All Along the Watchtower
Chapter 9- A Disquiet Follows My Soul
Harry looked over the ceremonial robes laid out on his bed. They were an only slightly modified variant of robes worn by the Assassins of the Holy Land more than eight hundred years past. He had worn it only once before when he accompanied Kaden to a Council meeting at the American Academy, and saw the other variations the Assassins of other Enclaves and Academies wore, some being more colourful or with a cape like the Italians or the Hook Blade of the Turkish. When he first put them on he was forever bound to the Order. The idea didn't bother him, if anything he craved it; the Order gave his life purpose and meaning. It gave his family a future. Deep down Harry knew his life would be a sacrifice. That in the future people would talk of him with reverence.
Make no mistake; Harry Sirius Potter knew that one day he would kill the Dark Lord.
He slipped on each piece carefully and clipped the armour to his mid-section and looped through the white sash of an Apprentice Assassin. The second last item was a steel gauntlet with a spring loaded blade, the Hidden Blade. Harry, like the others possessed another, one more practical in modern times; it used a simple strap instead of gauntlet to secure it. Stored up a sleeve it was the perfect hidden weapon if disarmed.
His last item was a gift from Kaden. It was the traditional short sword of an Assassin; but instead of the basic design, Harry's was specially forged. Faith was an onyx blade and silver edged. His hand skirted over the cold silver inscription of Faith and Doubt which adorned the centre of the blade. Kaden explained that even if his search for a blade was futile, Faith would serve him until his dying day with a feather of Hedwig and the poison of Shan fuelling the blade at its core. His single shoulder guard helped secure the sheath on his back and Harry strapped it to the belt armour as well.
He then grabbed his white sheathed Katana strapping the sheath to the back of his belt where it wouldn't bother him. Harry was also careful to flick on the safety on his Hidden Blade before securing the trigger ring to his pinkie. He wasn't up for joining the exclusive club that had accidentally cut a finger off with it.
xxxxx
"So what's with the getting married thing?"
"Well, I kinda love the girl." Kaden replied as he fiddled with the lock. "And I don't expect to survive the next five years and thought fuck it, I always wanted to try that."
"Very funny."
Kaden turned to his friend. "How's about you get on with your job and I'll finish mine Apprentice?"
"Whatever you say Major…" Harry smirked.
"Get on with it." Kaden muttered.
Harry heeded his Captain's words and closed his eyes, extending his awareness beyond what his eyes let him see. Although he was no great Warder, Harry gained a limited control of the security wards around Honeydukes and immediately went about keying his and Kaden's magical signatures to them. It was slow going but after a five minute test of patience Harry succeeded. His job done Harry opened his eyes and found his best friend waiting. They descended the stairway to the basement, staying alert for any surprises. When they reached the basement Harry located the right slab and used a touch of magic to set it aside.
Kaden jumped into the hole and Harry followed. They walked in darkness until Harry sheathed his arm in violet flame, lighting the path. "I'm going to ask again, why are you marrying Danielle?"
"I've told you, I love her. It's not like it was with Allie but that's not a bad thing. With Allie it was crazy, I hated her for a long while and I loved her even longer but in the end…" Kaden didn't finish.
Harry smiled. "You're not trying to outrun the past?" Harry dropped back a step or two, knowing where his question could lead.
Kaden turned to Harry with a grin. "Definitely not, I love her and want to survive this war to be with her. I know that, so should you. And besides the engagement is mostly for her parents, Veela get married young and her mum and dad have been annoying her about what's going on with us."
Harry was confused. "I thought her mum and dad hated you, never what the Matriarch would do to you?"
Kaden scowled. "She can go fuck herself for all I care, old avian bitch, but her parents don't hate me as much as I thought. Danielle's been telling them about me for a while now; her mum even encouraged her to go after me."
"Fair enough, but are you sure. With some of the shit we've seen, I'd be surprised if we all made it through this. Could you live with losing her? I mean we need you, I can't afford for you to go AWOL if anything happens to her."
Kaden sighed. "I don't know. After Allie I was a mess, if anything happened to Danielle, I honestly don't know." He then smiled unexpectedly. "You know Danielle would appreciate this, the interrogation routine."
"One more question?" Harry asked.
"Any question," Kaden assured.
Harry steeled himself. "If you could go back and change things would you?" Harry knew he had gone too far, Kaden simply turned without a word and walked down the tunnel.
Harry kept a few steps behind; Kaden didn't say a word as they ascended to the Headmaster's Office. He knew he'd stepped out of line, every once in a while, Danielle or one of the guy's would bring up the past in an argument or fight and Kaden would go off the deep end. Usually disappearing for the rest of the day to the graveyard, Harry sometimes joined him. As they reached the second floor Harry sped up and caught Kaden's arm. "We should start talking again soon."
"Are you going to stop asking stupid questions?" Kaden snapped, jerking his arm from Harry's grasp.
Harry rose to Kaden's challenge. "Am I going to get a straight answer?" His Captain who backed down, "It's not a stupid question; you saw those intelligence reports. You know what they're messing with; I need to know that you won't do something stupid if any of it is true."
Kaden leaned his forehead against the cold stone hallway and willed away his anger. "Yes."
"What?" Harry asked as Kaden turned to him.
Kaden wiped his eye, stopping a tear from falling, his voice cracked slightly as he spoke. "I'd go back. I'd go back and I'd change everything if I could. Allie, mum, Tommy, Papa, Aunt Katie, Uncle Jamie, Aunt Lori, Lucy...what I'd give to have Lucy back."
"Who was she?" Harry asked.
Kaden sighed. "Lucy was Connor's twin sister. Just like me and Karen, AJ and Sariel, little Ben and Olivia. We're all the same, we're all deeply connected. He was only four when he lost her and every day he wakes up with part of him gone, knowing she was there. I don't know how he does it, how he can do it. My dad didn't help him; my Aunt Debbie lives in America with her kids. Could you imagine losing Cho?"
"I wouldn't want to." Harry answered honestly.
"The only thing he could compare it too was when I lost Allie. I can't explain how I felt, she just was gone and I thought about it every second. Connor said that was it, he couldn't feel her or anything anymore, the only way he could escape it was to turn it all off. That's how him and Fleur never worked. She wanted him to love her and he was too scared. It was easier for him to let go, to use his abilities and shut it all out and now she's getting married. He'll never admit it but he's cut up, really cut up. Him and 'Kay where talking about it but I don't know. Karen got me through what happened with Allie but he's lost her in a whole different way. He still sees her happy with someone else." Kaden shook his head. "For me, the first few days were the hardest. I won't lie; I was suicidal. I contemplated it every minute of every day. Knowing 'Kay was there was a constant, a way to centre myself and hold on. I couldn't imagine losing her…it'd be like…not breathing, I…I don't know what I'd do without her." Kaden admitted shakily. "He handled that and the loss of his mum and dad; I'd save him from that if I could. I'd save my dad from the loss of my mum and Thomas. I'd give Allie's mum; dad and little Ryan her back if I could. I'd go back; I'd kill that Snake-Faced prick before he was born, I'd kill his Mother, his shitty excuse for a Father, I'd destroy his entire Family Line if it came down to it. If that makes me a bad person I can live with it."
"I'm sorry but I had to ask. All the guys were thinking the same."
"That I'd go back and save Allie?"
Harry nodded.
"It crossed my mind, it crossed my line a lot, to the point that I scoped out a few of the places, booked guard times and had a hard think about how to get in. But when I think about, really think, I think Allie was meant to die and I was meant to come here and help you become what you need to be. It's a whisper of a dream harry, let's just leave it at that."
"Have I ever said thanks?"
"For making you like me. A killer, a murderer; I don't want or need your thanks for that."
"You didn't make me into anything. I chose this and for what it's worth, thank you."
Kaden turned on his heel and walked on, using his heightened senses to ensure their route was clear of any night marauders or curious caretakers.
Harry knew Kaden was covering everything but he still scanned the cold hallways. The runic enhancements he possessed allowed him to see in the dark easily, his emerald eyes skimmed the various sleeping portraits on the wall.
The former-Ravenclaw pair came to the small second floor hallway near the Old Man's office and Kaden stopped, raising a hand for Harry to do the same. Harry expanded his awareness, searching through the thick fog of magic for any strange signature as he moved through the shadows towards the open archway. Harry waited as Kaden peered around the corner. "What's wrong?" Harry asked.
Kaden looked surprised. "There's four Aurors guarding the Old Man's office."
"What? I thought your Operative said that the Aurors were outside?" Harry hissed.
"Yeah, I'm going to fucking kill Zabini when I get my hands on him!"
"Zabini as in Blaise?"
"He's still a student but his parents needed him to go here and keep suspicions down, he's our eyes and ears here." Kaden snorted. "Most of the time."
Harry nodded; some Operatives did become a bit comfortable in their roles.
"Now we have to decide what to do with these Aurors." Kaden said.
"We can't kill them." Harry deadpanned. As an Assassin he'd come across Aurors on many occasions but mostly let them be or made sure they couldn't get in the way.
Kaden rolled his eyes. "I know, I say knock them out."
"They armed with anything besides wands?" The Aurors weren't stupid when it came to weapons, most carried swords or daggers as secondary weapons, and some even carried muggle firearms in the event they lost their wands in battle.
"Three swords, one short and I don't know about the other."
"Anti-Magic field then?"
"You can do that?" Kaden didn't have a clue how to create an Anti-Magic field. Only a few of the Order's most skilled Warders such as Master Aubrey knew how to cast an Anti-Magic field. Kaden always thought of it as a paradox, using magic to disperse magic from an area sounded stupid to him.
Harry shrugged; Master Dumbledore had taught him a trick or two. "I can't hold it for long, but enough for them to come at us and do it quietly."
"Nice idea, Lieutenant."
"Thanks, Major." Harry retorted.
"Just say when Lt." Kaden said as he turned away to keep an eye on the Aurors.
Harry took a deep breath and he began muttering the long incantation that created the ward. The incantation was only half of the job, his intent and control was more of an issue. He had to envisage interlacing each strand of his ward into the wards surrounding the hallway. It was like weaving fine cloth, each stand of magic had to be carefully woven into the already set structure and fastened securely, or as securely as possible. It was harder at Hogwarts, the cloth was already woven. He had to create a patch over some of the more frayed areas. Finished, Harry nodded to Kaden and caught up with him.
"Any chance we could get some directions?" Kaden asked when the Aurors where only a few metres away.
"Yeah, your guards outside weren't too ... helpful." Harry commented with a wicked smile and watched on as the Aurors turned; they had the good grace to draw their wands too. Harry didn't recognize any of them from any of his recent trips to the Ministry, both legal and illegal. That only meant he wouldn't feel guilty about kicking their asses. The leader was only discernible from his peers by the fine gold lining of his blue robe and Harry's eyes were drawn to a badge on his chest.
That emblem of the Ministry Guard or the Hit Wizards as most knew them, the best of the best. Sirius used to tell a younger Harry stories of being in the Ministry Guard; he served with them for ten years before leaving and settling into a comfortable position in the Auror office. They guarded all the important institutions of the Ministry, the Ministry itself, Azkaban, foreign delegations, the Minister, members of the Wizengamot; they also served as a more discreet force than the Aurors, doing what was below the work of an Unspeakable but a touch outside the realm of a regular Auror.
The leader strode forward confidently, his robe flittering open slightly to reveal the hilt of a broadsword hidden below. "That simply wouldn't do. Where are you going?"
"Well there's this really old guy living here, he's kinda weird, big long beard, nose that's been broken one too many times…" Kaden trailed off.
"And we're here to kill him!" Harry finished cheerily, taking a glance at Kaden who grinned under his hood. "Know where he is by any chance?"
The lead Auror blanched in shock but recovered quickly. "Wands on them boys, a simple arrest will do." That said the other three Aurors trained their wands on the Assassins.
"Well that's not nice, we've been nothing but polite." Harry said his hand plucking Faith from her sheath.
"And now you're in the way, your guys outside did the same thing you know?" Kaden questioned as he armed himself.
The lead Auror ignored their banter. "Stunning spells, we'll take them in for interrogation."
Harry coughed with laughter as his Anti-Magic field caused the spells to stall. Magic sparks drooped clumsily from the tip of wands and faces went wide with confusion. Harry steadied Faith in a standard reverse grip as the Hit Wizards reverted to their secondary weapons without a thought. Harry turned to his Captain. "Two each?"
Kaden raised his free hand and ice blue electricity crackled. "Could always make it one?" Kaden's hand snapped shut and he grinned in anticipation. "But where's the fun in that?"
The Aurors stepped forward, and when outnumbered Assassins always reverted to a simple lesson. Let their opponents make the first move; and let it become their last mistake.
Kaden's opponent attacked first, and in one fluid movement with Lightning in his right hand he blocked the low sweep to his left side. Turning into his block, Kaden's left elbow zipped through the air, connecting with the back of his opponent's skull. He fell to the cold stone unconscious. Kaden, never missing a beat brought Lightning around with unnatural speed, blocking the threatening blade and his forehead shot forward, smashing the Hit Wizard's nose, crushing it in a wet crunch of bone and cartilage. Kaden watched the man stumble back; to his credit the he was still standing despite his disfigured nose and blood staining his face but Kaden moved forward again.
Harry was in much the same predicament, the first taken easily. Harry ducked under his high slash before sweeping the Wizard's legs from under him. A swift kick in the face laid the guy unconscious. The leader of the Hit Wizards was a different story. He was good. Harry was beginning to wish the Anti-Magic field would fail as he stepped back again to avoid another savage cleave from the broadsword. Even then the man's talent for magic may have been just as deadly. Harry ducked, dodged and occasionally parried. The leader wore a wicked smile; he knew he had the upper hand. Harry twisted under a one-handed thrust but a hook caught him in the side of the face. Harry stumbled back, looking up he saw the vicious glint return to the Hit Wizard's eye. Harry felt his jaw tighten in pain as he righted himself.
A glance over at Kaden saw him toying with his last. Harry shook away any cobwebs and sheathed his shorter sword.
Harry looked up to see the Hit Wizard's eyes widen as he unsheathed his other sword Blue Rose. The blade rang softly as it cut through the air. "It's game time," Harry advanced with single purpose, his blade whistled through the air again and again, colliding with the heavier broadsword; casting it aside time and time again until an opening and a snap kick to the Auror's knee made him stumble back and Harry pulled Blue Rose around in a two handed arc. The blade crashed into the larger broadsword, tearing it to the side violently, his opponent hesitated on righting himself and Harry capitalized on the mistake with the speed of a Nundu. A straight front kick to the unarmed Auror's chest threw him against the stone wall and Harry's shining blade was at his throat. "Drop it!" Harry threatened, allowing his blade to break skin and a trickle of blood flowed its' length.
The Auror dropped the sword and sneered. "Kill me if you dare, I know what you are, Angels people call you. White robed saviours. You are nothing but armed vigilantes with no respect for the law. Know that the Ministry will-"
"-stop right there mate, I'm not going to kill you." Harry smirked beneath his hood. "I just wanted to tell you, you got schooled by a seventeen year old!" Harry reversed his grip on Blue Rose and drove the hilt into the side of the Auror's head. He kneeled down and checked for a pulse before standing up satisfied, he hadn't hit the guy too hard.
"Finished?" Kaden asked leaning against the small alcove where the gargoyle stood.
"Shut up." Harry said, observing the two neatly aligned bodies at the other end of the hallway.
"You ready for this?"
"Go in. Steal sword. Go home." Harry said, "But with you there's always a catch."
"By now you've guessed it's impossible to get in here without the Old Man's permission, and we got in 'cause we had it."
Harry nodded; this he did know.
"The Old Man wants to see you, clear the air I think. I know you don't want to see him at all, so I told a few white lies."
Harry shook his head in disbelief at his own stupidity. "If you think I'm going into that office, you're up shit creek without a paddle." Harry turned to walk way, but Kaden caught his arm. Harry tried to pull away but Kaden held firm.
"Look, I know you blame him for a few things."
Harry emerald eyes snapped into a fierce glare.
"Okay, a lot of things but swallow your pride and think of the bigger picture. You're not under his control anymore. You're part of the Order, an officer at that; and as your Captain I ordering you to go in there. He's a potential ally, nothing more, nothing less. He also has a very powerful sword that is rightfully yours. So go in there, listen to his crap, offer assistance if the school is in shit, like the Master ordered. Get your sword then get out, think you can handle that?" Kaden released his arm
"I'll do it. But I'm not staying in there long!" Harry replied.
"Fair enough," Kaden said. "Just don't attack him or anything; I don't think you could take him yet." Kaden joked, earning a small smile.
Harry turned to the Gargoyle, which seemed to acknowledge his presence with the slightest of nods and it moved aside, revealing the staircase to the Headmaster's Office. Before venturing up the stairs Harry asked. "What're you going to do while I'm in there?"
Kaden shrugged. "Clean up, obliviate these idiots and maybe pay a visit to Zabini. Remind him of his job around here, the Aurors never were in the script." Kaden watched as Harry nodded and turned towards the office. His nose twitched slightly as he picked up a familiar scent on the air. He felt a guilty lying to Harry but he set about cleaning the area, preparing for his own meeting.
xxxxx
Harry's hand hovered over the ornate door handle. Harry would have liked nothing more than to leave, never to see the manipulative Old Man again but he grabbed the brass handle, turning it until he heard a click echo through the small antechamber. He pushed the door inward and sauntered into the Old Man's office with all the confidence as he could muster. Harry pulled his hood back, revealing his -a little longer than usual- raven black hair. He looked around the office, finding it much the same as when he had frequented it in the past.
The portraits of Headmasters past dozed in their frames, all keeping the pretence of sleep rather than openly eavesdropping. Fawkes the ever majestic phoenix stood proudly on his perch displaying its fiery plumage for all to see. The same spindly legged contraptions were spread throughout the office, their use still escaping Harry. As for the Old Man, he sat in a high backed leather chair behind an expansive brown oak desk. He looked every bit the wizened old sage with his long white beard, flowing purple robes and thin spectacles perched atop his extremely crooked nose.
When he reached the desk Harry placed a sheathed Blue Rose on the desk before the Old Man and Faith followed suit. As did his assortment of throwing knives and the backup dagger on the inside of his left boot. Harry was surprised as the Old Man just watched him through his spectacles with twinkling sapphire eyes. Finally Harry made to place his prized Holly and Phoenix feather wand onto the desk but the Old Man finally spoke.
"While I appreciate your gesture of disarmament my dear boy, no wizard, capable or not without it, should be deprived of their wand. Least of all in these troubled times."
Harry allowed his wand to disappear into the concealed holster on his hidden blade gauntlet, the one weapon he did not remove. Harry sat in the comfortable, squashy looking armchair the Headmaster provided. "Why am I here?" Harry asked bluntly.
Dumbledore smiled genially at Harry's straightforwardness, it was a refreshing change of tact. "My dear boy, you are here to collect an item and I merely wish to speak to a former student, one of my best students."
Harry shifted in his seat. "Can we cut the bullshit? Actually I will. Why did you lie to my mum and dad about James? Or better yet, play along with all of the tales he spun about everything? You know it's not pleasant being the unknown brother for fifteen years of my life, actually it was bollocks," Harry chuckled bitterly. "And you know what? I don't care, I've left this place and I'm my own person now. I don't need you, James or my Father. All I need is a year or two then Tom Riddle and the world will find out who I am and what I can do, do you think they'll thank your saviour then?"
Dumbledore sighed tiredly at Harry's outburst; the deep bitterness in his tone was far too familiar. "Harry I have made a lot of mistakes in my life. Every man makes mistakes. My own, due to my higher than average intellect, happen to have much larger consequences than most. Yes, I will admit; I suspected you were the true Boy-Who-Lived after your second year. No sooner and no later."
Harry snorted in disgust which the Headmaster ignored.
"Your brother developed his magic at a very early age, much earlier than yourself. His scar faded less than a year after it was created, why? Because I assumed his magic overcame the dark taint left by the killing curse and your own has not faded to this day. As you grew up James was charismatic and open, he accepted the adulation arced towards him so easily I allowed any doubt to wane. You by comparison were quiet, calculating and the perfect student. You skirted the shadows so easily you were almost invisible. If not for Sirius and Kaden you may have stayed that way. Your first noticeable surge of power was during the Tri-Wizard Tournament. The cyclone of fire was unmistakable and perfect, only a pure of Elementals could control that flame with such ease, it would have killed a lesser being." Something akin to pride developed in the Old Man's sparkling sapphire gaze. "I then knew why your powers developed so late. Elementalism is a gift which can set back a more powerful magic user's other gifts. It is a higher and more arcane level of magic, drawing on instinctual desires. Aberforth was much the same in his youth, not coming into his true powers until his late teenage years. Elementalism when not nurtured, developed and learned at a young age can be very unpredictable and hazardous to the user as their body cannot cope with the strain of magic flowing through it. This is why as another of my mistakes I attempted to stop you using this power, in case you hurt yourself in the process; as with your duel with the Dark Lord."
Harry looked up, surprised. "You knew?"
"Yes Harry, I know of your battle with the Dark Lord, you held your own amicably. If not for you, James would have most assuredly been slain. You could have easily escaped and left him if not for your bravery. Some would call you a true Gryffindor. I am very proud of you." Dumbledore admitted; one of his personal failings was never realizing Harry's potential until it was lost to others.
"Thanks." Harry said awkwardly.
"However you could have very well killed everyone in the stadium if you lost control during the First Task. I was disappointed by your lack of restraint; you could have finished the Dragon, you didn't need its power. We were lucky Kaden taught you so well. It was also then I found Kaden's true objective in coming to this school. He was here for you."
"You knew about Kaden?"
The Old Man nodded. "I still frequent the Hogshead occasionally; I allowed myself such a visitation when I learned my new student as an Elemental. Aberforth told me of the tragedy which befell young Kaden. I understood why he chose to come here, to find distance from his pain. I will always welcome those who seek shelter. However until that day I was unsure of any ulterior motive."
"Well since mistakes are the order of the day I guess I'm sorry about the Tournament." Harry admitted. "Kaden taught me control and I thought I would be unstoppable. And I was. I thought maybe I could knock James off his pedestal. And yet when I won the Tournament with him, everyone flocked to him like he was the hero. Even when I saved him from the Dark Lord, almost killing myself to save him, he didn't say a word." Harry pulled at his sleeve, a habit he thought he was rid of. "I didn't want the attention; it just would have been nice for my Mum or Sirius to know he's not the hero people think he is. Because one day he's going to do something stupid and get himself killed eventually and I'll think it's my fault. That I couldn't protect him again, he's just not as good as he likes to think he is."
Dumbledore gave a tired sigh and his pretences dropped, Harry recognized the look of weariness, all too familiar to his eyes. "Harry, we need to keep this pretence up, for both appearances sake and for James. He will not react well to the news that he isn't the true Chosen One, as they have begun to call him but we can use this situation to our advantage."
"You want me to use my own brother as a decoy? Are you senile?" Harry asked incredulously.
"No Harry, I'm perfectly sane however many would agree with your assessment. James would be a decoy in name only. When he joins the Auror academy at the end of the year, I will announce his formally becoming my apprentice. I will be able to guard him personally. That will be enough to deter Tom and his minions. This will however cause more trouble for your people. Aberforth has told me you have lost nearly twenty people this year, I'm sorry for that." Dumbledore said with a genuine sadness, while he may never have agreed with his brother's choices. The loss of any life was truly regrettable.
Harry nodded in acceptance. "We've lost twenty-nine including Operatives but we're going to be stronger. I'm sure Abe has told you the plans in place for us. He will continue to train me when I'm not out but you have to boot the Ministry into gear, even with the reinforcements we're getting we need help. We can't hold this world up on our own. Try, that's all I ask and in return when the school is in trouble, the Council of Masters and the Order will come and defend it. You know what's coming. The Dark Lord will make a play for this school. He wants it as his pedestal to take on the rest of the magical world. Personally, I want you stop James from doing anything stupid and when the time comes make sure he's not in my way. I won't be able to protect him again."
"You have my word that no harm will come to James Remus Potter if I can prevent it. Concerning the Ministry, I will speak to Sirius, Kingsley and your Father about more pro-active plans. But Minister Fudge is a problem in that respect." Dumbledore said.
Harry looked up with a cold gaze. "If you want, the Order can get rid of him. All it will take is a petition to the Council and good cause, I'm sure you can find one. We already have an Operative in place, protecting him at the moment."
A look of profound sadness overcame the Headmaster. "Harry it is truly regrettable that you would approve such a measure. Alas, I fear it may be the only viable course of action, unless the Heads of Department rise against him. I will leave it as a last option and inform Aberforth if it becomes necessary."
Harry nodded.
"Now, for the other reason why you are here."
Harry shrugged. "Well Kaden said you had a sword that's rightfully mine."
Recognition flashed in the Headmaster's eyes. "Ah, the fabled sword of Godric Gryffindor, I was wondering when you would come for it."
Harry was slightly perplexed at the Old Man's statement. "But I'm a Ravenclaw, I can't have Gryffindor's sword. That's doesn't make sense."
Dumbledore chuckled at Harry's naivety, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Harry it is not what you are, but rather who. As the older brother of James you are the magical Heir to the Potter family legacy. They are the senior line of the long passed Gryffindor family. As the elder brother you are Heir, however it means nothing more than a title, no grand and mysterious powers can be gained through it but the allowance to carry and call the blade. But you seem to have already amassed a collection of swords. May I?" Dumbledore asked, indicating Harry's white sheathed blade.
Harry nodded and the Headmaster raised the sword carefully.
Dumbledore examined the sword and sheath with a practiced eye, noting it's near weightlessness, a characteristic common in mythril blades and elegant calligraphy stretching from the base of the blade. His hand skirted the engraving curiously.
"I don't know what it means if you're going to ask. Not unless you can read Mandarin, I've been meaning to ask Cho about it but I can't show her the sword without telling her about everything else."
Dumbledore considered his answer carefully. "Unfortunately I cannot my dear boy. I can nevertheless, help you find your quarry." Dumbledore laid the sword back on his desk carefully and stood, briskly moving to a stool next to the bookcase behind his desk. He picked up an old, weathered and torn in some places hat before returning to his seat. Dumbledore placed the Sorting Hat on the desk and it came to life, the rip at the brim of the hat forming in a wide smile as it met Harry's eyes.
"Ah, Mr Potter, have you reconsidered your departure? Do you wish to be re-sorted? I'm afraid I might not let you become a Ravenclaw again." The Hat stated with a wicked grin.
Harry's face twisted in annoyance, he remembered his conversation with the Sorting Hat vividly. It was a far too perplexing war of words for an eleven year old to handle. "Sorry but I only want some sword that's supposed to be here and I'm guessing you know about it."
The Hat nodded as best it could. "I will always endeavour to help the descendants of my Masters, what do you require Mr Potter?"
Harry looked to Dumbledore who gave no comment, merely smiling with that annoying twinkle back in his sapphire eyes. "As I said, I'm guessing you have something to do with the sword of Gryffindor?"
The Hat bowed in recognition. "Ah Master Godric's prized possession; this will only take a few moments. Headmaster if you will…"
xxxxx
Kaden sat on the stone floor directly opposite the gargoyle, Harry had passed through nearly five minutes previous. His visitor was taking her time and hiding her magical aura very well. If not for his enhanced sense of smell and hearing, he would have never pinpointed her deep blue aura but Kaden could hear every step she made. Kaden stayed calm; Lightening was laid on the floor to his left. Kaden was perfectly silent as he heard, by his guess a sword being unsheathed. She was less than five meters behind him. He allowed her to advance, keeping his pretence so he didn't crush her ego. Kaden had to admit she wasn't bad. She could pass for an Assassin easily in the stealth stakes. She hadn't made the common mistake of casting a silencing spell on her shoes; that would have given off a trace. She had done things the old fashion way, Kaden could respect that.
Kaden waited until he felt the slender, cold steel rest on his shoulder. He allowed her to lean over and pull his short sword from its sheath and send it skittering down the hall. She made the mistake of trying to banish Lightning, but it refused to part from its Master, not moving an inch. She tried to move it by hand but jerked back instantly. She stepped back returning the razor sharp blade to rest on Kaden's shoulder.
He smiled. "She doesn't appreciate it when anyone touches her so leave her alone." Kaden looked disdainfully at her blade. "Put the sword away it's not polite."
His would-be attacker was undeterred. "You are in no position to be making demands."
She used a voice altering spell. "You changed your voice, nice try. Get this sword off my shoulder and we can talk nice. About your options; not that you have many," Kaden waited as his opponent did nothing. "I'm going to give you five seconds before I do it for you."
She stood kept firm.
She's got balls, Kaden thought. "Four…three…two…one and a half…one-" Kaden's hand darted to Lightning; dropping his shoulder he threw himself forward, rolling clear and standing to dust himself off. Keeping Lightning at his side loosely Kaden watched as his opponent pulled another thin blade form her back. Kaden observed his attacker, dressed in black combat robes with a black cowl covering her face. He didn't know what she hoped to achieve. The worst she could do was knock him out and modify his memory; there was no reason for her to reveal her presence. She wanted this, Kaden thought as she moved her swords into position. One for defence; which she held low and horizontally across her body and the second in reserved attack.
Kaden moved forward quickly. He tested her defences furiously for a minute or so, not resorting to magic of any kind. He held himself back, not fighting at the level he would with Harry. He was still mildly impressed as every cut, slash, cleave or thrust was blocked or parried by her twin blades. Kaden stepped back and for the first time he noticed she was limping. That wasn't me, Kaden thought curiously. Raising his hand Kaden called his Element. The ice blue electricity danced between his fingertips and he released a burst intended to stun her. It did nothing; it dissipating harmlessly over body after burning smoking holes in her tunic. Kaden grinned again. "So you're a Thunderkid? Well snap." This time when Kaden's hand rose it was his curved short sword Hope which entered his palm. "I could have put this in your back; I'm not trying to kill you. I only want to talk." His opponent didn't say a word. This time Kaden launched himself at the girl. That was all she was to him, a scared little girl. His feral senses could taste her fear. He spun, bringing his blades to bear fully, never on the defensive.
By contrast the girl was stumbling and falling back as Kaden savagely cleaved away at her swords. She was surprised he hadn't accidentally killed her; she had never fought anyone like him. He was an animal that fought only on instinct. She blocked a low sweep with one sword before striking out with the other, a straight thrust to his abdomen. But Kaden turned on instinct; but the blade still tore a thin cutting in his robe. Kaden wasted no time, took a step back and hacked downward with Lightning. He knocked her sword from her hand and he kicked it into a far corner. Kaden went on the offensive again.
Within half a minute Kaden had pinned her in a corner with Lightning at her throat. "Drop the sword." Kaden stated; it wasn't a request.
The girl could tell by the look in his ice blue eyes. The sword dropped to the stone and Kaden banished it into a corner with the other. Kaden lowered Lightning. "Let's talk about your options, take off the stupid cowl."
Cho lowered her hood in shame and pulled the cowl away, freeing her long ebony hair from its confines. "So what are my options?" Cho asked disbelievingly, he was an Assassin. He'd killed many before, she would be no different. "You can't expect me to believe you won't kill me."
"By all rights I should!" Kaden snapped. "You're a traitor to your people and your family and if I wanted to kill you. I'd be well within my rights and you would be dead already." Kaden laughed. "Cho Chang a Paradyne Squire, who would have fucking thought? Nice cover with Diggory by the way, too bad I've known what that little bitch was from day one." He shook his head in disgust. "You know that boy in there loves you?"
Cho looked away, her brown eyes refusing to meet his hard glare.
"Really loves you. Do you know what I did to make sure he never found out about you? It would have crushed him."
She remained silent.
"Say something; say anything to convince me not to kill you."
Silence.
"SAY SOMETHING!" Kaden screamed slashing Lightning at the stone before her, sending sparks into the air as it cut.
She jumped backward, cowering away from him as she whispered. "Him, do it for him."
"Do you love him?" Kaden asked.
Cho hesitated. "I…I…"
"It's a simple question. Do you love him or not?" Kaden persisted, he wasn't enjoying himself, but he needed a solid reason for letting her live and using his influence to protect her.
"Ye-" She took a breath, her eyes never leaving the silver-like blade. "Yes, I love him."
"Then why?"
Cho seethed, she hated Assassins their arrogance was bewildering. "Assassins killed my parents." She shouted and rage burned in her words. As to demonstrate her point her lightning sparked an angry crimson.
Kaden scoffed. "Your parents were Assassins, your dad was anyway. Your mum was a civilian though, Japanese if the reports right. When your parents were killed you were taken by them."
Cho looked at him reproachfully. "No, no, they said..."
"How much can you remember before they sent you back to your Gran? Can you remember that night? You were only three at the time. Why do you think Mei never approached you about becoming one of us? Mei, your Gran and Uncle wanted you to have a normal life." After Rossi came to him three months previous with a dossier on Cho Chang, Kaden made it his personal mission to learn as much about her as he could. He learned everything and more, in the hope that no more harm would come to the best friend he would easily call his brother. Harry deserved better.
"They lied to me." Cho said, a tear trailing an unfamiliar track down her cheek. "Why would they do that? They were using me to get to him…but they said…" She fell back, sliding down the wall, hitting the cold stone hard and her head fell into her hands.
Kaden's ice blue eyes looked on the shattered girl in front of him with pity. "You must have had some doubts; I'm one of the best swordsmen in the Order and its fucking suic-" Kaden couldn't finish as his eyes were drawn in the direction of the Headmaster's office. Though it wasn't really his eyes, it was his senses. Closing his eyes, he could see Harry's magical Aura shinning brighter than ever through the effervescing fog of magic around Hogwarts; it was normally purple-ish due to his conflicting choices and nature. Now it shone deep crimson. He's done it, Kaden thought with a wicked grin.
But his grin disappeared as he turned back, seeing Chang's face pale and the vomit splattered on the stone floor next to her. Kaden shook his head; he vanished the vomit with a flick of his rarely used wand and kneeled down.
Cho's eyes were glazed over and she was muttering something about Harry under her breath.
"Chang, Chang, hey-" He said turning her face in his hands. He looked directly into her eyes. "He's fine, just a bit different magic wise. Look, I need you to get out of here as soon as you can, okay?"
She jerked out of her reprieve.
"I'll text you the address to a safe house. Ross Grieg lives there. He'll look after you until I can get you to the Academy." Kaden backed off and she stood shakily, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
"Yes." She said wiping her eyes. "I'll be fine. Tell him … tell him to expect me in a few days. I'll need to …"
"I know." Kaden said; "I'll tell him to expect you."
Cho picked up her swords before moving to limp away but stopped in her tracks without turning. "Thank you for this."
"I'm not doing it for you. I'm doing it for him. Keep to your end of the deal and we're square. If not, make sure you never run into me again. I won't hesitate next time."