Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to the proverbial Duchess of Magic, JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. No matter how much I whine about not owning anything related to the HP universe, other than a few fanfic plots, I do not profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off - JKR's wonderful world... Damn it!
Chapter Nine - Longbottom's Confrontation
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―==(oIo)==―
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Harry and Sirius weren't the only two to read the article that covered the faux-interview of Sirius and what he supposedly had to do with the Potter fortune - hand it over to Peverell. So, too, did practically everyone else in magical Britain; Dumbledore, included.
And he, Dumbledore, was furious.
He had hoped to be able to capture this so called Peverell Lord and 'convince' him to hand the Potter fortune to he, the Great Albus Dumbledore, so the fortune could be used to help the Light defeat Riddle. Once he'd managed to convince Horace Slughorn, with the 'help' of young Neville, to return to teaching at the school he again had a Potions Master he could trust to obe― follow his lead.
That Black, of all people, had been interviewed by the Daily Prophet and informed them the Peverell Lord was the rightful inheritor of the Potter fortune - through primogenitor, of all things - it implied that, because of blood, inheritances were fixed as to where they should go. How was he, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, supposed to be able to convince people that, if they died, they should leave their main bequeathments to be used to combating the dark - therefore, to him - if people like Black came out and spoke about primogenitor, birthrights. It was incredibly frustrating!
Through Black's words, people would now not question Peverell 'stealing' the Potter fortune from him. Now, he had to do it the hard way!
With the word primogenitor now being used, Dumbledore couldn't even appeal to the Wizengamot to undo this, as he saw it, injustice! Those stodgy old pure-blooded bastards would support both Peverell gaining the fortune and Black handing it over to him. Frustrating!
It was while he was having a somewhat silent temper-tantrum in his office, after quickly leaving breakfast after receiving and reading the front page of his copy of the Daily Prophet, that he received a floo call from one of his new spies in the Alley. That spy alerted him to the Peverell Lord again going into Gringotts.
Immediately summoning what members of the Order could near-instantly attend, the old man had to wait until they could all arrive before he could leave.
As soon as he had seven, including Longbottom, turn up - with such a magical number of supporters with him he was sure to be victorious - he had them all floo to the Alley with him. He would confront and capture this Peverell Lord and be making Merlin-bedamned sure the Potter fortune would soon be his. After all, it was always rumoured the Peverells had hoards of treasure. Peverell could be satisfied with just that.
Someone should have told the old man that making plans when you're angry was a quick way to ensure failure. If Harry knew, he'd have been trying to hush everyone up from saying anything.
As some old military strategist once espoused, 'Never interrupt your enemy when he's making a mistake.' Some thought it was Napoleon, but it was more likely a para-quote of Sun Tzu.
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―==(oIo)==―
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Another to read that morning's Daily Prophet was, of course, Riddle.
He found the interview article almost uproariously funny. That Black had lost the Potter fortune was what almost made it so. That he knew it would drive Dumbledore insane made it doubly so. No, the only reason he didn't laugh out loud was due to his Occlumency. No funny article in the Prophet was going to break through that. They were a joke, but a different kind of joke from a funny joke.
It didn't stop him from having a quiet chuckle to himself, though; when no one was in the room with him.
However, he knew he would have to―
"My Lord," called a Death Eater, hurrying forward before dropping to his knees the 'proper' seven feet short of his dais on which his throne sat. "I bring important news."
With a mental sigh, Riddle cast the Cruciatus Curse at the man and held it for all of two seconds.
Releasing it, he said, "You have news, yes. However it is I, Lord Voldemort, who will determine if it is important or not."
After initially collapsing because of the Cruciatus, the wizard quickly scrambled back to his knees and gasped, "Y-yes, my Lord."
"Well?" said Riddle. "What is this news you believe is important?"
"My Lord," gasped the wizard. "I believe you will find that the way to find the Peverell Lord is to find the Lovegood chit. My spies in the Alley have informed me the Peverell Lord has been seen in Madam Malkin's with her and been seen entering or leaving Gringotts in her company.
"The only time he is not seen in her company was when he was seen leaving Gringotts while the muggle-loving fool Dumbledore was waiting to confront him. However, after he drove off the muggle fool she was soon at his side again.
"Both were also spotted in the Leaky Cauldron, using the floo together. When I pressed for further information on your behalf, I was also informed it is believed they also arrived by floo together."
'The Lovegood girl, eh?' he thought. 'Interesting.'
Snapping out of musings, he looked down at the wizard and said, "You have done well. I, Lord Voldemort, am pleased with you. Tell Severus I have authorised a dose of the Anti-Cruciatus Potion to aid in your recovery."
"Thank you, My Lord," said the clearly grateful flunky.
Recognising the dismissal for what it was, the minion gingerly climbed to his feet and hurried from the room.
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―==(oIo)==―
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Back on the surface and in the Gringotts Bank banking hall, Harry and Luna were heading for the doors when Luna suddenly stopped. "Oh, dear!" she quietly exclaimed.
Harry stopped, turned back and looked about for what danger she must have seen. The expression of worry on her face showed such existed, somewhere.
Stepping in close, he quietly asked, "What is it, Luna?"
She was a moment, seemingly staring out through the double set of double entrance doors, before she just as quietly replied, "There's about to be another confrontation between you, Dumbledore and some idiot members of his Order."
Frowning in anger, Harry was about to storm over to one of the Tellers when she said, "It is not the goblins who are responsible for him being alerted this time, Love."
"Who?" he asked.
"The sales assistant in Madam Malkin's." With Harry being annoyed she explained, "I believe she was likely compulsed to do so, Love."
He nodded and said, "I suppose he's currently laying in ambush again?"
"In a way," she replied. "He's actually using the excuse of talking to others, while standing in the Alley, to be where he is."
"Can you tell me how many there are?" he asked.
"Dumbledore and seven others, including Longbottom."
He nodded and said, "I guess I'm going to have to go out there and give him a very public magical spanking again."
"Yes," she nodded. "However, be aware that he is likely to go somewhat dark with his magics, this time. And, this time, those watching need to see him doing it."
"So, you don't want me to take him out, first," he said.
"No," she nodded. "Everyone else is a fair target, though."
"Understood," he nodded.
"This time, he's instructed his people to wait until you've stepped off the bottom step before making a move."
Harry nodded. "Thank you, Luna. I think I can use that."
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―==(oIo)==―
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When Harry stepped out of the bank a couple minutes later, he was alone. Luna had returned to one of the Tellers to have them let Ragnok know that a similar situation to two days earlier was about to occur outside the steps of Gringotts with, near enough, the same main players involved.
The Teller looked at her in shock for a moment when, without even bothering to send a note through the magical slot on his counter, he spun away, hopped off his stool and bolted for the doors at the back.
A little amused, Luna put his 'Closed' notice up for him from where it sat aside on the counter between them, before then walking back to the entrance doors.
She made it there just as Harry looked around, looking for threats, before he stepped off the bottom step.
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―==(oIo)==―
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As Harry stepped out through the outer doors of the bank and onto the small portico 'porch' he almost immediately saw Dumbledore standing off to one side of the Alley about thirty yards up and facing in his direction with two others; one he recognised from the back as Daedalus Diggle, somewhat 'shielding' him from being seen by Harry. Already having been alerted to Dumbledore's presence, it didn't work.
He also saw Neville Longbottom standing with him, but turned away and looking in through the window of the shop they were standing near. From the body language, it was apparent Longbottom did not want to be seen as being with the old man.
Inwardly, Harry smirked, 'So, what I said a couple of days ago has rung true with 'overly-passive little Neville', has it?'
A quick eye-scan also identified for him a few others of those who were at the ambush a couple of days ago. Two were to his immediate left while another pair were to his immediate right. The two on his right were Remus and Tonks, while the two on his left were Ron and Ginny.
He could see Remus was quite worried.
With his head down a little as he looked to the steps, as if watching his footing, he turned his head slightly to give Remus a smirk and a wink. That had the old wolf immediately try to surreptitiously indicate Dumbledore and the two opposite him and Tonks.
Harry just gave a nod, showing he understood.
Then he looked as if he'd just remembered something before turning to look back into the bank.
The three-quarter clockwise turn to look back allowed him to stand in such a way that he could raise his right hand to hip height and make gestures to Remus and Tonks that none of the other Order members could see. He hoped Remus understood he wanted them both to cast at the two on the opposite side of him from them, when the time came to do so.
When he looked in their direction while turning back he saw Remus give him another nod and whisper something to Tonks.
When he turned back it was to see Diggle and the man he was standing with close the gap between them a little, while Dumbledore looked back at Harry between their heads. It was a 'pity' the old twit forgot about his bright light-blue coloured hat, that stood proudly on his head, made him stand out like an illuminated Christmas decoration.
With a cheeky grin, Harry waved at the man and then, deliberately, stepped off the bottom step. However, that's as far as he moved.
He knew that if Dumbledore had wanted to use the same idea of simultaneous casts from his minions to take Harry out, Harry had just defeated it.
Also, if the reason Remus, Tonks and the two opposite them were standing where they were so they could slip in behind as Harry walked off, Harry had also defeated that idea by not moving forward more than half a pace from the bottom steps. It gave them no room to properly flank him.
When Dumbledore still didn't move, Harry waited only ten seconds before he let out a shrill whistle, getting everyone's attention. "Oi! Dumbdumb Fumblemore!" he called out. "Your second attempt at ambushing an unarmed man is not going to work today, either!"
With a big cheesy grin he then flashed the man two thumbs up. "Points for the pathetic attempt, though!"
That had a scowling Dumbledore shove open a gap between Diggle and the other man and stomp down the Alley towards him. Longbottom ducked through the same gap and dogged the old man's heels as Diggle and the man with him turned to follow. If it wasn't for how tall he now was, Longbottom would have had to jog to keep up.
"Peverell!" Dumbledore snapped out loud, storming forward. "I will have words with you!"
"Oh?" Harry called right back. "Which one's? How about I offer: 'Gaudy', 'Ugly' and 'Eye-Watering' together?"
When Dumbledore reached about thirty feet away, he snap-raised his wand and cast a somewhat dark stunning charm at Harry.
Harry simply side-stepped it.
"Now, that wasn't―" Harry started
Then the others all cast. Clearly, Dumbledore casting the first was the signal for the others to cast.
Unknown to Harry, the spell that whizzed by him passed straight through the doors of the bank and tagged a witch who was walking to head out. She'd bonelessly dropped to the floor as the two door guard goblins immediately hustled in and slammed the doors shut.
Knowing he had Tonks and Remus on his side, Harry simply stepped forward and bent forward a little to have the curses from the two Weasleys pass behind while Remus's and Tonks's passed them with the red of stunners and hit them both.
As the Weasley two went down Harry straightened up and was casting at Dumbledore and the others. He didn't bother with the kara kesh, this time.
First, he cast a shield breaker and stunner at Dumbledore, two quick stunners at Remus and Tonks and switched back to Dumbledore. Another shield breaker and his Pud-Trip combination had the old man down on his arse. Switching to the others, he spared a moment for a glance to the two Weasleys and was just in time to wand-swat a bone breaker from Ron away as Weasley spun to revive his downed sister.
A couple more pairs of shield-breakers and stunners at Diggle and the other bloke... Dumbledore was trying to climb back to his feet behind a strong shield... he spun back to the Weasley pair and stunned them both. Ron was foolishly not even looking in his direction when both stunners hit and took them both down; Ginny, for the second time.
Harry was, while doing all this, simply stepping and dodging out of the way of charms and curses launched at him from Dumbledore, Longbottom, Diggle and the other. Remus and Tonks were also casting, but casting to miss. So, Harry only had to make sure he didn't step into one of their stunners while dodging something else.
Another triple shield-breaker, Knock-back Jinx and Tripping Hex at Dumbledore didn't get through the new shield he was employing, but Harry did take out both Diggle and the other wizard while the old man was busy defending himself.
Grinning now, Harry hit Longbottom with a machine gun of school-yard prank spells, forcing Dumbledore to move his shield to protect his new 'golden boy' and opening himself up. And Harry hit him in his left arm with a Severing charm - 'Amp!' - that, surprisingly, got through and cut the old man's arm off.
As Dumbledore squealed and staggered, Longbottom looked at him in shock. So Harry machine-gunned a shield breaker and more school-yard prank spells at the young man. Of the half-dozen, the first five all got through before Dumbledore could get his shield back up.
"Neville!" Dumbledore snapped out, holding the shield up while simultaneously strengthening it. "My arm; my boy!"
Neville, by this time suffering from a near dozen prank hexes, aborted his own offensive casting, bent down and picked up the old man's fallen arm at his feet.
As soon as did and started to stand again, Dumbledore roared, "RETREEEEAT!" Then cast a dark curse in Harry's direction Harry was horrified to recognise.
As the old man snapped off his curse, from behind it he turned, snatched hold of a fistful of Longbottom's robes and apparated out with him.
Harry however, while recognising Dumbledore had run just from the sound of the crack of the apparation, was already casting at what was coming at him. The kara kesh would likely save him from it, but it would do nothing to protect those in the bank behind him.
Dumbledore had cast Fiendfyre.
If Harry didn't contain it... and fast... it would roar right past him and into the lobby and banking floor of the bank. As well as about half a dozen people if he remembered right, Luna was in there. So, too, were all those goblins.
And the fire would rip though that place, consuming all that lovely lacquered wood and parchment as it went, killing everyone.
Having read about the curse in a book in the Black library at Grimmauld Place, he had already figured out a counter for it - he hoped.
As the curse started to take shape with the shape of fiery animals beginning to form, before Dumbledore had even called 'Retreat' Harry was already casting his counter. From reading the book it was written within, he knew controlling Fiendfyre was all about intent and having a will stronger than the caster.
Hoping it was not Dumbledore's intent to kill everyone in the bank before the demon-fire roared back out again and set the rest of the Alley ablaze, he drove his intent forward with his own will.
His idea was a massive, overcharged inverted 'bubble' charm similar to a Bubble-head charm. He wanted to create a bubble that would be so strong that even air could not pass through it. His intent was to encase the curse in the bubble. Then, when the curse had burned off all the air within the bubble, shrink the bubble to completely snuff it out.
With his wand thrust before him and pointing at the curse, he quickly had the bubble formed. Then, even before all the air was burned off, began to shrink it.
However, what he wasn't able to control was the sheer amount of heat radiating off it. His magic could hold it... was holding it... about ten feet from him, but the heat was incredible.
"Someone bloody help!" he roared out, still pumping his will into the bubble. "Cool it! Cast flame freezing charms and Glacias at it before it gets away from me! Just... not... straight... water!"
Almost immediately, he had that. From his side he had both Remus and Tonks casting. Tonks was casting repetitive ice charms while Remus was casting flame freezing charms.
"Aurors!" he heard barked. "Stand down!"
"Get fucked!" Harry yelled back. "Shut up and naffing help or naff off!"
"Aurors!" he heard Tonks yell. "He's a friendly, trying to contain it! Help him, you morons! Don't cast water!"
Chancing a glance over his shoulder at the doors to the bank he saw them swing open as goblin guards poured out in two lines that ran to either side and around him in a wide berth. The doors then slammed shut again.
He had no idea what those armoured goblins were doing or going, but he was too busy to care, anyway.
Suddenly, he felt the heat back right off as he felt on the bubble the effects of multiple-cast freezing charms. Plus he felt magic boosting charms, designed to assist with a magical cast, helping him. Both helped him, actually.
Feeling renewed he focused his will that much harder and finally managed to start squeezing the life out of the Fyre. It took what felt like hours, but was actually about forty-five to sixty seconds, before he had the Fyre squeezed down to a super hot radiant ball about a foot in diameter.
One last drive of will and power and he squeezed it enough to snuff it out. However, he wouldn't let go, just yet. Now he had to allow the pressure to dissipate, lest he cause a pressure-generated explosion.
Another five seconds of releasing and he was finally able to drop the bubble - and instantly collapsed onto his bum on the stairs of the bank.
Suddenly there was a roar of loud applause and cheering. Even the, what he now saw to be, ring of goblin warriors around him - the four aurors who'd turned up late, Tonks, Remus and where the bubble containing the Fiendfyre was - were banging on their shields with the hafts of their halberds in some form of goblin warrior approval.
Remus was the first to reach him and yank him up from the stairs just to lay a massive hug on him. Tonks stood back.
"Right!" snapped the lead auror, obviously the senior of the four. "Who's the idiot looking for a one-way trip into Azkaban for doing something both so dangerous and so stupid?"
"Albus Dumbledore!" snapped an angry Tonks, now walking forward. "That damn stupid old bastard cast Fiendfyre directly at the bank and immediately apparated out with Longbottom!"
"Stay out of this, Tonks," snapped the auror; a Master Auror.
"Ahhh!" she growled out. "Look around you, Stebbins! You have all these witnesses! They will tell you what they saw! Dumbledore cast Fiendfyre! Lord Peverell, here, captured it, contained it and banished it. He's a hero!"
Stebbins glared at her for a moment before he whirled about and barked to the other three aurors in their auror robes, "Start questioning these witnesses! I want statements! Now!"
The other three immediately spread into the crowd and started collecting statements. At least, started collecting statements from those who didn't immediately and rapidly leave the area.
Meanwhile Harry, after being released by Remus, collapsed back onto the steps and just sat there sucking in lungfuls of air. He was exhausted. While he used will to achieve what he needed, it still required the expenditure of a significant amount of magic to accomplish.
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―==(oIo)==―
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While Harry sat there and watched the aurors start doing their job, he heard from behind, "Love?" It was Luna's voice.
Turning to her, she gestured, "You need to come inside. Now."
With a nod, and though he really didn't want to move just yet, he climbed to his feet, turned about and walked inside.
Just as he stepped through the doors he heard the voice of the Master Auror call out, "Oi!"
He turned and saw the man stalking towards him. "I need to speak with you!"
"You sound just like Dumbledore!" he snarked back. "Right before he attacked me!"
Ignoring the man, he spun back and walked, staggered really, into the bank proper.
As soon as stumbled in he was confronted with two healers levitating a portable stretcher between them. Luna was standing next to them.
"On the stretcher, Lord Peverell," ordered one of the healers.
"But..." he tried.
"On the stretcher, Love," said Luna. "You're magically exhausted and you need treatment."
Only nodding and slightly sighing in defeat, he took the single pace to the stretcher and practically, bonelessly, collapsed onto it. He didn't even have the energy to lift up the leg hanging off it. Luna did that as the two healers quickly hustled him out of the lobby and through the doors at the back of the hall.
Behind him, if he'd been able to look, he'd have seen the Master Auror, as soon as he stepped up onto the porch of the bank, confronted with two goblin warriors gesturing with the points of their halberds at him and seemingly looking for an excuse to run him through with them.
Stebbins didn't make Master Auror while also being an idiot. With a startled 'yelp' at how close those halberds came to jabbing him, he quickly back-pedalled and decided not to push it. Instead, from the bottom of the steps he 'demanded' to speak with Lord Peverell, immediately. The goblins returned to their posts either side of the entry doors and ignored him.
With a huff, Stebbins went to see how his three aurors were doing interviewing witnesses and, if possible, vent his spleen at them for being slow, negligent, annoying, or whatever excuse he could find. He didn't like how the goblins near made him unintentionally dump a log in his 'undies' and someone needed to feel his ire.
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―==(oIo)==―
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After being forced to drink a 'Dirty Socks' and a 'Rotten Cabbage' potion - at least, that's what they tasted like to him - the Gringotts' on-staff healers let Harry relax for a while as they did their job on him.
He was now sitting on a bed in the little-known Gringotts infirmary. Luna sat with him on the bed, holding his hand.
With a sigh, he said, "That was far too close for comfort, Luna. If I hadn't been able to contain that Fiendfyre..."
"Everyone in the bank... humans, goblins, house elves and all... would have been killed; burnt to death," she finished. "Yes."
"You had to know what was going to happen," he grumped. "Why did you put yourself at risk like that?"
"Me, being in the banking hall, is what helped you resolve your will to defeat the Fiendfyre," she calmly replied. "I Saw that, if I was in there, you would be successful in containing it before it got out of control and killed hundreds.
"Further, we're about to receive a very angry Ragnok visiting us. Be humble and accepting."
"Hunh?" he asked, turning to look at her.
The doors slammed open and Harry spun to the sound, ready to draw his wand; prohibition against drawing weapons in Gringotts or not.
Ragnok, with two guards at his heels, had stormed in.
He stopped well short of Harry and glared at him for a long moment.
Finally, he demanded, "Are you trying to own my worthless carcass, Lord Peverell?"
Harry cocked an eyebrow in surprise, hesitated a moment and asked right back, "Why, in Merlin's name, would you go thinking that?"
"Because you just went and protected this bank, at the risk of your own life, from a gar'brek snot of a wizard who cast demon-infested cursed fire right at the doors of my bank!" The last was with an almost-shouted bark.
"Actually, he cast it at me," replied Harry. "I just happened to be, at the time, standing in front of said doors."
"Irrelevant!" snapped Ragnok.
Harry was about to argue the point when Luna suddenly squeezed his hand. He realised what she was trying to say to him. 'Be quiet. Don't argue.'
"Gringotts's axe, Po- Peverell!" snarled Ragnok, as he started to pace back and forth at the foot of Harry's bed. "Now I've got to go and do something it really irritates me to do!"
"Oh?" asked Harry. "How may I help?"
Ragnok whirled on him and actually growled.
In a normal wizard, that might have made them come close to soiling themselves, if not actually soiling themselves. In Harry, it just amused him a little. He knew the goblin would not harm him.
Finally, the near-incensed goblin stopped glaring at him, looked away and sighed. "I need to bestow upon you a Warrior's Honour."
'Be humble and accepting,' Harry thought. 'This is what Luna meant.'
"I... do not know what to say, Axe Lord Ragnok," he carefully said. "Is... 'thank you' appropriate?"
Ragnok gave a huff of either annoyance or amusement before he growled. "Yes."
"May I know the nature of this... warrior's honour?" he asked.
Ragnok looked away and muttered something Ghob-laen, the goblin tongue, before he looked back and growled, "A reduction in bank fees of fifty percent, an increase in returns of five percent, free medical treatment for injuries sustained in battle and...," grumbling, "Recognition of your heroism before the High Council."
The look on the faces of the two healers, who'd stepped well away but clearly overheard, told Harry this was a 'big thing'.
Harry gave a nod and replied, "Thank you, Axe Lord. I am honoured to accept."
Ragnok gave another huff and barked, "Done!" Then, without a further word, stormed back out again. His two guards had to hurry to catch up.
As soon as the doors swung shut, Luna lightly giggled.
Turning to her, he asked, "Just how big is..." And gestured to where Ragnok had stood. "This?"
"Very," she replied. "Being recognised for your heroism on behalf of the Goblin Nation, not just the bank, means your name goes down on the Rolls of Honour. In a few years, baby goblins are going to be accorded the name 'Harry' in your honour until they earn their blood names. And they will grow up hearing the story of your brave deeds."
"Poor kids," he muttered.
That had his girlfriend - and he was surprised he hadn't already thought of her in that way before then - more openly laugh.
"Mups, Harry," she chuckled. "Goblin children are referred to as 'mups'."
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―==(oIo)==―
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Dumbledore was lying in a bed in the Hogwarts infirmary, after only just getting his left arm reattached where it was severed just above the elbow, when six aurors walked in; Master Auror Proudfoot leading.
Still doped up on the pain potions he had to take for the 'reattachment', he was confused to see them.
"What can I do for you... Auror?" he slowly asked.
"You're under arrest, you stupid sack of shit!" snarled Proudfoot.
Not alarmed at how he was addressed due to the pain medication, Dumbledore asked, "I am?"
"You cast Fiendfyre in Diagon Alley!" snapped the auror. "Not only that, but as soon as you did you scarpered.
"You're charged with criminal endangerment of one hundred plus innocent witches and wizards. You're under house-arrest. For the time being, because you're currently under healer-care, your cell is this very room.
"Eight aurors... two at a time... will now be permanently stationed, right here, to make sure you don't go anywhere until you are permitted otherwise by direct order of Director Hammer. If you do, you're to be found, captured and dumped into a holding cell at the DMLE. If you attempt to use your phoenix to escape, you will be caught, your phoenix will be bound and you'll be charged with escaping lawful custody."
"I'm afraid I cannot allow that," said Dumbledore.
Snarkily, Proudfoot shot back, "I'm afraid I don't give-a-shit what you will or will not allow. This is ordered from Director Hammer's own hand. Therefore, it's going to happen."
As he was about to turn away, he hesitated, turned back and said, "Oh! And, if you do escape. The law that orders anyone who escapes lawful custody is to be put to death is still on the books."
Then he spun about and walked out. Two aurors, a Senior and an Auror Second Class, remained behind and each side of the doors leading back out into the castle proper.
The latest school medi-wizard, who'd heard the aurors come in and came out of his office to investigate, watched the whole thing in silence. When all of them, bar two, left again he looked at Dumbledore, sitting propped up on his bed, and shook his head.
'I'm beginning to understand why the last three all quit,' he thought.
He'd only been there three months.
He was the first of his colleagues to be informed Dumbledore was still trying to engineer the situation by putting the medi-witches and -wizards in a position where they'd have to quit, then demanding he have Pomfrey back, 'since she never had a problem with the position'. And he was already alerted to be on the lookout for such attempts by the old man.
He knew it would never work anyway, but Dumbledore had apparently adopted a strategy he felt would lead to him not being denied. He would simply keep pushing until there were no medi-witches or -wizards left to take the role except Pomfrey. And that was never going to happen.
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―==(oIo)==―
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Once Harry showed he'd somewhat recovered some of his magical reserves, the healers allowed him to leave. However, he had to 'faithfully promise' he was heading directly home and remaining there for at least a full day.
To make sure of it and that he didn't get into any more trouble between here and there; he was 'allowed', for no cost, to use a Gringotts internal floo to floo home. Luna still had to pay a sickle though.
Popping out of the floo at Grimmauld Place and after passwords were exchanged, Sirius demanded to know what had happened to make Harry look so haggard.
Luna explained, while Harry slumped into the nearest armchair.
When done, she said that someone needed to let Remus and Tonks know what was going on, but not to send a Messenger Patronus.
"Why not?" asked Sirius.
"They're still at the DMLE getting questioned about this morning," she replied. "But, don't worry, they aren't in trouble. They used the excuse they were doing their own shopping and were 'in the wrong place at the right time'."
Then she looked off into space for a moment and said, "Don't worry about sending them a message. They'll be here almost direct from there, anyway."
They were, too; stepping out the floo only half an hour later, having flooed from the Ministry atrium.
Harry was asleep on the couch with a light blanket over him. He'd only drowsily looked at who'd stepped out of the fireplace before ignoring them and dropping back off to sleep again.
Before they could ask questions and demand answers, Sirius directly hustled them both down to the kitchen; where Luna was eating a lunch. Harry had already begged off.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
From the infirmary, Proudfoot took his other four aurors and went up to McGonagall's office along the Transfigurations corridor. Knocking, he let himself in.
Minerva McGonagall looked up in surprise at her uninvited 'guests'. After a hesitation, she irritably asked, "Is there something I can do for you?"
Proudfoot, standing not far inside the door, replied, "Albus Dumbledore is currently under house arrest in the infirmary. As such he cannot carry out the role of Headmaster. As such he is also suspended as Headmaster. You are now Acting Headmistress."
"Oh?" she asked.
Ignoring the implied question, he continued, "If Albus Dumbledore leaves that infirmary... for any reason... and you know of it, until you are informed otherwise directly by an authorised officer of the DMLE you are to send a Messenger Patronus direct to Director Hammer informing her of that. Do you understand?"
"I... don't think I appreciate―" she started with a huff.
"I asked you a question!" he snapped over her. "If Albus Dumbledore leaves that infirmary... for any reason... and you know of it, until you are informed otherwise directly by an authorised officer of the DMLE you are to send a Messenger Patronus direct to Director Hammer informing her of that. Do you understand?"
"Yes," she gritted out.
"I accept you have informed me you understand your DMLE orders concerning Albus Dumbledore," he said. "You are also ordered to inform the other denizens of this castle of the same. Do you understand?"
"Yes," she grumbled.
"I accept you have informed me you understand your DMLE orders concerning informing the rest of the denizens of this castle of the first order," he said. "That's all I need. Should you fail to comply with either order you will be arrested and charged with failing to comply with a DMLE order. You have been warned."
Then he spun about and stormed out again.
As she sat staring at the door, she suddenly slumped back in her chair and sighed. "Bloody Hell, Albus," she muttered. "What have you done, now?"
Her epithet reflected her half-blood status and being raised by a muggle church leader.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
From finishing his call from General Hammond, not happy with the decision reached, Jack approached the group from SG-1 and BSIS.
"Problem, Colonel?" asked Sam.
"We've been ordered back to the SGC," he promptly returned before turning a dirty look at Steed.
The Brit just gave him a bland look back.
"Apparently, the higher-ups have come to an arrangement with the Brits' higher ups," he continued. "They're now taking over the full investigation and search for our Mister Potter."
The slight emphasis on 'our' wasn't missed.
"Our Mister Potter," disagreed Steed. "He is, after all and by your own admission, British. I also remind you, you are on British soil. As such, the search for a missing Brit, on British soil, is the purview of the BSIS."
"How long have we got?" asked Daniel, seeing Jack had already 'lost'.
"None," Jack grumbled. "Get packing; the flight's already being warmed up. We're off the ground inside the hour."
Surprised at the sudden turnabout, the members of SG-1 quickly moved to where their cots were set up behind a curtained-off area and were soon packing.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Harry finally rose shortly before dinnertime and, before anything else, went up to his room to wash his face and hands.
Once that was out of the way he made his way down to the kitchen, dropping into a seat. The other four - Sirius, Luna, Remus and Tonks - shut up what they were talking about as he walked in.
"Feel better?" asked Sirius, once his godson had sat.
"Much," he replied. "That... having to hold and deal with Fiendfyre... was a real bitch."
Tonks said, "It'll be on tomorrow's front page of the Daily Prophet, too, I bet. It was quite an impressive feat, especially considering Dumbledore was the one who cast it in the first place."
"Just a matter of having a stronger will than Old Wrinkle-Nuts," said Harry.
Sirius, drinking a cup of coffee at the time, coughed it up. Remus leaned over and slapped him lightly on the back a few times... 'helping'.
Once his airways were clear again, though he had tears in his eyes, Sirius chuckled. "Old Wrinkle-Nuts, eh? Good one!"
"As we were saying to these two, Harry," said Tonks; "Hammer put Dumbledore under house arrest in the Hogwarts infirmary.
"She's also ordered that, if he leaves that infirmary and one of the other denizens of the castle see him do so or know him to have done so, they're to immediately send a Messenger Patronus to her to let her know. Then the old man gets caught and goes into a DMLE holding cell."
"She's really had a gutful of Dumbledore's illegal vigilante group," said Remus. "Her words, not mine.
"According to what she told us, at the next meeting of the Wizengamot she's demanding it be made a proscribed organisation and, anyone caught being a member of it, going to prison. In other words, she agrees with Lord Peverell's opinion stated in yesterday's Daily Prophet."
Harry gave a snort and muttered, "Should have been done even back in the last war."
After getting a cup of coffee from Dobby, he said, "Sorry about not being available to teach you more of my way to do magic."
"Don't worry about it, Harry," said Remus.
Sirius added, "You're under orders by a recognised healer not to use, or severely curtail at least, magic until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest, right?"
"Yeah," he sighed.
"Then you'll be doing that," nodded Sirius. "That means, no going anywhere until at least after lunch."
While Harry was now an adult and Sirius couldn't really order him to do anything, let alone the fact he was a Lord in his own right, Harry decided to go along and grumble-replied, "Fiiiinnne!"
Sirius gave another snort and said, "If I needed any proof you're the real Harry Potter, it was that response. That was puuurrre Harry."
Harry just wryly grinned back for a moment, before he forced his expression back into a scowl.
Sirius just grinned at him, knowing Harry was putting on the expression because he felt like it.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Boarding the flight on the British-owned transport less than an hour later, Jack was the last to board. He was standing with Steed, slightly apart from the aircraft; a 'commercial' business jet, of all things.
"I don't know what you did, Mister Steed, but I do not like it," he said.
Steed just gave a soft smile back and said, "It seems other NATO countries are being read in to your Stargate programme. Our folks will be joining your folks very soon. It has something to do with something in Antarctica."
As Jack continued to scowl, Steed added, "Don't worry about Mister Potter. We'll find him and we'll handle the situation."
Jack didn't say a word back. Instead, he gave an annoyed huff, turned and stalked to the boarding ramp at the back of the aircraft. And, without looking back, walked onboard.
The aircraft immediately 'buttoned up' and, just as immediately, began taxiing. It was in the air only ten minutes later.
Steed stayed where he stood until it was a dot in the sky. He knew of, but paid no attention to, the approach of his partner.
Finally, he turned to her, smiled and said, "That's them away."
Hoffstead only nodded back and said, "'Mother' wants a word. He's expecting your call."
"I thought he might," said Steed.
Ten minutes later and back in the hanger, Steed was on a secure call to BSIS headquarters.
"Hello Mother," he quietly said, once the call was connected.
"They're gone?" asked 'Mother'.
"Yes," he replied. "The secret of the British 'M' community is, once more, protected."
"Good," said the male voice on the other end of the phone. "They'll be met in Washington by American members of their 'M' community. They'll be... convinced... not to initiate any further concerns about the young hero of that world. Given time, it shall fade from their consciousness."
"Nice and tidy," said Steed. "As things should be."
"As things should be," agreed the voice before the line went dead.
Watching as Steed re-cradled the phone, Hoffstead asked, "Where to next, Mister Steed?"
Turning a light smile to her, he turned from the phone and offered his nearest elbow. "As always, Miss Hoffstead," he said as she took his elbow, "In the service of Her Majesty."
The two walked out.
Two minutes later, a silent team of folks rapidly entered the hanger and, just as rapidly, soon had it stripped bare of anything to do with the 'mission'. They were gone within fifteen minutes.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Riddle had been growing concerned for a few days that, with the sudden appearance of the Peverell Lord on the scene in magical Britain, there was a significant shift in where things were heading.
Plus, the minions were growing restless again.
He'd been wondering what to do when a minion hurried in and fell to his knees before his dais. "My Lord, I bring news."
"Speak," said Riddle, rising to his feet.
"A spy within the aurors informs me the Hammer-bitch has placed Dumbledore under house arrest at Hogwarts... for casting Fiendfyre in the Alley this morning," said the Death Eater. "Further, she has placed a rotating team of eight aurors, with two on the old fool at all times, to watch over him."
Riddle had already received the report of the second battle between the Peverell Lord and Dumbledore and his supporters; and that the Peverell Lord had won. He also knew Dumbledore had an arm severed and that he had cast Fiendfyre during his escape.
That last piece of information, alone, utterly stunned Riddle. He had no idea the old man would stoop to such an act.
"The old fool has been told that, should he leave the infirmary of Hogwarts without the direct authority of the Hammer-bitch, he will be again arrested and then dumped into a DMLE holding cell.
"My spy also informed me Hammer and Bones are trying to manipulate things so that, once they can get Dumbledore before the Wizengamot in trial form, they will be successful in their case."
"Of course they would be trying that," muttered Riddle.
Starting to pace back and forth, he began to think on how best to use this information.
'Dumbledore would have just had his arm reattached; so, he'll be stuck in a bed for at least the next twenty-four plus hours,' he thought. 'Plus, Hammer has now put aurors on him, who will practically sit on him if he tries anything.
'The old fool will not allow Longbottom to go anywhere without him there to "protect" him. That means, for the duration of the old bastard's house arrest, Longbottom is stuck at Hogwarts.'
Whirling around, he looked across those minions of his who were currently 'attending' him and said, 'Summon my Inner Circle! In celebration of the Peverell Lord's defeat, yet again, of the old muggle-loving fool we shall engage in a revel!"
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Waiting only three quarters of an hour after their flight lifted off from Brize Norton and finally reached cruising altitude, Sam asked Jack, "If you don't mind responding, Sir; what was that all about?"
Still miffed about being turfed off the investigation and effectively out of the country, Jack replied, "It seems some of the NATO countries are now being read into the program. Worse still, it seems they're going to be joining us in future. It's something to do with whatever is happening down in Antarctica."
"The Ancient's base?" asked Sam, shocked. "That's... odd."
Jack nodded and said, "I do not doubt we'll find out more of what is going on once we get back to the SGC."
What he hadn't mention, but was worrying about, was his verbal interaction with the General. The man didn't sound... 'right'.
None of them yet had any idea they were heading into a 'Foothold' situation at the SGC. The SGC had been secretly overtaken by an alien race that had snuck in through the gate while one of the off-world teams was returning. They would be further surprised when they learned that the alien race also had 'glamour' technology and were using it to take the places of certain high ranking members of the SGC and other military personnel.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Later that afternoon, after finally being free of the pain potions and able to properly think strategically again, Dumbledore tried hard to order the aurors away again.
He tried to order that, as Headmaster, he had the right to declare them trespassers. They responded that, if so, then he would be leaving with them and going directly into a holding cell at the DMLE.
Using the floo in the infirmary he even contacted Hammer, direct, and demanded she pull them out. She called him an idiot for trying and shut the floo off in his face, ejecting him in the process.
He tried to have the staff rally behind him to force them out. The staff refused, with McGonagall citing they were under DMLE orders to report him if he tried to abscond from the infirmary against a lawful DMLE directive.
It was while he was trying to figure out a way to manipulate the wards to block any DMLE auror, while also allowing Tonks to enter for Order meetings, that his special galleon vibrated and warmed up in his pocket. It was the one linked to his alchemically potioned spy within Tom's ranks.
With a start, he realised he'd not be able to get away with Neville to give the boy more experience and cementing his belief he would be the one who had to fight Tom, one-on-one.
With a sigh he pulled out the one paired with his 'agent' working in the magical detection grid office at the Ministry and, trying to appear nonchalant to the watching aurors as if he was just fiddling with the coin, sent the message alerting the agent to the attack planned for that evening.
Slipping the coin back into his pocket he drew his wand and sent a Messenger Patronus to his deputy.
When she turned up he cast a privacy charm over the two of them and quietly said, "Tom's planned another attack, tonight. I need you to summon the Order to meet me here."
"Is that wise?" she asked, indicating the two aurors.
"I'll explain it's a private conversation and they have no reason to listen in," he stated.
"They'll still be curious," she warned.
"Better they be curious than knowing," he firmly returned.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Trying to work around the fact two aurors were watching him, Dumbledore had to speak individually or in pairs with many of the members. He eventually used Filius Flitwick as his go-between between the Order and himself to let them know when and where the next attack would take place.
"This is a foolish way to do things, Albus," the little half goblin and Charms Master scowled.
"And yet it is the only way we can," the old man returned.
"You can always hand over the reins of the organisation to another until you manage to rid yourself of your auror guard," suggested Flitwick.
Dumbledore just scowled back and, almost imperiously, said, "I'm afraid I cannot do that. There is so much of what is going on I simply cannot share with anyone else."
"Hubris," snapped Flitwick.
Eventually, the signal of the co-ordinates of where the attack was taking place was received and Dumbledore immediately created the portkeys for the members.
As soon as the auror guard saw what the old man was doing, though, they immediately moved forward towards him. And stopped when they saw the items used being handed off to the Charms Master.
Flitwick hurried from the room with them.
Less than ten minutes later Longbottom strode into the infirmary and, not even waiting for Dumbledore to erect anti-listening and -surveillance wards, proceeded to verbally rip into the old man.
"So you've refused to grant me permission to go, have you?" he demanded of the old man. "Need I remind you I'm a lawfully recognised adult... and Lord of a Noble and Most Ancient House? Who... the fuck... do you think you are to attempt to refuse me permission to do anything?"
After rapidly throwing up silencing and anti-listening wards, Dumbledore tried, "Now, Neville―"
"Lord Longbottom, you peon!" Longbottom loudly snapped back.
Suddenly glaring back at the insult, Dumbledore was a moment before he quietly said, "Be aware of with whom you are speaking, Mister Long―"
"Lord Longbottom, Mister Dumbledore!" Longbottom barked.
With an angry grimace, Dumbledore again hesitated before he quietly said, "Lord Longbottom; be aware of with whom you are speaking."
"Oh, I am!" said Longbottom. "Someone... who seems to think they have some right to order me about. Someone... who seems to think they have the right to deny me something as if they're my master! Someone... who will cease with that nonsense... immediately!
"If you don't cease with that nonsense... immediately... I'm gone! I will take my grandmother and my parents and move overseas. I will be gone within the day."
As the two then glared at one another, Longbottom finally slumped as if in defeat. In a much quieter voice he almost whined, "Did you see what Peverell did to me when you weren't specifically shielding me? Did you see the sheer number of hexes he landed on me?
"At least seven, Albus. He hit me at least seven times and I couldn't even get close to landing one on him."
"They were only prank hexes, my boy," said Dumbledore.
"Yes," said Longbottom, again getting a little irritated. "But, you're not getting it, are you? You're not understanding... or accepting... what that means.
"He hit me at least seven times, even with you actively protecting me. Yes; they were prank hexes. However, they didn't have to be if he didn't want them to be. He could have just as easily launched deadly curses with the same effect - and I would be dead!
"Don't you get it? He was playing with me. He did not see me as a threat. And, if he can so easily give me a magical spanking, even with you there, what is You-Know-Who going to be like when he finally stops running from me?"
"We won't know until―"
"We already do!" snapped Longbottom. "That evidence was firmly cast at me yesterday morning; and only an utter fool would refuse to accept the truth of it. If You-Know-Who finally stops running from me, I'm toast!"
As Longbottom was almost panting in exertion at the force he was mentally employing to get the old man to understand what he was getting at, it gave Dumbledore the time to rebut.
"Neville, my b―"
"Lord Longbottom, you fucking arsehole!" screamed Longbottom, snap drawing his wand.
That shut the old man up. He even winced. And Longbottom's wand, unknown to him, was spitting sparks onto the floor as he held it pointed down. Dumbledore saw it, though.
"I've never given you leave to address me so... cavalierly, old man," snarled Longbottom. "You used to always address me as Mister Longbottom. You always did... right up until Harry went through the Veil. You used to so cavalierly address him as 'Harry, my boy'; never as Mister Potter, unless you were annoyed with him.
"Harry goes through the Veil and... what do you know?... you start addressing me in your condescending cavalier manner. Well, it ends today, you wanker. Do it ever again and I will swear on my magic and my very life that I will not go after You-Know-Who until I have certifiable proof that you are already dead."
As Dumbledore gaped back in shock, Longbottom continued, "At which point... Albus, my boy... it'll be For the Greater Good that you kill yourself."
"Nnn- Lord Longbottom, y-you can't be serious!" the old man stuttered.
"Well, it seems to be working already, doesn't it?" Longbottom snarked back. "Remember this, Mister Dumbledore... it is you who needs me... not the other way around.
"This will also be the last time you ever make decisions for me. Do it again and you'll never see me again!"
Without waiting for Dumbledore to reply, he spun about and stormed back out of the room.
Scowling worriedly at the back of the retreating young man as he walked out the door, Dumbledore was annoyed even further when he saw both aurors at the doors were grinning at him. They might not have overheard what was said, except for the opening words, but that didn't mean they couldn't see that Longbottom had given the old man a right royal telling-off.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
