Title: The Death Eater Rebellion

Archive: Yes, you may, but please e-mail me and tell me where it's going. Thanks.
               
Rating: PG-13 for violence, language, and slight sexual connotations that come with the characters being 16.
 

Pairing(s): Ron/Hermione shipper, but that is hardly the focal point of this, and there are some other relationships hinted to and all are heterosexual. (I'm NOT like WB who is viciously against slash, I just don't care to read or write it into the world of Harry Potter.)

Author's Note: Attention folks, here it is! The sequel to "The Staff of Orkney." If you're here and haven't read "The Staff" yet, I suggest you do, however, I have attempted to write this so it could be read on its own.  To my faithful readers, I am back and you can expect Draco and LeSal to return later, (though not to Hogwarts. They've abused their privileges and aren't allowed back in.)  As you have probably noticed, I pared down the characters and in this, my focus will now rest mainly on the new powerful quartet: Lupin, Snape, Sirius, and Harry. I also have a fascination with the LeStranges that I plan on entertaining. Thanks to all of you who have e-mailed and IM'd me asking, (and threatening), me to continue this saga. It makes me feel loved. This chapter has been hard to write though. My muses have been highly vociferous lately and I started a Snape piece, (it's in canon with "The Staff,") and I've got a plot outline for a serious Dumbledore fic. (It's going to have Grindelwald, the Figgs, Nicolas Flamel, Nazis with wands, old Norse mythology, and cool stuff like that.) To make matters worse, Patrick, the main character from my original story (posted under "Andrew's Cross"), was getting mighty piqued that I had let all these strange magic folk in my head, so I had to let him out for a bit before someone got hurt—not to mention I was worried what influence LeSal was having on him—two characters with a substance abuse problem in the same head is bad. Anyway, I gave him his laudanum and now have returned to writing Harry Potter fan fiction. Weeee! This was a really long author's note, I know. So I'll shut up now and let you get started.

Summary: Harry's 6th year at Hogwarts. Dumbledore has been lost in the fight against Voldemort. Those who now must take the front line in battle are the motley and new Marauder's quartet: Lupin, Snape, Sirius, and Harry. Will they be able to put aside their differences? Times are growing darker as Voldemort recovers from his wounds and all fear his growing power, but something unexpected begins to brew amongst the ranks of Death Eaters. Will it be trouble for Voldemort, or trouble for all?

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to J. K. Rowling and Warner Bros. The author does not claim or imply the rights to any item related nor belonging to the Harry Potter universe.

Chapter I

Old Enemies

"And when you're done clipping the Quidditch pitch, you can check on the plants in greenhouse four. If you've forgotten the charms for mowing the grass or get eaten by the saber-toothed venus trap, it's your own fault." Filch. While Harry would have considered it a dream come true to stay at Hogwarts over the summer, Filch seemed to be doing his very best to take the place of Vernon Dursley.

Hagrid had left at the beginning of the summer on his missionary work to the giants thereby leaving all of the groundskeeper duties to Argus Filch who summarily passed them down to Harry.  However, the chores were not quite as horrible as at the Dursley's. More dangerous—yes, but at least he could use magic and there were perks such as swimming in the lake, flying on his Firebolt, and occasional trips to Hogsmeade that helped him to endure Filch's never-ending list of chores to do, which he was many times told to redo.

The only professors who had stayed had been professors Snape, Trelawney, and Sinistra.  The thought of having to spend the summer with Snape had at first been distressing, yet he had been so preoccupied with preparing his new position as the headmaster, that there were days at a time where Harry did not even catch a glimpse of him.  Professor Trelawney, while annoying when he did see her, spent most of her time locked in her tower, Professor Sinistra, on the other hand—if Argus Filch was up for taking the place of Uncle Vernon, Sinistra was up for the position of Aunt Petunia.  She even seemed to have the same bony frame and horse-like face, which Harry had never paid much heed to before.  It had been she who had administered Harry his O.W.L.s exams, and he was certain his marks were worse off for it.

With a sigh, Harry wiped the perspiration from his forehead as he locked the door to greenhouse four.  He clipped the heavy key ring that he carried on his belt and headed for the lake.  A quick swim before he got his broom and practiced for a time over the Quidditch pitch.  Now that his list of chores was done for the day, he had at least an hour before he would be expected for dinner.  He had been forced to move out of his dorm and got to take up residence in the staff quarters, which seemed nice at first, but he quickly decided he would have preferred the distance his dorm would have given him from Sinistra.  Like Petunia, she was strict about mealtimes. The elves brought the food at six thirty, and if he wasn't there, he didn't get anything and sneaking down to the kitchens in his invisibility cloak was out of the question.  Snape had been kind enough to inform Filch of his owning the cloak, and if he was caught using it just once, he'd have it confiscated until he graduated.

Standing on the sandy banks of the lake, Harry unbuckled the belt that he wore to cinch up his summer robes.  Hagrid had given it to him as an early birthday present and he had grown quite fond of it.  It had runes and different magical symbols pounded into the leather and several silver rings studded on the sides and front where he could attach his keys and other odds and ends.  With it, he had also received a scabbard for his wand, which was positioned over his left hip and a leather pouch with a griffin on the flap that slid onto the belt and serviced as a pocket.  He placed his glasses in the pouch then put the belt down on top of a bush before pulling his green cotton summer robe over his head then splashed into the black water of the lake.

After one uncomfortable mishap, Harry had had quickly learned to swim close by the giant squid, which was actually quite friendly but did a good job of scaring away the grindylows. He dove down to where the lake was cooler and came up to the surface, placing a hand on the slick side of the squid as he pushed his wet hair out of his eyes.  His hair hadn't had a trim in months and it was long enough that his bangs could be swept back behind his ears.  He was seriously considering letting it grow until he could pull it back in a ponytail like Bill Weasley. A smile came to his face as he thought about what Mrs. Weasley would have to say about that—or Aunt Petunia for that matter.

He dove down again, this time opening his eyes and staring up at the surface of the water. His eyesight was too poor for him to see too much around him but he thought he made out a form above the water, standing by the side of the lake.  He floated back up and wiped the water and hair from his eyes and looked in the direction of the figure.

On the bank, with one leg on a rock and leaning casually over his knee, was Sirius Black.  His hair was trimmed, his face shaven, and he was wearing a neat set of copper and red colored robes.  "Happy birthday, Harry," he said pleasantly as Harry swam over to the bank.  Sirius stood back and snatched Harry's green robe from the bushes and threw it at him.  "Get dried up.  You're coming with me into town. Got a surprise for you."

Harry quickly threw on his robe and then gave Sirius a firm hug.  They patted each other on the back before letting go.  "I'm so glad you came," he said excitedly as he buckled on his belt and dug out his glasses.  He slipped a pair of sandals on his feet and they started to walk toward the front entrance. "I was afraid I was going to have to spend my birthday with Snape and Filch, and I doubt if any of them were planning on making a cake."

Sirius laughed. "No, I don't think I would expect them to."

"So is Lupin here too?" Harry's day had just become one hundred percent better.

"Yes," Sirius nodded, "Remus managed to come along, though he's been busy with auror training. He found some time—he's been very—occupied." Harry noticed that he was smirking and gave him an odd look. "Ah, I didn't say anything," he said quickly.

"Said what?" Harry prodded.

Sirius squinted down at Harry and gave a sly smile. "About an auror—one named Miss Blaidd Nettleson, I believe—but I didn't say anything, mind you."

"Of course not." They had left the school grounds and were making their way down the main road of Hogsmeade.  Some of the villagers were staring.  The famous Harry Potter walking down the street with the infamous ex-convict Sirius Black was no doubt something for witches and wizards to stare at. "So has anyone else come?" he asked hopefully.

"What do you mean, 'anyone else?' You think you're that popular? You were lucky to get us. Sure, we sent out invitations, but we'll see who comes." He grinned down at Harry as they approached The Three Broomsticks. "And don't you worry. I didn't forget to invite Professor Snape, if that is what you're worried about."

Harry rolled his eyes and entered The Three Broomsticks.  Almost immediately, he was bowled over by an enthusiastic Hermione.

"Oh Harry!" She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek. "Happy birthday."

"Thanks," Harry replied, drawing away from the overwhelming greeting.

"Hi, Harry." He looked over to see Ron's tall and gangly figure standing not too far off. Lupin stood nearby. "How's it going? Getting to stay at Hogwarts and all?"

Sirius clapped a hand on Harry's back and together, they all joined together at a table across the room.

"And look at you," Hermione commented. "Those robes are—interesting."

Harry looked down at himself and shrugged. "With Hagrid off working, Filch has made me take up the groundskeeper duties."

"Ugh!" Ron exclaimed. "You're stuck with Filch… and Mrs. Norris?"

"And Snape," Harry added.

"Harry," Ron placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, "I feel for you. I really do."

"Ah, it's not been too bad." When Harry thought about it, it really wasn't. "It's better than the Dursley's."

"Well, now, what shall I get for you all?" Madame Rosemerta had walked up to the table and was beaming at Harry.

"What do you mean by that? I owled ahead…" Sirius looked genuinely shocked.

"Oh, dear." Rosemerta's face fell. "Was that cake for your party? Oh, my. I am sorry." There was a moment of silence before she said, "I'll have a look in the back. Perhaps I can come up with something."

"You didn't need to do that," Harry said once she left. "The fact that you're all here is a gift in itself."

"Ah, but what's a party without a cake, hmm?" Sirius tousled his hair. "Besides, your sixteen this year, and it's not everyday that you have your sixteenth birthday."

"I'm already sixteen," Ron puffed up, but he seemed to be directing this at Hermione.

"We've already celebrated yours," Hermione replied.

"Yea," Harry added, "you're lucky enough to have yours during the school year. I've had to celebrate every single one with the Dursleys."

"Not every one," Lupin said quietly. His smile was rather sad.

Sirius gave him the same look. "Well, it's about time you spent another with good friends—some of the same friends."

            Lupin, still with the sad smile, "I was there."

"And so was I," Sirius added.

Harry was suddenly ready to cry and by the looks of Lupin and Sirius, they were too. He looked over at Ron and Hermione: Hermione was whispering something into Ron's ear.

"So are you two a couple now?" Harry asked them, glad to change the subject. "Because you're over there whispering and giggling like a bunch of first year girls."

Both turned very red in the face and sat back in their seats.  Sirius and Lupin took the chance to smile and snort a soft laugh at this.

"Speaking of girlfriends," Harry then dared, "I thought I heard rumors that concerned you, Lupin?"

Lupin abruptly stopped sniggering and stared first at Harry then looked accusingly at Sirius.

"You little fink," Sirius whispered, lightly boxing one of Harry's ears.

"And what type of rumors might those be?" Lupin asked, still keeping an eye on Sirius.

"Oh, nothing…just that you have been doing well in auror training."

Sirius laughed while Lupin took on an indignant air. "I have been doing well in my auror training, but as for a love life, as you know, it is not permissible for me to have one."

"But I thought you were rewriting the rules?" Sirius pointed out.

"I am, but that is one rule that I agree with."

Lifting an eyebrow, Sirius said slyly, "You sure weren't whistling that tune the other night."

Harry decided to turn the other way and laugh as Lupin angrily whispered in Sirius' ear, "Not in front of them."

"Who? Harry? He's sixteen…"

"Sirius, please…"

"Here it is!" Madame Rosemerta announced as she approached the table, balancing a cake platter on her hand.  There were sixteen sparkling candles hissing and spitting sparks all over the table as she set it down before Harry. She then pulled a camera out of the pocket of her apron. "Okay everyone, start singing."

Harry leaned his head on his hand and felt his cheeks burning. He'd never had anyone sing to him on his birthday, so he convinced himself finally to look up so that he wouldn't miss it.

"For he's a jolly good fellow. For he's…" Ron began loudly, joined in by others at the table. Soon, however, others around The Three Broomsticks had taken notice and joined in as well.  At the end of it, there was a round of applause.

"And who might we have been singing to?" one customer asked loudly.

"To Mr. Harry Potter!" Rosemerta replied enthusiastically.

There were some sighs around the room. "Well I'll be! Then here's to you, Mr. Harry Potter. I'm honored to have had the chance to sing you a birthday song!" and the man lifted his glass and took a swig.  Several other voices resounded with "here, here's."

Grinning at them all, Harry faced his cake and drew in a breath.

"Ah ah, Harry!" Ron exclaimed, jumping out of his seat.

Harry stopped. "What? Make a wish? I did…"

"No. Those are explodin' candles. You don't want to blow them out like that."

"Oh." This was new, but by now there were few things in the magical world that could surprise him.  He withdrew his wand and placed a smothering charm on the flames.  Afterward, everyone clapped and Harry felt his ears go red.  He pushed a stray strand of hair back behind his ear and looked around the table.  A warm feeling had welled up inside of him.  This birthday had to be one of the best; second only to the day he was told he was a wizard. Rosemerta fetched drinks while Harry doled out slices of cake then they all settled down to visit.

"I've been talking to dad about having you come and visit," Ron explained; his mouth was covered in chocolate icing. "But I don't know. Mum feels sorry for you, locked up at the school with only a few of the crabbiest professors yet she says you're safer here."

"I'd love to stay the summer," Hermione commented. "Think of all the work you could get done!"

"Not much," Harry said, stabbing at his cake, "with Filch barking at me to do something every time I turn around."

He half-heartedly continued the conversation, but he oddly felt as if his conversation with Ron and Hermione was an act, an obligation.  Dumbledore's death was still so very close and after his encounter with Voldemort, the images that he got in his mind, floating there from Voldemort's own consciousness, dug into him.  It became a habit to him now. At least once a day he'd close his eyes and think of Voldemort, seeing if the image he saw was anything remotely recognizable. Not that he'd know what to do if he ever once glimpsed Hogsmeade or the gates outside of Hogwarts.  There was also a weight, a terrible uneasiness that he felt after each vision, as he wondered if Voldemort did the same.  He still had his wand out from when he had snuffed the candles and he began to absentmindedly twirl it in his fingers.

Ron was on one of his famous tirades about Snape and Harry was nodding and "umhmming" at the correct places when he glanced up at Lupin's face, which had become slightly pink from whatever was in his frosted mug.  He noticed that he had suddenly turned to look at the door as had Sirius.  Ignoring Ron's last statement about Snape and proper hygiene, Harry swiveled in his seat and faced the dark headmaster himself.

"Severus!" Lupin forced a smile. Sirius did not even attempt one and Ron abruptly shut up.

Snape stopped before them, clearly surprised at the gathering. Professor Sinistra was close at his side and she did a goofy little thing with her mouth that conveyed that she was not pleased.

"And Florence, how good to see you both. Care to have some cake?"

Snape's black eyes shifted from Lupin to the cake, to Ron and Hermione, to finally rest on Harry.

"I'll get a slice for both of you, professors?" Harry offered even though he knew the answer.

"No thank you, Potter," Snape replied simply.  He cocked his head to the side and eyed both Lupin and Sirius. "I didn't expect you two to be here."

"It's Harry's birthday," Sirius said, all joy seemingly having been sucked out of him.

"And we do need to talk some business," Lupin added. "We'll be by this evening."

Snape gave a terse nod then glanced once down at Harry. "Happy birthday, Potter," and he turned his back on them.

"I'm not looking forward to working with him," Sirius informed before Snape was even out of earshot. "Gets so pissy over everything. Can't even ask the man if he wants a piece of cake before he goes all sour. He's the most ill-natured, bad tempered, rude, and downright impossible person I've ever had to deal with. 'Oh, no. It's just a piece of cake, dammit.' It's not like he's the only one who's had a harsh time at life."

Ron snickered, Lupin frowned, and Harry glanced over at Snape who had turned his head slightly to look over his shoulder at Sirius. It had surprised him that he had gotten a "happy birthday" from him. Then again, a lot had happened in the last year.

"Sorry he had to show up at your party, Harry," said Sirius more kindly.

"That's all right," Harry answered then paused before commenting, "But I don't think he's the one being so sour right now."

Lupin raised an eyebrow and Harry got the feeling that he had probably wanted to say such a thing but had decided to refrain from it. Sirius just stared into his drink, dumbfounded at Harry's reaction.  Ron and Hermione wisely elected to keep quiet.

"There are some things about Severus Snape," Sirius said softly after a time, "that if you knew, it would curdle your blood. I will work with him because we have a common enemy, but I will never agree to the fact that he has been accepted back into society. So it's my advice to you, Harry, that it would be wise to keep a safe distance."

Lupin, the voice of reason: "It was Dumbledore's decision, Sirius. And that is a good one for me. Now let's drop this. It's unpleasant to talk about. Now Ron, you were telling me something earlier about a device you discovered at Hermione's called a microwave?"

It was unpleasant to talk about it, and frankly, Harry was sick of the way Sirius and Snape acted around each other.  Dumbledore had worked feverishly last year to get them to put aside their differences and there seemed to be little progress that had taken place.  And as Lupin had stated earlier in the year, it wasn't always Snape who was the problem.  Sirius was an interesting person, and Harry loved him as a dear friend and Godfather, but at the moment, he wanted to scream at him and the headmaster. Neither of them seemed to be capable of putting aside their pride and joining forces. Harry almost groaned audibly when Snape walked past again on his way to the counter.

This sparked Sirius to speak up again, "So Harry, I want you to tell me how your summer has been going. Snape hasn't been too hard on you has he?"

Harry forced himself to take a bite of cake. "He's the headmaster, he's busy."

Snape had heard this on his way back to his table and stopped, his eyes flashed. He had evidently hear his name pass over Sirius' lips one time too many. He bent over and placed his hands on the table and put his face right in Sirius'.  Everyone cringed.

"Listen Black. I know that you don't like me. I hate you myself. But if you've got something to say, have the decency to say it to my face and don't wait until my back is turned."  Their noses were nearly touching they were so close to one another.

"You shouldn't presume you know what I'm talking about," Sirius shot back. "You should mind your own business and not spend your time eavesdropping…"

"He really didn't say anything, professor," Harry broke in.

"Stay out of this, Potter," Snape snarled.

"Don't talk to him like that," Sirius ordered.

Harry blocked them out. This was the last straw.  All he could think about was Dumbledore and how he'd react to this. It was pitiful. Angrily, he stared at the cake and debated on whether to reach for his wand.

There was not much time to think, however, for at that moment that was a loud "pop" as if a balloon had burst.  Cake was splattered everywhere.  Both Sirius and Snape were coated with sticky icing.  Their argument came to an abrupt end as both turned to stare at Harry.

Harry hadn't been expecting to do that. At first he wanted to cringe, but then something came over him. He stood up, knocking the chair down behind him. "Why can't you two stop this?" he blurted out, reason completely taking leave. "Don't you see what you've already done? And it just might happen again!"

"What are you talking about?" Snape asked dangerously.

"Dumbledore told me." Oh, dear Merlin, he was scolding Snape!  "He told me that you, professor, knew that Voldemort was going to kill my parents but instead of going to them, you went looking for Sirius, certain that he was the traitor. If you two hadn't hated each other so much, my parents might still be alive. That's what I'm talking about."

By the look on Snape's face, Harry realized that he had just made a very grave error and before his mouth decided to get him into further trouble, he decided to leave.  He stormed out and plopped himself down on a bench outside.

He had icing and cake all over his face and he wiped at it a bit before taking out his wand and performing a scouring charm.  When he was done, he chose to just stare at the wand: still the same wand that he had taken from Voldemort: the one that had killed his parents.  Then it hit him: how hopeless their cause suddenly seemed. With everyone so bent on fighting each other, how would they ever come to be able to defeat Voldemort and his strong alliance of Death Eaters?  His thoughts were broken.

"Harry?" It was Lupin. He had stepped outside and he seated himself on the bench, a look of concern on his face.  He folded his hands in his lap and said nothing but his mere presence made Harry want to go to his room, crawl under his bed and never come out. Carefully, he removed his glasses and polished them on his robe.

"We don't stand a chance." He placed them back on his face. "Do we, Lupin?"

"I think we do," Lupin replied softly. "And you can call me Remus." He ran his hands through his graying hair.  There seemed to be a lot more silver now then there was when he had been teaching three years earlier. "Dumbledore was a great loss, but we'll always stand a chance."

"Not with them acting like that," and Harry waved a hand toward the inside of the Three Broomsticks.

Lupin pursed his lips. "They'll get over it. They have to—and they know it."

Harry let out a large sigh and started twirling the wand again.  It reminded him of how Tom Riddle had been twirling the same wand down in the Chamber of Secrets and he stopped.  His hand felt gross and he placed the wand back into the leather scabbard on his belt.

They sat on the bench, each to his own thoughts, listening to the scuffling inside until it died down. Snape was the first to come out and he was gripping his wand in his hand looking furious, his face flushed.  He'd managed to use a scouring charm on his robes and face but his hair still retained some crumbs. He stopped in front of Harry and took a deep breath.

"Mr. Potter," he said quietly, "I need to speak to you today at some time. Please stop by my office when you get back to the school."  He then headed off in a fury of black robes.