11-25-08
re-editing to fix formatting problems, and catch a few continuity errors. Standard disclaimer goes here, you've read it before, nuff said.
Bring to Order Chapter 3
TimW
September first came. Harry, Pansy and Hermione met at 9-3/4 after having spent a few days with their parents..Hermione in Oxford, Pansy in the Gloucester area near the A35 Their home was now under the fidelius with Mrs Parkinson as the secret keeper, and she had no intention of leaving the estate for any reason..The lands continued to be farmed as was the usual by the staff, who got their orders from the farm boss. The lands were now owned by a shell company, owned by another shell, hiding any connection with the clan Parkinson.. They were not part of a great house, but they were honest people.
The previous three weeks had been a bad three weeks for Voldemort, he was currently licking his wounds and hiding. His forces had been decimated, of the thirteen who came at his resurrection, twelve were dead or missing. Wormtail had gone missing, Bella was nowhere to be found, unless of course , you knew where to look. He was at his wit's end, wondering if he should just pull in his feelers and disappear, or recruit new minions and start over. He had been demanding the answers from Snape, who was hiding under the protection of the Old Fool..Snape was a coward and had yet to appear to his summons. The only respite that Snape got from the continuous summoning of the Dark Lord, was the fact that Voldemort had no minions with a dark mark available for the use of summoning..
The dark lord himself had no mark, he GAVE the mark...He also had no manor to hide in, Riddle Manor in Little Hangleton was hammered, repeatedly with explosions, until there was nothing bigger than a matchstick left.. no magical objects survived, nothing.. His father's grave had been dug up, destroyed, the ground a churned mass of grit and sand.. not one bone fragment was left.. Riddle hastened to the sea where the cavern was to check on his hidden treasure there. He found that the item was gone, and a note with the initials RAB was left behind.. He started to search the other locations, when he remembered that situation with Bella and the House of Black.. and determined that the House of Black was actively working against him..they were currently holding the cup hostage, He apparated to the former Gaunt cottage, and like the Riddle Manor, churned earth and nothing useful..
Harry sat back on the train smiling, his eyes closed.. he could feel Tom's rage. and the images that Tom was cycling through in his mind gave Harry an excellent idea of what he was looking for, and where to look. The time studying everything the DoM had on Tom Riddle aka I Am Lord V, led him to the conclusion that the half blood lord had created his immortality in several soul containers.. It was after much study that he found the name Horcrux.
Things began to make sense, the feeling of the curse scar was much the same as the feeling of the items on the list.. Another thing to ponder. The first item of business was a meeting with the old man, but the inevitable business was dealing with Snape. The train would arrive on time, no problems with most of the students.. Crabbe and Goyle were wandering without a plan.. their leader had been gone, there was no one else to give them direction.. here they were supposedly sixth years and and no idea of most of the things they were to have learned the previous five..their magic was sloppy, their methods were inefficient.. on the plusside, they were unmarked, and as their fathers were both dead, they were not currently being pressured to join the Dark Lord.. Pansy took pity on them, and had them sit down in the same compartment as hers, along with Harry and Hermione.. Harry just watched with a slight smile on his face as Pansy and Hermione whispered..and nodded.. The two Slytherin boys just sat there and stared, actually quite frightened..
Pansy and Hermione sat back and faced the two. "Vincent, Gregory, we have a proposition for you" The boys looked at the Gryffindor girl curiously, wondering how she knew their names. "We want to hire your services for the rest of the school year, and we will pay you for those services.. we will require you to take an oath, but that is normal for this kind of job.." They looked to Pansy for reassurance, since they were familiar with her.. She nodded and whispered that it would be all right. "We need someone we can trust to watch out for, and protect Pansy while she is in Slytherin House, and any of her classes and in the halls.. the people you will be protecting her from are likely as not to be other Slytherins., but in general, we would like you two to watch her back when she is not with us.." Hermione looked between the two boys and tried to see past the confusion and clutter in their minds.. she continued. "You will be paid in help with your magic, help with your schooling, and once the war is over and the dark lord is dead, help with finding honest work..,If I am not mistaken, both your families are currently without a head?". Both nodded, neither was allowed to take the title of family head. Harry spoke up. "I think we may be able to come up with some cash for these gentlemen also, depending on performance, of course.." That brightened up the eyes a bit. The whole time, the boys were keeping an eye on Harry, even while looking at the bushy haired girl..This Potter scared them..
Before the train ride was over, an agreement was formed.. Vince Crabbe and Greg Goyle were to be bodyguards for Pansy Parkinson, wherever she went, they were to protect her with their body, with their magic, with their lives, if necessary.. And they agreed to this arrangement, because they both realised that even under these arrangements, they had a better chance of living that if they had continued to follow Draco. Neither wondered where Draco had gone, but they knew he was gone. At the end of the year the previous year, he had cast them aside like a used fish, and went off with Pucey and Flint. They also had letters stating that they were under the protection of the Great and Noble House of Black, and the lesser House of Parkinson. Harry explained the procedures they were to follow. The schedule was based on utilisation of comm mirrors which Harry gave the both of them.
"Before she comes out of her rooms, she will call you to see who is on duty, and will not come out until you give an all clear.. here, an example. it's 7 am, and breakfast time, You guys are up and dressed, you wait at the door to the girl's dorms, and she will call you when she is ready to come out..you confirm that it's safe and she comes out. One of you goes on ahead and checks for any ambushes or attacks and bring her to the great hall, while the other walks behind her to protect her rear." The boys blushed.."Yes you can look, but don't touch, please" Pansy giggled. The boys blushed some more.. Over the summer, Pansy had grown into her face, and her body, she was in actuality almost 19 and having a daily workout for the last year, every day fifty times a day under speedtime, she had become a knockout, almost as good as the Gryffindor girl.
"Now, I will be correcting your language, so don't be offended, please, I want you to be able to go through high society and not embarrass yourselves,also we, yes, all of us will be helping you both with remedial work to get you both caught up to your sixth year work.. in fact, by Yule, you will both be ready to retake your OWLS..and do a LOT better, ok?" They both looked hopefully at the dark haired girl.. This sight would stick with both of them for the rest of their lives, a lovely girl with dark, short hair, an light summer blouse in orange, and a smile that went to their souls. In the fullness of time both young men, and they would become young men, would both court and marry witches that met this description, and in the end they would be happy.
The arrival at Hogsmeade station was as the norm, Hagrid was there calling for 'firs years here', there was the usual rabble of animals, trunks, thestrals and carriages. The trio walked through the crowd followed closely by the new bodyguards. the five got in a carriage and were taken up to the castle. They stepped down from the carriage , Harry first, followed by the two attending,, and Harry held the door and helped the two women down.
Snape was standing nearby the entrance to the castle, and immediately tried to attack Harry.. "Potter, 100 points fro.."
Thats as far as he got, because his face was met by an iron fist, knocking him to the ground. He scrabbled back, drawing his wand, and sending a powerful stunning curse toward Harry, who merely sidestepped it and kicked the wand out of Snape's hand, Followed by a boot to the face. The girls stood, bracketing the area, working together to maintain a spell. All the other students streamed by, not seeing anything, not Harry, not Snape, not the girls or the bodyguards.. who all stood in a circle around the fallen potions master. Harry held up his hand and summoned the wand, and the other wand in Snape's boot. So far he had said not one word, and it was beginning to unnerve Snape. Harry held two wands in his left hand, and none in his right.
He held his right hand up in a manner which would be instantly recognizable to anyone who had ever seen Darth Vader in Star Wars. Snape was lifted by his throat and floated helpless above the stone steps of the castle, his life totally in the hands of the Head of the Great and Noble Houses of Potter and Black. "it isn't arrogance if you can back it up, Snape..now you are mine" A squeeze and the former Death Eater, Former Potions Master, Former Professor, was now no more than a prisoner, and nothing more, except unconscious.
"Dobby" The elf popped into the circle of privacy
"Yessir?"
"Prisoner, standard procedures, don't lose him, I am going to strip his mind."
"Yessir" Dobby cuffed the prisoner,
took the extra wands and popped away. The girls took down the privacy shield and the group went into the Castle.
The feast went as usual, Harry made a point of looking directly at the Headmaster and sending a mental message. the Headmaster nodded and Harry got the impression 'immediately after the feast.'
Harry leaned into Hermione and whispered his appointment and she nodded, and went back to her conversation with the prefects. He looked over to the Slytherin table and sent a look to Pansy who nodded and went back to her conversation with Daphne Greengrass. "I want to apologise to you, Daphne, I was a bitch to you and many others last year, and I have no excuse other than I was under the influence of Malfoy.. and let's leave it at that, please" Pansy looked properly penitent, Daphne understood pretty much what she was saying, and after a moment broke her 'ice princess' persona and hugged the shorter girl. "What happened?"' she whispered.. Pansy looked at her hands.. "Remember that attack in August when Draco disappeared?"
Daphne nodded, slowly..'you...' "Yes, I was the one they were torturing and beating on.. and I was raped as well..a Malfoy bridal consummation.." Daphne's eyes went wide.."You mean?" "Yes, ..Lucius put my parents under an imperious and made them agree to a betrothal, with me as the heir of all the Parkinson properties, the carrot was, I would be heir to all the Malfoy lands..just to make it look equal..In any event, once my 'marriage' was consummated, My parents would have been killed in a mysterious accident, and shortly thereafter, dear Draco would be a widower at such a young age, of course after I had managed to produce an heir... lovely scheme, huh?"
Daphne looked green.. "Er..how did you escape?"... Pansy said nothing, but her eyes indicated a direction, and Daphne looked there, and saw Harry and Hermione looking back. Harry nodded a greeting to Daphne as Hermione looked on..with a smile. "Daphne, he saved my life, she healed me of my injuries, and we spent the summer together, the three of us..and I love her...and him" Daphne turned in shock, her jaw dropped in surprise..and then closed as she saw the truth in the dark haired girl's, no, woman's eyes...Her face went back to 'ice princess' mode and she whispered "I need to meet them.. my parents.."
"I understand.. Stay by me, I have hired Vince and Greg as bodyguards.. we should be safe enough.." she continued "Snape is no longer a problem" Daphne's eyes went wide, but she otherwise did not react. Sixth year girls in Slytherin house were expected to.. now she had a chance to save herself..and wouldn't have to use the TASER her mother had bought her.. An owl floated in as they were getting up to leave. Daphne took the note and the owl landed on a nearby chair and nibbled on someones leftovers.. Daphne read the note and went deathly pale.
The feast was over and the two guards escorted Daphne and Pansy to the entrance of the girl's dorms of Slytherin House. Pansy released them from duty for the evening and she and Daphne followed to her room.. There were few enough girls in that year, so each had their own room. Pansy set out a group of warding stones and went about installing them in each corner of the room, with a semipermanent sticking charm, and activating the control rune with her wand. Daphne watched in awe as the shorter girl set up a complex set of anti scrying, sound suppression, privacy wards, Portkey control and anti poison, potion and creature wards. and when she was done. She then took out a communications mirror and activated it. "Mi" her mirror fogged and she saw Hermione's face.
"Yes Pans?"
"I have all my wards up and running, Daphne needs to speak to Harry ASAP, apparently her parents.."
"Say no more.. Harry is with Dumbledore right now, but he can speak via mirror later, will that be ok?" Pansy looked to her housemate Daphne nodded, wringing her hands. "Allright then, ask her if she feels if they are in immediate danger, as in tonight..we can send in a team if needed"
Daphne shivered a bit then nodded, looking as if she might cry..she pulled out the note her mother had sent and showed it to Pansy. "We may have a problem, Mi, She looks really scared. "
"Hang on, I'll be right down" the mirror clicked off. "er..how?" The question was answered when Hermione appeared in the dorm room, escorted by two house elves, Dobby and one of his team. "Hello Daphne, I'm here to help you, Harry, Pansy and I will do whatever we can to make sure your family is safe.."
she sat the girl down.. "now tell me what you can."
Daphne haltingly stammered out her story.. apparently with the deaths and disappearances of so many Death Eaters, the remaining of Voldemort's faithful were pushing the grey families to join or die.. and the Greengrass family had always been known for being both Grey, and neutral.. after a bit , Hermione stopped her.
"I'm calling Harry in on this one.." she opened a link on her mirror. Harry answered, he was in the middle of negotiating with the Headmaster..
"Yes, My?"
"Daphne Greengrass' family is being held hostage right now.. they are threatening to kill her little sister, Astoria if the family does not join Voldemort."
Harry's face darkened in anger. "Well, then, let's take the war to them..where are you?"
"Slytherin Girls dorm. Dobby brought me."
"Ok, you two bring Daphne up here to the Headmaster's office, I have some arrangements to make."
"Ok ladies, you heard the man..Take my hand, please" Dobby and another elf transported the three girls up to the Headmasters office in a trice.
"Good Evening, Ladies, I am sorry to hear of your predicament, Won't you sit down and have some tea?" Dumbledore arranged some chairs for the women while Harry spoke on his mirror to several people. "There, done. I have a contingent of my people infiltrating the area around the Greengrass home. Daphne, I ask you to trust me, what are the passcodes to get into your family lands.?"
She shivered and spoke. "Only someone with our blood can get in.. I think they captured my daddy and forced him to let them in..I only found out about it at the end of the feast, mummy was able to send out an owl telling me to hide and be safe.." she showed them the note., hastily scribbled on a scrap of parchment..
"We could call the aurors.." Dumbledore started to suggest
"No, they would take too long and my people are already at the gates..There's nothing to be done but do it ourselves.."
"But Harry, you mustn't"
Harry turned on the old man. "That's what we were talking about, what we must and mustn't do.. well let me tell you something.. we mustn't let an innocent family die at the hands of vermin while you dither..right?, now we are going to do it my way, and if you won't help, then just don't interfere. got it?"
The girls were all in shock as to how Harry was speaking to the esteemed headmaster..
"Dobby. my friend here needs armor to protect her.. Pansy's will fit close enough, " he looked at her "Please, luv?" She nodded. "It's still in my green trunk, you know the key" Dobby popped away
"Do you know where the front gate to Greengrass Manor is. Headmaster?" The old man nodded and picked up a sheet of parchment and created a portkey. Dobby returned with five rings. One was a necklace size and four were bracelet sized .
"Thank you Dobby." she turned to Daphne. "This is my own personal body armor, it won't fit you as well as it does me, but it will do for now,, here , put this on your neck, no turn it around this way, and these are for your wrists, and those go around your ankles.. there.. now, touch each side of the necklace with your fingertips and push just a bit of magic through your fingers. The girl was wearing jeans and a pink sweater. and then all of a sudden, she was covered head to foot in dragonhide with an
insert in the front made of Basilisk skin..iridescent blue against a black background. Harry was doing the same thing, but he wore his armor at all times, ever since he had returned from Basel and Antons. Jack/Anton had come through in spades..and created wonderful body armor. The problem was that it required a lot more structure, hence the five rings.. Harry pushed the magic, as Daphne had and his armor flashed into place.. his was double layered, Dragonhide, covered with basilisk skin.. his was crystalline blue all over. a work of art.
Pansy was pulling up the hood protecting Daphne's head, and tucking her longer hair back out of her eyes. "Now you do exactly as Harry tells you, and everything will be all right, don't worry, don't cry, we'll all have a good cry when you come back with your sister and parents, ok?" The blond girl nodded and visibly held back the tears.
Hermione pulled her into a hug and whispered to her "It will be all right.. now go and do what Harry says." She went to Harry , who was standing Holding out the parchment. Harry tapped a recording node on top his head, and Hermione pulled out her comm mirror, nodded she was receiving. The two ported away.
So that it would be easier for all to see, she stretched the mirror out to about a meter square, and stuck it to a wall, and sat watching. Pansy handed over her own mirror and Hermione called the person in charge of the local action. "Wolf, Stealth is on his way, with the blood key, ACK" the mirror replied 'ACK." they watched as the window stopped blurring and they landed, near a copse of trees and a manor building off in the distance. The image shifted quickly sideways, you could see the back of Daphne's head as she ran toward the gate, keeping low. There were visible a pair of dark robed figures walking sentry in front of the house. A tap and the visual had an overlay on it, showing the outline of the buildings, the placement of trees, and the locations of various personnel those on sentry, those hidden over there in the bushes.. those behind the building.. The visual turned to the commander of the squad.
Dumbledore recognized it as Remus Lupin. a bit of quiet discussion and Harry cast a patronus off to the west to create a distraction, he then triggered the Armor stealth mode and then quickly wrapped Daphne in his invisibility cloak and got up within range of the gate, and the wards that were aligned with the fence line. they waited until the patronus did it's task of drawing attention.
She waited until he nodded and then stepped to the middle of the gate, did something and pushed it open, and then threw herself sideways as a green curse flew out of the darkness. There were several blurs as the squad entered the opening in the wards..and flitted into invisibility. Harry made Daphne wait with a group of four warriors and a medic who were assigned to protect her, and wait for the arrival of her sister and parents.
He himself, turned into a shadow and slipped into another shadow. The only way to see where was going was to watch the personnel map. he flitted and apparated, from shadow to wall to the roof of the house. he watched his map as the infiltrators took out each and every guard silently. He dropped from the roof to a balcony and slipped into the house. Daphne whispered something to a guard and that guard transmitted the message to Harry.
Apparently he had entered through her room, and she wanted him to know where to go. The internal house map grew larger and with more detail the longer he was inside.. Dumbledore raised an eyebrow to Hermione in question
"echolocation..think bats flying blind at night' The old man nodded in understanding.
The little girl was in the next room, with a woman..not her mother. The woman was making Harry grin.. his promise to his friend was about to come to pass.. He apparated through the wall, silently and took the woman by surprise. She didn't get the chance to throw a single curse, or even make a sound. why? because by the time she noticed him, her head was already off her shoulders. He cast a quick sleeping spell to keep the little girl from seeing anything.
"Dobby, body pickup" the elf could now get into the manor, came, gathered the body, the head and left the room spotless in only a few seconds.. he then returned and took the little girl in his arms. at this point he was intercepted by the manor elves, and together, they transported the little girl out to her sister's waiting arms. Harry slowly opened the door and reached out, silently stunned the guard outside that door, and drew the body in.
"prisoner pickup"
one of Dobby's army came and vanished with the prisoner.
He slipped out and down the hall, entering a side room next to the room
where her parents were held. He was in a darkened room, and he could see through the shared bathroom that a woman was seated in a chair, bound by an incarcerous spell The woman was crying, fear on her face and off to the side he could hear the sounds of someone being beaten.
Harry got up from his crouch and made a motion silencing the woman from a distance.. She looked up and he made a shhh gesture, and pointed to his forehead,, where she recognised that he was the good guy..he did a quiet finite on the incarcerous and she quietly leaned back. She was sitting
near a dressing mirror, and her foot slid the mirror so the angle showed her husband being beaten by two thugs, Her hands were in her lap and she spread her fingers in a 'three' He nodded and held up a small ball. "portkey' he mouthed and tossed it in her lap. Her hand caught it and she whirled away in a shower of light.
There were shouts and confusion. He could see where they were on the visual. Harry dove into the room, firing curses with both hands, hitting two targets. He ducked and rolled as the third fired a deadly green curse at him.. He popped up and fired back, hitting the third member of the torture squad dead in the chest. There was a scrambling and hammering on the door outside. he went quickly to the beaten man, who was alive, and conscious. "Here, take this, It is a portkey which will take you to where Daphne who is with your wife and child, they are safe, Daphne will port you to Hogwarts"
He slapped the portkey into the man's hand and he whirled away. He slipped back through the way he entered and poked his head out the door, and looked right down the hall, where three more bad guys were hammering on the door. He stepped out , and as they turned to notice him, he fired several stunners, multiple stunners which kept the vermin down.
"More Prisoners"
He ignored the pops and removal of prisoners behind, as he crept down the halls, searching the house for any more invaders.. There was the sound of spellfire downstairs, someone was cursing shadows out in the darkness. he looked over the visual he had, and couldn't see any more invaders inside the house, so he made an entrance. He was at the top of a grand staircase, with a lovely wide wooden handrail. He got up on it and slid down into a formal entryway, firing as he went.. by the time he reached bottom, the invaders downstairs were unconscious.
He landed lightly on his feet and looked around, and though nothing showed on his visual,
there was the sound of someone clapping, sarcastically..
"Well done, Potter, well done.."
Harry turned to see Voldemort walking out of the formal sitting room.
"Hello Tom, what are you doing here, running out of minions and ass kissers?"
The snake-faced would be lord looked angry.
"You seem to know something about that, Potter.."
he whipped his wand around and cast a firewhip, slicing through thespot Harry had been standing. The Greengrass clan had by how landed in the Headmaster's office, and Dumbledore had called for Madam Pomfrey to come and check them for damage.. but it seemed that they were all transfixed by the situation on the viewscreen.
Hermione sighed.."That man" she got up and stretched the screen to its limit, almost six feet square, and sat back down, holding Pansy's hand. The Greengrass women screamed when Voldemort appeared.. Mrs Greengrass clutched her little girl to her chest, not allowing her to see the screen. Madam Pomfrey was setting on the loveseat beside Pansy and Hermione..clutching Pansy's other hand..no one spoke or moved. The view slid and bounced and jumped around enough to make just about anyone motion sick..
Curses were thrown at astonishing rates, walls exploded, furniture galloped around chasing the fighters, blocking reductos and AKs.. the fight was vicious and deadly.. all the while a commentary was going on..
"C'mon Tom, is that all you can do.. are you getting too old to get it up any more.. your wand feeling limp Tom..? "
This, of course tended to enrage the evil wizard.. Harry danced and fought, threw incredibly deadly spells and curses, until he got lucky and blew past Voldemort's shield, cutting off one of his arms. The evil man fell to one side, gasping in pain, as Harry accioed the arm and wand that was still clutched in its hand..
"Lose something Tom?"
Harry now had brother wands, one in each hand, and was about to send a final curse when Voldemort hit a portkey and whizzed away.
Harry slumped against an upright.. and rested for a few moments.. he then activated his comm. "I'm ok, just tired.. Wolf, secure the manor" The doors opened and a group of fatigue clad men and women came into the building.. checking every nook and cranny. The group in the headmaster's office sighed in relief and hugged each other in joy.. Harry went over to Wolf and gave instructions as he pulled down the hood of his armor..
"Get a cleanup and repair crew in here, make sure no one left any sneaky traps or anything..I need to get to school, don't want to get detention for being out after curfew.."
The manor elves returned and accepted the help of the rescue elves in repairing and cleaning up.
Harry appeared back into the Headmasters office, and took his armor down.. he threw Voldemort's arm on the headmaster's desk.
"Here's a little trophy for you.. I'm keeping the wand, It works nicely for me.." He sat down in a chair and put his feet up on Hermione's lap. Pansy hugged him from behind and kissed him on his cheek. Madam Pomfrey did some diagnostic charms and made a few insignificant repairs..
Philip Greengrass struggled to get up from the couch that he had been laid on..
"Daddy, what are you doing, lie down.. Madam Pomfrey said.."
" I have to speak with Lord Potter..it is a matter of honor.." He coughed and blood splattered on the front of his shirt.. Pomfrey and his daughter made him lay back down, and Harry got up from his comfortable spot nuzzling with Pansy and Hermione.. "Sir, you should listen to Madam Pomfrey, if you try to get away, she will bind you to the bed, trust me I know.." "Hush you" Pomfrey smiled at her favorite patient.. "Just because you have a bed with your name on it doesn't mean you can make up stories about me.." She was facing Mr Greengrass and so didn't see Harry mouthing the words, 'she will do it,really" with accompanied nodding and pointing. Pomfrey got a hint something was going on behind her back and spun around to confront a totally innocent young man whistling a tune..
"I just wanted to thank Mr Potter for his rescue, and saving our lives, and as far as I can see, the Clan Greengrass owes you at minimum three life debts." Harry stopped him right there. "You owe me nothing, and I don't say that your lives are worth nothing, on the contrary, your lives are priceless, but I have no need of anything other than your friendship." He held out his hand as a friend, and Philip took not only his hand but clasped both his arms in the manner of old kings.
Dumbledore looked on, wondering if he had any political capital left anymore.
The things that he and Harry were talking about before the emergency call were weighing heavily on his mind..
Earlier I don't like flashback
"I am not here to negotiate, Headmaster, I am here dictating terms of surrender..and you have a choice, either surrender and support me in my aims and dealings, or you will be outed in all of your crimes and misdemeanors.. every mistake and bad decision you have made in the last seventy five years, will be brought to light..or...you could retire the grand old man of magic, a respected hero of the last war, and advisor to kings and princes.." he paused "Think about it...
Excuse me, I'm getting a call."
Yes, My?" "Daphne Greengrass' family is being held hostage right now.. they are threatening to kill her little sister, Astoria if the family does not join Voldemort." Harry's face darkened in anger. "Well, then, let's take the war to them..where are you?" "Slytherin Girls dorm. Dobby brought me." "Ok, you two bring Daphne up here to the Headmaster's office, I have some arrangements to make."
He signed off.
"WolfPack" "Yessir"
Full alert, Greengrass Residence, Hostages, probable presence of V himself. full body armor and weapons, hostage extraction procedures, more to come"
"Yessir"
The three girls appeared. "Daphne is there any way to get into your family property without your presence?"
"No, the wards are blood based.." Damn..ok, Pansy, get your armor on her, now.. you two are close enough in size." The dark haired girl nodded and spoke to Dobby. When Dobby returned, he reported to Harry.
"Get your gang ready, as we trained, ok?"
"Yessir" the elf popped away. Harry activated his own armor, stretched and flexed a bit.
"Ready?." she looked scared, but nodded.. the girls giving her advice.
"Let's go" He activated the portkey that Dumbledore had made and when they hit the ground, he pulled her down and ducked for cover.. The old fool had set them down right in plain sight of the guards.
He had worked up to the fence and peered through the physical fence around the property and the magical fence thrown up by the wards. He could feel the magic trying to push him away, and gestured for Daphne to come up beside him. She scurried in a crouch and lay down in the grass beside him, peering in.. "do you need to be at the gate to open it, or can you do it from here." she held her hands up to the ward fence, feeling the ripples of magic.
"I might be able to do it here, but I know I can do it there..and a lot faster, because the gate has the control runes on it."
He nodded in assent. A hand signal and Wolf Leader scurried over.. loped is a more accurate word..
"She needs to be at the gate, here, we will use my cloak, so get your people in place, once the gate is open, we only have a few seconds at best..once we are through, your team out here is to protect Daphne at all costs, and prepare
to receive her family, and get them where they need to go..
I have portkeys primed for the base over there, since it is protected. Once they are all safe, bugout, ok?" "Yessir. Understood" the leader shadowed away and put his people into action.
"Dobby" the elf appeared with a silent pop. "Center on my signal, prisoner and body removal, by the numbers, ok?"
"Yessir, by the numbers"
"And Dobby?..be safe" The elf nodded and popped away to instruct his troops.
Harry and Daphne advanced slowly, quietly under his invisibility cloak, moving through
he shadows as if hey were a breeze rustling the grass.. The Greengrass family was located in rolling hills, almost entirely grass, perfect pasture land, as evidenced by the flocks in the distance, sheep over there, Cattle on the far side of the valley over there, and a small herd of Horses at the bottom of that valley. Each creature stayed in it's own designated area, and did what they did best, Eat, poop, breed..
All was right and well. The area around the manor itself was designated by fence, ordinary livestock fence that you could get from any rural farm supply vendor.. Another instance of the interface between the magical and he mundane. As a distraction to the guards he sent off his Patronus to the backside of the rolling hill they were easing around..
His Patronus swiftly went back around and through the swale toward the western edge of the Manor wards, and popped up doing the patronus equivalent of a 'nyah nyah lookkee mee'. This served it's purpose and distracted the attention of the patrolling guards.. The guards walking the gate line were facing towards the west and so did not see a feminine hand slip out of nowhere and grasp the control runes on the front gate, causing them to open.. The hand disappeared and was taken back to the rear base and given into the care of several alert and scarey looking assault team members.. and a smaller medic, who took the girl under her care.
Harry put away the cloak and went to turn, but Daphne stopped him. "Harry.." he looked into her eyes. "Thank you..for everything.." she leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips.
He just nodded and popped away, silently. The scary squad leader stepped up. "Miss?" She sniffed and wiped her eyes before answering "yes?" she looked up to the tall, powerful and feral looking warrior. "You can listen in, and watch, if you see anything that might be of use, let me know, and I will forward that intel to him, and our teams. " He knew that would take her mind off the worry , and may even be helpful..
She nodded gratefully and sat on a box of spell grenades and watched the visual that was coming in from several of the invaders. The visual from Harry was abrupt and disorienting.. he jumped and apparated silently from pillar to post, popping up behind a guard, slicing a throat, a silent stunner to another, not one made a sound or were able to form any kind of a defense. The visuals from the
invading troops showed the various members setting up perimeters, anti- app and portkey wards,
looking for lines of fire, and trying to locate the hostages and combatants in the house., and any
surprises outside he house..
Harry had made it into a room, and ambushed a vile looking woman, and
had taken her head off quite violently, as he also made her little sister sleep, with a hand gesture.. At
first she was revolted at his actions, but that woman was doing something to her little sister..and the
sleep spell kept Astoria from seeing the woman's end.. He called the manor elves and spoke to them Tinky the girl's personal elf took charge and took her charge in arms and popped away, to where Harry had told her that her sister would be waiting.. Daphne gathered the sleepy girl in her arms and held her tightly, and whispered to Tinky to sit with her. "Yes Miss Daphne" The girls had grown up with Tinky and felt very comfortable with her.
"Harry will rescue Mummy and Daddy,, and it will be ok.. " she spoke more to herself than to Tinky. "Yes Miss" Tinky was still in a bit of wonderment at the
powerful tall elf that had come to take away the bad lady's body and head, and clean up the blood and
gore with no more than a gesture. He had winked at her..and she was feeling fluttery. He had worn all
black clothes, not a tea towel, but black pants and a shirt and boots.. he looked ..yummy.
"Miss?" "Yes Tinky?" Daphne kept her eyes on the visual, watching Harry work with her
mother to help the woman escape. He tossed the portkey and just as her mother started to spin away
into the ether, Tinky asked.
"Who is that handsome elf that came to Miss Astoria's rooms?" Daphne was totally distracted by the arrival of her mother, and never got to answer the question. Her Mother Estelle was crying and laughing as she was welcomed to life again, and she held her daughters tightly. Astoria squirmed a bit, still sleepy.. "Mummy..what's happening, why are we outside in the night..?" "Daphhy! she squealed "I missed you already, " she had been sad at her sister leaving for the school year.
"I missed you too sweetie, but the bad people came and I had to find someone to help, and he's helping daddy now.." the visual showed the quick firefight, and then Harry sending them their Daddy, beat up and damaged, but alive. More family reunion.. The four of them, plus the family elves were now all outside the wards, but protected by several well armed and deadly warriors.. and the medic was doing several things to Philip Greengrass, the basic battlemedic once over, making sure he was not on the verge of dying, and then prepped him for travel. He just held his family tightly and thanked the creator of all that they were alive. "How did you do it..who?, my baby, who did you find to help?, was it Dumbledore?"
a sneer swept across Daphne's face..
"Dumbledore, are you kidding?.. he wouldn't lift a finger to help us.. he's too interested in his own games.. we are nothing more than chess pieces to him..No, I talked to someone with REAL power, someone who cares.. and someone who will do something.. I talked to Harry Potter.." Estelle Greengrass nodded.. "Yes, I saw him, he was like a silent
predator moving through the shadows.. I didn't even see him until he released me from the binding spell they had on me.. It was like ..Oh My "Circe!! her attention was drawn to the visuals..
they saw Voldemort himself strolling through their formal dining room. speaking and casting spells at Harry.. The screen jumped back and forth, around various parts of their house, Furniture was galloping into the path of curses, plated and cutlery were flying like fighter squadrons swooping in for an attack..
Spellfire flashed back and forth like fireworks on a holiday. Then all of a sudden, Voldemort stopped casting and was down, up against a burning couch in their family parlor, his arm missing, and then he ported away, ripping into the anti-portkey wards.. He landed hard on the patio just beyond the outer wall of the Manor itself.. he quickly cast some runes and then broke through the wards and was gone.
The squad leader insisted that they take the portkey and then they were swirled away and landed with a thump in the Headmaster's office. This caused something to break loose in Philip Greengrass' lung,
and he was coughing up blood..
Harry re-appeared in the Headmaster's office, dirty and beat, he disarmed his armor and threw
something on the Headmaster's desk spoke to the old man and slumped into the laps of his women.
Daphne watched as her father struggled to get up and go to the young man.. Her father,
under normal circumstances would not bow to anyone,, but he was bound and determined to go and
show this young, powerful wizard, his respect and thanks. He tried to get up and get past Poppy to speak with him but she wouldn't let him.. He remembered Poppy quite vividly from his years in Hogwarts, she was three years ahead of him and even back then, she was quite firm in her making people do things..He had tried to chat her up a bit, and she was nice enough to not laugh at him.. he still blushed about it.
Now, Harry ..when did he start thinking about the 'Boy Who Lived ' as Harry..anyway, Harry said that Poppy would make him stay longer if he fought her.. and she was gently admonishing him as if they had a frequent relationship. "Hush you" Pomfrey smiled at her favorite patient.. "Just because you have a bed with your name on it doesn't mean you can make up stories about me.." Harry mimed a message to the elder Greengrass and he got the point. he lay back as she did her medical routine on him. When he was finally released, he stood and faced the young Lord Potter. "As far as I can see, the Clan Greengrass owes you at minimum three life debts..." he was interrupted by Harry. "You owe me nothing, and I don't say that your lives are worth nothing, on the contrary, your lives are priceless, but I have no need of anything other than your friendship." He reached out his hand and they clasped arms. "I would like to propose an alliance, between the Clan Greengrass and the Great and Noble house of Potter"
Harry considered, and thoughtfully spoke.
"Are you sure you want to step away from your traditional neutrality, The Clan Greengrass has been known to neither take sides or support either side either in this war or the one before.." he sighed. "It would make you more of a target.."
"We already are a target.. as you saw, the dark lord was there himself at our manor.. and he doesn't usually take no for an answer." Harry walked over to his girlfriend/fiancé' and sat next to her "Things can change fast, sir, things can change in what seems to be an instant.. well, then, if you are going to join forces with the Potter-Black alliance, then we will need to put your manor under the fidelius with yourself or Mrs Greengrass as the secret keeper.." he glared at Dumbledore. "It seems that the caster of the charm remembers who the secret keeper is, and would remember it, unless that fact was obliviated..." "So, we will have the charm set up on your property of choice and then the caster will be put under an oath of secrecy."
He stood directly in front of Dumbledore's desk staring at the old man. "We can't have any unauthorized people knowing about where your family is hiding, can we now." The old man didn't even have the civility to blush.
"Dobby" the elf dressed in all black popped into the room. "Yessir"
he had learned to dispense with the overly gushing praise and blathering that he had been guilty of before..
"Prepare Potter Manor for the Greengrass clan to stay at for the next month, there will be need for time to repair their home and set up the charm properly." he turned to Philip Greengrass.
"You will stay here at Hogwarts in the guest quarters for a few days, until Poppy releases you from her care, and this will give Astoria time to be with her sister, and also some time for you and I to figure out a few things, agreed?"
Philip Greengrass was overwhelmed with the power and authority that this young man had shown, ordering the supposed leader of the light around, making plans which involved the use of Hogwarts facilities without even asking permission.. and just in general acting like he was that, a General..
The elf in black was speaking quietly with Astoria's elf, Tinky, he nodded and popped away. Mrs Greengrass was worrying over her husband and Daphne had sat down with Hermione and Pansy, and Astoria was playing quietly at their feet, with a pair of dolls Hermione had conjured.. Harry sat and summoned Hermione's mirror off the wall, shrinking it to it's proper size in midflight
"Pappy" he called. The eldest elf in Hogwarts appeared. Pappy almost never came when he was called, usually sending a younger elf as his mediary.. Pappy was old, very old, and in elf terms, the most senior elf, the one to whom all other elves answered. Harry conjured a padded stool for the old creature to set down on.
"Please sit, Pappy, you should not strain yourself. " the old elf grumbled about not being right, but Harry cut him off. "There is a new order coming, Pappy, and there will be respect shown for those who deserve it, and you, sir, are the eldest of the elf clans, thus you are to be shown respect.. now then. "I need the old rooms set up. the ones reserved for Nobles and their families.. you do know the ones I mean?" Pappy nodded. I and my family will be using those rooms, under the Houses of Potter and Black." he looked at Dumbledore, who was not interrupting "We will need some rooms for training facilities, potions labs and a hospital facility." Dumbledore decided to put in his two knuts worth, and maybe try to stay in Harry's good graces.. "During the last war, I had a hospital facility dedicated to care and healing of our..order and friends.." Harry looked at him with a calculating eye. "And the cost of these facilities?" "Nothing, other than the personnel to operate it, and that was always an expense anyway, if I am correct? Harry looked to Hermione, who while talking to the other girls, was listening in on the conversation. Her eyes glanced to Poppy who was cleaning up the blood off Philip's clothes. Harry got the idea. "As long as we can utilize the skills of Madam Pomfrey when she is available, at our expense of course." Dumbledore agreed, making out as if he was tentative about the idea. "of course we will have to consult with Madam Pomfrey about this.."
About what, Albus? ..Pomfrey heard her name mentioned and came over to the conversation. "Harry here is needing access to the field hospital, and staff, and has asked for your participation, naturally, because his frequent visits to your infirmary, he has complete trust in your abilities..I was just about to negotiate the fees for your services.."
She glared at him.. There will be no fees charged for my services, without involving me in that equation, " she turned to face Harry "Now then, what kind of time per month are we talking about, Mr Potter, or should I call you , Lord Potter-Black now?" she smiled sweetly..
Harry grinned at her. "You saw me the minute I was born, you have patched me up innumerable times, and you will probably be delivering my children and tending to them when they come to Hogwarts, and you want to call me 'Lord Potter- Black?, I think not, Madam Pomfrey, you are too important to me and my family.. " he advanced on her as he spoke, finally trapping her up against the wall, his arms on either side of her , She was holding a stiff upper lip, trying really hard not to crack up, but failing. He kissed her cheek and she laughed.. "Cut it out you..!" He grinned and stepped back, taking her by the hand and leading her over to a comfortable couch, across from the three girls.
"What I am doing s taking the magical world by the horns, or perhaps to be more crude, by the 'nads and applying pressure.. I intend to make the magical people of Britain start acting responsibly, and get rid of hundreds of years of bigotry and abuse that has been foisted on us as 'socially acceptable behavior"..and I am not afraid to crush some of those 'nads in the process.. I will be going on literal hunts,, tracking down the worst in our society, and by worst, I mean the Lucius Malfoys and the Tom Riddles who set themselves on the backs of honest witches and wizards.."
he paused again, every ear listening, every eye upon him..
"I am the chosen one, and because of that, I will be deciding who , when, and where.. I chose..and those who array themselves against me will die."
the gasps of some of the listeners was audible. The two women in his life had reached acceptance, and didn't blink. The Greengrass family, McGonnegal, Pomfrey and Dumbledore were shocked, and somewhat appalled at what he had stated..Dumbledore was about to speak, but Harry continued with his speech.
"You may call me dark, you may call me evil, but there is the quote, when good men do nothing, it is the same as evil.."
he looked directly at Dumbledore,
"If you do something wrong, for what you feel is the right reason, does that make it right.. the end justifies the means...?" "If you throw a child off the dock to teach him to swim, and he drowns, did you do the right thing?..no, you were irresponsible, criminally so.. so am I dark?..possibly..
Do you know how a Death Eater earns his Dark Mark on his arm? let me tell you.. "
Dumbledore didn't want this too get out, and tried to interrupt Harry "Harry, please do not.. " "Shut up, You, I am speaking." he put all the nobility of Lord Potter and Lord Black into his voice.. Dumbledore shrank back into his chair..as did the others.
"A Death Eater must go through an initiation to receive Voldemort's mark, the ritual includes the cold blooded murder of an innocent.. usually a mundane, or muggleborn witch or wizard.. with the Avada Kedavera curse..The spell is cast with intent, and cannot be done under an imperious, under the control of potions, it must be done willingly, intentionally, and with absolute hate. The curse is spoken, and the victim's life is taken from them, and that life force is turned dark, into a necromantic rune, which is visible on the arm of a Death Eater.. so your.." he pointed at Dumbledore "Pet Death Eater was responsible for the death of an innocent, and no amount of remorse that he shows or tries to convince you of would be enough to forgive him his sins.." he paused again. "By the way, he is currently being interrogated by my team, and will not be returning to Hogwarts in any capacity, other than fertilizer"
"Mister Potter, I must Demand.."
"I said SHUT UP, and I Mean it.. he is a prisoner ofwar, and ANY person bearing that mark who enters the Hogwarts grounds will be subject to the same treatment..Capture, interrogation, execution..no bribes or payoffs, no coddling, no Azkaban. Death is the answer, as they have already embraced it as their own."
he looked off into the distance, as if feeling something..
"I sense on the grounds at least four, maybe five who are currently marked, and they willbe dealt with shortly.. Two in the Slytherin dungeons, one in Ravenclaw........one in Gryffindor.. and...............one sneaking around behind greenhouse number 2." he refocused.. "Got that?"
a disembodied voice spoke "Yessir, on it.."
Dumbledore slapped his hands on the desk, and started to get up angrily to berate Harry for his actions..
"Sit down " he pointed his hand toward the old man. "This is what we were talking about before the incident with the Greengrass family.. what would you have done about that situation, hmm?"...the old man tried to speak but was somehow speechless.. his mouth moved, but nothing came out..
"I'll tell you what you would have done, the females in slavery to their lusts, their lands and money taken from them and spent supporting Tom's insanity." he looked at the little girl. "There are Death eaters who would love to take this beautiful girl and do horrible things to her, just for their own lusts.. "
"And you would say, 'alas,it is a terrible tragedy, but there is nothing we could have done..'and twinkled your grandfatherly eye at the survivors.. " The time has come. Albus, Percival Brian Wulfric Dumbledore, Grand Mugwump, Order of Merlin whatever, to step aside and let someone else do what needs to be done.. the dirty work you can't be bothered with.. "
he slapped his hand on the desk, making people jump.
"You have become too deluded by your own propaganda, you think you are the leader of the light, and cannot be wrong.. well let me tell you, I can name quite a bit that you were wrong about."
The old man slumped back, feeling defeated. Harry stood.
"Lets make a deal, you support me in my quest to do what is necessary, and I will let you retire gracefully as an elder statesman of magic, with your name and reputation intact.. You go against me, and I will take you down, just as quickly and permanently as I intend to take down Tom Riddle."
The old man glowered at the young man.. "You think you can take me..?" "
"I surely do.. lets do a simple test.' he looked about. and grabbed a mechanism from off a shelf, and threw it on the desk, knocking various papers and paraphernalia to the floor. "I will do with this device what I will, you try to stop me, by whatever methods you deem necessary." The device was one of the items used to track Harry's magic while he was held prisoner on Privit Drive.
Dumbledore reluctantly agreed. Harry sat down on a chair facing the desk, and did not even take out a wand, either of them.. The device sat there whirring and puffing like a small steam engine but otherwise fairly inert.. and then it moved, collapsed in upon itself, the metal flowing, melting and reforming into another form, a vaguely humanoid form with two legs, two arms and a head.. It lay there on the desk, for about thirty seconds, then sat up, and stood up.. and walked around the desk a bit, looking at various things.. peered at the dish with lemon drops took up three and began to juggle..
after a bit, put them down and and then strode out to the middle of the stage.. The figure started tapping it's toes, as if listening to some odd inner music, then is sprung into a Celtic toe dance, that any PBS watcher would recognize as Riverdance' The figure shrunk and split off into two, then four then eight figures which performed in cadence and harmony, doing that line portions of that dance.. Dumbledore had gone to standing and had his wand in hand, casting various shields, hexes, and charms on the proceedings.
Harry was whispering to Hermione who was blushing at whatever he was saying to her.. Dumbledore was at his wits end when he tried to cast a curse directly at Harry to stop the dancing figures.. The shield that was thrown up was pure silver, and concave to the point that the curse thrown at it was reflected back to the one who sent it.. stunning Dumbledore in his own office, making him fall back into his chair, unconscious. The figures danced for a little while longer, and when finished, came to the edge of the desk and bowed to the audience, and then rolled themselves up into a ring six inches across, inert. Harry took the ring and gave it to Astoria who was laughing gleefully at the dancers..
"Here you go sweetie, you just touch the ring with your finger and tell it to dance, and it will, ok?" she hugged it to herself and nodded, happy to be the center of attention.
_______________________________________
"Ok, how did you do that, in fact, how are you doing any of this...this...you!!!" Daphne had cornered Harry in a empty classroom after they had left Dumbledore's office.. Hermione and Pansy were standing there smirking as Harry weathered the hurricane that was Daphne.. Harry stood back hands up, in full defensive mode, as Daphne spluttered and tried to make coherent sentences.. "I saw you at the end of fifth year, you were a wreck, a mess after whatever it was that happened at the Ministry, and that hag Umbridge.. you weren't able to lift a wand, let alone fight a battle like you did tonight, in fact, how do we know you are really Harry Potter, and not the dark lord in disguise.???"
Harry wiped his face off, the spray from, her foaming at the mouth was getting to him. she kept going.. "And you and her, she is the Lady Potter I didn't think you could get married this young, and step into your lordship yet, It isn't normal,.. she petered out, flopping down on a chair..
Harry leaned down and laid a gentle hand on her cheek.. "Daphne, please, let me explain.. really,I will explain it all, but I need your word that this be kept secret until I let you speak it.. " she frowned at the
mention of an oath.. "Not a binding oath, I would never want to risk you magic or life as something as trivial as this, I am just asking that you keep what we are going to tell you to yourself, please, we are private people, and the world doesn't need to know our business..I'm sure you can appreciate that.." "First off, I swear on my life, I am not Voldemort or any variation of him, by way of imperious, possession or potion." He glowed briefly in confirmation of that.
"Harry!!" Hermione snapped irritably at him.."Remember what we discussed about oaths.." he nodded to her. I remember..never fear.." he smiled at her.."Please, sit down.. we have much to speak about.'. They secured the room with many spells against hearing, scrying, any type of infiltration.. when satisfied they sat. Harry with Hermione to his right, and
Pansy to her right.
"We are here, September first, 1996, "the events at the Ministry of Magic, Department of Mysteries occured on June 26, 1996, sixty six days ago. In those sixty six days, Hermione has lived almost two years, Pansy nearly the same and I have lived almost three and a half years.. I am now almost twenty years old..and I have spent almost all of that time in very intensive training, in magic, in warfare, in politics, in muggle methods and magical methods.. I have spent this time making myself strong and capable so I could end the rot in our society that is manifested as Voldemort."
Daphne started to ask questions, but he held up a hand keeping her quiet..
"Let me finish, if you have any questions after I am done, I will explain.." she sat back, not satisfied, but complying..
"I, we have access to a secret family only facility, where the magic as such can compress time.. , but at a price.. it would be a deus ex machina, to think we could get away with it, unscathed..
We can go into speedtime, and spend our time learning and training but the cost is that there has to be someone here on the outside who can support our needs, basic things like food and water,and believe it or not, sewage management.... we need to have the area secure so that no one can accidentally stumble into a partially sped up time, because then that person would age faster on their front and slower on their back.. it can't work and you end up dead, not fun,, because parts of you die slower than others.. and you can feel it." he sighed.. "And there is another cost, one which will be paid later.. for every year you spend in speedtime here, you lose at least part of a year of life at the end of your time here on earth.. not a bad way to go I guess, the quality of life is better at this end, the thought of being old and
infirm, that seems to be something of a problem.."
he looked at Hermione and Pansy..
"I will not marry Hermione until Tom, that is to say, Voldemort is gone, so it's been three years since I have proposed to her, my time.. almost two for her.. and let me tell you, restraining myself is not fun.." he turned red, as did Hermione.
"You saw my Wolfpack, and Dobby's army in action tonight. It takes time , effort and training to get those things up and running.. even if they are more durable than regular humans, even werewolves get the blues.. They really enjoyed going almost a year straight without a change though..the cost of all this is horrendous, and keeping it a secret, very tough, let me tell you.. On the plus side.."We have seventy five years of records, of every ministry double dealing,
bribe taking, weaseling underhanded move, recorded for posterity, and fresh, ready to go blackmail material.. We have in our archive, Fudge sneaking into the Minister's office at the age of twenty and sitting in the chair, proclaiming himself to be king.. we have Albus Dumbledore doing some of his mind manipulating on many of the members of the Wizengamot, officials of the ministry, and some he just did for giggles I think.. We have double dealing where people were executed or put in Azkaban so the corrupt officials could steal their lands and wives.."
Daphne was shocked. her whole worldview was rapidly changing this man, this powerful dangerous man.. was laying out his whole world to her. telling her his intimate secrets.. and yet, he doesn't really even know her. what did she do for him to trust her with this information? what is the price he will want to extract.? He already has a fiancé, with Granger. what is his relationship with Par..Pansy? what does he want from me?
'...and then we came to your families aid, and think your family would be a wonderful addition and help to our cause" She stammered and wasn't making much sense, and Harry suggested..
"Tell you what, Stay with my ladies tonight and think about it, I will have our elves bring up your stuff from the Slytherin rooms. I really don't want you down there, since there are two marked death eaters in your house, so until we capture them, you are best staying with us, ok?" She looked to the girls..no ,women and they nodded and encouraged her to agree. They gathered themselves and went to the Noble rooms and settled in for the night. Harry went to the left, the elegant and beautiful Head of a Great House rooms, while the girls went to the right, the rooms for the wives, children, mistresses, and the like. The elves had brought all Daphne's goods, clothes, school books, and set them up neatly, she changed from her travelling clothes to her sleeping clothes, and had gathered up all of the parts of Pansy's armor, and was taking it back to her.
Hermione and Pansy were in the same room, all their clothes and books and such were put up and arranged, Hermione's was precisely laid out, her clothes for tomorrow, her books and bookbag at the ready, she was prepared for the morrow. Pansy was slightly more disorganized, Daphne recognized her style, after having lived in the same dorm with her for five years.. "Here, Pansy, Thank you for letting me use this, it may have saved my life.." she handed the dark haired girl the armor, and then realized, something was missing..
"Ummm..do you two ...share this room..?" "yes, we do, will that be a problem?" Hermione answered, while hanging up a robe, and Pansy was putting away her armor in a chest that had several deadly looking weapons in it.. "err..no, not to me.. but it is...unusual..at least, it looks as if..." she couldn't say it.. "Yes, Daphne, Pansy and I sleep together, we make love together, we love each other, deeply, madly, truly.." she was prim and proper while making this statement.. "We love Harry, and I will be the Lady Potter when it comes time to marry, He loves me with depth and commitment. He also loves Pansy, but in a different way..do you recall the circumstances of Malfoy's disappearance earlier this summer? Daphne nodded. "Pansy told me some of it..that he..." "Yes, the worthless piece of toejam raped her while she was held down by his two buttboys.." she snarled at her description of the event. Pansy just closed her eyes and leaned into Hermione's shoulder, holding her hand. "That event, punctuated by assorted crucio curses, damaged Pansy to the point that she could not bear the touch of a male..the term is negative reinforcement.. in any event, Harry rescued her, and brought her to our facility, I did some healing on her,, and she refused to go back out into the world, even to be with her parents.." Hermione caressed Pansy's face and kissed her on the forehead.
"Harry was off for two years in his timeframe, training, while Pansy and I were on our own study/growing track, and we discussed a lot of things, and I began to know and love this beautiful woman..Yes, I know, Gryffindor/Slytherin, supposed to hate each other.. but I don't, and neither does she.." Pansy smiled and kissed Hermione's lips gently. and then sat with her, holding hands.. "So, does that make you, a..what is the word? poof..Dyke?" The other girls laughed.. "No, not really, it makes us people who love other people, and that's all that matters.. I love Harry, and will gladly make love to him, and give him children, but I also love Pansy, and will gladly make love to her, and if we could, make beautiful children.. Pansy, well, you tell her, love.." Pansy sat up straight, but did not release Hermione's hand.. "I love Hermione,, and if we can find a way, I will give her children, who will be named Granger..and I will be Pansy Granger..that is if she will have me.." here she was interrupted by a kiss.
"I also Love Harry, and he will be the only male..Man who I will ever allow to touch me.. he is gentle he is kind, he is loving, and he will never do anything I don't want him to." she paused.. "If he does not find a woman to be his Lady Black, I will step into that job, and to the public, I will be Harry Potter-Black's second wife, The Lady Black." she sighed. "but the truth is, I love Hermione, and she will always be my One." she looked Daphne straight in the eyes..
"You might want to get to know Harry.. he's worth knowing, Daphne.."
Daphne left the room and slipped into her own. stunned. She could see the happiness between the two women, and the commitment they were showing each other.. She could feel the bonds between Hermione and Harry, those bonds were evident, and much stronger than the ones she had seen in her own parents.. Daphne's gift was sensing attitudes and magical strengths, she was something of an empath, which was why she was always seen with the 'ice queen' persona.. the only other person in the school who was even close to her talent was that strange Ravenclaw girl, Luna, and Luna's talents were to say the least, odd, and if you delved into them, very odd. The thought of the two women in the next room lying together and pleasing each other made Daphne wet, and and the comment about getting to know Harry.. it took pleasing herself to finally get to the point where she could sleep.
Luna and Neville cuddled in the RoR, nuzzling and kissing..
"It has begun..the three are together now, and the bonding is now beginning to form.."
"Who?" Neville whispered in his lover's ear.. "Harry, and Hermione, and Pansy and Daphne.. although it is not Harry and Pansy, but Hermione and Pansy.. odd.." "Don't worry about it love, it's Harry, so all rules are off.." she smiled and stuck her nose in his ear.. "yes love.."
elsewhere:
"Again!" the curse was cast "Again!" the curse was cast "Again!" the curse was cast
"Rest" The teens collapsed in a heap, weary from casting such powerful curses at the bodies.. they were not bodies when they started, but now.. just masses of meat and blood..
"Hey, why are you here, I though you were part of the 'golden trio' and above all this. "Nah, They think they're special, and I am a pureblood, they're not.. I'll show her who's the smarter, better one.. " "
Well, keep your head down, The Dark Lord will want you to stay secret, so he can take those two..directly to him when he calls.. "Yes, I know, I have already been promised that I will own Puddlemere United, and will be starting keeper..
"The Dark Lord said that?" the other was shocked.. He was laughing.."no, the other dark lord..heh heh heh" "Alright you maggots, on your feet.. The incantation is Crucio"
and thus ends chapter 3
A reviewer said this story is full of holes.. Hellyeah! that's the point.. Life is not linear orr set into certain phases and organized plans.. Life is a mess, plot holes and misunderstandings.. Life is how we deal with the insanity thrown at us.
another reader commented that I got Ginny's age wrong. So what, I don't care. get over it.
here's a hint..I'm not following canon..if you want me too align my facts in a regulated manner, log off right now and go read the books and their disastrous ending. buh-bye
If I can find enough gravel I will fill the dump truck and fill the plot holes, Ok?
11-25-08
rewriting a few small bits, fixing the formating problem and making it FFNET compatible. and checking for continuity errors.
TW
standard Disclaimer still applies
