Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter characters.
Chapter Ten: The Weapon
Thwang! Thwang! Thwang!
The ring of a smith's hammer rang out echoing down the cavernous world of the Goblin Nation. Powerful arms bent and shaped and forced their will upon a pure grade smelting of Goblin iron. For days and days these same arms worked their master's will. Tirelessly, relentlessly the steel was folded over and over upon itself, strengthening the intended blade to withstand a very tempest. With each new layer ancient charms were whispered over the iron strengthening and imbuing it with untold power.
The Goblins had been more than a little skeptical at first when they were approached by the intended sword's master. His imperial bloodline and reputation alone had not swayed them as it undoubtedly would the rest of the magical world. No, it was his manner that had won them over. Ever had this one been respectful to them as no wizard had ever been before. Not only polite, but thoughtful he was. He had even taken it upon himself to learn their language and customs. He bowed respectfully to their elders as was right by their standards, honoring them as no wizard had ever done before.
Many a skeptical Goblin eye had sneered at the prospect of a mere human having the stamina and fortitude to work a Goblin Smith, let alone the skill required. Many more eyes watched with growing awe as he went about his way with a well trained eye and a patient, unyielding eye as he worked his will upon their steel. Only his forbear had ever been afforded this rare opportunity before, but that had been more as an honorary position as consultant whilst Goblin masters had forged the legendary blade of Gryffindor to his specifications.
Gryffindor had wanted an enchanted blade of great strength, but he had also wanted one that flattered his ego, hence it was encrusted with many jewels and baubles that did naught but stroke its owner's vanity.
Harry Potter's need were more simple, though the truth be told his was a more noble, unassuming air than his forbear's had ever been want to be.
He was crafting a blade for battle. A war sword. A familiar that would work his will and heed only his call. A blade that could turn the tide of battle as surely as it would withstand death itself.
Goblin skepticism had gradually, begrudgingly turned to acceptance. Acceptance turned over long hours to the beginnings of appreciation. Now as the greatest and most respected artist of Goblin Steel Smiths Guild; Flagard, worked the bellows and tongs and acceptance turned to awe. All work gradually stopped at the surrounding forges as Goblin masters came to witness a growing masterpiece.
With a word of advice or a bit of encouragement here and there, the blade was wrought to the growing appreciation of all.
Even Raynok himself, the leader of the Goblin Nation, had visited the forge. After some hours he left, shaking his head in wonder as the boy of legend became a man before their very eyes.
Sisss. The glowing blade hissed wickedly as it hit the water trough. Sweat drenched hews lifted the still hot blade up to eye level for closer inspection. The growing crowd murmured its approval, high praise from such highly sought artisans.
"Aye tis an edge like no other, lad." Flagard complimented.
Harry cocked a glistening eyebrow. "Even Gyffindors'?"
Flagard's bushy eyebrows drew together in a scowl. " That trinket!" he blustered. " More artwork than art. This be a true prize. The enchantments imbued within alone make it a treasure worth a kingdom. The ashwinder core was a stroke of genius. Nothing else could have survived the firing and twill serve as a foci to amplify and direct your magic. No wand or stave could match it's like and no other wizard alive could utilize it's power. Sheer genius!" The goblin was practically glowing with envy as he admired the silver hued blade.
"Thank you" Harry returned simply, himself well satisfied with the results of his endeavor, though he added worriedly. "T-There is one other who could use it's power as his own if he learns it's true nature."
With a calculating eye, Flagard entreated."True, but I seriously doubt he'll get the chance and I hardly think he'll deign to drag his snaky arse down here to ask me it's secret not that any Goblin would so much as grant him the time of day." Flagard spat upon the cavernous floor in defiance.
Harry extended his soot covered, sweat slick palm, not bothering to wipe it clean on his tunic. The guild were hard working men and proud of it. There was no shame in grime and sweat hard won from toil.
Flagard gaped stupidly at his young charges waiting hand. He'd never heard of a wizard deigning to treat a goblin as equal, let alone extend a hand in friendship.
Clawed, dirt stained boney fingers reached out tentatively and found themselves well received in a strong grip. Too strong for one so young and human to boot.
"Y-You do me great honor, sir." Flagard stammered in awed appreciation.
"No more than you and yours have afforded me." Harry countered. "You and yours have made me comfortable here, made me feel welcome. That alone is a treasure worth a kingdom. This..?" Harry nodded his chin toward the blade in his left hand. "This is a tool of destruction . One who's ultimate goal is to kill. Whether for vengeance, evil or peace is merely a matter of semantics. This…?" He squeezed his grip tighter on Flagards gnarled hand for emphasis. "This is true value. There is no price one can place on friendship. This is true wealth."
Flagard's knees nearly buckled in stunned disbelief that a human , even one such as he, would grasp such a fundamental truth by which all goblin's lived. Humans,… wizards saw them as greedy, money grubbers. The truth be told, Goblins held their family and friends as the greatest of treasures; ones that always came first above all else.
Gratefully, Flagard pulled his newly acquired young friend into an appreciative, (affectionate even), hug. Members of the guild raised their voices in cheer at the spectacle. Though they had not been close enough to hear what passed between them, their sharp eyes new true value when they saw it and nothing was more valuable than friend or family.
Two weeks later.
" You're sure about this?"
Harry nodded his head, with a hint of sadness marring his features. "I've found peace here and the pleasure of seeing the fruit of a hard days work. Both are rare and invaluable to me, but none more so than the gift of your friendship."
Harry held forth his hand to his goblin friend who gratefully accepted the gesture.
"Menya and our little ones already lament your leaving. My presence wont be worth rusted nails when I come home alone tonight. " Flagard lamented.
Harry grinned. " Kiss them for me."
Flagard's bushy eyebrows drew together in a scowl. "Human kissing-blah… disgusting."
Harry chuckled at his friend's displeasure.
"I'll miss you most of all." Harry murmured fondly.
Flagard pulled his young friend into a fatherly hug that initially took Harry by surprise before he warmed to it and patted his smaller, but stouter friend's strong shoulder affectionately in return.
"Kick the dark one's arse and return to us soon." Flagard demanded, not daring to suggest it would be otherwise.
"If I survive,.. I will." Harry vowed.
Flagard ignored his young friend's trepidation proclaiming: "There's work that needs be done, and I find myself in need of a… passable apprentice." Flagard offered begrudgingly.
Harry was not fooled by his airy tone, this was high praise from a guild master of Flagard's repute.
" Fare you well, master of the forge. May your hammer always ring true." He clapped his friend's shoulder.
Flagard returned the gesture affectionately." Fare you well, young warrior. May your years be many, your battles few. Should you reconsider, you have but to send word and Raynok will gladly send the Goblin Brigade to fight at your right hand." he suggested for the last of many times.
Harry shook his head. "Tell him I'm grateful as always, but this is my burden. He's already helped me more than I could hope for. Knowing you're all here and out of harm's way will make it that much easier for me to meet the task ahead. Thus far the goblins have been spared the trials of war heaped upon others by power hungry, greedy wizards. Let it remain so." Harry commented wisely.
Flagard hitched a bushy eyebrow, responding shrewdly. "And if Goblin blood is spilt?"
" I shall avenge it forthwith at your side and let not a father or son of our oppressors survive." Harry vowed and his magic flared around him accepting the vow in bond.
Flagard nodded his head with a toothy grin of acceptance. "I accept your bond and gratefully so on behalf of the Goblin Nation. My brother Raynok shall be most pleased. Know you though,… if your blood is shed than me and mine shall be most displeased." Harry nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. Marveling, not for the first time, at the wonder of finding such stalwart friends in such a short time. He was humbled and grateful,, very grateful.
A last firm hug and Harry parted, reluctantly leaving the Goblin world behind, hoping to return. Despite his labors; he had been very happy here. Very happy indeed.
For the first time in a long time,… he wanted to survive the coming battles.
He wanted more than a quick death. He wanted a chance to live. For that is what he promised Flagard's mate, Menya. She had bade him, " Fight if you must. Die even, if it will see that which you fight for accomplished,… but,… in the meantime… LIVE."
And so he would. He would LIVE. He would do as he liked, when he liked and any Death Eaters that got in the way would be merely collateral damage. But,… first things first,… it was time to visit an OLD acquaintances.
An invisible figure entered Hogwart's school on an overcast late September day. He didn't need the extra precaution of wearing his father's invisibility cloak; he timed his arrival to coincide with morning classes and besides, he had an invitation to be here from one who's trust he had and could always count on in return.
Softly he padded down the third floor hallway toward the moving staircases ahead. A slightly muffled voice from a Transfiguration class to his right caught his attention. Here was the reason for his added stealth this day. The voice was more mature then last he remembered. He chanced a look into the class….
She was taller than he remembered. More rounded too. Her once bushy chestnut hair was still full and thick, but now had grown longer and more lustrous, pulled back in an elegant French knot .
She was quite stunning. In truth, he wasn't the least bit surprised. She had always been a waxing beauty, now her outsides matched her inside.
Beauty and Brains- Ron you lucky git.
She and Ron would no doubt be shocked by his lack of animosity, but there it was.
The initial pain he'd felt at her betrayal had turned overtime to anger, fury even. Later his feelings turned to those of cool disdain. Later still-numbness. In the fullness of time he realized that youth was characterized by impulsiveness and exploration. In his case- reckless abandon.
Curiosity was the lifeblood of teenagers and he supposed it was so with Hermione and Ginny. He couldn't really blame Hermione for loving Ginny. He had himself since the age of twelve when his young blood stained body had struggled to carry an eleven year old Ginny from the Chamber of Secrets.
Strange that. The one place he had vowed to never return to was the very place he was now intending to go.
An abrupt shift in his direction brought him instantly aware as Hermione suddenly pivoted, glaring wide eyed in his direction.
He knew he hadn't made a sound, just as he knew that there was no way she could discern his presence beneath an invisibility cloak.
He also knew by the look on her face that somehow, someway, she sensed his presence.
Deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, he silently changed into his animagus form,( also invisible beneath the cloak), and utilizing his form's speed, was long gone before the door to Professor Weasley's room burst open .
Within moments he was at the gargoyle sentinel that guarded the stairwell to the Headmistress' office. He briefly thought about changing in front of his old Transfiguration professor, to give the old gal a treat, but thought better of it as he'd most likely give her a heart attack.
Not surprisingly, the stone sentinel jumped to one side at sensing his approach without requiring a spoken password. Being the heir of a founder obviously had it's perks.
He removed his cloak, shrank it with the slightest gesture of his hand and tucked it away all in the space of a few scant heart beats as the revolving stair deposited him in front of the Headmistress' door.
A gentle knock and he let himself in.
Disappointingly, Minerva McGonagal was not alone as he'd expected.
A single chair was waiting for him in front of her desk, behind which sat the headmistress, Professor Flitwick and Madam Pomfrey. The latter of which gasped at seeing him.
Harry turned and glanced questioningly behind himself, before turning back. " Madam, you act as if you've seen a ghost?" he chided the matron.
Poppy Pomfrey bolted out of her chair, rushing forward to grasp both of his hands in her own warm ones in a gentle, but inquisitive fashion that he remembered well.
"I-I thought I'd never see… and just look at you?" She stammered appreciatively stepping back and reluctantly letting go of one hand as she waved her now free hand over him appraisingly.
Harry stood broad shouldered and a husky well muscled six foot one. He wore black trousers tapering down to black dragon hide boots. A sleeveless green tunic that not only matched his eyes, but accentuated his well honed arms and trim waist. A black dragon hide scabbard was at his hip with the gleaming hilt of his sword jutting out.
"My how you've grown!" She gushed, receiving agreeing nods from her cohorts.
Harry rubbed his fingers over the close croppedblack moustache and goatee he sported.
"Like it? I think it gives me a dashing air?"
McGonagal cocked an eyebrow. "Rougish more like." She chuckled in her thick Scottish brogue.
"Just as good." Harry accepted with twinkling eyes, that startled her with not only their intensity but also the mischief mirrored within.
A tingling over his flesh and a grasp from behind drew his partial attention. Madam Promfrey had used the distraction to run her wand diagnostically over him from behind.
"I am quite well." He assured her with a playful grin on his face.
"WELL? " She nearly choked. "Why your magical indexes are off the scale!" She exclaimed hardly believing her eyes.
"I'm a growing boy." he offered incredulously.
Poppy snorted at that while her companions chuckled.
" I couldn't help but notice you've acquired a new staff member or two." he commented offhandedly.
McGonagal smirked at that. " Would you care for a introduction?"
Harry paused stroking his goatee in thought. "Tempting, but I'm a bit short on time." he dodged.
" She'll be broken hearted when she finds out you were here. " Professor Flitwick commented, not bothering to mention names. They all knew who they were talking about.
"I suspect she already knows. Though I was wearing my dad's cloak, she seemed to sense my presence when I stopped by her classroom door for a quick look." he explained.
"If that's true than she'll be here in ten minutes, after her class finishes." McGonagal warned.
"Then I'd best be gone in nine." Harry suggested.
"I'd hoped we'd have more time." Poppy murmured dejectedly.
Harry turned toward the matron and brushed his hand fondly down her soft cheek in a rare show of affection that startled the group as a whole, but it was a gesture that Poppy treasured in her memories as one that she use to do to calm him when he woke from one of his horrific Voldemort induced dreams, when he was her patient in the infirmary.
"Perhaps one day hence. But for now, I must take my leave as I'm sure that Dumbles know I'm here and is no doubt planning a thoughtful reception for me."
"Surely not." McgGonagal barked in outrage.
Harry smirked. "Surely yes. He seems quite taken with me. Perhaps that's flattering for some, but even if the age difference wasn't a problem, I hardly swing that way." Harry shuddered for effect eliciting snorts and laughter from his audience.
Once she'd stopped laughing McGonagal broached the subject of his visit. "To what do we owe the honor of this visit?"
Getting right to the point, Harry asked."Though I hardly need your permission as I could have easily stole into the castle , collected what I require and been gone with anyone being the wiser? Good manners dictate that I ask the Headmistress' permission to make a brief visit to the Chamber of Secrets?"
Startled gasps sounded at the mention of the Chamber.
"What on earth could you possibly want to go back to that horrid place for?" Poppy nearly shrieked in revulsion.
Harry quirked an eyebrow and returned vaguely to the room. "I , er, left something there that I find I have need of now and thought it best I retrieve it before ol' Tom gets it in his head to have a look."
McGonagal's eyebrows disappeared in her hairline."Surely you don't think the Dark Lord would dare…?"
"Do you think there's anything he wouldn't dare?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Granted." McGonagal agreed. " Go at once Mr. Potter and take or destroy anything that the Dark Lord might find of even the slightest value." She demanded.
"I shant be a moment." Harry agreed stepping toward the door.
"Harry…?"
He paused at the portal to her office. I knew it wouldn't be this easy, he silently chided himself.
"Don't you think you should talk to….her?" Mcgonagal suggested.
They all knew who "her" was.
Harry grimaced slightly. "There's nothing to say. Not that it matters, but if she needs to hear it,…. Tell her,… Tell her I forgive her. I forgive them both, if they need to hear it? But ,.. Ron? I'll never forgive Ron." Harry rubbed his once broken jaw. "Not for what he did, but what he prevented from happening; the jealous ,petty bastard." he finished darkly. He was just about thru the door when he turned back in afterthought, asking,
"Do you still have a bat problem in your dungeons?"
McGonagal smirked in immediate understanding, though her colleagues hadn't guite caught on yet.
" Er, no. He's now head of research at the Dept. of Mysteries."
Flitwick chuckled "Bat problem" under his breath in obvious appreciation.
Harry looked disappointed at that. "Pity. I would've loved a quick visit while I'm in the neighborhood. I've got a line on a new solvent based hair care product for greasy gits."
Harry left them chortling appreciatively.
Not five minutes after he'd left a desperate Transfiguration Professor barged into the headmistress' office with even knocking first, finding three of her colleagues engaged in polite conversation over tea and a fourth setting awaiting-her?
Hermione Weasley cocked an eye suspiciously toward the tea setting in front of the Headmistress's desk, noting that it was empty and clean from disuse.
" M-Minerva.." She stammered. " I,..er.. I have the strangest feeling that..?"
"He was here, Hermione." McGonagal interrupted, cutting to the chase.
"W-Who?" Hermione rasped not daring to believe.
"The very person you suspect in the first place, dear." Poppy answered kindly.
Hermione closed her eyes and thought a silent prayer that he was still alive after Azkaban.
"He left not five minutes ago." Flitwick added.
Hermione's eyes shot open and she turned toward the door.
"You won't find him, Hermione." McGonagal warned.
"He's wearing that damn cloak,…I knew it!" She blurted undaunted, still moving toward the door.
"That and he's gone somewhere you can't get to." Flitwick added.
Hermione stopped dead in her tracks at that. She turned back toward the others with a look of dread on her face.
" Nooo" She gasped hoping she was wrong." No, he said he'd never go back there. He…"
"He went to the Chamber, Hermione." McGonagal answered for a certainty.
"Then I'll wait! He has to come out sometime?" Hermione blurted desperately, moving again.
"Sit down, Hermione" McGonagal ordered in a tone that brooked no disagreement.
Hermione walked dejectedly back to her desk and sat down in the chair that had originally been meant for Harry.
"As formidable witch as you are,Hermione, even you could not find Mr. Potter if he doesn't want to be found." She intimated.
" But I have to. I have to try. I…." Her eyes were growing suspiciously moist as she left off wringing her hands and casting pensive glances towards the office's exit.
"H-He was there, wasn't he? At my classroom door?" She muttered defensively.
"He mentioned that, yes."
"Why was he there. Why would he bother? Why and not, not even…?" She was becoming near hysterical and her head cut her off before she lost it all together.
"Perhaps curious. Perhaps otherwise." McGonagal smiled faintly and continued. "I can only surmise that on some level he still cares, Hermione."
"W-Why? Why would he?" The tears that had been threatening now fell in earnest, but she let them keeping her desperate anguished filled gaze directed on her mentor.
"He forgives you, Hermione. He told us to tell you that he forgives you both" She added kindly.
Hermione starred at her head in shocked disbelief. "H-He couldn't… not after, after…?"
"He did, child." Poppy reassured her gentling her young colleagues shoulder. "He said that plain out and he meant it. I've never known him to say something he doesn't mean and I've certainly never known him to not keep his word. His father was like that too." She added fondly in remembrance.
"He forgives us? He really said that he forgives Ron and I?" She gasped hardly daring to believe it was true.
"Not Ron." Flitwick corrected sternly. " He said he forgives you both, while I don't know who else he was referring to; he did, however, make a point of mentioning Ronald Weasley separately."
"W-What did he say about Ron?" She gasped worriedly.
Flitwick pulled a face, but answered. "He said he'll never forgive ,Ron. He also mentioned blaming him not for what he did but what he prevented from happening. Whatever that is?" he conjectured, not expecting Hermione to enlighten him.
It was sometime later before Hermione was able to get her gauntlet of emotions under control, even with the calming draught that Poppy forced on her.
"H-How does he look?" She enquired curiously.
"Powerful and confident." Flitwick summarized.
"Handsome and atheletic. I've never seen him look so,..so." Poppy let off wistfully.
"Quite." McGonagal chuckled her agreement. "He looks the rouge his father was at that age."
"Did you notice his eyes?" Flitwick asked Poppy and Minerva.
"How couldn't we?" Poppy returned incredulously.
"W-Why,.. What's wrong with his eyes?" Hermione fretted.
McGonagal smirked. "They twinkle."
Hermione's eyes went wide and she gasped in understanding. "I-I have to see him. I have to." She vowed.
"You might one day, dear, but I think you best let that be on his terms." Poppy suggested.
Hermione reluctantly nodded her agreement.
"I also think it prudent that you keep Ron out of that equation ,Hermione." McGonagal warned.
Hermione's face turned pensive. "Why?" She asked softly,.. Worriedly.
"I think we all got the same impression, Minerva." Flitwick offered. "That being, Mr. Potter harbors some very negative feelings where your husband is concerned. I think it wise that Ronald avoid him at all costs."
"H-Harry would never hurt, Ron" Hermione stated with certainty.
McGonnagal nodded. "I once thought that of Ronald in return where Mr. Potter was concerned, until Ronald proved me wrong. I didn't receive the impression that Mr. Potter would ,er, 'turn the other cheek' as it were, if something similar was to transpire again?"
Hermione shuddered in understanding. The warning she was trying to convey was evident.
Ron was a formidable wizard, but Harry…
One week later-
A young raven haired man sat reading what was to be the front page of tomorrow's edition of 'The Daily Prophet' outside of Florean Fontesque's Ice Cream parlor, seemingly oblivious to the gasps of both alarm and interest from passerby's who pointed , whispered and even exclaimed aloud his alias. He wasn't really reading the paper ,persay, as much as he was checking the advertisement he placed for it's accuracy.
He need not have bothered as it was pretty much straight forward. An entire page read:
Dear Tom; I'm back, I'm pissed.
What say you and me get together Halloween night and settle this once and for all? In other words; no Dumbledore to go crying to, begging to turn yourself in so that the big bad "WEAPON" wouldn't kill you.
I'll be at the place of your rebirth,( re-hatching more like), at Midnight on Halloween.
I wont bother saying come alone and face me with honor, because let's face it- you have none. You're too cowardly not to cheat. So, bring your creature features, your idiots, your goons,.. and I'll bring me, myself and I -and winner takes all. In this case it means whoever wins is stuck dealing with Dumblydore. So basically, it's a lose-lose. You get rid of me and then you have to deal with the whole take over the world thing from Mr. " I'll screw over anyone for the greater good-Dumbledore".
I win, and I'm rid of you and your Death Beaters and am also then stuck with "Mr. let me show you to your prison cell Harry- thanks for another Order of Merlin at your expense-Dumbledore".
P.S. I don't suppose you'd consider eliminating the middleman, ie… lets get rid of "Mr.- I like to hang around the boy's quidditch locker- Dumbles" and then you, me and all your goons duke it out?
P.S.S. I 'm sure by now that you know that great bat-Snape is nestled away in the Dept. of Mysteries. He betrayed you to Dumbles and my parents to you. I propose as a consolation prize we take the greasy git for a much needed and long over due-acid bath!
Send me an owl- We'll do lunch. Harry Potter, A.K.A.- The Weapon
Harry smirked. It was probably the first time in history that the Prophet was not only accurate, but didn't take a cheap shot at him in the margins. Of course, a thousand galleons to the Editor might have had something to do with that?
Of course he knew from experience that the Prophet would roll over on him and either betray him to Dumbles, Voldie, or both, before tomorrow's edition even came out. He was in fact, counting on it. Dumbledore would just dig himself a bigger hole and Voldie would tip his hand early thus beginning the inevitable.
"The weapon"…
"It's him- the weapon". …
'Thank God"
"Don't point dear"….
"D-Don't look at him" ….
"What's he doing.?"…
"Mommy , can I ask him for his autograph?"
"Shush dear!"
A younger version of himself would have been outraged at their thoughtless rudeness. Now, he found he no longer minded. Especially not since it was serving his own ends. He was drawing attention which is exactly as he wanted it.
The form fitting dark green, scaled basilisk hide armor he wore that accentuated every nuance of his athletic frame, nor the gleaming sword strapped "warrior fashion" on his back had nothing to do with it. No more than the blood red "W" meticulously painted on his armor's chest, nor the signal of Gryffindor that was proudly embroidered on his left upper arm.
The man was a walking billboard, which was exactly as he wished it. The question now was; who would respond first to his advertisement. Not that he cared either way, but his money was on Dumbles being the first to act.
POP-POP-POP-POP…..
Harry peeked around the edge of his newspaper. Trellwaney was wrong. I do possess the "Inner Eye" of a true seer.
Dumbly's aurors were the first to arrive.
"Harold James Potter, you are wanted for questioning at the Ministry of Magic. I order you to surrender your wand and come along peacefully, otherwise you face charges of contempt and resisting an auror."
Harry smirked behind his paper. He knew that voice only too well. He dropped his paper and blurted out cheerily: "Nymphy, long time no see. Give us a kiss, luv!"
Harry nearly blurred as he moved, snatching up Nymphadora Tonks in a bear hug and pasting a wet sloppy raspberry on, the startled and sputtering, head auror's cheek.
"Here now?" a deep voice protested from his right.
Harry dropped Tonks from his grasp and she unceremoniously fell on her bum swearing as Harry turned his attention to her would be rescuer.
"Kingsley!" Harry chortled pumping the dark auror's hand and slapping him on the back, seemingly oblivious to the wand the man's left hand had trained on his chest .
"You look spiffing, old man. Absolutely Spiffing!"
Kingsely growled and tugged his hand out of Harry's grasp."Harry you need to come with us." he spat impatiently.
"Weapon" Harry corrected vacantly.
"Beg pardon?" Kingsley asked puzzled.
Harry pointed to the red "W" on his chest. "Weapon".
With a roll of his eyes Kingsley digressed. "Alright then, we need the "Weapon" to come with us."
"Depends" Harry returned vaguely.
By now Tonks had extradited herself from the pavement , rubbing her sore bum and irately entering the conversation. "What do yah mean-depends?"
Harry smirked devilishly. "Depends whether there's other interested parties who may be seeking my attention?"
The words had barely left his mouth when a squad of near twenty Death Eaters apparated on the street across from the eight aurors in a semi circle around Harry.
Harry shrieked like a girl and jump bodily into Kingsley arms wailing. "Save me!"
"Gerroff me!" Kingsley howled trying to drop Harry from his grasp, but Harry had his arms around the auror's neck and held on for all he was worth.
"Ohh, but I'm so scared!" Harry drawled, pretending to swoon.
Instant pandemonium seized the streets in front of Florean Fontesque's Ice Cream Parlor.
People ran screaming toward open shops seeking cover whilst aurors hastily raised protective shields trying to protect the fleeing populace as the Death Eaters immediately began hurling spells in all directions creating absolute havoc.
Kingsley managed to toss Harry from his arms just as a green streak of a killing curse blasted the wall just over their heads.
Harry cupped his hands to his cheeks and gushed,"My Hero!"
Tonks and her colleagues were desperately trying to return fire but were so overwhelmed by the Death Eater numbers that they were rapidly losing ground and were almost completely on defense.
One young sandy haired auror managed to snap off a stunner that caught one of the Death Eaters. Harry snorted derisively as the Death Eaters companions just re-enervated the stunned Death Eater who was almost immediately returning curses as soon as he reached his feet.
The aurors pulled back into the cover of Fontesque's Parlor, but Harry just returned to his seat out front and sat back to watch the show with a bemused expression on his face.
"Don't just sit there!" Tonks barked at him from the doorway of the shop.
Harry shrugged indifferently and conjured himself a bucket of popcorn and bottle of soda, settling in to watch the show.
A hail of wand fire tore a chunk out of the front right corner of Fontesque's shop.
"Woo-Hoo,… that was a good one!" Harry applauded, before stuffing another handful of popcorn in his mouth, and ducking a purple jet of light that careened past his left ear.
'Damn it, Potter! Help us out!" Kingsely howled from the shops broken window.
"Weapon" Harry called out blankly.
"Alright, Weapon damn it!" the man howled angrily, having to dive for cover as a killing curse narrowly missed his head.
"Sorry, not my problem." He called back. "I'm not a legal resident of this country and find myself unwillingly detained here which is a clear violation of my civil rights according to international wizarding law. Now, unless a member of your ministry is willing to grant me diplomatic immunity absolving me from all consequence of any action on my part- I find that I am unable to participate in your little brew-hah."
"What?" Tonk's screamed, ducking a blood red curse.
Harry rolled his eyes and in a loud monotone repeated his previous statement.
"Alright,Alright-FINE" Tonks wailed. "As head auror I grant you diplomatic immunity." she called out desperately as the Death Eaters were advancing on the position.
"I want it in writing." Harry demanded.
"I can't bloody well write that all out right now!" She screamed sending a pair of stunners in the Death Eater's direction.
"Fortunately.." Harry drawled patting his breast pocket. "I happen to have a document drawn up for just such an emergency."
Harry popped out of sight and reappeared right between Tonks and Kingsley.
"Now if you'll just sign here, here and here?" Harry proffered a quill toward Tonks expectantly pointing to the lines awaiting her signature.
Tonks growled, but seized the quill and scrawled her name over the indicated spaces.
"Happy?" she scathed.
"Almost" Harry returned, handing the document to Kingsley and asking, "If you'd be so kind as to co-sign, please?"
Kingsley grimaced, but seized up the offered quill and scribbled his name next to Tonks'.
"Very nice. Thank you." Harry smiled and folded the document up and returning it to the pocket inside his battle armor, patting the area with a satisfied expression on his face.
A orange hued bone breaker dropped the auror next to Kingsley, who hit the floor screaming and clutching at his broken leg.
"Excuse me." Harry nodded politely and left the crumbling shop, entering the street out side.
"Gentlemen?" He called out to the Death Eaters stationed around the shop. "Gentlemen, in view of a change in circumstance, I urge you to drop your wands and surrender yourselves in a peaceful and orderly fashion."
Derisive laughter rained down on him followed by a killing curse that just missed his side.
"I see" Harry intoned hollowly. "Very well, then."
Harry blurred into motion drawing his sword as he went. Howls and screams of pain and terror filled the Diagon Alley street outside the Ice Cram Parlor. By the time Tonks and her auror companions risked venturing out of the near ruined shop, a last pitiful Death Eater was kneeling at Harry's feet sobbing and begging for his life as Harry absently listened to the man as he carelessly used the mans silk black robes to wipe blood and gristle from his sword.
On closer inspection; Tonks emptied her stomach on the street when she noticed the fallen Death Eater's hand lying next to his bleeding stump. The severed hand was still clutching his wand with pale nerveless fingers.
Kingsley was standing off to the side surveying the slaughter around him. His dark skin paled ghostlike. Limbs and bodies were strewn around the alley. Some poor wretches still pleaded and mewled trying to pull themselves to their feet in the vain hope of fleeing. Others were unconscious from their wounds and others still would never rise again, death glazed their vacant eyes.
"Merlin's Beard" Another auror rasped in disbelief wiping a hand across his cold sweating brow as he surveyed the carnage around him.
Harry nodded appreciatively as he surveyed his now clean and gleaming sword before slamming it back into it's scabbard with a gentle hiss as the steel slid home.
"Not a bad haul. A stray Death Beater or two managed to flee, pity that. Although I don't think that one will have gotten very far. " Harry thumbed his hand meaningfully toward a nearby leg lying in it's own spreading blood stain.
Tonks managed to bring up food she hadn't known she'd eaten at that.
"Weak stomach?' Harry asked curiously. "Strange that you'd choose this line of work, being so squeamish and all?" he chuckled darkly, earning himself a glare from the auror between wretches.
Harry clapped his hands together."Well, I'm off." he turned away, but hadn't made it a half step before Kingsley stopped him .
"Not so fast Pott,.. Er, ..Weapon" He amended.
Harry cocked an eyebrow. "Diplomatic Immunity,.. Remember?"
"That doesn't supersede you from protective custody pending review." Kingsley commented with a smug expression.
Harry sighed. "The question thing with Dumbles, eh?"
Kingsley nodded with a sneer.
"Still got your head up the old man's arse, eh Kingsley?" Harry sneered back.
"Don't make this more difficult then it needs to be, Harry,.. Please?" Tonks near begged from his left, having at last recovered.
Harry scowled meaningfully.
"I mean, please-Weapon" Tonks reiterated.
Harry nodded his assent. They were about to depart when Harry held up a hand halting them. He ignored Kingley's irate huff and turned his attention to the Ice Cream Shop.
"This is a nice place and holds some few good memories for me. I'll not leave it in this condition.
"It's a total loss man." Kingsley ground out impatiently.
Harry shot the man a drool look. Then closed his eyes and concentrated a moment. His eyes suddenly snapped open blazing emerald fire. He snapped his fingers and the shop immediately began to reassemble itself from the pieces strewn about the Alley.
"That's better." Harry commented to himself, turning to leave as the shocked aurors followed in his wake, turning back now and again as they went to stare wide eyed at the shop at it magically returned to it's former glory.