Chapter 11
12 September 1996 Tuesday
Daphne was in the Wizengamot private observers' gallery fidgeting with her robes. They were brand new, very stylish and she was getting used to the fit. She had to smile remembering Harry's face when he first saw them on her. They'd almost been late for the convocation.
For once, the friends had no new business to introduce. Today the Ministry was to report their findings regarding the circumstances surrounding the taking of the Dark Mark. Unofficially, Amelia had verbally briefed all eight of the Fifteen in an afternoon meeting the previous day. Harry had related it all and even shown her the pensieve memory. He had been laughing so hard, he said that she had to see the facial expressions herself.
Amelia had welcomed them as they arrived. Harry, Neville and Susan had arrived right after Richard MacMillan and struck up a conversation with the affable Scot. Boot arrived shortly thereafter, all stuff and nonsense. He paused when Amelia offered her hand in welcome before accepting it with a miniscule grip. Daphne could tell by the faint flush on Amelia's face, the intentional snub had been noticed.
Jones and Abbott arrived together rounding out the members. Connie Hammer was sitting in a chair to the left of Amelia's desk and a small team of individuals sat in the back; file folders and ancient texts at the ready.
"My Lords and my Lady" Amelia began, "Thank you for coming at short notice. I wanted to brief you key individuals about the response the Government has formulated in response to my Lord Potter's request concerning the Dark Mark." All the Fifteen nodded gravely in understanding. If Amelia was pre-briefing them, the news was going to be momentous.
"Our outstanding team," Amelia here indicated to the three witches and one wizard in the back, "has done an outstanding job of reviewing existing research and even conducting new research on the prisoners in Azkaban that are marked during the last month."
Amelia gave the team a congratulatory nod and then paused, gathering her thoughts. Tapping a quill on her desk, she continued, "The short of it is that the Dark Mark can only be taken by a willing and loyal supporter of Lord Voldemort."
Daphne had been surprised when only Boot shuddered at the hated anagram. Even Jones had stoically endured the name when he had shuddered in the Wizengamot chamber. In fact, he spoke first, "Minister, is the Government going to act on this knowledge and introduce legislation tomorrow? Perhaps legislation that makes it an imprisonable offense to be branded with the Dark Mark?"
The other seven of the Fifteen silently regarded the Minister as she sat silently. "Yes, that is exactly what the Government is going to do. Ten years minimum, life is maximum depending on other infractions."
Daphne saw five of the Fifteen, including Harry and Neville, raise their eyebrows at Amelia's declaration. "Pretty stiff, Minister" said Abbott.
"My Lord, any of these reprobate cretins that have allowed them to be branded like cattle by Lord Voldemort have to at least kill or rape a person in front of their Master. On top of this, they have to accomplish successfully at least three missions their monstrous leader assigns them. Usually these are sadistic missions where torture is the primary pastime. Now tell me how ten years is 'Pretty stiff'?"
Quietly, MacMillan asked, "How do you know this?"
"This part of our team's research is on a more shaky ground. Not because of any fault of their own, but because it's based on testimony of captured Death Eaters. We currently have twenty-seven marked Death Eaters and of those, twenty have testified that their 'initiation' was as I described. Four described much worse than I did and the other three much less. We believe the three were let off easy because they were extraordinarily wealthy and Voldemort didn't want to scare them away."
Harry finally spoke up and said, "Still, those are pretty solid numbers."
Amelia nodded in concurrence. Regarding all present, she asked, "I would like your support in the debate tomorrow that is sure to be spirited."
Jones snorted, "Spirited she says."
Amelia gave him a small smile and an inclination of her head. There was a long moment of silence before Harry spoke up.
"I am not of a legalistic bent, nor do I have the experience that our more long term members have," he inclined his head at Jones and Boot. "But this is a matter of right and wrong. My only consideration is that of a truly repentant Death Eater." Harry shook his head as if to clear it from cobwebs and continued.
"When caught, most Death Eaters would sell their mother's soul to stay out of Azkaban. However, what if there is one out there who truly is repentant?"
He paused and took a deep breath, "I am reminded of the case of my godfather, Sirius Black." The older members looked at him quizzically, yet he pressed on, "He was sent to prison without a trial which would have exonerated him of any and all charges. He was truly innocent. How do we provide a process which will prevent a similar situation from occurring?"
Glancing around at the other members, he had to hold his breath to keep from laughing. Jones looked at Harry as if he was mentally deficient while Boot obviously smelled something quite foul that no one else could detect.
Amelia nodded in concurrence, "You bring up an excellent point, my Lord. Part of the bill the Government will introduce will include a Veritaserum questioning on the current loyalties of the marked person under consideration. This should address your concerns." Harry exhaled, relief evident on his face. He nodded, letting Amelia know she had his support.
Next to him, Neville had been looking at his hands, mulling over the discussion. Even in the memory, Daphne could tell that he was still feeling guilty about his rampage at the Speckled Basilisk. Looking up at the Minister, he nodded his support. Next to him, Susan gave her Aunt a small smile.
Jones cleared his throat and said, "Minister, part of me dislikes this idea immensely. However, the practical side of me overrides my reservations. House Jones will support the debate and the subsequent vote."
MacMillan and Abbott gave resigned nods while Boot sat silent. Realizing he was the only person not to indicate the status of his support, he waved his hand airily and said in an offhand tone, "I suppose. Boot will support."
Amelia nodded to them all and said, "Thank you my Lords, my Lady. I will not request a vote immediately and force you to push through the vote. I'd like to win over the Wizengamot through the debate." At some of the disbelieving expressions she added, "Well, some persons that are open minded enough to be won over through debate. We all know that some of our members will never support this idea."
.oOo.
Now the doors were closing on the Wizengamot chamber and the official response was to be given. Dumbledore went through the motions of calling the body to order and making the call for old business.
Amelia rose from the Government bench and addressed Dumbledore, "Chief Warlock, the Government owes a response to my Lord Potter regarding the Dark Mark."
"Very well, does the Government have a response prepared?"
"Yes, we do."
"Very well," and he sat, yielding the floor to Amelia.
Amelia rose and flicked her wand, causing bound documents to appear on each members desk. "My Lord Potter," she said in address to Harry. He rose in response and she continued, "Pursuant to your request of 15 August, the Government has prepared this response."
"Many thanks, Madam Minister," Harry replied before sitting.
Daphne scanned the crowd, as the rustle of parchment was the only thing heard for many minutes. Many were seriously contemplating what was being read while others haphazardly read it. There was the occasional oath interspersed with "My word!"
Finally, Triton Nott bounded to his feet and without being recognized by the Chief Warlock, boomed out, "What is this crap!? It is common knowledge that many of our finest were unwilling servants of the Dark Lord! Now these mental deficients in the Ministry are trying to assert that only a willing person can have the Mark? Be gone with this!" He sat down with an air of finality and dissmissiveness.
Amelia had been expecting this response and Daphne had to actively suppress a laugh when the Minister calmly ignored the man and scanned the crowd for more questions. Nott began spluttering in outrage when his commands were not immediately carried out.
Harry stood with his preplanned question, "Thank you for this extensive response, Madam Minister. I must wonder how confident the Government is regarding the magic underlying these conclusions," here he indicated the report.
Amelia nodded in understanding and answered, "Appendix Two fully details the magic involved. Everything is present bar the actual wand movements and the incantation. Those are also known and if any member wants to review these, we can schedule a time for that to be discussed with the research team. Those items have been deemed not suitable for public consumption."
Thus began a lively and sometimes heated debate. After three hours, in which each member of the Fifteen rose at various times to support the Minister's proposed law, debate closed and the law passed, 8-0, 180-169.
.oOo.
"The bad guys are going to go nuts over this."
Harry only nodded in response. They'd discussed the probable Death Eater response with Amelia and while none could pin down exact actions, all agreed Voldemort would not take the outlawing of his group very well.
Harry had just changed out of his fancy Wizengamot robes and they were going to meet with Remus and Tonks for a four-person melee round. Neville and Susan were visiting Lady Augusta. The Healers had been hopeful that she'd be able to return home to Green Hills today.
"How is Tonks doing?" Harry asked.
Daphne shook her head ruefully. "Not so good. We chatted some when they came over yesterday for the Full Moon Run with Remus. She was oscillating between anger and grief. Remus is the one holding her together; right now she's a bit of a mess."
Harry nodded and headed for the door, Daphne trailing. They paused at the side door leading to the melee ring. In the distance were Remus and Tonks obviously talking even though the Potters couldn't hear what they were saying. Tonks was obviously upset, her hair was shifting color like ripples of water. Even her facial features were altering slightly in her agitated mood.
Suddenly, Tonks threw her hands in the air in obvious anger. Her face darkened and even at the distance, they could hear her voice. Daphne's heart fell when she could only make out one word from their friend, "WHY!? WHY!?"
Remus stood there, letting her purge the poison out of her system. The tears were coursing down Tonks' face as she ranted and screamed her rage and grief. Finally, she fell to her knees, her body wracked with sobs. Now Remus slowly and firmly embraced her, whispering comforting words and slightly rocking her.
Daphne leaned on Harry, indescribably sad. "I envy her, you know."
Harry looked at her questioningly. She smiled ruefully in return, "She loves her father deeply and he obviously loved her in return. My father died and it didn't even faze me."
Daphne shook her head, disappointed in herself. "I know he did everything in his power to drive me away, but on some level I still feel that if I had been a better person, a better daughter then I would have truly loved my father and been loved in return." She shrugged at the illogical mess that was her feelings.
Harry pulled her into his arms. He was silent for a long time and she pulled strength from his presence. Finally, he whispered, "I love you more than my own life. You are the best person I've ever known, bar none."
Her heart lifted at his words and she thanked the gods once again for giving her Harry to love and be loved by.
Their impromptu cuddle was interrupted by the stalking form of Tonks coming up the path from the melee ring. Without thinking, Harry stepped in front of Daphne and they both drew their wands. Remus was hurrying to catch up to his new girlfriend when she pulled up in front of Harry.
"I know you're in on these latest Death Eater raids, Harry. I want in."
Daphne relaxed a bit, but did not holster here wand. Harry crooked his eyebrow and said, "Why do you think I'm in on them?"
Tonks scowled and spat, "Don't play games with me, Harry. I want in."
"You're already an Auror."
She shook her head in derision, "I'm so tied up by rules and regulations I have to request in triplicate if I want to use the crapper. I want in."
Harry looked at her with an evaluating expression, "I'll get back to you."
"When?"
Now he was a bit exasperated and with a hint of impatience said, "When I want to Nymphadora. Now are we going to melee today or what?"
Remus gave the others a short nod and led them out to the pit, a thoughtful expression playing across his worn features.
.oOo.
15 September 1996 Friday
Harry and Daphne walked up the front lawn of Hogwarts, heading up to the Hospital Wing. Nodding to a few acquaintances here and there, Daphne felt like a visitor at her old school. It was a distinctly odd feeling as by all rights, she should be a Sixth year this year. Oh, how her life had changed on June 30th.
When crossing the Entry Hall, the Potters ran across none other than Draco Malfoy and his little gang of groupies. Malfoy called out, "Look, it's the half-blood scarhead and his whore!"
Less than a second later, the idiot was unconscious and bleeding on the stones of the hall due to a well aimed Bludgeoning hex. Harry stalked over to the inbred moron and after a quick flick of his wand, levitated the boy in front of him.
"Ennervate."
Malfoy's eyes blinked open and he was obviously about to mutter, "What happened?" when Harry slapped him across the face with the back of his left hand. Hard.
The blond Slytherin's head rocked back and when he gathered control of his faculties he saw an enraged yet somewhat controlled Harry Potter in front of him.
"You have insulted me and my wife; I hereby invoke the Code Duello and challenge you to a duel to the death. Are you sixteen years of age?"
Dumbly, Malfoy nodded.
Daphne had to put everything into controlling her expression in order to refrain from bursting into laughter. No matter what, Harry would not allow the duel to occur. He had learned quite a bit from his inappropriate encounter with Arthur Weasley. However, the stupid wanking ferret didn't know that. He was being made an object lesson for the underage potential Death Eater crowd: Do Not Fuck With Harry Potter Or He Will Kill You.
Harry waited and with an exasperated air finally asked, "Do you accept the death duel or will you offer an apology?"
Malfoy's face twisted into a sneer and he spat, "I'll never apologize to you, trash!"
Harry slapped him again, a little more knuckle in the blow this time. Now the Malfoy scion was bleeding freely from his nose and lip.
Malfoy looked Harry in the eye and something he saw there scared him. Looking at the ground, the blond teen began to tremble and when Harry repeated his question, the magic rolling off the Potter Lord caused all standing nearby to recoil in surprise and fear. The suspended young Slytherin lost control of his bladder.
By now, the entry hall was completely quiet and there were two or three dozen students watching with baited breath.
Harry took a deep breath and tried to control himself. Daphne placed a hand on his arm and he used her touch like a lifeline, pulling himself to safety. Draco solved all their problems by shaking his head while looking at the floor and muttering, "I apologize."
"Very well. I thank you and bid you good day," Harry canceled the Levitation charm and then stalked off toward the Hospital Wing.
Daphne stood there for a moment, eyeing her former housemates. Her expression was closed and cold. Pansy Parkinson and Theodore Nott flinched back at her expression while the Troll brothers, Goyle and Crabbe, wouldn't meet her eyes. Malfoy was shuffling away toward the dungeons to change his clothes. He too hid his eyes from her. Satisfied that they all were sufficiently cowed, Daphne turned and moved to catch up with her husband.
.oOo.
Hermione stared with her mouth agape as Daphne finished describing the confrontation in the Entry Hall. Harry was sitting next to his wife, examining the texture of the fabric in his sleeve most assiduously.
Hermione reacted exactly how Harry expected, which was why he was trying to hide in plain sight.
"Harry! I can't believe you did that!" she shrieked at her friend. This was followed by intermittent wacks on the shoulder that had him flinching. Her verbal and physical violence tapered off to the occasional grumble and vague hand gestures. At the end, Daphne was sure that Hermione was praying to all the Saints and Martyrs for strength and forbearance with fools and men. Or was that redundant?
After one last half-hearted glare at Harry, she said, "Madam Pomfrey is letting me out of here tomorrow, could you please pick me up and help me get home?" She had started her statement off in her usual deliberate, confident style, but by the end, her eyes were shining and her voice was like that of a lost little girl.
Daphne reached out and took her hand. It was much more real for Hermione now, leaving Hogwarts that is. Daphne did not revere education as Hermione did, but leaving school hadn't been easy for her and she had Harry for support as well. Hermione leaving school was going to be rough on her.
"I feel so lost," the bushy-haired witch whispered.
Harry leaned forward, an intense expression on his face, "You'll always have us. Always." Taking her other hand he gave her a squeeze as Hermione held back tears with a watery smile and a nod of thanks.
After a moment to collect herself, Hermione nodded her thanks and said, "When I get home, I'll get back to Scrying again. Obviously, I haven't had much private time here."
Harry nodded and asked, "Do you want to join our daily lessons?"
"I'd like that. Monday?"
"Monday it is."
.oOo.
28 September 1996 Thursday
The four friends had a relatively quiet two weeks; training, a dinner party at the MacMillan's home and moving Andromeda and Nymphadora Tonks into the newly refurbished and warded Black Manor.
There had been little fight when Harry had suggested the move. Andromeda looked at him with blank eyes and only said, "Thank you my Lord. I am most sensible of your generosity."
Tonks had red eyes from the discussion and had patted her mum on the back before starting to make a list for the move.
In the awkward silence, Harry had looked at Daphne, bewildered on what to do. Daphne just hooked her arm in his and made their goodbyes. Strolling down the suburban street in Brighton, they'd walked a good mile in the pleasant weather in silence.
Finally, he asked, "What more should I have done?"
Daphne sighed, "You couldn't have done anything more. Andromeda and Tonks just have to heal. You can't fix them. Your support and offer of the Manor is more than enough."
Snuggling into his side, she continued, "Tonks has Remus and us to lean on. Andromeda has her daughter and her friends from work. We're the Lord and Lady of the family to Andromeda, not her consolers. I don't think she wants that from us."
Harry frowned and then shook his head. "I wish I could do more for them."
Daphne gave a sad smile, "Don't ever change my Love."
.oOo.
The two weeks since Hermione had left Hogwarts moved past in a rush. Due to her hip, Hermione had to stay out of the duels and obstacle courses that Young and Dubois seemed to love, but otherwise, she was in her element. The bit of depression at leaving Hogwarts was more than overcome with her new learning environment.
"I'm learning in a small group, at an accelerated rate, and don't have to worry about bullies and such. I'm in heaven!" she had jokingly shouted at lunch on Friday.
There had been no success on the Scrying efforts, but Hermione had made one discovery; locations are warded from Scrying, not persons.
"Since the Death Eaters are usually most active at night, I'll try Scrying for them then, maybe catch a break and see a raid forming or in progress that can be broken up."
That's exactly what happened on the 28th of September.
The four friends were sitting on the veranda with Amelia, sipping lemonade and chatting about travels they either had accomplished, or wanted to take in the near future. Evelyn was spending the weekend with George Stebbins and Phillip was at his Grandmother's home.
Neville was outlining an expedition into equatorial Africa he wanted to undertake when Hermione came bursting out the doors of the house in her dressing gown that was liberally covered in soot from the Floo.
"HARRY!"
She looked at the shocked group and found her dark haired target. "Death Eaters at the MacMillan's house!"
The friends stood and Transfigured their clothes into the black long sleeve T-shirts, cargo pants and boots they usually wore on their 'expeditions'. As the ladies were charming their hair into tight plaits, Harry turned to the rising Amelia and asked, "Backup?"
"Within minutes," and she hustled into the house.
When everyone was ready, they drew their wands and Harry said, "Apparate into the front entry hall, assume it's a hot landing zone. No prisoners."
They other three nodded absently and with a series of pops and one silent apparition, Hermione was left on the veranda alone.
"Godspeed you all home my friends," and she sat down to wait for them to return.
.oOo.
The four friends arrived in the front hall of Thistledown, the home of Baron and Baroness MacMillan, in a roughly square formation; Harry and Susan were facing into the house when he called out.
"Down!"
Three swaths of eldritch fire swept overhead, mixing green, purple and scarlet. From her knees, Daphne saw four Death Eaters down the hall. With a grim smile, she began working her wand as Harry and Susan unleashed a barrage of high power Bone Breakers, Cutting curses and a few Decapitation curses for good measure. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Neville doing the same as her and with a final flourish, watched the results.
Her conjured lion sprang on a Death Eater, knocking off his head with one swipe of his massive paw. Laughing to herself at the irony, she saw Neville's conjured Anaconda pin two Death Eaters together and begin its slow, inexorable, crushing death grip.
The last Death Eater, distracted by the mauling lion, was promptly cut in half by an overpowered Cutting curse from Susan.
"Come on," Harry ordered. Pointing to Neville and Susan, he then indicated the stairs.
Nodding, Neville and Susan sprinted up to the first floor.
Daphne put her hand on Harry's arm, causing him to pause for a moment. She quickly cast Compulsion charms on the conjured lion and snake. The compulsions would cause the predators to hunt anyone wearing the white bone mask of the Death Eaters.
"I don't know how long they'll last, but it sure can't hurt."
After Daphne cast a quick Human Revealing charm, Harry headed toward the grand Drawing Room where they'd been entertained not too long ago. Daphne was scanning up and down, occasionally turning around to ensure no one was coming up from behind.
Harry paused at the door to the Drawing Room and looked at her. She nodded to him that she was ready. He held up his finger, One, Two, Three…
They sprinted through the double doorway and found five Death Eaters standing over the MacMillan's and four others.
Without thinking, they both began casting. The long pink Ribbon Cutting curse left Daphne's wand as she saw a spread of five Bone Breaking curses leave Harry's wand.
The whirl and fury of battle descended and time became a variable. Some times actions were impossibly fast. When she followed up her shielded Ribbon Cutter with a raking Fire Whip that decapitated one of their foes, she knew she was moving faster than her opponents could possible react.
Other times, time slowed to a crawl. She saw two of Harry's Bone Breakers strike home. Unfortunately, they both impacted on the arms of two Death Eaters. Before she could react, three Death Eaters called out "Avada Kedavra!" and the sickly green spell sped across the room toward Harry.
Shrieking now, Daphne Transfigured a chair into a brick wall that was shattered by her opponent with a series of Reductor curses. With quick wand work, the shards became railroad spikes. Grunting with the effort, she banished the spikes at her opponent and followed it up with an overcharged Reductor, exploding the pierced man into jelly.
Turning to Harry, she saw him rolling out from behind a partially shattered marble shield he'd conjured. Narrowing her eyes, she raised her wand and intentionally brought all the magic she could summon to her wand tip.
"Incendio."
Flames hot enough to rival Fiendfyre erupted from her wand and sped toward one of the remaining Death Eaters. His broken arm hanging loosely, he tried to shield, but wasn't fast enough. The bluish white flames washed over him and a moment later, he was gone. Burnt to ash.
She began to shake at the expenditure of so much magic in so short a time and fell to her knees. Black clad legs stood in front of her and she saw her Harry standing over her as he cast spell after spell at the remaining Death Eaters.
Thus began one of the most amazing duels she had ever seen. When Harry and Flitwick had gone toe to toe in the dueling pit, it was usually a good show.
That was nothing compared to this.
Before Daphne could even breath once, Harry had ripped off a pair of Reductors at the opponent on his left. Despite shielding, the Death Eater was thrown in the air and back five feet.
Without pausing, Harry spun to his right and dove to the ground, letting a dark purple curse pass over his head. From the ground, he Transfigured the chair next to him into three bear traps and banished them at his opponent.
Not pausing to see the effect, he now conjured a pair of bludgers bound together by chain and sent them at Death Eater number two. For good measure, he repeated the process just as his now standing opponent number one reminded Daphne's husband of his presence via a Killing curse. Harry responded with another hastily conjured marble wall.
The bludgers impacted contestant number two, the chains wrapping around the man and incapacitating him for a short while. The man had lost the use of his left arm, as it had been removed just below the elbow by one of Harry's bear traps. Harry cast Daphne's favorite Ribbon Cutting curse at contestant number one, which shattered his shield and cut open the man's chest.
Snarling, Death Eater number one let loose with a fusillade of dark curses that were aimed low – at Daphne who was on her hands and knees behind Harry. He shielded often, as he had to protect his wife. By now, Death Eater number one had Vanished the binding chain and rejoined the fight, the last mistake he would ever make.
She could tell the other two were attacking him with all they had, thinking they had the boy-who-lived on the ropes. Harry grunted as he picked up the pace with his spellcasting to the point that his hand was a blur.
The Death Eaters were shielding at this point and too afraid to try to dodge. They were probably thinking they might move out of the protective range of their shields. They were right.
Harry snarled as the bloodlust rose in his head like the heady feeling of wine. Daphne saw the rug he was standing on begin to smolder. The raw energy he was loosing from his body through his spellcasting was heating the room and there was a shimmering haze around his lean frame.
With a growl, she tried to stand and help, but merely fell to the ground in her temporary weakness. As she lifted her head, Daphne saw something that made her smile.
The conjured lion leapt at the Death Eater on Harry's left, bearing him to the ground. Screaming, the Death Eater was torn to shreds before the lion could fix upon his throat and with one quick shake, break the man's neck.
The remaining Death Eater paused, either taken aback by the lion attack on his compatriot or the efficient reduction in his fellows. Possibly, it was because he was bleeding badly from the stump of his left arm. No matter what, the man didn't even blink when Harry leapt at him, Shifting in mid air. The Tiger copied the conjured lion and bore the remaining Death Eater to the floor. With a growl, The Tiger ripped out the man's throat.
Not looking back, The Tiger turned toward Daphne and Shifted back to her husband. She nodded to him and gave him a half smile that she was Ok. "I just need a minute. Check on them," and she indicated the six people on the floor.
Harry was walking over to the incapacitated MacMillans as the front doors to the house were shattered and the Auror response team boiled into the house. The Potters immediately sheathed their wands and put their hands in the air. Tonks had drilled into their heads that this was the only thing that would save them getting cursed to Timbuktu and back when Aurors came charging to the rescue.
"Aurors! Hands in the air!" four of the red robed law enforcement officers ran in the room.
"They're hurt," Daphne said without preamble. She pointed to the six people on the floor. The Auror with the white stripes on his sleeves ran over to the MacMillans, reaching into his robes for a large bag as he did so.
The lead Auror for this team was a familiar person. Tonks motioned to Harry and Daphne and when they got close, she asked, "Neville and Susan here too?"
Daphne nodded and looked at the ceiling. Tonks held a round metal disk to her mouth and said, "Atkinson, we have two friendlies on the first floor. They'll be wearing black trousers and black shirts."
She heard a murmuring voice from the disk and Tonks nodded to herself. "Right, then. While everyone else is sweeping the house and grounds, why don't you two tell me what the what is?"
"Well, we were at home with Amelia, Susan and Neville when Hermione came out on the veranda shouting that Death Eaters were here. Amelia ran inside to call for you all…"
"Tonks, you need to see this," interrupted an Auror who was tallying up the dead Death Eaters. The three ambled over and looked down at the last Death Eater that Harry had dispatched as The Tiger.
"Aw, shit," muttered Tonks. "Dumbledore is going to be pissed."
It was the bloody and surprised face of Severus Snape.
.oOo.
They had given complete depositions to a junior Auror for the last fifteen minutes. Thistledown was a hive of law enforcement officers and healers.
In the background, they heard the fireplace roar five times in quick succession. Two more emergency Auror healers entered the room, and Daphne could only assume the other three went upstairs. The MacMillans and their guests had been Portkeyed to the hospital soon after the Aurors had arrived. Apparently, the Cruciatus had been used quite liberally.
"Have you seen Neville or Susan?" she asked Harry.
Pursing his lips in concern, he shook his head. "Let's go find them."
They headed to the stairs where they found Tonks talking to the overall Response Team Lead. They broke up their impromptu meeting and Harry tugged on Tonks' sleeve, getting her attention.
"Susan and Neville?"
Tonks grimaced and bands of ice gripped Daphne's heart. "They took down seven Eaters before Susan got hit with a nasty Cutter in the shoulder up into her neck. She was bleeding pretty badly so they Portkeyed her to St. Mungo's. I think Neville apparated away after her."
"Fuck," Harry muttered under his breath. Daphne covered her face with her hands, trying to maintain her composure.
"The emergency healer said he thought she'd be Ok, but he wanted her in the hospital."
Daphne nodded and grabbed Harry's arm, pulling him toward the Entry Hall to apparate away. "Thanks Tonks. We're going to go to the hospital. If you need us, you can get us there. Otherwise, we'll see you tomorrow."
As they walked away, Harry stopped and turned back to Tonks. He looked her dead in the eye and said, "We definitely need to talk tomorrow. Is Remus in?"
Tonks professional face slipped and a gleam of hatred shone in her eyes. "He's in. I only had to say three words to remind him why: James, Lily, Sirius."
Harry nodded and they made their way to St. Mungo's.
.oOo.
They found Susan in a VIP room with two burly Aurors standing guard outside the door. She was in the room next to Richard and Sarah MacMillan, which was also guarded. Baron and Baroness MacMillan had suffered the least under the Cruciatus curse of the six residents of Thistledown. Apparently, the Death Eaters wanted them to watch her family be tortured. Sadly, Sarah's mother had already been moved into the bed next to Frank and Alice Longbottom in the long-term spell damage ward.
Amelia, Neville and Lady Augusta were in the room where Susan slept. On either side of the Vicountess' bed sat Amelia and Lady Augusta while Neville just looked out the window into the night sky. The room was completely silent and no one moved when the Potters entered.
For a moment, Daphne could have sworn she heard Susan breathing in the stillness.
"How is she?" Daphne asked.
"She'll be fine. She's sleeping due to blood loss. Probably, she'll just have a nasty scar running from the top of her shoulder up the side of her neck to her ear," Neville responded without looking away from the window.
Daphne exhaled loudly in relief. Lady Augusta took Daphne's hand and gave her a squeeze while watching over the focus of her grandson's affections. Amelia didn't look up. Daphne conjured a chair and sat next to the older woman whom she was beginning to regard as a favored Aunt.
Harry went to Neville's side and put his hand on his friends shoulder. "How you doing, mate?" he asked quietly.
Neville shrugged and gave Harry a lost look before shaking his head while the lost expression on his face mixed with despair. His shoulders slumped and the two young men just stood there staring into the night sky, looking for something. Exactly what, neither knew.
Daphne watched from her chair and her face hardened. She caught Amelia's eye and glared at her. The Minister flinched at the expression. She saw the results of the Ministry's neglect and lack of preparedness lying on the bed in front of her.
While facing her niece, Amelia said, "Harry, I'm taking the gloves off. Keep the Wizengamot off my back, as Connie and I are going to be busy."
Still looking out the window, Harry pulled his friend close in a one-armed hug and responded, "Not a problem Madam Minister."
.oOo.
29 September 1996 Friday
Susan came home to Rowan Hill mid-morning. The Healers wanted her to stay overnight for observation and all her tests had come back good in the morning. The MacMillans had a few more days, but when Harry and Daphne had stopped in to see them this morning, they'd been awake and lucid – if not a little sore still.
As Harry and Daphne moved to leave them, Richard caught Harry by the sleeve and said in a low voice, "I owe you our lives, Potter."
Harry smiled and replied, "Call me Harry."
Richard gave him a small relieved smile and said, "Harry, I can't thank you enough."
"I'm glad we could help." Harry paused, bent over and said in Richard's ear, "Phalanx Home Defense and Warders. Tell them you want the same setup as I've got. It's a steep price, but nigh on unbeatable."
MacMillan nodded as Harry leaned closer. "Amelia is taking the gloves off and needs some help with the Wizengamot. I'm sure you'd be willing to help us?"
Richard gave a feral smile. Harry nodded in return, gave him and Sarah a short wave before leaving the room to help Susan home.
.oOo.
As Susan settled on the couch in the Drawing Room, she sighed and let the sunlight play across her face. Without opening her eyes, she asked, "Is the Prophet foaming at the mouth today?"
"Yep," replied Daphne as she tossed the paper to her friend. Neville was seeing to his grandmother back at Green Hills while Harry attended to some correspondence from Gringotts.
Susan read the article that sensationally announced FIFTEEN ATTACKED BY DEATH EATERS and a smaller headline read BONES, MACMILLAN HURT.
"Well, I'm not in critical condition and neither were Richard or Sarah." She paused and then rested her head back on the seat, "Sarah's poor mother."
Daphne sat next to her friend and handed her a cup of tea. Susan took a grateful sip and shook her head before she enquired, "I never asked Neville, but how is he reacting to what happened?"
Daphne shook her hand in a 'so-so' motion as she sipped her own tea. "He had a rough night. I don't think he spared a thought for the MacMillans until today; he was very worried about you. Harry stayed with him and they took a couple of walks, chatting and whatnot."
Susan nodded in relief. Another sip of tea and a solitary tear slipped down her cheek. Daphne set her tea on the tray and then gently took Susan's cup, transferring it to the table. Gently, Daphne took her friend in her arms asking, "Do you want to talk about it?"
After some sniffles, Susan sat up straight and said, "I was pretty scared last night. Neville was …he was amazing. I just did what I could to stay alive." Daphne scowled internally. Susan was a phenomenal fighter who could stand toe to toe with any Death Eater in single combat. She had no cause to be running herself down.
"I saw his face when I got hit. He was so scared." She gestured toward the thick ropy scar on her neck, which disappeared, into her robes. "And now I'm disfigured."
Seeing the problem, Daphne scowled at her friend. "Susan, you are one of the most beautiful women I know. One measly scar isn't going to change that. Look at Harry. Isn't he one of the hottest guys you know and he has his scar?" She said the last with a smile on her face that Susan reluctantly returned.
"I know, it sounds vain of me, but I feel hideous now."
Daphne punched her friend on the shoulder, surprising Susan. "As your Auntie said, 'Build a bridge and get over yourself'." Softly embracing her friend, Daphne continued, "I know it doesn't have the same impact coming from me as from Neville, but I still think you're a very beautiful woman. And no, I'm not gay."
Now Susan laughed aloud. "If there are any purely heterosexual women on the planet, it's you and me!"
Daphne giggled, her mission of breaking Susan out of her funk accomplished.
With a sigh and a smile, the young peers resumed their tea. As the clock struck ten, the fireplace roared twice in quick succession, followed by one more. Moments later, a perky Tonks chatting with Hermione and a subdued Remus Lupin strolled into the Drawing Room.
"Hey there Daphne, Susan."
The girls rose to greet the visitors. While Susan got a tender hug from Hermione, Daphne watched the now scarlet haired Auror. Tonks had her normal perky expression but underneath – around her eyes - was her grief. Fortunately, the manic look of vengeance that had haunted her on and off was not present today.
Harry ambled into the room, two letters in hand. "Ah, I thought I heard the Floo." He shook Remus' hand and got a hug from Tonks. Everyone settled down and Harry called, "Dobby."
The house elf popped in and waited expectantly. "Would you please pop over to Green Hills and tell Neville that Hermione, Remus and Tonks are here and we need him? Thank you."
Dobby bowed wordlessly and with a small pop, was gone.
They all chatted pleasantly, but there was a tension in the room that they all acknowledged yet ignored. Shortly, Neville strode in the room and Harry said, "Good. Let's chat, shall we?"
Everyone settled in with their tea and waited. Harry sat for a minute in a contemplative silence, gathering his thoughts. Finally, he said, "What we're doing isn't helping."
Everyone, save Remus and Hermione, looked at Harry askance. Hermione nodded thoughtfully while Remus fidgeted with his teacup. Neville finally asked what was on everyone's mind, "Why in the world do you say that? We've taken down probably three dozen Death Eaters since we've started. No offense Tonks," he indicated toward the scarlet haired woman across from him, "But the Aurors can't claim anything close to that."
Harry nodded and held up his hand to get everyone's attention. "I agree, and let me clarify: We can kill Death Eaters all day, but Voldemort will only recruit more. They may not be as powerful or as skilled as Bellatrix, Rudolphus and other members of his inner circle, but he can get more. If we want to stop this, we need to kill Voldemort." Harry looked into his tea and continued sotto voce, "I need to kill Voldemort."
Remus started at the last, his keen werewolf hearing picking up on the statement. Eyes narrowing, he said to Harry, "Explain."
Daphne nodded her support to her husband and squeezed his hand. "Long story short, the reason the guards were outside the Department of Mysteries was to guard a prophecy that said that only I have the ability to kill Voldemort. There's a lot more said, but not really germane to the discussion."
Hermione, Tonks and Remus, the only two to whom the prophecy was news, sat back in their chairs, staring off into space as they digested the information. Tonks shook her head first and said jauntily, "Right. Important safety tip; leave the lipless, snake-faced bad guy to Harry. Anyone else is fair game."
Everyone chuckled at that and the moment of tension passed.
Susan piped up, her hand on her neck covering her scar, "So why aren't we helping?"
Harry rubbed his chin when Daphne's face cleared. "Anyone can kill or capture Death Eaters," she said while watching her husband. Harry looked at her with agreement and she continued, "Now that the Ministry is going on the offensive, we don't need to fill that role."
"We need to find and kill Voldemort," Remus finished in a low voice.
"Yes." Harry looked at his friends and continued, "I realize this isn't what we started off doing, and if you want to back out…" He was cut off when he was doused with a gout of water.
"Shut up, Harry," said Susan as she replaced her wand. "We're in this to the end for the same reason we started." She looked into her tea for a moment before saying with feeling, "We're the Orphans, remember?"
All save Remus nodded with feeling. His parents had died in the werewolf attack that had infected him. Many would have said that a soldier of Voldemort had orphaned him, but he didn't see it that way. He had another score to settle some day.
Hermione rubbed the ropy scar through her dress. Her family had enough scars, physical and emotional to qualify for the group.
Harry nodded in thanks, too choked up to reply. Daphne said to Remus and Tonks, "Hermione, Susan and I are the 'Research Team', but primarily it's Hermione. We don't know why Voldemort didn't truly die in '81. Our working premise is that we need to discover that before we can hope to send him on his merry way to the Ninth Circle of Hell."
Remus tapped the lip of his cup before countering, "Maybe not. There may be a way to 'send him on his merry way' regardless of what ritual or procedure he may have undergone."
"Really?" asked Hermione.
Remus shrugged. "Don't know. I'll start scouring the Black Family library tomorrow, it's more likely to have the information we're looking for than here."
With the manic look of vengeance returned, Tonks proposed, "In the meantime, I vote we kill as many Death Eaters as we can."
"Seconded," voted Neville grimly.
Harry looked around. Susan gave a firm nod. Hermione just stared back at her best friend stonily. Remus was quiet, but offered no objection. Daphne's face hardened and she just looked at her husband with a fierce expression. Harry nodded to the group, "Motion is carried."
.oOo.
01 October 1996 Sunday
Young and Rodgers had been merciless on Friday and the Potters had not done much of anything until Sunday afternoon. They were walking through the woods, enjoying the last vestiges of late summer as a warm breeze moved through the trees.
Harry kissed Daphne's hand as they walked and said, "Thank you."
She looked to him quizzically, "For?"
Giving her his lopsided grin, he answered, "For loving me. For agreeing to marry me. For supporting me like no one ever has. Most of all, for loving me."
Daphne stopped and pulled him into his arms. She could feel him completely relax into her grasp, molding his own body to hers. She didn't know it, but his reaction to being touched had changed radically since the last day of June. Smiling widely, she responded, "Anytime, Harry."
Eventually, they continued their perambulation and she asked, "Where did that come from?"
He shrugged with one shoulder and she prodded him in the ribs. After a playful yelp, he answered her. "I get anxious every once in a while. I want you to be sure that you know exactly how I feel about you. I've read stories about husbands or wives feeling guilt for years after their spouse died. Usually, it's because they parted from their spouse and forgot to tell them they loved them. Just forgot. They weren't having an argument or in a snit. They just forgot.
"I never want that to happen to us. I want you to know every minute of every day; I want it to be a well understood truth for you that I love you."
Daphne couldn't respond through the cloud of her affection and love. She merely wrapped her arm around his waist and pulled him close. As they walked the grounds of their home, Daphne Potter thanked all the gods of heaven, earth and magic that she had this good man.
.oOo.
05 October 1996 Thursday
"Uh-oh," Harry muttered from behind the paper.
Daphne ate another bite of crepe and glanced at the others around the table. Remus was the only one to have read the front page, but wasn't giving anything away with his expression.
Finally, an exasperated Susan asked, "Ok, I give up Mister mystery man. What's so "Uh-oh?"
Harry chuckled behind the paper, "Mister mystery man?" Shaking his head, he folded the paper and answered her, "Seven articles that ranged from hostility to disagreement toward Amelia."
"But she's only been in office for what? A little over two months? What do they expect?" objected Tonks. She was rabidly in favor of Amelia. The Minister had been an Auror after all, and a damn good one at that.
Harry looked at the now lime-green haired young woman and responded, "Does 'attention seeking liar' or 'deranged and damaged youth' ring a bell with you Tonks?"
The metamorph's face twisted in a grimace of distaste before she answered him, "Yes. It's what those ignoramuses who worked for Fudge spouted off about you last year."
"And the Prophet and most of Britain bought into it."
A tad annoyed, Tonks rejoined, "What does this have to do with Amelia?"
Daphne answered for her husband, "The Prophet isn't very concerned with fairness or even truth. They're concerned with making money."
"Rita Skeeter once told Hermione that 'The Prophet exists to sell itself you silly girl,' and she was right." Harry shook his head in exasperation.
"I guess we need to talk to Amelia about a counter-offensive."
"Who's her Press Secretary?" asked Neville.
Susan answered in a flat tone, "Percy Weasley."
"Great," said Harry, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
.oOo.
That evening at dinner, Daphne had brought up the issue with Amelia to a rather humorous result.
"Amelia, did you notice the articles in the Prophet today?"
Blank look.
"The ones that were fairly hostile toward you and your administration?"
Another blank look.
Somewhat surprised at the lack of response, Daphne pressed on and said, "We'd like to coordinate a counter to these articles for you. We all realize you have quite a bit on your plate."
Susan couldn't hold it in any longer and a ripple of laughter leaked out from behind her hand. Daphne looked to her friend with a quizzical expression.
"Auntie hates the press with a red-hot passion. The only time she reads the paper is when she gets a Floo call about an article." She paused and then continued, "Well, the Quidditch scores also."
With a chagrined expression, Amelia said, "Daphne, get with young Weasley and put together a plan. Brief me on Tuesday before the Wizengamot session." She continued with a thoughtful expression, "Young Weasley's a holdover from Fudge. If he's unsatisfactory, let me know and I'll replace him forthwith."
.oOo.
06 October 1996 Friday
"Are you ready to deal with this stuffed shirt?" Susan asked Daphne as they strode down the middle of the Ministry Atrium.
Daphne merely gave a wry chuckle and shook her head. Both were dressed in elegant yet businesslike wear. Extremely expensive, extremely fashionable, extremely powerful.
Percy Weasley was a minion. They knew it, but he had his worth in that he was such a stickler for the rules that he would know the ins and outs of the law in this area. From what Harry and Neville had told them, he worshipped authority. They had to overwhelm him to achieve his complete subservience. The last thing they needed was an argument with this redheaded pinhead. The memo in Susan's pocket from Amelia should help matters.
Turning toward the lift, they saw another redheaded person they both knew. "Arthur, what a pleasant surprise," Daphne said with a big smile.
Arthur Weasley approached, his genial self showing in his bright smile. After bowing over Daphne's hand, he said, "My lady, it is wonderful to see you this morning. All is well with you and your husband?"
She nodded at his genuine inquiry, "Yes, we are both well." Turning to Susan, she got a small nod so she said, "My Lady, may I present to you Mr. Arthur Weasley, a good friend of ours. Mr. Weasley, this is Vicountess Bones."
With a small look of surprise, Arthur bowed over Susan's hand and made the appropriate noises. "May I escort you ladies to your destination this morning?"
With a slight shrug, Daphne answered, "Thank you Mr. Weasley, we are en route to your son's office."
The warm smile fell off Arthur Weasley's face in an instant. "Ah. Well, it's just this way on the Fourth floor."
They had a lift to themselves, but Percy's name had created a pall over the group and there was no conversation. The bell rang and the doors opened. "It's just this way," Arthur said and led the way out of the elevator.
Down two corridors and around a corner he indicated a closed door. Giving the two peers a short bow and a smile, he went on his way, the door unopened.
"So sad that the son is such a wanker as to drive away such an inoffensive man – such a pleasant man – as Arthur Weasley," whispered Susan as she reached for the doorknob.
Daphne only nodded, a fleeting sad expression replaced with the 'hard as nails' expression she had worn in the Slytherin common room.
The office was ridiculous. It was immaculately cleaned and it was obvious that 'everything had its place'. A perfectly trimmed eagle quill was decoratively arranged in the center of his immaculate desk. The inbox was empty, but the outbox had a neat stack of tightly rolled scrolls.
Daphne was willing to bet a sackful of galleons the scrolls were all blank.
When the door opened, the immaculately groomed Percival Ignatius Weasley looked up from a massive tome that he had been reading. Seeing the now young women whom he had attended Hogwarts with not so long ago, his face became puzzled.
Inwardly, Daphne cackled; first beat down. Susan had entered the room first followed by Daphne. At Percy's non-greeting, Lady Potter looked about the office with disdain and turned to Susan.
"We shan't be able to work in this hovel. We'll need a larger office."
Picking up on the thread, Susan nodded imperiously, "Indeed." Turning to Percy, she snapped, "Go. Arrange for a conference room for us to work from for the immediate future."
Percy's ingrained responsiveness had him moving around his desk and toward the door before his brain even fired a coherent synapse. He pulled up and snipped, "I'm sorry, but I work for the Minister. Don't you two have classes or some sort to be attending to?" It was somewhat amazing how he managed to pull himself up into his puffed up peacock glory in a microsecond.
"Weasley you ignorant fool. Do you have the slightest conception whom you are speaking to?" Daphne cut at him. Her eyes narrowed and she used her coldest voice, practiced over the years with other ignorant fools like Draco Malfoy and Theodore Nott.
Percy's confusion was evident and just before he began spluttering Daphne spat, "I am Countess Potter, Viscountess Black you fool. This," she indicated to Susan, "Is Viscountess Bones, head of House Bones."
The blank expression on Percy's spectacled face was worth a thousand galleons. The twins would definitely be seeing this later in the pensieve.
When he didn't respond, Daphne continued, "Head of House Bones, a voting member of the Fifteen."
Still no response.
"Head of House Bones that your supervisor, the Minister, belongs to."
Still no response.
What neither Daphne nor Susan realized, and was later explained by the twins, was that Percy was like the Remora fish. He found the biggest, baddest shark in the sea and stuck to it through thick and thin picking up the leavings when best he could.
Despite his burgeoning intelligence and impressive work ethic, he was still very naïve and uninformed about the government. His lack of understanding the importance of the Fifteen being the perfect example.
When Daphne pointed out that Susan was a much bigger shark than even Amelia was, Percy's entire understanding of 'power' in the Ministry was shaken. Hence, his shutdown and reboot.
Finally, life returned to the young man and his face turned red. "My apologies my Ladies. My ignorance of your station is no excuse for my unpardonable rudeness. How can I be of service to you today?"
They had no reason to suspect, but the war against Voldemort had just taken an unexpected turn for the better.
A/N
1. I own nothing. I am blown away by the volume and enthusiasm of the reviews. It is truly humbling to this unworthy scribbler of thoughts and drabbles to be on the receiving end of your reviews. Thank you.
2. Quite a few reviews have objected to the Death Eaters 'targeting' Harry and his friends, claiming it's unrealistic, ridiculous… To address the issue, I'll simply say this: They're not targeting Harry and his friends.
Hermione's family was attacked in response to the raid on the Department of Mysteries. She's unprotected and unwarded: a seemingly soft target.
Cyrus Greengrass was killed in target to Harry and Daphne in response to losing 13 Death Eaters when attacking Hermione's family. The whole family was to be killed and incompetence is the only reason Cyrus was the only one killed.
Lady Augusta was injured at a fundraiser luncheon the Death Eaters raided to sow some fear. Sheer happenstance.
The Tonks were targeted because they were well-known blood traitors (Bellatrix's sister anyone?). Again, happenstance.
All the other engagements, Harry et al have courted or deliberately sought out. Only two were targeted at the boy-who-lived and they were in response to previous Death Eater losses.