Chapter Twenty
Learning the Enemy
Harry and Dumbledore talked till the early hours of the morning, discussing the plan that was forming in Harry's mind. As soon as they had planned all that could be planned they went to sleep. They all woke the next morning feeling refreshed and wide awake. They knew they had business to attend to so everyone cleaned up quick and dressed as much like professionals as they could before setting off to the council building.
The appeared in the offices of the Wizard Police Force of New York promptly at 8:00 AM. They had already split themselves into the groups they would be in for this adventure. They decided it best to split into 5 groups. Harry and James were the first team to enter, followed closely by Dumbledore and Sirius, then Lily and Serena with Hermione and Remus close to them. The last group was the largest, consisting of Ginny, Neville, and Ron. The split up this way so the skills were well rounded for all teams to work effectively.
Harry and James were paired for the reason of Harry have more knowledge of spells than anyone else save Dumbledore aside from the specialty spells of James that he claimed had to be performed to perfection. Lily asked Harry to look out for James as soon as this was announced which caused a great deal of laughter at James' expense. Dumbledore and Sirius were paired for much the same reason. Also, they seemed to be the only group that didn't have Harry's shield charm. Sirius joked that if they died Harry could always just bring them back. Harry laughed and said he'd see if it was worth it by the way they died. This caused another round of laughter.
Lily and Serena were paired due to them both having rather strong training in defense and attack. Serena was a skilled auror as Tonks, and made even more skilled as Serena. Lily was trained in defense by McGonagall, as well as being trained in auror school. Those two things led everyone to believe Serena and Lily to be the safest group aside from Harry's and Dumbledore's group.
Hermione and Remus were paired as they were the most rounded two of the entire group. Even Harry and Dumbledore admitted they would be better alone than with the help of others. They each seemed to compliment the other well. And so they did.
That was how they all approached the entire situation. Dumbledore and Harry looked at Sarah as if this were the first time they'd ever spoken to each other. The way they handled the situation shocked even Sarah..
"Ms. Hartinger?" Harry asked.
"Yes I am." Sarah answered.
"We are here on behalf of the Ministry of Magic." Dumbledore stated with authority. "We have come to help you with the current situation of the Mandatum Specialis."
"Yes, I was informed of your coming. I am surprised that you got here so quickly." Sarah replied seriously.
"We do what must be done, Miss." Harry answered. "Now can you please inform us of the current situation?"
Sarah nodded firmly. "Of course. Right this way." She said.
They followed Sarah to the most private room in the office and sat down before Harry nodded at Dumbledore. "It's time to fill them all in." He said.
Dumbledore nodded. "I agree, Harry." He started. "We know of our enemy, but not how to find out more of our enemy. We are at a slight disadvantage this time. Our enemy knows of us but we know nothing of them. This is the situation we must remedy.
"We must start using our old methods to track our enemy." Dumbledore said with a nod to James, Remus, and Sirius. "For the older ones here that will be easiest. They know those ways well. The younger of this group should begin using the methods they know of well to find out how deep things go with this group. We have three days before we will need this information."
"Why?" Serena asked.
"What happens in three days?" Ginny asked.
"We attack." Harry said. "Or at least, I attack."
"What do you mean you attack?" Serena asked.
"They showed what lengths they were willing to go through to get me here." Harry said looking directly at Serena. "Now I have to show them how far I'm willing to go to protect my friends."
"Why alone Harry?" James asked. "Let us go with you."
"Harry has a plan." Lily said. "Let's hear it out before we judge it. What is your plan Harry?"
"I'm going after Gabriel." Harry answered. "He's the weak link. I won't have to go through a lot to get him, but I have to do it alone. If I go into this one with an army they'll be prepared for a war. If I go in alone, they'll prepare for only me. We need the element of surprise because six of us just lost our best form of protection."
"It was not your best Harry." Dumbledore said. "It was just your easiest."
Harry nodded. "You're right. But sometimes easier is better." He said.
"You are right as well Harry." Dumbledore said.
"So you are going alone to kidnap a rich and powerful man all so that they will think you are doing this alone?" Serena asked.
"Exactly." Harry replied.
"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard of!" Hermione exclaimed. "If these people did any studying on you they will know that you don't work alone ever. You've always had someone standing beside you to at the very least give you support."
"True, but if we show them exactly how many people we have willing to fight then we give away more knowledge Miss Granger." Dumbledore said, before correcting himself quickly. "I mean, Mrs. Weasley."
Hermione laughed at this. "If we are to call you Albus, you could at least call us all by our first names. It is quite difficult to handle this maturely when I still feel like a child when called Miss Granger, Albus." She said.
"I apologize Hermione." Dumbledore said with a smile. "I will try to remember that in the future."
"Anyway, what Albus means is we can't let them know that we are all here at this time." Harry said seriously. "To think I may have five others to help is one thing, as that is only a suspicion at most. To know that all of us are here and ready to fight is another. It gives away our strength, which is something we can't do while we don't know theirs."
"So basically, you just want to do this one alone?" James asked with a slight smile on his lips.
"Basically." Harry answered.
"Got it." James said. "Harry attacks in three days then."
"You just agree to him going alone?" Lily asked James in a furious tone. "What if something happens to him? What if he's hurt again like he was last time? Who will help him then if he's alone?"
"Won't happen Lil." James said as he smiled at her brightly. "Because the Marauders have a plan."
"And we never fail with a plan." Ron said with a grin.
"Especially a plan that well thought out." Sirius added with a smirk.
"What is this plan that has you three so cheerful?" Lily asked, clearly curious.
"Win." Harry said with an innocent smile.
"Agreed!" Neville, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione said quickly.
"Damn straight!" James said.
"Don't we always?" Remus said.
"Nothing can stop us." Sirius said with a smile. "I love those strong plans of Harry's." He added laughing.
"Win?!" Lily and Serena shouted angrily.
"You expect us to accept a plan like 'win'?" Lily asked.
"Harry, I'm disgusted with you." Serena said angrily. "You prepare for a war with a plan like 'win'?"
"Of course." Harry said brightly.
Serena looked incredulously at Harry before turning to Lily and shaking her head. "We're so screwed!" She exclaimed.
"That's what I said at first." James said with his smile still firm in place. "But if you roll it around a bit in your head it really seems like a firm plan."
"Or a ridiculous hope." Lily said, now more angry than before.
"Dumbledore helped with the plan though." Harry said. "With such brilliance coming from both of us, that plan has to hold together." He added with a laugh.
"Or send us all to our death because the plan wasn't fully formed." Serena said. "Maybe the Marauder women should try to come up with something stronger than that. Honestly! Win! Pathetic plan."
"I like the ending of that plan myself." Sirius said with a laugh.
"Well then it's settled." Lily said. "You boys go learn what you can, and be careful about it. Hermione, Ginny, Serena, and I will come up with a plan that seems better than 'win'."
"Can I ask that you at least incorporate 'win' into the end of your plan, Lily dear?" James asked seriously.
"James, if you are not gone in five seconds I will curse you worse than I've ever cursed you before." Lily said seriously as she sent a furious look in James direction. "Take your son, and all of the Potters' demoralized friends with you. I suggest you start researching how to get to this Gabriel person as easily as possible. If one hair is out of place on Harry's head, I will make you suffer James. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Lily dear." James said. "Guys, come on. Time to get to work."
"3!" Lily said loudly.
"We're leaving Lil!" James exclaimed. "Hurry up and move us Harry. Now!"
"1!" Lily exclaimed as they all disappeared.
"You've got to teach me how to do that Lil." Serena said with a smile.
"Curse one of them till no one could imagine them being anything near a normal creature just once and they all fall in line behind him." Lily said with a smile. "Okay girls, Let's get to planning."
"I really don't see why she was so angry." James said as he and Harry leaned against a wall calmly talking while waiting for the rest of the robes Dumbledore told them to purchase. "I think it is a very sound strategy myself."
"I don't know, Dad." Harry replied. "It only had one weakness that I could see."
"What was that, my boy?" James asked.
"The entire plan was one word long." Harry answered with a grin.
James laughed. "That's what's so great about it." He said. "It was so simple it left little room for error. It is what is known as a basic plan."
"Very basic." Harry quipped.
"True, but we said a plan." James responded. "We didn't say a mission statement or complete battle strategy. We said a plan and I, for one, plan to win this."
"As do I." Harry said.
"So you see, it's a perfect plan." James said with a smile.
"So, our plan is win basically?" Harry asked.
"Basically." James replied.
"I hope they think of something." Harry said seriously.
"Me too." James agreed. "How the bloody hell did you think 'win' was a good enough plan?"
"It seemed like a good idea at the time." Harry answered. "I figured the plan would just come together as soon as one thing fell into place."
"What was that one thing?" James asked.
"I don't know." Harry replied. "I think that's why we're still sticking with win for the moment."
"Got you." James said as he shook his head. "How did you manage to win a war with such a horrid planning ability?"
"I wasn't always this bad. I used to be rather good." Harry said.
"What did you do during the war?" James asked.
"I used fear to my advantage." Harry answered. "I turned all the fear the Death Eaters used against them."
"Hmm… I think I'm getting an idea." James said with a grin. "No, wait, I actually have a plan!"
"It isn't win is it?" Harry asked with a smile.
"No, but come on and let's do something real quick." James said. "The robes will wait for us."
"All right, Dad. Let's go." Harry said with a grin. "I hope this is good."
"Albus, I think all of us are in trouble." Sirius said solemnly.
"How do you mean Sirius?" Albus asked.
"Well, Lily and Serena were none to happy with us when we left. They were even less happy with you and Harry for using the whole win thing as a plan." Sirius answered.
"That was merely the beginning. We only need a little time to learn our enemies strategies, strengths, and weaknesses so we can start planning a true plan of action." Albus replied.
"I know that, as do the rest of us, but Lily and Serena don't seem to notice that." Sirius said. "We might not have said that to them, I admit, but it was for the morale that we did."
Albus laughed. "I see. So you tried to enrage Lily and Serena to raise the morale of the group?"
"Exactly." Sirius said with a smile.
"How does that help morale?" Albus asked.
"Just look at how quickly James moved and tell me it didn't at least inspire him." Sirius replied with a devilish grin.
"That it did." Albus admitted with a chuckle.
"Do you think Lily will curse them?" Ron asked.
"Harry and Dumbledore?" Neville asked.
"No, Sirius and James." Ron replied.
Neville smiled. "Definitely." He answered.
"Think the girls will have a plan when we get back?" Ron asked.
"I would be more surprised if they don't have one they already thought out about a week ago." Neville replied.
"Point." Ron said with a smile. "Got to love them eh?"
"No choice really." Neville replied with a grin. "They'd curse us if we didn't."
"Agreed." Ron said with a laugh.
"Okay girls, what are we going to do?" Lily asked. The three teenage girls stared at her dumbstruck by these words. They had all assumed that Lily had a plan.
"You mean you don't know?" Serena asked.
"Of course not." Lily replied. "I don't have any information aside from these files. I need a lot more information than this if I'm to make a plan."
"We are so screwed." Ginny said. "The guys will have our heads if we don't have something better than 'win' when they get back."
"I really don't think it will be all that bad." Lily said seriously.
"Did you forget who we are talking about?" Serena asked.
"Surely they wouldn't…" Lily started before she sighed. "Bloody hell, we are screwed."
"What if we bugged the place where they meet?" Hermione asked. "That could at least give us some information that we didn't know earlier."
"How would bugs tell us anything, Hermione?" Serena asked.
"A bug is a listening device muggles use." Hermione answered. "I just figured we shouldn't stick to a purely magical attack since we are in a place where so much is blended together. They obviously don't have anything stopping electricity so why not use that to our advantage?"
"That is a brilliant idea, Hermione!" Lily said quickly. "Already better than 'win'."
"I don't know, win does have a certain cheerfulness to it." Serena said with a smile.
Lily laughed at this. "James did seem so happy with it." She said.
"They are hopeless." Serena said as she started to laugh.
"They are, but we will love them as always." Ginny said as she laughed as well.
"Too true." Hermione said, being the last to join in the laughter.
"All right, what are we doing here?" Harry asked curiously.
"We are going to use fear against these people." James said with a smile.
"How is that?" Harry asked.
"I'm going to create a diversion, allowing you the time to sneak into that Dorian guy's office and destroy it." James replied. "Then we'll pull the grand finale."
"Great." Harry said. "Is this your plan?"
"Yup." James answered.
"I hope it works." Harry replied to this.
"Just give me five minutes and then get to his office." James said before he ran to the building.
Harry shook his head and laughed as he thought of his fathers plan. This had to be the craziest thing he ever heard of but he could do nothing but go along with it. He knew his dad wouldn't be swayed from his plan so he kept track of his watch and prayed his father lived up to the marauder expectations. When five minutes had passed he moved himself to Dorian's office.
True to James' word the office was empty. Harry immediately began destroying everything as quickly as he could. In seconds the room was in utter chaos. Pictures were shredded, books obliterated, the desk was shattered in a hundred pieces as was the computer on top of it, papers were ripped and thrown all over the room, glass cases were shattered and the objects in them destroyed, the walls were ripped apart leaving only bare beams, and the floor to ceiling windows of the corner office were completely shattered. Just before leaving Harry picked up something that fell out of the computer and hoped it would be of use. Harry then moved himself back to where he was standing only seconds before. James came out a minute or two later with a smile.
"How did you do that?" Harry asked.
"Simple. I walked to the pay phone and told them his car was being towed." James said with a laugh. "Are you ready for the finale?"
"Definitely." Harry answered with a grin.
Remus had been the only one on his own so he decided it best to just watch Dorian Smyth. He knew from what Harry told him that he was the leader of this organization. He began watching his office building from a small café just a few buildings away on the other side of the street. He stood to move as he saw the man exit the building only to stop with eyes wide with shock as the man's car exploded thirty feet from where Dorian now stood.
"What the bloody hell was that?!" Remus exclaimed.
Sirius and Dumbledore were keeping close tabs on Gabriel Ashenhurst to find out his normal moving pattern. They felt this was the best help they could give in learning the information Harry would need to successfully kidnap the man. They thought nothing of this as they heard an explosion a few blocks away.
"Bloody hell! What was that?" Sirius asked quickly.
"I do not know, but I feel we should see if we could be of assistance." Albus replied. "We must help if we can."
"All right, let's go." Sirius said moving quickly.
Harry and James sat laughing outside the shop nearly breathless at what they had seen. The look of shock on Dorian Smyth's face as his car exploded was hilarious to both of them. They knew they would be in trouble later but at this moment they could care less.
"When you say a finale, you aren't kidding are you?" Harry said through his laughter.
"That look of shock will stay with me till the day I die again!" James said as he laughed wildly.
Harry, get back here immediately! Serena thought to him.
"We might both die today." Harry said as he sobered himself. "We were just called back to the office."
"Don't worry, I have a plan for that too." James said. "How long do those necklaces take to make?"
"Not long." Harry replied.
"Good, let's grab the robes and get going to Diagon Alley." James said while he continued to laugh.
"I wonder what's going on with everyone else." Neville said. "Watching this building is as boring as can be."
"Agreed." Ron said. "I wonder how everyone else is dealing with things."
Ron, contact Dumbledore, Sirius, and Remus and get back to the office immediately! Hermione thought to him.
"We're supposed-" Ron started.
"To get the people we can't think to and head back to the office." Neville said with a smile. "You forget that I have one too."
"Sorry Nev." Ron said with a smile. "Let's get moving."
"I wonder which of them did it." Serena said as she fumed at what she'd just heard.
"Do you really have to wonder at all?" Lily asked, equally angry. "It was an idea so stupid that only my husband could have uttered those tragic words: 'I have a plan'. I'm going to kill him."
"What the hell just happened?!" Remus asked as he, Dumbledore, Sirius, Ron, and Neville apparated into the room.
"Apparently someone thought it would be funny to blow up Dorian Smyth's car!" Lily said as her rage started to boil over.
"Tell me he didn't." Remus said solemnly.
"Who else would do something so block headed?" Lily asked him.
"I would." Sirius said. "Especially if I was bored."
"But you have Albus to watch you to keep you on the task at hand." Lily replied.
"James only has my idiot of a husband who grins as soon as he hears the same damned words we all grew to love as marauders." Serena added angrily. "Damn them both. They are going to destroy this plan before it is even in full swing."
"Oh, so we have a plan now?" Sirius asked curiously.
"Well, actually we're just getting started." Lily said quickly.
"So basically they are screwing up the whole 'win' plan?" Sirius asked.
"Basically." Ginny said with a smile.
"Oh, well to hell with that plan. I'm looking for a mission statement or battle strategy or something." Sirius said with a smile. "To hell with just 'win'."
"That is not the point!" Lily screamed. "What if this makes him scared?"
"Good." Sirius replied. "Scared people do stupid things."
"Hello everyone." Harry said as he and James appeared in the room.
"Run!" Sirius yelled at them. "They know you've done something stupid, so just run!"
"What are you talking about?" James asked. "We've only just returned from Diagon Alley."
"Diagon Alley?!" Lily screamed. "We send you to find information and you two take off for Diagon Alley? Most convenient considering someone just blew up Dorian Smyth's car, wouldn't you say?"
"Really?" Harry asked excited. "Which of you did it? Was it funny? Can I have the memory?"
"Harry James Potter!" Serena yelled at him. "You will tell me the truth immediately!"
"I did not blow up any car." Harry said. "Though it does sound like a brilliant prank. Was it yours Sirius?"
Sirius smiled. "No, but I wish I had. It might have livened up my day." He replied.
"What were you two doing in Diagon Alley then?" Lily asked still clearly angry.
"Celebrating my boy's brilliant plan." James said with a smile. "We've got presents for everyone."
"What plan was that?" Serena asked.
Harry replied by handing Hermione a computer hard drive. "Can you find anything on that to help us?" He asked.
"Where did it come from?" Hermione asked him.
"I stole it from Dorian's office." Harry said. "It was the first thing we did. Then we got the rest of the war robes and went to Diagon Alley."
"I'll see if I can, but I can't promise you anything." Hermione replied.
"What did you two get?" Sirius asked.
James nodded at Harry who began passing out small boxes to everyone, including Dumbledore. Everyone opened them to find gold necklaces with pendants on them. For the marauders each one bore their animal form save Remus who had a wolf. Lily's necklace had a single lily and Dumbledore's had a phoenix. They all looked at Harry curiously. James smiled.
"My boy is truly amazing." James said. "Used spells that were only supposed to be used on silver and used them on gold. It's done perfectly if I do say so myself. Harry and I have been talking with them since we got them."
Remus smiled. "I thought it had to be silver." He said.
Harry grinned. "Well, the spell isn't exactly the same one." He said. "I had to tweak it a little bit, but they do a fair bit of things now."
"Like what?" Ron asked seriously.
"They let us all talk to each other like yours does." James said with a smile.
"They send a message automatically if one of us has been hurt." Harry said.
"But my personal favorite is this." James said and disappeared as Harry laughed. James popped up behind them with a grin on his face. "No more loud apparating when we can all do that."
Harry smiled and looked at Dumbledore. "Did we do a good job Albus?"
Dumbledore smiled. "Yes, Harry. I feel that we are already improving our arsenal."
"So you two went to Diagon Alley just for these necklaces?" Lily asked, with disbelief in her voice.
James pulled out a box and put a ring on Lily's left ring finger and then showed her his. "No, I had to get these as well. Harry has ours but these are perfect replicas. They even have the same charm we had on them." He said.
"There is a charm on them?" Harry asked.
"Of course, Harry." Lily said with a smile. "I'm sure you've noticed that since you've been married anytime Serena is hurt or saddened you feel it."
"Of course." Harry said.
"It's the same for me." Serena said.
"That's what the charm was for." James said. "We were married during a time when none could imagine an end to the darkness that surrounded us. We wanted a way to know the other was safe."
"And to be able to help if they weren't." Lily added with a smile. "Regardless of how we act at times, we do love each other and fight strongly together. Even if James sometimes looks at my opponents and says 'I know how that feels mate. Believe me I've been there too.'."
"Okay Harry, if you've been doing this then you've been thinking." Serena said with a smile. "Or James has. Now really, you must remember that I can tell when you've done something brilliant in your eyes so what have you been doing?"
"Trying to think of how I can use my tactics from the war in this fight." Harry answered.
"What do you mean?" Serena asked.
"Why did everyone worry I was going dark after that battle at Halloween?" Harry asked.
"Because we used fear as an-" Serena started then her mouth dropped. "You're going to terrify them aren't you?"
James smiled. "No, I'll be doing that." He said. "Harry and I could be twins after all."
"Except that you wear glasses and your hair isn't nearly long enough." Lily replied. "You also have none of the tattoos that he does."
"Easily fixed Lily dear." James said as he threw his glasses on the floor and crushed them as Harry laughed. "I took a page from Harry's book and got my eyes fixed." He added then looked at Harry. "Go ahead, son. Make me your twin."
Harry waved his hand and James' hair started to grow immediately. In a matter of seconds it hung an inch under his ears as Harry's did. While this was happening his arms quickly filled with tattoos just as Harry's were. Everyone was shocked the most when James' eyes turned green and showed that he did look exactly like Harry, especially when he grinned.
"See, a perfect match." James said. "Our son is a very accomplished wizard you know, Lil."
Lily laughed. "My, you two have been busy." She said.
"So, what is the great plan we've been waiting for on your front?" Harry asked.
"We will use whatever skills and strategies necessary to achieve our goal." Lily said seriously and hoped that it sounded official.
Harry and James looked at each other then back at Lily. "So, win, basically?" James said with a smile.
"Basically." Lily admitted.
Harry nodded and James smiled. "Bloody hell, I like it!" James said. "Brilliant work there."
"We only just started planning though." Lily said. "We plan to spy on them using muggle technology so that we can find out more about this group. Then we will be able to formulate a precise plan of action."
"So the same thing that held me and Dumbledore up are a road block for you as well?" Harry asked as a grin formed on his face. "Suddenly, win doesn't seem so pathetic."
"Sod off, Harry." Serena said with a smile. "Do you need anything else for your plan?"
"Just your necklace." Harry answered.
"Why?" Serena asked.
"They're all identical. Everyone knows I wear one and I didn't think to make one for Dad." Harry replied easily. "I was busy making the spells on ours work on gold."
"I promise I'll give it back when this is all over Serena." James said with a smile. "Besides, I've got my own cool necklace to play with now."
Serena pulled off the necklace and handed it to James. "The only thing I can't figure out is how he's going to use wandless magic." She though aloud.
"He isn't." Harry said. "Few people know that I can. But we are all marauders. Maybe these will help out the older ones." He added as he waved his hand and four more boxes appeared. "Maybe they can keep up now."
"You have been very busy Harry." Dumbledore said.
Harry nodded. "I'd have gotten one for you, but I thought that would only cause you more problems. You're amazing with one wand and know how to move easily like that. I didn't want to impede you progress with this." He said.
"It is all right, Harry." Dumbledore said. "I prefer to use only one wand."
Just then Sarah burst into the office. "What are they doing out there! Three more of the heads of the Mandatum Specialis have been attacked!" She exclaimed angrily.
"Who are you talking of doing something?" James asked.
"Really, you can't be talking of us in such a way." Harry added.
"Oh I didn't realize you were all here." Sarah said. "Lily and Serena said it sounded like something you would do Ha- wait, which one of you is Harry?"
"I'm Harry!" They replied in unison.
"James!" Lily yelled.
"Yes, dear?" James replied quickly.
"That one is James." Lily said with a smile.
"Well, we assumed it was you two, but seeing as how you're here it can't have been." Sarah said curiously.
"Not a chance." Harry said innocently.
"We've been perfect angels aside from Harry's small act of vandalism." James said with an angelic smile.
"Look, nothing is getting done this way." Harry said and handed Slytherin's ring to Serena. "Use it to help think up a plan. No great strategy or anything. Just plan like we did before. Our problem is trying to plan the entire thing instead of just one part at a time. Albus can help you. I'm going to take Ron, Neville, Sirius, Moony. and Dad with me. We've got to work some things out. We've got to find out about Gabriel. If you can, Serena, get around Dorian as a wolf and tell us what scents you get off him. We'll be back with some good information. Do what you can on the spying bit as well."
Serena nodded. "Got it." She said as she smiled. "It appears your mind is back."
"It just took a little time thinking calmly to figure it all out." Harry said with a smile. "Sarah, prepare a report to all the papers of the magical world revealing the fact that they exist as well as pictures of the heads of their council."
"I'll get it ready." Sarah said. "When do I release it?"
"Not yet. We'll talk about it tonight." Harry said with a grin. "And with that, we say goodbye." He finished and the six marauder men disappeared.
"You know they are the ones blowing things up right?" Serena asked Lily.
"Without a doubt." Lily answered with a smile. "I also know they will never admit to such a thing if their lives depended on it."
"Harry's right though." Serena said. "We did use fear to win the last war."
"I agree that fear has it's uses." Lily said. "But in the fact that they attacked Harry alone they showed us that they do not scare easily."
"I believe with those six alone with no one to control them but themselves, fear can be expected." Dumbledore said with a small smile. "They always terrorize who they mean to when they are together."
"Agreed!" Hermione, Ginny, and Serena said before they laughed.
"Very true, Albus." Lily added.
"Well, Harry has given us a start." Albus said. "I agree that we were trying to plan too much and too far ahead. Let us now begin with plans of the short term and prepare for what lies ahead."
"So you timed them to go off?" Sirius asked.
"Of course we did!" Harry exclaimed.
"We couldn't let Lily have definite proof that we'd blown them up." James added. "Then we'd have been in the crapper for sure."
"Okay, back to business." Remus said seriously. "What are we doing?"
"Well, Dad is going to cause some more random chaos." Harry said. "I'll be joining him as soon as I tell you all what the plan is for you guys."
"See you guys later." James said before disappearing.
"Can't I help James?" Sirius asked eagerly.
"No, because you look nothing like me." Harry said, his voice now serious. "Besides, I need someone who can act like a pureblood of the most honorable of Slytherins. You're the only person who's lived in a house with that kind of wizard to know how they act."
"What am I doing?" Sirius asked.
"You are going to be recruited by the Mandatum Specialis." Harry said with a smile. "There is a special spell on your necklace that acts like a magical field. I made it myself, and tested it. You won't seem as powerful as me but you'll easily seem three times as powerful as you are now. More along the lines of Tom or Dumbledore."
"Wow, kid." Sirius said. "You really did come up with a brilliant plan."
"Thanks." Harry said. "Remus, your job will make you hate me completely but understand that it has to be you."
"All right, Harry, what am I doing?" Remus asked.
"You are going to be one of Sirius' servants." Harry replied. "Dobby is coming too. He was informed of what he had to do, and what part he was needed to play. He is a bit nervous though. It's natural considering how Lucius treated him. Sirius, be hard on him if you must to keep up the act, but do try to keep it all far more gentle than Lucius if possible."
"Of course, Harry." Sirius replied. "I've grown quite fond of that little house elf. I think I'll hate the idea more than he will."
"I know. I'm not happy with it either." Harry said seriously. "You have an account in Gringotts. Just try to buy the flat that I lived in. Don't tell them anything other than you heard a man of importance owned the building and that you like to know such men. Get another place for Remus, though nothing near as extravagant. Remember, Moony is to be your servant."
"I could get used to that." Sirius said with a grin. "Remember second year, Moony?"
"Don't remind me." Remus said with a laugh.
"Okay, get shopping and then get to work." Harry said to them.
"See you kids when I can." Sirius said.
"We'll meet you at Sarah's at eight o'clock tonight." Remus said seriously. With that they both disappeared.
"What are we doing Harry?" Ron asked.
Harry replied by handing them a stack of files. "You two are finding out as much about these men as possible. Also, find me anything you can about the buildings. You might need Hermione or Ginny for that part, but do what you can before asking for their help. Whatever you do, tell no one what me and Dad have done and definitely not what we are doing."
"Got it." Ron replied.
"My lips are sealed." Neville said.
"Good." Harry said with a smile. "Time for some good old fashioned marauder fun then." And with that he disappeared.