Apologies

"So, what do we know so far? How powerful are the death eaters now?" Harry was sat in a darkened study at a desk with Drakon at his side. The red skinned man had placed a cup of coffee on the oak desk as Harry began scribbling on parchment. He was angry.

"It appears they are stronger than anticipated now they have actively revealed themselves, the attack was to signal a return to the war. The target we know was the friend of the so called Girl who Lived. Though this Hermione Granger I doubt would have survived long after kidnapping, sir." Drakon replied in his slow deep voice. Harry nodded.

"I agree, it was a clever move but it would have been effective if we had not stopped it. Drakon we still have that rack and wooden stand in the basement don't we?" Harry asked and Drakon's face spread into a sadistic smile. The home Harry owned indeed had a basement, a large one which originally had been used for a much darker purpose than simple storage.

"Indeed we do sir? I am I to begin building a scaffold?" Drakon wondered with a certain gleam to his eye, Harry nodded and looked up, his study was a smallish room. A desk and chair in front of a window, looking out over a well maintained garden of course, bookshelves, a light and two red felt armchairs for relaxed conversations. He conducted all of his business from this room, though his eyes fell upon a selection of books on the shelf. One shelf, in the middle, was reserved for his historical books ad he had elected to use them as a basis for some of his activities.

"If there is to be some kind of war we may need it for more than just one occasion, both as deterrent and to send a message. No one tries this, very few people follow a code but I will draw a line at a kidnap and breaking contract. So yes Drakon you may begin practising," Harry said knowing his butler's liking for inflicting pain.

"Does this mean we shall soon be entertaining guests, sir?" the demonic man asked with his eyes suddenly dancing with anticipation. Harry nodded

"As soon as I draw up the warrant then it will be a matter of time. I will never, even in war, allow this to happen." Since the event at the Granger household revenge had been the topic Harry's mind had dwelled on. The Death Eaters were the scum of the earth but even he hadn't imagined someone, even Lucius Malfoy, would order something so horrific to happen to a girl who wasn't even seventeen.

"Excellent sir, I shall begin preparation immediately." Drakon grinned with wild eyes as he placed a slip of paper on Harry's desk.

"The cost of damages to be sent to the parents of Hermione Granger, sir," he explained in response to his master's quizzical raised eyebrows. Though he nodded and with a dab of ink Harry signed it, not with his own name of course. He simply used H; as far as he was concerned he had no surname. Though he signed it knowing the girl and her parents deserved something to replace their property, plus he had more than enough money. Since going into business work had not been hard to come by, it had bought an island manor house just off the coast and kept his identity secret. That was all he asked for.

12 Grimmauld Place

To all those concerned

For crimes offending the persons and associates of his estate, the man Lucius Malfoy is requested alive by the Dragon Warrior in order to impose punishment for committing crimes in the conduct of war. In that he attempted to abduct and cause serious harm to an undisclosed, underage, muggleborn girl. Judgement has been passed.

His sentence is to be hung from the neck, then while still living he shall be cut down before being forcibly emasculated, eviscerated and finally beheaded. His body shall then be used as a reminder for those who would commit similar crimes.

The reward is set at five hundred galleons with any verified expenses guaranteed.

Though know this the estate of the Dragon Warrior will not tolerate actions of this magnitude and the sentence shall be passed down again, regardless of lawfulness.

"That's a tad extreme." Sirius muttered the moment Dumbledore had finished reading out the contract which had found its way through much of the wizarding world, and attracted the attention of even more. Though the order remained silent for a few moments, few had anything to say and the rest digested this newfound information, brought to their attention by Mundungus of all people.

"Dragon Warrior?" Molly questioned with a blank stare, she was one of the many who had never heard of this person.

"I've heard that name," Tonks muttered with a quizzical look;

"Of course you have, the auror department's been after him since they heard about his work." Kingsley explained. Though he looked surprised when all eyes were on him to explain,

"Why?" Remus prompted after a moment of hesitation.

"Really no one's heard of him?" Kingsley looked at both Tonks and Mad Eye with surprised eyes. Mad Eye quickly made a small jumping movement.

"Oh that Dragon Warrior, the one half the department wants to recruit and the other half just wants to know who the hell he is," Mad Eye's mind clicked into action. The investigation had been going for a few months before he retired and Kingsley took over.

"Then who is he?" Molly asked firmly, actually wanting to get an answer this time.

"He's a wand for hire, sort of. He's famous in mercenary circles as a ruthless, violent man who gets the job done. Though I must say I'm having a hard time disagreeing with him on his treatment of scum like Malfoy." Mad Eye muttered looking at the contract for Lucius's kidnap and eventual murder.

"Mad Eye!" Lily scolded looking shocked, "This punishment is barbaric!"

"And what that man was going to do to Granger wasn't? I'd bet my pension that he was behind it all and I'll tell you the Dragon Warrior rescued her. So let Lucius reap what he's sown," Mad Eye growled. The Dragon Warrior was something of a legend in the auror circles, his identify was unknown and yet he and his counterpart had managed to take down some of the biggest criminal organisations in the country. Unfortunately in order to help another but means to ends.

"We don't know what happened for sure," Remus pointed out but deep down everyone knew Lucius was behind the whole thing, it had occurred just after the Wizengamot had repossessed half of his assets over his role in the battle of the ministry. He had not been happy with the DA and this seemed to be his revenge, unfortunately it had attracted another form of attention.

"Oh we do, trust me the Dragon Warrior found out what he wanted to do and butchered the Death Eaters, Granger herself said she saw a tall red skinned man briefly and a younger, darker haired man talked to her." Mad Eye retorted, he had been one of the first people to the scene. He had found a house smeared with blood, awake with sobs and cries and yet intact with only the attackers dead.

"Let's not jump to speculation." Dumbledore interrupted promptly, the attack on Hermione had caught them all by surprise but thankfully it had been stopped. Though the girl had been adamant about seeing a person her own age and a tall, fearsome red skinned man who had helped save her.

"Why not? Someone needs to work out what happened," Mad Eye muttered but respect for Dumbledore overpowered him and he shut up.

"Whatever the case, the reason I have brought this to our attention is this, warrior, of sorts may be an ally to us. One we cannot allow to be directed towards Voldemort's influence." Dumbledore interrupted slowly,

"Is he likely of doing that? I mean if he was the..." James began with a strange look.

"We don't know that. We also don't know if his reasons for killing Lucius Malfoy are identical to the ones presented in the document. While unlikely there seems to be a small chance of this man falling victim to Lord Voldemort. So if there is even t a minor chance surely we should do everything in our power to prevent it?" Dumbledore continued with a firm silencing voice enacted.

"And how do we do that?" The question all of them were contemplating was thankfully delivered by Minerva McGonagall.

"Well there is one way." Moody answered cryptically. All eyes once again turned back to him.

"So what should we do?" Lily suddenly didn't like where the conversation was going.

"We could get in contact with him by perhaps, delivering what he wants."

"Alistair are you suggesting we both illegally kidnap and hand over Lucius Malfoy to this person?" Lily was scandalised. Her terrified, shocked eyes were matched by almost half of the order. The other half however were not overly against the idea.

"It may give an impression as to where his loyalties may lie," James pointed out, his wife turned to him with furious eyes.

"James Potter! No we cannot hand over anyone to be hung, drawn and quartered, even Lucius!" she stated firmly looking around, hoping no one else was even thinking of doing it.

"I think all options should be on the table." Mad Eye smiled darkly.

Meanwhile

"Hermione!" The slender girl stood up in alarm as her bushy haired best friend entered the room. She and Ginny had been waiting for her all night. Her parents had been so terrified Hermione had to reassure them by leaving; obviously they were more scared for her than themselves.

"Helena, Ginny. You didn't have to wait up for me." Hermione embraced her two best friends as she entered the room and was half escorted to sitting on the bed. Next to her was the just over sixteen, curvy and striking figure of Helena Potter. Ginny flanked her other side.

"Yes we did." Helena confirmed stroking her river of long black hair, she did it whenever she was worried and she had been for a lot of time.

"Are you ok? What happened? I heard someone was after you!" Helena opened the conversation in an alarmed hushed tone, she had been blaming herself for the attack since she had heard of it.

"Calm down Helena, don't worry I'm fine. They didn't get me." Hermione stated firmly knowing her friend too well.

"So someone was after you!" Helena exclaimed, she had only heard about an attack and while she had suspected no one had told her Hermione was the target.

"I think so but don't worry I'm fine."

"Thank god! So what actually happened?" Ginny inquired eventually, her curiosity betraying her.

"What do you actually want to know?" Hermione asked slowly, she had been trying to work out exactly what had happened since the attack. Though her friends obviously wanted the bare details.

"What happened." Ginny stated simply.

"If you're ok to talk about it." Helena corrected with an irritated look at her friend for a severe lack of tact. Hermione just smiled. Then her face fell and very slowly she began.

"Well I was woken up by a loud banging noise, I thought something was going on outside."The beginning of the story was much easier to explain than the rest.

"Then I heard a scream, the next thing I know I'm being attacked by a death eater and... someone rescued me." Hermione continued, she was frowning as if she had suddenly realised something.

"Who?" Ginny asked, "How old, what was his name. Was he good looking?"

"Ginny!" Helena and Hermione scolded at once with playful smiles. Ginny had a bit of a reputation around boys, one only her close friends were kept informed about. Often to their dismay.

"He didn't look old and there was a brief duel and he hit the person trying to torture me with a curse and that was it. Though he had a friend with him..." Hermione didn't look overly happy. The damage this man and had done was extraordinary, though he had promised a cheque.

"Oooh a friend, what was he like." Ginny was doing a good job of making light of the situation, Hermione smiled.

"Tall, muscular and red. He had turned two death eaters into bloody stumps."

"Stumps?" Helena questioned with an almost horrified look. Hermione nodded

"But it wasn't that which bothered me, it was the other man. It's just."

"Just what?" Helena asked with a confused look. Hermione took one long look into her dull green eyes.

"It's just. Well he looked a lot like you, Helena."