Chapter 2

Harry reappeared in the manor a few hours later with Eames in tow. This time the wards didn't attack him as the two men walked through the foyer into the living room.

"Hey Harry!" Danny called out from the game of chess he was losing to Ron. The others were sitting next to him though Alex was missing.

"Wheres Alex?"

"I think she is talking with Dumbledore, mum and dad in the kitchen" Danny called back as Ron's queen took his pawn's head off.

Harry smirked a little before dragging Eames into the kitchen. All six people at the table looked up when he arrived.

"Eames!" Alex was on her feet in a second and another second later, she slapped the man hard.

Eames flexed his jaw before smiling at her charmingly, "Ah Alex me lovely, pleasant surprise to see you here."

Harry pulled her hands back as she moved to attack him again, "You did not tell me you were going to save HIM of all people!"

Harry rolled his eyes as he pushed her into a chair opposite a still bemused set of people. Eames raised a hand before digging around in his expanded pocket. Seconds later, he withdrew a small velvet box and gave it to Alex, "Open it."

Alex glared at him before opening the box. Her face changed to utter happiness however when she saw the contents. There was a large emerald earring set there, "Ooh Nigerian?"

"Yep, for you only precious" Eames smiled teasingly as he sat down next to Harry.

"It almost makes up for the rubies you stole from me" Alex nodded, a smile on her face. Eames looked offended, "Almost? The emeralds are worth way more than the rubies!"

There was a glint in her eye as Alex looked like she was going to yell again. Harry looked at James Potter and sighed, "Only one way to stop her." And then he took a gun out of his belt and handed it to Alex, "Here shoot Eames so I don't have to hear your reasons why you hate him again."

Eames gaped at Harry while Alex cocked her head as though considering it.

"Er… Alex how about these to go along with it?" the man was relentless as he handed her another small velvet box. Opening it, Alex grinned as she saw a signet ring, "Ooh, the signet ring of Duke Vincent of Milan from the thirteenth century! Where did you find this?"

"Here and there" Eames said evasively before asking, "So we good?"

Alex shrugged and threw the gun back at Harry who caught it deftly, "We are good."

"Good, now can we continue?" Dumbledore spoke up, his eyes twinkling brightly.

Alex and Eames nodded a bit red in the face. Eames turned to look at Dumbledore and said, "Its Eames. And you are Dumbledore I presume?"

Dumbledore nodded while Sirius asked, "How do you not know Dumbledore? He is supreme mugwump of the ICW!"

Eames shrugged, "I am not magical, pal."

"What?" Sirius looked surprised and Eames raised an eyebrow, "Don't worry, I can put a bullet in your forehead faster than you can take out your wand."

"How do you know of the magical world?" Lily asked interrupting Sirius's suddenly defensive speech.

"Come on, almost everyone in the underworld knows of magic. Harry, I thought these people were smart" Eames rolled his eyes.

"Careful Eames, that's my mother" Harry said dangerously before shrugging, "They don't know much about life outside Britain though."

Eames whispered an apology to Lily as Dumbledore spoke, "Anyways, why are you here Mr. Eames?"

Eames shrugged, "Harry said you wanted to do inception – I wanted in."

"Inception? What the hell is that?" James asked.

"That, father, is the act of implanting thoughts in a person's subconscious. Voldemort has a connection with Danny doesn't he?"

"Yep but its almost faded over the years. His scar only twinges once a year if at all now" Lily frowned.

Harry frowned too before saying, "Okay then. I still have a connection with Voldemort. I have learned to block him out most of the time but if needed I can open the connection."

"What does this have to do with anything?" Remus looked confused.

Harry grinned, "I am saying that we use my connection to Voldemort to plant an idea in his mind – a day for a final battle."

"Oh, is that possible?" Dumbledore leaned forward.

Harry nodded, "Yes. The American military developed a method for accessing a person's subconscious by entering their dreams around six years back. It was discontinued as dangerous but it is still practiced in some shadier parts of the world. It is usually used to extract information from a person's mind but it can be used to plant an idea as well."

"But its near impossible. I don't know anyone but Harry who has ever accomplished it" Eames said.

"Why is it impossible?" Dumbledore asked.

"Because of this. I look at you and I say 'don't think of elephants.' What do you think of?" Eames asked.

"Elephants" James answered understanding.

Harry smirked, "Indeed but that is not the way to go about planting an idea in Voldemort's mind. We have to be secretive and bypass standard extraction techniques by using a previously existing connection."

"Like your scar" Dumbledore deduced.

Harry nodded, "Like my scar but I suspect that the connection will be stronger if we connect both Danny and my scars to enter Voldemort's subconscious."

"And how dangerous is this?" Lily asked with an arched eyebrow.

"Not at all dangerous" the reply was instantaneous from Eames, "In a dream, if we die, we wake up. So there is no danger to us."

"There might be a danger" Harry rubbed his chin making them all look at him. he frowned, "To get Voldemort to believe the idea, we need three or four dream levels. To stabilize those levels, we need to use a sedative. That could mean that we cannot die in the levels or we will not wake up."

"Sedative? I know this man – Yusuf who could"

Harry cut Eames off, "No, we cannot have anyone knowing about it Eames. That means I will have to create one. Don't worry about it – I will make a sedative."

"Wait a minute – how do you know this will work?" James was frowning.

Harry smirked, "Because I have done it before."

"To whom?" Dumbledore frowned.

Harry sighed and rubbed his forehead as though he had a headache, not to mention his chest sending waves of pain up to his brain. Clamping down on his shields so the pain wouldn't stop him functioning he spoke, "I did it to Voldemort."

There was silence and Lily asked softly, "When?"

Harry frowned, "Two years ago when he was being resurrected, he traced me through my scar and almost killed me through the connection. So I went under and pushed myself through the link until I was in his subconscious. I had to go under six more times in his mind before I was able to convince him that I was really dead and that the connection doesn't exist. Since then, he has not once attempted to find me or even thought about my scar."

"That's amazing" Lily gaped.

Harry shrugged as if it was nothing. Dumbledore spoke softly, "I think that this is an excellent idea Harry. Could we not convince Voldemort to completely convert to a light wizard?"

Harry laughed, "As if it were that easy? No we cannot because the idea is too complicated and too strong. A final battle date is easy and small – something that can be easily fit into his mind. We cannot however change something he vehemently believes since his childhood."

Dumbledore nodded and was opening his mouth when the door burst open and Danny ran in, "Professor! There are injured Order members coming in!"

Dumbledore was on his feet instantly. Running to see what was going on, Harry gaped a little as around thirty people in various injured states popped into the living room.

Next to him Alex pulled out her wand, running to the critical patients on the floor. He looked at Dumbledore who was questioning the dark, muscular man in front.

"Kingsley, what happened?"

The man shook his head looking horrified, "The Ministry was attacked! Its under Voldemort's control now. The other aurors turned on us with the unspeakables and began attacking. I activated the emergency Order portkey when we were losing. Voldemort… he has an army of Inferii, Albus! And an army of people under the Imperius! We lost Hestia…. She died trying to warn us Albus!" The man was clearly upset over the death of the woman.

Dumbledore's face was grave as he turned to look at where the uninjured people were helping care for the injured. Turning to Harry, his eyes were grim, "I find it an odd coincidence that you come back the day this all happens. Did you know of this?"

Harry raised an eyebrow at the man – he was quick. So he shrugged and settled for a half-truth, "I suspected the Ministry was going to be taken soon. I didn't realize it would be this soon."

Dumbledore looked at him for another second before nodding, "Very well then. We must take Hogwarts before Voldemort does."

In a louder voice he called out, "Everyone uninjured grab a hold of those who need it and meet me at Hogwarts. I am converting Hogwarts and Hogsmeade into a sanctuary."

Harry stepped up and whispered in Dumbledore's ear, "I can help Dumbledore. I did learn warding from Merlin himself. Voldemort cannot breach my wards."

Dumbledore frowned, "And how will it impact you?"

Harry frowned too, "Do not worry about that. If my magic gets too wild, I shall extract myself."

Dumbledore nodded and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder before disapparating. The two of them arrived in a circular room in the bowels of Hogwarts. there was a round ball of white magic in the very center of the room that was rippling with energy. Harry gasped loudly as he felt the magic pierce his own core. Dumbledore caught him as he swayed, "Harry?"

Harry took a deep breath and righted himself, "Its nothing. The masking charm Alex placed on me for the Potter wards will hold up here as well."

Dumbledore still looked concerned but stepped up to the magical ball. Looking at it, he spoke angrily, "The death eaters are trying to breach the outer wards."

"Let me handle it" Harry stepped forward withdrawing a long silver wand from the recesses of his expanded jean pocket. And with that he began a complex set of incantations and wand movements, chanting in long dead languages. Dumbledore watched in awe as colorful layers of magic began surrounding the white ball in the center.

Three layers after the first, Harry's skin started turning slightly green. Dumbledore pressed a hand on his shoulder making him pause, "Harry listen to me."

Harry cocked an eyebrow and Dumbledore spoke sternly, "The slightest chance that you lose control of the magic, leave. I do not want you to die if the wards see you as a threat. Understand?"

Harry smiled, "Certainly. Since I am warding, could you go and see to the injured people in the infirmary? The wards when done will be tied to a stone that I shall hand you."

Dumbledore nodded stiffly to Harry before walking out of the room. Once he was gone, Harry slumped a little showing weakness for the first time. Taking a deep breath, he continued casting long forgotten charms on the ball of magic. He would ensure that the castle and surrounding village were protected from anyone willing to do harm to those inside. Anyone…

When Dumbledore appeared in the infirmary, he found the younger children looking out the window as the adults healed those fallen. Looking out the window, he looked amazed as he saw the very colors around the magical ball signifying different wards shimmering around the outer edge of the Forbidden forest and Hogsmeade. It was miraculous and amazing.

"Albus, who is warding?" Molly Weasley looked confused as she took a set of potions to Tonks who was lying in bed.

"Harry is. He is much more advanced than me in warding and knows complex spells that I have never seen or heard of" Dumbledore said, his voice laced with awe. The people who heard him looked at him in surprise – there was nothing they had seen Dumbledore unable to do before!

"My sixteen year old son is more advanced than you? The sky is truly going to fall on our heads" James muttered loudly as he finished patching up Kingsley.

Dumbledore nodded dumbly before looking at Alex who was finishing up on a particularly gruesome looking patient whom he couldn't identify.

"James, Sirius, Remus can the three of you begin evacuating Order families and innocent families that you know immediately to the grounds? We will find places to house them when they get here" Dumbledore said.

The three men stood and nodded before taking off. Looking at Kingsley and the patched up Tonks he said, "Can the two of you go to Hogsmeade and warn them of the happenings?"

The two nodded and vanished behind the first three. Dumbledore uses his thumbs to try and ease his upcoming headache before turning to Lily who was walking towards him, "Albus, can you request aid from the ICW?"

Dumbledore frowned and nodded, "Yes my dear. Can I leave you in charge until I am back?"

Lily looked flattered but nodded, "Yes, thank you Albus."

Dumbledore smiled at her and left the same way the others had gone. Turning around, Lily turned to look at the people who were uninjured, "Dedalus, can you, Alastor and Alex go to St. Mungo's and evacuate as many people as you can to the Great Hall? Take the Hogwarts house elves to help you. I will have the Great hall set up to take patients."

The three nodded and Alex asked questions to the two men as they disappeared out the doors. Lily turned to look at her children, "Danny, kids! Can you all go to the Great hall, vanish the tables and convert it into a room full of beds?"

The kids nodded, looking happy to be doing something as they disappeared.

"What do you need from us Lils?" Arthur Weasley stepped up with his wife and some more aurors and unspeakables.

"Arthur, John, Casey, Mira, Locke can you take as many people as you can to Azkaban and see if you can grab the prisoners before Voldemort can?"

They nodded following with a horde of people. Lily looked at the mostly empty room consisting of just her, Molly Weasley and Poppy Pompfrey, "I am going to go see about a place to put those prisoners."

The two women nodded as they worked on two patients letting Lily off. As she hurried through the hallways, she tripped on a stair and pressed her hand to Hogwarts to balance herself. No sooner had she done so did a voice ring in her head, "Child I shall convert the dungeons into prison cells for you."

A faint rumbling was heard in the bowels of the castle as Lily looked at the wall in wonder, "Hogwarts? Its you?"

"Indeed child now go help your children in the Great Hall."

Lily nodded dumbly as she ran the opposite way she had been going. As she was running, Lily bumped into a figure sending them both sprawling on the ground.

"Cant you watch where you are going?" Lily snapped only to blush when she saw her son across from her, looking pale.

"What happened to you?" Lily frowned as she pulled Harry to his feet. He staggered a little, "I drained my power reserves warding the castle."

As she pulled him up, Lily's hands felt extremely cold and tingly where she touched him. Looking closer, Lily paled when she saw a faint green aura leaking out of his skin, "Harry!"

Harry blinked and followed her gaze before turning even whiter, "There is a forest somewhere close isn't there?"

Lily nodded, "The Forbidden forest out in the grounds." Before she could ask why Harry was running out to the entrance hall and towards the forest. Looking out from the doors to the castle, she saw James arriving with a group of people who all looked confused as Harry ran towards the forest, his magic swirling around him.

Wanting to go after him but remembering Alex's warning, Lily instead went towards the Great Hall where she saw the younger ones doing an admirable job of setting the hall up.

She turned to the people running in, the head of whom was Frank and Alice Longbottom. Behind, she could see Hermione's parents.

"Lily, what is happening?"

Lily frowned, "The Ministry has been taken. Dumbledore managed to save Hogwarts and is trying to get ICW aid. I am in charge for now."

Frank nodded and rolled up his sleeves. Behind him their children ran to join her own in the great hall, "Where do you need us?"

Lily tapped her chin and turned to Alice, "They could use your healing help in the infirmary. Soon enough St. Mungo's people are going to be arriving in the Great Hall and then you will be needed here."

She looked at John and Jane Granger and at the guns they were strapping, "You aren't dentists?"

Jane snorted, "Hardly. We are Mi6."

Lily's eyes widened a little before she turned to them completely, "Voldemort will undoubtedly come after the royal family and prime minister next. Frank could you take the Grangers and retrieve the muggle officials? If you could get a muggle army and Mi6 basecamp here, that would be great too."

"Consider it done" John nodded as the three ran back to the apparating point. Looking out the castle, she saw some of the Order members arriving with more people, many of whom were in hospital gowns. She moved out of the way directing them to the Great Hall before tapping her chin to think.

Amelia Bones came running to her just then with a group of aurors in blue robes and unspeakables in lime green robes. Near her, her neice Susan was running just as fast.

"Amelia!" Lily hugged the woman before looking at the aurors and unspeakables, "They are not under the imperius are they?"

"No ma'am" one of the men said, "the wards are quite extensive. Three of our brethren who were under the imperius were burned at the gate to Hogsmeade and had to turn back."

Lily smiled at Harry's handiwork before saying, "Excellent! I need you all to go to Diagon alley, muggle grocery stores, anything and gather as much food and water supplies as you can. I have a feeling we will have to feed many many people soon."

They saluted her before leaving Amelia with a raised eyebrow, "You are good at being in charge aren't you?"

Lily smiled, "I do love bossing people around."

Amelia laughed as Lily said, "Susan your friends are in the Great hall."

The girl smiled at her sweetly before running off. Amelia stood next to her surveying the people who kept coming and said, "The wards are remarkable. I didn't know such ones existed. I saw a death eater attempt to get in through the forest and he was burnt to a crisp as soon as he entered the boundary."

Lily smiled wider, "My son, Harry did them."

"Harry?" Amelia gaped, "He is back?"

Lily nodded and filled her in, a smile still on her face. Her smile grew wider as Harry ran in from the Forbidden forest just then. He looked exhausted but safe. Lily hugged him, "You ok? I was worried when I saw the aura."

Harry shook his head, "Just needed some alone time for it to recede. I have spent years controlling it mom – I have some experience with it."

Lily nodded before turning around, "Harry this is Amelia Bones."

They shook hands and Amelia commented on his impressive wards. Lily though bit her lip, "We need to house all these people. The castle is not equipped to house all of them!"

Harry rubbed his chin as he saw the hordes of people coming through the gates, some of them stopping in front of Lily for directions, "How about magical tents? They make them to house families right?"

"Yes but that's only eight or nine people a tent."

Harry shook her head, "No, we can cast expanding charms inside and house almost a hundred people in one tent if that is alright with you."

"Alright, that's great!" Lily exclaimed.

Harry grinned, "I am going to borrow Danny and the others and show them how to cast the charm."

Lily nodded and shooed him away before looking at Amelia proudly. Amelia smiled at her just as the Patils and Greengrasses arrived.

"Lily! What do you need us to do?"

Lily sighed and turned to Preet Patil, "Could you all help the patients in the Great Hall? We are evacuating St. Mungo's."

The group nodded and ran off just as Harry led the way for Danny and the others to the grounds. As they went that way, Harry stiffened and paused.

"Whats going on? Harry?" Danny paused too. Harry shook his head and turned to them, "Go cast the charm I showed you Danny. I have to go back."

Danny frowned but didn't comment as Harry ran back to Lily, "Mom!"

Lily turned to him from where she was talking with a group, "Yes?"

"There is a group of goblins arriving."

Lily paled, "What are we going to do? Dumbledore isn't here right now and goblins don't interact with anyone but him!"

Harry raised a hand, "I will handle them but I need you to stop anyone from interfering no matter what happens."

"What does that mean Harold?" Lily looked indignant but didn't have time to comment as the goblins rushed through the gates and towards the castle. They were all armed with spears and swords and looked feral.

As they neared the castle, Harry stepped in front of the leader.

"Move or die human!"

Harry raised a hand and spoke in gobbledegook startling both humans and goblins.

"You will not do that or I promise you a bloodbath where the only blood that falls shall be yours, Hordesman!"

"How do you speak our tongue human?" the leader replied in the same tongue, looking shocked.

Harry smirked "I met your ancestor Ranghook once."

"You lie!"

Harry laughed before snapping his fingers. A long silver sword clearly goblin made appeared in his hands. The sight of it seemed to anger the leader, "A fight then! The winner take all!"

Harry nodded, "Very well!"

Before Lily could make a move, he and the goblin were immersed in a swordfight.

"This is surreal" James muttered joining them. Lily nodded, "Our son is a superhero James."

James laughed as they saw the fight. Both were impressive and they looked to be tied. That was until Harry pretended to parry and lunged hitting the leader in the waist and ending the fight. The goblin bowed and nodded, "You are good. We shall heed your words."

Harry smirked, "Good. You shall make an encampment here and help guard the people here."

The goblin nodded and the group left docilely towards the ground near the lake. Harry turned to his parents who were gaping, "What?"

"Nothing Harry. you are just scary" Lily shook her head. Harry shook his head at her and took a step when a dizzy spell hit him. He swayed unsteadily and James jumped to catch him, "Harry!"

Harry brushed his father away and said, "Its nothing a smoke cant fix."

And against James's wishes, he pulled out a cigarette, lit it and took a deep drag, grinning as he felt his lungs burning.

"That's bad for you" James frowned.

Harry shrugged, "Come on now. Its so interesting to see how I might die – liver failure, lung failure, heart failure, aura failure, hit by a bus. Come on!"

James growled looking angry at Harry's careless words and was about to confront him about it when Dumbledore reappeared. He looked amazed at all the people going into the school, "I should leave you in charge more often Lily. This is amazing."

Lily blushed before Dumbledore continued, "The Americans are sending troops right now to help evacuate as many muggles as they can into the Hogwarts sanctuary. The ICW is putting together a set of men from many countries to come as well."

Lily nodded and Dumbledore looked at what she was doing, "Why don't you continue with the orders as I see what is happening inside and try to explain what is going on?"

"Sure thing" Dumbledore smiled at her before taking off. James and Lily turned to Harry to reprimand him only to find that he had disappeared. Harry's owner had beckoned and not heeding his summons meant a few days in hell – something Harry actively avoided.

Appearing in a massive throne room, the size of a football field, Harry put out his cigarette before rushing to the throne in the very front and center. Bowing, he spoke, "My lord?"

The tall, handsome man on the throne waved one of his long fingers causing Harry to double over in pain on the ground.

"You are slow in responding to me Harry – I don't like it."

"For…forgive me, my lord."

The man smirked before saying, "I see you took my advice in convincing Dumbledore to make Hogwarts a sanctuary."

Harry coughed a little and nodded, "Yes my lord."

"Good – you will save them all Harry. I wish mankind to be whole when I govern then."

"Of course my lord."

The man flicked his finger, "You may leave now."

Harry bowed again before disapparating. He appeared in his personal space, in a particular room that was blocked from the living room and other parts of the space. The only way to look in was a flap that opened outwards and once inside, a person couldn't leave until they were safe from harm to others and themselves. And as Harry appeared in the completely padded room, his aura took control sending him into a mad, panicked frenzy.