Chapter 8: Dark Activity

It was 3 o' clock in the morning when Neville Longbottom was sitting in a local pub, drowning his sorrows– in his 7th drink of the night.

He was so depressed. Sure, Harry was back, but look at him. Merlin, he'd been through so much– and here was Neville, married to the love of Harry's youth. Ginny would – of course – be thrilled to know that Harry was indeed alive (just like any other Weasley, or wizard at that), but would it change anything? Would Ginny have married him if Harry had been alive? No. He wasn't upset with that, he'd been a pretty close second, but still. He took another sip of his fire whiskey.

"Can I join you mate? We shouldn't suffer alone." came a voice. Neville looked up at the stranger and nodded, motioning to a seat.

The stranger sat and ordered another drink.

"So what's bringing you down?" he asked.

"I 'eally don'th wan a talk 'bout it – "Neville spilled his whole story, slurring and hiccuping all the way. The stranger just sat there in silent shock. He finally waked Neville home and then apparated away to call an emergency meeting – Harry Potter had indeed come back, it was time for revenge.

The death eaters stood circled around the large room, wondering what they had been called for.

"What is so important, Draco?" one asked the blond haired man standing in the circle with them. "Why did you call us here?"

"Well," he answered in his drawling, cold voice, "I just had a very interesting chat with a man in a pub and– "

"You called because you talked with a drunk!" cried another, outraged.

"Patience my friend. Not just a drunk, a reliable source– he didn't recognize me, and he told me everything. He told me that Harry Potter is living in Grimmauld with his godfather." This statement drew collective gasps from the whole group. "My friends," he continued, "It is time to plot our revenge!" And so they did.

The residents at Grimmauld sat to a quiet breakfast. Sirius kept glancing anxiously at Harry who acted as though nothing had happened– breaking Sirius' heart even more.

Other than several "good morning"s, not much had been said until Tonks broke the silence.

"So what's everyone going to do today?"

"How about a trip to Diagon Alley." Offered Sirius glancing cautiously at Harry.

"Well, I have to go to work, so you go have fun and tell me about it later." Remus said moving to stand.

"Aw, come on Moony! You work too much. Take the day off." Sirius complained.

"Padfoot! You know I already take too much time off due to– um, my condition," he said lamely as he glanced nervously at Jamie, who was absorbing the conversation in confused interest, "I can't miss anymore." He finished with a sharp look at Sirius.

"Sorry, Moony, I just– "

"I know. I'll see you later." He interrupted tiredly. He then got up and headed to the fireplace.

Tonks glared at Sirius.

"I'm sorry! I just thought with Harry here, and– I don't know. I didn't mean it." Sirius looked down and quietly finished his breakfast.

"You know," Harry said suddenly, causing everyone to jump a little, "I've told Jamie everything I could, and she knows about Moony being a werewolf."

"Daddy said he's the nicest werewolf ever! It reminds me of the story of the frog prince a little– I don't know– I mean, like how it's what is inside that counts?" Jamie piped in.

Tonks smiled broadly at that, "I'll tell him that. I'll bet it makes him feel better. Full moon is in two days. He's worried." She looked meaningfully at Harry. He nodded.

"I was actually hoping to find us our own place today."

"No. There is no need. Moony's just over-reacting, you know him." Sirius said looking startled and anxious, sounding almost desperate.

"Not the only one." Harry muttered with a narrowed look, "Sirius we need to talk." He said setting down his utensils.

"Alright. Go for it." Sirius answered nonchalantly.

"Not here." Harry said tightly.

"Why not?" Sirius asked, his voice rising.

"You know why not." Harry said coldly through his teeth.

"Harry! You can't hide anymore! I understand how hard this is for you, really, but you can't keep it all in like this! It isn't good for you!" Sirius stood shouting at his Godson.

"You don't have the right to tell me what's good for me." Harry retaliated bitterly through clenched teeth, also standing up. "You forfeited that right when you left me. When you ripped out my heart and– "

"Harry, you know I– "Sirius pleaded suddenly feeling ashamed, his voice dropping to a near whisper.

"– did it for the greater good? Was only trying to help? Thought it would make me stronger?! What Sirius?! What do I know that you did it for?! What excuse are you going to try to feed me now?!" Harry glared at the man, Sirius looked startled, unaccustomed to outbursts like this from Harry.

"Harry– I – you know– " he was confused. Harry continued to stand there glaring, but everyone who knew to look saw the pain– in his eyes. Sirius took a deep breath and tried again, " I'm sorry, Harry, for everything." He said sincerely, "I just want to help you– especially after last night. I love you so much, I just want you to be happy. I don't want you to end up like me, with everyone constantly afraid you'll break." He looked sadly at Harry.

Harry's expression softened to a void. He shook his head, "I'm sorry, Sirius." He turned to Jamie, "Let's go, sweetheart." he said quietly. He took her hand and led her quickly out the front door. Leaving Sirius and Tonks sitting in shock. Sirius shook loose of his stupor first and ran to the front where he gasped at the sight. What must have been ten death eaters were standing there looking at a strong standing Harry with his daughter cowering behind him.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Harry Potter– 'the Savior of our world.'" One of the death eaters chided, "And here we thought you'd never come back, thought we'd beaten the bravery out of you." Harry choked, he could hear him grinning behind the mask, "You Gryffindors never cease to amaze. So, here we are. You know Potter, we've been waiting a long time to finish what we stared, and look at this! You've been busy– a daughter? I can't wait to turn her to our side. Or maybe we could have even more fun." Harry's blood turned cold, his face burned with fury, the lump that had formerly been in his throat disappeared as he thought of his daughter. He gripped his hands into fists as he realized who the man was. He had recognized the voice, but he now knew exactly who he was, the man removed his mask and hood, proving Harry's guess, and revealing a blond, sharp-faced man.

"Jamie, run inside. Get Tonks and Sirius and go! Now!" Jamie took off for the house just as Sirius was coming out. "What do you expect to gain from this, Draco?" he asked the man,"Your lot has already beat me. You won the day you convinced me to never come back. What do want now?" he said bitterly, "A fight? If you try you will lose. I have no more patience with this. I am no longer who you think I am. I am no longer a frightened teen, and no longer merciful– especially not to you." He finished, malice dripping in his voice. He drew his wand, as did the death eaters.

"Harry!" Sirius called from the door after getting Jamie to safety.

"Go inside, Sirius. Trust me." He said calmly and evenly without taking his eyes off his enemies. Sirius hesitated, then stepped in and around the corner leaving the door open for his godson– just in case.

Draco raised his wand, "Now!" he shouted and a group of curses all shot at Harry.

It was as if time slowed for Harry. He saw each curse coming, he threw up a shield– just as he had been taught all those years ago– and the spells were absorbed. Harry whipped his wand clockwise around over his head and down in front of him. There was a sharp wind and every death eater fell down unconscious. Harry bound each, put an anti-apparition and port-key charm on the lot and then banished them all to the ministry of magic's lobby in a matter of minutes, smiling to himself while thinking of the looks on the ministry workers' faces.

The smile quickly vanished as he turned, all thoughts on his daughter, he'd been discovered. People would now know– and he wasn't ready. They had to flee. Now.

"Jamie!" he called anxiously.

"Harry! Harry, calm down, she's fine. Are you alright?" Sirius asked as he came running toward Harry. But Harry didn't answer, he hadn't heard. His adrenaline was running and he had only two htings on his mind: get Jamie and get away. He had a manic glint in his eyes. Sirius reached him and grabbed him by the shoulders.

"Jamie! Jamie! Jamie." Harry called over and over.

"Harry. Listen to me. Calm down. She's safe. You're both fine."Sirius said trying to calm the man. "Tonks took her to Hogwarts– to Dumbledore. We're going to meet them there. Come on. Deep breaths– follow me. Okay? That's it Harry." Harry calmed down, swallowing and nodding fractionally as he followed his Godfather to the fireplace. Harry went first and as he came out at Hogwarts he heard his daughter crying.

"Where's my d-daddy? I w-want m-m-my -huh- daddy." He walked toward her.

"It's alright, Jamie. I'm here." He said and she looked up at him.

"Daddy!" She squealed in relief as she ran to jump in his arms. He could see hte tear tracks on her face– and the guilt just kept coming. Why did he have to drg her into htis? She clung to him desperately as he tried to shush and comfort her. Tonks approached them as Sirius was brushing himself off.

"Oh, thank Merlin!" She breathed.

"What happened?" The headmaster asked form across the room. Sirius went to tell them as Harry tried to calm his daughter.

". . . There were ten at least. . ." Sirius was describing what he knew to the two eager listeners but paused, "Dumbledore, I don't know where they went."

"The ministry. I bound, charmed, and banished them. But that wasn't all of them. There were only twelve there, but there are around fifty out there that went free after the war." Harry told them, still clutching his daughter, who was resting her head on his shoulder.

Dumbledore sighed and rubbed his hands on his temples.

"Sir, they won't stop until– until they've finished me – and they know about Jamie. I– we – can't stay. We- I- I - sir? I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do. . . ." he trailed off. Panic was setting in on him, making his breathing difficult. He conjured a chair to sit in. "It was supposed to be over. But its starting again. When will it ever stop?" He whispered in anguish. He held tight to his little girl. Dumbledore bent down in front of the two.

"It will be over soon, I promise. I will make sure of it personally." He stood and turned to Sirius and Tonks, "We need to get the Order together." They nodded and headed to the fire.

"We will be back soon." Sirius said to Harry before he left. Hoping it would help ease his abandonment issues a little. Harry nodded to him. Dumbledore took the two to a bedroom where Jamie fell asleep, fatigued from her earlier distress, as Harry stared out the window caught up in his thoughts.

A/N: Yay! Another completed! Now if you liked it or not, PLEASE REVIEW!!!! Thank you? So what did you think? I think this chapter really shows Harry's clingy-ness to his daughter and his major issues and vulnerability. But you see, Harry really is brave in a crisis. Yep. He rocks. Poor guy. So anyway, what will happen next? Well next up is, duhn duhduh dah! Chapter 9: The Order of the Phoenix Reunited!!