Chapter 3 Prelude of Things to Come

There was a decisively cool turn to the air as September the First arrived, and with it, the annual Hogwarts Express trip. Harry could feel that this winter was going to be a rough one down in England, much less what it was going to be like in Scotland. Daphne was berating him for calling her Daphne instead of the traditional Greengrass.

"Remember, we aren't supposed to refer to ourselves with our first names, Potter."

Harry leered at Daphne, " Like you care anyway. Draco's already pissed it all out to the Slytherins anyhow. "

A voice shouted, " Hey, there's Harry!"

Harry cursed and hastily threw his trunk up on the train, and hustled off to find a compartment where the idiots wouldn't find him. He found a compartment near the front of the train, just behind the prefects carriage. He sank down into the chair and began to muse silently. He wanted to ensure a safe and easy trip, so he pulled out his invisibility cloak and threw it over him. Harry slept the entire train ride to school.

Meanwhile, in another section of the train, Daphne was dealing with Ronald Weasley, " Listen Weasley, get it through your thick skull that Potter's a little like Dumbledore. You won't find him unless he wants you to find him."

Hermione grabbed Ron's shoulder before he could yell something back that might get him into some real trouble, " Calm down Ron! I told you asking Daphne was a bad idea anyway."

Daphne scowled at Hermione, " Why's that, Granger?"

She was answered by a series of scowls deeper than her own, as Hermione and Ginny basically drug Ron into a compartment. She took a moment to stand outside with her ear against the door, an eavesdropping technique she had learned when she first heard that her father had been trying to negotiate marriage contracts for her.

Ron's voice shouted loudly, " Where do you get off Hermione? I thought for sure at least you would be able to get something from her!"

Hermione replied, " RON! She's the Ice Queen of Slytherin! That doesn't mean much to you, but she's basically unapproachable to anyone in this entire school! Even other girls! But maybe if you just got your head out of your ass, you wouldn't have so much trouble talking to girls period!"

Daphne chuckled as she pulled her ear away from the door.

Later…..

Harry had enough time to hear the compartment door open and sling off the Invisibility Cloak, before Draco Malfoy entered it.

" Well, well, well. Looks like we found a Potter asleep."

Harry grumbled, " Fuck, Draco. What the hell are you doing here?"

" Why do you think?"

"How did you find me?"

Malfoy smirked, "Couldn't find you anywhere else, so we decided to look for a conspicuously empty compartment. Lo and behold."

Harry closed his eyes, bored, "I really don't feel like dealing with you, Malfoy. I'm certain you've got better things to be doing right now."

Malfoy cocked an eyebrow, "Not like you to be civil, Potter. Anyway, where's the Ginger and the Mudblood at?"

"Do I looked like I know? Probably the back of the train. That's where we always sat at any rate. Go torture some minions why don't you?"

Malfoy chuckled, "Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you? I need to pay you back for that travesty this summer."

"Live, learn, die, and forget it all, Draco. Spend less time in the past, and you might have a future."

Malfoy's face fell faster than a boulder on Everest, "What was that, Potter?"

Harry snarled as he turned away, "Didn't hear it the first time, it isn't worth hearing. "

Malfoy reached for his wand, before a familiar, high voice, yelled, "Leave it, Draco! Let Harry have his victory for now."

The familiar, and detested, visage of his magical cousin appeared in the doorway. She sneered at Harry, "Enjoy your victory now, Harry, for it will soon belong to us."

"Remind me when to care, alright? Now leave, we can continue our conflicts at Hogwarts."

The rest of the voyage went swiftly. With nothing to distract him, Harry found himself idly making it snow in other compartments, specifically the Prefect's compartment, and anyone else he could think of. That meant that people like Cho Chang were having a fairly cold journey.

It wasn't until he ran into Susan Bones on the way off the train, that he found out that Slughorn had been trying to find him the entire journey for some little sojourn in his private suite. He snorted out a laugh, remembering how he had antagonized the returning Potions Master who looked like he might be slightly related to Uncle Vernon.

Taking a seat on one of the Thestral carriages, he took a survey of the atmosphere. Maybe the Wizarding world was finally coming to grips with the fact that the supposedly impossible return of Lord Voldemort, had really happened. Unfortunately, cool as the atmosphere was, his corporate takeover of Weasley Wizarding Wheezes had turned him into the villain of the school once more.

It was uncommonly cold, he could give it that, but he could feel the heat coming off of the glares some of the students were sending him. Many of the Gryffindors had been to W3 over the summer break, to be highly impressed by the innovative merchandise. Same with many Hufflepuffs. They had been sorely disappointed when the shop was shut down. Then came the purebloods, who knew everything, telling them who was behind the takeover.

The Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and some Ravenclaws hated him, but a few of the Slytherins actually applauded him for it. Sure, it wasn't the boldest or most audacious move, but he still had brought down one of the most promising businesses in Diagon Alley. He smirked as he thought of the hell he was surely going to take in the Common Room.

Soon, they reached the disembark point for the carriages. Harry got off with an grunt, and walked into the significantly warmer, though still drafty, Entrance Hall. He followed the crowd into the Great Hall, and took an isolated seat at the Gryffindor Table. Well, isolated for now, because it was where the newly sorted First Years would sit after their Sorting.

To Harry, the only semi-interesting Sorting would be that of his Cousin, Annalisa. Despite how highly amusing it would be to see her Sorted into Hufflepuff, he seriously doubted that she would end up anywhere but Slytherin. It would surprise him at any rate. Still, he didn't know much about her, and he didn't want to learn more about her either.

Slowly, the Hall filled to the brim with returning students. He caught a glimpse of Daphne taking a seat amongst what remained of the Slytherin Sixth Year that wasn't a Death Eater in Training. Which, wasn't much. Harry noticed, to his displeasure, that Malfoy was gesturing in his direction. No doubt trying to get him going about some mundane thing. That's when Harry noticed someone else.

Seated amongst the Fourth Year Slytherins, was an older looking girl. Harry looked back and forth between Daphne and the girl. They were almost complete opposites. The girl was tall for her age, compared to Daphne being short. She had jet black hair with an obsidian sheen. Both were Pureblood pale, as Harry called the regal, alabaster white skin that most Purebloods had. Her eyes were soft, turquoise blue.

It took him a moment, but he figured that the two were sisters. Then that meant that the younger one was Astoria Greengrass. For obvious reasons, Daphne never talked about her younger sister. Harry, however, got the distinct vibe that the two were once very close, but something had forced them apart in their past. Something had forced the two apart, to the point that Daphne was willing to join Harry, and Astoria was willing to become a Death Eater. Whatever it was, it surely was a dark secret that would come to air at an inopportune time.

The Sorting Hat sang it's song, with the same general warning as usual. In unity, victory. In division, defeat. Dumbledore stood up, and most of the Hall gasped in surprise at his missing left hand. He announced, "Prior to our annual Sorting, I have a couple of related announcements to make."

Harry chuckled as he heard Ron groan audibly from hunger. Even from the far side of the table, it was obvious who was the dissenter. Dumbledore ignored Ron's protest, "For the first time in centuries, this is the first time we shall have students who are not First Years Sorted. For those unfamiliar with our history, the last transfer student that we had was a little known man from St. Etienne's. St. Etienne's is a small, though elite, school in Southern France, near Marseille. His name, was Alexander Sinclair."

Harry snorted when he heard Hermione gasp with understanding. Some of the more knowledgeable Purebloods nodded as well. Sinclair was the first wizard to develop the ability to Apparate.

Dumbledore continued his announcements, "The senior students shall be sorted after the First Years. Now, if you would, Professor McGonagall?"

And so it began. Harry ignored the Sorting for the most part. There were a very paltry few Sorted into Gryffindor. Only two people were sorted into Gryffindor. It was the lowest since 1939, when no one was sorted into Gryffindor. Then the older Sorting began.

The three Lucasson children were all sorted into Ravenclaw. That's when the fun began. Harry's cousin took the Hat next. The hat remained silent on Annalisa's head. Soon, the Hall began to buzz with conversation, most of the students getting impatient. Suddenly, the Hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Harry's fist hit the table with a noticeable thud. Annalisa passed out from the shock. Harry shouted, "There is no way I'm going to be in the same House as that bitch!"

Dumbledore frowned at Harry, "Kindly watch your language, Mr. Potter."

The Gryffindor table looked at each other nervously as McGonagall levitated her newest member out of the Hall. Dumbledore stood back up to make another announcement, "In light of current events, I am enacting a Forced Cooperation Act. All Houses will be required to perform non hostile activities with each other. Several new clubs will be formed. Hopefully, this can alleviate some of the discontent that has so plagued this school. I admit, that I have had a hand in fostering this dissent, now is not the time."

Finally, he declared to the Hall, "And the Day Shall Come Again."

Harry immediately lifted his head. That line, from Tolkien's Silmarillion, was the code that he and Dumbledore had decided on. It meant, "Meet me in my office after the Feast. There is news."

Then the food appeared. Nibbling on some chicken, he observed the Hall. Most of the Hall seemed unfazed by the recent events, but there was certainly a lingering sense of foreboding. He noticed Draco messing with his shoulder. He ignored a small buzz of pain from his scar, and continued eating. Finally, the Feast ended, and Dumbledore finished his announcements.

"Before I let you go, I shall inform you that we have some staff changes. Horace Slughorn has graciously returned to his previous post as Potions Master."

Ron blinked in confusion, "Potions Master?"

Dumbledore smiled at the confusion, "I would also like to announce that Severus Snape will be our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this term. I thank you for your time, and Good Night!"

He clapped his hands and the students promptly jumped up to go to bed. All except Harry, that was, who lingered in the Hall for a moment. Then, after seeing Dumbledore leave, he left.

(Dumbledore's Office)

"Well, gentlemen, and I use that term lightly, we have a potential situation on our hands." Professor McGonagall declared to everyone present. That everyone present, included the Aurors who were defending Hogwarts, and most of the Staff, plus Harry.

Dumbledore pressed his wand to one of his newer instruments. A smoky tactical map appeared of a location that Harry didn't recognize. Luckily, Moody solved the riddle quickly, "That's Abbott Manor."

Dumbledore smiled, "Correct, old friend. Our intelligence suggests that there will be a raid on the Manor within a few days. Given the….erroneous nature our previous Defense mission, I feel that a little preemptive fortification is in order."

Harry added, "So we're going to 'Head them off at the pass' so to speak?"

"Exactly. Unfortunately, due to the new school year, we will not be able to spare our normal strength. Moody, you will command the Aurors at the school in my place. Minerva, you shall command the school. You will make an excuse for Mr. Potter to be absent from his classes."

McGonagall muttered, "Very well, so long as he finds a way to make up the work."

Dumbledore chuckled, "I think he will do fine. Now, Nymphadora and Remus are already in the field, with our remaining forces. We should go soon."

He pulled out a crumpled sock that looked like it had been a Portkey more than once in its time, and muttered, "Portus."

"Grab on Harry. Time you took your second trial."

Reluctantly, yet still with eager anticipation, Harry grabbed the Portkey. A familiar jerk behind the navel, and off they went.

(Staging Area)

Harry came out of the Portkey swirl on his feet for once. Tonks muttered out, "Wotcher Harry. Nice to see you didn't come out on your bum this time."

Harry chuckled lightly, "I've been working on my entrances. Dumbledore says he can't have his apprentice coming out of the Floo and Portkeys like a drunk House Elf."

"And I'm absolutely right, Harry." Dumbledore said nonchalantly, "You still need some work, but you're getting there."

Harry hummed in mock anger for a moment. Dumbledore's appearance quickly got the attention of all the Order members gathered. Lupin, looking like a disheveled werewolf again, reported in, "Alright, everyone's here. So, this is a camp mission?"

Dumbledore nodded, "Exactly, Remus. We're doing active surveillance for the next few days, with the hopes that we can get the Abbotts enough warning to escape. Severus says that Tom is targeting this location for some reason. He wants to store something. I have good reason to believe he may be coming himself."

Lupin paled slightly, "You mean we might be fighting the Dark Lord?"

Tonks tried to lighten the mood, "Ready when you are Professor!"

She failed quite spectacularly, as both Hestia Jones and Daedalus Diggle looked more than hesitant about facing off with the Dark Lord. Even Lupin was looking less than enthusiastic. Harry thought, Hell, who can blame them?

Dumbledore continued to lay on the depressing news, "Severus said that the strike force will be of Battle Capacity. Meaning we can expect roughly thirty of the Rank and File, with ten Elite support. Forty in total."

It was Harry's turn to gape in astonishment, "Uh, Professor Dumbledore? How are we going to hold off forty Death Eaters and Voldemort?"

"If it is any conciliation, I'm here. But, we will need to set up our own defenses. Remember, our job is not to eradicate the Death Eaters that do come, only hold them off." Suddenly, Dumbledore sighed heavily, "Lethal force is authorized for this battle."

That got everyone in the clearing's attention. Dumbledore, who always believed in second chances and atonement, was authorizing lethal force? He looked at everyone there, "I know what you are thinking, and it isn't because of Legilimency. Remember who and what we are fighting for. The situation is similar to the Greengrass one. The Abbotts are hosting several Light affiliated, yet currently neutral, families over, to discuss what they should do. If Tom gets his hands on this crowd, the casualties could be greater than just the families. We're talking our future."

Lupin growled, "That's right, Voldemort's targeting the families that produce a lot of children. Especially the ones who already have children. It's as though…."

"He's saying, 'If I go down, I'm taking you with me.'"

The entire group looked at Harry, who hadn't realized what he had said, until after he had said it. Dumbledore bore a frown on his face, but he replied, "Harry understands the situation as well as anyone. Tom either wants to rule, or he wants to destroy Magical Britain in a way it can never recover. It would take decades, maybe centuries, to rebuild the Magical population via Muggleborns alone, if he eradicates those already alive."

Tonks lost her normally cheerful mood immediately, "I knew You-Know-Who was bad, but is he really willing to destroy us all if he can't rise to power? Even his own?"

"Tom Riddle does not care for those he commands. He does not care for those who grovel helplessly before him. If they get in his way, they are simply another obstacle that must be destroyed for him to achieve his goals. We've seen this before,", Dumbledore replied without his normal twinkle, "He may go out of his way to free those who remain loyal, but that is as far as his own loyalty to them runs."

Lupin decided that it was a good time to change the subject, "Alright, let's stop talking about how hopeless our situation is, and talk more about how we're going to pull this off. So, I'm guessing layered defense?"

Dumbledore smiled for the first time in the area, "Exactly, Remus. As you know, we haven't been able to bring everyone due to varying circumstances. We'll need to split up our better members, and send them off with the weaker members. We'll split into teams of four. In favor of putting up a powerful defense, we shall outline the outer reaches of the estate with runic traps that may be triggered a variety of ways. That is the primary reason have arrived with such advanced notice. Plus, it will give Harry here a little experience with Runes, which I know he has little."

And so the next few days went….

(Daphne)

The first day of classes was hell on earth for anyone in Slytherin who wasn't a Death Eater in training. Hell, it was bad for everyone all around, but even worse for Slytherin. Malfoy strutted around the Common Room like he owned the place. He did that normally, but there was something about it that was worse than normal.

The Blonde Prince wasn't a Prefect anymore, that honor belonged to a third fifth year, but it didn't affect his authority much. If anything, he had more now than when he had been a Prefect. Crabbe and Goyle had clearance to do anything to anyone who didn't do as Malfoy said, so Daphne always made it a prerogative to get out of the Common Room before everyone else woke up. Even if that meant waking up at four.

Her teachers made comments about her early morning wanderings, but none of them had punished her. At least, thus far. Snape may have been Head of Slytherin, but he was looking down on many of them more than normal. Daphne was included in that group.

Well know was the fact that if you were an intelligent student, then Snape would be slightly easier on you than others, except for insufferable Gryffindors. He never had patience for those. But, as of late, the new Defense teacher/ former Potions Master, had gone out of his way to torment anyone who Draco seemed to take offense to.

Which was nearly everyone these days. If Malfoy didn't have a legion of enemies already, he certainly did now. But, he also had a legion of followers to go with it. Maybe it was her lack of contact with the rest of the Pureblood families during the summer, but Daphne swore that Millicent and Pansy hadn't been that good at hexes before break.

Harry had suggested that Daphne keep an eye on her Slytherin classmates, and so she did, making small notes of inconsistencies in their abilities. Harry had been unfortunate enough to fall prey to their petty feuds many times, therefore, he knew their abilities fairly well. Inconsistencies might help determine who was really serious about being Death Eaters.

Daphne made another note in the small book she was carrying of Crabbe using a fairly advanced Flame Spout curse in a feud in the halls that had drawn the attention of the Aurors surrounding the school. That had been impressive. She had a snaking suspicion that there were forces at play that no one understood. Something had been unbound.

Harry had also asked for her to keep an eye on his cousin, who had finally recovered from the shock of being sorted into Gryffindor. Surprisingly, she got along quite well with the Gryffindors. But if Daphne had her own opinion voiced, she believed that Annalisa was playing nice because she had to. Gryffindor was known to be unforgiving to those that it didn't like.

Daphne was currently in the library, when she stumbled across a book. It was one of those Folk Tale books like "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" that all Purebloods knew by heart, but Daphne hadn't read this one in a very long time. It was a story about three entities, through which magic was supposed to have originated. Each entity's name was lost to time, but had a symbolic name instead. She checked the book from the library, enduring the stern librarian's glares the whole while.

Once back in the room she had been secured by Dumbledore in the Southern Wing, she opened the book again. Somehow, she felt an eerie feeling that someone else was reading this exact book, and using it for some purpose.

(Wormtail)

"Milord, we've retrieved that books as you requested. May I ask why you have requested this child's book?"

Peter Pettigrew, better known in all parts as Wormtail, flinched under the glare his Lord sent him. He sank further into a bow, nearly prostrating himself before the Dark Lord. Voldemort, to his surprise, gave him an answer.

"Wormtail, the answer is simple. Archaic knowledge, however outdated it may be, can give us a leg up on our enemies. I want you to distribute the Arcane books to our best warriors. Hopefully, they may learn something from them,", Voldemort hissed from his throne in the Malfoy Manor.

"Mi…Milord?"

"I said that it was simple, Wormtail. Of course, it goes over you. The books I am keeping detail several arcane entities that magic is thought to originate from. It is my idea, to seize control of these entities."

Wormtail lifted his head in enough time to receive a Crucio for his lack of thought. He let out a scream of pain, fell back, and banged his head on the wall. Just as quickly as it began, the pain stopped. It was replaced by the lesser pain of a book hitting his already aching head.

The Dark Lord hissed at the reeling traitor, "I dislike failures, Pettigrew. This is your chance to finally redeem yourself. You've always been decent at Potions. Brew the potions in that book, and find yourself. Then return to me. I've always favored Bella, but if you do this right, you will be my great warrior instead of her."

Awed by the promise of power, Peter scooped up the book, took his leave, and immediately set off for the ingredients needed to brew the potions. A few moments later, in his hellhole of a room, he propped the book open. He smirked as he left to find the first ingredient, something called Eye of the Kraken.

(Two Days Later…)

"Alright, that should be all of them. Thank you for the assist Harry, the Rune drilling must have really worked."

Harry scowled at Tonks, who was currently sporting her hot pink hair. He coughed slightly, sounding somewhat like Umbridge. Tonks turned to him, chuckling the whole way. She smiled lightly, and declared, "We should report back to Dumbledore. He should be finished with the inner fortifications."

Harry followed her back to the staging area, where Dumbledore was indeed waiting for them. He nodded stiffly at Harry, a sliver of weariness creeping into his face, "Are we finished?"

Harry returned a confirming nod, "The outer fortifications are completed. Where is everyone else?"

"Remus and Hestia are rounding up the families to inform them of their impending peril. We will be meeting them shortly, as well as taking any volunteers to battle alongside of us."

Tonks swallowed nervously as Harry asked, "Can we really expect them to provide us with aid?"

"Notable Purebloods will not want to abandon something that has been in their family for centuries. The Abbotts have lived on this land for centuries. You would find such a situation to be similar with the Potters and many others. They will not give in easily. Perhaps, if they join us in a victory, then we can hearten the people to support us more." Diggle replied in place of Dumbledore.

Dumbledore smiled slightly, "Exactly, Daedalus. In a war such as the one we are facing, public support is everything. Right now, no one wants to fight. They're too busy running or hiding in fear. Can we blame them? No, but Tom's victory is assured if we do not fight him."

"Too many followers, and not enough leaders, I might say. Dumbledore, I must ask, why do we not keep a standing army? I mean, the Muggle world has massive armies that are ready to fight on a moment's notice. U.S. Army Rangers can be deployed anywhere in the world in less than 24 hours." Harry asked, eager to get something that had been bothering him for awhile off his chest.

"Papal Accords of 1774. Wizards are not allowed to form armies of any kind, for any purpose, other than a token defense force. Some countries, like the U.S, can get away with having large Wizard armies. But Old World countries like the U.K can't. Unlike most Muggles, Priests of the Catholic Church are trained to spot signs of magic. There are holy relics that negate the effects of charms like the Fidelius." Tonks answered, surprising everyone in the clearing.

Dumbledore chuckled slightly, "But it requires an official declaration of an Inquisition to be able to use such items. I would think we could get away with a larger corps of Aurors, but the Ministry has been opposed to such measures as long as I can remember."

Harry quirked an eyebrow, "You mean it wasn't just Fudge?"

"Ministers always seem to come from Departments that were unrelated to Defense. In fact, Scrimgeour is the first Minister to come from the DMLE for five centuries. Fudge came, ironically enough, from the Department of The Press. He was, reportedly, one of their best reporters ever."

At that moment, Lupin and Hestia came into the clearing, followed by five or six men, and two women. All the men had blonde hair, and almond brown eyes. The oldest was clearly a grandfather, his hair was silvery white, but bound in a ponytail like the one Bill wore at the World Cup. The next two wore robes with leather like vests under it. Harry recognized the skin, but couldn't remember where he had seen it before. The last two were the youngest of the bunch, probably eldest sons.

Dumbledore shook hands with the oldest, and introduced him to the crowd, "This is Richard Abbott, an old friend of mine, who fought in the War against Grindelwald."

Richard smirked proudly, "I was there when Albus defeated him. I think I can take a few Death Eaters down here in the old age. My specialty is frontline assaults after all."

"Where've you been this whole time?"

Richard didn't look slightly insulted by Harry's blunt question, "I don't like war, and outside of this battle, I doubt I'll be doing much in this one either. Voldemort,", he immediately scowled at the younger members of his family, who all flinched at the Dark Lord's name, "Is nothing compared to Grindelwald."

Dumbledore frowned slightly at Richard, "Tom's more than your average Dark Lord, Richard. He is worth my full attention, which should be enough to get yours."

Richard let out a deep laugh, "I'll be the judge of that. Let us talk of more delightful things, shall we? The boy with the dark hair, that's your Apprentice isn't it?"

Dumbledore nodded, "Yes, Harry here is my apprentice."

One of the younger ones piped in, "Harry, as in, Harry Potter?"

Richard looked inquisitively at his grandson, "What's so important about Harry Potter?"

"He's the Boy Who Lived! Guy who defeated Voldemort the first time, when he was just a baby!"

Richard scowled, "Name's just a name, boy."

The youngest looking Abbott, the one who had been arguing, muttered an apology, "Sorry, Harry, but me grand dad has been living under a rock for the last thirty years. Didn't even know who You-Know-Who was until we told him."

Richard's frown deepened, "You call it living under a rock, I call it retirement."

The argumentative one didn't bother to counter, he introduced himself, "Name's Jake, and this is my older brother, Cecil. Don't know how much you talk to Hannah at Hogwarts, but we're her older brothers."

"And I'm her father, the other one is my younger brother, her uncle. My name is Alexander, and he is Godfrey. The two girls over there are his daughters, Lilina and Sarah." The middle looking man said with a bit of a smile.

Harry nodded to each of them, and shook their hands. Dumbledore took back up the briefing, "These fine men and women will be assisting us with the defense of their home. Richard, in fact, has a bit of a reputation as a defensive specialist, despite what he says. He will be deployed in the center, where the hammer will fall hardest."

Richard chuckled, "Defensive specialist, huh? I've forgotten who first called me that. Couldn't have been in the last hundred years."

Harry quirked an eyebrow at the old, but younger than Dumbledore, man, "How old are you?"

"One twenty three, I believe. That doesn't count any that I may have forgotten. Just another day at the office when you get as old as I do. In fact, I think I've forgotten when my birthday is."

Jake smirked, "That's just like him. Forgetting his own birthday. If his head was attached to his body, he'd leave that somewhere too."

"Hey, hey. Just because we had to double back because I forgot my wand, doesn't mean anything."

Cecil spoke up, "Did we mention that he wears those muggle combat boots?"

Godfrey silenced his nephews, "Like all older wizards, he has his quirks."

Dumbledore took this moment to mention, "I'm particularly fond of a scar on my knee that looks like the London Underground."

"Point exactly."

Harry and the other Order members were pretty taken aback at how whimsical the conversation had turned. Given that the majority of them had been fearing for their very lives, the sudden turn had taken them completely by surprise.

Lupin, normally one to sit back and let things take their course, spoke up, "Can we get back to the briefing?"

Tonks interjected, "Yeah, only a little worried about the Death Eaters that are coming."

Richard coughed slightly and Dumbledore resumed the briefing, "I'll be where Tom is, wherever that maybe. No doubt, he will be at the very front. I'll hold him, while the rest of you hold the others. Simple enough, yet sometimes, the simple plans are the best."

Richard smirked confidently, "Alright, let them come. We will be ready, and they will not know what hit them. The cycle of life and death continues. We will live. They will die."

A/N: Apologies for long update times across the board. I'm currently working on NaNoWriMo, so don't expect much more this month.

Harry's Code: "The Day Shall Come Again" is the line shouted by Turgon to his brother Fingon as his Elves entered the battlefield of the Nirnath (Battle of the Endless Tears), in the Silmarillion. Hurin also shouted this line as he held the rearguard during the Noldor Retreat. He shouted this line every time he killed one of the trolls of the High Balrog's personal guard. He shouted this line 50 times.