Chapter 1. Moments like these.
"Harry… you should have protected me, saved me. I know you could." Cedric said as he lay on the grass beside him, staring into Harry's eyes with his dead ones. "You let him return… The blood of thousands of people will be on your hands…"
"I know… I'm sorry I couldn't save you!" Harry whispered back as he stood. He turned to face an oncoming Snape and Pettigrew. Wands trained on him, Harry tried to lift his Glaives, but he couldn't lift them, he was too weak.
"Pathetic Potter," Snape sneered at him.
"Weak like your parents were." Voldemort hissed at him. Harry's parents standing beside Voldemort now, not the ghostly figures that arose from the wand during the fight, but his parents… alive.
"I never meant it when I said I was proud of you Harry." James said.
"I'm glad I won't be around to watch you fail." Lily said.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort screeched. James and Lily fell to the curse.
"No…" Harry whispered.
"Potter…" Ginny said from behind him, Glaive now turned on him as she made her way around to Voldemort's side, she kissed him, causing Harry to whimper in despair. "…I could never be with someone as weak as you… Avada Kedavra," She said calmly as a flash of green light took Harry.
Harry jumped awake, panting, tears in his eyes. He looked down to Ginny who was still asleep lying next to him, arm draped across his chest. Harry gently removed her arm from him and stood, making his way out to the kitchen of their home on Potter Island.
"What was that?… I never have nightmares anymore…" He whispered to himself as he got a glass of water swigging it down.
Light was just beginning to creep through the sky, deciding he wasn't getting anymore sleep he went and got dressed into some running clothes and went down to the beach to work off some of the frustration from his dream.
Ginny awoke alone some hours later, she was relaxed and comfortable until she felt that Harry was far from that. To her he felt angry, downright furious, maddeningly so. She concentrated for a minute to try and pick up on what he was thinking, and she heard something that made, her blood run cold. 'Potter, I could never be with someone as weak as you… Avada Kedavra.' It repeated itself over and over.
"What on earth is Harry dwelling on…" She whispered worriedly as she got dressed and made her way out of the home in search of Harry.
After a short walk she came across Harry who was using both wands shooting flurries of spells into the ocean with destructive force. Sparks crackling around him with the exertion of his power, he looked like he had been training for a while and was now in the process of trying to magically exhaust himself.
"Harry?" She said tentatively. He spun around, wands levelled at her as she looked at him wide eyed. His eyes had a darkness in and around them, just like after the second task. She was even more worried when Harry didn't immediately lower the wands. "Harry…" Ginny whispered again as she edged forwards. "…It's me love… What's wrong? What can I hear through our bond?"
"Gin?" Harry said softly as realisation crept over his face. Then he fainted.
Harry was laying underneath what felt like a black curtain of almost suffocating fog. But he could hear familiar voices above him if he concentrated hard enough.
"What's wrong with him?" Asked a soft young sounding female voice, he felt a reaction to it deep within him. He loved the person attached to it. 'Ginny…' He thought to himself. Then he heard another voice.
"I'm not sure young one," An older female voice said. "It could be an after effect of being separated from you in the tournament still."
"Yes." Said a man now, "He may have never in fact dealt with the fact that he was quite damaged when he was separated from you."
"He said he felt like he was turning evil." Ginny said again. Harry then heard her voice from the dream in his head again. 'Potter, I could never be with someone as weak as you… Avada Kedavra.'
"I swear I keep hearing myself through our bond." Ginny said to the others in the room. "But it isn't something I have or would ever say."
"He must be focusing on a nightmare…" the man mused aloud. Harry was tired, he let the blackness wash over him again.
'Harry, I love you.' Ginny's voice punctured through the blackness of his mind. 'Please wake up, I need you' She sobbed, he felt her holding him. His eyes fluttered open, the overwhelming need to be there for her, to comfort her, consuming his darkness as he woke to see it was late afternoon and the red hair of Ginny sprawled across his chest.
"Gin…" Harry whispered, causing her to jump in shock.
"Harry!" She practically squealed as she leapt onto him and kissed him thoroughly.
"What happened to me?" Harry said after she surrendered his lips back to him, "one minute I was training on the beach, the next I was surrounded by an almost suffocating blackness… I heard you and the Flamels I think."
"We don't know Harry," She said as she looked downward before looking back into his eyes. "What was I hearing before? It sounded like me talking in your head."
"Oh… Ummm… I had a nightmare…" Harry said looking upset. "It wasn't pleasant."
"It didn't sound it… You know I could never be with anyone else, don't you Harry? Even if I could, I'd never want to." Ginny said.
"Yeah I know, because of the bond…" Harry said.
Ginny reached up and touched his face softly. She forced herself to remain calm at that remark. "No Harry, not because of the bond." She shook her head. "Because I love you. I know you still don't feel like you deserve love from anyone, but you do... Fuck, I am going to kill that Vernon Dursley…" She growled, Harry just smirked at her, she was cute when she was angry. "You are a wonderful young man Harry, and I love you because of who you are." Harry shrugged non-committal. "HARRY JAMES POTTER!" Ginny said becoming angry that he had simply brushed off her words. "After all we have been through, do you simply think that I would or could walk away from you? Could you willingly walk away from me?" Harry shook his head, fresh tears in his eyes. Ginny had tears streaming down her face. "Then don't you dare think for one second that I could simply abandon you. I need you! Just like you need me!"
"I love you Gin…" Harry said. "I can't live without you."
"That much is obvious, I feel the same way…" Ginny thought for a moment before she spoke again. "Harry you know I was never loved as a child, not unlike you, but I was never tortured." Harry nodded, "Well at times I feel like I don't deserve you either, but I will NEVER give up on us. I love you too much." Harry smiled and pulled her into a tight hug, she kissed him softly, after a moment he kissed her back. They lay together in the bed until sleep claimed them.
"Milord," Severus Snape said, kneeling before the re-growing feet of the Dark Lord Voldemort. "You appear to be healing well."
"Indeed Severus, arise." Voldemort hissed. "Have you come across a remedy for the potion Wormtail spoiled?"
"Yes my lord, however it will take just over 6 months to brew correctly."
"Then do it correctly Severus, I shall focus on healing until then. What of our plans?" Voldemort said in a softer tone.
"They will be carried out as per your wishes, and as instructed I will remain by your side." Snape said as he bowed deeper. "I must inform you that the old fool contacted me. Potter, it seems, is not assisting him in telling the masses of your return."
"I must admit that I am not surprised Severus," Voldemort said in return. "The Potter boy is not stupid, he knows he will be painted as insane. It seems the public quickly surmised that he defeated me all those years ago. Now, tell me. What did Dumbledore want in return?" Voldemort said with an evil glint behind the red snake like eyes.
Harry and Ginny shadow stepped to Flamel Island. It was the first day of June and it was a scorching hot day. Hermione and Neville were already waiting for the pair in the sitting room with Nicholas and Perenelle.
It'd been almost week since Harry had blacked out, Ginny had been keeping a close eye on him and they had only trained lightly together. She was worried but she never showed it outwardly, for which Harry was grateful.
"Now that we are all here," Nicholas spoke softly, but all could hear. "We can decide what we will work on first. I think we are all in agreement we do not need any more work on battle tactics?" The group nodded. "Very well, we shall simply work on combat, increasing our powers, and controlling them."
The group smiled, Harry for one, was eager to cut his teeth with some serious combat training again, it had been a while since he had worked hard on his Martial Arts, Sword and Magical combat techniques.
"After the Daily Prophet arrives, and we get the all clear floo from Minerva and Remus, we shall enter the Time-Room." Perenelle said, the group had set up a network of communication so that they could receive important updates. If anything required immediate attention, and they were in the Time-Room, then Milly from Potter Manor would let them know by entering the room and finding them immediately.
After they had received the all clear from the other adults, and checked the Daily Prophet contained nothing Dark, nor foreboding, the group headed into the Time-Room and trained. Each training session inside the room was approximately a month long.
This continued for several days before during a particularly intense sword fight between Harry and Neville, Milly appeared between them causing the pair to both fall backward. "Master Harry, Mistresses Family Home and Azkaban are both coming under attack sir!" she said distressed, before she disappeared again.
"Harry, Ginny." Nicholas said, "I think you two should appear as Harbinger and Interfector and stop the assault on the Burrow. Neville, Hermione, you two come with me and we will attempt to defend Azkaban, Neville you take lead." Neville nodded with a smirk. The group walked outside, prepared themselves and Shadow Stepped away.
Nicholas' group arrived in the middle of what had previously been a warzone, the tall dark prison looming over them, all had hoods raised and they were looking around the scorched clearing. It seemed like it was too late to do anything. They searched around and saw that many Auror guards had their throats slashed, they didn't even have wands drawn. There was not a Dementor to be seen, Harry and Ginny had destroyed much of their population during their third year at Hogwarts, the rest must have defected to Voldemort. As Neville looked around he quickly decided that there was a Death Eater or sympathiser who must have been working at the Prison for there to be as much death to the Aurors as there was here.
"It had to be an inside job." Hermione said softly to the group, putting his thoughts into words. Neville nodded to her once then pushed a finger to his lips. Nicholas had given him tactical lead, as they were confident in his leadership and he was plenty battle honed for the task, he was going to make his first mission out a success. They all crept up to the entrance to the large prison, Neville shut his eyes briefly and reached out with his Magical Perception that they had been taught during training.
He looked back at the group and held up 2 fingers, then held a flat palm to his left, indicating that there were 2 people inside the room directly to the left of the entrance. He then signalled to Hermione that they would enter quickly with wands out. There was an element of risk, but he was certain that they could handle it, he wasn't being cocky, he was just confident in his and Hermione's abilities. Nicholas and Perenelle were to wait for his command to enter.
With almost no warning, the young pair sprung into the room, wand and sword drawn each, ready to strike, but they couldn't see anyone but a pair of Aurors that were barely breathing.
"Death… Eaters…" One gurgled a last breath to Hermione before he stopped breathing altogether. The second was in better shape, as Neville signalled for Nicholas and Perenelle to enter as Hermione tended the man's wounds. Neville advanced slightly up the stairs, keeping a lookout.
"What's your name?" Hermione whispered as she was checking him over.
"Col… Colin Turner," He coughed out, "There were too many… so fast… So many dead." He said with a blank look in his eyes, Hermione was nodding. She was gathering Intel while she was tending the wounds of the man. He had large gashes across his stomach and up his sides. He was bloodied but still in reasonably good shape. He would survive, so Hermione pressed for more information to keep him talking and alert.
"Are there any still here?" She asked, Colin nodded and pointed up. "I'm going to transport you to St. Mungos now, you will be fine Colin." She said gently, as she cast a Portkey spell on his robes and he vanished.
Neville returned inside a moment later, Hermione immediately patted her wand forearm and pointed above her, symbolising enemies above. The pair had decided to learn muggle military hand signalling, as they couldn't communicate silently like Harry and Ginny could. Harry and Ginny however had learnt the same signalling so they could too communicate with Neville and Hermione.
The group slowly made their way up the stairs, and they heard light chatter. Neville signalled to stop and they listened.
"Do you really think they'll show?" One voice said.
"Well Snape said the Dark Lord thinks they will, so we just have to go off that." Another spoke up.
"I just hope Potter doesn't come…" Said the first.
"I'd take a quick death from him over Bellatrix, we should have left her here to rot... first thing she does when she gets a wand is Cruciatus me…" Another said…
Neville froze up at that. They had released the person who was responsible for his parents spending almost his entire life in the Mental Care ward of St. Mungos.
Neville was seeing red, but kept his cool. He had heard enough, and used his Magical perception to locate the Death Eaters, waited a moment to make sure they weren't moving or aware of their company, then he signalled for the others to follow him in a wedge formation as they crept around the corner.
.
Harry and Ginny arrived in the front yard of the Burrow silently. As soon as they landed however they were greeted with the screams of Molly Weasley and the pleading of Arthur.
The couple, weapons already drawn, hoods raised, sprung into action. Forgoing stealth, they silently decided shock and awe would be the correct approach for this scenario.
"Where is your daughter? Potters wife, where…" Growled a Death Eater, obviously knowing that Ginny was a Weasley. He never got to finish his question however as the front entrance to the Burrow exploded inward, instantly killing the Death Eater Guard who was standing behind it. Harry who had cast the Reductor charm, strode in and took the room at a glance, relaying what he could to Ginny who waited outside for a second.
'Gin, two torturing your mother near the kitchen, another two standing guard over your father and Ron in the sitting room. No one else is here. Enter the living room.'
"Well, well, what have we got… Hoargh!" The Death Eater finished as a green Glaive punctured his chest, putting an end to his sentence as he gurgled. Interfector removed the Glaive, spun around and took out the other one who was standing guard over brother and father with a quick bludgeoning hex, breaking his body internally, killing him instantly.
Harbinger meanwhile, casually walked forward, the Death Eaters torturing Molly, seeing their comrade's fall were shocked, one quickly recovered and pressed their Dark Mark before Harbinger cut him in half with the glowing red Glaive, as he fell to the floor screaming, he shot a Reductor curse at the other, punching a hole in the man's chest that he grabbed at before falling over dead.
Molly, Arthur and Ron looked up at the pair holding Green and Red Glaives, in horror. They had just blown through the kitchen door and taken out no less than 5 Death Eaters in seconds. One of them still screaming.
"Interfector," Harbinger said aloud, turning to her, "Get them to St. Mungos, this one used his Dark Mark to summon more of his buddies. We need to be ready." As he turned back around, Interfector was turning their Robes into one way Portkeys to the Wizarding Hospital.
He then walked over to the now whimpering Death Eater and looked in his eyes, seeing the fear and the light in them slowly fading.
Using Legilimency on him he saw Voldemort, re-growing limbs. Many other Death Eaters, various faces, and a Slytherin boy graduating Hogwarts this man was very proud of. "Flint" Harbinger said darkly, with his power laced voice. Horror quickly taking the man's features. "If your son is a Death Eater, you will be seeing him soon." He drove his Glaive through the man's chest, removing it quickly.
'Ginny, I couldn't get a location off him. I think Voldemort is under the Fidelius. No information on how Voldemort survived the first time either.'
'Damn… It would have been good to at least kick the hornets' nest…'
'Oh well, today will have to do.'
Harbinger and Interfector both Shadow Stepped to the roof of the Burrow and awaited the re-enforcements the man had summoned before he died. After about 2 minutes of waiting they were greeted by what sounded like hundreds of pops of Apparition all around them.
.
Once Neville and Hermione had rounded the corner they saw the Death Eaters. There were easily 10 of them, maybe more. They group walked forward confidently, but quietly. It was around 3 steps from the closest man, where he saw the 4 robed and hooded, well-armed figures headed toward him, before there was a blur of steel, and the man knew no more. Neville had decapitated one clear in front of the group before him, then he Shadow Stepped behind them, seemingly vanished, Perenelle joined him.
Spells peppered the group quickly after that. Hermione dodged left and right, throwing stunners at the men who were launching cutting and bludgeoning hexes at her.
Nicholas was beside her, with a shield up before launching more deadly curses, overpowered reductors and cutting charms.
The Death Eaters were getting more fearful as their numbers were thinning, one of the robed figures was cutting, and bludgeoning their fellow Death Eaters, instantly killing them. The Death Eaters, sensing an imminent loss, then started throwing the Unforgivables. "CRUCIO" one cried and Hermione let out a quick scream in pain, before it stopped, a blank look on the man's face, as Neville had approached from behind, having fought his way thought alongside Perenelle and cut the man through the collarbone and down the middle of the chest before his blade got stuck and he kicked the man over. Leaving the sword stuck in the fallen Death Eater, he turned and yelled "EVISCERATE" the three remaining men looked on in Horror as a blue shimmer surrounded him and then they were shredded as though they had just been put through a mincer.
Hermione stood shakily, Neville held his hand out to her and said. "Can I borrow your sword?" She nodded handed it over. "Which ones did you stun?" he asked softly as she pointed out 2 she know she stunned.
He stood over the first who was faced down, Neville kicked him over, hard, then sword tip to the man's throat. "Ennervate" the man woke quickly and Neville flicked his wrist, cutting the man's throat. "Legilimens" Neville then said as he quickly sorted through the man's mind as he died, Hermione watched on in horror as he shook his head and did the same to the second man.
"Neville!" Hermione practically screeched, "That wasn't necessary, they were helpless."
He simply shrugged to the girl, "Maybe so, but they have no problem killing the helpless that are innocent, so why should I have a problem killing the helpless that are guilty."
Nicholas nodded, a nonplussed look on his face. "Where are they going to go once captured?" he then let out an almost ruthless chuckle, "Can't send them to Azkaban anymore." He turned to Neville. "Find out anything useful?"
"No, just Voldemort, faces and names. I get the feeling they knew where the location of the base was, but it couldn't be divulged... Fidelius?" Neville asked.
"I should think so." Perenelle spoke up, having scoured the dead for anything useful. "Come, we should burn this place and meet with Harbinger and Interfector at the Burrow."
"We really need codenames…" Neville said softly. "I don't like how Hermione practically screeched my name for all to hear just now." Hermione quickly looked shocked, then seemed to wilt under Neville's darkening glare.
"We will talk about that when we get back." Nicholas said, as they Shadow Stepped away from Azkaban prison, not before setting the room they were in ablaze, ensuring all whom had seen them were dead.
.
"So…" Harbinger said aloud from the top of the Burrow. "I think I count roughly 30 of them. Think we can do it?" As the pair looked around from the roof, which no one had seemed to spot them… yet.
"Fuck it… Let's go…" Interfector said, and she Shadow Stepped to one end of the Burrow grounds, Harbinger to the other.
'Now Harry, I love you!'
'Love you too Gin, Always.'
The pair both set their Aura's off from each end of the Burrow's grounds. Death Eaters spun around at the darkening sky and crackling of lightning dancing across the ground and to the sky. They looked on in fear at each end, as simultaneously the pair changed their Glaives into wands, both pointing them forward towards the Death Eaters. The sky darkened further with their power, the Death Eaters felt anti-apparition and Portkey spells spring into place over the land, they started to panic now. Massive Red and Golden Auras could be seen at either end of the grounds of the Burrow, twisting a twirling in the wind that had kicked up, with the house in the middle, surrounded by Death Eaters. It looked as though a group of ants were trapped between two pillars of fire, with lightning crackling and dancing off of and around them.
The pair's wand tips glowed briefly before they both roared at the same time, "OBLITERATE!"
.
Neville, Hermione, Nicholas and Perenelle Shadow Stepped to the land adjacent to the Burrow to scope out the area before they entered, not wanting to mess around with Harry and Ginny on the warpath. They were glad, because what they saw shocked them as two massive beams of light were making their way forward, collecting and vaporising numerous Death Eaters from each end of the grounds.
"FUUUUCK!" Neville shouted excitedly over the roar of power, crashing of lightning and wind assaulting his ears. "They're really letting loose!" He looked on like a kid in a candy store.
Nicholas nodded as felt the Order of the Phoenix Apparate in just a stone's throw from them, but if they saw the four of them watching, they paid them no mind.
The massive beams of golden light had finished vaporising Death Eaters and collided with a ground quaking BOOM! That lifted all onlookers off their feet and dumped them back onto the ground. Neville was cackling almost maniacally at the sight and the power Harry and Ginny were letting out, thoroughly enjoying the moment. Nicholas let a smile cross his face, the feeling of pride within him and Perenelle, pride at their creation of the two warriors before them, destroying the Dark Forces of Voldemort. They all looked up to see an enormous golden ball, larger than Hogwarts Castle itself, where the house of the Burrow used to be, which appeared to be eating away at the earth beneath it. The golden beams between the two pillars of fire still feeding it as the ball swelled, taking up more and more of the land, before the beams were extinguished and the ball erupted, taking out a large portion of the surrounding land with it, causing the ground to shudder again.
Harbinger and Interfector appeared next to their four friends who had been watching, as they were yet to extinguish their aura's this did not go unnoticed by Albus Dumbledore and his Order of the Phoenix who made their way over to the six figures before him. The two with large Red auras extinguished, crackling of sparks subsiding, the sky lightening again, revealing two sets of glowing eyes, one red one green. The others simply had black voids where their faces would be.
"Please lower your hoods so we may speak face to face, I wish to know if you are friend or foe." Albus Dumbledore said to the group.
"No" Said the one with Red balls of light where the eyes should be. Power in the voice causing most of the Order to flinch at it.
"I must insist." Dumbledore said more forcefully, wand now drawn in his hand. Causing the one with Red eyes to laugh.
"You can insist all you want, it doesn't change the fact that we do not take orders from you." The green eyed one who stepped up alongside the red eyed one, obviously female said, power laced in her feminine voice.
Remus spoke up from behind, and to his credit he was quite convincing. "Please, we just wish to know who you are. Are you with or against Voldemort?"
"I am Harbinger, this is Interfector, these are our warrior peers, and I think it obvious we oppose Voldemort having killed over 30 of his men tonight."
Neville put his wand to his throat and spoke in a power laced voice also. "Considering we killed 15 at Azkaban, and these two killed almost a score of the pathetic bastards here, you should be thanking us for saving your followers, not attempting to interrogate us you old fool." He then Shadow Stepped away. The rest, not wanting to be interrogated any further and holding no modicum of respect for Dumbledore, left immediately after.
"Well Albus," Minerva McGonagall spoke up. "It seems you have a way with people, a war has just began and you are already out, making new enemies of allies. Powerful ones too." She said as she apparated to Potter Manor. Remus and Sirius left also, leaving Dumbledore with Kingsley and a handful of other Aurors and Order Members.
Albus looked down at the devastated land below, Molly Weasley would not be happy. The land, and the Burrow were completely destroyed. There was nothing left to recover, nothing but a crater like Malfoy Manor. This must have been the group to destroy that estate too. He had been sent word from Ronald that they were fine and had been transported by means of Portkey to St. Mungos not long after the attack started by the very same people who had destroyed the Burrow.
"Harbinger and Interfector." He mused aloud, "I must find out who these powerful people are and get them to join the Order and accept my command. They are far too powerful to be allowed to fight without direction, they could indeed be useful, a well-rounded tool. Just like Harry will be when I get him back under my control."
The group arrived as one, with the exception of Neville who left before them, back at Flamel Island. Minerva McGonagall had floo'd them as soon as she arrived at Potter Manor and had then made her way over with Sirius and Remus in tow.
Remus spoke first, "Harry, Ginny, I must say that was…"
"Bloody incredible" Sirius finished for him.
"Yes…" Remus said, "But was it entirely necessary?"
"You two don't even look bloody tired!" Sirius all but shouted over the top of him.
"Yeah… I think it was necessary." Harry said non-committal.
"Couldn't you have just, left?" McGonagall asked gently, seemingly worried at the ease of which they had killed people.
"Well of course they could have." Neville spoke up laughing, "But who would have taught the Death Eaters that they will be killed if they attack innocent people." Then he adopted a serious tone. "And Hermione! What were you thinking? You can't stun a Death Eater! You'll come off as weak!"
"You don't need to kill!" Hermione stood, hands shaking in anger and shock. "It isn't always the answer!"
"Spoken like someone who never lost anyone in the first war to those sick FUCKS!" Neville shouted, now in a towering rage, his aura now pulsing blue around him. "Tell me Hermione, were your parents driven insane by the Cruciatus curse? Were your parents killed while they tried to protect you from Voldemort? Do you have anything that is truly pushing you forward like Harry, Ginny and I do?"
"What do you mean Ginny?" Hermione asked angrily, "She hasn't seen anything of the first war…"
Harry flinched, knowing exactly what Neville was talking about, but Ginny stood angrily and put his thoughts into words. "So my uncles didn't die during the first war? I wasn't possessed by a piece of the Dark Bastards soul which tried to make me kill all the Muggleborns in the school? I didn't have to get saved by my soul-mate because some old prick decided I needed to die? The same meddling old prick who kept him away from me with an unforgivable curse, the same that practically started the last two Wizarding wars to control people and further his own greatness!" Ginny was furious, sparks arcing off her lightly as she was attempting to control her anger. "I think I have even more to fight for because not only have I personally been affected, I have my husband, who I want to live through this war too! The very same who it seems the dark prick keeps coming after for no good reason! Or do you not remember that if he dies I die too?" She finished, red in the face with sparks crackling off her, but still controlling herself. She sat back next to Harry who pulled her in close as a tear escaped her, he just thought soothing thoughts, sending his love for her through the bond, while Hermione stood there admonished with her mouth agape.
"Actually on that Voldemort coming after Harry part. We think we have something on that you guys" Remus said, drawing the attention away from a severely rebuked Hermione. "Dumbledore has us guarding on rotation at the Ministry, something he only tells us is the key to defeating Voldemort that must be kept from him, something he didn't have last time. But Dumbledore is keeping it so close to the chest that I don't even think he keeps the memory of what it is, in his head."
The group nodded, not knowing what to make of this, but also not wanting to fuel the fire that Hermione had started.
'Doesn't keep it in his head? What does he mean by that?' Harry thought.
'He wrote it down? Hardly secure. It can easily be stolen, he would want to keep it in his office.'
'Yeah, but his office is warded, inside Hogwarts, not much can penetrate it. From the dark side anyway.'
'We can think on this later anyway love.'
'We should watch over the memory of the other group's fight of Azkaban in the Pensieve…'
'I wonder if it's as bad as Neville said, if so Hermione is a bit of a risk...'
'Dumbledore… Pensieve… Not keeping it in his head?'
'Yes!' Ginny practically shouted in his head.
The rest of the group just sat there in companionable silence for a long time before Harry stood abruptly. "Of course!" he shouted before he vanished.
"How do you ever get used to that..." Sirius said softly, causing others to chuckle.
"It's easy when we can all do it too." Hermione said with a smile.
Harry re-appeared a moment later with a Pensieve that McGonagall recognised as Dumbledore's.
"You'd best be quick before he notices it missing Harry." She said to the boy who nodded and dove in, he re-emerged a moment later, stony faced.
"Oh he's been hiding something all right." Harry said as he put the Pensieve on projection mode and showed the others what he had just witnessed. Professor Trelawney the Divination Professor was sitting there casually before Dumbledore before she went rigid.
'The ones with the power to slay the Dark One draw near.'
'The First, born as the seventh month dies, to those who thrice defied him, he shall mark him as his true adversary.'
'The Second, born 7 after, loved by the First belonging only to him, 7th born, first in 7, marked by the Dark One, akin to the First. She will be bound to him and will be his only equal.'
'If the Meddler succeeds all will be lost destruction like none have seen. If the Mentors hone them, life can persevere, for only they have the power that the Dark One can never obtain.'
"Well…" said McGonagall, "He has been sitting on some very serious secrets indeed."
Ginny sat there a moment before she pointed at Harry. "The First," then herself, "The Second" then to the Flamels "the Mentors… and we all know who the Dark One and the Meddler are. Although I think for some reason he sees me as the Meddler even though I think only I can be the Second. Born 7 after him, 7th born, first girl in 7 generations, loved by him and bound to him." She gestured to Harry before she whispered, "Marked akin to the first..."
"I find myself agreeing with your logic completely." Hermione said softly as though thinking. "The power the Dark One can never obtain? I don't get that."
"Well… that could be anything…" Remus said. "Take what they did today thought, their power is incredible."
"I'll say," McGonagall said looking at the pair quickly before looking back at the Pensieve. "If you will excuse me, I think I should take this back to the Headmasters Office, he may be missing it if he is back and will no doubt be in a tizzy. As this is the Faculty Pensieve, I have every right to use it, so I will return it under that guise if he is present. Take care you lot." She said as she left the island with a rush of flames through the floo.
Some time passed as the group was chattering away.
"So, what happened today guys?" Harry said. Neville, clearly agitated, turning to face Hermione. Still obviously annoyed that she wasn't willing to kill the Death Eaters.
"I don't know what to say Neville. I don't think I can bring myself to kill them…" Hermione said softly, looking to the floor.
"I don't even want to bring it up, but after Hermione screeched out my name…" He glared at her, "It's obvious we need codenames like Harbinger and Interfector." Harry rounded on Hermione now who was looking more and more depressed.
"So you sent stunners only, which they can remedy easily with an Ennervate, not actually dropping their numbers at all, and not teaching the rest a lesson for becoming Death Eaters. Then you yell out Neville's name in an unknown combat situation?"
Hermione looked up, angry and upset at the same time. "Harry… he was ruthless, he slit their throats and used Legilimency at the same time..."
"So?" Ginny cut in "he was gathering Intel, Harry did the same thing to a Death Eater he had already cut in half. If you are lenient to things like Death Eaters, then they will use that leniency against you. Just like Snape did when he killed Cedric, and Wormtail did when he resurrected Voldemort with Snape."
Harry nodded, Ginny and he had numerous discussions over how every time a Death Eater escaped from them, the effect compounded into something far worse. They vowed to each other to do their utmost to prevent the same thing from happening again.
"Things? They're still people… Besides, these were low level Death Eaters. They couldn't or wouldn't have really done anything if we left them alive." Hermione looked around with a pleading look in her eyes.
"Then what's the point?" Nicholas spoke up. "Why fight? If you were just going to stun them, they couldn't be captured or detained, you may as well just let them go about their business, and Voldemort will take over and win with that attitude."
"As soon as they take the Dark Mark or side with Junkless they're not people to me… and tell any of that to Grace and the others…" Neville said darkly at the thought of Death Eaters attacking his girlfriend, Hermione looking shocked at his outburst. "No, seriously, tell them what you just told us… With everything that happened to them alone, makes me kill every Death Eater I come across, let alone what they did to mine and Harry's Parents, and what the diary did to Ginny."
Harry just nodded as the group looked at Hermione expectantly. Remus and Sirius adorning thoughtful looks as they watched the situation.
"I'm not going to force you to kill anyone, Hermione," Harry said gently. "I just don't know if you can come with us on missions, you may become more of a liability." Nicholas nodded as tears were now falling from the girls face as she stood and left for her room... She had a lot to think about, she was not directly damaged by the previous war being a Muggleborn, and she did not have the same Dark Side that the rest seemed to have.
As June rolled into July and the group finished up their training for the summer, they were all sitting around a campfire on the beach one evening. Their arguments about the battles at Azkaban long forgotten, yet they were still to come up with an alter-ego for each of the others to protect their identities.
Grace had come over to join Neville and George came to visit Hermione. Neville and Grace were an item, and had been for a while now, however George and Hermione were as far as anyone knew, simply good friends.
They were all talking animatedly until the living situation of the Weasleys came up. After Harry and Ginny had destroyed the Burrow, the Weasleys had moved into Order Headquarters, which Harry knew to be #12 Grimmauld Place. Sirius had offered it up for the Order to use as a show of solidarity, and considering he was living at Potter Manor with Amelia and Remus, he really had no use for it anyway.
'Gin, I feel like we should give the twins a place to live. I mean we did blow up their home.'
'I know, but I don't want to do anything like that for Molly, Dad or Ron.'
"George, Ginny and I would like to buy you and Fred a place to live." Harry spoke up.
"No need mate, it was actually a blessing. Fred and I will be able to move into the flat above the store we just bought in Diagon Alley thanks to you anyway. We were trying to figure out how to move out when we get a Patronus saying the Mysterious Interfector and Harbinger have destroyed our home saving Mum, Dad and Ron." George chuckled. "They seem comfortable enough at Headquarters for now anyway."
"Harry? Ginny?" Perenelle called from the house. "You guys might want to come see this!"
The group all stood and walked to the house, Harry was almost worried at what could have come. When they entered from the deck overlooking the beach they were greeted by the chuckling of Nicholas who was reading a special evening edition of The Prophet.
"Looks like we made the paper guys." Nicholas said cheerfully as he tossed the paper to Harry, he saw the headline as he heard Nicholas chuckling, "Wanton destruction indeed."
Harbinger and Interfector, Vigilantes, Vandals, Murderers.
It seems that the Vigilantes from the Quidditch World Cup are at it again, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. Recently revealed to be known as Harbinger (male) and Interfector (female) these two have recently been sighted at the scene of a Mass Murder. The Burrow, Home of Arthur Weasley, of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office, also charged with possession a flying car, has been destroyed. The home of the father of 7 has been replaced by no less than an odd shaped crater.
Witnesses of the event, whom wish to remain anonymous, informed that these 2 were aggressive, as were their unknown companions, and flouted authority, as they did at the Quidditch World Cup. All of the 6 (Pictured Below) are wanted for Murder and Wanton Destruction of Property. The Ministry advises that if you see any of these people on the street, that you immediately contact the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and do not engage them.
None of the Weasleys could be reached for Comment, Mrs. Potter, formerly Weasley (15) could not be located for comment.
Below this article, Harry briefly glanced over an article depicting Dumbledore as insane, rambling about the return of Voldemort.
Neville spoke what everyone was thinking once Harry had finished both articles aloud. "Well it looks like you made the right call not standing by Dumbles, while he called out Voldemort to the world." The others nodded.
Hermione clicked her tongue and spoke up, "That picture, it's from the Order of the Phoenix… One of them must have submitted a memory to the Prophet and the DMLE."
"I recognised a few Aurors, and Moody has recovered too…" Harry mused aloud, "No doubt the Meddler put whoever up to it. Not that I care. So… What do we call you guys? Have you decided?"
"I've done a little research, I like Sicarius." Neville said.
"Prudentia" Hermione said simply. The others nodded, and looked to Nicholas.
"We already have names attached to ours." He said with a smirk, to Harry and Ginny's surprise. Decades of training and this never came up. "Spectre" He pointed to himself, "Wraith" he pointed to Perenelle. "In the years past, Harbinger and Interfector were always more prominent and we were like ghosts, there one moment, gone the next. So the names are fitting. As for Hermione and Neville well chosen. Sicarius, like Interfector translates loosely to Assassin, Hermione's is more knowledge bound, which is also very fitting."
"Harbinger, Interfector, Spectre, Wraith, Sicarius and Prudentia." Harry said rubbing his chin as he smiled. "We will make sure the Death Eaters and Junkless all fear the name." Ginny gave him a wicked grin and kissed him on the cheek.
One hot morning, the week after their training had ended, the now well rested group of four bade farewell to Nicholas and Perenelle. Harry and Ginny went to Potter Island, Hermione went home to her Parents, and Neville went to Potter Manor to visit his Girlfriend and the others. Harry and Ginny would be joining them for dinner, however they just wanted a couple of hours to themselves to relax and be by themselves.
They had spent around 2 years this time, in and out of the training room over the month of June with the others, and were determined to finally enjoy their newfound time alone.
As they arrived at Potter Island, they quickly scouted the place, making sure they were alone. Once they were both certain Ginny leapt at Harry, who caught her as she wound her legs around him, kissing him passionately. Pent up tension from months since they had last found a few moments together taking them over, as they both grappled desperately at each other's clothing, Ginny giggling when Harry's head got stuck in his robes. Once he was unstuck he quickly found himself under the attack of Ginny's lips again as he carried her to the Bedroom. They didn't emerge until dinnertime, they walked out to an island practically dripping in Magic, and they laughed as they looked outside onto a powerful thunderstorm that was now subsiding.
"Huh…" Harry said, "Do you think we create storms when we are particularly pent up? We don't cause storms every time. Otherwise here and Hogwarts last year would have been surrounded in a storm almost every day." Ginny dissolved into fits of laughter at the end of Harry's musing. Harry just smiled at her, "You think that's funny? Watch this…" he said as he Shadow Stepped over behind her and began tickling her mercilessly.
"Argh" Was all she could get out for a moment as Harry pinned her down and kept tickling her. "Harry… No… Please… Stop…" He smiled and relented, still straddling her, he leant down and kissed her softly.
"C'mon Gin, we should be at Potter Manor already, stop messing around" He said in jest, she simply arched an eyebrow at him, then summoned her Magic and bucked him off, launching him over to the other side of the room. She fell into another fit of laughter as he flew headlong into a couch. He stood and smiled at her as he found his robes and pulled them over, knowing that he deserved that for the smart ass remark. Once dressed the pair Shadow Stepped to Potter Manor to dine with the others.
Dinner was an enjoyable affair, the group chatted, and enjoyed themselves with Sirius telling the Girls, after seeking permission from Harry about their latest escapade, destroying yet another large patch of land and numerous Death Eaters.
The only absence from the Group was Hermione, who would be enjoying France by now with her parents. Grace had asked Neville if she could accompany him to Diagon Alley when they went for their school supplies. Wanting to see more of his world, to which he agreed with a chaste kiss.
'Those two are perfect for each other.' Ginny thought to Harry who looked over from his conversation, watching his friend briefly.
'You're right Gin.' Harry thought to her as he wound his free arm around her waist, he looked at Grace and Neville. Grace was an attractive girl, not as much as Ginny, but definitely striking. She was slim, about an inch taller than Ginny and had wavy dark brown hair. Her skin was pale, and her eyes a deep blue, eyes which she had only for Neville, she was clearly deeply in love with him. 'I think she grounds him, gives him something to fight for. Someone to come back to and live for.'
'Surprisingly well thought out love…'
'Yes… Well occasionally I can tap into a smidgeon of intellect,' Harry then flashed a wicked grin at her as he spooned more potatoes into his mouth.
"Harry," Sirius yelled across the table. "Did you see the Prophet? Harbinger and Interfector are more well-known than Voldemort!" he laughed loudly.
"Have you met Sicarius?" He said as he pointed to Neville with a smirk. "He is part of the reason why Azkaban is no more."
"We reckon Dumbledore is silently shitting himself over what you guys did to the Weasley's place." Sirius said, Remus nodding in agreement. "He's been rattling on at Order meetings about the identity of the group, making them join the Order and getting you under his control again. We doubt he's done meddling yet."
Harry just nodded glumly, he was hoping the old bastard was done trying to interfere with his life. Then he shrugged, "I think I'm done giving him chances…" Harry said darkly, drawing looks from around the table to him. "If he makes one obvious move to any of us, he's gone."
"I wouldn't say that to anyone outside of this house." Remus said softly. "Death threats are being taken very seriously at the moment… Funnily enough because of your appearance in the paper, although Dumbledore may be portrayed as an old crackpot at present, there are still far too many people who believe him to be the true leader of the Wizarding World to simply make him disappear."
"What would you suggest then?" Harry asked, Ginny grasping his hand gently under the table, feeling his frustration.
"You would need it to look like an accident or frame it on someone, like a well-known Death Eater." Neville said shocking many around the table. "Someone like Snape who is still a wanted man. But you would have to nail it perfectly, catch everyone off guard by it… Or you could do it as Harbinger and just make sure you are never linked to him." Neville laughed, but Harry could tell there was an ounce of seriousness to it.
"We need to be very VERY! Careful about that Nev." Harry said, "They're already wanted, we cannot get linked to them, if we did we would be in hiding, and hunted actively by Death Eaters and Aurors alike."
Neville just nodded then cuddled into Grace, not wanting to draw attention to her, he looked as though he was resigned to fighting from the shadows as Sicarius for now.
Harry awoke early to the sunlight on Ginny's Birthday. His Birthday had come and passed uneventfully, he told the others he would prefer not celebrate it. They had another Dinner at Potter Manor where a few more guests came.
Ginny however, Harry had planned for. It was to be a surprise Birthday Dinner at Potter Island. As Harry made his way out to the Kitchen he stopped, smiling at the portrait of his parents. He had purchased the additional frame as they had requested so they could visit the Island, spending time with both their son and daughter-in-law and their friends.
Ginny awoke to an empty bed, the smell of breakfast cooking and Harry singing in the kitchen as he was doing so. She felt through the bond he was deliriously happy making her almost giddy with excitement. She put on one of Harry's shirts and made her way out to the kitchen, she froze in the doorway. She always loved seeing Harry half naked, however he had almost fully grown now, he had the body of a well-toned athlete, but the scars definitely made him look like a warrior. He was singing, cooking and throwing in a twist here and there, as he saw Ginny come in, he smirked, walked over and grabbed her, spun her around, sinking Ginny into a dip then kissing her soundly causing her to go light headed.
"Wow…" She whispered, "You certainly know how to treat a girl."
"Happy birthday love." He responded with a cheeky smirk. Ginny simply kissed him with a broad smile. "Breakfast is ready for you darling." Ginny was bubbly now, feeding off Harry's high, and happy because he was happy serving her for her special day. Harry lifted the cloth he had laying across the food, revealing chocolate chip pancakes with strawberries and ice cream, and bacon and egg rolls. To Harry's surprise Ginny took some of each and tucked in with a rather large smile in his direction. "Do you have anything in particular you would like to do today, Gin?" Harry asked, mouth full she simply looked up and shook her head, Harry chuckled at her. "Very well, we will go with what I have planned then." He said with a large smile in return.
After they had finished the breakfast Harry had prepared, and dressed for the day the pair left and spent the day in Muggle London. Just enjoying their time together they saw a movie, ate lunch and spent some of the day shopping, then went for a long walk in the park, arms around each other, obvious to any that they were deeply in love.
Harry and Ginny appeared in Potter Manor where they had a lovely outdoor dinner with the Muggle Girls, The Flamels, Sirius and Amelia, Remus, Minerva, Hermione, Neville and the Twins. She received various Defensive books from Hermione and Neville, as well as joke products from the twins, a broom servicing kit, and some chaser's gloves from Sirius and Amelia. Remus had copied the book he had mentioned about Merlin's Magic, for which she thanked him profusely. Minerva had given a shared gift between herself and Harry of a book on the Animagus transformation and the potions to find out if they were capable of becoming Animagii. The Flamels gave both her and Harry another shared gift, an ancient book of wards hand written by Godric Gryffindor. The present Harry had gotten her thought brought a tear to her eye, it was a photo album made from his memories, depicting moments they had shared together. As she flicked through it she saw images of her and him kissing in the Chamber of Secrets, Auras surrounding them. The pair of them holding each other close in on the boat in Australia for Valentine's Day, and other private memories. She clutched the book to her chest and worked on regaining her composure before she flashed him a tear filled smile and kissed him deeply.
They spent the rest of the evening sitting closely as they enjoyed cake and chatter with the others, it was moments like these that made them forget what had brought them here and that there was in fact a war beginning in the name of Voldemort.
A/N. I have some surprises in store for this series. I have managed to get the editing for the conversion from word document to here, reasonably intact. It is still taking some time to get it up to a readable level.
If you enjoyed it or have some constructive criticism let me know in the reviews!