Here is Chapter Two. Thank you to all those who read, reviewed and alerted Chapter One.
Severus Snape stood, silently in the kitchen of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, along with many other members of the Order, the Weasley children and Granger. They all looked extremely apprehensive as they waited for Harry Potter to return from his mission. Few people knew what this secret mission was; only Potter and Dumbledore, as far as he knew.
All he knew was that this mission was extremely dangerous. Snape doubted if Potter would succeed; if he couldn't even succeed at raising even the weakest of occlumecy shields, what would this mission do to him? In fact he doubted tha-
His thoughts were violently interrupted by a searing pain on his arm. The Dark Mark, he was being called for. He glanced up at Dumbledore.
"Albus, it is him. I must go"
"Ah yes, Severus, very well. Good luck, my friend." Smiled Dumbledore.
Snape began to stride out of the room, however just before he left, he turned to the room in general and said, sincerely; "Potter and I may have never gotten on, but…give him my regards when he does come back."
With that he turned, left the house and apparated to Riddle Manor. He arrived in the grand hall, where Voldemort stood upon a raised platform, much like the teacher's table at Hogwarts. He was among one of the last to arrive, whilst all of the other death eaters stood, hushed looking at their lord with anticipation.
"My followers" he shouted. "Today is the day that we take control of this world! The day we have been waiting for, where pure blooded wizards take their rightful place, at the top of this society, we live in. This is that the eradication of mudbloods and blood traitors shall begin!" The death eaters cheered.
"Already, we have a majority vote in the Wizengamont, thanks to officials under the imperius curse. We have people stationed either side of the foolish minister, Pius Thicknesse, ready to place him under out control, the same people, who so kindly arranged that blood traitor Scrimgeour's little 'accident'." The death eaters laughed.
"This is the hour where the forces of Lord Voldemort shall march upon the ministry of magic and take it – it is ours! You shall go now, and round up all of the mudbloods and blood traitors. Round them up and wait for me."
Snape began to feel extremely worried by this, especially as there was no way of getting a message to the order. What he was about to hear, however, nothing could of prepared him for.
"You shall march under the banner of the dark mark; however you shall not march under my command." At this Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange looked excited, hoping for such an honour. Voldemort did not notice them, and continued;
"No, I shall arrive later. You will be led by my new apprentice." Snape gasped at this, no one could have predicted this.
"My loyal followers, servants; I present to you Captain of the Death Eaters, my second in command and apprentice, HARRY POTTER!"
A hooded figure stepped into the room for a door on the stage. Sure enough a pair of glowing green, sinister eyes could be made out from under the hood. Simultaneously there was a roar of confusion, cheering and anger. "SILENCE!" screamed Voldemort.
Snape stood rooted to the spot, eyes wide open; he was too shocked to move, to speak – to blink.
"My Lord, surely not, such a useless blood traitor…?" began a lowly death eater, before trailing off in confusion.
"You dare question Lord Voldemort? You impetuous maggot! However I can understand the confusion. Rest assured, Mr Potter's loyalty to me is unquestionable. He answers to me – and only me" he said this with a distinct look at Lucius Malfoy.
"For those of you with doubt in your minds, let this lay your doubts to rest." He turned and nodded at Harry.
Harry pulled his cloak off; underneath he was wearing a black long sleeved top, on top of which sat the locket of Slytherin. The very thing he had gone to recover – though Snape did not know this. With that Harry moved and knelt in front of Lord Voldemort, who put a hand into his robe and pulled out an indefinable black object.
"Harry, my apprentice, whilst my death eaters wear white masks, you shall wear this, it marks you above the rest. It is a symbol of your loyalty to me, of your rank and the strength you have. Wear it with pride." Said Voldemort.
"Thank you, my master." Came the deep croak of Harry's voice. He took the mask and placed it upon his face, where it magically stuck. He put the cloak back on and pulled the hood back up.
"Now, to the Ministry of Magic with you all." Said Voldemort, gesturing for them to leave. "Harry I shall see you in the Minister's office later on."
"Yes Master." Was the reply.
Severus was so shocked; he was almost on auto-pilot, as he turned on the spot with the other death eaters and apparated to the atrium of the Ministry of Magic.
XXX
The rest of the Order was still stood in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place. The tension was so thick it could be cut with a knife. Ginny Weasley was sat at the table biting her nails, glancing at the clock – anything to keep her mind off her boyfriend, Harry Potter.
Several more minutes of silence ensued before Molly Weasley finally said something.
"Would anybody like some steak pie?" she enquired. Ginny had no idea why but as soon as this was said, she ran from the room, to the nearest bathroom and threw up.
She felt a gentle hand upon her back, as she did so, holding her hair back. For a brief second she thought it was Harry, but as she turned round she met the eyes of Hermione.
"Ginny! What on earth is the matter?" she asked.
"I don't know, Hermione." She answered honestly. "I have been feeling under the weather on and off for a while. Maybe it was just the worry of Harry being gone and not wanting any food that set it off." She reasoned.
"Well, just tell me if it continues or gets any worse, ok?" said Hermione, hugging Ginny.
"I promise…mum" smiled Ginny back. Hermione was distracted from retorting by the sound of apparition into the kitchen.
"Harry!" she smiled, and they both ran back.
It was not Harry. Tonks stood in the middle of the kitchen, wand in hand, gasping for breath.
"Attack on the ministry! You-Know-Who's entire forces are there, we need everyone we can!"
As almost one the eyes of the room turned to Dumbledore.
"All those who can go, you must go now. Molly, Poppy, wait here for Harry and be ready to receive any injured there might be." He ordered looking at Mrs Weasley and Madame Pomfrey.
"We're coming too!" shouted Ron, gesturing to himself and Hermione.
"That is not for me to decide, Ronald." Said Dumbledore glancing at Mrs Weasley.
"No, Ron –absolutely not! You are too young! Hermione, I forbid you to go either," was the reception given, before Mr Weasley interjected.
"Molly…they are seventeen, we can't stop them. And from what Tonks has said, we need everyone we can get."
Mrs Weasley thought about it, before finally saying, "Very well, just be careful you two. But Ginny, you are not going! And I will not hear any argument from you young lady"
"That's ok, Mum. I am going to wait here for Harry" she smiled, albeit weakly.
Dumbledore nodded, before pulling out his wand and conjuring a rope, then muttering "Portus".
"Grab hold everyone, wands out, be ready. 3…2…1 Activate!"
XXX
The scene at the Ministry of Magic was a frightening one. Being led down a grand staircase into the atrium was an army of hundreds of death eaters, with one Harry Potter at the helm, though all an outsider could see was a hooded figure with a black mask – only up close would a clue of the identity given; the green eyes and the lightening bolt carved intricately onto the mask, emboldened with silver.
All of a sudden the army came under attack by various groups of aurors, ministry workers and anyone brave enough to fight. A large scale battle began.
It was in the middle of this that Dumbledore and the other order members arrived.
Dumbledore landed, and immediately began shooting spells out, left right and centre – most hitting the intended targets. He decided he would locate either Lucius Malfoy or Bellatrix Lestrange, who were no doubt in charge of this attack. One thing he knew from his experiences was that a group without a leader was more likely to lose.
He cut his way through the throng of the battle, until he saw Bellatrix Lestrange locked in combat with Remus Lupin and another hooded figure, who was indistinguishable, winning a duel against a weary looking Hestia Jones.
He stepped in and intercepted a cutting hex, meant for Hestia, and began to duel the mysterious death eater. Before long the fight had descended in to he and Remus against the figure and Bellatrix; two on two.
There was a slight lull in the exchange as words were exchanged. Dumbledore began:
"Bellatrix, take Voldemort's forces and retreat, or you will be obliterated – I am warning you."
"Silly on Dumbles!" she replied "Its not me in charge! Have you not met my master's new favourite yet? I could have sworn you two had been introduced once or twice…" She trailed off cackling wildly to herself, confusing Dumbledore slightly.
"That is enough, Lestrange." Said the hooded figure sternly.
"Really? I really should introduce you two, it would be rude if I didn't!" she replied, still laughing at her own jokes.
"I said enough!" said the figure, even more sternly, sending a mild pain hex at Bellatrix, who shrieked in surprise and pain.
Dumbledore watched this exchange with interest, it would appear he had found the leader.
"Lucius? Whoever you are. Leave here at once." Said Dumbledore turning is attention to the figure.
"No." he replied.
"Then I am afraid I must force you to leave."
"Very well."
The two began to duel at a fast pace. It soon became apparent that the figure was losing (mainly due to the face he had fought Voldemort only hours earlier, but not many knew this). In an effort to gain favour with their new leader, many death eaters abandoned their duels in order to held fight against Dumbledore.
The fight was turning in the favour of the dark side, slowly but surely. Finally all those members of the light still in fighting condition were backed into a corner. The mysterious hooded figure stepped forward.
"Surrender your wands. The Ministry is now under the control of my Lord and Master, Voldemort."
It was at this point Ron, foolishly and rather hot headedly stepped forward, and started shouting.
"Death Eater scum! We won't surrender, not while we still have breathe in out bodies!" With that he sent a blasting hex towards the figure, who deflected it.
"You should not have done that Weasley." He said, bluntly.
He raised his wand above his head, getting ready to send a deadly curse the way of Ron, but this was interrupted abruptly by the appearance of Fawkes the phoenix who flamed above the hooded figures head, snatching his wand in his talons before flaming over to Dumbledore, who took the wand.
He held it in out in front of him, gazing at with a look of confusion. Hermione who was by his side looked at the wand with horror before shouting out;
"Professor! No! That is Harry's wand!" she turned to the hooded figure, "What have you done with Harry! Where is-" She was interrupted by Dumbledore,
"Silence, Hermione Granger!" he shouted, before muttering to himself, "I knew some of those spells were too familiar…" He looked up at the figure, pocketing Harry's wand.
"Lower your, hood, before I force you to. You are unarmed." He ordered.
The figure relented and lowered the hood. Gasps were heard from Ron and Hermione, the only two close enough to Harry to recognize his eyes, the only defining feature at that moment. Other than Dumbledore that was.
"No! Harry! What have you done! Why?" Hermione screamed, before bursting into tears, leaning on Ron, who was stunned into silence, instead looking at Harry with horror and shaking his head.
Hermione's outburst had sent shockwaves of realization through the other member's of the group, who were reacting with a mix of shock, sadness and anger. Dumbledore had remained emotionless throughout.
"Very well Harry. I see we are outnumbered. Therefore I surrender on a number of terms." He said.
"I will hear them." Countered Harry.
"We leave here with our wands, we collect our dead and injured." Said Dumbledore.
"I see no benefit for my side," replied Harry.
"If you don't agree, we shall raise hell, Harry. Who knows how many of your number will be killed. And of course I know a few of the Ministry defences that can be set off in the case of a hostile takeover, which can be triggered."
Harry seemed to think it over. "Very well, Dumbledore, you have a deal. You have five minutes to collect yours."
Dumbledore nodded, before turning to the light side. "Aurors remain here to collect our people. The rest of you, go – NOW, Miss Granger." He said at the first signs of Hermione's protestations.
People began to apparate out, Hermione and Ron being stewarded by a shell shocked Remus Lupin. Before they left however, a parting shout to Harry could not be avoided.
"Think of Ginny, Harry!" Shouted Hermione, who was dragged away by Lupin.
Ron however remained: "She loved you…she still does. Harry…please."
Harry stared at Ron. Saying nothing. The two stood, about twenty feet apart, in silence. Harry interrupted it bursting out, almost shouting "I'm-" but was cut short by the sound of appartion; Lord Voldemort had arrived.
Dumbledore took this as a cue to flee, and so he along with the final few aurors and Ron left the scene of the battle.
Voldemort surveyed the scene.
"Well done, Harry, I am impressed. The ministry is ours, after mere hours of you being in my service. What are the casualties?"
"We have lost eleven, my Lord." Came the reply. "And…forgive me it does not matter."
"No, Harry, continue. What were you going to say?" enquired Voldemort.
"My wand. Dumbledore's blasted bird took it from me. I apologize, profusely." Said Harry, falling to one knee in front of Voldemort.
"Ah, Harry. It does not matter. That wand merely symbolizes your past life, it is gone now. I shall build you a better wand, one that shall show your place in my ranks. One that shall strike fear into our opponent's hearts!" said Voldemort.
"Thank you, Master…or should I say, Minister?" said Harry, rising once again.
XXX
The Order of the Phoenix sat around the meeting table, looking morose, to say the least. No one wanted to be the first to speak, until finally, Mrs Weasley spoke up;
"Albus…tell me it's not true. Tell me that our Harry has not turned to the dark side?"
"I am afraid Molly that it looks that way; Severus can you tell us anything?" said Dumbledore.
"It is true Albus, I was there when he was unveiled by the Dark Lord…it was Potter alright." Said Snape, sadly.
At this Mrs Weasley began to weep, Hermione leant in to comfort her, but even she couldn't keep her eyes dry.
"Surely Albus, it is the imperius curse, Harry wouldn't do that. He just wouldn't." said Remus Lupin, desperately.
"No…" said Ron, speaking for the first time, "Harry can fight off the imperius curse, even from You-Know-Who. He has done it before, in the graveyard.
This statement only seemed to act as a confirmation of the Order's worst fears – Harry had willingly turned to the dark side.
There was a scratching and thumping sound at the door. This startled many in the room; Mad-Eye Moody went to investigate, throwing the door open, only to see the weeping figure of Ginny Weasley.
"N-no. It is not true. Harry wouldn't do that. He just wouldn't. He could never join Voldemort…he killed his parents and Sirius. Please Professor Dumbledore" at this she locked eyes with him.
"There must be some other explana…"she trailed off, before collapsing to the floor, tears cascading down her face. Dumbledore meanwhile was looking at Ginny, with confusion, before a look of shock passed over his face; then a small twinkle reignited in his eyes.
"Ms. Granger please take Ms. Weasley here, up to her room, and give her some comfort. This is a hard time for all of us, but especially" as he said this he gave Ginny an unreadable look, "for her."
Hermione got up and put an arm around Ginny, leading her out the room and slowly up the stairs to their shared bedroom. When they arrived Ginny sat down on the bed staring at the wall, shaking.
"Ginny…" Hermione began, although she could hardly think of anything to say.
"Hermione, I have got a big problem…" said Ginny, not looking anywhere but the wall.
"We all do, Ginny, You-Know-Who has taken over the ministry, but we will get through it together" reassured Hermione, though she deliberately did not mention Harry.
"No it's not that…I'm….well" continued Ginny, nervously.
"You're what, Ginny?" pressed Hermione, a certain amount of confusion in her voice.
"I'm pregnant…and Harry is the father."
I estimate Saturday for Chapter Three. Thanks for reading, reviews are always nice!