Disclaimer: I do not own anything other than the story line . All rights belong to J.K. Rowling.
Author's Note: This chapter contains scenes of both sexual and graphic violence. Be forewarned. If such material offends you, please do not read this chapter.
Chapter Eleven: Drastic Developments
Harry Potter woke the next morning, wondering why he was unable to move properly. It was as if his arm was trapped. He started to struggle and realized that it was because there was someone snuggled up next to him. He ceased his struggles and took stock of the situation. It came flooding back to him in a rush that caused him to blush from his toes to the top of his head. Besides that automatic reaction, his body reacted to the presence of his betrothed in the normal manner of a soon to be sixteen year-old boy who happened to wake up in bed with the girl he loved.
While Harry was pondering just how he was to get to the loo and relieve the situation, Padma stirred and brushed across his now raging member. He let out a low moan and tried to keep from embarrassing himself anymore than was absolutely necessary. He looked at her and couldn't help thinking about just how incredibly beautiful she was, which of course did nothing to help his situation.
She graced him with a picture-perfect smile, along with a little smirk as she realized just what kind of an affect she was having on him. With a look of intense concentration she oh-so slowly reached down and scraped her fingernails slowly up the outside of his boxers, tracing a swirling pattern across his hardness.
Harry let out tiny yelp of surprise, and shuddered on the bed. Padma smiled and kissed him softly. With a loving look she took a moment to inform him of how things were: "Beloved, I am in bed with my betrothed, who happens to also be the Head of my family and legally emancipated. If I should decide to, shall we say, take things in hand, then it is our business, and our business alone. I want you to be happy, and I want you to look forward to many more mornings such as this, waking in each other's arms. Relax and just let go, my love."
With that she pressed firmly at his tip and stroked her hand straight down his length. With a groan Harry let go completely, his back arched and his head buried itself in his pillow. His world dissolved into a sparkling wonderland as all conscious thought momentarily left him and he collapsed into a quivering heap.
When he could at last think straight he looked at Padma. She was watching him carefully, a pensive look upon her face. "Was that alright, Harry?" she asked softly.
"Alright?" he replied in a high pitched voice. "Alright? It was bloody incredible is what it was." He pulled her to him and kissed her until she couldn't think straight. As he released her he grabbed his wand from the bedside and cast a quick cleaning spell on himself. He looked at her shyly, and then said softly, "I'd like to try and return the favor."
Her eyes widened, but she nodded. As he scooted over to her she warned him, "I'm not ready to lose my virginity, Harry."
"Oh, I think that I can think of something almost as good," he whispered in her ear. "My Godfather told me about this when he gave me the talk." He slowly kissed his way down her torso, making her quiver in anticipation with each loving caress or kiss. It wasn't long before her hands were entwined in his messy black hair and she was singing his praises with her gasps and moans…
*0*0*
Later that morning Harry sat down with Hermione, Ron and Padma in his private study. He gave Padma a quick peck on the lips and then turned to his two best friends. "Look you two, I've told Padma everything about what's happened to me over the last few years. Both of you already know most everything, but there are few things that you don't know. I don't mind if you three talk together about things, but I really would appreciate it if you didn't talk about it to anyone else, alright?"
"Of course Harry, we'll keep it between the four of us, right Ronald?" Hermione replied. Ron nodded his agreement.
"You can count on us, Mate," the ginger-haired youth replied.
"I know I can, Ron," Harry said to his best mate, "I just had to say the words. Now that I'm the head of two Ancient and Noble Houses, formalities have become a lot more important." He let out a soft sigh. "How about you lot get the team commanders in here, I have something that I need to tell them, and then we can get out of here and over to the Black Academy."
He didn't have long to wait before people started filing in. Soon, each of his team commanders were there, waiting to here what he had in mind. "Thanks for coming in," he began. "We're going to be moving later in the day, and we're going to have a lot more room than we have here. We need more people, and we need them desperately if we're going to be able to defeat Voldemort and his Death Eaters." It was a testament to his teachings that none of the people assembled so much as flinched at his use of the name.
"That being said," he continued, "we need to think about recruiting. I want each of you to think about who you could use in your organization. We'll reconvene in a couple of days and discuss things, then see if we can get the individuals here. Hermione, Padma and Ron, I want the three of you to put your heads together and come up with an oath that people can take, sort of a swearing in to service. Then, before the new recruits start arriving, we shall each of us take the oath to each other. Each new recruit shall be required to take the same oath, but no-one shall be able to say that anyone else was excluded. Does that make sense?"
"I agree with you, Harry," Lavender said softly. All heads turned to her and she blushed slightly. "It's good for moral to know that everyone is treated the same on this point." She looked at Ron and smiled. Ron looked startled for a moment, but then returned the grin.
"Thanks Lavender," Harry said with a grin. "That's all folks. Be ready in an hour and we'll all portkey together to the Academy. Alphard is waiting for us, so hopefully all will be well when he get there. Dismissed." He stood up and with a flick of his wand he released the privacy wards that were always in place when he needed them.
*0*0*
An hour later Harry had everyone present, from fellow DA members to the families of the same. He motioned everyone to grab onto a long rope. "Everyone in a circle," he said to his team members. "DA on the outside, noncombatants on the inside." As everyone scrambled to get into place he spoke again. "Wands at the ready, we don't know what the situation will be when we get there. As Moody taught us: constant vigilance!" Once everyone had their wands ready, he tapped his own to the rope and with the now familiar tug behind his navel the swirled off to their new home.
They arrived on the front garden to a large house. The garden itself was fairly small, as there was a large drive with a turn-around which was directly in front of the house. As various members of the team called out the all-clear the team started to relax and take stock of where they were.
The house had large stone steps leading up to a set of double doors. The house itself was made from brick, and had a castellated roof, allowing for either archers or wizards to defend from above. There were two main stories, with towers on the four corners extending another level up. There was another single story building that appeared to be attached on the left side. Behind the group were a series of buildings laid out across the grounds.
Harry gave a nod, and the group spread out into a defensive posture. He smiled at how well his team members had taken the limited amount of training that they had already received this summer to heart.
One of the doors creaked open and every wand was out and trained on the spot. An old man in midnight blue robes stepped out, flanked by a gigantic cat on his left and Professor McGonagall on his right. Harry relaxed as he saw his transfigurations professor, but didn't lower his wand. "Alphard Preto?" he asked in a loud voice.
"Aye, that would be me," the elderly man replied. "Welcome to "Preto Estates, or should we go by its old title: Black Academy?" he asked.
"I think that I like the earlier title better, sir," Harry replied. "I'd like to think that Sirius would like to see it returned to its former glory, and to have students learning how to fight Death Eaters."
"Well met, My Lord," the old man said. "It has been a long time since I've had company. I look forward to helping in your group's tuition if you don't mind. I think I would enjoy that. Besides, I've no great love for the self proclaimed 'Dark Lord'. He's been responsible for the death of most of my family. He has a lot to answer for, that one."
"I agree, sir," Harry said as he approached cautiously, avoiding the rather large cat and shaking the old man's hand. He motioned to the group assembled across the garden. "I'd like to begin introductions if I may." Alphard grinned at him and nodded for him to continue. "I believe you have already met Ron Weasley, my second in command." Ron nodded to the old man. "This is Hermione Granger, my best friend and third in command, and this," with that he motioned for Padma to come forward, "is my betrothed, Padma Patil."
Alphard greeted each of the girls warmly, while McGonagall gasped quickly in surprise when Harry announced Padma. Harry smiled up at his professor, then winked at her. She glared at him momentarily before her gaze softened and she proceeded to congratulated them. Harry went on with the numerous introductions as other teammates and family members came forward to meet their erstwhile host.
*0*0*
Harry sat back in his new study. The great thing about a place the size of Black Academy was that there was plenty of room. He allowed Alphard to keep his own quarters intact, and took a different study for his own. He quickly had Dobby transfer everything of importance from his study at Grimmauld Place to his new sanctum here. Once that was done Harry had Dobby close up the manor so that no-one could enter without his permission. That done, Harry decided to relax for the rest of the day, after all, he had earned it.
*0*0*
Harry looked out over the grounds and smiled. His three strike teams streaked overhead, while others practiced under the tutelage of either Tonks or Flitwick. It was their turn to teach, and the teams were soaking up knowledge at a great rate. New recruits had come in, swelling the ranks. Bill Weasley had show up and taken a spot in the organization as Harry recognized the skills the older wizard brought to his group.
Others had come in, many from Gryffindor, but also from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. There had even been three from Slytherin: Tracey Davis had been the first, recruited by her best friend, Daphne Greengrass. The surprise had come in the form of Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bullstrode.
The pair had become a part of Potter's Army when Daphne had a visit from Pansy's house elf. The little elf had been almost apoplectic as she tried to get Daphne to come and rescue her mistress. Daphne had managed to get word to Luna, who had summoned the 'Ministry Six', as she referred to them. The six, along with Daphne had followed the elf back to the Parkinson estate, there to find it almost burned to the ground.
As they looked around the elf quickly found the two girls, both in a very bad way. Pansy was naked, and had been obviously raped. While Hermione and Daphne were tending to the pair, Harry and the rest spread out and searched the area. The quickly found the Parkinson parents. Both appeared to have been killed with the killing curse. As there was no-one else around, the group returned to the girls, and Harry created a portkey to take them home.
When Pansy had been healed enough to talk, Harry sat down with her and Daphne. "Can you give me a memory of what happened?" he asked. She nodded and used her wand to extract the memory. Harry called in Hermione and Ron and then they dove in.
Pansy sat with Millicent in her room as Draco paced back and forth with anxious energy. His flunkies, Crabbe and Goyle leaned against the wall. He grinned maliciously at her and she shivered as a frisson of fear went down her spine. "I've done it, Pansy," he said excitedly. When she looked at him quizzically, he pulled up his sleeve to reveal the dark mark on his left arm. She gasped and tears came to her eyes.
Steeling herself to what she had to do she stood up. "Draco Malfoy," she said formally, "it is with great regret that I must inform you that you have broken the tenants of our betrothal agreement by joining the Death Eaters. I hereby inform you that you are no longer welcome in our home. Get out."
Draco's eyes went cold. He stepped forward, closing the distance between himself and Pansy. He callously backhanded her across her left cheek and she went flying over a chair. Millicent jumped to her feet and started to charge Malfoy when Crabbe called out "Crucio!" Millicent toppled forward and slammed face first into the floor, breaking her nose and snapping off the front row of her teeth. She screamed as blood and spittle flew from her mouth and she curled into a fetal position as Crabbe held the curse on her. Thankfully for her, he didn't have the stamina to hold the curse for long, and she collapsed when he could no longer apply it.
Draco, in the meantime, hauled Pansy to her feet and while he held her blouse he punched her full in the face. He then rammed his knee into her groin. She groaned and her knees gave out. He dropped her to the floor and smirked at her. He turned his head as shouts and the sound of running feet could be heard from outside the room. He nodded to Crabbe and Goyle. The two goons went out the door to meet whoever it was out there.
Draco pulled his wand and pointed it at Pansy's clothes. "Flambare" he called out. Her clothes immolated and burst into flames which quickly consumed the garments. She screamed as the flames licked across her.
He looked down at her nude form. She was scorched in places from his spell. He kicked her in the ribs a couple of times, and then, for good measure he stomped on both of her feet. She cried out as bones snapped under the onslaught. When she did so he grabbed her hair and yanked her up. An elbow to the face broke her jaw and lacerated her tongue. He then slammed the back of her head down on the floor. Her eyes crossed and she laid there, stunned.
He hauled her up and threw her on the bed. At that moment Millicent tried to get up from the floor. Draco lashed out with his foot and caught her on her temple. She groaned and crumpled to the floor, out of the fight.
Malfoy pulled Pansy over so that her legs were off the side of the bed. He quickly undid his trousers and dropped them and his boxers to the floor. He thrust himself into her, eliciting a scream as her flesh tore from lack of lubrication. He punched her in the jaw repeatedly until she stopped screaming.
The scene ended when she passed out.
Harry had sworn the pair in the next day as he swore his protection to the Houses of Parkinson and Bullstrode.
He looked around with a grim smile. Despite how things had gone with Pansy and Millicent, things were looking good here. He wondered just how long things would continue to be that way.
*0*0*
He didn't really have long to wait, as the very next day Dobby appeared, jumping up and down. "Master Harry Potter, Sir!" the little elf shouted quickly, "you's old captain is calling Dobby! He's being saying that Death Eaters is attacking the Puddlemere team during a practice!"
Harry cast his patronus. Within a minute all of his strike teams, as well as Padma, Hermione and Parvati had responded. Harry quickly outlined what he knew and told the strike teams that there were going with him to help out.
"If you think you're going anywhere without us, you've got another thing coming, Buster," Hermione said quickly. Harry took one look at their faces and nodded. He nodded to Dobby, who snapped his fingers and the group was gone.
They appeared on a Quidditch pitch. There were bodies all around, most of them members of the team. Two members of the Puddlemere team were in the air, narrowly avoiding jets of bright green light that were streaking towards them. Harry motioned to the team and they took off. They were currently behind the Death Eaters and he hoped that they could catch them by surprise.
As Harry led the charge with the rest spread out behind him, though Padma was behind him on his broom, while Hermione was behind Parvati on hers, he spotted something that chilled him to the bone. While most of the Death Eaters appeared to be new recruits, Bellatrix LeStrange was there, as was Voldemort himself!
Harry tapped an amulet on his robes. The amulet was a new item created by Padma's team and Harry was still getting used to using it. Matching amulets lit up on each of his team member's robes. "Reductos on my mark, no mercy," he said softly. He raised his left hand as he pointed his wand with his other and steered with his knees. He whipped his hand down and over a dozen red jets flashed out. He watched as most of the Death Eaters went down as the blasting hexes slammed into their unprotected backs.
Something must have tipped off Bellatrix as she dove to the side. She was almost fast enough to completely evade Hermione's spell, but not quite. The spell impacted on her wand hand, and it disappeared in a fine red mist. Her wand exploded in front of her and threw her backwards.
Voldemort turned at the last instant and with a casual flick of his wand deflected Harry's spell straight back at him. He yelled for Padma to hold on and spiraled out of the way. He charged the Dark Lord and yelled out a curse. A jet of red light leapt from his wand as a green jet came at him. Once again, the spells collided and Harry found himself locked in a battle of wills with Voldemort.
As the cage formed around them Harry noticed something with his peripheral vision. Padma, Parvati and Hermione were all in here with him! He redoubled his efforts and started to push the golden bead back along the string towards Voldemort's wand.
As he was battling he felt something strange. Padma was hugging him from behind and it seemed that magical strength was flowing from her into him! He grinned maniacally as he pushed with all his strength of will. As he did so twin reductos from Hermione and Parvati slammed into Voldemort, one striking his leg and blowing it off while the other took him in the shoulder.
Voldemort staggered as his arm and leg separated from his body. His concentration disrupted, Harry's magical energy slammed into him and blew him off of his remaining foot. He laid on the ground where he had landed for a moment before he shook his head and sat up. Harry tried to cast a spell at him, but he was too exhausted from the battle of wills.
Voldemort took the moment to apparate away. Harry looked around and noticed that his teams had taken out all of the remaining Death Eaters, but it appeared that Bellatrix had left as well. He set his broom down and motioned for everyone to join him. With a quick kiss for Padma, and a hug for both Hermione and Parvati, he waited for everyone to get there. Besides his teams, the two surviving members of Puddlemere landed: Oliver Wood and Roger Davies. Harry had gained two more.
Shortly thereafter the last two members joined: Fleur Delacour and Victor Krum greatly strengthened the ranks. Harry and his team leaders sat down the next day and hammered out the ranks and chain of command. It all broke down thusly:
Combat Spell Team
Hermione Granger: Leader
Justin Finch-Fletchley: Second
Anthony Goldstein
Vicky Frobisher
Lisa Turpin
Magical Wards and Weapons Team
Padma Patil: Leader
Fred Weasley: Second
George Weasley: Third
Bill Weasley
Terry Boot
Magical Creatures and Illusion Research Team
Luna Lovegood: Leader
Susan Bones: Second
Dennis Creevey
Mandy Brocklehurst
Su Li
Intelligence Gathering Team
Parvati Patil: Co-Leader
Lavender Brown: Co – Leader
Pansy Parkinson
Astoria Greengrass
Michael Corner
Colin Creevey
Potions and Medical Team
Fleur Delacour: Leader
Su Li: Second
Romilda Vane
Megan Jones
Lisa Turpin (Second Team)
Strike Team One
Ginny Weasley: Leader
Cho Chang: Second
Dean Thomas
Seamus Finnegan
Tamsin Applebee
Strike Team Two
Neville Longbottom: Leader
Victor Krum: Second
Hannah Abbott
Zacharias Smith
Millicent Bullstrode
Strike Team Three:
Katie Bell: Leader
Angelina Johnson: Second
Alicia Spinnett
Oliver Wood
Roger Davies
Voldemort Research Team
Hermione Granger: Co-Leader
Padma Patil: Co-Leader
Daphne Greengrass
Fleur Delacour
Bill Weasley
Pansy Parkinson
Tracey Davis
Chain of Command
Harry Potter: General
Ron Weasley: Lt. General
Hermione Granger: Major General
Padma Patil: Brigadier
Luna Lovegood: Colonel
Parvati Patil: Lt. Colonel
Lavender Brown: Lt. Colonel
Daphne Greengrass: Major
Fred Weasley: Major
George Weasley: Major
Ginny Weasley: Captain
Neville Longbottom: Captain
Fleur Delacour: Captain
Katie Bell: Captain
Bill Weasley: Captain
Susan Bones: Lieutenant
Angelina Johnson: Lieutenant
Cho Chang: Lieutenant
Vicor Krum: Lieutenant
Justin Finch-Fletchley: Lieutenant
Su Li: Lieutenant
Pansy Parkinson: Lieutenant
Ron even came up with rank insignia, based loosely upon the officers of the British army. Lieutenants would wear two lightning bolts. Captains would have three lightning bolts. Majors would have the Hogwarts insignia. For Lt. Colonels it was a lightning bolt abovea Hogwarts insignia. Full Colonels would have two lightning bolts and a Hogwarts insignia above. Padma, as Brigadier would have a crossed wand and Gryffindor's sword. Hermione, a Major General, had the same crossed wand and sword, with a lightning bolt above. Ron, being a Lt. General substituted a Hogwarts insignia for Hermione's lightning bolt, and Harry had both the lightning bolt and the Hogwarts insignia over his crossed wand and sword.
*0*0*
Things progressed smoothly for the next three weeks. Harry was making his rounds through one of the greenhouses when he heard a sound from the back. He cast a quick silencing spell on his shoes and crept to towards the sound. Judging by the sounds, either someone was hurt, or someone was using the area for a sexual liaison. Harry hoped it was the latter, as it would be easier to deal with a couple than an injury, though he feared it might be the former.
As he came around a very large venomous tentacula, he came across something he sincerely hoped never to again see. Roger Davies had was naked from the waist down and he was busy thrusting into the nude form of Ginny Weasley. Completely embarrassed, Harry tried to back away, but she spotted him.
She propped herself up on one elbow and smiled at him. She was obviously excited and he blushed as he took note of her every curve. He couldn't help himself, he was a teenaged male after all.
"What's the matter, Harry?" she asked, panting slightly, "like what you see?" Roger's head whipped around and he pulled back in shock at being caught. "Don't stop!" Ginny shrieked at him. Unfortunately for her, he had the typical male reaction to being caught: he wilted.
"Damn it," she muttered. She smiled seductively at Harry and beckoned with a finger. "Would you like to take his place?" she asked. "We could consider it an early birthday present."
Harry sighed. "Ginny, I'm flattered, really, but I also have a betrothal contract with Padma, and besides, don't you think that you're a little young to be doing this with Roger?" Roger had the good grace to look embarrassed.
"Well, if you were available, I could do this with you instead. But no, you had to go and shack up with Patil! If I can't have you, I might as well find myself a stud to service me," she said with a smirk.
The blood drained out of Harry's face and he almost quailed, but he rallied his Gryffindor courage and determined to take his young captain down a couple of pegs. "Let me enlighten you two on something," he said softly. "Last year, after I helped to save your dad, he took me aside and had a discussion with me. He felt that as I was coming into that age where I would start noticing girls, and he was the father of a girl that was getting rather close to me he felt that he needed to make sure that I was informed of something. You, my dear, are a Weasley…"
"What of it?" Ginny snorted.
"Well, it means that you are heir to a particular inheritance. When you are fertile, there is nothing, and I mean nothing, that will protect you from conceiving a child. Weasleys overwhelm any and all contraception charms or potions. Not even Muggle techniques work." He ran his fingers through his hair. "Your father felt that I needed to know in case I got it in my head to date you.
Ginny paled. Her mother had never told her that. Roger looked like he was going to faint. Harry sighed. "Ginny, I love you, but could you please put on some clothes? I'm a teenager, and you're really good looking… and naked… and well…"
Ginny blushed. "Erm, Roger, could you excuse us for a moment, please?" she asked. Roger nodded as he gathered his clothes and fled. Ginny got up and put on her robes. She looked up at Harry when she had finished with a worried look on her face. "Harry, I'm sorry," she said in a low tone.
"It's alright, Ginny," he said softly as he drew her into a hug. "I'll always love you, you're a part of my family, and one of my closest friends. I'm just in a committed relationship with Padma, and I'm going to be as long as she'll have me. I hope you can understand and accept that. I want to keep you close Ginny, you're great to have around."
"Thank you Harry, I love you too. I always have. I guess I always will. If you'll excuse me, I have to go and apologize to Roger." She gathered her things and walked out, leaving Harry alone.
Harry quickly made his way back to his study. He sat down in his chair and steepled his fingers, deep in thought. With a sigh he called for Dobby and asked him if he would get Padma. He really needed her comfort and support right now…
*0*0*
The next day was Harry's birthday, and his army had all pitched in to buy him his present. They took the time to make a ceremony of it, and presented him with a complete suit of manticore hide armor. It was one of the toughest types of armor that a wizard would wear, and Harry was flabbergasted. He sputtered for a bit before Padma convinced him to change into it. When he had done so and come back out, he had to put up with wolf whistles from most of the women. Padma looked a little flushed, and even Hermione was looking him up and down appreciatively.
Harry pulled his robes over the armor and sat back for a moment. "You know," he said, "I think that I would like to go out and see the gorge that's a few miles out from here. I'm thinking that we could perhaps set up an ambush for Voldemort there." He looked at Hermione and Padma. "How about we take the Voldemort Research Team out?" He then turned to Neville. "Get your team together. You've got escort duty." Neville nodded and motioned for his team to get their brooms. "Ron, you've got command," he said as Ron nodded at him. "I'll let you see the memory so you can start planning when we return."
With that he strode out the door, followed by a group of witches and wizards.
About fifteen minutes later they were descending into a deep gorge, it's walls made from steep cliffs. They flew down about three hundred feet to the bottom. Harry looked around and saw all the potential spots for setting up kill zones. He liked it, but he knew that he needed to bring in more help if they were going to succeed. There simply weren't enough of them. As he was looking around Hermione called to him.
"Harry, there's a magical signature here, and it's a really strong one!" she hollered from one of the sides of the small canyon. The group made its way over to see what she had found.
Padma waved her wand and a series of colors flashed. "Those are wards, Harry, and they're really tough ones."
"How tough?" Harry asked.
"Voldemort or Dumbledore tough," Bill Weasley answered. His brow was furrowed in thought.
"Can you break them?" Harry asked.
"If you allow me, Padma, Daphne and Tracey to work on if for a while, then yeah, I think we can. I doubt that I could alone, but the four of us should be able to." Harry nodded for them to get at it, while Harry sent the rest out to search the rest of the canyon for anything else of interest.
About an hour later Harry's amulet flashed and Bill's voice announced that they were through the wards and waiting for Harry and the rest to return. They all made their way back to where Bill and his group were waiting.
"Neville, take your group and be on the lookout for enemy attack. If we trip something we could be in trouble. You'd better call in a second strike team, just in case. You're in command here unless Ron comes and relieves you."
"Yes Sir," Neville replied with a smart salute. Harry returned it and grinned at his friend. Neville was one of his most trusted friends, and had turned himself into someone that Harry was very proud to know.
Harry turned and motioned for the others to follow him. With a flick of his wand a concealed door in the cliff face opened. Wands at the ready, the small group made its way inside.
Harry had to light his wand, as it was pitch dark inside. There appeared to be a narrow passageway leading away from the cliff face. He motioned for everyone to follow him.
Twisting and turning for what seemed like miles, but was probably on a few hundred feet, they made their way along the passageway. Harry stopped short as he spotted a dull glow coming from what appeared to be a chamber ahead. He motioned for Padma and Hermione. "What do you think?" he asked.
"Be careful, Harry," Hermione said. "We don't know what it is."
Harry smiled. "Always my conscience, eh Hermione?" She smirked at him. They slowly advanced. As Harry took two steps straight in, the others spread out at right angles from him in both directions, wands out.
They were in a small chamber. There was a glowing bubble in the room, surrounding what appeared to be a wizard on a dais with a bird stopped in mid swoop. It was hard to make out due to the ripples coursing along the surface of the bubble.
"Any ideas?" he asked aloud.
It was quiet for a few minutes as people considered what this might be. A small soprano voice finally answered him. "I think I might have an idea," Tracey Davis said. Harry turned to face her. "I think it's a stasis bubble," she said.
He cocked his head and regarded her. "And that means?"
She blushed under his scrutiny. "Well, notice how the bird appears to be suspended in mid flight. I think that time has been stopped inside the bubble. They are frozen in time."
Harry sighed. This could be nasty. "So how do we counteract this?"
"I'm not sure," she replied. "I haven't gotten that far yet," she admitted.
"Harry," Hermione said softly. He turned to face her. "Maybe Alphard might be able to help. He was a teacher for a long time."
Harry nodded and pressed his amulet and set it to the command channel. "Ron, I need you to turn command over to Luna, get Alphard and come down here, we have a situation."
"Sure," came Ron's voice. "What's up?"
"I'd rather not say over a channel. Suffice it to say that you'll have to see it to believe it."
"We'll be right there," Ron said.
"We'll be waiting. Find Neville and he'll show you where to go." He settled back to wait for the pair to show up.
About twenty minutes later they heard Ron and Alphard approaching. The two made their way into the chamber, followed by Alphard's giant cat, Snuggles. Harry had Tracey explain what she thought to the aged wizard. He rocked back on his heels as he scratched his chin in thought. After a moment he pulled a book out of his robes and enlarged it. Harry recognized it as a spell book.
He looked through the book for a few minutes and then nodded. He motioned for the group to have a look. He had found a ritual to allow them to hopefully release the time bubble safely. He pointed out what each person had to do, and then he positioned everyone around the bubble at equidistant points. He started chanting in a strange tongue, and then motioned for each to start their own incantations. Soon lights sprang from each wand, meeting above the bubble. A dome formed over the bubble and contracted until it touched the wall of the bubble itself. There seemed to a moment where the two different magics warred with each other, but then the bubble seemed to collapse like a balloon popping.
Alphard had the group hold its concentration for a full minute longer, and then motioned for them to stop. As the dome faded away the bird swooped down and landed next to the wizard on the dais. It was a phoenix! Harry looked at the phoenix and was shocked. He knew that bird!
"Harry," whispered Ron, "That's Dumbledore." Harry looked, and indeed it did appear to be Albus Dumbledore, though not the Dumbledore that Harry knew. This Dumbledore was much younger, as evidenced by his auburn hair and youthful face. Harry looked from the wizard, who appeared to be quite dead, to the phoenix. With a flash of flame the phoenix burst next to Harry and alighted on his shoulder.
Harry staggered as a presence burst into his head. He felt woozy and almost went down when the presence seemed to merge with him, conforming to his own magical core and melding with it.
Harry was caught as numerous sets of hands reached out to help. He regained his balance and looked around as images flooded through his head. He tapped his amulet and set it to all hands. "All team members, report to the command briefing room in thirty minutes. This is not a drill, repeat, this is not a drill. Potter out." He looked at the others. "We need to get back," he said. "Fawkes, can you get us home?" The phoenix looped its neck in an approximation of a nod. He motioned for everyone to grab a tail feather and had Alphard grab his cat. In a flash they were back in the briefing room.
"What's going on Harry?" Padma asked.
"I'd rather tell everyone at once," Harry replied. "Can you all wait for a few minutes for everyone else to return?" he asked.
They all agreed to wait. When the chamber was full and all hands had reported in, Harry began. "We're faced with what amounts to a two-front war. There is an imposter in the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts. Gellert Grindlewald won the duel back in 1945…"
Author's Note: Well, there it is, another chapter in the books. I hope you enjoy the direction that I've taken this. Next up, the army takes the fight to Voldemort.
