Chapter 10 The Mutineers and The Ritual

Edited 6/1/16. I went over it five times, but my eyes got googly so there might be some mistakes.

This chapter got a major facelift. A lot had to be rearranged and reworded. I added a bit at the beginning and to the ritual. I even changed the chapter title.

Also I wanted to say that I suck with numbers. Along with normal dyslexia, I have much more sever number dyslexia, which has its own name, but I can never remember it.

Anyway, I can do the same sums and come up with different answers each time, even with a calculator. I barely passed math and History because of it. I would do the problem correctly, but flip my numbers, the same with dates. So, not being able to remember ages and dates makes writing stories like this one hard. I have tons of notes, but reading a date wrong… well, you get my point. So, if you see something that is incorrect, let me know and I'll try and fix it.

It has been reviewed that keeping up with so many characters is hard. The group will mostly be in the background, except the parents and even they will be dwindled down. A large group is needed for the success of uniting the Houses and finding the horcruxes. So please be patient, they are needed.

Someone said that the Patil adult names both sound feminine; I got all the non-canon names from a random name selector. They are correct genders.

According to Harry wiki, Pandora is the name of Luna's mother. However, other sources have it as other names. I like Pandora and will not be changing it.

Sorry for the short chapter and long AN.

I have been remiss in not thanking you all for your reviews, favorites, follows and adding me to your communities. I apologize for that. I just get so caught up in the writing that I forget. So please forgive me and take my thanks in the heartfelt manner it is given.

Hphphp

A medium narration and a time skip.

Time went on and the group of children grew closer. The kids shared many things and were forming as a tight knit unit. They met at the Potter home afterschool and did their homework, played games, watched the telly, researched on the Internet and learned magic. Most of them were there for a good three hours, waiting for their parent to get off work. The poor house elves were run ragged trying to keep up with them, though Lily and James told them they didn't have to. But, the little beings loved making sure the kids were well feed with snacks and juice.

Bringing the kids together was a successful plan as more and more wizarding kids were sent to non-magical schools, mostly because it was free. Many half-bloods were already going, and now there were quite a few pure-bloods as well. Not in the same school as the twins' group, but non-magical schools nonetheless. Some of the bias pure-bloods on the Wizengamot tried to stop it, but too many members were doing it with their own families. Now more mothers were seeking part-time jobs and the economy was growing.

Harry, Gary, their parents and uncles would all meet with Sally and discuss how things were going and what they needed to do in the future. The twins fretted about Hogwarts, after hearing how the Houses treated each other. They knew that they would be separated from their friends and stressed out over what that could do to the group. They knew that their friends were concerned over the same thing. There were great plans in motion to keep the gang together, the use of the mirrors would be a great help. So far, the Marauders hadn't made anymore. They were improving them and hoped to have the ready before Hogwarts, along with the maps.

Because of all the research and brainstorming they did, every one of the kids' grades escalated and they were doing really well in school. None of the other Mutineers, which was what they were calling their little gang, were as smart and Harry and Gary, but most of them accepted that. The boys had slowly brought the groups attention to how clever they really were, by helping them with their homework and adding references to essays.

Lily had brought out her old Hogwarts first year school books and showed the kids all the improvements she and Severus had made on Charms, Transfiguration and Potions, so that they didn't go in blind like a lot of kids would. She mentioned the few clubs that Hogwarts had and suggested they ask Professor McGonagall for an empty classroom where their group could study. Maybe one of the classrooms already used for a club, and then they would simply use it when it is not in session. That way none of the professors or the headmaster could accuse them of sneaking around. They could open the group to more people and choose who they would add to the Mutineers.

She was also the one to suggest what websites were good and what telly shows they should watch. Story time was split between her and Remus.

Remus was also a lot of help with the theory of magic. He would take each child aside and explain what was known. This way there could be questions and debates with just the two. Then the child could take what he learned and talk to the other kids. The werewolf did this so that he knew that he was getting his point across.

James and Frank were teaching them some politics and laws that would affect minors. This was going over well, since none of them wanted to be caught breaking the law. It would be helpful in the long run if they knew what was what in the Wizengamot. Politics would also help them in matters with adults not in the group.

Sirius stressed how important classes were if you wanted to play good pranks. All of the classes at Hogwarts were important in making a good joke.

The Mutineers didn't know everything about the Potter family, but they had all been together for two years and the boys had never lied to them. They let them know that there were secrets that couldn't be revealed right now, but when everyone was older and had a firmer grip on their Occlumency, well then the boys would share.

The fact that Potter manor now had ten computers went a long way in forging the group's solidarity. Many of the children talked their parents into also getting a room set up like the game room they all studied in. A few of the parents with Lily's help did so. Unfortunately, not all of them could afford such a room, since computers were quite expensive and satellite wasn't cheap either. However, the Potters didn't mind sharing, so there were many slumber parties.

Right now the Mutineers consisted of:

1. Harry Potter… half-blood …parents are Lily and James (Lily was muggle-born)

2. Gary Potter …half-blood …parents are Lily and James (Lily was muggle-born)

3. Hannah Abbott …half-blood …parents are Giffard and Mary (mom is muggle)

4. Alice Mcfay …muggle-born (lives near the manor) …parents are Hollis and Kestrel

5. Susan Bones …half-blood … parents are dead; aunt is Amelia (head of the DMLE)

6. Terry Boot …pure-blood … parents are Dee and Albert

7. Mandy Brocklehurst …half-blood … parents are Rachelle and Kenton (dad is muggle-born)

8. Michael Corner …half-blood … parents are Desiree and Wren (dad is muggle)

9. Spencer Jackson …pure-blood (a year below the boys)… parents are Pearl and Derryl

10. Tracey Davis …half-blood … parents are Aric and Grace (mom is muggle-born)

11. Fay Dunbar …pure-blood … parents are Cherry and Lewin

12. Ellie Godfrey …muggle-born (one year below the boys) … parents are Austyn and Dora

13. Seamus Finnigan …half-blood … parents are Kiera and Finbarr (dad is muggle)

14. Daphne Greengrass …pure-blood … parents are Celeste and Natalie

15. Astoria Greengrass …pure-blood (a year below the boys)… parents are Celeste and Natalie

16. Wayne Hopkins …half-blood … parents are Jeanne and Wayne (mom is muggle)

17. Megan Jones …muggle-born (brought in by Hannah Abbot)… parents are Peter and Gwenog

18. Neville Longbottom …pure-blood … Frank and Alice

19. Padma Patil …pure-blood … parents are Sarita and Mayur

20. Parvati Patil …pure-blood … parents are Sarita and Mayur

21. Leanne Jameson …half-blood … parents are Elliot and Aimee (both parents are muggle-born)

22. Luna Lovegood …pure-blood (a year below the boys) … parents are Xenophilius and Pandora

23. Percy Weasley …pure-blood (four years above the boys) … parents are Molly and Arthur

24. Fred Weasley …pure-blood (two years above the boys) … parents are Molly and Arthur

25. George Weasley …pure-blood (two years above the boys) … parents are Molly and Arthur

26. Ron Weasley …pure-blood … parents are Molly and Arthur

27. Ginny Weasley …pure-blood (one year below the boys) … parents are Molly and Arthur

They didn't have many Muggle-borns, because they had no way of finding them. Most of the group was brought in by Frank and James through their political connections.

Right now, the parents were still getting to know one another phase, since the Potters haven't shared many secrets with them. They wanted to make sure that what they shared would not get back to the Headmaster. Even today the man was trying to talk them into separating the boys in hopes of breaking, or weakening, the twins' bond.

Lily was watching the bond closely, still optimistic that the boys would start finishing each other's sentences. So far nothing, little did she know that was about to change.

The Weasley twins, on the sly, did give the boys the ritual and told them to do it on their seventh birthday, since seven was a magical number. The Potter twins were happy they had passed it on to the Patils before their seventh birthday. They were ecstatic that their dad did had gotten ahold of the girls and brought them into the group. According to the girls it worked great and now they were closer than ever. Now all the boys had to do is see if it would work for them. The notes said they had to be alone at midnight on their seventh birthday. They were praying that July 31st was okay, since technically Gary was born August 1st.

July 31, 1987 Potter Manor

It was close to midnight and Harry and Gary were standing in a clearing behind the house. It was as far away from their parents as they could get, yet still be inside the wards. It was the last secret they would keep, but they understood that this one was harmless.

It was cool, in the waning summer's air as a breeze picked up. They shivered as they looked over the preparations to make sure they got everything right. They had drawn a circle of salt to keep all the magic inside so their parents wouldn't hear or feel anything. There was a smaller circle inside for the ritual itself. The candles were all set up and all the marking were in place. The candles marked four directions on the boundaries of the circle. There were small marking just off the middle of the circle, where the boys would kneel. There was a ritual dagger in the middle, ready and sharp.

They had no idea where this ritual had come from; the Weasley twins didn't know the history of it either. Just that the diary from their uncles said it was very old. It was nothing like all the rituals Gary had read about in the Potter library. It was more like a Wiccan ritual then a wizarding one. Not that wizard used a lot of rituals they mostly just used spells, unless it was something huge. He had looked up similar rituals on the Internet and found that a lot of non-magical people used these. He wondered if it actually worked for them, then shrugged off the thought and got back to what they were doing now.

They glanced at the notes to make sure everything was correct and then nodded as one. They were ready, hopefully.

"It's almost midnight. Do we have everything?" Harry asked his brother, thinking maybe Gary saw something he didn't. He was looking around and gathering up the papers that the breeze had torn form his hands.

"Yeah, the circle is drawn, the candles are ready and the knife is cleansed and sharp," Gary said, helping his brother. There couldn't be anything except the knife and them in the circle. He was just glad they didn't have to be naked; it was far too cold for that.

"Okay, let's get started," the older twin said, placing the papers outside the salt circle and pinning them down with a rock. "It says that first we have to close the circle, and then we should sit in the middle facing each other. Then do the whole bloodletting. We have to do that right at midnight, so we'll just have to listen for the alarm to tell it's time," the older twin said, glad he set that up or they might miss it.

He was a bit worried, this was big. If it worked correctly he would be able to read Gary's mind. But he would do this ritual, because if it helped his brother bounce back from the whole Boy-Who-Lived depressions he got every now and then, then Harry would help. It's what big brothers were for.

Gary was of like mind, he didn't want his brother to know what was going on in his head either. However, he knew that this could save their lives one day, so he would do it as well. That's what little brothers were for.

The Weasley and Patil twins said the mind-reading was not a subconscious thing. They would always know what each other is feeling, but they had to want it to send thoughts to each other, or to read the others mind, kind of like a telephone.

Harry went to the little circle and lit the candles in the order the ritual called for. He started with the north and going clockwise. Gary chanted the secrecy ritual as Harry called the elements of the directions; ice for the North, wind for the East, fire for the South, and earth for the West. When the last candle was lit, which was green for earth, the circle closed with a snap and a flare of bright light.

After clearing their vision, the boys knelt, facing each other, in the middle of the circle.

The older boy had the double sided dagger in his hand resting across his right palm with his left hand on the hilt. The younger boy put his right hand over Harry's making sure the dagger was across his palm as well. They held their hands vertically, so that the blood would drip on the ground as an offering to the elements.

They held their breaths and waited for the alarm went off. They had to do this quickly; the chant was short and to the point. They only had to say three lines, but they had to say it at the same time.

The alarm sounded and Harry pulled the dagger down in one quick motion. As their blood mingled they incanted, "Let it be known that the blood of Harry and Gary Potter hereby binds these twins forever. We stand united. So mote it be."

There was a large flash of green light, much like the KillingCurse as they leaned together forehead to forehead, hands still clasped, breathing hard, and the dagger on the ground between them. For one second, time stood still and the twins were one.

The soul piece in Harry's forehead screamed silently, it was in agony for the love it felt going between the boys. The black piece of magic slowly cleansed and turned a light grey. It was still trapped in the scar, but it would no longer try to influence the child, nor would it show as dark magic on any medical scans. All of this was unknowingly happening as the boys bonded.

When time restarted the twins looked at each other and grinned.

"That was wicked, and totally worth it," Harry said ecstatically, feeling light and refreshed and he could tell his brother felt the same.

"Yeah, I haven't felt this good in a long time. Thanks bro, you're the best," Gary added, equally happy.

They started to take down the inner circle counter-clockwise, and with a wave of his hand Harry had all the blood cleared away. They had gotten pretty good at wandless magic. The other Mutineers also knew a little bit of it. Well most of them anyway, there were still a few who were lazy and only interested in sports and didn't want to learn. But since they were still friends, the others just tried to nudge them along. For some it was a wasted effort, nevertheless they kept trying.

Now that the ritual was done and all evidence was cleared, the boys were on their way home to finally get some sleep. They couldn't hear each other yet, but the notes said it would happen overnight while the bond realigned. They were just thankful that the outer circle worked at keeping the magic in and they hadn't woken their parents. Tomorrow was going to be a long day. As they drifted off to sleep they thought about their group of friends.

Hphphp

The next morning, Harry woke up to a voice in his head, "Harry, Harry, wake up. Can you hear me? You need to wake up to let me know if it worked." The older twin sat straight up realizing that was Gary in his head. He let out a whoop and jumped around his room.

"Harry! Did you hear me? Why didn't you answer?" Gary demanded as he grabbed his brother as he ran by. He twirled him around to face him and smiled when he saw Harry's ecstatic face.

"It worked! Sorry I didn't answer you, but I was just too excited. It worked, Gary, it worked. Now I will always know where you are," Harry thought to his brother as they started jumping up and down. Soon James and Lily came into the room to see what all the noise was about.

"What has you two so excited?" Lily said with a smile, it wasn't often the twins got this enthusiastic about anything.

"Yeah, you're making enough noise to wake the dead," James said, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and sharing his wife's smile.

The boys had a quick conference in their head as they settled down and decided to tell part of the truth.

"Well, we woke up this morning…" started Harry with a wicked grin,

"and felt the bond was…" Gary continued with a smirk,

"much stronger than last…"

"night. So we got really…"

"excited and wanted to celebrate..."

"Sorry we woke you," said both twins together.

Lily was overjoyed so she ran and grabbed the boys and started to bounce with them. "Oh, I'm so happy for you boys. I've been hoping this happened before you went to Hogwarts. This is wonderful," she gushed, and then smiled brightly as she came up with an idea. "We should celebrate. Do you guys want to go to the zoo again, since it is Saturday? We haven't been there in years, and we can take as many of the kids from your Mutineers as you can contact, but only those who can bring their parents. I'm not watching a large group of seven year olds with just me, your dad and you uncles. So get dressed, start making Floo calls and see who can come. We'll leave at eleven." She gave them one more hug and started to run out of the room.

"Hey, don't I get any say in this?" James said with a smirk, making Lily stop her flight.

Lily and the twins smirked back and said, "NO."

James' smirk dropped and his shoulders drooped in mock defeat. "I see I'm not wanted." —sniff— "I'll go and call your uncles and tell them what a cruel family I have." —sigh— "Where did I go wrong?" he asked the air, throwing his hands up in pretend dejection.

Lily and the boys looked at each other and tackled James to the floor and started tickling him. After about five minutes they stopped their attack.

"So Dad…" said Gary with a smile.

"can we go…"

"to the zoo? And…"

"will you ask Padfoot…"

"and Moony if they will come?" Gary finished. "This is fun, but from the look on Dad's face I don't think we should do it too often," he projected to his brother, looking at the slightly devastated look on James face. It was the same look he got when the Weasley twins got started, those two twin-talked all the time, with everyone.

"Yeah, I think you're right. I also think we should keep it in the family for now. I don't want Dumbledore to know about it. He might think that we are getting too close and step up his need to separate us. We might even have to tone it down in Hogwarts. Not that that meddling old fool had the power, but why give ourselves or our parents the headache. We can't even tell the Mutineers because of the whole twin secret that was in the ritual," Harry thought back to him. 'This is really neat, and I'm glad I can have secluded thoughts to myself,' he thought privately.

"Don't worry, Dad, we're not going to be like the Weasley twins. We'll be more like the Patils," Gary said, trying to reassure his father. "We're just so excited we can do this. But since we don't want Dumbledore to know, we won't do it outside of the family. Maybe the Mutineers," he shrugged, "maybe not."

"Good, good, because when those redheaded menaces get started, I get a pain in my neck just trying to follow them. Okay, now that that is out of the way, what say we all get dressed and eat? I'll call your uncles and see what they are doing. You boys split your list and start asking everyone else. Let me know how many and I'll have one of the house elves make a picnic lunch. That way I don't have to go to Gringotts and exchange money," James said as he started to walk away, plans for the day forming in his head. He would have to get together with Lily and see if they were on the same page.

Red hair flew in his face as his wife went sprinting past him. "I've got first shower," she said as she ran by. James gave chase with a wicked grin. Maybe they could share, they had hours to kill.

In the end around ten of their friends could come. It was a last minute thing, so a lot of families had other plans. Fun was had by everyone and Harry stayed out of the Reptile House so he wouldn't laugh at the snakes and make everyone think he had finally lost it. They had the picnic there at the zoo, and stayed until closing.

All in all, it was a good day.