in the pockets of their robes scanning about to see if any muggles had noticed them.
"Well I should think that would be obvious Ronald!" Ginny retorted pulling herself up straight, with defiance in her eyes and sarcasm dripping from her tongue. "I'm here because I will not be shuffled into a corner while the people I love go out and face danger."
"It doesn't matter you are going home right now." Ron growled, a deep bestial sound escaping him.
Whatever response Ginny had to that statement was cut short by the soft whisper of, "She can't"
Immediately three heads and six pairs of eyes fixed on Harry whose face was locked in a rictus of fear, and anguish.
"And why not? She needs to be somewhere safe, she needs to be home...I-I mean thats why you broke it off for fucks sake!" Ron's voice was gradually becoming louder.
"Ron...keep your voice down, and watch your language." snapped Hermione in an undertone that still had the desired effect of quieting the emotional redhead. "It's obvious why she can not go home..." at his continued look of confusion she rolled her eyes and in an exasperated tone of voice said "Death Eaters are at your house and they know by now that Ginny is missing."
"Look I'm here and that is not going to change, but instead of standing around talking about it don't you think we should get off the street and figure something out somewhere a little less conspicuous?" Ginny asked with the tiniest trace of apprehension in her voice.
"That is the best idea I have heard all night." was the weary and resigned response from Harry and the other two could only nod their head's in agreement.
"So where are we?" Ron asked as they started moving down the street.
"Tottenham Court Road," came Hermione's whispered reply. "It was the first place that came to mind, besides I think that we are rather more safe here among the muggles."
"Turn into the next alleyway."
"Why?" the confusion in Ron's voice was evident.
"Honestly Ron, look at you and Harry, the two of you are not exactly inconspicuous."
"I realize that, it's just that we don't have any other clothes, and running around starkers coud hardly be called inconspicuous."
"I have everything packed in here." Hermione held up her small beaded bag for them to see.
"She's cracked... gone loopy... turned into a nutter!" the tone of Ginny's voice mirroring the expressions of their male companions.
"No, no, no... I've put an Undetectable Extension Charm on it." was Hermione's indignant response as her face flushed from embarrassment. "It was tricky but I think I managed to do it properly. It's been packed for a while just in case we had to make a quick getaway."
"You're brilliant." came the rejoinder of three awed voices.
By this time they had reached the mouth of the alley and started to make their way deeper into the shadows to give them protection from the glances of anyone who may pass the alley.
Reaching into the bag to retrieve the clothing, while Harry and Ron removed their robes, they discussed the next course of action that they should take.
"We need to find somewhere to stay." Hermione said looking at the other three for ideas.
Ther was silince for a few moments as Harry and Ron finished changing, and they all ran through the different places they could go in their minds before Harry said.
"Grimmauld Place"
"We can't, Snape knows where it is." was the quick reply from Hermione.
"Snape is still one man, and there are four of us. If he shows up we can capture him, but Grimmauld Place has wards against him that Moody set up. So I doubt that even if he did show up, he could get through."
"Well I suppose you're right." agreed Hermione though the uncertainty in her voice was still clear to everyone.
"So it's agreed we'll go to Grimmauld, in the meantime let's get some food."
"What, we haven't eaten since this afternoon." Ron cried as everyone looked at him with amusement.
"Well there's a small diner down the road, I suppose we could go there before we go to Grimmauld."
And with that they started to make their way towards the exit of the alley. They had taken no more than a few strides however when two Death Eaters apparated in front of them with two loud cracks. Immediately firing off two stunners at the surprised teens who had just enough warning to jump out of the way.
Not wasting any time Harry and Ron raised their wands and bellowed, "Stupefy". The twin beams of crimson struck the wizard on the left with enough force that he was lifted off his feet and thrown head first into the unyeilding brick wall. They all stared in abject horror as the sound of crushing bone washed over them, as brain matter was forced out of the Death Eater's ears as his skull collapsed upon itself from the impact with the wall.
The remaining Death Eater in a towering fury over the death of his comrade, turned back to the four teens screaming.
"Avada Kedavra"
Fate it would seem, was once again with them as the rushing bolt of green death sped straight down the center of the alley missing all four by a hairs breadth. Later, when discussing what happened none of them could be sure whether it was the fact that they had just seen those that they loved coming so close to death. Or if it was the fact that they themselves came so close to entering oblivion, all that they could becertain of is that they all spun on the spot screaming.
"Sectumsempra"
And with those words four identical scythes of dark magic converged on the torso of the Death Eater causing him to briefly be surounded by an aura of dark mist as bone, organs and entrails spilt out on the pavement and he collapsed back onto the ground with the twisted remains of what was once his chest.
"H-how did they find us?" Ginny asked with horror at the sight of what they had just done lying in an ever growing pool of blood. The others could only shake their heads in confusion, as their faces became paler with the realization that they had all taken their first lives. And then with a thunderstruck look Hermione stared at Ginny.
"The Trace, we have to get to Grimmauld, the Fidelius will still keep us safe from it." and without waiting for any response she took hold of the younger girl and Disapparated with a soft pop.
"Well let's not keep them waiting." and with twin cracks Harry and Ron left the alley and the corpses of their enemies to be discovered moments later, by a group of drunken muggles.
oooooooooo
Upon arriving at Grimmauld Place, Harry and Ron turned just in time to hear a startled voice cry out.
"We didn't kill you!" entering the house immediately with his wand at the ready he scanned the room, but seeing nothing he looked to Ginny for an explanation. "I think we found the safeguards Moody set up."
Nodding in acceptance of the explanation Harry led the others to the kitchen to look for food and discuss that days developments.
"Well before any of you try and start in on me for coming, I'm just going to say that what's done is done and being upset about it isn't going to help so deal with it." this was said in such an imperious voice, and with a look so reminiscent of Molly Weasley they just settled for glowering. "Good, now since that is out of the way why don't you guy's tell me what's going on."
And so they did, they talked about the Horcruxes, and how they were going to prepare to find them. They bounced around ideas of how they would be able to destroy them now that the Sword of Gryffindor was well out of their reach, but could not come up with any ideas as they wereunaware of thefew ways that they could be destroyed. They also determined that the best way to be prepared was to study while they tried to figured out where the Horcruxes could be. It was agreed that while they would all begin studying Defence, they would also have to learn more about the healing side of magc as well
"We need to learn healing spells, we are in the middle of a war, dead center in fact. It would be foolish to think that we won't get hurt at some point so we need to be prepared for that."
"Yes, that's something I had been thinking of as well, and I think that you should be the one to go more in depth with that since you won't be able to leave until the Trace breaks. That way we can all deal with moderate injuries, but we can get back here to you so you can deal with the more life threatening injuries." Hermione said looking at Ginny who could only nod her agreement to that logic even though it was more than obvious she didn't like the idea of them going into danger without her.
The conversation started to trail off at this point as the fatigue of the days events settled over made the four realizewith a start that it was already early morning, and not wanting to be alone with their own thoughts, Hermione's suggestion that they stay together that night was eagerly accepted.
oooooooooo
Harry awoke the next morning feeling as if his head had been split with a cleaver, the dream of Voldemort already slipping from his like water through seive, clenching his eyes and jaw against the pain in an effort to maintain silence, he waited until the worst of the effects had passed before opening his eyes. Only to meet three pairs of concerned eyes. 'Well, this is going to be fun', was Harry's only thought as he rolled into a sitting position with a groan for the conversation that he knew was about to occur. Never one to disappoint Hermione launched the first salvo.
"The connection is still open, isn't it!" the accusation in her voice left no doubt that it was a statement. "Dumbledore wanted you to close it for a reason, it's dangerous..."
"Yeah, well Dumbledore isn't here is he?" interrupted Harry with a beligerent look on his face. "This is one of the only ways that we're going to know what Voldemort is up to, look at..."
"Quiet!" the ferocity of the look and tone that she gave Harry made him physically recoil from her. "When Dumbledore died everyone who knew the location of Grimmauld Place became a secret keeper. That means if he enters your mind he can get the information from you and be able to get here. I don't think I need to tell you what will happen after that."
"But Dumbledore also said that Voldemort was employing his Occlumency against me." defended Harry.
"Yeah, that's why you just woke us with you're screaming." came the scathing response from Ron who wasn't to thrilled with the idea of his sister and Hermione being in more danger because his friend didn't want to see reason.'Time to drive the point home'was his thought at Harry's surprised look. "You're relying on the evil bastard that's been trying to kill you for you're entire life to protect your mind, yeah that's intelligent."
Harry was casting around his mind furiously, searching for a reason to refute the logic of his friends, grasping for an answer to keep the connection open.
"They're right Harry, and you know it." Ginny's voice was so soft that he almost didn't register what she he looked at her the fear and concern that he saw in her eyes detroyed all of his remaining resistance. She wasn't done though, she had seen the fight leave his eyes leaving only defeat, and knew that she had to give him something to replace that defeat. "But you need to learn Legilimency just as much." The looks of shock she received had her fighting to hold in her laughter.
"Why would Harry need to learn legilimency?" the confusion in Hermione's voice made it seem as though it was someone else that was speaking.
"Because once he learns to protect his mind, and to invade another's, he will be able to use the connection to try and discover Voldemort's plans without worrying about the counter-attack that would follow. We would all be protectedand have a weapon at our disposal that would be vital to our efforts."
"Well, I think that it would benefit all of us to learn. You-Know-Who isn't the only one we'll be facing who can perform legilimency, but I doubt all of his Death Eaters know occlumency." said Ron who was thinking about the strategic advantage that this would give them.
"Good, we'll start after we eat, you guys go and get your shower's while Ginny and I start breakfast." the sight of Hermione shooing the two men out of the living room like children was more than Ginny could take,amusement bubbled up inside her and exploded into peals of laughter which was soon joined by Hermione's as she realized what she had done. Wisely deciding to ignore the two girls Ron and Harry continued out the door grumbling under their breath.
oooooooooo
Once they were out of the room Harry told Ron to go on and get his shower first saying he wanted to go and look around Sirius' room. Twenty minutes later this was where Ron found him, holding a letter.
"Hey, mate. Shower's free now." it was at this point that Ron noticed the odd expression on his friends face. "What's wrong?"
"It's a letter written by my Mum." holding out the piece of parchment for Ron who after scanning the contents of the letter let out a slow whistle.
"Well get a shower and we'll talk to the girls and see what they think." A nod was the only response he received. Standing up and exiting the room with Ron behind him Harry glanced at a sign on the door to his right that he had never paid attention to before, and stpped dead in his tracks. The unexpected stop of his friend had Ron twisting in mid-step to avoid a collision, which had the spectacular result of him fallingright on his...pride.
"Bloody hell mate, what 'cha stop for?" looking to Harry who was still staring in shock at the door. "Harry!"
This had the desired result of snapping him from his trance, "We found him."
"What? Who?"
"R.A.B.," said Harry who was pointing at the sign."Regulus Arcturus Black."
oooooooooo
An hour laterhad four stunned teenagers standing around the kitchen discussing the implications of Kreacher's tale.
"We can't let Dung know what we want, we have to learn legilimency so we can get it out of him without his knowledge." Hermione said slowly. "Especially after what happened when we went to get Harry from the muggles."
"True, he can't be trusted to evenhave an idea of what we want. It might get back to Voldemort somehow."slamming his fist on the counter Harry yelled, "Damn it. Even once we do learn to block and invade minds we're going to have to track him down just to find out where it is. Then we have to figure out how to get it."
"Well we better getstarted then." the determination in Ginny's voice made Harry realize just how glad he was that she was there, and with this thought he felt his own determination solidify.
oooooooooo: Three Months Later
Over the last three months, the training in Occlumency and Legilimency had gone well, or at least as well as can be expected when you have four individuals who have absolutely no training whatsoever in the mental disciplines required to master the techniques employed when using the Mind Arts. It had been a slow tedious process in the beginning, that is until Hermione was able to master Occlumency just after a month of training, and Legilimency about two weeks after that. It was at this point that everyone was able to make progress in leaps and bounds under her patient and in depth instructions. And once Ginny had both mastered after two months, they were able to get Harry and Ron trained and proficient in just an extra week and a half.
It was also during these training sessions that Hermione discovered another set of memories. Memories that belonged to Lord Voldemort, she was only just able to access these memories before she was thrust out, instead of coming back to Grimmauld Place though as she had expected she found herself back in Harry's mind. The other memories were blocked to her, which meant that those memories were employing Occlumency against her. After she informed the others of her discovery they tossed around ideas of what it could mean. It was Ron that came up with the theory that Harry could be a Horcrux, which once said, Harry knew instictively was the case. None of them knew what to make of this latest developement nor did they think of a way to be able to get rid of it. Finally, they decided to push it to the back of their minds speculating that once they were done learning their Occlumency, and training for their destinies.
That was two and a half weeks ago, and in that time they had spent their time learning different ways to conceal, and disguise thereselves as well as learning various charms to help track down others. This was all in preparation for their hunt of Mundungus Fletcher. Once they were sure that they had all mastered the Mind Arts, Harry had called Kreacher to them and asked him to locate Dung, rationalizing that it would be easier to make the snatch and grab if they had a location in which to start from. Due to the length of time in which the old house-elf had been gone however, Harry and the others were starting to doubt that Kreacher would be able to pull it off, despite his assurances to the contrary.
So on this day, exactly three months since they had learned of the fate of Regulus Black, they were ranged around the table discusing likely places to begin the search that Kreacher returned, bearing a gift for his Master. The thief Mundungus Fletcher.
oooooooooo: Two Months Later
Spellfire was flying in all directions, the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic was no longer the symbol of strength and unity that it had represented at one time. Now it was just another battlefield. Bodies lying strewn about the floor as what seemed like half of the ministry was trying to capture the witch and two wizards that had for unknown reasons penetrated the defenses of the ministry building. One of the wizards had been seperated from his compatriots and was desperately fighting a rear-gaurd action trying to buy the time necessary for his fellows to escape.
"RUN, GET OUT! NOW!" bellowing in fury and dodging two incoming curses and parrying another three with an opaque blue sheild, Ronald Weasley returned fire with a whip of flame that brought four men to the ground with burns that he took a perverse pleasure in knowing that no amount of healing would save them from. Shifting his weight and glancing out of the corner of his eye he saw Harry drag Hermione through the Floo, and with the knowledge that his brother and beloved were safe he looked around and took in the situation. Ranged in a semi- circle around him cutting off any hope of escape were over a dozen Aurors. Readying himself for his last stand, and hoping that he could get off at least two more shots he gathered himself to make his move.
"HOLD YOUR FIRE!" screeched a voice that he could have gone without hearing for the rest of his life, an admittedly short life he thought with a wry grin, chuckling to himself at his rather morbid sense of humor.
Pushing through the crowd of Aurors was a woman that filled him with more disgust and loathing than he had ever felt for anyone save perhaps Draco Malfoy. Looking at the short, squat and utterly foul creature before him.
He put on his best mocking smile and said in a voice dripping with malice and scorn, "Why Madam Umbridge, how kind of you to join me in the last minutes of my life."
"Now, now Mr. Weasley there's no need for you to die. You are after all a Pureblood, as well as an outstanding wizard in your own right. Why, all anyone need do is look around to know that. All we need is for you to tell me where Potter and the Mublood have-"
As soon as Ron heard Umbridge call Hermione a Mudblood he knew it was his moment, there was no hesitation, only a feeling determination into which he channeled all his rage, anger, and hate into. He raised his arm so swiftly that it appeared as a blur to the onlookers.
"SECTUMSEMPRA" he watched with glee as his curse tore through the womans body cleaving the womans head in two and continuing down to the right shoulder where it cleanly removed her right arm as well. Then just as the Aurors were snapping out of their shock he cast one final spell, hoping and praying that he would be able to get it off in time. Aiming at the ground at the feet of the Aurors he bellowed "BOMBARDA MAXIMA" and was rewarded with the sight of the ground exploding and seeing the sharp and jagged peices of marble flooring shredding nearly half of those caught within it's range, before green light and darkness took him.
oooooooooo
It had been four months since the raid on the Ministry, four months since Ron had given his life in order to buy enough time for Harry and Hermione to escape. Yet the spectre of death still seemed to linger in the atmosphere, an almost tangible prescence that had the three remaining occupants of 12 Grimmauld Place in a state of lethargic depression. Although Ginny and Harry had already come to terms with the death of their brother, even though it still hurt them to think of it, their pain came from watching Hermione fold in on herself. Neither could remember the last time that she had spoken aloud directly to either one of them. In truth the only times they heard her voice anymore was when she would come down to grab a bit food while muttering under her breath, before once again disappering into the depths of the Black family library. After they had returned that day Hermione had collapsed into Ginny's arms, her sobs of grief were so desolate that Ginny had been shocked that anyone could feel such anguish until her mind caught up with her, and realized exactly why her sister had returned in the state that she had. Harry for his part had moved to a corner of the room and stared into his hands as all of his emotions swirled within him and mixed into a maelstrom of loss and despair that he had not felt even when Sirius had fallen through the veil. The next morning Harry woke up to find himself in the chair that he had been in the night before, with Ginny curled up in his lap with her head resting on his chest, the streaks of dried tears still plainly visble on her face. Glancing around the room for Hermione he saw that she to was awake and was looking at him with a manic gleam in her eyes.
"I'll kill them you know." Those were the last words that she spoke to anyone. That had been four months ago, she had just stood up and walked up the stairs and sequestered herself amongst the leather and parchment of the library and ignored all of the attempts of the others to draw her from her self imposed exile. That is until today. Harry and Ginny were sitting around at the kitchen table finishing the meal that Kreacher had prepared for them discussing, as had become their custom, different threads of conversation that might be able draw Hermione out of her stupor when the subject of their conversation came bustling into the room with an energy that had not been seen since before the death of Ron.
"So have either of you come up with an idea as to what our next possible move should be?" Now you might expect them to shout for joy, and give thanks to Merlin that their friend had seemingly returned to them. But as they had been trying and consistantly failing do achieve this very objective for so long, it only served to deliver them into a stunned and confused silence about the complete turn around she was displaying. Glancing at the two younger teens and seeing the bewidered expressions that graced their faces she continued in a brisk voice, "Well even if you haven't I have, but seriously I don't know what you could have been doing with yourselves for all that time, after all you can only have sex so much." This last portion was added with a sly glace and a smirk reminiscent of Malfoy when he knew something that you didn't.
"I....but, eh well...." sputtered Harry trying to come up with a response, only to be interupted by Ginny who had an equally self-satisfied grin on her face. "Well, it is one of the best methods to deal with.....excess emotions."
"What I was just kidding!" Came the swift response from a shuddering Hermione who, from the look on her face didn't expect her joke to be true. "Anyway, as far as I can see we have two options." Came the rushed attempt to get away from the conversation that she had no desire to get into.
"Hey, what's with the look and, shudder?" came Ginny's indignant interjection. So with a look of long suffering exasperation Hermione replied, "Would you want to know what Bill and Fleur got up to, or any of your other siblings for that matter?"
"Okay, point taken. Now you said something about options." Ginny said with a nauseated look.
"Yes, first we need information about what's been going on so we can either go out and scout around trying to pick up whatever tidbits of information we can, or we or we can capture one of the Death Eaters that has been watching the house for Merlin knows how long now."
"We are not going to try and capture a Death Eater!" Harry replied with an emphatic shake of his head. "There's to much that could go wrong."
"I'm aware of that, but before you completely discount that option think about this. It would take longer staying out hoping to pick up any useful information, while constantly worrying about the possibility of being discovered. On the other hand we could surprise the Death Eater and subdue him quickly, bring him inside and question someone that we know would have more of an idea about Voldemort's movements."
"Yeah, but even if we did that there's no Death Eater that would betray Tom while he's still in power." Ginny said with a thoughtful expression on her face. "I mean we could obviously use legilimency, but if he happens to be one of the Death Eater's that knows Occlumency we're buggered."
"True, which is why I have a cauldron full of Veritaserum in my room right now. And yes I know that an Occlumens can overcome the effect of Veritaserum, I doubt even Voldemort could withstand an attack from a proficient Legilimens while under it's effect."
"That's true, but I still think that we should at least try and take the longer road first. We'll just have to make sure that we're even more careful, besides we might have the opportunity to capture one away from here which would have the added benefit of not bringing this location under even closer scrutiny."
"Alright, but we should give ourselves a time frame, I say three weeks."
"Agreed"
oooooooooo
Two weeks after deciding on a course of action Harry and Ginny were sitting around the living room trying in vain not to stare at the grandfather clock resting against the wall as they waited for their bushy haired friend to return. All the while hoping against hope that she would bring some of the desperately desired information that had managed to elude them to date. As their thoughts started to drift to the grim thoughts that only waiting and inaction could bring they heard the front door open on rusty hinges and slam shut with an echo that thundered through the house, followed by footfalls leading to the living room, a room that the both happened to be occupying. Both rose and drew their wands, waiting for their visitor to emerge from the door leading to the entrance hall, which they lowered when they saw Hermione enter, with the stony expression that had become so characteristic for her over the last months gracing her features.
"Alright, I realize it hasn't been three weeks but let's be honest with ourselves we're not getting anything beyond the obvious fact that everyone's to terrified to talk amongst themselves." said Hermione with an impatient gleam coming to her eyes and a voice so thick with contempt for those cowards who would rather be trod on than stand tall and do something meaningful. "Nothing, nothing....none of them could care less so long as it's not them in the direct line of fire." cutting her rant short she looked at the other to and shadows seemed to envelope her face as she prepared to debreif the others on what she had just learned. "Percy's a Death Eater!"
"WHAT!" the screams of outrage were so loud that dust drifted down from the rafters above them. Ginny after her initial outburst fell back into the chair that she had just moments before been sitting in and started to shake her head and mutter denials in a voice that was just barely audible. Harry seeing this went over to offer some physical support by wrapping her in his arms.
"And just how did you come by this information?" the anger lacing his voice would have caused Voldemort to flinch back. This seemed to snap Ginny out of her trance as she fixed the older witch with a peircing stare. This seemed to be the question that Hermione was waiting for as she immediately went into lecture mode.
"I was just about to start leaving Diagon Alley when I saw a large commotion coming from further down the Alley caught my attention. So naturally I started making my way over to get an idea of what was going on, once I got close enough I realized that the crowed was gathered in front of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. Hold on, don't interrupt. Well like I said there was a crowd and I couldn't see but I was able to climb on a crate that was nearby, and there was Percy standing next to that Death Eater Yaxley, along with two Auror's who had their wands drawn and aimed at Fred and George. Percy's said something and George screamed, 'Ron had the right idea, you traitorous Death Eater!', all Percy did was laugh and yelled that 'He was nothing but a Blood-Traitor that got what he deserved.'. The look of hate and anger on her face made Harry briefly think of Snape and he suddenly had an odd sense of foreboding.
Taking a steadying breath she looked the other two in the eyes and said in a voice so cold, and so devoid of the heated anger that had been there moments before that it sent shivers throughout their bodies. "I cast the Killing Curse, but unfortunately Percy managed to jump out of the way. Yaxley wasn't so lucky however." the pride in her voice was clearly evident and the others found themselves feeling an odd sense of satisfaction as well.
"What about Fred and George?" Ginny demanded.
"Well, when Percy jumped out of the way he knocked the two Aurors over which gave them time to escape into the crowd. I tried following them to bring them here but just as I was leaving the Alley and was going to call out to them they Disapperated."
"At least they were able to escape, and knowing those two they won't be seen until they decide to be." came Harry's releived reply.
"Thanks to them and Hermione we also have the perfect target for our interrogation as well!" the vindictiveness of Ginny's voice was mirrored by the other two expressions in the room.
oooooooooo: Five Weeks Later
"Rennervate"
Three pairs of eyes watched coldly as Percy Weasley was awoken from his magically induced sleep, and tried to gain his bearings. Taking in the room first, and then in what felt like an eternity to the three who couldn't wait to get the questioning under way, he tried to act as though they weren't there, but soon became accutely aware of the other occupants of the room when a voice cried out.
"Crucio" The spell was held for but a moment when a strong voice called, "Hermione, enough! There will be time for that later."
The brief exposure to the Cruciatus had the effect of getting the pompous fool's undivided attention.
"Percy Weasley, third eldest son of the Weasley's, youngest Junior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, and loyal servant of the Dark Lord Voldemort." Harry spoke in an officious and condemning tone.
Upon hearing the last title given to him all the blood drained from Percy's face, but to his credit he maintained direct eye contact with Harry and gave him a look of contempt before sliding his gaze over Hermione, and finally locking on to Ginny's.
"Ginny, so this is where you've been. Look, I realize that you have had certain feelings for Potter before, but you must understand that he's only using yourelease me and I can return you home." this was delivered in the most wheedling voice that he could muster, and all of them were shocked that he could sound so self assured while he was bound in a chair. A lound humorless laugh from Ginny soon had the other two laughing at his presumption.
"I think that you seem to be laboring under the false misconception that your in control here, Percy!" Harry said.
"So that's it then, you're controlling Ginny, I presume you have her under the Imperius then." this was said in a triumphant voice that had the others rolling their eyes at the sheer absurdity that Harry would have to use an Unforgivable to have Ginny do anything for him. A fact that she herself was just starting to clarify for him.
"Please, all Harry would have to do is ask for me to go bend over that desk so he could take me from behind, and I would do it wholeheartedly. That's hardly having someone under their control, besides if anyone in this house is in control it's me and you're going to find out why that is very soon." Ginny said maliciously.
"Yes, you see I was going to be the one to interrogate you, seeing as how my Kiiling Curse missed you I felt that I should make up for my miss by getting everything you know from that thick skull of yours." and here Hermione got a smirk that rivaled Snape's in cruelty. "But she thought, and I'm sure with you being a Death Eater and all, that you'll apreciate the irony. That blood MUST take care of blood."
After her little speech she started making her way out the door, only to stop just on the other side of the threshold, glance back and say. "Do have fun." and with that she disappeared from sight.
Harry for his part was still gazing impassively at the traitor, and decided to give a little parting information to man. "Just so you know, Ginny has Veritaserum and Legilimency at her disposal so we will get every bit of information we want out of you, so willingly or not you will betray Voldemort. I'm sure you know what happens to those that betray him, but please don't that little detail keep you from enjoying our hospitality." Then he too followed Hermione out the door giving Ginny her chance to take vengeance for the betrayal of her family.
Forty-nine minutes after leaving the room found Harry and Hermione sitting in the kitchen each nursing a glass of firewhiskey, and smiling grimly to each other as the screaming started. As the pain filled screams got louder they began to turn into a rather satisfying type of music to them. A pain filled symphony of agony that half a year ago would have had them wretching, and clamoring to stop. Now however they just sat back and listened to the sweet music of unbridled justice. Five hours and twenty-seven minutes later, the music stopped playing. Only to be followed by the sound of, "Avada Kedavra" and a thump on the ceiling above them.
oooooooooo
Once Ginny arrived in the kitchen it was completely obvious that she had not only accomplished the mission she had set out to do, but she had also enjoyed every bit of it immensly. The satisfied grin that she wore on her face was threatening to split her face in two. The others had grins that came very nearly to matching her own, but there was still a part of them that wondered if they were turning into those that they were fighting. These thoughts were quickly crushed by the knowledge that not only would their enemies not hesitate to do the same to them, but also by the rationalization that the spells they were using were a part of a very powerful branch of magic that the opposition had, so why should they limit themselves to spells that just made no sense to use in an actual combat environment. The short answer was: they shouldn't. If you have to put someone down that wants to kill you make sure they stay down. Besides it's not like they were going to use these spells on the innocent, and so in an unspoken agreement they decided to fully focus on learning the Dark Arts.
"Hermione, I think it's time you retrieve The Secrets Of The Darkest Arts from your bag." said Harry in a somber voice. "We'll have Ginny breif us in the morning after breakfast about what she was able to learn from that sod upstairs. Right now though I think we could all do with some sleep." The two girls nodded their agreements and started to stand when Hermione suddenly burst out into gales of laughter. Harry was looking at her in askance and she said.
"I hope your not to set on sleep because judging by the look on her face I'd say Ginny's going to keep you up for a while."
"Hmm, maybe she's more like Bellatrix than anyone thought." Harry noted with a lecherous look. "Are you into the whole pain thing Gin?"
"Don't make me hex you Potter." slapping his arm lightly.
"There's your answer Harry." Hermione said dashing out of the room before Ginny could bring her wand to bear.
"Shall we head up my Lady?"
"Hmm, let's shall."
The next morning came late as all three didn't leave their rooms until almost noon. Even then the only reason Harry and Ginny got up then was due to Hermione threatening to come in and take pictures to send to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. It was with great effort that they managed to get out of bed in order to start the day, but each felt rejuvinated after a quick shower and headed downstairs into the kitchen where the strong aroma's of breakfast made them realize just how hungry they were after the previous day's events.
"Ginny, what happened to Percy's corpse? I went to get rid of it but I couldn't find it." there was a noticable trace of wariness in Hermione's voice when she asked this.
"Oh" she Ginny said with a smile "Well after I castrated him and carved traitor into his chest I asked Kreacher if he could take the body to Diagon Alley and nail him to the door of the joke shop. Speaking of which...Kreacher."
"Mistress called for Kreacher?"
"Yes, I was wondering if you did that little favor I asked for last night."
"Yes Mistress, it was done as Mistress commanded."
"Lovely, thank you Kreacher."
"Kreacher lives to serve Mistress." and with that he popped out of the room.
"Harry what's wrong? You look awfully pale." Ginny asked in concerned tones
"N..nothing, I'm fine." Harry replied in an oddly high voice.
"Aww Harry, I'm sure Ginny wouldn't ever do something like that to you, well unless you weren't completely faithful."
"Yeah, don't worry you should be fine." said Ginny
As relief spread through his body Harry decided it was time to bring the topic of discussion to a relatively safer subject. "So what did you get out of that bastard anyways?"
Once this question was voiced there was a noticable change in the atmosphere which until that moment had been one of smug satisfaction, and cheer.
"Well, it apperars that we're not the only ones causing a headache for the new administration. Apparantly there is another group of Hogwart's student's out there conducting their own little private campaign against the ministry. Over the past two months there had been reports, all unconfirmed, that someone or a group of individuals have been capturing Snatchers, and freeing they're captives."
"Hold on, what the bloody hell are Snatchers?" asked a confused Harry
"They're a group or more specifically groups of wizards who hunt down any muggleborn's who haven't registered with the Muggleborn Registration Commission. They're also the one's who show up whenever someone breaks the Taboo."
"Taboo?"
"Yes, it's a curse placed on a specific word. It has the unfortunate effect of dispelling any wards surrounding the individual who speaks the Tabooed word. Voldemort has placed his name under the Taboo, according to Percy it has helped with the capture of many members of the Order as they were the main group fighting against him, and weren't to cowardly to speak his name."
"Well that explains why there's constantly been a Death Eater observing the house all this time." said a thoughtful Hermione. "I think we should start refering to him as Tom, if the Death Eaters stop receiving reports of the name being spoken in this area they might assume that we have moved to a different location."
"Sounds resonable to me."
"Me too."
"Okay, so back to the other group of fighters, apparantly they had managed to free over seventy 'fugitives' along with fifteen 'wandless', which is the term that has been applied to muggleborns, and half-bloods who have been convicted by the Muggleborn Commision for failure to be able to prove their blood status. Well this group was doing so well that the Ministry decided that it was time to root out the dissenters. They set up an ambush at a muggle orphanage using the children there as bait, and waited for they're targets to arrive. Four days ago the trap was sprung, they managed to subdue enough Death Eaters to escape but not before Seamus Finnegan, and Dean Thomas were killed in the escape. The Death Eater's were also able to capture a half-blood by the name of Justin Finch-Fletchly who after two hours gave the names of the others in return for a swift death. The others are Hannah Abott, Susan Bones, Luna Lovegood, two people who are always masked and cloaked and their leader Neville Longbottom."
"Merlin, I always knew Neville had it in himself to do it, but damn. Way to go Nev." was Harry's pride filled response. While Hermione's "Well, he was the other possibility for the prophecy." was nothing short of awe.
"Well their efforts will be even more restricted now that the Ministry knows who they are, but I wonder who the two unknowns are. It's obvious they have to have some link with the enemy if they hide their features, hopefully they can be trusted. I'd hate to see Neville betrayed." said Harry
"I wouldn't worry about that too much, if he's the leader then Neville will know who they are and have a reason for operating the way he is." came the reassuring logic of Hermione.
"Yeah you're right. Anything else Gin?"
Nodding her head she continued, "Everyone who had contact with Dumbledore, and all known or suspected Order members are under constant surveillence by the Ministry, which means we can't contact any of them. So for the most part they're safe except..." her voice breaking Ginny bagan to shake as she tried to continue. " It's... it's Remus and Tonks."
"Oh no... they're alive right?" the desperate tone in Hermione's voice caused Ginny to break into anguished sobs and the other two knew the answer. They were gone, and with Remus went the last link that Harry had to his parent's. After a few moments Harry struggled to regain his composure and asked, "How did it happen?"
"Tom ordered Bellatrix to 'get rid of the stain' on her family. So she along with Antonin Dolohov and four others attacked her sister's house, Ted was killed and Andromeda was forced to send a distress call to Tonks. She and Remus showed up within minutes, but they were outnumbered and outmanuevered. Once they were captured Dolohov executed Remus, while Bellatrix tortured Tonks." It was here that Ginny looked at the others and whispered in a horrified voice.
"Tonks was pregnant." neither knew how to react to that news, they could only brace themselves for the rest of the story to unfold. "She was pleading with Bellatrix to spare her for the sake of the baby, but once she found out that she was carrying another life.... she drew a knife and cut the baby out of her stomach before throwing it to the ground and incinerating it. Then she stood there taunting her until Tonks finally passed out from blood loss. When she realized she wasn't going to have anymore entertainment she killed her and left with the other Death Eater's. Andromeda was forced to watch it all, and was left alive to think about the fate of her family as punishment for becoming a blood traitor."
"So that's it, we're losing more and more of the people we care about and we have no leads on the Horcruxes." there was a note of defeat in Harry's voice that terrified the witches more than either cared to admit. It sounded like Harry was on the verge of giving up all hope for destroying Voldemort. They knew he wouldn't quit fighting, but the hope for victory seemed to be gone from his eyes. The fire that drove him forward along the path of resistance seemed to be dying down to a small smouldering remains of what was once a blazing inferno. And Ginny knew that she had to part with her last piece of information, though she knew it was a trap, knowing that they would realize it as well, and knowing that irregardless of that fact they would still go.
"Well I was able to get one other peice of information from him. Percy heard Tom speaking to Snape one day. Snape was being told that he, Tom that is, had dispatched one of his servants to Godric's Hollow to wait for you to show up. So even if Tom isn't aware that we're searching for his Horcruxes, he thinks that there is something there that would cause you to risk exposure to find."
"Well he probably just expects Harry to want to visit his parent's graves." said Hermione.
"No, that's not it at all. Tom doesn't think that way, love is what would force someone to do that, and he doesn't understand love." the fire was blazing once more out of the depths of his eyes. "No, he would never risk exposing himself while being hunted unless he had to it would be foolish. That means there's another reason for it, one that he would personally take a risk for."
"Harry you can't be thinking of actually going, it's a trap and we all know it!" the look on Hermione's face showed that while she didn't like the idea of walking headlong into a trap, she also relished the idea of engaging the enemy.
"Yes, but they don't know that we're aware of the trap, and that is what gives us the advantage. The trap will be sprung, but it will happen at our discretion." Harry was smiling in delight at the idea that he would finally be able to make some progress with the hunt for Voldemort's Horcruxes.
"Well I'll be damned if you both go into a trap without me, and don't interrupt!" Ginny fixed both with a glare. " My Trace breaks in under two months that gives us ALL time to train some more and get a firm plan set into motion. Now let's get started or do I need to press my point?" she asked while withdrawling her wand. As they saw this, both raised their hands in supplication and agreed fully with her plans.
"Good"
oooooooooo: Two Months and Six Days Later
Over the last week the top three Undesirables remaining at large had spent almost all of their waking hours inside, and around the small village of Godric's Hollow. While they had no desire to walk blindly into a trap it was increasingly evident that no matter how much they looked for signs of the ambush, there was nothing to find. Though none of them allowed themselves to be lulled into a sense of complacency by the lack of evidence. On the contrary it served to keep them even more alert to anything that seemed to belong out of place in a sleepy little village. On the downside it also made them realize that whoever the servant of Voldemort was he or she wasn't about to show themselves or reveal themselves until Harry did. So the plan of finding the servant, ambushing and interrogating him or her was altered. This alteration found Harry walking down the sidewalk directly towards the old graveyard behind the local church, with two Disillusioned females following at a discrete distance. It was just as he was reaching for the gate leading into the cemetary that a frail old woman stepped out from behind a large hedgerow and signaled for him to approach.
'Ah, so the servant finally reveals herself.' Harry thought as he made his way towards her, prepared to fire a curse from his Disillusioned wand in an instant. He stopped a meter from her and waited for her to make the next move.
"Hello Harry, I'm Bathilda Bagshot. I've been waiting for you, Dumbledore said you'd come. He left me something to give you, it's just inside my house. Come." the voice was so low that Harry could barely here her over the sound of the wind rushing through the trees surrounding the cemetary walls.
Nodding in response he gestured with his left hand to lead the way, as he felt a slight twinge in his scar. He followed her into a yard that may have been nice at one point, but was now overgrown with weeds and showed no sign of the flowers that had once grown from the earth to accentuate the house it encompassed. Harry however had no intentions of entering the house.
Stopping just before the threshold of the house, while making sure that her body was still providing cover from anyone who could be in the house he made his intentions clear.
"I apologize Ms. Bagshot, but I'm not going inside. Perhaps you should bring whatever item Dumbledore left here to me." Harry was wearing a tight smile on his face as he said this, though he was trying for nonchalant, and the woman seemed to pick up on this as well as her neck seemed to explode and a huge serpent that Harry had seen numerous times and had hoped to never see again, or at least that was his hope before she became one of his targets. Just as the snake was beginning to strike out at him he raised his wand and yelled "Reducto"
The Blasting Charm while seeming to have inflicted no physical damage to the snake, did send it flying through the door of the house and into the darkness of the hall and room beyond. Seeing no other choice Harry and the two witches who were now visible having dispelled their charms, rushed into the house to find and finish the snake.
Upon entering the room from the entrance hall the first thing that they noticed was the piles of dusty and moldering book that were scattered throughout the room like some kind of miniature maze. As Harry started to move forward to begin searching through the piles, Hermione's hand shot out to grab his arm.
"Don't, that thing would be able to jump on us with no warning in this mess." said Hermione, who's eyes were constantly scanning back and forth across the room. Searching for any signs of movement in the books shadowy recesses.
"Then what would you have us do then?" asked Harry with an impatient growl. Just as he was about to shake the grip that the older witch had on his arm, Ginny started launching huge bursts of flame from her wand at the exits that led from the room into other parts of the house.
"There now her escape paths are gone, and her basic instincts will drive her torwards us." Harry and Hermione both sent looks at each other that clearly said 'You should have thought of that.' before turning their attention back to room. They didn't have long to wait as monments later the great serpent that was Nagini made her appearance, prepared to strike out at the teens as she did. Instead of striking however, she found herself dodging three Killing Curses. Hermione seeing the snake's ability to dodge the pinpoint spells, immediately changed tactics and swept her wand in a wide arc before her as a large sheet of acid poured from her wand. This had the desired effect of hitting the snake, which began to writhe on the floor in pain. It's sinuous body seemed to be taking very little damage though, a fact that the others didn't realize until Nagini, having used the twisting movements of her body to coil for an attack, struck out at Harry. Time slowed as the gaping maw of the snake, open wide and with great four inch fangs glistening in the light of the fire's blaze closed the distance between her and her prey.
Harry had been in the process of casting when the snake struck however, and it was with a surge of adrenaline and relief that he saw his Killing Curse swallowed by the snake, the force from the spell redirecting her forward momentum into a whip like movement that sent her flying into the flames. Staring at the spot of the fire that she had been sent into, he was suddenly struck by an idea, an idea that he had that could possibly solve the question of his being a Living Horcrux.
"Quickly, put out the fire." He ordered the other two as he began doing so himself. "We have to know, I have to find out." The two witches sending curious glances at him began stopping the flames from spreading any further, and under their combined efforts had the fire quelled in under a minute. And there, lying among the chared remains of books and furniture was an unmoving Nagini.
"Homenum Revelio" sighing when he didn't receive a response Harry was about to turn away when Hermione's voice stopped him.
"Oh, come on Harry! Homenum Revelio only shows human life, hence the Homenum, the spell I think you want is." taking a breath and pointing her wand at the snake. "Serpentia Revelio"
Seeing her eyes go wide Harry said, "She's still alive isn't she?" Hermione nodded in his direction, a look of utter confusion written across her face.
"Yes I thought, or rather hoped as much." said Harry with a beaming smile on his face.
"Wait you hoped that it was alive? Have you gone mad!" Ginny sputtered with indignation.
"Yes, and no." seeing the bewildered looks on their faces he continued. "Tom has two living Horcruxes, myself and Nagini. The Killing Curse removes the soul from the body. The SOUL, as in singular. Which means..." he trailed off looking at the other two expectantly and was rewarded moments later as understanding washed over both of their faces. "That I'll be able to survive another Killing Curse, and that gives me one more weapon against Tom." looking at Nagini as though she was a gift sent from above he raised his wand and thought, 'Sectumsempra'.
"Harry I think that we should look around to see if we can find anything useful." Hermione said and with a wry grin she finished with. "I don't think Ms. Bagshot will notice."
Chuckling at her dark humor Harry agreed and made his way over to the one corner of the room that hadn't been damaged from the fire. It was there on a small table that he found a book entitled 'The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore', eyes widening in shock he looked up and called the girls to him. Ginny, who had been in an adjacent room came over, saw the title and her eyebrows shot straight to her hairline. "I had forgot about this book being published." was her only statement.
Harry, hearing Hermione enter the room looked up to tell her of their discovery, only to be met with blood red eyes and green light.
oooooooooo
Harry awoke in a white mist, that was shrouding his surroundings completly. As he struggled to his feet the world began to take form around him and he vaguely took note that he was in King's Cross. His main focus however was on the figure in front of him: Albus Dumbledore.
"So I'm dead then, and there I was thinking that I had made some great discovery." the bitterness in Harry's voice was only surpassed by the amount of despair he felt at having failed everyone.
"Oh no my boy, you're not dead." came the annoyingly chipper voice of Dumbldore, who stood there with a large smile and an almost blinding twinkle in his eyes. "As a matter of fact, I would like to compliment you on such an astute conclusion. One that I myself had dismissed as improbable, though not impossible, which is why I tried to leave clues that would lead you to the Deathly Hallows."
"Hold on one bloody minute, you KNEW I was Horcrux, and what are the Deathly Hallows?" the barely controlled fury in Harry's voice was only kept in check by the desire to learn all of the secrets that Dumbledore had known and kept from him in life.
"Yes Harry, I knew what you were which as I said is why I tried to lead you to the Deathly Hallows which are as legend states...."and so for the next fifteen minutes Dumbledore explained the legend of the Hallows and his theory that it would have taken those three artifacts to keep Harry alive were he to be hit by one of Voldemort's Killing Curses.
"So I already have the Cloak and Stone, which is in the snitch you left me. That means I need the Wand." said Harry slowly, the thought of such a powerful weapon in Voldemort's hands was untenable. "You wouldn't happen to know where it is would you?"
"Why yes, it's at Hogwart's. Lying in my shrouded remains, which brings us to another story I'm afraid. One that will not cast me in a favourable light, and one that I fought my entire life to make amends for. It all started with two young, bright wizards by the name's of Albus Dumbledore, and Gellert Grindlewald." throughout the story Harry went from shock, anger, sympathy, back to anger and finally understanding as the greatest wizard he had ever known lay truths at his feet that would have been absurd coming from any other source.
"So I have to defeat Snape in order to gain control of the wand." said Harry with an exultant look on his face.
"No Harry, Draco Malfoy was the one who disarmed me. He is the Master of the Elder Wand, however Severus Snape is not the man that you believe him to be." said Dumbledore who could only smile at the look of confusion and indignation that came across Harry's face. " Which brings me to the last story that I have to tell you. A story that once I tell you will leave no more secrets between us. Severus Snape was...."
If any story that Harry had learned so far had shocked Harry they paled in comparison to what he learned next. Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined the reason for Snape to turn sides, nor could he believe that the death of Dumbledore was caused by his own order. It was a tale that seemed to be beyond belief, yet he knew it was true, Dumbledore might have hidden alot of things from him before true. But he had never lied, well except for the time that said he saw himself receiving a pair of socks when he looked into the Mirror of Erised.
"So what happens now?" Harry asked looking at the remains of Voldemort's soul.
"Now you have to choose, Wake up and continue the fight or board the train." Dumbledore replied softly.
With a smirk that would have shamed Malfoy he replied, "Some choice." and with that the world dissolved in front of his face.
oooooooooo
Hermione had just reached the bottom of the steps when she saw the green light of the Killing Curse impact on Harry's chest, and watched as he was thrown through the air with such force that the he went through the wall and came to rest on the back lawn.
"NOOOO!" the anguished scream from Ginny was everything that Voldemort could have hoped for. What he wasn't expecting was the twin scream originating behind him, and as he spun to meet this other threat he heard it shout, "Obliviate" and felt the spell clawing against his mental defences as the strength of the Memory Charm tried to rip away all his knowledge, and memories. However, he was the Dark Lord Voldemort, a master of the Mind Arts since he was a child and his power would not be denied. As he overcame the magic he surveyed to witch that had cast a spell that was so powerful as to almost overcome him.
"GINNY GET HARRY OUT OF HERE!" she screamed and Voldemort was able to place her as Potter's Mudblood.
"Foolish girl, he's already dead his body isn't needed. You however will be granted a great opportunity. I felt your strength in that spell, you're powerful. Almost on the level of Bellatrix, as such I'll give you the opportunity to live. All you need do is kneel before me." Voldemort's voice was hypnotic as he spoke. It was a voice that promised power and authority if she accepted, and a slow tortuous death if she refused. There was no middle ground, so she took the only option before her.
Voldemort watched as Hermione dropped too her knees and held her left arm out to Voldemort, head hanging to her chest, with eyes cast to the ground in submission. Taking in this view Voldemort's smile widened and he approached her raising his wand to her arm to brand her with the Dark Mark. Hermione winced when she saw his feet come into view and once she felt the tip of his wand touch her forearm she rotated her arm around the wand and slapped his wand arm wide while bringing hers to his chest screaming the incantaion for the Bone-Breaking Curse. The sound of his ribs shattering brought a smile of satisfaction to her face as Voldemort sailed through the air crashing into the half burned china cabinet.
Unfortunately, just as Hermione came to her feet preparing to send an Avada Kedavra his way, she realized that Voldemort was already up with his wand at the ready. Hermione was pleased to note that he was holding the right side of his torso with his left hand, which meant that his wand movements would be slower.
"You'll pay for that Mudblood!" Voldemort grated out from between his clenched jaws. He had at least three broken ribs and if the blood rising into his mouth, along with his inability to breathe correctly were anything to go by then one of those ribs had also puntured a lung. This Mudblood bitch was powerful indeed, and she would pay for her presumption.
Hermione seeing the blood leaking from the corner of his mouth filled her voice with all the contempt she felt for the creature standing before her and spat, "Then come and collect, you pathetic Half-Blood!"
And with that final insult they were off. Voldemort in his anger was sticking mainly to the Unforgivables as they didn't require a very large range of motion to cast, this had Hermione having to summon books, and debris from around the room to intercept them as she countered with a wide variety of the Dark Arts in her arsenal, along with many powerful transfiguration spells trying to distract him long enough to land a shot. This went on for about three minutes before Hermione finally ducked around another Cruciatus, sprinted right up to Voldemort and smashed her forehead directly into his face. The resulting spray of blood was impressive as Voldemort's head snapped back from the impact, and as he staggered back Hermione spun her wand in a clockwise motion that caused a huge amount of Fiendfyre to erupt from her wand launching itself at Voldemort who was forced to dive away as the cursed flames scorched his leg. Quickly rolling into a kneeling position he cast, "Petrificus Totalus" just as Hermione was bringing her wand forward with a green light building at it's tip. Her eyes widened as her body snapped to attention and she fell forwards to the ground. Seeing that he finally had her immobilized Voldemort climbed to his feet and made his way over to the powerful young witch, and with a motion of his wand she was suspended in the air before him.
"You fought well, but you should have known that I would win. Lord Voldemort always triumphs. However, I won't kill you. No, I'm going to leave you to your own creations." this was said as he gestured to the creatures that were just beginning to take shape in the blazing hellfire that Hermione had created. "Die well." and with that he walked out of the house with as much dignity as his injuries would allow to watch from the street as the house was engulfed.
oooooooooo: Two Years Later
The death of Harry Potter was proclaimed widely after Voldemort had left Godric's Hollow, and it served to make the remaining pockets of resistance to Voldemort's rule fade into nothing, so with the death of the only person with the power to defeat him Voldemort without fear of reprisal finally openly declared hiself as Lord Voldemort, Ruler of the British Isles. From that point only Neville Longbottom's coterie of freedom fighters would openly fight against his rule. Neville however appeared on Potterwatch to make bold statements of Harry's continued survival, but no one was sure if it was just wishful thinking or if he had personal knowledge of Harry's continuing existance. Knowing that Voldemort would have made a public display of the body of Harry Potter he insisted, while taking a great leap of faith by stating he had personal knowledge. These reports were heard by the duo and they decided to try and make contact, in their bid to bring about Tom's death, they didn't realize that objective would be almost as difficult to achieve as the Horcrux hunt.
Harry Potter and Ginevra Weasley had finally managed to make contact with Neville Longbottom, and his forces. They had been attempting to do so for the better part of the two years since Hermione's death, as whatever tactics Neville was employing were remarkably similar to those of Harry and Ginny. Each element of the resistance had heard about the other's exploits from Potterwatch over the intervening years and it was Neville saying that this other group was actually Harry and Ginny, however no matter what they tried neither could seem to get to the scene of the other's raids in time to make contact. It finally had been nothing more than chance that the groups had run across each other. Both had gotten information about a festival that many of the remaing Inner Circle were said to be attending.
The information was a carefully planted trap that would have ended up with Neville and his team being wiped out, had an Elder Wand weilding Harry Potter and a vengeful Ginny Weasley not arrived and turned the tide by cutting through the Death Eaters with amazing skill and ferocity, they were too late however to save Susan Bones, and Hannah Abbott who they later discovered had married Neville. From that point on Neville and his group of fighter's relocated to 12 Grimmauld Place while planning their operations to work in conjunction with the other's. They decided to make it look as if they were still working independantly of each other, to keep the enemy forces spread out and looking for attacks from multiple attacks rather than single concentrated attacks.
It was small comfort to those living under Voldemort's rule that Neville's forces had managed to capture some of the most vicious Death Eaters, who in turn were always found dead the day after their capture, showing signs of brutal torture with a single hole in their head's from a Muggle weapon. The irony that their end was met at the hands of a weapon created by those they proclaimed themselves superior to was not lost on anyone.
The most prestigious of those Death Eaters to be executed by Neville's group were: Bellatrix, Rodolphus, and Rabastan Lestrange along with Lucius Malfoy, Thorfinn Rowle, and Amycus Carrow. The day that Lucius Malfoy was captured Narcissa and Draco Malfoy also diappeared. At first many people thought that they were being held captive by the group, this was disproven though the next day when in front of a crowd of over twenty people Lucius Malfoy was Apparated in front of The Leaky Cauldron by one of the hooded men of Neville's group, forced to his knees and shot in the back of the head. The cloak was then taken off, and the crowd screamed in amazement as Draco Malfoy renounced the Dark Lord and Apparated out of sight. The next time he was seen he was fighting shoulder to shoulder with Neville against Voldemort himself.
Harry and Ginny while still listening for any clues of the remaining Horcruxes, would go out into secluded areas and break the Taboo, in order to draw Snatcher's to them. After enough teams failed to return from these missions Voldemort ordered a task force consisting of: Walden Macnair, Peter Pettigrew, the Death Eaters Jugson, and Travers along with Fenrir Greyback and four other Snatchers to find and eliminate this threat. The only one to survive this attack was one of the Snatchers who arrived in the Atrium of the Ministry clutching the severed silver hand of Peter Pettigrew screaming that Harry Potter was indeed alive, and had killed everyone. He was detained in place and Lord Voldemort was summoned to deal with the matter personally. It was when the Dark Lord exited the mind of the Snatcher that, for an unbelievable moment for those there to witness it, the face of Lord Voldemort was seen to have a look of fear on it.
oooooooooo
Over the next two years, the residents of Grimmauld Place continued to conduct raids on Voldemort's forces. This was only to keep up a show of force however as they searched for any trace of the Horcruxes. Once Harry and Ginny Potter decided to let the other's know of their mission, they recieved a break in their search. Terry Boot who had continued to wear a cloak into battle until the death of his mother the previous year, suggested that the unknown Horcrux could be the lost Diadem of Ravenclaw. So having after so long with no leads, plans were set into motion to infiltrate the school and find out what they could about the Diadem. After making contact with Severus Snape, which the others had been skeptical of until Harry assured them that he could be trusted, they were led into Ravenclaw Tower after curfew and found a bust of Rowena Ravenclaw herself. Just as they began to speculate ways to find it Draco Malfoy's eyes narrowed and he got a look of recognition on his face as he looked away from it and said to the others, "I know where it is."
They were all to stunned to respond. Everyone except for Snape that is. With a twisted look on his face he said three words.
"I'm destoying it."
oooooooooo
That was the last time any of them had seen him. The very next day Severus Snape, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Inner Circle Death Eater, Spy for the Order of the Phoenix, Lord Voldemort's most trusted servant, Albus Dumbledore's loyal servant, and a man still in love with a woman twenty years dead. Walked straight up to the reason of that woman's death and started a duel that surpassed anything seen since the duel between Dumbledore, and Grindlewald. In the end though Severus Snape snapped his own wand and threw the Dark Lord's back to him, and with outstretched arms he sneered, "Kill me then, coward." and waited until he saw Lily and Albus at a familiar train station.
Just three weeks after the duel in the Atrium Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Terry Boot, and Draco Malfoy were captured during a raid on a holding facility while trying to free the Wandless that were being held there. All four were given the Dementor's Kiss within the hour. The Potters went into hiding to never be seen again. Lord Voldemort, having completly secured the British Isles, started to expand his power into mainland Europe, and the rest of the world waited with baited breath for a deliverance that was to never come.
oooooooooo: Present
The room would be covered in darkness if not for the low, flickering light of the candle on the desk in the corner of the small spartan room. To the casual passerby it would seem that the only occupant of the room was the woman who sat in the chair, pouring over the ancient tome lying in front of her. Her face cast in the light showed only a single minded determination of one who knew that nine years of research, delving into the darkest secrets of magic, was reaching it's culmination. Checking through the theories and arithmantic calculations for what would be the seventh and final time, she once again reached the same conclusion that the previous six resuts had stated. The ritual was complete, and ready to be put into motion.
She glanced up at the movement in the doorway, "It's ready."
"Good, we are as prepared as can be expected." came the reply from the man who had just entered the room. His eyes focused not on the speaker, but the two prisoners nailed to the wall in a grotesque parody of a crucifiction. Each in the center of a runic field, drawn on the wall with the blood of their comrades.
Once the sacrifices were made, the runes would open the gateways of time. They would enter their own runic circles, which would guarantee that they would not move on to the afterworld. And once inside the circle they would cast the killing curse, and once their souls were free of the anchors chaining them to the mortal world, they would enter the gates.
"We'll begin now." said Harry as he walked up to the nameless Death Eater while withdrawing the silver dagger from the depths of his robes. "Your going to help us kill your master. You should be proud." and with that parting statement he thrust the dagger up through the solar plexus, and into the heart of his sacrifice.
Looking over to Ginny he saw her enter her own circle and cast the Killing Curse on herself. Pointing his wand at the desk in the far corner of the room, he spoke the incantation to send Fiendfyre into the work that showed others the method of time travel. After all who knew, once they were gone the Fidelius Charm around the house might collapse, and it would be pointless to have someone follow them. Besides Sirius hated this house, although Kreacher would probably be upset that noone would be able to see that his head had been mounted on the wall.
Glancing at Ginny again he saw that she was already opening her own gate.
Stepping into his own circle Harry Potter pointed his wand at himself, summoned all of his hate and yelled, "Avada Kedavra"
Harry watched dispassionately as his body collapsed to the floor, raising his eyes to look at his own gate and spoke in his most commanding tone.
"Temportus Expositus Ut Tui Erus" the body of his sacrifice seemed to dissolve into the runes drawn on the wall, and a blinding light appeared inside the circle. All of a sudden he felt himself pulled forward into the light, knowing that it had worked.
Hopefully.
