Another chapter, I hope you like it, please review.
I didn't say I don't own the characters last time but it's a bit obvious? Disclaimer? Nah.
Tell me what you think and excuse all the mistakes.
He even knew how. He was making plans and trying to work out his strategies, learning how to control the situation, his powers, thoughts and feelings which sometimes just overwhelmed him. At the begging it was hard for him to do all the things that were necessary because he had to face much worse things than a boggart from an old cupboard. Sometimes he heard rumors about a mysterious angel who was trying to save them all, some even said Merlin himself was back. He couldn't say it wasn't flattering but it was also worrying him. It seemed like his actions haven't gone unnoticed.
"They found Ainsworth last week. Said he was tortured, no place on his body was left undamaged."
"Cummins turned himself in yesterday! Told everything, betrayed half of his group.. Can't say he wasn't helpful, but seems weird, doesn't it?"
The Ministry was trying to convince everyone that The Department of Magical Law Enforcement was doing a great job, new very capable aurors were recruited, Department of International Magical Cooperation was working with other Ministries from around the world trading information and interrogating those under a suspicion of being a part of any illegal group harmful to the society as they liked to call the Death Eaters these days. The minister went as far to say that it won't be long before they put their hands on the leader himself.
Everyone at The Ministry knew he was trying to cover up the fact that an outsider was doing all their work and that they couldn't find out who that person was. The fallen warriors of the dark side were more eager to tell Voldemort's location than a description of the person who made them bleed through every hole they had on their body.
The Order wasn't happy either. Dumbledore tried to calm them down by saying he's got leads, suspects on certain individuals, but they knew he was lying. At the end, they had to face the fact that their biggest problem wasn't Voldemort anymore but the person who's hunting him down. They couldn't know if that person, when done, is going to change direction and attack the opposite side of the war. Trying to realize what's going on, investigating and helding meetings two times a week, The Order was so busy they didn't even had time to laugh at Fudge and his declarations anymore.
Harry thought it would be weird if he remained silent regarding the question so he was discussing the topic with everyone all the time. Asking if he could attend the meetings and trying to be in the patrols and being declined every time.
"The only thing that bothers me is the fact that this person is working alone. How is that even possible?"
"We don't know if he's working alone. It seems impossible that one person can win this war alone when in the last one we lost an army. Unless, he's a very powerful wizard, which is impossible all over again because, how powerful can he be? Even Voldemort doesn't work alone."
"You know what, the only thing that bothers me is that you all think of that person as a man. Why couldn't it be a woman? Are you underestimating us?"
"I don't think that's our biggest problem now, Ginny. At this point I don't know if it's even human anymore."
Harry had to remain silent at these discussions, held in the common room, The Order's headquarters, The Great Hall, Dumbledore's office, his bedroom... He sometimes laughed when hearing everyone at school talking about how great The Ministry was, ordinary people saying Fudge really proved himself after all...
"He's not as useless as I thought he was, see. Seems like he's doing a great job. Too bad we didn't have him in the last war as a minister." he over heard two witches at the Three Broomsticks.
Others said it was because the aurors were so well trained and powerful. "My cousin Roger said the battles are fierce! Even though they fight back, our guys win no matter how hard it is." a conversation between three second year Hufflepuffs.
Everyone was moving on with their lives, old fear of finding the mark over your house after coming home from work, like in the previous war, wasn't even talked about anymore. They seemed happy and calm about the fact that the Ministry was doing such a great job.
But Harry was the one who was tense all the time. He was the one who's vision blurred because he wasn't getting enough hours of sleep because of the nightmares. He was the one who heard the screams in his mind. The one who was forgetting who he was, who's only worry was to do what they asked him to do. But he didn't show it. He went to classes, smiled and laughed when they expected him to, went to Quidditch practices, talked to his professors and The Order members. It seemed so silly and he had to control very hard when he saw Lavander Brown cry for three days after failing a Transfiguration test. Or Hermione making Ron read between the lines when saying she feels sorry for Lavander and that someone should go and comfort her, because, that was a really important Transfiguration test after all. But he couldn't blame them for living their lives and moving on while he was destroying his, hating every bit of his new personality.
He knew no one noticed anything because he hid everything so well. New shielding charms proved to be very useful, no one seemed to see through them. He let down his guard only at night, when everyone was asleep and he was out hunting. He didn't bother to cover up much while he was out. No one would doubt that that person with dark smile on his face, haunted eyes, firm posture and unimaginable powers was Harry Potter. Who would've thought that he was able to do such things? That he was able to kill and damage? Who would've thought that he himself was damaged?
"Where is he?" he was pacing in front of the man, every sudden move he made had the man flinching and squeaking.
"I don't know!" if anyone else was there watching, they would feel sorry for the man. He seemed like he's going to faint, the fear mixed with sweat gave that scene a haunting image.
"You think I would've came here if I didn't know you have the information?" he didn't let himself become inpatient.
"I don't know anything!" the man was on his knees, no visible wounds on his body or any trace of a charm which kept him at that position. One would think he's crazy for not trying to run, but he knew better. "Only the closest to him know where he is. A few persons, really..." Ah, there. He knew he didn't come here for nothing.
"Names." his voice sounded light, as a breeze but his body movements were a lot less mild.
"I don't know!" he was trying very hard not to cry. His frustration grew. He knew he's going to die.
A strong wind started to blow all of a sudden. Leaves were flying, swirling, dirt was sticking on his face.. He felt helpless. The hood his interrogator was wearing fell of his face and the man cried out. His face was pale, the smile still there, but it wasn't the amused one anymore. His teeth were showing, he looked like a vampire, thirsty for blood. He had dark bags under his eyes which were the most surprising on his face. They were gray. But not gray like most of people with natural gray eye color, this gray was so light it was hard to tell if there were irises at all. His eyes were the most terrifying thing the man has ever seen whole his life, and he felt like laughing because who on Earth would say that working with The Dark Lord for more than a decade and seeing that much blood spilled by himself and his friends was less terrifying than these eyes. But, yet, they were.
"We're done playing games. You tell me right now or I'll make you feel pain you've never felt before. The one not even Voldemort himself can make you feel." again that soft voice... The man was trying to think about his options but there didn't seem to be any. He opened his mouth a few times but closed them every time, calculating. His capturer didn't show any signs of annoyance as he waved his hand and a branch from a nearby tree flew across the meadow and sinked in the man's leg. A piercing scream was swallowed by the deafening sound of the hurricane his capturer was controlling.
"Why are you up so early?" Ron yawned the next morning looking at Harry's fresh face.
"Oh, had a good night of sleep. Come on, let's hurry, breakfast is already served I think. Hermione must be waiting for us downstairs." he waved his wand and the bed was set. His pajama on the pillow and a glass of water by his bedstead.
"I'm starving. Hope there's chicken." said Ron as he pulled a shirt over his head, trying to put on a tie and pull on pants at the same time. Harry laughed with Dean and Seamus as they watched Ron tripping and falling on the floor, getting up quickly and throwing away the tie with disgust.
"Let's go. I had a weird dream... I was running all the way through it, think that's why I'm so hungry now."
Harry just waved his head and smiled as he remembered his night and smiled even wider when he remembered it was a successful night because at the end, he got all he needed.
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