Chapter 14

The Werewolves Run Rampant!

What a droll morning this must be in the wizarding world as we mourn the losses of many loved ones and neighbors. The strike on Diagon Ally was unparalleled to anything that has happened in the war thus far. The wolves came in bloodthirsty and battle hungry, our aurors and local task force were no match. The estimated death toll may be a to high number of 23, closer to a hundred were injured, while at least thirty are now going to be questionable werewolves. Whatever set these creatures in a frenzy one must ask themselves what is the Ministry doing to keep us safe? What precautions are being put into place to ensure this type of event never occurs again? Who can we turn to in these dark times? Who is looking to take leadership in a crumbling country that is on the verge of collapse?"

Stay Safe Readers, Rita Skeeter.

Harry grinned as he read the article written by his favorite journalist. His father was standing before all the gathered death eaters in preparation for the first assault delivering his opening speech, "You will all follow his orders to the exact command. He has been raised to be a tactical prodigy. He has helped me plan many raids and assaults that you all execute on a regular basis. Rabastian and Regulus will be watching over him to ensure he keeps his head is on straight, but I expect no problems. You follow his orders as if they were coming directly from my mouth. Am I understood?"

The death eaters all bowed in response and the Dark Lord motioned for Harry to step forward. Harry had been planning with his father for the past month on these three assaults, and today they would destroy all three and decimate the werewolf population, "The plan is simple, fiendfire will draw them out of the compounds in mass numbers. Even though we are striking at night does not mean that have an advantage, they will be at their weakest the night of a New Moon. They are basically just ordinary wizards, most who have barely any training, the only difference is their reflexes. They turned to dogs and became exactly that, now we are going to put them down like every other faithful master must eventually do. If you show cowardice on the field of battle, or directly disobey a single order, I will kill you. Any questions?"

Silence rang throughout the room, "Good lets move out. The second we hit the ground, Barty and Rookwood will set up the wards. Then we will let the fire fight begin."

A loud cheer broke out from somewhere in the middle of the ranks and the death eaters began marching to the apparation point with Harry in the lead.

It took two weeks for the Werewolves to get over their power struggle and re-establish any type of leadership. A young werewolf named Jacoby Treswyler had ascended to the position of apex predator and attempted to re-establish peace with the death eaters, but they were firmly rebuked. A week later the backlash hit the community. Diagon Ally was sacked by werewolves as was parts of Hogsmeade and other locations across the continent. A week after that Harry had gathered enough intelligence to strike. His father had left the entire werewolf operation to him, which meant whether if succeeded or failed it would all be on him. It was a lot of pressure, but Harry knew he could handle it.

When they reached the apparation point Harry barked out, "I will start the battle, no one is to fire until I give the word."

With that the wards were lowered and twenty five death eater apparated out. Only four inner circle members had joined this mission, it would've been only two, but they needed Rookwood and McNair for the wards. As they all quietly popped around a large property that had clearly been hostilely taken over Harry felt the wards around the place were undisturbed.

Harry motioned for all the death eaters to hold and be silent while he summoned his battlefield commanders. Harry whispered, "Rabastian, I know you are supposed to stay by my side, so I will respect that however that means I want to break this up into four groups instead of five. Regulus, Rabastian, and I will be our own group. Rookwood, I want you to take a group of five around the back to make sure none escape that way. McNair, I want you to to take six around to the right strong side, Gibbons, I want you to take six up the front. Regulus, Rabastian, and I will take the right flank. Ward braking is a bit above my skill sets at the moment. I could attempt to destroy them with sheer power, but they would have to much time to respond. If I understand Rookwood is amongst the best curse breakers in the world, so he will lead the break. Which changes the plan to Gibbons and McNair setting up the wards. Are we all ready?"

The death eaters nodded and Harry shook his head, "On the mark of red sparks, begin the onslaught. Rookwood you will cast those red sparks, as the general on this battlefield I am relying on you. Good luck gentlemen."

With those inspiring words of encouragement the men took their task forces and departed to their locations. Upon arrival to the Right Flank, Rabastian shot over, "Your father will kill me if you die out here, so try not to kid alright?"

Harry snorted, "I was just thinking the same thing about Bellatrix, I know she wouldn't appreciate if I let her kid brother die in battle while he was at my side."

Regulus questioned, "Highest kill count wins?"

Rabastian and Harry responded simultaneously, "Your on Black!"

With those words the men placed their death eater mask on and the red sparks flew through the air as Harry visibly noticed the wards crumble. Harry immediately darted two steps forward dropping a tidal wave on fiend fire on the house. First a howl was heard, then Harry took a fighting step backwards. It was just in time as spells came flying out of the house along with bodies in hope of escaping the demonic like flames. Harry fired the first killing curse of the day impacting a large werewolf in the chest. Harry immediately started keeping count as wolves began pouring out of the hideout. Harry clearly underestimated the sheer number of werewolves that were in the compound as clearly closer to forty had piled out, but their was no strength amongst the number. Only a single death eater went down in the first skirmish. No wolf had even gotten within ten yards of Harry, Rabastian, or Regulus, the three fought side by side like a couple of bats out of hell.

When the fighting stopped nothing was left of the house, but ash. Harry looked at Regulus. "7"

Rabastian sighed, "6"

Regulus bit his lip, "8"

"Liar."

"Damnit!"

Harry roared out, "Move out to the next check point lets move quickly."

The night went by just like that, the blitz was to much for the werewolves. Harry expected things were adrift though. The last house stood before him, and just like the ones before them he dropped fiend fire on top, but this time something extinguished the flames with a repelling charm that he had never seen before. At first Harry was shocked as he had never heard of a repellant to fiend fire, other than a very powerful shielding charm that could absorb it.

Suddenly a loan wizard roamed out to the front property. One of the death eaters attempted to throw a killing curse at the man, but Harry couldn't get a look at him do to his surroundings. However he did see a sick orange light shoot at the death eater and strike him in the chest knocking him out cold. Harry gasped hitting Regulus and signaling him to follow him tightly.

When they cleared the corner it was very clear who this loan wizard was, he was speaking to the death eaters, "This house is under the protection of the Order of Phoenix. If you want it, you will have to fight for it. I have close to fifty capable fighters in doors at the moment, at my command you will all be surrounded. I ask kindly that you lay down your wands and surrender. We promise no harm will come to you, you will even be fed handsomely while you are placed under arrest."

Regulus swore, "Shit Dumbledore. What do we do?"

Harry gulped taking steps towards his headmaster. Regulus followed closely behind as Dumbledore turned towards Harry. Harry made sure his spells were intact on his voice as he pointed his wand at Dumbledore, "FIGHT OR DIE! AVADA KEDAVRA!"

At that all the death eaters roared in approval, and spells were flung from behind them as well as from the house. Harry however watched in awe as the headmaster dodged his killing curse with practiced ease. Regulus was covering Harry as the young man then began spit firing curses at Dumbledore. Faster than Harry had ever seen he had his wand in his hand and began shielding and returning fire at rapid speed. When Harry absorbed all of this the headmaster finally squared off properly against him. He then haphazardly dodged a killing curse from one of Harry's death eaters. Harry then barked, "THE OLD MAN IS MINE!"

With that blast of courage the battlefield went still. Regulus was still covering Harry, but fire from the building had stopped. All the fighters in the building were clearly visible, as were the ones from the back. It was clear at least fifteen of the Order members were at least injured and unable to fight, and only six of Harry death eaters were incapacitated.

Dumbledore spoke softly, "Come now son, do you not know who I am?"

Harry tilted his head to the side, as if he were some sort of bird analyzing his prey, "Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. Age 152, defeater of Gellert Grindelwald, holder of the Elder Wand."

The aged headmaster gave a light smile, "You seem to know much of me, but I do not know anything about you?"

"I am the Prince. The equal of the Dark Lord, and commander of the death eaters. You may call me Master if you must address me though, I think you will find a lack of need to do such a thing after this fight."

Harry held his wand to his face to initiate the first step of the duel. The experienced man matched his pose, "Surely you know you can't beat me? I must have at least a hundred years of experience on you, and more raw power than your master could ever hope to attain. Do not make me do this child."

At first Harry though Dumbledore might know he was fighting, but then realized to the headmaster most people were aged like children, "Memorize my mask old man, it is the last thing you will ever see."

Harry then bowed allowing the headmaster to do the same. As soon as his back straightened Harry begun the fight. He fought with speed, not power. He knew he had to keep the headmaster busy, with the elder wand in his hand, he could deal a devastating blow with just a few curses. His speed threw the old man on the defense though. He kept it like this only for thirty seconds, when the old man whirled around slamming his wand across his body like a sword sending a slash straight at Harry, allowing him to barely summon a shield. Harry knew he was in trouble when Albus took a step forward in the offensive stance. His spell work was so intricate and sporadic Harry could barely maneuver around it. A bone breaker slipped threw Harry's defenses pushing him backwards on the ground. The master of charms then sent a disarming hex at Harry at such a speed he barely had time to wandlessly deflect the curse. The headmaster was so surprised he didn't see Harry fire the killing curse right at him. He was lucky that for the first time Harry's aim was a little off, for the curse went maybe six inches to his left.

"You can do Wandless magic?"

Harry stood strongly holding his wand in the air with his good wand, "Only for the most powerful, now let us fight Dumbledore, I am not done fighting yet."

Harry reached for his surroundings, he felt his wand desperately grab for something heavy and the house was the only thing it could get. Part of it came flying off to shoot into the air forming a barrier between the old man and Harry. Dumbledore stared in awe as the intricate shield was being built. Harry then grinned and set the thing on fire and blasting the pieces of the house straight at him. The old man however was faster, he began banishing it back, even breaking most of it up as it came at him. Harry swore under his breath as the old man finally banished what was left of what he had summoned. Dumbledore then roared out a powerful curse that Harry had never heard of. Harry brought up his strongest shield, but the power was to much, it toppled Harry over. The pain was similar to the torture curse, Harry writhed on the ground trying to hold on to his wand, but then he felt another curse strike his hand causing the wand to fly. Suddenly his vision and senses returned and he stood unarmed in front of the headmaster, his death eaters, and the Order of the Phoenix.

Dumbledore had his wand leveled at his. Harry called out, "Peace and Order is what my empire will bring. The death eaters are on a new path. We are under new leadership, the Dark Lord may be the supreme ruler, but I hold a large sway. The werewolves that are criminals are our only targets, we are truly trying to make the world a better place. I stand before you naked. I am unarmed, but I am still prepared to fight. You will not take me alive, but just know all thoughts of peace with the death eaters go with me." Harry then leveled his eyes at the headmaster, "Kill me if you think you can. I am not done fighting old man."

Harry reached for a sharp picket in a nearby fence and fired it at his headmaster at an unheard of speed, but the white haired man deflected it just in time and through a purple curse that Harry knew he couldn't block straight at him. He braced himself for impact, but it never came. Harry opened his eyes and almost cried out in relief. His father was standing in front of him with his wand drawn and a shield raised, "That's enough Dumbledore."

"Ah glad you could join us Tom." The aged headmaster took a pleasant smile to his face as Harry took a side at his father re-summoning his wand to his hand, "However it was foolish to come without back up."

The Dark Lord smiled, "I need no more back up then I have here presently. Amongst us I have three very talented inner circle members, and my son."

Dumbledore took a step back, "Harry? Is that truly you?"

"Now, now, Dumbledore outside of school my son only answers to the name Prince. He is a speaker of snakes and an heir to Salzaar Slytherin after all. Now this is a one time deal Dumbledore, you will never receive this offer from me again throughout this war. Take your wounded and leave. I have a force of fifty coming, they will be here the moment I fire the first spell. I only make this offer to you because my son has been injured. I also have quite a bit of respect for a select few of the Hogwarts Professors you have in that house, it is them you can thank tonight for the reason you are able to eat dinner." Lord Voldemort stood clear and powerful.

"Your generosity has never waged Tom, I will of course accept any offer to avoid blood shed. I look forward to our next battle. Harry, I will see you in a few months. I expect that we can keep quiet about this whole skirmish, remember, when you are ready to talk my office will be open to you!"

With that the old man held his wand in the air, and pops rang throughout the small area, leaving only the death eaters. The Dark Lord then turned to his son, "The mission was a success, you did beautifully."

Harry held his head low, "I failed you father, we only destroyed two of the outpost."

Tom Riddle put his hand on his only sons shoulder, "There were only two outpost Harry. The last was a trap set by the order. There is a third outpost out their somewhere, but intelligence has yet to find it, but don't worry you did well." he then turned to the rest of the death eaters, "We have all done well tonight. We struck a major dent in the enemies forces tonight, return to base and drink well. Tomorrow we will prepare for another strike. Return at my call."

The death eaters cheered and fired the Dark Mark in the sky due to the three members of the Order that were actually killed and apparated away leaving only the Dark Lord and his prince. Harry sighed, "He is so powerful father, I couldn't hold him. He was playing with me, testing my strengths and weaknesses, had he started the battle with that curse, it wouldn't have gone any further. I had no defense for it. No shield I knew could have stopped that. It was to wide to dodge as well."

Lord Voldemort shook his head, "Lets finish this conversation in my office. Can you apparate by yourself?"

Harry nodded and did as he was told landing directly in his fathers office and taking a seat. When his father appeared it was in a sitting position on his throne, "The headmaster was the most powerful wizard in the world for many years, you are merely thirteen years old. You did beautifully Harry. Do not beat yourself up, but let it show you how much more work we have to do."

Harry knew his father rarely gave compliments so he knew he had to have done a good job against the headmaster, and it must have seriously impressed him, because he was basically telling Harry he won. The Dark Lord grinned, "I have fought with Dumbledore at full force on three separate occasions, if he is still standing you know the man has power. Yet he ages everyday, taking another step towards death. While you and I take steps towards more power everyday. I have seven horcruxes that are fully functional. I have the immortal stone. I have a son that is going to help me lead a golden age, our futures are bright, while the old man only holds death. One of us will be his downfall for his power has already began to cascade. Your time will come Harry."

"He took everything from me father. I hope I am the one to finish him. I have never truly wanted to kill anyone in my life, except maybe Gabriel Greengrass, but father, I desire his death." Harry admitted openly.

"Then let the hatred fuel your power. Let it flow through your veins as you train. The old man will not go down easily, you must learn to push your core, and age it maturely. It will grow, and one day you may be more powerful than us all." The Dark Lord exclaimed proudly.

"I can only aspire to be your equal father. I will tire myself endlessly to do so, until we can stand up to the headmaster and the world." Harry proclaimed.

The Dark Lord nodded his head, "Good, now go get some rest, tomorrow we are heading to France for a week, then to Russia. Our American friends will be meeting us here the day before your birthday, so if you wish to hold your birthday the next day with your friends that would be acceptable. Just be careful who you invite."

"Of course father. I will be ready in the morning at first light. Goodnight and thank you for coming to save me."

"Always son, goodnight."

The Next Day

Harry stood nervously in front of the mirror as he tightened his tie making sure everything apart of his outfit was sharp. Tonight he was meeting Neville and his family to make an acquaintance in a nicer restaurant in Diagon Alley. It took a little convincing for the Dark Lord not to send some of his inner circle to watch his back from the shadows, but Harry held the utmost confidence that nothing would happen to him in the presence of the Longbottom family.

Harry sighed as he walked out towards the manors exit doors hearing his fathers words in his head from the night before, 'No matter what happens tonight, I do not regret what I did all those years ago. I did what had to be done, you know that. I am sorry that intelligence was blocked from me about your true Godparents, but I swear to allow you a chance to fix it. Go see them with grace, just be careful, they are still devoted followers to the light, just as the Potters once were.'

Those words were ringing. Harry knew he dare not bring politics into the conversation, he knew he dare not bring his father into the conversation, and he dare not mention his standing on the Death Eater Conflict.

As he apparated away from the manors apparation point he landed smoothly in Knockturn Alley he immediately began his journey towards the restaurant where he was meeting the Longbottoms in five minutes. It easily took him this amount of time to make it down there as when he walked in a group of four were waiting for him. Frank Longbottom reminded him a bit of pictures he had seen of his father, honestly the men could have been cousins. His short brown hair may have contrasted James Potter, but the startling brown eyes that spoke of ancient power reminded him of his biological father, even the broader shoulders, and well rounded face, spoke Potter blood. Harry of course knew the Longbottom and Potter family had been connected for a long time, and the probability that Frank and he were related distantly were exponentially possible.

Alice Longbottom looked beautiful, with her shoulder length brown hair, and dark blue dress. Her figure may not have been much to talk about, but she did have a pretty face, with a notable stunning set of blue eyes that clearly Neville inherited from her. Neville himself looked a bit taller than Harry had last seen him, it was amazing how Wizards grew, for he was pretty sure even he himself had grown a bit taller in the month since school had let out. Then there was a small child Harry had never seen before, but he knew it must have been Nevilles little sister, that he only spoke of on occasion.

Harry was thankful that the first person to see him enter was Neville, as the boy charged his friend into a Gryffindor like hug, "Merlin Harry, I haven't heard from you in days, I half expected you not to show!"

Harry inwardly groaned in pain as Neville slammed his body into his previously broken shoulder from the night before, but he kept a smile on his face, "Sorry mate, I have been busy training with my father, and preparing to leave abroad. I thought about flooing you last night, but it was really late."

Then a sweet voice rang through the air, and Harry felt his heart skip a beat, "Harry James?"

Harry turned back to face the Matriarch of the Longbottom family. He gave her a low bow, "Forgive me, I am Harry James Riddle, your Godson by birth."

Alice Longbottom strode over to him wrapping her slender arms around him bringing him into a tight embrace, "I am glad to see you alive and well after all these years. You still remind of the little boy I once knew. You still have the scar that Lily gave James hell over when you fell off your miniature broom and clipped your ear."

Harry's hand instinctively went to the little scar on his left ear, whispering, "So that's how I got this?"

Alice laughed and it seemed to light up the room in real joy, "Yes, I remember Frank and James were sitting at work when a Howler landed on your father's desk. He had tried to keep it quiet, as it was so small and his healing magic was fairly powerful, but it was to no avail as when Lily found out the very Earth cringed with fear."

That was when the man spoke up beside Alice, "Hell hath no fury like Lily Potter's scorn."

Harry offered his hand, "You must be Frank Longbottom, Neville speaks very highly of you."

Frank took the young man's hand clearly surprised by the strength of the grasp, "Yes, that would be me. It seems you don't remember, but it peeved your Godfather off to no end when you were able to say, Uncl' Frank, before Sirius."

Harry grinned as that matched the description of what Regulus had told of him his imprisoned Godfather, "I wish I could remember the little things, I haven't known much about my parents most of my life."

While that wasn't necessarily true, he did enjoy hearing stories of them when they were younger, and he knew that Frank and Alice would enjoy telling him stories of when they were all younger.

When they took a table the conversation swayed of his parents for quite some time, and even retelling of some of the events that took place at Hogwarts this year. He down played his role in the fight against the trolls appearing modest in the eyes of the Longbottom family, a modesty that Neville allowed him to take no part in, "You should've seen him the next day, his broken arm was almost a side note in the whirl of everything that happened. He was about ready to curse the headmaster from here to Shanghai."

Alice scowled at that, "Albus was lucky he got off so easily with the board of governors. Frank holds a spot and he attempted to enact some serious punishment, but to few of the other governors were on board, so the matter slipped through the tracks. Much like the disappearance of your astronomy professor."

Harry knew that Neville had been kept in the dark on the events of the train and Quirrels demise, but he couldn't help, but feel the urge to tell them. He wouldn't because he knew he shouldn't, but for several moments he considered it. He liked to hear the anger in Alice's voice in his name of unfairness. It made him feel a little more loved, which is something he never really experienced until he was older and winning the death eaters favor through hard work and skill, not by birth and love. Alice spoke again, "So tell me about your home life? I have never had the pleasure of personally meeting your father, neither has Frank to our knowledge. What is he like?"

Harry spoke carefully, "I love my home. I have lived there since Regulus Black came in search of me when I was just a small boy. When Regulus found me he took me away from Petunia and Vernon Dursely, but he knew he was in no position to raise a child. Regulus was the youngest child of the Black family as we all know, so he couldn't really turn to many people. He did however have a mentor that was rather rich and powerful, which was Tom Riddle. So Regulus took me before him and begged to give me a place to say and my father who was a rather lonely individual decided to take me in and show me a new world. He taught me everything there was to know about magic. Apparently my magical core grew to powerful by the age of seven though, so he took me to get a license to use magic outside of school in order to keep my core from destroying things with accidental burst of magic. I grew up around families like the Malfoy's, and befriended their children over time. As for just what my father is like, he is very powerful. I can sense an old magic in him that is clearly ancient, much like you Lord Longbottom, I can feel the power resonating through you, as I can with Neville. It is ancient magic that goes back to the time of the founders, but my father is definitely the most powerful wizard I have ever met, perhaps even more so then the headmaster. He just prefer words of wisdom than politics and war."

Harry knew this matched almost everything he had ever told Neville about his father and how he became to be a Slytherin, and how he came to be friends with darker families. Frank however spoke, "First, please just call me Frank, Lord Longbottom is only for the days in the Wizengamot."

Alice then spoke, "Second we are thrilled to hear you had a productive childhood. What you tell us matches Neville's description of your power. He had often wondered how you out fought him, as we honestly expected Neville to be the most powerful first year by miles."

Neville pipped up, "Its honestly kind of nice though mum, we all kind of expected me to be the apex predator, but it is nice to see Harry take the mantle. He has a sort of leadership that surrounds him, when he speaks, especially to crowds people turn and listen."

Alice smiled, "Lily had that affect on people, and of course you know you descend from Godric Gryffindor himself, so your bravery speaks from the heart instead of the sword."

Harry laughed, "I am just a shadow of my father's power. I strive to match him, but I fail miserably. I do enjoy my studies as they consume most of my life. I have of course tried to make friends like Susan Bones, and a few others that I have seen during the summer holidays, but I have to stay on top to live up to my Potter Legacy, and the legacy my father wishes for me to have."

Frank merely grinned at the boy, "Said like a true Potter, your family has been good friends with mine since..."

The conversation went easy for the rest of the night speaking of the past, and the near future, where the Longbottoms wished for him to come out to the manor for Neville's birthday so they could all celebrate as a family. Harry quickly agreed anxious to get to know his magical Godparents on a new level. When they went separate ways that night, everyone left with a bright smile.

(A/N) Shabam. Dumbledore showdown that people have been waiting for! This time I will wait until the 18th or if I get 40 reviews! This chapter was huge, so please give me your thoughts and comments so I can get you a chapter sooner! Next chapter will involve the Delacours! So until next time, review!