Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Harry Potter.

Chapter 4

Previously that day

Marlene McKinnon loved her family dearly, down to every last bone in her body. She was the devoted wife to a loving husband and the mother of a beautiful three-month-old baby. She knew that honesty bound a family together so she kept no secrets from her family. Apart from just one.

She was a spy, a weapon in the shadows, a protector of the free world — a vigilante, operating in one of the most secretive cliques in the Wizarding world, the Order of the Phoenix. Founded by Albus Dumbledore in 1960, he had gathered only the people most loyal to him to counter the rising threat of the newly self-proclaimed Dark Lord.

It was a special day today because today was her fourteenth wedding anniversary. She had planned to give her husband, Devin McKinnon, a special treat in the early hours of the crisp morning before she prepared to change for work.

Once breakfast was finished, Marlene leant over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, "If you manage to put little Spencer back to sleep, I've got a surprise waiting for you upstairs," she breathed in his ear as she nipped on his neck playfully.

Devin gave a mischievous grin as the virile man gathered up a gurgling baby and bounced up the stairs, two at a time, to put his son to sleep in a soft and warm cot.

Marlene was already upstairs and waiting as she chuckled with amusement when her husband rushed headlong into their bedroom gasping, only at the last second to assume a dignified walk to their bed, to where she lay clothed in a gossamer see-through gown.

A smirk of anticipation made a way onto his face started talking off his shirt. He shopped short however, as a cold feeling washed over both husband and wife, chilling their very souls as they realized that the wards around their house had fallen. The second feeling of tightness in their chests instilled more terror as they sensed powerful Anti-Apparition wards being erected around the house.

Calming her emotions with the mental art of Occlumency, just as Albus had once taught her on her initiation into the Order to guard the deepest of secrets, she pulled on a yellow coat from the side of her bed and whispered as she turned to her husband, who was frozen stiff.

"Darling, get Spencer and meet me in the second drawing room on the third floor."

"Devin, now," she growled ferociously in a guttural tone that booked no rebuttal as his mouth opened in protest, her Occlumency mask slipping in place as her emotions threatened to spill over.

He nodded with a pale face, exiting the room while wielding his wand in his a trembling hand as he slowly crept and made his way to the nursery room.

She took a deep breath and with clammy hands, pulled out a harmless looking coin she had kept on a necklace around her neck and gently rested it on her palm. She pressed a thin finger against it while muttering a spell under her breath, a unique device that was designed to alert every member of the Order when help was urgently needed.

She flinched as the front door to her house was blasted open, the rasping of distorted voices floating through the wooden floorboards up to her room on the second floor. Summoning her wand from the opposite side of her room silently, she prepared for a fight that had could very well be her last.

"Facere Invisibilia."

A quiet disillusion charm made her body shimmer with a soft ripple as she slowly became invisible, blending into the background as even her shadow had disappeared.

She edged out of the room slowly into a corridor, with her back against the wall, thankful that she was in such a big house, which had forced the Death Eaters to split up in search of them.

A male figure adorned with Death Eater regalia thundered up the stairs, as if not a care in the world if anyone had heard him, and made towards her bedroom when he reached the top, completely missing Marlene. She did not move a single muscle when he passed her still and invisible form.

"Come out and play, we know you're here", the intruder almost sang as he bent down to check underneath the bed after looking around the room, letting out a wheezy giggle.

Gripping her wand tightly as her muscles tightened in fear, she quickly jumped into the room with her wand aloft and pointed at his back.

"Stupefy!"

The Death Eater fell with a thump to the ground as the his mask slid off his face, exposing the face of Amycus Carrow, a devout follower of the Dark Lord with a hefty bounty on his head.

Casting a disillusionment charm on herself once again, she softly treaded into the room adjacent to her and waited for the next Death Eater to investigate the area to repeat the procedure, with the intention to soften their ranks first before trying to take the rest on.

The last thing she heard before her world faded to black was a whisper that caused every muscle in her body to heighten the instinctive urge to run in the opposite direction as a voice overwhelmed her senses.

"You cannot hide from Lord Voldemort."

"Ennervate," Voldemort commanded as life returned to Marlene's unmoving frame.

She jerked up straight in a wild manner, arms thrashing as she regained consciousness. In horror, her eyes widened as she spotted the squirming body of her husband and son opposite her, bound tightly with magically conjured ropes. The Death Eaters that had appeared with Voldemort on this raid stood guard outside the house, as he was the only one the room with them.

A handsome young face greeted her as she looked up. Deathly pale skin showed itself as his arms were clasped in front of him. Short, wavy black hair framed his clear eyes and sharp jawline as they blended harmoniously, exuding a sophisticated and charismatic aura. A cultured tone broke the silence as dark eyes stared deep into hers.

"Should your answers please me, I will let all of you live," he spoke softly, eyes glinting with hidden malice as he got straight to the point.

"Who are the other members in the Order of the Phoenix?" he questioned, a mellifluous tone honeying his words.

With an unsurprised look on his face at the silence he received, he knelt down on one knee to stare into the faces of his other two captives.

"The human life is so fragile… one simple spell can end it permanently. Their lives are in your hands, Marlene," he enunciated and reminded as he stroked the face of her son, making her whimper in terror even though she had her Occlumency shields up at full power.

She shivered at the use of her first name so casually.

The stubborn silenced carried on. She knew if she told him anything, the Wizarding world was as good as forfeit. With tears colleting in her eyes, she looked at her husband and child with only the purest of love.

Voldemort seemed to be disgusted with the scene that played out in front of him. He stood back up and readied his wand.

"Very well, it looks like you will need some… incentive."

He lazily pointed his wand in the direction of their progeny, relishing in the looks of increased terror that emitted from the two other faces.

"Last chance Marlene, I can make this easy or I can make it as difficult as you want."

The sound of her husbands screams of muffled confusion as to why she wasn't saying anything stained the air and pierced her heart. She looked away from his pleading gaze and started to weep softly.

"You leave me no choice then."

Turning to the wide eyes of the frightened baby, Voldemort paused as he raised his wand in finality. His eyes glowed as he crooned.

"Avada Ked-…"

With a bone chilling scream, he terminated the chant of his cast; the magic within him that craved to be released had retreated backwards as pain wracked his body.

Undulating waves of pain blasted through his head, causing him to shriek loudly as emotions he thought were all but eliminated from the dark rituals he had once performed flooded back to the surface, raw and all consuming.

Gritting his teeth in pain, he fell to his knees as he stared with ever-changing emotions at the petrified face of Marlene.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WOMAN?" he screamed in rage as the pain increased multifold in intensity.

Outside, a cry sounded through the air as the Anti-Apparition ward that encircled the house collapsed into nothingness.

Figures wearing face distorting charms apparated in with harsh cracks in the dark, each one covered in magically resistant dragon hide and wands at the ready. The figures then roared as one, intimidating even the hardiest of Death Eaters, as they charged into the grounds and started firing luminescent spells of crimson red and nitid gold at the patrolling Death Eaters.

The Order of the Phoenix had arrived.

Voldemort barely registered the fight outside as he staggered over to the door in agony. Although the Death Eaters had been trained to cast the foulest of magics, the intricate and unrelenting barrage of spells that came from the Order left them on a hard defensive. A seemingly authoritative figure, emblazoned with a more intricate silvery mask bellowed out above the pandemonium, "RETREAT."

With soft pops, all the Death Eaters ceased fire and hastily activated their portkeys, leaving Voldemort by himself in the house. Stumbling out of the house with wrath in his eyes, he locked eyes with Albus Dumbledore himself before he activated his own portkey, narrowly avoiding a spiralling spell as it propagated and crashed into the wall behind him where he had previously stood.

Albus seemed surprised to see Tom Marvolo Riddle, or the name he calls himself, Lord Voldemort, in pain. Tom was always too careful… too flawless to be hurt. The numerous dark rituals he had partaken in should have eliminated his ability to feel physical pain. Something was up.

"Elphias check the house quickly for survivors," he commanded in a hurried manner to the other members of the Order.

"Alastor, Minerva, check the surroundings for any hidden traps or magical pitfalls. Edgar you-…"

Albus was interrupted as burst of fire beside him announced the presence of Fawkes, his bonded familiar. The majestic phoenix was wreathed in fire and yet was not burning as powerful feathered wings kept him off the ground. He hovered on the spot, flapping its red and resplendent wings powerfully as it gave Albus urgent trills.

Albus turned white and turned to the wizard that was waiting anxiously beside him. "Edgar, I'll leave you in charge here, Fawkes has informed me that the hospital wing in Hogwarts is currently being destroyed by some unknown magic."

Without even waiting for Edgar's response, he grabbed on to Fawkes' tail as they both vanished in a flash of fire.

A few hours later

Voldemort sat cross-legged in an enclosed room, deep within the magically expanded pits of the Gaunt Manor, which was situated just outside Little Hangleton. Dark and illegal books that twisted and turned in the air surrounded him as they floated lazily around his head, like vultures circling an animal on its deathbed.

Pages lay worn and vandalized with ink as scribbles and perforations had been harshly scratched in from quills. His travels from past decades did him no good, as no knowledge available from his formidable brain nor through ancient and decrepit books were giving him answers to the episode he experienced just now.

Voldemort was not just a one-dimensional personification of evil he had the public believe. He was curious, he was ambitious, and he sought knowledge. He had delved into forbidden magics and rituals that even the most powerful of the world would not dare to explore.

Realising the tome he was currently reading had deviated off topic, he threw it down in a fit of intense anger, pages ruffling and crumpling at it hit the wooden floor with a muffled thud.

Something is missing. I just need one more piece of the puzzle to solve this.

With a steady breath, he magically willed the rest of the books to stack themselves neatly on top of a creaky wooden desk, next to a white candle, burning bright as hot melting wax dripped leisurely down its side. That particular candle, which had once illuminated the room, was then snuffed as a cold breeze of magic washed over it.

Voldemort stretched languidly in the darkness before he narrowed his eyes in thought.

I was so close to getting the information out of Marlene McKinnon. Her Occlumency shields were almost weakened to the point where nothing was hidden from me.

Tapping his chin slowly, he continued musing.

The Order currently thinks I am on the retreat, good. It is strategically beneficial for me to attack other targets now.

He exited the room and made for the dining room in the manor, where he knew a few Death Eaters were currently sojourned at his request. He silently entered the room, nodding with approval as a few talented Death Eaters had sensed his presence immediately and stood up straight. Without pause, he motioned to his two most loyal followers.

"Antonin, Lucius, come with me."

The said elite Death Eaters seemed to glow under the knowledge that they were favourited and quickly followed Voldemort down a dark hallway into another enclosed room, where a detailed map of the Wizarding world was situated in the centre of it. He pointed to certain points in an area on the map with a deft finger.

"We will strike hard and quick this time. The two of you can easily destroy these three muggleborn orphanages in Essex in under an hour."

"Time is of the essence. Go now… and no mistakes," Voldemort ended, warning colouring in his tone, still bitter from the defeat he suffered earlier. Antonin and Lucius nodded nervously with reverence and left the room speedily.

Just as Lucius had closed the door behind him, Voldemort's world exploded in pain. A direct parallel to the assault he previously suffered earlier in the morning.

A small headache formed as he realized that this time, the attack was much more muted. He closed his eyes and ignored the pain as he sat down on a chair and wandered deep into his subconscious, looking for the intrusion. Hours passed as he searched every nook and cranny of his mind.

Just as he was about to abandon his search, he reached into the furthest part of his mind, a part which he didn't even know existed. To his surprise, he discovered a mysterious black door, engraved with a large lightning bolt scratched on its surface as it pulsated with insidious magic. He gritted his teeth with effort as he forced the door to open with his mind and entered through the black and murky fog that greeted him.

With astonishment, he looked around at the mix of magics that inhabited the area and reached out, recognizing some of the magic that was woven into the threads that bound this place together. With a start, he realized that this particular place and the purported attacks in his mindscape were not intentional. With curiosity and excitement at this new and unknown sort of magic, he gathered up his mental power and carried a sardonic message through the open doorway.

I felt that you know.

He felt a surge of fear and panic rise up in the murky environment from the other creature before he was rudely expelled from the own recesses of his mind. With a dangerous glint in his eyes, he stroked his chin with his left hand while his brain churned out countless hypotheses and theories. "Interesting... very interesting," he murmured.

1 week later

Harry drank the final batch of horrid potions before letting out a delighted laugh as he set down the last vial, which to Madam Pomfrey and Professor Slughorn, sounded like an adorable squeal as they both gave hearty chuckles in return, glad to see the child happy and well.

"Thank you so much Professor, all the stories Poppy has told me about your legendary potion making skills is nothing but the truth," Harry breathlessly spoke, eyes shining as lips curved upwards into a full smile as he finally felt all traces of dark magic disappear from his back.

Slughorn blushed under the intense gaze as the enchanting young girl enthusiastically extolled his brewing skills. "Think nothing of it dear girl, and please, call me Horace," he requested, as to which Harry nodded cheerfully.

Harry turned towards the accommodating middle-aged Mediwitch and looked at her through serious and contemplative eyes. All of a sudden, his body acted before his mind could react and he rushed over to give Poppy a tight hug around her midriff. Caught off guard, Poppy flinched. But not for long, as she stroked her fingers through his long black hair and knelt down to give Harry a warm and gentle hug in around his neck.

Albus, with perfect timing as ever, waltzed into the hospital wing with a small key in his hand, looking at the trio bond which each other. He chuckled with endearment as he unconsciously skipped toward them before stopping short as he realized his bizarre actions.

Skipping? Dear Merlin, when was the last time I even skipped?

Shaking his head in bemusement, he cleared his throat loudly to get the attention of the other residents.

"Ariana, as promised, this is the key to your room. It is a very cosy little place which is located just through my office," Albus announced as he pressed a small silver key into the palm of Harry's hand.

Bidding the Matron and the Potion Master farewell, Harry followed Albus as they wound their way through the large castle to his new room. He was wearing a white cotton sundress that Poppy had found lying around and had magically shrunk it to fit him. Thinking back to the days where he wore dress robes for the Yule Ball in his fourth year, he shifted uncomfortably as he realized that this shorter dress was considerably breezier around the knees.

After a few minutes of companionable silence, memories of a story Sirius once told him about the Marauders enchanting a certain suit of armour that jumped out to scare people on the first floor rose to the surface. As they rounded a corner, he was too late to respond as silvery knight jumped out with sinister laughter echoing inside the suit. Instinctively, Harry stepped back with surprise, but the scream he released could not be suppressed.

"Ahh yes, I'd forgotten about the ingenious infusion of spellwork that Mr. Black had once used," as Albus examined the suit of armour closely as it returned back into position, oblivious to Harry's slight distress. "The magic still lingers even after a couple of years… fascinating," he continued in visible admiration.

Why…. why can't I control my emotions. He thought in desperation, blanching as he realized how little control he had over his body.

After calming his heart down and listening to Albus muse, Harry felt his right hand feel a little strangely warm. He looked down and widened his eyes as he found the source of the warmth. In his slight panic, he had instinctively grabbed tightly onto Albus's left hand, as it curled protectively back in response.

Albus leaned back as he finished reviewing Sirius's handwork and quizzically glanced down when he felt a faint tingling in the closed grip of his left hand.

His eyes dilated as an unknown emotion ignited from his hand and spread to the rest of his body like a raging wildfire, causing him to stagger on the spot.

"Ariana?" he gasped weakly, visions of the past clouding his eyes as memories of a similar nature arose unbidden to the forefront of his mind.

"Yes, Professor?" Harry replied, head tilting in confusion he looked into the misty blue eyes of his headmaster.

No, this wasn't his sister; this is the girl that Poppy had saved.

"Nothing, let's continue heading to your room – and avoid the trick steps on the grand staircase when I point them out", Albus recovered quickly as he forced a strained smile onto his face.

They had not realized that their hands were still interlocked as they trundled once more through the castle at a slower pace, the odd mood between them quickly dissipating as they blithely talked the whole way until they reached their destination.

When they reached the gargoyle statue that resembled a griffin that guarded the entrance to Albus' office, the quick utterance of "Lemon Drops" from Albus to let them through sent Harry into a fit of giggles as he recalled all the times when Albus would offer him some of his favourite sweets.

The prestigious office of the famous Albus Dumbledore could be described in just one word, mesmerising. A circular silver chandelier with six outward projections that held candles had a full sweeping view of the room. Golden and brown plinths were dotted around the room, each one of them carrying a golden gyroscope on its head, rotating carelessly in complete elegance. A grand wooden desk with intricate markings had a plethora of arcane looking objects situated on its surface, while the walls were coated in time-worn books as black bookshelves gave them a place to call home.

"Your room is through this door here," Albus motioned as he swept his hand to reveal a hidden door on the side of the office, which Harry could of sworn wasn't there the many times he had been here in the past.

Harry suddenly realized what he was still doing and coughed awkwardly as he retracted his hand from Albus's comfortable grip.

He slowly entered a narrow door to reveal a spacious and homely looking room. An empty armoire lay unaccompanied on the left side of the room as a soft and inviting bed lay opposite it. A rectangular window overlooked the glistening black lake in the grounds of Hogwarts, the glass letting in the scintillating rays of the morning sun. Other amenities, such as a personal bathtub, were interspersed around the room in a refined manner.

Completely thrilled and satisfied as he thought back to his room in the Dursleys, he exited the room contentedly as he flashed a full grin to the anxiously waiting man.

"It's perfect Professor, I love it," Harry announced demurely, happiness filling his heart. Albus visibly relaxed and returned the grin.

"I understand you have no personal items on you. I will arrange a trip to Diagon Alley later if that is fine with you. And please, call me Albus when we are alone."

Harry nodded in agreement to both requests but his mind was on something else. He scrunched up his sweet face in unease as he decided it was time that he was ready to tell Albus everything.

"I had promised to tell you everything… Albus," he started slowly, his thoughts translating to his face as it turned deadly serious.

Albus immediately turned grave as he prepared for more details of the young girl's capture and torture, misreading the intention of this talk.

"This will take a while, can we sit please?" Harry requested as he nervously bounced from one foot to the other, still wearing the brown moccasin shoes he had loaned from Professor Slughorn.

As they both sat down on opposite sides of the large desk, he glanced apprehensively at the empty paintings that decorated the walls all around them.

Noticing where Harry's eyes were drawn to in agitation, Albus took out his wand to cast a powerful silencing ward around them. "There, now not even the paintings can hear us," Albus reassured, his voice both tender and patient.

Wrapped by the warmth in a thick blanketed cocoon from Albus' voice, Harry shifted forward in his chair giddily as his bright eyes kindled with the small beginnings of a blossoming fire. A tremulous and courageous voice enveloped the room as emotion caressed every last word.

"Albus, my dear Albus… this is not the first time we have met."

A/N: Oh boy, things will most certainly pick up after this chapter!