Disclaimer: Nothing from the Harry Potter world is mine – JK Rowling has that honor.

Chapter 7: Alliance?

Despite Dumbledore's information about the so-called world of Elementals, none of the Order members were able to find much about it. And now, knowing it existed, the lack of news was even more frustrating. How could an entire world of people exist and not be known? One member was overheard muttering about if this was how muggles knew.

Oliver Potter personally thought muggles had it easier, they at least didn't know there was an entire world unbeknownst to them right under the surface.

Lucia had already gone to bed, but Oliver sat up sipping on a fire whiskey reviewing everything they had discovered about Elementals in the past 3 days of investigation. Ruled by a monarch, actual society divided up by type of element controlled, each element had a ruler. Hell had very likely been one of them. And that, that measly list of facts, that was all they had. For an Auror who was used to being in the know, it was a frustrating process.

With a heavy sigh, Oliver downed the last of his drink. Standing, he stretched his sore muscles wondering absentmindedly when he had started to get old. With a quiet frown the man turned to head up the stairs to a well earned rest only to freeze in surprise. His wand was in his hand instantly, pointed at the intruder who was leaning casually against the doorframe. "Who are you?" No fear, nothing to give away the paralyzing worry that his wife was unarmed upstairs. Just a trained, cold, Auror façade.

The man chuckled, his face still obscured by the shadows of the dark house. "Really? You've been searching for me for weeks and not the slightest recognition. I'm insulted." The voice was gravely and deep and disused.

Aries. An Elemental of considerable strength whom the entire Order was searching for was standing in his study for Merlin knows how long.

Careful to keep his voice polite and his wand unwavering, Oliver replied, "It's hard to recognize people in the shadows, my apologies. Do you need something?"

The man cocked his head to the side, the shadows still hiding him for the most part. "Dumbledore. He is your General correct?"

Despite having never heard Dumbledore referred to as a General, Oliver understood the question. "Yes, he's in charge. You want to meet with him?"

"Tomorrow. 9PM. This room should do. Tell him to bring those he trusts."

The fire crackled suddenly behind Oliver, embers leaping out of the otherwise dying fireplace. Oliver twitched his head just barely to look and the next split second when he looked back, the man, the shadow was gone.


Plamen hated that he was kneeling before this pathetic wizard. Powerful though he was, he was nothing more than a would-be king. The kind of rebel kings that Plamen had destroyed when they dared challenge his rule. It grated on his nerves to bow to such a man. A man who presently was ranting about the need to sway Aries to their cause.

"My lord, Aries cannot be swayed." Plamen could not stay silent as the rant stretched on. "He cares not about a cause nor about power. The man is out for blood, nothing more, nothing less. There is no way to control him."

The Dark Lord did not respond, glaring down at the kneeling Elemental. "You would suggest that we kill him?"

"Yes, my lord."

The Dark Lord's mouth curled into a distasteful sneer, "If you want him dead, we did you flee instead of killing him?"

Plamen tensed at the implied insult to abilities. "I believed him to be dead. And then I mistakenly believed he would have weakened over the years. It was a mistake, but rest assured, the next time we meet he shall die."

There was no taunting from the Dark Lord as he considered the powerful former King of Fire. "He's powerful so you say. Will you need assistance?"

Plamen paused, considering his words carefully, "I am confident that given the chance I could defeat him. However if he manages to surprise me, the next best bet would be assistance from the Elemental army."

"They will support you?"

"They will support their Queen. And she has more reasons to want him dead than even I do."


Albus Dumbledore wasn't a man to admit that he had spent the entire day watching the clock. Barely concentrating on anything, Dumbledore had been watching the day creep by, impatiently waiting for 9PM. He had been astounded when Oliver Potter had contacted him, and now, sitting in the Potter's study with the trusted few of the Order surrounding him, he felt the same astonishment. It seemed that after much searching, the man of their missions was just going to march in.

So it was with some nervousness that the Order watched 9PM tick by. As 9:15 rolled through, some members were shifting nervously.

A tiny chuckle had them all grabbing for their wands and spinning quickly to the window, where, standing as if he had all the time in the world, stood a man. He was younger than they remembered, appearing to actually only be in his late 20's, early 30's. It was the scars on his face, the darkness around his eyes, and the shock of white hair that made him appear older. His body was toned, his stance firm, his eyes, looking pitch black, glinted dangerously. "You weren't waiting for me were you?"

Dumbledore wasn't the greatest wizard of the time for nothing, he recovered first, "Ah yes, my apologies, we were expecting you through the door." He gestured at an empty seat, not being presuming enough to shake his hand. "Would you like anything to drink?"

Aries moved with a grace of a seasoned warrior, sliding into the seat. "No. I'd like us to cease with this pleasantries. You have questions, ask. Then I'll tell what I came for."

As the rest of the Order followed Dumbledore's example and sat, one woman leaned forward, grasping her husband's hand. "You might not know this, but you saved my son's life that day in Diagon Alley. Thank you." Aries glanced, vaguely surprised at the woman he recognized as Lucia Potter, wife of the man he had been following. He simply inclined his head back at her, no other sign that he heard.

Seeing that the man was settled and calm, Dumbledore cleared his throat, gaining the lot's attention. "Well, as Lucia as already said, thank you. You saved the day in Diagon Alley. Many people owe their lives to you. No one has been able to stand against Hell."

"Wasn't my intention to save the day, though you lot looked like you needed it." Aries spoke quietly, his deep voice strong in the silent room. "And his name is Plamen."

"What?" Moody's confused question echoed the thoughts of the room.

"The one you call 'Hell', his name is Plamen. Used to be a King of Fire in our world. Right bastard too."

Dumbledore, though distracted from his own line of questioning, couldn't help asking, "Used to be? What happened?"

Aries hesitated, as if this wasn't something he had thought of telling. "Became too powerful, too corrupt. The King of All sent the army to intervene. Bloody war. Ended with his death."

At that, the entire Order began throwing questions in. People didn't just come back from the dead all that often. Dumbledore finally held up a hand asking for quiet. "Perhaps you could explain that?" He inquired politely enough.

"I killed him. Wasn't easy, took a long war to get to the point where it was possible. But I did. I just didn't kill him good enough. You dear Dark Lord Voldemort was able to summon him back, only Voldemort's power holds him to this world. Undoubtedly, that is the only reason Plamen is following him."

"The man is literally a ghost?" Questioned Augusta Longbottom, sounding skeptical at best.

"No. Alive in every sense of the world. At least, for as long as Voldemort continues to allow him to live. Though knowing Plamen, I'm sure he's looking for a way around that little fact."

Moody, who had been studying how Aries' eyes glinted darkly at every mention of Hell, or Plamen's, name, spoke slowly and with understanding, "You're here to kill Plamen. Again."

Aries nodded; glad to see the respect and understanding in the well-trained Auror's eyes. Oliver however couldn't help asking, "If you wanted him dead, why didn't you come after him when he first showed up?"

"I was indisposed." The grim smile on his face spoke of promises of pain if anyone pursued that line of questioning.

Dumbledore had been watching the proceedings with some akin to annoyance. A man with such power, who could so easily help turn the tide of the war to their favor and Dumbledore was beginning to doubt he even wanted to truly help. "Are planning to help in the war against Voldemort? Or is killing this Plamen and leaving the rest of us to still suffer enough for you?"

Aries sensed the challenge in those words, the challenge to his morals and his honor. But he had long ago abandoned morals and his honor was beyond reproach. "I will kill Plamen. Voldemort is your war."

Instantly the entire room roared to life in disbelief that the Elemental wasn't here to save them. Accusations were flung at him and insults to his name. And through the turmoil, Aries sat there, calm with no emotions flickering his dark eyes. Finally the fire that had been happily crackling in the background roared to greater strength and an unnatural wind whipped through the room, settling a layer of fear-induced quiet over the room. "I will kill Plamen. It is more help than you deserve. You can point me in the right direction or not. Either way, I will be leaving after he is dead."

And Albus Dumbledore, for all that he desperately wished the man would reconsider, recognized that this was the best offer they were likely to get. He recognized that ridding them of Plamen might be just the momentum they needed. And he saw, in the tense muscles and perfect posture of the Elemental, that this was a warrior they would be better served helping than hindering. "We will of course help you find Plamen…"

He never finished his sentence as the soldier stood up quickly, "Excellent. In that case, I'll be in contact." He had walked over to the still closed window before anyone could object and a second later was swallowed into the shadows, disappearing once again.

The window never opened.


It wasn't often anyone saw Sirius Black glaring at anything, unless of course it was a Slytherin. More often than not, Sirius was laughing broadly at his own bad jokes or grinning in remembrance of a prank or the planning of another one. Everyone knew him as a happy-go-lucky guy with the world going his way. Which is way had anyone else been up in the Gryffindor seventh year dorms on this particular September 29th (a Monday to make things worse), they would have been very surprised.

For Sirius Black wasn't just glaring at the letter in his hands, he was attempting to burn a hole in it with his eyes. The envelope had already fallen to the floor, forgotten. And Sirius desperately wished he could just drop the letter as well and let it be forgotten just as easily. Unfortunately for him, he couldn't get the letter out of his head, the words burned into his mind.

Sirius Black,

How easily you discard your father's kind offers of the past few years to forgive your indiscretions with those dirty mudblood 'friends' of yours. How easily you spit on my continuously generous advice to repent and come back to your family.

This will be your last chance. News has reached our Lord's ears that you spent this summer with the blood traitors, the Potters. It doesn't surprise me that you would be foolish enough to do something like that; but in this case you may actually be useful. Our Lord is interested in a newcomer to these lands; his name is unimportant but it is rumored that he is an Elemental who might be approaching the Dumbledore's pesky rebels. You are to find out what they know and keep us informed.

Do this, and despite your rebellious attitude these past years, our Lord may still honor you with a position in his circle.

Do not disappoint us this time, son, or punishment will be swift.

Your mother,

Lady Walburga Black