Disclaimer: Line passages have been taken throughout the "Harry Potter Book Series" that was created by J.K Rowling and some from the "Star Wars Series" which was created by George Lucas. I do not own any rights to characters nor do I receive any money from this story. This story is for entertainment purpose only.
Author's Note: Happy Halloween!
Chapter 11
The Night of All Hallows Eve
October 31st Year Unknown
Location Unknown, Time nearing Twilight
Death always enjoyed this day, with the exception of that fateful night so long ago. She was all set to claim those three brothers that night. Their family curse was edging them through a well-known forest, a forest that had claimed so many lives. In addition, like all those others, she was sure the curse would be their downfall. The older one was droning on and on about a most despicable person in a village, one who made him looks foolish. The second one, you could almost feel the self-loathing pouring from the young man. He still remembered the beautiful young woman he was so sure he would wed someday. It was a pity that Fate did not see it that way.
However, it was the youngest teenager thought that had her curiosity, just out of his magic school, which was going to halt her plans tonight, she just knew it.
As the three brothers approached the bend where a hazardous bridge was and would soon collapse, killing yet another victim, or three. The first two looked at the bridge and felt as if they could cross it but was stopped by their youngest of the brothers… 'Damn it!'
After the three boys spoke for a moment, the three together transfigured a new bridge out of the two fallen trees near the river's bank that lay on each side of the river.
After that, an idea appeared to Death's mind. An idea that would still allow her to claim those cursed brothers and so she appeared before the three brothers as they began crossing the new bridge.
At first, the three brothers were concerned about having Death appear before them. Nevertheless, she offered them each with a gift for defeating her trap.
The oldest stepped forward with much bravado and asked for a wand that was unbeatable. Death smiled at how their family's curse would alter this unbeatable wand. Therefore, Death reached down and snapped off a small limb from one of the Elder trees the bridge was transfigured out of. Then, she reached into her cloak and pulled out a long tail hair of a Thestral and proceeded in creating a wand that would be unbeatable in a duel and handed it to the arrogant boy and he stepped past Death, completing the crossing.
The second boy stepped up and with sorrow still in his heart, he asked for something to bring loved ones back from the dead. All too easy, Death summoned a black stone from the river bottom and etched into the surface of the black stone a long-forgotten Rune for returning souls, temporarily, at least. His death would take a while, but the brother would be hers in time.
After the second boy walked past her, the bane of her defeat was before her. The family curse was not with this one as much as the other two before him but in time, he would be collected as well, it was only a matter of time.
The third boy, still not very trusting, as Death was still before him, asked for the cloak of Death's owns back, so when he departed, he would be unseen to everyone, including Death's own eyes. Oh, how she detested this third brother. She would now need to spend a lifetime finding this particular brother, Damn him! With great reluctance, Death removed her own cloak of invisibility and handed it over to the third brother.
As Death watched the three brothers walk off, she noticed the third brother looking back at her with some trepidation and promptly dawn the cloak and vanished from Death's sight… Oh… Crap, Damn it, Damn him!
Knowing she would not find the third brother for some time, Death decided to follow the first brother, after the three had split off to their own destinations. All too easy, Death smiled to herself.
It took two days before the oldest brother would use the Elder wand for the first time to kill the man who had made so much fun of him, only for the man's own son to kill the first brother in his sleep that very night, and then take the wand as a trophy and in reparation for killing his father. Therefore, Death was able to claim her first soul of the three brothers.
The second brother took a few years to claim. As in the village of his destination, he met another young and beautiful woman, who he had married and produced a daughter. This brother having learned of his brother's death had fashioned a ring out of the black stone and had claimed it for his new family's Head of House Ring. However, with time his sorrow returned, and he wanted more and more to be with his first love. So, he ended his life to be with his first love, leaving the widow and daughter to later marry into another family. With the Head of House ring as the only dowry, she married into another magical family and the new husband claimed the ring for his own house.
It took Death nearly a century to locate the last brother, always hiding, always laying false trails. Nearing the end of the journey, Death had started to enjoy this search for the last cursed brother. In addition, it was on that day, one hundred years after his first meeting with Death, a day, that would be now known to all as All Hollow's Eve or what would be known in the modern day as Halloween, that the now much, much older man, passed Death's own cloak of invisibility over to his eldest son. And, with the caring love of an old friend the two departed the world of the living… together as friends.
Present Day October 31st, 1993
Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts Castle, 27 Minutes prior to Twilight
Dumbledore sat in his office seemingly alone, as was his agreement after the fiasco on September 1st, the day Snape was placed on probation for misconduct. He had spent many favors and back office deals seeing to Snape's return to Hogwarts rather than Azkaban prison. He needed Snape here to continue the house divisions and keep young Harry and Neville's confidence low and loyalty impressionable to the Great Chess Master.
Although since the beginning of this year both Harry and Neville had been breaking free of the direction, he had wanted them going in.
He could remember the day Fate had moved in his direction. The day of that he received a prophecy from one, Sybill Trelawney, changing fate to suit his needs. Snape never found out that his memory was altered shortly before his ejection from the Hogshead and Snape never found out that he had heard the prophecy in its entirety. Nevertheless, neither Severus Snape nor Tom Riddle would know or care, if they would have heard the prophecy as a whole, but to get Tom into moving in Albus' direction. And, Albus intended to use the prophecy to end Riddle and retake control of the future of Wizarding society.
After all, sacrifices were necessary and there will always be a need for the greater good. Now he would need to decide what family would need to be sacrificed. Who better to sacrifice, than the ones who have often stood in his way within the Wizengamot? Nevertheless, to narrow it down to either the Longbottoms or the Potters as they often pushed for a force that was more lethal by the DMLE and Veritaserum for all accused and captured Death Eaters by the DMLE before and during their trials when facing the Wizengamot. He could not allow this because there must always be a conflict to weed out any of the ones of weaker magical blood. He could then pull the Dark Lord's followers into the light and under his banner.
He could remember it like it was almost yesterday…
Flashback
October 31st, 1981
Potter Cottage, Godric's Hollow, England 5:57 p.m. 13 Minutes prior to Twilight
Albus knew that it was only a matter of time for Peter Pettigrew, who knew he was a newly marked Death Eater to arrive. He had forced James Potter into drinking that confounded brew and to allow having young Peter Pettigrew in becoming the secret keeper, less they named Sirius Black as their secret keeper or hell… even just having James, himself, be his own keeper for the Potter Cottage. Nevertheless, sometimes plans needed to be nudged… just a bit.
Standing there, at the Potter cottage, under James Potter's Invisibility Cloak he was front seat to the downfall of the Potter line. Albus watched as both Tom Riddle and Peter Pettigrew arrived on time and just outside of the cottage wards preventing any type of warnings to activate. He watched as Voldemort separated from Wormtail and moved with determination, with purpose, towards the Potter cottage, through the white picket fences gate and up to the front door. With a silent unlocking charm, Tom was through the door just before a flash of green light, excellent, one Potter was dead. Albus' face showed the start of a smile at the end of the Potter line has begun.
A moment later another flash of green light, signaling another Potter dead only one more and it was at that moment the prophecy activated as an explosion erupted from the second-floor room, removing two corner walls and most of the ceiling in the room the last flash of green came out of the room.
After a few seconds, and it was obvious the Dark Lord would not be departing the cottage, Wormtail moved towards and into the house to find out what had happened to his master. A minute later Pettigrew came running out of the cottage with two wands in his hands, his own and his Master's wand. Placing Voldemort's wand in his jacket pocket Peter turn and disappeared with a loud crack.
At that, Albus rushed into the cottage and up the stairs to find the young Harry in his crib, a lightning bolt-shaped scar fresh upon his forehead. Looking over young Harry, Dumbledore placed his wand to the scare and said, 'Ostendis Potentiam Tuam Aequo', "Reveal your Power Level," and blanched. First, the number was in 'Silver.' The next thing was that it read, "1453." Seeing this, he cast the most powerful Magical Core binding spell he could with the Elder Wand. He hoped that by sealing away this power, rather than let it become a danger to himself. He knew now that he could not kill the boy anymore, Harry's own Accidental Magic could potentially result in his own death, similar to Tom's, despite Albus owning the wand of Destiny.
Albus turned and sent a messenger Patronus to the Game Keeper, Hagrid, to inspect the Potter Cottage as he has been alerted to a disturbance at the property. About ten minutes later Hagrid arrived via Port-Key he had set up for this event. After another minute, he watched as Hagrid, red-eyed from the death of James Potter downstairs, step into Harry's room.
Albus watched as Hagrid dropped to one knee and gently scooped up little Harry Potter and walk out of the cottage. Then the two could hear a rumbling noise and out of nowhere, 'damn it', Sirius Black had arrived at the cottage in his blasted motorcycle, this was not good. Sirius would take Harry to the Black Family Island, which was also under the Black Family Fidelius charm allowing only a Black to visit. That would prevent Albus from dictating the Potter heir to his destiny of self-sacrifice for the Greater Good.
Quickly and quietly, Albus cast a compulsion charm on Sirius to go and confront Pettigrew about his betrayal and allow Hagrid to use his motorcycle to take young Harry Potter to some place 'he' could keep track of him and a place even the young Potter might not even survive.
After witnessing and signing both Potter's Will, Albus knew who would take custody of young Harry, he would also need to keep other from removing him and take custody of the young Potter heir, and that all starts with Sirius.
Sirius would need to be taken away and placed into Azkaban, whether he caught Peter or not. He would need to make sure, Sirius would get blamed for it and… with a little bit of gold and a few Confundus charms here and there, Sirius will be imprisoned without a trial. After all, James had spoken about Sirius becoming the Secret Keeper for the Potters.
Then, Frank and Alice Longbottom… a quick message for Snape to hand to Bellatrix Lestrange… and then another family would be out of the way for young Harry Potter. He would need to speak with them and mention that it should be safe to come out of hiding beforehand, but it is after all, for the Greater Good. He could not allow the young Potter boy to grow up within Wizarding Society where Harry would have the knowledge or make changes that Albus felt would be counterproductive to his desires.
Samuel and Martha Bones will also need to be taken out, but not for some time, so no worries there. Then a nice little law in the Wizengamot making Remus Lupin unfit to raise Harry due to his condition and then Harry would be his to control. Pity, Harry would already be with his aunts Petunia's place by that time. He would need to establish wards preventing non-approved visitors from finding him and maybe causing undue hardship on the boy, just enough to have the boy look up to him for guidance, guidance that would lead to the demise of both Tom and Harry.
"Either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…,"
Turning just outside the wards, Albus Dumbledore silently disapparated appearing at Hagrid's destination in Little Whinging, Surrey.
Now… the only person standing in his way was his Transfigurations professor, Professor Minerva McGonagall, of course with a tip that Death Eaters were planning an attacking, Minerva had decided to watch over the Dursley's house at number 4 Privet Drive. Sadly, he was forced to hit her with a Confundus Charm in order to get her to leave after putting poor Harry on the steps of number 4 and leaving him, and still… he still didn't freeze to death, damn it!
End Flashback
The Headmaster's thoughts returned to the present by a knocking on the entry door to his office. Albus noticed that it was his young charge Harry Potter at the door he called out, "Enter."
After a few moments, young Harry walked up the rotating flight of stairs and through the inner office door.
Harry looked in much better health these days and looked to be very fit for a child his age should. If he did not know any better, he would now one of the tallest children of his peer group. He has been told by Remus that the kid liked running in the morning before breakfast and that he was very fast. Harry was spotted by many of the Prefects, running in the morning going from the entry hall up the stairs to the seventh floor and then back down. When asked what he was doing he had told the Prefect that it was a form of strength building and cardio exercises for a healthier body. Now he understood that comment.
"Thank you for coming, Harry. Please, have a seat," Albus said gesturing towards sole seat remaining in the office.
With some reluctance, Harry moved and sat down in the sole seat across from the desk of the Headmaster.
"I wanted to speak with you about your returning to your aunt's and uncle's house for your summer holidays," Dumbledore began. "I have visited both and removed the unwarranted attack that happened during this last summer and replaced it with a simple misunderstanding and that you had left for the remainder of the summer. They have agreed to accept you back with a few concessions and a few additional chores to be completed throughout your time there," Albus stated as if Harry would concede to his wishes.
Harry thought for a moment before replying, "I am afraid, that will not be possible, as my lawful guardian with be available to look after me as will be the house we intend to be staying in. So, I will not be able to return to those… people, next summer."
"I am afraid that the Wizengamot will be naturally slow in making that decision in regarding Sirius Black's guardianship over you, as any qualified mind healer will state that due to his stay in Azkaban, he would be unfit to take up guardianship over you. It is even possible due to his unfit state that he may need to be placed in the Long-Term Spell Damage Ward in Saint Mungo's for his own good," Albus state offhandedly.
Harry felt the intended threat, 'Go back to the Dursley's or Sirius will be committed in Saint Mungo's Hospital.'
There was not much Harry could do to stop the Headmaster in his plans, as Chief Warlock knew people that could testify to that fact and could hold up Sirius's guardianship over Harry in the Wizengamot by simple stalling testimony for Sirius' defense.
Then he felt it an immediate danger in the Force screaming for him to move and so he did. A red spell fired at him, nearly missing him and hitting the chair out from under him. Harry bent backward missing another spell from hitting him, this time coming from the Headmaster's direction. Someone else was here, hidden or… disillusioned, Harry was trying to reach out in the Force but was then forced to move once more, this time going into a sideways roll, but he could now slightly detect in which direction the first spellcaster was now.
Another spell from the Chess master and Harry jumped and while spinning in mid-air Harry pushed out with the Force in the direction of the initial attacker. A shimmer from a cloak was visible briefly, as the first attacker was flung backward towards the entry door. In addition, the force of impact was also visible, however; Harry could hear nothing from the impact, 'A silencing spell along with a disillusioning spell, interesting combination,' Harry thought to himself.
Harry's thoughts on the matter did not go for long as a group of ropes was fast approaching him from the Headmaster's wand. Harry not wanting to reveal the lightsaber he had on him, so he grasped a chair and with the Force, flung it into the path of the ropes, which then promptly wrapped around the chair. The chair continued its path across the room. Another spell, shot from the elderly man and Harry ran up the wall and then leaping over another spell shot from behind him, dodging both at once. Harry while horizontal and spinning in the air created a Force Wave push towards the hidden attacker, the sound of crushed bones and the shattering of a table full of silver instruments revealed Snape lying in a heap on the floor, the disillusionment spell wearing off due to his unconscious state.
Harry was getting frustrated and a bit angry, Harry extended his right hand and a brilliantly, bright, greenish-white lightning shot out of his fingers and the old man was forced to conjure a magical shield and although the shield stopped the sum of lighting, the power did bypass his shield cause a brief scream of pain from the old man. However, Harry did not stop there, as Harry turned and reached out with his left hand and grasped the Headmaster in the Force and Force Pushed him into the wall behind him and as soon as the man hit the wall with the crack of bones, Harry used his right hand to Force Pull the Headmaster's wand from his grip. That was when all hell broke loose.
As soon as the wand touched Harry's outstretched right hand it started to glow a blindly white. Harry felt a burning fire rush up his right arm and then throughout his body. The hidden Peverell ring became visible on his left hand also started to glow with the same brilliant white light and the same electric fire raced started up his left arm. Just then the cloak appeared on his shoulders as if it was just summoned from thin air and it too, started to glow with a brilliant white light. Every nerve ending in Harry's body began to misfire in his body, causing his body into sudden jerks into uncontrolled spasms. One could almost believe God itself had placed him under the Cruciatus Curse. Truth-be-told that was not too far from the truth, as Harry fought the three brother's curse that Death saw that night so long ago. Lightning connected the three Hollows and a ritualistic design appeared before him in the form that was located on his Peverell House Ring, a vertical line, with a circle overlaying it and a Triangle surrounding them all.
The pain only lasted only for a few moments, but it might have just been a few hours of torture for what it felt like. As darkness began to over the young wizard, Harry James Potter-Peverell, he noticed the last trickle of sunlight come from the office window… it was… twilight… and voice of a beautiful woman was calling out to him…, "Master!"
November 1st, 1993
Hogwarts, Gryffindor Tower, 8:37 a.m.
Harry awoke in his four-poster bed in Gryffindor tower as sunlight hit him from the easterly window of their dorm. Harry slowly sat up and looked around. He found that none of his year mates was in their beds and all of their beds were made. The room and lighting suggested his year mates had left for breakfast and that he couldn't be woken by anyone in the dorm.
Harry looked over at the table a found his watch there. Reaching out and looking at it he noticed it was not working anymore Harry quickly cast the Tempus charm revealing that it was just after eight-thirty in the morning on Monday, November 1st and realized classes would be starting at nine. Therefore, he needed to get up, change and head down to Hagrid's hut for his Care of Magical Creatures class that was starting very soon.
With a bit of reluctance, Harry got up and changed into his school robes not know that both the Headmaster and Potions Master would both in Saint Mungo's for excessive bodily damage. The damage in the Headmaster's office would include a few concussive blows to their heads and many broken bones after a fierce battle that left the Headmaster office a disaster zone. Neither one would remember what happened or who the two had battled within that office.
After exiting the castle through the Entry Hall, Harry had received a letter from a Gringotts owl. Tucking the letter away to read at a later time, Harry reached into one of his pockets and pulled out an owl treat and handed it off to the owl with a, "thank you". The owl divested him of the treat and flew away quickly.
The first signs of human life were the group of Gryffindor and Slytherin in a group just beyond Hagrid's Hut. As he got closer, he recognized Hermione and moved over to her.
"So, what's going on?" Harry said, startling the bookworm a bit.
"Oh, Harry. Did you hear, I mean, the word is that Sirius Black had entered the castle last night and attacked the Headmaster and Professor Snape inside the headmaster's office," Hermione stated in a rush.
Harry was surprised at this, as far as Harry knew, Sirius was still back at number 12 Grimmauld Place and it was him who fought in the office last night.
"Hermione, I don't believe that it was Sirius Black who attacked Dumbledore and Snape last night," Harry commented.
"Professor Snape Harry and why is that," Hermione asked intrigued. Harry frowned at Hermione's correction of Snape.
"Well first of all, don't you need to have the Headmaster's permission to enter the office," Harry stated. "Meaning Dumbledore knew and allowed him into his office. And if that was true, what happened during the attack? Also, why didn't the portraits or anything warn him that Sirius was in the castle, I mean, doesn't the Headmaster control the castle wards or any of the house elves?"
Hermione thought about it for a moment and was forced to agree with Harry on several of the points.
Harry looked around and saw Draco and Pansy looking all bandaged up like burn victims. "What is going on with Draco?"
Hermione glanced over to the Slytherins briefly before turning away and saying, "Draco and Pansy are trying to hem up their injuries from potions for some odd reason. Anyways, Harry where you were this morning?"
"What do you mean? I woke up in my bed just after eight-thirty and came right down after a putting on my robes," Harry answered with a questioning look on his face.
"Harry, the whole school was searched last night. All of the students were forced to sleep in the Great Hall last night after it was said that Black had entered and attacked the Headmaster," Hermione answered Harry's question. "Nobody found you last night, but all of the house elves reported everyone was accounted for."
Harry nodded the last thing he remembered was defeating Dumbledore in his office. 'Could Dobby have known that he was needed by him, and had pulled him to safety?' It was possible, "Anything else?"
"Well the rumor also said that Dumbledore's Pensieve was stolen along with over a hundred memory vials in his cabinet," Harry nodded smiling inwardly, good Dobby. "The only other thing was that sword you retrieved in the Chamber of Secrets had disappeared. Although word has it the sword will disappear to be with the rightful heir's side when called. People are asking about the Hogwarts Heirs again. Something like last year, I'm sure somebody will start pointing fingers at other students. Much like they did with you being the Heir of Slytherin. But I'm sure it will blow over shortly," Hermione stated informing Harry of the past 24 hours.
"Let's hope so," Harry replied dryly. He did not believe this would blow over, but nothing had happened this year so far.
The Class on flubberworms went by without an incident the two started to head back into the Entry Hall when Harry remembered the letter from Gringotts. Ducking into an empty classroom he pulled out the letter to read.
Lord Harry James Potter-Peverell
We, at Gringotts, request meetings with you to discuss you're your clam on a class 5 magical creature and a proposed purchase of said creature at your earliest convenience.
May our Enemies die a most painful death before us, as their gold continues to fill our vaults.
Ripclaw
Potter-Peverell Account Manager, Gringotts
~End~
§End Chapter Eleven§
Authors Note: I know not a long chapter but something to set up the next few chapters. I removed Harry's blank spot due to foreshadowing on later chapters. His memories were removed and will return later.
I am pleased that everyone likes the story as of this point and hope I can continue with the momentum.
